we leave for wdw in 17 days and i just got devasating news(final updat post #53,pg4)

[mrFDNY]

hi all
well our beloved cat ashley who is only 8,is dying.dw is a wreck as well as me.this came out of nowhere.for the past 4 days she has been vomiting took her to my vet today.end result.she has pretty advanced kidney failure as well as her liver test are high and that does,nt look good either.also she has kidney and bladder stones and alot.the dr who i know well and used to work for about 8 years ago for 5 years,before leaving on good terms after i got a fdny letter that i made it.well the out look is not great.she will need fluids under the skin for the rest of her life,everyday.i mean she is only 8,our baby we found her in the winter in a ice puddle,near death.she was only a couple of hours old and nursed her from death back to health.

now she is this pampered,spoiled chubby cat.this cat adores me and my wife and thinks she is ds shadow.she will follow ds around the house,he could do anything to her and she just lay there.he is gentle with her.todays bill was close to $500 dollars and this is just step one.we did x-rays and alot of blood test.they have a in house blood machine and got the results that way still waiting for the rest of the blood workup to come back from the lab i'm torn. we leave in 17 days for a 10 day vacation at wdw.i'm not sure what to do.to leave her there for my vacation for 12 days(i would have to drop her off the day before and pick her up the day after)well it will be around 2 grand for hospitation for 11 days and that's if they only do the basics.if a problem to a rise while i'm down there they will treat it of course it will be more.if we go and leave her home bil will be house sitting.if she dies or we come home and we found her passed.i will blame myself i mean it will be a certain death sentence not to give her fluids and just leave her home alone in the dark without us,she will be so lonley by herself and this is the part that breaks my heart.i don't want her to be alone but we can't be here if we are to be in wdw.i keep think about her all alone, with us in wdw she's meowing and no ones here to hear it she dies all by herself with no one with her,next to her,petting her,telling her how much we loved her,all alone.

a few have family members have mentioned putting her to sleep.i just know its not time yet.she is still eating and playful and still cuddles with me everynight.still her active self but leaving her home by herself while we go away i would be horrified if she dies alone and i don't think i can do the 2 grand in the clinic.i'm lost.i don't want to cancel this trip.its for ds and his birthday but i'm just don't know what to do.i guess i have to wait to friday when all the blood work comes back.but the dr said to me it's pretty far advance failure and i don't think the results will be good on friday.i'm so torn and lost.i mean we have to put her down.how could i enjoy wdw?i keep thinking if this is the case and we have no choice but to put her down,i must go for them dw and ds so they will go and enjoy it and maybe take some of the heart ache away.if anything can take heart ache away i know disney might do it.i will be up dating you all as i know.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I'm really sorry - no good advice here. I have been through this myself with various pets. It's so hard. You'll know when the time is right to put her down. Wait for the test results - I know it is really difficult when they seem to be doing great.

Is there anyone you could have house/cat sit for you and take care of her? Might be a less expensive option to leaving her at the clinic.

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

Oh no! That is so sad! I am so sorry! ((HUGS)) to you and your family! When I thought we were going to have to put our mini doxie down I was a wreck! Luckily it did not come to that and she is back to normal. I realize your situation is different b/c of what they told you. I do not know what to tell you bc it is a choice that is so hard for anyone to make. Definately don't cancle your trip. You guys need and deserve it and if you have to have her put down then hopefully that happiness at Disney will help with some of the sadness you will be feeling from loosing her. I wish I knew what to say. I am just not good with this kind of stuff but wanted to at least offer some words to you and let you know I am so sorry you have to deal with this. I know to many of us our pets are like our children! So sorry!!

 

[poohandwendy]

I am so sorry. I don't have any good advice, it's a very tough decision. I do know that one thing I would consider is if the treatment is a goal to cure her, make her have a good quality of life or if it will only prolong the inevitable and make her last days uncomfortable. I don't know the answer to that in your case. But those are the things I would be weighing.

Again, I am so sorry you are dealing with this. It is never easy. My heart breaks for you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[catsrule]

I'm sorry about your fur-baby Ashley. Maybe you could ask your dw and ds what they would like to do? Maybe you could just postpone your trip till later? Ask them what they would like for you to do?

 

[O2BNWDW]

I cannot even begin to imagine what you are going through, but my heart is breaking for you and your family.
I think you should just wait and see how your baby does in the next few days, everything is shock right now.

