Picture: Boy Kitty tonight sleeping in his bed. Seems to be the spot that he likes most except when he wants to hang out with me. He had a bath today, so he looks a bit scruffy, but smells much better. He actually growled at me when I was drying him off with a towel. Something he never does to me. Grumpy. Anyway, he seems to have adapted to the move pretty quickly and seems to be doing well.

Today I moved Boy Kitty into my new apartment. He seemed to feel at home relatively quickly. I had forgotten what it was like to be with him freely (as opposed to being separated in another room due to parent allergies and dogs). He's following me around, tripping me up, and now, quietly sleeping right next to me on the couch. I promised him years ago that he would be inside with me again and though I am a few years late getting us here I am glad that he's with me again.

Abbie cat is still doing well and will be moving to my uncles soon. He said he would take her in and give her a good home with her 3 babies and his other cats (some are visitors). He takes good care of his critters and I know he will do well with her. She is going, eventually, like being around other cats and having the freedom that she was not able to have with me. I will miss her though. I try to see her as much as I can until he takes her... and I can always visit.

All together now... "meow meow meow" go Boy Kitty and Abbie Cat until I give them food. Abbie just doesn't stop mewing til she gets food. Whata big fatty she's turning out to be. Last week she started to paw at my hand (no claws) when I take her bowl away. Very cute. I take this as a big step in our relationship. My mother visited her today, said she just wanted to pet her, but Abbie backs up and hides, too scared. My mother doesn't care for cats, so this was new feeling for my mom. Unfortunately, Abbie isn't warming up to anyone else but me.

Boy Kitty is also obsessed with food. He's pooping a bit more, but not consistant yet. He sleeps and meows at me alot. I don't know what he wants. I just want him to hang on a bit longer so we can all move into our new place... maybe he will be more comfortable. At this point Abbie will be released, but confined in a different room, separated from Boy Kitty.

Anyway, all seems well with both felines.

Boy Kitty had his T4 retested today. It's too low again -- .5. Dr. Roof told me to cut the dosage back to 1/4 tablets twice a day. He said he would rather his thyroid be a little higher than this low. This is frustrating.

$60 for today's office visit. They charged me the exam which was a little over $20.

Dr. Roof wants us back in 4-6 weeks for retest of total bloodwork.

He said everything else is looking good and that I am doing a good job with him.

Boy Kitty is still having trouble pooping. He's just not regular yet. He's also been meowing at me alot which I take to mean that he is uncomfortable. I'm doing what I can.

I picked up sub-q fluids from the vet yesterday. Dr. Roof came out to see me and ask how BK is. Dr. Roof is another vet that I've seen in the past and he also keeps in touch with Dr. Lester. I was happy that he remembered and that he asked about the Boy. I told him what was going on and that the "fainting" episodes have stopped (as far as I've seen) and he looked flabberghasted as much as I am.

Boy Kitty goes on Saturday for T4 test.

Here's a pic of Boy Kitty (turned his head last minute). Shows that though he's skinnier than what I am used to, he still has some meat to him... even after being furminated today!



Abbie Cat is doing well. She even liked being furminated too.



I know she is getting tired of the cage and she's getting a little chunky too. Few more weeks and I will assimilate her into the house after I move.

Saw her old boyfriend last night. No mistaking it. One of her kids looks just like him.

We have poop!

Day two of no poop for BK. Sigh...

Boy Kitty is doing pretty well. I know that he is still a bit constipated but he's going little tiny turds. Poor guy. I put a bit of Miralax in his food and that is helping. I've watched him a lot this weekend and he didn't fall over again and noone else has seen him do it either. He's still eating, sleeping, walking around and meowing as usual. So I think all is pretty well right now.

Boy Kitty pooped today! Yay! To keep him regular and keep him going from this day forward I will continue to feed him a syringe of pumpkin mixed with Miralax (1/8 tsp per day spread throughout all meals). This should help with any constipation and just keep him going!

I have not seen him fall over again since the other day. That doesn't mean that he hasn't done it when I have not been home and not around him though. When I am home this weekend I will be able to watch him better and see what is going on.

Boy Kitty fell over one more time around me when he was eating. He got back up and continued to eat. He continues to eat, drink, sleep, walk, jump as normal. Sometimes he looks drunk and wobbly on his feet. I noticed he hasn't pooped since Saturday, except for a small turd. I started to force feed him some pumpkin in a syringe to give him more fiber which will help him go. I am also giving him laxatone to help with that and hairballs. I was very panicked this past weekend thinking the end was near. Now I am taking this day to day. He's still functioning. Whatever this falling down business is I am not sure. If it happens more often or whatever, then I'll decide what needs to be done then. I am thinking about picking up a potassium supplement too to help with muscles in his hind legs. Right now his potassium levels are normal but they may not reflect a true reading. Many on the cat forum suggest renal k supplements. I also need to pick up welactin for him and Abbie Cat... speaking of Abbie...

