One Week Later....

It's been one week since sweet Fred crossed that Bridge. We miss our brofur, as does mom, but have been doing our best to show her our love. Many of us have taken to laying on mom's right when she is watching t.v. That was Fred's favorite spot. Mom always laughed because white-furred Fred would always be on the right, and black-furred Sable would always lay on the left. The middle was reserved for me! None of us like to curl around mom's hand like Fred did, but she said that's okay. She knows we are all different. That just happened to be his thing to do.

Mom has some pictures of Fred on her phone. We wanted to share a couple of them now. Something Fred started doing as he started feeling worse was finding cooler places to lay down. Most of the time it would be the tile floor in the bathroom. However, mom walked into the kitchen one day to find this:

We think Fred was still a handsome boy, but he looks older than his 10 years. His face is thinner, and he isn't the shiny, clean white kitty that he had been. He still washed and tried to groom, but you can see how gray his tail looked, and his ears. Mom tried to keep him cleaner, but he would squirm and get so agitated that she would let him go.

Mom didn't fuss at him for being in the sink. She knew he didn't feel well. This was take about a month before he passed.

We would like to thank everybody who left messages of sympathy for us. It meant a lot to mom and us. There will always be a place in our hearts for Fred, but we know it was time for him to fly free. As long as we have memories of him then he will still live on in our hearts and home.

Fred is Home

Clarissa has graciously allowed me to take over her blog for the day.  I (and Clarissa & Co.) want to thank all of our friends in the blogosphere for your kind words regarding Fred's passing. If you've ever loved an animal, you know how hard it is when they are no long with you. Your words meant so much to us.

I pick up Fred's ashes late yesterday. Quite frankly, I was surprised that they were returned so quickly. Fred has taken his place of honor along side his siblings who went before him. The vet's office include a heart shape cast of Fred's paw print. This is the first time I've receive a paw print of one of my fur babies.

There are things I miss about Fred. He was always on the breakfast bar or the kitchen counter when I would get up in the morning. He would "yell" at me, demanding to be fed. When I would watch t.v. in the evening, Fred's spot would be on my right. He would curl up around my hand while I rubbed his belly. Soon he would be asleep. Those are the things I will miss about him.

Fred's physical presence will be missed in our house, but his spirit and his memory will live on in my heart.

Clarissa's mom,
Malinda

And then there were 14...

Our hearts are heavy with the news we must bring. We said goodbye to Fred today. As you know, he had kidney disease and has been on sub-q fluids for a little over a month. He rallied when he first started on them, and the B-12 shot probably helped, too. But that was not to last. Fred practically stopped eating. All he wanted was mom's almond milk.

On top of the kidney issues, Fred developed a very bad respiratory infection. Mom took him to see the vet this morning. She dropped him off and had planned to pick him up when she left work later today. She even took his bag of fluid so he could get it while he was there.

The vet called mom later in the morning and she said Fred's prognosis was not good. His kidneys were small and had shrank. His chest was congested as was his sinuses. She told mom she could prescribe an antibiotic for Fred, but his immune system was so compromised that even if it cleared up, something else would make him sick. Mom said she didn't want to put Fred through more knowing he really wasn't going to get any better. Mom left work and went to the vet's office so she could be with him when he crossed the Bridge.

Clarissa's mom here:  Frederick Jerome DeWinter was one of the gentlest, sweetest cats I've known. He didn't have a mean bone in his body. He loved everyone. He got along with all of the other cats in my household. It broke my heart to let him go today, but I don't regret the decision. His passing was very peaceful. I chose to have his body cremated and will pick up his ashes when they are returned to the vet's office.

It has been a very hard and difficult day for me. I also lost a friend who I only knew through a cat message board and then Facebook. Sue's health had been declining over the past years and she had moved into an assisted living facility earlier this year. She entered the hospital late last week and went into "comfort care" on Sunday. She passed during the night. I found out this morning.

Life is fragile. Cuddle your fur family. Tell your friends and family that you love them.

On behalf of Clarissa & Co. and me:  We love you and appreciate all you do.

Fred in his prime.

2006 - August 16, 2016.

Happy Friday

We don't know who is happier about it being Friday: we cats or our mom.  Mom is happy because she doesn't have to get up at 6:30am (although Sable will attempt to get her up that earlier). We are happy because she will be home for a couple of days.

