This is Maggie. If I'm sitting here working at the computer, you can almost guarantee that she's sitting in my lap.
We adopted her in the fall of 2001 when she was between four and five months old ... she was found as a stray in Madison County, Virginia, and was brought to the Madison County Humane Society. I knew from the moment I saw her that there was something special about this kitty.
Maggie is now 8 years old, and we believe she holds the title as the World's Most Expensive PetsMart Cat. We had her for about a year when she got really sick ... it required lots of tests, 2 days in kitty-intensive-care, and numerous other vet visits to figure out that she has Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (say that 3 times fast). It's an auto-immune disease that's fairly rare in cats, where her immune system attacks her own blood cells. The cause is unknown, and the prognosis was grim. She has lived for the last 6+ years on varying doses of steroids and Cyclosporine, a human anti-rejection drug, to suppress her immune system, and her IMHA is under control.
In April of this year, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphona, something else that's really rare in cats. (We say that Maggie's middle name should be "that's-really-rare-in-cats") She had surgery to remove a cancerous lymph node in her throat, and she's been taking CCNU chemo treatments since we found another enlarged lymph node in June. Her Oncologist cautioned us to not expect complete remission ... but remission is exactly what we have. No sign of cancer right now, perfect values in her blood work, good weight and appetite ... life for Maggie is very, very good.
Why do we go to all of this effort and expense for a cat? This is a very special cat, that's why ... I've known it since I first saw her in that cage at PetsMart. Look at those eyes.
She came into our house and was immediately at home with us, the dogs, and our other cats.
She greets all house guests, and makes the rounds sitting on everyone's lap in turn, purring quietly. Her favorite place to sleep at night is on my feet ... and her favorite human is me. I trust her to tell me when she's had enough and it's time for her to go. Until then, I will do whatever I can to keep her here.
(written by Hartwood Roses. Hartwood Roses blog)