Pet(s): Photos & Discussion

[Mindthinkr]

@EighteenTwelve Higs for you as I know it was a difficult decision. Purrs from the Mindthinkr kitties. 
 

BB’s eye is doing much better since he started the two eye drops. The red ring is beginning to disappear. He goes back at the end of the month for another eye pressure check, but I’m hopeful. 

[Scarlett45]

11 minutes ago, EighteenTwelve said:

I just made Lily's euthanasia appointment for Tuesday.  I think her kidneys have finally had enough. 

Tuesday is her 16th birthday.  It was the soonest appointment I could get.

I’m so sorry. May you all have a lovely week together. We have all been there. I’m so sorry. 
 

9 minutes ago, SuprSuprElevated said:

Damn.  So sorry.  Just remember that this is the most loving thing you can do for her, albeit torturous for you.  ~namaste~

So true. 

[Mondrianyone]

On 6/17/2022 at 12:52 AM, luv2lurk said:

@Mondrianyone I would love to know how your Tortie got named after a type of cheese.

After we had to put our dog down, my husband, who was especially bonded with her, said he couldn't do it again, no more pets. This wasn't going to go over with me, so I wheedled and cajoled for a couple of months till I managed to talk him into a cat. (Which makes no sense, since he's more of the cat person and I'm more of a dog person, but whatever . . .)

So my friend, who believes it's her personal mission to find a pet for everyone she knows--and even a few people she doesn't know--escorted me (in handcuffs) to the shelter, and I immediately zeroed in on the cat I wanted, a sweet, beautiful Tortie. Her shelter name was Bree, and I jokingly said I needed to come up with a permanent name that was also cheese-related (even though I knew perfectly well that the cheese is Brie with an i and that Bree was the name of Jane Fonda's character in Klute). The shelter guide who was with us, who didn't realize I was kidding, asked me what cheese I thought I'd name her for, and the first name that popped into my head was Fontina.

My husband was out of town for all this, and when he got home, he instantly fell in love with her--"But that stupid name has to go!" I said he had every right to name her, since he'd given in on getting a cat. Eight years later and she's still Fontina. It's actually the perfect name for a cat whose two people make their living in publishing, what with the first syllable being "font." And you can guess what her favorite cheese is.

Edited June 22, 2022 by Mondrianyone

[nokat]

On 6/21/2022 at 10:37 AM, SoMuchTV said:

Get a flea comb - they're very fine toothed.  Have a container of water nearby. 

Yes to this. Soapy water. You comb and dip.

24 minutes ago, EighteenTwelve said:

I just made Lily's euthanasia appointment for Tuesday.  I think her kidneys have finally had enough. 

Tuesday is her 16th birthday.  It was the soonest appointment I could get.

So many hugs. It hurts.

[MargeGunderson]

I’m so sorry, @EighteenTwelve. It’s such a hard decision to make, but it comes from your deep love for Lily. We are all here for you. 

[EighteenTwelve]

Or not…I came home and she immediately followed me into the bathroom, demanding dinner, which she’s putting a serious dent in. I called the vet back and they said let them know how she is on Monday.

[Leeds]

3 hours ago, EighteenTwelve said:

I just made Lily's euthanasia appointment for Tuesday.  I think her kidneys have finally had enough. 

Tuesday is her 16th birthday.  It was the soonest appointment I could get.

I'm so sorry.  Such a dreadful decision to have to make.  As I hope you can tell, so much support from those of us here.

[SuprSuprElevated]

2 hours ago, EighteenTwelve said:

Or not…I came home and she immediately followed me into the bathroom, demanding dinner, which she’s putting a serious dent in. I called the vet back and they said let them know how she is on Monday.

I have had a bit of a rollercoaster year with my 16-yr old KD kitty also.  One week of thinking the end has come followed by 2 weeks of she seems good.  It's very stressful.  I'm mindful of the notion that a day too soon is better than a day too late, but... 😽

[Suzn]

They break your heart and yet I never hesitate  to love another cat or dog.  Just reading this thread is often heartbreaking, but there is always another joy too.

[Scarlett45]

Update on Cavendish- his levels are going down and he looks to be doing better. His urine is still bloody but they are going to keep giving him IV fluids. I hope he can come home tomorrow or Friday. 
 

I just want him fixed and back with me. And of course Lady Reese who’s been with him her entire life. 

