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Feline SCC Short Stories
Stories on this page:
Casper Survives!  My cat was diagnosed with feline SCC about 2 months ago
(June 2007). Casper was not cleaning himself, and was loosing weight. At the
vets office, they sedated him, and took a biopsy. They told me that it was most
probably SCC, and that the tumor was too large to cut out.Since my normal vet is a traveling vet, this visit was to the emergency room. They went on to tell me that if we gave Casper chemotherapy, it would allow him to live a few more months. Since I have had chemotherapy myself, I told them that I would never submit my cat to that treatment, and that I would try to deal with the SCC through natural herbal means. Within about 1 week, they confirmed that it was SCC.  After the biopsy, he deteriorated rapidly, and I had to hand feed him. I
incorporated herbal remedies into the liquid food that I was feeding him. After 2 months of treatment, my cat is now recovering from the squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, and the tumor is almost completely gone. I did three things that reversed his cancer: 1. Switched his food to a high-quality high protein/no carb food, 2. Switched his cat litter from clumping cat litter to SWheat Scoop, 3. Incorporated into his diet: a. natural anti-inflammatory herbs including burdock root, turkey rhubarb, dandelion root, astralagus, sheep sorrel, licorice, yucca, and venus fly trap, b.cat vitamins, c.CoQ10, d.Soil-Based Probiotics, AND e.Luxolite (clay in solution) All veterinarians that have heard about this are amazed because their training specifically has shown that cats (especially cats) and dogs with feline carcinoma of the tongue die quickly, and that there is no cure. When I began to treat him, there were definitely days that I was worried that I was prolonging his agony, and his recovery is no less than a miracle to me. I thought that I would share my story with others in order that you might be able to experience the same success that I did. If anyone has any questions or wants more information, you can email me at nosohandy at gmail dot com. Information on Casper's remedy, an empirical
anti-cancer remedy Email Dr. Martin G. Miller about Garfield On March 20th , 2006 I lost my cat Garfield to SCC . It had an amazingly rapid onset and did not respond to treatment. Both my son Brian and daughter in law Angela are vets and they really researched this problem and consulted with many others in their field. The following is my son Brian's blog entry on What happened. I have also included a picture of Garfield. He was the BEST CAT EVER, (anyway, that's what I used to tell him all the time). I miss him dearly.
Geezus, it seems that most of my posts in the last month or so are titled "R.I.P. someone," which obviously means that this hasn't been a great month. The latest casualty happens to be one of the nicest cats EVER - Garfield. Garfield was like a dog in a cat's body. Ever since we adopted him 12-13yrs ago, there was something special about this little guy. He started out skinny as a rail, seeing as he was mistreated by his previous owners. Upon being brought into the house, he proceeded to eat anything (and I do mean ANYTHING) edible. Pebbles (mom and Marty's other cat) never really liked Garfield, but they co-existed peacefully. Occasionally they would chase each other around, and these episodes usually ended in Pebbles smacking Garfield in the face and hissing at him. Garfield, very non-chalantly, would ignore her display of aggression and turn away from her, tail held high, and strut off down the hall. He had his share of problems - at around 6 yrs old, tipping the scales at over 21lbs, he became diabetic (when I said he would eat, believe me I meant it). We were, however, able to control his diabetes solely with diet, and over the last few years since I qualified and took over as his vet, I actually got him to lose weight - he was a healthy 11 lbs before his latest illness. He would chase his treats around with vigor once we thinned him down, he was loving life. Unfortunately, right around the time of my grandma's passing, mom and Marty noticed him drooling excessively. I had a look at him, and I knew as soon as I touched him that it was trouble - his jaw was swollen, and he was drooling. We lifted his lip and saw it - a growth in his mouth. This is ALWAYS trouble in cats. Even in dogs it is bad, but cats it is usually very big trouble. Basically, around 3 days later the mass had tripled in size and he was having trouble eating. I knew it wouldn't be long, but we decided to try to debulk the mass to give him some comfort for a while. We removed it with a laser, and sent it off for biopsy. By the next day, it was back at full size. The biopsy came back as expected, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and I knew then that his time was short. We attempted some last resort homeopathic remedies which did nothing but stress the poor boy out as it was poured down his throat. I went to see him yesterday, and all he did was lie there, dehydrated and sad, and I knew it was his time. We put him to sleep today at 1:26 pm, right on his favorite couch where he spent so many hours in comfort and joy. All of this happened within 2 weeks - from diagnosis to euthanasia. Did I tell you tumors in cat's mouths were bad or what?? G-man was a supremely sweet boy, and to say he will be missed is an understatement. I feel the final gift I could give him was relief from his suffering. We will remember him always for the joy he brought to us - he is, of course, irreplaceable...but I will see what I can do to liven up mom and Marty's lives with a kitten or two soon. Of course, Pebbles might have something to say about that... Rest in peace, G-Funk. We will always love you.
Email Heather Muller about Calvin
Well, the
inevitable happened at 11:00 a.m. this last Saturday, March 18th, 2006 I had
to put Calvin down. I kept waiting for him to get sick (like the vet said
he would), but it never seemed to happen. Instead his poor little lower jaw
continued to deform to the point where he could no longer eat or lap water.
I had to stand above him and pour water onto his mouth for him to lick. Due
to the size of the tumor, his tongue had gotten pushed all the way to one
side and to the back such that when he was eating or drinking he would often
have to sort of smack himself across the face to not choke on his tongue. It
was growing over his bottom teeth and where his top teeth sunk in was
becoming gangrenous. It smelled terrible and he wasn't able to wash
himself. He drooled quite a bit and sometimes it would bleed. It was
horrible. Yet at the same time his spirits (and his appetite) were high and
he was still so involved with everything going on around the home. He wanted
so badly to eat and would attack his food bowl with fervor even though it
was such a difficult task for him to accomplish. He continued to get into
everything ~ climbing into the dishwasher whenever it was opened and on the
final morning had still gotten himself stuck in a cupboard to appease his
curiosity to see what was inside. The only signs he was
uncomfortable (besides his obvious difficulty eating) were that he had
become more howly and would cling to me the minute I sat down. And
something had changed in his eyes - his previously permanent state of calm
reserve had seemed to slip away and was replaced by something darker and
more anxious. I just knew I couldn't watch his state decline to the point
where I might come home and find him having choked on his tongue or have the
tumor grow so far back it would block his windpipe. I knew the time had
come, and that for each day I put off making that horrible decision it was
no longer about him, but more so about me.
