Another Follow-Up Post Regarding Johnny

Everyone's purrs and prayers and positive thoughts seem to be working! Johnny saw the vet again yesterday. He has gained another half pound! This makes us all so happy. The vet said he looks good and that even his fur looked better.

Mom managed to steal some of his poop on Saturday morning. She took it to the vet that same morning so she could look for anything nasty or something that just shouldn't be there. Nothing to report in the poop department. It was normal.

The plan of action is for Johnny to continue taking the antibiotics for three more weeks, along with the supplement. He will go back on or around March 21 for another weight check. Of course, if he starts slipping or something is amiss with him, he will go back sooner. The vet said the supplement is something Johnny will be taking for the rest of his life.

Keep your paws crossed that Johnny continues to gain weight and improve. Also keep your paws crossed that the rest of us stay healthy. Mom said that been Daisy's dental surgery and Johnny's illness she has spent about $4000. She is seriously considering a "Go Fund Me" page to help cover the vet bills. She said she hates to do that though because we are her responsibility, not someone elses.

Purrs,
Clarissa & Co.

Sable's Vet Visit (check up)

Sable was dropped off at the vet this morning for his annuals and to have a boo-boo looked at. Our Sable is considered to be a medium hair cat. At age 15, his coat isn't as shiny as it used to be, and he has started getting some mats in his fur. Although he is a black cat, his undercoat is a soft gray. Mom could brush him for hours and he would continue to shed. The problem is when those little mats form in Sable's fur, mom said it is like the beginning of a human "dredlock". She either has to cut them out or pick them apart before she brushes him.

When it was time for bed last night, mom found LOTS of tuffs of black and gray fur that looked like Sable's fur. She picked it up and threw it out. Then Sable jumped on the bed and mom noticed a bare looking spot on his hip/thigh area. She took him out to the family room and gave him a good brushing. He pulled away from her when she went over the bare-ish spot. Upon further inspection she said it looked scabbed over. When she rubbed over it with her finger tip the rough place pulled up and it was bloody beneath it. After cleaning it with some warm water (Sable hated that) she put a little antibiotic ointment on it.

Mom was concerned that the boo-boo might get infected, so it was off to the vet for Sable! The vet called and said the place is nothing to worry about and should heal up just fine. He trimmed some of the other mats off and trimmed up Sable's butt fur. He got his needed vaccines and mom will pick him up on her way home from work.

The vet did tell mom that Sable has lost some of his body mass (aka weight). It's been a gradual loss and the vet said it is age related. Sable has lost 3 lbs. over 3 years, going from a little over 12 lbs. to a little over 9 lbs. The vet recommended that Sable go on a prescription food so mom is going to give it a try. He loved Angel Fred's prescription food, so hopefully he will like this food.

We hope everyone has a fun weekend. If the hots are in your part of the country, take it easy and stay cool. If there are storms in your area, stay safe and stay dry!

Purrs,
Clarissa & Co.

Fiona the Ferocious

Clarissa turned the blog over to me today.

I had a check-up appointment with my eye specialist this morning. I let mom put me in the carrier. I rode quietly all the way to the specialist's office. I let mom get me out of the carrier and I laid in her lap all wrapped up in my blanket. And when the tech and the doctor came to look at my eye I turned into THE CAT FROM HELL!!!! I hissed and growled and snapped my alligator-like jaws at the vet. And when she tried a second time I did it again! Mom got up and tried to wrap me in the blanket and I clawed up the back of her hand and one finger. I am FEROCIOUS! Dr. T said that I would have to be sedated for the exam. Since I haven't been having any problems mom and the doctor decided not to do the exam. If I start having any problems I can always go back. Mom kept apologizing for my bad behavior. Once I calmed down I let mom put me back in the carrier and behaved all the way back home.

I showed them that I am the boss!!! *Beaming proudly*

Ferocious Fiona

Tabby Tuesday

Good morning kitties!  It's Tabby Tuesday and we have new pictures of Johnny and Cash!

