Poppy ~ update

Sadly things are not looking so good this last week where 'Poppy cat' is concerned.

Almost a year ago when her kidney failure was diagnosed the vet gave her a few months if we were lucky, we didn't anticipate her making it to Christmas 2004

but she rallied spectacularly and did. From there on in she seemed to defy her expected prognosis and whilst she was obviously very old she pottered on happily.
Alas, the situation has changed quite dramatically this last week. Her weight loss and state of dehydration are more marked, her coat no longer even attempts to gleam and trying to get her to eat more than a tiny scrap is a feat of endurance. Standard cat food is now no longer and option, she will only consider entertaining 'people food' and then not often or with much interest. I have presented all manner of delicacies for her but even tuna fish meets with no interest the last day or two.

She has barely moved unless prompted, she has slept for 23 out of every 24 hours, she only purrs rarely, and whilst she can still perform an adequate enough jump to perch herself in the sun on the window sill, the 'quality of her life' issue is becoming uppermost in our minds.

Each time I got out or go to bed at night I say a quiet goodbye to her, half expecting, or maybe hoping, that she will just fall asleep and not wake up but I know that given the specifics of what ails her, that is highly unlikely. What is likely is that we are going to have to make the final decision. Cats just don't die in their sleep of kidney failure, it just doesn't happen. Her heart is still strong and her symptoms will become intolerable before the heart even considers enough is enough.

She is old I know...almost 17, I checked her birth date last night and I had got it one year out, she is not 18 as I thought but no matter, she has still done well, particularly considering how ill she was when I rescued her. Now thought, unless she rallies again which maybe she will, but on which I am not counting, I think we are talking days, if we are lucky perhaps a few weeks at best. The decision isn't going to be taken out of my hands much as I would like it to be and trying to decide when enough is enough for her is something I am struggling with. I couldn't consider leaving her miserable just so I don't lose her but ending her life and being sure it is not premature is not something that I am finding easy or simple.

Fcuk.