Zena now possibly toxo pneumonia again!

[Kwik]

Thanks I’m going to look at those. I was just looking at a bunch on Amazon. There was a metal carrier I liked. It’s quite nice, but it was in UK, and it has a top loading. It’s kind of like the transport carrier I have but it has a top opening and it is not as heavy weight. I don’t think I can have that shipped here, and I can’t find it here yet. There are reviews of a lot of the different types on Amazon and a lot of people say they are all flimsy and their cat or dog escaped or it fell apart, which is alarming.

I’m going to take a picture of the one I’m talking about and you tell me what you think happened. I’m pretty sure now it’s because some of the screws are missing. Maybe I don’t know, but I remember that along time ago too, and I don’t know what I did to remedy it. I don’t know.p which brand it is. I remember I got it at petco.

The two I just got at Walmart have the same front door construction so it seems to be the new thing now maybe. But they’re not missing any bolts and they don’t have a top opening. I’m going to order some extra bolts with a little latches..

people said the ones which I assume are kind of like this one, that have those four whole thing where the front door part fits into. It’s not just a hole that it’s a hole in the plastic part of the carrier with no way of securing it, they said that the cage can buckle from the weight of the cat or whatever so if it gets a little bit loose, it can just fall out because the shape can actually change.

Which shows how flimsy they are, I guess they’re trying to make the plastic thinner to make it lighter because nobody wants a super heavy carrier.

The thing is my carriers from years ago. This never happened. I think I always had a smaller plastic carrier, though I think I may even still have one of them. I’m gonna take a look at it if I do and see how it’s constructed.

I will look into getting some type of strapping system too.

Oh your 100% right about some of those thinner Guage plastics- that's why I really like seeing these products in person too- yes the Vibrant Life one I mentioned has the 4 holes for the front door you are talking about but the plastic is very thick,I think you'd be satisfied with the quality so I can take a photo of it if you want to see it?

 

[Meowmee]

Oh your 100% right about some of those thinner Guage plastics- that's why I really like seeing these products in person too- yes the Vibrant Life one I mentioned has the 4 holes for the front door you are talking about but the plastic is very thick,I think you'd be satisfied with the quality so I can take a photo of it if you want to see it?

I think I got two of the vibrant life ones but they are new and they have not come loose. I think it’s only the one I got at Petco. I’m gonna try and take a picture of it later. I’m having a very busy few days with all these appointments and just went to the dentist myself yesterday Managed to go Xena 10 breaths on the last puff that he took. I’m just about to give him another one and then off to sleep for more appointments tomorrow. Zena seems to be OK. Quinn is still bit sleepy from his vaccinations but otherwise OK. He had another furball vomit going on so I have to give him more catlax. No luck on getting cinnamon in the carrier so I’m gonna have to purchase the remote trigger probably or just use the trap normally, the lighter white one which is a bit quieter. Hopefully I can get him to the appointment next week and then there won’t be any more kitty appointments for a while. Fingers crossed.

 

[Meowmee]

Here is a pic of the one that had problems, there were several screws missing which I think must have happened when Zena escaped at the awful er etc. Another negligence- they did not put back all screws in place etc. Next time I will check to make sure everything is there and is tight etc. Here are pics. I ordered new screws but the bolt was too thick for this one, however I was able to use them on my smaller one which had some twisty ties, the small one is much safer and the door will not come out even with one or two missing due to the size and better design with a hole.

This one, which I think is also vibrant life or a similar design and the larger ones are all vulnerable to this even with all of the screws but less so with the full amount of screws and also with a zip tie through the holes at the top, the vl ones don't have them though. I will post pics when I get all the screws in place and the zip ties on this one to show what I mean.
This one, the dark blue one was missing the two front screws. And there were two screws on those top holes. I think I put them back and that would’ve made it even more vulnerable. I went to Home Depot and got some that will fit. I just haven’t had time to do it yet.

Zena is doing well with his puffs, I have to hold him so he doesn't run away, the puff is what he is scared of most. But he knows he gets a treat after so that helps. I hope this is working and his lungs will be cleared up next time.

Quinn was coughing very briefly only once, so I called to ask if I should put him back on clindamycin, his xray was perfect though, no pneumonia or anything as were other organs etc. all normal. He is vomiting more fur balls and I wonder if it is from irritation from the clindamycin treatment. I am keeping an eye on it.

I had to reschedule Cinn for next week due to another appt I had forgotten about. Fingers crossed I can get him in the trap or carrier etc. He will go into the carrier in his room to eat sometimes but only partially. I think it would be very hard to get him in that etc.

Sorry the pics seem to have double posted, I will try to delete some.