Calvin was with
me for 15 years. I will never forget the day he chose to share his life
with me. It was at the Missoula Humane Society and he was only 7-weeks
old. He and his litter had been abandoned in an apartment building and were
up for adoption. I had just lost my 20-year old Maine Coon the week before
and wasn't even in the market for a new kitten but rather was looking for an
older cat. I knelt down to look at the kittens at the and Calvin ran up my
back to perch on my shoulder as if to say - okay, let's go home. So we
did. And from that day on we were attached at the hip ~ we did everything
together. He would follow me from room to room, sometimes hiding behind
furniture to sneak-attack my ankles when I passed through. We'd share
pudding cups on my bed (I was 13 when I got him) and in my rebellious
teenage years he'd sit next to me on the porch while I smoked
cigarettes. Every time I practiced piano, he could be found on my lap or on
the floor under my mother's baby grand. I can't remember a time when he
wasn't right there next to me. He's lived in three states from one coast to
the other and only seemed to become more and more confident with each
drastic change and challenge he was confronted with. He and I had been
through so much together. He had had multiple brushes with death during his
outdoor-days in his younger years - to the extent that I found myself
wondering if he'd pull through. From abscesses I had to drain myself so
that he wouldn't die, to him getting himself trapped in the engine of a car
that then started and tore-up his back, to him disappearing for two weeks
and returning skinny and half mute to even a year ago when we moved to New
York and he suddenly lost a bunch of weight and seemed to be on death's
door. Every time he always came out happy and healthy and full of life. He
was just so cool. His presence filled the room and I always felt safer and
calmer when he was around. We had so many routines that now make my daily
life feel so incomplete ~ from racing up stairs to him sitting on my lap
every morning for breakfast to him on the counter watching the birds out the
window when I'd get ready for work to the way he'd drag his water dish
around the kitchen floor until it would tip and spill ~ he was always so
fascinated with water, he'd even sit in the tub when I'd shower! He was
such a part of my heart and soul that I just know life will not be the same
without him. And above all else I miss talking to him. I never realized
the amount of constant banter we had together and just how lonely my time at
home is without it. My other cat Myrna - who is now five and has only known
a handful of weeks without his company was always more timid and skittish -
she would always looked to him to be her temperature gauge, to see how she
should react to situations. She is so much more aloof and less involved than
Calvin was. But even up until that final morning, they'd cuddle and
wrestle. I think now she's a little lost in that she doesn't have his
strength to lead her or his
I took the day
off on Friday to spend with him. We hung-out and watched movies and I baked
scones (he always loved it when I baked ~ he'd sit on the floor next to my
feet and sort of chatter at me and get into everything I was doing). Then
on Saturday we awoke to him perched on my pillow making chirping noises at
the birds outside the window. I got up and fried him a couple of eggs so
that he could eat the yolk (which he was actually able to do!) and then
after much sobbing, I took out his carrier expecting him to put up his usual
struggle, but instead - he walked right inside. We then took him out for
the two-block walk to the vet. It was a gorgeous day - sunny, clear blue
skies, and most importantly lots and lots of birds flying about. The wait
was the worst part - I just kept petting him and petting him insides his
carrier. He had become so used to going to the vets that he was no longer
fussed about it - knowing that afterwards he'd be able to go home and eat.
He was so good and patient. I on the other hand was a wreck. Every sign in
the waiting room seemed only there to mock me ~ the one with the pug waving
goodbye to fleas and ticks was one I especially had to avoid as above his
cute little paw were the words "say goodbye". We were then led into an
examination room where our vet came to talk to us. They then came in to
administer the sedative which he fought and struggled through. He laid on
my lap and at one point I thought it wasn't going to take effect, when
suddenly I noticed he'd gone completely limp. His eyes were still open and
I knew he was aware of everything going on and that I should try to muster
all the strength I could so that I could comfort him and make him know that
everything would be okay. They left us alone with him that way for about 10
minutes. They then returned, and had me put him on the table so that they
could administer the IV to the vein in his hind leg. I stood there next to
him, holding his head with my head down so that I had my lips to his
forehead telling him over and over how much I loved him and thanking him for
spending his life with me. I felt it against my lips when his spirit left
his body and it's as though the world stopped spinning and time stood
still. All I could think about was that now he was finally free to fly with
the birds.
I cried for
nearly four days straight and still don't quite know what to do with
myself...I miss him beyond belief. I am so thankful for the time I had with
him ~ he helped me through more than a few times in my life when things were
just so hard, and truly made my life so much more complete. He was more
than a pet and far more than just a cat - we had a connection that I know
cannot be duplicated. But I know that there was no alternative in the
end and I take a comfort in knowing that he went with his spirit fully
intact, ready for those open fields where he can lay in the sun and where he
will never be harmed ~
Thank you for
your site - I can't tell you how much reading everyone's stories helped me.
I lost Jack on August 9, 2005, after four years and five months
of being in a miraculous remission from bone cancer and being on a feeding tube.
He was 17 years old. He suddenly developed a secondary tumor on his left hind
leg right at the joint. The only treatment for it was amputation and since Jack
was already fighting his first cancer (a tumor inside his lower jaw swelled up
so fast his skin split open literally overnight and his lower jaw had to be
removed) and was weakened by it and his age, amputation was not an option. All
that could be done was to place him on pain meds (fentanyl patches) and watch
him carefully. He actually LIKED getting the patch changed, I had to shave a
little spot at the base of his tail and swab it with alcohol every three days
before putting on the new patch, he would be purring as soon as he saw it in my
hand. I sang "The itsy bitsy kitty clawed up the water spout..." as I prepped
him for the patch, he loved it.
I am writing to tell
the story of my beloved cat Foo Foo Montague Bijoux. “Foo” for short.
