Sick Sloane Monday Update

Sloane has gotten markedly worse since Friday. She is not eating, wobbles when she walks, can barely hold her head up, and has lost so much weight it is alarming. Although she purrs when I am around, she is obviously in great pain.

When she went into the animal hospital last month, the X-rays revealed an abnormality in her skull. The hope was the mass was an inner ear infection--the alternative was a tumor. Since Sloane has been on high-powered antibiotics for over a month and has gotten worse instead of better, it is very likely that the cause of her symptoms is a tumor rather than the inner ear infection we hoped it was. George suspects that the tumor has grown because Sloane's entire jaw is sensitive and uncomfortable.

George took Sloane into the office today to see the doctors, but things look very, very bad. If they confirm that the culprit is a tumor, there is a little they can do for her, and the most humane action would be to end her suffering. It is the last thing in the world I want to do, but I cannot in good conscience let her hurt the way she is hurting. I see it in her eyes. I try to hold her, but she doesn't want to be touched. The best way to take care of her right now is to end her pain.

UPDATE: Sloane died around 6:30 Arizona time. It was very quick, very peaceful. She was such a good cat, and my heart is broken that she is no longer with me, but she was hurting so much, I am relieved she is no longer suffering.

Pictures of Sloane