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Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Saturday, July 08, 2006 - 1:18 pm
I agree Cdbga!
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Sweetbabygirl
Member
08-31-2002
| Friday, July 14, 2006 - 4:28 am
Okay, so for the past three days I’ve noticed that my cat D.P. has seemed listless. I believe this has been going on since Wednesday….now that I think about it, maybe Sunday. Anyway, I’ve been working so I don’t know if he eats during the day, ‘cause he sure doesn’t seem to when I am at home. When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is feed him and his brother….Harpo attacks the wet and D.P. usually gives it a bite or two, preferring to eat the dry all day long. When I come in from work I feed Harpy more of the wet, giving some to D.P., but outside of licking at it doesn’t seem to be interested. Lately I’ve noticed that the dry food bowl contents have not been going down. I thought maybe the food was stale so I put fresh food in, but with the same results. Finally, it seems like he’s having trouble walking. Usually when I come home, he jumps down from wherever he was sleeping and plops on the bed with me, all animated. For the last few days however, when I come in he’s still in the same spot that I left him. Furthermore, when I called for him he would look at me and either goes back to sleep or attempts to come to me gingerly on his paws before giving up. Last night I noticed that he had caked litter in his hind paws which struck me as odd, as he is the most meticulous cat, almost to a fault. I tried cleaning the litter out of his paws, which was difficult due to it being caked in. Plus, he didn’t fight me as I did it which really concerned me, because if I try to clean him in anyway he always resists. When I work up this morning he picked at some wet food, then I put him on the floor to see what he would do….he walked for half a second, then plopped right on the floor. When I put him where the food and water was, he did the same thing. Finally I put him back on the bed, which is where he will likely be when I get home. I have already called the vet and hopefully they will be able to see him tomorrow….in the meantime, does this sound like something anyone has gone through with their cat?
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Friday, July 14, 2006 - 6:21 am
Prayers for DP!
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Erniesgirl
Member
06-26-2006
| Friday, July 14, 2006 - 11:53 am
How old is D.P.? This sounds something like what happened to a kitten I had that had ingested clumping cat litter. You can read more about it here: Clumping Clay Kitty Litters: A Deadly Convenience? ". . . something able to block household plumbing must be wreaking havoc on the plumbing of our feline companions." Cats die. Kittens die. It's part of life. But we still grieve when they die, even though we know it is only the body, not the spirit, that is gone. How much worse we feel when those deaths were unnecessary, could have been prevented by something as simple as changing the kind of litter we use. Extract from article: "Once the litter is inside a kitten or cat, it expands, forming a mass and coating the interior-thus, both causing dehydration by drawing fluids out of the cat or kitten, and compounding the problem by preventing any absorption of nutrients or fluids." http://www.thelighthouseonline.com/articles/clump.html
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Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Friday, July 14, 2006 - 12:06 pm
(((SBG))) Hope you get a diagnosis and that it is treatable.
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Sweetbabygirl
Member
08-31-2002
| Friday, July 14, 2006 - 12:33 pm
Thanks guys....Ern, just finished reading your link, and now I'm really freaking out! I just bought some litter yesterday, when I come from the vet I'll check out some at the drugstore. Oh, and Deep's 13, by the way.
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Erniesgirl
Member
06-26-2006
| Friday, July 14, 2006 - 12:50 pm
I volunteered at a shelter for many years. Since 1991 I have had 280 cats and kittens through my home. I use plain, unscented clay litter, about 1/2 inch deep. I scoop the poop, then use a little plastic dustpan, tip the box so the clean litter runs down and slide the dustpan under the moistened litter and discard that in a container. Then shake the remaining litter flat in the pan. You may want to discard it if it starts to smell, but it looks brand new. Wash the pans weekly with hot dishwashing soap and water. No bleach, it smells like pee, you're just adding to the problem. For dishes make sure no kitty is drinking or eating out of plastic. There is a huge increase in cases of rodent ulcers in the mouth and feline acne (black spots) under the chin. And we all know how yucky water tastes when it's been sitting in a plastic cup all day.
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Sweetbabygirl
Member
08-31-2002
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 9:00 am
Today at 11:45 a.m., the vet put my beautiful D.P. to sleep. When X-rays were performed, it was discovered that Deep had a mass in his abdomen, spreading to the liver. In addition, after a heart ultrasound it was noted that the walls around his heart were thick, making any type of surgery very risky. This, along with his age, was why it was advised that he be put to sleep. I was given time alone to say goodbye to him and then once the vet came in and did the euthanasia (sp) injection, death took him very quickly. In a few days, I will be called to pick up his ashes. To say that I am devastated is an understatement; I haven't stopped crying since I got home. I now know firsthand what it is like to lose a pet and let me tell you, it hurts like hell. D.P. Hall-Watson 1993-2006

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Slinkydog
Member
11-30-2005
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 9:25 am
I'm so sorry, SBG. I know that hell that you speak of. Thinking of you and D.P.
