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rusty_halo
The vet just called to tell me Lucifer is in the early stages of kidney failure. Early, so he doesn’t need intravenous fluids yet, and they don’t want to switch his diet because they don’t want the diabetes to come back.
He might live a few more years, but it’s incurable and fatal.
You can probably imagine, I’m not dealing very well. He’s 13.5 so I know he’s not going to live forever, but… obviously a concrete diagnosis is different.
He’s my best friend. He wakes up with me in the morning and he greets me with a hug as soon as I walk in the door at night. He climbs into bed next to me and snuggles, then he sleeps in the bed next to me. He presses his forehead to me and just purrs. I look at him and know exactly what he’s thinking, and know that he knows exactly what I’m thinking. I rescued his mother; I felt him kicking in the womb; I watched his birth; I held him when he was less than a day old; I watched him learn to crawl and walk and eat and play. I love him more than anything. I was 15 when he was born; we grew up and grew together; I’ll never have a bond like this with anyone for the rest of my life. I can’t imagine living without him.
Originally published at rusty-halo.com. You can comment here or there.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 01:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 01:49 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 02:09 am (UTC)For what it's worth, I have two cats who were diagnosed with chronic kidney failure about 4 years ago. I've been giving them the intravenous fluids since then and they are both still eating well and very active. So, while it is incurable, it's possible for them to live with it for a fairly long time with a good quality of life.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 02:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 02:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 02:16 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 03:06 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 03:14 am (UTC)I know it's just another anecdote, but my friend Louis' cat Heimdahl lived for almost five years after diagnosis with kidney failure (and Dally needed IV fluids right away). So Lucifer could have a lot of time left! And he is so well-loved; I've seen how happy he is. *hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 03:26 am (UTC)When Max was diagnosed, he was already old and failing from his heart condition, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The vet had me try the special diet, and he wouldn't eat it at all, so he finally just said to let him be. I never did intravenous, because with Max that would have involved a death wish on my part, and even with all of that going on, he lasted about two years. It's early days, so Lucifer should have a long time yet.
I so understand feeling the way you do. I met Max when he was two days old, and he chose me as his human the minute we got him home. He was with me through my divorce, and he helped me understand that SL was a good guy. I loved and understood him better than most humans I'd ever known, and he was so sweet and hilarious and smart. He'd always come to me when I needed a hug.
I hope you have many more years together.
The two monster brats I now live with make me laugh every day. It's not the same as it was, but I love them. They needed me, because no one else would have adopted them, and I couldn't bear for them to be at the shelter forever.
Hugs and more hugs.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 04:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 04:58 am (UTC)Oh sweetie, I know just how you fell. My mum and I rescued Casey - Tessa's mum, see icon - and I was the firs to hold her when she was born. I went through all the stages with her, including being teenagers together and her 'talking' back to me when I wanted her to sit and stop at all street crossings.
I also held her the day we put her down. That was over four years now, I still miss her.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 05:13 am (UTC)I'm going to join the crowd of personal anecdotes about cats with kidney failure. My parents' cat, Spike, who I love dearly, got diagnosed with kidney failure last fall. He's not quite ten years old. Before getting the diagnosis he seemed really under the weather, but since starting on IV fluids he's perked up. He's back to being quite active for a 10 year-old chubby cat. I hope Lucifer manages to keep a good quality of life for years to come.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 11:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-15 11:54 pm (UTC)Queenofattolia from LJ here.
Date: 2011-08-15 11:59 pm (UTC)If it helps, we were able to keep our Alexandra alive for almost 3 years after this same diagnosis. It was hard going; she had a few setbacks, she was incontinent throughout most of her last year, she had trouble with food, etc. But you know what? I'd gladly do it all again if she were with me here right now. She was to me what Lucifer is to you.
If you need any help (including financial for vet bills), just ask. I'm PMing you right now.
Take care. My heart goes out to you.
Re: Queenofattolia from LJ here.
Date: 2011-08-16 12:01 am (UTC)