Yay, Sketch! I've had to deal with both types of visits to the vet -- the triumphant ones and the not-so-triumphant ones, and I'm happy your buddy is on the mend. Our Mallory never quite bounced back from the congestive heart failure -- she had a bunch of other complications -- and I would rather have gone through what she did than watch her again.

Continued good vibes and prayers from the Seattle area.

Posted by: Devin L. Ganger at February 2, 2005 11:00 AM

Glad to hear the good news. Any pet is like a family member, better yet they usually never give you grief and just have love for you. BTW: I don't rmemeber you ever stating how big Sketch is? My cat Keisi is a whopping 17 lbs....

Posted by: kilnpublications at February 2, 2005 11:00 AM

Very nice! I'm so glad to hear that Sketch is doing better. Hope Sketch has many, many more great years with the family.
-Delpha

Posted by: Autolycus at February 2, 2005 11:01 AM

Yay! I'm very very happy to hear the good news. I need to go home and hug my kitty tonight. Jeez, I've never met this cat or its owner and already my day is brightened.

I need to get out more.

Pax,
Matthew

Posted by: Matthew Ebel at February 2, 2005 11:02 AM

These are good news. I've been thinking of Sketch and you the hole time. I wish you the very best for the next time.

Posted by: Annie at February 2, 2005 11:03 AM

Glad to hear the great news -- cats do this thing where they crawl into your soul and you find you need them around way past the years they're given. I wish you and your furrball many years of joy to come.

Posted by: CyberSpryte at February 2, 2005 11:04 AM

Wil -

Yay for Sketch! I'm really glad to hear the good news. Give the little fuzz-ball a rub under the chin for me.

~ Dreamriver

Posted by: dreamriver at February 2, 2005 11:13 AM

I saw I forgot a letter. I ment I've been thinking of Sketch and you the whole time and not the hole time. :) sorry.

Posted by: Annie at February 2, 2005 11:15 AM

I'm really pleased to hear he's on the mend. I had to take my little guy to the vet last April and the news wasn't so as good - well, it was the worst. I understand the heartache you've been going through, but it looks like there's a happy outcome for you all! :-)

Eight lives left! And maybe you should campaign for people to use public transport, so if you ever need to make an emergency run again, there's not as much damn traffic!!!

Les

Posted by: LesFloyd at February 2, 2005 11:17 AM

Very happy to hear that this monkey isn't going to heaven any time soon.

Wait... was that a Pixies reference? oh yeeeeaaah...

Posted by: Rauck Stah at February 2, 2005 11:41 AM

Thanks for the updates, Wil. Glad to hear the little guy is getting better.

--T

Posted by: t_knotts at February 2, 2005 11:51 AM

Good for you, Wil and Sketch! Glad the mojo helped. (Pamela wondered which vet you went to...if it's Valley Veterinary Specialists, that's where her cousin works. Out here, our babies get their care from Alameda East Veterinary Hospital. Seen the Emergency Vets program on Discovery Animal Planet? That's the one.)

Incidentally, I also saw your first Onion A.V. Club column today. Rock rock on! Loved the tagline at the end, too.

Posted by: Erbo at February 2, 2005 11:52 AM

Awesome news. Go Sketch!

Posted by: Jason (xtra-rant.com) at February 2, 2005 12:01 PM

Oh, will, I'm so pleased for you. And Sketch, too! :D

Posted by: Kaytlyn LeBlanc at February 2, 2005 12:07 PM

Thanks for the update. I'm glad to hear sketch is
feeling better! Also, I hope the trip through the
rest of the woods is swift. Hang in there!

C

Posted by: carthies at February 2, 2005 12:11 PM

I'm so glad to hear that! I'm still rooting for the little guy. Good luck. =)

Posted by: Lilitu at February 2, 2005 12:14 PM

Sooner or later, we all end up crying while on the phone to the vet, sweetie. Just another part of being a cat parent.

I'm so happy for y'all. Hopefully, there will be more good news coming. We're still thinking about all of you and PK is napping the sun in Sketch's honor.

