Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
Anne, Sorry I didn't see your post until this morning. How are things today? In answer to your question, yes, MANY animals go off to be on their own when they are about to die. As a hospice nurse for my Aunt Marge explained...(in regard to her..) if you need to be with her, just keep still next to her, or if you have to touch...rest your hand, don't move it. Its better for the departing if you are still and silent because each time you speak, or stroke, you force them to refocus on this world...instead of what they have to do, where they are going. That's why many animals run off to be on their own to pass into the next life, it makes it easier to do so without the earthly distractions. God Bless you and Jimmi Too Cool. Know that you are in my prayers..always. HUGS Love, Tamara anne [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everyone, My Jimi Too Cool, 10 year old black domestic shorthair with feline leukemia, is in his last stage of life, I am sure. He has been slowly going downhill. He is just bones with fur and won't eat. His pain is controlled with depo-medrol and tramadol and he is not in distress, pain is under control, but he mostly just sleeps a lot. Well, tonight he made a break for it and went outside and won't come in and it is at freezing temp now. 32 degrees, I believe. No wind, though. I have cat-fence-in so he is not straying but I can't reach him. Every time I go out to try and bring him in, he runs for cover under the deck. Have any of you run into this problem? I have heard that cats and dogs like to go outside to die. Could that be it, I wonder? I am so worried about him as he is so skinny and he is not used to this cold weather. He can come in, though, if he would like, as I put the cat door back into the window, just for him, although I had it stowed for the cold weather until spring. I am trying to relax because I know he could come in if he wanted to so he must not mind it outside. Sigh Thanks, everyone. Anne and Jimi Too Cool and Simms and Sophie in MI __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
If you are going to use a re-freezable ice pack please make sure it is where he can't claw it and that it is in a couple of heavy freezer bags. I've had several split/leak. I do not know what is in them so I assume it is not good for a cat. On a personal note: Both Ebony Thomas Katt and the Royal Princess Kitty Katt stopped eating much in the days before they left this world. People often do the same. Belief it or not, it is a relatively painless way to leave. Have you tried offering very salty items (deli ham worked with Kitty) to interest him in food? Mai Mai (a beautiful dog of mine) ate saltines near the time she left. When I have trouble eating saltines or salty things help. It is extremely hard to watch a beautiful, wonderful friend leave. The decisions you have to make are so hard and you will often second guess yourself. Take some time alone, quiet time, with him and ask him what he wants then listen with your heart. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: Jennifer Phaewryn O'Gwynn To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 8:49 PM Subject: Re: Jimi Too Cool problem If it's painful for him to eat, have you been tube feeding him? It's very important to not let them go without a certain amount for more than 2-3 days because it leads to feline hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). Poor baby. http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/liver2.html I'm glad he's back inside now. There's a pet bed called the canine cooler, it's a dog bed, filled with gel, it's supposed to stay cool all the time, maybe Jimi would like one of those in the house. (or you could just put one of those re-freezable ice packs inside his normal cat bed, and have several to keep it cool all the time) http://www.chillow.com/cc.html Am I the only one here that finds it at least a little amusing that Jimi Too Cool is trying to keep COOL? LOL! It's SO CUTE! Phaewryn Please save Whitey! http://ucat.us/Whitey.html VT low cost SpayNeuter, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners: http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.html Special Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html
Jimi Too Cool problem
Hi everyone, My Jimi Too Cool, 10 year old black domestic shorthair with feline leukemia, is in his last stage of life, I am sure. He has been slowly going downhill. He is just bones with fur and won't eat. His pain is controlled with depo-medrol and tramadol and he is not in distress, pain is under control, but he mostly just sleeps a lot. Well, tonight he made a break for it and went outside and won't come in and it is at freezing temp now. 32 degrees, I believe. No wind, though. I have cat-fence-in so he is not straying but I can't reach him. Every time I go out to try and bring him in, he runs for cover under the deck. Have any of you run into this problem? I have heard that cats and dogs like to go outside to die. Could that be it, I wonder? I am so worried about him as he is so skinny and he is not used to this cold weather. He can come in, though, if he would like, as I put the cat door back into the window, just for him, although I had it stowed for the cold weather until spring. I am trying to relax because I know he could come in if he wanted to so he must not mind it outside. Sigh Thanks, everyone. Anne and Jimi Too Cool and Simms and Sophie in MI
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
