Socknitters Forum

[BusyJ]

You have probably already tried this, but I give Zeus who is a very picky eater MeowMix Wholesome Goodness moist food. It is 82 cents at Wal-Mart but I found it at Big Lots for 40 cents a container. It is done up in a little plastic bowl and looks kind of like a stew. There are chunks of fish, chicken, whatever in a oily broth. Might tempt Kleenex, if you haven't already tried it.

Coley is still limping about, but it doesn't seem to be bothering him very much. He sits on my lap as soon as I sit down in my chair but he is not sleeping with me again. Dale says he is afraid of being bumped. Could be.

Katie went for her laser treatment this morn. It has been 10 days since the last one and she did fine. We go again in 10 days. Also, they are reducing her Meloxicam by 10 pound increment. I weighed her this morn when at the vet and she was down to 157. She had gotten up to 165 when her eyes had the ulcers. I was giving her 4 different eye drops 4 times a day and was cutting a doggie brownie into 16 pieces. She really did not need that much brownie every day. She now takes one type twice a day so gets her vitamins and hip pills as treat in morn and hip pills as treat in the evening. We are doing better.

Judy
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[tracyknits]

I kind of agree with Dale on Coley's situation. Also, do you have a heating pad? Coley might really want extra warmth right now (just think how you feel when your body is sore

You wouldn't believe how many different foods I've tried with Kleenex. We've come awfully close to one of everything from PetsMart. He just doesn't feel great and has no appetite. He's pretty good about the syringe feeding. Today I fed him in the morning and then twice this evening - a few minutes ago and about 5 hours earlier, right when I got home. He purrs, he's fairly perky...just NOT eating. And mostly staying put (I can tell he is cold - all of which suggests a slowed metabolism that fits with his changed metabolic functionality).

Tracy
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REVISED 2011 Knitting Resolution: 6 "big projects" - shawls and/or sweaters ('cause I'm just too distracted by other patterns to do only VLT patterns this year!)

[BusyJ]

I'll try the heating pad but not sure he would like it. He is a coal black cat and usually he does not seek out warmth. It just finds him. But with his soreness he just might want it.
This morning he came up to bed with me for a kiss and cuddle. He is limping less so I feel he is on the mend.
From the first he has continued to climb the steps and even jump up on the bed.

I am all out of suggestions for Kleenex, but I am sure you will do whatever you need to make him all better. I know it is very distressful when one of the furbabies is not feeling well. Just hang in there.

Judy
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[Daniele]

My black Buddy sleeps on a heating pad covered with a cashmere sweater that moths got to. Buddy is old and achy, so he sleeps about 23 hours a day. But nobody dares take his spot, at least not for very long. "Get off my heating pad, kid."
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[tracyknits]

Oh, coming for kisses and cuddles is GOOD. Kleenex is WHITE so maybe he naturally repels heat He's sure been cold lately and our weather isn't helping. A nice 75 degree day now would probably help his mood as much as mine! He did quite the job clenching his teeth when I fed him this morning so that's actually good. He only starts to get feisty if he feels a bit better!

If I remember right, the last time Kleenex went on walk about and messed himself up, it took about 4 days and then I stopped seeing the hobbly look when he was walking around (first he stopped sort of limping and then it took an extra day or so for him to stop looking kind of "hunched" when he walked). Sounds like Coley is on the mend!
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REVISED 2011 Knitting Resolution: 6 "big projects" - shawls and/or sweaters ('cause I'm just too distracted by other patterns to do only VLT patterns this year!)

[BusyJ]

Dang, just lost my post. Will have to do it again.

Tracy, you have prob already tried this, but how about yogurt? I had a kittie with feline herpes and when he would start getting scrawny from not wanting to eat I would give him that. He was the runt of the litter and from the earliest age he would eat yogurt for me when he wouldn't eat anything else. Just throwing out suggestions here hoping to hit on one you have not thought of and that might help Kleenex (doubt that I do, but miracles do happen )

Judy
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[tracyknits]

Thanks Judy - I appreciate all the ideas! Another friend also has yogurt loving cats. Alas, not this crew. The abbyssinians I used to have were far more adventuresome eaters than the three I have now (the abbys ate everything from raw brussels sprouts to fresh-picked mild chili peppers to buttered corn on the cob ). If Kleenex (and Pod and Smokie) had grown up as domesticated, they'd have probably been exposed to a wider variety of things when their tastes were forming.
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REVISED 2011 Knitting Resolution: 6 "big projects" - shawls and/or sweaters ('cause I'm just too distracted by other patterns to do only VLT patterns this year!)

[silfert]

My folks have barn cats, and they'll eat anything and then some. I'll ask my mom if she's got any tricks for enticing a non-eater.

