Please pray for my Peeka

Hi Friends,
It's been a while since I've posted or even logged in. I've had one computer problem after another.

I had to leave my Peeka at my vet's today and I'm concerned about her. She's never been a really sociable cat, not mean, just keeps to herself. A couple of days ago she actually jumped up on the sofa and sat beside me, wanting attention. I picked her up to put her on my lap and realized that she had lost some weight. (I sometimes called her Tubatha. :p ) But I also noticed that she was listless and, of course, this took place on a weekend. So this morning I booked an appt. for her and my vet was concerned w/her bad breath and, given her age of 14, fears it may be kidney failure. She isn't jaundiced, so without tests, he doesn't feel that it's liver problems. And she isn't pale and doesn't have any noticeable lumps. But she's also very constipated and he couldn't even take her temp. because of it. I'm hoping that's all it is because it came on so fast!!! I'll know tomorrow after the test results are in.

Peeka was my very first rescue back in '91. The vet I had then thought that some kids had tried to skin her alive because all the fur was stripped from her tail and it had to be amputated. She was just a kitten then and I took her and her brother, Boo, in and before I knew it, it was becoming a regular thing to take in sick and/or abused cats, so that now I'm up to 8 AND HOLDING!!!


I sure do love my Peeka girl and I hated leaving her there. Please say a prayer for her. The Dr. doesn't even know if I'll be able to bring her home tomorrow. I brushed her a little before we left, which she detests, and I clipped her claws, which she detests even more. But she never moved. She just laid there listless and didn't protest whatsoever. I wish I could hold her through the night and give her a "stub rub". :( Cat rescue definitely has its rewards but it sure has its share of heartache, too.

Blessings,
Mary

Get Well Peeka!!!

Lilith, Vixen and I am sending out a world full of get well wishes for you sweet one. Your meowmie wants you to get better and be ok and we want that too. Let's just hope it's only constipation. No matter what are thoughts are with you and we are sending a kitty angel to look after you until you get well.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...angelkitty.gif KITTY ANGEL SAYS I WILL WATCH OVER YOU UNTIL YOU ARE WELL AND ON YOUR PAWS AGAIN NO MATTER HOW LONG THAT TAKES.

Prayers for Peeka! Get well soon!

Poor Peeka and poor you. (((HUGS)))

Prayers and well wishes on the way. Please keep us updated.

I'm so sorry to hear that Peeka is sick.:( Prayers and positive thoughts are on the way. Please get well soon Peeka.

I'm so sorry to hear about Peeka. :( Hopefully she will be able to come home and maybe have you administer sub-q fluids. Kidney damage cannot be reversed, but it can be slowed with the proper diet. Also, my vet suggested Colace (sp?) for the constipation. It's a people drug that can be found at any drugstore. It really helped Tubby - but be sure to ask your vet about it first.

Good luck with Peeka and please keep us updated on how she's doing.

Oh, and hopefully to help ease your mind, Tubby lived 3 1/2 years after his initial diagnosis of kidney failure at 15 years old, so hopefully Peeka will live for many years to come.

Here are two recent threads that deal with kidney failure that you might want to check out.

Help with my geriatric cat

Filou is not ok

and

Filou's News

Just adding our best wishes and thoughts along with everyone else, sending some love and healing thoughts to you both, and I think that angel-puss kittycats delight sent to watch over you is lovely. - TopCat, Cleo & Colette.

Prayers and positive thoughts on their way to you and Peeka.

Many prayer for you and Peeka. I hope she has many happy years ahead of her!!!!

Dr. Lightell called me this morning and said that Peeka was holding her own but he hasn't been able to give her an IV because she's so dehydrated that her veins collapsed. She did eat and drink a little, so they're trying to get her hydrated somewhat so that she can take an IV. She's also on an antibiotic for the infection. He told me to prepare myself for the worst. If they can just get her well enough, I'm going to take her to my specialist, Dr. Lee, who worked a miracle for my Yoda and her ear polyp surgery.

I'll keep everyone posted. Thank you so much for all your prayers. I KNOW it helps.

Blessings,
Mary

I just got home from visiting Peeka. Her eyes are glazed over and she's unresponsive when I call her name but she's purring like a little motor boat. Doc said that her veins have fattened up a little so they'll try the IV again tomorrow and, in the meantime, he sent one more test to the lab to see in it's bacterial and, if so, he's already started her on an antibiotic. If not, then that means her kidneys are shutting down and I guess I'll have a decision to make. The x-rays didn't show a mass, so no tumor. And both kidneys are the same size. But the poor little girl didn't eat at all today and only drank a little water.

