After numerous tests and such showing absolutely nothing wrong with him, the vet decided to take an x-ray. What came up was a mass constricting Arawn’s lungs, and this led the doctor to make some additional tests. The results were not good. Arawn has Leukemia.
Arawn lives with me as an “indoor” cat since he was 3 months old but before that he was pretty much a street cat. He was thrown out of a car in a bag into the river and then rescued by the people in a local pet shop that no longer exists. I brought him home, cleaned him up and had him checked. He was healthy and has lived a pretty much healthy life ever since. Arawn could’ve contracted his disease during his brief life on the streets, but it’s a lot more likely that he had it since birth.
The veterinarian said that when they’re afflicted with this disease from birth, the body basically gets used to it and it won’t show up on a regular blood test (Arawn has even been vaccinated against feline leukimia). The cat basically lives a regular life and one day, for a multitude of reasons the disease just “kicks in”. After paying for a much more expensive test the results came in positive. There is – of course – no cure and it’s pretty much the worst thing a cat can have. Basically, he’ll start to grow weaker and weaker and eventually die.
Later today I’m supposed to go to the animal hospital and talk with the veterinarian. If Arawn can live a good life for what he’s got left of it then I’ll bring him home and try my best to adapt to whatever needs to be done in order to ensure that it goes that way. But if all he’s gonna do is get worse then I guess I’ll be having some pretty difficult decisions to make.
Also, there’s Pixie – the other cat. While she has all her vaccines and is an apparently healthy cat, she lived at least a few days with us before getting all her shots. Since it is quite contagious, it probably means she has it too. Right now she’s just fine, but sooner or later she’ll go the same way Arawn is going. Even if is she is somehow miraculously free of the disease, I’d have to decide what to do with them both because living with Arawn would probably result in her being infected eventually (the vet said that those vaccines aren’t 100% effective).
That’s really all there is to say at the moment. I’ll let you all know how it gets at the veterinarian’s later today.
O
I’m so sorry! I have cats as well, and I know how close you get to them emotionally… I do hope Arawn has still a good time ahead of him!
I had a kitten pass from this years ago. My thoughts and prayers to you and your kitties.
Arawn is lucky that he has a human that will do all he can to try and make him feel happy, safe, and comfortable. I hope there is a way for you to enjoy at least a little bit more good time with Arawn.
Hey O,
So sorry to hear about Arawn,At least he had an epic life with you and maybe some more Hopefully
My Thoughts are with You and Arawn
really sorry.
but he had the best live a <> cat could have had.
best luck to u three – O, P and A -
(apologies if i sounded too harsh last comment)
Aw man, that is so sad
My best wishes to all of you.
I’m so sorry. I know how close you get to your cats, I have 5. I know how horrible I’d feel if I lost one, so I feel for you. My thoughts are with you and both Arawn and Pixie.
I know how you’re feeling, I lost more than one cat up to now due to diseases, and you don’t get used to it, ever…
all you can do at this point is to stay with him as much as you manage to, let him feel your affection, and ours too…
if you’ve got questions, feel free to ask, and
damn, life sometimes sucks; I’m too sensitive when it comes to cats… I’m with you O…
I’m sad for you O. Don’t forget you gave Arawn a better life than he could have hoped, see the way he was… sent… to you.
And… I know I’m gonna be misunderstood here, but… Even if it’s going to be (and it already is, obviously) a very hard time, you’ll always be able to get new cats… Which doesn’t mean Arawn and Pixie are worthless, or that you don’t feel bad about them, but life goes on.
Strangely, one of my 3 cats, the female one, is probably developping some sort of “cat-breast” cancer or something, so I’m with you in thoughts, O.
Your cats are epic, so are you. We wish you courage.
What a sad turn of events O. I really feel with you. Although I’m more of a ‘dog-person’ I understand how you most feel. All animals are just such a heart braking sight when they are ill.
I wish you the best for the days to come!
Hey O, sorry to hear that, but let me tell you something that might cheer you up.
My cat, Nina had Feline Leukemia too, she had to take a lot of medicine for 3 months and had to get blood from another cat 2 times, it was a dificult time, but she lived 8 years after that, 8 years being great.
Oh dear O I am so sorry to hear that! It is never easy when our furry family members are sickly like this, even harder when the final decision has to be made. From the ones I’ve lost over the years, I always have to remember that with me they had a good, happy, carefree life and I did the best I could for them. It’s the same for you O, though I know it’s not enough to console it is at least something to think about.
I’m very sorry to hear this. I’ve read your strip for some time now, and the affection you have for both your cats shows very openly. My thoughts are with you; I know this is a difficult time.
*hugs*
Hey O,
Very very sorry to hear the news about Arawn.
It’s a hard time and I hate that you have to go through this at all.
*sends Canadian love*
JB
I’m sorry, O… it’s so hard when our furbabies get sick. Sending good thoughts your way.
My very first cat, Milfred, died from FLV, going on 30 years ago. I still remember her. She was my baby, just like all the rest.
S! Arawn
It’s hard when a pet we care about gets ill, they’re like a four legged member of the family.
May Tenchi Kane no Kame give you the strength to make the difficult decision and the strength to get through this.
really sorry to hear this, good luck with the tough decisions ahead.
I’m really sorry to hear that! It is really hard when a pet is ill, or even worse, will or migth die in foreseeable future and there is nothing you can do about it.
People might argue that “it is just a pet”… but I guess those people don’t understand that pets are, for a lot of people, members of their familiy and that it doesn’t matter that it is an animal… it is a familiy member.
I wish Arawn best of luck and hope he will have some time left to enjoy and have a good life at your place. I hope that Pixie was not infected! And I wish you a lot of fortitude(?) for the time when you have to make a hard decision.
All cats go to heaven and work there as ninjas.
I’ve been through a similar situation, all I can say is that my thoughts are with you.
This exact same thing happened to us around this time last year, and it came as a complete shock. Somehow, our other cat (who was never immunized for it) came out completely clean even though they had been living together for several months – she’s been tested 3 times now since then and had been FeLV free every time.
It was a really hard time, I ended up taking a week off of work to be home with him and he took a severe turn for the worse right after that point. I have no idea how we were so lucky that the other cat was never infected, but I hope you are just as lucky.
I don’t really know what to say but: it sucks. My best though to you and your little predators.
I’m speechless. Arawn will always continue being an awesome cat… be strong, O and Pixie!
Best wishes and thanks for being so good to thy kittie(s).
Oh that’s really too bad, that seems like about the worst possible scenario to be imagined with nothing but tough choices to make.
I am sorry about Arawn, but he lived a great kitty life, and I know he is very happy that you took him in after his rough start.
If it makes you feel better, since Pixie is doing well so far I think she fought the virus off already. Not all cats get sick from it. I would still keep them separated just to be safe, but I personally think she won’t get sick like Arawn.
its amazing how attached we get to these balls of fur. I’ve lost many pets over the years and its never easy. But the only thing you can know is that you gave them all the love and comfort an animal could want. With your love and care he made it a lot further than he would of otherwise.