Friday, December 26, 2003

Emmy Update


Well, starting last Monday I noticed a bit of swelling on Emmy.. on the left side where her lips end. It was tender to her, so I didn't give her the herbs because that is pretty much where I have to grab to open up her mouth. Well by Christmas it wasn't any better, so I took her in to the clinic today. They were talking biopsy.. which scared me silly, but I'm trying to take a whatever happens, happens approach to her health.

Fortunately, when they got a better look it turned out she had a broken tooth and a few bad teeth.. so they put her to sleep, pulled the bad teeth and the root of the broken one, and sent her home. The high blood sugars concerned them, although it was only 265 when they did it.. which is still 2.5 times higher than what it should be, so they tested her urine, and she has a bladder infection. So she's on antibiotics as well, clavamox.

She is doing well.. adjusting nicely to the missing teeth I think. I have found that Emmy is a major drama queen. When I went to go back and visit with her, she'd look all panic-y and would cling to me, and when I walked away she'd howl like a dog baying at the moon.. enough to break anyone's heart, but it was ripping mine out. Cheryl the lead tech said she was fine when I wasn't around.. so she must have been going over the top to get me to take her home. She did enjoy her wet food dinner. I'm afraid to give her dry food for a couple of days.. not quite sure how that will work out with the rest of the clan, they aren't going to sit still for her getting wet and their not. They just don't understand she's been through surgery.

Tuesday, December 23, 2003

How to Pill a cat - no.. seriously


I was just looking at my stats, and apparently someone is interested in knowing the best way to pill a cat. I have found that if you put the cat in front of you in a position that if it starts backing up it's going to walk into you.. aka can't get away. Put your hand over its head, so your palm is across its eyes, and wrap your fingers around the upper jaw on one side, and your thumb on the upper jaw bone on the other side. Tilt your cats head up slowly by pulling on the upper jaw bone until the nose is pointing directly at the ceiling. This will cause the kitty to open up its mouth slightly. open it a bit more by pulling gently on the lower jaw between the canine teeth. Quickly slip your thumb slightly into the side of the kitty's mouth, so that there is a bit of the kitty's lip between your thumb and the teeth.. this will keep the mouth from closing before you can do what it is you have to do.

So now you can see down the throat, drop the pill down the back of the throat which should be now parallel to the wall, so when you drop it down, it will go straight down, and as far back in the mouth as possible. Immediately close the kitty's mouth, and hold closed. Be quick, before the tongue can start working it out. If you are successful, by the time you lower the face into the regular position the pill should be gone. If not, massage the neck a bit. that should cause the kitty to swallow. If your kitty is particularly adept at not taking, I would recommend you get a small syringe, and directly after pilling and closing the mouth, squirt a bit of water into the side of the kitty's mouth.

Good luck! :)

pictures as promised



Goodness I miss them. The people who adopted Shirley named her Isabelle.. and are calling her Izzy.. and are talking about declawing. Hopefully they are just exploring that option. Tiny small bright side that if they do she'll be at work for two days so I can play with her.


The shelter has baby bunnies too. Isn't this one adorable?

Saturday, December 20, 2003

Emmy and the insulin


Ok.. so its been a while since Emmy has switched to PZI insulin. the doctor originally recommended four units. We monitored water consumption, and there was no change, so I did a BG, and her sugars were over 300. So I upped her to five units, and discussed her condition with the herbologist at work. She recommended some herbs.. so I put her on those, much to her dismay, and she's been on those for a while, and I just did a bg on her and it was 357. I started to think that the meter was off since I never got any zeroing agent... but as I was putting away the needle, I stuck myself, so I tested my own blood and it was 106. 100 is normal. so.. it isn't the meter.. its just Emmy is so off keel. it seems that no matter what I do she levels out at 350. The special food didn't help.. the special insulin didn't help, the special herbs didn't help.. arrrgh. Deb (the herbologist) said that I have it easy when it comes to her being diabetic.. and I suppose I do.. the only way I know she's having problems is the fact that I keep testing her... well that and her dandruff..

Mine


Monday, December 15, 2003

Adoption Day


Saturday was a big success. Fluffinator and Gracie went together, and Shirley went to a household that actually goes to the clinic where I work. When I realized, I really started pushing Shirley.. (they were trying to decide between two kittens). Shirley didn't make real nice with the mom, but did with the dad and the daughter.. the Mom kept saying she didn't like her.. it was cute. She called today to make an appointment, and I asked if she warmed up to her yet, and she had. Settling in nicely. Doesn't have a name yet, they were thinking Izzy. :) The kittens didn't even make it into a cage that day.. too fun. I have pictures, and I'll get them uploaded soon.