 

[Kwik]

Here is a pic of the one that had problems, there were several screws missing which I think must have happened when Zena escaped at the awful er etc. Another negligence- they did not put back all screws in place etc. Next time I will check to make sure everything is there and is tight etc. Here are pics. I ordered new screws but the bolt was too thick for this one, however I was able to use them on my smaller one which had some twisty ties, the small one is much safer and the door will not come out even with one or two missing due to the size and better design with a hole.

This one, which I think is also vibrant life or a similar design and the larger ones are all vulnerable to this even with all of the screws but less so with the full amount of screws and also with a zip tie through the holes at the top, the vl ones don't have them though. I will post pics when I get all the screws in place and the zip ties on this one to show what I mean.
This one, the dark blue one was missing the two front screws. And there were two screws on those top holes. I think I put them back and that would’ve made it even more vulnerable. I went to Home Depot and got some that will fit. I just haven’t had time to do it yet.

Zena is doing well with his puffs, I have to hold him so he doesn't run away, the puff is what he is scared of most. But he knows he gets a treat after so that helps. I hope this is working and his lungs will be cleared up next time.

Quinn was coughing very briefly only once, so I called to ask if I should put him back on clindamycin, his xray was perfect though, no pneumonia or anything as were other organs etc. all normal. He is vomiting more fur balls and I wonder if it is from irritation from the clindamycin treatment. I am keeping an eye on it.

I had to reschedule Cinn for next week due to another appt I had forgotten about. Fingers crossed I can get him in the trap or carrier etc. He will go into the carrier in his room to eat sometimes but only partially. I think it would be very hard to get him in that etc.

Sorry the pics seem to have double posted, I will try to delete some.

View attachment 479915View attachment 479916View attachment 479915View attachment 479916View attachment 479917View attachment 479918View attachment 479919View attachment 479920View attachment 479917View attachment 479918View attachment 479917View attachment 479918View attachment 479920

The things we have to do,huh?

 

[Meowmee]

Update:

Zena continues to take his puffs and his clindamycin and has not coughed at all since the last time which was like two weeks ago maybe now. At least not that I have seen anyway- sometimes it seems like he makes nasal noise maybe taking his pill that could be after swallowing it.

Quinn has not coughed again at all, it was only once, but he has had fur-ball vomits nearly everyday. (Some could be cinnamon too), fingers crossed.

DVM called back and left a long message that if he has just coughed once he doesn’t have to go back on meds, but she was confused and thought it was cinnamon and she thought cinnamon had already gone for his appointment had been sedated. I have not had a chance to call back yet.

Cinnamon seems OK but I’m just realizing I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get him there tomorrow. We already rescheduled it from last week. I have set up the carrier for quite a while and he went in it at least once to eat, but I realize there’s really no way for me to get the door closed on that once he is in there. I never ordered the whole remote trigger thing. So I’ve now set up the trap that doesn’t make a lot of noise or less anyway.

But he won’t go in there to eat the food unfortunately I didn’t get it set up until early this morning. And he hasto go tomorrow from 8 to 10 so I may have to end up canceling it and buy the remote system. I’ve had a lot of expenses and I really didn’t want to spend three to $400 on that.

I don’t think it’s an emergency for him to go there right now, but obviously I would prefer to just get him in there. Make sure he’s OK and then he can be vaccinated. Since she does the three year vaccines, he won’t have to go back for another three years unless he has, an issue.

I’m just wondering if there are other ways anybody has tried with an untouchable cat to get them into a carrier or something to get them to the DVM?

I just went upstairs to see if he had eaten any of the food I put in earlier. He had eaten some not long ago when I fed everybody downstairs at some point… someone pulled the wee pad out that was in the trap so that the plate with the food on it, which was at the very back was now in the middle of the trap so they wouldn’t have to go in fully to eat it!

Since my camera doesn’t save any videos and more, I will never know who did this. I’m wondering if it was cinnamon or maybe Quinn. I don’t know. I definitely have some very smart cats here but I’ve known that for a long time. I’m guessing though it’s probably cinnamon because he’s been trapped before. Quinn has never been trapped before, but he’s smart enough to figure it out from seeing the other cats in there. It could’ve been Xena too. I wish I knew who did that!

So, I took the wee pad out and put the food back in at the back. I’m going to try and get him in there early in the a.m. and just stay up all night. I will leave that food there until 10 PM and then take away the food and the water and I’m going to have to shut cinnamon in the room by himself, he’s not going to like it, and his brothers are not going to either. And I will just put something really stinky like a small piece of tuna in it. He should be hungry by then with no food after 10 pm, and hopefully he will go in and we can get him to Dvm.

 

[Kwik]

I'm really happy to hear no one is coughing - great news !

