not so good news :(

[darlili]

Oh, such good news - and I'm glad your husband was able to come along - so that you were able to get an even more detailed account of possibilities...and that sort of 'colleague to colleague' relationship can only be a good thing, as well as seeing your care and concern, and Hobbes charming everyone. And poor Calvin - trying to free his brother - I can only imagine what was going through his mind while you were all gone.

I am sorry that you had such a bad time with the carrier - I can only tell you that many many pet parents have the same issues, so it's nothing that you did at all...cats are very perceptive of moods and changes in environment, and above all they love consistency and staying home. I can tell you that Hobbes still loves you even if you had to squish him into the carrier....my Dharma stretches her legs so wide and fights so hard against going into her Sherpa bag that I'm in tears feeling I'm a terrible mommy - but she forgives me every time.

I'm so grateful that you and your husband made the resources available to get to a specialist -- your own vet will no doubt be fascinated by the findings and no doubt very happy that things aren't as dire as he feared. You guys are really my heroes for taking such wonderful care of your two boys - I hope you both sleep well tonight have get only more good news in days to come.

 

[darcifinn]

Fantastic news! I hope I get such good results with Finny on Monday. It is so scary we have to go through this but I am glad your mind was put at ease!

 

[stephanietx]

I am SOOOO happy to read this!! What a fantastic update. However, my heart just about broke when you added the part about Calvin trying to free Hobbes from his carrier. So happy they've got a great friendship.

 

[my4llma]

That's great news!

 

[farleyv]

Such wonderful news. So happy for you all!

Secretariat of cats.....

 

[calvin&i]

Thanks so much for the messages! And as for being good kitty-parents - I've learnt it from all of you on TCS. But am honored that all of you - who have been going this way longer and with so much heart and effort - think that we are doing it well!

I think I spoke a little early when I said that Hobbes's coughing issues were resolved. He's had some the last couple of days. We spoke to his regular doctor today and he, too, after all the findings thinks that Hobbes's heart is doing fine. Also he does not think that Hobbes has bronchitis and asthma (many a times a diagnosis of exclusion) may be the culprit. We take Hobbes back to see him tomorrow and he may give Hobbes a shot and then we see how Hobbes reacts.

We are moving to Swheat Scoop to use something more natural but don't know if wheat can trigger something. Hobbes got tested for bartonella and they did not find it. All his differential bloodwork results are great (no raised WBCs or eosinophils etc) - so we really do not have much to go by at this point about the cough except for some trials and errors.

Yes, it was heartbreaking to see Calvin trying to free Hobbes and they were completely inseperable once we returned some. Here is a pic of them snuggling Wednesday evening and we so lovey lovey. But that was then. Since then though they've been wrestling and fighting and breaking things all over the house. We had a rough night with them making so much noise and running over us while we were trying to sleep.

Attachment 15334

 

[bastetservant]

That's about the cutest picture I ever saw!

I'm so glad you got good news from the cardiologist. Hope you figure out the coughing problem soon.

Robin

 

[darlili]

Oh, cutest picture ever - and, honestly, to have a pair of rambunctious boys running through the house, ful of energy and mayhem, must have been music to your ears, even if you didn't get any sleep! And so wonderful that the boys have developed such a close relationship.

I probably mentioned that Dr. Elsey, who developed Cat Attract litter, has a new respiratory relief sort of litter - both crystal and clay. I saw them both at my last visit to Petsmart. I've had such wonderful luck with Cat Attract that I always am willing to give Dr. Elsey's products a try...and perhaps your vet will have some litter ideas as well. Or, crossing fingers, Sweat Wheat will be a winner for you.

I hope you guys do catch up on your sleep soon, though - you truly deserve a good rest!

 

[otto]

The way Calvin has himself covering over Hobbes says everything about their relationship. I'm so glad Hobbes's heart is okay. I missed all the interim somehow.

I'll be watching for updates

Hobbes

 

[alleygirl]

I haven't tried the new respiratory relief, but I've been using Dr Elsey precious cat clay litter since Riley started having problems. Its the only one that doesn't make him cough when he scratches, but I know others have had success with WBCL and other brands.

Hope the vet can give you some answers soon!

 

[coolcat]

Originally Posted by AlleyGirl

Hope the vet can give you some answers soon!