This isn't what I want for any of my cats but esp. Peeka since she suffered so early in her life as a kitten at the hands of abusive kids. I wanted her to spend the rest of her days fat and happy, lying in the sun. My mind keeps going back to when she was a kitten and how she'd tap my eyelids w/her little, tiny paw to tell me that her food dish was empty. She still taps me on the arm when she'd like just a taste of my chicken dinner. (her favorite) I want to cry but can't. I just don't want to lose my little Peekie.

Blessings,
Mary

Hang in there, Mary. She is in the best possible place she can be right now to make her better and to get her home where she belongs. Are they giving her sub-q fluids? I would assume they are if her veins are fattening up.

I sure hope and pray she makes a turn around and is able to come home soon. :(

Yes, they are but she isn't responding much. Doc says every time he tries to insert a catheter or needle for whatever procedure, she bleeds and the vein bubbles. Plus she vomited twice. I'll know more tomorrow. I'm physically and mentally burnt today and I'm going to take a hot bath and go to bed early.

Thanx, everyone, for your kind words of encouragement. It's nice to be able to reach out to someone who understands and doesn't judge.

Blessings,
Mary

Sweet baby Peeka, you just have to get better. We are all pulling for you and your Meowmie! Once again prayers and good thoughts are on their way. Please keep us up to date.

Mary, I hope you managed to get a good night's sleep. I know how hard that is when you are emotionally drained and running on adrenalin trying so hard to hold it together while you can do nothing more than wait. It sounds like your Peeka is in the best possible hands and your dear vet is doing his very best for her. Know that we are all waiting with you and are here for you, no matter how far apart we are, our hearts are as one in a case like this. It is a very usual thing that we do, have memories and flashbacks of when they were little, it brought tears to my eyes. Whatever the future holds, it's clear Peeka loves you very much and on some level knows that whatever she is going through, whatever tests and needle-pricks she is put through no-one means her any harm this time, only the best. Animals, especially cats, are very sensitive to people's intentions. Rest assured she knows much love is coming her way from you, her vet, and all of us. Chin up, my dear, you can do this - Tania C, Cleo & Colette

Hi Friends,
Well, I went to see Peeka today and she was still sitting facing the back of the cage. When she heard my voice, though, she started meowing, which was music to my ears because yesterday I couldn't get her to respond at all. She finally turned around on her own to face me, so I petted her and kissed her and rubbed her under her chin, which she loves. She's finally on an IV and is being hydrated. But she still hasn't had a bowel movement, so my vet is going to give her a light laxative. And she still hasn't eaten, so they're going to force feed her a little. (I held the food dish close to her nose and she sniffed it but no go.)

She became quite vocal after about half an hour, so I left because I didn't want to stress her. I know she thought that I came to take her home. I hated leaving her there w/that IV in and her leg all bandaged. She looked so sick and frail. And her brother Boo has become more needy than ever because I'm sure he's wondering where she is. Before I took her in to the animal hospital, he was whining, probably trying to tell me how sick Peeka was. I said to him "Go lie down next to your sister. She needs you to comfort her." Sure enough, when I checked a little while later, there he was, snuggled up next to her as close as he could get. It looked like one huge black cat! He's the man!

The results of the culture won't be back until tomorrow or Friday; then I'll know whether it's infectious kidney disease, which is treatable, or if her kidneys are shutting down. I can't keep her on dialysis at home. I won't put her through that and I'm working too many hours anyhow. She'd have no supervision. Right now, even though she's on the IV, her kidney levels are not improving, which is disheartening to both the vet and me. But miracles happen every day and I'm gonna keep on praying my way through this.

Thanx again for all your prayers and support and I'll keep you posted.

I'm glad to hear she is starting to respond to the treatment. Hopefully she will continue to improve and will start eating soon.

Come on Peeka, you can do it!

If well wishes and good thought could get her to recover then she has all the chances in the world. Everyone at PT are on her side and pulling for Peeka's recovery 150%. Come on Peeka. We know you can do it. With good medicine and all the love meowmie has for you and all of our support you can do it.
Let's go Peeka Let's go You have your own private cheering squad right here on PT.

Wow, what a great bunch of friends we have here! I think I might sleep tonight. All my fur posse have their paws crossed for our Peeka Pie.

Blessings,
M

Peeka has not improved. Her eyes are jaundiced which means her liver is affected and she still hasn't had a bowel movements even w/the laxative. And she won't eat. So I'm going to take some chicken in to her, her favorite, and see if I can get her to eat. Still no results from the culture; expect later today or tomorrow. I don't know...am I doing the right thing? I want to give her every chance but I don't want to keep her around for my own selfish reasons. I want her last days to be peaceful, not filled w/pain, sitting in a cold cage w/no comfort. The vet and his staff are doing their best for her but I can't stand the thought of it ending there. It's one thing if I knew for sure that she was coming home. But this is heartbreaking.

