Thimble Thursday with Another Update on Trapper

Hello, friends! I again want to thank you all so, so much for the purrs and prayers for my parents' kitty Trapper. As I've mentioned before, he's my girl Thimble's littermate. He's 12 years old and was diagnosed with cancer last week.

That there was Trapper a few years ago, even before he was diagnosed with diabetes back in 2023. This tough boy has been through a lot over the past few years.

Trapper had his oncology appointment yesterday, and it's pretty much certain now that he has pancreatic carcinoma. This is a very rare and also very aggressive cancer, and because of both of those things, the oncologist indicated that there is really no known treatment that would truly extend Trapper's life. The only potential option might give him an extra couple of weeks at most, in the rare event it worked at all, but it would very likely complicate his diabetes, lead to pancreatitis, and take away his current continued willingness to eat, among other side effects.

That said, my parents have chosen to make Trapper as comfortable as possible with palliative care. I would have made the same choice in their shoes. For now, though Trapper continues to lose weight and muscle, he is still interested in food, water, and some of his other usual things. I've been helping my parents give him fluids every day at their house to combat his dehydration, and they also have on hand pain meds and other treatments for various symptoms until Trapper lets them know he's ready.

I know I don't have to tell any of you fellow animal lovers how difficult and heartbreaking this is. The truth is that Trapper does not have much time, but he has already surpassed the median survival time of this cancer. Said median survival time is 7 days, which is just downright awful and makes me hate cancer even more than I already do. That said, the oncologist commented how good he currently looks, given his diagnosis and prognosis. I think her exact words were, "He ticks all the marks for having pancreatic carcinoma, except for how good he's doing."

For a bit of levity to the situation, Trapper has always been a very personable cat who doesn't mind getting in a carrier and going to the vet. After a bit of time at the oncology department yesterday, Trapper turned to his old habit of coming out of his carrier and prancing around. The vet and her student (our local veterinary oncology department is at a teaching hospital) were getting a real kick out of him, not to mention they couldn't believe how good he looked as he paraded around the room, all things considered. They also took him over to their dermatology department, as he does have paraneoplastic dermatitis as a result of his cancer, and they wanted the dermatologist's input on what would best alleviate those symptoms. When the oncologist and the student returned with Trapper, they informed us that he not only had at least 15 people oohing and awwing over him, but that he taught a lot of students about paraneoplastic dermatitis while winning all of their hearts. That's sweet and handsome Trapper for you.

So, for now, Trapper is still with us, and my parents and myself will of course be giving him so, so, so much love.

As I mentioned above, Trapper is my girl Thimble's littermate. Though photos don't always do this fact justice, they've always looked quite a bit alike. So, here's my little Thimble, that being Trapper's twin. I tried to pick a photo with same sort of look as Trapper's above, but photos just never do justice to how twin-like these two really look.

I'm again sorry for all the rambling above. I'm not much of a talker in person, but I do get a lot of comfort from typing out all of my thoughts.

***

Now, of course, we have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ is the strangest thing I ever researched online.

2. My wi-fi network is named _________.

3. _________ is both a blessing and a curse.

4. I _________ when life gets tough.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's Halloween tip relates to Halloween parties or other festivities of that nature. There are a number of potential dangers that such gatherings can pose. First, parties mean that guests are arriving, which means the door will be a busy place. When guests are arriving, keep your kitty or pup away from the door, such as by secluding them to a safe area away from the door, so that there is no chance of them escaping the house. Sometimes it might also be best to keep your furbaby secluded to a safe area during Halloween or other similar parties, for their continued safety. There will be extra foot traffic in the house when there are guests, which could potentially lead to your furbaby getting stepped on or otherwise injured.

In addition, there could be toxic foods present at a Halloween party, such as alcohol or chocolate. If your furbaby steals a taste of such foods, or if unwitting guests feed your kitty or pup treats of chocolate or other foods, there could be dangerous side effects. There is a variety of dangers to your cat or dog that can be present at festivities. Therefore, always do what you must to ensure your furbaby's safety during Halloween or other parties. Even if your kitty or pup is friendly and enjoys the company of others, there are still many dangers for a kitty or pup when gatherings are hosted at their home. If there is any doubt for their safety, or simply to prevent any accidental dangers, keep your kitty or pup confined to a safe area of the home during festive gatherings.

