Good news about Gray and Silver.

[ThomCat]

Silver's lump is almost certainly benign. We'll know for sure in a few days. I'm having it removed anyway, so that there's no chance of it becoming malignant later. He's fine, and I'll hopefully have him for many, many more years! Yay!

Gray's cancer is localized. His blood tests show that all his organs are functioning normally. So he's in a bit of pain, and he has almost no use of one back leg. It's a fast cancer, but as long as it stays localized he's okay. That's good, because this cancer can't be cured. Because of the location it can't be removed. And even if it could be removed it always comes back very quickly (usually within a few months).

He has stopped eating regular food. The only food I have found that he'll eat is Stage 1 babyfood, chicken or beef flavor. He won't eat it off of a plate, but he'll gobble up quite a bit of it off of a spoon or off of my finger, so I have to hand feed him twice a day. I have painkillers that he's pretty good about swallowing, and they clearly work well. So if I can keep him eating and keep his pain managed he could live a while.

He is still very happy. I've had him purring for hours at a time repeatedly over the past two days. He loves to be cuddled and held and petted. He doesn't mind being lifted and carried wherever he's trying to go. As long as he's happy, and as long as I can keep him eating, I'll do whatever I have to do to keep him with me.

This could all change at any time. I have no illusions about that. Everything I've read says that cats have maybe a year on average after the cancer is detected. He might only have a month, or as much as two years. But how ever long I have with him, I'll take it and make the best of it.

So that's where things stand right now. I hope all the good vibes you all sent will give him as much of the full two years as possible, and I hope they're very, very happy two years.

Thank you, all of you. And especially, Thank You InfoManiac for bringing over the babyfood and being here with me today.

[Cabcere]

1. Hey Thom

I missed the original post about Gray & Silver, but I'm certainly sending good vibes to both of them (and to you too, of course!).

[ThomCat]

5. Thank you very much.

Gray really needs those good vibes. I really want to keep him happy and as pain-free as possible for as long as possible.

[suninvited]

2. That is good news !!!

[ThomCat]

9. Yes. Conditional good news is definitely better than bad news.

I'll happily take what I can get.

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. Awww man...

I'm glad it is localized Thom. Give him a hug for me.

[ThomCat]

10. I will give him very many hugs.

I talk to him alot and tell him how much I love him. I'm also telling him about all the people here who are sending him love too.

A cool story:
He and his brother always follow me in the bathroom every morning, because it's the first place I go after waking up. That means it's the first place where they get love and affection every morning. So they think the bathroom is a play room.

I've been keeping the door closed when I'm in there since I got a roommate. So they've been missing their morning playtime in there. Today I left the door open so Gray could come in. He sat and watched me shower. And then I rubbed him down with my towel, which he loves because it smells like me. And then I got down on the floor and picked him up and held him and played with him and kept him purring for two and a half hours.


That was how his day started today.

I won't be able to give him as much attention on days when I work, but he's definitely going to get as much time as I can devote to him without neglecting the other cats.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear ThomCat!

Oh Sweetie!

That is just the most awesome news EVAH!

I was feeling so very sad before...

And that has all gone away with your good news...

We've got your back, you know that, right?

[ThomCat]

8. Yes, I definitely know that.

I really wish we were all more local to each other. I've tried very hard to be there for other DUers, and DUers have definitely been there for me.

[graywarrior]

6. That is great news!

[ThomCat]

12. Well, Great news would be if it was curable.

I wish it was curable. But I'm absolutely going to make the best of this.

I absolutely love the idea that he might share some of your strength and stubornness because he's your namesake. I thought of that earlier today while I was playing with him.

[graywarrior]

16. Awwww, just for that I'm sending extra love his way.

And love purrs from Kamere

[Haole Girl]

7. Glad you got some good news!

[ThomCat]

15. I can't tell you how relieved I was when I got the good news about

Silver. Losing one of them will break my heart. If I lost both of them I don't know how I'd handle it.

And having some good news, no matter how conditional or temporary it is, is definitely better than bad news. I promise to make the best of it.

[Rising Phoenix]

11. Thom I'm so happy to hear that

I hope you have a lot of time to spend with your dear cat.....sometimes things just work out, even when it seems like they won't.....best wishes

[ThomCat]

17. Thank you.

[musette_sf]

13. great mews, i mean news!!! xo n/t

[ThomCat]

18. And there was much Purring!

[Arugula Latte]

14. Yay! Great news!

Kisses to both kitties.

[ThomCat]

19. Definitely!

They're both getting a whole lot of hugs and kisses!