Mary, don't give up. You are right, miracles happen everyday. Wait and see what the results are. We are all pulling for you and Peeka. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

I'm not giving up. I can't do that to my old girl. But she's deteriorating. I cooked some chicken and took it in to her, still warm, but she wouldn't touch it. She kept eding closer and closer to me til she was clear to the front of the cage. I just stroked and petted her and talked to her and that calmed her down. Dr. said I could hold her because that seemed to be what she wanted but he didn't come in til right when I was about to leave. I didn't want to hold her then and get her stressed again. By the time I did leave, she wouldn't look at me and when I would turn her head to see her face, she'd turn away. Poor little girl. I miss my little tailless wonder and feeling her little tap tap tap on my arm when she wants a bite of my chicken. I'm so used to seeing her lying in the sun, moving every time the sunbeams do so that she doesn't miss one bit of the warmth. To add to all this stress, I lost a big account today, a major part of my income and I'm going in for jaw reconstruction and bone graft surgery myself a week from Monday and my ins. co. declined payment because they consider it a preexisting condition. So now not only do I have to pay for that but the vet bills as well and my income just dropped. Not the best of days.

M

Mary, I know you don't want to give up on her, but it sounds like if you don't want her last days to be in a cold cage, maybe you should bring her home.:( If she hasn't eaten in days, there is nothing to come out - laxative or no laxative. Once they don't eat for a few days, the other organs start shutting down, and that sounds like what is starting to happen with her.

Go to her and hug her to pieces and reassure her that you love her and will miss her dreadfully. :(

I talked to the dr. about bringing her home and he said "If you mean that you'd like to bring her to see her home one last time, you could do that. Let her be reunited w/all your other pets. But if you mean to bring her home so that she can die at home, I would not recommend that. It would be way to uncomfortable for her. It would not be a good way for her to go." So, I'll wait for the culture results so that I don't short change her. But I don't know if I have the emotional strength to bring her home, then take her back to end it. I'm in such turmoil over this. I want to do right by Peeka but I don't want her to suffer unnecessarily. If I found out that it's infectious and I ended it, I could never forgive myself. But if I find out that it isn't and that she's shutting down and I dragged this thing on, I'll feel awful about that, too. This isn't about me or my pain. It's about my Peekie and her pain. I wish I could close my eyes and make it all go away for her.

M

Peeka and you are in my prayers.

I know exactly what you're going through, Mary, because I had to make the same decision with Tubby. The vet said his prognosis wasn't good and his blood levels were "everywhere." I could take him home and he might have lasted a day, an hour, a week, or who knows how long. He also said he didn't recommend that because if the organs are shutting down, he could die in any number of ways, some of which would be quite painful. He had been doing so well that I thought this was just a minor setback and the vet would give him a shot and I could take him back home again. Didn't happen. :( Like you, I couldn't keep him around for my own selfish reasons and I had to let him go. :(

If the tests come back that it's not infectious, go to her, hug her to pieces, tell her you love her and will always remember her...:(

I know the heartache you are going through right now. I am thinking of you and know you will do what is best for your Peeka. Prayers and {{{{{hugs}}}}} on their way.

Nicki x

Thanx, friends, it's difficult for me to read even encouraging words right now. All I've done is have crying jags all day. Every time I think I'm dry, the tears flood again. I have to get ready to go to a funeral home tonight. One of my best friends lost her dad. This is a day that I definitely want to put to bed.

M

Mary, it seems that you are going through the worst time imaginable. My heart breaks for you and Peeka. Please know that you are both thought of and we wish only the best for you both. A special prayer will be said for both of you tonight. I had to make the decision once with one of my babies and my mother did too. Mine was many years ago and I still think of her and remember her as a healthy happy little kitten and the antics that she pulled (her name was Tasha) and also my Mom, not a day goes by that she doesn't think of her special furry baby Magic. Sometimes the decisions we make are very hard, but we have to do what is right although it is hard not to be selfish. Know that we are here for you and lets hope for the best. Good thoughts and prayers are being sent to you! You have lots of friends here at PT and we are all pulling for you!

You really are having a very sad unfortunate time this week, it's all come at once. I can sense your overwhelm and misery. I am so sad for you. If it should come to you helping her across the RB with the vet, would you feel better if it was at home? I had to make a similar decision once, the cost became immaterial, the cost to the emotions (hers and mine)was what counted. There will come a time when your heart will tell you what is right for you and for Peeka, right now I guess it's the dilemma stage -just holding her and cuddling her at the vets sounds good right now. Be strong, we are all here for you. Being able to cry is what keeps us strong. Stay in touch if you feel able. Best wishes.

