Squall the Wonder Cat and Friends

03/10/2022

Sorry that I haven't posted here in nearly a year. It's been rough. I started a new job and was pretty tired every day, but also still grieving my Squally. Then, in early May, I fractured my ankle by falling on the stairs at work. I've been out of work, trying to heal ever since. And just when I was starting to think I was finally on the mend, I ended up fracturing the same foot in 3 more places! :( I just can't win. It's hard to believe that, at the end of this month, it will be a year that Squall had been gone. I still miss him so much! It's been hard to look at his pictures and videos without breaking down in tears. I will try to update here more often with pictures and hijinks of Squall's brothers from other mothers, Thunder and Hurricane.
Speaking of hurricanes....Ian went through my hometown of Fort Myers, Florida, and I am continuing to pray for the safety of all of the people and animals down there. 🙏

31/10/2021

I've been trying to type this for hours, but I keep breaking down and sobbing. I 😭😭😭 This is so difficult, but I wanted you all to know.

It is with tears in my eyes that I post this. Last night, I had to make the hardest decision of my life. Squall had to be rushed to a urgent care vet, because he was in pain and growling while trying to use his litterbox. The vet examined him, and she and I were horrified to find his fur around his urethra matted with blood. He had another blockage...his 3rd in a week. They took an x-ray and it showed his heart was even more enlarged than it was on the x-ray from last weekend, when he was at the ER vet. She said that there were 3 options: 1) I could try taking him to a specialist hospital in Pittsburgh (which would probably cost thousands of dollars), but even then, there was no guarantee that they could help him; 2) Euthanasia; or 3) Try and do a urinary catheter again and risk him dying from the anesthesia, and it may not even help. I may have only a few days, and then have to rush him back to a vet...and what if I wasn't home or something and he was in distress and died under my bed or something, and he died alone, scared, and in pain. 😭 So, with my heart breaking into a million pieces, and Squall purring and kneading as I snuggled him one last time, I did what was best for my little buddy. My parents came to be there with me as I said goodbye. I snuggled him and petted him, telling him it was ok to rest now, and that he was the sweetest and best kitty ever. I told him that he would be free to romp and play again...no balance issues, no coughing, no pain or suffering...and he would see his little buddy, Lightning, again...that his orange brother from another mother was waiting to welcome him, along with my other kitties and a few dogs. Then, peacefully, he crossed the Rainbow Bridge in my arms. 😭 If any kitty deserves angel wings, Squally does. You're free, my special boy. Thank you for being in my life, sweetheart. I wish we could have been together longer, but I know you had to go. You have a very special place in my heart, and I will always love you! 😭💔

28/10/2021

25/10/2021

Squall is home!!! 🥰 He will have to be on 2 medicines for the rest of his life. :( But I'm just grateful that I have him back. He's decompressing after everything he's been through. Thank you to all of you for the prayers and well wishes!

24/10/2021

Update on Squall's condition: They are keeping him another night at the ER vet. They were finally able to get x-rays of his chest and abdomen, but they have to wait for the radiologist to read them. He had to have a urinary catheter inserted, too, as he seemed to have an overly full bladder and wasn't voiding. :( He's off oxygen now, and at the front of the cage, which the vet says is a good sign. His blood sugar was down to 300 the last time they checked it, but that's still not back to normal yet. He hasn't eaten yet, but has shown interest in the smell of food. They're hopeful he can come home tomorrow. Keep praying and sending healing vibes his way, please! Thank you all for caring about my little guy! He truly is one of a kind, and has a significant piece of my heart. I have never known a cat as sweet as him. Praying he'll come home and be ok.

23/10/2021

I've been up all night with Squall at the ER vet. At around 1 am EST, I had picked him up off the floor to put him on the bed. He made a squealing sound and seemed like he was in distress/having trouble breathing after he was on the bed. I waited a little bit to see if he would get better, but he didn't, so I called the ER vet and they said I should bring him in. Longest 30 minute drive ever. They took him right away and put him in a oxygen chamber. He was a bit better after about an hour, but they wanted to keep him for 24 hours, as they're worried it could be his heart. 😱😭 He just had a long-lasting steroid shot Thursday morning at his regular vet to help him not have coughing fits, as he'd had some of those this past week. The ER vet said that the shot could have something to do with this! 😔 It's going to cost $1,800. I don't know how I'll afford it.
I was holding it together rather well and trying to be strong, until they asked what I wanted to do in the event that he should need CPR. I broke down and sobbed as I said that my heart said to do everything possible to keep him alive, but my head said that I don't want him to suffer. 😭😭😭 I'm home right now, but I don't know if I can get any sleep. Please, pray/send healing vibes for my beloved little Squally! I'm not ready to say goodbye yet.