Fred is doing well. He isn't the most cooperative when it comes to getting his fluids. He may only weigh 5 lbs., but it takes mom and her brother to hold him. He has gotten free a couple of times and pulled the sub-q needle out. He was fine, but the solution was spraying all over until mom could clamp it off.

Lily gets eyedrops every morning, Fred gets fluids every other day, and I get a prednisone pill every other day. It's like an infirmary around here sometimes. But mom said she doesn't mind doing it. If she ever takes a trip she will have to board Fred. She can get one of her friends to take care of me and Lily, but she wouldn't ask anyone to "stick" Fred. Her best friend couldn't give fluids to her own kitty, so mom knows she won't be able to give them to Fred. But as mom says, she'll cross that bridge when she gets to it.

It's been so hot in Louisville. The daily high temperature has been in the 90s, and the humidity has been high. It makes the air feel heavy and sticky. And the "heat index" has been over 100. The weather pundits said that tomorrow, although the temperature should be about 96, the heat index will make it feel like it is 106! That is too hot for anyone!!! We are glad we are indoor cats. Mom said she may put out some water for the squirrels and bunnies that come in our yard.

Stay cool my friends and enjoy your weekend!!!

A note from my brother, "Stinky" Fred

My sweet brother Fred has asked me if he could share his letter to our friends. Of course I said yes.


Dear Friends,

I have always been a thin guy, but I have been losing weight. Mom guessed my weight to be about 5 lbs. and she was right. I went to the vet on Friday morning and I weighed 5.2 lbs. The last time I was weighed was 3 years ago and I was around 8 lbs.

"Stinky Fred" is mom's nickname for me. I've always had really bad breath, but I've always had chronic gingivitis. Due to my kidney disease the vet said he doesn't think having my teeth cleaned is a good idea. The anesthesia isn't good for my system and he is afraid that I wouldn't come out of it. 

The vet didn't feel anything unusual in my belly area. He and mom agreed that I should have a full blood panel ran. Dr. R. also suggested sub-q fluids and a B-12 shot. He took me in the back and they shaved my neck, stole my blood, etc. The whole time I was back there I was singing the song of my people: "Help! Help! The vet is a stabby person!" Mom could hear me and she said it was a totally different type of meow than what I make a home. Dr. R. told mom that I should have fluids administer two more days and then every other day for the foreseeable future.
 
Mom got the lab results from my blood workup and it is as mom feared. My weight loss is due to the progression of my kidney disease. It makes mom furry sad. I wasn't surprised to get the official diagnoses, nor was mom. I've had problems with my kidneys since I was about 4 years old (I'm about 10 years old now). Mom said she will do everything she can to slow the progression, but she is aware that it will eventually take me away from her. With the proper diet, and sub-q fluids every other day, I'm hoping I will have a few good years left with her. But I have promised her that when I am ready to go to my mansion, I will let her know. And she has promised me that, although it will hurt her heart, she will help me cross the Bridge with dignity and comfort. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Purrs and head bonks!
"Stinky" Fred

p.s.

Since getting the fluids and the B-12 shot, my appetite has improved and I'm eating my prescription kibble (I don't like the canned prescription food). I don't look as thin, but that is from the fluids.

 

Easy Like Sunday

Today's easy picture doesn't look a whole lot different than last week's! Lets face it. We LOVE to take it easy on Mom's bed!

Daisy is laying on the top left and Jazzpurr is laying on the pillows. Mom was surprised to see the two tortie girls in close proximity. From there we have Puff stretched out, then Fred and Batman. Spunky also decided to stretch out, as did his sister, Ginger. Mom would love to see all 15 of us on the bed, but that will never happen. Some of us don't get along very well together.

It was a year ago yesterday when brother, Bandit, crossed the Bridge. We won't forget ever forget that morning. He seemed to be fine when we went to bed and he was gone when Mom got up the next morning. Bandit was never a lap cat, and he rarely slept on the bed with mom (although he would sleep on the bed with the rest of us.) He had a sweet disposition and loved to be scratched and petted when he was laying on the top level of the cat tree. Bandit got along with all of us, but he was shy around people he didn't know. We know we will see you again one day, Bandit.

