In pursuit of better sight.

Mom and Dad took me to the University of Wisconsin - Madison Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital today to have my juvenile cataracts evaluated by Ophthalmology and discuss possible cataract surgery. I was examined and evaluated by a student vet (graduating on Friday), a resident vet, and an attending vet. They even took pictures of me and my eyes. Cataracts in cats are very rare, maybe 12 cases a year across the entire USA! I felt like a popular guy and everyone was very nice!

My left eye is worse than my right eye. Since I still have vision in my right eye (the clouding is not as dense/thick) they recommended monitoring my right eye for a while. At this point surgery is justified on my left eye, but not my right. We want to make sure the potential benefits out weigh the potential risks/complications and they explained everything very well to Mom and Dad. If my right eye progresses and gets worse, we plan to proceed with cataract surgery on both eyes. If not, we might just have my left eye done.

Hopefully I am on the road to better vision. Linus has an advantage right now in our wrestling matches...

Busted!

Well, we're busted! My brothers Mickey, Linus, and I have been identified as the Midnight Bandits mystery rosetters. 3 detectives were able to find us: Tess found us first, then PJ (later on the same day), and Vanessa left us a p-mail last night! Congratulations detectives - wear your badges proudly!

We started out as detectives, but couldn't help going to the dark side and becoming perps! We hope those who got rosettes from us enjoyed them and we apologize for our sneaky actions! Samoa, if you want us to turn in our detective badges, we'd understand.

We called ourselves the Midnight Bandits because we like to play late at night, usually while Mom and Dad are trying to sleep!

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Amelia and Lily!

The rules of the game are:

Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their diary about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and read your diary. Also they need to post the rules too.

Seven Random Facts about Me:

1. I love Arby's roast beef!

2. I was born at a shelter. I picked my parents, but they had to wait 2 weeks before I was old enough to come home!

3. I was named after the character "Fez" from "That 70's show". My vet added the "Mr." and it stuck.

4. I am very affectionate, a goo-goo cat at heart, but I am shy at first around people I don't know.

5. I like to talk - I have lots to say.

6. Despite my poor vision (I have cataracts), I caught a mouse once... but dropped it unharmed!

7. I have my very own pet gerbil (Mom takes care of her for me)!

I have tagged:

1) Dash http://www.catster.com/cats/483181
2) Callie http://www.catster.com/cats/459706
3) Smokey http://www.catster.com/cats/393317
4) Alaidh http://www.catster.com/cats/498860
5) Belle http://www.catster.com/cats/496604
6) Toby http://www.catster.com/cats/459251
7) Kirby - Not a Baby Anymore! http://www.catster.com/cats/411206

No surgery...

Well, not the best news to report. Even with getting treats afterwards, I was NOT getting used to my eye drops. If anything I kept getting worse about it, the drops do sting. It took Mom and Dad both to do it, and they had to put me in a klaw kontrol bag to do it. I would meow and cry and last night I got so worked up, I urinated on myself in the bag and had to have a partial bath.

Mom called and talked to one of the Opthalmologists in Madison today. The doctor said to stop the flurbifen eye drops since there was no inflammation in my eyes and getting that stressed could trigger a herpes flair-up (in which case they wouldn't be able to do anything with me anyway). So, right now it looks like I won't be able to have cataract surgery since I am not accepting treatment and care that I would need pre and post-op. The doctor was very nice and said no one failed, we tried our best, but some animals you just can't treat. Mom is feeling a little frustrated and disappointed right now as she had really hoped I could have surgery to improve my vision, but it's not working out. We will still keep our appointment in August and see how my eyes are doing. They were going to do some research too and see if there are any other options for medication for me. The doctor said the only other one she could think of off the top of her head was a steroid which is not an option for me with my history of herpes.

Mom also expressed some concern about potential complications down the road as eyes with cataracts can become inflammed or develop glaucoma - would I accept treatment for that if that happened? There's no way to tell, we'll cross that bridge if we come to it...

Wow! I'm Cat of the Week!

Mom and Dad just got back from a vacation and found out I'm Cat of the Week! OMC! I'm meowless! I am so excited! Thank you Catster for this honor! Thank you so much to all the kitties for the concatulations, paw-mails, rosettes, and stars - it is very much appreciated! Mom will help me send thank yous soon...

TCA Cat Show

Wow! Mom entered me in the Traditional Cat Association (TCA) Household Pet photo show a few months ago (just for fun) and we just found out I won! I received co-1st place Best Cat in Premiership, 1st place Best of Color (solid), 1st place Best Cat in Premiership Handicapped Shorthair, and 1st place Household Pet Alter Champion. I am so excited and Mom and Dad are so proud of me! To see the results TCA show

Video

Wow! My video, WWE Kitty SmackDown Linus vs. Mr. Fez was Yesterday's Top-Rated Video! What an exciting week I'm having!

PetCo Halloween Costume Contest

Mom took me and my brothers to PetCo today for their annual Halloween Costume Contest. I went in my Green Bay Packer outfit... and I won! I beat all the dogs too! Mom is so proud of me and happy! I received a $15 dollar gift card, a blue ribbon, some Feline Greenies, and got my picture taken too.

My gerbil :(

Sadly my gerbil, Topaz, passed away today. She was getting pretty old. I sure loved to watch her though and miss her - I keep sniffing and looking at her empty cage. Mom always said she was really my pet gerbil. We are moving the end of the month, but Mom says maybe after we are settled she might get another gerbil (or two) for me.

Vet visit

Well, just got back from the vet - not good news. Looks like I have glaucoma now. I have juvenile cataracts and eyes with cataracts are at higher risk for glaucoma and inflammation. My vet got some high readings in my right eye (average 35) and my left eye was a also a tad high (average 22). Normal is 10 - 20. She is going to call the opthalmology department at the University of WI - Madison for recommendations on a prescription (and to update them, since I'm their patient too) and call Mom back.

Mom was so hoping this wouldn't happen. She is also worried about giving me eye drops - I HATED the Flurbifen. They stung and I'd cry and I ended up urinating on myself once. That was why we elected not to have cataract surgery. Mom is really worried I won't accept these drops either. If I don't accept them the glaucoma can't be treated AND getting all worked up about it could trigger a herpes flair up.

Oh, I also gained some weight - I'm up to 13 pounds

UPDATE: Mom heard back from my vet and she said the University actually didn't seem too concerned about the pressure in my eyes. They recommended re-checking my pressures on Monday and going from there. So... I have another vet appointment on Monday morning.