Isis' countdown

My oldest cat, Isis, is nearly 14 years old. I've been with her longer than I've been with Monkey. Last May we had a benign lump on her forehead removed. Last month we found another lump under her left shoulder and had it checked. I really didn't think anything of it. I thought it would be like the one on her forehead. It was bigger and growing faster but she isn't bothered by it at all. Well, it turns out to be a kind of connective tissue tumor that grows fast, sends out tendrils and difficult/impossible to get it all out. To take it out would mean cutting and digging out a large amount tissue from a relatively slender, small cat.  To top it off she has developed a quiet heart murmur that, in cats, is associated with heart disease. I had to make a decision. Do I put my elderly cat, who likely only has a year or so left on average, through an invasive surgery to remove a tumor that likely will return in about six months? Yeah, that is pretty much a no-brainer if you focus on quality of life rather than length. She will not be getting another surgery. The tumor will grow. Eventually it will make her shoulder uncomfortable. When she starts showing signs of pain or extreme discomfort I'll talk to the vet about ending her life.

I knew that she was nearing the end of her life. Indoor, well-cared for cats average 12-15 years. I've heard of much older cats but those aren't the average and I'm realistic about these things. But knowing now that I will likely have to euthanize her in the next six months to a year makes it a bit more on my mind.

Isis isn't our only geriatric pet, just the oldest. I know this is just the beginning of the next few years of our pet population decreasing in the house. I'm very much a realist when it comes to life and death of pets but I'm still feeling a little sad.

The old pet home

Last December I unexpectedly lost one of my dogs. Bug was the younger of my two senior pups so I wasn't really prepared for it to be her to go first. A massive infection took over her body slowly. The only symptom was her not acting "quite right." We had been in and out of the vet several times over the final three months. It was the kind of thing that is hard to find in regular dogs but nearly impossible to catch early in small dogs. (Bug was a long-hair chihuahua.) By the time we knew what we were dealing with it was killing her quickly. She wouldn't have even been strong enough to bring into surgery to cut out the infection. I chose to put her to sleep to end the pain she was now experiencing. It was sad and difficult but I know I did right by my little Bug-a-boo.

I still have my 12 year old chiweenie pup, Pepper. (That is a chihuahua/doxie mix. I swear, no one should ever breed this kind of dog on purpose. They are so weird.) I also have 3 cats (a 4th cat belongs to my secondary partner, Author.) This means that regular vet visits continue. It is time for every one's 6 month check ups. But this is the first time I'll be going back to the vet's office since I was there to say goodbye to Bug. The vet and team were awesome to Bug and my family. I love that place and have absolutely no issue with them caring for the remaining pack of furry-butts. I'm just a little nervous about going there and feeling sad.

It is already reminding me that Pepper is 12. That is pretty damn old for her breed combo. If we are lucky and really good about health care (which we are) Pepper could have, maybe 3 more years. 15 years old for a chiweenie is old but possible. She already has half of her teeth pulled or fallen out. But she is also non-stop happy and bouncy.

Then there is my other 12 year old animal, Isis. I got Pepper as a rescue adult dog 8 years ago, but Isis I've had since she was a kitten. That cat has been with me through so many changes in my life. She is one of those cats, though, that will live until she is distilled down into essence of cat and then wisp into smoke one day and be gone. I expect her to be one of those "Yeah, she's 20 now. Seems to otherworldly to actually die so she is still with us" kind of cats.

Monkey's (that is my primary partner) cat, Fiend, is a year younger than Isis. He has "Ishoos." Skin allergies, food allergies, severe flea allergy, arthritis. Plus he is the oddest cat I've ever met. We call him "alien-kitty." Even with all his issues he seems to be trotting right along in life. I don't worry about losing him soon.

Then there is the baby. Our only young animal in the house. (Even Author's cat is over 10 years old.) Zeek is about 3 or 4 years old. (I'd have to look it up.) She is the Kittiest Kitty that ever Kittied a Kitty. She is a Mainecoon but one of the smaller females. She will see all of the pets in the house she came to as a kitten eventually pass away. After Bug died she seemed to be looking for her a bit. Bug loved cats and used to play with Zeek a lot. Zeek is very social. I feel like the aging and passing of the other cats will be traumatic for her. I've already assumed that we will have to replace each cat as the die in order to keep Zeek happy. (However, we established we will have a 3 cat and 1 dog household cap now. I'm pretty determined to stick to that.)

Over all, I know that in the next 5 years all but Zeek will likely be gone. Bug was just the first of this phase. Soon we will suddenly have a house of young cats. The dog will be an adult adoption but likely not a senior just yet. A house full of young animals just seems so strange right now. We are the old pet home with a young "therapy kitty" helping us out. (Seriously, she really does act as a rec director at a senior center.)

I love my pets. They keep me sane, especially while dealing with infertility. Speaking of my furry-butts, it is time to walk the dog then give her a quick bath. Got to look nice for the vet tomorrow!