My black DSH Buddy passed away peacefully last night. He was only 6, and I only had him for 4 months. Almost 3 weeks ago I discovered a lump on his chest. I took him into the vet who sent a sample off to cytology. It came back for a high chance of fibrosarcoma. He then developed another large mass on his rear leg, and x-rays revealed a possible 3rd mass. I made the decision, based on the locations and number of possible tumors, not to operate. The vet thought we could buy some time, but it wasn't to be. A week after the 2nd mass appeared he was ready to go. He had been sleeping more this past week, but was still eating, grooming, using the litterbox and playing with his brother Smokey. That was his behavior on Thursday night. 4am Friday morning both cats woke me up with their playing. When I went to feed them at 6, Buddy refused to eat. He hid under the bed and had trouble standing. I called the vet once I got into work and he suggested some courses of treatment we could take to make him feel better. But by the time I got home Buddy was laying on the floor moaning in pain. The mass on his leg now engulfed his underbelly and he couldn't walk. Thankfully the vets office was still opened and I didn't have to take him to the emergency hospital, where I wouldn't be allowed to be with him at the end.
Buddy was a gentleman of a cat. He never got snippy or "catty" with me, and rarely meowed. He slept at the foot of my bed. He never reacted badly when my other cats hissed at him when doing introductions - he just let them say what they had to say. He also let my 2-1/2 year old nephew play with him, which is amazing for a cat that wasn't around children all that much until I got him. I'm dealing with the guilt that I didn't catch this problem earlier, but until the lump appeared there was no clue. I hope he's reunited with his 1st Mom (who passed away last spring), and sees my other fur angel Freckles. I know that I will see him and Freckles again some day.
Buddy was a gentleman of a cat. He never got snippy or "catty" with me, and rarely meowed. He slept at the foot of my bed. He never reacted badly when my other cats hissed at him when doing introductions - he just let them say what they had to say. He also let my 2-1/2 year old nephew play with him, which is amazing for a cat that wasn't around children all that much until I got him. I'm dealing with the guilt that I didn't catch this problem earlier, but until the lump appeared there was no clue. I hope he's reunited with his 1st Mom (who passed away last spring), and sees my other fur angel Freckles. I know that I will see him and Freckles again some day.
Playing happily at the Bridge little one. 
, Buddy.
