Farewell, Brody

 This is the last picture I took of Brody.  It was two weeks ago today.  I couldn't bear to take pictures of him wasting away.

This is the very first picture I took of Brody.  There are far too few pictures in between.

Brody's last vet visit was bad news and I didn't want to tell you that his temperature was 105.3 and he had fluid in his abdomen.  Luckily the fluid was where it was easily removed and Brody went back on Dex + B-12 and Lasix every day.  It didn't help.  By Sunday night, I knew that he was packing his bags for the Rainbow Bridge.  He didn't eat all day Monday and he had that sad. lost look in his eyes.  Monday night, he was waiting on the bed for me, just like he is in the picture. I cuddled up to him and started petting him and he got up on me in his favorite position, on my thigh with his head on my stomach.  I petted him until I fell asleep.  Sometime in the night, he left the bed, because when I woke up in the wee hours to pee, he wasn't there.  In the morning, I found him by the food in the computer room.  He had run away to the Bridge.  It was like he knew that he had to eat, but he couldn't do it.

I took the body into the kitchen on a kitty comforter and laid him down near Cissy's cave.  I wanted her to know what happened to him.  She came and sniffed over and over again, like she couldn't believe it.  I think all the kitties sniffed him at least once.  I called the vet to cancel his appointment, which was this afternoon.  After a while, I took his body to the vet to be cremated.  I brushed off a bunch of fur and put it in a plastic bag, because I knew that the private cremation was so much more expensive than the communal cremation.  Isn't it silly that after spending at least $5000 to keep him alive, I wouldn't spend $70 to get his ashes?  It's just the way I feel.  Everything that was the Brody I loved so much went to the Rainbow Bridge.  What was left was just a shell.  I can feed the other cats for a month on that $70.

I will order him a plastic tombstone from the company I get them from and get a solar light from the store and bury half his fur next to Austin. I'm crying too hard to see well, so I'll quite now.

Brody's Vet Visit

Karen Jo:  My blog was supposed to have a "Save Net Neutrality" banner just below the header today, but the code I copied didn't work.

Brody:  I went to the vet yesterday and it was good news.  My temperature has gone down to 103.5 from 104.  My weight has gone up from 6.7 lbs to 8.2 lbs.  Neither Mom nor the vet lady could figure out how I gained 1.5 pounds in one week.  I bet I know.  I eat whatever I want and just lie around most of the day.  There is no sign of fluid in my chest or abdomen.  I only have to have one shot every other day now.  I'm pretty happy about all of this and so is Mom.

Karen Jo:  I am very happy.  Brody might have diarrhea, but it's by no means certain.  He is getting a little Metronidazole in liquid form just in case.

Cissy:  Well, I don't have diarrhea any more.  Mom had to call the vet lady because I hadn't gotten any better by Saturday morning.  Half an hour after the vet lady called her back and told her to come pick up my meds, I pooped a mighty poop and proved that I didn't need any meds after all.

Karen Jo:  I picked them up anyway, because the vet lady was nice enough to tape them to the outside door after closing time.  I'll hang on to them.  Some other kitty might need them.  Brody won't eat the Forti-Flora.

Spyro:  I picked up spraying a bit from Horus.  I sprayed the wall by Cissy's new litter box and I sprayed Cissy's big cardboard box in the kitchen.  Then I quit doing it.  I did pee in Cissy's new litter box, but I did it the regular way.  I guess I got caught up in the kitty politics.  They seem to be dying down now.

Oja: I have almost given up cornering Cissy and making her scream.  It just doesn't seem like much fun any more.  I have that new kitten Tabitha to hiss at.

Rocio: I was watching the birds when I got this itch.  Ah, that's better.  I really got into it with Cissy the other day.  I don't know why.  I haven't bothered her since.

Bambino:  I dumped the toy bucket over so Tabitha would have more toys to play with.  Yeah, that's it.  She is a lot of fun.  She will pounce almost any cat.  She leaves Brody, Cissy and Oja alone.  She learns fast.

Horus:  I haven't bothered Cissy in ages.  It just doesn't appeal to me any more.

Karen Jo:  I am wondering if the calming spray is having an effect or the kitties just got bored with tormenting Cissy.  Whichever it is, I hope it lasts.

Julius:  Here I am showing off my side stripes.

Karen Jo: If any of you have wondered what I looked like, you can see me in the mirror.

