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3:25 pm
August 12, 2009
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I just need to ramble. Imp, my kitty, is sick. When he was young, he had a urinary blockage and had to have emergency surgery complete with a catheter until the swelling went down. It wasn't cheap and I'm nowhere near rich. They gave me a special food that changes his urine pH and he's had no further problems on that front, but for the past several years, has had chronic constipation. I swear, you can't make this stuff up. He won't eat wet food, so he's been getting a daily dose of Lactulose to get things moving. And that has worked since his initial episode that required subcutaneous fluids for the dehydration and an enema to remove the impaction.
Last week, he had another impaction and had to stay several days at the vet. We doubled his dose of Lactulose and I got him home Wednesday. Again, not cheap and I barely made my rent payment between him and Lucy's inoculations (only one more for her, thank God! In a month.) This weekend, he's acting like he's clogging up again. Listless, big pupils (pain), and I tried massaging his tummy to see if I could get anything moving. He cried when I tried, so I stopped.
He's only 7, dammit! Although he has had issues down there all along, as did his litter-mate, Birdie, who died last year of chronic renal failure. I felt horrible having Birdie put down at only 6 and now I'm facing having Imp put down, too. Am I giving up on him too easily? I'm having quite the guiltfest and have been crying trying to decide if it's time.
The only bright spot was when I decided to lay down for a nap and little Lucy came to snuggle. She tucked herself in under my shoulder/chin, and sucked on my earlobe, purring madly the whole time. I'm so glad I have her now, even though I got her for Imp. I looked in the mirror. No kitten hickey on my earlobe. [Image Can Not Be Found]
Thanks. It helped, somehow, to put it in writing. Advice welcomed, if you're still reading.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
4:13 pm
November 18, 2010
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{{{Hugs}}} I have no advice , sorry. But you are a good kittey-mummy.
I'm dreading anything happening to my cats( 18 and 19 yo). They have ruled my life for the past 17 yrs. I know sooner or later they are going to go…it's hard. I think it will affect me more than the death of my estranged father's death did.
It's always bunnies.
1:10 am
June 7, 2011
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How much water does he drink daily? Dry food isn't good for cats as it expands in the stomach, it's better to feed them raw meat if you can (boneless). A natural remedy for constipation in cats is pumpkin purée. You can add a couple of teaspoons to your cats food per day, its high in fibre and water. Monitor their poop and adjust the dosage accordingly. You could also try a little Vaseline around his bottom, not pleasant, but constipation can often cause piles and fissures and may discourage him from going to the toilet. I hope your kitty gets better soon!
"It is however but Justice, & my Duty to declre that this amiable Woman was entirely innocent of the Crimes with which she was accused, of which her Beauty, her Elegance, & her Sprightliness were sufficient proofs..." Jane Austen.
11:37 am
August 12, 2009
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Thanks, guys. He flat refuses to eat wet food, or pumpkin puree or squash puree, or anything wet. Most cats are usually just the opposite, aren't they? I've been giving him daily doses of Lactulose for the past several years, which was doubled after this last bout. Still nada. He is drinking and peeing and doesn't seem too uncomfortable, although he wants the kitten to leavehimthehellalone, already.
The vet cleaned him out good, and like I said, we doubled his dose of laxative, and it lasted less than a week. I just don't know what to do. Or maybe I do, but just don't want to do it. Thanks for listening, guys. <3
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
11:42 am
January 9, 2010
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That sucks 
Pets really do become part of the family and it's awful to see them suffer. Some years ago our cat got hit by a car and had to have her tail amputated. We didn't know what to do and were considering putting her down she was in so much pain and the surgery was a complicated one (she was old) and there wasn't much hope for survival. But we went through with it and in the end she made a full recovery and adjusted to life without a tail very well! We had her for 8 more years before she passed. Our vet was really good, and let us pay for the surgery in installments (it was almost ruinously expensive). I don't know how vets operate in your area but if cost of treatment is a problem, talk to them – they're animal lovers themselves so they're usually pretty cool! My point is don't give up until all options have been exhausted unless there really is no other choice. But I'm not even gonna think that! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts!!!!!!!!!
