"Oh, Salty. (vet thinks he's around 20 or so)
I didn't know what I was getting into when I agreed to have you in my home."
But here's what I got:
He has cataracts; blind in one eye and not too great in the other. Vision will likely be gone in the not-too-distant-future. Both eyes are weepy too. Bad teeth and gum infection. He has an antibiotic for that. He doesn't groom too much so he has a lot of clumps of hair, especially under his chin where food and medicine drips. He's anemic. He has arrythmia. His back had to be shaved because the mats there didn't allow him to arch his back. He has wet, mushy stools. He has 2 antibiotics for that. He's recovering from a good cut on his foot. He had an upper respiratory infection a few weeks ago, but I bet that's gone now. He's underweight. I think he's up to about 7 1/2 pounds now (and I think he's pretty large for a domestic shorthair).
He has a pretty good disposition and his condition has improved A LOT since he got here. My little kitty, Winkie, didn't like him much when he arrived, but she's cool with him now. Salty only drinks out of the bathtub faucet and Winkie taught him how to get to it without standing in the tub getting their feet wet. Winkie does have to be there to supervise each time though. Then she gets her drink from the bathroom sink. Winkie and Salty share food dishes, spots in the living room and litter boxes. Winkie loves to stalk and chase him. Charlotte, our other old lady, doesn't care for Salty one bit. She just barely tolerates the rest of us. Salty eats several times a day. I heat up his canned food (1/4 of a can at a time) and feed him with a fork. He can't get it out of the bowl when it gets stuck to the bottom of it. He also gets us up in the middle of the night, but those feedings have got to stop!
He's a sweet guy. He talks a lot. He follows me around the house all the time. Despite all the work and all the trips to the vet (and those bills!) he's pretty cool to have around. I think what makes it easiest is knowing that we are giving Salty the best years of his life, knowing that he won't be with us forever. There's a lot of love here; fork-feedings, brushings, playing with Winkie, warm beds, clean boxes, laughter and family. I have a feeling these are new experiences for him. Some day (way off in the future) he'll go to kitty-heaven knowing that someone loved him and cared for him. Isn't that what everyone needs?
I'd like to hear others' experiences with these or similar health problems with their kitties. I'd like to know what other kinds of things I can expect, too.
Thanks, friends. I love knowing that you are here!
I didn't know what I was getting into when I agreed to have you in my home."
But here's what I got:
He has cataracts; blind in one eye and not too great in the other. Vision will likely be gone in the not-too-distant-future. Both eyes are weepy too. Bad teeth and gum infection. He has an antibiotic for that. He doesn't groom too much so he has a lot of clumps of hair, especially under his chin where food and medicine drips. He's anemic. He has arrythmia. His back had to be shaved because the mats there didn't allow him to arch his back. He has wet, mushy stools. He has 2 antibiotics for that. He's recovering from a good cut on his foot. He had an upper respiratory infection a few weeks ago, but I bet that's gone now. He's underweight. I think he's up to about 7 1/2 pounds now (and I think he's pretty large for a domestic shorthair).
He has a pretty good disposition and his condition has improved A LOT since he got here. My little kitty, Winkie, didn't like him much when he arrived, but she's cool with him now. Salty only drinks out of the bathtub faucet and Winkie taught him how to get to it without standing in the tub getting their feet wet. Winkie does have to be there to supervise each time though. Then she gets her drink from the bathroom sink. Winkie and Salty share food dishes, spots in the living room and litter boxes. Winkie loves to stalk and chase him. Charlotte, our other old lady, doesn't care for Salty one bit. She just barely tolerates the rest of us. Salty eats several times a day. I heat up his canned food (1/4 of a can at a time) and feed him with a fork. He can't get it out of the bowl when it gets stuck to the bottom of it. He also gets us up in the middle of the night, but those feedings have got to stop!
He's a sweet guy. He talks a lot. He follows me around the house all the time. Despite all the work and all the trips to the vet (and those bills!) he's pretty cool to have around. I think what makes it easiest is knowing that we are giving Salty the best years of his life, knowing that he won't be with us forever. There's a lot of love here; fork-feedings, brushings, playing with Winkie, warm beds, clean boxes, laughter and family. I have a feeling these are new experiences for him. Some day (way off in the future) he'll go to kitty-heaven knowing that someone loved him and cared for him. Isn't that what everyone needs?
I'd like to hear others' experiences with these or similar health problems with their kitties. I'd like to know what other kinds of things I can expect, too.
Thanks, friends. I love knowing that you are here!