Off to Trapper's Oncology Appointment

I failed to get today's post ready yesterday, and this morning I'm headed to the oncology appointment for my parents' kitty Trapper. My mom asked me to go with her, as we're sure a lot of information will be thrown our way, and of course I'm happy to go along for her and Trapper. We're not sure there's much that can be done at this point, but my parents of course want to at least see what the oncologist has to say. Even if there's just something to alleviate some of Trapper's symptoms, that would be a good thing to know.

I'm not sure if I'll come back to update this post today, but I'll either do that or give a little update tomorrow.

And I'm sorry this post is so quick and lacking some of our usual things. If I get a chance today I will come back and add a Halloween doodle and tip. Otherwise, thank you all for the continued purrs and prayers for sweet Trapper. My entire family appreciates it so much.

Another Pumpkin Pal on Tonks Tuesday

Tonks found out that yesterday Evan shared some pumpkin pals. So, today, the little calico wanted to do the same.

Tonks wishes you all a not-so-spooky sort of day!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We're just in the early stages of our October-long Halloween tips. Today, how about we get one of the most common Halloween tips out of the way? That's right, today we're talking about candy. The long and short of it is that you should never leave candy sitting out where your furbaby can find it and help themselves. Whether it be candy you're saving for yourself, or the candy dish you've prepared for those trick-or-treaters, always keep it well hidden from the kitties and pups.

As you all certainly know, chocolate can be very toxic to our furbabies. Another candy danger includes artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which can be found in sugar-free candy, among other foods and goods. This candy discussion can also include raisins, and the double whammy that is chocolate-covered raisins. After all, raisins are toxic to kitties and pups just like chocolate is. To be on the safe side, no matter what kind of candy you're handing out this Halloween or have around the house, keep it hidden away from curious paws and maws.

In the event that your furbaby finds the candy, know the potential signs of toxicity. These can vary, and might include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or even neurological symptoms. Should you think or know that your furbaby has gotten into your candy stash, or should you observe any signs of toxicity, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance. It also does not hurt to have on hand a poison control number, such as the ASPCA at 1-888-426-4435.

Mancat Monday: Evan's Pumpkin Pals and an Update on Trapper

First and foremost, thank you all for the purrs and prayers for my parents' kitty Trapper. My entire family appreciates it so very much. I had a longer update typed out here, but I'm going to shorten it because everything really is up in the air right now. The rare but aggressive pancreatic carcinoma seems to be causing Trapper to decline rather quickly.

Trapper is losing weight and muscle rapidly, and despite getting subcutaneous fluids both at the vet and at home, his fur looks very dehydrated and feathered. Trapper does still try to do some of his usual stuff, but he's a very tired little guy who is declining right before our eyes. He does have an oncology appointment scheduled for Wednesday, but this afternoon my mom is taking Trapper to our usual, trusted vet to see his thoughts on Trapper's current status. This is the same vet who takes care of my own kitties, and he is a very kind and also very honest vet, which I appreciate so much. Said vet will do another ultrasound to see if Trapper's tumor has noticeably grown since last week, and he also plans on giving Trapper more fluids and to determine if there's anything else that could keep him comfortable.

Thank you all again for the purrs and prayers for sweet Trapper. He's such a blessing to our family, and so are all of you.

***

Evan is now here on this Mancat Monday, and he's getting frightfully festive. Well, perhaps not frightfully so. After all, do these pumpkin pals really look all that scary?

Wishing you all a happy Monday!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

With everything going on with Trapper and other parts of life, I haven't worked on my new Halloween drawings or my writing project in many, many, many days. I'll get back to it, but for now how about a bit of concept art starring my story's main kitty character? This kitty was of course inspired by my boy Evan. Oh, and the story kicks off on Halloween, because I couldn't help myself.