Video of Abbie

Boy Kitty had some more falling episodes today. I took him back to the vet where the vet told me various things it could be. Basically, I will wait and watch. Maybe I will have them do an ultrasound. But I think I will be thinking of putting him to sleep soon. :(

Today I rushed Boy Kitty to the vet after I saw him stand up, back legs give out and then his front legs gave out. He had trouble getting his footing, then I scooped him up, gave him sub-q fluids, and then took him to the vet. They ran his bloodwork and his bloodwork came back stable with some improvements. T4 was high though and so he's on a different dosage of meds starting this afternoon.

current (range) last visit
T4 (thyroid)1.8 (1-5) 6.4 (Dr changed dosage today)

ALB 3.3 (2.3-3.9) 3.1
ALKP 53 (14-111) 25
ALT 60 (12-130) 28
AMYL 1346 (500-1500) 1688
BUN 66 (16-36) 61
CA 10.1 (7.8-11.3) 10.6
CHOL 215 (65-225) 250
CREA 3.1 (0.8-2.4) 3.7
GLU 145 (71-159) 128
PHOS 4.8 (3.1-7.5) 6.0
TBIL .5 (0-0.9) 1.0
TP 7.8 (5.7-8.9) 8.4
GLOB 4.5 (2.8-5.1) 5.3
sodium 166 (150-165) 168
potassium 4.0 (3.5-5.8) 5.7
chloride 127 (112-129) 130
WBC 9.57 (5.5-19.5) 13.0
RBC 5.24 (5.00-11.0) 4.11
HGB 7.0 (8.0-15.0) 6.8
HCT 22.96 (25.0-45.0) 18.7
MCV 44 (39-50) 45
MCH 13.3 (12.5-17.5) 16.6
RDW 14.56 (13-17) 15.5
PLT 324 (200-500) 213
MPV 10.12 (6.5-15.0) 9.0

Cost: $240 (with meds)
plus bought a new water fountain dish at petsmart $50

Will be seeing Dr. K now that Dr. Lester has moved away. I've seen Dr. K before with other pets and I do like him. He wants to see us back in 3 weeks to recheck his T4. If Boy Kitty loses footing again, we may do an xray to see if there is something else going on. Other than that he was very pleased with his bloodwork. I am concerned though. My Boy really scared me today.

Boy Kitty's T4 Test

Today BK had his thyroid rechecked since Dr. Lester lowered his methimazole dosage because the last test results showed that his thyroid was too low.

Weight: 8lbs (last visit 8.4lbs)
T4: 1.8 (1-5) and last visit was .5
He is normal!

Vet visit $21.96

Dr. Lester suggested that Boy Kitty's urinating problem may be behavioral and she told me to place a few litter boxes around and especially where he is urinating. I placed two extra litter boxes with Cat Attract litter in the areas where he is urinating and I caught him urinating elsewhere -- and not in any of the boxes. I threw a inflatable swimming thingie at him to get him to stop because I couldn't reach him. He didn't stop. After he finished, he came to me and I placed him in the litter box. He jumped out. Placed him in again and he jumped out.

I know he is very grumpy because he had to be poked today. He didn't even want to eat when we came home. I usually drop him off at the vet and leave him there all day but because he's become so grumpy with them, I decided to make an appointment after work and bring him there so he wouldn't have to sit there all day. Results? Still grumpy.

Maybe I will try the Feliway spray since the plugin didn't do that much. Feliway is a feline phermone which should help behaviorial problems. I didn't think the plugin helped much but I will try it again.

Today was the last visit with Dr. Lester. Her last day is sometime next week and she will be on her way to NC. BK and I will definitely miss her!

---
AbbieCat is doing pretty well. She isn't coming up to me much but she does allow me to put my arm inside the cage to pet her. Next week I will work on coaxing her to me.

Unexpectedly, AbbieCat returns....

Taming Abbie sidelined and so I returned her to the backyard.

I had a great accomplishment with AbbieCat and a huge setback with her all in the same night last night. I had her sitting on my lap (not freely) and was petting her while she kneaded my leg. Then she got away from me and I could not catch her. She actually went feral - hissing, spitting, growling, biting, climbing up the screened porch. I tried so hard and couldn't get her in the morning either. She was so sweet when confined and so feral when she was loose.

Here was the moment I had to flash forward into the future but also assess what was happening right now to decide what to do.

