Cats: They Own You

[Fury Resurrected]

21 hours ago, Inkdaub said:

I'm not sure Ellie would take to that.  She has adapted to my apartment without a single issue, though, so maybe she would.  It does look pretty big as you say.  Why the under 5lbs rule?  Maybe they are too small to get in and out?  Maybe a weight sensor down in the tray? 

I read a thing that said not to use the same toys every day.  Is there any toy that can compete with the wand/fishing pole type toys?  She will knock her toys around a bit but none of them hold her attention like the wand toy we have.  It always seems that's the toy she wants to play with. 

The 5lbs thing is indeed about a weight sensor which will stop the rotation of the globe for safety. I thought my cats would have a hard time adjusting to it, but they did not at all. I just put it where the only litter box was, unplugged for the first few days, with some used litter from the old box to let them know that’s the spot to use. Zero accidents and one of them was notorious for leaving complaints just outside the box if he was displeased about anything in the household.

[Inkdaub]

21 hours ago, Chataya de Fleury said:

If that’s the toy she loves, then play with it every day.

Yeah I pretty much answered my own question.  I guess if she gets bored with the wand she'll let me know.

21 hours ago, litechick said:

Now I have 3 different poles and I do change it up even in the same play session.  Each pole has its own properties--length of pole, length of string, type of bait.

I will do this for sure.  She loves that wand.  I get home from work and she has to be petted for a while then runs into the area where we play and starts looking around in the air as if I'm already swinging the thing around. 

7 hours ago, Fury Resurrected said:

I thought my cats would have a hard time adjusting to it, but they did not at all. I just put it where the only litter box was, unplugged for the first few days, with some used litter from the old box to let them know that’s the spot to use.

This sounds a good plan if I ever try one.  Ellie is around seven pounds right now though I hope she has gained a little weight as she is pretty thin. 

[Madame deVenoge]

Spice is currently in a Kitten Secure Housing Unit (K-SHU) per recommendation of the vet, while the gabapentin and Prozac take time to kick in.

Spice’s “thinking outside the box” was becoming a severe issue (carpet cleaners have been called again). He would sometimes eliminate in the box and then walk out of the box and poop again.

The vet said that this is because Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (which he has had, with symptoms off and on, since he was a kitten) causes them to feel like they have to go, all the time. So, they are always trying to push something out, and they are stressed, so, often pushing out stress poo (it’s kind of semi-liquid).

Having had UTIs, myself, as well as some possible interstitial cystitis (sometimes I will get what feels like a UTI but they can’t culture a bacteria) I feel for him. 

Hence, the K-SHU, which is my bathroom. It is a very large, tile-floor bathroom, which now also features a litterbox with nice, fresh litter, food, water, cat toys, and a cat tree for vertical space. There is also a window for bird-watching, and a closet (yes, my closet) for other vertical space and hiding. I covered the closet carpet with a shower curtain. There is also a new Feliway plug-in. I have been to visit and got meowed at from the top of the cat tree.

Next dose of Gabapentin is at 10 pm.

Edited June 27, 2021 by Chataya de Fleury

[Fury Resurrected]

37 minutes ago, Chataya de Fleury said:

Spice is currently in a Kitten Secure Housing Unit (K-SHU) per recommendation of the vet, while the gabapentin and Prozac take time to kick in.

Spice’s “thinking outside the box” was becoming a severe issue (carpet cleaners have been called again). He would sometimes eliminate in the box and then walk out of the box and poop again.

The vet said that this is because Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (which he has had, with symptoms off and on, since he was a kitten) causes them to feel like they have to go, all the time. So, they are always trying to push something out, and they are stressed, so, often pushing out stress poo (it’s kind of semi-liquid).

Having had UTIs, myself, as well as some possible interstitial cystitis (sometimes I will get what feels like a UTI but they can’t culture a bacteria) I feel for him. 

