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A Few More Days
Sep. 28th, 2009 10:40 amSo it continues to be obvious both that Cobweb has decided to die and that she continues to enjoy her life.
On the one hand, she just barely eats. She purrs when I bring special food out and she licks the food, but she doesn't seem to have much interest in swallowing it, except accidentally. Combining that with the facts that she acts a little sick whenever she eats and that as far as we know her cancer is keeping her from absorbing nutrients anyway, we're not making any heroic attempts to force food upon her.
On the other hand, as I said, she continues to purr when offered food and enjoys tasting it. She enjoys fresh air and being around her people. She purrs when petted or sometimes just when I rest a hand upon her. Last night I laid the ever comfy "cat blanket" upon the foot of the bed to encourage her to sleep with us. Not only did she stay there all night, down at the foot of the bed, but in the wee hours of the morning she crawled up between Kimberly and me and started purring, collapsing first against one of us, then the other. Just like she used to.
We know she's slowly fading away. Her weight had dropped by another pound when we took her to the vet on Friday, and that was even after we'd tried a bit of a wet food regimen. However, it continues to be good to see her have pleasant days where she's clearly still happy to be alive. After Thursday night and Friday, every single one is a bonus.
What I hadn't really considered is the effect that Cobweb's sickness would have on the other cats.
Lucy has been hesitantly afraid of Cobweb since Thursday night. Sometimes she nerves herself to get up next to Cobweb and sniff her, but most of the time she hangs back a foot or more. Only once have I seen any of their old behavior. Last night, while we were eating dinner, Cobweb came down to investigate, and Lucy lay in wait, then chased her several feet, sending her bounding over the back of the couch.
Munchkin has been deeply disturbed. At first I thought it was just Cobweb's vet visit, which always disturbs Munchkin. But two and a half days later, Munchkin is still hissing and was even upset enough to ignore wet food and treats yesterday. Last night she wouldn't come to bed and she loves coming to bed. Clearly, we should just keep her separated from Cobweb, and try to make sure that she's eating right in that situation.
Talked to our vet this morning, and we'll be taking Cobweb off her chemotherapy drug, which is a real sign that we're in the end days. The steroid can still continue to make a difference, however, so she stays on that.
On the one hand, she just barely eats. She purrs when I bring special food out and she licks the food, but she doesn't seem to have much interest in swallowing it, except accidentally. Combining that with the facts that she acts a little sick whenever she eats and that as far as we know her cancer is keeping her from absorbing nutrients anyway, we're not making any heroic attempts to force food upon her.
On the other hand, as I said, she continues to purr when offered food and enjoys tasting it. She enjoys fresh air and being around her people. She purrs when petted or sometimes just when I rest a hand upon her. Last night I laid the ever comfy "cat blanket" upon the foot of the bed to encourage her to sleep with us. Not only did she stay there all night, down at the foot of the bed, but in the wee hours of the morning she crawled up between Kimberly and me and started purring, collapsing first against one of us, then the other. Just like she used to.
We know she's slowly fading away. Her weight had dropped by another pound when we took her to the vet on Friday, and that was even after we'd tried a bit of a wet food regimen. However, it continues to be good to see her have pleasant days where she's clearly still happy to be alive. After Thursday night and Friday, every single one is a bonus.
What I hadn't really considered is the effect that Cobweb's sickness would have on the other cats.
Lucy has been hesitantly afraid of Cobweb since Thursday night. Sometimes she nerves herself to get up next to Cobweb and sniff her, but most of the time she hangs back a foot or more. Only once have I seen any of their old behavior. Last night, while we were eating dinner, Cobweb came down to investigate, and Lucy lay in wait, then chased her several feet, sending her bounding over the back of the couch.
Munchkin has been deeply disturbed. At first I thought it was just Cobweb's vet visit, which always disturbs Munchkin. But two and a half days later, Munchkin is still hissing and was even upset enough to ignore wet food and treats yesterday. Last night she wouldn't come to bed and she loves coming to bed. Clearly, we should just keep her separated from Cobweb, and try to make sure that she's eating right in that situation.
Talked to our vet this morning, and we'll be taking Cobweb off her chemotherapy drug, which is a real sign that we're in the end days. The steroid can still continue to make a difference, however, so she stays on that.