I usually try to post positive news
14 years ago a grey and white male cat named Frak came into my life. The doberman that he lived with in Brooklyn kept trying to eat him, so my neighbor asked me if I wanted to have him.
His name was revealed when he became my cat as Alexander.
When I was really really sick, he would sit by my shoulder, put his paw on my nose and pat my head. I was sick a lot in my late 20's. He would chase the fairy's around my room, or something in that loft apartment in Brooklyn.
When he decided I had enough galavanting around New York City, he would turn off my answering machine so I would come home.
When I was told my father had cancer, Svava returned him to my home, now in Cambridge. Where most cats would walk into a new house and scamper under a bed, Xander walked into the middle of the biggest room in the house, and mewed until I fed him.
He has been my friend and stalwart companion for about 10 out of the last 14 years. I have known him longer than I have known my wife, and any other family member. He moved with us to LA and didn't complain, he liked sitting on the porch in the sunshine, he liked to sit in the garden.
Xander goes for walks with me around the park, and has always been a big cat, usually around 16 lbs. A whole lot of pussycat.
On Saturday, I noticed he wasn't eating. This is really unusual for my cat. I figured he had a toothache and I brought him to the vet hospital. After about 5 hours we had more tests and they took a biopsy. There were 3 possibilities. None of them very good. I cried a lot this weekend. He is one of my oldest and best friends.
I found out today that he has squamous cell carcinoma in his jaw. That is a particularly nasty, virulent and aggressive form of cancer in my old friends jaw. So fast growing that it is taking the blood supply for his lower jaw.
The vet tells me he has 2 maybe 3 months.
I am feeling really really torn. On the one hand in a world filled with human pain and suffering what is the pain and suffering of a cat?
That cat has been my friend, a companion and friend in a world where I make friends slowly, poorly and not well. He has been there for me, a purring furball who sleeps in the small of my back, a friend who pats my head when I am sick, a friend who walks with me in the park.
I promise his final days will be filled with food he can eat, pats and scritches, and when his time comes it will being his own house. He will not end his days scared, in a hospital and alone.
When you see me for the next couple of months, please don't ask how he is. Just say hi. I am likely to be mopey and perhaps a bit more taciturn than usual.
I will let everyone know when it is time. Thank you for indulging me.
His name was revealed when he became my cat as Alexander.
When I was really really sick, he would sit by my shoulder, put his paw on my nose and pat my head. I was sick a lot in my late 20's. He would chase the fairy's around my room, or something in that loft apartment in Brooklyn.
When he decided I had enough galavanting around New York City, he would turn off my answering machine so I would come home.
When I was told my father had cancer, Svava returned him to my home, now in Cambridge. Where most cats would walk into a new house and scamper under a bed, Xander walked into the middle of the biggest room in the house, and mewed until I fed him.
He has been my friend and stalwart companion for about 10 out of the last 14 years. I have known him longer than I have known my wife, and any other family member. He moved with us to LA and didn't complain, he liked sitting on the porch in the sunshine, he liked to sit in the garden.
Xander goes for walks with me around the park, and has always been a big cat, usually around 16 lbs. A whole lot of pussycat.
On Saturday, I noticed he wasn't eating. This is really unusual for my cat. I figured he had a toothache and I brought him to the vet hospital. After about 5 hours we had more tests and they took a biopsy. There were 3 possibilities. None of them very good. I cried a lot this weekend. He is one of my oldest and best friends.
I found out today that he has squamous cell carcinoma in his jaw. That is a particularly nasty, virulent and aggressive form of cancer in my old friends jaw. So fast growing that it is taking the blood supply for his lower jaw.
The vet tells me he has 2 maybe 3 months.
I am feeling really really torn. On the one hand in a world filled with human pain and suffering what is the pain and suffering of a cat?
That cat has been my friend, a companion and friend in a world where I make friends slowly, poorly and not well. He has been there for me, a purring furball who sleeps in the small of my back, a friend who pats my head when I am sick, a friend who walks with me in the park.
I promise his final days will be filled with food he can eat, pats and scritches, and when his time comes it will being his own house. He will not end his days scared, in a hospital and alone.
When you see me for the next couple of months, please don't ask how he is. Just say hi. I am likely to be mopey and perhaps a bit more taciturn than usual.
I will let everyone know when it is time. Thank you for indulging me.