My vet recommended that the cats stay separate. My boy doesn't like her and was growling at her last night when she kept trying to bug him. He's declawed, he's old, he's sick. If I have to choose one, I have to choose my boy. When I move, I can't have them tearing each other apart in an apartment. I thought with time my boy would come to accept her as he has done with all of my new additions, but in a month, that didn't happen.

I also had to think about Mocha, my chihuahua. When I move, what if Abbiecat isn't so kind to her? I am not saying she would tear her apart, but Mocha is such a weenie.

I had Abbie confined for a month. I fed her, played with her, gave her a ton of treats, petted her, gave her shelter. I thought she was coming around, and she was, but it's amazing how quick the feral returns or more appropriately, resurfaces. Maybe if I didn't have my boy... maybe if I wasn't moving out... things could be different. Or maybe she is just meant to have fun outdoors. I can still provide shelter -- there's a small dog house outside that I put her cat scratch bed in. I can still feed her (when I am gone, my parents will feed her) and give her water. I can still play with her if she would come close (she hasn't all night and she runs away when she sees me). She's spayed, has had shots, and she's still a fighter so I am not too worried about her defending herself. But I can't protect her from cars or kids or wild animals.

I thought about setting a trap out again - trapping her, keep her confined, try it all again. But if it doesn't work and I've kept her confined for 3 more months only to have to rerelease her again, what good did that do for her? After a month I know she is fully healed from being spayed and her ear is finally healed as of this week. I do not worry about her ear getting infected (the ear scab kept reopening and a piece of ear was cut off due to her rubbing).

But I can't help feeling so sad, so deflated. I feel like I failed when at one point I planned my apartment hunting around this new addition. But several factors, including choosing my sick cat over her, made me decide to rerelease her. I am glad she is still hanging around my backyard though. I will miss her coming out of the cage and pushing her head into my hand to be petted...

A feral cat expert wrote to me and told me to return her to my backyard immediately if it's a relatively peaceful place. She said what I am doing would be called returning and not releasing as releasing is when someone would just release a feral anywhere. I am not doing that. I am returning her to her original domain -- my backyard. She said that it was important that I return her now so she doesn't lose anymore of her street smarts. I feel better knowing that the expert is on the same page with my alternative plan.

Boy Kitty -- Bloodwork/Hyper T rechecked

Weight: 8.4lbs (gained due to thyroid being way off)

Todays Visit (Ranges) Last Visit
T4 Test .5 (1-5) 2.5
This means his thyroid is too low. Cut back to 1/4 tablet twice daily.

He's also taking clavamox for UTI for 2 weeks beginning today.

WBC 13.0 (5.5-19.5) 17.0
RBC 4.11 (5-11) 4.69 LOW
HGB 6.8 (8-15) 6.2 LOW
HCT 18.7 (25-45) 20.5 LOW
MCV 45 (39-50) 44
MCHC 36.6 (30-36) 33.7
RDW 15.5 (13-17) 16.6
PLT 213 (200-500) 269
HMPV 9.0 (6.5-15) 9.9
ALB 3.1 (2.3-3.9) 3.5
ALKP 25 (14-111) 35
ALT 28 (12-130) 26
AMYL 1688 (500-1500) 1246 HIGH
BUN 61 (16-36) 63 HIGH
CA 10.6 (7.8-11.3) 9.9
CHOL 250 (65-225) 164 HIGH
CREA 3.7 (0.8-2.4) 3.7 HIGH
GLU 128 (71-159) 172
PHOS 6.0 (3.1-7.5) 8.7
TBIL 1.0 (0-0.9) 0.8 HIGH
TP 8.4 (5.7-8.9) 8.2
GLOB 5.3 (2.8-5.1) 4.3 HIGH

Todays Visit $228.52
Dr. Lester gave me a bag of subq at no charge. I also had a $15 coupon.

Dr. Lester suggested I come back in two weeks to just have his T4 rechecked to make sure the thyroid is stable. A full recheck of bloodwork will not be needed to be done again for another month or so. I have to take Mocha back (my chunky chihuahua who gained 1.2 pounds in 9 months!) to get the remainder of her shots done in two weeks too.

Taming Abbie...

Decided since my last post to include Abigail's story too (aka Abbie, AbbieCat). As much time as I devote to my boy, I've devote a bit more to her since caging her because I want her to be able to roam freely soon within my custody. In just a few short weeks, she exhibited such positive behavior that she will be a formerly feral. I am just sure of it.

-- She meows at me now

-- She will lay in front of me

-- She eats in front of me

-- I can pet her entire body by hand

-- She plays with toys and interacts with toys I tease her with

-- I can scruff her neck and manuever her without too much protest

-- I can pick her up about two inches off the ground

I let her walk around the outside of her cage, just in front of me. And a couple of days ago I let her walk around the outside of her cage all the way to the back. She was really hesitant, excited, and wide eyed. I got her back to me with treats.