* Continueing Healing Kitty MOJO *

Posted by: Cookie at February 2, 2005 12:19 PM

Glad to hear Sketch is responding well to the medication. Still sending lots of good mojo his way (and yours)!

Posted by: Lisana at February 2, 2005 12:25 PM

Good to hear he's coming around. That lasix is strong medicine. My youngest went through several courses of it during her preemie days. You probably will be looking at daily pills for ol' Sketch. Talk to the vet tech for tips on getting them down. Our cat has arthritis, and stuffing those pills down isn't fun. She tolerates it now only because she knows she gets a few chewy treats afterwards (spoonful of sugar and all that).

Continued Mojo!

Posted by: AmyO at February 2, 2005 12:53 PM

Wil,

So glad Sketch is doing better. That is great news, and I cna see now that the MOJO has worked. Keep positive and give him lots of love when he gets home. (I know you will) After care may be tough, so hang in there! :)

Posted by: Quincey at February 2, 2005 12:53 PM

So glad all the MOJO has worked for Sketch Wil.

Keep positive, and allthough the after care may be tough, hang in there. Give him lots of extra loving when he comes home! :) (I know you will)

Posted by: Quincey at February 2, 2005 12:55 PM

I told Aloysius and Snuggles about Sketch and they have been sending good kitty vibes. I'm glad it's working and they will be too. Give him a hug from us.

Posted by: Lenora at February 2, 2005 12:57 PM

Glad to hear about the kitty. I know how hard it can be. I've gone through way too many pets.
That's why we now own a tortoise. Really. The little bugger will definitely out-live me. (If I ever get real mad at my kids, I'll change my will and leave all of my money to Frances, the tortoise.)

I, too, read the game review you wrote after your trip through The Onion's Time Tunnel. All I've got to say, Wil, is,
"Sometimes... a cactus is just a cactus!"

Chuck Field
chuckfield2003@yahoo.com

Posted by: Mr. Lizard at February 2, 2005 12:59 PM

Sketch can have all the *Mojo* I can Muster.. :)

Keith (Xgaming) Dick

Posted by: Keith Xgaming at February 2, 2005 01:03 PM

Wil, that's the best news I've heard all day!! Keeping the prayers and good thoughts up for Sketch. Believe it or not, there's a verse in the Psalms that talks about how God will take care of our animals. Jean-Luc sends lots of Kitty Mojo and purrs, too.

Wendy

Posted by: VoxyLady at February 2, 2005 01:09 PM

Super news. I have been spending more time with my cat lately...

Sounds like Sketch will pull through!

Posted by: Glyn Evans at February 2, 2005 01:13 PM

WAY TO GO SKETCH!! Our furry family is very relieved he's doing so well. He is very lucky to have such loving parents. Sending continued mojo his way for a complete recovery.

Posted by: Nutmegger at February 2, 2005 01:21 PM

That's good news, Wil. Glad to hear things are looking better for Sketch. Take care of yourself, too.

Posted by: watcher652 at February 2, 2005 01:24 PM

so he was very vocal huh....

makes me wonder if i take for granted hearing Julius (my cat) meow insistently before i'm ready to get up.

Posted by: dakabn at February 2, 2005 01:33 PM

Great news Wil! Now make sure you visit the old guy while he's there so he knows you are still around. When my cat was 2 he ended up on deaths door and I was faced with the possibility of making "the decision." I asked if I could go in and see him at the vet the night before I had to decide. I went in and loved on him for a bit and then went home devastated. Vet called the next day to say he'd made miraculous recovery and was able to come home. He lived another 14 years healthy and ornery as could be. But he was my baby till the end, and I'm glad to hear yours will be ok.

Posted by: macchelle at February 2, 2005 01:39 PM

I am so glad to hear the good news about your cat.
Sketch is still in my prayers and I hope he makes a complete recovery.

Posted by: JenniferB at February 2, 2005 01:43 PM

Keep it up, Sketch!
We're all pulling for you!

Posted by: shmadyle at February 2, 2005 01:49 PM

That's awesome news! So glad to hear the Fat Boy is better. Monkey Mojo did its job.

