Scratch has cancer.

Something is really wrong with her all of a sudden.

Moz said:

 
Something is really wrong with her all of a sudden.

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I'm so sorry. What's going on? Do you think she's crashing? 

GoHolistic said:

 
I'm so sorry. What's going on? Do you think she's crashing? 

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I really have no idea what just happened! My mom and I were outside with her this afternoon from about 12:50-4:40 (it's 5:20 pm right now). Whenever Scratch comes inside for the day, she will sit at the back door for a few minutes and then jump on top of a big wooden cat fort we have in the living room/kitchen. 20 minutes ago, my mom was doing something in the kitchen and I was walking through the kitchen when I saw Scratch slowly lifting her left front leg (the one that has the lump under it - actually, it's two lumps now) way up in the air. I have never seen that happen before to any animal. My mom went to her to see what was going on (I was too scared to watch at this point), but I saw Scratch turning her head to the right in a really slow, unnatural way. It was almost robotic. I really can't explain how strange it was. I told my mom to call the vet and when she was on the phone with them, Scratch's tail bent and was way up in the air like her leg was. She put her leg down about a minute after it started, then her tail went down about two minutes after she put it in the air. Her eyes looked strange, too, like she was focusing on something really far away.

When my mom was speaking to the vet, Scratch started moving her head normally and was looking around and perking her ears up. She just went to the litter box, ate some dry food (20 minutes after she started acting funny) and jumped off the cat fort with no problem.

I have no  idea what to think of this. I thought she was having a stroke or was going to die, but now she's acting fairly normally...? I don't know. It's so weird.

I'm glad she seems okay now. I wonder if it could have been some kind of stroke or seizure. 

Give her lots of love!  

That's what I was thinking too - a stroke or a seizure, but she's walking fine now. I don't know anything about strokes or seizures in cats... would they walk normally shortly after? Either way, there are four people at my house right now who are going to be keeping an eagle eye on her tonight (and she'll be spoiled as usual!)

Moz said:

 
That's what I was thinking too - a stroke or a seizure, but she's walking fine now. I don't know anything about strokes or seizures in cats... would they walk normally shortly after? Either way, there are four people at my house right now who are going to be keeping an eagle eye on her tonight (and she'll be spoiled as usual!)

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From what I know, and speaking very generally, it is possible for a cat to act completely normal after a mild seizure (petit mal) and I have read that they sometimes will want to eat afterwards. Strokes sometimes have more lasting effects, such as an unsteady gait and confusion. Of course, there are exceptions in both cases and various factors that play a role in how cats recover from seizures and strokes.

I don't have my references handy.

My first cat jumped up on my desk and had a major seizure.  I had never seen anything like that before.  This was a long time ago and I don't really remember how long she lived after that but it was the beginning.  She had a few more big seizures and I was usually home.  Scratch is still going to the cat fort which is good.  When Scratch starts to hide you will know things are changing.  My only thoughts here are that things are changing for Scratch and as much as we like to let them go outside this might be the time to keep Scratch in.  To many of my friends have told me their cat never came home knowing they were on a path to die.  I am so sorry to put this into you thoughts but I personally would prefer my cat to be home in doors and knowing that I will have a chance to make  my cats health better if I can.  Not letting her go off into a dark place to spare you the pain.  Keep us posted.  

That's horrible.   I'm so sorry that you, and everyone else who has or is going through the same thing as Scratch, had to experience that.

We're very lucky in that our yard has a very large, tall fence that she can't escape from. I always go outside with her, both so I can supervise her (I'd be too paranoid to ever have an unsupervised indoor-outdoor cat), and because it's nice to see her enjoying the fresh air.

My family knew it was our old cat's "time" when she too started hiding constantly and wasn't eating. It was horrible to see her go through that. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for that with Scratch. Thankfully our vet lives very close to our house so if anything happened, we would be able to get her care ASAP. I hate to think about all the possible scenarios, but at least we're only a few minutes away from the vet's office.

