Boris, 12yrs old,has passed away today, June 16, 2014

I know I haven't been on here in ages, but life has been busy. I shattered my leg, ankle and foot, then tore the meniscus (medial and lateral) in my good leg and had to have that operated on as well. Then lost my job. Gotta love the challenges in life.

Anyway... I thought Boris looked bloated for about 1-2 weeks, wasn't sure. So, made a vet appointment and here her blood glucose level was 535. I almost fell over. Even the vet was shocked. Said she did not present like a normal "diabetic" cat would look at all. She has a nice coat, is not skinny or fat, just lethargic, and she started sleeping in the bathroom sink and getting water on her all the time, and peeing everywhere!! So, we started her on 2 units of insulin day and night.

About 3-4 days ago, she started vomiting about 3-4 times a day. She hadn't done this since I switched their food to grain free. So, this alarmed me. Back to the vet yesterday. I was hesitant to give her insulin yesterday AM thinking maybe it was an overdosage of that, even that small of an amount. Again, her glucose was above 530. So, x-rays were ordered and all we could tell was that there is still a lot of water in her belly (hence the peeing all over the place still), her large colon is full of air/gas, and other than that, all he could see was feces. Lots of them. He thinks she has a hair ball blocking her. Boris has NEVER in her life had a hairball, why would she suddenly get one?? I'm not sure about this. She's still lethargic, although very loving. Still a witch to the other cats in the house (so more normal). I just am not buying the hairball deal. He gave me a laxative for her, that nasty stuff you put on their paws or nose and they are supposed to want to lick it off.... yeah, right. I just think there is more going on than a hairball.

Being out of work and on unemployment is not helping. I gave every last cent I had yesterday and I still owe 54.00 (I gave $160). I was not thinking it would be that high. My mom said to put her in a shelter because I can't afford to keep her at my state right now with no job, but I could never do that. She'd just die in a shelter. I always put my kids before me. I am going to my mom to get the balance of the vet bill, and to get some food money because I used my food and gas allowance on the vet bill. I'm just beside myself.

I'm applying to jobs everywhere. Found a librarian job at a local prestigious university. It would be nice to get that one. Right now, anything more than 506.00 weekly would be preferable. i just don't know what to think about Boris and all this crap going on with her. I feel so bad. I want to do more for her, but of course she can't tell me what is wrong.

Anyone have any suggestions?? Or experience with this??

My only suggestion is for the constipation. One of our cats, Charley, has mega colon. We give him 1/4 teaspoon Mira Lax mixed in with some canned food every day.

It has no taste, so no problem with him rejecting it.

I never had a cat that had to be on insulin, tho one of my Meezers from many years ago was diabetic. Unfortunately he was diagnosed too late to save him.. I just can't imagine how one is able to regulate insulin in a cat tho, since it's probably next to impossible to get a urine sample every day. Two of my three Lhasa Apsos from many years ago, were diabetic also, and it was no problem getting samples from them a couple of times each day, and I could adjust their insulin as needed. Both of them lived for approximately 5 years past the time they were diagnosed - one passed at 14 and the other at 16.

Wish I had some idea as to what's going on with Boris, but it's always so much more of a challenge to diagnose and treat a cat, than it is a dog - at least that has been my experience over the years. I'm no doctor of course, but my gut instinct tells me that Boris' problem is diabetes related.

Sending out good wishes - that you get a good diagnosis and it's treatable.

You can do blood testing on a cat. The ear is typical. Felinediabetes.com has a video showing how to do it.

Good luck with Boris and your job search.

I know many diabetic kitties go on to live a long time once things get sorted out. But her diabetes may have affected her digestive tract, and so maybe she does have a hairball even though she never did before ...

I don't have any advice to give you on diabetic cats, Jenn, but we are all sending along our prayers and good wishes and warm healing energies to Boris, and you too.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

No info to share. Prayers from RI for Boris, and for you Jenn. Hope you get that job, sounds like a nice one for you.

I don't have any advice, but lots of good vibes coming your way, for a job and for Boris' health.

