Sigh... one of my favorite feline friends is dying....

[Dookus]

The ancient orange tabby, Ralph, who lives next door is on his last legs. He is SUCH a sweet old guy.... but everything's catching up to him. He has a ton of thyroid problems, is deaf, and in the last couple weeks has just about stopped eating.

He's not suffering, from what I can see. He still lays on the front porch and walks around a little. Still purrs like crazy when I pick him up. He's drinking water, just not eating.

His owners are exceptionally good cat owners and won't let him suffer, but they're hoping he'll just go quietly on the porch.

He was a stray that was brought to them a couple years ago. He's had an exceptionally well-cared for old age. He loved hanging out in my yard and just LOVES to be petted and held.

I'm gonna miss my buddy Ralph.

[Padraig18]

1. Awww....

May he go dreaming of chasing mice, while sleeping peacefully in the sun.

:hug:

[Dookus]

4. thanks...

I just went next door to look for him, and found him sleeping in a shady spot in my front yard. I gave him some water and some loving, but it's clear he doesn't have much longer. He is SUCH a sweet, loving cat....

[benburch]

2. You could force feed him.

There is nutritional paste the vet has given us in the past for similarly sick animals.

[SoCalDem]

6. Force feeding an elderly, sick animal is not a favor

Animals have an innate sense of their demise.. When it's their time, they just stop eating.. If Ralph was a young cat who was ill, it might be necessary to "get him over the hump", but if he's old, there's no reason to distress him further..:(..

It's a damn shame that our furry friends have such short lifetimes (compared to ours)

[Dookus]

7. Thanks SoCal

I think Ralph knows it's time, and he's making the best of it. He's enjoying the warm weather and lolling in the shade. I see no reason to interfere with that.

[Donkeyboy75]

3. One thing I'll tell you

is that cats and dogs are notoriously stoic, in that they don't show pain. My tenth birthday present, Cosby, recently died, and it was because we put him to sleep. He had all sorts of kidney failure and wasn't eating, but when the vet described what was happening to him inside, it was excruciating to hear (and a testament to the little guy's character, as his demeanor hadn't changed other than an onset of sluggishness). Ralph also sounds like a tough little guy.

It's really heartbreaking to see a pet go. :cry:

[arcane1]

5. :(

my Gowron is getting on in years and I think about days like this much more often now

sorry to hear :evilfrown:

[hyphenate]

8. My Jessica is sick as well

And I can't afford to take her to the vet. :(

She's been diabetic for about a year now, but I noticed after this weekend, that she's barely eating. I even opened a can of tuna for her, and she won't eat it. I suspect she's now got chronic renal failure, but I guess I'm in denial--I lost my Dax last February, and my Kira in October--losing Jessica is just another horror in my current life. I feel so bad........I wish I could do more, but I can't, except to watch her and keep loving her as much as I can.

[Dookus]

9. I'm so sorry to hear that, Hyphenate...

I lost a cat with diabetes last September... My sweet Polly. She was 16, and in fairly good health right up until her last two days, when she went into hypoglycemic shock. Then we couldn't stabilize her blood at all - the numbers kept dropping no matter what I did, so I had her put to sleep. It was heartbreaking, but I know she had a good long life and was loved and cared for.

That's all you can do. I wish you and Jessica the best.

[geniph]

12. hyphenate -

when my cat Fractal was suffering from diabetes, I was able to get her medication much more cheaply from the human pharmacy (she was on Glipizide) than from the vet. Diabetes in cats is often very treatable; call around to see if you can find a vet clinic that is in a position to help you out, maybe by letting you work volunteer hours, or set up a payment plan or something like that.

I lost Fractal finally to the diabetes. My only regret is that I took her to the hospital when she was terminal, so from her viewpoint, she spent the last week of her life being tormented by strangers. I wish I'd let her go peacefully at home, but when it came right down to it, I couldn't do it. I still miss my sweet girl.