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Tip of the Day

Our past two Halloween tips were about potential hazards of Halloween decorations. Wreaths, garland, and festive trinkets can pose dangers, as can candles in or out of jack-o'-lanterns. And, of course, don't forget cords for strands of lights or other decor. Relating to these previous decor tips, today we're talking about ways you can keep your furbaby safe while also getting festive.

First, of course, keep any and all potentially hazardous items high off of the ground, or out of the reach of your furbaby in any other way necessary. In addition to this, you can tape down or tuck away cords to lights or other decor. There are even pet-safe and child-safe cord covers, under which cords can be tucked away from curious paws. But, what about when it comes to candles? Aside from refraining from burning them, or keeping them out of reach or in a room away from your furbaby, you can try battery-operated or other similar artificial candles. You can use these safer options in festive candle holders, or even to light your jack-o'-lanterns. Of course, though, do keep in mind that batteries and plastic parts and pieces can also pose their own risks to furbabies. So, while fake candles might not burn your furbaby, it is still wise to keep an eye on your furbaby around such items, especially if your kitty or pup is a chewer.

To expand on the above, we'll give a little reminder to also keep in mind wildlife, as well as stray and feral cats, when decorating outdoors. Cords to light strands, for example, can be just as dangerous to outdoor animals as they can be to indoor animals. The same goes for candles, such as those in jack-o'-lanterns that you might set up on your porch. So for the safety of animals outdoors, keep cords outdoor-safe, and keep them as safely and securely hidden as possible. Just as we mentioned for indoor furbabies, you can use battery-operated or other artificial candles to prevent burns or fires when lighting jack-o'-lanterns outdoors. Again, though, do keep in mind that batteries and plastic pieces can also pose threats to animals.

One other particular outdoor Halloween decoration we want to address are artificial cobwebs. Please use these with caution, or don't use them at all. These fake cobwebs could lead to animals outdoors becoming dangerously tangled. What's more, ingesting them can lead to issues such as bowel obstruction. Decorations such as artificial cobwebs might be fun and festive, but always keep the safety of both indoor and outdoor animals in mind when using any such products.

Friendly Fill-Ins and...Here's Eddy!

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I plan to _________ and _________ in October.

2. _________ was the highlight of my week.

3. 'Tis the season for _________.

4. Though a lot of people like _________, I can't stand it.


My answers are below in bold, and are yet again accompanied by far too much rambling. I apologize, but I'm admittedly in a bit of an anxiously wordy mood.

1. I plan to watch lots of Halloween movies and finish all of my new Halloween drawings in October.
(I go to my parents' house every Tuesday and Thursday night to watch horror movies with my dad. In October, we always make a list of movies that take place around Halloween. Many are repeats we watch every year, and some are new. I look forward to this every October. I also put on other nostalgic Halloween movies at my house as often as I can. As for the second part of my answer, though things have gotten pretty chaotic in my family, I'm still trying my absolute best to finish all of my new Halloween doodles I've outlined for this year. I am waiting on a restock of my markers to arrive in the mail, so hopefully those show up soon.)

2. Seeing my parents' cat Trapper play in the bathtub was the highlight of my week.
(That might sound a bit odd or specific, but it's for a good reason. My week took a huge downturn when my parents' kitty Trapper, who is my girl Thimble's littermate, was diagnosed with cancer. Right now, all signs point to the discovered tumor being a pancreatic carcinoma, which is pretty much a worst case scenario. My mom is waiting to know what day the local university veterinary teaching hospital can see him for a consult at their oncology department. With the very short time most cats survive with this cancer, we're hoping they can see him very, very soon. All that to say, despite his significant weight loss, muscle loss, and dehydration, as well as his odd skin issues that we learned are cancer-related paraneoplastic dermatitis, Trapper is still trying to do some of his usual things. He's always loved playing in the bathtub, and my dad says he's still been doing that every morning. What's more, sweet Trapper asked me to turn the bath water on for him when I was at their house last night. I loved seeing that, and of course I happily complied.)

