News for You and Your Cat

April 1, 2014

Dear ,

Ingrid and Amber

It's finally starting to feel like spring here, and I only hope that this is not Mother Nature's idea of an April Fool's joke. After this never ending winter, it's definitely time for some spring cleaning. Spring cleaning not only freshens up your physical space, it's also a great way to declutter your mental and spiritual life.

"Your cat has cancer" are frightening words for cat guardians, but cancer does not have to be a death sentence. Advances in veterinary medicine allow for treatment with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. However, how and when to treat cancer is a big decision, and sometimes, the right answer is no treatment. Learn how palliative care can keep feline cancer patients comfortable.

Wishing you health, happiness and purrs,

Ingrid.

Website: www.ConsciousCat.com
E-Mail: ConsciousCat@cox.net

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In This Issue

Palliative Care for the Feline Cancer Patient

Spring Cleaning

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Upcoming Events

Marketplace

Palliative Care for the Feline Cancer Patient

While cancer in cats is not as common as it in dogs, it is still one of the leading causes of death in older cats. According to the Animal Cancer Foundation, 6 million cats will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States along. And because cats are masters at masking illness, it is often harder to detect.

Cancer used to be a death sentence for cats, but recent advances in feline cancer research have made treatment possible in many cases. Just like with human cancers, early detection is key to successful treatment. Depending on the type of cancer, treatment options may include sugery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

How and whether to treat cancer can be a big decision for cat parents, and factors such as the cat's age, general health status, temperament all come into play. So do finances: cancer therapies can be expensive.

Sometimes, the right answer may be no treatment, and keeping the cat comfortable with good quality of life for as long as possible may be an appropriate choice.

What is palliative care?

This is where palliative care comes in. The World Health Organization defines palliative care as "an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial, and spiritual."

I particularly like the emphasis on psychological and spiritual care for the entire family: when a cat becomes terminally ill, it doesn't just affect the cat, it also affects the cat's guardians and other family members, both human and feline. Palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach to caring for the feline cancer patient that involves your cat's veterinarian and staff, the cat's guardian, and, if needed, a social worker or bereavement counselor.

When to choose palliative care

Palliative care is chosen when

cat guardians make the decision not to pursue treatment.
a terminal illness with no cure is diagnosed.
curative treatment failed.
long-term care is required.
symptoms of the illness interfere with the daily routine of the cat or guardian.

What is involved in palliative care?

Palliative care can include traditional medications such as pain relief, steroids, and fluids, or alternative modalities such as acupuncture, Reiki, homeopathy, and herbal therapy.

Education about the specific cancer your cat is facing is critical. Discuss with your veterinarian what a typical progression of the disease looks like, how to recognize symptoms and manage them, and what kind of medical and nutritional support may be required. Be open about your limitations. Will you be able to provide the level of care your cat may need? Can you monitor vital functions, administer fluids, and give medications?

Quality of life will be your most important consideration. You will want to monitor pain, hydration status, hygiene, mobility and overall happiness of your cat. The Quality of Life Scale developed by Alice Villalobos, DVM, the founder of Pawspice™, is often used to help cat guardians determine whether it may be time to stop treatment.

As your cat's illness progresses, and if your desire is to avoid hospitalizing your cat, you may need to set up an "at home clinic." Soft bedding, easy access to litter boxes, clean water, and food in your cat's favorite part of your home can make this time as comfortable as possible for your cat.

If you make the decision for palliative care, be aware of something often called "caregiver aversion." Depending on your cat's temperament, giving frequent or long term medications can cause anxiety for both cat and human. You will need to decide whether risking breaking the bond you share with your cat is worth the additional time the medications may give you.

Discuss end of life issues

It is also important to discuss your personal views about death and euthanasia with your cat's veterinarian. Even though euthanasia in veterinary medicine is widely accepted as a gentle way to put an end to potential pain and indignity for dying patients, some cat guardians may prefer a natural to an assisted death. You'll want to work with a veterinarian who respects your personal beliefs.

If and when the time comes that you will need to choose euthanasia, consider asking your vet to come to your home, rather than taking your cat to the clinic. Even though few vets advertise this service, many will perform it when requested. You can find veterinarians who perform in home euthanasias through the In Home Pet Euthanasia Directory or the American Association of Housecall Veterinarians.

Despite the logistic and emotional challenges palliative care may present for cats and their humans, it can also be a time of great peace and increased bonding with your beloved feline companion. It allows for a gentle preparation for the impending loss for both cat and human. A cancer diagnosis does not have to be the end - it can be the beginning of a deepening, peaceful, final phase of life for both cat and human.

Palliative care is not just for cancer patients; it can apply to any terminal illness. I chose palliative care for Buckley's heart disease when she stopped responding to treatment. The photo above was taken three weeks before she passed away.