Posted by: lomara at February 2, 2005 01:49 PM

I've been following your writing for a while, but this is the first time I've been moved to comment.



This is a picture of my cat, Mallory, taken late last year. It shows him with a tube in his neck (not really gross, don't worry), through which we had to give him daily meds for about three months.



Short story is that when we moved to a new house, he freaked out and stopped eating completely. We have other cats, and free-feed, so we didn't notice until his weightloss became severe. His liver had shut down altogether, and he required a massive about of specialized care, but now, less than a year later, he's absolutely good as new.



Much love and good wishes to Sketch for a speedy recovery... :)

Posted by: Eric Rowe at February 2, 2005 02:02 PM

Good to hear Sketch is getting better! Still sending lots of kitty mojo for a full and speedy recovery! *kitty mojo kitty mojo*

Posted by: Constable_Geek at February 2, 2005 02:19 PM

That's so great, Wil! I'm so glad to hear Sketch is doing better!

Posted by: Shelley at February 2, 2005 02:21 PM

I guess Sketch isn't the kind of cat to leave a flaming bag of dog poop on death's door?

Posted by: owen at February 2, 2005 02:45 PM

See? I TOLD you that monkey mojo always works. :)
(Or maybe I posted it on teh Soapbox.)

Glad he's doing better.
Death sometimes has the voice of Norm MacDonald and sometimes has the voice of Adam Carola.

Posted by: AT at February 2, 2005 02:58 PM

Ahhhhhh....thanks for the update. I got online specifically to see if there was any word on the kitty. We're all still sending good thoughts and mojo Sketch's way.

Posted by: Thumper at February 2, 2005 02:58 PM

YAY for Sketch Kitty! :) So very glad he is doing better. You too Wil.

I'm thinkin' bout getting a Maine Coon myself. Glad to know that this is something to keep an eye out for.

I gotta feeling he is going to be kickin' kitty @$$ again very soon! :)

Jenga

Posted by: jenga at February 2, 2005 02:58 PM

My other kitties didn't seem too intersted when u told them about Sketch, but Shiro drooled happy purr drool on my arm, so he was probably sending the mojo. Glad to hear he's better

Posted by: Toriko at February 2, 2005 03:02 PM

I have been on the canine version on the roller coaster and am thankful the felines in my house are healthy. I brought home a 8 week rescued puppy who ended up with a horrible case of kennel cough not more than 5 hours after getting home. She was breathing fast, coughing, vomiting and couln't stand well--we did the emergency thing and started antibiotics immediately--we were hoping this would not turn into a life threatening pneumonia but were only given a 50/50. Well she responded to the 2nd antibiotic yesterday so I was feeling hopeful. Well my other dog, Tanner boo boo bear, began the same symptoms but he got sick way faster. Add two more visits. I have spent three days home from work and the past few nights asleep bu their dog crates to monitor their breathing. These are my babies, two cats two dogs. I don't think I have ever been so exhausted in my life and we are not out of the woods yet--this could go on for 2-6 more weeks. Als, the cats can get it if its bacterial, so I am trying to partition off the house. You made me feel like I wasn't alone in the pet love struggle--mojo to sketch, please return a little to Tanner and Chloe and think anti-infection thoughts for kitties Jasper (a coon cat) and SImba ( a gray domestic)--tx

Posted by: tracy at February 2, 2005 03:14 PM

that is great! my vet totally saved one of my bunnies' life a few years ago. let's hear it for vets! sounds like sketch is one tough kitty and totally looking forward to more fun with his family.

Posted by: arifa at February 2, 2005 03:44 PM

ST needs a hiatus (Score:5, Interesting)
http://slashdot.org/articles/05/02/02/2114206.shtml?tid=129&tid=214 .. Or, they could just hire Wil Wheaton as the next captain - playing a different character than Wesley Crusher, natch - give him a starship, and set him loose ..

[max] ce matin, j'ai ce trouvé sur l'internet .. ^_^ if there is going to be another (i do hope there is), will wil rise up to take the challenge? ..

