Stripes

Stripes loved Maris. He was her favorite human. She sat on his lap for hours when he played computer games, and she liked to sleep on top of him.

Stripes is not feeling well. She has been limping.

Something happened to her leg during a time when I was not with her.

Was it an injury, or was it a disease? was it due to my neglect? was it something I could have prevented?

whatever is happening to Stripes is similar to what happened to Maris insofar as I am finding myself asking the same questions: was this something I could have prevented? did I cause it to happen?

Stripes has retained her sweet and loving disposition. She is a strong and brave cat.

Her vet, Dr. Currigan, says catss' behavior reflects "Survival of the fittest." when they don't feel well, they hide, so that they survive.

Stripes has been stoical, just like Maris.

Here is the latest from her vet:
"We do not have all of Stripes’ laboratory results in yet, but we do have most results back. On her blood and urine tests, the only significant finding was an elevated white blood cell count. An increased white blood cell count is consistent with either infection or inflammation (and sometimes with cancer as well – usually because of the associated inflammation of the cancer). Everything else on her blood work looks fine (kidneys, liver, thyroid, protein level, etc.). Her blood potassium was slightly low, but that may have just been due to stress. Stripes’ urine was well concentrated (or not watery) – which means her kidney function is good. We may want to put Stripes on an antibiotic for the high white blood cell count, but I would like to hold off on that until we get all the test results back.

On the radiologist report, he, too, is concerned about the masses in the lungs - with cancer, or infection (fungal, bacterial), parasites (less likely) being possibilities.

We do not yet have back they results of the aspirate of the leg swelling, but hopefully I will have those back by Friday and will call you then."

Eventually we will get a fuller idea of what 's up with Stripes.

But she has missed maris very much.

She sits outside his room when the door is closed. We brought her upstairs, away from the other cats who might bother her, in an attempt to help her get some rest and relaxation.

She has taken up residence in Maris's room. So her food, water, and litter tray are there too, so that Stripes does not have to use her sore leg to get up and down the stairs.

When she is there, I think she communes with maris. Maybe she feels safe there, where she was always happiest.

I think she really wants to be with Maris.