Monday, March 18, 2024

Emori in the Morning


Emori was silent during the night. She is used to spending the dark hours in her own room in her foster-home, due to altercations with another cat there; her foster-guardian thinks that Emori rather looks forward to the quiet and solitude of a restful night. When I came in to the library this morning, I found Em on top of a bookcase.


She has no trouble at all in getting about. Lynn (of Lynn and Precious) gave another example of a tripod-cat, her Angel Peepers, whose mobility seemed unimpeded by the loss of a leg. I think that animals, once confronted by a situation that they instinctively know will not change, simply adapt; unlike some humans, they don’t worry about what might have been or what was. If they can cope, they cope; if not, they don’t. Mostly, they cope.


Emori would do well with the right cat, but she is a good candidate for those people who want only one. She is friendly, highly adaptable and, if her current situation is a standard, largely untroubled by change. She is eating less than I would like, but that, I think, will change - or would change - with time. In the meanwhile, she is a good weight, and is eating, so I am not worried. Her litter-box visits have already been satisfactory, and she makes little mess, which surprised me; I expected her disability to mean that she would have to throw some litter about in her exertions. That isn’t the case.


This little cat is one appealing roommate.


Marietta wanted to read my previous entries about Emori, so here are their links:


https://ihavethreecats.blogspot.com/2023/09/spanners.html 


https://ihavethreecats.blogspot.com/2023/10/another-birthday-to-report.html


https://ihavethreecats.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-family-portrait.html


Sunday, March 17, 2024

Emori Comes to Visit

Readers may be familiar with the Cosy Apartment’s guest: it’s Emori. I’ve written about her capture – along with the three kittens of her first litter – and the birth of her second litter. She is featured in this blog’s sidebar; her double surgery – for the removal of the remains of her missing rear leg, as well as her spay – was very expensive, and the Lethbridge PAW Society is hoping to recoup some of the expenditure through donations (click on her picture in the sidebar to learn more.) Now, she is my guest for several days.

The rescue-group doesn’t like moving foster-cats about; it’s confusing for them, and might result in some anxiety and behavioural changes. Emori, however, seems a most adaptable cat. She arrived this afternoon, and has been pushing against me, accepting pets and strokes, and purring since then.

She is a small cat, but thankfully has gained weight since her rescue. She cannot gain too much, though, as it would make things difficult for her remaining rear leg. But right now, she moves about with no problem. It may look painful as she walks with a bit of a hop, but her three-legged condition is giving her no discomfort, and she can climb and jump without difficulty.

Emori will be with me just until Friday. Her foster-home has to bring in a human guest for the week, and with other fosters occupying all available space, diverting Emori to my apartment for the time was the best option. She probably won’t meet the perma-cats in that period, and I will be spending as much time with her as I can. So far, she doesn’t seem to mind me in the least.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

His Own Way of Walking, Unfortunately

I want to add a short note about Renn. Firstly, while he is eating rather well – for Renn – he has also thrown up three nights in a row, expelling all the food he had consumed the previous evening. This started before his most recent visit to the veterinaries, so it isn’t caused by the Solensia injection he received. I intend to give him a shot of Cerenia this evening, to try to keep things down. I don’t want to lose the benefits of him eating decent amounts.

Secondly, this photograph shows something that I have just noticed about my big boy. He is walking and, in this instance, sitting, on his metacarpals (front bones of the foot), rather than on his toes. This, I think, confirms arthritis, or at least some form of joint problem. This is one of the symptoms which I hope the Solensia will reduce.

Now, in anticipation of a non-Renn event, I will write that a guest is arriving tomorrow at mid-day. She will not staying long, but nonetheless should provide some interest for cat and human alike in the Cosy Apartment. More information and, hopefully, pictures, will be provided Sunday.

Friday, March 15, 2024

The Subject Was Renn

I was able to discuss a number of Renn’s problems yesterday with his doctors. I spoke first on the telephone with one of them about providing Renn with Solensia, to help what I perceive is his arthritis. The doctor said that that was certainly an option, and that it has helped a couple of cats whom the staff at the hospital have. (In addition, a number of bloggers’ cats have benefitted from it, for news of which I thank my readers.) Then she suggested that, if I could, I should come in that afternoon; not only could Renn be given his injection of the new medicine, but there was a slot free which could be used to give Renn another ultra-sound reading. A second doctor - whom I have also been consulting for some years - would be in the hospital then and, as she was more practised in ultra-sound reading, she could take a look at the results.


Both veterinaries examined the ultra-sound and again pronounced Renn’s bladder healthy for its age. There is a small object within it but, as was considered on previous occasions, it has neither the look nor placement of a tumour. It is believed to be a polyp.


