checking in (with bonus kitty pictures!) UPDATE

I was hoping that I would have more time to post here this winter after finals ended last week, but that hasn't been the case.

On Saturday morning we woke up to our 13 year old male Himalayan cat hissing uncontrollably, panting, and unable to walk after going through what was probably a seizure. It was super scary, and the "stress diarrhea" on the ride home from the vet added insult to injury. Luckily, he was back to his normal, trouble making self within about 6 hours of his morning episode. After a couple different vet visits we still don't know what caused the seizure, but now know that Jack has early kidney disease, so we're sorting out new "renal diet" food for him and his sister. If anyone has any tips on how to get your cat to eat pepcid tablets I would love to hear, since we'll be starting that tomorrow morning.

I'm teaching a full course over the four weeks of winter break, studying for my next comprehensive exam, hosting guests at the end of December and then the beginning of January, and trying to continue my research on the side. But hopefully I'll be able to post every now and again.

Bonus kitty pictures: 1) Jack taking it easy post seizure and vet trip on Saturday, 2) Jack and his sister Liu demonstrating their love of boxes, 3) Jack giving me a hug several months ago, looking so much bigger than his actual 7lbs 2oz (as the vet said, his fur hides his skinny old man body).

UPDATE: You ladies are the best! Thanks for all of the good thoughts.

At 12:30 Jack started meowing after jumping off of the bed. He had gotten up there just fine, but by the time he jumped down his right hind leg wasn't working quite right. We went back to the vet, and it looks like he has some kind of neurological issue (either in his brain or lower spinal cord, or between his spine and his leg) that's keeping him from knowing just what his leg is doing. Which is likely what caused his seizure last Saturday. He can still move the leg, and it isn't causing him pain, but when he walks on it he is stepping on his knuckles or it just trails behind him.

Jack's still as feisty as ever (he just wandered into bf's music room, which is forbidden to the kitties, jumped onto the chair and started scratching away!), so hopefully he'll be able to maintain this level of function and happiness for a while longer. We'll be keeping a close eye on him.

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14 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Oh no poor jack x the food should help we had a cat with the same thing years ago re the tablets we've had success with fish paste, cheese spread and chicken though tigger always knows tablets are there and sucks off the nice stuff and spits out the tablet we have to resort to flicking it down his throat!! But Marley is daft enough not to realise its there!! Does he have to drink more? Marley suffers from recurrent cystitis now on glucosamine which touch wood is keeping it at bay he has to drink plenty to keep the urine not too acidic we add water to his wet food and have a water fountain which all the cats love x

Would also add re the tablets vary what you put them in ours cotton on pretty quick that something is afoot!!

Lisa

Oh no, sorry to hear about your furbaby! I have no tips on giving cats tablets, but I am happy to hear he is on the mend.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for checking in, Kate. Happy to hear that Jack is healing. You are a fab Mama!

rosee

Poor kitty -- hope he feels better soon as is back to his normal self. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and holiday season.

CocoLion

I hear you on the love of boxes! My Roxy also loves to get inside newly opened packages WITH CONTENTS inside. Depositing lots of fur in the process. So I have to be really quick!

Sorry to hear about your Jack, but it sounds like you are devoted parents and will give him the best care.

You sound very busy, but I always look forward to your posts when you have the time.

Suz

Sorry to hear that Jack has been ill, but wow, he and his sis are very pretty! And so are you. A very happy holiday!

fern

The "pill pockets" worked for my old cat. It's a little hollow cylinder of something delicious - and he ate them so fast he never noticed the pill inside.
Hope he is all regulated quickly -

Amy

Poor kitty! That must have been really scary. Both he and his sister are very pretty. Happy holidays!

rae

Poor Jack, he is too handsome for siezures! I hope he is mending up well. I don't have any advice for the pills, but I do know a thing or two about cats in boxes. My Hank demanded that we play with him in our large shipping box (set out during present wrapping time) several times a day. Now whenever a new box arrives, our other cat takes it upon herself to try to upend and empty it for him... it would really irritate me if it wasn't so funny!

Kate

I just added an update to the top.

Louise, he's been drinking and peeing a lot, so he seems to have that under control. Thanks for the advice about the pills! At this point we're gonna wait until Monday at least to start with the medication, since he seems to be eating ok and we don't want to add too many new things at once. Between entirely new food, 3 vet visits in 6 days, and adjusting to his foot, we decided not to throw anything else new at him just yet. I will definitely let you know how it goes!

Kari

Kate, I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty's health issues. How scary!

I'm not sure what to suggest with cats, but my mom hides our dog Shadow's pills in a small amount of peanut butter, and she's never suspected a thing because she gulps it down so quickly. Semi-soft cheese would probably have the same result.

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