Frequently they want to be alone when they leave this world. Perhaps it is easier for them to leave without their people around willing them to stay or perhaps they think it will be easier on their human friends if they do not have to watch. Also, some like to feel the cool ground during their last while---some just want to be cool. The Royal Princess Kitty Katt and Ebony Thomas Katt both sought out cold tiles over blankets and warm places. I took Ebony outside to let him enjoy the earth while waiting for his vet on New Year's Eve night. Know that you are letting him do as he needs to even if it breaking your heart and frightening you. He loves you for that. Keep the cat door available to him and consider putting a blanket or something warm under the deck for him (this is more for you than for him). If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: anne To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 2:17 AM Subject: Jimi Too Cool problem Hi everyone, My Jimi Too Cool, 10 year old black domestic shorthair with feline leukemia, is in his last stage of life, I am sure. He has been slowly going downhill. He is just bones with fur and won't eat. His pain is controlled with depo-medrol and tramadol and he is not in distress, pain is under control, but he mostly just sleeps a lot. Well, tonight he made a break for it and went outside and won't come in and it is at freezing temp now. 32 degrees, I believe. No wind, though. I have cat-fence-in so he is not straying but I can't reach him. Every time I go out to try and bring him in, he runs for cover under the deck. Have any of you run into this problem? I have heard that cats and dogs like to go outside to die. Could that be it, I wonder? I am so worried about him as he is so skinny and he is not used to this cold weather. He can come in, though, if he would like, as I put the cat door back into the window, just for him, although I had it stowed for the cold weather until spring. I am trying to relax because I know he could come in if he wanted to so he must not mind it outside. Sigh Thanks, everyone. Anne and Jimi Too Cool and Simms and Sophie in MI
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
Dear Anne, My heart goes out to you, since it was just 8 days ago since I lost my Bubba. He, too, sought out hiding places shortly before he died. I think that Jimi is trying to find a place to be alone more than anything else. When Bubba finally became too weak to move around the apartment, I kept him right next to me so I could hold him and stroke him and talk to him. That meant a lot to me and I think that it meant a lot to him, too, because even though I think he was in a coma at the end, his tail would switch and he would purr when I talked to him and stroked him. Leah - Original Message - From: anne To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 3:17 AM Subject: Jimi Too Cool problem Hi everyone, My Jimi Too Cool, 10 year old black domestic shorthair with feline leukemia, is in his last stage of life, I am sure. He has been slowly going downhill. He is just bones with fur and won't eat. His pain is controlled with depo-medrol and tramadol and he is not in distress, pain is under control, but he mostly just sleeps a lot. Well, tonight he made a break for it and went outside and won't come in and it is at freezing temp now. 32 degrees, I believe. No wind, though. I have cat-fence-in so he is not straying but I can't reach him. Every time I go out to try and bring him in, he runs for cover under the deck. Have any of you run into this problem? I have heard that cats and dogs like to go outside to die. Could that be it, I wonder? I am so worried about him as he is so skinny and he is not used to this cold weather. He can come in, though, if he would like, as I put the cat door back into the window, just for him, although I had it stowed for the cold weather until spring. I am trying to relax because I know he could come in if he wanted to so he must not mind it outside. Sigh Thanks, everyone. Anne and Jimi Too Cool and Simms and Sophie in MI
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
What's happened since then? I know it is distressing, and I would be trying to get him in too. But it is true they want to do this, often, to die, and it is also true that hypothermia is supposed to be one of the most painless ways to die, and to help with other kinds of pain, I think. If he passes, or passed, outside, it really may be the best thing. Though I completely understand your distress. Michelle In a message dated 12/16/2006 3:19:57 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi everyone, My Jimi Too Cool, 10 year old black domestic shorthair with feline leukemia, is in his last stage of life, I am sure. He has been slowly going downhill. He is just bones with fur and won't eat. His pain is controlled with depo-medrol and tramadol and he is not in distress, pain is under control, but he mostly just sleeps a lot. Well, tonight he made a break for it and went outside and won't come in and it is at freezing temp now. 32 degrees, I believe. No wind, though. I have cat-fence-in so he is not straying but I can't reach him. Every time I go out to try and bring him in, he runs for cover under the deck. Have any of you run into this problem? I have heard that cats and dogs like to go outside to die. Could that be it, I wonder? I am so worried about him as he is so skinny and he is not used to this cold weather. He can come in, though, if he would like, as I put the cat door back into the window, just for him, although I had it stowed for the cold weather until spring. I am trying to relax because I know he could come in if he wanted to so he must not mind it outside. Sigh Thanks, everyone. Anne and Jimi Too Cool and Simms and Sophie in MI