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Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 9:27 am
Oh SBG, I am crying as I write this. I was so hoping there would be a better outcome. It is so very hard to do what you had to do. I've been there too. There really are no words right now to console you except to know that you did the right thing and that D.P. is no longer suffering. Everyone grieves differently so take as long as you need. I truly understand what you are going through. Hugs and prayers being sent.
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 11:15 am
I'm so sorry SBG.
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 12:01 pm
my sweetbabygirl, i'm so so sorry for your loss. i know how much your baby meant to you!
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 12:20 pm
Oh, I am so sorry, SBG. My heart is sad knowing what you are going through. Retired is right, though. You knew what you had to do; and you did the best for your D.P. Nevertheless, it is a wrenching decision that leaves a hole in your heart. Big hugs, Sweetie.

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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 12:30 pm
{{{{Sweetbabygirl and DP}}}}
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 12:37 pm
Sweetbabygirl, this was an awful day for you. I am so sorry, but you and everyone of us here at TVCH know you did the very best thing for your beloved DP.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 12:48 pm
I'm so sorry.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 1:27 pm
Awww (((Sbg)))). I'm so sorry.
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 2:09 pm
aww, sbg, I'm so sorry, I know how much deep meant to you ...
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Sisalou
Member
07-12-2002
| Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 6:51 am
Sweetbabygirl, I am am so sorry for your pain. {{{Sbg}}}
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 8:20 am
((((SBG & DP)))))
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Saxywildcat
Member
05-30-2005
| Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 5:30 pm
I'm so sorry, SBG. *HUGZ*
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Sweetbabygirl
Member
08-31-2002
| Monday, July 17, 2006 - 5:57 am
Thanks for the support….you have no idea how much it means to me. I swear I’ve been crying so much that it looks like Mike Tyson pimped slapped me in both eyes. Even at work I can’t stop the tears from running down my cheeks. Anyone that knows me knew that Deep was my nukka, my partner in goofy crime….wherever I was, he’d be right beside me. I’ve typed many a post snuggling with him, stroking his head and belly as I laughed at whatever you chuckleheads had to say in the threads. I had no idea when I brought him to the vet Saturday morning that I’d be leaving without him. The ironic thing is, with his severe allergy problems Harpo was the one that had to be taken to the vet more than Deep, so we always thought that he’d be the first to go. I’m embarrassed now at how I must have looked in the waiting room on Saturday….when the kind vet gave me the devastating news, I became hysterical. I cried throughout my last talk and snuggle with him, when the vet told me he was gone, when they left me alone with his still body, right up to the cab ride home. Last night and this morning was rough, as what used to be our normal ritual is no more….no one leaps on the left side of the bed once I retire for the evening, no one forces himself right between me and the boyfriend when we’re trying to snuggle, no one to crawl over when the alarm rings for me to get up, and no one forcing his little face then body into the bathroom when I go in and shut it just slightly. All my dopey cat songs were Deep inspired now I can’t bring myself to sing anything, even to Harpo. All this grief must be hard for Harpo because while I love him dearly, D.P. was definitely my favorite. He has to know that Deep is gone, because I see him looking around and lately he has been meowing to snuggle with me, and he didn’t do that before. Although I’m trying, it just isn’t the same with Harpo as it was with Deep, and I’m afraid that he will notice. How do I let Harpo know that I still love him, despite the devastation I feel at losing his brother?
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Erniesgirl
Member
06-26-2006
| Monday, July 17, 2006 - 8:04 am
Harpo needs that hug just as much if not more than you right now. You know where the other kitty is, he doesn't. Many condelences to you and Harpo. Console yourself that as soon as you suspected something was amiss, you got him help. He didn't suffer longer than necessary.
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Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Monday, July 17, 2006 - 8:31 am
SBG, like Erniesgirl said you've got to give Harpo some lovin. He misses Deep too. Have you considered getting another cat down the road? Not to replace Deep because you can't do that, but as company for Harpo and to fill the void in your heart? Hang in there. There are stages of grief you will go through. This is such an open wound right now for you. Be sure to take care of your health now too. As my vet always says, "we do what we have to and we do what we can." I can't imagine the shock you went through when the vet gave you the news.(((SBG)))
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Mags
Member
06-26-2001
| Monday, July 17, 2006 - 8:52 am
SBG, I am so sorry! When I had to put Tigger down earlier this year, after I had a few hours to myself to grieve, I made a beeline for Cricket and didn't leave her alone for hours. Tigger was always my snuggle bunny, and Cricket has slowly been taking that role...at least more than she did before. Just give Harpo lots of love, for him and for you.
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