My 15 Year Old Cat Apollo Diagnosed With Cancer Among Other Things

kc1_cat1

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I posted here a couple years ago about Apollo's brother Cosmo. They are brothers and we picked them both up from the Humane Society. Apollo was diagnosed with Cancer as well as having Hypothyroidism and a lot of other issues. Apollo has always been there for me. He has always been a love-bug. He just wants love and wants to give you love. He would always come lay with me and cross his feet or lay up against me. Not to get into my person stuff, but I separated from my wife around the beginning of April and Apollo stayed there with her along with another cat we got called Trina. She is a torti cat. I didn't want to uproot Apollo so even though I missed him, I decided it was best for him there. I just saw him toward the end of April and he was good. Skinny, but he was coming up to me being loving and I petted him. After I finished my business there, I got an escort to the door from Apollo. I petted him again and told him I loved. He looked back at me with tired eyes.


I got a text at 8:50 PM that Apollo was having a seizure. At 9:38 he had another. I also found out he had been blind for "a few weeks". She had called the vet and they pretty much told her to put him to sleep according to her. She was going to drop him off and let them do it and cremate him and the vet was going to keep the ashes. I told her no that I was going to come get him. Sorry but he's been a loving loyal companion for 15 years I'm not going to pass him off to a stranger to be put to sleep without even trying to help him. So I went yesterday morning and got him. Picked up all the supplies from the store I needed for him. I knew upon getting him it wasn't good. After getting him here to my place, he seemed to settle down. Even drank some water and licked to juice off some cat food. He walked around in circles bumping into things. He eventually settled down and laid in the a spot on the floor where the sun was hitting him. He always loved that. Then he got up and started moaning loudly looking for a place to hide. It got worse and worse. I called a 24/7 vet here close and took him there yesterday about 6PM they did the tests as we waited in the parking lot along with many other folks. The doctor called back and gave me a little hope saying he had Hyperthyroidism which seemed to cause most of what was going on and they would know more after the tests. The costs for the tests were pricey but I wanted to know I did everything I could for him. The vet called this morning and let us know he has 2 masses in his body and the blood-work showed cancer. After a long conversation she said there was nothing we could have done to prevent this. I still feel guilty like there is more we could have done. The decision was made to put him to sleep. Going today at 3PM. My daughter will be with me. She was there with me for his brother Cosmo. I want to be holding him and let him know how much I love him and will miss him. Please pray for us.

This is a picture of Cosmo and Apollo. Apollo has the white spot on his chest. He was always a healthy eater. The other picture shows you just how they were Apollo always loving on you. He liked to sleep on his back. He also like to cross his feet when he was sitting there.
 

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les26

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I am so sorry that it came down to this, but you did everything that you could do for him, the vet is correct, we lost some in the past and I always thought "I should've seen this or that" and "I should've tried this or that" but I learned that is just the grief talking and playing mental games as it will, but eventually that settles down and you realize that you did all that you could, maybe even more. He is fine now, just fine, playing with his friend Cosmo, and when you all meet again one day it will be wonderful....


"Their last breath on Earth is their first breath in Heaven" :rbheart:

I am sorry you lost that sweet boy, he is fine now, I hope that your heart heals a bit more each day, God Bless......:alright: :grouphug2: :rbheart:
 

Purr-fect

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I hope you were able to get your wish, hold Apollo, tell him you love him and comfort him at the end.

Apollo looks like a big boy, full of life and character.

Look after yourself now, sounds like you are going thru alot.
 

di and bob

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My heart goes out to you, I know how difficult this is. It takes a lot of strength to be able to end a future full of pain, I hope you can remember and take comfort from what the vets told you, they know much because they have seen so much.....
Appolo is at peace now, because he was so loved by you. He took a little piece of your heart with him but left a piece of his own to help fill the hole his leaving left behind. Love is spiritual, so eternal. He will forever be as close as your thoughts and prayers. "Death cannot take that which never dies"....
To be remembered and mourned over is a great honor. Apollo will live on now through your memories, let them be of the good times. do not dwell on his end and all the should haves, could haves that comes with mourning, but celebrate a long life that brought you happiness. You will be blessed for loving that little boy so much and caring for him.
He is united with his brother now, where time has no meaning. When you think of him, think of them as together once more. They shared your life's journey for a little while, and though it hurts so very bad when they leave us, their new path will forever parallel our own. They were in your life for a reason, and that reason was love.....RIP dear Apollo. You will never be forgotten, you will always have a secure place in loving hearts. May the good Lord bless and keep you, until you meet again.
 
