It seemed appropriate to post this picture today since Basette’s ashes have arrived at the vet’s. It was the last picture I took of her, minute before she was put to sleep. It’s painful to see how different she looks. So lost. She wasn’t there any more; her mind had fled the misery her body was in. (Yes, the picture is that small for a reason. Click on the thumbnail for a larger...
Continue reading...Cats
Photographs
I think I’ve figured out a way to deal with some of the grief: making a memorial for Basette here at the house. I have a small table with pictures of all of my relatives who have died, poems I wrote for eulogies, and knick-knacks that remind me of them. An apple pie-scented candle for my grandmother who baked amazing pies; a picture of my Dad playing with the cats; two pages worth...
Continue reading...Hitting, running…
It hasn’t really hit me that Basette won’t be back. On an intellectual level, I know that she won’t be back; that she is gone forever to visit only in memories. On an emotional level, it’s very hard to accept. No, not hard to accept. It is hard to express the grief. How do you say goodbye to a kitten who has been with you for 14 years? I’ll always think of her...
Continue reading...Strange days
It has been only a few days since Basette was put to sleep. I left for travel that same day. How do you prepare to walk into your home and not be greeted by a furry little friend? How do you know for the emotional shock of seeing remnants of your pet’s life — but no pet? Friday it will hit me, and probaby quite hard. Basette was a constant companion for 14...
Continue reading...One Last Purr
Basette purred when I picked her up during the consultation with her vet this morning. We spoke candidly about the Little Black Wonder Cat(tm): treatment options, outlook, and chances for Basette to have a normal life. She had received regular fluids to flush toxins (side effect of the kidney disease). Her glucose levels, usually stabilized by her healthy eating habits, were spiking and dropping. She didn’t feel because she wasn’t consistently interested in...
Continue reading...Visit with Basette
I visited with Basette for 1.5 hours today. When I first got there, she purred, stood up in her cage, and walked over to me. Purring so loudly. So happy to see me. She seemed better at first. She cuddled under my chin, purred contentedly. After about 20 minutes, she became uncomfortable and squirmed to be put down. She walked around on the floor a few steps, stop, and wobble on her back...
Continue reading...Basette update
Quick note: the vet called this morning. Basette hasn’t improved. My regular vet wasn’t in today, so she asked another vet to call me. Her glucose levels had dipped low again last night, so she is still responding to the insulin. I’ll post again after I visit Basette. Related Images:
Continue reading...Bad news
Basette spent the day at the vet’s for monitoring. We’d hoped that she would continue to improve Wednesday after bouncing back so thoroughly on Tuesday. The vet called me this morning. In a long voicemail message, she said that Basette looked worse: lethargic, not interested in eating/drinking, didn’t want to walk around, and generally feeling blah. Why would Basette be worse when her glucose levels were lower and seemed to be finally under...
Continue reading...Basette update
The vet called this morning with some good news! Basette’s morning glucose was 405 (much lower then the prior day’s 500+), and her lunch-time glucose was 339. She’s edging back towards a normal glucose level finally. The best news was that Basette was up and walking around the clinic. Not just a step or two — but the entire circumference of the back room. Her change in activity says more to me than...
Continue reading...Cat Tag
When Basette was a kitten, she used to play tag. She’d sit under my chair and purr when that tail-twitching mood descended. Not a half-hearted purr-so-you’ll-put-me-down, but her full-throated, shake-the-floor-like-Granddad’s-snoring purr. It didn’t matter if I had to finish a paper for the next day’s class. She wanted to play, and she wanted to play now. As her human, it was my obligation to fulfill her every whim. I could ignore her to...
Continue reading...Bounce-back Basette
Every other day with Basette has paled in comparison with today. When I took her in to the vet’s this morning, I fully expected to face a horrible decision. She wasn’t comfortable, and I did not want her to suffer. It’s a sad considering saying good bye to an animal you love dearly. How do you prepare? How do you know when it’s time to let her go instead of trying just one...
Continue reading...Possible ideas…
A friend just sent me an email with some Web sites with additional information on diabetes and adrenal gland problems in cats: Feline Adrenal Disease Feline diabetes tips Related Images:
Continue reading...Maybe some other options…
Basette went back to the vet’s this morning. She really isn’t herself today. She’s been walking into cabinets. Her water and food seemed almost untouched. Only one spot in the litter box this morning. She is still having trouble standing. I was on my way in to work this morning and I called the vet. She said to bring Basette in for a neurological exam, so I turned around, drove home to pick...
Continue reading...On shakey ground
Basette isn’t doing well tonight. For several minutes, she couldn’t stand up. Whenever she tried to, her back legs gave out and she collapsed on the floor. She sat there for several minutes, unmoving, tail flicking unhappily. I picked her up, and comforted her. She fidgeted to be let down, so I carefully placed her down. She promptly collapsed again. I called a friend of mine in tears. If Basette couldn’t stand up,...
Continue reading...Wondering about the little black cat
After several days of feeling spry, Basette went back to the vet’s today to have her glucose checked. It was above 500 again. Her insulin dose has been increased two units, and she’ll return after a week for a checkup. Some days it seems to be touch-and-go with Basette. She has a good day, and then an evening when it seems like her energy is gone and she just looks bone tired. It’s...
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