please give sketch some mojo

I feel like I’m on a roller coaster right now . . .
My cat Sketch will be eleven years old in April. I’ve had him since he was five weeks old.
Friday night, I came home from ACME, and he was acting strangely: he was in the hallway (not on my bed where he usually is) breathing very heavily and rapidly. There was something clearly wrong with him.
Saturday morning, I took him to the vet, and she took some Xrays. They showed that his lungs were about 1/2 full of fluid, and none of the vets could figure out why. They think it may be something with his heart.
He spent the weekend at this 24 hour emergency vet, where they gave him some oxygen and some other medication, to help clear out his lungs. They took more Xrays yesterday evening, and there wasn’t any significant change.
This afternoon, the vet told me that he hasn’t responded to any of the medication, so tomorrow morning I’m taking him to get a cardiac ultrasound. The vet told me and Anne that he should be okay to stay with us overnight, so Anne brought him home, where he can sleep on our bed with us, and be close to his brother, Biko.
I just got back from ACME (the running joke is that I secretly live under the stage there now) and Sketch is in my bedroom with Anne.He’s really struggling. He hasn’t gotten worse (if he does, I will take him right back to the emergency vet), but he’s not getting better, either. If the ultrasound shows that he’s got some heart thing that I can’t remember the name of right now, he’ll get on medication right away, and it should clear out his lungs and put him back together.
But if it’s inconclusive, or shows something worse, I’m not going to let him suffer because I can’t say goodbye. I hope I don’t have to make that decision, and I’ve been appealing to The Universe all day to give Sketch a natural 20 on his saving throw. Please?
He’s such a tough little guy, I never thought that he would get sick like this, and so suddenly. Biko is the runt of their litter, and Felix has been in and out of the vet so many times, they’re naming a boat after him . . . but I love Sketch so much, I don’t want him to go. It would mean a lot to me if anyone who reads this would take a moment and send Sketch some kitty mojo, especially to his heart and lungs.
You can call him “Tubby,” or “Fatty,” or “Fat Boy,” or “Chunk,” too, because he responds to all those names. He’s my tubby little guy.
Thanks.

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135 thoughts on “please give sketch some mojo”

  1. Dear Wil,
    I am so sorry to hear Sketch is ailing right now. I hope the meds will help and he will be better very very soon. I am a cat and dog lover both, and have had cats of my own, so I know what you are going through. I am sending a TON of mojo for Sketch, for you, and for your family.
    Please keep us all posted on how Sketch is doing. I have your site linked to my LiveJournal and I read it a lot, so I will be on the lookout for news. You have made the right decision though, if Sketch does not recover from this. I know how hard it is to let a pet go…I lost my dog Sunshine to arthritis and cataracts and it was very hard for my dad to take her and have her put to sleep.
    Hang in there…we’re all thinking of you.
    April (ArizonaGeekette/BullpenBrat22)
    Chandler, AZ

  2. Mojo from me, my wife Nicki, our twins Blake & Grace, and the 5 cats (Oliver, Max, Lucy, BoJangles, and S.O.S.). The dogs would’ve sent some mojo, but they have this thing about cats. But at least they send some woof-woof love.

  3. I’ve conferred with my cat Squeak and he’s agreed to send out the cat mojo as well. I’ve dealt with mysterious cat illnesses before and I know how incredibly difficult it is. I sure hope it turns out okay for you and Sketch!
    ((((((((((((( Sketch ))))))))))))))))

  4. Mojo from me and the misses (Syl) as well as from our kitty horde… (Wooley, Max and Ripley).
    Best wishes and good fuzzy vibes.
    -Gregory

  7. Does he have paracarditis? I know that humans get that.
    Much mojo for Sketch and the family (including Felix and Ferris, of course).

  9. Wil: I have had trouble getting cats to swallow pills. My vet gave me some advice that works wonders … if you put the pill in his mouth and then stroke his chin, he’ll usually swallow. I don’t know why this works, but it seems to.

  12. Sending out mojo waves! Pill popping is hard if the cat is resistant. A friend of mine’s cat has a tumor and we had to give her steroids twice a day while they were away.
    We have to give pills to our cats at home, but fortunately, they eat it in food. For another one, we were dissolving it in water and syringing it into their mouth which, in this case, was slightly easier than pill popping. I hope your kitty recovers.

  15. I’m adding my “get well, Sketch” mojo to everyone else’s because a sick little kitty can never have too much mojo.
    I have four cats and I’d hate to think about any of them getting that sick, but I know someday it’ll happen. My oldest, Noel, is 11 years old now – a healthy, grumpy old man. I can’t bear to think of him not feeling well. I imagine you feel the same.

