Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The Kola Report: Improvement


Kola is feeling better at last. He is not back to normal, but he is getting there. I had to put food into him by syringe for a couple of days, which neither of us liked. He would eventually curl up on the bathroom floor and refuse to move at all while I struggled to fit the syringe tip through clenched teeth. He would not take any kind of food voluntarily, from my finger or a bowl, so I had to resort to the syringe.

But now he is eating on his own again. He still has little appetite for hard-food but, because I started giving him soft-food whenever I thought he would want it, he has eaten more of that in the last day than he would under normal circumstances. This will, I hope, provide enough nourishment to push his recovery still further.

I love seeing signs of recovery in sick cats. (It would be better if they were never ill in the first place, but that’s like a desire to have been born rich instead of working to get there. Which I haven’t, by the way.) First, Kola started wanting water. He asked for it from the tap, which was fine by me. He seemed lacking in the confidence to jump up onto the counter by himself (that has since improved, too), due perhaps to weakness from his ill health, so I would lift him up.


Then he started eating solid, albeit soft, food on his own. Small amounts at first, too small to warrant a cessation of the syringe method. But yesterday I realised that he was eating more on his own than I would be able to give him otherwise, and since the syringe caused him so much distressed, I decide to push more food at him instead. As aforementioned, I gave him food outside the regular mealtimes, which he seemed to appreciate.


He has also begun talking more than was the case in the past week, and when I come into the parlour, he wants attention, about which he has been apathetic. Even that came back in stages. He first accepted pets without much reaction, then he lie down for them, next he purred, and finally, last night, he started flexing his front paws, kneading the air.

As I wrote above, Kola is not his old self yet, but a few more days should take care of that. I want to thank all those who expressed sympathy for the floofy one's plight and good wishes for its betterment. It helps knowing that others care. I wish I knew if he had what Renn had had (and if so, why it hit him so much more severely than it did my big boy) or whether it was something independent, or perhaps caught because Renn’s cold weakened him. In any case, it’s on its way out, and Kola is on his way back.

18 comments:

  1. Good news that Kola is recovering! May none of your cats get sick again, particularly this coming winter. (I'm mentally cringing, wondering if either or both of the boys will get sick like that again--surely hope not.)

    Lots of purrs and headbutts to Kola from them, and smooches from me.

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  2. Oh that is so terrific that Kola is feeling better. It is so hard to have a sick one. I just back from the vet with a sick kitty. High temp and lots of rattles in her head. So now I just need to figure out how to get the medicine down her. Lots more purrs coming your way Kola.

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  3. That is wonderful news about Kola. We hope everyone in the household is feeling fine and frisky now!

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  4. Oh hurrah for Kola! We are thankful for answered prayers! Of course we will continue to pray for him until he's fully recovered.
    Those signs of improvement! Such small steps have such enormous impact on us. The very worst feeling in the world is feeling helpless in the presence of a loved ones illness or suffering. Powerless to give them relief. You've done a splendid job with him, John. I'm sure this has only enhanced the bond between you. Kiss him for me, please.

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    1. I loathe force-feeding by syringe because, as necessary as it sometimes is, it is a torment to the cat; he doesn't understand why I am doing this to him. What I marvel at is how he forgives me for it; all of them always have. I'm grateful for that.

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    2. Kola understands, on some level, that you are trying to help him. He may not like it, and it certainly doesn't make the situation any more pleasant,but he understands. That's why he so readily forgives.

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  5. That is good news :) Onward and upward, Kola! xox

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  6. This is good news. We will keep paws crossed for a speedy recovery for dear Kola. From Eileen and Jessica

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    1. Everyone's thoughts must have worked because tonight he seems almost completely back to normal.

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  7. We're glad Kola is doing better and we continue to purr until he is back to his old self.

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  8. Thanks for the update! I've been wondering how the beautiful and floofy Kola was doing. Along with everyone else, I'm so glad to hear he's on the mend.

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  9. I am so happy to hear Kola is feeling a bit better. I hope this continues! ~xo~

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  10. Thanks so very much for the update! So very very glad that Kola is finally getting better! Still keeping him in my prayers!
    Marty's Mom

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  11. I know how it hurts to see them like that, as Katie Isabella had a horrible terrible bad bad cold she had gotten in the Vet's office as she stayed there for five days getting treatment for a UTI. She came home with a cold and he said it was allergies. After several back and farthings, I changed vets. But to see them ill and then see an upturn is better than gold!

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  12. That is very good news that Kola is recovering well.

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  13. I'm late in hearing the news but it's great news nonetheless. I'm sure you feel relieved too knowing Kola is feeling better.

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  14. Glad to learn Kola is showing signs of improvement. I hope he is even better since this post.He is such a fluffy and handsome guy!

    thanks for your recent comments, John

    http://HomelessCatCare.blogspot.com


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