What's on Your Mind Thread - 2024

[artiemom]

F FeralHearts (((hugs))). I hear you.. I get it.. I, too, have been plagued with sick kitties..

All I can say is what has been said to me and I believe to be true: "God (the Universe) has given you the sick kitten because He knows you will take good care of them. He is entrusting them into your care."

It is maddening.. I know. It is so hard to understand. All you want is a 'normal' kitty to love, and who loves you.. You do all you can to provide healthy food, normal Vet visits; Yet, things go bad.. It is more than frustrating. Some times you may cry with all the stress this evokes. I get it...

Not to make light of your troubles, but mine has been;
1) Pumpkin: a sick kitten with we got her. Never heard a real diagnosis, but it was something severe. Kept bringing her to the Vet for antibiotics, bottle fed and syringe fed my mom's concoction of kitty egg nog, and thinned out baby food. With all of this, she developed a test for people food, and detested cat food.
Turned out to be a diabetic with insulin shots twice a day. Multiple vet overnights to monitor blood glucose levels.

2) Artie: My soul-kitty: developed IBD, and then Megacolon, severe heart murmur, fussy with food, skin lesions, spot on lung.....

3) Geoffrey: my little baby boy: IBD with SCL, heart murmur... passed from a massive stroke

All of this is making me not want to have another kitty... as the universe seems to be against me. I would love another ESA kitty, but I just cannot emotionally and financially afford another sick cat. And I am getting older with more issues. I miss the love, the companionship.. I have one doctor who is telling me adopt, another not to as I am allergic to cats.. but that has never been an issue to me..

 

[FeralHearts]

Thank you very much for that. I appreciate you sharing that - a lot. It helps to know that I'm not alone with my luck.

It does feel like a bit of a curse some days, or that you simply can't do anything right for them. As if you are failing them even though you know you are trying with everything you have in you. I imagine you probably felt/feel the same from time to time.

I burst into tears this morning getting ready for work as watching BH not eat / barely eat, and medication not having a real positive impact is hard. Hopefully, the internist will have some answers and we can get her patched up.

LOL I'm supposed to be allergic to cats too but it's never been an issue either. I'd like to believe that our constant exposure to them has built up our immune system. :-)

PS - I 110% get not wanting more after all you've been thorough but... you know and I know that regardless of anything ....we will take one two - or more - in all over again. They will find us - it's inevitable - you know it and I know it.

 

[Kwik]

Thank you., very much for that. I appreciate you sharing that - a lot. It helps to know that I'm not alone with my luck.

It does feel like a bit of a curse some days, or that you simply can't do anything right for them. As if you are failing them even though you know you are trying with everything you have in you. I imagine you probably felt/feel the same from time to time.

I burst into tears this morning getting ready for work as watching BH not eat / barely eat, and medication not having a real positive impact is hard. Hopefully, the internist will have some answers and we can get her patched up.

LOL I'm supposed to be allergic to cats too but it's never been an issue either. I'd like to believe that our constant exposure to them has built up our immune system. :-)

It's heart wrenching caring for sick babies,it's the feeling of helplessness that just crushes you.. you are not alone ,I really feel for you,your cat is so very Blessed to have you- and I'm sure she knows it

You're not doing anything wrong- as a matter of fact your doing everything right - I'm praying for your baby everyday

 

[FeralHearts]

It's heart wrenching caring for sick babies,it's the feeling of helplessness that just crushes you.. you are not alone ,I really feel for you,your cat is so very Blessed to have you- and I'm sure she knows it

You're not doing anything wrong- as a matter of fact your doing everything right - I'm praying for your baby everyday

It's such a helpless feeling absolutely.

Thank you so much.

 

[FeralHearts]

Prayers are working. She actually ate more than a mouthful tonight. So thank you.

I went after work and bought a boatload of different foods. First one a few bites, second one a bit more, third a few mouthfuls. Yes, doing this with food and cats isn't a great idea but her not eating is worse of two evils. I gave her some cerena is case I upset her tummy with what I'm having to do.