Coors seems a bit rough looking, her fur is a bit matted but other than that she’s okay, thinking it’s old age I don’t do anything about it. She has a bit of black on the outside of her nose. She seems okay and plays and purrs. Nov 23rd Coors has been leaving her hard food in the bowl and only eating the soft food for the past few days. I also notice Coors has blood coming out of her mouth. I figure it is just her teeth but call my dad who is a vet to set up a time to bring her in to have her checked out. I don’t want to sound panicked so I say “she’s not dying or anything so it can wait till the weekend”. Coors seems okay, just seems to be getting old. Nov 25th I bring Coors in and immediately he looks at her tongue and said she has a tumour and from what I described he was afraid of that. An inoperable tumour because it is at the back of the tongue and that her teeth are fine and it’s pretty big. He asks if I want a biopsy and I said yes. I cried for the rest of the day. I was not expecting this as I was expecting him to say she needed her teeth cleaned and I should take better care of them. Nov 26th I manage not to cry for most of the day and feed Coors soft food mixed with some lukewarm water and also put a lot of tuna on her dish. Her two cat mates get hard food and she wants it too but she can’t eat it. She seems okay and is in good spirits. Nov. 27th She is drooling more now. I put towels on all the furniture but she seems okay and can eat her soft food with a bit of difficulty but not too much so it’s not time to put her down yet. She still seems in good spirits. She sits on my lap on the couch. Nov. 28th I call my dad and he says the biopsy results are not back yet but that the technician who took the biopsy said her tongue is very bad and degraded and it doesn’t look good and I should prepare for the worst. I am at work when he tells me this so I go to the wash room and have a small cry. I then for the rest of the day fight to hold back tears. I have a fight with my boyfriend for no reason. Then I tell him what my dad said and told him I’m very sad. Later that night I get the results from the biopsy and it is sublingual Squamous Cell Carcinoma. It is confirmed. He tells me not to let it go on for too long and quality of life is the most important thing for her. For the rest of the week she goes on having good days and bad this but seems to be getting a little worse and her eating is a bit more cumbersome and the drooling is a lot more. She also is unable to groom herself and tries to with her front paws so they are all dirty. She also has a bit of a smell about her after she eats probably from the food in her mouth. After she eats she just relaxes and purrs and seems fine. I just keep thinking I’m going to have to put her to sleep. I cry at least once a day and while at work fight to hold back the tears. She just seems okay other than while she’s eating. I am torn because I don’t know if I’m being selfish in thinking I should put her to sleep or if I’m being selfish in keeping her alive with the way she is going. I decide to hold off on anything until I give it time. I am not ready for that decision yet. Dec. 2nd Coors has eaten her breakfast and has trouble and has to use her paw to get some food that is stuck out of her mouth. I realize that I am going to have to make a decision sooner than I think after seeing this. My heart just breaks when I see her eating. Her love of life is to eat, when I get home from work she runs out the door into the hallway in excitement for supper time. I go up to visit my parents and tell my dad I think Monday I will bring her in. He tells me no problem and the sooner the better for her own well being. Dec. 4th I’m supposed to bring Coors in tonight. She had a good breakfast and wasn’t struggling too much. I don’t think I can do it today. I decide to wait till later to see how she is at supper time. I get home and she runs out into the hall as usual and I feed her and she seems okay. I call and cancel, I’m not doing it today. I just can’t. She is still drooling a lot and rubs the side of her face on any hard surface she can, it must be itchy. Dec. 5th. Coors had a good breakfast and was playing with her favourite thing which is the flashlight. I figure maybe I’ll be able to give her another week. This is killing me but I am so sad about it. I get home and at supper Coors isn’t doing so good. She is bleeding more and having a hard time eating and again is getting food stuck. I just cry while watching her and decide I can’t take this anymore and I’m sure she’s not enjoying gagging and trying to get food out of her mouth with her messy paws. She won’t let me clean her up so I have to leave her as is. I call my dad crying and tell him I’ll bring her in on Wednesday. He said “it’s her time, it really is” so I just cry and hang up. Dec. 6th I know the day has come. She actually has a good day, breakfast was good, I get home and she ate her whole plate of food with some difficulty. Then she sat on my lap for an hour and a bit and just purred. Then when it was getting close to the time to leave she jumped off and went out on the balcony for one last time. My boyfriend comes and gets us while I’m crying the whole time. When we get to the clinic he makes sure I can go right in so I wait in the car. They are in there waiting for me in there. I go in crying with her and she’s meowing. My dad checks her mouth and looks at the tongue and there is the big cancerous lump. He said he realizes it’s hard because she is alert and normal so it’s so hard to do this. I just cry. He leaves the room and the techs come in. I just pat her and look into her eyes and she is gone within seconds. I just stand there and cry and my dad comes back and says I did the right thing and it’s better that she had a good last day and wasn’t in pain or unable to enjoy what life she had left. I’m now waiting for her ashes to come back so I can keep her with me. This has been the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my life. She is the first of 3 of my cats to go. They are all 14 and have had a good life so far. It was a hard decision because she didn’t appear to be in pain but just unable to eat properly. Also reading some of the stories I just knew it wasn’t going to get better but actually would get worse. It’s been one day since I took her in and I have cried off and on for most of the day. I’m so sad but know that she is in a better place. My other 2 cats are a bit confused but seem okay. August 2007 My favorite cat, Jeeves, was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the tongue in mid-February by a veterinarian specializing in oncology. I had gone to this group of specialists because my regular vet couldn't seem to find out what was wrong with him, but I knew that something was not right. Jeeves had dealt with growths on his thyroid on two occasions in the past (both successfully treated with radioisotope therapy at Tufts Veterinary Hospital in Boston), and each time I was the one who brought him to the vet because of subtle changes that I'd noticed....mostly some wasting of muscle mass along his spine and a change in the sheen and feel of his coat. His regular vet and I assumed it was the thyroid again this time, but the tests came back negative. So did an echocardiogram, chest and abdominal x-rays, and blood and urine tests. The specialist I took him to found the growth on the first visit, but he really had to force open Jeeves' mouth to see it as it was way in the back on the base of the tongue (top not bottom). A biopsy showed it was cancerous, and I was told that he had ony 6-8 weeks to live. Because of its size, and the poor response this type of cancer has to chemo and radiation, surgical removal of the entire tongue with subsequent feeding tube was the only possible treatment, but it was just that....a treatment, not a cure. I opted to make my 14 year old baby as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. I did attempt to give him antibiotics as the growth sometimes ulcerates, but it was so stressful for him---and me---to get the pills down that I discontinued. Because he has a heart murmur, prednisone was not advised. It is now almost six months since that initial devastating diagnosis, and today I called the vet and told him that I think it is almost time. He will come out to my home three days from now to euthanize my baby. I think the hardest thing about this disease is that cats often seem to be healthy overall except for the cancer and the wasting that accompanies it which is exacerbated by the difficulty eating. Jeeves has done very well with his food for the most part......starting with canned Science Diet, mashed tuna fish and minced chicken, and eventually the Beechnut meat babyfoods that he has enjoyed for the past several months. He isn't in pain to the point where he is crying, but it's obvious that eating and swallowing is uncomfortable. He still plays with a toy mouse now and again, cuddles with me most of the time, and can jump onto the couch and bed on his own. But he is more lethargic, purring less, and often sleeps in a sphynx-like position with his front paws curled under him, something he seldom did in the past. Like many of you, I try to keep him clean since he drools all over his white socks and ruff and has difficulty grooming himself, but he doesn't like being washed by me even though he has always been so meticulous. He has gone from 15 plus pounds (he is a big boy, but was never overweight) to less than 11 pounds. I know that I could probably keep him alive for awhile yet before he begins to suffer constant pain, but I don't want to take a chance on waiting too long. I want his last days on earth with me to be reasonably good ones for him, and I don't want to see him waste to nothing before my eyes. The past few days he's been asking for food constantly but then barely touching it. That's why I decided that its time to set him free. I don't think there is such a thing as a "right time" to euthanize a beloved pet......we can never know for sure when they cross that line from uncomfortable to pain, or enjoyment of life to merely living. As much as I want to keep him by my side for as long as possible, I want to time his departure just as he crosses that line, and I hope that I have made the right decision. I've had a number of cats over the years, and have five of them now, but Jeeves has been the best cat ever, and I can't imagine life without him. He is my "lap kitty", and climbs into my lap whenever I sit down......even when I am on the toilet if I don't close the door! Well, I guess you all know what I am going through, and that is what is so wonderful about this website......to be able to share our hopes for our pets, the joys that they bring us, and the grief we all go through. Blessed be. Nonnie
CLANCY CROSSES OVER AND MAKES A STRANGE, NEW FRIEND by Paul Clements
(New Hampshire Sunday News, 12/24/06)
Clancy suddenly felt freer than he ever had before. There was
no pain, no feeling of sickness, none of the weakness of age. He was no
longer in the animal hospital, but could not recognize his surroundings. He
seemed to be in a fog, a brightly lit fog, but one that clouded his
vision. Suddenly, he heard a voice calling his name, "Clancy, come this
way."
Clancy turned in the direction of the voice, and saw a
movement. Frightened, he backed up, going deeper into the fog. The voice
called again, "Clancy, come this way."