She is still timid and often retreats to her cage -- especially since I've been practicing picking her up. She hasn't bitten me... yet... but has swatted me a few times. Sometimes she is hesitant about letting me touch her but lately she pushes into my hand to be petted. Good sign. But it's back n forth -- hesistant/retreat and then rub me please!

She meows at Boy Kitty. He doesn't respond unless he sees her upclose and then he hisses at her.

Boy Kitty will be going to get bloodwork done on Friday. This will probably be the last visit with Dr. Lester and I am still pretty bummed about that. While I know people move on, it's still a bummer because I just so appreciated her warmth and thoroughness with my critters.

I will speak with Dr. Lester on Friday too about AbbieCat and when I can bring her in -- how tame does she have to be, etc.

My Vet, Feral Cat, Update on my Boy

I found out today, while picking up sub-q at the vet's office, that the vet that I really like is leaving and moving to North Carolina by the end of August. I am happy for her but completely bummed because I just love her! You know how it is when you find a doctor or vet that you really click with and then you move or they move... it sad! What I love about my vet is that she is so thorough and tells me everything I need to know in laymans terms and will listen to me when I find out "internet" information. When we visit, she attends to the animal completely and doesn't rush through the visit. I so appreciate that! There are other vets at that office that I have been to before and liked... but they are not her. I am bummed. Our last appointment with her will probably be sometime at the end of the month.

Feral Cat
Two months ago I found three 3-4 week old kittens and a feral cat in the backyard. This is probably the 4th litter I have found (most kittens were dead and some were rescued and given away) but not by the same mom. My uncle took in the three kittens who are still growing and doing fabulous. He's completely smitten by the lot of them and plans to keep them all. What's three more in a bunch, he says!

I have kept the mother around by feeding her regularly with the plans of trapping her and taking her to a clinic to have her fixed. The first time I trapped her she got out of the trap when I stupidly opened the trap door a little to remove ant-infested newspaper. It took her half a day to come back to the yard and about two days to eat again. I kept the trap outside but closed and fed her near it. She didn't seem to mind it at all really. Last night I attempted to trap her again and it took about 4 hours for that to happen. As I type this she is at the nonprofit clinic who spays feral cats for about $40 (ear tipping, rabies, and a few other things included). My uncle met me there and gave me a big cage to set up on my closedin covered porch where I will keep her for a few days until she is healed. If I think she may be tameable, I will try and see what I can do to work with her. I know the chances are slim.

My cat and the feral will be in the same area but as I said above she will be confined. I am not too worried about it as it may only be for a few days.

Update on The Boy
He is doing pretty well, eating well, and seems a bit perkier. The only problem we are having is that he is not really urinating in his box as much. I suspect he may have another UTI which I hear is pretty commom in CRF cats. When we go back to see Dr. L in a couple of weeks I will ask that he be retested for that. I really cannot get him back there any sooner because I am lacking funds right now (I am still paying out of pocket for that one summer class). We will just have to hang in there a little bit.

Oh! He howled once around 2am two nights ago. I haven't heard him do that in a long while and not since. Not sure what that was about but he seems fine besides the urinating.

I wonder if he's marking his territory because of the feral cat? Wonder what will happen when she is inside and confined? It's going to be interesting!

One other thing -- I did go back to the regular dosage of the 1/2 pill twice daily of methimazole. He seems "better" while on this dosage. I know I said before he seemed so lethargic and with no connection, but on the 1/2 and 1/4, he seemed to get too hungry and restless. So I switched it back and all seems well.

He still will not eat Rx food so I continue to give him Fancy Feast and the like with aluminum hydroxide mixed in. I haven't administered the iron supplement because I have read it is not good to mix that and administer the AH near each other. Because he eats when he wants, I just didn't know what to do about that except not do it.

I think that about does it for now!

Mr. Handsome.

Picture taken today after I furminated him.

Since our last visit to the vet, I've reduced his medicine as directed. I give 1/2 tablet once in the morning and 1/4 tablet in the evening. The difference? He connects with me. He meows at me when I am around. He eats more (1-1.5 cans of Fancy Feast per day), seems more interested in the food, and not as picky. He certainly isn't acting as crazy-hungry and full of energy before the hyperthyroidism was treated. So, overall, I think it's a good change. He absolutely doesn't feel boney as he used too. He feels like my big fatty without being as fat as he used to.

It appears that he's doing really good. I will have his bloodwork rechecked sometime in July or August if he continues to do well.

Bloodwork and Hyper-T tests

Dropped the Boy off this morning to get his bloodwork/hyperT rechecked. When I arrived their computers were down so I had to fill out additional paperwork which I didn't mind.

