Well, it looks like whenever Pearl decides to cash it in, it's not going to be today. I can't say that it won't be next week, but all signs indeed point to a cat on the rebound.
It still remains to be seen whether or not she had a stroke or she has a legion on her brain, as our vet suspects. Apparently the circling behavior she's exhibiting (which, by the way, is difficult to watch - it just breaks my heart) is a symptom of that. She also suspects that she's older than we think she is. The shelter we got her from told us she was about four when we got her, which would make her eight today; but the vet, after examining her teeth, suspects she's older than that.
Parenthetically, this was information I had to sort of pull out of the vet: she mentioned that she might possibly be suffering from dementia, "...but it's unusual in a cat who's only eight."
"Well, based on her teeth, how old do you think she is?" I asked her.
"Her teeth are a mess [like cat, like owner, apparently]. I'd say she was 12 or 13."
So even if she recovers to one extent or another, our time together is likely far shorter than I thought it would be. So I got that working for me.
But the news isn't all bad, if not all good. Yesterday I picked her up and she purred, really deep enthusiastic purring that gave me all the proof I needed that she remembered me, that she still loved me (she still won't purr for Toots - HA!) , and that whatever else is travelling through that brain of hers, and however fast or slow it's travelling, she's not in pain, or miserable, or (at the risk of anthropomorphising her) sad.
But she's a different cat, and it's unlikely that she'll change back to the feisty, territorial, take-no-shit-from-the-other-cats Pearl that she was. Maybe she's going to be content to sit quietly in a sunbeam and isolate herself from the world until the curtain falls.
The vet isn't enthusiastic that she'll change back. She counselled that the fact that she's eating, drinking, sleeping and shitting is about the best one can expect.
"If this is victory, it is bitter to hold, and [my] hands are too small for it." - JRR Tolkien
Not much more that you can do aside from giving her time and seeing what happens.
ReplyDeleteYou might recall that I had a few posts about one of my family's cats. Ivy was gone for a few days and showed back up looking almost dead. My wife basically willed Ivy back to health (force feeding with a syringe and subcutaneous hydration included). Ivy made it through, but there were a few changes to her personality. We have just learned to live with the new Ivy.
Best o' luck!
Light - I do recall that. And I have lots of experience with sub-q hydrating a cat...it's a little unnerving sticking that needle in the hide, it's as big around as a piece of spaghetti. But we gave her 15cc of lactated Ringer's for nine months, until the time finally came.
DeleteAnd re: time, yeah, I guess that's my only option at this point.
It is absolutely victory. Good news all around. I know this is hard for you, but take the victory and enjoy your time with her. She's got it good there...lay in the sun, or sit on your lap and purr. Sign me up!
ReplyDeleteJo - Brown chicken brown cow...
DeleteYeah, definitely enjoy the time you have left. As long she is not suffering, then just spend whatever time you can with her and try not to think too far into the future.
ReplyDeleteRob - yeah, that's what Imma do. Gots no choice, really.
DeleteGary - thanks for the update on Pearl. I've been wondering how she was doing, hoping the news was good. Glad she's back and hasn't crossed the "rainbow bridge" yet, even if she is a bit damaged.
ReplyDeleteCrankston - your concern is touching. Really. Thanks.
Delete