Suddenly, the movement Clancy had seen solidified into a
shape. It was a dog, and Clancy's fear turned to terror. He remembered how
his mother had warned him about dogs. Clancy wanted to run, but the dog
seemed to be everywhere at once, all around him. There was nowhere to
run! He heard the voice again, this time saying, "Don't be afraid,
Clancy. Come this way."
Clancy realized that the voice was coming from the dog.
"That's funny, " he thought. "Dogs don't talk like humans."
"I'm not talking, " said the dog. "I'm only thinking, just
like you're doing."
"But you're a dog, and I'm a cat, " Clancy said. "And we're
not supposed to be able to think and talk."
"We're not cat and dog anymore. That's just what we appear to
be, because that is what we were in life."
Curious now, Clancy found his fear was lessening, and he was
willing to listen. It was all very confusing to him. "What do you mean,
'what we were in life'?" he asked.
"I guess you haven't realized it yet," replied the dog, "but
you're not alive anymore, and neither am I. Your physical body, the cat
that was you, got sick and had to be discarded, same as me. Don't you feel
the absence of sickness, the feeling of freedom?"
"Well, yes, I guess I do," Clancy replied. "But I still look
like a cat, and you still look like a dog."
"That's a temporary thing," said the dog, "to help you get
used to the cross-over. Once you get used to your new circumstances, you
won't need to look like a cat anymore."
"Well, okay," said Clancy, "but if that's true, then why do you
still look like a dog? It seems like you've been here for a while."
"Yes, I have," said the dog. "I've been here a long time
waiting for you."
"Waiting for me?!" Clancy exclaimed incredulously. "But I've
never met you before."
"In this place, things are a lot different from what you
remember," the dog replied.
"But why are you waiting for me?"
"Well, when I was alive," the dog explained, "I was the
companion of a human, just as you were. I was very fond of that human, and
he was good to me. He took me in when I was a lost puppy, just as you were
taken in. We played together and he took me places where I could run
free. He taught me tricks, and he brushed my fur so it was clean and
shiny. When it was my time to cross over, I saw him crying. I knew then
that he loved me as much as I loved him."
"That's all well and good, " said Clancy, "But it still
doesn't explain why you're here with me."
"Simple," said the dog. "My human was YOUR human. We both
loved him, and he loved both of us. When you crossed over, I heard him
asking me to look after you. I saw him crying then, too, so I know how much
you meant to him. One thing I learned here is that if you give love, you
get more of it back. He loved me, I loved him; he loved you09, too, and now
I'm more than happy to love you, too. So forget that cat and dog stuff.
We're going to be the best of friends. We shall wait for our human to
cross over----and then we'll all be together again."
January 2008  I
found your site when my Oreo was first diagnosed with SCC back on
November 28, 2007. We lost him on January 2, 2008 and I am ready to
share my story;
Oreo was an incredible
cat, not just by my own biased accounts but from the input of many
friends, family and neighbors. He had a personality much like a dog,
or human for that matter as he would come when called, go for walks with
us (even on the beach nearby, in the off season of course), greet us
when we came home expecting to be picked up and head butted for hugs,
etc. Even those who traditionally hated cats grew to love Oreo. He
also had a way of knowing that people who were allergic had to get used
to him, which they often did!
In any event, in late November, 2007 I noticed some wheezing from Oreo
while he was awake. He had snored a lot over the past few years which I
assumed was normal, or even a feline sleep apnea. When I took him to
the vet ("Fred") on Nov 28th, there was a good sized tumor in his throat
and on the side of his neck. The growth had to have been fast and recent
as Oreo was at the Vet's for weeks back in late September/early October
with bladder blockage issues. Ironically, the source of those was never
pinpointed although there was suspicion it started in the kidney area so
who knows, perhaps some cancerous cells were upsetting his system before
he was diagnosed. Our vet said there was little that could be done
based on the location and size of the tumor except to watch for further
symptoms and spoil him rotten. Surgery was out of the question and
medical treatments, although possibly prolonging his life wouldn't save
it or even improve his quality of life in the process. His days were
clearly numbered but at this point he was comfortable, eating and acting
fairly normal.
After the initial shock of such unfair news, we spent the next few weeks
just loving him and watching for signs. If he stopped eating, we'd buy
all kinds of new foods in gravies and sauces so they'd be easier to
swallow. He was now wheezing more and more, even his purring started
changing tones. He did seem to sleep quietly, though, and still enjoyed
all his routines of snuggling, licking the shower and sinks and going
for walks. We were hesitant to let him outside alone for fear he'd run
off knowing he was sick. At this point I wanted him to stay healthy
enough to see my kids when they came home from school and get through
the holidays. He did, but it was clear he was deteriorating rapidly at
that point.
We took him in from time to time to have Fred check the tumor and
although it was growing, it hadn't ruptured, leaked or stopped him
entirely from eating yet although he was eating less and less but
drinking a lot of water still. The week after Christmas, Oreo was
clearly not himself. He was now only sleeping in two spots, barely
moving except for an occasional drink of water and nibble of food. He
was happiest outside, though, so we took him for walks and he even
killed a mouse one day! Just before New Years, he began to drool a lot
and pretty much stopped eating. It was starting to smell, his mouth was
dry and he couldn't even clean himself and he had lost 2 lbs. On January
2nd, we made the decision to put him down as his quality of life was
clearly affected and it was hard to watch. I couldn't do it but
my boyfriend, Ron, was very brave and did so. He put him in the car to
go to the vet and stopped to take him for one last walk. Oreo wasn't
interested, wanted to stay in the car. At the vet, Fred confirmed that
it was time so they gave him the injection and Oreo went peacefully to
God, where his twin sister Reeses has been waiting since she was young.
Ron spent an hour with him back home sobbing. He buried him, with some
of his toys, in the back yard and we've ordered a stone.
A month later, there is such a void and I am having a very hard time
still. He and Reeses actually came to me in a dream the other night
which was nice. My research has found that the sun may actually cause
this type of cancer on white or light haired cats that are outside a
lot. Oreo used to lounge in the sun a lot. I had worried that all the
chemicals in the lawns and still water puddles may have contributed. I
guess they don't really know but it doesn't really matter. except our
next kittens will be darker at least. We were so blessed to have a
fantastic vet in Fred and his office assistants, Jo and Lisa.
I have attached some pictures as well.
Thank you for sharing this.
Jane
November 2007  Today
we took our beloved Weffy to be put to rest. After reading the posts
here on the web site, I felt I owed it to her to tell her story. I want
to thank you all so much for your messages which really assisted me in
preparing for the end. I cried many tears knowing we would go through
the same thing very soon. You have been my strength and I can't thank
you enough.
Weffy was in a litter of
kittens left at my work place 20 years ago. As we brought the kittens
one by one into the office to try to find homes, Weffy was the last
one. I remember going out for her and she came running to me, not
wanting to be left alone. After the day, we had 2 of the 6 kittens
left. We took them to the pound because I was in college at the time
and already had a cat (Buffy), secretly hidden from the landlord. I was
due to go back to school in a few days so finding a home was slim given
the time. My brother and I drove Weffy and Tiger to the pound which was
an hour away. After the guilt, we drove back up, pounding on the doors
after closing to get both of the kittens back. One if the best
decisions ever made.
