Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Good Signs

At last Tucker appears to be showing signs of improvement. For three weeks, the roly poly has been refusing most food, eating only a nibble here and there, and never enthusiastically. Over the last few days, however, he has been eating more hard-food, especially first thing in the morning. It is, unfortunately, not high-grade nutrition: last week, I offered him some of the lesser quality hard-food that I buy for the outsider-cats, hoping that he would like something, and he seemed to favour it, though he didn’t eat much until this week. He is starting to eat the perma-cats’ own food now, too.


As well, yesterday, he ate a small amount of Fancy Feast. It was only a quarter of a tin all told, but that is about the same amount he has consumed in total over the past three weeks. More important is the fact that he wanted to eat it.



Also telling was his behaviour at dinner. Included on my weekly menu is a meat-pie, which Tucker has always fancied. After I eat, I leave a little of the gravy for him and he licks the dish clean. It probably isn’t good for a diabetic cat, but it’s a treat just once a week, the amount of which would probably not overflow a thimble. But for the past three weeks, he as not been interested in anything I have eaten, not even this. Yesterday, he waited on a chair beside me while I ate and then licked the dish clean, as of old, even eating the little cube of beef I left for him.


On the weekend, I had obtained from the veterinary some anti-biotic, which may have tipped the scale in Tucker’s favour. I am surprised the doctor didn’t prescribe this originally. Then again, it may not have had anything to do with Tucker’s improvement. Nonetheless, he will be given the full amount.



I know my beasts too well to expect this to be an uninterrupted curve into restored health. But Tucker is doing better. His excessive saliva and mucous is gone and, though he continues to breathe roughly at night, the sounds are less severe and he appears to be less uncomfortable as a result. I continue to supplement his voluntary intake of food with Recovery in a syringe. That will likely never cease, as it is a means of giving him his kidney medicine; the powder would not be wholly consumed in any loose food to which it was added. And one or two syringes of concentrated nutrition twice a day won’t do that sausage of a cat harm.


So far, then, we at the Cosy Apartment are guardedly optimistic about Tucker. He is purring more and behaving a bit more like his old self. And he is even snoozing with his eyes open. I think the imitation of death is a good sign...


16 comments:

  1. That is such promising news about Tucker. I'm hoping all the inhabitants of the Cosy Apartment will now be able to take things easy for a good while.

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  2. That really good Tucker, keep on improving sweet one.

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  3. Definitely good news! I hope for continued improvement for Tucker and a lessening of the worries for you.

    Take care, stay well.

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  4. What wonderful news!! Tucker, you're finally on the mend, Sweetheart. Keep up the great work!

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  5. We're very, very glad to read some good news from the Cosy Apartment. Continued healing energy and purrs from us. ♥

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  6. Sleeping with his eyes open?!? Wow!
    It's good to read that there are improvements; may they continue!

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  7. Purrayers and POTP to you and Tucker - and all the rest of your crew

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  8. Hurrah for Tucker! This news is wonderful to hear and praying
    for continued improvement in his regular routine.

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  9. That is very good news that Tucker is improving and wants his food now. Eric used to very often sleep with his eyes open too. It used to give me the creeps to see him staring at me when he was fast asleep!

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  10. Tucker, thank goodness you are feeling better and eating! You sure gave your dad a turn! And us as well. Please continue this,Tucker.

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  11. Glad you're doing a lil better Tucker!

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  12. That's great news. We are so happy to hear Tucker is doing better!

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  13. Good on you Mr Tucker. I'd give him all the pies.

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  14. We are all so glad to hear the good news about Tucker! It feels good when your cat is on the mend. Happy St Patrick's Day

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  15. For reasons I do not understand, Fancy Feast entices appetites here too. I keep some for "every few days" when The Mews get fussy.

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