I don't know if you are able to move about well , I'm very sympathetic for any pet parent with physical mobility issues - having gone through it myself I understand how very simple things can be so difficult( like grabbing hold of a reluctant kitty for one!-lol)

But if you are without limitations have you considered armoring up and just going for it....either a small blanket over Cinn a quick scruff and done ,wrapping burrito style or while on ground level giving treats a quick nudge into the carrier?

I was making myself crazy having to get Timmy to the Vet when finally the morning of I just picked him onto the table very swiftly (where I had the carrier the week before )guided him in and shut the door- of course this was after getting a new knee.....

Funny,I had my trapper gloves over the chair but the opportunity seemed to present itself and I just went without,sometimes the gloves are hard to get a good grip

 

[Meowmee]

I'm really happy to hear no one is coughing - great news !

I don't know if you are able to move about well , I'm very sympathetic for any pet parent with physical mobility issues - having gone through it myself I understand how very simple things can be so difficult( like grabbing hold of a reluctant kitty for one!-lol)

But if you are without limitations have you considered armoring up and just going for it....either a small blanket over Cinn a quick scruff and done ,wrapping burrito style or while on ground level giving treats a quick nudge into the carrier?

I was making myself crazy having to get Timmy to the Vet when finally the morning of I just picked him onto the table very swiftly (where I had the carrier the week before )guided him in and shut the door- of course this was after getting a new knee.....

Funny,I had my trapper gloves over the chair but the opportunity seemed to present itself and I just went without,sometimes the gloves are hard to get a good grip

Unfortunately, I do have limitations because I’m still wobbly from my spinal fracture last year and I wouldn’t want to do anything like that in case I fall over and injure both of us, etc.

Also Cinnamon is an untouchable cat. He may be a true feral. I will never know. I’m not sure what Timmy is like but cinnamon I don’t think has ever been touched by anybody- I can’t even get near him to make such an attempt. If he’s sitting in the room with me and Xena is there, he will sometimes sit quite close, but the minute I move or seem to get up he just runs away immediately. The closest I’ve come to him is I have walked past him in the hallway a couple of times when he wanted food, and he let me walk past him, but there would be no way that I could grab him. Etc.

It could be even more traumatic than trapping him in the trap…
It did cross my mind but no, I just think it’s not doable here. Plus I could get bitten and then I have to go to the doctor and the whole thing is gonna be a big mess.

I’m pretty sure Cinnamon would really freak out if I even try to touch him much less pick him up and he would probably bite me in fear.

It’s already almost 4 AM and he doesn’t show any sign of going in to even eat the food I put in the trap, it isn’t even triggered yet. I was planning to have him eat a little tiny bit and put something really really tasty like a tiny piece of tuna and hopefully he would go in with it triggered then because he would be hungry enough. I didn’t feed him too much earlier today.

I lost track of the time and all of a sudden I realized I should’ve started earlier.

I had hoped when I took Fred and him inside that they would eventually become more tame, and I could get them easily to the DVM if needed, but it never happened.

Plus, he’s not supposed to eat after 10 PM but I guess if it’s just a tiny bit it’s OK. I have done that before.

I don’t know if I’m even gonna get him in the trap before I have to bring him there, but I remember once with Fred I trapped him right before we had to leave which was a miracle. I may have to cancel again.

It’s also exhausting and stressful. Fortunately, Quinn and Xena do not seem to be very stressed out by it. They were upset at first when I closed Cinn in the room but now they’re just running around with each other playing.

I should’ve just spent the money on the remote trigger and had that set up with the transport carrier for the drop trap.

I’m watching on the only camera that works now, it’s not pointing right at the trap, but it’s pointing sort of away from it, it tracks movement, so if it’s working properly, I should see if he walks near there- so far I haven’t seen anything… but I didn’t start right away because I was making some food and eating. I’m going to go soon and see if he ate the food that was in there already.

That’s great that you were able to grab Timmy that way! I wish I could do that with cinnamon maybe in my younger days I could have because I did a lot of crazy stuff and when I was rescuing semi feral cats and I never got scratched much less bitten.

 

[Kwik]

Unfortunately, I do have limitations because I’m still wobbly from my spinal fracture last year and I wouldn’t want to do anything like that in case I fall over and injure both of us, etc.

Also Cinnamon is an untouchable cat. He may be a true feral. I will never know. I’m not sure what Timmy is like but cinnamon I don’t think has ever been touched by anybody- I can’t even get near him to make such an attempt. If he’s sitting in the room with me and Xena is there, he will sometimes sit quite close, but the minute I move or seem to get up he just runs away immediately. The closest I’ve come to him is I have walked past him in the hallway a couple of times when he wanted food, and he let me walk past him, but there would be no way that I could grab him. Etc.

It could be even more traumatic than trapping him in the trap…
It did cross my mind but no, I just think it’s not doable here. Plus I could get bitten and then I have to go to the doctor and the whole thing is gonna be a big mess.