3. 'Tis the season for Christmas shopping.
(I easily could have put yet another Halloween answer here, and I almost did. But, the reality is that by Halloween, I'm usually well into my Christmas shopping. I've already done quite a bit of it already, and this month I have a few more things I intend on purchasing for family Christmas gifts. I've never been much of a procrastinator, because that makes me anxious. So, even while I'm in the midst of Halloween fun that I enjoy so much, I'm also thinking about Christmas.)

4. Though a lot of people like all things pumpkin spice, I can't stand it.
(Here's the thing: I love pumpkin pie. When I make pumpkin pie, though, I add a healthy dose of cinnamon, and then either no other spices or only a tiny bit of ginger and cloves. I prefer just the cinnamon. I also love other baked pumpkin goods that have very pumpkin-y flavors rather than the spicy side of things. The spice part of that usually overwhelms my taste buds. So, when it comes to actual pumpkin spice and everything flavored like it, I'm not really a fan.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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Are you ready for your Eddy fix? Today we have a flashback for you, and it's a favorite of mine. Eddy's photo today also goes with an old doodle I scribbled up a couple years ago. So, let's begin with Eddy, who doesn't believe in personal space in the bathroom. See?

Every time Eddy tries to break into the bathroom like this, it reminds me of the scene in The Shining when the crazed main character tries to force his way through a door. You know that famous "Here's Johnny!" scene? Either way, I made this version of it for Eddy, but of course I Halloweenified it.

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Tip of the Day

As we mentioned yesterday, we're dedicating October to tips all about Halloween. We already discussed keeping wreaths, garland, and other similar Halloween decor either pet-friendly or out of your furbaby's reach. Today, we're expanding on this with a tip that we've covered in a variety of ways in past tips. We're talking, yet again, about candles. This time of year, candles often become more popular because of cool weather, and because of the delicious scents often associated with this season of autumn. What's more, candles often come into play when we carve jack-o'-lanterns. These carved pumpkins can pose just as much of a risk as open candle flames. Curious paws or faces, or even wagging tails, could be burned by candles out in the open or those in a pumpkin. Fire could also result if a kitty or pup knocks over a candle, or a jack-o'-lantern containing a candle.

For the above reasons and more, light plain candles or those in jack-o'-lanterns only if they are safely out of reach of your furbaby, even if that means lighting them in a room not accessible to your kitty or pup. It is also of course best that candles or jack-o'-lanterns be left lit only if you are available to monitor the situation. If you are not able to keep an eye on a candle, jack-o'-lantern, and nearby furbabies, then do not leave any flames lit.

Candles and jack-o'-lanterns can make for very festive decor. However, flames can of course pose a risk to your furbaby, and also to your home in general. Therefore, always put the safety of your furbaby and everyone else in the home first when it comes to fiery festivities this time of year.

An Unfortunate Update on Thimble's Brother Trapper

Hello, friends. I mentioned yesterday how my parents' kitty Trapper, who is my girl Thimble's littermate, was going to the vet for I believe the third or fourth time this month because of some health issues he's having.

That up there is sweet and handsome Trapper. Though the below photo of Thimble doesn't really show it well, these two look a lot alike.

Now, back to Trapper's vet visit. My mom took her sweet Trapper in yesterday, and the short story is that we didn't get the news we wanted. Though we're awaiting pathology results to know more, Trapper almost certainly has cancer.

Trapper's noticeable symptoms all started with skin issues on his head as well as ear infections. Despite treatment, the skin issues continued, and they spread and got worse. Then he began rapidly losing weight and muscle, and his fur became very unkempt. He also became more tired and subdued, though with moments of him trying to do his usual thing. Though his bloodwork overall looked good about a month ago, he did have some mild anemia.

We were hoping we were dealing with a treatable autoimmune issue, given Trapper's odd array of symptoms. The skin issues were the primary reason we thought that, but we now know those are likely hormonally-induced or otherwise secondary to the main problem. That's because Trapper has a 3 cm mass in the right side of his abdomen. His vet believes it is a malignant, aggressive neuroendocrine cancer, and that it's possibly on his pancreas or adrenal gland. Trapper's vet was able to get a fine needle aspirate, and our local university veterinary hospital will be looking at those slides and giving more info on it likely this afternoon.

