I Want to Beat Angiosarcoma! Believing in a 0.1% Miracle: 5 Health & Mental Care Tips I'm Giving My Beloved Cat

"How can I spend more time with my beloved cat?" I've always thought this during our everyday life together, but this feeling intensified after my cat, Jiji, was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma.

In dogs, hemangiosarcoma has a high chance of metastasis, and the prognosis is not good. However, in cats, it's a rare disease, so there's a lot that's unknown. But, in other words, that also means there's a possibility for a miracle.

Once I was able to shift my mindset like that, I started focusing on health management and mental care that I could do now. This time, I'll share the health management and mental care practices I prioritize at home.

Care ① Boosting immunity with purring!

A cat's purr is amazing, isn't it? The frequency is expected to regulate the human autonomic nervous system and hormone balance, lower blood pressure, and is even used in fracture treatment. How invincible.

Because it's such a panacea-like sound, I personally think it also helps with the cat's own health management.

My cat, Jiji, is an affectionate cat who purrs just by being held. So, I want that cute purring sound to help with her own treatment, and ever since her illness was discovered, I've been devising ways of skinship to encourage her to purr for longer.

Before, when I was busy with work and Jiji came near the computer, asking to be held, I often just gave her a pat and put her back on the floor, saying "Later." But recently, I've started holding her no matter what, saying "Yes! It's cuddle time!!"

Jiji doesn't sit still on my lap; she likes to relax by resting on my arm. So, I often face my computer in this position.

My left arm gets tired and sore typing on the keyboard with Jiji on it, but if "purring therapy" helps stabilize her condition even a little, then a sore arm or two is a small price to pay.

Care ② Eating is living

After treatment for hemangiosarcoma, Jiji lost about 1kg. Since her blood wasn't circulating properly and blood couldn't be drawn from her leg, they shaved a little fur around her face. Right after being discharged, she looked so different that I was sad, thinking, "She doesn't have her usual raccoon-dog-like look..."

The vet also told me, "It would be good if she could regain her weight," so after discharge, I've been careful to feed her whenever she's able to eat or shows signs of wanting to. Currently, she's gradually returning to her original plumpness.

Just like humans, eating is important for animals too. I believe that allowing them to eat what they want when they want to eat it leads to a longer life.

With that in mind, after she was discharged, I started giving her treats she had never had before, hoping to make mealtime more enjoyable.

I want to live so I can eat more delicious things. I feel that thinking this might also be a secret to longevity.

Also, a follower with a pet that had a malignant tumor told me about a supplement called "Ipet S," so I'm considering using it while consulting with the vet as we continue to monitor her condition.

Care ③ Eliminate stress to the extreme

When I interview owners of senior cats for work, I always feel that eliminating stress as much as possible is truly important. So, right now, I'm working hard, not just to "reduce" stress for Jiji, but to "eliminate it to the extreme."

Jiji gets stressed when Kotarou goes into "let's play" mode. Since the two of them don't get along very well to begin with, when Kotarou becomes "attention-seeking," Jiji runs away or hisses.

To minimize such situations, when Kotarou wants to play, I use cat wands and electric toys to distract her from Jiji. When she's not interested in toys, we all gather for a snack, saying, "Let's calm down for a bit."

Also, when a fight seems imminent, I pick up Jiji and talk to her, saying "You're safe here," to avoid them getting into a spat. I make sure to support Jiji's feelings without making the other cats in the house feel like they have to put up with it.

Humans can also feel unwell or have their condition worsen due to stress, so I believe we shouldn't underestimate mental care.

Care ④ Create a work environment where abnormalities can be noticed

When I'm in off-mode, I'm relatively good at noticing changes in my cat, but when I'm in work-mode, I tend to get so hyper-focused that I don't notice anything around me. After Jiji's health deteriorated, I was horrified to think if I would have noticed if a critical situation had happened while I was working.

During work, Jiji usually demands to be held and stays in my arms, but sometimes she'll decide "I'm not in the mood today" and relax by herself.

To detect any abnormalities early, even on such days, I've recently started taking short breaks during work and looking around the room to check on the cats.

What was also effective was preparing a chair specifically for Jiji. When I placed another chair next to my work chair, Jiji seemed to recognize it as "my chair." On days she doesn't feel like being held, she now sleeps there.

This must be what it's like to have feline colleagues. Working in an environment where I can indulge in such heartwarming fantasies is surprisingly enjoyable, and since I started taking short breaks, I've also begun eating lunch during work. I feel like I'm getting healthier as a synergistic effect.

Care ⑤ Boost the cat's "will to live"

You might laugh, but I believe that expressing love to the cat themselves is also very important in health management and mental care. I feel that cats are creatures who understand human words.

On the day her life was in danger, Jiji overcoming the crisis was largely due to her strong vitality, but I also think that talking to her in the oxygen tent, saying "Let's go home again," also contributed to her will to live.

Having a home to return to. Having someone who wants you to come back. That's something that makes even humans happy, so surely cats can also feel like "I'll try my best," can't they?

The time we have together now is by no means something to be taken for granted. Having experienced that so strongly, after she was discharged, I made sure to tell her every day, "I love you today too," "Live as long as you can, being yourself, Jiji," and "See you tomorrow. Good night."

Even if she doesn't understand human words, I believe she can feel the kindness in my gaze and the love I put into it. I hope that becomes her power to live.

There's not much information about feline hemangiosarcoma, so the current situation is that we have no choice but to treat it by trial and error. However,

If we pay attention not only to physical health but also to mental health, a miracle might happen, and there might be a future where she can live with the disease either without metastasis or with metastasis but in a good condition.

It's a disease where it's difficult to envision a bright future, but I will continue to work together with Jiji, hand in hand, to give hope to other pets and owners in the same situation.