I’m pretty sure Cinnamon would really freak out if I even try to touch him much less pick him up and he would probably bite me in fear.

It’s already almost 4 AM and he doesn’t show any sign of going in to even eat the food I put in the trap, it isn’t even triggered yet. I was planning to have him eat a little tiny bit and put something really really tasty like a tiny piece of tuna and hopefully he would go in with it triggered then because he would be hungry enough. I didn’t feed him too much earlier today.

I lost track of the time and all of a sudden I realized I should’ve started earlier.

I had hoped when I took Fred and him inside that they would eventually become more tame, and I could get them easily to the DVM if needed, but it never happened.

Plus, he’s not supposed to eat after 10 PM but I guess if it’s just a tiny bit it’s OK. I have done that before.

I don’t know if I’m even gonna get him in the trap before I have to bring him there, but I remember once with Fred I trapped him right before we had to leave which was a miracle. I may have to cancel again.

It’s also exhausting and stressful. Fortunately, Quinn and Xena do not seem to be very stressed out by it. They were upset at first when I closed Cinn in the room but now they’re just running around with each other playing.

I should’ve just spent the money on the remote trigger and had that set up with the transport carrier for the drop trap.

I’m watching on the only camera that works now, it’s not pointing right at the trap, but it’s pointing sort of away from it, it tracks movement, so if it’s working properly, I should see if he walks near there- so far I haven’t seen anything… but I didn’t start right away because I was making some food and eating. I’m going to go soon and see if he ate the food that was in there already.

That’s great that you were able to grab Timmy that way! I wish I could do that with cinnamon maybe in my younger days I could have because I did a lot of crazy stuff and when I was rescuing semi feral cats and I never got scratched much less bitten.

I understand completely- wouldnt want to see you get hurt
Opportunity presented itself and I just went for it but Timmy has came a long way since last year plus I can move around pretty well now- when mobility is limited you're really between a rock & a hard place

If you have to cancel again then it has to be,I'm sure the Vets office understands the situation..maybe the opportunity will present itself somehow,I hope so

 

[Meowmee]

I understand completely- wouldnt want to see you get hurt
Opportunity presented itself and I just went for it but Timmy has came a long way since last year plus I can move around pretty well now- when mobility is limited you're really between a rock & a hard place

If you have to cancel again then it has to be,I'm sure the Vets office understands the situation..maybe the opportunity will present itself somehow,I hope so

That is great Timmy is progressing a lot It definitely makes life easier and less stressful for everyone.

Unfortunately Cinn had other ideas and refused to go in, at around 8:30-9 am or so I untriggered the trap and gave up. I was exhausted and finally slept. When I saw him later he gave me an impish smile as if to say, lol, I outsmarted you! The reveal fish treat was gone when I got up too. I am not sure who ate it, but maybe Cinn.

I was not able to call them until later because they never answer the phone until 10 am on feral cat days. The surgeon who owns the place is going on vacation, he is the only one who does the sedations now, so we have an appointment at the end of July. But they said If I trap him after that on another day I can call and see if they can squeeze me in. I hope he will go in next time. I am not sure if should spend the big bucks for the remote and see if I have better luck with the transfer carrier. I should have checked to see if they had a sale for July 4th. Maybe I can find a used one on ebay. I also need two parts, the trigger and a different part to attach it to the transfer carrier. People usually hold on to that type of thing though.

Unfortunately, I think I will have to not feed him all day and keep him in the room with the trap triggered, or at least make sure he is really hungry before I trigger it. I hate for him to have to sit in the trap for a long time though.

Yes, I am still wobbly, especially when crouching which I would need to do to get him. I had an L4 compression fracture and the muscles have not gone back to what they were, all my pelvis and leg muscles etc. I need to do more exercise, which I am doing more of now, but it may never go back completely. I tend to fall backward now if I lose my balance and I can't stand on one leg now either unless I hold on to something. It is so frustrating. When it happened I was not allowed to lift anything over 5 pounds for a few months and it was very painful so I could not do much. Even the therapy was dangerous because you are more at risk to re-fracture in the first few months.

 

[Kwik]

During the next 2weeks maybe you can try getting him to eat in the carrier ..... or does he like catnip,silvervine? Anything tickle his fancy that could entice him to walk in a carrier on his own ?(with the door tied open of course or even removed at first)

I know it's hard when you can't trust your own body to co-operate with what you have on your mind.....I'm sorry you are going through these things,rehabilitation is not easy but hopefully it will get much much better now that you are working at it more....sometimes with so much going on it's difficult to stay focused

Someone once told me many years ago when I felt less motivated to train (athletic comp)that if you can just bring your body eventually your mind will follow- force the routine.I think of that everyday that I don't feel like doing my own exercise

 

[Meowmee]

Update: unfortunately I failed again to get Cinn in the trap

I ended up staying up all night again even though I had planned to go to sleep and get some sleep until early morning. So once again, I’m exhausted. I think I’m just ready to give up on taking him back for a recheck. But I do wonder how I’m ever going to get him there if he has an issue and he does need to get his vaccinations, he hasn’t any had since I first took him inside. I think they gave him the one year rabies and the other stuff then. The only other vaccinations he had was at tnr years ago.

