My Cat and Cancer.

My Sweet little cat Amber has breast cancer.  We found out a little after Halloween.  I had taken her in for her six month check up.  I've been one of those fur baby parents that has been very consistent in taking my cat every six months for a check up.  Got the call thinking that it was time to pick her up only to find that the Vet had found a mass on her belly by her hind legs.  We set up an appointment for the next week to have the mass looked at.  At that time I really didn't think cancer, I don't know what I thought, but cancer was not it.  I wish I had thought perhaps this is cancer and done a little more research before bringing her back to the Veterinary office.  I would have made lists of questions and been a little more aware of what they were doing in their check up of her tumor.

The second visit was not fun.  I was given this medicine to make my cat relaxed so they could get a good look at her tumor.  Which came with no instructions.  I had to call in after trying to give this syringe of medicine to the cat, who didn't want it and began foaming at the mouth.  After better instructions I actually was able to "scruff" my cat and administer the medicine.  That was not a fun experience.  I have to say that in my 12 years of cat parenthood, I have never dealt with a sick cat.  Our cats only problem was being over weight and us always trying to keep her to a diet.

 I have one child in college and one on a 2 year mission.  My constant companion at home is my cat.  She has always been my helper, following me from room to room.   When the call came and they told me my cat had breast cancer it was heart breaking. I wish they had not told me over the phone but had me come in and actually talked with me in person.  I did research more about breast cancer in cats to get some understanding of what could be done.  Unfortunately my cat has a 3 inch big tumor.  Everything that I have read says that anything over 3cm is bad news.  My cat is between 13 and 14 years old.  Which is 70 to 75 years old in human years.  While the Vet said they could do a mastectomy and possibly extend her life, I have made the choice to not fight the cancer battle.  I don't think putting my cat through a surgery to take all her mammary glands out, that would then have her recuperating for 3 weeks, to give her maybe another year to live is the wise choice. I have chosen instead to live with a cat with cancer and give my cat the love and support I can until she is in pain.  The Vet said that the cancer itself does not cause her any pain, that the spreading of it to other parts of her body is what will eventually be the end for her.  After making this decision we had to tell our children.  We brought our daughter home to tell her.  It was hard because our cat was having what I call "a bad day".  We waited a little longer before we sent an email to our son. This was hard as I hate to give bad new by email.  I so wished I could just be there and tell him, but we did not want to keep him in the dark and then have us be mad that we had not told him.

At first I didn't think my cat had very many days left.   On her sick days she will hide in her cat carrier and not move much.  I asked the Vet assistants what we need to watch for to know when it was her time to go back to Heavenly Father.  They said when your pet no longer wants their five favorite things then you talk with the vet and they will help you decide if it is time.  So I went out and got her favorite things.  Above is a photo of her with two of her favorite things.  She loves to eat grass.  I also got her some "Medicinal Cat Nip".

Here is a photo of her on a bad day.  I have her carrier set so she can look outside and see the birds at the bird feeder.  When she is not feeling well, I will dip my fingers into water and hand feed her water so she stays hydrated.  I also found that they sell soup for cats.

Her favorite kitty broth is the fancy feast creamy chicken.  Sometimes when she doesn't feel well, she will just lick up the broth part, and when she feels better she will eat the little chunks of chicken.  They have this in the treat section at the pet store.  I'm thinking of writing to them and saying they should make something for terminally ill cats.  It has been a blessing for our little cat.

We spend a lot of time giving my cat love and snuggling with her.  But that is something we always did.  I'm not mad at Heavenly Father that she has cancer.  I'm not hating Cancer.  I am asking "What am I learning from this?"   Because everything in life is a lesson.  Each day that my cat has a good day I express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father.  I thank him for her healthy days.

Here she is with another of her favorites.  When we adopted our cat the man who was her foster owner said, "this cat loves to eat.  You will know if she is not well, because she won't eat."  That is the one thing that most days makes me realize that she is not well.  She is not begging for food constantly.  She no longer eats kibble.(why eat kibble when you are fed treats and wet food whenever you want it?)  It's mostly wet can food for sensitive stomachs.   She will eat a little, and then walk away.  I will then bring the food bowl over to her and she will eat a little more.  She will still eat a ton of her favorites.  We have gone through more kitty treat bags in the last few weeks than we have in the last few years.  No more diet.

I have been tracking her good and bad days.  She has had 3 good weeks.  She has had so many good weeks it's sometimes hard to believe she is sick.  I think maybe it's the "medicinal catnip."  (this is a joke, but for some reason when I say I have medicinal catnip people really believe that there is such a thing.  We've had some good laughs with that.)   What am I learning from my cat with cancer.  Take each day and make it precious.   I know my cat is dying and there are days when that brings me to tears.  But we are all dying, we are all only here for today, no one is promised tomorrow.  Make today special.  Stop being busy and spend time with those who you love.  Then express your gratitude each morning and night for all the good of the day.  We all take time to give our cat love each day, and we have all slowed down and shared precious moments together.
Thank you to all of my friends who have been there for me these past few months, who have maybe not known what to say, but have given a hug, or told a story of their own struggle with the loss of a pet.
G.G.
https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-health-tips-breast-cancer-in-cats-signs-prevention
https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/mammary-cancer