This past weekend was one of the scariest of our lives. In the early hours of Friday morning, we found ourselves rushing our sweet calico girl, Madison Grace, to the emergency vet. As cat parents who spend our days helping others care for their kitties, it’s a humbling reminder that when it’s your own cat, your brain and heart don’t always function the same way.
We want to share Madison’s story – not only because so many of you have been following along and sending prayers, but also because it might help another cat parent faced with an emergency.
The Emergency Begins
At 4 a.m., we woke to a terrifying sound – loud, duck-like retching. When we ran downstairs, we found vomit everywhere: foam, food, even what looked like a hairball. Madison was at the bottom of the stairs, foam on her chin, breathing rapidly. Within moments we knew it was time to get her to the ER.
Thankfully, a brand-new 24-hour veterinary hospital had just opened only 10 minutes from our home. We had no idea at the time what a blessing that would be.
A Different Kind of Emergency Vet
From the moment we arrived, we noticed this ER (called VEG – Veterinary Emergency Group) was different. Instead of whisking Madison away to the back, they triaged her right in front of us. We got to hold her as they checked her vitals, gums, and drew blood.
Her blood was so dark from dehydration that it was difficult to collect. They immediately started her on fluids. An X-ray revealed what looked like a mass in her stomach. Was it a foreign object? Cancer? Something else entirely? We didn’t know – but our hearts sank.
A Room for All of Us
Unlike most ERs, VEG gave us a private room where we could stay with her. Not just a chair in a corner – a full pull-out bed, pillows, and blankets so we could rest with Madison as she received fluids and ongoing care.
As the hours passed, another X-ray showed the mass breaking apart. An ultrasound confirmed the mass was gone, but her pancreas was inflamed. She had pancreatitis – but thankfully no tumor or foreign object. Fluid therapy was helping.
The Rollercoaster of Recovery
The next hurdle was getting her to eat again. She refused food at the hospital, which meant we faced the possibility of a feeding tube. Exhausted, terrified, but with the doctor’s blessing, we decided to take her home to see if being in her safe space might make the difference.
That first night was agonizing. She was still so still, drooling, and clearly in pain. We syringe-fed her baby food with supplements to make sure she could take her medications. With the guidance of trusted veterinarians and holistic friends, we added B12, slippery elm, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and liver support to her care.
And then came two game changers – tips from our beautiful community members:
Sound therapy: a healing frequency suggested by a kind soul in our community.
Sardines: yes, sardines! After refusing everything else, Madison licked at the fish and slowly began to eat again.
Gratitude for Our Village
As I write this – 6 days after rushing to the ER – Madison is on the road to recovery. She’s eating like a champ, pooping again, and regaining her strength in her “healing room” at home.
We are profoundly grateful – to the veterinarians and staff at VEG who cared for her with such compassion, to our community of holistic veterinarians and herbalists who guided us in the fog of fear, and to all of you. Your prayers, advice, compassion, empathy, and simple words of encouragement meant more than you’ll ever know.
Lessons Learned
While we may never know exactly what triggered Madison’s crisis, we suspect a combination of stress and too much dry freeze-dried food without proper rehydration. For a cat prone to hairballs and sensitive digestion, that was enough to tip the scales.
What we do know is this:
Emergencies happen fast, and preparation matters. Know where the nearest ER clinic is before there’s an emergency at 4am.
Conventional medicine and holistic care can – and should – work hand in hand.
A strong support system is priceless when your heart is breaking.
Closing Thoughts
Caring for a sick cat is exhausting, scary, and emotional – but it also reminds us of the deep love and connection we share with them. Madison may not know just how many people were rooting for her, but we believe she feels it.
Thank you for being part of this beautiful community. We’ll continue to update everyone on our social channels as Madison returns to full health – but for now, we’re simply grateful to have our girl home, healing, and purring again.
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