He has not been symptomatic for toxoplasmosis at all, but I wanted to get him an x-ray just to make sure he’s OK. He was only on clindamycin for two weeks because of not being symptomatic.

Zena is going tomorrow for his recheck so fingers crossed for that. I already gave him one gabapentin yesterday and today. I will give him one before the appointment tomorrow too.

I’m just hoping that his lungs are clear now and he can finally get off of this medication- dvm had mentioned possibly doing, a lavage of the lungs if he’s not better at this point, but I would have to go somewhere else to do that. And he would have to be sedated obviously.

Also, there is the huge expense, and the possibility that it still won’t tell us what’s going on. I’m wondering if it’s not better if he could have asthma however they did not mention that it looks like asthma on the x-ray except for that er doctor. I’m going to ask to look at his x-ray this time, all of them so I can see what they look like and what the improvement was last time… so, I guess I will be looking at three if they agree to that.

I hope I can catch some luck. This is all been going on since Merlin suddenly became ill and died rapidly. So since the middle of March and I’m starting to feel very exhausted and depressed from all of it.

I was already exhausted and depressed of course and traumatized severely by what happened with Merlin, but this has going on for almost 5 months now, it’s just awful. I want it to be over and feel like I can finally move on from worrying about my cats getting very ill like Merlin.

The only other thing I can do is for cinnamon is purchase the remote trigger and see if he will go into the transport carrier instead, but that’s going to cost three to $400. I’m having a lot of expenses and I would rather not spend that money now since it may not even work. I have no plans to ever do tnr now as I’m retired from Rescue, and if it doesn’t work for cinnamon, it’ll just be a waste of money.

I even gave him gabapentin yesterday because I thought that might make him calmer about going into the trap. I only fed him a tiny little bit of food in the morning so he was really hungry, but it didn’t work.

Cinnamon is certainly a very smart cat. I guess that’s how he was able to survive out there for almost 10 years with me caring for him of course. I once saw him run in front of a car across the street to us and somehow he was not hit. So, he wasn’t very smart about that.

On top of everything else, Quinn has caught about three mice in the past few weeks. All of which I rescue and put outside- the most recent one was the night before last- it always seems to happen in the middle of my dinner after I bolus insulin and I have to run around trying to catch him, get him to drop the mouse, put a plate cover over the mouse and put the mouse outside- which is not easy

On one occasion, the mouse escaped from me and I had to catch it again. After I get him to drop the mouse, I put him in the bathroom- fortunately he can’t open the bathroom from the inside. On that occasion, I almost fell over backwards, trying to catch the mouse.

On another occasion, the mouse ran into one of the cat carriers so all I had to do was close the door and bring it outside

 

[Meowmee]

During the next 2weeks maybe you can try getting him to eat in the carrier ..... or does he like catnip,silvervine? Anything tickle his fancy that could entice him to walk in a carrier on his own ?(with the door tied open of course or even removed at first)

I know it's hard when you can't trust your own body to co-operate with what you have on your mind.....I'm sorry you are going through these things,rehabilitation is not easy but hopefully it will get much much better now that you are working at it more....sometimes with so much going on it's difficult to stay focused

Someone once told me many years ago when I felt less motivated to train (athletic comp)that if you can just bring your body eventually your mind will follow- force the routine.I think of that everyday that I don't feel like doing my own exercise

Thanks unfortunately there’s no way that I could do that with the carrier… I figured that out because he gets so scared of me that he runs away if I get too close and he’s so suspicious of everything so I tried the trap again, – see my update- and it failed again.

I really don’t think I’m gonna be able to get him to DVM again unless it’s so much of an emergency that he becomes weak and maybe my brother and I can somehow get him in the carrier without getting injured.

I don’t know what to do at this point really. I’m giving up. since he was not symptomatic, it’s probably not a big deal but he does however need to get his vaccinations and get a check up etc, and then he doesn’t have to go back for another three years, and who knows what will be going on by that time anyway.

I don’t know what happened. I was feeling very motivated and the past few days. I just feel so lethargic and exhausted. I have not been going for my walk every day and I stopped doing the stair stepper.

I’m still going for the walk almost every other day though. But the thing is my blood sugar crashes every time practically and it’s just so exhausting.

