Update on Tim

Tim came back from the vet with an appetite on Tuesday evening and we were all optimistic until the night came and he developed very laboured breathing. This continued into the next morning – at one point so bad his mouth was slightly open and his tongue was hanging out a bit. Back to the vet, since I googled these symptoms and it looked a lot like cardiomyopathy, which has no cure, and death can come within hours/days. At the vet, it was discovered he had a fever which is not consistent with CM – and an x-ray showed a blurred heart which in turn indicted Pyothorax – a relatively rare thing which is basically an internal abscess in the thoracic cavity– the blurred heart indicating presence of fluid.. Researching on the internet, I have seen this needs aggressive treatment – draining at the hospital 5-10 days – cost can go up to 2-3,000$. Not that money is an issue (not that I have that kind of $ anyway) – mostly, it is quality of life, and Tim being a very nervous hyper type cat = visits to the vet affect him terribly. He slept on the bed all night, breathing still laboured – still not eating, nor drinking. We are trying to induce appetite with a special paste. He is also on antibiotics and fever reducing medication. All these measures we have tried in past years with other “patients” for different conditions, and the story always ends the same. We’ve gone through this so often – the feeling is familiar – that heavy feeling – of the inevitable.

Oh, and the vet checked out little out little "TimBit" Chelsea (fellow Canadians will get that) - to discover once again, as we did with Chaiyka - she is a he, so I have suggested Chesney - sounds close.

And last but not least, thanks to all who are sending healing thoughts to us, especially Merrylou, JC and Knatolee...