Dr. Lester called a couple of hours later to tell me that his bloodwork had been completed. The results are below.

Weight: 7.8lbs (same as last visit)

Todays Visit (Ranges) Last Visit

T4 Test 2.5 (1-5) 2.6 This means his thyroid is under control. The increase in dosage may not have made that much of a difference. He's acting like an old tired cat which is normal for a cat his age.

WBC 17.0 (5.5-19.5) 12.2
RBC 4.69 (5-11) 5.21 LOW
HGB 6.9 (8-15) 7.8 LOW
HCT 20.5 (25-45) 22.6 LOW
MCV 44 (39-50) 43
MCHC 33.7 (30-36) 34.4
RDW 16.6 (13-17) 15.9
PLT 269 (200-500) 503
HMPV 9.9 (6.5-15) 9.5
ALB 3.5 (2.3-3.9) 3.4
ALKP 35 (14-111) 53
ALT 26 (12-130) 39
AMYL 1246 (500-1500) 1270
BUN 63 (16-36) 93 HIGH
CA 9.9 (7.8-11.3) 10.4
CHOL 164 (65-225) 199
CREA 3.7 (0.8-2.4) 3.0 HIGH
GLU 172 (71-159) 151 HIGH
PHOS 8.7 (3.1-7.5) 6.5 HIGH
TBIL 0.8 (0-0.9) 0.8
TP 8.2 (5.7-8.9) 7.8
GLOB 4.3 (2.8-5.1) 4.6

Cost: $82
I appreciate my vet lowering the usual amount. I appreciate every penny! It was done because the computers were down and because she is good to us!!!

She suggested I give him 1/2 pill in the morning and 1/4 pill at night.
She also put him on aluminum hydroxide liquid - 5cc once per day and this will help lower the phosphorus levels. He should actually have some of this with each food that he eats, so I will mix in at breakfast and dinner. I ordered a supply from thrivingpets.com.

http://www.felinecrf.org/treatments.htm#high_phosphorus
here's more about why getting the phosphorus is important.

Also, need to administer the iron vitamin supplement more regularly but not at the same times as administering aluminum hydroxide. I read some place that the two shouldn't be administered at the same time.

Overall, it was a good visit.

We go back in about a month to recheck.

Urinating

Tonight I gave Boy Kitty sub-q fluids. After we were done, he jumped off the table and tried to run to the living room. He heard the vacuum and turned around. I scooped him up to put him on the patio and as I was walking in the kitchen to the patio, he started peeing!!

This has never happened before! Is this some kind of CRF/HyperT symptom? Or maybe he just couldn't hold it or was scared?

I did catch him spraying a couple of times over the last week and but he's also going in his box. I will have the vet recheck for UTI.

Let's see what else...

He's down to eating about a can a day (of Fancy Feast) and dry food coated with Epakitin. But he's not losing weight either so that is good. He's drinking well.

He seems a bit more peppy but also rather grumpy.

Today I found him outside -- he slipped out somehow. Freaked me out, but at least he stayed in the backyard.

I am glad that I didn't take on a kitten because I really have my hands full with The Boy

Boy Kitty's Bloodwork and Hyper-T tests

Weight 4/18 6.4lbs, 4/21 7.2lbs,
Today's weight 7.80 (I'm really happy to see his weight increasing!)

Price: $176.31 (they waived the office fee :) every bit helps!!)

Todays Total T4 2.6 (1-5)
4/21 Total T4 5.1 (1-5)
Ranges in parenthesis

The following is today's Bloodwork AFTER being on methimazole for over a month .25 tablets (of a 5mg tablet) 2x daily /Ranges in parenthesis / April's bloodwork BEFORE methimazole
WBC 12.2 (5.6-19.5) 15.620
RBC 5.21 (5-11) 4.73
HGB 7.8 (8-15) 6.86
HCT 22.6 (25-45) 21.240 LOW (anemic?)
MCV 43.0 (39-50) 45.0
MCHC 34.4 (30-36) 32.290
RDW 15.9 (13-17) 15.470
PLT 503.0 (200-500) 336.0 HIGH
MPV 9.5 (6.5-15) 10.050

ALB 3.4 (2.3-3.9) 2.9
ALKP 53.0 (14-111) 70.0
ALT 39.0 (12-130) 50.0
AMYL 1270.0 (500-1500) 1292.0
BUN 93.0 (16-36) 55.0 HIGH
CA 10.4 (7.8-11.3) 10.0
CHOL 199.0 (65-225) 183.0
CREA 3.0 (0.8-2.4) 2.3 HIGH
GLU 151.0 (71-159) 162.0
PHOS 6.5 (3.1-7.5) 6.2
TBIL 0.8 (0-0.9) 0.3
TP 7.8 (5.7-8.9) 7.6
GLOB 4.3 (2.8-5.1) 4.6

Dr. Lester recommended that we take Dr. North's recommendation and increase methimazole to half tablet (2.5mg of a 5mg tablet) 2x daily and increase sub-q fluids to everyday.

