This was originally posted Jan 17, 2021
Felix is my barn cat. You may remember reading about him when I first got him. This is him, very happy in the sun, laying on my lap. Occasionally, Felix would not come home. Usually when it was very cold, or it had snowed quite a bit. He could be found in the neighbors basement. I was treated to an Amazon gift card from work, so I thought Id buy him a nice new cozy bed. Then he disappeared. I thought he hated his new bed. He would show occasionally to eat a bit, then leave again. This cat can eat. Like, clean his dish and then ask for seconds. Eat an entire can of wet in less than a half an hour.
Here is is, begging for me to open the door and give him treats. I was starting to get worried when he started to come around less often. No one else was feeding him that I was aware of. One day he came home and he sneezed. It sounded very wet, and he sounded filled up. The neighbour noted he had been coughing. I called the vet. They suggested that he may have FIV virus and that some cats just sneeze all the time. They suggested a supplement. I was adamant that this was a new development and that, as a barn cat, he wasn't always around in the morning (mostly just in the winter) So, they gave him a long lasting antibiotic injection. I thought he was feeling better but then he started coming around even less. I didn't think that the antibiotic would be bothering him after 2 weeks. He started only showing up every 3 days or so, first eating half a dish of food. Then a handful of treats. He showed up Christmas evening for a little nibble. I went over to the neighbors a few days later to collect him from the basement, and I locked him in the coop with his food. He ate a bit, then panicked, escaping into the run and being trapped there all night. He grabbed a little nibble that morning and then followed me the rabbit building and disappeared underneath. No one had seen him for days.
The morning I took my tree down there was a light dusting of snow. I yelled for Felix several times that morning. As I dragged my tree out onto the doorstep, I noticed his footprints. I went out looking for him, and found him under the rabbit building. Was he under there the last few days? Did he not feel so well that he couldn't get to the chicken coop for food? He came out to see me and I carried him to the coop. Instead of just locking the cat flap, I had set up the wire dog crate that I bought when I got him. Complete with new mat, new cat bed, litter box, wet food, dry food and water. After being in there a week and only pooping twice, barely eating, and weight loss, I knew it was time to call the vet again. Called Monday and got him in on Tuesday. The vet said he was having a hard time breathing. He suggested an Xray. My first thought was that the antibiotics did not work. When ha called back and said that Felix was only able to use about 30% of his lung function due to Pleural Effusion. Which is fluid in the sacs the surrounds the lungs. He said it was very common and that they see about 40 per year. He said that it is usually caused by a tumor somewhere in the body and that he doesn't have long. That if I wait, he could die a horrible, terrible death. My first thought was (because of Covid) that they do not allow you to be with your animal. I told him I needed a few days. He asked if I wanted to try a diuretic, but that it probably won't work. I figured that since he was coming home, it was worth a try. It was worth my peace of mind to know I did what I could to save my boy.
I brought him in the house and set him up in the crate. I didn't want him to be cold and I wanted to be able to give him his medication and cuddle with him. I was very torn between taking him outside where I know he probably would have been happier. It seemed all the diuretic was doing was making him thirsty. He hadn't pooped in more than 5 days. I had to make the decision. I had to make that phone call. I called a different vet, one that actually had a room to set you up in to spend time with your pet. After a short discussion, they decided that this was, indeed, the right choice. She also mentioned another cause of Pleural Effusions is FIP, which is the feline version of the coronavirus. They gave Felix the sedation, which caused him to have more difficulty breathing, and he passed before he had the final injection. I was glad I could be with him, but I am definitely sad that my boy wont be here to keep my lap warm any more.
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