Finger Prick

Our cat Ashley has been going through some health problems. Ashley is fifteen years old and we have had her since I was about the age that my students are now. I remember so clearly the day that we got our twin cats Ashley and Graycie (Graycie past away from cancer when she was only 9, which is pretty young for a cat). The two cats we had prior had passed away. I was pretty young so it didn't really affect me too much. However, when Graycie passed away we were all devastated. My mom read us a poem "The Rainbow Bridge" about how our pets wait for us in heaven. It was beautiful and I really do believe it.

So Ashley hadn't been feeling too well. Months prior she had eaten a poisonous plant. That was a really scary time for all of us, but she was fine. About two weeks ago, she was very weak and not really eating for a couple of days. Previously, she had seemed fine. She would throw up sometimes, but it was only in the mornings and it seemed to lessen since we started putting her food away overnight. We were all very concerned that she wasn't eating, because normally she loves eating. I came home the day before we took her to the vet with the most expensive tuna fish I could find, something normally irresistible to a cat. At first she wouldn't even look at. I fell to my knees sobbing, and I pleaded with her, telling her she had to eat. Next thing I knew she started to gobble it up! We knew we had to take her to the vet anyway, because she still wasn't herself. She was diagnosed with a slew of problems: anemia, a thyroid problem, a heart murmur, and kidney problems. All of a sudden she had all these troubles. Now she has to take medicine for her thyroid each day. She has a new food that she has to eat because of her kidney problems. The biggest problem is the kidney trouble. She was dehydrated because they are not functioning fully, and basically her condition is not curable. It will only get worse over time (there is no saying how much time it will take) but there is something we can do to help her and make her more comfortable. The vet told us she needs fluid treatments through a needle and portable IV every 3rd day. The vet taught the three of us how to do it, so we wouldn't need to bring her back each time. Basically, she needs to have a needle inserted into the back of her neck, and the fluid has to go down the tube into her.

We tried it last night and we failed miserably. My dad and I tried it together first. I held her down and he inserted the needle. I tried to hold her down but it was so hard. I held her still while he put the needle in, but once the fluid started dripping she jumped and I couldn't hold her as she clawed out of my arms. My dad quickly took the needle out so she wouldn't hurt herself. We decided to wait for Eric to get home to try again. First we had to change the dirty needle, but we had trouble getting it off the IV. Eric tried to pull it off and he pricked himself! My dad flipped out because he thought Eric wasn't being careful enough and he panicked over whether something would happen to him. Honestly, it could have happened to any of us. While my dad was busy freaking out, I quickly washed his finger with antibacterial liquid, and then I put Neosporin and a band-aid on it. We also squeezed out a lot of blood from his finger. Then I called the doctor who said we did the right thing and just to keep an eye on it, to make sure it doesn't swell up from an infection. He said the main thing is that Ashley doesn't have anything contagious. My dad eventually calmed down and so far Eric is fine. But what a disaster! The three of us are so bad at stuff like this. It probably would be hard for anyone to do, but a lot of people do this for their cats at home. In fact, kidney trouble is a major problem for older cats.
We didn't want to have to bring her to the vet for her treatments, but that is what we are going to have to do. She sits still for them because she is petrified, but at least they will be able to do it. It is just too difficult for us to do. So tomorrow she will get her second treatment.

I hope and pray that we will have Ashley for a long time. If and when something does ultimately happen to her, we are all going to be a mess. My dad and my brother don't openly cry too often, but when we found out all her troubles, we all wept for a long time. As we all know, I am really bad with change, especially since my mom passed away. I struggled a lot with changing my closet, getting rid of her car, and getting a new dryer. Ashley is more than a cat to us, she is a family member. She greets each of us at the door each day, follows us all around, and sleeps with us at night. She never misses an opportunity to sit on one of our laps and she sits under the table when we eat. She likes to sit on my yarn or my lap when I crochet. Cats sometimes get a bad rap, but Ashley truly has personality. She makes us all so happy when we come home and see her. She is also a reminder of when our home was a happier place. My mom used to make this cute little voice as Ashley and Graycie's translator. She would talk for them. Ashley and Graycie were always included in all of our birthdays and holidays. Her name was always signed to any cards we have given each other for our birthdays. Overall, she seems to be a lot better for the time being. She actually really likes her prescription food, and she is much livelier, like her usual self. We have all been praying for her constantly and hopefully she will stay well.

My Parents and Ashley

Aren't they cute?


Ashley's Close-up.



Ashley loves to sit with us. This is on my birthday.

Ashley on my bed with one of my elephants.

Ashley and me after a day of student-teaching.

Ashley and the ladybug puppet I had to make for school.


Ashley is only allowed outside if she is sitting with one of us.

Ashley laying down in the screen-house.


Ashley on my bed again with one of my baby blankets.


Us again.

Ashley's 15th Birthday.

Eric and Ashley on her birthday.

Ashley helping me crochet.


Ashley wearing my jacket.


Ashley sitting on the blanket my mom crocheted for her.

Ashley and I on the morning of Christina's wedding rehearsal.

Ashley and I after Stevi and Joe's Wedding.