Vigil

Yesterday late afternoon I was trying to stuff some doll pins but kept going over to the window that looks over Stokes Valley. For some reason I did not want to let the light go, it was the last bright and lovely day our Sooty had.

Paul suggested we go outside to watch the light go from there, so we did. We put on coats and hats as its very cold here at the moment and spent, Oh I don't know how long, just stood outside on our front steps looking over the Valley and watching the light fade. I lost count of the number of times I said goodbye and God Bless to our Sooty but I kept saying it. We kept remembering all the fun and silly things she used to do too.

Dash Kitten, who had stayed close to Sooty at one stage during her illness was scampering around out the front with us, playing with Isabell who lives next door - they did gentle chasing and fooling around - they played.

Suddenly Dash seemed to disappear, we couldn't find him. Then he appeared around the side of the house carrying something. I bent down to examine it, Paul thought it was a leaf to start with but, it turned out Dash had brought us one of his little fluffy mice from indoors. I wonder if he sensed our grief and wanted to bring us a gift for Sooty. Sooty will have the little mouse placed with her Rimu wood urn when it returns from the funeral place later this week.

Our Beloved Sooty has Gone

Our lovely girl, our little black cat who traveled halfway around the world and loved her time in New Zealand has gone to the Rainbow Bridge.

Her cancer had not gone into remission in spite of three chemo treatments, and had spread to her liver.

Rest in Peace our lovely girl who sneaked across to live with us from the family across the back all those years ago.

Two Seizures

Things don't look good.

Sooty has a seizure at 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. and slept in my pillow in between times. Bridget of Pets are Talking says Sooty said "tell my mom I'll be with her. I'll be laying on the scraps (showing me fabric?)." Now, I don't know how true all this is but Bridget has been very nice.

We have made the decision to take her to the vet to see what he says. It may be time to let her go - no more pain or suffering. We will see.

A calmer morning but a warning about Anabolic Steroids

Sooty is calmer today, quieter and still with us.

I wanted to warn anyone who has an anabolic steroid injection done on their cat that there is might be a reaction and that you might be frightened as we were. For heaven's sake if your vet gives your kitty an anabolic steroid injection ask him what the effects might be.

Sooty became distressed around the injection area and cried so bitterly we were ready to say goodbye. WRONG!!!!!! It turns out she had a reaction in the injection area and after a rest was suddenly filled with energy that she did not know what to do with. Mrs Vet's advice to isolate Sooty in a secure, darkened and warm place was the best advice we could have had.

DO NOT FUSS if your cat reacts as Sooty did. They pick up on our stress, they become more stressed. If you can get immediate advice from your vet - otherwise isolate the cat, keep her warm and in a darkened room (this calms them) with food, water and a litter tray.

Overnight Sooty was quiet and calm and today is much better.

Sooty bit of a panic

We took Sooty to the vet, who popped her a steroid, an anti nausea tablet and gave her an anabolic steroid injection. We took her home so she could settle and went out to collect some shopping.

When we came back she came to us crying pitifully. We rang an emergency vet who said that the Anabolic Steroid might be causing a reaction and to put a warm compress on the injection area to help blood circulate and ease discomfort (well I think that's what I remember OK).

She rested for several hours then started shouting again and wandering about. At this Paul and I became really upset and in desperation tried to contact our vet fearing that the time had come to let her go. We eventually spoke to Mrs Vet (Vet was out) and she said that the Anabolic Steroid might be making her very active and she would not know what to do with herself and all this energy. I could sort of understand this as you hear of athletes being tested for them.

We have been advised to stay calm, put her in a room on her own so she is not picking up our panicked vibes and she will eventually calm down. Mrs Vet told us not to be too hasty - and to keep calm. So, we have put her in the second bedroom with food, water and litter and dimmed the lights.

We now wait to see what the night brings.

Worried about Sooty

Sooty has been losing some weight and is being very quiet and subdued.

I can hear she still has that raspy breathing sound a bit, although not as bad as it was. I have been vascillating about the vet but after SelenaK's comment I am going to make a vet appointment. I'm just so afraid she won't come back from the vet this time.

Yesterday when Paul came home and we sat down to supper Sooty came up and was talking loudly to him, not me, to Paul. She ate a bit of mince after her chemo tablet Paul can't understand what she is saying. Is it Marjorie's driving me nuts or I don't feel well, or I'm hungry.

I don't want her to suffer but if there is hope I don't want to let her go. I just WISH I was more familiar with cats and how they work and what might/could happen.

Bad Weather

It is very very cold here. Colder than we have ever been. As a result Sooty has come down with a sniffle and a dry raspy cough. It is not severe but she sounds 'coldy' and is causing us a bit of worry.

Her blood test was slightly better but she is going through one of periodic troughs of poor health. She has lost some weight but has just eaten a good handful of minced pork including a bit with her dially steroid hidden in it. (Yes!!).

I am busy with my doll making but keep the fire on and Sooty is resting on the back of the sofa. She did come to the door and meet me when I returned from my doll hair shopping so the vital spark is still there. It's just so bloody cold here and we are barely into winter. The frustration is immense, it is not usually this cold for so long.

Today we start Chemo 3, so she will take a dip again. I just hope Sooty can hang in there for us, I want her to see another Spring, to see her out in the warm sun.

Settling into a rhythm

As time goes on, I find that both we, and Sooty, are settling into a daily rhythm of ups and downs. Morning times Sooty is HUNGRY (steroids) so she is perky alert and responsive. Then she subsides into quietness and has lately taken to sharing Casper the Guinea Pig's cage - he is fine as long as he has lettuce LOL!

Mid-morning Sooty is hungry again so has a top up, then rests and so, on throughout the day. Then come evening time she is perky enough to scamper (literally) at high speed to the door to greet Paul - to say he was thrilled is an understatement.

She is still very thin, and the vet says she will never put on huge amounts of weight but she is still very much 'our Sooty' so we are happy. Oh, and Good News on the holiday front. We had a meet and greet with the pet sitter who will be giving Sooty her chemo for a couple of the days we are away in Auckland.

Recommended by our vet, the man (and his wife) appear to be competent and nice people. Tony took detailed notes about who likes what to eat, their routine, what Sooty's medication was and when it was administered. Where all the food is etc., etc., he regularly walks other dogs, feeds cats, can administer cytotoxic tables without panicking.

I feel much happier about going away for a few days now.

Blood Test Report - post 2nd Chemo

I rang the veterinary surgery and was told that Sooty shows a small improvement!

Yes, she is still ill, but this shows the chemo may be having some kind of effect. We have also found someone who will be able to give Sooty her Leukeran while we take a short trip away. Paul's birthday celebration is a visit to see Mandy Patinkin and Patti Lupone in Auckland then come back on the Overlander.

So happy.