She wants to see him back in two weeks to retest.

He came home, drank a ton of water, and threw it all up.
-----------
Looking at his values, most are within range and his hyperthyroid is within range too so why would I increase his dosage? Plus, tests show he's anemic. I'm seeking help online with these issues and will follow up with my vet in two weeks. In the meantime, I ordered some vitamins with iron and am going to order a different type of phosphorus binder and see how all that goes...

Not a happy camper...

... but he let's me wash him, poke him with needles, force medicine down his throat (before the discovery of pill pockets) and he still loves me.

Tomorrow we visit Dr Lester for bloodwork and hyper-t recheck. Will post results tomorrow.

The Specialist

BoyKitty the specialist today. Total wait time was an hour and she spoke to me for a total of five mins. She listened to his heart and talked really fast and was out of there. Granted, they had a medical emergency but they left me in a room for a half hour waiting on her to sign a piece of paper. This bugged me.

Boy Kitty had bloodwork done in late April BEFORE he was put on hyper-T medicine. This visit, as I understood it, was supposed to be an evaluation AND bloodwork. Instead her suggestions were

1. INCREASE dose to 1/2 tablets twice daily.
2. Sub-Q every day
3. Come in two weeks for bloodwork. So he's been on hyper-t meds for a month and we don't know how he's doing on .25 tablet twice daily and yet now she wants me to increase to half tablet twice daily. Does this sound right?
4. She said he has a heart murmur but said she will reassess in the future.

This five minute visit: $92.00

My initial reaction is go back to the vet that I love and talk with her. Plus, bloodwork through my original vet is cheaper.

Thoughts? Should I increase or should I make an appointment to see my original vet, have bloodwork done, and then get her opinion??

(posted similiar message in two forums)

Today Kitty Cat bled when I gave him sub-q fluids. He bled in several places because the needle kept slipping out and I had to reinsert in about 4 places. I felt bad. First time I've ever made him bleed.

He's been a little whiney lately, he's still hiding, and he sprayed in the kitchen. He's still very picky about the food he eats and will not eat anything with Welactin in it or Epakitin. It has to be straight Fancy Feast or he will turn his nose up at it. I know this isn't the best for him but he's not as thin as he was a month ago (he will be weighed next week).

Next week we visit the specialist. I am eager to find out what that vet has to say about my fat bastard. :) Til then, everything is the same with the exception of my bad nursing skills tonight.

Sleeping in weird spots

Since Boy Kitty has been on the hyperthyroid medication he has been sleeping underneath the grill cover. It's got to be hot under there and yet he sleeps there. I washed his beds, bought him a new one, put a fan on the patio, etc and he still sleeps there.

However, today, he's sleeping on top of the birdseed plastic bucket. Ok, this can't possibly be comfortable!! Why is he doing that? Half of his body is falling off the bucket and yet, he's sleeping there.

Bizarre.

He made it through without me while I was on vacation just fine though he looks a bit thinner. Not much, but I don't feel that he's as thick as my last post. Maybe it's just me...

Fatty?

...is that you??? I was giving the Boy sub-q fluids tonight and when I lifted him before and after the therapy, he felt thicker, even heavier. I asked, "Fatty, is that you? Fat Bastard?!?! (a nickname I gave him in his weighty hey-days)". So excited but trying to not be.

He didn't like two cans I gave him, but was happy with the third. Whew! Ate up all of the dry food. Drank alot. No whining. Seems to be doing good.

I am little worried about leaving him alone for a few days, but my uncle is going to check on all of my critters twice a day. But let me not worrying about that now....

Bloodwork from 4/20/08

ALB 2.9
ALKP 70.000
ALT 50.000
AMYL 1292.000
BUN 55.000 HIGH
CA 10.000
CHOL 183.000
CREA 2.3000
GLU 162.000 HIGH (he ate that morning before the bloodwork)
PHOS 6.200
TBIL 0.300
TP 7.600
GLOB 4.600
Sodium 167.000 (from 2/9)
Potassium 4.6000 (from 2/9)
Chloride 127.000 (from 2/9)

My vet referred us to a specialist and we will see this vet near the end of the month. She said she wanted to hear from a critical care and special needs vet in regards treating CRF and Hyper-T and see if we should just treat him for CRF and not Hyper-T or what. I'm glad that she wants us to go to the specialist just so we can get a second opinion and confirmation on what we are doing.

