a quiet domino

Posted on By Wil

Our cat Felix, who’s been slowly losing his kidney function for the last couple of years, has gotten really sick. He’s lost a lot of weight, and he tested at about 15% kidney function when we took him to the vet two weeks ago.
Man, first Sketch (who is doing very well, by the way, despite a scary episode last week) and now The Bear. This sucks.
For the last few days, Felix has spent most of his time on our patio in a little crouch. He looks so sad and uncomfortable, and even though we’re giving him fluids and as much love as we can, he’s just not getting better. I had the “I think I may have to put my kitty to sleep” talk with my vet last week about Sketch, and it looks like I’m going to have to have the same conversation with her about Felix this week.
It’s so sad, because other than his kidney problems, he’s really tough and healthy. Anne is just devastated about him. He is totally her little bear.
I feel completely helpless. As a husband, and as a pet owner, I’m doing everything I can . . . but it just feels like it’s not enough. It really, really sucks. 🙁
I’ve got convention stuff to write up, and some more CSI stuff, but that’s currently on hold while I take care of this.
If you can spare a thought for Felix, and especially for Anne, please do.

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Comments (154)

  1. Sorry to hear about Felix. I’m a pet owner too (six cats and a one dog), I know how hard it is when they get sick. I also worked for a veterinarian for a few years and know how hard it is to have “the talk”. I’ll keep your family in my thoughts…

  6. My heart just sank when I read your post. I am so sorry to hear the news. Animals are like small children to us and our lives. My heart goes out to you and yours. I will be sending much needed kitty mogo your way, twice as much for both of your furry family.

  7. Wil, Anne, and especially Felix:
    You all are in our thoughts — and we’re sending all the mojo available. Hang in there.
    Chuck

  8. Wil, sorry to hear about Felix… it is heart breaking to think of our ‘babies’ in pain. I am sending lots of kitty mojo and love your way. hugs and blessings to you, Anne and boys.

  10. Hey Will,
    That’s bad news about Felix. I know the feeling (have 3 dogs) of being helpless. But thrust me, Felix feels that you care for him, just be there and cuddle him.
    It’s a difficult talk with the vet, I know (my dog died two years ago from kidney-failure).
    But that is worst case, cats always have a life to spare (somewhere), i’ll keep my fingers crossed
    Take you’re time and spend as much time as possible with Felix.
    My toughts are with you and the rest of the family.
    Can you keep us up to date Wil about Felix?
    Greetz

  11. Major mucho mojo comin’ atcha bro. We lost our kitty cat a few weeks back. Midnight was an outdoor cat and would disappear few days at a time, but always knew where to come and get love and food. One day he showed up and had been torn up by something. The vet initially had to give him surgery to patch him up and told us to keep an eye on him. We got ‘the talk’ at that time (he was ripped up around the neck pretty bad…the vet said an eighth of an inch closer would have torn open his jugular: that’s how bad he was injured) and we were told to keep him in the house. After a week he had not improved so we took him back. Our worst fears were realized when the vet told us he had contracted leukemia from his encounter and it would be best if we put him down. After some tearful goodbyes, we gave the vet permission to send him to a better place and she said it was best for him. She actually had his paw print put into some ceramic and we brought it home with some little letters that spelled ‘Midnight’. We know our pretty kitty is happy where he is now and although we miss him, we know it was all for the best. We could not live knowing he would be in pain, so we did what we thought was best. Was it a mistake? Some people may say so, but I could not stand to see our friend and member of our family suffer, so I did what I did and have no regrets.
    The moral of my story? I hope that you and yours don’t have to go through the same thing. Again, mucho major mojo is with you and Anne and I hope all goes well with you all. Take care. 🙂

  12. i’m really sorry felix isn’t feeling well. i love cats. i’m praying for all of you. i hope he gets better soon.

  13. Man Wil, I am really sorry that you and your family are having to go through this… Everyone else has pretty much stated my thoughts and feelings, so I will be sending all of the mojo, white light and positive karmic energy as I can possibly spare to all of you, and especially to Felix…
    (((((((((((((((Felix & Wheaton Family))))))))))))))
    As for the CSI, con & Love Machine posts… don’t stress. We all understand that family (including pets) is a priority!
    Terry *hugz*

  14. Hi Wil,
    First-time commenter, long-time reader. Have you eer thought of looking into raw feeding for your pets? I know it’s not the end-all cure, but I had a friend, whose dog had kidney problems that were off-the-charts (literally). She switched to the best dog food money could buy, and that brought his problems back onto the charts, but still, they were there.
    She switched to raw feeding him, and the problems went away entirely.
    If you want to look into it, do searches on raw feeding, also known as BARF (Bones and Raw Food) feeding.
    Do keep in mind: sometimes switching them to this diet will cause them to be ill for the first week. It should be mentioned in things you might find.

