My friend Amy who I met on Itchmo way back in the Spring of teh terrible pet food poisonings cat Macks age 10 was put down this morning falling victim to Intestinal Cancer.  Her other cat Stephi still survives with kidney damage from NB Venison and Pea.  It only makes wonder tough if Macks would not of gotten teh cancer if the pet food incident never happened.  Rest in Peace Dear Macks we will miss you.

Very sorry to hear about the loss of Macks. It's really sad to have to wonder about bad food being a possible factor.
Rest in peace Macks. {{{Hugs}}} to Amy.

Tell Amy that we at itchmo share in her grief. I shed tears for each and every one that is lost and that is posted on the forum.

Hugs

Please extend my symapthies to Amy.   

Too young.

Macks, look for Gizmo............he'll play with you as will many others.
The Bridge is where all are whole and healthy again

RIP Angel Macks

Run free once again, healthy and whole, at the Rainbow Bridge. Peace and comfort to those he leaves behind.

catmom5

Hello - I'm Amy, Macks was my beautiful, sweet, gentle, loving Maine Coon mix.  Thank you for all of your kind words and prayers.  I was fortunate to have Macksie in my world for 9 years; I rescued him and he rescued me back.  I will never forget his gentle ways and how he would sit on my hip like you carry a toddler, kneading my shoulder, and sticking his cold nose in my ear.  He fought every time I tried to put him down and was happiest in my arms or on my lap.  At night in bed he would often wrap his paws around my arm if he wasn't busy tickling my nose with his long whiskers or gorgeous plume tail. 

His getting sick came as a shock since I have the other cat, Stefi, with CRF that was noticed around the same time as the pet food recall.  Was it related? We'll never know for sure, but it's definitely an odd coincidence.  Stef has been doing well with daily fluid therapy, half a pepcid, and low-phos (but not Rx) canned food, and then Hills KD.  We're all about the maintenance in her world - we've made it two years, knock on wood! 

Macks was a long haired guy who would suffer upset stomach fairly often.  His bloodwork was normal and while he might have a pukey day, the next day he would be okay, so they figured it was just IBD.  Even when I dropped him off at the vet last Tuesday after a long Memorial weekend of little eating, they thought a little prednisone and some syringe feeding would get his appetite fired up again and his inflamed bowel under control.  No such luck.  They gave him barium and did xrays - the barium never made it past his small intestine.  They think it was lymphoma in the large intestine.  I wasn't interested in exploratory surgery or trying heroic efforts to make him survive a few more weeks.  I was out of town over the weekend for the first time in 2 years since I've been so worried about my kitties.  So, my vet was kind enough to let me have my break, knowing my philosophy of pet care - help them if you can and if the can have quality of life, but don't prolong if it's for my own selfish reasons.  He started getting feverish on Saturday and Sunday and his liver failed.  They kept him comfortable and Monday morning I gave permission to help him go.  I was not with him when they did it... I had a nice visit with him on Thursday before I left town.  He let me hold him for a very long time, we snuggled, we loved... plus I wasn't sure that my job would let me go and be with him and I wanted them to end his suffering as quickly as possible.

Now I'm trying to come to terms with all of this, trying to keep my survivor cat going - she's definitely missing him and I don't know if a new kitty would be good or too much stress for her.  I miss my boy terribly.  Macks brought so many wonderful things into my life.

He was a glorious cat, and now I like to think he's with my mother, waiting for me and Stefi when our times come.  I'm doing better today... I'm just glad he didn't suffer long.  My poor, sweet, gentle baby...

Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers

I'm so sorry for your loss.  What a beautiful boy.   

RIP Macks. 

Amy,
     Thank you for sharing Macks' story.  Take comfort in knowing that you spared him any prolonged suffering and he knew you loved him very much.  The wonderful memories will be forever in your heart.  Rest in peace, sweet Angel Macks.