You all are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[mrFDNY]

briarfoxinwa, the thing is she needs sub-q (under the skin)fluids daily.i was a vet tech for 5 years so i know how to do this.bil will be house sitting he does'nt and i don't think be willing or too scared to learn.

thedisneybunch, in the end this will kill her it is not reversable,i have been thinking a lot about that.but she seems like her normal self and does'nt appear to be in pain.when it is time i guess i will know and have to put her to rest it's only fair for her.

catsrule,me and dw talked about it and we will go to wdw we both need this vacation,ds and i discussed ashley tonight he's only 4.he came with me to the vet and in the car ride home it was only me and him.he came out of no where and asked if ashley is gonna die?i explained to him that ashley is very sick and yes she might die soon or live alot longer.we must love her everyday and let her know how much we love her and she means to us.he looked at me and asked if ashley could sleep in his bed with him tonight.i told him yes.

as for ashley,i think she knows something is up.i caught her on the dinning room table tonight,sleeping there on the table. she looked at me as if to say come on i'm dying let me stay on the table.in the past soon as she saw us she jump off,not tonight she just looked at me,she knows she can get away with anything right now and is using it to her advantage.i was petting her before and she was purring so loud!!we will have to wait till friday and the results of the rest of the blood work to determine our next move.

 

[catsrule]

I hope everything works out for you. Maybe the vet can recommend someone to help with kitty? Good luck with fur-baby Ashley.

 

[2BigKIdz]

I am so sorry, that is so sad! Is there any way you could take her with you so you could give her the fluids? I know most places don't allow cats but.... Or do you know of a vet tech that would house sit instead of BIL to give her the proper treatment? Or maybe the vet will let you make payments on the $2k? I wouldn't want to put her down if it is not her time and it really doesn't sound like it to me. My aunt's cat passed from this several months ago, she had lived with it for many years. When it was her time to go she completely stopped eating and it was obvious that she was in pain. to you and your family and a wish for strength and the wisdom to make the right decision for your family and Ashley.


I'm in sort of the same situation but not as dire. My 4 year old cat had an urinary blockage almost 2 weeks ago and spent 3 nights in the hospital, cost me over $1000. We are going to our IL's this weekend, about 7 hours away and our nephew (21 yr old) is house sitting. (I would not be going away so soon except we have tickets to the Panthers/Patriots game on Sunday). I am really anxious about leaving the cat, if he gets blocked up again and is not treated asap he could die. I will call several times a day to check on him just to make sure he is okay and I have a friend on standby to take him to the vet right away if my nephew can't. He is and has been doing fine since he came home, the vet thinks it's okay to leave him with the nephew. I was considering boarding him but the vet thinks he will do better at home.

 

[muffy0110]

I have no advice. I just wanted to say that I hope all works out. I have
3 cats. i don't know what I would do.

 

[kaylajr]

I am so sorry
I will pray Fridays results are not as bad as you fear
If i was closer i would watch her for you


I do understand going to WDW with a heavy heart
our trip in 2000
we had a funeral for my grandmother who was my best friend on Fri and left for WDW on Sunday
i wanted to cancel the trip but my grandfather convinced me that i should go
so i know the struggle you are having inside

poor kitty
hope it somehow works out for you

 

[Pooh67_68]

 

[Tigger_Magic]

You are in my thoughts and prayers. This poem helped our family when we had to say our last goodbye to Chocolate, our 20 year old part Siamese part something else, on Monday night. I hope it doesn't come to that for Ashley, but if it does, know that what you do for her is, as the poem says, a "kindness." Cherish the fact that you saved her life, gave her a good home and lots of love. No pet could ask for or want anything more.

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

-- Unknown

 

[meandtheguys2]

I am so sorry. A small suggestion for cat care. Several of the vet techs in this area also run pet sitting businesses. We had a lovely gal care for our cats when we last vacationed. She blessedly realized that Obi had a urinary tract infection, and took care of it for us. (She had written permission)

 

[MsDisney23]

 

[Serena]

I"m so sorry. I think you should wait until you get the results before trying to make any decisions.

 

[ajksmom]

I'm sorry that you and your kitty are going through this.

I'd wait until the results are back to make any decision. In the meantime I'd try to talk to the vet/techs there and see what your options are for her care if you do decide to go on vacation. When we were dealing with a very sick dog of ours we also planned on postponing a trip. My DS mentioned it one day at the vets and tech asked if it had to do with Chief's health. When I told her I couldn't afford to hospitalize her while we were gone she mentioned that one of the techs might be able to help out. Since Chief needed medicine 4x daily I had just assumed they would "hospitalize" her and not consider it boarding. Anyhow a great tech offered to care for her while we were gone -she brought her with her to work, gave her her meds, and took her home with her at night. It still cost us but not near as much as if we had had to hospitalize her. See if someone at your vets will consider this.
Good luck and I hope all goes well.

 

[jx3smom]

I had to give my Mogwi the fluids for 4 months before we lost him and am now giving fluids to my sweet Trixie. It is very easy to learn how to do it so maybe you can find someone. Your sweet furbaby will probably be much happier at home than in the hospital. We try to keep Trixie in low stress situations. I know how hard this is and I'm sure you know the emotional roller coaster that you are about to "ride". But, is is worth it to buy them some extra quality time.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Wait until Friday and then go from there.

 

[mousey]

So sorry--it is very difficult to have a sick kitty. Prayers and pixie dust coming your way.