He's not heavy, he's my cat

We get a lot of grief for having five cats. Most wonder why we don't "get rid of a few" and I am always amazed that it is so easy for them: choosing who to cut from our little family. I cannot imagine our lives without any one of them. I don't know that I would have ever set out to accumulate five more mouths to feed, but I certainly wouldn't want to be without any of them, even the sneaky little one that is always under my feet and smacks me when I am in the bathroom each morning.

So, you see, it's a little tough today to let people know why I am walking around on the verge of tears. I'm not sure they'd understand and I suspect most would pass it off as a minor concern, but you see, our little Sammy is sick, very sick.

I had hoped it was just a matter of a few days, some nasty-smelling medicine and some over-priced food. It seems it's more than that: urethra-relaxing medications, special food only he can partake of, and heavy-duty antibiotics just might do the trick. The key word is "might". Little crystals are causing him much pain, blockage and distress.

In addition, as part of his screening they have found some sort of liver ailment. What it is I cannot recall, but I do know that it has us very worried. Not that we are the worrying sort or anything.

For those of you with pets, I think you get "it". It being that I'd rather cut off my right arm, give up food for a month, and Diet Coke for a lifetime, than see him in pain or face the threat of losing Sammy.