Sorry for the late reply I don’t really get notices a lot on this site now for some reason.

 

[Kwik]

I don't get notices a lot on this site now for some reason.

I understand,it happens to me as well and I forget to check

 

[Meowmee]

Update is good for the most part- Zena looks a lot better and he’s going to taper off clindamycin now at one pill per day for 7 to 10 days and then stop. If he starts coughing again, I will call Dvm. However, they did show me the most recent x-ray just on her phone I think, but will email me the rest, and he does have those doughnut white shapes in his lungs that are typical of asthma.

But she’s not sure if it’s just continued inflammation from the toxo pneumonia or asthma or both, so she said he should be on the inhaler for the rest of his life, which is a bummer, but it’s a lot better than him not recovering from toxo pneumonia.

He had his vaccinations today so he’s good for three years unless he has more problems. I’m so glad this dvm does the three-year vaccinations because with cats that are difficult to get there it’s really a struggle and I don’t wanna have to be medicating him more than I have to with gabapentin. And stressing him out by going there.

He was very good. He got his x-rays. They looked at it, and then he went back for his shots when I discussed it with her again because I wasn’t sure he should get them today, but then I decided it would be better to do it today and not bring him back.

She said try giving cinnamon gabapentin for a few days before I try trapping him so I made another appointment towards the end of August for a sedated appointment and we’ll see what happens but she said it would be OK if I didn’t bring him in. There was just a case of a feral cat positive for rabies near us though, so I wanna make sure all my cats are vaccinated for that and update etc. Although dvm said she’s not worried about it if they’ve had even one vaccination in their life.

That would not make any difference if they were to bite somebody though, and there will be all sorts of problems. I also want to make sure they’re all vaccinated and good to go to in case we need to leave suddenly too.

So I should feel a lot better… I guess I do feel some sense of relief, but I’m still stressed out from everything that has happened and I’m still worried what if they get worse again and they start coughing more etc.

Through all of this happening today, I kept thinking of Merlin. and thinking what if that none of this had happened. I will never get over the anxiety and panic that I’m going to feel now if anything goes slightly wrong with them. I will never get over the pain of what happened to him and all of the abuse.

So, I’m probably gonna get the next inhaler from Canada if I can get that worked out has anybody ever done that here?

It’s about $30 cheaper at least at one pharmacy but I don’t know if there’s a charge for shipping. I think it was free.

I also wonder if people clean out their areo cats? So far, I have not cleaned it at all because I always worry that it won’t dry properly and he has to have it twice a day for life now. With Syb I never cleaned it at all because of that- because I was afraid it was going to get moldy, etc. I have the newer version now that shows when they are taking a breath, which is good and it’s still working.

I still have this feeling of terror and dread inside me and such pain and regrets, anger at those people. I was looking at this beautiful ginger boy who someone took in and said they can’t keep because he’s not getting along with their cats. And it reminded me of Merlin. He looked similar to Merlin.

 

[Meowmee]

So I slept for a while- I was so exhausted because I brought him home and then went out again to shop. I am so worried again and wondering why he has to be on the inhaler for life if she is not sure if it is asthma or not. Shouldn't it eventually resolve if it is from the pneumonia? And what if it is something else?

I know the inhaler will not cause problems most likely but it is a lot to go through for both of us to do it 2 x per day for life now. I spoke to dvm in detail but I never seem to get completely what they are saying, and always have more questions. I was not sure if he was supposed to go back again for a recheck or if that is just if he becomes symptomatic again coughing etc? He is a young cat, he is only about 4 or so.

Not that I want to go to someone else at this point right now, but I need more answers. Unfortunately there is no one I know who is an internist here who is any good really anymore.

Also I remember looking at the xray that was done at the er when he went there after they emailed it, and I did not see any donut shapes in it. So if he had underlying asthma prior to the toxo pneumonia, you would think the donuts would have been visible on that one. I did not see them but maybe I missed it. Also he was not coughing at all when he came inside, it was not until the whole toxo thing started with Merlin and then he and Quinn were coughing too. Not that that means he could not have had asthma before because Sybil had it and she never coughed, she just had rapid breathing attacks.

I am so on edge now and worried every time someone makes a noise when they are sleeping etc. They sometimes make those funny breathing squeaks or whatever they are and I worry they are coughing or congested etc. Plus I keep hearing leaking and I can't find where it is coming from, we have had a leak on and off but it goes away when the gutters are cleaned. I don't know what it is. We had it pinned down to near the couch and Quinn and I thought it was a bug maybe. There is no sign of any water leak.

 

[Kwik]

So I slept for a while- I was so exhausted because I brought him home and then went out again to shop. I am so worried again and wondering why he has to be on the inhaler for life if she is not sure if it is asthma or not. Shouldn't it eventually resolve if it is from the pneumonia? And what if it is something else?

