I seriously don't know how to start this because I thought Beatrix would outlive us all, but it appears her health has taken a sudden turn for the worse. What do you do when your Ride or Die of the last 15 years becomes sick? Anything and everything that you can.

It started last month on Thanksgiving when something seemed off; refusing food, accident in the bed, general listlessness. We spent most of the night in the emergency vet where we were assured she probably just had a tummy ache and was given some fluids and anti-nausea meds and sent home. Luckily she started eating again, but we still had a bad feeling and took her back 2 days later to find she was severely constipated and urgently needed an enema. After that we kept a close eye on her and gave her lactulose, waiting for her to use the bathroom on her own. She still seemed to be in distress so we tried to get her in with her normal vet office that Monday, but were advised to go to their sister facility that had some same-day urgent care appointments. Another X-ray revealed her constipation was better and they gave her more fluids and suggested we continue with the lactulose. It seemed very hopeful at this point that she was out of the woods, but we still set a check-in with her usual doctor just to make sure.

That appointment was last Thursday. Her blood work and urine analysis revealed that her kidneys are in rough shape. CKD Stage 4. Here are the emails from the doctor (first email + reply to some questions I had):

So far we've spent around $3000 on the trips to the emergency vet and her recent visits with her regular doctor (x-rays, IV hydration, medications, enemas, blood work, urine sample, etc, etc.). I know we should have had pet insurance, but this sweet baby angel has only really gone to the vet a handful of times in her 15 years. The ultrasound in January ($600) and renal food, plus the likelihood of IV fluid administration at home will add up quickly.

Anyone will tell you, I will collect mountains of debt before giving up on Beatrix for financial reasons, but I figured I'd put this Go Fund Me out there in case anyone who's gotten some joy from watching Beatrix throughout the years wanted to contribute.

I couldn't have cats growing up, so Beatrix was the first thing I did when I finally had my own place. When I got her she was basically a little grey cotton ball. I was told she was a boy, so at first I called her Klaus, but soon learned the truth. My Oma suggested the name Beatrix, after the Queen of the Netherlands whose husband was named Claus. The name suited her just fine.

She's been there for me through everything good and bad since I was 19 years old. It's hard to imagine a life without her. When she was little, she would sneak muffin wrappers out of the trashcan and hide them under the bed; I didn't learn about this habit until we moved a year later. She is also a wizard of opening cabinets and finding new places to sleep. She cackles whenever we open the oven, only if it's on, and even if she's in another room of the house. She pretends not to like her siblings, but really she secretly enjoys their company.

She loves going outdoors and will spend hours sitting amongst the flowers if we let her. She's never done a mean thing in her whole life, unless you touch her toe fluff, in which case you probably deserved it.

In summary, Beatrix is the greatestatrix and deserves the very best. Even if you don't have any extra funds to contribute right now, I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about her.