[Susang]

14. Hyphenate

Our cat Spartacus recently was critically ill (and unfortunately passed away). When my husband explained our financial situation to our vet, she kindly offered to break her fees into small payments that we could manage. Don't know if that's even an option for you, but it was extremely helpful for us and allowed us to choose from more care options than we would have had otherwise. Also, check out your local anti-cruelty society. The one here in Chicago operates on a sliding scale based on your income. It might be worth a shot. Hope things work out for you.

[hyphenate]

21. Thanks, guys....

I put her in the bathroom tonight with her tuna salad and some dry food as well as water, and put out a comfortable mat for her to sleep on tonight. Keeping her away from the other cats who likely just want to eat her tuna might make her eat a little more of it.

I don't have much money, but I'm going to try to set up an appointment for her for tomorrow with a vet. If I were in Calif, it would have been different, as the vet there and I go back about 15 years. The one trip to the vet last May cost me $90 that I barely had--it's even worse this year. But I will see what I can do.

As I mentioned, I've already gone through two losses in the past year, as well as losing one of my best friends last June, so I am just trying to get through all these losses in order to go on. I sound a bit maudlin, I know, but sometimes, life just throws you that rotten tomato instead of something good. Being depressed isn't going to help the animals, so I've got to "buck up" a little for their sake if it's possible.

Thanks again for the suggestions and such--I only hope I have more time with Jessica, hopefully a year, but right now, it's hard to see that happening.

[Dookus]

22. I'm sorry, Susang...

it must suck. I'm glad you're gonna see a vet: at best, you can ease his suffering.

So much loss all at once is really hard. I went through a really hard phase a couple years ago where I lost a whole lot. But we survive. A sense of humor is vital. Go watch a Marx Brothers movie when things get really bad - that's what I do :)

:hug:

[Susang]

26. Thanks for your thoughts

But he died on Sunday. After going over all the treatment options with our vet, we decided against any heroic measures, as the vet told us that if the tumor he had was too bad, she would euthanize him while he was on the operating table. That was not an option for me, and I was perfectly willing to care for him until he was ready to go on his own. He wasn't in any pain and died peacefully while purring on my chest.

[geniph]

10. It comes to us all, in time

if he's had a good long life, and is going without undue suffering and with those who care about him around him, none of us can ask for more.

May his passing be peaceful and may his memory live on in your hearts.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Ohhhh, Dookus I am so sorry. Enjoy these last precious moments

with him, soak up his love, and know what a wonderful friend you were to him.

:loveya: Laura

[Dookus]

15. Thanks Mrs. G....

It's sad, but not tragic. He's old and probably led an interesting life. He looks like an old scrapper. But he spent his last year or two being well-cared for and enjoying every minute of it.

There's something noble about seeing a beautiful old animal who knows it's time to go. I hope I can be as graceful.

[Susang]

13. Sorry to hear that

Never an easy thing to go through. It sounds like he's enjoying the time he has left and that you and his owners are doing everything you can to keep him comfortable.

[Cuban_Liberal]

16. I'm sorry, Dookus.

Give Ralph a rub or two from me, and a :hug: for yourself.

:hi:

[Dookus]

19. Thanks CL...

I sure will. He's the cat I always wanted - a tough old orange tabby. He wasn't mine, but I got to spend lots of quality time with him. He had the run of my house for awhile, but never really did learn to pee outside, so we became "outside" friends :)

I feel bad for my neighbors - this is the third cat they've lost in the last year, and they have another about to go. Of course, they're softies for any old stray that comes along, so they have a lot of older cats.

They refuse to get a kitten because they already have so many cats, but there's a new young stray hanging around that I'm sure they'll end up adopting. They deserve a young cat.

[flamingyouth]

17. Oh, I'm so sorry

They just don't live long enough - it's heartbreaking to see our friends fail and suffer. I'm sorry for you and for all Ralph's friends, Dookus.:hug:

[ikojo]

18. So sorry that you are losing a friend.

:cry:


Hope this makes you feel better....

:grouphug:

[Dookus]

20. Thanks to all

I appreciate all your kind words. We're having beautiful cat weather here, and it will be nice all week, so whenever he goes, it's gonna be on a beautiful day.

[Dookus]

23. update...

just found Ralph standing in front of my house on the sidewalk. I took him home and laid him down on the porch. His mom came by to thank me.

