The Events of This Week

I would like to apologise for my sudden disappearance and lack of posts this week. For the third time this year, I was struck down by a strong bug. The first two times can be explained away as the natural transition between seasons: Spring – Summer, and Summer – Autumn. Even being struck by two bugs is rare, and so being attacked by three is almost unknown. In fact, I cannot remember the last time I was hit by three in one year.

Just before I was ill, my cat. Annie, had to be taken to the vets to be checked out because the night before, my dad and I spotted what appeared to be some puss forming just under her lip. She had to be sedated in order to determine what it was. They took a small sample to be checked, so they couldn’t say what exactly it was, however, it appeared to them as a large ulcer inside her cheek. A couple of days later, the vet rung to say that she has actually got a severe case of cancer and that they are only expecting 2 weeks or 2 months, but she can dip rapidly in health during that time.

When we rescued Annie 10 years ago, it was hard to determine what her actual age was, but after a quick examination by the vet, they said she was less than five years old. 10 years later, at fourteen years old, we know she has led a happy and healthy lifestyle. The three of us – me, my mum, and my dad, have spoilt her massively, and so it’s understandable that the news of her cancer hit us hard.

That night when we received the news, we were given the choice to wait until her final day, but we felt strongly about it not being fair on Annie if she starts to suffer. It was already causing her pain before - she started avoiding her dry food and treats – we have been given her regular treatment in the morning with her wet food to ease that pain, but it may get to the point where the medicine is ineffective, which is why, on Saturday, we will be saying goodbye to a major member of our family. It was discussed to spend one last Christmas with Annie, but because we simply do not know what’s going to happen from now to then, we knew that it would only be fair if we made sure she didn’t suffer.

Annie will be cremated and the three of us have agreed on a lovely urn in a shape of a peacefully sleeping cat, which, if there are no complications, we will be bringing Annie home before Christmas so the whole family is together again.

Losing any family member is a tough time for all of us, and so it’s understandable that there may not be much activity on this blog for the rest of the week. Starting from Monday, I am hoping that things will resume as normal.

I would like to apologise one more time for the lack of communication, and I will keep you updated as things progress, so you won’t feel as if I’m not returning for an indefinite period of time.

In the meantime, my time will be spent looking after Annie, and making sure that her final days are as great as they have always been for the last ten years.