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
I'm sorry Anne. Maybe he does want to be private. I don't know. You are both in my prayers. tonya anne [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everyone, My Jimi Too Cool, 10 year old black domestic shorthair with feline leukemia, is in his last stage of life, I am sure. He has been slowly going downhill. He is just bones with fur and won't eat. His pain is controlled with depo-medrol and tramadol and he is not in distress, pain is under control, but he mostly just sleeps a lot. Well, tonight he made a break for it and went outside and won't come in and it is at freezing temp now. 32 degrees, I believe. No wind, though. I have cat-fence-in so he is not straying but I can't reach him. Every time I go out to try and bring him in, he runs for cover under the deck. Have any of you run into this problem? I have heard that cats and dogs like to go outside to die. Could that be it, I wonder? I am so worried about him as he is so skinny and he is not used to this cold weather. He can come in, though, if he would like, as I put the cat door back into the window, just for him, although I had it stowed for the cold weather until spring. I am trying to relax because I know he could come in if he wanted to so he must not mind it outside. Sigh Thanks, everyone. Anne and Jimi Too Cool and Simms and Sophie in MI
RE: Jimi Too Cool problem
Anne, I'm so sorry you have this added worry at a time like this. But yes, you're giving him a choice, and if he wants to come back in he will. If you know he's still alive, you could go out from time to time and just sit and talk to him -- tell him his story, tell him what he means to you. Do this even if you can't see him just then. This will help both of you. He'll know you're caring for him without trying to coerce him, and you will be together in every way except physically. Hugs to you both. Diane R.
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
Well, he's his own man, at least if that is the way he chooses to go, he had the free will and peace of choosing it. Really, I know it hurts, but you couldn't possibly give him anything more than the freedom to choose. Animals DO go off to die, but on the other hand, another member here (I think it was this group) had the same thing happen a couple of months ago, and her cat was found and didn't die (he just wanted some outside time really bad). The only other alternative is to start digging out the deck, and that will be stressful and scary for him. I would try enticing him out with tuna and other tasty cat treats, if you haven't tried it already. Phaewryn Please save Whitey! http://ucat.us/Whitey.html VT low cost SpayNeuter, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners: http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.html Special Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
GLOW to you and Jimi. I think what others have said about seeking solitude and cool is pertinent. My Ninja chose several sick places where she didn't stay when feeling well, they were dark places I couldn't get to. She sought them out while we were waiting for the time the vet could come over to help her to the Bridge. Barb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he should impress. Merely living his life, doing what pleases him, and making me smile. - Anonymous - Original Message From: anne [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 2:17:16 AM Subject: Jimi Too Cool problem Hi everyone, My Jimi Too Cool, 10 year old black domestic shorthair with feline leukemia, is in his last stage of life, I am sure. He has been slowly going downhill. He is just bones with fur and won't eat. His pain is controlled with depo-medrol and tramadol and he is not in distress, pain is under control, but he mostly just sleeps a lot. Well, tonight he made a break for it and went outside and won't come in and it is at freezing temp now. 32 degrees, I believe. No wind, though. I have cat-fence-in so he is not straying but I can't reach him. Every time I go out to try and bring him in, he runs for cover under the deck. Have any of you run into this problem? I have heard that cats and dogs like to go outside to die. Could that be it, I wonder? I am so worried about him as he is so skinny and he is not used to this cold weather. He can come in, though, if he would like, as I put the cat door back into the window, just for him, although I had it stowed for the cold weather until spring. I am trying to relax because I know he could come in if he wanted to so he must not mind it outside. Sigh Thanks, everyone. Anne and Jimi Too Cool and Simms and Sophie in MI __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
I just want to add my voice to Diane R.'s. My heart is with you Anne. elizabeth In a message dated 12/16/2006 9:26:00 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Anne, I'm so sorry you have this added worry at a time like this. But yes, you're giving him a choice, and if he wants to come back in he will. If you know he's still alive, you could go out from time to time and just sit and talk to him -- tell him his story, tell him what he means to you. Do this even if you can't see him just then. This will help both of you. He'll know you're caring for him without trying to coerce him, and you will be together in every way except physically. Hugs to you both. Diane R.