Hence, the K-SHU, which is my bathroom. It is a very large, tile-floor bathroom, which now also features a litterbox with nice, fresh litter, food, water, cat toys, and a cat tree for vertical space. There is also a window for bird-watching, and a closet (yes, my closet) for other vertical space and hiding. I covered the closet carpet with a shower curtain. There is also a new Feliway plug-in. I have been to visit and got meowed at from the top of the cat tree.

Next dose of Gabapentin is at 10 pm.

Poor baby!!!

[Madame deVenoge]

2 hours ago, Fury Resurrected said:

Poor baby!!!

Indeed! He’s doing MUCH BETTER now that he’s on the Gabapentin. However, I don’t want to let him out of K-SHU until the carpets have been cleaned and are dry. (Tuesday). AT LEAST.

This is going to be ridiculously difficult because I KNOW that Aramis will be pawing at my bedroom door and Spice will be pawing to be let out of K-SHU, 

Spice does have an X-ray appointment on Tuesday to see if he has arthritis. (Like human, like cat, I suppose). So he will get out, then, and I’ll talk to the vet about a refill on the Gabapentin and concurrent with Prozac, and also try and get him an echocardiogram with an internist who might have availability before either of the veterinary cardiologists - which is October.

 

[Fury Resurrected]

1 hour ago, Chataya de Fleury said:

Indeed! He’s doing MUCH BETTER now that he’s on the Gabapentin. However, I don’t want to let him out of K-SHU until the carpets have been cleaned and are dry. (Tuesday). AT LEAST.

This is going to be ridiculously difficult because I KNOW that Aramis will be pawing at my bedroom door and Spice will be pawing to be let out of K-SHU, 

Spice does have an X-ray appointment on Tuesday to see if he has arthritis. (Like human, like cat, I suppose). So he will get out, then, and I’ll talk to the vet about a refill on the Gabapentin and concurrent with Prozac, and also try and get him an echocardiogram with an internist who might have availability before either of the veterinary cardiologists - which is October.

 

Best of luck to Spice !!

[Inkdaub]

Spice is a great name.  I hope his testing goes well.  Here's a pic of Ellie staring at alka-seltzer for luck.

 

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by Inkdaub

[Madame deVenoge]

Spice’s x-ray showed degenerative disc disease, which, as a hooman who has the same condition….I feel for him!!!

The vet is now allowing Gabapentin long term (ie, for the rest of his life). Prozac Fish Flavor is on one-day shipping, and I am now looking nationwide for a veterinary cardiologist with an appointment before October, because October is the soonest I have found in three states.

ETA - Spice got out of K-SHU. Like, purposefully. He’s been a good kitten.

ETA2 - I found a cardiologist in Miami.

Edited June 30, 2021 by Chataya de Fleury

[Fury Resurrected]

Hooray for Spice!!

[A True Kaniggit]

21 hours ago, Chataya de Fleury said:

ETA - Spice got out of K-SHU. Like, purposefully. He’s been a good kitten.

ETA2 - I found a cardiologist in Miami.

Huzzah!

On both accounts. 

Edited June 30, 2021 by A True Kaniggit

[Madame deVenoge]

3 hours ago, A True Kaniggit said:

Huzzah!

On both accounts. 

Thank you! And thank you @Fury Resurrected!!!

I contacted the vet we both know in Minnesnowta and he also gave me some ideas to ask my vet about an injectable arthritis med or two that are approved for horses and dogs, and off-label in cats.

The fish-flavored Prozac is being tolerated, and even though there is tail-twitching and digging in with every muscle in his tiny body as I lift him out of the cat tree, he is not freaked the fuck out when I give him the Gabapentin, now. He’s on “token resistance” of a slightly baleful glare.

Honestly, I think he knows it’s helping. 

Edited July 1, 2021 by Chataya de Fleury

[Fury Resurrected]

1 hour ago, Chataya de Fleury said:

Thank you! And thank you @Fury Resurrected!!!