Thank you so much, everybody. Peeka was the first thing on my mind this morning. Her brother, Boo, keeps looking for her, always turning around and checking to see if she's there. I wish this wasn't happening but it is and I have to deal w/it. I've been through it before many times but it doesn't lessen the pain. But, as I've said before, it isn't my pain that I'm concerned with right now. It's Peeka's. And I want the pain to stop for her. I owe her that.

I'll keep you posted when I hear the culture results.

Blessings to you all,
Mary

Well, the thing I feared the most has come upon me. It isn't infectious kidney disease, it's kidney failure and the vet recommended that I put Peeka to sleep. This damned Ohio weather!!!! Peeka loves the sun more than any cat I've ever had. I wanted to lay her to rest in the sun. But it's cold and gray and rainy. I can't take it!!!!

I'm so sorry, Mary. :( Even if the sun isn't shining when you actually bury her, if you put her in a nice sunny spot she will know it and thank you for it. Tubby was the same way and I wanted the same thing for him. It was a nice sunny day when I had to make this tough decision and I was so torn because all I wanted to do was bring him home so he could lounge in the sun one last time and let the heat of the sun warm his old bones. But I knew I would then have to bring him back and I just couldn't face that.

Peeka knows you love her and she will appreciate your helping her to the bridge.

{{{hugs}}} :(

Yes, that's all I want for Peeka, just one last lounge in the sun. If there was no sun, she was sitting directly on top of a heat vent. To put her in the cold ground seems heartless but I know that it's only her body, that her spirit will be where it's warm and sunny all the time. I guess I'd better tend to business.

M

I am soooo sorry. We all so wanted her to get well. I know this is a very difficult time as I have gone through a similar situation with my Mytsi (RB May 8, 2003) 2 years ago. Her situation was a very aggressive cancer. My heart goes out to you. But Peeka loves you and she knows you love her very much. She will thank you for helping to take her away from the pain of what has now become this life for her. And believe me she will be waiting for you with open paws and kisses upon kisses at Rainbow Bridge. Until then she will have the best and warmest sunbeam as her own so she can relax and be pain-free and happy once more. I am truly sorry.

So very, very sorry to hear the news. You have a very difficult task ahead of you, but know that you are doing what is right for her. You don't want her to suffer and once she is to the RB she will be all healthy again and every day will be Sunny! She will always be with you in spirit.

Vixen looks like Peeka, except that Peeka has a mustache and we sometimes called her Adolph, esp. when she was acting like a dictator. ;)

I'm glad Vixen resembles your Peeka. Vixen has a little black spot under her nose does that count? She is always doing crazy things like climbing the doorframes. Or wanting to be picked way up in the air so she can attack the ceiling. If you are ever in need of a good chuckle let me know and I will post a silly pic or video for you. :D

I'm so sorry to here about Peeka. All of us who've had pets and had to make that decision understand what your going through and it's a really painful time. Just try to remember she had a really good life while she was with you, and remember all the fun times. Best wishes.

Hi Friends,
I wrote a response and tried to load a pic of Peeka and lost the response. So I'll try to remember most of it.

True to my word to my fur family, I brought Peeka home. But her spirit is at the Rainbow Bridge. She was always my comforter and today was no exception. She used to jump on my lap when she knew I was sad and look deep into my eyes as if to say "Look at me, Mom. I'm here for you". She did the same thing today. She comforted me .

I went in to the animal hospital early to spend some time w/her and hold her and I rubbed her under her chin the way she liked and she leaned her head waaay back, so I just kept rubbing. Dr. Lightell was wonderful. Her IV was still in so he led the way into a room, pulling the IV while I held her in my arms. I laid her on a heating pad that I brought for her because she was always so cold. He petted her and said how sweet she was and he left the IV in and injected the drug right into the IV so as not to cause her any more pain. She nodded her head, closed her eyes and she was gone. Peace. No more pain. Then I asked him to open a window so that her spirit could be free and he gladly and quickly complied. Then, together, we wrapped her and he walked me to my car and gave me a hug and said "You were great. You did everything you could for her, gave her a good, long life with a lot of love and in the end you did the unselfish thing." I know that Peeka understood why I had to do it. Her cries while she was so sick told me everything I needed to know.

When I got home, the man I'm dating was here waiting for me. He dug Peeka's grave for me and planted a flowering crab tree in her honor. I lit a candle and placed it on her grave and laid my little Peeka Pie to rest. I miss my little tailless wonder.

Thank you friends for all your kindness and for helping me through this.

Blessings,
Mary