Johnny decided he would rather stay in the corner instead of laying in the magnificent sun puddles that graced our family room yesterday.

Cash had the right idea and he stretched out in the sun. Mom said he is one of the longest cats she has ever seen!

Do you see that laundry basket in the corner? It is full of plastic bags from the grocery and it has a pad on top of it. It is one of our prime napping places!

Cash has a kitty cold. He started sneezing on Sunday and last night he started coughing. Mom dropped him off at the vet to be checked out. She just spoke with our vet a bit ago and he said Cash ate a nice breakfast and isn't lethargic. He told mom to keep an eye on him and bring him back in if anything changes. That's a relief for all of us!

Have a great day friends!

Purrs,
Clarissa & Co.

Memphis is back at the vet's

Mom talked to my vet a few minutes ago. I've lost more weight. He gave me an appetite stimulant and has two different types of food in front of me. I am ignoring them. My temperature is normal. He said there is still some redness in the back of my mouth. They are going to give me some sub-q fluids and if he thinks it won't interfere with any tests I'll have to have on Monday, I'll get a steroid shot. I have a 9am appointment to see an internist/specialist vet on Monday.

Purrs,
Memphis 


Mom here. Memphis would not eat last night. He laid on my bed, curled up in a tight ball. He is not showing any interest in food. I was able to isolate him in a separate room last night with his litterbox, kibble, and water. None of it had been touched overnight.

I am trying to remain positive, but his behavior has me frightened. Having just lost Panda to kidney failure in April, I am very concerned that Memphis will have those same problems.

My regular vet suggest that I take Memphis to see a specialist. Hopefully this new doctor can get to the root of the matter. Not knowing what I'm dealing with is the hardest part.

Please keep my boy, Memphis, in your purrs and prayers. 

Still Laying Low

Memphis ventured out for a little bit last night. But as soon as mom gave him his antibiotic he took off and hid under her bed.  He came out again, but wanted in the closet (mom had shut the door). She let him go in there and rousted him out later so she could give him his second pill. Once again, he took off and ran under the bed.  Mom saw him briefly this morning. He was in the closet and as soon as she stuck her head in he ran out and...you guessed it...ran under the bed.

Mom spoke with one of the vet techs over the phone this morning. The next step is going to be isolating him in a separate room with food, water, and a litter box. That is the only way to find out if he is eating and drinking and using the bathroom. Mom knows that Memphis will not react well to that. She has tried it before and he tries to tear the door down.

With mom being at work all day she can't tell if Memphis is eating. However, she has not witnessed him eating when she is home in the evening. This is driving her crazy! All she knows is something is either physically wrong with Memphis or mentally wrong with him. If any of your purrents have some advice or suggestions they can leaving them in our comments or email us at rissakitty2000 at gmail dot com.  We spelled that out so nasty robots can't read it.

Happy Tuesday

Well, no sooner than mom was home from North Carolina, she packed up and took off again! This time she went to Merrillville, IN to see the one and only Alice Cooper in concert. She met a bunch of her friends there and they all went to the concert on Thursday night. This was her first (and maybe only) Cooper concert for this year, so she splurged and bought herself the VIP meet and greet package. There were 24 others in her meet and greet group, but mom said Alice took his time with each and everyone of them. Mom talked with him about movies and and asked him if he has had a chance to visit the Waverly Hills Sanatorium that is in Louisville, KY. It's in the list of the 10 Most Haunted places in America.

And here is a picture of mom with Alice taken at the meet and greet session:

He signed the back of the bobblehead that is on the table, the album cover that mom has in her lap, and a few other things. Mom has lost count of the number of times she has met him now, but she still says he is absolutely one of the nicest people she has ever met.

And now for news about us cats!  Both Daisy and Memphis went to the vet on Caturday.  Daisy was due for her annual exam and rabies vaccine. She also got a claw trim and her ears cleaned. It's a good thing too! Her little ears were filthy!!!!  Daisy got a clean bill of health and is good to go for another year.