My sister's cat was diagnosed as diabetic last summer, was put on insulin, then about a week later, was taken off, as he was now normal. It's been a rollercoaster ride since. He puts weight back on, then loses it again. He was treated for a urinary tract infection, but that only helped for a short time. My sister had also tried different foods. After several trips back and forth to the vets, it was finally determined that one of his kidney's was three times the normal size. After tests to determine if the other one was healthy, it was found that both kidneys were cancerous.

I hope that Boris adjusts to all this and that there is no other underlining problem causing her diabetes.

Boris is still REALLY lethargic. I've taken her back, because I thought maybe too much insulin, but her glucose levels were in the 500's again! The vet didn't suggest anything, just keep on giving her the insulin. I think I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and take her to my OTHER vet, who I feel is a better diagnostician. I can feel a really large lump where her one kidney should be. That worries me a lot. Also just found a new food that is grain free, cause she's my only cat that can't have grain, and it has a low glycemic index. Anyone ever heard of NULO?? I'm trying it, mixing it in with their regular food (all cats are free fed, and all are on grain free food, and they are doing fabulously on it). I owe my other vet money, so I have to wait for unemployment to pay me next week, and I was supposed to pay my mortgage, so I'm really in quandary. I am expecting money back from my home owner's insurance, as we re-evaluated my policy because they put new values in without even telling me and it went up $800.00!!!! I'm trying to change homeowner's insurance companies, but with my credit rating, having filed a claim 2 years ago, no one wants to touch me. This really sucks.

Anyway... that's the news from here.

I feel like I failed her. She was still young. She started to not walk about 4 days ago, leaning her little head on the water bowl. I thought she had too much insulin, so I stopped that and gave her some corn syrup like the vet said to do. Nothing worked. She wouldn't eat. She was breathing really heavy today when I got back from school, and I rushed her to the vet. Dr. Fanelli said that, by the time I got her there, she was throwing clots into her lungs, and then she stopped moving. She passed so quickly. He did give her an injection so she'd go peacefully. I just feel terrible, what she must have been going through and I had no idea.

Rest in peace my Bor-Bors.... I loved you so much. :(

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Originally Posted by jenn_librarian

I feel like I failed her. She was still young. She started to not walk about 4 days ago, leaning her little head on the water bowl. I thought she had too much insulin, so I stopped that and gave her some corn syrup like the vet said to do. Nothing worked. She wouldn't eat. She was breathing really heavy today when I got back from school, and I rushed her to the vet. Dr. Fanelli said that, by the time I got her there, she was throwing clots into her lungs, and then she stopped moving. She passed so quickly. He did give her an injection so she'd go peacefully. I just feel terrible, what she must have been going through and I had no idea.

Rest in peace my Bor-Bors.... I loved you so much. :(

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Rest in peace, pretty girl. Jenn, don't feel badly - you loved her and did the very beast you could for her. Her suffering is over, and she'll greet you with purrs some day at the Rainbow Bridge.

You did your absolute best, Jen, and you loved her so much. Out furbabies are never with us long enough, and some sweeties like Boris don't get to live a normal lifespan so their time with us is even shorter.

Gentle {{{hugs}}} and prayers for you and Boris. :love::love:

I'm so sorry to hear about Boris's passing. If only they could tell us when they don't feel well and why. You did the best you could. Hugs to you and Boris is now playing at the Bridge. :love:

Sorry about the typo.

Rest in Peace Boris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jenn_librarian

Rest in peace my Bor-Bors.... I loved you so much. :(

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(((HUGS))), Jenn. I am so sorry to learn this news.

Jenn, I'm so very sorry for your loss of Boris. :( You did everything you could to help him.

Rest in peace, dear Boris - and play hard at the RB with your new friends.

Sending big (((hugs))) :love:


I hope you'll get a good job soon. Good luck!