InfoManaic came over today with her digital camera and took a bunch of really awesome pictures of both of them, including some pictures of me petting and cuddling with them. As soon as she can upload those pictures and send them to me I'm going to post some. I'll give them some more hugs and kisses from you and everyone who sent good vibes.

[applegrove]

20. Sounds like your kitty will be okay for a bit. Sounds like you'll not waste a

day of his life and love him all the more. Lucky cat.

[ThomCat]

25. The hard part is preventing his brother from getting jealous.

How do you give all this special food, attention and help to one cat without the other one demanding equal time.

[DarkTirade]

21. ...

[ThomCat]

26. Thank you!

Once I go back to work, tomorrow, I have to stop working late hours so that I'm home to feed and take care of Gray. Once they start griping at work I'll definitely need those hugs.

[TZ]

22. I'm glad to hear that Thom

My old cat Turtle, had what was probably some sort of liver cancer and lived pretty happily for about 18 months.
As for the eating..I would suggest you get some of that malt flavored hairball medicine.Most cats love it and its high calorie so should help keep the weight on your cat, something important for now..

[ThomCat]

29. That's a good idea.

My vet also said there are meds that stimulate appetite, and I know at least one of them comes in a very sweet syrupy form that a cat can lick off of a finger.

I'm more concerned about making sure he's hydrated. So far he's fine, but if he starts getting too dry I'm going to have to see about manually hydrating him. That will be a bit of a challenge with my hands, but I'll definitely find a way to do it.

[TZ]

30. Yeah thats the challenge

I had to take Turtle to the vet for occasional IV hydrations. That sucked.

[youthere]

23. Tha IS good news Thom!

[ThomCat]

32. Mostly.

I'd give my left arm to have Gray's tumor go away. But I'll enjoy what I can get. He just spent another half an hour in my arms.

[youthere]

64. I'm glad the pain can be managed,

and it sounds like he's eating well.

[Dangerously Amused]

24. Good news, indeed.

[ThomCat]

33. I wish we could talk to each other, so I could explain

the medication to him, and tell him what's happening. I wish I could find out when he's in pain, and how he feels.

But all in all, we're going to manage this somehow.

[Dangerously Amused]

45. Aw sweetie; I think they know, on a higher level

...more than we even could explain to them with words anyway.

What he knows is that you have always and will continue to provide everything he needs to live a comfortable and happy life - food and water, protection from harm, and most of all unconditional love in its many manifestations. Across the board of species and levels of awareness, at any stage in life, that's really the bottom line, right?

You're a good kitty daddy, Thom, and a wonderful man besides.

[Connonym]

27. great news

I remember feeding that stuff to my kids when they were babies. No, actually I only remember trying to feed them that because neither one of them would eat it but the dog sure liked hanging around the highchair while I tried Hopefully he'll be eating on his own before long. Sometimes they don't and you have to keep feeding them but we've had 2 cats that have recovered their appetites after something like this. Our vet's hint is to lure them with the smelliest canned cat food you can find. I'm so happy for you and your fur babies.

[ThomCat]

35. Smelly canned food.

Yes, I definitely have some of that in the house.

I hope he gets his appetite back, and I hope he's drinking water. I haven't seen him, but he needs to drink.

[auntAgonist]

28. ThomCat, your compassion and love

for your furbabies is amazing. I can only imagine, and I think I'd be right on, that you are a wonderful human being. I wish I'd had the chance to meet you.

You have my best wishes for your 'kids'. May they live long and happy lives.
The happy is a given though isn't it they have you.

all my best.

kesha.

[ThomCat]

37. Thank you very much!

They seem to be happy. I hope I'm doing enough right. Especially now.

[auntAgonist]

48. you are doing everything right ..

never doubt that.



aA
kesha

[siligut]

31. You are wonderful!

Thank you for the good news and gentle, loving story, you warmed my heart.

[ThomCat]

39. Thank you.

I hope my cats think so too.

[qnr]

34. That is certainly good news, even if conditional for Gray. Glad to hear

that he takes the medication without squabbling, and that it works well.

As far as jealousy goes, it might be ok. While Boomer and Alinak were growing up, they always had little tussles vying for attention. However, when Boomer got sick and started declining, Al knew, and stayed by his side to comfort him for months. Old blind, gimpy Al was aware, and I'm sure Silver is too.

[ThomCat]

41. I hope Silver is that aware.

If Silver tries to start a wrestling match with Gray I'm going to be very worried about the outcome.

I am very worried about how Gray will do when I go back to work tomorrow.

