The Daily Mandu Report
Last night in the living room, Glenn gave pets to Mandu but this time he was awake and watching a History Channel show with me.
Mandu has now begun eating vigorously and is lapping cream as she did a week ago. Perhaps she is adjusting to the shock of blindness. Maybe she’s finding her way around the confined “safe” area we have set up for her. Maybe she just liked this brand of cat food better. Whatever it is, it’s a positive sign that she’s not intending to give up and starve herself. Another positive sign … right after her episode of sudden blindness and wobbliness, it seemed that she had become incontinent. Last night as Glenn was holding her and I was finishing the sketch above, she became a little agitated and he persuaded her to wait just a few minutes, then he took her to her cat box, where she relieved herself. A few days ago she had no control over such things, but it seems that her control has returned. (Sorry to be so clinical here, but I guess I am looking for positive signs where I can find them.) I am probably hoping against hope that even some murky eyesight will return.
We are observing, collecting data and will still consult with the vet on Wednesday to see what’s the best thing to do. Can you tell we’re ambivalent about putting her to sleep if she’s still content to be here? Yes, I know you can.
I am using this post for my weekly “Inspire Me Thursday” entry. How I’m feeling is pretty apparent. It was drawn with a fine Micron pen in my Moleskine sketchbook and took about 15 minutes or so.
yes, i know exactly what you mean.
these beloved companions in our lives!!
how i wish they would live as long as we do.
in my experience, they tell us when it is time.
Oh! I’m so glad The Amazing Mandu is pulling round! At Age 22 she’s probably just on her 5th Cat Life, so who knows?
These are unbelievable drawings, Karen! Really incredible. The postures that you’re capturing in both The Amazing Mandu and your Husband are really bringing back memories of when I was in that situation with my cat.
Take care. Mandu is a Love Bug.
Stopped by, a second time, around noon, to see whether there might be more news. I love the drawing and am uplifted by the good news. Maybe Mandu will be able to share her life with us longer than we thought, and that will brighten a lot of our lives.
Annie
I’m so glad that it seems like she’s feeling better. Maybe she’s adjusting?
A long time ago, I had a friend whose cat went (as far as they could tell) completely blind. After a week or two, she (the cat), adjusted to being blind. They obviously couldn’t let her outside, but they kept her indoors. She stayed in the living room, the kitchen, and their bedroom. And she seemed to do really well.
I hope Mandu pulls around and is able to stay with you for a bit longer.
I’ve enjoyed all your drawings, especially your pets. Thank you for being so generous with your art. Hope for the best with Mandu. Could she have had a stroke?
My veterinarian told me cats do pretty well blind. I hope Mandu recovers. I know when it was time for my old cat, Pudge, it could not have been more obvious, and I waited too long. She wouldn’t eat, and she would go from spot to spot, trying to get comfortable and unable to (CRF). Finally I had to admit tht she wasn’t going to get better, that she was no longer the cat she wanted to be, and that it had to be done for her sake and mine. It was sad, and I still cry, but I wish only I had done it sooner in her case.
Thank you everyone … yes, she continues to move around outside and shows no sign of distress like yowling or cowering or crying for help. I remember that “distress yowl” that she used to do sometimes a year or so ago - it almost seemed like she was lost in the house or looking for us. Or maybe her sight was already starting to go and it confused her. I don’t know.
We took her outside this afternoon and I drew her and glenn again and painted some flowers on our back patio. It was a way to cat-sit and get some painting done at the same time. Misa, yes it does seem as though she’s adapting.
Suzanne, - yes, I’m wondering too if perhaps it was a stroke. We’ll ask the vet on Wednesday and see what he thinks. Her pupils still contract somewhat, just not as much.
Slywy, I’m thinking that because she still eats and laps with interest, and washes her face afterwards, that she hasn’t given up yet. She walks from spot to spot but often settles down and naps. When she is outside she is learning to walk slowly so she doesn’t bump into things, and uses her whiskers to detect obstacles.
It’s so good that you’re taking this time to be slow and deliberate in your enjoyment of her. Try not to worry too much about whether you’ll know when the time is. I bet you’ll do just fine that way, and until then you all can just appreciate each other’s company. Sounds like she still does. Peace.
Karen…I am so used to seeing your watercolor sketches and I checked out your blog today (which I haven’t visited for a couple of weeks) and I am blown away by this series of ink sketches in your moleskine. They are incredible drawings. I can totally sense your love for Cat Mandu in the way you drew her. I am glad she is doing better. Regardless of what happens, these drawings will be a wonderful memory.
I agree with your thinking. I do think you will know.
Karen S., yes I’m glad I’m doing that, too and I really should have given more attention long ago. Dogs demand it and receive it more, and although I have drawn and painted Mandu for many years, I haven’t done it to the degree that I have with Ripley.
Julie, thank you for your kind thoughts. I have noticed that something has happened with my drawing, even though I’ve been concentrating on watercolor mostly since January. It’s like something has been percolating in the background, away from my awareness. I don’t know what’s happened but I’m just going to flow with it and see where it leads …
As others have said, these drawings are very special, containing such depth of feeling and beauty, and speak for themselves, even without the words.
When my deeply loved old cat was failing, I asked my friend Pamela, a holistic vet who specializes in geriatic animals, for advice. She told me to talk to my cat, tell her I would help her when she was ready to go…that she just needed to let me know when she was ready, which I did. She immediately started eating again and hung in there for another month or so. Then, one night she was suddenly in pain and miserable and came to me crying out. I held her all night and brought her in first thing the next morning knowing it was right to let her go then. I have a painting I did of her in the bedroom she shared with me for so many years (of her looking at the birds out the window). It gives me pleasure to see her and brings me back to what a wonderful creature she was. Art is a powerful healer!
Sounds promising and hopeful. Good! By the way, I really like your pen sketches. They have a great character to them.
you have touched my heart; I love cats so much, I know how painfull it must be for you guys make such desicion. Whatever happen, you know you have given her all the love you can.
Mandu is a fighter! Sounds like maybe she isn’t ready to go just yet. I love your drawings, they are so expressive! It makes me wish I was sketching when my beloved first cat Allie was around…
This is an excellent pen and ink portrait !
Karen - I was given some very good advice before my first cat died of cancer. I wanted to know when it was time, when we needed to let him go. I was told that when it was time the cat would let me know and that’s exactly the way it has worked on two occasions now. When she’s ready she’ll let you know and then it isn’t difficult at all - very very sad, but not difficult.