Posted by: rmacapobre at February 2, 2005 04:34 PM

oh, Sketch is going to be fine, i just know it. Sketch's going to be awesome. cats can be such fighters! and that comedy sketch is going to be awesome too! you HAVE to write one about Sketch, it would be so good. good luck with everything

Posted by: Jessie at February 2, 2005 04:58 PM

I'm glad to hear that Sketch is doing much better. I thought it was the end of the world when my kitty went into kidney failure. That was 5 years ago and she is still kicking it kitty style.

You made my mind twist around with the fact that every time they said 'sketch' it made you tear up. I had an odd flash of someone naming their cat 'cancer' and the opposite situation happening. :)

Posted by: TrshTwns01 at February 2, 2005 05:12 PM

I think I know just how happy you are, my dog recently went missing and then got found again, so I know what a rollcoaster you are on. I'll keep sending mojo Sketches way and hopefully I will get some in return for the jobs I am going for at the moment. Good luck Wil, Family and of course, Sketch.

Posted by: bananasontoast at February 2, 2005 05:32 PM

Sketch (and Staff),

Keep up the healing, we are all glad to hear the good news!

Ping, Copper, Mr. Bojangles, Domino and their staff :-)

Posted by: TimCalif at February 2, 2005 05:35 PM

I don't know why, but something in me objects to the pronoun for death being capitalized. Maybe we should refer to death as hE and hIM.

At any rate, I'm so very glad to hear that Sketch still has 9 lives left. Keep your chin up.

Posted by: dkgoodman at February 2, 2005 06:05 PM

Wil, hang in there. Our coven is sending Reiki energy to Sketch, and has lit some candles to help him through this crisis and to help him improve over the long run. It isn't over til it's over. Blessings to all of your family.

Posted by: ooblick at February 2, 2005 07:02 PM

That's great news! I was thinking about Sketch when Midnight was on my lap purring and doing that thing with his paws and Cody was laying next to me.

Posted by: mike3k at February 2, 2005 07:04 PM

I lost my best (animal) buddy about 6 months ago. He and I grew up together and one day he became lethargic and didn't eat. I took him to the vet who ran some tests and said he was fine. Tigger passed away that evening. So seeing how much better Sketch is doing makes me feel very good!

Posted by: pyrofenix at February 2, 2005 07:11 PM

My hat's off to your cat. I'm glad he's pulling through.

Posted by: Eddie at February 2, 2005 07:20 PM

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Sketch...my thoughts are with you and your family at this time

Posted by: Emz at February 2, 2005 07:23 PM

OK folks, I've never posted on here before ("long time reader, first time poster..." and all that trite nonsense) but this entry has me tentatively emerging from the posting closet as it were.

Many moons ago back in jolly old England I had a cat called Sally. There was a definite lack of creativity in naming her, and I believe it was that which caused her to expend such hatred and vitriol on the world in general throughout her entire life. Still, we loved her and lavished her with affection, admittedly with small breaks to allow our scars to heal. She was a real scrapper; any animal living in our neighbourhood smaller than, say, a water buffalo was in constant mortal danger. The only thing in her life that Sally really held any affection for was one of my best friends from college, Ian. Maybe they were kindred spirits or something, although I don't remember Ian killing that many small furry creatures. But I digress.

Sally had many near-misses in her life, including but not limited to:


1) Going head-to-head with a speeding car. Her bottom jaw split down the middle and was driven 1" back into her head. Rush to the emergency room, jaw wired, recuperation, and nothing other than a tendancy to drool to show for it,


2) Being trapped in a neighbours greenhouse by an automatic roof vent for two weeks. Severe dehydration, starvation and kidney failure. Sheer malevolence kept her going long enough to get her to the vet and get some fluids pushed into her. Nothing other than an increased level of background loathing to show for it,

3) Eating one of our dogs worming tablets out of his food bowl. It should be noted that our dog was a large Golden Labrador, and she was a tiny Tortoiseshell cat. She was stoned for a good 72 hours after eating it, but suffered no lasting effects other than a whole new appreciation for Pink Floyd.

