Last year about this time my Abyssinian cat named Tommy went to the vet for a bad tooth and never recovered from the anesthetic he died march 21st 2004.

Here is Tommy's story:

Tommy was born somewhere in Oregon Dec 31,1998. The lady who bred abyssinians had died, and Tommy was going to be put to sleep if somebody didn't adopt him and his sister. A lady in Denver Colorado had adopted them and they were flown to colorado. Tommy's sister died in flight.

Tommy's new home was not a good one, there were over 100 cats where he lived. My ex husband was doing remodling for a woman who bred ocicats, and she rescued Tommy from the home with 100 cats and brought him into hers. I saw Tommy one day and fell in love with this little lost soul.

That is how he came to live with me. He was a very heartbroken little guy when I first brought him home. He hid in the towel cabinet for months only to come out to eat and go to the litter box. I worked with him each day for 6 months until his little personality started to shine thru. Tommy eventually turned into a sweet loving cat with lots of kitty kisses to give.

My exhusband turned into one of the biggests regrets I have ever made in my life. He became very abusive and decided he was going to move his girlfriend into my home after I had to leave for fear of my life. I took all 6 of my cats with me and very few belongings to a very good friends house. The cats and I stayed in a bedroom for 8 months. It was a tight living situation and very stressful for 8 months until we moved to Nebraska.

After we all got settled into our new life in Nebraska. Tommy and the other cats were so happy. They had plenty of room to romp and there was plenty of cats things to do in this big house.

Tommy always had bad teeth because of his breed. Abby cats seem to have alot of dental problems. I took him to the vet last year in march for what I thought was a bad tooth. The vet gave him ketamine for anesthetic and tommy never recovered. He died 3 days later. He was only 5 years old.

I now have another abby cat named Dion. He is another little sweetheart. I just noticed today that he has a tooth bothering him, and he has to go to the vet this afternoon for the same problem Tommy had. Yes, I am very scared!!!

I also wonder if the stress that my babies had to go thru during the 8 months we had to stay close confinement didn't contribute to Bubbas cancer. Bubba was my best friend that just died in December of cancer. He was 14 1/2 years old.

Thanks for listening to me.....

TAKE him to the vet!!! Edgar developed a heart problem from my not seeing an abcessed tooth until it was too late - he died two years later of a heart attack.

Not to scare you - but please please take care of it. These are our children, and we need to do our best. Accidents happen, not everything works out as well as we hope, but if we do OUR best then at least we aren't at fault.

Kimberly,

I know you are scared but you should take him to the vet. Part of the deal when we bring these little guys into our homes is that we agree to take care of them as best we can. The fear you have is completely understandable but you will regret it more if you do nothing and something bad happens. Please let us know what you decide and keep us updated.

Hugs,
Beth

Take Dion to the Vet.

While you're there, talk to the Vet about Tommy. Maybe there's something else they could use, or maybe the Vet can give you some insight as to what may have gone wrong in Tommy's case.

There's risk in almost everything we do. We have to wiegh the risk against the benefits and what we know will happen if we do nothing.

Untreated, it could get much worse.

Dion has an appointment at 5pm. He will be staying at the vets tonight and will have his tooth removed tomorrow. I did learn a hard lesson thru Tommy. I did not know that abby cats do not tolorate ketamine. I am already equipped to have the vet use ISO on him. Since abby cats have such problems with their teeth I have already discussed all this with the vet. It still scares me to death!!!!!!! The wound is open again because it's almost the 1st year anniversary of Tommys death.

I lost 2 very special cats in less than a year.

In our hearts, we'll all be with him until he's home healthy and safe.

Dear Kimberly,

I will keep you and Dion in my thoughts and prayers.

I completely understand your concern. My cat, Calvin, has just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and I'm looking at a major surgery for her within the next couple of weeks. I'm very scared, too. I don't know what I'd do if I lost Calvin so close to losing Shiloh.

Take good care of you and Dion.
Kathleen

Kimberly,

I will be keeping Dion in my thoughts. Please let us know how it goes. I'm surprised the last vet used ketamine on Tommy given what you now know.

Hugs,
Beth

Dear Kim, I am so glad you are going to take Dion to the vet before infection sets in and gets into his blood stream. I know how very scared you must be but you wouldn't want to lose him if nothing was done. I will pray that all goes well for your baby. Soon he will be taken care of and all will be well.

You gave Tommy a wonderful life when you rescued him from certain death. I am sorry you had a horrible fearful time with your ex husband. No one should have to live in fear of their life, it makes no sense to me when someone says the stay with them because they love them. I am glad you were able to get out and make a better life for yourself and your babies.

I don't think the small living conditions nor the stress had anything at all to do with little Bubba getting cancer. I don't know why our babies have to get cancer or die from other things. It is just so hard and frightening when we have lost more than one and another one gets sick. We fear the worst but in the end he Dion will feel much better.

I took my puppy Schnitzel and Gypsy Rose to be spayed after I lost my girls and I was so afraid they would die to but all went well.
Love, Ann

Dear Kimberly,

Dion will be in my thoughts and prayers, too until he's safe and well back home.

Hugs,
Lynn

Thank You for keeping Dion in your prayers! He pulled thru with flying colors! He is missing a few teeth. The vet did such a good job with him he hardly showed signs of being drugged. The little guy actually mooched chicken tonight at the table..

Thank you all for your support...You are all wonderful!!!

Kim

Dear Kim,

I'm so glad to hear that Dion is doing well!

Dear Kim, I Thank God for prayers answered on little Dion and that he is doing well. I am glad he did well and will be ok. Now that he will be fine you can rest easy.
Love, Ann