It would appear that cancer has finally defeated our little Abby. We took her to the vet three weeks ago, who diagnosed a virus due to her terrible sneezing – they literally threw her several feet - and the fact she wasn't eating or drinking. Two more visits that week made no difference. They decided to put her on a drip the following Monday, so we took her back to the animal hospital on the Wirral, who kept her in for three days on a drip as she was so dehydrated - and told us she had eaten and seemed fine, despite the sneezing! Grr! So we brought her home - and watched her gradually stop eating all over again. Took her back one evening last week, they kept her in overnight, and still could find nothing, so again we brought her home and watched her stop eating. Over the weekend she ate nothing, not a thing, and stayed curled up on the bed the whole time, hardly moving.

So back to the hospital today, and again there appeared to be no reason, until I mentioned her breath smelled awful. The vet opened her mouth, and immediately we all saw the blood. Her mouth was full of it. Why hadn't we seen it? Why hadn't the vet or nurses seen it last week? He prised her mouth wide open and found a huge lesion on the roof of her mouth - the reason she wasn't eating. It obviously hurt too much.

They're keeping her in to take a biopsy and have a proper look under anaesthetic, but we both accept it's the end, as there's no way they could remove it, and we said, after the third near-death scenario, that we wouldn't put her through any more. I can't bear to think of the agony she must have been in for weeks. It's breaking both our hearts. Such a brave, beautiful little cat.

Please keep her in your prayers and thoughts. There'll be a huge hole when she's gone.

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"It takes a long time to live what you learn." May Sarton

Oh Mary, I am so sad and sorry to read this. Thinking of you all.

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Cestina's dolls houses - Brave new world?

Mary, I am so sorry to read your news. I am sure that the blood is recent and not something she has had for days. I hope you and Ray can comfort each other.

So sorry Mary, such a lovely little fur person,and as you say, brave beyond words. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

So sorry to hear that, Mary, and my thoughts, prayers and sympathies to Abby-puss and you and Ray.

I'm also sorry to hear that you're (doubtless not for the first time) in this situation that most of us face when we're lucky enough to share our lives with family animals. Did I keep him/her going when I should have called a halt to it? Did I rush him/her out of life too soon in an effort to end the suffering? I suppose it's the price we pay for having that option of sending our animals out of their pain and distress.

Hugs.

So very sorry, Mary. Hugs and prayers for all of you.

So very sad to hear about poor Abby and my thoughts are with you and Ray.

I'm really sorry to hear that, Mary. Can't imagine how I'd feel if it was Lucy. Sending you both lots and lots of thoughts.

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"And I'm sure there was blood in the gutter from somebody's head, or else it was the sunset in a puddle."

Oh Mary, love, how dreadful for Abby, and you and Ray of course. Our animals are a such a huge part of our lives and although our heads know that they are only with us for a relatively short time, our hearts never want to let them go. I'm sure that, with your great care for her, the huge lesion in her mouth and the blood must be very recent.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you all. Sending you a blanket of hugs.

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Linda
Carpe Diem

I'm so sorry to hear this news.

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Castor oil: Triacylglycerol from Ricinus communis containing hydroxy-fatty acids.

I'm so very sorry to hear this, Mary - Abby has been a part of your and Ray's lives for so long that I can hardly begin to imagine what a huge hole she will leave. I do agree with the others who say that the lesion in the roof of her mouth must have been of fairly recent origin, though.

Thoughts, prayers and hugs are with you all.

So sorry. ((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))

(((Mary, Abby and SLOC)))

(((((((((Mary, Abby & Ray))))))))))))

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You should live each day as though you are going to live forever and as though you will die tomorrow.

So sorry to hear that, Mary.

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''He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

Thinking of you and poor little Abby.

So sorry, Mary x

This has made me cry. So many of us empathise with your pain. Take care xx

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Hope is the bird that sings for the dawn whilst still in darkness.

Abby was put to sleep in my arms at 3pm this afternoon.


Thank you so much for all the loving words. They help.


She's lying beside me as I write. We're going to bury her in the garden tomorrow. She looks so beautiful and peaceful.The cancer had spread right up through her nasal passages, so not too recent and extremely painful. Dan, the vet, said her sneezing fits were due to that, and she had had those for five weeks or more. He also said he'd never seen such an awful lesion in the mouth. He was very upset himself, and so compassionate.

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"It takes a long time to live what you learn." May Sarton

Sending more hugs and prayers to you and Ray, Mary.