Just checking in to see how Our Boy is doing today!
Ok, I will give an update...sorry, for not doing this earlier..
Artie is Artie... you know what that means...
I am very superstitious.. so I do not want to say too much...
Artie is beginning to get fussy with the junk food!! OMG.. what a cat.. I cannot understand what he wants to eat... unbelievable.
He is eating some of the dry Fiber Response food. That is good, as it helps his bowels. His stools are still there, everyday; however, they are getting a bit harder each day. I gave him a colace tablet yesterday and will give another one later today.
I do not want his stool to harder up, and get stuck in there.
He is acting very strangely.. like a kitten at times.. extremely talkative.. not cuddly at all.. he does go around periodically, batting a terrycloth crinkle ball; and had the zoomies the other night. Sometimes he will chase a ball that I 'bowl' with..
Artie is also not hiding in his tent. He is out in the open.
Still do not have the blood test results.. I know it has been a while, but it took a few days to be done, and the NVet has not been back to work yet.. He may be in later this week----
Personal issues... As long as Artie is acting ok: eating, pooping ok, acting ok.. I am fine with waiting. sometimes no news is good news..
I know there is a covering Vet, available, who has been updated by NVet on Artie's case.
Problem is the upcoming holiday.. week-end and next day.. but fingers crossed...
Good man, Artie -- keep eating, especially the Fiber Response! and being a cat and all, we do understand your discerning tastes even within the realm of le junque cuisine Just glad you are feeling kittenish! This is wonderful news.Not hiding is excellent as well.Ok, I will give an update...sorry, for not doing this earlier..
Artie is Artie... you know what that means...
I am very superstitious.. so I do not want to say too much...
Artie is beginning to get fussy with the junk food!! OMG.. what a cat.. I cannot understand what he wants to eat... unbelievable.
He is eating some of the dry Fiber Response food. That is good, as it helps his bowels. His stools are still there, everyday; however, they are getting a bit harder each day. I gave him a colace tablet yesterday and will give another one later today.
I do not want his stool to harder up, and get stuck in there.
He is acting very strangely.. like a kitten at times.. extremely talkative.. not cuddly at all.. he does go around periodically, batting a terrycloth crinkle ball; and had the zoomies the other night. Sometimes he will chase a ball that I 'bowl' with..
Artie is also not hiding in his tent. He is out in the open.
Still do not have the blood test results.. I know it has been a while, but it took a few days to be done, and the NVet has not been back to work yet.. He may be in later this week----
Personal issues... As long as Artie is acting ok: eating, pooping ok, acting ok.. I am fine with waiting. sometimes no news is good news..
I know there is a covering Vet, available, who has been updated by NVet on Artie's case.
Problem is the upcoming holiday.. week-end and next day.. but fingers crossed...
This is exactly what I wanted last Christmas! Hopefully you can have for more than one Christmas only.This is MY CHRISTMAS WISH/PRESENT...... I want nothing else... I am so grateful..
Just think you can celebrate Valentine's Day when Artie celebrates #14 in February. The pics of Artie showing off his Christmas spirit are purely wonderful - he's such a handsome boy. I'm sure NVet will greatly appreciate your holiday gift just as much as he appreciates Artie being his patient. Good luck with your drive into Boston tomorrow.For a cat who will be 14 years old in February, and with so many issues: Well, I am so grateful he is still with me.. and is such good spirits.
Some pictures taken yesterday.. trying to get Artie in the Christmas spirit
In my opinion "idiopathic" is just a term that doctors have created to politely say that they do not have the least clue of what is going on. They have brought the ancient Greek into it to cover up their ignoranceFrom what I was told, and my reading... Artie has Idiopathic Hypercalcemia; many cats get that.. they do not know what causes it.. It could have been his kidneys or parathyroid; however, he has had specialized blood tests to rule these things out...
another unknown cause... I really think all these things are autoimmune disease associated...
Who knows what the role of pesticides in food, cat food especially , the junk in cat food- in general is doing to all our babies, the processing of these foods??? Who knows? .. makes me wonder..
I couldn't agree more!In my opinion "idiopathic" is just a term that doctors have created to politely say that they do not have the least clue of what is going on. They have brought the ancient Greek into it to cover up their ignorance
Sorry for the rant but I have heard this word too many times lately. At the same time I have to pay hundreds to listen to them say it!
I'm rather sure that junk in food and chemicals and pollutants in the environment play a big role in this issue.
YAY Artie man! Keep on doing the excellent work! Your devoted Army is behind you 100%!Hello, Artie's Army!! Since the week-end up coming up, I will give another cautious update.
Artie is still pooping. I am adjusting his days of having the colace. I am also adjusting the miralax accordingly. Artie seems to be eating the prescription Fiber Response food, at night, while I am sleeping. He is eating his junk food during the rest of the day.
What I really miss, is: Artie does not want to cuddle ~~~ none at all... I do not know if this is a symptom of the elevated calcium, but I miss him. I miss his loving, while I am watching TV... sigh...
He did wake me up this morning: Tap, Tap, tap, Meow!!...to tell me that he had to poop. It was time to get up, so I did not mind.. What I did mind, was that he wanted to PLAY before he pooped!!! OMG....
As soon as I got up, it was a long period of "Chase-- Hide & Seek":.... I was getting tired of it, but had to indulge my 'love bug'---as I refer to him.
Since discontinuing the lactulose, and switching to junk food, Artie has gotten so much more alert. At times, he is almost like a kitten. He has become extremely talkative.
Even the NVet's Secretary, has heard him, talking to me, when I have left a message, or when I speak with her on the phone. He is constantly like that.
He is also, batting his nice, soft terrycloth crinkle ball around.. he also uses it as a 'kicker'.. and sometimes he uses the other soft balls also.. Lost his favorite catnip Yeow tiny fish, his favorite toy.. Will have to look for that on Saturday.
Artie is not hiding in his tent, very much.. only occasionally.. strange...
Got the lab results: Artie does have elevated calcium levels. The test had to be sent out to Michigan!!! No wonder why it was expensive.
As far as I can tell, the blood calcium is one point Above the normal range.. We are just going to watch it for a while.. I think we are going to go by symptoms, and then recheck in a few months.. Artie has an appointment with the NVet in April. Fingers Crossed..
For a cat who will be 14 years old in February, and with so many issues: Well, I am so grateful he is still with me.. and is such good spirits..
This is MY CHRISTMAS WISH/PRESENT...... I want nothing else... I am so grateful..
Going in tomorrow to give NVet a Christmas gift... I would have dropped it off earlier this week, but he has not been in. He will be in on Friday. I have an appointment on the other side of Boston, so I will tread through the traffic, and storm.. but NVet needs to get my gift.. I guess, I NEED to show my appreciation for/to him....
Some pictures taken yesterday.. trying to get Artie in the Christmas spirit:
View attachment 210833
View attachment 210834
View attachment 210835
View attachment 210836