Mom took Memphis in because of his hiding issue and not seeing him eat. Dr. R. couldn't find anything wrong with him except some gingivitis. He was weighed and he has lost 3 oz. since last November. Since Memphis's annual was due next month, Dr. R. thought it would be okay for him to have his rabies vaccine. He also got a nail trim and ear cleaning.

When mom got home she began filling up our food bowls. Memphis was eating some kibble and he totally freaked out. No one was bothering him and he just cried out and took off running.  Later on mom fixed him a bowl of canned food and let him eat in the bathroom with her. He ate like he was ravenous and then the same thing happened. He took a bite of food and then started screaming and yowling and growling while he high-tailed it into the corner! He had his ears laid back and he hissed at mom!

Memphis went back to the vet yesterday for a re-check of his mouth. Mom thought he might have a bad tooth. Dr. G. saw him this time. She called mom and said Memphis's gums were badly inflamed. He ended up having his teeth cleaned while he was there. The vet said his teeth were fine. Now he is home and on Clavamox for the next 10 days. Hopefully that will take care of any infection he has in his gums.

Memphis stayed out of the closets last night, but he shunned mom! And he hid from her this morning!!!!

It's always something at our house!

Mancat Monday: Puff

Happy Monday! I'm taking over the blog today. Mom is in the process of getting us up-to-date on our vaccines. I went on Saturday for my exam and rabies vaccine. I weighed in at 17.5 lbs. I had my claws trimmed and my blood stolen for a senior panel. Everything was good and I don't have to go back until next year. I was the perfect angel at the vet's office.

Unfortunately, I was not the perfect angel at home! I'm usually quite docile and a very lovey boy. But try to put me into the PTU (pet transport unit) and I become the Tasmanian Devil!!! I fought mom tooth and nail but she finally succeeded. I did draw blood from mom in the process. When she tried to scruff me I managed to turn my head back and I bit her index finger. I caught her finger with one of my upper fangs and tore the flesh.

Mom cleaned her finger really well and even poured hydrogen peroxide on the wound. However, by 3pm her finger was quite swollen and her hand was starting to swell. She ended up going to the immediate care center. The doctor cleaned the area again and prescribed an antibiotic for mom. And since it is an animal bite it has to be reported! I'm going to have a record now!!!! Oh woe is me!

The swelling in mom's hand has gone down, but her finger is still swollen and painful. She still has a lot of redness around the bite and on the back of her hand, too. And mom said it is all tender to touch.

I have apologized to mom and feel really bad about biting her. I know she has forgiven me. She didn't even yell at me when I put the bitey on her!!!

Does this look the face of a criminal?

Just a short postie....

Things have gotten back to normal at home. Panda's memorial altar is still in place. Mom said she isn't ready to move it yet. But now she can talk about Panda without tears, so she is getting better. And now she is trying to get us caught up on on vaccines and licenses.

The first to go last Saturday was big brother Spunky. Notice I said big brother, not older brother! Spunky weighed in at 18 lbs. He checked out just fine, too. Mom had a senior panel run on him since he is Angel Panda's brother and will be 10 this year. The results came back today and all was good! Spunky received his rabies vaccine on Saturday and also got a claw trim. He is good to go until next May.

And now I am going to embarrass him a little. Spunky would not come out of the carrier at the vet's office. Since it was a front loading carrier, mom had to turn it up on end to get him out. Spunky came out all right, along with a large puddle of cat pee. He's never peed in his carrier before, so I think he just had a really full bladder and couldn't wait!

I also had to make the trip to the vet. I was a bit overdue for my Depo injection. I over-groomed my belly again until the skin was inflamed. I may have to go back a week from this Saturday for a second shot. It depends on how well this one works.

Brother Puff is scheduled to go in this coming Saturday. Mom wants a senior panel run on him too. Another sibling of Angel Panda's, he will also turn 10 this year.

That's it for now!

Purrs,
Clarissa

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!!!

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!!!

Rissa is at the vet's office.....