  16. I had a white chin chile cat that lasted for a massive 16 years of age, called snowy and a west highland dog that was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 12. We kept the dog alive by checking his sugar levels everyday (dont ask how you do that, its gross..) injecting him daily with insulin and buying him expensive non sugar dog food. I know yuor probably thinking that he suffered cos of it but he didnt in the slighest, he just got his injection in the morning the sameway a human would. one vet we went too wanted to put our dog down, when all that was needed was someone to take care of him the way he needed. He lasted till he was 15. What Im trying to say is make sur u get second opinion first before doin anything cos vets differ. Hope he get better bud. Dont suppose you could put a pic of him when he was healty up in buzznet just for us to see him?

  17. Lots of love and mojo of the entire Hindu pantheon for Sketch. I have never owned a pet but have lots of friends and family who have and I know the pain that they have to endure when the little ones are sick. My family’s and my prayers are with Sketch and your family.

  18. My housemate, Nusch, is also 11 years old and is also called “big fat kitty” and “little guy” – it sounds like Sketch and Nusch have much in common. Nusch and I both send Sketch lots of kitty mojo.
    – Fluffy Kitty

  19. As someone who has lost to beloved pets in the last two years my heart goes out to you. Toot was my partners cat for 13 years (I only knew her for 2) She had kidney disease for like 4 years, we treated her at home with a special diet and iv fluids. We both knew her time was near, but it still seemed sudden and tragic. Last fall, my dear Ozark, my constant pooch companion of almost 11 years, passed away in her sleep. I still can’t believe she is actually gone.
    Wil, I don’t wish the pain of losing a dear friend and family memeber on anyone, especially not someone who has had a rough time in life. I’m sending you and Sketch both all the good Mojo in the world. But, in case things don’t turn out well, make peace with Sketch, tell him how much you love him (although I’m sure he knows) and let him know that it is okay to leave.
    I hope that doesn’t sound heartless or make you think that I don’t want things to turn out well for Sketch and for you. I’m such a huge animal lover, I have 3 dogs and 2 cats, I’ve worked as a dog bather and am starting a new position as a vet tech next Tuesday, so I’m not cold and heartless.
    All the best to you, Sketch, and your entire family, I know this is hard on all of you.

  20. Wil, my 11 year old fat cat Buster (all 18.5 pounds of him) and I are sending our mojo your way for Sketch. Best of luck for both of you. California cat to California cat, though he’s moved to Illinois now.
    Major mojo for you too; it’s been far too long since you got a good acting break. I’d like to see you now; I’ve been a huge fan since the days of Stand by Me, through Next Gen, and think the thick heads who can’t get beyond the anti-Wesley thing are nuts!
    Jen C.

  21. Having put down BOTH my kiddies in the last three weeks (Cancer in one, kidney failure in the other) I can tell you it’s a VERY humane process, but dammit if I don’t keep seeing and hearing the cats all over the house. 🙁
    One cat had hyperthyroidism a couple years ago and I feel the $2000 spent in making him better was worth it for the two additional years we gave him.

  22. * Healing Kitty MOJO *
    I was thinking about your furbabies the other day, I guess I know why now.
    You and your entire family are in my thoughts, sweetie. I know it’s heartbreakingly hard, but I know you will do what is best for Sketch because you are a good and thoughtful man. Remember that those furry little bodies are often stronger than we can ever know.

  23. Good luck for Sketch!
    Wil, I think I know how you’re feeling like. I have quinea pigs. One of them got two babies. One baby was sick since it was born. I looked after it every day and every hour I could. The first night I stood up at midnight to look whether it is still alive or not. I took it to the vet very often. I bought special food for it. But at the beginning of january I had to let it go. It was two and a half month old. I loved it like a own baby.
    Sketch, get well soon!

  24. ((SketchKitty)) ((Wil)) Strong, healing kitty-vibes being sent your way. Four legged furry family members mean a lot. I’ll be thinking of you all.

  26. Much mojo to Sketch and to everyone else in the family (none of whom are having fun with this, I’m sure). Of my two furfaces, Nemo has soaked up a generous amount of “please, please get better!” mojo in his day (plus big $$$ to the vet, as well). I’ll go give him a cuddle and have him send some of the mojo along southward…

  28. Some say animals cannot be best friends. I think otherwise. Animals can be just as affectionate as people (they just dont talk as much). Though my first dog Misty is up there in doggy heavon, my second dog dusty is as happy as can be. He was not always like that though, one night his pancreas shut down and we had to bring him to the animal hospital. For a while it did not look like he was going to make it. But I sat next to him and petted his little head and talked to him. Make sure to show TUBBY just as much affection as you would a person and everything sould turn out ok. OH yeah and Fat Boy, its up to you to be there for your master.

  29. I have a cat too and I couldn’t stand to lose him. I hope the docs can fix him up. i wish i knew what more to say…..
    –Lori

  32. Wil, much continued mojo your way. I have a little guy whose name is Charlie, and right after adopting him, I had to hospitalize him back at the shelter because he had an upper respiratory thing going where he refused to eat because his nose was so stopped up he couldn’t smell his food. I visited the poor l’il guy a couple times a week for a month. Anyway, both Charlie and I will send kitty mojo towards you and Sketch!

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