Conference misery::feline_v1

    Sandi, so sorry to hear about Black Thunder and her problem.  But,
    at least she is getting an education...Like the Garfield poster
    says, "I used to be just an ordinary cat, till I went to college".
    
    I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you and for Thunder.
    
    Jo

    I was just thinking, I don't blame her for losing the weight, probably
    hurts to eat after having surgery in your mouth!  You may have to
    tempt her with really great stuff, like chicken, turkey, baby food,
    etc.
    
    Jo

    I'm so used to reading good things about your family.  It is so
    shocking to read about this problem.  I hope everything works out.
    Keep up posted!!
    
    Sharon, (Smokey's friend)
    

    Poor Thunder.  Do keep us up to date on what is happening.  What
    could this possibly be?!                

    
    Best of luck with Thunder, she's in very good hands!
    
    
    Chris and Frito

    Sandi,
    
    Can I ask what you have been feeding Thunder???  And what are the
    other symptoms, besides weight loss and the "masses"???  I know
    this may be difficult to discuss, so please let me know what y ou
    feel comfortable with.
    
    Has Tufts done any blood work, or any liver analysis?  Are these
    masses benine??
    
    cin
    

    Sandi,
    
    Be careful she may come home with one of those cute college men!
    
    Hopefully he will be able to support her in the style that she has
    become accustom to. 
    
    You know that we all hope that she will be fine and healthy soon.
    Also that she doesn't decide to go back for her PHD!!!
    
    Love,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    
        

    Re: .6
    
    I think she said in a previous reply that they weren't malignant.
    That's what's so puzzling.  (My mother and my aunt both have had 
    surgery to have benign tumors that were causing problems removed.
    Thank goodness they haven't recurred.  I have no idea what causes
    benign excess growth like this.)
    

    Thunder eats her food, Lightning's food, DejaVu's food and Keisha the
    dog's food.  In fact she eats as soon as I bring her home.  I would
    say the weight loss has NOTHING to do with her appetite.
    
    I feed all three kitties Truimph canned food and a low ash, low
    magnesium dry food.
    
    The *mass* is benign (so far).  Blood work has been done both times.
    
    If she goes for her PHD, she pays for it herself this time.
    
    Actually I love this little baby so much that I get scared thinking
    about what they might find out.  She gives me so much love and 
    enjoyment that I would miss that terribly.  I know I have the other
    three (dog included) and love them too.  I guess I feel the same way
    about all four.  I know when Lightning was sick, I was on pins and 
    needles until I got the results.  But Thunder has been *special* from
    day one.
    
    I do have a lot of stories still to tell about my babies and will try
    to post some as I go along.  Did I ever tell you about *The Great
    Blue Jay Caper*??
    
    My fingers are definitely crossed and so aren't my toes, my knees, my
    ankles, my wrists, etc.  Thank goodness I am ambidexterous.
    
    Sandi (Mom to Lightning, DejaVu, Thunder & Keisha the dog)
    
    

    Sandi -
      We'll be thinking of you and Thunder while we're away.  i know
    what you mean about special.  To me, Dundee is special.  I don't
    think I love him anymore than the others (Tym included at this 
    point) but he's definitely a special little guy and gives me an
    extra dose of joy. 
      I sincerely hope that Tufts will be able to figure this out.
    Not knowing is very very frustrating.
      Nancy DC
    

    There is an article in the July issue of Cats magazine
    about benign brain tumors.  It says they are being treated at the
    Dept. of Neurology, Colorado State University College of
    vetrrinary Medicine, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526.  What caught
    my attention is that it says after these benign tumors are removed,
    the doctors there use radiation therapy to prevent the regrowth of
    the tumor cells.  Perhaps the people at Tufts should call Colorado to
    see if radiation therapy would prevent your cat's tumor from regrowing.
     

    OK, I'm back from vacation and will update Thunder's college
    experiences.
    
    I brought her back down to Tufts and they just loved her all over
    again.  They can't believe what a love she is.  It is so hard to
    listen to her lungs and heart over the purring.  She also likes to
    help them sort the paperwork and flip the pages.
    
    After having Dr. Wallace check Thunder's mouth and taking a look at
    the area in question, we sat down to talk over the options.
    
    option #1.
          	Keep Thunder there and put her under anesthesia (again)
    		and take another biopsy.
    
    option #2.
    		Take Thunder home and keep her on a routine monthly
    		check-up to see if the *spot* has changed.
    
    With Thunder being so healthy otherwise and eating her food and
    sampling everyone elses' (Mama might just give Deja or Lightning
    something different) we opted for option #2.  Besides, I just don't
    think we should be putting Thunder under this soon after surgery.
    
    She was so glad to be able to come home right away.  This time she
    didn't let me know how upset she was (my poor couch and chair) and
    was a good girl.  
    
    Dr. Wallace and I talked over the fact that I might not have Thunder
    forever.  This benign tumor just might turn malignant.  I almost broke
    down at that moment but didn't.  I have just resolved to give her as
    much love as I possibly can while I have her.  She gives it back
    triple.  
    
    Nuff said.  When I think of possibly losing her, I get kind-of chocked
    up.  But I did promise to let everyone know how she did at Tufts.
    
    Sandi (mom to Lightning, DejaVu & Thunder)
    
    
    

    Thunder is such a brave little girl!  I hope things clear up.
    If there's anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask.
      Nancy

    She may be a brave little girl but she is also still a brat.....
    
    A brat that I love dearly and wouln't change for anything.
    
    Sandi
    
    

    Sandi,
    
    Your Thunder sounds like our Brittany.  Brittany is also a brat!
    
    She is also special and everyone just loves her to pieces even if she
    is a fidget who usually hates to be held (except sometimes by 
    Mummy or Daddy).  Part of it is that, even at 15 months, she still
    looks like a kitten, especially her round fuzzy face!  (At the vet's
    they affectionately call her "bowling ball face".)  Part of it is 
    probably her sassiness.  
    
    As in Nancy's case, I don't think I love Melody or Missy less, it's
    just something special about Brittany.
    
    Question:  why is it that when our furfaces are brats, they are so
    cute; but, when our kids are brats, they aren't?
    
    Barbara

    Hmmmm.... round head, eh?  Sounds like a scottish fold to me.