madbaker | This Hurts.

I think it's time.

We knew Galen was on the downslope after the last kidney crisis. We didn't think he was ready to go then - he's a fighter and we discussed that when he stopped fighting, or stopped wanting to cuddle, that would be a sign.

Neither of those things are true. Nevertheless. Galen has been getting increasingly creaky in his movements. Then he started having problems jumping. Now he's having balance problems and is finding it difficult to move through the house. We're not sure if he's got some nerve problems or if it's as simple as not having enough muscle tone to support his body (he doesn't eat enough, and the intestinal problems mean he doesn't absorb enough nutrients from what he does eat).

When the cat needs to be carried from the bed to the food dish to the litterbox because he can't really manage it himself, that's not good quality of life. Even if he is still loudly demanding that his staff carry him around, and snuggling with us the rest of the time.

His will may still be strong enough to keep going, but I don't think the rest of him is.