He's gonna go tonight or tomorrow, I guess. I was hoping he'd go during the day, so I hope he makes it through tonight. Tomorrow's gonna be a beautiful day here in Santa Cruz and every cat deserves to die on a nice, sunny day. I hope I'm there to pet him when he goes.

[bubblesby2002]

24. You just brought tears to my eyes Dookus

I hope he gets to go tomorrow too in the sunshine. Awww, what a sweetie you are.:hug:

[Dookus]

25. nah...

I'm just a crusty curmudgeon. But I love cats. They're noble, even in death.

[bubblesby2002]

27. I love cats too

I've got three and would have ten if I had the space and people wouldn't call me the "cat lady". You are right - they're noble little creatures aren't they?

[Dookus]

29. indeed they are...

I have three myself and want more, but my bf wisely talks me out of it.

But there *IS* a new stray in the neighborhood that I would adopt in a minute.....

[bubblesby2002]

30. I almost had a fourth one just the other day.

But her owners came to take her back. The neighbours moved and the cat came back twice. The second time I figured they didn't want her so I was going to keep her and I put her in the garage until I could introduce her to my other girls. Damned if the neighbours didn't come back the next day. Oh well.

[Susang]

28. I hope you are there too.

[flamingyouth]

31. How sad

I just feel so bad for all of you. Take care.:hug:

[Indiana_Dem]

32. AAWWWW. I lost my cat almost 2 years ago.

I thought I was going to give him the "hospice" treatment and let him die here at home in peace. But when I saw him suffering and breathing so hard I couldn't let him suffer anymore. He wouldn't let me hold him and wanted to just stay under the bed. Wouldn't eat or drink. Everytime I tried to spoon feed him some water he would urinate immediately right where he was at. Finally, I took him to the vet and put him to sleep after an 18 year relationship. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I loved that cat. He was all white with one green eye and one blue eye. His name was Petie.

[Dookus]

33. aww..

he sounds like a beautiful cat.

I agree with your approach... as soon as there is any sign of suffering, it's time to put them down. I couldn't live with myself otherwise.

But some old animals just die, and can do so with dignity. Ralph seems to be one of them. I know that if he's in any pain, his "parents" will have the vet there within an hour.

I'm sorry for your loss... he must've been a wonderful companion.

[Indiana_Dem]

35. I think he loved me as much as I loved him.

I always protected him because the rest of my family aren't cat people. He wanted to always pee in the corner by our laundry room and I hated it but I always overlooked it because I loved him so much. My family hated all the white fur all over the house all the time, too. He stuck to me like glue and while I would sit at the computer, he would either rest on my shoulders like I was a tree or sit right next to the computer looking at me. He would always let me hold him like a baby and he would just pur and let me rock him back and forth! I haven't been able to get another cat because my family won't let me. We have a black pug but he isn't very cuddly. He's a nice dog but I always liked to hold my cat and feel his long soft fur. It was like rabbit fur and he could grab me with his paws (declawed) to get my attention. I wish I could have another cat so bad! I get jealous when I hear about everybody else's cats on this forum! I feed the strays around here but my family gets mad at me and chases them off. The other day we had a Ernest Hemingway cat here, you know, the kind of cats with the extra toes?? That was kind of freaky.

[Dookus]

36. just hold onto the dream...

you will have a beautiful cat of your own some day. I know it.

[Indiana_Dem]

38. Thanks, dookus.

You just got me reminiscing...hope your cat friend will be able to go lying in the sun with someone nearby.

[jus_the_facts]

34. Awwww man....

....hope Ralph has a peaceful departure...wish he had 8 more lives instead. :cry:

[Dookus]

39. he's an old ruffian...

I think this *IS* his ninth life. And he's living it well.

[jus_the_facts]

40. I'm glad he's not suffering...

....and peace to you as well! :pals:

[Pithlet]

37. I'm sorry.

Our feline friends don't live long enough :(

[Dookus]

41. thanks...

you're absolutely right... the biggest fault our pets have is their short lives.

Other than that, they're perfect creatures.

[richmwill]

42. Sorry

Prayers for Ralph. How is he doing?