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
Same here - sending prayers for Jimi Too Cool... - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 11:50 AM Subject: Re: Jimi Too Cool problem I just want to add my voice to Diane R.'s. My heart is with you Anne. elizabeth In a message dated 12/16/2006 9:26:00 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Anne, I'm so sorry you have this added worry at a time like this. But yes, you're giving him a choice, and if he wants to come back in he will. If you know he's still alive, you could go out from time to time and just sit and talk to him -- tell him his story, tell him what he means to you. Do this even if you can't see him just then. This will help both of you. He'll know you're caring for him without trying to coerce him, and you will be together in every way except physically. Hugs to you both. Diane R.
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
Oh my dear, how very distressing for you. You might be able to take some comfort in the fact that you seem to be the only one distressed here. I'm so glad Jimi isn't able to escape the yard and has the choice about coming back inside. I'd probably be doing just what Diane suggests... Getting bundled up and sitting in the cold talking and comforting to the spot I suspect him to be under the deck. Since this was written last night, I'm hoping Jimi is back inside by now. I think Jenn was talking about me when she mentioned someone on the list going through this a couple of months ago. Do you remember all that with Spencer? I was beside myself with worry when Spence went missing. He was so sick and weak, I was sure he went off to die without me. I searched, cried and prayed, then I searched, cried and prayed some more. I called two different ACs that both told me he was in transition. Finally I made peace with his decision and took some comfort in the fact that he had a choice about how he'd pass. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he showed back up. Hugs to you, I can imagine what you're going through. Keep sending him love and thanks, he'll hear you, Nina anne wrote: Hi everyone, My Jimi Too Cool, 10 year old black domestic shorthair with feline leukemia, is in his last stage of life, I am sure. He has been slowly going downhill. He is just bones with fur and won't eat. His pain is controlled with depo-medrol and tramadol and he is not in distress, pain is under control, but he mostly just sleeps a lot. Well, tonight he made a break for it and went outside and won't come in and it is at freezing temp now. 32 degrees, I believe. No wind, though. I have cat-fence-in so he is not straying but I can't reach him. Every time I go out to try and bring him in, he runs for cover under the deck. Have any of you run into this problem? I have heard that cats and dogs like to go outside to die. Could that be it, I wonder? I am so worried about him as he is so skinny and he is not used to this cold weather. He can come in, though, if he would like, as I put the cat door back into the window, just for him, although I had it stowed for the cold weather until spring. I am trying to relax because I know he could come in if he wanted to so he must not mind it outside. Sigh Thanks, everyone. Anne and Jimi Too Cool and Simms and Sophie in MI
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
Dear Marylyn, Leah, Michelle, Tonya, Diane R., Phaewryn, Barb, Elizabeth and Gloria, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your responses. Jimi came in at the crack of dawn and disappeared somewhere but when I woke up a few hours later, he was in bed with me, sleeping. That was nice to see as he has shun my bed recently for my isolated areas. He is gone again now but at least I know he is OK and not frozen solid. Marylyn, your post helped a lot. I am glad to read that maybe they like the coolness. He does have some areas he could curl up in, an old dog house with fleece covers in it and I just put a carpet sample under the deck, too, thanks for the suggestion. In case he gets out again. Leah, I'm so sorry to read about your loss of Bubba. I try to keep up with the posts but am so far behind right now. I like how you described your last times with Bubba. That is how I hope it will be for Jimi, too. Michelle, your post made a lot of sense to me and I felt great comfort from it. Diane, I think you are right about the talking to him. He does seem to appreciate it and will slowly close his eyes in acknowledgement. I do think he really hates the coercion more than anything right now (with trying to get meds and fluids and some A/D). Phaewryn, I appreciate your post. He won't eat at all, though, so trying to tempt him with food will not work, I'm afraid. He had severe stomatitis for years but now I think it has progressed down his esophagus or lower because his mouth looks good but it is painful for him to eat. Barb, thanks for sharing your own perspective and experience. I'm sorry that you lost Ninja. It is so hard to be an animal lover at times. Tonya, Elizabeth and Gloria, thank you so much for your caring messages and your prayers. Many thanks and hugs, Anne and Jimi Too Cool, Simms and Sophie Frequently they want to be alone when they leave this world. Perhaps it is easier for them to leave without their people around willing them to stay or perhaps they think it will be easier on their human friends if they do not have to watch. Also, some like to feel the cool ground during their last while---some just want to be cool. The Royal Princess Kitty Katt and