  15. Are you giving him subcutaneous fluids?
    There are a couple of prescription foods you might ask your vet about. My cat Phoebe went from near dead to doing quite well for several years after putting her on the Hills Prescription Diet wet food for renal failure and oxylate stones, as well as giving her half a liter of fluid subcutaneously (ie with a needle under the skin) per day. Happy healthy old cat now. At first giving her the fluids was kind of disconcerting, but nowadays she sits right through it and purrs.

  16. Wil, my thoughts and mojo are going out for you and Ann and Felix.
    Just thinking about it makes me want to cry. Animals effect us deep in our soul, and I feel more emotion about animals than about humans, perhaps because of the innocence of animals, and that humans can basically take care of themselves.
    My love and mojo is heading to Pasadena, you and yours are in my heart and soul. Peace, life, joy and abundance are being sent to you.
    Kroeme

  17. Wil, Anne & boys,
    I’m so sorry to hear about your other little one. Keeping you in our thoughts!
    -Amanda, Jeff & Sammycat =^..^=

  18. Can they do a kidney transplant or would the surgery be too hard on him?
    Sorry, I know you’re sad over your cat. I would be, too, if my Alex were sick. However, I can’t help but remember that line from Star Trek IV: “The doctor gave me a pill and I grew a new kidney!”
    Sending you and Felix lots of prayers and mojo.

  21. My thoughts are with you and Anne, Wil. I have a big baby kitty of my own and everytime I read one of your posts in regards to the health of your cats, I just look into her big, green eyes and find myself thankful for every moment I get to share with her. Our pets become a special part of our lives and I am so sorry for all of the heartache you are going through.
    Lots and lots of kitty mojo is being sent your way.

  24. Not a pet owner at the moment, although I think when we move house later this year room should be found for a needy cat.
    Curiously, this post doesn’t put me off, but encourages me; the price you pay for not getting hurt is never to love.
    Mojo coming Felix’s way as I type…

  25. Aw, man, not again!
    Get well soons Felix, and keep well Sketch.
    With love and Kitty Mewjo from Galileo, Gizmo and Zigzag and their staff Ogrek and Devil Girl.
    Cats getting sick should just not be allowed. Could something be passed in Congress about that?

  27. thoughts and prayers to Felix, you, Anne and the boys, I lost both of my cats (litter mates) within a year of each other after having them for 15 & 16 years – it broke my heart.

  28. Hey Wil, I am sorry about Felix, I hope that he gets better. Lots of hugs and mojo for you, Felix and Anne.
    Lots of mojo,
    Sherry, and my doggy Chewy!

  29. Wil,
    One of the toughest things that we sign on for when we share our lives with cats is to do exactly what you are doing: considering the end game for your friend. These guys trust us to feed them, take care of their medical needs, and in return they give us love and bring a dimension to our lives we wouldn’t have without them. But when the time comes to do the right thing, we have to do that too.
    We had a guy named Larry who was with us from the time we were first married and stayed for almost 18 years. When his time came we had to make that awful decision for him. But the alternative was far worse and he was wasting away before our eyes.
    So, we made the appointment and that last day before we took him over to the vet, we let him out in the yard to enjoy the sunlight one last time, to walk free in the fresh air. Then, when he was visibly tired, we gathered him up, put him in the carrier, and took him to the vet. We held him as he got the penultimate shot, and he burrowed into my side as a little kitten would do to its mother. Then, he got the final shot and we cried as his life sighed out of his shrunken body.
    To this day (six years later) I remember how he trusted us, grew up with us, grew old with us, and when we finally had to let him go.
    He’ll never really leave you Wil. He’ll always be there, but yeah — I know how tough it will be for you and Anne to do this for him.
    You’re good people.

  30. My heart goes out to you and Anne and the boys. Felix is a lucky and well loved kitty and no matter what happens, you have that. Never doubt yourself and whether you are doing enough. I’m sure Anne would be the first to tell you that you are doing more than enough, and just being there for her to lean on, and loving her is plenty.

  32. I’m so sorry, Wil. I had to put my kitty to sleep a few weeks ago and we miss him a lot. But he was in seriously bad shape and we couldn’t let him suffer anymore. The end was very quick and painless. I was actually surprised at how quick it was. Not that this helps you, but I know what you’re going through. I’ll be sure to keep you guys in my thoughts.