Spring Cleaning

Spring is a time of new beginning. Nature renews itself, at first slowly, like those first spring flowers peeking out from underneath the dull winter grass, and eventually bursting into full bloom as the days become longer and warmer. Spring can also be a time for mental and spiritual renewal, and for this, we can take our clues from nature. It's time to emerge from the darkness of winter, time to open windows and doors to let the spring breezes in, both physically and in a larger sense.

For many people, this is also traditionally a time for spring cleaning - there is something very satisfying about airing out rooms that were closed up for most of the winter months, clearing cobwebs out of forgotten corners, and getting the dust bunnies out from under the bed. Clearing the clutter and getting organized for the new season on a physical level can also help clear your mental and psychic energy.

Cluttered environments drain our energy. Just think about the last time you organized your desk or cleaned out a closet - remember how you not only felt a sense of accomplishment, but how you also felt somehow lighter?

Allegra and Ruby helped me with some spring cleaning this past week: we decided it was time to reduce "toy clutter" in our home by going through all their cat toys and deciding which ones to keep, and which ones to donate to shelter kitties. Since Allegra and Ruby are the two most spoiled cats in the universe, which is as it should be, toys tend to accumulate quickly at our house. Not only do I buy them toys all the time, my friends shower them with gifts for Christmas and their birthdays as well. We also get toys from companies to review and test. Every single toy gets used - at least for a period of time. Then it tends to sit in a corner of the kitty playroom, only to be batted around if it gets in the way of something newer and more fun. Deciding what to get rid of turned out to be slow going. Ruby is a bit of a hoarder when it comes to toys. "But Mom! I might want to play with this one again!" But when Allegra reminded her that we were going to donate the toys to kitties in shelters who didn't have a lot of toys to play with, she was quick to agree to let go of some of the toys.

Then it was time for me to get rid of some clutter I had accumulated. Clothes that I hadn't worn in quite some time. Tschotschkes that had long lost their meaning or sentimental value, and were just taking up space and gathering dust. Books I'll never read again. If it was something someone else might enjoy, it went into the donation pile, otherwise, it went into the trash.

Clearing out clutter is liberating. It doesn't just free up physical space, it also frees up psychic space. It's like spring cleaning for the spirit. Here are some suggestions for a spiritual spring cleaning:

Clear out old beliefs that no longer serve you. A belief is only a thought you keep thinking, and you have the power to change your thoughts. Replace old beliefs that hold you back with new ones that are in alignment with what you want for yourself and your life.
Let go of limiting self-talk. Frequently, we're not even aware that we're putting ourselves down, since it's often done jokingly, but just like old beliefs, these little jokes can be insiduous and get stuck in your energy field. Start becoming aware when you put yourself down, or talk about why you can't do something, and redirect your thoughts.
Get rid of a pattern of negative thinking. Do you like to complain, or participate in conversations with others who are complaining about how bad things are? Do you tend to focus on what's going wrong rather than on what's going well? Thought patterns can be deeply ingrained, and it takes time to become aware of them. Focusing on what's not working keeps you stuck in negative energy. Once you realize that this is your pattern, you can begin to turn your thoughts into a more positive direction.

Spring is an opportunity to grow and blossom into a life filled with light, color and joy. Spiritual spring cleaning is a great way to start this process.

Photo of Cookie in the Forget-Me-Nots ŠBernadette Kazmarski. To see more of Bernadette's cat art, please visit The Creative Cat.

ŠIngrid King, 2014. All Rights Reserved.

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Easter Lilies and Cats: A Potentially Deadly Combination

Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats. Just one small bite of a flower, leaf, stem or even the pollen of this plant can cause gastric distress, and, more importantly, if left untreated, can lead to fatal kidney failure. Symptoms of lily toxicity Symptoms usually develop 6-12 hours after ingestion, and can include: vomiting lethargy [...] The post Easter Lilies and Cats: A Potentially Deadly Combination appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Conscious Cat Sunday: The Value of Doing Nothing

How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterwards. - Spanish Proverb Sundays are for resting, and taking a break. And sometimes, the best way to spend a Sunday is to do absolutely nothing. We live in such crazy busy times that stress has become the norm for most people, and because of [...] The post Conscious Cat Sunday: The Value of Doing Nothing appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Coming Soon: Kathy Ireland Loved Ones Pet Products

Of all the new products I saw at Global Pet Expo two weeks ago, the new line of pet products developed by former super model turned business mogul Kathy Ireland was the biggest surprise for me. I honestly didn't expect much from this line. I figured it was simply another celebrity putting her name on [...] The post Coming Soon: Kathy Ireland Loved Ones Pet Products appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Canned Cat Food May Not Contain Enough Thiamine

When you buy canned cat food - any brand of canned cat food - you will see a statement on the label that says that the food is "complete and balanced" according to AAFCO standards. This would lead you to assume that the food has all the nutrients your cat needs, right? This is not [...] The post Canned Cat Food May Not Contain Enough Thiamine appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

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May 8-12, 2014
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