Anyway, at the grand old age of fourteen she developed congestive heart failure. We took her to the Vet and he put on his heavyweight leather gloves and gave her an examination. The news we'd all feared was pronounced, that her heart was failing, and we asked whether there was anything we could do. He said that other than the congestive heart failure she was in excellent health, and that a course of diuretics and a 'cardiac enhancer' (I can't remember the name of the drug, but it may well have been Lasix) could give her another six months of life. Despite her best efforts we loved her very much and decided to go with the medication.

That little furry ball-o-hate went on until she was nineteen years old before she went to that hunting ground in the sky. I suspect she's there terrorizing the spirits of Sabre Toothed Tigers to this day.

Now I'm not suggesting that Sketch is anything like our Sally was. Indeed, listening to you talk about him it sounds like he's Sally's direct karmic opposite! Either way, I'd just like to say "It ain't over until it's over." He's loved and cared for, and will likely be keeping you all company for many years yet.

Best wishes, and give him a snifter of the good hydroponic cat-nip from me when he gets home :)

We now return you to your regular posters.

Posted by: Neil at February 2, 2005 07:28 PM

Continued good thoughts and hugs to your poor lil fat kitty. I have four furry babies that are the joy of my life and I would be an utter wreck to have to go through this with any of them. Sounds like Sketch is being stubborn and I just know he will be around to snuggle and bug you for a while yet. :)

Posted by: wynk at February 2, 2005 09:52 PM

Hey Wil, You should post a picture of you and sketch on buzznet. Im sure that sketch would get alot of monkey-kitty mojo from the users there also.

Posted by: Siggy at February 2, 2005 10:29 PM

I'm so glad to hear that Sketch is getting better. Honestly there is nothing better when you can curl up with your cat on a cold night.I'm sure he will be there for you for many many more nights to come.

Posted by: Jellkica at February 2, 2005 11:44 PM

That's great news! Responding well to the lasix is HUGE for Sketch's recovery! And so is taking him out of the oxygen incubator! All this good kitty mojo is working! Yay! Hope Sketch is home with you and your family VERY soon! It's just not the same when they're not curled up on your bed, is it?

Posted by: Danielle at February 3, 2005 05:13 AM

Labor Day of 2003, my little Theo turned up with what I thought was an abscess and turned out to be vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma. The long-term survival rate for this type of cancer is very low, but we did everything we could for her as quickly as we could, and today she is a happy, healthy, bitchy, odds-defying little cat. You are obviously deeply caring pet owners, and it sounds like Sketch is in good hands with you and your vet.

Sketch is a tough little kitty. All the very best wishes and thoughts for him and all of you.

Posted by: TryWhistlingThis at February 3, 2005 06:40 AM

dude not only will sketch doorbell Death... he'll leave a flaming bag of crap on there for death to step in, and mess up his big ass skeleton feet. and it'll be frickin hilarious.

Posted by: Justin Hall at February 3, 2005 06:40 AM

Yippee and yayness...glad to hear that Sketch is doing better. I told my four (!) cats to send him good kitty mojo, so I guess it must've worked.

Posted by: littlenicola at February 3, 2005 08:21 AM

i have a kitty that could use some mojo. I had to take my Tigger to the vets yesterday. We are still awaiting the results of some blood work but its not good.

Posted by: Dianne at February 3, 2005 09:46 AM

So glad it's looking better.
*Scraping the last little bit of mojo and throwing it your way*

Posted by: griff at February 3, 2005 09:59 AM

Sketch:

I'm so glad to hear you are doing better! Congestive Heart Failure is very treatable, you'll pee like crazy with the diuretic but you'll feel much better for it. I'm so glad you are eating again and communicating with the people around you. I'll still send lots of mojo your way every morning. It's like ketchup, can't ever have too much of it.

Wil and Anne:

We are here for you guys anytime!

Posted by: Ana Marylee at February 3, 2005 10:18 AM

Yay! The fuzz buddies and I are really glad to hear that Sketch is feeling better!

Posted by: noahmotionn at February 9, 2005 11:37 AM

Best of luck Wil. He's sure to pull through just fine, given his remarkable progress. Soon your Sketch bubben will be back at home, chasing phantoms, as usual :)

Posted by: Sarah Houghton at February 11, 2005 06:05 PM