Mom here. Miss Rissa Roo has pulled out a couple of stitches in her incision and the incision is swollen and infected. She was in my lap last night and I noticed a bead of pus (sorry to be so icky) at the top of the incision.

Since the infection was draining, I figured she could wait until this morning to go in. Rissa was fine during the night, and she was a very cooperative girl and went right into the carrier this morning. I dropped her off at the vet's office on the way to work this morning.

I know she will be fine and she is in good hands. I'm sure I'll be able to pick her up this afternoon. But, unfortunately for her, she will be wearing the "cone of shame" until the incision has healed and the stitches can be removed without her assistance.

Lab Report Is Back!!!

Good news!!!! The lump was nothing more than a benign cyst!!! Isn't that great news?!!!! Dr. R. suspects it was caused by my last Depomederol (spelling?) injection. We are all so happy at my house!!!

Thank you, my friends, for the purrs and prayers!

I'm singing for joy at my good news!!!!

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.

More Lump News....

Rissa here again. Mom heard from the v-e-t again yesterday. She took a closer look at the slide with the lump sample on it. Upon further inspection she said she noticed some "round cells". She said it could be something or it could be nothing. And she apologized for not being able to give mom a definitive answer. But she also gave mom some good advice to save a few toonas.

The v-e-t said she could send the sample to an outside lab for another look. She said if she did that, more than likely the outside lab would send back a report telling us the same thing that she told me. And they would then request a biopsy. Instead of spending another $80-$100 on this, she said mom should save the toonas and use it toward the biopsy, assuming that is what my regular v-e-t wants to do. This v-e-t said she would make sure that Drs. Riney and Green see my chart and her notes.

Although mom hates to put me through a minor surgery, she thinks the lump should be removed and biopsied.

Mom and I will know more next week after my regular v-e-t-s are back in their office.

Purrs,
Clarissa
(aka Rissa Roo)

The Rissa Report: My Vet Visit

Hi kitties and woofies! I told you last week that mom found a small, pea-sized lump on my side last Thursday. Mom took me to see the v-e-t yesterday afternoon to have it checked out.

First of all, I saw a different doctor. Both of my regular doctors were out of the office. Mom and I both liked this doctor and she took good care of me. She shaved my fur off the small area so she could get a better look at the lump and a better feel. Then she decided to take a sample from it and look at what she got under the microscope. The good news: nothing out of the ordinary showed up in the sample. It appears to be nothing more than a fatty cyst. The vet said she was going to take the slide to the emergency office where she works to look at it under a better microscope just to be sure. She said she would let mom know today.

We got a little more window whiffin' time in once I was home from the v-e-t. My side was a little sore and I have a bruise from the needle stick, so I found a comfy spot and slept. Sable took a nap in the recliner with mom.

It's another beautiful day here and the temp is going into the mid-70s. We just know mom will open the windows again when she gets home from work!

Purrs,
Clarissa

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!

Vet visits for Clarissa & Panda today!

Me (Clarissa) and Panda went to the v*t this morning. Mom is behind on some of our vaccines. Panda had to get her rabies vaccine and that other one that covers a bunch of stuff. It's a good thing she went today too! The vet noticed that Panda's right eye was inflamed. Looks like she may have conjunctivitis now. Mom has to put a drop of medicine in her eye 3x daily. The v*t did the first dose. Mom just did the 2nd one a little while ago...and now Panda is hiding. She is afraid this may be an issue. Please purr that it isn't. Panda weighs 16 lbs and is very very strong. Please purr that she will cooperate!

I had to have my ears cleaned. They were so DIRTY!!!! I get that yeasty build-up that has something to do with allergies. I also got my Depomedrol injection so I'll stop chewing on my belly and making it raw.

We both got claw trims too! Panda was so good and didn't complain one bit - except on the ride to and from the office while she was in the carrier. I was quiet in the carrier but I complained loudly at the office! I growled and hissed at the vet a lot!

Purrs,
Clarissa & Panda