Sufi, my best friend, has earned his wings :(

This is the hardest post I've ever had to write.

On Monday, November 3, I had to let my wonderful, sweet boy go. It was very sudden, although he had been showing his age in the past few months. Our best guess is that he was around 21 years old! That's a pretty darn good life time for a kitty cat.

When I'm finally able to type without the tears falling, I'll be back to write more. I miss you, Sufi, more than you'll ever know. You were truly a remarkable cat; one in a million for sure.

With all my love,
Momma Lynn

April 9, 2007

I received some great news from Sufi's local vet! He had bloodwork performed on Saturday, March 31 and the tests showed that his thyroid numbers have lowered significantly! The Tapizole is working beautifully and Sufi has regained a little bit of weight. His kidney and liver values have also improved. This indicates that Sufi is an excellent candidate for the I-131 radioactive iodine treatment. The vet was very surprised at how well Sufi has responded in such a relatively short time frame. Like I've said before, Sufi is my miracle kitty.

I took this photo in our backyard on April 1. Since this photo was taken, he has filled out even more. His fur is so soft and shiny, too!

March 19, 2007

This is Day 5 of Sufi's hyperthyroid treatment. I noticed that he's been vomiting foam when his tummy is empty. Giving him a treat (freeze dried chicken) or a can of Fancy Feast seems to quell the queasiness.

He seems fine, but still a little restless. Without a blood test, we don't know how high his T-4 level is. He has an appointment for more blood work on Saturday, March 31.

He's still our good ol' Sufinator, no matter what :) I let him outside in the back yard every day for the past 4 days. The weather has been perfect and I think the warm sun has made him feel better.

Who is Sufi?

I inherited Sufi in July, 2004, upon the death of one of my dearest friends. At that time, his age was estimated to be around 17. Sufi is a Pixie-Bob, which is why he has no tail; just a stump.

He's a big boy, but he's lost a great deal of weight due to his latest illness. When I first brought him home, he weighed just under 20 pounds! Although 20 pounds was overweight for him, the 11 pounds he weighs now is too underweight.

Here he is, relaxing in the living room after his vet visit on Saturday.

On March 13, 2007, Sufi was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. His T-4 level was 13.12, which is life-threateningly high. Because of his high T-4, he is also suffering from hypertension and tachycardia (fast heart beat). His vet has him on 4 different medications to keep him going until I can get him the radioactive iodine treatment he desperately needs. The I-131 treatment will cure the hyper-T problem once and for all. The only issue is obtaining the funds to afford the treatment. Please visit the Bella Sierra Designs blog to see gorgeous designer jewelry. Sales proceeds will go toward covering the cost of the I-131 treatment.

Sufi is a fighter and I'm hoping he'll get through this latest medical issue. He overcame diabetes in 2004, and has survived several life-threatening intestinal blockages.