Greenies Pill Pockets

Wow, did this make administering pills twice a day to Kit-Kat extremely easy!! Sure beats my old method of putting a drop of NutraCal on my finger tip, placing the pill in the NutraCal, grab my cat by the back of the neck and force my finger in his mouth.

We are both happier.

On a frustrating note, he's not touching the new renal food anymore and just wants some fancy feast (or the like) and dry food (aka crunchies). He has always loved dry food. I haven't been giving it to him much but have started to increase it a little because he's hungry.

Kitty Cat had been doing really well since our last vet visit except for yesterday...

He howled last night and this morning.
He's getting picky about food and wants dry food over wet.
He's still hiding.
When he stands, his hind legs are not extended. He seems kind of hunched in the rear.

Tonight I gave him 100ml of sub-q as per our schedule and let him hide in the den to veg out. I washed his bed, cleaned his water dish, checked his litter box to make sure he's regular (and he is).

When we go back to the vet on Friday I am going to request the bloodwork results from this visit and the last visit so that I can post them on the forum and get feedback and do my own research. I also want to know his phosperous and potassium levels as well as have his blood pressure checked. From what I've been reading, CRf/HyperT cats tend to have high blood pressure and/or heart murmurs. Just want to make sure we are checking everything...

When I pick him up from the vet on Friday I also have to buy litter, more can food, more dry food, and more dog food...

Hyperthyroidism

Boy Kitty's hyperthyroidism test came back high and I picked up his medication today afterwork.

Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder that effects cats. It creates an overproduction of hormones produced by the thyroid gland. Some common symptoms include weight loss, being extremely hungry, as well as vomitting. There are three ways to treat hyperthyroidism: radioactive iodine, surgical removal of the affected glands, and medication. The route that the vet decided to go with Boy Kitty is most common -- with medication.

Hyperthyroidism medication is methimazole (Tapazole) which is a human medication. It works by blocking the secretion of the hormone in the thyroid gland and balances (hopefully) the cat's system out. This is a treatment and not a cure.

Because Boy Kitty has chronic renal failure his dosage has been lowered to 5mg twice a day (that's a 1/4 of a pill twice a day). Apparently, this drug has negative effects with CRF and that is why they treat cats with CRF with a lower dosage.

He will have to be monitored a bit more frequently now, but I am not sure exactly how frequently yet. We go back on May 2nd to have his bloodwork and thyroid rechecked to see how things are going. Bloodwork/thyroid tests run about $230

Cost of medication: $23

I put the pill in a blob of NutraCal ($4 approx) and smear it inside his lips (as far as he'll let me go) and on top of his mouth. He seems to like the NutraCal but doesn't appreciate the forcefeeding. I don't want to give him too much because the protein content of NutraCal is high. However, a little will not hurt.

The Hi-Tor Neo Diet cat can food was delivered today at the office and I gave Boy Kitty half of a can with a squirt of Welactin ($10 approx)when I got home. He didn't eat it all but he did seem to like it. He hasn't been acting crazy hungry today -- and it can't be the hyperthyroidism pill yet. We'll see tomorrow if the rest of the food is gone or if I need to mix some "junk" food in with it to get him to eat better.


Cost of the 24 cans $29 and change via amazon.com. Delivery was fast and packaged well. Cost of this food is MUCH less than the Hill's KD food sold at PetSmart. So, hopefully he will like it. I told my vet about the food today and I told her I would give her the label to the food when I see her next week since she's never heard of it.

Ok, some odd behavior today. He hasn't been sleeping in his bed but underneath the covered grill on the patio (he usually hangs out on the patio). He doesn't appear sickly or lethargic. He's alert and upbeat. Maybe it's cooler there?

I gave him fluids tonight. Finished out the bag so it may have been over 100ml but not by much. Cost of sub-q fluids: $20-30 depending on if I buy the attachment thingie. Sometimes it is free if I get it when my vet is there. However, the staff always gives me needles for free and I return the used needles so they can dispose of them properly.

I am looking forward to having his bloodwork/thyroid rechecked. Naturally I am hoping for improved numbers.

3.5 cans of Fancy Feast food

and The Boy ate almost everything. Yippee! Now if I can only get him to eat KD food...

He seems to be comfortable today. I let him sleep in the den most of the evening before having to put him in his room away from the crazy dogs.

I read alot today on felinecrf about vomitting, changes in fur, eating problems, and other associated problems. Alot of information out there. One thing I read said that the "loaf" position could mean he's crashing.... so naturally when I saw him in the loaf position today I started to panic... I held him, felt all over his body for bumps and swelling, checked in on him all day long.

He's fine.

I'm not feeling well tonight though... my stomach is upset and I feel lethargic. Sympathy pains?? :)

Vomitting


Today I cleaned up vomit three times from Boy Kitty. All appear watery with some hair and yellowish liquid mixed in. Vomitting is not a normal occurrence for my cat -- especially multiple times a day. If there is more in the morning I may call the vet or visit the vet again to see what's going on.

