Through his regular visits to the vet it was apparent that he was not gaining weight, the vet was not concerned. There was a time within few weeks of him being home where he had a reaction to a worming tablet, Milbemax. I found him laid out on my bed, eyes glazed over and unresponsive and dribbling madly. We had advice from the emergency vet and was glad to see him better in the morning. Obviously part of the problem with a PLS is that the liver does not cleanse and remove toxins in the body. Therefore they stay in the blood system just poisoning the body and brain. This is what happened with this tablet. Still nothing was detected. In fact this is a major problem with just normal eating as every time Indy ate something he was in effect poisoning himself.

After having him about 5 weeks I took him to the vets and insisted something was wrong. They checked his weight and he was not gaining at all. His fur also had a slightly greasy feel to it. He was checked and booked in for a days blood tests.

Indy came home with his neck shaved and looking very sorry for himself. The liver test came back in 48 hours indicating a serious problem. We had to wait a further agonising 10 days for all the other results to come back from Glasgow negative. This is normal procedure and my vet was unable to refer him until this was done.

Indy was referred to a soft tissue specialist in Cheshire. I took the first available appointment. Here we met Mr Williams who immediately suspected a liver shunt. He explained to us that there are 3 types of liver shunt and although very rare in a Maine Coon cat the external type were most commonly seen in Felines. This is where the tube runs around the liver as apposed to through it and therefore bypassing completely.

This is also the most easily treatable. (I apologise to any medics reading this for my crude interpretation.)

On 15 th June it was decided that Indy be admitted to be stabilised with a view to surgery. All risks and complications were explained to us. Apart from which type of shunt (which we wouldn’t know until the op was done.) there was the surgery itself, a little more complicated by the very nature of the illness, as anaesthetic would not be disposed of very easily and there is a longer stage of recovery to get it out of the system. Then comes the vital 3-4 day period where there is a strong risk of fitting. Some cats can recover from this however quite a few don’t. After this there is about a 12 week recovery period before a full recovery is the norm.

The night he was admitted Indy lost his eyesight. This is another symptom which is fully reversible upon successful treatment. Indy was one of the hardest cats Mr Williams ever had to stabilise and was not a “typical” case with typical symptoms. He threw false results that had the specialist questioning his diagnosis. Further tests were done for some very rare conditions (including Addisons,) which all came back negative. In the mean time I was travelling an hour each way to visit Indy. Sometimes only for 20 minutes (due to hospital regulations) sometimes for an hour or two. Often I would have to find a carer for my youngest son and I had a week where I couldn’t visit at all due to Aaron contracting chicken pox!

It was heartbreaking to see Indy stumbling around blind. Sometimes he just wouldn’t move at all and I just cradled him while he was attached to his drip. He always purred and snuggled in to me.

He had good and bad days. Eventually it was decided to operate After a tense day waiting I got the phone call I had been waiting for. Mr Williams, telling me that Indy had an external shunt and had come round from the operation. The shunt had been massive, and the size of the consultants finger. Indy was just coming up to 6 months of age but still resembled a 13 week old kitten in size. I was elated but then anxious for the next 4 days whilst he was to receive anti-fitting drugs and medication.

Indy spent a further week in hospital when I was told he could come home!!! I was thrilled and running around with a massive grin on my face, the like never seen before. I left immediately to collect Indy and bring him home.

Indy was kept in my bedroom where he could have peace and quiet for his recuperation period. He was still on his antibiotics and had to be syringed lactulose along with a special renal diet. This home treatment would continue for 10 weeks or so. Unfortunately Indy was still blind and even in the confines of my room could not always get about easily. A breeder friend kindly leant me a large German Shepherd pen which was set up in our lounge. Here Indy could have his bedding, litter tray and food all close to hand. He had the regular familiar noises of comfort and the confidence and security that the pen allowed him. The lactulose would give him diarrhoea which unfortunately was sometimes passed in his sleep.

