Progress

Hey everycat, we wanted to let you know how things were going. Furst I want to thank everyone who sent gifts and well wishes to me. They've been very comforting in my recovery.

That's right, I said "recovery". Progress is being made. Friday Dad saw me drinking from the cat fountain in a long time. I also ate a lot of food. The latter wasn't such a good idea since I got sick overnight and on Saturday. It was too much too soon, but the important thing was that I was eating and drinking. (I also was not cleaning myself very well. I got stuff on my front paws and Dad had to wash them off.) Dad also started putting my pills in my canned food for me to nom up so he doesn't have to force them down my throat. I'm actually starting to think I'm going to beat this. This morning Dad thinks I'm starting to look better.

I have more than a week of pills daily to go through before we start stepping down. This coming weekend he wants to take me to the vet again for a weigh in and maybe hydration (or sooner if the vet wants).

Keep the purrs up, I'm not out of the woods yet.

Pancreatitis

Well we found the trouble. I have pancreatitis. I gotta take more pills and I'm fighting Dad every step of the way to take them. They may make my diabetes worse and if it does, we don't know what will happen. But I didn't have it too badly before so we're optimistic. Only problem is getting me to take my pills. Dad will have to invest in a pill popper or something.

Vet Update

Dad took me to the vet ... again for a weigh in. I lost 2 oz since last week, down to 9.11. That's not too bad considering how much I lost before. I lost the weight from my visit earlier this week and then some, but I think it was mostly water and I got sick a few times. The report won't be in until Monday or Tuesday. The person treating me thought it was a vitamin B deficiency which is treatable. Anyway, the put 200ml more water into me and some of it settled down in my left paw. It's twice as big as normal. Dad thinks it looks like a hoof and not a paw. Yeah, Dad. Really funny. I'll make sure to throw up on your new shoes for that.

Of course you can make it up by giving me more food. Dad's given up on making me try different cat foods and stick with the one I like best. We did discover that I like a little bit of baby food mixed in. It's not a long term solution, but the baby food is like gravy in that I can lick it up easily. Plus it has water and fiber in it which can help me. It's Beechnut chicken and veggies (the veggies are peas and carrots, no onions; onions are bad for kitties). I'm also switching my medication to something smaller. It looks like my hyperT pill. I'll hate it, but not as much as that huge pill I had before.

Things are OK otherwise. I got to go outside for a little bit with Dad watching me. I was really happy. Everyone thinks I'm going to be OK once we figure out my health problem. Thanks for all the purrs and gifts!

Vet report

Dad took me to the vet last night and left me there so they can do more tests. They gave me water and food when it was done and I ate it. They say I put on 2 ounces while I was there. Anyway, my x-rays came back fine. They couldn't see anything wrong. My blood is going out of town for tests and we'll know more in a few days. I was hissing at the attendants when I got picked up. Dad gave me my pill when we got home, but all I wanted to do was use the litter box and sleep. I haven't eaten despite getting the pill. We'll see what the next few days bring.

The good/bad news is that so far the tests have come back negative. So we still don't know what's wrong, but we do know that apart from that, I'm a healthy kitty. Keep up the purrs, we're narrowing down on my health problem.

At the vet now

Dad took me to the vet tonight for my tests tomorrow. I have to fast 12 hours before the tests can be done. I'm going to get an x-ray and a GI test. Do you have to study for those? (old joke)

Plus while I'm there they can help me get hydrated and check my newmies. They said I was in high spirits when Dad brought me in. I was meowing the whole trip and when Dad picked me up, I purred. I've been more affectionate than usual recently. I hope we can find out what's wrong before it gets more serious.

Thanks

Thanks to everyfur for your support, purrs, and gifts. We thought this problem was licked but it's worse. Dad is going to talk to the vet and insist I go in tomorrow night so I can take the tests on Tuesday. It might not work out that way, but Dad is really scared and wants me in the hands of a professional. The tests require a fasting period and that's best handled there. Plus they can check to see if I'm hydrated and if not, give me water so that I have a chance to eat before the fasting starts.

Except for not eating I'm acting normal. I was driving Dad crazy by meowing at the front door to go outside. He let me go out and explore further than usual. There were some kids playing in a yard and I walked over to check it out. But they were playing football and Dad didn't want me getting in the way. Last night I was up on his pillow making biscuits on his head and arm like crazy for half an hour. Dad liked it except 1) he was trying to sleep and 2) I was making the chewing motions with my mouth which means I'm nauseous. I slept with him most of the night too.

So I seem to be happy and not in pain. Those are good signs. I don't want to leave Daddy yet and he's going to try and make sure that I don't, but he's done what he can so now it's up to the vet.

Keep purring for us!

Bad news

I went to the vet today for a quick weigh in. I lost 5 ounces. LOST?! Dad would have bet I gained weight since I was eating so often. He was so sure I was getting better. I was being more active. I was begging to go outside and in the garage. Next week we're going to try and get me in for more tests to see what's wrong. How can I lose so much in such a short amount of time? Dad's really scared. He's read about other kitties who went downhill fast for no clear reason. He doesn't want me to be one of them. But all this effort and I'm slipping down. It's hard to be optimistic.

I'm still getting around all right and moving. So there's hope we can figure out what's wrong. I'm still loved and Dad is doing everything he can. I haven't asked to be held in a long time. We thought it was a phase. I do that occasionally. If I'll just want to be held one more time, it's going to be all right.

Progress

Well I think the appetite stimulator pill is wearing off. I sit next to my wet food dish and meow for food. Even though there's already food in it. Dad put's another spoonfull in and I sniff at it and maybe eat a little, but that's it. I get another pill tomorrow night. YUCK! But it's necessary.

I'm feeling better though. I begged to go outside today and I got to go for a little bit and eat some grass. There was a squirrel outside and all three of us furs were watching it. I also chased Lena this morning. Dad wants me to eat more and get my weight up.

Oh yesterday, Dad went and got some of that expensive food everyone likes. I nommed some right up. Pepi ate some too. She tried to eat some of my wet food but Dad kept her away until I was done.

Thanks for the purrs everyone!

Blood results back

The vet called Dad today. Everything looks normal. Nothing is wrong with me. Except that I'm not eating much. And since everything else looks good, we don't know why I don't eat. It's not like I can't. They saw me eat yesterday so they know I can. Before they do a full check of my digestive system (nooooooo) they gave Dad some appetite stimulant pills to give me.

I don't think Dad has ever been so grateful I was declawed by my old family. I really fought hard against taking the pill. But when it did take effect I ate a lot! I went between several food bowels (Dad gave me a variety) and had more than he ever saw me eat in one sitting. I went back a few times. He didn't see me drink yet so he may have to force me to have some water.

We still don't know the cause, but I may wind up putting back on some weight. Keep up your purrs!

Bad news

I had to go to the vet today. They wanted to run some test with my hyperthyroidism. Dad was also concerned that I wasn't eating or drinking as much as I should. We found out I went from a little under 13 lbs to just over 10 lbs in the 2 months since my last visit! The vet said I was the calmest I've ever been which isn't a good sign. The good news is that everything else appears OK, I'm just not eating or drinking much. My blood work gets back tomorrow and we'll know more then.

In the meantime they pumped me up with water and in a few hours I was closer to my normal self - growling and hissing at the vets. I ate the food they gave me too. Dad brought me home and put more water down my throat. He did see me eating some.

Dad thinks it could be because I'm not taking my medicine. Oh he puts the pill in my mouth but that doesn't mean I'll swallow. He can hold my mouth shut all he wants, I find a way to get rid of it. At least we hope it's that and nothing more serious. Dad may be giving me more water in the future though.