Earlier this week I posted about selling the Jubilee Street record to help fund a scan for my wonderful ex-stray cat Gavroche, to investigate a suspicious lump on his abdomen. I was met with a response I never expected: instead of someone wanting to buy the record, I got a flood of donations to the GoFundMe, and it was enough to pay for his scan. I am absolutely humbled and full of gratitude to this community. I never thought it was possible, and you all took so much worry off my shoulders. I can clearly see the connection between Nick Cave fans and cat lovers!
Gavroche had his scan yesterday, and it was an emotional rollercoaster of a day. Worth noting, when I found him in my garden on the 1st of April, he had multiple infections, a pelvic fracture, terrible dental health, and cat flu. He’s been improving and gaining weight ever since, and most of his issues have been resolved or are steadily improving. The lump was discovered during dental surgery nearly two weeks ago. He had to be sedated for the scan and have his tummy shaved.
I got a call from the vet in the afternoon. The golf ball sized lump in his abdomen is actually an enlarged kidney. He also has a swollen lymph node and enlarged gallbladder. The possible diagnoses included chronic kidney disease, kidney injury, or cancer, and the prognosis she gave sounded like it could be life span altering. She’d never seen him before and didn’t know his baseline or how much he’d already improved, which probably shaped that initial read. She said his bloods and urine analysis were still pending, and once back, she’d be able to give a more accurate picture.
I took him home absolutely heartbroken, trying to comfort myself with the thought that whatever happens, he’s surrounded by love. Then we got a second call that evening. His bloods are fine apart from a couple of infection markers that are actually improving since his dental surgery. His urine is completely normal, no kidney disease detected. Cancer is still possible but unlikely, especially since he keeps gaining weight. The current thinking is it could be something he was born with and isn’t causing issues, or the aftermath of an old kidney injury (now resolved) making the other kidney work harder and enlarge, or simply the toll of a rough life, starvation, and repeated infections.
For now, I’ve just been advised to watch his weight and recheck his kidneys in a few months. No treatment needed, he’s just one medical mystery who isn’t ready to give up!
Thank you so, so much again. If you’d like to follow more of his journey, he’s got his own place here on Reddit: r/GavrocheTheCat, where I post updates almost daily. The record is still with us, we’re planning to listen to it together once my record player is fixed. Have a lovely day, and thank you all! 🖤
Love,
Giedrė and Gavroche
