Wrigley is a ten year orange long haired kitty and he is absolutely wonderful. I first met Wrigley when his caregivers asked me to check on him because they noted he lost weight. One of the problems we run into at Best Friends in our multi-cat settings is that we can’t always tell right away who is eating and who isn’t, who vomited up that hairball and who had that nasty diarrhea in the pan. As a veterinarian in this situation it is very helpful when the caregivers can monitor body weight as an indication of overall well being. In Wrigley’s case this certainly paid off. As far as anyone could tell Wrigley had been eating and acting completely normal. However he did lose weight over about a month. On his exam he was spry enough but I could feel a mass in his abdomen. I was worried.

I ran some blood tests that were normal. I also took radiographs. It appeared the mass involved the spleen and there was no obvious evidence of spread to the lungs. I talked to Wrigley’s primary caregivers and we agreed that surgery was the next step. The following week I took Wrigley to surgery for an abdominal exploratory. Wrigley was a stable patient but I was worried that I would find a non-resectable cancer. Luckily I found a large mass on his spleen that was very easy to remove. We were still not out of the woods because more often than not these masses are malignant meaning that it will spread regardless of what I do in surgery. The spleen was removed without a hitch! To be thorough I explored the remainder of the abdomen and “ran” the gastrointestinal tract (I carefully felt everything from the stomach to the rectum). I was surprised when I found yet another mass involving the stomach. This mass was too large and in a difficult place to fully remove so I took a biopsy. Wrigley recovered very well – there were no complications.

Several days later we had our results. The spleen came back as a benign tumor! Unfortunately the stomach biopsy came back as cancer: lymphoma. We were all very saddened by this news but trying to be optimistic, lymphoma is one of the most chemotherapeutic responsive cancers in companion animals. Wrigley is a good candidate for chemotherapy because he remains strong and feeling well. However, because of the nature of the sanctuary he would be in a group setting where he is not as easily watched and he would be very susceptible to infection (respiratory and ring worm especially) once his chemotherapy began. I think we came up with a pretty good compromise. We elected to keep him at Happy Landings – our medical building in the cat area where he could have free roam in the lobby during the day and pretty much all the human attention to himself! I wasn’t sure if this was going to work for Wrigley – I wanted his quality of life to be good, not just prolong his life with medication.

I contacted one of the specialists I worked with back in Pennsylvania to discuss Wrigley’s condition, biopsy results and his FIV positive status (Click here for more information on Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). I wanted to make sure that the FIV infection would not hinder his response to or his tolerance of the chemotherapy. I got the answer I was looking for – the internist has had good luck in the past with similar cases and was currently treating a cat with FIV and that cat was doing great! So it looks like we have a plan to try and give Wrigley the best shot he has at putting the lymphoma in remission. We know that he has a terminal disease… but he doesn’t… so we will give him as many good days as we possibly can. Wrigley is an awesome cat that I have loved from the moment I started working with him. He needs a whole lot of guardian angel good love and good wishes sent his way… let’s start them coming in.

November 19, 2009 : 5:37 PM ET
posted by: buzz4us

What a beautiful cat you are. I hope and pray that you respond to your treatment and have many more years to run & play. You are in good hands.

November 13, 2009 : 9:22 PM ET
posted by: a.rabbitmom

So sorry to hear that you are ill, Wrigley. But I know in my heart that you are in the best possible hands and everyone is going to do everything they can to make sure you are taken care of. I will keep you in my thoughts, sweet kitty.

November 8, 2009 : 10:43 PM ET
posted by: sandyj

I am so sorry to read about Wrigley. Is there any way he can get treated with homeopathics or natural treatments for what he has? It may help some. I will keep him in my prayers too, he looks like a sweet spirited cat.

November 8, 2009 : 2:33 PM ET
posted by: regansbox

I hope you're around to spray our stuff for many more years, Wrigley!

November 8, 2009 : 11:05 AM ET
posted by: skya

Prayers and positive energy coming your way for the best possible outcome, Wrigley. >^..^<

November 7, 2009 : 3:28 PM ET
posted by: bprincell

Sweet Wrigley...I will pray for you.

November 6, 2009 : 9:23 PM ET
posted by: mattie

Wrigley- Room 2 cannot possibly be the same without you to pee in the dustpan the minute an unwary volunteer turns her back! i know you do it to 'own' everything around you, and you do own something much, much better than a dustpan, wrigs - you clearly own the hearts of a lot of people! if i wasn't doing chemo of my own right now, i'd be out there for my bi-annual visit and taking you out to enjoy the sunshine. you are a big, beautiful lion - king of happy landings now, from the sound of it. i look forward to the smiles and laughter you always brought out in me... a big cyber-hug till i can bring you a real one in june. be well, handsome. love, valerie

November 6, 2009 : 12:31 PM ET
posted by: TrinsMom

Bless you sweet Wrigley.

We are dealing with the same disease at our house. Our Kita was diagnosed with intestinal lymphoma 3 months ago and has been on chemo ever since.

Good luck Wrigley... and bless all your care takers. This diease is a roller coaster. We pray for a quick remission for you and also a cure for this nasty disease.

Love, Meg & Kita

November 6, 2009 : 9:42 AM ET
posted by: chattykatty

Such a deserving kitty for the Guardian Angel program. He's also a lucky guy to have Dr. Patti in his corner.

We visited Wrigley last week in Happy Landings and also took him on a lengthy walk. He does really well in his harness and walks at a pretty good clip. Here is a link to some of the photos and video we took during our visit:

http://network.bestfriends.org/groups/bffp/forum/p/32968/146824.aspx#146824

If anyone can win this battle, it's Wrigley.