Weffy and Tiger stayed with my
brother for about 6 months, until unfortunately, Tiger was hit by a
car. With Weffy alone, I took her to college and she was mine ever
since. The landlord never new.
Weffy was a special kitty in
that she was the runt of the crew. She was always small in stature and
timid. As the feline colony grew to four cats over the years, Weffy was
always protected and loved, which took a lot of energy and discipline.
Buffy was put to sleep in 2003
for renal failure. It hit hard and fast. I had a year of healthy
friends until Weffy was diagnosed with the same thing in 2004. Because
her nature was shy and timid, this allowed me to give her subcutaneous
fluids at home for 3 years, always 200 ccs, once a week.
This summer, I was watching her
eat and she was tilting her head to one side. I thought we had a tooth
issue as she went for dental surgery recently, and because of her age,
her blood pressure rose and then fell, and they could not extract one of
the teeth that were a problem. Well, this was not the case.
The vet stated that a tumor was
under the tongue and a biopsy at her age, based on the bp with the tooth
extraction, would not be in her best interest. For three months, we
kept her as comfortable as possible and gave her lots of love, tons of
love.
At first it was eating to the
side. Second indicator was her pawing at her mouth after she ate and
drooling started. She then began to bleed and the pawing became more
aggressive in nature. Her weight dropped 2 pounds in 3 months which
obviously meant she was not eating as she should. My husband and I
struggled as to when would be the right time. Other than the signals of
discomfort, the vet indicated she was not in debilitating pain but we
started putting pain medication in her food to help her along.
This Friday, I noticed the food
fell out of her mouth as she perhaps lost the ability to swallow.
However, to her credit, she was still hanging with us, lying on her
warming blanket as usual. This Sunday, she stopped eating completely.
She started to wonder around the kitchen, at the buffet of food we laid
for her (baby food, tuna, fresh blended white chicken breast and broth,
Fancy Feast favorites), and sniffed and walked on.
It was time.
Because of the renal failure,
hitting the vain was not easy. They placed her under anesthesia by
injecting medicine into a muscle and brought her back to me. She fell
asleep in my arms. They then took her back to put her to rest.
As I sit here and type this, I
miss certain things that I never thought I would:
1.
I miss lying with you and watching TV,
hearing you purr. You were my constant couch companion in your later
days. I liked your warming blanket too.
2.
I miss you following me around the
house, waiting until I finally sat down and lay with you.
3.
I miss laying three plates out for
three cats. I even did this tonight, force of habit.
4.
I miss caring for you, as this became
such an integral part of our life toward the end.
5.
I miss wondering about you all the
time, as this again became common place.
6.
Most of all, I miss you, and the
unconditional love you gave me for 20 years.
Goodbye my sweet Weffy.
This trail will not be easy,
but if you can focus on the time left with your cat, make this special,
and keep it present, it will help. You will not be able to control the
outcome, but you do have control with the time given, even as brief as
it is. Use it to its full advantage.
March 2008
On the 5th day of hiding, he came home in the middle of the night, scratching at the window which he does all the time so I let him in. The next morning I took him to the vet. This was late in the pm so the vet had to keep him overnight. The next day she called to say that she could see no injuries, but his mouth was swollen and she had a feeling it was tumour. WIthout an autopsy, she wouldn't know for sure, so of course I wanted to be sure, but I was shocked as I said I had never seen any signs of swelling, or any ill health until he suddenly dashed under the bed. We decided to go ahead with X-rays first and then see what they showed. But after the X-rays, the vet recommended a biopsy so that we were sure of what we were dealing with. I told the vet to go ahead with the biopsy, and I had decided that, if, in fact, he had cancer I should have him put down. I couldn't bear to go see him as I couldn't bear the thought that this might be the last time I saw him! On the third day, I called the vet again and they told me that he had started eating and was feeling pretty good, so I decided to go see him. I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't to see my cat looking healthy, happy and frisky when I walked in to the room! While I was visiting him, he ate a whole tin of cat food. I left feeling positive and happy, certain that the vet had made a mistake and that cat was fine. On Saturday I went in and brought him home and decided to wait for the biopsy results. Prior to this, I paid a $500 bill which included the cost of the X-rays and the biopsy. When I picked him up, I was also told that he was on antibiotics, which I hadn't been told before and that I should continue with the antibiotics until they were gone. At the time I wondered why he was on antibiotics if he had cancer..but I just kept hoping that it was maybe just a tooth infection and now that he was eating again, it would go away. On Monday, I heard nothing, so I called the vet and they said the results weren't in yet. On Tuesday late morning, the vet called to say that the biopsy had revealed "squamous cell carcinoma", terminal cancer. She said there is nothing more she can do. My heart stopped and was in shock! I remember asking what do I do now and her saying "just enjoy the time you have left." She said it may be as soon as two weeks! She also told me that during the biopsy procedure she had removed 2 teeth. I remember thinking (but not asking!) why she hadn't told me about the teeth before hand, as my cat had always eaten dry cat food and he was continuing to eat dry cat food over the past days after I picked him up. Unfortunately, due to shock, I didn't ask any questions. When I came home I started on line to find information and came across your website! It taught me a lot. One of the things I noticed was some people are saying that doing the biopsy is sometimes the "catalyst" that makes the disease progress quicker and after hearing this I became very angry that this wasn't explained to me. I never would have agreed to a biopsy, if I knew it would shorten the life span of my beloved pet! Today is Saturday, March 15th, and my cat had been eating normally all week and doing the same things he always does. The only difference, is, now that I know, I watch his every move and every breath, wondering if he is out of character, or in pain. Now I probably watch for things or notice things that aren't even there because I am so paranoid about him being in pain! I went out and bought him some soft food and he seemed to enjoy it up until today. He won't eat the wet food or the dry food today. I went to a specialty pet store to ask for some advice about feeding. When I filled them in on that past weeks in the life of my cat, they were shocked about a few things: 1) why didn't the vet ask first about removing the teeth 2) why didn't the vet tell me when I picked the cat up that he had teeth removed 3) how big is the tumour 4) where is the tumour 5) is it growing in out out of the mouth 6) is there anything I can do about keeping him out of pain All these questions make perfect sense, but in my shock, and denial, I never had a chance to ask them. I am going to phone the vet now, get an appointment and ask these questions! Stay tune for the answers, and the continuing story of my beautiful, Chucky. Update on Chucky: when I called the vet back she wanted another $25 to make an appointment to answer the questions. This, after already spending $500 and no consultation??? Anyway I found another vet and what an amazing difference. She sat with me, the cat, and my daughter for 1/2 hour, went over the x-ray from the other vet and the diagnosis and did a thorough exam of my Chuckie. She agreed with the vet's diagnosis, but felt in view of my cat's excellent health and condition otherwise, that he could live another 4-6 months. She prescribed a pain medication and has agreed to see my kitty every 2 weeks, weigh him, (for free) and then we will see when he starts to go down hill rapidly, I may have to make the dreaded decision. In the meantime, he continues to eat, go outside, and enjoy life while we enjoy him! I will keep you posted. By the way, will this be posted on your website? Terry
March 2008
The decision to end Magu's life on March 14 2008 was an extremely difficult one. It was one that I had hoped I would never have to make. More than anything I wanted her to just go to sleep at home one day or night and never wake up. Wishful thinking. I had never gone through this experience before and was in shock. I researched all I could about this ailment and soon discovered that even though she now appeared healthy, her time would quickly come. Through my research I discovered this site and found it to be extremely useful and was rather surprised to find so many others in a similar position to us.
