Medai's Page

It pains me greatly to have to write these words, but on Thursday, November 6, 2003, I had to let my faithful furry friend of 19+ years pass on.

In mid-2003 Medai's health started deteriorating at a fairly rapid pace. The final straw was a skin condition that started as almost a zit with a bit of gunk that would then scab off and reveal a thumbprint sized raw sore. We saw Dr. Jil who checked to be sure it was not vermin caused and prescribed antibiotics. She suggested that he might have had one or more strokes recently, and she had noted some neurological deterioration at our last visit, causing him to sit with his head tilted and body favoring to one side. She mentioned that if the drugs did not work there was a strong chance the lesions were skin cancer, but the only way to confirm that would be a biopsy which would require anesthetizing Medai, not something he would be likely to survive.

As an added step I chose to separate Medai from Jack in case the kitten’s exuberance and sharp teeth and claws were causing the problems. Medai mostly stayed in my bedroom, where he had my warm fluffy bed, a sunny window, food, water and a cat box, and Jack terrorizes the rest of the house, tackles my poor spider plant, plays slip and slide down my hallway, climbs my computer, and is a tornado all around. Unfortunately I was not able to eliminate all contact, so there is still a chance the bumps were from Jack tackles, but neither of them liked the isolation routine.

After 10 days, the lesions were still there and I found a couple of new ones. To compound his trouble Medai’s skin had become VERY sensitive. He ripped out quantities of fur, as he had done every fall for the last several years, but this year he shrank away from being touched or petted. Several times a day and night he had what could best be described as a seizure. It seemed to start as an itch but he just HAS to bite at it to the point his legs go stiff and he falls over all the while gnawing at this spot on his side. He stopped sleeping with me, choosing instead to settle on the floor, where nothing could touch his tender skin and he could not fall off when that itch hit him.

October 30th I was home for the day with a nasty cold, and he and I did some snuggling in the bedroom. He had another seizure/itch and rolled off the bed again. After it was all over and we were both back on the bed I petted his head and asked him if he wanted me to release him, to let him go on. He looked directly into my eyes with his big, wise golden ones and mewed once. Just once. Needless to say I started bawling my eyes out.

Unfortunately for both of us, Medai's vet (with whom I had discussed the possibility and all options) was out of town on vacation and would not return for a full week. It meant my poor furry baby had to suffer another week, but it also gave us time for closure, and a chance for those who had known him over the years to come and say their farewells.

Medai was released the night of Thursday, November 6th, 2003. His Vet was wonderful enough to make a housecall after just returning from Hawaii at noon that day. She napped and they came down at 7, and we started closer to 8 with making sure everyone understood the procedure and plans. Medai was hurting, and even the painkiller shot hurt, but once it took effect and he felt better, he wanted to stay with me a few more days... so that was tough. Medai had already started on making his own way out as there was a newly made gateway started right near where Medai used to nap. I had family and friends here, and everyone got to pet and tell him how wonderful he was. Jil had to read the kind email Janet had sent, with instructions on whom to hook up with once he crossed, because I kept trying to cry. I held up Jack, and the two of them once more touched noses just like they did when I first brought Jack home 2.5 months ago. This time it was rather a... you are in charge now, you better take care of her, kind of way, and then Jil gave the final shot to release him and Medai passed peacefully and quickly.

My folks were amazed how beautiful and peaceful it was, not at all what they were expecting when they came to say goodbye to their first furry black grandson. In fact everyone there was thankful for the chance to say goodbye, and the dignity and respect with which Jil set him free.

I am adding a page with some additional photos of Medai, and of Medai and Jack together, but am leaving the rest of this page untouched. Thanks for understanding.

Meow, I'm Medai

I turned 16 in March 2000, (see my birthday party and my presents here) and have lived with my Mom since I was 6 weeks old. My Auntie Donna picked me out of the cardboard box labeled Free Kittens in front of the grocery store. I was scared at first, because none of my brothers and sisters came with me. But Mom cuddled and petted me, let me sleep on her pillow, and made me feel safe. One of my favorite things is to play outdoors (like in the picture ), but Mom only lets me go outside if she is with me, watching over me. And now that we live in an appartment it I dont get to go outside except when we go to grandmas. At Thanksgiving I get to eat at the table with the humans. Mom says I have better table manners than most 2 year olds.

At 16 I look and feel better than ever. They have discontinued all medications!!! I get to eat just about anything I want, and when I want it. (My favorites are sushi tuna (raw of course,) chicken breast lightly poached with asparagus, or people tuna - canned in water, but those are occasional treats, so mostly I eat my kitty food - almost any flavor and brand canned, and even soaked dry crunchies (but not at home, those I only eat at grandmas... to make mom look silly - cause she told grandma I woulnt eat them). I wasn't always this healthy.

I got kinda sick in 1997. I started pulling my fur out, and got nasty bumpy sores on my skin. Mom took me to the vet who referred us to a feline allergy specialist. They did tests, and put me on a restricted diet. The venison and potato cat food was fun at first, but got boring in the long run; and it didn't help. I was still itchy and getting very bald. And I stopped eating anything except some people food turkey. Mom was getting very worried.

Then she got an E-mail from her favorite author, Janet Kagan - she writes really good books. She wrote Hellspark, a cool book with lots of multicultural aspects. Here is a link to Janet Kagan's web page listing the other good stuff she has written and showing pictures of some of her kitties! (I think Velvet looks related to me... verrrry handsome) I guess Mom must have told Ms. Kagan about me. My favorite Auntie Janet told Mom to read "The Book of The Cat" and to quit this restricted diet since it was not helping. When Mom started offering me variety I got my appetite back. (Mom says I started eating like a piggy in a cat-suit.) Auntie Janet also suggested that maybe I was allergic to fleas (only I've never seen a flea in Colorado,) but it was worth a considering related options. Seeing I was feeling much better, but the bumps were still there Mom took me to a holistic vet. She gave me a shot of Ivermectin (to eliminate skin mites) and gave Mom some stuff to give me to boost my immune system. I sure am glad Mom listened to Auntie Janet, because that did the trick for a long time. In 1999 I got sicker and sicker again... to the point where mom had to put me in the hospital for a few days. They gave me tube feedings, because I would not eat. then they pulled lots of my teeth because they were giving me trouble. That helped some, but I was still trying to pull my fur out in great clumps. I think maybe it was an environmental allergy, because now that I dont share my home with other cats, dogs or lots of dust mites I have a thick, lush, shiney black coat, and everyone who sees me admires me, and tells me how good I look.
From September 1999 through April 2000 I had to get an injection of goldsalts once a week, and every 4 weeks they insist on checking my blood (but they tried to be gentle, and Dr. Gorman insists on kissing me on top of my head every time I come in to see her. Now that Im off all the meds I dont see her much any more... she is nice for a 2-leggs, but Im glad not to have to deal with vampires every month.

If you want to send me a note just use your paddy-paw on the mouse and click grasse@mscd.edu .

Click here to go to the next page, the one that shows some of the other creatures that I have known, including my friend Geofurry who passed away a while back. And some of the other cats... the ones they brought home because they thought I needed company (Hrrrrumph.)