It's official...tomorrow is the first birthday of Six Toes! I can't believe he's made it this far, despite his heart problem. To celebrate, I'm giving him a can of his favorite cat food Natural Balance Salmon, laced with a L-lysine HCI supplement to help him stay healthy and happy (Viralys).
Here's a little treat for all you Six Toes fans out there:
We're still a few weeks away from the visit with the cardiologist. Cross your fingers we can find a way to help Six Toes!
Six Toes
What's Up?
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Six Toes Nearly Does Himself In....
There's one thing you need to know about cats...they're sneaky. Too sneaky. Around here it's been hot, with temps in the high 90's and super-high humidity. Not good weather for us humans and certainly sucky if you happen to be a cat. Even worse if you're a cat with a bad heart.
Yesterday, Six Toes decided to be man enough to go outside without us knowing about it. Somehow, he snuck outside while we were doing something else and we didn't realize he was gone. We heard him crying as he does when he gets himself stuck somewhere in the house...usually our cupboards in the kitchen. So we started looking for him. We searched and searched and couldn't figure out where he was....until we got to the front door. There on the deck was Six Toes and he was breathing extremely hard. It was clear he was way overheated.
We grabbed him and quickly got him to the basement (it's cooler there) with a fan on him. We gave him water. We got wet towels to cool his neck and face. All the while, he was panting, tongue way out, his breathing fast and shallow.
My god. He could have died from heatstroke or caused himself a heart attack!!!!
Sometimes, being too clever as a cat can kill. I should have noticed he was gone way before he started crying.
Thank god he's okay today. But it sure was scary.
Yesterday, Six Toes decided to be man enough to go outside without us knowing about it. Somehow, he snuck outside while we were doing something else and we didn't realize he was gone. We heard him crying as he does when he gets himself stuck somewhere in the house...usually our cupboards in the kitchen. So we started looking for him. We searched and searched and couldn't figure out where he was....until we got to the front door. There on the deck was Six Toes and he was breathing extremely hard. It was clear he was way overheated.
We grabbed him and quickly got him to the basement (it's cooler there) with a fan on him. We gave him water. We got wet towels to cool his neck and face. All the while, he was panting, tongue way out, his breathing fast and shallow.
My god. He could have died from heatstroke or caused himself a heart attack!!!!
Sometimes, being too clever as a cat can kill. I should have noticed he was gone way before he started crying.
Thank god he's okay today. But it sure was scary.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Six Toes Vet Woes
It was time to take Six Toes to the vet for a check-up on all his problems, so I got him a new carrier for the occasion. He seemed to like it, going in and sitting in the box...not much stresses him out in our home. When he gets into a moving car, suddenly all bets are off and he's terrified. All the way to the vet there were little cries of fear...he doesn't like being driven anywhere. We tried to keep him calm so he wouldn't hurt himself or cause himself a heart attack. Heck, I even gave him a small piece of crisp bacon (his favorite) just to distract him, but it did nothing to alleviate his transportation nightmare.
Once there, we let him out and he explored the office, crying just a little and trying to spray everything (he can't do it because he's fixed). Nerves, I guess. Of course he came up to me more than once, head-butting me and rubbing on my legs just to let me know he belongs to me and to remind me to bring him back home. The assistant came in and wrapped him in a warm towel so they could draw his blood. I waited and then they brought him back, still chipper and alert. "We'll have the results back in a couple of days." So we left and I drove him home, where he happily got out and promptly laid down for a cat nap.
Transition to today: I get the call. "Well, we got back Six Toes test results....overall they look pretty good BUT there's some odd things going on with his blood platelets that we'd like to have checked out...." The next thing I know, we're given the number to a cat cardiologist to schedule an appointment and told to pick up a supplement....a kind of vitamin....to protect his immune system. The vet said that it might be necessary to put him on Plavix, which is something humans take to prevent blood clots for those at risk of heart disease and stroke. Poor Six Toes.
I suppose some folks out there are thinking "My gosh! If it's that bad maybe you should put him down. After all, he's just a cat." But he isn't just a cat....he's Six Toes. He's the little fella that greets me every day and always asks for a treat with those sparkle-filled eyes, full of mischief. He knocks things down and gets into trouble racing around with his friends playing. How can I say no?
So I guess I'll be on the phone tomorrow scheduling an appointment. He just celebrated his first birthday....he's made it a year so far. We keep hoping and praying to have him in our lives just a little longer...he's so darn cute.