Late 2007 I noticed slight swelling under her right eye. The next day I saw what appeared to be pus coming out of her eye and immediately rang to make an appointment to see the vet the following day. He looked inside her mouth and told me that she had a 'nasty' infection, which appeared to be an abscess from a tooth, and would need to be on antibiotics for a week. She was then booked in for the following week for a dental. During the dental she had one tooth and several roots (without teeth) removed and an x-ray was taken. The results of the x-ray showed that her jaw was eroding which was caused possibly by either a really bad infection - or cancer. I was told she now had no back teeth left - only her beautiful front teeth. The results of Magu's biopsy came back early January 2008. It was confirmed that she had squamous cell carcinoma of the right upper jaw and as this is a particularly aggressive form of cancer the only advice I was given was to take her home and let her live as comfortably as she could until her quality of life deteriorated – to the point where she could no longer eat or drink.She continued to eat (she loved cat biscuits and not once in her life did she chew these - only swallowed them - so she continued to eat these) - she still ate her canned food, raw mince, little treats of chicken if we had that for dinner - and of course she continued to purr, meow and sit on our laps. Little by little she detached herself from us and became more recluse. She slept more and would really only come when she heard the other pets being fed. She would eat, then try to clean herself and totter off to her favourite spot of the day and go back to sleep. Eating became more of a hassle with each passing day, she managed to eat okay but the ritual of cleaning herself afterwards became a real effort. As the disease progressed it invaded her sinus cavity so she often sounded congested and made lots of sneezing noises. Her eye also became badly affected. Last week she felt real pain and became sphinx-like, tense and unhappy. It was time. The day arrived, she ate her breakfast, I took her outside for a last little feel of wet dew on her paws, she came and sat on my lap and purred so loud. When we arrived at the vet I took her out of her carry case in the waiting room (something I’ve never done before) and we cuddled until we were called in. She purred, cried and clung to me for dear life. We said our goodbyes. She was the best cat I have ever had and I am going to miss her so much. Chris Martens Thanks for giving me the opportunity to 'talk' about our experience. I really appreciate it.
In 2000, a kitten showed up on my front porch. I kept her and named her Timmie because she was so timid. December 22, 2008
January 20, 2009 The vet (Dr. B) examined the hard lump growth on the left jaw bone and said it was pushing the tongue up and the lower left jaw down. Dr. B wanted to rule out tumor by biopsy and x-ray. January 23, 2009 Timmie was taken in for x-rays and biopsy. I went home and researched treatment for cancer. For humans I believe food is medicine, especially fruits and vegetables. So I figure food would be medicine for Timmie as well. The problem, there is not much info out there for pets. Can cats eat fruits/veggies? Which ones, I know cats have more sensitive bodies than dogs. I didn’t come across this site until later in the disease process so I did not see the protocol for Casper. I started off with the following and made educated guesses regarding doses: Astragalus, Pau d’ Arco, Prozyme (been using for all pets for years), multivit/minerals (routinely used), a little raw food, Udo’s Choice (I stopped this after a couple months after hearing Flax is not absorbed as well as other oils), salmon oil (routinely used). January 30, 2009 - Prognosis Dr. B called with biopsy results stating it was positive for cancer. I went into the office for further discussion. Got results from pathologist: squamous cell carcinoma, intermediate to high-grade, invasive into bone. Expected to be locally aggressive with moderate to possibly high potential for eventual distant metastasis. Multiple areas of bone invasion were identified. Dr. B explained alternatives, none pleasing. She spoke with radiologist-several treatments to be given at weekly intervals (difficult to make appointments when working) and concurrent with chemo. Because of the location of this tumor in the jaw itself, the radiation may not reach the tumor through the bone. This was also a very expensive alternative, especially when I feel I will be out of a job soon. Also the survival of a few months to a year can’t support this route. Surgery to remove the tumor would also not be an option; cats do not do well with portions of their jaw gone. Dr. B was not sure how much of the jaw/tongue would have to be removed since margins would also have to be removed to make sure the entire tumor was removed. Dr. B informed me of the progression of the disease and what to expect. Basically, I would be giving end of life care, the majority being for pain relief. Eating will become even more difficult, the teeth would be pushed out and the bone will dissolve into a “rubber jaw”. However, a feeding tube could be placed. She also gave me information of an oncologist who also treats with supplements but who does not actually practice true integrative medicine. The only problem here was that this vet only visited a nearby city only on Wed. This poses a problem for a working person, I would have to drive quite a distance and make sure I can get this time off. I called this vet (Dr. V) to make an appointment. February 4, 2009 - Begin Treatment Dr. V explained everything as Dr. B had. Dr. V thought that radiation would not work (of course) because the tumor was in the bone but it could be done concurrently with the chemo. She also explained the future necessity of a feeding tube. I felt this was not needed at this time because Timmie was still eating a lot although slow and was regaining some weight she had lost over the last couple of weeks (ounces). Looking back I think this was a mistake. I should have had the feeding tube placed at this time when Timmie was in the best health and it would have been a less stressful procedure. Because I was so overwhelmed in the moment and wanted to say I did everything I could to help my kitty, I had a chemo (carboplatin) treatment done at this visit. At this visit several other meds/supplements were prescribed: nalbuphine (pain), metacam (anti-inflammatory), Eskimate (mushrooms-enhance immune system), agaricus (mushrooms-enhance immune system), cytoxan (chemo), cerenia (nausea). The carboplatin chemo would be a monthly treatment and the other meds were given daily or every other day. When I got the bill for the visit I contemplated only using supplements and hospice care since I could not afford $700/month for the required 3-6 treatments. I gave two of the prescribed at-home chemo treatments then decided to quit the chemo altogether since I could not afford it and continued with the previous supplements and added milk thistle and CoQ 10 to help the liver excrete the chemo. Timmie seemed to tolerate the chemo ok. She got slightly lethargic and went off food for a couple of days. The Cerenia helped with this. I gave the supplements by opening the capsules and pouring the contents into her food which she ate fine. I don’t know if this method is appropriate. I thought that the stomach acids might just inactivate the substances. I started to put her into a large wire dog crate at feeding times to keep the dog from stealing her food. She would run to the crate when she heard me fixing the meals. She was always fed first. About 5 days after the chemo the lump started to feel a little warm. I hoped that this was good. When Timmie was having bad days I gave the supplements (I used tinctures when possible for this) by syringe into the mouth. This could only be done on the right side of the mouth since the left side of the jaw had started to droop and was probably painful. The tongue was still slightly protruding at times and shifting to the right side of the jaw. She would drool every now and then. Dr. B prescribed Bupren2x for pain when I could not be home for long periods of time since the nalbuphine had to be given every 3-4 hours. At her next appointment with Dr. V, her tumor appeared to “stabilize” and the nodes and tongue were clear. I felt so relieved, but I increased the dosages (by 25-50%) of the supplements. March 2009 The tumor appeared to be enlarging with more outward growth, but not yet to the right side of the jaw. The left eye seemed to have a slightly increase in moisture/tears. The tongue still protruded about ¼”. She drools occasionally. Timmie started using her paw to get food to her mouth. I started her on IP6, this I put in a very small amount of food first thing in AM and last thing in PM since it is supposed to be taken