Cryptococcosis - Pandi's Story

We received Pandi's medication yesterday and not a moment too soon, overnight she has developed the first outward sign with a lesion appearing on the side of her nose. Here we go again. I just hope the Fluconazole will kick in fast and stop any more from developing.


Pandi will not allow me to hold her mouth open to photograph her mouth but the growth is looking slightly better not as red, she is eating quite well (I only offer soft foods cut up very small) and she seems to be her usual self otherwise which is a good sign with surgery to be performed next week.

It's times like this that you say 'No more Pets'. We have an aging dog with her own problems, another younger dog with allergies plus two other cats getting on in age but so far, touch wood, both healthy.

You love them all so much as they give you so much joy and loyalty but it is so hard to see them age or get sick especially with something like this Cryptococcosis  which there is so little known about it. 

Pandi's goes in tomorrow for her nasal operation, I'm feel quite nervous but know it has to be down. Hopefully it will reduce the size of her 'Roman' nose. She has been off her food for two days and had not passed a stool for four days until just now.

I will update tomorrow.

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• ruby6689
• Apr 15, 2013

Lots of that the OP goes well!

I am just waiting for my husband to get home so we can go pick Pandi up. The vet assistant rand to say all had gone well but she looks a mess......I am bracing myself for what awaits me.

Will report back soon.

My poor baby, not a good look. The drainage tubes will be in for 5 -7 days. She is looking bright enough, she's tougher than me!

She has been given no pain relief as the vet considered her too old and it could be risky combining the tablets with her Fluconazole medication. I have to apply hot compresses to help relieve the pain and keep the area clean. 

Poor sweetie! I hope you can keep her comfortable and she heals quickly.

Thank you for your kind thoughts.

Well this morning I wake to find that clever Pandi has managed to remove the tube overnight

 so she is on her way back to the vets.

I am having trouble with applying the hot compresses as she will not cooperate and my hand now looks like a pin cushion!

She is still not eating much, she obviously has problems seeing with the tube in her way, problems smelling with her nose like it is and problems tasting with the sores in her mouth. I made a chicken curry last night, one of her favourites, and Pandi did eat three small pieces of chicken and a mouth full or two of her canned cat food.  This morning she licked a small amount of juice from some canned salmon, she wasn't tempted by the salmon, my fault it wasn't the chilli variety.

We'll see what today brings.

awwwww thats such a shame, she looks like she's really patient in all the photos, and wishing for things to end, I shed a little tear  

good luck!

The tube has been replaced and Pandi now has an Elizabethan collar which is very confussing for her. She ate a few small bits if steak which I had to place under her nose as the collar gets in her way.

that Pandi's appetite picks up as she recovers from the surgery. You've all been through so much.

Pandi is not happy with the collar and finding it difficult to get comfortable it's getting cold again here at nights so she has been wearing her coat.


Eating presents another degree of difficulty she needs to have her food raised but the collar gets in the way, I find it's best to hand feed her. At least she wants to eat a bit now. The sores in her mouth are looking much better so the Fluconazole is starting to work it's magic.


I will be moving her litter tray closer to her as she was bumping into everything during the night getting to her bathroom.

Pandi is starting to eat well. I have been taking her collar off for feeds and this is working much better, maybe I should have doing that in the first place. She is much brighter.

I moved her litter tray close by and that has helped, she was crashing into everything getting to it before.

Her tube will come out in a day or two and I'm sure that will make her happier.

Pandi still has a long way to go but I feel we have turned the corner once more.

Awww, it's great to hear she's making progress! WTG, Pandi!

It's been a while since I last posted and I have to say Pandi is still doing well, she has the occasional small set back but overall she is well and happy. Pandi will remain on her Fluconazole tablets for the rest of her life and I have now found a compounding pharmacy that will make them up at one third the vets price. 

I am very sorry to say I missed a private message from another cat owner who's cat also has Cryptococcosis. I do hope her cats is OK.

PLEASE if anyone wants to contact me you can find me on Facebook. My name is Lorraine Keen (from Nimbin, Australia) or email [email protected]

Thank you for the update. Glad Pandi is doing well.

Pandi today, it's mid summer and her coat is looking really good for this time of year.

She looks fantastic! What a pretty girl.

I just read Pandi's story for the first time and am amazed by her recovery! And I love to hear about pet owners who will stop at nothing to save their fur babies. Well done! The photos from when she was first very sick made my heart hurt. She must have been so miserable. Then, at the end, I was thrilled to see the lovely photo of Pandi with all her beautiful grown back in

Thank you for posting. The story of Pandi's long road to wellness will be very helpful to others who have cats suffering from the same illness. I wish you both health and happiness for many years to come.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I love the coat you made for her. Adorable!

Sadly Pandi fell suddenly extremely ill and we had to make the heart aching decision to let her go peacefully rather than put her through anymore pain.

We were travelling with her over the Easter period and she just went downhill rapidly. We rushed her to my mothers vet which just happened to be nearby ours was 800 kilometres away. After ultrasound and consultations between Mums vet and ours we were left with very little hope that Pandi would survive an operation to attempt to remove a large growth in her stomach and liver if she even made it to the operation table in a specialist clinic two hours away. It was our decision but both vets agreed that they would have done the same given her condition and history.

Anyone who has had to make this decision knows how darn hard it is, we question ourselves over and over again.

Pandi had been to hell and back twice, she was a real fighter and we will always remember how lucky we were to have shared her 15 years on this earth.

Rest in peace my beautiful girl .

Oh, no. I remember Pandi's story well.

The TCS team would like you to know that we are so very sorry for your loss. Threads are locked after someone has suffered such a loss, as a sign of respect. We invite you to place a tribute at http://www.thecatsite.com/f/19/crossing-the-bridge as an enduring testimony to your friend.