[soleft]

36. Best wishes for the felines and their faifthful friend

[ThomCat]

42. Thank you.

I'm doing whatever I can to be here with them. Gray just got his painkiller, so hopefully he'll take a nap.

[GreenPartyVoter]

38. Thom, that's the best news you could have gotten under the circumstances *hugs*

[ThomCat]

43. It is. Definitely.

But I can't help wishing for more.

I'll do the best I can. And I'll do the best to really enjoy my time with Gray as long as I have him here. But I'll always wish I had another 10 years.

[GreenPartyVoter]

46. Yep, but I think it is always that way. Mine are about to turn 14 so I am trying

to really pay attention to them because who knows how much longer I will have them.

[SeattleGirl]

40. Good to hear, Thom!

to you and your furbabies.

[ThomCat]

44. Thank you, SeattleGirl.

I'll definitely pass along those hugs.

[BuelahWitch]

47. Silver and Gray are lucky to have you

to all of you.

[ThomCat]

50. Thank you.

I think I'm very lucky to have them too. I just got to spend another half hour with Gray in my arms.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

49. Thanks for posting

I'm so happy that Silver's lump is benign! And I'm happy that Gray is at least eating something and that he's happy. You might get some NutriCal and let him lick that off your finger - that will add calories and keep up his strength.

Best of luck to you and your lovely kitties - I know how worried you've been.

[ThomCat]

52. We'll accept all the luck anyone can offer us.

Gray just ate half a jar of babyfood, and now he's resting in his basket.

Thank you for the moral support. It really does help.

[Chovexani]

51. Aw man, that's good to hear

I was worried about them when I saw that other thread.

I hope the kitties get through it.

[ThomCat]

53. Silver definitely will.

I just hope Gray holds on for a while.

I'm still worried. And I'll probably keep worrying. But for the moment all is well.

[Gormy Cuss]

54. Here's to your tomcats..

May Gray have a long, happy remainder to his life.

[ThomCat]

56. May you be very right about that!

[lizziegrace]

55. we'll take we can get...

I'm so glad both the boys are home and at least with Gray, you have some time.

[ThomCat]

58. Right now,

He's asleep with Silver in their basket. It's teh cutest thing you've ever seen. They were grooming each other a few minutes ago.

Hey, I'm thinking about you today. Hang in there. We'll find some good luck for you too.

[lizziegrace]

60. Awww...

I love them in that basket.

Thanks for thinking of me.


Love you...

[stuntcat]

57. oh this sounds so much better!

It sounded like just too much sad stuff happening at once. I am glad I caught this thread with the update!
for Gray
for Silver

[ThomCat]

59. Thank you!

I'll definitely pass those hugs along, once the boys wake up from their nap.

Silver is twitching in his sleep. It seems like he's having a bad dream. I guess, given all that he's going through, that's normal.

But I don't want to wake him up because he needs his rest. So I hope he gets some good dreams in there too.

[malta blue]

61. that is wonderful news my friend!

I am so happy that Silver is okay and Gray can withstand treatment.

[Callalily]

62. It seems like Silver

and Gray have gotten a reprieve! Showering attention on cats is exceedingly easy. They give us so much, and truly ask for so little. We are honored to be their caregivers!

Sending hugs to all of you.

[lightningandsnow]

63. Glad to hear it.

Still sending lots of hugs.

[enigmatic]

65. I'm glad, Thom

to all three of you

[hisownpetard]

66. Great news about Silver and, ya know what?

Gray is so lucky you belong to him!!
I'm sure you'll dispense all the love necessary to keep them happy and healthy for as long as possible.
No one could ask for more, right?

[BarenakedLady]

67. That's great Thom.

I hope you have Gray around for much longer. Great news about Silver too! phew~

[ceile]

68. Great news! n/t

[Brigid]

69. Lots of hugs for you, Silver, and Gray . . .

I'm glad you'll have Gray for a while longer, at least; and it sounds like Silver will be OK.

[Parche]

70. That is good news

keep your head up and enjoy every day with them...I wish i still had my 'woos'

[BlueIris]

71. Hey, good news!!

[Flaxbee]

72. I'm so happy for your news, ThomCat!

I have a Silver, too I'm glad that lump can be removed easily. And as for Gray, I hope for as much time as he can have - 2 years or more. Or if it's just one month, at least you'll have had that time together. Sweet Grayboy. I have a cat who needs meds twice a day now, and if you get to the point where the pain pills are difficult to give to him because he's decided he's sick of them, I recommend a pill syringe/pill gun (for small dogs and cats) - it has been a lifesaver for me. I'll mail you one if you decide you need/want it, OK?