Arcturus' journal: life with a FIV+ cat

Norachan

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
32,673
Purraise
32,856
Location
Mount Fuji, Japan
It sounds like he is settling in very well so far. Great that he will let you pet him, even if he hasn't eaten anything. Have you tried him on some warm tuna or mackerel? Hot food smells stronger than cold, so it's more tempting.

It took my lot a couple of days to come out from under the sofa and start eating when we moved house. At least Arcturus is quiet, we had to put up with a symphony of yowling.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #23

reversedpolarit

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
183
Purraise
107
Location
Scotland
We made a lot of sudden progress.

It may be 2am but I have a purring cat lying flat out next to me in bed. I started reading aloud to him when I went to bed and after a while he began eating. After that he stayed out from under the bed and explored. I lay down and dozed off only to be woken up by mewing because he wanted to be stroked. He wanted to jump on the bed but was too scared so I switched off the light and almost immediately he leapt up. He's only just really settled, but in the last two hours he's used the litter box and scratching post and explored.

I can't get over how affectionate he is. He's been rolling onto his side when I rub his head and he's not stopped purring for the last half hour. He's curious too, he's been sniffing and sitting near the door but I'd still rather keep him in here until tomorrow evening.

He's a totally different cat at the moment :rbheart:

 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #25

reversedpolarit

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
183
Purraise
107
Location
Scotland
It's the smug smile of 'I have more bed than my human' :lol3:

Showing off his fluffy belly at the moment


He's only just started being vocal with his foster mum, so I think he'll just be a very vocal kitty. Hopefully he's like this in the morning and I'll get some sleep!
 

hellomisskitty

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 13, 2016
Messages
1,362
Purraise
371
Location
Portland, Oregon
I'm so happy that Archturus is settling in so well so quickly That is a huge reflection how hard his new mom and dad are working to make him feel at home [emoji]10084[/emoji]️. I can't wait to read the continuing tales of Mr. Archturus [emoji]128571[/emoji] With a sweet face like that I guarantee you won't get mad if/when he wakes you up early!

PS: the belly fluff is the best...my kitty has the softest belly fluff...thankfully she LOVES belly rubs!!
 

rhondalee

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Messages
615
Purraise
118
Location
Northern Michigan
Autumn, my orange tabby, adores her belly rubbed. Shes the only one out of my 6 cats that will sit forever to have her belly rubbed. The others could take it or leave it. I wonder if its an orange tabby thing?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #28

reversedpolarit

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
183
Purraise
107
Location
Scotland
Maybe it's a fluffy belly thing? He was very happy to be brushed and wanted his belly brushed. He's got long hair for a DSH, so I think he'll need to be brushed more often than I thought...

He's only been under the bed once since I got up and is either sat on my desk by the window or on the bed. He's still desperate to be petted and has eaten some of his breakfast. All in all pretty amazed at how quickly he came round. :lol3:

BF doesn't live with me, but he's staying tomorrow night so we'll see how that goes.

 

hellomisskitty

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 13, 2016
Messages
1,362
Purraise
371
Location
Portland, Oregon
He sounds like such a love bug [emoji]10084[/emoji]️ He clearly senses that you are his person and that he is in his forever home. And you are making him feel safe, which is so important as your bond with him continues to grow.
My girl will take a belly rub from anyone who is will to give one....the only exception had been my young niece, who was a bit too rambunctious for my cat's taste when she was younger. About a month ago my niece was allowed the "honor" of giving a belly rub. She turned to me and said in a reverent wisper "oohhhhh it's so soft". I think they know their belly fur is the softest and it's an honor of some sort when you are permitted to touch it! [emoji]128569[/emoji]
I hope day 2 goes as good as day 1!!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #33

reversedpolarit

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
183
Purraise
107
Location
Scotland
Norachan Norachan I woke up this morning convinced I had two ginger cats before I put on my glasses!

hellomisskitty hellomisskitty he's such a softie it's so heartwarming. None of my other cats have been this trusting so quickly.

He's still doing really good and has been on either my bed or the desk by the window all day. He was fine being in the bedroom whilst engineers were in and out (though the washing machine still isn't fixed). Once they'd all left I kept the bedroom door open and after about two hours he's coming out to explore the rest of the flat. He's gone behind most of the furniture but isn't hiding, so I'll start moving his litter/food out of the bedroom in a few days.

He's not eating a huge amount, but he's eaten half of two meals and ate some kibbles from my hand. I'd like the vet to check out his teeth, I'm a little worried by the way he ate the kibbles (not being able to pick them up, falling out of his mouth). I've no idea if he's missing any which might explain it, but he doesn't drool.

He's just leapt up onto the sofa with me, and is now curled up at the other end. He really is very affectionate. :rbheart: I rang his foster mum earlier and she was SO happy to hear how he's doing.

 

molly92

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
1,689
Purraise
1,565
Location
Michigan
Wow, way to go Arcturus! He is so ready to be loved and adored. What a perfect pairing!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #36

reversedpolarit

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
183
Purraise
107
Location
Scotland
He's still doing amazingly well, although he's currently under the sofa because the washing machine engineer came back and made noise. BF came over last night and Arcturus hid for about an hour and then came and jumped on the bed with us. He spent most of the night walking all over us and head bumping us both, he let BF brush him too this morning. 