Pray for Six Toes. He needs it.
Once there, we let him out and he explored the office, crying just a little and trying to spray everything (he can't do it because he's fixed). Nerves, I guess. Of course he came up to me more than once, head-butting me and rubbing on my legs just to let me know he belongs to me and to remind me to bring him back home. The assistant came in and wrapped him in a warm towel so they could draw his blood. I waited and then they brought him back, still chipper and alert. "We'll have the results back in a couple of days." So we left and I drove him home, where he happily got out and promptly laid down for a cat nap.
Transition to today: I get the call. "Well, we got back Six Toes test results....overall they look pretty good BUT there's some odd things going on with his blood platelets that we'd like to have checked out...." The next thing I know, we're given the number to a cat cardiologist to schedule an appointment and told to pick up a supplement....a kind of vitamin....to protect his immune system. The vet said that it might be necessary to put him on Plavix, which is something humans take to prevent blood clots for those at risk of heart disease and stroke. Poor Six Toes.
I suppose some folks out there are thinking "My gosh! If it's that bad maybe you should put him down. After all, he's just a cat." But he isn't just a cat....he's Six Toes. He's the little fella that greets me every day and always asks for a treat with those sparkle-filled eyes, full of mischief. He knocks things down and gets into trouble racing around with his friends playing. How can I say no?
So I guess I'll be on the phone tomorrow scheduling an appointment. He just celebrated his first birthday....he's made it a year so far. We keep hoping and praying to have him in our lives just a little longer...he's so darn cute.
Pray for Six Toes. He needs it.
Monday, June 27, 2011
String-cheese Love...
Six Toes has a new interest which keeps him purring. It's not attention or pets or tuna fish. Lately he's been a little lover-boy, always seeking my attention. While I'm used to him curling up in my lap when I sit down to sew, he's never been a constant companion. It frankly baffled me...the constant chirping, curling around my computer and head whenever I'm trying to work, following me everywhere (even the bathroom!). It wasn't until I noticed how excited he got whenever I went to the fridge that I figured out what it is.
Every once in a while I buy string-cheese to snack on. When I have a piece I generally toss a few crumbs to Buddha who loves it and my other kitty Kali. At some point, Six Toes must have gotten a taste (probably stole it from his brother Buddha if I know him) and wanted some for himself!
So I waited one evening until Buddha and Kali were fast asleep and went to the fridge, Six Toes following me as usual. Once I got the cheese out and he could see what it was, he started dancing and mewing because he was so excited. I sat down on the couch and he immediately was in my lap, letting me know he was here and wanted to share in my bounty. So I pulled off a nice hunk and threw it down. He wolfed it down like piece of tender fish! Quickly he was back so I threw down another. Again he was on it in a flash, gorging himself.
At that point, somehow brother Buddha had awakened and came to see what all the fuss was about. Seeing the cheese, he cried for some. I threw him a piece which he grabbed and began to eat.
Six Toes wasn't having that and tried to take it from him. There was a bit of growling...their territorial "It's mine, leave me alone!" posturing. Six Toes then came up in my lap and literally STOLE the remaining cheese in my hand, only to run off with it! That cad!
Who knew that string-cheese could inspire love,devotion and thievery?
Every once in a while I buy string-cheese to snack on. When I have a piece I generally toss a few crumbs to Buddha who loves it and my other kitty Kali. At some point, Six Toes must have gotten a taste (probably stole it from his brother Buddha if I know him) and wanted some for himself!
So I waited one evening until Buddha and Kali were fast asleep and went to the fridge, Six Toes following me as usual. Once I got the cheese out and he could see what it was, he started dancing and mewing because he was so excited. I sat down on the couch and he immediately was in my lap, letting me know he was here and wanted to share in my bounty. So I pulled off a nice hunk and threw it down. He wolfed it down like piece of tender fish! Quickly he was back so I threw down another. Again he was on it in a flash, gorging himself.
At that point, somehow brother Buddha had awakened and came to see what all the fuss was about. Seeing the cheese, he cried for some. I threw him a piece which he grabbed and began to eat.
Six Toes wasn't having that and tried to take it from him. There was a bit of growling...their territorial "It's mine, leave me alone!" posturing. Six Toes then came up in my lap and literally STOLE the remaining cheese in my hand, only to run off with it! That cad!
