It seems like the more I learn the less I know.
Honestly Tiny's death was totally unexpected. It was probably a blessing for him. I was unaware he was in distress. On my desktop I have a picture of Tiny I took two days before he died. He looked like he had aged quite a bit. Yet he was still eating good and playing. His activity level had not changed much. I expected him to go through slow times. There was nothing to indicate this cat would die when he did. Someone suggested lymphoma as a possibility. I can buy that if there are no symptoms for that. Christmas day he went into the bathroom, where the litter box is located. He just laid down with his paws tucked under him ( I believe some call this the meatloaf position). That is when I picked him up and took him into the living room and sat by him for over an hour. He was quiet. There were no sounds that indicated breathing problems. Earlier that day I found where he had thrown up. It was not bad enough to be concerned. Less than 15 minutes later I heard that awful coughing/choking noise. Less than two minutes he was gone. I said before I thought Tiny would outlive Junior because junior has been the one who has had all the various symptoms. Now I have no idea what I am doing. Maybe it is better that Junior does display symptoms I can recognize. I do know Junior is very much a fighter. The vet tech who cared for him the day I took him to the hospital after he had been hot by a car told me that. I hope this same spirit will keep him going. Like Nina said I will treasure the days I have with him. Tiny taught me you never know.. I wonder if a cat I lost two years ago may have died from this dreaded disease. He wandered off one night after he had thrown up once that day. He also has a infected cat bite I had planned to take him to the vet the next day. Puttyrat was a wonderful playful Siamese looking cat. He came from a colony of 30 cats. He was very inbred and not always so bright. He would make me laugh. I still remember him galloping off down the road to some place he hung out. I managed to get Junior's antibiotic refilled yesterday. It is mainly for his eye. I still have the drops. I now know that Lionel had this same eye infection before he tested positive for FeLV and FIV. He was the special cat who eased my pain after Fluffy died. Some days are better than others. I hope I never have to deal with such an outbreak again. Phaewryn I do not know what you are talking about in the chat room the other night. Nothing that was said offended me. I was just a bit lost and decided to leave. I have never been good in chat rooms because I type so slow. Sally