Ebony Thomas Katt both sought out cold tiles over blankets and warm places. I took Ebony outside to let him enjoy the earth while waiting for his vet on New Year's Eve night. Know that you are letting him do as he needs to even if it breaking your heart and frightening you. He loves you for that. Keep the cat door available to him and consider putting a blanket or something warm under the deck for him (this is more for you than for him). ** Dear Anne, My heart goes out to you, since it was just 8 days ago since I lost my Bubba. He, too, sought out hiding places shortly before he died. I think that Jimi is trying to find a place to be alone more than anything else. When Bubba finally became too weak to move around the apartment, I kept him right next to me so I could hold him and stroke him and talk to him. That meant a lot to me and I think that it meant a lot to him, too, because even though I think he was in a coma at the end, his tail would switch and he would purr when I talked to him and stroked him. Leah * What's happened since then? I know it is distressing, and I would be trying to get him in too. But it is true they want to do this, often, to die, and it is also true that hypothermia is supposed to be one of the most painless ways to die, and to help with other kinds of pain, I think. If he passes, or passed, outside, it really may be the best thing. Though I completely understand your distress. Michelle I'm sorry Anne. Maybe he does want to be private. I don't know. You are both in my prayers. tonya * Anne, I'm so sorry you have this added worry at a time like this. But yes, you're giving him a choice, and if he wants to come back in he will. If you know he's still alive, you could go out from time to time and just sit and talk to him -- tell him his story, tell him what he means to you. Do this even if you can't see him just then. This will help both of you. He'll know you're caring for him without trying to coerce him, and you will be together in every way except physically. Hugs to you both. Diane R.
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
Oh my dear, how very distressing for you. You might be able to take some comfort in the fact that you seem to be the only one distressed here. I'm so glad Jimi isn't able to escape the yard and has the choice about coming back inside. I'd probably be doing just what Diane suggests... Getting bundled up and sitting in the cold talking and comforting to the spot I suspect him to be under the deck. Since this was written last night, I'm hoping Jimi is back inside by now. I think Jenn was talking about me when she mentioned someone on the list going through this a couple of months ago. Do you remember all that with Spencer? I was beside myself with worry when Spence went missing. He was so sick and weak, I was sure he went off to die without me. I searched, cried and prayed, then I searched, cried and prayed some more. I called two different ACs that both told me he was in transition. Finally I made peace with his decision and took some comfort in the fact that he had a choice about how he'd pass. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he showed back up. Hugs to you, I can imagine what you're going through. Keep sending him love and thanks, he'll hear you, Nina anne wrote: Hi everyone, My Jimi Too Cool, 10 year old black domestic shorthair with feline leukemia, is in his last stage of life, I am sure. He has been slowly going downhill. He is just bones with fur and won't eat. His pain is controlled with depo-medrol and tramadol and he is not in distress, pain is under control, but he mostly just sleeps a lot. Well, tonight he made a break for it and went outside and won't come in and it is at freezing temp now. 32 degrees, I believe. No wind, though. I have cat-fence-in so he is not straying but I can't reach him. Every time I go out to try and bring him in, he runs for cover under the deck. Have any of you run into this problem? I have heard that cats and dogs like to go outside to die. Could that be it, I wonder? I am so worried about him as he is so skinny and he is not used to this cold weather. He can come in, though, if he would like, as I put the cat door back into the window, just for him, although I had it stowed for the cold weather until spring. I am trying to relax because I know he could come in if he wanted to so he must not mind it outside. Sigh Thanks, everyone. Anne and Jimi Too Cool and Simms and Sophie in MI
Re: Jimi Too Cool problem
If it's painful for him to eat, have you been tube feeding him? It's very important to not let them go without a certain amount for more than 2-3 days because it leads to feline hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). Poor baby. http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/liver2.html I'm glad he's back inside now. There's a pet bed called the canine cooler, it's a dog bed, filled with gel, it's supposed to stay cool all the time, maybe Jimi would like one of those in the house. (or you could just put one of those re-freezable ice packs inside his normal cat bed, and have several to keep it cool all the time) http://www.chillow.com/cc.html Am I the only one here that finds it at least a little amusing that Jimi Too Cool is trying to keep COOL? LOL! It's SO CUTE! Phaewryn Please save Whitey! http://ucat.us/Whitey.html VT low cost SpayNeuter, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners: http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.html Special Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html
