Posted on 07/09/2012 2:12:10 PM PDT by NoGrayZone
Long story short. My cat Mimi (she is actually a he), thought he was a girl when they lived in my backyard for almost a year, is going in for major surgery tomorrow.
I was vetless at the time I decided to bring her in. I took her to an holistic vet, to be sure she was fixed and didn't have anything she could spread to my 2 other kitties (now down to 1) and an over all healthcare check up.
I told the vet about her consistent cough and he said "sometimes cats just cough". I believed it, due to her 40,00 layers of down onto of her 4000 layers of fur.
Anywho, he wanted to do about $3500 worth of "vitamin" testing. I of course balked and asked them to just do testing for anything she could give my other 2 and go a general health check.
She came back negative for anything that could be spread to my 2 others, and that was that.
Mimi continued to cough. I've had her for almost 3 years now and noticed her cough was getting worse. Still vetless, I didn't take her to a vet. Soon before I found my new wonderful vet, I noticed she started panting after one of her fits.
I decided to bring her to this recommended vet. He's about 1 1/2 hours away, on the North Fork, but SOOO worth it.
I told him about the cough and he immediately imitated her cough to a tee. She was diagnosed w/ chronic asthma. I felt so guilty, knowing I allowed her suffering for so long.
He said an x-ray had to be done to be sure her lungs were clear, no fluid build up.
Well, there was no fluid build up, and they also took blood. I/we knew nothing about Mimi, nor her past. The x-ray revealed a mass in her chest. Of course the 1st thing you think of is cancer.
I took her back for a biopsy. With the biopsy results and blood work, it revealed a very high level of liver enzymes. The highest it should be is 103. Hers was 216.
The biopsy revealed not a cancerous mass but a diaphramic hernia......in which the diaphram was opened and her liver eventually moved into her chest.
I asked him what on earth would cause such a thing. He said he usually sees it with animals who have been hit by a car. I told him Mimi was an indoor cat (anyone who has tried to wrangle an indoor/outdoor cat to be strictly indoors know what I'm talking about).
He said she could have been stepped on. My first reaction, since this poor kitty was dumped, it was more likey she was kicked.
Anyway, the rest of her blood work came back fine.
Her surgery is tomorrow morning. If she didn't have the chronic asthma, I would not be so worried. Going under is risky in itself. Add chronic asthma, and well, you can hopefully understand why I am so worried.
I would love, if anyone, even one person, could include Mimi in their prayers tonight. She is a sweetie and Lord only knows what she has been through before I became her mommy.
I thank you for any support and any prayers to be given to her.
Have you tried bribing him with treats? I had one rescue who hated to be petted, but I would give her some treats and pet her while she ate them and she soon realized I wasn’t going to hurt her and she liked being pet.
Just a thought (as my little Wilhelmina runs across my keyboard while playing fetch with my husband).
Prayers for the kitty.
Mott
Gott
Zott!
Prayers
Thanks for thinking of me and my little tubby. I was hesitant about posting this thread, but I knew in my heart and soul, from experience, FR would be a place of comfort.
JUST A HEADS UP. TOMORROW I JUST MIGHT BE A BASKET CASE!
I will not have my Mimi for an entire week, if I get her back at all.
Although, the prospect of not getting her back has diminished some with ALL the prayers and well wishes from my fellow FReepers.
For that, I thank all of you.
I just gave her her last pill for her chronic asthma. It's 2 pills every other day and 1 nightly one. The blessed vet tech showed me how to administer her pills. NO ONE has ever showed me before.
Of course it's all “song and dance” when it comes time for pill time, but I have only received 1 scratch (scar still there) since then.
No offense, but you have no idea what you are talking about. Your responses to this post contribute as much to the bandwidth as the post does. Every time you respond, you are impacting bandwidth and bumping the thread. If you really cared about saving bandwidth, you wouldn't respond. (bandwidth is really cheap compared to administration, equipment, salaries, and all those other things involved in running a business like this.)
Regrettedly now, I had left the rest of the now deleted statement alone, nor intended the now stand alone comment of my own remaining, to be a criticism of what people are here discussing.
For that failure on my part, I'm strangely enough now standing accused of being guilty of expressing sentiments which that other in fact did, but I did not agree with, and thought crass and wrong, in more ways than one.
Sorry for the confusion, but in the future, if you wish to make assumption then lecture and insult me, please be a little more careful.
For this occasion, due in large part to the offending post being removed thus leaving a hole, I can readily understand how one might react as you have, so will overlook the needless lecture and insult, and even thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain.
My vet gave me a big fat syringe with which you load the pill into. You wrap a towel around the cat and insert the syringe into the mouth. Then you literally shoot the pill down the cat's throat. It's only temporarily inconvenienced.
Yeah, tried that. He wants the treats, but backs away as soon as my hand goes near him. Even when he is enjoying his mushy food and I happen to walk by (which I try not to), he looks at me with such fear.
So now if I have to walk by, I state in my kitty high pitched voice, “it’s just mommy, it’s okay” and he’ll start eating again.
He does enjoy laying on me though, and also sharing my pillow with him.
I have no idea what this poor little thing has gone through, I just know it takes time.
Time is all I have, with love, to give. He’s become much better than when I first took him in.
I know he loves me and he knows I love him. Time heals all wounds. He really is a sweetie.
What a sweetie. Bless Mimi, Lord, and take great care of him tomorrow. Thanks.
When Mimi sees me coming, he knows what’s ahead. Me with a towel....forget about it!
We have now established a “pill taking” regime. He runs around the 2 chairs, runs to the couch and “hides” himself in the corner, looking up at me as if I’m trying to kill him, lol.
There have been no instances, since I became comfortable, giving him his pills.
At first I would shake because I had no idea what the heck I was doing. Once I became comfortable with it, it is now a “smooth ride”.
Although, we still have to run around in the same circles until he gets to this corner of the couch.
From there, it is easy breezy.
I hope all goes well. I know my fuzzballs make life much better.
Bless your heart, NoGrayZone, for caring so for these little sweeties.
Prayers up for your Mimi.
Thank you!!!!
They really do. I used to call my kitties the “unwanted”, but stopped doing so because I wanted them.
Now I call them my little crazy hand me downs, lol.
I know. I wrote a PM to NoGrayZone to ask if she’d mind if I did a zot post, but I haven’t heard back from her yet. I don’t want to further sully the thread with reminders of Mott if it would bother her.
Of course I will say a prayer for Mimi, that sweet little kitty. I will pray she recovers without pain. And prayers for her loving mama, too!
I don’t know what the nasty comments were, but it makes me mad that there always seems to be somebody who will post something nasty on the kitty threads.
(Tells you a lot about their true nature)
I always reply, ‘Is that you, Dahmer?’
Prayer bump for your Mimi
Warm heart filled thanks! I knew my fellow FReepers would help me through this difficult time.
So many have been where I am, and as usual, FReepers have joined together to get each one of us through it......in ALL difficult situations.
For that, I am grateful for He who led me here.
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