Bandit Bigtoes

February 2005 - December 27, 2013

A Day Late on Easy Sunday

We hope Monday is treating everyone right. It's three sleeps until Santa Paws comes. Mom doesn't do much for Christmas. She hasn't put a tree up for about four or five years now. And it's almost been a year since our brofur, Bandit, crossed the Bridge without any warning. Mom said today how she misses that orange boy. We miss him, too. But we aren't going to be sad today.

Mom was doing laundry yesterday. When she walked into her bedroom to put some of her clothes away she was greeted with the sight of six of us sleeping on her bed. Of course, mom had to grab her flashybox/cell phone to take a picture.

That's Daisy at the head of the bed on the pillows. Ginger picked the foot of the bed. The four who decided to make a nap pile are Fred, Spunky, Batman, and Puff. Nary a whisker twitched while mom was in there. I was sleeping by myself in mom's computer chair.

Mom said we really have a hard-knock life. Then she walked out of the room singing something about the sun coming out tomorrow.

Purrs,
Clarissa & Co.

White Wednesday

Our Bags Were Packed...

The suitcase really wasn't ours. But we wanted to help mom pack for her trip. She went to Boston last weekend for Walker Stalker Con. Mom said she had a lot of fun and she did get to meet a lot of friends from online. Mom was suppose to get home at 11:55pm on Sunday, but due to equipment failures and weather delays (on incoming planes) she got to spend an extra day in Boston and do some site seeing. Mom had a 3 hour layover in Baltimore on Monday night that turned into a 6 hour layover. She didn't get home until 2:30am Tuesday morning! And as she was coming in the front door Daisy bolted outside. That meant mom had to catch her and get her back inside before she could go to bed!

Anymew, we wanted to share some pics of us helping mom pack!

 Batman took the deep side while Puff held down the top!

 Where do you think mom is going, Puff?

 Nowhere if I have anything to say about it, Batman!

Can I go with you? (Fred)

Friday Photos

Mom has been busy with the flashy box (aka her phone) so we are going to share some pictures today.

 That's me, Clarissa, having a snack. Please excuse the carpet.

Nap pile #1: Lily, Daisy, Fred the Pillow, and the toes of Spunky.

 Ginger and I were sharing a sun puddle on the living room couch.

 That's Johnny on mom's bed. Those are her goggles behind him.

 Cash & Johnny NOT looking at the camera.

 Cash & Johnny looking at the camera.

 Nap pile #2: Cash, Spunky, & Batman (being Long Cat)

 Capt. Puff "Puffypants" McPufferson

Cash Dixon. His eyes match the blanket.

We hope everyone enjoys their long weekend! Mom is going to a Beatles thing tomorrow called "Abbey Road on the River." We are going to be napping!

Purrs,

Clarissa & Co.

More On Fred

Fred had his final round of sub-q fluids this morning. Mom was in the waiting room and could hear Fred meowing from the back room. She took him home before going on to work. Fred is doing fine. He is eating more and seems to be feeling better. He is more active than normal, too. Mom doesn't know if that is from the fluids or if the appetite stimulant is making him "hyper". He's never been a real active cat. When Fiona was on the appetite stimulant last year, it seemed to make her anxious or nervous. She would pace around the house. When she would lay down she couldn't get comfortable.

We all want to thank you again for your prayers and purrs. We just know they help!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Sabeen Marie

Sabeen Marie was our friend from the Meowmail Forum. We know she was a senior kitty, but we don't know exactly how old she was. She had that awful cancer stuff, a tumor beneath her tongue. Her mama and the vet decided the kindest thing they could do would be to let her go. She has joined her sisfur, French Toast, at the Bridge.

UPDATE: Fred came home last night and the first thing he did was eat! The fluids have plump him up and he looks more like he did when he first joined our family. He ate a little bit several times last night. He also sang opera. Fred has never been a loud kitty, but last night he wouldn't shut up!!!! Mom took him back to the vet this morning for round two of the sub-q fluid. He also got his appetite stimulant pill (or half of one - he gets 1/2 pill twice a day). Mom was able to take him back home so he wouldn't have to stay at the vet's office all day. Thank you all for your prayers and purrs.

Fred's at the Vet's Office

Mom made arrangements to drop off brother Fred at the vet's office this morning. He has stopped eating his prescription kibble. He gives it a sniff then turns away from it. Our uncle has seen Fred nibbling on the Nine Lives kibble that the rest of us eat. However, he just hasn't been eating enough in mom's opinion. What Fred has been doing is drinking water and some skim milk.