He's only been peeing in the litter box, so I'm a little worried about that. I have to go into town today so I'll stop by the vets and get him an appointment for next week if I can. 

When he's not hiding he follows me around, if I go into the bedroom he'll come trotting after me and jump on the bed and demand to be stroked and if I'm in the kitchen or living room he'll be sat on the sofa so he can see what I'm doing. I was reading to him again last night before BF came and he fell asleep with his back pressed against my leg. He started to play a little too, which was lovely to see!

The volunteer from the shelter that drove us to get him texted to see how he's doing and she is amazed, she thinks (and I agree) that he's my kitty soulmate. 
 

hellomisskitty

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 13, 2016
Messages
1,362
Purraise
371
Location
Portland, Oregon
I agree he is your kitty soulmate [emoji]128571[/emoji] And I love that he is comfy around your BF as well! It's gotta be so tough on these little ones to suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar people; especially for the ones like Arcturus and my girl whose previous lives were tumultuous and filled with uncertainty. Arcturus clearly senses he is safe around you and your BF.
I'm looking forward to reading up on the rest of your journey with him as he continues to blossom [emoji]10084[/emoji]️
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #38

reversedpolarit

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
183
Purraise
107
Location
Scotland
I mostly just wanted to share this picture, right after he rolled on his back and stuck his legs in the air to have his belly brushed. 
His winter coat is coming out and he needs A LOT of brushing, lucky he likes it so much really. Everything is still covered in cat hair (including me), but at least it's not as much as it could be. 

I tried to get a look at his teeth but he clamped his jaws shut and I didn't want to press the issue too much, he's never hissed or batted at either of us since he's been here and I don't think he's going to attack or anything, but neither do I want to traumatise him. So all I got was a glimpse of pale gums, which I'm hoping isn't a sign of anything awful. Anyway, he's booked in at the vets on Monday morning. 

He feels in good shape, and his eyes and nose look good, but I am worried that he is only peeing in the box (and it's not like he's pooped anywhere else either). He's still only eating half of whatever I put in his bowl, but he is eating which is the main thing! I'm giving him wet food two or three times a day and there's always a small dish of dry food out which I've heard him eat out of at night. His foster mum gave me his left over food and I'll be sticking to the same wet food so I don't think it's an issue with that. However, I have a mix of his old dry food and grain-free dry food out so perhaps that isn't agreeing too well with his digestive system. 

I'm going to ask about supplements for him, when my dog first came to us she had skin and digestive problems and we gave her medical grade/pet safe aloe vera gel (which Otto, my parents cat, also liked). Long story: she was in the shelter for a very long time because she had such a bad flea infestation that a lot of her coat had be shaved off and she looked a fright, the aloe was the only thing that healed up her back. If it helps his lack of pooping that'd be good anyway and it's supposed to bolster the immune system. To my untrained wannabe-vet nurse eyes he isn't displaying any obvious FIV symptoms, but I'd like to preemptively do as much as possible. It's still entirely possible it was a false positive, given that the shelter tested once and not the full blood work. 

Here's the aloe we used with Bala:
https://www.highernature.co.uk/ShowProductFamily.aspx?ProductFamilyID=302&CategoryID=13#.Vyz13Xhurd4
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #39

reversedpolarit

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
183
Purraise
107
Location
Scotland
Well, he pooped in the litter box last night. I also found him curled up like a loaf of bread in it, thankfully before it was used. Sometimes I don't think he's too bright. 

He's spent most of the day behind the couch, but at the edge so I can still stroke him. He came out about an hour or so ago and is currenly taking up the bed. A friend came over last night and he hid, but did come out after a while to see what was going on. He spent the night jumping on the bed with me & BF, mewing and scrabbling at the floor using the litter box. So not much sleep, but eventually he went and slept on the sofa. 

He's only eaten about 40g of wet food today because he's spent so long behind the couch, but he does tend to eat a bit more at night. I've gone to just using the Whiskas dry that I was given for him and he's eating slightly more of that, so I'll try and switch him over slowly again in a few days. I've moved his food dishes and litter tray out of the bedroom too. 

He has a vet appointment on Monday morning, and I don't think I'll have much trouble getting him into the carrier (touch wood). He's quite happy to let me stroke his belly, and I've been holding him around his stomach whilst I stroke him and he hasn't made any fuss. In fact he's been incredibly docile the whole time. I'm quite interested to see how much he weighs, I'm guessing five kilos or so but my judgement isn't very accurate with weight measurements. 
 

hellomisskitty

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 13, 2016
Messages
1,362
Purraise
371
Location
Portland, Oregon
Good to hear there has been poo [emoji]128169[/emoji]! I'm wondering if that and him not eating a huge amount is all because of the transition to his forever home? Probably a good call to keep him on what he is used to until a little bit later and then transition him. He sounds like he is doing so well for just a few days....especially coming out when friends are over. He sounds like a brave, lovey boy [emoji]10084[/emoji]️

Good luck with the vet visit on Monday. I'm sure you are interested in getting a baseline on where he is health wise plus it will be good for your vet to get to know him now rather than in some sort of emergent situation!
Looking forward to the next installment of Mr. Arcturus!
 
Top