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 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.

Day of Hope, Day of Terror

UPDATE: I don't believe it!  I was so torn up over the appointment that I remembered the time wrong and missed it.  Now I have to wait until tomorrow.  Sigh.

Brody:  I'm feeling OK today.  I didn't cough last night when Mom gave me my medicine, but I did this morning.

Karen Jo:  You coughed quite a bit this morning.

Brody:  I didn't sleep with Mom last night.  She gave me my meds just before she went to bed and I wasn't ready to cuddle with her after that.  I did get a bit of my own back.  I bit her finger.

Karen Jo:  You bit me pretty hard, too.  I bled a little.

Brody:  Serves you right for sticking nasty things in my mouth.

Karen Jo: You have to take your meds to get well.

Brody: At least I get treats afterward.  This morning I was my old self when it came to treats.  I tried to eat every cat's treats and I got a lot.  I wish I felt even better, though.  Yesterday morning Cissy tried to play with me and I hissed and growled at her to make her go away.  I never do that.

Karen Jo:  I am all torn up about Brody.  In some ways he seems better.  He is fighting his meds harder and when Herman did that he was improving.  He won't play and I was shocked when he hissed and growled at Cissy, but that could be an improvement on just ignoring her, which is what he did Saturday.  I put some catnip out yesterday to distract Cissy and that worked just fine.  Brody watched the other cats get all nipped up, then retreated to the stroller when they started to get rowdy.  I am both hopeful and terrified of what the vet might tell me this afternoon.  Brody isn't sending me any signals that he is ready to go to the Rainbow Bridge, but that cough has got to hurt.  It shakes his entire body.  I want him to get better if he can, but I don't want him to suffer any more than he has to.  I have been going over and over in my mind what to do, but I can't decide until I know more.  It's got me tied up in knots.

Brody Is Feeling Better

Karen Jo:  I apologize for not posting again sooner.  Worrying about my little mancat has disrupted my sleep cycle and I keep falling asleep early in the evening and waking up past midnight.  Luckily I remember to give Brody his medicine before I go back to sleep again.  Now I'll let Brody tell you how he's doing.

Brody:  I feel better. I slept with Mom the last two nights, which is my usual habit, instead of on the floor next to her bed, which I had been doing when I felt really sick.  I jumped up to her bedroom window and sunned myself this morning, which I hadn't been doing.  As you can see, I'm napping up on the furniture instead of down on the floor.  As you can also see, I've been shaved on my side and on my leg.  I also have a little shaved area on my neck.  I have been begging and begging for treats and getting them, too.  I am eating Stinky Goodness, but not as much as usual.  Mom is giving me the most delicious food, just for me, though sometimes I walk away and leave a little.

Karen Jo:  Brody has lost so much weight that I am giving him all the treats he wants and an extra meal of Elegant Medleys.

Brody: The only bad thing is that Mom keeps sticking something down my throat and squirting liquids in my mouth.  I get even with her by scaring her.

Karen Jo:  Brody, you have to take your medicines.  You don't seem to mind your Amoxidrops or your Interferon too much, but you really hate your Prednisolone.

Brody:  It's awful.  I fight it so hard sometimes I start coughing.

Karen Jo:  The first time he did it, I thought his chest had filled up with fluid again, but he didn't do it again until Pred time again.  I figure that he exerts himself so much that he starts to cough.  I am hoping that this means he has pneumonia.  That sounds like a horrible thing to wish for, but it's about the least horrible thing that could be the matter with him at this point.  I have to wait until Monday to find out.

Super Sunday

 Bambino:  I have some great news: I'm well!

Karen Jo:  I'd say 99% well.

Bambino:  Why only 99%?

Karen Jo:  The Prince of Pounce isn't back yet, but I'm sure he will be.

Bambino:  I got a little better every day and the night before last I played with Mom's shoe laces and the sleeve of her pajamas.  Today I rassled with Julius and napped with him.  I can do my mighty leaps again and I eat up all my treats and food.  Yesterday, even the kitten food disappeared.  I say I'm all well.

Karen Jo:  You are certainly well enough not to have to go back to the vet tomorrow.

Bambino: YAY!  I want to thank everyone for purring for me.  It worked!

 Spyro:  It is Sunday and most of us are taking our Easy.  I'm in the blue bed by the heat vent, keeping warm.

 Oja:  I'm up on the tall scratcher, catching some rays.  Mean Mom says she isn't going to take any more pictures of me.

