Sleep Tight Sammie
Discussion
About half hour after I posted this the phone rang and it was the hospital. They're 95% sure it is Feline Infectious Peritonitis from eth second lot of lab blood tests and the vet I spoke to said if it was his cat he'd do the kindest thing, there was no hope for Sammie. So we had another 3.5 hour frantic drive down to the hospital, saw him and knew there was no question, so quickly got him sedated to calm him down - apparently the liver toxins were giving him neurological problems and he wasn't a happy babe. The sedation nearly knocked him out in itself so we had some time with him before we said goodbye. Home about 11pm last night with him on my lap all the way and a trip to the pet crematorium this morning - he can go on the mantlepiece with Uncle Hagar.
I first met Sammie when he was 5 weeks, I'd gone to the breeder to collect Otti, another Weegie kitten, and Christine showed me her latest 2 babies. She was keeping the lady but Sammie was going to be sold. I fell in love - he had an incredibly 'bolshy' look for a wee kitten and was just gorgeous.
David said No, you've got 7 cats, but for some reason I followed Sammie's progress on the website. First he was sold, then unsold (lady had ill mother so couldn't take on a kitten), then sold again, and then unsold again. This time someone had collected him, taken him home but decided he wasn't going to get on with existing cat in household so he was available again. By this point he was about 15 weeks, and Christine had 'baby' kittens from another queen and he wasn't moving.
Psychological warfare started - each time I came to PC I'd leave it with Sammie's picture showing for David to see and finally he said OK, I'm fed up with this. If you can get him for £150 (instead of £350) you can have him!! Email duly sent and Christine she say Yes!! Off I went next day before he changed his mind and collected young Sammie. He settled in really well, loved his Uncle Otti (only 7 weeks older) and was an asset to our feline family.
Then we went on holiday before Christmas, and a very good friend moved in to cat sit. Sammie was fine apparently, right up til last Tuesday before we came back. then he started lying around, not eating, lethargic - we got home Thursday and took him to vet. Initial diagnosis a chest infection - he'd got a snotty nose - and diarrhoea. Antibiotic and anti inflammatory adminsistered, home we went. I couldn't get him to eat or drink anything however and being a doting mother rang the vet on Sunday. A bit reluctant to see me I think but I insisted and took him down. Attitude changed when she saw him - a bit yellow around the ears - jaundice - suspected liver shunts. Sammie admitted to local vet for rehydration and blood tests. Monday he improved a bit, but initial blood tests showed liver enzyme problems so more blood taken and sent to lab. Tuesday he deteriorated, and the bloods hadn't reached the lab!! At this point my favourite vet was on the case and he suggested hospitalisation. I could put him to Aberdeen but if he needed transfusion or plasma, the Royal Dick in Edinburgh would be best - just have to get him there. Dropped everything and drove down breaking all speed limits - just over 3 hours. Long - hour - consultation with full history and examination and that's when the FIP words came up. Sammie admitted then and there, and off the merry go round went.
It was truly scary to see how much he'd deteriorated in 24 hours yesterday - we left a not very well baby but he was our kitten. The poor little boy we saw yesterday was no relation - he was scared, in distress, had obviously had treatments to try and save him with cannulas in both legs, one for drugs and the other for IV, a buster collar to stop him chewing them. A shaved tum where they'd taken fluid samples of the abdominal swelling which developed - a poor pathetic little baby. His end was quick and peaceful in my arms, and I cannot recommend the feline specialists at the Royal Dick highly enough for their compassion and efforts to save my baby.
Sleep tight Sammie - your Mummy will never forget you even tho you were with her such a short time. See you at the Rainbrow Bridge soon.
I first met Sammie when he was 5 weeks, I'd gone to the breeder to collect Otti, another Weegie kitten, and Christine showed me her latest 2 babies. She was keeping the lady but Sammie was going to be sold. I fell in love - he had an incredibly 'bolshy' look for a wee kitten and was just gorgeous.
David said No, you've got 7 cats, but for some reason I followed Sammie's progress on the website. First he was sold, then unsold (lady had ill mother so couldn't take on a kitten), then sold again, and then unsold again. This time someone had collected him, taken him home but decided he wasn't going to get on with existing cat in household so he was available again. By this point he was about 15 weeks, and Christine had 'baby' kittens from another queen and he wasn't moving.
Psychological warfare started - each time I came to PC I'd leave it with Sammie's picture showing for David to see and finally he said OK, I'm fed up with this. If you can get him for £150 (instead of £350) you can have him!! Email duly sent and Christine she say Yes!! Off I went next day before he changed his mind and collected young Sammie. He settled in really well, loved his Uncle Otti (only 7 weeks older) and was an asset to our feline family.
Then we went on holiday before Christmas, and a very good friend moved in to cat sit. Sammie was fine apparently, right up til last Tuesday before we came back. then he started lying around, not eating, lethargic - we got home Thursday and took him to vet. Initial diagnosis a chest infection - he'd got a snotty nose - and diarrhoea. Antibiotic and anti inflammatory adminsistered, home we went. I couldn't get him to eat or drink anything however and being a doting mother rang the vet on Sunday. A bit reluctant to see me I think but I insisted and took him down. Attitude changed when she saw him - a bit yellow around the ears - jaundice - suspected liver shunts. Sammie admitted to local vet for rehydration and blood tests. Monday he improved a bit, but initial blood tests showed liver enzyme problems so more blood taken and sent to lab. Tuesday he deteriorated, and the bloods hadn't reached the lab!! At this point my favourite vet was on the case and he suggested hospitalisation. I could put him to Aberdeen but if he needed transfusion or plasma, the Royal Dick in Edinburgh would be best - just have to get him there. Dropped everything and drove down breaking all speed limits - just over 3 hours. Long - hour - consultation with full history and examination and that's when the FIP words came up. Sammie admitted then and there, and off the merry go round went.
It was truly scary to see how much he'd deteriorated in 24 hours yesterday - we left a not very well baby but he was our kitten. The poor little boy we saw yesterday was no relation - he was scared, in distress, had obviously had treatments to try and save him with cannulas in both legs, one for drugs and the other for IV, a buster collar to stop him chewing them. A shaved tum where they'd taken fluid samples of the abdominal swelling which developed - a poor pathetic little baby. His end was quick and peaceful in my arms, and I cannot recommend the feline specialists at the Royal Dick highly enough for their compassion and efforts to save my baby.
Sleep tight Sammie - your Mummy will never forget you even tho you were with her such a short time. See you at the Rainbrow Bridge soon.
Edited by Broomsticklady on Thursday 13th January 12:46
The Sammie I want to remember, taken just before we went away
http://s1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb448/broomsti...
Not good at posting photies - if someone tells me jhow I'll redo it - tried copy / paste and that didn't work
http://s1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb448/broomsti...
Not good at posting photies - if someone tells me jhow I'll redo it - tried copy / paste and that didn't work
Broomsticklady said:
The Sammie I want to remember, taken just before we went away
http://s1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb448/broomsti...
Not good at posting photies - if someone tells me jhow I'll redo it - tried copy / paste and that didn't work
http://s1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb448/broomsti...
Not good at posting photies - if someone tells me jhow I'll redo it - tried copy / paste and that didn't work
He was gorgeous Nina
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