I’m happy to report that my employer has finally resurrected charitable fund matching after a brief 6-month blackout period during my company separation. This is the first time I will have the opportunity to support SockFIP financially with a recurring payroll deduction that my company will match 100%.
“Save Our Cats and Kittens from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (SOCK FIP) is a volunteer non profit organization dedicated to eliminating Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) through advocacy, community education and financial support for UC Davis-CCAH FIP Research.”
In memory of Drogo, born 5/9/2015, diagnosed with effusive FIP 1/20/2016, PTS 2/1/2016. He was eight months young, not enough time for his family to love this precious furbaby.
It’s been 2 weeks since we made the decision to end our FIP-afflicted kitty’s life. PTS, put to sleep, entered our vocabulary of life’s acronyms. While the melancholy of our sudden loss did not collapse into life-disrupting despondency like I originally feared, the stab/twinge/shock of sorrow occasionally arrives unannounced, unbidden. Whether it be during the long commute to and from home, or during some idle conversation or distraction, or maybe just flipping aimlessly through the digital photo album and resurrecting an old memory, I am suddenly seized with sadness due to the emptiness he left in our lives.
I’ve cared for and fostered many a furkid in my life. All were bundles of joy and unique personalities. But there were a handful of them that entered my life that struck me as “special”, extraordinary, and unforgettable. Utterly incomparable and regrettably, lamentably, mortal; these were the souls who showed more compassion, devotion, presence, and dare I say, more humanity than any animal or human I’ve known. And, of course, as with everything and everyone you come to love so dearly, they will inevitably break your heart.
Drogo and Conan
Drogo Loves Tummy Rubs
It began when we first beheld him that day at the adoption fair, he already displayed a receptiveness, openness to human contact. I will never forget the day my man picked him up and cradled him on his shoulder: Dutch (as he was named at the time) looked like he belonged there. We walked away from the fair, from the store, thinking it was just a passing fancy–weren’t they all adorably cute at that age? How better to snag the unwary hearts of potential fur-parents!
Within an hour we were back to adopt Drogo and Conan, and suddenly, irrevocably, they were our kids. We had incremented our family by two within the span of an afternoon. In the weeks and months that followed, I became absorbed with parenthood, (even though we’d soon adopt another furkid). Furbabies are different, requiring more rigorous attention and therefore filling up our memories with more interactions with them. During these periods of learning and growth, Drogo and Conan’s personalities became evident markers of who they would become as adults.
Already Drogo distinguished himself for his curiosity, courage, initiative and affability. He was the explorer and the lover all in one fuzzy bundle. He possessed pleasant communication skills, an ease with new situations, demonstrating an assertiveness that his kitten-brother lacked. He was the first out of safe haven, to explore his new surrounds, to meet his canine and feline siblings, and engage in new discoveries. He was an opportunistic rogue, daring to scale forbidden counters in search of hidden treats or toys, or deftly robbing the dog bowls for canine kibble. He tested the limits of his world almost calculatingly, with a patience and intuitiveness beyond his years. And after all his (mis)adventuring was done, he’d come to us for a cuddle and comfort, and seemed delighted with our company above all else.
He was a good conversationalist, a champion purring machine, and a fan of tummy rubs. He excelled at fetching and recovery, so perfectly did he place the retrieved toy in my hand or lap, that I couldn’t imagine how he learned such a thing–certainly I never trained him. He bonded with us in such a short time; he followed me around when I readied for work in the mornings; he waited for me at the door when I got home at night. He seemed accepting of my after-work decompression routine, he’d patiently wait for me after workouts, then settled into my lap as I wrapped up my evening.
It was this sweet temper, this agreeableness, maybe some form of worship that obviously endeared him to us, and made his loss even more profound. He will be quite simply be sorely missed.
I had a very rough night and I am convinced that we are prolonging Drogo’s life artificially. I dread waking up in the AM because I fear to see him pass in the night. The man and I had some half-sleep conversations of bringing this to the end; we just don’t see any more progress and we don’t his last days to be full of suffering and misery.
Dropped him in his crate, he went #1 in litter. Spent most of the day on the bed.
10a 10mL Hills a/d, 1mL prednisolone
Let him outside in the backyard, he explored the patio between rest breaks. He was definitely alert to the new environment but his energy didn’t allow him to explore his surrounds fully..
Made a few calls, Dr Cowser concurred that PTS was the humane option. We scheduled an appointment at Eldorado Animal Hospital due to distance and affordability.
Drogo was put to the final sleep on Monday afternoon. The procedure was quick and painless, perhaps too abrupt. Many tears were shed as even at the last minutes of his life, Drogo displayed vestiges of his old self, meowing incessantly for reassurance and rolling on his back to allow his tummy to be rubbed.
This was one of the most heartbreaking days of my/our lives.
Drogo exhibited some interest in going outside in the backyard in AM, but was still lethargic and walked with effort. Took a swat at the scratching post early AM but mostly crouched under cat tree or on dog bed.
He favored the Hills Prescription Diet Urgent Care a/d canned food so we have proceeded to feed him all day with it. The thick pate texture is also a plus since there’s little risk of aspirating. To get it into the syringe, we add a few drops of water. With the exception of the corn flour and guar gum, I am pleased with the ingredients of this canned food. It seems that Drogo also has no problems with it as he is receptive to being fed. On one occasion he nibbled it out of the dish, but we still have to syringe feed him since he is not eating enough.
Had a concern that for the afternoon feeding he wet the bed.
2a 10mL formula #2 9:30a 10mL Hills with prednisolone 3p 10mL Hills with orbax 6:30p 10mL Hills 9:30p 10mL Hills with mirtazapine
Observed another incontinence incident on bed. Must call vet ASAP.
Energy: low energy AM/PM, slept most of the day, very low energy PM Movement: Mobile, requires effort, will move toward bed or cat tree Tracking: Slow tracking, did not engage in play. Tracked cat teaser wand. Appetite: Hills a/d diet, formula #2 Attitude: Passive, will lay down next to dogs, tail swishing when petted Hygiene: Has exhibited some self-grooming, fur matted around ruff, urinary incontinence Hydration: Derived from syringe feeding
While appetite and nasal problems improved, overall he seems to have deteriorated; his energy seems to have crashed, and his loss of bowel control is disheartening.
Took Drogo for fluid drain ~70mL Prescribed broad spectrum antibiotics Orbax, appetite stimulant Mirtazapine, and Hills Prescription Urgent Care a/d diet canned food. Dr indicated jaundice had progressed.
Drogo was vocal during car rides.
Came home, showed no interest in backyard, sat on chair to sun bathe, drank from big dog bowl.
2nd feeding #2 10 mL @ 3pm, administered with 1ml antibiotic.
Slept on dog bed till 8:30pm feeding 10mL #2, added appetite stimulant .5mL.
10:30p feeding 10mL #2, followed by 1mL prednisolone.
Slow, unsteady at times, hesitated when jumping down. Very tired, lethargic, let him sleep for most of day.