[nokat]

6 hours ago, SuprSuprElevated said:

I have had a bit of a rollercoaster year with my 16-yr old KD kitty also.  One week of thinking the end has come followed by 2 weeks of she seems good.  It's very stressful.  I'm mindful of the notion that a day too soon is better than a day too late, but... 😽

Yes, is it too soon? We don't want them to suffer.

[Scarlett45]

I got this photo of Cavendish from the night team. I’m gonna call and check on him this morning. 
 

Edited to add- he ate last night!

[Leeds]

1 hour ago, Scarlett45 said:

I got this photo of Cavendish from the night team. I’m gonna call and check on him this morning. 
 

Edited to add- he ate last night!

I really don't like all the new "reaction" buttons -- do I choose hugs or sad?  So posting this to say both.

Edited June 23, 2022 by Leeds

[Scarlett45]

Thank you @Leeds

Heres a photo I received this morning. They say they will check his levels again this evening and if they are good and his urine isn’t bloody the catheter will come out. 

[MargeGunderson]

Kitties always look so defeated when they wear the cone of shame. I’m so glad Cavendish is improving. 

[Scarlett45]

1 minute ago, MargeGunderson said:

Kitties always look so defeated when they wear the cone of shame. I’m so glad Cavendish is improving. 

My Mom calls it the “cone of safety”🥰.

[nokat]

I'm probably using the new avatars too much. I'm happy Cavendish is recovering.

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, nokat said:

I'm probably using the new avatars too much. I'm happy Cavendish is recovering.

I feel like I am too but isn't that what they're there for?

[nokat]

1 hour ago, peacheslatour said:

I feel like I am too but isn't that what they're there for?

I'll take all of the love and hugs I can get. Gives Peaches a big hug. I love seeing people's pets because that is a source of nonjudgmental love.

[peacheslatour]

5 minutes ago, nokat said:

I'll take all of the love and hugs I can get. Gives Peaches a big hug. I love seeing people's pets because that is a source of nonjudgmental love.

(((nokat)))

[MargeGunderson]

3 minutes ago, nokat said:

I'll take all of the love and hugs I can get. Gives Peaches a big hug. I love seeing people's pets because that is a source of nonjudgmental love.

Oh, Parker is a very judgmental cat. Of course it’s all dependent on whether you will feed or pet her on demand. If you would do that, she will judge you worthy.

Parker, judging:

[nokat]

55 minutes ago, MargeGunderson said:

Oh, Parker is a very judgmental cat. Of course it’s all dependent on whether you will feed or pet her on demand. If you would do that, she will judge you worthy.

Parker, judging:

A real beauty. My friend's cat would try making love with my shoes, so if Parker doesn't do that, I'll approve.

[nokat]

I used to cat sit for a friend, as in doing litter box and food duties for a week. I'd walk in the house twice a day and that cat would wrap itself around my legs.  I'm trying to walk here so I can get your food.  She was a real lovey.

[Jaded]

15 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

My Mom calls it the “cone of safety”🥰.

A foster who's kitten cam I used to watch named Foster Dad John calls it the "Cone of Awesome".

[MargeGunderson]

4 hours ago, Jaded said:

A foster who's kitten cam I used to watch named Foster Dad John calls it the "Cone of Awesome".

One of my cats was convinced that she couldn’t walk when she wore a cone. We had to pick her up and carry to her food, etc. and basically hold her all the time. So maybe it really was the cone of awesome to her (she was a needy cuddler at the best of times)!

[Scarlett45]

Update on Cavendish-

I was due to get him this morning but I didn’t get the all clear and was told to await the daytime vet call  

Just talked to the vet, he’s getting better but his urine isn’t as clear as they would like (should be yellow and it’s still pink) and they wanted to know what else I would like to do, would I want to keep him on fluids another 12hrs because of finances etc.

I said “I have spent this money to keep the cat alive, whats another 12hrs of fluids to be sure he’s healed up.”

So they are doing that, and the goal is to get him tomorrow, as 12hrs from now is 10pm and I’m not going to pick him up at 1am at night cause that’s silly and not safe for ME.

He is eating well, he is loving the attention and he looks normal accept for the cone!

[MargeGunderson]

Aw, I’m sorry he’s not coming home today, but erring on the side of caution is never a bad idea.

[bilgistic]

He has such a sweet face!

[Scarlett45]

Cavendish is HOME!

He will be spending the next two days in the guest room so 1. He won’t get stressed out, 2. I can monitor his urine output. 
 

I am officially BROKE AS HELL- but so happy!

[Mindthinkr]

10 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

Cavendish is HOME!

