posted August 02, 2010 09:55 PM         

my cat's name is leo. he was born in 1988-- he is a ripe 22 years old. approximately 120 in human years. we never knew he would live this long but we love him. he is a orange tabby. always long and lean, he is quite emaciated now. severe arthritis in his hip has got him less mobile then he was in his younger years.

my dad and i took him to the vet about 2 weeks ago. the vet gave leo an exam and a blood draw. arthritis, anemia and a kind of high white blood cell count. actually in pretty great health for his age.

his arthritis is rough though. he stays in the bathroom most of the time because he hardly ever makes it back his litter box if he's let out. he's fallen and not been able to get up which really stresses me.

he is such a stubborn and proud cat, just like a lion. he's always preferred hunting to bagged or canned food. chipmunks, mice and catching birds midair was his forte. sometimes he would even catch extra for us, although we always kindly declined.

if you can, send him positive energy. i don't know why he is still holding on. but i wish his hip would feel better.

here is a picture of leo from christmas '08. his cataracts had just started forming. he is much thinner now.

posted August 12, 2010 10:23 AM         

yesterday, was leo's last day here. he had deteriorated to the point where he was immobile. so, i decided to have him euthanised. he was the best cat in the whole world. like a brother, we got him when i was 4! he fought like a lion till the very end. i miss him already.

posted August 16, 2010 12:15 PM         

22 is a ripe old age. but a cat that can't get three feet from his box and too ill for his passion - hunting - is just waiting for the end. when mine was REALLY ill he would go in his box, and the effort would so exhaust him that he then LAID DOWN in it. ...i didn't let him stay there but that was the strongest sign of all that he was NOT right. usually he won't go in it if it is "stale" ie if i haven't removed his last deposit.