Tabitha:  Boy, have I been exploring since the last time Mom posted.  I have discovered the living room.  Wow, it is big!  When I first ran into it, I stopped and did the kitten dance.  I arched my back way up and bounced around.  There is lots of room to run and play and rassle, rolling over and over.  There's lots of toys in here, too.  There's a neat box with holes in it and toys inside.  I am having so much fun!

Brody's Vet Visit

 Brody:  I went to the vet again.  The only bad part is that thing stuck up where it doesn't belong.  All the fluid is gone from my chest, so I only have to get one shot a day.  Yay!  I feel good.  Look at me up here on the file cabinet.  The vet even gave me some food.  I just wish I didn't feel too tired to play all the time.

Karen Jo:  Brody's temperature is 104 and his weight is down to 6.7 lbs from 7.8 lbs last week.  The vet says that it's just a matter of time, but we will keep up the medications and hope for a miracle.  Brody feels so good because he all the fluid is out of his chest and he can breathe normally again.

 Tabitha:  This is the best photo Mom has been able to take of me so far.  I decided that I really like the lady, so I will call her Mom. Mom picked me up and took me on a tour of the house yesterday and showed me all the kitties here.  There are a LOT of them. I did exciting things today.  I came out of my room four times and met other kitties and explored.  There are a lot of litter boxes around here.  I sniffed and sniffed them.  I explored the bathroom and played with Bambino in the bathtub.  I met Julius and we played chase in my room.  We chased each other around the big chair and Mom laughed because it looked like I was chasing Julius.  I met Brody and we nose sniffed each other.  I met Horus and he sniffed and sniffed my behind.  I briefly met Oja and she hissed at me so I ran back into my room.  I met Rocio and he hissed at me a tiny bit, too.  I am back in my room now for the night, but I bet I will be out of my room tomorrow again, at least for a while.

Spyro:  All these goings on make me want a nap.  I haven't met the squirt yet, but I will.

Oja:  The tiny kitten is coming our of her room now.  I don't like it.  I just know she'll pester me.

Karen Jo:  She might not.  There are lots of other kitties for her to play with.

Rocio:  Tabitha might not be so bad.  I went into her room for a little bit.  She's pretty fearless when it comes to the rest of us.  Oja scared her, but Oja scares all of us.

Bambino:  I like Tabitha.  I hope she comes out for good soon.

Horus:  I am King of the Mountain on top of the cat tree today.  I don't know what to think of Tabitha.  She smells good.  She didn't try to smack me for being so personal.

Julius:  Hahaha!  I made Mom lie down on the floor to get a picture of me.  See how wide open my eyes are?  That's the signal that I am going to bolt if she comes any closer.  I like Tabitha.  She's fun to play with.

Cissy:  I have given up trying to get Brody to play with me.  Now when I want to play with another kitty, I go to Bambino or Julius, especially Julius.  This cushion under the chair is the safest place to nap.  Mom started wondering if I really dragged the cushion under the chair or if it ended up under here by accident and I just took advantage of it.  The other day Mom noticed that it had been moved under the table, then it was back under the chair and I was on it again.  Now she knows that I move it.

Brody Holds His Own

 Brody:  Why does Mom take my picture with my shaved spot showing? I'm just hanging in there, no better, no worse.  Mom keeps giving me my medicine and I try to get away from her sometimes, especially after the first shot when I see the second stabby thing come out.  I always get treats right afterward, so I don't go too far.  I have given up on trying to avoid the stuff squirted in my mouth.

Karen Jo:  Now comes the really hard part for me.  Brody has gotten back to being almost himself again.  Now, will the new medicine whip the FIP, or will Brody stay the way he is now until it attacks him again?

 Spyro:  I didn't get my picture taken today, so this is an older shot.  I'll leave the explanation for others.
This is what Mom calls Spyro's Spytower because I am the cat up here most often.  It's a great spot for looking outside and seeing everything that goes on in the living room.

 Oja:  I am on my throne again, watching over my domain.  I still play with the turbo track sometimes.  I have been chasing Cissy again.  Mom is about to give up coming to see what is happening when Cissy screams.  No cat is ever hurting her.

 Rocio:  I am watching the spectacle of Mom crawling around on the floor trying to get good photos.  That white bottle beside me is what Mom uses when Horus pees where he shouldn't.

 Bambino:  Mom was down on the floor, so I started to crawl into the ham-mick facing her. She got all set with the camera for me to stop moving, then I turned around and showed her my butt instead.  She had to wiggle around to get my profile.

Karen Jo:  Horus was a bad boy today.

