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A little over a week ago, my wife and I returned from a family reunion back east, only to find one of our cats with a swollen jaw. A trip to the vet revealed a tumor, which was removed the following day. It was malignant, a kind of sarcoma, and a bone cancer. The cat is 13 years old. Today we see a specialist to determine if radiation or chemo is feasible. Probably not, because of his age. If not, the vet recommends euthanasia. My wife and I cannot do that, but will make our cat as comfortable as possible if he is to die. Life is not something to be tossed out when it becomes inconvenient to work with it.

If the cat were in the wild, he would die on his own, without someone to euthanize him. And further, we do not honestly see that we have the right to take his life. Caring for him to the end will make all the difference in the world.

I see better how insidiously evil this whole matter of euthanasia is, now that I am confronted with a personal choice in the matter.

Pray for life.

Jim

I hear your pain - life should not be thrown away.

But when a loved pet is in so much pain and that pain cannot be eased , then one has to think again.

Prayers indeed - for you cat and for you as you have to deal with this.

Prayers also for Don as his time with his wonderful wee Anna is now measured in hours.

Anhelyna - still mourning her spotty doig

Praying for you and your kitty.

It is a difficult thing when a pet gets cancer and you have to see them suffer.

May God's mercy prevail.

In Christ,

Porter...who lost a wonderful kitty to cancer some years ago.

We are told our cat has at the most 6 months to live. Though the initial tumor was removed last week, it has reappeared with a vengeance and is now inoperable. Radiation and chemo are not viable options in this case, as they have met with little success against this particular kind of bone cancer sarcoma. We are giving him a non-steroid anti-inflammatory, will monitor his renal functions at the vet's every few weeks, and later on will give him a morphine-based drug if needed. Cats go about dying much more serenely than most people do. He will likely eat less, sleep more, and become reclusive as time goes on. If he is like our other cats in the past, he won't even want water toward the end. In the meantime we are giving him extra attention whenever we can, and will help him when his strength begins to fail.

We plan to bury him in our yard by another cat we had, in a lace-edged pillow case, with prayers.

Prayers for the cat an for your family during this difficult time.

Can you give us the cat's name?

Dear Jim,

There are religious pictures of Our Lady with cats in them.

It is said that she herself likes cats and kittens.

I got all upset because I saw a cat in a shelter that seemed like he needed me - and I couldn't adopt him because of "she who must be obeyed."

I can't imagine what you are going through and others who have suffering cats . . .

In the Mongolian language, the word that means "to pray the rosary" also means to "purr like a cat."

I'll be purr-raying for you!

Alex

Our sick cat's name is Tigger. He is a lynx-point, oriental shorthair breed cat, and is 13 years old. He has a healthy litter-mate brother, Casper, who is a lilac-point, and they were born in Clinton Township, New Jersey (Not THAT Clinton- Dewitt Clinton ) when we lived in nearby Flemington. Unlike dogs, cat breeds can have several types in a litter and still be pure bred. Tigger is very friendly with people, and into everything. We have to put him in a closed room when we have guests for dinner, because he thinks nothing of jumping onto the table to check things out, and maybe even sample our meal. WE love them both very much, and will miss Tigger when he passes, as will Casper.

Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and interest. I will look for pictures as you mentioned, Alex.

An update on Tigger. He is tolerating an anti-inflammatory, but the cancer in his mouth continues to grow outward. The vet says it will not likely disrupt his throat or ability to take food. We are pureeing canned food for him as well as giving him Gerber meat baby food. His mouth bleeds from time to time, and we stop the bleeding with light pressure or something cool, then clean him as much as he will permit it. He much prefers to wash himself, of course, even if his paws turn red for a while, then cleans his paws in typical cat fashion. We also brush him daily- good for his morale. He tends to stay close to me or Andi, my wife, more than he used to, and Casper, his brother, seems to be solicitous of his welfare from time to time, though we have to make sure he doesn't eat Tigger's food. Through it all, Tigger has maintained his winsome personality, and the vet staff loves to see him when we take him in. I am calling on St. Panteleimon for relief of any pain he may be having, and the Holy Mother.

There is a lot to pray about nowadays.

St. Panteleimon, intercede on Tigger's behalf!

Prayers continue.

Tigger is now taking a morphine-derivative pain killer 3 times a day, and has stopped eating, though he still enjoys watching our putting out food for him and his brother. We use a syringe to give him water sometimes, but he occasionally drinks a little water on his own. The vet offered to insert a feeding tube, which cats are supposed to take well, but we have opted not to do that, preferring to keep him cleaned up (We use baby wipes and tissues, not soap and water.), comfortable, and loved. He spends a lot of time in my lap or my wife's. He prefers to stay closer to one of us even more than he used to, and is fairly cooperative when it comes to being "helped". Being a good cat, he tries to spit out pills, and runs from us when we are trying to pick him up to clean him. He's no fool, and besides, that's his job. "Dogs have owners, but cats have staff", the saying goes. My wife thinks it won't be long now.

We have no regrets about the efforts we have put into his care these last few days. After all, he was entrusted to our care, and has always relied on us for his needs, even if he is the boss. Please pray for a peaceful end to his suffering.

Prayers continue.

Jim,

Praying for Tigger the little child...for an end in peace.

I understand perfectly the situation. In January my tomcat Miki, 17 years old, passed naturally to God after two weeks. He had cyrrhosis at liver. We did all the best for him. He was the boss here, the star of our home. Many times I ate fish with him at table from same dish. Now his tomb is under a plum tree behind my block. His soul is in the hands of God.

I realize and feel in this soul what you and your wife cross now. Pray hardly for a peaceful end without pains, as we prayed for Miki.

I have the belief that it will arrive a time when we will meet even these little children.

Marian

And God bless you, Marian, for such kind words.

Praying for Tigger again. As I posted before it is hard to see them go through this. Our Kip stayed closer to us when he had the same kind of cancer yours does. He was so loving and precious anyway.

That was several years ago, but have fine memories which will always be with me.

Anyway, Tigger is remembered in my prayers today. And so are you and your family.

Mary Jo..who has four kitties.