He will be spending the next two days in the guest room so 1. He won’t get stressed out, 2. I can monitor his urine output. 
 

I am officially BROKE AS HELL- but so happy!

I hope he continues to recover. I’m so glad to hear he is home. It will be less stressful for him in his home surroundings and smells. 
Broke is not the worst outcome that could have happened. 
 Best wishes moving forward. 

[Scarlett45]

4 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

I hope he continues to recover. I’m so glad to hear he is home. It will be less stressful for him in his home surroundings and smells. 
Broke is not the worst outcome that could have happened. 
 Best wishes moving forward. 

He is worth every penny spent! 🥰 I’m thankful I could afford it!

[Suzn]

1 hour ago, Scarlett45 said:

Cavendish is HOME!

He will be spending the next two days in the guest room so 1. He won’t get stressed out, 2. I can monitor his urine output. 
 

I am officially BROKE AS HELL- but so happy!

I'm so glad your boy is home and recovering!😊

[bilgistic]

Give him scritches and headbonks from my girls and me!

[Gramto6]

So glad to hear Cavendish is on the mend and at home.

[Scarlett45]

Cavendish is eating! And he ate two of his pills in the pill pocket (still holding out for the 3rd, has his gabopentine in it- I will check back to see if he ate that). I will get the hang of making them smaller so he will want to eat them. 

[Scarlett45]

Cavendish is eating, drinking, he has been taking his pills in the pocket (I finally got the hang of it). 
 

So after morning meds tomorrow he can come out of the guest room and socialize with us all like normal. 
 

For those of you that have had a multi-cat household, with one member on a special diet- do you feed everyone the same thing? Separate them for feelings? They eat pretty quickly (which is good because Cosmo would eat their food), so I could feed Cavendish in the bathroom during Cosmo’s morning and evening walk- but I wanted to ask. Thank you!

[Mindthinkr]

Just now, Scarlett45 said:

Cavendish is eating, drinking, he has been taking his pills in the pocket (I finally got the hang of it). 
 

So after morning meds tomorrow he can come out of the guest room and socialize with us all like normal. 
 

For those of you that have had a multi-cat household, with one member on a special diet- do you feed everyone the same thing? Separate them for feelings? They eat pretty quickly (which is good because Cosmo would eat their food), so I could feed Cavendish in the bathroom during Cosmo’s morning and evening walk- but I wanted to ask. Thank you!

Sorry I don’t have any good advice for you, but I’m confident that you will make it work. 

[Scarlett45]

1 minute ago, Mindthinkr said:

Sorry I don’t have any good advice for you, but I’m confident that you will make it work. 

You’re so sweet I appreciate the vote of encouragement. 
 

I’ve been doing some research, and I’m going to order a case of the prescription food as soon as I confirm which flavors he will eat, but I have also read that the Weruva chicken base is good for cats with urinary issues. I will likely buy a case of that too and feed it to Lady Reese, so just in case he eats some it won’t hurt him. The Dr said it might take him a while to adjust to the new food, so it was okay to mix, but he’s eating it. 

[SoMuchTV]

5 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

Cavendish is eating, drinking, he has been taking his pills in the pocket (I finally got the hang of it). 
 

So after morning meds tomorrow he can come out of the guest room and socialize with us all like normal. 
 

For those of you that have had a multi-cat household, with one member on a special diet- do you feed everyone the same thing? Separate them for feelings? They eat pretty quickly (which is good because Cosmo would eat their food), so I could feed Cavendish in the bathroom during Cosmo’s morning and evening walk- but I wanted to ask. Thank you!

At one point I had one cat who was on some kind of weight control diet. The other two got fed on the island; the chubbo couldn’t jump up there. More recently my”indoor feral” needed  special food. Fortunately we had a room she could be put in for mealtimes. Then the other one developed issues that needed basically the same prescription foods, but they they still pretty much respect each other’s spaces. I’m not sure that helps much if you have cats that are used to hanging out and eating together. 

[Scarlett45]

5 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

At one point I had one cat who was on some kind of weight control diet. The other two got fed on the island; the chubbo couldn’t jump up there. More recently my”indoor feral” needed  special food. Fortunately we had a room she could be put in for mealtimes. Then the other one developed issues that needed basically the same prescription foods, but they they still pretty much respect each other’s spaces. I’m not sure that helps much if you have cats that are used to hanging out and eating together. 

Thanks though. Yes they hang out and eat together, but Cavendish is so big (16lbs) and Lady Reese is so small (9)- I KNOW he’s taking some of her food because I have been MEASURING it each meal and Cavendish hasn’t lost any weight until his hospital stay!(but both Cosmo and I have lost weight SO my portion control is working for someone).