November 5, 2009 : 9:38 PM ET
posted by: Squeakie42

What a beautiful boy, who deserves the best shot at defeating this nasty disease. I have lost two dear kitties to lymphoma -- rescues who were so similar that we were convinced they had had the same mother -- and hate to see any other cat dwindle away like this. Best wishes, dear Wrigley.

November 5, 2009 : 7:49 PM ET
posted by: kjgtaylor

Wrigley, dear, you hang in there. I, too, lost a boy to lymphoma and know how awful a disease it is, but you've got the best doctors taking care of you! Know that we're all thinking of you. Kisses precious boy.

November 5, 2009 : 7:40 PM ET
posted by: luvctas4

You got it, lots of good love and wishes coming his way. So sad to hear this news but I like how you put it, "we know he has a terminal disease.....he doesn't......". I'm glad he doesn't and all he'll know is that he's getting lots of the best care possible. We're adding him to our prayers.

November 5, 2009 : 5:56 PM ET
posted by: babs1171

What a BEAUTIFUL guy he is! I'm praying that the treatments go well and Wrigley recovers to be adopted into a forever home. He is SOOOO PRETTY!

November 5, 2009 : 5:42 PM ET
posted by: leevc2

Wrigley, you are one special, beautiful kitty whom I fell in love when I met you for the first time in 2007. I wish you all the courage and healing possible in your most scary endeavor of your life. I will be monitoring your progress and praying for a good outcome and for peace to you. Keep those beautiful blue eyes shining in Happy Landings.

November 5, 2009 : 4:22 PM ET
posted by: ktsmom

Wrigley, what a handsome boy you are. All our best thoughts and prayers are coming your way. Much love, Gloria and my little orange kitty, Katie

November 5, 2009 : 3:38 PM ET
posted by: respectedone

Welcome, handsome.

You have my best wishes zooming at you. Good luck!

November 5, 2009 : 11:28 AM ET
posted by: watsonsmom

Hi There Wrigley, well you have come to the right place, the prayers and wishes of the GA folks will work wonders on you!! We are all right behind you rooting for your recovery. Watson says welcome to GA!!

November 5, 2009 : 10:31 AM ET
posted by: grantandnan

Hi Wrigley,

What a handsome fellow you are! We lost our beloved cat Phoebe to lymphoma so we know you have a long road ahead - but you couldn't be in better hands. You'll be in our prayers and we send you our love and good wishes.

November 5, 2009 : 8:55 AM ET
posted by: lld

Welcome Wrigley to the GA program! I've been keeping tabs on you from Kitty Mo for a while, so I am happy we will get regular updates on you. I am sending all good and positive thoughts your way handsome boy! (Love your beautiful blue eyes!) Keep strong, you are in the best possible place to get treatment. Huge hugs and kisses to you sweet boy!

November 4, 2009 : 11:01 PM ET
posted by: bordercolliemom

You are so beautiful dear Wrigley. May the time you have be filled with love. You are in good hands and miracles do happen. Good luck.

November 4, 2009 : 9:12 PM ET
posted by: mxipp

Hi Wrigley! I'm so sorry to hear of your medical problems, but know that you are getting the very best care possible. And you've got an army of GA's out here pulling for you!

November 4, 2009 : 8:08 PM ET
posted by: wycheck fan

What a handsome cat you are, Wrigley--and by all the folks who love you there, you're one special guy!! Welcome to the GA program! We'll be behind you all the way!

November 4, 2009 : 7:30 PM ET
posted by: sophistikathryn

Luck and lots of good wishes seem to be on this guy's side. That Wrigley's caregivers noticed and took action on his weight loss; that Dr. Patti was so thorough and identified another, more serious problem; that he's in good hands at Best Friends and in the GA program...all of these things are giving Wrigley a better chance at a longer, happier life. I'll be keeping this guy, with his ginger coat and big eyes, in my thoughts as he begins his treatment program.

November 4, 2009 : 6:15 PM ET
posted by: Dogmom

Wrigley! Wow, what timing. My dog, Jack, was just diagnosed with lymphoma 3 weeks ago, and we weren't sure he could handle chemo because he has heart disease (darn those underlying conditions!). I was literally beside myself trying to decide what was best for him - this was a very hard decision. Now that we're 3 weeks in, he's actually handling the chemo quite well so far.

We'll think good thoughts for you, sweet Wrigley! Hang in there, buddy. Dr. Patti will take the best possible care of you. We'll track your progress and send you loving thoughts and prayers.

If anyone is interested, Jack has his own website to tell his story with lymphoma, including a blog of his progress through chemo. The address is www.leaningdog.com.

November 4, 2009 : 5:19 PM ET
posted by: rookie

Good luck Wrigley. My thoughts are with you. You're in great hands with Dr. Patti and staff !

November 4, 2009 : 4:48 PM ET
posted by: toniezell

My dear little man - we will be praying for you. Chemo is not fun but know that people love you and will be cheering you on!!!

November 4, 2009 : 4:04 PM ET
posted by: meowlam

Dr. Patti, you've got me in tears here!

What a gorgeous, and lucky, boy Wrigley is, to be cared for by you and the rest of the BF staff.

Sending lots of good thoughts from CA to UT.

November 4, 2009 : 3:12 PM ET
posted by: ODIE'SMOM

GOOD LUCK WRIGLEY ON YOUR TOUGH FIGHT AHEAD. YOU LOOK GREAT SO I HOPE THIS WILL BE JUST ANOTHER 9 LIVES FOR A VERY SPECIAL CAT.

November 4, 2009 : 2:32 PM ET
posted by: lmiller

Here is my hope for Wrigley that he days he has left are pain free and if they are not many that they be grand.

November 4, 2009 : 2:10 PM ET
posted by: czimmer671

We love you already Wrigley!! You have all our good wishes!