It was an awfully testing and tiring time and after 2 days I phoned the specialist as I was worried about Indy, he had started to reject his food. Mr Williams was unconcerned as long as Indy was eating and he was again moved on to anything he liked but would eat. Tuna, chicken, mince etc… There came a time when I wondered if I had done the right thing as this was no life for a cat to live. I was reassured that he would make a full recovery, including his eyesight and that it would take a 10 week period before the liver would be fully functioning again. It still broke my heart to see him trying to walk the few paces to his litter tray and not making it.

2 days later Indy was back at my vets for removal of his stitches. I explained to the nurse how concerned I was and she immediately called the vet in. Indy had again started to refuse food and I had been syringing him water to keep his fluid uptake level. Even with this Indy was dehydrated and the vet was concerned. One phone call to Mr Williams saw me taking Indy on a 3 hour car trip back to hospital. This was 4.30pm on a Friday afternoon trying to get around Manchester and the M6.

Indy was immediately re-admitted and placed back on a drip. Saturday saw him feeling a bit stronger and trying to eat, as did Sunday. There is no visiting on Sundays so I had to wait until the Monday to see him again. The phone call came before I left. In the early hours of Monday morning Indy had collapsed. They were able to revive him and get a line in. Just a few hours later he collapsed again and this time staff were unable to revive him.

I listened in silence to John Williams. I was in shock as I thought Indy was out of the danger zone. It would appear that his little body just couldn’t take any more. It was possible that he had received too much damage to his brain or quite simply, he had, had enough!

I must say I don’t think I have experienced anything yet that has left me feeling so utterly desolate. I have been able to imagine what it must be like, but imagining and experiencing are two quite different things.

I have cut and strimmed the garden, dug over flower beds, painted my dining room and bedrooms, ripped out fitted wardrobes and scrubbed and cleaned our house several times over…. I think I have worked through a lot of my anger, frustration and tears.

I have gone through all the usual bereavement phases.

The hard part still comes when 6 weeks on my youngest son Ethan, still called out for Indy, he doesn’t search the house looking for him anymore but will call any brown tabby Indy and holds imaginary conversations with him on the telephone!! At the age of 2 and half I thought he would have forgotten him by now.

This poem was sent to me from a Maine Coon breeder in New Zealand. It still makes me cry. Thank you Susan.

I'm Still Here........ Friend, please do not mourn for me I'm still here, though you don't see. I'm right by your side each night and day and within your heart I long to stay. My body is gone but I'm always near. I'm everything you feel, see or hear. My spirit is free, but I'll never depart as long as you keep me alive in your heart. I'll never wander out of your sight. I'm the brightest star on a summer night. You'll feel my presence in the soft summer breeze. I'm the hot salty tears that flow when you weep and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep..........

Indy is now back home with me. I have a memorial standard rose in a container, for my Nan and I am planning on burying Indy’s ashes underneath this. Baby steps, I still can’t bring myself to do this yet.

Here is love, hugs, tears and plenty of praying; just for him!
Thank you for reading his story.

May your whiskers be ruffled by only pleasant breezes, May your bowls be filled with tuna and sweet cream, May your dreams be blessed with legions of mice, And most of all, May you forever purr in peace. Amen

 

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I have happened upon another Maine Coon breeder here in the UK who has faced similar desolation and grief. To me this was even more poignant as her beloved soul mate was also named “Indy”.

 

Rumtumtugger Indiana Jones

10th December 2001 to 28th June 2003

I miss your loving nature, you have left an empty space.
I miss the way you'd say hello, touching your nose against my face.
I miss our morning kisses and the way you'd pull my hair.
I miss the grooming"cheek rubs" while you sat proudly on your chair.
I miss the way you'd stand for me in your bath before a show.
I miss your very presence more than anyone will know.
To me you were so special, you were my pride and joy.
It wasn't meant to be though, fate took my handsome boy.
I'm left with only memories of what we may have had.
But those aside, just losing you, is what's hurting me so bad.
Soon I guess this pain will ease as time meanders by..
But INDY I will not forget and I'll always question WHY

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