Horus:  Mom was down on the floor taking pictures.  When it was my turn, she just turns to me and shoots.  When Brody's turn came she petted him and cooed to him and coaxed him to face her, giving him lots of attention.  I couldn't stand that, so I went over to the couch, turned around to face Brody and sprayed the couch. That'll teach her to give that little brat all the attention.

Karen Jo:  Brody needs more attention now because he is sick.  Even you have been nice to him.

Horus:  I still don't like it when he gets more attention than I do.

Karen Jo:  I had to stop the photo session and clean up the mess.  Then I couldn't remember if I had taken pictures of all the cats.  That's why Spyro and Cissy have older pictures today.

 Julius: Mom is getting better at reading my body language on how close she can get with the camera.  As soon as I turned my head to look at her she froze until I looked away again.  The birds are more interesting than she is.

 Cissy:  This is the visiting toddler's table with her crayon box behind me.  She hasn't been over in a long time, which suits me just fine.  I almost got Brody to play with me last night, but he gave me a really soft hiss and I went back to grooming him instead.

Tabitha:  I am getting to like the lady.  Breakfast time this morning I came out to greet her and let her pet me.   I even stayed out when she left and came back with the black box.  I'm all blurry because I am never still.  I like the lady's foot.  I got to play with Bambino twice today for a little while.  The lady lets him in, then goes away and lets us play.  She comes back in a little while and lets him out again.  I like Bambino.

Halfway House of the FeLV+ Kitties

Brody: I am taking an easy day today.  I'm not quite as active as I have been.  Mom puts it down to getting all busy this morning and not giving me my meds till afternoon.  I'm not acting sick or anything.  I lay down by the safe room door for a while, curious about Tabitha.  Now Mom has some stuff to say about what kept her busy this morning.

Karen Jo:  This morning I told Felines & Friends that I had a full house and couldn't take any more kitties.  The director asked me very nicely if I would consider becoming a halfway house for FeLV+ kitties.  That means I would allow them to list the kitties as adoptable and see if they could adopt some out to people who knew what they were getting into, so I would have room for more.  I accepted, though I would be sad to see any of my dear little ones go away.  I accepted for a few reasons.  Horus would be much happier in a house with fewer kitties.  If the kitties are adopted I wouldn't have to see them die.  I want to save as many kitties as I can.  It is quite possible that none of them will be adopted and things will just go on as they are now.  After all, I got into this because no one else would adopt Herman.  If any of them are adopted out, one of the conditions will be that they are to be returned to me if the adopters find that they don't really want them.

Spyro:  I do love the top level of the tall kitty tower.  Mom said this picture gave her a cuteness overload.

Oja:  This throw has a story behind it.  I like to make biscuits with my claws out on Mom's thigh.  Mom started putting this throw in her lap to protect herself.  I wouldn't get on her lap if the throw was there, so Mom put the throw on the floor next to the computer desk.  Now I lie on it often.  Score for me!

 Rocio:  This is the smaller cat tree.  Beside it is the curtain rod and the sheer curtains that one of us kitties tore down.  Mom hasn't gotten around to doing anything with it yet.

 Bambino:  At least I was awake when the camera came out today.  I got into the safe room and wouldn't come out, not even when Mom got out the treats.  Mom left me in there for a little while and Tabitha came out and played with me.  Mom says I get to go visit Tabitha for a little while every day from now on. Score for me!

 Horus:  Up on the pillow again.  It's the best nap place in the whole house.

 Julius:  Still won't let Mom get close to me with the camera.  I will let her get right up close enough to touch me now, but not when she has the camera.

Cissy:  Mom looked all over the house for me when it was picture time.  She was starting to get worried when she spotted me in this old cube.  Mom, we need a new cube.

Tabitha:  I came out of the closet today and let the lady pet me.  Twice!  She picked me up and I ran away again once she put me in her lap.  I played with another kitty who came to visit.  I like other kitties.  Mom brought in a black box (camera) and pointed it at me and I ran and hid.

Brody Improves

 Brody:  Thank all of you for all the purrs and everything.  They are helping.  I am resting up from my trip to the vet today.  My temperature is normal; my weight is up from 7.75 to 7.8; best of all, the fluid in my chest is going away.  I still have to take all my meds and the Amoxidrops are back.  Yuck!

Karen Jo:  Sorry, Brody, but the meds are helping you and the Amoxidrops are back because you are more vulnerable to bacterial infection now.

 Spyro:  It's a gray and rainy day.  Just right for a nap on top of the tower.  I love it up here.