Fred is six years old and developed an issue with his kidneys last year. That's when he dropped down from 11 lbs. to 7 or 8 lbs. He has been holding steady at the weight. He also has chronic gingivitis. Even if his teeth were cleaned, this would only be a temporary fix. The vet said Fred should probably have his teeth extracted, but he doesn't think Fred would make it through the anesthesia.

When mom spoke with the vet at noon, she was told that Fred was given an antibiotic injection to help with the gingivitis and he was given sub-q fluids. He was also given an appetite stimulant. A bit later Fred ate almost a full can of cat food. The vet also wants Fred to have the sub-q fluids over the next two days. That means mom has to take him in again tomorrow and Thursday.

Please keep brother Fred in your purrayers that he will be feeling better soon and that he will eat his food!!!

Off to the V-E-T Today...

Clarissa here with our vet updates. I'll start with myself. Other than the lump, I am doing just fine. Weight is good. Heart/lungs sound great! Eyes/ears/mouth are A-OK. I got my rabies vaccine and I was good to go. As for the lump, my surgery has been scheduled for Friday, October 21. It everything goes as it should (and it will!), I should be able to come home Friday night.

Brother Sable also went in for his annual exam this morning. He's another big boy at 14 lbs. And he was so good! I growled and hissed at Dr. Green and Sable didn't make a sound. He had to get his rabies and distemper vaccines. And he got a clear bill of health too. Mom told Dr. Green about Sable's sneezing and she said it sounds like allergies. Since he isn't acting like he feels bad, his appetite is normal, and he is active, we are just going to watch him for now.

Serendipity has conjunctivitis in her right eye. Mom got home from work last night and noticed that Seren's eye was red and a little puffy. So it was off to the vet with her instead of Fiona. Seren will have to get that gooey ointment put in her eye twice daily for a week to ten days. Dr. Green did check Seren's eye for any abrasion or scratch and it was clear.

Mom called early this morning and asked if she could bring Fred in for a weight check. He is holding his own at 7 lbs. 2 oz. Dr. Green looked at Fred's teeth and gums. She pressed around on his teeth and gums and Fred didn't flinch or cry or growl or bite. She said at this time, she didn't think an extraction of teeth would be a good thing for him. She thinks it would be too stressful on his kidneys. She gave me some samples of different kidney diet foods to try with him. He hated the K/D (canned) and wouldn't eat it. Dr. Green also found FLEA DIRT on Fred! *sigh* She put a dose of Revolution on him in the office, and mom had to dose the remaining 14 of us when she got home.

Fiona got a reprieve this morning and her appointment has been rescheduled to October 29, along with Bandit.

We spent the rest of the day sleeping in sun puddles and doing a little window whiffing! It is suppose to reach 80 tomorrow, but then take a turn to much cooler weather.

The Rissa Report: Mom's talk with my v-e-t

Mom spoke with my regular v-e-t yesterday. He read the report that the substitute v-e-t left regarding the lump on my side. There really isn't any more news about it. He told mom she had three choices.

1. She can monitor the lump and watch for any changes in size.
2. V-e-t can remove the lump and not have it biopsied.
3. V-e-t can remove the lump and have it biopsied.

The lump hasn't changed in size since mom found it on September 29. I have an appointment scheduled for this coming Saturday for my annuals. Mom said the v-e-t will take a look at my lump then and mom will make the decision on what to do. She is still leaning toward choice #3.

Mom is also still concerned over brother Fred. Fred isn't gaining weight like she hoped he would. He doesn't appear to have lost any weight either. He should weigh around 10 or 11 lbs. When she picks him up he feels like he weighs next to nothing.

Mom asked our v-e-t yesterday if Fred's chronic gingivitis issue could be effecting his kidneys. He said yes, it is possible. However, removing Fred's teeth, which would take care of the chronic gingivitis, might not correct the kidney issue. So now mom doesn't know what she should do. It is agreed that the dental extraction is extreme and it is also expensive. And if Fred would go through that process, our vet would not do it. He said he would have Fred go to a specialist.

Mom adopted Fred when he was 2 years old and he is 5 now. He has had this chronic gingivitis problem since he has been with us. He has always had terrible stinky breath. Mom has also noticed that he tends to turn his head to the right and chews on that side, leading her to believe that the left side of his mouth is tender.

