For the last couple of months, my oldest cat Tigger has been having some health issues. After having a couple of episodes that can only be described as seizures, we took him to our local emergency vet only for them to do some expensive bloodwork that came back inconclusive. The next step for them to diagnose what could be causing his seizures was to do an MRI, which we were initially quoted at being between $800 – $1,200 on top of the hundreds we had already spent in having him seen by the emergency/specialty doctors and the bloodwork.
After bringing him home and figuring out my next steps so that I could afford that additional amount, we were then told it would actually be between $2,800 – $3,000. It was quite a jump and we were more than a little surprised.
In what I assumed was a genius move on my part, I had secured a loan to help me consolidate my credit card debt as well as pay for the MRI with what I had left over, but after we received the new price, we still weren’t able to do it. Especially given that, if Tigger’s seizures were being caused by my worst fear — a brain tumor — we’d likely have to spend thousands more on surgery and/or cancer treatment.
If Tigger were a human child, I would be able to use my insurance from work to have him saved. But insurance in the pet world is still pretty far behind the insurance we get for ourselves and, even if I wanted to add-on to the insurance I already have for Tigger now, it might be considered an “existing condition,” in which case it’s too little, too late.
I love my pets like they’re my own children, but we just can’t afford it.
Our only option is to continue giving Tigger the anti-seizure medication we were initially told to give him — which seems to help but has not completely rid him of them — and to keep him as comfortable as possible.
Tigger’s a very big cat — we’ve even jokingly told strangers that he’s part bobcat — but he’s also very docile. If you were to describe him as a “gentle giant,” it would be highly applicable. He is the first cat I’ve ever seen who doesn’t mind a single thing you do to him. Hug him! Rough up his fur to make him look feral! Pick him up! Give him a huge wet kiss right on his face! He might not love it, but he hardly ever objects. If the photos haven’t given it away, he’s very handsome, too. He has big, soulful eyes that are easy to see the world reflected back in.
Though we do our best to keep our cats indoor-only, Tigger sometimes escapes us and slips outside. He never goes very far, usually only into the bushes in front of our house where he plays as “king of the jungle.” While there are plenty of domestic cats in this world who love to go outside, keeping them indoors is generally considered the safest option for both them and the environment. Despite this, it’s hard to watch him and his brothers yearn to be free when they really can’t be. It’s a scary world filled with automobiles, predators, disease, and really mean people that sometimes do harm for no good reason at all.
It’s my hope that he feels safe and loved and free in his home here with us. He is the king of our jungle after all, and I’m not sure what any of us would do without him.
Until next time…
[…] my previous post was a little bit of a downer, I thought I would take today as an opportunity to share what is […]
Joebot – I have a major allergy to Facebook because I just can’t with it at all and it’s actually been great to get away from it.
But I just saw your post advertising your blog. And then I read this. And my heart is completely broken. It hit way too close to home too since my baby is about 18 and he’s been vomiting the last couple days and he never does, so even just the slightest upset in his regular routine makes alarms go off in my mind and worries me because I know I’ll be completely broken when that day (unfortunately) eventually comes someday.
This isn’t about me though. I’m so sorry about Tigger. I have no doubt he knows how much he’s loved by both you and your dad. You’ve given him such a great life with a lot of affection through the years. I know how much he means to you and how long he’s been an incredible, unconditionally supportive and loving baby. You have all of my love in the world and we should catch up soon. xo
Hi there! I am not the biggest fan of Facebook in the world either so I don’t blame you for avoiding it. I’m rarely on it myself except for when it feels “important” to make an update and Tigger updates usually feel important. I know a lot of people love him as much as we do, after all.
I’m sorry that your baby has also been ill. I hope that you’re able to get him to a vet or taken care of in the best way you possibly can. I know how scary it can be when they aren’t feeling well or something alarming comes up with them. My thoughts are definitely with you and your fur baby though as well.
Thank you for the love and well-wishes for Tig. We’re hoping for the best and that hopefully, the seizures are just a symptom of some kind of epilepsy and not something more insidious. We love him so much that it’s hard to imagine anything taking him from us.
Umm… Tigger updates are def important, okay. But thanks, bud. I actually have a suspicion it might have been some of his food that was making him sick because I think somehow a couple packages might have been somewhat opened? It was a lotttt easier to open them up as if they weren’t fully sealed. Which would 100% make sense that it made him sick. Either way though, Pickle and I send all the positive and good vibes down to you from the ‘Sota. <3
If his food was opened and old or tampered with, then that could definitely explain some of the vomiting he’s been experiencing. I hope his poor little tummy starts feeling better soon though!
I appreciate the positivity and good vibes! Me, Tigger, and the rest of the brood are sending some right back to you and Pickle!
[…] a look inside to see the most gorgeous big cat in the room. His name was Tigger, the cat that I wrote about not too long ago. After opening his crate and holding him for a little while, I knew that we would be bringing him […]