  33. I know it sucks and I know it hurts. The support of an aging hippie you never met might not help a whole heck of a lot, but I’m with you, man.
    Positive vibes heading your way.

  35. Wil and Anne,
    I am so sorry to hear that Felix Is not feeling well. I know how it is when you have a sick pet!! Animals are just like humans. They need love and care, because unlike humans , they cannot tell us what is wrong or what hurts. I mentioned before that I work in a vet clinic, and I see so many sick dogs and cats come in! Miricles do happen. I have seen the worst animals get better out of the blue. I will keep Felix in my thoughts everyday. I will pray that a miricle will happen. To give up on hope is the worst thing anyone can do. Whatever happens you have the peace in knowing that Felix could not have had better parents!! If I were a cat I know that I would want You and Anne for my parents!! The love you have for Felix And Sketch, and all of your animals is wonderful!! If They could talk they would say the same thing!! You both are in my thoughts and the same goes for Felix! I wish you both the very best and the very best to Felix!!

  36. Here’s some more mojo headed your way for Felix and Sketch.
    Really sorry to hear about Felix now. Having sick pets is hard, especially when all you can do is be with them and hope everything will be all right. I’ve been there – three times when everything turned out all right, and finally once when it didn’t (after three surgeries, her little body just couldn’t take any more).
    Anyway, hopefully Felix can pull through this, and be back to his old playful self. Cats are pretty amazing for bouncing back.

  38. I feel for you guys. I had a cat a couple years ago that we went through this. It was a rotten experience. For the last year of her life we basically had to give her daily IVs just to keep her fluids up and eventually it came down to the point where her life just wasn’t going to get better. She was essentially living in a three-foot by three-foot area, too weak to do much of anything but wait for her daily fluid injection.
    If I had to go through it again I don’t know what I would have done. Sometimes I feel like I just prolonged her pain. But on the other hand, it is so hard to tell when that point when there truly isn’t any point in going on is.
    The only advice I have is to make sure you get your vet to tell you exactly what the prognosis actually is. In my case, the vet kept us going for a while before admitting that we were essentially in maintence mode. I would have done anything for Riply to get better, but I wish I hadn’t put her as much pain as I did.

  41. When we’re born into this world we’re not good at anything, its only through experience we learn things and more often than not all we can do is muddle our way through as best we can and hopefully try and learn from it. Thats not something to feel bad about, thats just life.
    I kinda get the feeling felix is Anne’s cat and that you dont really want to be the one to have to put him down? I’m not one to jump at putting animals to sleep unless its a real last resort, but if you feel that his quality of life will be non existent by further treatment, then although I know its really sucks, it maybe be better purely for the cats sake. I won’t lie to ya, 15% Kidney function is not looking too great. Having said that, only you know how good or bad felix really is, so ask yourself and ask anne, if you were in felix’s shoes what would you want to be done?

  44. So sorry to hear this. I lost a kitty to renal failure a few years ago and it was devastating. Sending purrs & headbutts to Felix, and to you too.

  45. As the parent of two cats (Holy Birma), I can at least try to imagine what it is that you and the family is going through right now.
    Our two cats, Gina and Jaquie, have been with me and my wife since we moved into our first apartment in 1995, sharing our daily lives.
    Now that we’ve got two sons growing up in the house with us, they have taken them under their paw as well, always fetching us if either one is unhappy and crying. Especially Gina is a big mother cat, if there ever was one, being especially close and cozy when someone’s feeling ill.
    Funniest thing about our cats is that they are such rivals when we’re around, but tend to be very close when we’re not. When arriving home after a day away, we always find them sleeping in our baby sons bed, very close to one another. And they always look like they _really_ didn’t want us to find out… 🙂
    Thinking of y’all. And remember, “if there’s life, there’s hope”, as the saying goes.
    /Magnus, still stuck in that small hotelroom in London…

  47. Oh no! Very sorry to hear that. ; ; My two kitties and I are sending all the mojo we can muster! All the WWdN mojo helped Sketch, so I’m sure it’ll work for Felix too! And hugs for all of you, especially Anne.

  48. I’m really sorry to hear that. I’ve been in your and Anne’s shoes more times than I care to remember. You’ve got all the positive mojo I have to offer.

  49. Oh God, when you mentioned the “crouch” I flashed back to my little Rasta kitty 5 years ago. I had to make that trip to the vet that turned into the final one and it was the most I’ve cried in years. I now know that there was nothing I could do, I was a good mom, he was a good boy…. it just happens when it happens. You are good “parents,” be with him now and let him go when it’s time. Mojo ahoy!!

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