Jack's Story

Forever in our hearts

Yesterday we had to say goodbye to Jack. He was such a gentle, sweet puss and we all loved him dearly. Jack came into the centre with his sister Sally because their previous owners could no longer keep them. From day one Jack just didn't seem right and after a few weeks we noticed that he wasn't growing. Sally on the other hand seemed fine and was acting like a kitten should do. 

Jack had all the symptoms of a cat that had the flu so he was prescribed the necessary medication and after a while he seemed to be on the road to recovery. After several different courses of medication it was decided that Jack should go to the vets for further testing and a second opinion. On Monday we found out that Jack actually had a congenital condition called a portosystemic shunt also known as a liver shunt. 

Portosystemic shunt is caused by an abnormal development of the blood vessels draining the gastrointestinal tract. The blood vessels usually go from the intestines to the liver, but in the case of a portosystemic shunt, the liver is bypassed and is unable to perform many of it's usual metabolic functions.

Due to the lack of normal detoxification performed by the liver, neurologic disturbances are a problem in cats with a portosystemic shunt.

The majority of the clinical signs of this illness matched Jack's symptoms. Common clinical signs include:

• Poor growth
• Excessive drooling
• Lack of appetite
• Seizures
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Tremors
• Intermittent blindness
• Mental & neurological abnormalities such as sudden aggression, mental dullness, pressing head against objects
• Straining to urinate due to ammonia biurate bladder stone formation
• Blood in urine due to ammonia biurate bladder stone formation
• Copper coloured irises

Unfortunately Jack could no longer fight his illness and on Tuesday morning he was in a very bad way. Poor Jack had given up and poor Sally wasn't sure what was going on. We made the decision that it was Jack's time to go to kitty heaven. It was extremely hard for all of us to say goodbye to him. He was such a little character and to see him so poorly was very distressing. Jack is now at peace. 

We do have some good news, Sally has been reserved and her home visit is tomorrow so fingers crossed everyone! Sally has been through so much, looking after Jack when he was poorly. If it wasn't for Sally, Jack probably wouldn't have lived as long as he did. She really kept him going. A very sad story but we wanted to share it with you all so that Jack's memory will be kept alive. Everyone who met Jack fell in love with him. We are so sorry that it had to end this way Jack. You will be in our hearts forever. Goodnight our brave little fighter.