Dead Cat Walking...

[dr_phil_physics]

Not Good

Bagel, one of our nearly 17 year old trio of littermates, stopped eating, drinking and peeing over the weekend. Kidneys. The vet hydrated him Monday morning, but Mrs. Dr. Phil reports from the vet it's all inevitable now. The hydration will make him feel better for a while. He's drinking a little water, still wanders down to the litter box and eats a little of the food-in-a-tube off a finger, but not really interested in wet or dry food.

Mrs. Dr. Phil had bought this nice warm fuzzy soft kitty bed earlier in the winter. See, Sam, the Dark Wonder, had become diabetic, and though he's doing pretty darn good on insulin, he's a skinny little kitty now -- and the big kitty room in the basement gets cool in the night. Tuesday evening, Bagel was still in the kitty bed, so Mrs. Dr. Phil brought bed and all upstairs.


The quilt cover is much to give him a nice little cave as to keep him warm, since we've got the lights on up here.

Still, he surprised us by poking his head out, getting out, going downstairs, coming back up and hopping with a little difficulty back into his kitty bed.

Wednesday

With his kidneys mostly shut down and not eating, I guess he's technically starving to death. We're still keeping him comfortable. He got combed tonight. He's still purring. But unless he starts eating again, he's not going to get better.


Helping with Christmas Dinner 2008 -- in happier more Bagel-like times.

This is Mrs. Dr. Phil's special kitty, who has an extra special place in her heart for big soft orange ex-boy kitties. So this isn't easy for us. (sigh)

Dr. Phil

Comments

[jakobdrud.livejournal.com]

Aww, sorry to hear about Bagel. But glad to hear you're caring well for him -- that's about the only thing to do for an old house-mate.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

He seems to know we're taking care of him. In the past he's come by and sat on us for long stretches when we were sick. Fair trade? (sad smile)

Dr. Phil

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

::Sending hugs for you and Mrs. Dr. Phil::

I'm sorry that he's stopped eating. We nearly lost Mr. Loki that way last fall, so I know how painful it is. Unfortunately, you can't explain to them why they need to eat and drink. ::sighs::

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Kidneys shot, no processing capacity left, so the system says No more. But they do seem to fall apart pretty quickly.

Our last trio of kitties, twenty years ago, included one who had to be nursed back to health a number of times.

Dr. Phil

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

But they're worth it ;o)

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Pets are supposed to be good for you. They lower your blood pressure and make you live longer. But they do make it hard sometimes. (grin)

Dr. Phil

[charyvna.livejournal.com]

:(
I'm so so sorry. This has been a hard winter for too many of the fur-companions so dear to our heart.

When Bagel is ready, Maya (my oldest) said to tell you that Tasha-cat will be waiting with pair of wings to welcome him to Cat Heaven. (While I was reading this, she heard me gasp and make clucking noises while shaking my head and making a sad face. So I had to explain).

Love and comfort,
Valya

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Between Facebook and LJ, I've seen way too many people lose kitties in the last couple of weeks. Yet it is all part of the great cycle.

Thank Maya for me.

Dr. Phil

Hugs to both kitty and owners

[neurondoc.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

A bad week for pets. May his Time in the Sky include many toys, lots of treats, and a whole bunch of comfy sunny places to nap.

Re: Hugs to both kitty and owners

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

You know that it'll be all sleeping.

Dr. Phil

[kizmet-42.livejournal.com]

Topaz and George will be waiting for him - those big orange kitties will take on the rest of the cats and win.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

(grin)

Of course in a Monty Python vein... Brave Brave Sir Bagel ran away!

Dr. Phil

[wendyb-09.livejournal.com]

Another extra scritch and hug from Aunt Wendy.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Silly old guy pretends he doesn't like hugs, even from his favorite person, Mrs. Dr. Phil. Who doesn't let his thousand yard stare while being hugged deter her from doing so.

Scritches, however, when applied right to the base of the ear joint, are apparently always appreciated.

Dr. Phil

[shouldersofgiantmidgets.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

My thoughts are with y'all and with the cats, Dr. Phil.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Thanks. We all appreciate it.

Dr. Phil

[ordgddss.livejournal.com]

Thinking about Bagel and his littermates and keeping y'all in my heart.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Thankew.

Dr. Phil