Who knew that string-cheese could inspire love,devotion and thievery?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Six Toes Checks Out
It looks like Six Toes is ok. The vet can find nothing wrong with him. The speculation is that he had a slight ear infection from his kitty cold and that may have affected his sense of balance for a moment. He seemed pretty chipper yesterday, tearing around the house and playing with his pal Bully. Fed him some turkey this morning and I thought he was going to have a big one hopping up and down in his eagerness to get to the plate!
Just a quick discussion on what a kitty cold is. It's an upper respiratory infection. Cats with a kitty cold sneeze, cough, have runny noses and eyes, drool and can have a fever. From experience, I've learned that the best thing you can do for them is keep them quiet, wipe their eyes and nose clean with a damp cloth, and if they have a lot of problems with congestion to run a vaporizer in the room they're recovering in. Watch your cat closely to ensure they keep eating and drinking. If they start to have trouble breathing, make sure you get them to a vet, as kitty colds can become more serious and may require a stay at the animal hospital.
Six Toes' brother Buddha is also on the mend from the kitty cold. I think he was actually sicker than Six Toes. He coughed and sneezed a lot and sat pretty still for a day or two. Right now he's taking a snooze in my papasan chair...he loves his comforts.
Six Toes is also sacked out for his morning nap on top of my folded fresh laundry. How do cats sense when you've just cleaned something in order to seek it out and lie on it? The cad!
Just a quick discussion on what a kitty cold is. It's an upper respiratory infection. Cats with a kitty cold sneeze, cough, have runny noses and eyes, drool and can have a fever. From experience, I've learned that the best thing you can do for them is keep them quiet, wipe their eyes and nose clean with a damp cloth, and if they have a lot of problems with congestion to run a vaporizer in the room they're recovering in. Watch your cat closely to ensure they keep eating and drinking. If they start to have trouble breathing, make sure you get them to a vet, as kitty colds can become more serious and may require a stay at the animal hospital.
Six Toes' brother Buddha is also on the mend from the kitty cold. I think he was actually sicker than Six Toes. He coughed and sneezed a lot and sat pretty still for a day or two. Right now he's taking a snooze in my papasan chair...he loves his comforts.
Six Toes is also sacked out for his morning nap on top of my folded fresh laundry. How do cats sense when you've just cleaned something in order to seek it out and lie on it? The cad!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Six Toes Flops Over...A Trip To The ER?
Last night was scary. Really scary. Over the past couple of days Six Toes has been battling a little kitty cold. You know, sneezing, watery eyes, the occasional cough. Other than that he seemed normal, eating and drinking as usual. But last night something happened.
Six Toes was on a chair in the living room where he loves to take naps. He got up, stretched himself and proceeded to jump down to the floor. Once on the floor, he tripped over a shoe...and suddenly, his whole back end just fell over. He looked kind of out of it and with his front feet walked forward a few steps, dragging his backside over the floor which was entirely motionless. Then he started to slump down. I hurriedly picked him up and felt his heart beating. Worried, I started to call his name to see if he'd respond. In my arms he seemed ok, so I put him back on the floor. He walked away entirely normal...like nothing happened. I spent the entire evening watching him like a hawk. I'm still worried about it. I wonder if I should have took my guy to the animal ER a few communities away. I can't explain what I saw. Was it a stroke? A ear infection of some kind? A flutter of his heart? I just don't know.
I'm going to take him to the vet on Monday. Just keep praying for him till then that it was just a fluke of some kind and he suffered no lasting damage...after all, he won't be one years old until July. We love Six Toes dearly and want him to have a long life of fun and happiness.
I love Six Toes!
Six Toes was on a chair in the living room where he loves to take naps. He got up, stretched himself and proceeded to jump down to the floor. Once on the floor, he tripped over a shoe...and suddenly, his whole back end just fell over. He looked kind of out of it and with his front feet walked forward a few steps, dragging his backside over the floor which was entirely motionless. Then he started to slump down. I hurriedly picked him up and felt his heart beating. Worried, I started to call his name to see if he'd respond. In my arms he seemed ok, so I put him back on the floor. He walked away entirely normal...like nothing happened. I spent the entire evening watching him like a hawk. I'm still worried about it. I wonder if I should have took my guy to the animal ER a few communities away. I can't explain what I saw. Was it a stroke? A ear infection of some kind? A flutter of his heart? I just don't know.
I'm going to take him to the vet on Monday. Just keep praying for him till then that it was just a fluke of some kind and he suffered no lasting damage...after all, he won't be one years old until July. We love Six Toes dearly and want him to have a long life of fun and happiness.
I love Six Toes!
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