You have not failed Boris, Jenn.
Sadly like we humans our Cats go at different times.We have had Benjamin James , Almond Rocca , Precious and Pouncer pass on before they were 12, and it is so hard not to wonder what I did wrong.
But My Vet said that most of the time if they pass on in a good home enviroment, that sadly it was their destiny.
We are sending prayers for you and now Boris now has her wings of Silver and Gold and will now join Our Awesome Eternal Pets and Companion Angels in Geneva Switzerland.
Please be comforted by the fact that you will be together in love.
One Fine Day:love:

I missed this original thread earlier this month. So sorry.

Jenn, you did anything and everything you possibly could for Boris. Please do not feel like you did any less. She is all better now and not in pain.

RIP Boris girl

I am so sorry to read about Boris :( You did what you could do and she wasn't sick for very long. She is now happy and healthy at the RB and is waiting for the day when the two of you will be reunited.

Jenn, I am so very sorry. You gave your dear Bor-Bors the most wonderful life, full of love and warmth and safety and good food. You did everything you could when she developed all these health problems, and so did your vets. There was only so much you could do, and she slipped away.

This was her destiny, to go at this time. Now she is whole and healthy again at the Rainbow Bridge, a glorious Angel, and she sends down her love to you. She is with so many other dear friends of us all at the Bridge, and she will welcome you Home.. One Fine Day, as Gary puts it so well.

Remember, love is eternal, and you and Boris are together always. May your precious memories and your souvenirs help to bring you comfort.

Dearest Boris, please send some purrs to Jenn's heart to tell her you are well and remind her you are with her.

God bless, and :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love: from Pat and cats

So sorry for your loss Jenn. Please don't be too hard on yourself in thinking you failed Boris. I know the feeling all too well. Especially last year after my beloved Copernicus passed away, I had the same feelings, wondering if I could have done more, why I wasn't able to notice a problem earlier, etc. Unfortunately, cats are often good at hiding illness and by time we recognize there is something wrong, they are very, very ill and despite our best efforts, we just can't save them.

You did the best you could for Bors-Bors and most important, you loved her so much and she knew that. I know how much the loss hurts. It seems our fur babies take a piece of our heart when they go to the Rainbow Bridge and that leaves such an aching emptiness. But the love you shared with Boris will keep you both connected across all time, until you meet again someday. Until then, know that she is at peace, no longer sick or hurting and that she is in the company of many fine and wonderful fur angels. My Copernicus is one of them, along with his brothers Grimaldi and Kepler.

Sending loving thoughts and gentle hugs and prayers for you and Boris. :love:

Thank you all for your kind words. It was hard to focus on my new start in a new career path (going back to school for Pharmacy Technician), focusing on class, and not just bursting out crying at the same time. She was a good girl. Not perfect, but no one is. She was the Queen since Finae passed about 3-4 years ago. She was dedicated to her position, lol. I just can't get that last image of her out of my head. It's so hard. She wasn't the same Boris that I had known for 12 years. She is now buried up on my parents' land with all of our other family pets, and we will be buried there as well. I can't imagine not being without them all when the time comes. We have a large farm, so this is able to be done. I promised my parents I would do that for them, and I want it done for me.

I keep saying no more fosters or adoptions, but I added on a few months back, now I'm down to 6 again. Only one girl left, my old lady Sophie. Hope she stays with me for a long time to come.

I am so sorry for your loss. I understand how finances can affect what you do with regards to health care. I am still kicking myself for not proceeding with a surgery when a tumor burst in my cat's bowel. The vet said it was 50-50 chance and I decided based on lack of money to let him go over the Rainbow Bridge. You did all you could for little Borris and she knows that. It's hard I know at this time as your emotions and sorrow are in overdrive. Try to remember the good times and the fact that you gave Borris a loving home and did everything you could to keep her happy and healthy. She is watching over you now and will be with you in spirit forever.

I'm so sorry about precious Boris. You did the best you could.

I am so sorry for your loss (and for missing this for so many days).

You most definitely did NOT fail her. 12 is a great life for a cat. And being loved is more important than living to a "ripe old age".

Cats are notorious for hiding the severity of their illnesses.

(((((HUGS)))))

I'm so sorry for your loss.:( RIP Boris.:( Please take care. (((HUGS)))