Not having kittens in the house is hard. I had a dream the other night.. I signed up with a local radio station who is granting Christmas wishes, and I asked them for a donation to the shelter. I dreamt that they called, and after a long build up, they told me they were going to donate a million dollars. I said to myself this has to be a dream, and it was, cause I woke up. I was so disappointed. I then thought I heard a kitten cry, and my brain said "we haven't fed kittens tonight". so my body was starting to respond to get up and feed them when my brain finished the statement of "cause we don't have any".. I was quite disappointed again.

Looks like this blog is once again going to become about the resident five.. Ollie and Eli are taking turns sleeping under the Christmas tree. Emmy is currently nosing at my leg trying to get attention. Jack has decided his new favorite toy is a peacock feather, and muffin.. well Muffin attacked the sales flyers, found one for a jewelry store, and laid down on it as if to say "Wouldn't I look good in Diamonds?" If your new to this blog, the five dots across the top of this page lead to pages about the resident five..

Ok Ok.. Goodness Em.. I'm coming..

Thursday, December 11, 2003

This is why the shelter won't guarantee which pet you get


Today the fabulous four went into be neutered. and now, I only have three. Poor little George did not make it. The doctors think he had an underlying heart condition, and as quickly as he died, they think it was bad. Looking back, I can see things now that I could attribute to a heart condition.. he was always been standoffish, not one to come and cuddle, wasn't into playing with the others.. He played, just not really in a group setting. I know he didn't suffer, and I know the doctors did everything they could for him.. but it doesn't hurt any less.


In Memory

Monday, December 8, 2003

The Twelve Days Of Christmas (with cats)


On the first day of Christmas
when I brought home my tree
My 12 cats were laughing at me

On the second day of Christmas
I saw beneath my tree
2 mangled garlands and
my 12 cats laughing at me

On the third day of Christmas
I saw beneath my tree
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the fourth day of Christmas
I saw beneath my tree
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the fifth day of Christmas
I saw beneath my tree
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and
my 12 cats laughing at me

On the sixth day of Christmas
I saw beneath my tree
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the seventh day of Christmas
I saw beneath my tree
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and
my 12 cats laughing at me

On the eighth day of Christmas
I saw beneath my tree
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and
my 12 cats laughing at me

On the ninth day of Christmas
I saw beneath my tree
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and
my 12 cats laughing at me

On the tenth day of Christmas
I saw beneath my tree
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the eleventh day of Christmas
I saw beneath my tree
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and
my 12 cats laughing at me

On the twelfth day of Christmas
I looked at my poor tree
12 cats a-climbing
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me!

Saturday, December 6, 2003

darn - adopters fell through


The woman who was going to adopt the Fluffinator and Gracie had to back out. *sob* I very much liked the idea of knowing where my little fluffy was going. *sigh* guess I'll just have to let him go like I've let all the others go.. With some kittens its harder than others. But it is definitely time for them to go back.. they are starting to wreak havoc in the room between feedings. Last night it was throwing their dry food all over the floor. I would have left it there for them to eat it if they had a clue what it was for. Well, fluffy knows.. but he's the only one. Fluffy needs a good brushing too, bet he'll love being combed.. he loves being patted, that's for sure.

Emerald is on an herbal medication for her diabetes now. I do think it is helping, but it was having some adverse side effects.. vomiting and diarrhea. so we've split the dose up into two and give one in the AM and one in the PM.. that seems to help, unfortunately, the herb is very bitter and it tends to make her drool. She also has some pretty bad acne. I really need to get on that and get it taken care of. I have no idea why she has it, as she has never had it before, and she's eating out of a ceramic dish.. plastic bowls tend to cause acne.. but em didn't get any till we took the plastic away - cause of muffin. I got some peacock feathers for the kittens to play with. Both Jack and Muffin love them very much. I was certain that they would break the stems immediately, but so far they have held up very well.

Tuesday, December 2, 2003

Former Foster Toby


I saw Tobin again today.. He's now called Toby.. and apparently he is a major terror.. but he looks incredible.. Very bright eyed and healthy looking. Did my heart good to see him. I know the shelter does what it can to find good homes, but I do know people lie or end up being overwhelmed with kittens.. so I'm sure that some of them aren't as happy as others.. but all the ones I've ever seen again afterwards are doing well.
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