......

...

 

[feralvr]

Goodness, that is the most adorable picture. Do you recall (of course you do)when you first got Hobbes and were so worried they would never become friends. Well, a picture is worth a thousand words. Look at those two now

. And, of course, boys will be boys and still have their little squabbles, but when it comes down to it, they are the best of friends now.

 

[calvin&i]

It really is heart warming to see Calvin and Hobbes cuddling and playing. And there are other times when they drive us nuts with their fights. Calvin is not a generous type. He does not want to share toys, the cat tree (we are getting another one in the next couple of days) and also us. They both come to me for cuddles and if Calvin sees me with Hobbes he hates it and beats up Hobbes. It is crazy. Hobbes moves away from me if he sees Calvin come into the room. But they love each other.

Hobbes got a short acting anti-inflammatory shot today. If he has his cough before Monday will have to call the vet. The next step maybe inhalers.
As for the litter - we use dr. Elsey's precious cat litter. I have notfound a corelation between hobbes' attacks an litter use- so do not know. I am satisfied with it but maybe it's worth trying a natural litter.

Today Hobbes did have some congestion when we were at the clinic and he actually sneezes about once everyday. The doc mentioned herpes and said hemay have occasional uri type infections. This is the first time I heard the vet mention herpes virus. So what are the ramifications of this for us? Hobbes is in 250 mg of l-lysine now. What else can I do?

 

[ldg]

If this is a remnant from the damage of the herpes virus as a kitten, he may suffer flare-ups his entire life (if that's what this is). You bumpt the L-lysine to 500mg (250mg in the am and 250mg in the pm) during a flare-up, and keep him at 250mg maintenance otherwise. Some ridiculous number of cats have herpes infections. Flowerbelle lost her eye to one she was so bad off by the time she was rescued. Billy and Chumley both have very snargly breathing from either herpes or an untreated URI when they were kittiens that caused damage to their turbinates. Billy gets VERY sneezy in the spring and fall - but it's not an illness. Just... sensitivity. They've all been x-rayed up and down (all of our kitties had full body x-rays done so we have base lines to compare to if any future issues crop up), and just this last annual (now that Flowerbelle is EIGHT years old!) we had a chest x-ray, just to confirm that coughing we hear is hairballs, not her lungs.

We've been lucky in that Flowerbelle hasn't had a URI or flare-up other than in that first year after having been rescued.

 

[calvin&i]

Thanks so much, Laurie. I was a little surprised when the vet through the word herpes out and said that Hobbes will have flare ups. Is this a clinical diagnosis or is herpes virus diagnosed through lab work? This poor little boy has so many issues going on - I feel terrible. I will follow your advice on the l-lysine. His breathing does get a little noisy at times and he gets congestion. Poor baby

Originally Posted by LDG

If this is a remnant from the damage of the herpes virus as a kitten, he may suffer flare-ups his entire life (if that's what this is). You bumpt the L-lysine to 500mg (250mg in the am and 250mg in the pm) during a flare-up, and keep him at 250mg maintenance otherwise. Some ridiculous number of cats have herpes infections. Flowerbelle lost her eye to one she was so bad off by the time she was rescued. Billy and Chumley both have very snargly breathing from either herpes or an untreated URI when they were kittiens that caused damage to their turbinates. Billy gets VERY sneezy in the spring and fall - but it's not an illness. Just... sensitivity. They've all been x-rayed up and down (all of our kitties had full body x-rays done so we have base lines to compare to if any future issues crop up), and just this last annual (now that Flowerbelle is EIGHT years old!) we had a chest x-ray, just to confirm that coughing we hear is hairballs, not her lungs.

We've been lucky in that Flowerbelle hasn't had a URI or flare-up other than in that first year after having been rescued.

 

[darlili]

I've also read that a ridiculous number of cats have herpes virus - and when you look around the site, you'll see a lot of members dealing with it.

Hobbes has had a lot of challenges - but he hit the jackpot with you and your husband. Never forget that.

 

[ldg]

The poor little guy probably had a rather constant URI in that "foster" environment - and something like that going on for months and months will cause damage. Nothing TLC and attetion doesn't take care of - but coughing/sneezing/snargly breathing may be a somewhat permanent result.

Darlili's right, of course. Hobbes is in the right hands.