on empty stomach. I also added Maitake (mushroom). I give her all of the foods she preferred. Because she can’t eat the dry food anymore, I used a pill crusher to smash this and sprinkle it on the food. April 2009 Timmie was gradually losing more weight due to decreased food intake. A small amount of pus from the mouth was seen. The antibiotic, Convenia was prescribed on an every two week basis. I was to give an injection at home and the next one would be given at the monthly clinic check. Subcutaneous fluids and subcutaneous vit B12 were started at this time as well. I would be giving these at home as well. I had to do this with an older cat just a few years earlier so I was used to doing this and it was not a problem, one gets used to it. This would have been another great time to have a feeding tube placed, but I still felt hopeful I guess. Timmie would eat fine for days and then have a poor day in between. I continued with all of the prescribed anti-inflammatories, pain meds and supplements. To stimulate her appetite I added juice from the dog food, tuna and any other items I could think of. I had to make trips every couple of days to Dr. B to pick up a box of Buprenex. May 2009 Early in the month I saw blood clots mixed with saliva on the sheets in the crate. I did not see any active bleeding from her mouth. I figured the teeth had started to be pushed out. Timmie’s weight had stabilized by her next vet visit, so she appeared to be eating better with the antibiotic. Dr. V stated surprise (but pleased) to see Timmie had survived this long and to keep doing what I’m doing (but didn’t ask/wasn’t interested in what I was doing although I had told her previously that I was using supplements). The drooling continued and sometimes was very prolific. However, this didn’t last too long. By mid-month her appetite had greatly decreased and one day she meowed to leave the crate leaving most of her food uneaten. The favorite foods and sprinkling of smashed dry food did not seem to work anymore. There was some clotted blood on the dish. She immediately ran behind the couch. She had been drooling quite a bit lately and a small bare patch had started on her chest. Timmie’s drooling had decreased but the bald patch had grown on her chest. This I dusted with cornstarch to prevent skin breakdown. The bald area had started to spread down the front legs over a couple of days. The chest area was mostly dry and the drooling appeared to be less and I didn’t observe excessive cleaning. By this time I think self-cleaning by Timmie was too difficult. I continued to use cornstarch and there was no skin breakdown. A cycle started to emerge: decreased appetite occurred with excessive drooling/bleeding and appetite returned when drooling/bleeding decreased. Timmie no longer runs to the crate in anticipation for her meals. Now I have to go find her, coax her, or just grab her to place her in the crate. When she can’t eat she meows to be let out of the crate. I added a little juice or just stirred the food and sometimes she ate a little more. I carried her around with me a lot now; I called her “queen”. I was somewhat glad that I was laid-off so I could have that extra time with her. June 2009 The drooling continues. Fur had regrown in the bare areas. Timmie had started to shake her head to get rid of the drool accumulating in/around her mouth. This has made me place newspaper/towels in her favorite resting areas. However, each time I put newspaper or a towel where she has chosen to sleep she didn’t go back to that area and picked a new place to lie. So I ended up with a house full of oddly scattered newspaper and towels! Her chin had become very itchy and she found great satisfaction in me rubbing it. I just had to quickly turn my head when I see the head shaking coming on so I didn’t get splattered. I added pycnogenol to her protocol. She actually looked as if she was feeling pretty good. Because of the weight she lost (she should have lost this weight to begin with, she was overwt) she actually climbed a tree to get onto the roof, which she hadn’t done since she was much younger. She was also still jumping onto the couch to sit next to me (to have her chin rubbed) and up onto the file cabinet (her last sleeping area). She did however avoid the other cats and the dog, to prevent injury to her face. When she wasn’t eating too much I added water to make the food possibly easier to eat. July 2009 At Dr. V appointment: there was edema (swelling) under the tongue now and the lump had increased in size. There has been more blood in the drool over a longer period of time (mostly every day now). I increased the amount of IP 6. Timmie was not eating much at all now, no matter how dressed up I made her meals. Now I was becoming very concerned and thought more seriously about placing the feeding tube. At mid month a mostly clear, thin drainage started from under her chin. I made a short notice appointment with Dr. B for the 17th. She examined Timmie and suggested I put warm compresses to the area twice a day. She did not give any explanation of the cause. A few days later, the wound increased in size and had blood present this time. Timmie was not eating at all and had what looked like food stuck on her tongue and stuck in her mouth. I made an appointment for the 27th. Dr. B examined Timmie once again and stated she had no more bone left and has the “rubber jaw” she described to me at the time of the diagnosis. Now I wanted to place a feeding tube. Dr. B stated she did not feel comfortable doing it at this time since so much inflammation ha occurred and she cannot get a clear view to the correct placement. She would like Dr. V to do the procedure. This would not be a problem since our next appointment was on the 29th. By this time, when I put Timmie’s dish down she would stick her head down and try to eat but just couldn’t. She would look up at me and meow. If I walked around to do other things, she would walk around with me and walk around in circles in the kitchen meowing to me that she was hungry. I tried to syringe feed her, but she fought it a bit, and it wasn’t enough to fill her up. I told her she was going to have a tube put in and then she could eat all she wanted and would have a full tummy again. July 29 I kept Timmie in the crate overnight so I wouldn’t have any problems finding/catching her and to keep her fasting (that was probably no problem) for her morning (mourning) appointment with Dr. V for a feeding tube. I wasn’t sure if it could be placed that day or if I would have to schedule it for the following week. Oddly, Timmie was very, very quiet on the trip to the vet. I don’t know if this was because of the swelling (she could still purr and meow softly) or she knew something I didn’t know. I kept telling her she was going to have a tube to help her eat and that she could have food soon and not be so hungry. I talked with the vet tech first. She explained the feeding tube and a gastric tube. I couldn’t afford the gastric tube. Dr. V then came in and explained the options as well. She talked about the feeding tube, gastric tube (I said I could not afford this), and euthanasia. She examined Timmie and stated that there was so much swelling there would be additional complications and special procedure and tube had to be used. I believe she had to get assistance from a more experienced vet as well. Because of these complications, this increased the cost of the procedure beyond of my ability. This left only euthanasia. This was not part of my plans. I was expecting to take Timmie home with me, either with a feeding tube in place or an appointment for its placement. So this part of the story is cloudy. I remember a lot of talking by Dr. V about being wise, animals live in the moment, and if I took her home now without some intervention that that would be torture. She gave me an article to read regarding euthanasia. I don’t remember what it said; I don’t think I even read it. They gave me as much time I needed to make my decision. They were quite respectful and did not rush. This was the most difficult day of my life. The euthanasia procedure went as smoothly as possible. Timmie got a very strong pain med to put her into a deep sleep. I spent about 40 minutes with her at this time and tried to explain what was happening. Why there was a change in plans and that she would not be coming home the way we expected. After this the other drugs were injected. A little candle was lit and a bunch of flowers were placed on the exam table. I stayed with my kitty. The vet tech took her out of the room after these drugs took effect, supposedly to trim a keepsake fur for me. I believe Timmie was holding on for too long and additional drugs were injected. Well she came home with me and was buried with her dish and I like to think that she can now eat all she wants and is pain-free. At her 1 and 2 month anniversaries she has told me so.
