Back in March we realized that Stella wasn’t eating well, was getting skinny, vomiting often, and having bathroom issues. This was a major worry so we took her to the vet (which she hates). Dr. Sims took X-rays and determined that poor little Stella, who is down to 7 lbs, has Feline Lymphoma.
There are several types of lymphoma in cats: Mediastinal, in the chest, Renal, in the kidneys, Multicentric, in multiple lymph nodes, Extranodal, in the lymph nodes and other organs, and Gastrointestinal (GI). Stell has the GI kind. It is the most common form and includes the stomach, liver, and intestines. Then there are 2 types of GI lymphoma: small-cell and large-cell. We believe that Stella has small-cell lymphoma. We have chosen not to do a biopsy or anything invasive to confirm. Small cell GI lymphoma can be treated at home with medications and monitoring. The great news is that many cats can survive for 2 to 4 years after being diagnosed with small-cell lymphoma as long as they get treatment.
Stella is on 2 different meds every day and doing well (though still skinny). She will be 13 years old in September.
Here’s to several more trips around the sun for her. Cancer Sucks!
How incredibly lucky we are to spend our life with Mini Cooper. She is such a precocious playful bundle of fluff. Over her 10 years, she has had some really wonderful adventures, especially with her best buddy, Mr. Nine. Mini has become the only cat in the general population with the dogs, Jolie and Bearnard, since Queen Noel, the Christmas cat, passed over in January. As you know Stella, the lone cat, has her own room, but Mini and Stella ‘play’ and hiss at each other through the door occasionally.
Mini Cooper stay as kittenish as you always are. We love you.
The humans opened the pool this week! It wasn’t its usual black algae color. That is probably thanks to a new cleaning crew.
We found a little bird egg on our walk that fell from its nest but Mom could not see the nest high in the elm tree, so she had to leave it. At least it wasn’t a baby bird yet.
The cherries are starting to turn red. That means pie soon.
Jolie was sick with some strange unknown stomach thing and got so dehydrated that she had to go to the vet for fluids. Mini had some tummy thing too. And then the humans got sick. (Are all these things related? We don’t know but it wasn’t fun around here.)
Because of scary climate change, and since we live on a peninsula on the Magothy River (a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay) and often lose power, we now have a whole house generator. Mom says it will keep us cool in the summer and warm in the winter, even if we lose power. I am not sure what all that means, but if Mom thinks it is good, it must be.
This was Navy Commissioning Week at the US Naval Academy (which is here in Annapolis, MD). That means the Blue Angels, the US Navy flight demonstration squadron, flew over the house during their air show for 2 days. It is always very loud but amazing.
Mom did not make that Cat Pizza, but she thought it was cool and wanted everyone to see it.
We have so much to be thankful for. Have a wonderful Memorial Weekend. Remember those who paid the ultimate price so that we can be free.
You may not be able to tell, but we are bored. Mommy works too much and we always have to ‘hang out.’ We want to play more, run more, eat more, do more things, but nooooooo. We have to wait. Life as a dog can be very boring.
But we forget all about being bored when Mom finally takes us for a walk.
Did you ever notice how everyone wants a piece of Mom’s lap? It is hard to get any space to get comfortable. Don’t they know that she is mine and I should have priority?
Mini Cooper is so rude. She has the nerve to sit on me because she wants the whole lap to herself. Cats can be so pushy, don’t you think?
Sometimes, Bearnard doesn’t mind being close to Mini Cooper as long as she lets him stay on Mom’s lap. I don’t know about you but she looks scary to me.
I give up. I am going to go into my kennel and let Bearnard and Mini Cooper figure it out. Nite Nite – Jolie Olie
Over the years Big Tree, the giant maple in the backyard, has seen many animals. It watched the kids grow up. It shadowed many a pool party. Now it has a new group of protectors.
Jolie and Bearnard are the keepers of the watch in 2024.
Sofie & big tree 2010
Louise & big tree 2009
The Trio 2019
Sofie & big tree 2014
Lulu & big tree 2009
Squash & Louise big tree 2011
Squash E Bear 2007
Charles & big tree 2022
Nikkolette 2001
In 2023, it was Charles and Jolie.
In 2022, it was Charles, Louise, and Sofie.
In 2013, it was Louise and Sofie.
In 2012, it was Squash and Louise.
In 2011, it was just Squash.
In 2002, it was Nikki and Squash.
They have seen a lot of squirrels come and go and think about all those birds. There was a year (about 3 years ago) that the Cedar Waxwings stayed in Big Tree for a month.
Stella is going to be 13 in September. She is a wonderful cat (as long as she isn’t with other cats). She likes the dogs when they come to visit and Bearnard and her seem to have a thing going on lately.
Sadly, we just found out that Stella has Feline lymphoma. It is affecting her gut. The feline lymphatic system is a complex network of components that transport all those life-sustaining substances throughout a cat’s body and help prevent the circulation of harmful agents. Among these components are the spleen, bone marrow, and what veterinarians call “gut-associated” lymphoid tissue, which lines the surfaces of various areas of a cat’s body and prevents its exposure to infectious agents. It mostly shows up in cats around 10-12 years old.
Dr. Sims, Stella’s Vet, said a definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy of the intestinal tract. We are not going to put little Stella through that at her age and weight (7 lbs). We are treating her at home with a steroid (prednisolone) and another drug to assist with peristalsis. The x-ray shows that she has considerable thickening of the intestinal tract. We are hoping with the medication and our love and care she could continue on for many months.
Stella does not know that she has cancer and it does not appear to hurt her much (if you don’t touch her belly).
Lymphoma is the most common cancer in cats. You can learn more about it here. Hug your furbabies a little closer tonight. They are such a gift, each and every one of them.
DogDaz Zoo 