Small Blessings: Or, 2016 Has Not Killed My Cat

[lilmissnever]

I may be tempting fate, posting this with a day left to go, but 2016 has not yet killed my cat. Perl is fifteen years old. She is a frail and skinny thing. The last time I weighed her, she was 6.6 lbs. She has cataracts in both eyes and she moves slowly because she has arthritis. When she started losing weight very quickly this year, the vet

Comments

[daphnep]

Oh, no. How well I know this spot you are in. You write it so vividly and, dare I say, beautifully. Perl is lucky to have such attentive and loving caregivers. May you find much sweetness and love with her in these days, between the pilling and the fluids and the bedsheet changing, you hold on to such love.

[lilmissnever]

It's going to break my heart when she goes, but I'm so glad it's not this year. Thank you.

[lorigami]

I am so sorry. I hope she can be comfortable for the remaining time she has left.
Love to you, J and especially Perl
<3

[lilmissnever]

She is a sweet cat and we have had her for many years. I will try to make 2017 as pleasant for her as I can.

[vicious_wench]

Which insulin? Is it a U40 strength or U100? (feel free to poke me offline/email; I had years and years of experience with a borderline diabetic cat, and got extremely well trained at small insulin doses).

[lilmissnever]

I have gone to the vet for smaller syringes, but if this continues to be a problem, I welcome your advice. Because Perl is so tiny and sensitive, I am very worried about giving her too much insulin and sending her into a coma.

[vicious_wench]

Shoot me an email or let's talk in person.

[vicious_wench]

After consulting the vet, I have fixed this problem with science. I draw a unit of saline and a unit of insulin into the syringe, mix, and inject one unit into my cat. In hindsight, this is a very obvious solution.