Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Late Night Baby Food Runs

I've been buying baby food recently at the store. The first time I did it, I felt weird. No babies have been dropped off at my doorstep. It's for Fluffernutter, my cat. Fluff is at the end of her 9th and a half life. She is nearing 20 years old, but I fear she will not make her next birthday. It's been a challenge to figure out what she will eat anymore. At first, the baby food idea worked great. Now, about the only thing she will eat is canned tuna.

We've been playing geriatric cat games, like "find the cat pee", which I usually discover by stepping in it. She's gotten so weak that her back legs don't work very well anymore. I justify her peeing on the floor because it must be hard to get in and out of the litter box, but then I catch her nimbly navigating the box. Other days, she gets everything but one back leg in the litter box and ends up launching her pee off the back of the box onto the floor. One day, she didn't even bother with the back legs - just put her front legs in the litter box and started peeing. Luckily, that one of the four litter boxes she has to choose from in the house has a tray under it that catches the errant pee.

She has deteriorated to the point that we have made the difficult decision to stop giving her subcutaneous fluids and let nature take it's course. I think we have been doing this for three years. I've made friends with 22 gauge needles in that time. When it came time to do PIO shots myself, I figured if my 6 pound cat can handle it, so can I.

Fluffernutter has a great will to live. She's trying to make her failing kidneys work, but her parts have worn out. I'm just trying to keep her comfortable right now, poor thing.

12 comments:

Nikki said...

Its so sad that we almost always outlive our pets. So sad to see them suffer. You're doing a great job of keeping her comfortable - hats off to you!

Good luck to Fluffernutter.

Beautiful Mess said...

Oh honey, I'm so sorry! If it makes you feel any better (probably not) i think you're doing the right thing and it's very brave. Hold you Fluff close and let her be peaceful. Thinking of you!
*HUGS*

Anonymous said...

Very sorry to hear about your cat. It is so sad to watch your beloved animal approach its end. Hope you will be able to keep her as comfortable as possible, and enjoy your remaining time with her.

DAVs said...

Oh man. I'm really sorry. My pets mean so, so much to me, they've been there through all of this IF crap, and I can't imagine how hard it is to let them go. I'm sorry.

Sue said...

Its so hard to watch your pets get to that stage. He sounds like he's had a long, happy life and has a great, caring mommy! You are doing what you can...

Nadine said...

Oh poor little one, sounds like she has had a long and full life, hugs.

Emily said...

I am so very sorry. Poor Fluffernutter :( Give her a rub for me... Hugs to you!

Momasita said...

Dealing with the end of a pet's life is so horrible. Hugs to you.

Josée Martens said...

Oh, I am so sorry to hear that your kitty is having trouble with her kidneys. I have a good friend who has just started giving the fluids to hers. I am hoping she can be comfortable and loved. My heart aches for you. I love my kitties so much too.

Anonymous said...

Poor little kitty -- I hope her last days are comfortable. I have not yet lost a pet (as an adult) but I can't imagine how awful it must be to lose your best friend. I'm sorry.

Denver Laura said...

We've had to buy baby food for our dog becasue she's eaten something she shouldn't have (feminine hygine product or LSD in the mulch pile) and had surgery. We have a large doggie door and we still have to clean up pee. I hope nutter doesn't have to suffer mush longer, but still have a quality of life well deserved at 20.

Denver Laura said...

When my "baby" ate the compost and then the bathroom garbage, we had to give her baby food after the surgery each time. The thing that PO'd me, is now I get stupid diaper and other baby product coupons spitting out at me at the checkout. I regret not paying them in cash and without my VIP card.