Things have taken a turn for the worse. She did eat and drink today, but she was breathing with her mouth open this morning. She was just laying on the rocking chair when she began breathing with her mouth open again while making a strange sound every time she inhaled. She jumped onto the floor, laid down, and started shaking a little. Squee is laying in the corner of the living room beside our couch, and Scratch is now laying near Squee. I don't know if she is laying near Squee for comfort or if she is trying to hide behind or beneath the couch. I think she is telling us that it's "time."

aww I'm so sorry..it' so hard. As far as the raising the paw in the air... one time my Minnie sniffed my nail polish and she did that...I thought she was having a stroke as well until I realized she was "high". Scary.
God bless you as you go through this transition time with Scratch.

Hi Moz...I am so sorry you could be in final stages with Scratch.  Or maybe you will get Scratch to the Doc and find out something new.  Gosh it's just so damn hard.  We are told that our friends cats lived till 17..18 and we get so sad.  Franny lived for just under 12 yrs.  To young for me.  My boy Lemmy(Franny Died July 22, 2014) is now looking for her under the bed where she loved to be.  I think Lemmy is finally really sad.  No matter how things happen going forward we are all here to support you all.  Most of all you have to know you are not alone because all of us and maybe you to in the past have been here.  People get sick and die or at least tell us what's happening.  Pet's can't speak.  So just go with your instincts.  After 2 really bad nights watching Franny go down hill fast I had to call my vet to come over and help her move on.  For the first time in my life I took a seditive to get thru it.  And in the end I knew it was the right thing to do.  It broke my heart.                  Saying a prayer for all of you tonight.  

Moz said:

 
Things have taken a turn for the worse. She did eat and drink today, but she was breathing with her mouth open this morning. She was just laying on the rocking chair when she began breathing with her mouth open again while making a strange sound every time she inhaled. She jumped onto the floor, laid down, and started shaking a little. Squee is laying in the corner of the living room beside our couch, and Scratch is now laying near Squee. I don't know if she is laying near Squee for comfort or if she is trying to hide behind or beneath the couch. I think she is telling us that it's "time."

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I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with you.

Moz, I am so sorry you have to go through this. It's the worst feeling in the world, watching them slip away with nothing you can do about it. I've been there before and I can't even begin to think about having to go through it again, without crying.

My heart goes out to you, and I hope that Scratch isn't in too much pain..

I am sorry. It is so hard to witness for you I am sure. Bless you.

Moz said:

Things have taken a turn for the worse. She did eat and drink today, but she was breathing with her mouth open this morning. She was just laying on the rocking chair when she began breathing with her mouth open again while making a strange sound every time she inhaled. She jumped onto the floor, laid down, and started shaking a little. Squee is laying in the corner of the living room beside our couch, and Scratch is now laying near Squee. I don't know if she is laying near Squee for comfort or if she is trying to hide behind or beneath the couch. I think she is telling us that it's "time."

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Is there any news..?

My thoughts are with you.

Scratch passed away peacefully this morning, less than 20 minutes ago, with me and my mom by her side.  I want to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and wishes during my entire time on here with Scratch - with her pyometra, the "tinsel incident", and her cancer diagnosis. It really means a lot to me. 

Thank you for sharing your life with us. We are like family here, connected by the love for our cats. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. Know that Scratch is in a better place with no more suffering. She fought bravely and now is at peace.

So sorry for your loss.

My heart goes out to you, it's the ones left behind that suffer so. You gave your beautiful Scratch a wonderful life, and you did what you could. Most of all you shared a love with her that will live on forever in your heart. Please know we will try to share your suffering and ease your burden in any way we can, words cannot express what to do for a broken heart. The grieving process is a long road to travel, with a lot of ups and downs, but one day you will remember your Scratch with smiles instead of tears. Please accept my condolences, surround yourself with people who love you. RIP beautiful Scratch, you were greatly loved!