We've been lucky enough to have Edgar in our lives since late June of 2009. He was born April 4th of the same year. He's always been such a healthy and happy cat, so this has all been such a shock. He's my very first cat, and we have been through many trials and errors of me trying to do what I believe is best in every aspect of his life. In September, we took him to the vet because he was having what I believed was an excessive amount of hairball vomiting. He was vomiting about once a week and had gone from 11 pounds to 10. The vet did a complete work up on him and reported that everything was normal and he was quite healthy. He felt no lumps and nothing seemed abnormal. From kitten to age 2, I fed him a raw diet but switched to Natural Balance dry when we went on a 10 day trip and had to have a sitter. He liked the dry so much that I left him on that diet, also giving him cooked chicken or sardines a few times a week. In October we moved and his vomiting increased, I believed due to stress and a hairball he kept chewing back down. He developed an aversion to the dry food, so I decided to transition back to the raw diet. He seemed thrilled to be back on raw. He had more energy and increased appetite until Friday-Saturday, New Years Eve weekend, when he started eating less and less and not playing. Sunday he refused raw completely so I went shopping an offered him an arsenal of options, including chicken baby food, 20 different gravy loaded wet cat foods (all brands), sardines, tuna juice, egg yolk, and even Braunschweiger. He only accepted very wet things slightly warmed. I was able to get the emg vet on the phone and her advice was keep doing what I was doing and come in on Tuesday at 8 AM. By Monday, I wasn't eating or sleeping more than a few hours. I had been offering Edgar different options every 30 min to hour. He found this quite irritating. I was heating myself up some greens and Edgar started smacking his mouth, the way he does on a car trip, and I realized OMG he's nauseated. Keep in mind, I am not a veterinarian and do not recommend anyone give medication to their pet without advice from a vet. After researching online, I decided, (without vet approval) to give Edgar 1mg of Zofran that I had on hand. After an hour he started eating but he still was only eating about a tsp every few hours. What he liked best was Sheba Perfect Portions Tuna, and Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers, The next morning, Tuesday, was when the bad news started really rolling in. The vet felt a lump in his tummy. After an x-ray she was confident it wasn't an obstruction and after iv fluids, a shot of pepcid, and a prednisone, we headed to a specialist to get an ultrasound. I will never forget the cold, matter-of-fact way the technician informed us that it was cancer, probably Lymphoma, and it was in his stomach and intestines. It was so much information so fast, it was like I couldn't process anything, I just burst into tears. We decided to do the aspirate and take things day by day. Wednesday, we received yet another blow, it was large cell lymphoma, the faster growing, harder to treat cancer. Meanwhile, Edgar was eating really well, but only if the food was not too chunky. The vet gave the okay to give him pepcid, once a day. I crush up 1/4th of a pill and syringe give it with a little water. He eats immediately after. We transitioned from him eating 1 tsp hourly to every 2-3 hours eating 2-3 tablespoons. Friday we met with the oncologist and started the Wisconsin treatment plan. He was positive about Edgar's eating and lack of vomiting. He has Cerenia for vomiting but so far hasn't needed it. I was told not to worry about the lack of bowel movement but by Friday night there was a very large poop right on the floor by the toilet and I was so happy to see it I wasn't even mad! Today is Sunday, it's been a full week and I finally got a good nights sleep. This morning however Edgar decided he was done with pills. His little jaw was clamped so tight it nearly broke my heart. He had been doing so well with me, but yesterday I had to go to work for the first day since all of this, and DH was in charge. I found yesterdays pill on the rug so I'm not sure what went down while I was away. Edgar refused to eat until I returned, which makes me so reluctant to go anywhere. Anyway, I crushed up the prednisone and syringed fed it. He ate this morning and is napping at my feet. I'm putting it off, but I really need to go the store and get some supplements. I think that is everything. When Edgar was a kitten he would fall at my feet but the first time he did it I said, "aww, are you my buddy?" Since then, a lot of the time, I call him Buddy. I have a lot of nicknames I use though, depending on the situation. I go through nickname phases. There is baby, sweet, sugar, love, muffin, bobo, Edgar Van Buren, Edgar Bear. I don't think I have ever felt such unconditional love.
but I'm glad things are moving through and it was solid. My sister suggested I start a Go fund me, so I got that going today. I don't like asking for help but I thought even just a little would help so much. I'm a personal assistant and organizer and this time of year is really slow for me. I have a few regular clients I see that keep rent paid. I went in to cancel my YMCA membership because I haven't been going and it just seems really extraneous. I liked the pool, hot tub and sauna for stress, but that's $34 a month I can spend on the chemo. 
Thanks, how are you guys doing? 
They gave him Cytoxan and Lasix yesterday, in pill form. He has not had as much appetite today, but he has been playing more and more. 
This really hit home when he was in one of his comfort spots and I was watching a comedy show, Bill Burr, on Netflix. I laughed for the first time in weeks, I think, and Edgar came out and nuzzled the computer. Every time I laughed he came and asked for pets. 
So, my last bit of advice is try to act like everything is normal. Use your singsong voice, I'm assuming everyone does this, and fake that you are alright as much as you can. I find a little happy music helps. I put a ragas station on Pandora and that lifts my spirits too. 
for all this helpful info..I am trying to do my best in tending to all he needs and be proactive but I am far from well versed on this subject. Tomorrows appt with oncologist will determine it all. I have been crushing his prednisonole pills and adding to food then putting in a syringe to insure he gets his dose and he seems to do well with that..I think he realizes the syringe feeding is for his own good to ensure he gets enough food. 
..but it's not about me..very grateful for your reply
..it's gives me a strong sense of comfort to know I am not alone here
@Loriloveskitties I think the Mirtazapine is helping. I can't say for sure. Edgar's on the Wisconsin Protocol. Next week we don't do any chemo, and then Feb 2cd he goes in for scans and find out if it's working. He will only be on Prednisone for 6 more days. If all goes well, we will be doing chemo until June 22, 2018. I can't remember if I mentioned beef bone marrow to you? Edgar loves it added to his food and it's high in calories plus it has other nutrients that are good. I buy the bones in the freezer section at Publix and they are super cheap. I heat them 15 min @400 and then put the oily marrow in a jar and add it to his meals. Pets that aren't sick, esp dogs, will go 
(nuts) for it so be careful if you try it. 
I haven't been checking up on everyone this week because it's been busy busy for me. We are under contract for a house, again. 
The stress and lack of sleep is crazy makin! I think the Mirtazapine is helping. He has good eating days and bad ones. I'm keeping a diary; I've documented every time he eats and it's all measured so that I can track the calories. In my mind if he is gaining weight he is getting healthier. That's so great about Yoshi gaining a pound! 
But hate to think I made a hasty decision not in his best interest. The oncologist said she even had her cat on the same protocol as me and did well and outlived the normal expectations. We shall see..