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kc1_cat1

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I am so sorry that it came down to this, but you did everything that you could do for him, the vet is correct, we lost some in the past and I always thought "I should've seen this or that" and "I should've tried this or that" but I learned that is just the grief talking and playing mental games as it will, but eventually that settles down and you realize that you did all that you could, maybe even more. He is fine now, just fine, playing with his friend Cosmo, and when you all meet again one day it will be wonderful....


"Their last breath on Earth is their first breath in Heaven" :rbheart:

I am sorry you lost that sweet boy, he is fine now, I hope that your heart heals a bit more each day, God Bless......:alright: :grouphug2: :rbheart:
Thank you so much. He was such a great friend. He helped me through a lot. I am glad I was with him when he crossed over. I told him I loved him over and over and that I would see him again.
 

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I'm very sorry. We went through something similar recently, with a kitty who had intestinal masses and other issues, too many to treat. Sometimes there just isn't anything else that can be done but to be there with them when they pass. Your sweet boy knew he was loved.

Rest in peace, Apollo. :rbheart:
 

les26

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Thank you so much. He was such a great friend. He helped me through a lot. I am glad I was with him when he crossed over. I told him I loved him over and over and that I would see him again.
And you will see him again! It is so hard yet comforting to be able to hold them when they are passing over, I held Simon our Tuxedo who we had to put down due to stomach cancer and also held Sebastian a long haired Chantilly who died in my arms one day after I got home from work, and while it breaks your heart into pieces at the time with more time passed you realize that it was an honor to be able to do that, as Deb told me "you were the first one to hold them when we got them and you are the last" which is true, but I will hold them again one day and it will be wonderful....

And I apologize to those whom have heard me tell this story a million times but it helps each new person I would hope, but if you combined those two boys and their looks and colors together you get Sylvester, the little guy in the picture, he looks like them both combined so when I hold them it is like I am holding all three at once, he is my best buddy and when his time comes to leave me, well, I'll be a train wreck for sure, but I love him up as much as I can right now and take care of him the best that I can.

Stay well......:alright:
 
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kc1_cat1

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My heart goes out to you, I know how difficult this is. It takes a lot of strength to be able to end a future full of pain, I hope you can remember and take comfort from what the vets told you, they know much because they have seen so much.....
Appolo is at peace now, because he was so loved by you. He took a little piece of your heart with him but left a piece of his own to help fill the hole his leaving left behind. Love is spiritual, so eternal. He will forever be as close as your thoughts and prayers. "Death cannot take that which never dies"....
To be remembered and mourned over is a great honor. Apollo will live on now through your memories, let them be of the good times. do not dwell on his end and all the should haves, could haves that comes with mourning, but celebrate a long life that brought you happiness. You will be blessed for loving that little boy so much and caring for him.
He is united with his brother now, where time has no meaning. When you think of him, think of them as together once more. They shared your life's journey for a little while, and though it hurts so very bad when they leave us, their new path will forever parallel our own. They were in your life for a reason, and that reason was love.....RIP dear Apollo. You will never be forgotten, you will always have a secure place in loving hearts. May the good Lord bless and keep you, until you meet again.
Thank you. You have made my day along with the other fine folks here. God bless.
 
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kc1_cat1

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You have no idea what a comfort that was for Apollo, to have the person who loved him the most, be there with him as he went on to his new life. You will see him again.
Thank you. I am looking forward to being with them again. They were both so loving.
 

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Thank you so much. He was such a great friend. He helped me through a lot. I am glad I was with him when he crossed over. I told him I loved him over and over and that I would see him again.
I was fortunate to be able to hold our cat " motu" when she passed at the vets. Over the years that has brought me comfort. I think it will likely be the case for you also. Sorry for your loss.
 

Mamanyt1953

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Rest you gentle, Apollo, dream you deep. Your pawprints are on someone's heart forever.

One of the hardest things we ever have to do is to hold our beloved cats, and send them through the Gate between this Adventure and their Next Great Adventure. We send them with our love to light their way, don't we? And now, from That Place Where All Things Are Known, Apollo, his love now purified and translated into Love, sends that Love back to you to comfort you and, in the fullness of time, to guide you Home to him.
 
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