I bought some easy to digest ones, and although she has IBS/IBD and probably food sensitivities I had to release that problem completely and just focus on getting her to eat. Her livers values are all sorts of messed up. She might have the start of kidney issues, she has pancreatitis which we already new. The liver and kidney are new. I saw her reports today and they aren't good. Eating is my primary focus. Especially since her liver isn't good. She has casts in her urine, blood, white and red blood cells, PH is low. concentration not so great. That's been sent out for a Cand s and we should know those results in a couple of days.

Internist will be here on the 10th and she'll get an US. We're getting that all sorted. I'm grateful for that. For some reason I thought it was the 31th today but it's only the 21st - ugh. 20 days I must keep her munching away.

I'll keep pushing food on her.

 

[GenCat]

F FeralHearts Honestly in the same boat. First I adopted LiLi late last year who had pyloric stenosis, months of figuring it out and managing to afford treatment. Then after she passed I adopted KoKo who developed FIP more recently. It‘s been crazy. I’ve had mystery illness kittens one after the other.

Carer fatigue can happen even with pets it seems…

 

[maggie101]

Burnt broccoli smells bad but so does burnt salmon!!! I just remembered why a nonstick pan is necessary
Oh, and so sorry for all the cats in pain! At least they were not left outside. They are lucky to have you. Besides, how can they smell burnt fish if outside? Even with no windows open the smell won't be as strong especially if they're far away

 

[Kwik]

Prayers are working. She actually ate more than a mouthful tonight. So thank you.

I went after work and bought a boatload of different foods. First one a few bites, second one a bit more, third a few mouthfuls. Yes, doing this with food and cats isn't a great idea but her not eating is worse of two evils. I gave her some cerena is case I upset her tummy with what I'm having to do.

I bought some easy to digest ones, and although she has IBS/IBD and probably food sensitivities I had to release that problem completely and just focus on getting her to eat. Her livers values are all sorts of messed up. She might have the start of kidney issues, she has pancreatitis which we already new. The liver and kidney are new. I saw her reports today and they aren't good. Eating is my primary focus. Especially since her liver isn't good. She has casts in her urine, blood, white and red blood cells, PH is low. concentration not so great. That's been sent out for a Cand s and we should know those results in a couple of days.

Internist will be here on the 10th and she'll get an US. We're getting that all sorted. I'm grateful for that. For some reason I thought it was the 31th today but it's only the 21st - ugh. 20 days I must keep her munching away.

I'll keep pushing food on her.

I certainly agree- 100% thst her eating is top priority- whatever she will eat as long as she IS!

Tough subject for me personally- I still hate myself for force feeding my late Cheech,I have nightmares about those times and it's 8 yrs later......but he was way past the point of no return at nearly 20yrs old and not what you are going through..... it's just the heart ache of feeling helpless when they wont eat that I'm relating to and just want to hug you

Appt is 31st? Gee,,thsts a long wait,I hope she just continues to eat more n more each day..... is she on Sub Q fluids at home?You might want to ask the Vet,it will help to keep her well hydrated

 

[FeralHearts]

F FeralHearts Honestly in the same boat. First I adopted LiLi late last year who had pyloric stenosis, months of figuring it out and managing to afford treatment. Then after she passed I adopted KoKo who developed FIP more recently. It‘s been crazy. I’ve had mystery illness kittens one after the other.

Carer fatigue can happen even with pets it seems…

Thank you. I'm feeling less crazy. Seems there is a number of us that have this luck.

It absolutely can happen with pets too. It's exhausting and I don't know about you, but I've had to remind myself to eat and drink water.

Burnt broccoli smells bad but so does burnt salmon!!! I just remembered why a nonstick pan is necessary
Oh, and so sorry for all the cats in pain! At least they were not left outside. They are lucky to have you. Besides, how can they smell burnt fish if outside? Even with no windows open the smell won't be as strong especially if they're far away

Thank you.

Burnt broccoli is awful smelling. yuck. And Salmon and Broccoli... oh boy. That smell still around a while.

I certainly agree- 100% thst her eating is top priority- whatever she will eat as long as she IS!

Tough subject for me personally- I still hate myself for force feeding my late Cheech,I have nightmares about those times and it's 8 yrs later......but he was way past the point of no return at nearly 20yrs old and not what you are going through..... it's just the heart ache of feeling helpless when they wont eat that I'm relating to and just want to hug you

Appt is 31st? Gee,,that's a long wait,I hope she just continues to eat more n more each day..... is she on Sub Q fluids at home?You might want to ask the Vet,it will help to keep her well hydrated

She's back to a few bites I've put 5 plates in front of her this morning and were going back and forth, one bite or two. Stop... then 15 minutes later repeat. It's barely anything.

