Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Josie, the Day After

Josie’s surgery was a success, the worrisome lump on her jaw was no more than a cyst, and her mouth is now on the mend. She was brought home about 4.30 yesterday afternoon and was pawing at the carrier door to be let out as soon as she realised she was home; she rushed straight for the food-bowl.

My Chubs couldn’t have the hard-food, though, so she had to wait until I served some softer nutrition. She sucked back a portion, so I gave her a bit more. I didn’t want to give her too much, as she may have been still feeling the effects of the anaesthetic. However, after about forty-five minutes, she was apparently feeling nothing worse than further hunger, so I gave her some more. I continued to give her soft-food in small amounts every hour or so until bed-time.


I ran into a problem when trying to give her the anti-biotic, Clavaseptin, that she was required to take. I’m sure that anyone with a cat knows the sort of pill I mean: the sort that the veterinarian asserts may be easily introduced into the animal’s food and eaten without knowledge that it is even there. In fact, it has a taste cats find pleasant!

Who are the cats on whom they test these pills? Have they no taste buds? No noses?


As soon as I brought it to her, Josie recoiled from the food in which I had crushed up the pill. Later, I tried hiding a whole pill, thinking the fragmentation of the pill released a great smell. Both times, Josie refused to come near the food, though she was clearly famished. I had to resort to crushing up some Temptation Treats and including them in her meal. This had the desired effect, though it took constant encouragement on my part to achieve an empty dish. Fortunately, the pills need be given only twice a day. At other times, my Chubs is eager enough to eat.

She also needs to receive two doses of Metacam pain-killer, though this is delivered by syringe directly into her mouth, once this morning and again tomorrow. I was able to accomplish this with little trouble, though I had to be careful of her sore mouth.


The principal symptom of Josie’s return was a restlessness. She wouldn’t stay put for long last night, though this may have been accentuated by hunger. This morning when I left for work, she was lying comfortably on the heated towels in the library, and purred loudly when I spent a few minutes petting her. She may have been in pain earlier, and the Metacam later took effect.

Though it may not be seen well from the photographs (I didn't want to show it too much), the cut made to remove the cyst is rather large and ugly. Much of her face’s right side had to be shaved, making her head look even smaller than it does ordinarily. Her head must be the size of a walnut under the fur. Otherwise, she looks good.


I will call the doctor shortly and find out when Josie may eat hard-food. I can’t have a bowl of it out while I am not there, of course, and even when I am, the newly-discharged patient tries everything to get to it. Meanwhile, the other beasts go without; when I put the bowl out for them, they find the glare of a large-bodied, tiny-headed cat with a scar on her face somewhat intimidating.

Like the disruption during the move to the new apartment, however, this extraordinary situation will pass soon, and things will return to normal. Already last night, she slept at least some hours on the bed, as she usually does.

I want to thank everyone who expressed concern about the Great White, and satisfaction at the successful outcome of her ordeal. It added tremendously to the good feelings resulting from her renewed health.

22 comments:

  1. I am so glad to see Josie so happy to be home. I understand the great relief you feel and it's so good that everything worked out with such a positive outcome!

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  2. Oh sweetJosie. May you take your medicine like a good girl. I know what your dad is going through. My mom had a terrible time with Admiral the entire last year of her life trying to giver her medicine.

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  3. We can see the shaved side of her face in the second pic. It'll just give her a bit of a stylish flair until her fur grows back. :-)

    Too bad the antibiotic wasn't a tasty liquid. I don't know who they test the meds on, but it can't be real cats. And come to think of it, I prefer to NOT think about animal-testing in general. :-/

    BTW, none of my fur kids has every thrown up from eating after surgery. I know some can feel nauseous, but mine usually just will see pink mice on the walls and be totally out of it (Derry's last dental in March 2015 comes to mind).

    We're glad she's doing well!

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    1. When Josie will eat, it stays down. That's a blessing at least.

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  4. that type of antibiotic in the US comes in a liquid form and Google says it does as well. If she is opposed to taking it in future doses, you might want to see if the vet can get you it in liquid form.

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    1. It's in liquid here, too. I should have obtained some of that.

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  5. So glad Josie is feeling better. The joys of trying to give pills to cats!
    Take care.

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  6. glad it wasn't anything serious. we wonder about meds for cats too....

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  7. Josie; pleez ta tell yur dad if yur a loud ta eat em; greenies pill pocketz haz been a "arm saver" round heer fora few yeerz now...

    noe scratches, clawz, ore markinz for yur dad, N de "treetz" R prette good troo lee

    ....when gram paw dude had hiz cyst ree moved, hiz furz grew bak fair lee quik lee act shoo a lee....tho he never did get bak his eye liner stripe ~~~ ♥♥♥

    heerz ta feelin 100 purrcent veree soon ♥♥♥

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  8. Sounds like Josie's recovery is progressing beautifully.
    Her restlesness could have been from discomfort or the post sedation effects of anesthesia, depending on which agent was used.. I'm so happy she did well with her eating. The wet feed was excellent for her and her fluid status. Do you think the medicine you must give in pill form is available as a liquid? That would saver her, and you, additional stress. You did splendidly , though, with the Temptations. Your method might work out better in the long run.
    She looks so cute with her facial shave. Nothing could make her look less than adorable. Love to all . Kiss Josie for us.

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    1. Even the Temptations have stopped working. I won't even consider pills next time.

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  9. I'm so happy to hear that Josie is doing well. If pilling Josie is a problem, perhaps the vet can give you her antibiotic in a liquid form. After all, a lot of cats are difficult to pill, so medication is available in various forms. Hugs to Josie!

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  10. I am glad Josie is doing so well. I have never been able to give Flynn any medication in his food. He acts like Josie and you would think you were serving up poison. Can the pills be crushed finely and mixed with a little water so you can syringe it into her mouth?

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  11. Good to hear Josie had a cyst and not anything worse :)
    Doing the meds is a big problem here too.
    Most times I can sneak it in the food, sometimes it works.
    She seems to be doing well and is happy to be home :)

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  12. Oh the oh the joys of pilling cats! Yes, I do wonder who these cats are that happily take their pills (lucky humans!) Josie, you must take your medications. We want you to get all better. I am so relieved to hear everything went well. Give her a big hug from me.

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  13. So glad all went well with Josie's surgery. Love the close up of her, she's so photogenic!

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    1. If she will stop turning and ruining my pictures...

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  14. My hit and miss reading means I miss a lot of what is happening. Glad to know that Josie's surgery went well and she is recuperating well at home. It always amazes me how quickly they recover...without the whining we humans tend to exhibit.

    Good luck with the pilling!

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  15. Pilling Austin is an absolute nightmare and yes, I too wonder about these cats that are supposed to give the paws up to such things!! Such good news, though that the worrying lump was just a cyst! Caro x

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