I know the inhaler will not cause problems most likely but it is a lot to go through for both of us to do it 2 x per day for life now. I spoke to dvm in detail but I never seem to get completely what they are saying, and always have more questions. I was not sure if he was supposed to go back again for a recheck or if that is just if he becomes symptomatic again coughing etc? He is a young cat, he is only about 4 or so.

Not that I want to go to someone else at this point right now, but I need more answers. Unfortunately there is no one I know who is an internist here who is any good really anymore.

Also I remember looking at the xray that was done at the er when he went there after they emailed it, and I did not see any donut shapes in it. So if he had underlying asthma prior to the toxo pneumonia, you would think the donuts would have been visible on that one. I did not see them but maybe I missed it. Also he was not coughing at all when he came inside, it was not until the whole toxo thing started with Merlin and then he and Quinn were coughing too. Not that that means he could not have had asthma before because Sybil had it and she never coughed, she just had rapid breathing attacks.

I am so on edge now and worried every time someone makes a noise when they are sleeping etc. They sometimes make those funny breathing squeaks or whatever they are and I worry they are coughing or congested etc. Plus I keep hearing leaking and I can't find where it is coming from, we have had a leak on and off but it goes away when the gutters are cleaned. I don't know what it is. We had it pinned down to near the couch and Quinn and I thought it was a bug maybe. There is no sign of any water leak.

My Graycie has inconclusive Xrays ( possibly asthma)and a chronic cough- we even sent her X rays out to a radiology specialist.....

Graycie is not the kind of cat to be on an inhaler not take oral meds( not liquid or pills) - it causes her so much stress and anxiety and I'm not putting her through it,after lots of testing and trying different treatments we tried steroid injection about 9 months ago and at this point it's working well,for 3 months no coughing and definitely feeling good.... so I try to hold off as long as possible when she starts to cough ( this is the 3rd time she's going for 3months) I am hopeful it stays this way but we have discussed compounding meds into transdermal if we need to...
so far so good.

I'd seek another Vet to get another opinion but thats up to you- Depends on the cat when it comes to long term meds and you have to weigh out the pros & cons......maybe someone else will be willing to try other options for treatment and has she had a radiologist read the xrays?My own Vet was hoping the radiologist would see something he did not- they did not

I'm not going to stress my Graycie out because " it could be" asthma.Vet feels the same way

 

[Meowmee]

My Graycie has inconclusive Xrays ( possibly asthma)and a chronic cough- we even sent her X rays out to a radiology specialist.....

Graycie is not the kind of cat to be on an inhaler not take oral meds( not liquid or pills) - it causes her so much stress and anxiety and I'm not putting her through it,after lots of testing and trying different treatments we tried steroid injection about 9 months ago and at this point it's working well,for 3 months no coughing and definitely feeling good.... so I try to hold off as long as possible when she starts to cough ( this is the 3rd time she's going for 3months) I am hopeful it stays this way but we have discussed compounding meds into transdermal if we need to...
so far so good.

I'd seek another Vet to get another opinion but thats up to you- Depends on the cat when it comes to long term meds and you have to weigh out the pros & cons......maybe someone else will be willing to try other options for treatment and has she had a radiologist read the xrays?My own Vet was hoping the radiologist would see something he did not- they did not

I'm not going to stress my Graycie out because " it could be" asthma.Vet feels the same way

Thanks Zena is a boy, but I thought he was a girl when I took him in, I ended up just keeping it because we were used to it.

Fortunately he is great taking pills etc. He is not thrilled with the inhaler, but he tolerates it. He seems to be getting a bit more resistant to it lately even pushing it away with his paws. Maybe I am doing too many breaths, it is 7-10 and I usually do the full ten. He likes getting the treat though, so that helps. I get him to sniff it and give him one, then do the puff as I call it and then he gets a bunch which he knows and looks so happy about. He is such a trooper and he forgets things that upset him quickly, although brushing/combing him is a struggle.

It is odd because he liked me getting his mats out when he first came in but then started hating it. And he hates me touching his private areas, near his bum etc. Sometimes once maybe he seemed to have pain, I am not sure.

It sounds like what you are doing for Graycie is best for her especially if she is not having actual attacks. And I remember you said she is very upset about pills and anything like that, kind of like Quinn. I hope she continues to do well with that. I did a transdermal steroid for wizard once, I can't remember why now but it was not effective enough.

Sybil was having attacks, and she had the donuts so it was an easy diagnosis. She had one shot of depo which did not help, then she was on prednisilone for a while and then the aerokat came out at that time I think so we switched to that. She was only about 1-2 when it happened, and at some point a few years later she stopped having attacks completely. I stopped the inhaler and she was ok.

