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.
LOL, thanks! I almost blew Crystal Light all over the keyboard!
Oopsie! I’d give you a humor warning, but that might spoil the joke, LOL!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I did recently adopt another tiny tortie from womeone who advertised her as an “ugly cat who needs love.” Okay, the short-haired ones aren’t as beautiful as the long-haired ones, and she’s skittish. Right now she’s hiding under the bed and won’t come out. But we leave food out for the cats, and I believe she’s been eating. The woman who was giving her away didn’t spay her, and she’s currently preggers with her *second* litter, and she’s only about 9 months old herself. I’m hoping she’ll tame down eventually. She let us pet her and hold her the first night (last Sunday). I’ll find homes for the kittens and then spay the little mama cat, who is about the same size as the one I recently lost. I’m also going to do butt checks on the cats now that I know what a prolapsed rectum looks like.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I did recently adopt another tiny tortie from womeone who advertised her as an “ugly cat who needs love.” Okay, the short-haired ones aren’t as beautiful as the long-haired ones, and she’s skittish. Right now she’s hiding under the bed and won’t come out. But we leave food out for the cats, and I believe she’s been eating. The woman who was giving her away didn’t spay her, and she’s currently preggers with her *second* litter, and she’s only about 9 months old herself. I’m hoping she’ll tame down eventually. She let us pet her and hold her the first night (last Sunday). I’ll find homes for the kittens and then spay the little mama cat, who is about the same size as the one I recently lost. I’m also going to do butt checks on the cats now that I know what a prolapsed rectum looks like.
Well, that’s great news! Glad to hear it!
Tell Mimi Bonkers and Bubbles are pulling for him!
God bless,
Alan
No Catnip, No Peace!
Mimi will be home soon and he will snap back to his old habits and preferences like nothing happened. This time, though, he will be feeling a LOT better and, NGZ, you may see a whole new side of him to love!
And who the heck thinks a tortie is ugly? I think they're among the most beautiful cats. My having had one has nothing to do with it of course. 
Kitty prayers for Mimi!
Thank you for your kind words. I'm not perfect, but I try!
And who the heck thinks a tortie is ugly? I think they're among the most beautiful cats. My having had one has nothing to do with it of course.
I e-mailed a rescuer about a tortie cat they were trying to get adopted. She said that torties were harder to place than plain black cats, for some reason. They're just not as popular.
I'm with you! I love torties, especially the long-haired ones.
The one I just lost, being short-haired, wasn't quite as beautiful as the two long-haired ones I have, but she was a cute, tiny cat with a BIG, spunky personality, and I miss her. I wish I had been able to save her.
No one is perfect. I certainly wish that I could go back and undo the mistakes I’ve made with my cats. At least the four I have now live under the benefit of my hard-won lessons.
Save those torties! And good for you.
Save those torties! And good for you.
Thanks again for your kind words! I will certainly do my darnedest to do right by my cats, now and in the future!
My oldest one, the red tortie, is about 11 years old and going strong. I certainly hope to have her around another decade or more, if I can take good enough care of her!!!
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