Pirate Cat, the famed feline swashbuckler of the Monon Trail, is sick. And no, it's not scurvy. Amanda Cancilla, owner of the sea dog (or should we say sea cat?), said Pirate Cat has been diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney failure.

Cancilla said Pirate Cat, who is around 10 years old, has been dealing with kidney disease for the past couple years. He was put on a special diet in December 2017 to help his kidneys, but the disease has been progressing.

While Pirate Cat has gone through testing and has been given medicine, Cancilla said vets aren't certain how much longer he has left on the high seas.

"I'm very sad about it," Cancilla said. "We're doing what we can to help him as much as possible."

Meet Pirate Cat: The Monon Trail's most hornswaggling pillager

But Pirate Cat is no land lubber. He's roamed more than 1,000 miles in the last year. He's met and posed for pictures with hundreds of first mates during his daily walks along the Monon Trail. He's even been arrested.

So while the diagnosis might seem grim, Pirate Cat won't be chained to his brig any time soon.

"We're still letting him go outside because that's what makes him happy," Cancilla said. "He'd be miserable if he was inside, and I don't want him to be even more miserable than he already is."

You can stay updated on Pirate Cat's condition by joining the more than 4,000 hearties who follow his adventures on his Facebook page @TheOnlyPirateCat.

Contact Pulliam Fellow Emily Sabens at esabens@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter @emilysabens.