But many years later when she was diagnosed with severe hcm and chf, then internist said that he thought it would be good to start treating the asthma again and I should not have stopped. She never had any signs of attacks for years, no coughing or breathing issues ever until the chf of course. But we put her back on the steroid inhaler, and also albuterol. But then the cardiologist said not to as they were bad for her heart.

Zena has never had any sign of breathing issues even when he had pneumonia which is strange but good I think. Only the coughing, and no breathing issues ever before either. Zena had a radiologist read xray at the er and he said it was pneumonia with an area suspicious for build up of parasites. He didn't say anything about asthma as I recall but the er doc also said before it was read that he thought Zena might have underlying asthma too.

I think I will go to someone else at some point but I have to find them and it is worth doing this treatment for a few weeks at least anyway because I read it takes a long time for them to recover from pneumonia. Plus the real tell is going to be if he can tolerate weaning off clindamycin and if he starts coughing again. I don't know what will happen then.

Also when Merlin was ill I read that steroids make toxo pneumonia worse and he did seem to get worse from them too. He was on that at home towards the end and in the hospital too.

Did Graycie just get the coughing out of the blue? Did they consider any other causes?

 

[Kwik]

Not sure what Zena being male has to do with anything unless when I referred to your Vet as " she " you misread ?

Anyway ,yes Graycies cough started out of the blue last year,at first it was infrequent but became increasingly more and more persistent- from the first signs of cough she was in the Vets office.....we considered many things as her lungs always sounded clear so possible allergies or something in the house ( irritant) .....

I still have this nagging suspicion regarding Feliway plug- ins...... it all started when I brought thst product in the house..... Graycie began coughing,Max started squinting,Timmy was sneezing...

I don't know but many many trsts,treatments and thsts where we are at now

 

[Meowmee]

Not sure what Zena being male has to do with anything unless when I referred to your Vet as " she " you misread ?

Anyway ,yes Graycies cough started out of the blue last year,at first it was infrequent but became increasingly more and more persistent- from the first signs of cough she was in the Vets office.....we considered many things as her lungs always sounded clear so possible allergies or something in the house ( irritant) .....

I still have this nagging suspicion regarding Feliway plug- ins...... it all started when I brought thst product in the house..... Graycie began coughing,Max started squinting,Timmy was sneezing...

I don't know but many many trsts,treatments and thsts where we are at now

Lol, I didn’t realize you were talking about the Dvm who is a she. I thought you thought Zena was a girl which a lot of people think because of his name… I named him that when he was still outside because I thought he looked like a girl, and I thought that was a good name. I don’t know why I thought that because really he was out there for almost 2 years and there would’ve been kittens probably if someone else had not spayed etc. and since he was eating still at my house, but I wasn’t aware of it. He probably would’ve brought the kittens etc. He reminded me of Sybil who was a forest cat girl part nfc.

People on a stray cat forum told me right away he can’t be a girl because there would’ve been kittens, etc. but there was a long period where I thought he had disappeared. I think it was because he was sneaking around to get the food because the other cats chased him away. Eventually, I saw him in the winter on my cameras, and I was relieved that he was still alive.

Yeah, that’s a hard diagnosis for poor Graycie. But if they all started having problems or even if just she did when you used those, I hope you stopped. I was using those at one point for Sybil because we had more cats and she had a lifelong peeing problem which was partly due to cystitis and partly due to territory stress.

They also made my asthma worse and I read that some of them had caught on fire so I stopped using them. The non active ingredient is a petroleum based derivative which can cause adverse reactions when inhaled etc. They didn’t help the peeing at all either.

AI Overview
Learn more…

Isoparaffinic hydrocarbons can cause adverse reactions depending on how they come into contact with the body:

• Direct contact: Can cause temporary irritation, such as tearing and itching
• Ingestion: Can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and light-headedness
• Aspiration: Can cause severe pulmonary injury, such as pulmonary edema, congestion, and pneumonitis, which can be fatal
• Dermal: Can cause slight to moderate irritation in humans and animals if the skin is covered and evaporation is prevented
• Idiosyncratic sensitization: Rare reactions have been reported in humans

 

[Kwik]

Well when my Vet inquired if I used any plug in air freshners ( which I do not use anything that has essential oils) that's when I thought of the Feliway ,went home and they ALL went in the garbage without question just " because" - lol
Afterwards I did my own due diligence and after in depth research I'd not choose to use any " plug ins" in my home in consideration of my cats period

I do not have any concrete evidence to support any claims against the product but when 3 out of 5 of my cats have symptoms that appear to be an adverse reaction to an irritant then that's enough to convince me personally as none had any problems before that time...

I do not see any potential problems with using most non aerosol pheromone " pump " spray products and other attractants .....but no plug ins in this house!