I just want to make sure Lady Reese gets enough, and he doesn’t eat anything that will hurt him. 

[SoMuchTV]

14 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

but Cavendish is so big (16lbs)

Whoa!  The kitty you’ve been sharing all these pics of is 16 lbs?? The camera is very kind to him!

[Suzn]

2 hours ago, SoMuchTV said:

Whoa!  The kitty you’ve been sharing all these pics of is 16 lbs?? The camera is very kind to him!

16 pounds!  That is a big kitty and he doesn't look fat so he must have a big frame!

[Jaded]

Glad Cavendish is doing better. If your on Facebook they have a really good group there for advice regarding FLUTD (It's actually called Feline Lower Urinary Tract). They ask people to post copies of any recent lab results in your first post. There are quite a few people there that can analyze them and give advice on supplements along with other things that can be done for cats to help with keeping things flowing smoothly. I feel bad for boy cats especially due to their situation of having really narrow urethras.

The group I mentioned was originally a large Yahoo one apparently and moved to FB not long before the Yahoo Groups shut down permanently quite a few years ago.

My cat Captain has a stent in his which was something done because of his urinary issues. The vet said his was narrower then the average male cat. He's done well since. 

I wish the camera was as kind to me as it is to Cavendish. 

[Bastet]

1 hour ago, Jaded said:

I feel bad for boy cats especially due to their situation of having really narrow urethras.

Yeah, that's why the PU surgery is, while obviously not something anyone wants to jump to, a terrific option to have; shorten the tract and remove the narrow section, and things flow, as making a male cat's urinary tract mimic a female's virtually eliminates the problem.

Bandit twice blocked, thankfully due to a mucus plug both times, so additional fluids were all that was needed (the best thing anyone can do for a urinary tract is keep it moving; sometimes more is needed, of course, but not always), and the second time it was really easy, as we took him in at the first unproductive trip to the litter box, and the vet was able to use a catheter to poke the plug into a wider segment.  Some Prazosin and he was good to go.  It was at that appointment the vet noted he had a particularly small penis, additionally narrowing the output route, and I couldn't help but laugh how much ego would be involved if he was human instead of feline.

[Scarlett45]

9 hours ago, SoMuchTV said:

Whoa!  The kitty you’ve been sharing all these pics of is 16 lbs?? The camera is very kind to him!

7 hours ago, Suzn said:

16 pounds!  That is a big kitty and he doesn't look fat so he must have a big frame!

He is a big kitty! He should be closer to 13-14lbs. I know he lost some weight in the hospital (everyone does). But here’s a photo of him where you can see his size. (That’s a box from Nordstrom, and I did vacuum the cat tree after that). 
 

He is eating and taking his meds! I opened up the guest room and let him come out. Lady Reese hissed at him! I guess he smelled different. 

[Suzn]

1 hour ago, Scarlett45 said:

He is a big kitty! He should be closer to 13-14lbs. I know he lost some weight in the hospital (everyone does). But here’s a photo of him where you can see his size. (That’s a box from Nordstrom, and I did vacuum the cat tree after that). 
 

He is eating and taking his meds! I opened up the guest room and let him come out. Lady Reese hissed at him! I guess he smelled different. 

Well, yes, he is a big kitty!  He just stuffed as much in as he could.

[bilgistic]

Aw, I just love him!

[MargeGunderson]

@Scarlett45, with my previous generation of cats, I just fed them both the special food.   It was much easier than trying to keep them apart. There was some protest at the beginning as neither of them liked the new food as much, but eventually they came around. They both hated the Science Diet urinary tract food (anything Science Diet, actually) so had to do some research on other options; eventually I found several types they would eat.

I think this latest set of pictures are the first ones where it’s been clear how big Cavendish is. He’s a chonky boy! 

Edited June 27, 2022 by MargeGunderson

[Rlb8031]

My big guy had stones about 10yrs ago and the vet prescribed the Hill Science urinary food. He wasn't a huge fan and his brother, who fed with him was used to eating from both bowls. I settled on giving them really high quality non-prescription wet food (and adding a little water to it so they were getting more water) as well as a small amount of the prescription dry each day. They ate that way for several years until the brother passed (from unrelated issues). When we got a new cat (about six years ago) he fed that way from the beginning, and both cats have had no other urinary issues.

[graybrown bird]

Cavendish has such a sweet face.