Timmie at 9 years in spring 2009. Protruding tongue, swelling at left jaw, and shifting of jaw.
Around November, I noticed that Spreezie (as I called her) didn't seem all that interested in eating like she used to. But, she wasn't getting thinner either. 12-07, both cats went for their annual check-ups. The vet recommended that Spree get her teeth cleaned. 1-16-08, my 12 yr old female cat, Spree went in for a routine teeth cleaning. She's always had a terrible time with her teeth and only had about 9 remaining in her mouth. Her breath had deteriorated and she seemed to be uninterested in eating her normal dry food but she isn't losing weight. The vet removed a tooth that was almost out by itself and thought that she may have been in pain since food particles were trapped under the root. Everything else seemed normal. 1-18-08. Spree is running around and playing like a kitten! It's really great to see her so elated!! She is on antibiotics from the oral surgery and it will probably be 2 weeks before her mouth is back to normal and eating dry foods again. 2-12-08. Spree is still very cautious about eating dry food, so, I've been "finger" feeding her canned/wet cat food 3x a day. Something isn't right so I make an appt. with the vet. He sees her the same day and says that he feels a lump in her lower jaw and wants to x-ray her. I pick her up later in the day and he says he isn't hopeful because the x-ray shows deterioration of the lower jaw and it's most likely SCC so he took a biopsy and results will be back by the 15th. 2-15-08, just as we feared, SCC. The vet didn't think that removing her lower jaw & hooking I.V.'s up to her was a humane option, so, I decided that I would keep her as comfortable as possible for as long as this was going to take. I immediately ask for pain meds. The vet prescribed "Metacam" orally at .15ml every other day. Since this is a nasty NSAID, it will probably damage her liver & kidneys, however, I am certain the cancer will win this battle. The vet didn't think she'd make it past 2 weeks. Spree won't eat from her food dish anymore and is starting to eat Gerber's baby food 2nd stage, meats but only if I "finger" feed her. She's clearly hungry and plays more than normal! 3-1-08. Spree is still with us! She seems more comfortable on the days that I give her the Metacam but she is having trouble eating quickly and is starting to paw at her mouth a little and she is drooling a bit more, too. I have been giving her numerous handfuls of "pounce" or "whiskas" cat treats and she'll eat them right off of the carpet. She has trouble picking up these morsels off of hardwood flooring. 3-12-08. She is very hungry today and even initiated playing with her ball all by herself! She isn't losing weight and seems normal but has started pawing at her mouth with both paws. She won't eat any more baby food but has been eating cat treats regularly. 3-14-08. Spree has started finding new sleeping spots that are out of the normal house traffic. She is drinking water and seemingly okay but the tumor is about the size of an almond when you feel under her chin. I also noticed that she is shedding way more than ususal for this time of the year. Over the next week, Spree has good days and bad ones. Some days I can get her to eat tons of "treats" and others, she isn't interested. She is sleeping quite a bit and the drool is getting worse. The oddest thing is that the vet initially said that she would probably bleed continually and her breath would smell bad, however, I didn't see or smell any of that. She's still playing with her favorite ball and sitting in my lap. 3-26-08. Not much change but I do think she's becoming uncomfortable and is very cautious when eating and drinking water. She found a hiding spot in our closet on top of a fleece jacket that is resting on a storage bin. 3-27-08. I found a few drops of blood on her white blanket but she seemed okay. She wouldn't eat today. 3-28-08. Today she is "scared" to eat. She is hiding in the closet again. I got her to drink some tuna fish juice and she seemed elated about that! She had a couple of moist "Pounce" but it's nearly impossible for her to pick them up off the carpet and she gets frustrated. 3-29-08. Spree came to wake me up this morning. After trying the tuna juice and whiskas treats she ran away from me as if I was serving up daggers. This poor girl. When coming downstairs I see blood splotches all over the living room floor and a few dots on her blanket. After I pulled back the couch cushion, there was a massive amount of blood all over her white towel & bedding. I knew today would be the final day for her. I couldn't have gotten a clearer sign that it was time. At 9:45 am, she was euthenized and went peacefully. This type of oral cancer is terrible. She was the sweetest cat and I am very angry that she had to have something this devistating happen to her. It's never easy when you have an animal that you love so much and is part of your life suddenly get this ill this quickly. Cherish every single second you have with them because you never know when it will be over. I cry nearly every day because I miss her so much. I hope this helps anyone out there that has just found out their beloved pet just received this diagnosis. |
Jack was a
CAT cat, the kind of cat that spent his time being superior and impervious to
humans, very much "A dog thinks: You feed me you must be God, a Cat thinks: You
feed Me I must be God". In fact if you picked him up and gave him a hug he would
surely leap away from you with much disdain Jack Ruled. Jack was Alpha, he loved
his companions Lily and Willie but they bowed to his presence. Jack ate first,
Jack played first (dibs on any catnip toy and jingle bell balls and scratching
post and...) Jack used the litter box first. It was good to be The Jack. And
then he became sick and his world changed.
I have two cats, Keiko (13) and Tybalt (8). Keiko has beautiful green eyes lined like Cleopatra. She acts like a princess. She is a lap cat. She accompanies me
to the bathroom every morning and evening while I get ready for work or bedtime. She just sits on the counter next to the sink and purrs or brushes against me. She sits on my lap when I have breakfast. She is small and demure. I call her my “petite pussy cat”. She’s also known as Pookie.
October
2006
Magu
started her life with us after I found her in a pet shop at the age of 8 weeks
back in June 1997. I immediately fell in love with her and brought her home to
be a companion to our cat Stan (who came to us as a stray at approx 3 years of
age in 1994), 3 children aged 7, 9 and 12 and partner Eric.
Took
my birthday day-off to take Timmie into vet to check teeth. I had noticed
Timmie eating slower for the last 2-3 weeks and foul breath the last week. The
vet removed tartar (lots), gave vaccine and prescribed antibiotic for two weeks.
While giving the antibiotic during the last week I felt a lump in the soft
tissue of the jaw. I thought infection but she was on an antibiotic and that
should take care of it. I also wondered if the lump had already been there and
both I and the vet hadn’t noticed it (that would have been horrible if the vet
hadn’t noticed it since she did do a teeth cleaning job). Going on to the next
week the lump was still there and might be enlarging. She was still eating
slowly and the foul breath returned. New signs occurred: drooling down the chin
and the tongue was slightly sticking out. I made another vet appointment.
Apr. 11, 2008 Here is my journal on my cat Spree. The best kitty ever.