So I have a new kitty...I named him Freckles

You can make something out of a cardboard plate instead of the cone. Maybe that'll work.
hugs.

Can you cut the cone down a bit???

Wow, goat, huh? Glad he likes it!

How's Freckles doing now?

Yes please, update for Freckles ??? I know we all are praying for him! I I surely hope he is feeling a lot better now, poor baby. It's so hard for us as cat parents to see our little ones ( no matter their true size) suffering! It was devastating for me to watch my kitten just fading away with the FIP. It would help so much if they could tell us they are sick, and tell us what's wrong or what hurts. Hugs for both of you, and much love...[emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128062[/emoji]

Thanks everybody!

Today is day 2 with no pain meds and the eye is much less swollen!  And he's eating rabbit and Cornish hen again, and eating very well.  He's barely left my side the past 2 days, and he's had this very sweet/excited/happy face about him lately.  I think he feels so much better without the eye.  I think the eye was really hurting him even on pain meds.  I mean, I kinda knew that, but it's SOOO apparent now and it's not even been a week yet since he had surgery.  He's acting a bit unsure of himself as far as sight, like he could see some out of the bad eye.  The other cats aren't helping by slapping him on his bad side.  The boys aren't being mean about it, they just don't understand.  Julie has gotten hosed a few times with the water bottle for jumping him.  The little witch.

Other than the 2 nights I went to work, I've been leaving the cone off.  I find him still freaking out about the cone when I get home!  I understand the vet's reasoning that if he tears that eye up, he goes back into surgery.  But when off from work, he's not in the cone since I'm sleeping with them all on the couch or recliner.  Burning the candle at both ends lately (working a lot, plus very little sleep) has cause me to become ill, so now Freckles thinks he's taking care of me.  Thankfully I only have to work 3 days next week until his follow up appointment so I'll be able to recover from my illness as well as be able to spend time watching him.

So great to hear that he's feeling better! 

However, definitely bummed to hear you're sick.    Take care of yourself!

Thank goodness the operation worked. Now you've got to take care of yourself.pronto or else I'll fly over on my broomstick, I can't afford the airfare, and deal with you myself. :-)

It never fails does it? We worry ourselves sick about them, then it's both of us. I hope you're starting to feel better, or will very soon.
If it was me trying to deal with Freckles eye under the circumstances, I'd ask the Vet about some kind of eye patch or cover instead of the cone. I've seen them on dogs sometimes, so I know they're out there ( unless he just got creative. Just a thought since I'd like to hear that he's getting better and not having the eye messed up after everything he's been through!
I'd really like to hear that you are getting better as well. They are so much our children that worry over them through these things so often without thinking of ourselves. As you said: burning the candle at both ends. If I can find my broomstick, I'll be joining Stewball in making sure you get better!
Love and Hugs..[emoji]10084[/emoji]️

Awwww, glad to hear Freckles seems to be feeling better without the eye. Hope he continues to heal and has a good follow-up appointment. And I hope you are able to get some rest and feel better, too!

Another update:

Freckles is still doing great, eating well, off pain meds still...he had his stitches out today and that went great too.  The path results revealed that his lens in that eye showed cataract changes and had a posterior rupture which caused his immune system to attack it...or his immune was raising heck in his eye and he was suffering a cataract and posterior rupture in the lens...we're not exactly sure which came first but he said that in cats this leads to a sarcoma (cancerous) so it was a very good thing we took out the eye.  No mentioning of bartonella, no mention of FHV.  Basically he said go home and if the other eye gives problems then call us.  He has no other symptoms of FHV so I'm thinking of stopping the lysine.  I don't doubt that he's been exposed to FHV, but the lysine just didn't seem to make any difference in him overall.

I'm fine as well now, I'll be going back to work very soon.  That was a nasty infection I tell ya!

Glad to hear everything is getting better! Can we see a photo of this little old man? Poor guy has been through so much.

SO glad he feels so much better! And you, too!

He'll adjust just fine. Flowerbelle does "lose" wand toys easily - you'll adjust, too.

I'll try to get some pictures of him, but I do NOT want "warning graphic images" to be placed on this thread if I do.  I haven't done much since he's gotten home, I ended up in the hospital myself with appendicitis 2 days later.  We're both OK, actually he looks great.  He's more playful now and has even let Mason lick his ear once and let Mason lay down near him once (2 separate events).  I'm thinking some of his screaming and fear has been related to the pain he was feeling with that eye. 

peaches08 said:

I'll try to get some pictures of him, but I do NOT want "warning graphic images" to be placed on this thread if I do.  I haven't done much since he's gotten home, I ended up in the hospital myself with appendicitis 2 days later.  We're both OK, actually he looks great.  He's more playful now and has even let Mason lick his ear once and let Mason lay down near him once (2 separate events).  I'm thinking some of his screaming and fear has been related to the pain he was feeling with that eye. 

Click to expand...

Appendicitis is nasty! It took my DH a good three weeks to recovery fully after his appendix burst. I hope you're doing OK now.
I agree that Freckles must have been in a lot of pain and he's going to be sooo much better now, even though he has to adjust to only having one eye. You've given him a new lease on life, and a happier life for sure.

Aw.... you're both more comfortable now! (And wow, SO sorry to hear about the appendicitis!!!)

Yeah the appendicitis caught me by surprise.  Luckily mine did not burst, so my procedure was a pretty easy laparoscopic one.  But I can certainly sympathize with anyone having had appendicitis after all this.  It was one of the most painful things I've experienced.  It's an unrelenting pain, even on powerful pain meds.  I'm so glad it's over.

Freckles let me get one picture of his face while in my lap today.  He's still doing well and I think the spot where the eye was looks pretty good now.  Actually it was never as bloody as pics I've seen online, but it certainly was puffy initially! 

Aww what a sweet old man. I am sure he is eternally grateful for you. Glad to hear you are feeling better as well

Doesn't look bad at all. I'm sure the hair will grow in again soon enough and he'll just be winking all the time. Bless his little freckled nose, he is a cutie!

It looks great!!! You'll start getting comments from new members now that your kitty is always winking in the photos.

Aw.... I'm just so happy Freckles is so much happier!

LDG - I think that cat introduction was about the best description I have ever read! Thanks for sharing. I know that my cats are not all best friends - but I sure learned how territorial they are (maybe more so than dogs) They would all band together on the patio like little soldiers when the stranger cat appeared!