And then there were 12: R.I.P Spunky

Clarissa is letting me take over her blog once again. It seems that I am always the bearer of sad news. I said farewell to my big, sweet, doofus boy Spunky on Wednesday. Unlike Johnny's passing, which was expected, Spunky's passing came out of the blue.

All of my kitties have the feline herpes virus. Some have respiratory issues when it flares. Others have eye issues when it flares. Spunky was one of my kitties that would have eye issues. A few months ago I noticed that his right eye was "winky" and it had some of that stringy goop. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I took him to the vet, got some ointment, and the eye started looking better. But it never totally cleared up.

Back to the vet for an oral antibiotic (liquid). Spunky, although a big goofball and love bug, would turn into a fighter whenever it was time for his meds. He got them, but not on a set schedule. It was very hit and miss. He would see me coming and run under the bed. If I did manage to wrangle him. sometimes he would get away from me and run under the bed. On Tuesday night, I found him on my bed. His eye was swollen shut, and there was tiny bit of blood coming from it. I made an immediate trip to the emergency vet. Lily's eye specialist is located there, although I knew at that hour she would be gone. It wasn't clear if Spunky's eye had ruptured or not. He was given pain meds and another liquid/oral antibiotic. I took him home and isolated him in a spare room. He hated it and he cried to be out.

After a week on the antibiotic and pain meds there was no change. His eye continued to bleed. On Tuesday (Oct. 3) I called the animal ophthalmologist who sees Lily. She had no openings, but I was told I could drop him off the next morning and she would work him in.

Dr. T. called me after she saw him. She was 99% certain that Spunky had a tumor and that it was cancerous. They only way to be 100% sure would be to surgically remove his eye and have tissue sent to the lab. If it was cancer, the chances of it coming back were high.

It was with a heavy heart that I decided to let him go. It was not a decision that I made lightly. I had just spent close to $700 on Johnny for lab work, medicine, and finally, helping him cross the Bridge and his cremation. I had spent close to $300 on Spunky's ER visit, and another $100 to board him. I feel horrible that economics had to be a factor in my decision. Spunky's age was also another factor. He was 15. He was in pain. Even if I had brought him home for hospice care, he would have been kept in a closed room so he would be able to get his pain meds and not hide on me. He would have been miserable. I ask that you not judge me harshly for the decision I made.

I will always miss that sweet boy. I lost his sister, Panda, to kidney disease when she was only 9. I worry about his other sister, Ginger, and if she will cope with his passing. They were a bonded pair and cuddled together a lot. She still has her buddy, Batman, to snuggle with.

Several people have asked me if I will get another cat or two to "replace" Johnny and Spunky. I don't think they intended to sound cold or uncaring. I don't think it was meant to be that way. Those boys can never be replaced. The wounds of losing to furbabies in two weeks will take time to heal. I have 12 senior cats to take care of. I can't even consider bringing another kitty into my home at this time.

Fly free my sweet goofy boy. I will always love you.

Spunky

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