Technically he's my mom's cat, but I've been taking care of both of her cats for 6 years so they're like my pets now. His name is Bubba, he's 12 and he was big and black. If any of you have seen pictures of Nick's cat with the red collar, that's Bubba. Even the same color collar. 4 months ago we finally moved out of Phoenix to Maricopa, and that's when his weight loss started. I thought the diet we put him on was finally working but he kept getting skinnier. Except for his stomach which is huge. I can add another regret to my mile long list for not taking him to the vet sooner, but we didn't and still don't have the money. I paid for his x-rays though. I'll be further behind on bills, but I needed to know what was wrong with him. Bubba has a cancerous mass in his abdomen that ruptured and is leaking fluid. That's why his stomach is so big. He is very obviously uncomfortable, but he isn't really showing signs of pain. I asked the vet if she was able to give a rough estimate on how long she thinks he has left and she said she'd be surprised if he lasted a month. I wasn't approved for Care Credit but my grandmother already has a card with them, so tomorrow I'm going to end his suffering.
I knew this time would eventual come but it's not until it arrives that it really affects you. I plan on being in the room tomorrow, but I'm not even sure I'll be able to keep it together. This isn't fair. He doesn't deserve this. He was the nicest "chilliest" cat you could ever meet. He was always the first to make friends with the kittens, and would just let them jump all over him. Just a month ago he was wrestling with our newest, and now he wants nothing to do with her. I have 5 cats and I know I'm going to have to do this 4 more times. Its not going to get easier. The cats aren't just pets to me. They're family. My dogs were just as special, but they went with my mom to Arizona in 2004 and I only got to see them for a short time during Christmas break as I wouldn't move to AZ until 2008, and by that point they were already gone.
I just wanted to share this with the forum. My 10 years here have been pretty douchey for the most part, and for that I'm sorry. It took me a long time to e-mature. Take your animals to the vet regularly. This probably could have been prevented.