[tracyknits]

Kleenex is grazing on his own tonight! And perkier! Crossing my fingers this signals the start of a permanent turnaround. I haven't syringe fed him tonight - he's grazing enough to be ok and I don't want him to feel "punished". He seems way more relaxed (and frankly, clearly warmer instead of all kind of hunched up trying to conserve body warmth).

Tracy
_________________
REVISED 2011 Knitting Resolution: 6 "big projects" - shawls and/or sweaters ('cause I'm just too distracted by other patterns to do only VLT patterns this year!)

[BusyJ]

That is good news, Tracy. Maybe he decided that if he eats on his own then Mom won't force feed him. Glad he seems to be warmer now also. We will keep fingers crossed that he is definitely on the mend now.

Cole is hardly limping at all now. There is still a bit of stiffness in his gait.
Last night he came to bed with me and slept there for his usual 4 or 5 hours then went into the dressing room to sleep on a pair of my shoes. When I woke this morning, he was back in bed with me.

Judy
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[tracyknits]

Oh! At least he just SLEEPS on your shoes Judy! I had a cat who got very upset after a move and I didn't realize for about a week that she was peeing on shoes back in a corner of the closet (all of them had to be thrown away).

Kleenex was doing a LOT better by yesterday. I'm hopeful now that he is turned around and will eat a pound or so back onto his frame over the next few weeks (which is why the kitten chow is still out!). Today was the first time in a LONG time where he followed me into the kitchen and meowed for breakfast.
_________________
REVISED 2011 Knitting Resolution: 6 "big projects" - shawls and/or sweaters ('cause I'm just too distracted by other patterns to do only VLT patterns this year!)

[appaloosa]

That's great news Tracy! Glad that Kleenex is feeling much better. It is so frightening when we can't communicate with them and we know they feel miserable.
Judy,
My brother got all his flipflop sandals chewed by his then girlfriend's cat, Clarice. She also used to pee on his stuff when he went over to visit. They have since gotten married (André and Julia ) and Clarice is very happy with her new little family. She even curls up on his keyboard when he is trying to get some work done and sleeps on his side of the bed when he is away! They are very, very funny.
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Appaloosa

May you always run with the wind at your back and good friends by your side.

[tracyknits]

Lou, I'm so glad that story has such a happy ending! I've known people who got married and one spouse hated the pets that came with the other spouse and forced the pets out of the household. I'm of the "love me, love my pets" school! Sounds like Clarice needed to be wooed herself a bit
_________________
REVISED 2011 Knitting Resolution: 6 "big projects" - shawls and/or sweaters ('cause I'm just too distracted by other patterns to do only VLT patterns this year!)

[appaloosa]

Okay, here is the scoop. One of our boys, Murdoch, started to get itchy on Wed. night and was whinning a little. By Thursday, he was beside himself, agitated panting and would not settle. Things seemed to calm down at bed time but kicked up again during the night. He kept us all awake and we were really worried about him. On Friday he seemed okay but as soon as I came home he started up again but 10 fold. We noticed some puffiness around his face and he seemed to have welts under his fur. He was scratching and scratching and was very upset. We called the vet and the assistant told us to give him Benadryl (1 mg per pound). He is 100 pounds!!!!! I take one of those babies and I am a gonner. Well during that short time, he was out of control. So I called back and told them that he was puffing up and they said to bring him in immediatly. Michael took off with him and when he returned he had some meds for allergic reaction. We have since been told by the vet that he reacted to his rabbies shot... It can take up to 10 days. That is the exact time line of this reaction. We had noticed in the past that he was always a little itchy in the spring but we thought it was from shedding. We never made the connection that it could have been after the vet visit to the farm. It was at the same time every year.
Anyway, the vet told us to give him these pills (which he loves because he gets peanut butter with it) and that he will likely not be able to ever have another rabbies shot again. They are always with us anyway and never out alone so he feels that we are pretty good that way. But man, I can't imagine what the poor thing went through for the couple of days every year when we didn't clue in. The reaction this year was serious enough that we had to do something about it. I am glad we got to the bottom of it. Murdoch is doing fine and is his usual playful and cuddly self. He is lying here with me in the computer room right now, sound asleep. MacDuff is happy that his brother is not as stressed out as a couple of days ago. (they are brothers from the same litter, it's a long story! )
Anyway, that is what happened this weekend here at Maple Dreamlane Farms... never a dull moment.
Oh and we are off to see Clarice tomorrow. I will try to get a picture to show you Tracy. She is definitely a Royal reincarnated...
lou
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Appaloosa

May you always run with the wind at your back and good friends by your side.

[BusyJ]

Lou, you must have been at your wits end with Murdoch and how much worse for the poor baby. Glad you found out what is wrong and glad he is ok now.
Love those names, Murdoch and MacDuff. what breed are they?

I had littermate brother cats and when one got hurt the brother would not leave his side. It is so nice to see brotherly love like that.

Judy
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