Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My sweet Astro is now gone to the rainbow bridge. On Thursday, last week, we took him for vaccinations and for a check up. He was loosing weight, and I was concerned.
The vet told us Friday he had a tumor on his thyriod... but that wasn't the worst. Astro had a very sever kidney infection. He was severly dehydrated. She kept him Thursday night to force fluids subcutaneously. I insisted in visiting him the next morning. He couldn't hold his head up any longer. Just 24 hours before he was playing and meowing. NOw he was trying to walk, his eyes weren't focusing, and he had this neck stiff and head low. She said, "oh! he must be low on potasium".
They would have never noticed if I had'nt gone in there. They put him on an IV with potasium, and my husband went to visit him... an dhe was eve WROSE!
We rushed him to the closest emergency vet that was 20 miles away. As we left the original vet, they told us, oh, he is fine. Cats just get weak.
When we saw the new vet, she said, his right kidney is the size of a pea and the left is very swollen. He is in kidney failure and it will be fatal if nothing is done. She called UC Davis and got him arranged for a kidney transplant. Then he just kept getting worse. SHe couldn't understand it. He was struggling to breathe and wasn't able to even move. He was able to pass urine, but he didn't know it. My poor Astro was only 12 and a half.
She said that with Astro's rapid decline, he will make his own decission to go to the bridge, or we can help. We had lost our Golden Retriever, Kody, 4 years earlier to kidney faiure,and knew the pain that Kody suffered. WE decided to help Astro go in dignity and in our arms.
Now, after not yet 4 years I have to bury my 3rd fur-child.
I feel empty. My heart is numb and I'm in shock. I never knew he was even sick. I am so guilty for not taking him sooner. We adopted him on year ago ont he 28th of March. Although we only had him a short time, he was our first and only kitty. We love him dearly, and always will.
Goodbye Astro, the phenominal kitty....

I'm so very sorry to hear about your dear baby. He looks just like my cat...which also went over the rainbow bridge. He was 18 years old. Perhaps they're playing together. I hope your heart can heal in time.

Thank you for your kind words.

We had a funeral for Astro yesterday, and it was beautiful. He was layed to rest next to Grizzly and Kody, or dogs that passed before him. It is more than difficult to see so many graves of my "children".

But I know he is in peace.

Thank you.

I am so sorry to hear about Astro. Warm GLOW to light Astro's way to the Bridge and to warm you and help heal your heart. It's always hard to let them go, whether they've been with you a day or 20 years, the pain is still there.

In time another kitty will be sent by Astro to find a place in your heart.

Yes, you are right. He didn't need the year to crawl into our hearts.

It was instant.

THank you for your kind words.