I believe my cat has cancer.

[Are_grits_groceries]

Her right war flap began to look red at the top. She has problems with her ears and scratches a lot at times. She also is prone to skin problems and allergies. I thought this was the problem.

I cleaned her ears and put some stuff on the affected ear. It looked the same for a few days and even got better. I woke up yesterday and suddenly it looked much darker. It wasn't swollen and she didn't act like it hurt. I planned a vet visit after Christmas.

My brother came over and I asked him about it. He has 4 cats now and over the years he's had eleventy billion. He took one look and told me it was probably cancer. One of his cats had a condition that looked just like mine. His cat lived for a long time with treatment.

Of course, after he left I Googled it. Everything I read points to the possibility of cancer. The stage will be determined by the vet. I hope it isn't more widespread than it appears to b. Mousie may have to have surgery.

So now I am sitting around and fretting. I am a gold medal fretter. I'm trying not to let my imagination run wild.

Both Mousie and Scat are curled by me on the bed. That is the de facto position for all three of us. I'm just trying to enjoy the moment.

I have had both for 16 years. A vet tech found them in a dumpster when they were very little. I can't even think about losing them but I know it's inevitable.

.......sigh.......

[LeftofObama]

1. I'm sorry to hear that.

Positive vibes to you and your kitty.

[kcr]

2. Google can be bad for making us fret

But you don't know for sure, yet. It's very possible it's not. I hope it isn't. I lost one of mine to cancer last year, and I know how hard it is.

[countryjake]

3. Enjoy the moment...

as you've said, that is the very best that you can do for her. If the vet tells you bad news, that's all that you will have, in the end.

Precious moments.

[JI7]

4. how long do cats usually live ?

i hope it ends up being nothing serious.

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. They are old for cats.

That said some cats can live for 20 years.

I am not going to do anything that will make her completely miserable for a long time. She has always been the cranky one and the one who really gets upset when at the vets. Even brushing her or cleaning her ears can start major hissy fits.

I don't want whatever time she has left to be very hard on her. I will take some steps, but what I eventually do remains to be seen.

[marew]

6. I am so sorryl

I have lost a number of animal companions to cancer- among other things. They are our family members and I never 'get over' it.

Of course we feel bad when great Aunt Sally dies but we may see her only every year or two. But our critters are our constant, nonjudgmental, loving companions. Every one, every single one, has taken a piece of my heart with them when I had to let them go.

It bothers me when people say brutish, unkind, cruel people act like animals. I have never had one of those "animals."

The majority of people in my life have been good and kind but ALL my animal companions, all with very different personalities, have always been good and kind and loving. This imperfect human being will be eternally grateful to each and every one of them for what they taught me about unconditional love.

[anneboleyn]

7. Beautifully put. They teach us about true love! The two great loves of my life

are my husband -- and my baby boy Burmese who we had to put to sleep a few years ago. They teach us about the pure, heartbreaking beauty of unconditional love. Your post put this so beautifully.

I adopted my boy kitty when I was still a young, single woman, and he decided right away to be my "knight in shining armor" and he guarded me and loved me (and I him) more than I ever thought was possible. Later, he fell in love with my husband too, and he would wait, excited and talking away, when he intuited that husband was coming home from work. We still miss him so very much.

As you say, I feel grateful to our little guy for his incredible heart and what he showed us about love. What a beautiful gift he gave us.

[anneboleyn]

8. I am so very sorry OP. Please keep us updated (if you can). I will hope for the very best outcome

I hope that she will not have cancer but a skin disease that can be treated. Or if she does, I hope it will be treatable with no suffering involved. She has given you her love and companionship for sixteen years so far. That really is a beautiful gift. Honestly I don't know if any of us who adore our kitty companions get over losing them, but the gift of unconditional, whole and pure love they give us really is a magnificent treasure.

If you are able to please keep us updated.

[pnwest]

10. Sending thoughts of comfort and healing

your way. You're one of my favorite people here, I love how much you love fur-people. I'm so sorry that you have something so worrisome happening with your baby. Here's hoping for the best possible outcome, please keep us posted!

[magical thyme]

11. I'm so sorry, Grits....

Hopefully it will be early and she'll have lots of time and many more precious moments with you. But no matter what, you have given her a wonderful, loved life, and will continue to do what is right by her. And you will always have that memory.