Monday, November 4, 2019 at 9:30 AM, my cat Felix went to sleep for the last time.
The previous Tuesday, he was listless and uninterested in his usual routine. We took him to a clinic that found his heart "galloping" but could do nothing else for him. The next day we took him to his regular vet, and they took some blood. The results showed that he was severely anemic. They recommended taking him to Oak Vet Animal Specialty Hospital.
After admitting him, Felix had more blood taken, and received a blood transfusion. They kept him overnight for observation, and took a spleen aspiration as well as ran an ultrasound. The next evening he was deemed stable enough to come home while the tests were run. We were given steroids to give him twice a day, and would return Monday for a diagnosis based on the test results.
Friday he was a little better. He ate some Gerber's chicken baby food, and moved around some. Saturday he was more active, but didn't eat, and Sunday he was little better than he had been Tuesday. That night we put him on a towel and he sat in my lap for a few hours of television.
Monday morning he was tired and weak, and no longer had the strength to reach the litter box. Jennifer and I went into the appointment having already talked about our options. The diagnosis we were given was that his blood and spleen had a high count of neoplastic cells. The doctor said Felix could have another transfusion to get him strong enough to see an oncologist who would then talk options of chemo therapy. This could have given him six months to a year if he were strong enough for the treatment. When we told the doctor we didn't want to put Felix through all of that for something that might not work. He understood and agreed, and we said we were ready to move ahead.
Before the two injections, we were told that he could perk up for a moment as he fought going to sleep, but he was ready to go because as the injection entered, he laid his head down against my arm, and went to sleep.
Felix was exactly the cat I had wanted. He liked to cuddle. He was playful. He would come visit while I sat. He purred easily. We could chase each other around the house. He kept Jennifer company while I was away. He and his brother Oscar were amazing together.
I will never forget our big boy, our cuddle muffin, our Hole in the Stairs, our hungry Void, our house panther.
Farewell Felix.
