RIP Toby 2006-2011

[montybird]

My kitty Toby had to be put to sleep this afternoon.  Two weeks ago, he stopped eating.  Bloodwork showed acute kidney failure, which is pretty treatable if caught early.  He went into the hospital to get IV fluids.  He was doing great; the kidneys were improving and we anticipated bringing him home when they stabilized.  They detected a heart

Comments

[gyri]

Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry, Monty. Poor Toby.

Yes, they bring us such joy and love us unconditionally. It is never easy to let them go, but you made the right decision.

{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}

I've seen that pic before, it is precious. I hope Murphy is doing ok.

Since he was so young, have you talked to his vet about what might have caused his acute kidney failure? It's very unusual for a cat that young.

Again, love and hugs to you and your family.

[montybird]

Thanks for the hugs. Murphy is doing OK. Yes, we tried to figure that out. He wasn't exposed to antifreeze. Sometimes an infection can travel up from the urinary tract and settle in the kidneys. Or he could have gotten into a plant, although he is an indoor cat. I had some lilies in the house but they were gone before he got sick (exposure results in symptoms very quickly). He did have a dose of a slightly different flea and tick treatment (from Advantage to Advantage II). He and Murphy have always seemed a bit sensitive to these treatments so I am suspicious about that. Flea and tick treatments can be very toxic, although I don't know of any research that has studied this. So it is a puzzle. Murphy will be seeing a veterinary cardiologist to probably have his heart echoed since Toby did have the congenital heart problem. (Pulmonary Stenosis)

**SIGH**

[gyri]

I think I heard something about Advantage being very bad if a cat ingests it---such as when they groom each other. Someone at the lab was talking about it. I'll have to ask for further explanation.

[montybird]

Any info you dig up would be great. Its funny, my parents were in town the weekend he got sick and my dad had mentioned that he heard somewhere that using those flea and tick products actually shortened your pet's life span. It makes since with how toxic they are. I have already thrown away my left over ones and will be considering more holistic/natural alternatives next spring.

[ailurophile6]

I'm so sorry to hear about this; I've been through it myself. They are absolutely gorgeous boys!

[montybird]

Thank you. It sucks, doesn't it? Have you ever had a kitty get sick like this? All my other kitties have lived to be 12 or 13, so this is new for me.

[ailurophile6]

I've been lucky and most of my cats have been healthy into old age. We had outdoor cats when I was growing up and sometimes they just disappeared. I've never lost one so young to illness. I'm sure Murphy is going to miss his brother :(

[montybird]

Yes, Murphy seems a little lost today. He is getting lots of extra hugs, kisses and belly rubs. I love your Jack icon! Is he yours? So handsome!

[vecturist]

{{{Hugs}}} It's never easy to make that decision, especially it's so sudden.

[montybird]

Thank you! It is probably the most heart wrenching decision to have to make. You know it is time but don't want to let go.

[berryann]

I'm very, very sorry for your loss. {{{HUGS}}}

Our cats and dogs are like family members. It's always so difficult and painful to say goodbye.

I hope Murphy is doing fine.

[montybird]

Thanks hon. Murphy is doing OK. He is looking out the window watching the birds as usual. I really believe having him there to sniff Toby afterwards helped tremendously. I didn't take my 2 girl kitties because they weren't as close and I figured Murphy could tell them in his own kitty way. Despite still having 3 kitties the house seems so much quieter.

[sgafan]

oh! I'm so sorry! *HUGS* It really sounds like, as hard as it was, that you made the right decision for Toby after doing all you could to help him. I saw so many times working in the veterinary industry, people hanging onto their animals longer than was best for the animal, because they couldn't let go.

One of the hardest things I ever did in my life, was to say "yes" when it was time to let my 25 year old equine companion go. We'd been together since I was 10 and he was 4. We grew up together, trained together, showed together and he'd come across a 10 acre pasture, only for me. But, it was time and it was the best thing for him. I don't regret making that decision, because it was the right one.

The single best and noble thing we can do for our pets, and the best expression of our love, is to let them go when it's time.

*BIG HUGS* to you and your family.

[montybird]

Thanks for the big hugs and kind words. I know it was the right thing to do but it still stinks. I have done this plenty of times before, but I think because he was still young, and the fact that Murphy and he were so close, makes it harder this time around. I envisioned Toby and Murphy becoming grumpy old kitties together..lol. They always slept together, groomed each other, hung out on the deck together, etc. My girl kitties are a lot more independent from each other, so they are use to being more solo. I was looking at pics of the boys when they were kittens, and they were always sleeping all curled up and entwined together...so cute. I should post a few-they are precious!

[sgafan]

Oh for sure! It still sucks :(

You should post some, I'd love to see them

*HUGS* to you and your family once more.