This led to talk of Renn’s use of anti-inflammatory to fight what is probably the frustratingly idiopathic cystitis. My big boy has lost more bigness lately: he’s down a pound in weight. The doctor thinks this is due to the kidneys leaching protein due to the anti-inflammatory. We knew this could be a problem: it was always a matter of reducing discomfort in Renn’s bladder at the risk of hurting his kidneys. The doctor believes there is a chance that Renn’s litter-box problems are caused more by arthritis making difficulties in his position than in a false need to urinate initiated by cystitis. In that case, the Solensia would help greatly. However, it was admitted that this is a long shot. What it will probably come down to is the original choice: uncomfortable bladder or deteriorating kidneys.


Nonetheless, all opinions are that the Solensia will help my oldster. It will likely need a few weeks to show effects, though - possibly coincidentally, possibly not - Renn ate a good breakfast this morning for the first time in my memory. As regards the continued use of anti-inflammatory, that will be determined in the near future. He returns in a month’s time for another injection of Solensia, so that will likely be a good time for a decision.


And on to Renn’s increased vocalisation… The doctors didn’t think it was due to discomfort or pain, which confirmed my belief. Renn often talks loudly when he’s emerging from the litter-box but not during its use, which I think argues against there being pain in the process. He talks when he’s simply sitting on the bed, or when he wants my attention. More than one fellow-blogger has commented about the possibility of deafness, and yes, my old boy is growing more deaf. I noticed his difficulty in hearing as long ago as a couple of years - I am careful not to startle him as I approach - and it doesn’t seem to have lessened. Why cats who are hard of hearing need to make sounds, I don’t know, though it probably has to do with instinct: needing to know that they can at least hear a little, for safety’s sake. My very-oldster, Minuet, was completely deaf and rarely made a sound; once the hearing is gone, I suppose there is no sense in trying.


So yesterday was a day of progress with Renn. Despite his weight-loss and the postponement of a decision about the anti-inflammatory medicine, pending observation of more effects, some things were done, some things were determined. The next few weeks will be important to my old man.



Thursday, March 14, 2024

New Help for Old Bones

Renn has been exhibiting some odd behaviour lately. His vocalisations, which are not new, have become more pronounced, and more frequent. Though they are often heard as he is coming out of the litter-box, I don’t believe they are symptoms of pain, since he doesn’t talk while in the box, and he also talks at other times, even when he is simply trying to get my attention. As well, they don’t sound quite like representations of pain.


This video was sent to his veterinary who agrees that it doesn’t seem to be coming from pain or discomfort. There was even mention of some mild form of dementia. Since these sounds appear to be a more prevalent form of what he has done for some years, that would make sense. However, he will be having his anti-inflammatory medicine switched, as the one he is on now does lose its efficacy after a while. That too is a possible reason for his cries.


My big boy is going to the doctor today. In an unrelated problem - or, perhaps, related, but only by age - Renn has been quite unsteady in his gait and looks to me to be having some trouble standing or lying down. Once up or down, he doesn’t have discomfort, but in the process, he seems troubled by more than just co-ordination.


Therefore, he is going to start receiving injections of Solensia. I first read of this drug in the Eastside Cats’ blog; Sweetie receives it to ease what I believe to be arthritis. I read about the medicine, talked to Renn’s doctor about it, and have decided to try it on my old man. Though the doctor stated that the makers of Solensia caution that it might take as much as two of the monthly injections before the effects are felt, a technician at the hospital tried it on her cat and saw positive results within a couple of weeks. In any case, I hope that this will make old age a bit easier for my veteran.


Monday, March 11, 2024

Theodore at Home

I was given permission by Theodore’s new person to publish some pictures taken in his new home. The photographs and their sequence pretty much speak for themselves. Theodore was uncertain and reticent at first, of course, but then, he couldn’t help exploring. Then he met his new brother, Brody. Brody is the sort of cat who likes everyone, and expected to be friends with the newcomer right away. For him, another cat meant play-time! Theodore was not quite so taken with the idea at first, and it required about a week before he started lying next to Brody. Soon, they were playing together. Now, they are family.


Sunday, March 10, 2024

The Newest Bedspread

I have bought yet another bedspread. This is to replace the one initially punctured and cut by numerous cat claws, and eventually torn into strips by time and the antics of kittens. The kittens are gone, and the cats who formerly used the bedspread as toe-holds when they leaped onto the mattress are too old for such actions now.

I briefly had another before this, but found it unsatisfactory. Despite being labeled for a bed my size, it was not the right fit (it was square, for one thing), and was a quilted object, which took away its softness. This new one is the same material as the previously destroyed spread; it is soft, comfortable and easily folded.

As one can see, the three cats who habituate the bedroom seem to approve of it (though Imogen noticed that the comforter cover had been washed for the first day of the new bedspread, and so was enjoying that position once again.) I hope this new item lasts longer than its predecessor, but there’s no telling when an errant claw will have its way.