Ampersand and Play as new rescues in 2005

My little orange boy and I have come a long way together over the years. He was a feisty kitty who had even stronger survival skills than he has now. Of the three I rescued, he was far more courageous and brazen than his mother and brother. Maybe that’s why he is still alive after having been treated for intestinal blockages, diagnosed with diabetes, then with cancer; he lost a leg and he manages with the ravages of both illness, but, now it seems there is something new.

For about two weeks or more I began to notice subtle differences in his eating. A diabetic cat is usually ravenous, will likely go after the food of other cats around him. But for some reason he would take a sniff and step back. His appetite seemed to be changing. It was somehow still there but not the same. There were times he skipped food and then I couldn’t administer his insulin.

I took him to the vet and the attitude at that time was based on the observation that he wouldn’t eat. “Cats sometimes get sick of their food, you have to change it up.” Lord knows, I do. I have  more food and types of food than a store. Nothing seemed to work although he would eat a little turkey breast, some dry food–which isn’t the best for cats.

An x-ray revealed a “mass” and no blockages of bowels were observed. He needed a sonogram, but I wasn’t able to get him back to the vet early on Tuesday morning due to my own medical needs.

Since I brought him home I have been able to observe and call the vet to say, “this cat is barely eating: I have tried baby food, turkey, fresh boiled chicken in broth goes over bigger than anything. But understand, the cat who could eat a whole can of Fancy Feast himself is only able to take a few chews. Barely a sixteenth of a can.”

“But he drinks. And drinks. And drinks and his little sides are bursting from all that water.”

“It sounds like his diabetes is going crazy,” the vet said.

But the question is, even without insulin, his blood sugar wasn’t wildly beyond normal, in fact it was still in the range of acceptability. So what gives? Could the cancer have spread?

Tomorrow we are going to an animal hospital for a follow-up ultrasound to see what is going on. I don’t want to say anything more. I can’t think anymore. I can’t help thinking it’s not going to be pretty. But still, I always have hope, and I will continue to hope for the best.

Play resting after coming home from 2 months at the vet

Sick bay on a shelf Even treats are not tempting

Play after a few weeks of not feeling well. He mostly drinks. Then he tucks himself into a shelf or the cool floor near it.