At this point, until my mom hears back from Trapper's vet with more information following the pathology, we are not yet sure what the treatment or management of symptoms will be. The vet did do further imaging yesterday, and it does not appear that the cancer has spread anywhere else at this time. It's still likely an aggressive form, though, as Trapper lost 2 lbs in less than a month. He had plenty to lose and is still 17 lbs, but it's still not good.

Until we hear more, we don't know if surgical removal of the tumor is even an option or beneficial. If it's not, we at least hope that there are medications that could perhaps help slow things down, or at least treat the symptoms and give us some more time with sweet Trapper. He did get some pep in his step after getting subcutaneous fluids and a vitamin B12 injection at his appointment yesterday, so that's another option that can be done regularly.

Trapper is such a sweet boy, and this seems so unfair. Of course, that's always the case. Like all the kitties in my family, Trapper is considered a senior. He's 12 years old, but that still seems far too young. His and Thimble's littermate Talon passed away early last year, at the age of 10, from a rare lung cancer. The type of cancer Trapper's vet believes he has is also considered rare.

I'm sorry this is such a morose and also rambling post. I find it very cathartic to share this sort of stuff here, with fellow animal lovers. I love all of the animals in my life, of course including my parents' kitties, and I can only hope we still have plenty of good days left with Trapper. We shall see. For now, my parents and of course my sister and myself will be giving him lots and lots of love.

If you have purrs and prayers to spare for Trapper, my family would greatly appreciate it!

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We're of course still sharing the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I plan to _________ and _________ in October.

2. _________ was the highlight of my week.

3. 'Tis the season for _________.

4. Though a lot of people like _________, I can't stand it.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

Happy October! Which pretty much means, well, Happy Halloween! We'll be sharing nothing but spooky and kooky doodles for the next 31+ days. I'm still working on my new doodles for this Halloween season, so for today I'll share this flashback of a feline version of my favorite nostalgic Halloween movie.

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Tip of the Day

Given how much we love Halloween here, we're going to make a series of tips on Halloween last all the way through October. We're going to start today with none other than the festive decorations. Most people might be more cognizant of their decorations and how they might affect the resident furbabies around Christmastime. However, also keep pet-safety in mind if you put up Halloween decorations. Halloween decorations can come in all shapes and sizes, such as wreaths, garland, and all sorts of trinkets and goodies in between. If you're anything like us, you have all sorts of black cats and pumpkins out on display this time of year. No matter what kind of decorations you put out, make sure that anything your furbaby might chew on is out of their reach. Small pieces of Halloween decor, or parts and pieces of off larger pieces of decor, could lead to choking, obstruction, or perforation of the bowel if ingested. So, while you don't have to refrain from being festive and decorating for Halloween (or any holiday), you simply need to take your kitty or pup's safety into consideration when placing all decor.

Woof Woof Wednesday with Astrid and Trapper

It's Woof Woof Wednesday, and today sweet angel pup Astrid allowed herself to take a bit of a backseat for the sake of her kitty pal Trapper.

Trapper is my girl Thimble's littermate, and he owns my parents. He loved Astrid, but he also trolled her. He was in charge, and Astrid knew it. They had a very special relationship.

That said, Trapper is headed to the vet today because he's been having some health issues. It started a little over a month ago with a bald, sore patch on his head beside his left ear, and he was treated for an ear infection as well as a skin infection. At the time, he also had bloodwork done that showed a bit of anemia, and he was a bit dehydrated. He's been seen twice since then, with what seemed like a stubborn ear infection, with hair loss around his ears.

Trapper's symptoms have now all gotten much worse. He seems to be having some oozing sores on his head, and now his paw pads are even cracking and flaking. The poor boy's anus even has an oozing sore as of last night. And he's itchy. Like, really, really, really itchy. While his vet will of course be the one to give any final diagnoses, if you look up pemphigus foliaceus, Trapper's symptoms look a lot like that. I saw this condition once at the vet clinic where I used to work, and it's an autoimmune skin disease that causes a lot of the exact issues Trapper is having, both dermatologic and systemic.