Karen Jo:  That's not what I said.  I said I wasn't going to take any more pictures of you in your cushioned chair under the kitchen table or in your chair in the computer room.  It's too dark and the pictures don't come out well.  I am going to concentrate on getting the camera out when I see you out, so there will be new pictures of you.

Oja:  Oh, that's ok then.

 Rocio:  I'm up on the big pillow in a great big sun puddle.  It's so bright I have to cover my eyes to nap.  Mom says that I've been a bad boy.  I've been annoying Oja again, once in the computer room and once in the kitchen.  She is such a lay-about that I've just been trying to get her up for some exercise, but she doesn't like it one bit.

 Horus:  The trouble with sun puddles is that they move.  When I started my nap I was right in the middle of the bigger one.  At least my tail is getting some rays.

Julius:  I'm glad that Bambino is well again.  I missed playing with him.  I'm getting my rays up on the table.  I still won't let the Lady get close to me with the clicky box.  I did let her pet me while she was giving out treats, but I run from her the rest of the time.

Fantastic Friday

 Bambino:  I feel a little better every day.  I am eating like I used to and drinking and using the litter box and doing the little things I used to, except play.  That may be coming.  Mom saw me running twice today.

Karen Jo:  The blood test showed just what I expected it to.  Bambino is definitely FeLV+.  I found out something I didn't know before.  Sometimes the virus causes FeLV+ kitties to develop a low grade fever with no other cause.  When the fever breaks they are back to normal.  I am encouraged to know this.  Bambino has been eating like he can't get enough again.  There is never any Stinky Goodness left, except the kitten food.  No cat seems to really like that stuff, though some of it disappears.  If Bambino isn't back to normal by Monday, he has to go back to the vet.  At the rate he is improving, I have hopes that he won't have to make that trip.  Thanks for all the purrs and good wishes.  With all that going for him, he should be well soon.

 I'm up on the couch with the Halloween bear.  Mom hasn't cleaned up since the last time the blurpy was here.  Horus and I both escaped the other day.  The fun thing is that Mom always goes after Horus first because he is harder to catch and I never leave the yard, but he does.  That means that I get to stay outside longer.  I don't like the cold white stuff on the ground, though it isn't everywhere and I can find some grass to munch.

 Oja:  Here I am in the cushioned chair again.  Mom is complaining that every time she gets out the clicky box, I am under here where it's really hard to get a good picture of me.  She should get out the clicky box when I'm out.  I don't know what's up with Bambino.  Mom was lying on the bed, watching TV and Bambino was lying on her, getting petted.  I came up close to get some petting, too, and Bambino whapped me.  He has never done that before.

 Rocio:  I understand now why this is Horus' favorite spot.  It's really comfy.  I have gotten fed up with Horus trying to intimidate me.  This time I growled and charged Horus.  That'll teach him.

 Horus:  Julius was playing with this stuffie a little while ago.  I'm trying to see what the attraction is.  Or maybe I'm looking for stray treats.  The blurp tosses them all around.

Julius:  Mom was a little slow with the clicky box.  When she started trying to take my picture, I was up on the pillow with Spyro.  I cuddle with Spyro lots.  Mom keeps trying to get a picture of my snuggling Spyro in the blue cat bed, but she has to get too close to get a good picture and I always run away.  The only time I come near her is when she is giving out treats or if she is lying in bed with other cats around.  Then I will lie next to her feet.

More Good News

Karen Jo:  Just a short post today.  I have been really busy and I'm very tired.  Thank you all for all your purrs and good wishes.  They are working.

Bambino:  I am feeling even better today, though I am still not 100% myself yet.  I forgot to say yesterday that I haven't lost any weight.  I jumped up on Mom's chest before dawn and wanted a long petting session.  Mom said that it was great that she had her lover boy back.  I stayed on Mom until she got up in the morning.  I started eating some of the regular Stinky Goodness both for breakfast and dinner.  I also ate  some of the really good food.  I wanted my treats today, too.  I ate them all up several times, but left them a couple of times.  I am not really playing again yet, but I did chase Julius down the hall early this evening.  Tomorrow I should get my test results and Mom decides whether I have to go back to the vet.  If I improve again tomorrow as much as I have improved today, I might not have to go back.  I didn't hide from the blurpy girl today and even took some treats from her.  I am taking more of an interest in what's going on around me and even outside.  I think I will be all well soon.  Thanks for purring for me.

Wordy Wednesday

 More 'tocks shots.  Mom put some new catnip on our scratchers and I am checking it out.  I turned around just as Mom took the picture, which is why I am blurry.