I contacted the vet we both know in Minnesnowta and he also gave me some ideas to ask my vet about an injectable arthritis med or two that are approved for horses and dogs, and off-label in cats.

The fish-flavored Prozac is being tolerated, and even though there is tail-twitching and digging in with every muscle in his tiny body as I lift him out of the cat tree, he is not freaked the fuck out when I give him the Gabapentin, now. He’s on “token resistance” of a slightly baleful glare.

Honestly, I think he knows it’s helping. 

That vet is the best, he was extremely helpful (moreso than the ones actually seeing and treating him) in Guava’s last weeks, and is why I had weeks instead of only days

Edited July 1, 2021 by Fury Resurrected

[Madame deVenoge]

2 hours ago, Fury Resurrected said:

That vet is the best, he was extremely helpful (moreso than the ones actually seeing and treating him) in Guava’s last weeks, and is why I had weeks instead of only days

Yes, I totally offered to fly Spice and me to Minnesnowta. So he could see Spice in person. He is the best vet, EVER. He also had a contact who led me to an internist who could see Spice and do an echo earlier than a dedicated cardiologist.

Even though my ex boyfriend who is a hooman cardiologist could also see Spice, I’m not sure the ex feels like doing an echo on a cat weeks before his new wife is about to give birth to a new hooman. Or maybe already has. I really should get them a gift. considering all my ex ever wanted was a small hooman. I don’t know why; they are definitely NOT litterbox trained and it takes forever to socialize them.

[Zorral]

 

[Mlle. Zabzie]

All there is a lovely story in the Miami Herald that Binx, a resident of Champlain Towers South, has been found alive and reunited with his (remaining) humans (who were some of the people pulled from the rubble in the immediate aftermath). Go Binx!

[Spockydog]

On 6/15/2021 at 3:01 PM, Chataya de Fleury said:

If that’s the toy she loves, then play with it every day. My cats watch birds every day and never get bored of it.

Oooh, just looked these up. Looks like great fun. I wonder if my puppy might like one. 

[Madame deVenoge]

I took my little buddy to the cat cardiologist, today. He’s got hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which means he’s going to be taking beta blockers. Fortunately, these come in a fish flavored treat formulation.

His 30 day regular vet visit the day before revealed normal bloodwork, so he can stay on the Gabapentin for his arthritis, and he’s doing well on his Prozac, too.

No such thing as a free cat, lol.

Edited July 30, 2021 by Chataya de Fleury

[Fury Resurrected]

21 hours ago, Chataya de Fleury said:

I took my little buddy to the cat cardiologist, today. He’s got hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which means he’s going to be taking beta blockers. Fortunately, these come in a fish flavored treat formulation.

His 30 day regular vet visit the day before revealed normal bloodwork, so he can stay on the Gabapentin for his arthritis, and he’s doing well on his Prozac, too.

No such thing as a free cat, lol.

Nando has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as well! It is so far not so serious he needs medication, thankfully

[Madame deVenoge]

On 7/30/2021 at 9:10 PM, Fury Resurrected said:

Nando has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as well! It is so far not so serious he needs medication, thankfully

Glad to hear Nandi is doing well!!

My little buddy LOVES the beta blockers, which come in treat form. I am also going to have the vet call in the Gabapentin for treat form rather than liquid. He hates taking liquid medication, and I don’t really care how expensive the treat form Is if it makes him a happier kitty. 

Wedgewood compounding pharmacy is the name of the mail order veterinary pharmacy that does the compounded treats, if anyone is interested.

[A True Kaniggit]

On 6/28/2021 at 3:53 AM, Inkdaub said:

Spice is a great name.  I hope his testing goes well.  Here's a pic of Ellie staring at alka-seltzer for luck.

 

 

A little late. But how is your skeleton still alive?

You’re kitty hasn’t tried to murder them yet buy pushing them off the bookcase?