Again, Trapper's vet will examine him, do testing, and make any necessary diagnoses. But, though we of course don't want Trapper to have an autoimmune disease, this could be a better outcome than certain other illnesses. Trapper was diagnosed with diabetes 3 years ago, and he's on the pill Bexacat for treatment of that. I mention this because the main treatment for many autoimmune issues is steroids, a fact that doesn't really mix well with diabetes. Trapper's vet has already said that if Trapper does have an autoimmune disorder, steroids might be necessary, even if a low dose for a short time. There are also non-steroidal immunosuppressant options, though, so there's hope. Assuming that's what Trapper is suffering from, of course.

I will also note that Trapper has noticeably lost weight, as well as muscle, and his coat has gotten increasingly unkempt. That has me, and of course my parents as well as my sister, very worried. He clearly has something going on with his skin, but it could be a secondary thing because of something else going on. I want to be hopeful, but I also want to be realistic.

Is that enough rambling? I do indeed ramble when I'm worried about any of my furry family members, so my apologies. All that said, if you have some purrs and prayers to spare for Trapper, we'd really appreciate it. Tomorrow Thimble will give an update on how Trapper's vet appointment went. After all, Trapper is her twin brother.

Happy Wednesday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Trapper and Astrid's relationship always reminded me a bit of Garfield and his canine pal Odie. For that reason, how about we share this here old doodle on the eve of Halloween month?

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Tip of the Day

Since September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, we'll be finishing out the month on this topic. Today's tip relates to how our furbabies might let us know they are in pain. This can be a bit difficult sometimes, as cats and even dogs can be very good at hiding pain. This is why we must be very observant of our furbabies on a regular basis, in order to know when they aren't acting themselves.

The symptoms of pain in our furbabies can vary greatly, depending on the source of the pain, as well as the individual animal. You might see decreased activity level, or even a decrease in your cat or dog's appetite. Another potential sign is an altered gait, or an unwillingness or inability to move or jump. A cat in pain might avoid or miss the litter box, and a dog in pain might have accidents inside the house. Aggression and hiding are yet more potential signs that your kitty or pup is in pain. The list of signs and symptoms of pain in animals could go on and on. This is why it's imperative that you know your kitty or pup's norm, and that you make frequent observations of their activities and behavior in order to catch when anything is out of the norm. Altered activity or behavior could mean any number of things, pain being one possibility.

What's more, if your furbaby does indeed have difficulty jumping due to an injury or arthritis, for example, you can put pet stairs or a pet ramp beside chairs, couches, or beds in the home. This can help your kitty or pup better reach elevated areas without having to jump, which could otherwise exacerbate pain associated with an injury or arthritis. For a cat, another way to help them combat pain and discomfort is to give them litter boxes with low sides, so that they can easily walk right in. Or, you can also give them a ramp or stairs leading up to the entrance of the litter box, if needed. If it helps reduce pain associated with certain injuries, arthritis, or other ailments, you can also elevate your kitty or pup's food and water bowls.

Another simple way to help a pained furbaby feel some relief and comfort is by way of their beds and blankets. You can offer extra soft and thick beds, and in easy to reach locations. Some forms of pain are also alleviated by heat, which means that safe, pet-friendly heated blankets or heated beds could also be of use. Of course, you would need to take all necessary safety precautions when using any heated or electric products.

In more extreme cases, your furbaby might be in need of direct assistance with their mobility. If need be, you can use various forms of slings to help your kitty or pup ambulate. You can use a towel or blanket to create a makeshift sling, for example. Another option is to purchase a sling, or a harness with handles, which are indeed available on the market.

It is not easy to see our furbabies in pain. At the same time, it is not easy for them to feel such pain. That's why it is important to do what you can to alleviate your kitty or pup's pain, even if that means a bit of redecorating within your home.