Thursday, May 28, 2009

Sick little kitty

My little tabby cat, Asha, is very sick and in the hospital. She's been battling chronic renal failure (CRF) since her diagnosis in early April '08, but has been doing exceptionally well with sub-q fluid treatments, herbal supplements, and steroids. The last few days I noticed her behaviors were different as were her eating habits and the big clue was the ammonia smell to her breath, which is a tell-tale sign that her creatinine levels are elevated. I took her to the vet today and as I suspected her kidney levels (BUN and creatinine) were off the charts, so the vet recommended admitting her to the hospital for IV fluids to flush her system. The vet informed me that if her kidney levels improve even slightly that is a sign that we'll get them back to a manageable level, but if they don't improve this means that she's in end-stage renal failure. I can't bare to think about the latter.
Asha is particularly fond of me. I like to think it's because I rescued her from homelessness. Asha wandered into my life in '99 when I was going to grad school at UGA. One night while I was taking the trash out I saw a tiny tabby cat hanging around the garbage can and being the cat lover I am I called her over. She immediately came to me and rubbed up against my legs while purring louder than you'd expect such a little cat to be able to do. It was instant love and at that moment she became my little princess and ten years later Asha still has ahold of my heart.


I am one of those people who consider my pets to be members of our family. Both of my cats give us unconditional love and we give them love in return. I don't want this to sound strange or to give you the impression that I think my cats can replace a child because I don't, but they do give us a live, being to care for and nurture. After Myles's died Asha was there to console me. She would sit on my lap constantly during the long days and nights that followed. Whenenver I needed someone she was there purring like a little motor. Every night she sits with me on the couch as I read, comment, and blog. So, as I sit here tonight typing this I can't help but notice how sad and lonely it is not having my little Asha here on my lap purring and rubbing her cute little face on my hand begging me to pet her.

19 comments:

Bonny said...

Oh Niki...so sorry to her that she is sick. I hope that her levels go down. My cat is truly a part of the family, just like one of the kids. Hugs to you.

Heather said...

I'm so sorry, Niki, they *are* part of the family. I hope she starts to show improvement.

Unknown said...

Niki,
I hope her levels come down and again she comes home! Our pets ARE very part of our family! I remember the time we left shelby our blk lab for the first time we went out of town! I was crying (happy) to be back home and go pick her up,I was so sad while we were gone and we were thinking of her the whole time! They are all our babies!!!

Kelly said...

Oh Niki that is so awful!! I really hope she bounces back with the treatments. My cat as a teen laid with me day and night when I had jaw surgery. They just know when they are needed.

Mrs. Spit said...

I'm so sorry, I sure hope she's better soon. The fur children are very much part of our families.

Rhonda and Gerry W said...

Get well soon Asha! Poor, poor kitty so unfair to see them sick, they give such wonderful, unconditional love.

Jacinta said...

Asha, get well soon! Niki, she is beautiful and looks like my girl cat Mars. The love and caring that pets bring is so wonderful.

seiser said...

Niki - I am sorry to hear about your kitty! I am a grad of UGA also! What a coincidence.. I rescued a dog at the time and know exactly how you feel.
I hope that you see some improvement.

Heather said...

What a sweet little kitty. I hope she feels better soon- seeing pets suffer is so, so hard.

Mary said...

I have so been there - I am still not over a precious little furboy who's been gone nearly 3 years now. I hope your kitty gets better. Thinking of you.

Kris said...

I hope that Asha improves and that she can come home to her mommy and daddy soon. I love the pics and hope that you will get to take more pics of Asha soon as she is jumping all around the house:)

Nadine said...

I realy hope she feels better soon, it is so hard when our furry ones are ill, isn't it?

Anonymous said...

Poor Asha! I hope she gets better!

Busted said...

I'm so sorry - Asha looks like such a sweetie. Truly hoping she recovers - we lost my childhood kitty to renal failure and it was heartbreaking. I can also completely empathize with your feelings towards your kitties. Of course they don't replace the children we lost, but they do help the heart to grow a bit, even in a different way, and give us something to love.

Tina said...

I am so sorry to hear that your kitty is sick. My dogs are my children and it is just so hard to see them sick. I really hope that the levels go down.

Tina

The Hendrickson's said...

Niki, the loss of my cats ranks up there among the worst times of my life. I can understand completely how she is part of the family. It's so very hard and I pray she will get better. My heart aches just thinking of how it feels :(

Praying for an improvement, and huge hugs to you!

Jaymee said...

asha will be in my thoughts. i cannot imagine having one of my cats sick. they are like my children, i have a hard time watching them get shots. sending you all love, support and healing thoughts. maggie and daisy are also sending kitty healing thoughts.

Amy said...

You know how I feel about my animals so you know I truly understand!

Amy and Angela said...

Asha is a beautiful name for a beautiful cat. Hoping for a speedy recovery. I have a cat that I found half starved under our bushes about 10 years ago. She usually detects a sadness in me before my husband does! They are so in tune to humans.