08/09/2021

Squall and Thunder snuggling. I think this is one of the best pictures I have of them together. Squall has been doing pretty well lately on the new food. His vet recommended Royal Canin Gastrointestinal dry and wet food. I haven't given him any treats or snacks since he was so sick back in the Spring. Here's hoping he will be with me for a long time to come.

09/04/2021

SQUALL IS HOME!!!!! After 3 days and 2 nights staying at the vet's, my little buddy is home! The vet recommended that I put him on a special gastrointestinal diet. This is going to be expensive, but it's worth it if it helps Squally. Good news is they think he's going to be ok. A friend of mine pointed out that this all seems to have started when I had to switch his food because Blue Buffalo stopped making the Healthy Gourmet wet food he had eaten his whole life and changed the recipe! The comparable wet food that I got (Natural Balance) is what seems to have caused all of this. It all stems back to having to switch what he was eating. I've spent about $2,000 in vet bills, and poor Squall has spent 3 nights away from home in a month, being traumatized by being in strange environments, around people he doesn't know and other sick animals; and being poked with needles and a battery of tests run on him...all because of the change in food! 🤬😿 The vet is hoping that once I get him on the prescription gastrointestinal diet, that he will not have any more issues. Thank you all for your prayers, healing vibes, and well wishes. Keep your fingers crossed that the new diet will help him.

08/04/2021

Squall is still not out of the woods. I dropped him off at the vet yesterday (Tuesday) morning, and they kept him overnight to run tests and try to get a urine sample. He was dehydrated again (despite guzzling water all the time), and his bladder was empty, so they couldn't get a urine sample at the time they talked to me yesterday. I called this morning, and they told me they were keeping him another night. Please, continue to pray and send healing vibes for my sweet little guy! I've been so worried and scared for him! 😭 I'm hoping for the best, while trying to prepare myself for the worst. Squall's "gotcha" day was April 5th. I've had him 9 years, and I am not ready to say goodbye to him yet. A picture of my sweet baby when he first came into my life. He was so tiny!

23/03/2021

UPDATE ON SQUALL!

I got to bring him home last night. We didn't get home until nearly 11:00 pm. He was very agitated, but that's understandable after all he went through...blood work, x-rays, an IV and even an e***a! Poor little guy is on 2 liquid medicines and I have him isolated, so he can relax and heal from his bout with acute pancreatitis, dehydration, and constipation. He's eating and drinking, and seems to be using his litter box ok. I got no sleep last night, and only crashed for a few hours today. I am yawning as I write this. I'm hoping he'll recover quickly from this. I have been so worried about him. He's very special, and my little buddy! I just want him around as long as possible. Thank you to everyone who has sent prayers or healing vibes his way! Please continue to keep your fingers crossed for Squally to recover quickly!

21/03/2021

UPDATE ON SQUALL'S CONDITION!!!

He has acute pancreatitis, dehydration, and is very constipated! The vet says he is doing better already, thanks to the IV fluids. They will be giving him an e***a to help unblock his bowels, and treating him for the pancreatitis. His prognosis is good, she said, so that has eased a lot of my worry. She isn't sure what caused the pancreatitis. In cats, it's often hard to pinpoint what causes it. With any luck, my little guy will be able to come home tomorrow. Keep sending healing vibes and prayers his way, please! Thank you to all of you who have expressed concern and sent prayers!

21/03/2021

Today has been a hard day. I had to rush Squall to the Emergency Vet Clinic. He threw up his breakfast, and was in and out of the litterbox every 30 seconds or less, but didn't seem to be getting anything out. They are keeping him overnight, due to being dehydrated, having tachycardia (fast heartbeat), and he seems in pain when they palpate his abdomen. :'( They will be running diagnostic blood work and taking X-rays to see if they can find out what's wrong. I'm so worried about my little guy! I've been praying and crying all day. 😢 To top it off, I don't know how I'm going to pay for this. 😭A friend suggested making a GoFundMe, but I've never asked for help like that before. If it helps Squally, I'll do it, though. He was persistently nuzzling my face last night over and over again. I pray that wasn't him saying goodbye. 😭 Please, pray or send healing vibes Squall's way! I love my little buddy so much, and I don't know what I'll do if I lose him! He means the world to me!

29/07/2020

Isn't Squally adorable? Just look at those eyes!

28/07/2020

Thunder joined Squall on the rug.

28/07/2020

Squally is enjoying the new rug I put down and a sunbeam.

09/07/2020

Squally loves his Kovu (Lion King 2) plush. He will sometimes carry it around like it's his baby. I've found it in or near the litter box (had to wash it after that), in or near the water dish, and in or near food bowls. It's too adorable for words.

17/03/2020

To cheer everyone up, here's a cute video of Squall enjoying a chin scratch.

19/10/2019

Squall showing how photogenic and handsome he is.