17/08/2026
😽Beautiful Pickle😽
🩷🙏🩷🙏🩷🙏🩷🙏🩷🙏🩷
It's been a very worrying time the past couple of weeks for us and one of our long-term foster cats.
Sweet Pickle a 3-legged tortoiseshell who came to us over 6 years ago from Gloucestershire after a snare trap injury and sadly had to have her leg amputated. She remained in our care for her safety as she was known as a wanderer and we have catproofed fencing here with lots of stimulation of climbing frames.
Pickle really has been the most delightful resident and never caused any concerns, a very healthy cat apart from a dental last year but at age 14 not bad for an old girl. Sadly, her health deteriorated couple of weeks ago where she was off her food but was still bright in herself, with all the heat we thought this maybe reason as all the cats have been not so keen at feeding times. But after couple of days trying various foods, she then became sick and had diarrhoea. So off she went to the vets. After usual check-up for her symptom's bloods were taken as normally cats of this age just not wanting to eat can be a sign of something more serious not just a bug. The bloods came back fine except her b12 as i expected it was decided to book her for a scan and give her sub cut fluids to help her in the meantime until her scan, as now we were becoming concerned with her eating. We were giving her anti sickness and stimulant medication but sadly by next day Sunday there was no improvement she was then rushed to out of hours vets. Sadly this appointment started well and we thought Pickle was having a GA for her scan. But sadly that never happened when we got an updated call from the out of hours vets which we were surprised and disappointed. So we collected Pickle shortly after the call Sunday evening it was a long night with worry and first thing Monday morning she was booked for an urgent scan at our normal vets Ollie and Florrie vets Pettswood. Pickle was put on IV Fluids straight away for few hours to help her with the next step of full GA, scan and biopsies. She was diagnosed with low-grade (small-cell) GI lymphoma. This was always on the cards with her symptom's and we had been pre warned. She was discharged after her scan with a feeding tube, buster collar and feeding plan for the next 4/5 days and oral steroids whilst we awaited the medication on order of chemotherapy treatment of chlorambucil to be administered at home. She also started her course of b12 injections. Pickle was so good with the feeding tube and it was such a relief knowing she was getting the food, nutrition she needed. building her strength up so we could wean her back on solids. After 48 hours Pickle was wanting to eat solids so we removed the feeding tube on instructions of the vets. Pickle has continued to gain weight, eat normal and no more sickness and diarrhoea she continues on all her medication and her lifespan could be many months hopefully longer. Pickle was throughout her time being poorly her normal cuddly self and slept every night with us it was important we gave her all the normal love time and cuddles she wanted. Whilst separated from other cats so we could monitor all her needs from food and litter tray habits. Pickle is now back with mixing with the other resident kitties and enjoying the garden again. She will be continued to be monitored by the vets and rest assured her life will continue to be enriched, safe and loved. We are so blessed to have her in our lives and she really is such a wonderful cat. 🥰🩷
www.orpingtoncatrescue.org.uk
