Jonesy
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 2:22PM 
Reagan's cat, Jones, is a funny looking guy. He has a crooked tail at the end of his scrawny body. He tends to walk around with his tongue sticking out just a little bit, drawing attention to the fact that his fangs are too big for his mouth and hang out; giving him the look of a cross-eyed Siamese vampire.
We kind of like ridiculous animals around here (thus, the Poodle) so we think it's great that he's a little bit weird.
When Reagan's last cat died in the fall of '08 after she ate a string that got entwined in her intestine, Reagan chose Jones because he was 10 months old and she was afraid that since he was so old for a kitten, no one else would love him.
Jones needed Reagan and, still sad over the death of Jelly Bean, Reagan needed him right back. Because he has an irrational fear of The Poodle, Jones spends most his time upstairs in one of the girls' rooms with our other Siamese, Ju Ju Bee. Every night about 8:30 though, he gets brave and comes downstairs to find Reagan and let her know that it's time for bed NOW.
Have you heard a determined Siamese yowl? It commands attention. Part meow, part police siren, Jones' yowl can be heard throughout the house until he finds Reagan. Then he stands in front of her and scolds her until she either picks him up or goes up to her room for bed. It is exasperatingly amusing.
On Tuesday, Jones started sneezing. The next day his eyes were kind of gooey too. By Thursday, he wasn't eating and that night he suddenly started holding his head at a weird tilt and walking like a drunk. I left him at the vet first thing yesterday and she spent the day running several hundreds of dollars worth of tests - with no conclusion.
She's guessing it's either a nasty virus or a tumor on his brain or pancreas. Jones stayed there overnight on IV fluids to be watched. Bed time was sad last night - and awfully quiet.
This morning it was determined that he was stable, but there was really nothing more the vet could do for him. He was stronger, but still not eating. We paid the bill and brought him home. Right now he's in a large dog kennel in Reagan's room. We are force feeding him with a syringe and waiting to see if he gets better or . . .
Two words I hate today: "fair" and "hope".
"Fair" because it doesn't exist but the idea of it has my daughter feeling desperate and picked on. If this cat dies, it will be her third since 2006. What are the odds of that? It certainly is not "fair". This situation makes her feel like God either doesn't hear or doesn't care.
"Hope" because it hurts. Every time Jones seems a little bit better, Reagan gets that look on her face that gets dashed when he gets a little bit worse - and ultimately I'm afraid her hope is just going to be crushed.
Yet another situation not covered in parenting handbooks . . .
Any words of wisdom out there?
Reader Comments (16)
The sad thing is that life is not fair and never has been. I wish I had words of wisdom. I believe that there is always hope and send positive energy and the HOPE that this is just a virus that will pass and that Jones will be well soon.
I have lost two of my favorite cats this year. I know how hard this must be. Sending lots of love to you and Reagan. The rest of the family too but you all get the lion's share.
Hugs,
Ardee-ann
No words whatsoever. I know how she feels.... and I'm "hoping" for the best.
Ugh. Facebook Alli about this - and what happened when her dog Jake died.
No good words. Only to explain that for some unknown reason, animals never live as long as we do - and we love them and grieve them. I hate that she's going through this. Give her a hug for me.
Heather
I have no words either. I know that feeling of hoping against hope that THIS time, your sick animal will recover. And when they don't, you always blame yourself, even when you know better. I say this as the owner of a loud-mouthed, snot-flinging, pain-in-the-ass cat that I complain about constantly, and who will break my heart when she dies. Best wishes to Jonesy and Reagan.
It isn't fair. We had a hard time when our dog Mabel died. Maybe encourage her by reminding her that God loves the cat more than she does and she did her best to show the cat love and gave it a home while he was on this earth. If it is cancer, he would have had cancer even if she hadn't adopted him. He was given a great life and loved on!
I'm sorry. Its sad when you know your pet is sick.
Fair is a hard word to swallow here on planet earth as a human. God loves us and He tells us, "you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) I don't expect that she will accept this, because as an adult Christian, I sometimes have trouble swallowing this. But as a parent, we are given these opportunities to gird our kids up in the truth: that God is there and often life isn't fair. That we are not made for this country, our citizenship is not here, and we long for better days. For bodies that don't break down, for no pain, and for no fears, for the feeling that we feel when we first fall in love. We yearn for perfection but it is not within our reach here.
I feel for her as we lost a pet this summer. I will pray for wisdom for you and for Reagan.
No words other than it really stinks :(. We had a very loud siamese who died four years ago - we still miss him. Our boy was only 6 then and had a terrible time with it. We'll be "hoping" right along with you that he gets better.
I am so sad for all of you - Jonesy definitely had his lovable
distinct personality. Hoping for the best -
My heart is aching for you guys! :( We get so attached to our pets... thinking of you!!
Okay, going into veterinary technician mode: Is he on antibiotics? If not, he should be. There is an injectable antibiotic called Convenia, the vet gives him one shot and it lasts for two weeks. From his symptoms it sounds viral with maybe a bacterial component.
As far as dealing with death, there is no easy way. We had to euthanize our dog this june and our ten year old insisted he wanted to be there, to be with Punkers when he died. It was hard, but he is really glad he was there. I know a lot of Christians don't believe that animals have souls but I don't buy it, not after being present for as many euthanasia procedures as I have...something leaves that body, I believe it goes somewhere, and since animals aren't sentient I think they get to be with us in heaven. This really helped Loren a lot...believing his dog would be with him again one day.
crying for reagan right now and praying for kitty. I have no words.
Ugh, no words of wisdom, but hopes and prayers for a happy ending. Losing a pet is so sad for an adult who knows it's coming at some point. For a girl who's lost too many, it truly is just not fair.
I'm so so sorry too...I don't know about words of wisdom, but I also think that when Christ says he will make all things new, he means all things. All of creation, all of the created being, us and everything. That doesn't help a whole lot in the now, I think even for myself (ha, read what I just wrote on my blog), but...it makes hope a little more true. The hope we have can be for now in situations where we are hoping God heals someone or a pet, or we hope for a job, or hope for a friend in a new town. But the true hope we have is in the new heaven and new earth. When God comes to be with us himself. When he establishes a new city in a new kingdom, one that will never fade. And all the pets will attend. :) I mean that with everything in me. Okay, now I'm going to go cry and long for Christ's return.
i hope Reagan's cat gets better soon, it must be so hard for her and i wish all turns out right.
pets are family. and the loss of a family member is so rough- especially when its YOURS. i'm so sorry for reagan. so so very sorry.
i don't really have wisdom. i just know how it feels when you are hurting to have someone walk alongside you and give you love, not answers. i've never prayed for a cat before. i am doing so today.