Don't hate yourself for force feeding, we do what we have to do and it's done out of love. That being said I understand how much that is emotionally hard. I had to do that for Mia and it was awful. I too am having flashbacks of that. So I completely understand.

Sadly the app is Sept 10. I thought yesterday was the 31st so I was thinking 10 days but yesterday was only the 21st. So 20 days.

I will ask the vet about that, thank you. Right now she's just on Mitaz and Cerena.

 

[Kwik]

Thank you. I'm feeling less crazy. Seems there is a number of us that have this luck.

It absolutely can happen with pets too. It's exhausting and I don't know about you, but I've had to remind myself to eat and drink water.



Thank you.

Burnt broccoli is awful smelling. yuck. And Salmon and Broccoli... oh boy. That smell still around a while.




She's back to a few bites I've put 5 plates in front of her this morning and were going back and forth, one bite or two. Stop... then 15 minutes later repeat. It's barely anything.

Don't hate yourself for force feeding, we do what we have to do and it's done out of love. That being said I understand how much that is emotionally hard. I had to do that for Mia and it was awful. I too am having flashbacks of that. So I completely understand.

Sadly the app is Sept 10. I thought yesterday was the 31st so I was thinking 10 days but yesterday was only the 21st. So 20 days.

I will ask the vet about that, thank you. Right now she's just on Mitaz and Cerena.

Yeah,maybe you could give a call, run over and pick up a bag-she will feel better and it might motivate her to eat more feeling better with the fluids... I believe that will help her some

Also,If you've not already mentioned it you can tell the Vets office to keep you on stand by if they have any cancelations before the 10th.....ya never know

 

[FeralHearts]

Yeah,maybe you could give a call, run over and pick up a bag-she will feel better and it might motivate her to eat more feeling better with the fluids... I believe that will help her some

Also,If you've not already mentioned it you can tell the Vets office to keep you on stand by if they have any cancelations before the 10th.....ya never know

Well after this morning's episode I called the Vets office to see what we could do for her. I'll be picking up Brup to see if she's in pain and that does something for her - if not - it's a drive to ER. She looks at me like she barely knows who I am. The way she's going she's not going to make it to the 10th. She's tanking with barely any signs of improvement. She started this downward spiral when we got back from the vet on Monday. She was borderline before then and now I'm watching her fade.

We are looking for an ER internist and failing that, I will be bringing her to ER by Friday night if nothing changes.

My gut in screaming and this time I'm listening to it.

 

[Kwik]

Well after this morning's episode I called the Vets office to see what we could do for her. I'll be picking up Brup to see if she's in pain and that does something for her - if not - it's a drive to ER. She looks at me like she barely knows who I am. The way she's going she's not going to make it to the 10th. She's tanking with barely any signs of improvement. She started this downward spiral when we got back from the vet on Monday. She was borderline before then and now I'm watching her fade.

We are looking for an ER internist and failing that, I will be bringing her to ER by Friday night if nothing changes.

My gut in screaming and this time I'm listening to it.

Absolutely,I'm in complete agreement with you- get her to the ER

 

[FeralHearts]

Called the ER - wow okay they won't be able to do very much at all. I'm kinda shocked. They are more like an after-hours vet clinic than an ER. Was not expecting that. Going to look into other cities.

Edit to add: When I say after-hours Vet clinic... they aren't set up for any type of quick diagnostics. More for if an animal was poisoned, or hit by a car - that sort of thing. They even send the US out for a report that takes a full day or overnight. So they won't be able to do much for a wee one in BH's situation)

Sadly I can't run her across to the US which seems to have actual real ER clinics (as opposed to simply an after-hour vet clinic -which appears to be what ours are. ) as my passport is in the middle of renewal and I won't get it for 3 - 4 more weeks. The only reason I bothered to renew it was I kept having a nagging feeling last month that I was going to need it. So I gathered it together and sent it in. Otherwise, I was going to wait until I was told I needed to travel again before I did it. That would have been spring 2025.

