Sick Kitty Blues
I have two pets, both of whom have been with me since 1997, my dog Lester and my cat Maxine. Had a cat briefly in 1996, shortly after moving into my house here but she ran off, never to be seen again. Her name was Millie, short for either Millicent Penelope or Midred Prunella, depending on my mood. Obviously, since she left, Millie and I never really bonded.
It's not enough to simply acquire a cat or dog. You have to have some kind of connection for it to work, just like any other relationship. Both my current pets came to me when I met them, came right up to introduce themselves as it were. That was when I knew that we had something.
So I've had Lester and Maxine now for going on 12 years, Lester first and then Maxine some 9 months later. We've had our ups and downs, particularly Lester. Dogs are more high-maintenance, especially as puppies. Very destructive. Plus the barking, which was quite offensive to one neighbor in particular. Fortunately we got over that little hurdle, and it's been smooth sailing ever since.
Both animals have been neutered(a particularly kind thing for your cat, since cats don't ever have Menopause but just go into heat every three weeks for their whole lives!), and Maxine has been de-clawed on her front paws. They've been to the Vet for other issues, but basically I don't worry about them so long as they're happy and healthy.
And we've had a long run as far as that goes. Maxine, being a long-haired cat, has had the hairball thing going ever since she was a kitten, but that's been the worst of her problems. Until recently.
Her coughing had become a daily thing, and the cough was more bronchial. Also her breathing became shallower and more raspy. This past Friday things reached a crisis point, and I had to take her into the Emergency Animal Center. Cats are the most recalcitrant animals as far as doing anything they don't want to do and will fight you tooth and nail over it. So tracking her furry ass down and getting it into the vehicle was the hardest part. But they were able to help her breathing.
A most funky weekend followed, watching over her and trying to get her to take her medications. Also watching her get weaker and weaker. Monday morning I got her in to the Animal Hospital where I'd been taking my heretofore healthy animals all these years. The news was not good: an elevated white-cell count, some 'opaque' spots on the chest X-ray, and kidney failure. As it turned out, the first two issues are at least at this point non-conclusive- but there is no cure for kidney failure, just a matter of keeping the animal comfortable. So the best-case scenario in this prognosis is another year or two of living, with lots of medications.
A lot to take in on Monday morning. I held it together until I got in my vehicle heading home for lunch and just bawled the whole way there. And then slobbered all over my dog once I got home. Poor Lester had to see his master at his despondent worst. But then like I told my ex-stepson(while still married to his Mom)," a real man isn't afraid to show his feelings". Still, I don't like to show 'em to everybody. Not those feelings anyway. But it is healthier to get it out of your system.
So my beloved little bundle of fur is now home from the Animal Hospital. She's pretty weirded-out from the whole experience and is moving slowly, a far cry from the graceful feline who'd dash through the house like a fleeting gazelle--especially at mealtime. And she's not going to like the meds I'll have to be giving her 3 times a day. But she's at least thirsty, the first thing she tended to upon getting home.
One thing I've always liked about this cat is that she loves affection, loves to be petted. And most nights right at bedtime and most mornings upon awakening, I have this nice little bundle of purring fur alongside me. At the moment, she's not the most affectionate creature in the world, which would figure after being hospitalized for two days. But at least she deigns to be in the same room with Lester and me, as opposed to hiding in one of the closets like she's been doing.
It's a start. We'll just have to see how it all shakes out.
It's not enough to simply acquire a cat or dog. You have to have some kind of connection for it to work, just like any other relationship. Both my current pets came to me when I met them, came right up to introduce themselves as it were. That was when I knew that we had something.
So I've had Lester and Maxine now for going on 12 years, Lester first and then Maxine some 9 months later. We've had our ups and downs, particularly Lester. Dogs are more high-maintenance, especially as puppies. Very destructive. Plus the barking, which was quite offensive to one neighbor in particular. Fortunately we got over that little hurdle, and it's been smooth sailing ever since.
Both animals have been neutered(a particularly kind thing for your cat, since cats don't ever have Menopause but just go into heat every three weeks for their whole lives!), and Maxine has been de-clawed on her front paws. They've been to the Vet for other issues, but basically I don't worry about them so long as they're happy and healthy.
And we've had a long run as far as that goes. Maxine, being a long-haired cat, has had the hairball thing going ever since she was a kitten, but that's been the worst of her problems. Until recently.
Her coughing had become a daily thing, and the cough was more bronchial. Also her breathing became shallower and more raspy. This past Friday things reached a crisis point, and I had to take her into the Emergency Animal Center. Cats are the most recalcitrant animals as far as doing anything they don't want to do and will fight you tooth and nail over it. So tracking her furry ass down and getting it into the vehicle was the hardest part. But they were able to help her breathing.
A most funky weekend followed, watching over her and trying to get her to take her medications. Also watching her get weaker and weaker. Monday morning I got her in to the Animal Hospital where I'd been taking my heretofore healthy animals all these years. The news was not good: an elevated white-cell count, some 'opaque' spots on the chest X-ray, and kidney failure. As it turned out, the first two issues are at least at this point non-conclusive- but there is no cure for kidney failure, just a matter of keeping the animal comfortable. So the best-case scenario in this prognosis is another year or two of living, with lots of medications.
A lot to take in on Monday morning. I held it together until I got in my vehicle heading home for lunch and just bawled the whole way there. And then slobbered all over my dog once I got home. Poor Lester had to see his master at his despondent worst. But then like I told my ex-stepson(while still married to his Mom)," a real man isn't afraid to show his feelings". Still, I don't like to show 'em to everybody. Not those feelings anyway. But it is healthier to get it out of your system.
So my beloved little bundle of fur is now home from the Animal Hospital. She's pretty weirded-out from the whole experience and is moving slowly, a far cry from the graceful feline who'd dash through the house like a fleeting gazelle--especially at mealtime. And she's not going to like the meds I'll have to be giving her 3 times a day. But she's at least thirsty, the first thing she tended to upon getting home.
One thing I've always liked about this cat is that she loves affection, loves to be petted. And most nights right at bedtime and most mornings upon awakening, I have this nice little bundle of purring fur alongside me. At the moment, she's not the most affectionate creature in the world, which would figure after being hospitalized for two days. But at least she deigns to be in the same room with Lester and me, as opposed to hiding in one of the closets like she's been doing.
It's a start. We'll just have to see how it all shakes out.
posted by Roger U Roundly at 10:02 PM
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