Gibson Foley: Courage, Age, and Cat Anaesthesia in Brisbane

At nearly sixteen, Gibson Foley (also affectionately called Mr Gibbs,) carried himself with a dignity that made him unforgettable. He had lived through more than most with the adrenal tumour, hypothyroidism, diabetes, a pacemaker to keep his heart steady, and the slow ache of osteoarthritis that crept through his joints. He was fragile, complicated, and adored. His family had walked a long road of medical care, and by the time they came to me via referral from Dr Rachel at Cat Specialist Services in Brisbane, they were weary with worry but determined to do right by him.

We could not play it safe by standing still in this case. Gibson needed answers.

Anaesthetising senior pets is always a delicate balance, but Gibson raised the stakes. Every condition he carried was a risk multiplier: his pacemaker, his endocrine disease, his fragile age. To some, he might have looked “too old” or “too complicated.” But dismissing his needs wasn’t an option. For his family, and Dr Rachel, the question was not whether to intervene, but how to do so with the highest possible safety and compassion.

This was a story not of avoiding risk, but of managing it with foresight, preparation, and teamwork.

Cat anaesthesia in Brisbane often requires careful tailoring, but in Gibson’s case, it became an art of precision. I began with a full anaesthetic risk assessment, piecing together every detail of his clinical history. Nothing was assumed; everything was considered.

• Stage 1: Anaesthesia for CT is a diagnostic necessity to understand the adrenal tumour.
• Stage 2: Anaesthesia for adrenalectomy, a major abdominal surgery with high anaesthetic stakes.
• Stage 3: Post-operative pain management supporting Gibson beyond surgery, into the realities of senior life with arthritis and chronic disease.

Each stage demanded a different approach:

• Tailored protocols: Adjusting doses and drug choices to protect his heart, stabilise his endocrine system, and respect his age.
• Advanced monitoring: Continuous tracking of heart rhythms, oxygen, and depth of anaesthesia, with his pacemaker front of mind.
• Pain control: Layered analgesia to make sure he wasn’t just alive, but comfortable.
• Collaboration: Working side by side with Dr Rachel, aligning anaesthesia with feline medicine expertise.

The theatre was one of quiet concentration. Every adjustment was deliberate, every decision weighed. Anaesthesia wasn’t a backdrop to the surgery; it was an active partner in keeping Gibson safe.

Against the odds, Gibson tolerated both anaesthetic events beautifully. His CT gave clarity, his adrenalectomy gave him a fighting chance, and his recovery was smooth. In the weeks after, I continued to support his pain management, helping him move through his senior years with comfort and dignity.

For his family, the relief was profound. They had braced themselves for loss, but instead, they were met with more time to pat his head, watch him sunbathe, and love him in the everyday ways that matter most.