Emma:  Mom actually thought I was going use the Alpine Scratcher and wanted a picture of it, but I was only trying to decide on whether or not I wanted one of the toys in the toy buckets.

Karen Jo:  Emma is feeling much better.  She is no longer spending time in her hidey-holes and is coming into the living room again.  Her eating and drinking and litter boxing have stayed normal the whole time, so I don't know what it was, but it is possible that she had a tiny flare up of her feline leukemia.  One of the most prominent symptoms is lethargy.

Emma:  I feel pretty normal now.  I am not yet ready for much play time, but I am taking much more interest in looking out of the windows again and not sleeping all day long.  I must say that Herman has been very kind to me.  He hasn't chased me once while I was feeling bad.

I have been looking out for her.  I sleep near, but not too near, her.  Just now she is sleeping up on the big pillow on the table in the living room and I am in my bed, right next to the table.

Karen Jo:  Herman has been the playful one lately.  We have played soccer and Da Bird and toss the mousie in the last few days.  Herman sleeps with me at night, unless the coughing spells get too loud; then he deserts me.

It's hard to sleep with all that going on.  You shake the whole bed when it gets bad.

Karen Jo:  Hopefully it will get better soon.  We are due for some cold weather starting today and I have an appointment with an allergist next month.  I put off getting that appointment way too long.  I should have done it last spring.

At least you still cook interesting things.  I keep asking for tastes, but you are stingy.

Karen Jo:  I am not stingy.  You don't follow me to my bedroom where I eat supper any more, so you don't get any more bites after I leave the kitchen.  You didn't even notice that I had shrimp for lunch.

It was cold, so I guess I didn't smell it very well. Maybe tomorrow.  I did enjoy the bites of steak and sour cream and chicken and roast beef I have been getting.

Emma:  I don't see how you can eat that stuff.  I sniff it and it doesn't smell like food to me at all.

You are just silly.  It is all delicious.  I want to go outside something terrible.

Karen Jo:  I have noticed.  I have to push your head back in the house every time I open the door.  I can take you for a ride in your stroller.

I don't want a ride in my stroller.  I just want to go outside on my own.

Karen Jo:  I am sorry, but that is impossible.  It's dangerous out there.

Sigh.

Not Such a Great Day

I lie around like this lots. That's why Mom has a lot of pictures of my just lying on the carpet. Today started out to be a great day. I woke Mom up for breakfast before dawn and she didn't grumble or anything, just got up and fed me and went back to bed. I joined her again after I ate. She woke up again earlier than usual and started moving around, but I didn't bug her and we both settled down again after a bit. She got up for good at her usual time and I started bugging her for my sardine. I don't usually get my sardine for about an hour after she gets up, but I was hungry. I finally bugged her so much that she gave in and I got my sardine early. Score! Mom didn't have to go to work today, so we played a bit and I got a couple of Temptations for scratching on my platform. About lunch time, the bad thing happened. I barfed, one big puddle and two small ones. I was a good boy and barfed where I always do, on the plastic mats under my food dishes. Mom was scared at first when she saw green in the barf, but then she remembered that my Temptations are green.

Karen Jo: That did really concern me at first, Herman. I don't know what made you barf this time. You haven't gotten any new food and it's been a couple of days since I upped The Missing Link in your Stinky Goodness. I have given you two Temptations close together before without any problems. Your sardine was from a brand new can, so it wasn't old or anything. I didn't notice a hairball in the barf, though the first puddle was pretty big and there could have been a small one in it.

Whatever caused it, it isn't serious. I am feeling fine now. A couple of hours afterward I had a big drink of water and a little while after that I started eating again. I played with Mom a little bit more and we had a really long brushing session. I even got a second brushing session later. Mom got one of the little mats by my elbow out with the brush. I won't let her cut them out. I don't like those scissors at all.

Karen Jo: I'm not going to force the "cut the mats out" issue. They don't seem to be bothering you at all and maybe as your fur grows I'll be able to get them with the brush. It amazes me that you scrim away from the scissors, but when the brush really pulls on your fur, you just accept it and keep on purring.

What are we going to do tonight?

Karen Jo: I am going to work/play on the computer. I am way behind on our visiting. You may come sit in the rocking chair and keep me company, if you like.

We'll see. I may just lie around the living room like I do when you are at work. I may take a nap on the kitchen rug. I may whap my nip ball where you can't see it again. Hahaha! I have made Mom find my nip ball four times today already.