Emailed the vet about sub Q. My friend who had two CKD cats, was in the pharmacy industry for years and offered to come help if the vet okays it as I wouldn't be okay on my own. It's been too long since I tried that.

At this point, I'm just trying anything to buy her time to figure out what's going on.

--

How is everyone else doing?

 

[MoochNNoodles]

Mooch had trouble with foods lately but we are doing much better. I’ve definitely been at the place where eating something was more important than what it was at the moment. Thankfully i got some recommendations in the nutrition forum. Who knows how many times the advice on these forums helped save my girls over the last 19 years!

In other news; only a day and a half till the weekend. And finishing our first week of school. I’ve been doing a full body workout with free weights off YouTube in addition to riding an exercise bike for cardio. My muscles feel it today. I rediscovered my abdominal muscles. At first it was like they weren’t there at all.

 

[FeralHearts]

I am so glad you all are doing much better! That is the kind of news I love hearing!

Absolutely this place is a life saved and then some. The people here are pure gold.

LMAO @ rediscovered my abdominal muscles. I imagine how ouchy that is right now... but just think how awesome they will feel in the long run. They say good ab muscles also help with the back too since it's a core muscle!

 

[NY cat man]

Grumpy has disappeared again. We asked around, and no one has seen him since Sunday, and the food we have out for him hasn't been touched. We're not sure of his age- 9?, 10?, older? It's to the point where we start looking under buildings to see if we can find him. I hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

Yes!! It actually feels really good whenever I do exercises that strengthen those back muscles. I’m debating if i should have a rest day today. I don’t want it to get worse and make me stop from overdoing it too fast.

We have a bowflex in the garage and I love it but its been way too hot to consider going out there. (DH found someone selling it for like $300 years ago. ) Inside is easier and faster free weights for now. I’m glad theres more emphasis on strengthening muscles these days. It’s much more enjoyable to do! Everything was about cardio and fat loss when i was younger. Especially running. If im running; something is probably chasing me. Apparently other forms of cardio are now deemed acceptable.

 

[Kwik]

Yes!! It actually feels really good whenever I do exercises that strengthen those back muscles. I’m debating if i should have a rest day today. I don’t want it to get worse and make me stop from overdoing it too fast.

We have a bowflex in the garage and I love it but its been way too hot to consider going out there. (DH found someone selling it for like $300 years ago. ) Inside is easier and faster free weights for now. I’m glad theres more emphasis on strengthening muscles these days. It’s much more enjoyable to do! Everything was about cardio and fat loss when i was younger. Especially running. If im running; something is probably chasing me. Apparently other forms of cardio are now deemed acceptable.

If I'm running that means it's just a figment of someone's imagination and it's definitely not me!

 

[FeralHearts]

Grumpy has disappeared again. We asked around, and no one has seen him since Sunday, and the food we have out for him hasn't been touched. We're not sure of his age- 9?, 10?, older? It's to the point where we start looking under buildings to see if we can find him. I hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

Positive vibes are being sent out to you. That is so frightening when they do those disappearing acts. Let's hope he's just gone on walk about adventure and returns tonight.

XO

Especially running. If im running; something is probably chasing me.

So does this mean DH needs to chase you around the house?

Dancing would be fun cardio. Oh yes that's it! Dance!

If I'm running that means it's just a figment of someone's imagination and it's definitely not me!

LOL ditto!

 

[MoochNNoodles]

So does this mean DH needs to chase you around the house?

Dancing would be fun cardio. Oh yes that's it! Dance!

It wouldn’t be much of a chase. I’m more of a tuck & roll armadillo style person.

I have enough trouble following the directions on the workout videos…I always go the opposite way. If they are swinging arms in and out; I will go out and in. I can keep a beat musically with no problem. Even clap right. But it does not extend to the rest of my body. When I was a teen my youth pastor used to bring a few of us along when he would be asked to minister at conferences and things. Usually to other teens. One time one of the teens from that church taught everyone some country line dancing. I kicked a few people and sat down. Those were the best times though. That particular church was all Chinese speaking and therefore the songs were in Chinese. None of us spoke a bit of it so we just sang along quietly in English if we recognized the song. But yeah…no dancing for me. At least not if anyone is watching. And right now I’m getting my exercise in during a stretch of the day where neither kid needs me for lessons; but DS is in the room working at his desk.