I wish all the best for you and your kitty and hope he gets through this {{{Hugs}}}
2:12 pm
August 12, 2009
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I forgot to add that Imp won't eat raw meat, either. My new kitten, Lucy, has happily scarfed down everything Imp has turned his nose up at, so it hasn't been wasted. She likes 'cheese paper', too. You know, the wrapper on your cheeseburger that has little bits of grease and cheese on it. She licked it clean! Today, my vet suggested doubling Imp's laxative dose again to see if that softens things up enough to break it loose, and call him in the morning to see how he did overnight. I can't decide if it's sad or funny that the best outcome for me is dealing with a cat pooping his brains out tonight. 
PS – He's been drinking normally, and I filled the water bowl with ice cubes to tempt him. He didn't drink any more, but Lucy's playing Bobbing for Ice Cubes.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
3:49 pm
August 12, 2009
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RIP, Imp. Feb. '04 to Aug. 2, '11 You were my good boy-boy, my bud-bud.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
5:51 pm
May 20, 2011
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I am so sorry for your kitty *hugs Impish*
I know from personal experience that sometimes you try everything you can to help a furry family member, up to the point where you can even feel so emotionally drained…and then you have to let him or her go still. 
5:54 pm
August 12, 2009
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That's it exactly, Nutmeg! Thanks for understanding.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
10:06 am
November 18, 2010
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Impish_Impulse said:
I'm sorry Impish .
Mistress of Fluff and Lord of all Things send purrs, paddings and a cold nose nudgings to you.
It's always bunnies.
1:16 pm
January 9, 2010
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I'm sorry for your kitty Impish; poor little guy
I hpoe you're doing okay *sends hugs*
3:21 pm
August 12, 2009
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Aww, thanks, guys, <3
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
11:41 pm
August 12, 2009
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I got my kitten Lucy a buddy this week. Her name is Lovey. (Mrs. Thurston Howell III when she's in trouble! LOL) Lucy is black with white and Lovey is what is called a tabico (tabby and calico combined. If she didn't have white, she'd be a tabby/tortie, or a torbie. Who knew?)
They're roughly the same age (3.5 to 4 mos old), are spayed and both due for their last shot of vaccinations + rabies shots next week. Then they'll be done except for yearly vaccinations. Hope the pics come through. They've been racing around and wrestling all day, having tons of fun.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
8:16 am
February 24, 2010
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Sweet!
1:06 pm
January 9, 2010
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They're adorable – hope they bring you lots of joy!
And Mrs Thurston Howell III – brilliant 
12:31 pm
February 24, 2010
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Okay, could we direct the rest of the season’s hurricanes out to sea, please? I have had quite enough. Hurricane Irene just nicked us, but gave us enough rain so that when Tropical Storm Lee (yes it even had my husband’s name) hit us all of our rivers and creeks overflowed.
We had 4 ft of water in our basement. Everything down there was lost, including our hot water heater, furnace, washer and dryer. Down the street their is a new little lake. There is no where for the water to go because the sewers are backed up. We were evacuated, but fortunately we went to my son’s and we were able to return in a few hours. And yes, thank goodness we are okay.
There are many people who are still in shelters. Our downtown area is under water. Many have lost their homes. They don’t know how bad it is yet, because they are not allowed in the area. All of our strip malls throughout the area are under water. That includes many grocery stores. The area has been declared a disaster area. We are all boiling our water. FEMA is here somewhere. The national guard is helping out. They were flying the hardest hit out by helicopter. Lots of hugs to them.
Here are some pictures of our area: https://www.facebook.com/bingh…..?sk=photos
I’m not sure if there are pictures of Owego there or not. That quaint little town is 20 miles up the road from us. It is one of my favorite places to go to have lunch and shop. All of their houses and shops are completely under water. It’s up to their rooves. Just awful.
So yeah…we have had our share of hurricanes, tropical storms, and let us not forget the earthquake. Granted it wasn’t much of an earthquake in this area, but come on, enough already!
Well that was quite a rant. Sorry to go on like that.
6:44 pm
August 12, 2009
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No, I understand. It's been one damned thing after another. There's another forum I post on that has a thread similar to this, called the “Bitch, Bitch, Bitch!” thread. 
Sometimes, you just need to vent.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
8:49 pm
August 12, 2009
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Today marks the 2nd anniversary of my being diagnosed with breast cancer. In some ways, time has flown, and in other ways, it's hard to remember what it was like before my world was consumed by cancer, before I became “aware” of breast cancer in a way I never imagined. I'm going to mark the milestone with a big mug of hot chocolate with Baileys and whipped cream. Yum!
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
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