Still Here

It's been a little over two years since I was diagnosed with HCM, but I'm still here. I take six medicines now plus aspirin twice a week and sometimes an appetite stimulant. I feel good though and still do all my usual stuff. I see Mommy look at me sometimes with a sad face. I'm not sad though. I fight with Benjamin, chase Hershey and wrestle with AnnaDee. I lay on my back with my feet in the air, and let Mommy drop my medicine treats in my mouth. I sit on the window perches in the sun and sniff the fresh spring air. I make the most of every day!

Treats

There are a lot of special treats in the house these days, but I wish there weren't. The only reason they are here is because Mom uses them to try to bribe me into taking my medicines. I went for my check up on Friday. Now I have eight medicines that I'm taking. Every time I wake up from a nap, Mom is trying to stick some treat in my face or grab hold of my ears. I'm just tired of it. The best treat would be no treat at all!

New Treats

I am so tired of Mom shoving treats in my face. In the morning, after work, at night, it never stops. Sometimes, she even comes home from work at lunch at does it again. I was really liking them, those Party Mix treats, but after almost two years, I need something new.

Yesterday, Mom lured me into the bathroom and brought out a plastic container. Boy, did it smell delicious when she opened it. "I want some of that," I said. Freeze-dried salmon. Yum! Of course she had to go and stick it onto those stupid pill pockets, but I barely noticed. Ben was stuck on the other side of the door. Mom hid the treats but gave him one little bite. I'm content to wait for the next time, but Ben is on a hunger strike. He's not eating anything else until he gets more salmon treats.

In the middle of he night, I also helped myself to the baby's breath flowers in Mom's Valentine bouquet. She was hiding that too. Into the powder room, it goes overnight, but she didn't shut the door tightly. They were tasty, but then I got sick and left bright green piles of 'sticks' in the living room.

And how could I forget the peacock feather? I ate almost a whole peacock feather two weeks ago. Love those.

Wonder what the next treat will be?

Happy Holidays!

We just want to take a moment to wish all of our friends happy holidays. This year started out badly but is ending up pretty good. Mom found a full-time job in June and a part-time job in September. Us kitties are doing okay too. Mom is off all next week, so we get to have lots of quality time with her. Enjoy this wonderful time of year! Luv, Rafiki

update

It's been quite a long time since I've written anything. I meant to get here a month ago. Several of my friends sent me rosies and good wishes for my birthday, and I wanted to say thank you. I hope you are all doing well.

I'm doing okay. I take a lot of medicines, but otherwise I am the same. Mom bought me a peacock feather. I just am crazy for those things.

Bye now and have a good weekend.

Good News, Bad News

We made the awful trip to Annapolis this morning. I knew something was up and tried to hide, but Mom got me and stuffed me in the carrier. Then she took me out into the freezing cold and windy, and I mean windy, day. Did you know that it's been seven degrees below average this December? That's a lot! But I digress. So anyway, she had snuck a valium into my treat, and she covered the carrier all up with towels. I meowed the whole way, but not with the usual gusto that makes Mommy all upset and nervous.

So they weighed me first, and I'm down two more pounds. Mommy asked them to please get a good look in my mouth, and sure enough, I have a bad molar. They also reviewed my blood work from September which showed an elevated something or other which we were told could be from parasites which could also cause weight loss. Mommy is kind of annoyed that my regular vet group didn't see this molar or pick up this bit of info from the blood work. That was the whole reason for that visit - to see what was causing my weight loss. I suppose it's possible that my molar problem wasn't as visible at that time. I also didn't see my usual vet. So that is the bad news - in order to remove the tooth, I have to be anesthetized. Not good for a heart patient. But what is the alternative? I can't lose any more weight.

That valium made me mighty hungry though. I ate at least six ounces of food when I got home. I never eat that much. Mom is going to ask if I can take a small amount each day until we can take care of my tooth and check for parasites.

The good news is that there is no change to my heart, so I keep on with my same meds.

I'm scared. I don't want to starve, but I'm afraid to have a dental - I might not come back. :'-(

Not again!

Oh woe is me! I have to go to the cardiologist tomorrow. I hate going in the car. I howl and carry on non-stop in the carrier. Mom says I have to try to remain calm. She said she is already too stressed out. I think they might do some extra poking and prodding because I have not gained any weight. Why can't I just be a healthy, happy kitty?

We're okay

If we still have any friends left, I just want to let you know that we are okay. Mom's been busy and unmotivated to help us get back to Catster, but hopefully we will be soon. Miss you friends!

Blood

Mom checked with the cardiologist about the dark color of my blood. He said it's because of the meds I'm taking, and unless I was having any problems, to just stay the course. That's good I guess.

I still don't want to make a pee donation. Mom's not sure what to do about that. (hee hee)

Birthday thanks and health stuff

Mommy missed most of my birthday, but my friends didn't! I had to wait almost a week, but now that Mommy is home, I got to see all my special birthday greetings. Thanks to all of you who sent them. I will thank you all individually as soon as I can, but I just wanted you to know I got them.

My birthday was okay I guess. Mommy left in the morning. Then I was left to hang out with Benjamin. In the evening, I thought Mommy was returning, but it was the pet sitter. "Oh, no" I thought. When is Mommy coming back? She left me lots of food, but I didn't feel like eating. She chased me down to put medicine on my ear. I made her work for that. After Benjamin went to bed, she brought out my present - a fat, green fish filled with yummy catnip (it's like the banana, but it's a fish instead). I liked that pretty much.

While Mom was gone, she got the report on my bloodwork from the vet. I am so relieved to report that it all looks good. The vet still wants to see about a urine sample to see if I am losing any protein since I've lost weight. I'll think about whether or not I want to donate. I was also told by friends that sitting in an oxygen tent might help with my blood. Mom asked the vet, but she said that was a question for the cardiologist. Mom will call and ask him on Monday.

I guess that's all for now. Thanks to everyone for thinking about me.