As far as eating goes it took about 4 different cans of Fancy Feast to get him to eat the amount of one. I want him to eat the KD food again and am thinking about force feeding him with a syringe this week. I know it is very important for him to eat and to eat well. I don't want to piss him off or get him upset, but, I do want to improve his numbers or at the very least, keep him stable.

I watched him drink a lot of water today from his waterfountain dish and the dogs' dish. So that's good.

His coat looks a bit ragged and there are some patches of fur missing near his tail.

Tonight I gave him 100ml of sub-q fluids. He's such a good boy when I give it to him too. He's always been good when I do it. He just sits there and purrs. I changed the needles, measure where we are starting at, place the needle under the skin between his shoulder blades and start squeezing the bag. He started to leak because I pushed the needle too far into the skin that it penetrated out through the other side. No big deal. I re-adjusted the needle and started again. It was over in less than ten minutes and he was free to go.

So overall I say we had a good day with just a little concerned with the vomitting.

Boy Kitty's CRF Story

Boy Kitty had been a very healthy cat until late last year when I took him to the vet because of a urinary tract infection. He was treated for weeks with antibiotics until it cleared up and then I had his teeth cleaned for the first time. I had not realized how bad his teeth had gotten until the vet showed me the back of his teeth and saw the gunk had been fused together. So he had his teeth cleaned and made it through the procedure very well. Afterwards, he stopped pooping and eating. The vet had to give him an enema because, as she said, he was so backed up that he filled up their litter box. He seemed to be very relieved after that visit but not regular. Over the next few weeks, giving him laxatone regularly, he began to poop on his own again. His appetite picked up to a normal level too. This all occurred Oct-Nov 2007. He weighed 10.2lbs

I brought him back to the vet for regular urinary checks because of howling and spraying. My vet also ran bloodwork and that is when it was discovered that he was in the beginning stages of CRF. I immediately switched him to KD food and administered sub-q fluids twice a week. He did not have UTI but vet said that he could get them regularly as a secondary problem associated with CRF.

We went back regularly to have his bloodwork rechecked and though he was losing a lot of weight - about 4lbs - his bloodwork had improved to normal levels (but high on the normal side) in January '08. The vet and I were so excited! This was great news as it meant that what we are doing is working. He was still on KD food, with a squirt of welactin twice daily, and sub-q fluids administered 3x per week.

This high didn't last long. Over the last three weeks Boy Kitty began to howl again, he turned his nose up at the KD food, and he seemed ravenously hungry. He also stopped drinking out of his waterfountain water dish and preferred the dogs' water bowl. So back to the vet for a recheck. My vet said his creatinine level is normal, his BUN is 55 (higher than last visit), and his red blood cell count was low. She also said he was dehydrated. They gave him fluids and told me to increase the sub-q treatments to 5x a week (100ML). She told me that although it's important to get him to eat anything, keep trying the KD food too. So I ordered different food online last night in hopes that he would like this renal food better (reviewers are raving about it). We'll see!

Anyway, I was really upset. When I spoke to my vet on the phone about his bloodwork I thought she was hinting about putting him to sleep though she didn't come out and say that. Maybe it's just what I feared after hearing that his numbers declined since the last visit. When I picked him up after work I asked her straight out if it was his time and she said no. She said he's still spunky and not lethargic. He doesn't exhibit all of the symptoms of other CRF cats. I had posted on a message board for parents of CRF cats after the phone call for their advice and all of the responses were positive. They also told me to get his blood pressure checked because that could be the cause of howling.

Oh, one other thing, the vet tested his thyroid and it appears it is high. She is having the test sent out for confirmation and will call me in a few days with the results. He will most likely be put on hyperthyroidism medication. This could also be the cause of the howling.

Whew!

On a positive note his weight is pretty stable considering he's been really picky about the food I give him. He was 6.4lbs in Jan and he weighed in at 6.2lbs yesterday. This could be a scale glitch or accurate. Either way, it's much better than losing a significant amount of weight as he had been regularly doing.

I moved his waterfountain water dish to a different location and he's drinking out of it again.

It's been very emotional. I've had my boy since he was about 6-8mos old. He's always been my loving and fatty (he used to weigh about 15lbs) cat. I know he's 18 years old and his life is shorter now than it is longer. I am somewhat prepared for the day when he will die but I am just in tears when I think it could be anytime soon. Still, if he declines to a point where he's uncomfortable and in pain and his quality of life has suffered, then I will do the right thing. Til then, it seems like he is doing well for an 18 year old cat with CRF. We still have more time.