 Oja:  Mom caught me nomming down on the dry food.  Orijen Six Fishes is delicious.

 Rocio:  Shall I scratch for treats, or just eat the dry food that is already out?  Treats are better, so I'll scratch.

 Bambino:  Again with the camera?  I'm with Spyro.  This is a great day for napping.

 Horus:  I just love this pillow.  I nap here lots.  I thought about spraying the dresser this morning, but changed my mind and used the litter box.  I'm a good boy, I am.

 Julius:  See all the dry cat food scattered all over the floor?  Some cat comes tearing down the hall at top speed and crashes right into the bowls.  I'm not saying any names, but she's black.

Cissy:  I wouldn't be tearing down the hall at top speed if some other kitty weren't chasing me.

Julius:  Don't look at me.  It must have been Rocio, Horus or Oja.  You made the mess, though.

Cissy:  Hmmpf!  This is my new hidey-nappy place.  I found this cushion just lying around and dragged it under the chair.  It's pretty safe here, especially when Mom is sitting in the chair.

Cissy Replies

Brody:  I feel a little better every day.  I am sleeping with Mom again.  I am trying to hide a little bit from my meds, but Mom doesn't have to work too hard to get them in me.  I finished up the Amoxidrops last night.  Yay!  Today was big med day -- the 5 mls of Proxyphrenol and Interferon and my shots.  In the photo I am trying to decide if I want more Elegant Medleys . . .

Brody:  Or if I want to share with Julius.

Julius:  He decided to share.  Yay!  This is the closest I have ever let Mom get to me with the camera.  The noms were too yummy to leave.  You can see the swirly stripes on my side.

Cissy:  I want to defend myself against the charge of being a Drama Queen.  One, Brody won't play with me any more.  Thank goodness he has stopped hissing and growling at me, but he still won't play.  He will cuddle and groom me, though, so I am a bit less of a screamer. Two, it's not my fault I scream so much.  Horus, Rocio and Oja all chase me and make me scream.  I jump in my big box in the kitchen to get away from them and Horus gets on the other box and looks down at me and makes me scream.

Karen Jo:  You also scream when any of those three come anywhere near you, even if they aren't doing anything to scare you.

Cissy: I'm scared of them all the time because of all the chases and cornering and vulture cat incidents.  I want my Brody back the way he used to be.

Karen Jo: Brody's vets and I are trying our best to make that happen.  All the nice kitties in the Cat Blogosphere are purring for it, too.  Thank you all so very much.

Spyro:  I fooled Mom.  I was looking right at her when she pushed the button on the camera.  I am just being myself, friends with all the cats.  I am being nice to Cissy and she never screams at me.

Oja:  Mom usually wouldn't use a picture this blurry, but the light was just right to bring out the silver in my fur.  I accepted Cissy pretty quickly and only hissed at her a couple of times.  I thought things were ok between us, then she starts growling at me whenever she sees me.  I decided to give her something to growl about. Chasing her is fun; so is cornering her and hearing her scream.  I always have my tail curled up when I do either.  If I were serious, my tail would be straight.

Rocio: I only chase Cissy once in a while.  It's so easy to get a scream out of her that it's hard to resist.  Julius has been hanging around Brody more, so I have to find something to do.

Bambino: Sheesh, can't a guy get in a nap without the camera coming out? I play with Spyro, Horus, Rocio and Julius.  I leave Brody, Cissy and Oja alone.

Horus:  I am watching a bird right outside the window.  Can you see it?  It's just above the hole in the platform.  Click on the photo to biggify. I have stopped spraying.  Mom gives me lots of petting and takes me outside.  I have lost interest in the new kitten.  She's so quiet we don't even know she's there.

Tabitha:  I'm here.  If you look really closely you can just see a smudge of white above the white cloth.  That's my chin.  Today is the first day that I have let the lady see me. Oh, she peeked in on me the second day I was here and she saw a flash of me the day I got caught up on the window sill, but this is the first time that it has been my idea.  I never told you what I look like.  I'm a calico tabby and I weigh 2 pounds.

Karen Jo:  If you would come out of the closet and let me take a picture of you, everyone could see what you look like.

Tabitha: I'm never coming out of this closet except to eat and use the litter box and do some exploring in the night.  Something is doing terrible things to kitties out there.  I can hear it.

Karen Jo:  That's just Cissy.  She screams a lot.  Hopefully you will get used to it and come out some day.

Tabitha:  Don't bet on it. Oh, I am three months old today.