This year isn’t starting off the way I imagined it would. Remember our kitty Bandha who I left out in the rain for 5 hours? Well, he has bone cancer in his jaw and has a huge tumor that apparently is very aggressive.
Around the beginning of Dec we started noticing him sticking his tongue out of his mouth all the time. While we found it cute, we started to realize it wasn’t normal. Especially because he was drooling a lot too. So I brought him to the vet. She couldn’t get a good look in there, but gave a pretty definite diagnosis that it was a tumor. We decided against the super expensive biopsy and all that entails because we decided that we wouldn’t treat him anyway. They would have to remove his jaw and then do chemo and really, what kind of quality of life would that be for any of us?
So she gave him an antibiotic shot that lasted 2 weeks in hopes of it just being an infection. 2 weeks later, no change- and it seemed to have gotten worse. We decided to bring him to another vet for a second opinion. This vet said it was definitely cancer in his jaw bone and that it is pretty aggressive. She also gave antibiotics for an infection that had developed in there as well as pain meds.
So now I have been giving him his pain meds which seems to be helping, but he’s not eating much and basically that is when they told us it was time to consider putting him down. So it may be time to say goodbye to our little Bandha.
I have mentally prepared myself for this inevitability. Right after Silas died, when my cats were the only comfort I had, I had to go there. I know as a pet owner that they won’t be there for as long as you want them, that is reality. But Bandha is only 11 and I didn’t think it was his time yet.
I hate to watch him suffer. I think that is the hardest part of all of it. He can’t tell me what he wants or how he feels and I don’t know how to help him. We’ve been giving him all the love we can, as much as he allows.
People keep asking how our other cat Chumby is handling it. She usually gets annoyed with him being near her and hisses and swats at him. Now, she is just completely ignoring him like he isn’t even here. It’s really strange. She’s still giving me loads of love though, maybe even extra, knowing how sad we are about Bandha.
As far as eating goes- he won’t eat his cat food or the high calorie food the vet gave me (which is driving me nuts – all the open cans that neither of my kitties want to eat- argh!) and instead, will eat only goat cheese! I guess he knows that if his end is near, he may as well go out with a really yummy meal.
14 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 10, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Paige
Oh Lani, I’m so sorry to hear such terrible news. There is no love like animal love and I’m so sad that your little Bandha is sick and suffering. And I’m also screaming to the universe, “Give Lani and Chris a freaking break already!” because it’s beyond unfair that you should have to deal with the loss of your Bandha. I’ll keep you and your sweet kitty extra close in my heart. Sending much love your way. xo
January 10, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Ines
Hey Lani
I’m so sorry and wish there was something we could to for Bandha. It’s a gut wrenching experience to loose an animal, to loose a feline member of the family.
The day I can back from hospital after we lost our son, a little cat strayed into our life. We took him in. I am so attached to the little guy, I know it will break my heart in a special sort of horrible way when he does goes one day in years and years to come. I praise you strength to let him go in peace without prolonged suffering. And until the day he deserves goats cheese on a plate, how about tuna? My cats love tuna…
big hug to you
xxx Ines
January 10, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Kristina
Been thinking about you and bandha a lot-I’m so sorry Lani. I echo Paige’s sentiments. Just so sorry this is happening. ((HUGS))
January 10, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Amy
I’m so sorry. Our pets fill such a special place in our hearts. I know our dogs have helped us greatly through our grief and I love them so very much. Thinking of you and Bandha. Poor little kitty.
January 10, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Sally
Oh no! Poor Bandha. Poor you guys. I’m so sorry. I too “went there” and thought about my dog Miles dying when Hope died. He’s only 8 so I hope we have a few years in him yet, but there is always that fear.
Thinking of you Lani. Give Bandha a big kiss from me.
January 10, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Angie
I am just so so sorry, Lani. I am heartbroken for you all as you deal with Bandha’s illness. Holding y’all close, love. xo
January 11, 2010 at 12:59 am
mamaliza
i’m so sorry lani. i know how much your kitties have given your comfort and love. thinking of you and sending you and bandha lots of love.
xox
January 11, 2010 at 11:42 am
Sheila
I’m so sorry to hear this, Lani! Poor Bandha. I know how much you love your kitties and how much they love you.
xoxo sheila
January 11, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Deena
I am so sorry to hear about Bandha. I will continue to keep your family in my prayers. Just wanted to send a BIG virtual hug your way…
January 11, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Michele
Oh hon, I am so sorry. Thinking of you guys… I lost my beloved dog and cat many years ago, and it still hurts.
January 11, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Ezra's Mommy
Oh I’m so so sad about this news about Bandha. I don’t know how I’d make it if something happened to our fuzzy friends.
January 12, 2010 at 12:28 am
ilostaworld
So sorry about Bhanda – but I’m glad he’s getting such loving care (and goat cheese). Wish your year could be off to a better start.
January 12, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Marybeth
So sorry to hear about Bandha! What a tough situation. I know that he is a happy (and likely very spoiled) cat and I hope that you can just get through this as best as you can. Lots of love to you, Chris & the kitties.
January 13, 2010 at 3:38 pm
WG
I am so sorry to read about Bandha!! I know how comforting and loving pets can be. He looks like he’s gotten a lot of love and had a good life. You’re right, a jaw removal would be disastrous for a cat. Good luck with everything.