Any words of advice you can give us would be greatly appreciated.

Fall Is In The Air!

Kitties! It feels like fall here! It is a great relief after have temps between 100 and 102 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday! A cold front came through on Sunday night and yesterday the high was in the upper 60s. It's suppose to be in the 60s and 70s for the remainder of this week. We will still have some days in the 80s before fall really sets in, but for now this is perfect weather.

Jazzpurr had her annual exam and got her vaccines on Saturday. She has a short, stocky build and weighed in at 12 lbs. Mom told the vet that Jazz was the perfect size for Thanksgiving dinner! Hee hee! She would never have Jazz for dinner though. Mom loves her too much!

Fred gained another half ounce, and me (Clarissa) had to get my depo shot because I started chewing on my belly again.

Mom opened some windows yesterday so there was a lot of whiffin' going on at our house. We really liked that a lot!

We hope everyone had a great weekend and a great Labor Day holiday if you live in the USA!

Mancat Monday: Vet Reports on Fred and Memphis

Sorry we have been M.I.A. again. Between mom's job and her gallavanting around Ohio to see Alice Cooper, we haven't gotten any computer time.

Fred had his vet appointment on August 6th. Mom noticed that he had lost weight. In the past year he has dropped 4 pounds! He went from 11 lbs. to 7 lbs. and is too skinny. One look at his gums and the vet said his gingivitis was back and his mouth was probably sore. Fred has some type of gingivitis that is chronic. Eventually he will probably lose his teeth. The vet put him on an antibiotic and told mom to feed him canned food to fatten him up. As a precautionary thing, Fred also had blood drawn for lab work. The results came back showing that Fred's creatin levels were elevated. The vet recommend canned K/D food. Fred ate it up at first, but now he totally snubs it. Mom has tried mixing the Fancy Feast with it but he refuses it. For the time being, Fred is getting regular canned food so he'll gain some weight. He was weighed on Saturday and had gained 5 ozs. Fred also got his rabies vaccine that day.

Memphis had his vet visit on August 20th. He weighed in at a healthy 11 lbs. 14 ozs. He has a touch of gingivitis around his back teeth, on one side only. Memphis was due for his rabies and distemper vaccines. Once Memphis was home, he hid until early this morning! Our uncle said he woke up around 3am and Memphis was in bed with him. Mom thinks Memphis probably felt a little puny after his vaccines. Or maybe he was just sulking. He is a MEEZER, you know!!!

That's about it for now! Happy Monday everyone!

Introducing Frederick Jerome DeWinter

Hello everyone! It's time for you to meet my youngest brofur, Fred.



Hi all! My name is Fred and I've been living in my forever home since April 2008. Mom saw me and my adopted sisfur, Lily, at Feeders Supply. We are both white kitties and mom couldn't chose, so she adopted both of us. Although we were at Feeders Supply, we were actually adopted through the Kentucky Humane Society.

Mom was told that I was two years old, and it hadn't been too long since I had been neutered. My name then was "Crazy Cat" although I never acted crazy at all. Mom couldn't decide if my name was Fred or Jerome and I was no help at all when it came to telling her. She decided that it was Frederick Jerome DeWinter in the end, although most of the time I'm plain old Fred. Sometimes I'm "Freddie J."

I'm very friendly with the other cats and I love to snuggle with Spunky or Bandit. And I like it when the other cats wash my ears! My favorite place to sleep is on my mom's right leg when she is sitting in the recliner. She says it makes it hard to knit sometimes when I do that, but she usually finds a way to work around me.

Mom says I'm probably an average sized mancat. I weighed around 10 or 11 lbs. I'm not real talkative, but I will meow to get mom's attention. My favorite thing in the world is to have mom rub my chest and belly. I will lay on my side and curl my body around her hand and go to sleep while she is rubbing my tummy. I don't like having my claws trimmed although I will usually let mom do it. Generally I'm just not fond of having my feet touched. My paw pads and my nose are a pale pink and I have big gold eyes. I like to eat stinky goodness and dry kibble and an occasional treat. I do not like the PTU and going to the vet (although I usually do behave once I'm there).

The two pictures that I've posted were taken on my second night in my forever home.



I have some catitude going on in that picture. I'm not a big fan of the flashy box.

Anymew, it's great to meet everyone and I'm sure you'll hear from me again!

Purrs & Headbonks,
Fred