Life and Legacy of Al E. Cat

29/08/2024

What's better than a gold nugget? A p*e clump from Bob.
Never been happier to clean a litter pan. Now, if we can just keep it going (and get everyone through this danged weather).
(Okay, who was expecting a picture of used litter in their FB feed this morning?)

28/08/2024

Bob's catheter got taken out (again) this morning, and we're on p*e/p**p watch (again).
Here he is at the vet before and after removal (which is an easy thing, snip stitches and pull). (Yes, been there, had one pulled.)
Bob is now in a three-cage arrangement....two rooms and a bath (litter pan).

27/08/2024

CAT: Capricious Acapella Troubadour
Bob has been telling me that he feels good enough to want out of the cage...and he's telling me over and over and over.
Will likely pull the catheter again on Wed. and see how he does....to p*e or not to p*e. That is the question.
Certainly physical improvement, but none of that matters without p*e and p**p.

26/08/2024

Bob Update 8.26.24
We've been weaning Bob off the prednisilone, but I haven't started the inhaler yet because we're trying to limit stress. Now the weather has gotten superextracrappydocious again...and Bob is coughing.
Also has some blood in his catheter hose, so thinking that he's irritated something with the coughing. Watching to see if it clears and urine flow continues. Have talked with vet and will update soon.
May try the inhaler if necessary even if we don't get a full dose in. Meanwhile, will try a dose of Cerenia, which does help some cats.
Otherwise, he seems to be doing well. Of course, the question is always...will he p*e on his own. (Pic is from last year co-starring Rooter.)

24/08/2024

Bob is feeling good enough to try to play with the strings on his cone when we try to put it back on...and he p**ped a little. These are good things.
It's still all about being able to p*e next week when we take the catheter out.
Meanwhile, we have to get Dapper (Bob's brother) in for a check up in order to continue one of his prescriptions. Yipp*e and ya-dang-hoo.

23/08/2024

Sigh, Bob managed to get out of his cone and pulled the catheter completely out.
On the plus side, he did p**p on his own for the first time in about 11 days.
Back to the vet later this morning...unless he does p*e on his own before then.

21/08/2024

Bob Update 8.21.24
Catheter is out, cone is off, and Bob is out of his cage for now...and went straight to a dirty, dark corner under the desk.
He does have weakness or pain in right rear leg, limps when walking, holds it up a bit when still. Adding ways to treat while we see if he will p*e by tomorrow morning.
Local vet I'd trust to try acupuncture is out after hand surgery. More distant vet has gone upscale and splits time between MO and AZ. Waiting on answer to my message.
Now, have to put Bob back in his cage while I fix lunch since he and Raucous don't know each other well, and neither is in a position to be annoyed by the other.

20/08/2024

Bob confuses vets.
Our regular, excellent vet has a lot of guesses about Bob's issues but no definite reasons, and the guesses sometimes conflict with one another.
Just got an emergency phone consultation with another excellent, differently trained vet in CO.
He has guesses, no clear reasons and admits it's a mystery.
Does have some treatment ideas and is shipping us stuff, so if things don't fall into place when they pull the catheter tomorrow, we still have options.
How long we can keep trying new options? A mystery of its own, but not forever.
Pics are how good Bob looked last Monday at the vet, and now.

19/08/2024

Bob is perkier this morning, which is a good thing but doesn't necessarily mean the urinary/neurological issue is better. Can't know that until the catheter comes out (probably on Wed. morning).
With reinserting a catheter and extra meds, we're running the bill higher and have raised less than half so far. If anyone isn't already overwhelmed with their own vet/med bills and can help, our appreciation would be extensive:
Paypal: [email protected] (Will show as Gin-For’s Odditiques.)
Zelle: 812-480-8416
Venmo: -Poston
CashApp: $GinFors
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/5a24bee2

16/08/2024

We have the best vet in the world. It's Friday, and she'll be working late to try and buy Bob some time, at least the weekend, to try some additional meds to see if we can free his p*e. Even expressing didn't work, and we don't know why.
She's reinserting a catheter and allowing us to care for him at home with the catheter in place while we add about 3 meds to relax this and that, increase tone here, decrease it there.
Odds are still way against us, but dang it, he stood up today and put his paws on much chest, and he actually ran down the stairs...without falling or tripping.
He couldn't have done either on Tuesday, so maybe, just maybe we're making progress. However, there's no one at the clinic over the weekend, and we'd be looking at about $4000-5000 just for the weekend at an emergency hospital...which we can't do.
His front half is happy and healthy, still diggin' life.

16/08/2024

Bob is on p*e watch. Took his catheter out this AM and let him come home in the hope that familiar surroundings will help.
He's able to walk to some degree, but he hasn't p**ped and hasn't p*ed on his own since Monday.
If he doesn't p*e by 1:30 (Central), we take him to be expressed. If that doesn't work, we say goodbye.
Whether the issues on his spine are arthritis, spur, or tumor, they are significant and may be shutting off the nerve impulses to p*e.

15/08/2024

Bob got to have his cone off while eating breakfast this morning. We have theories and something of a plan to treat the diabetes and the symptoms with unknown root cause.
Big question is whether or not he'll be able to p*e when the remove the catheter Friday AM.
No one there over the weekend, so we'll have to care for him at home one way or another.
Thanks to those who have helped reduce the financial impact, though it's still going to be big.

14/08/2024

Bob Update: Working with our regular vet now, so more and better information, and the result is that we really don't know what's going on.
He had no crystals, but it appears urine residue was drying in his p***s and built up. He had an essentially empty bladder Monday afternoon but was fully plugged and full bladder Tuesday morning.
He was able to get up on the couch Monday morning but trouble standing by Tuesday morning.
Glucose has come down quite a bit, though not quite normal. May be that he's not diabetic or may be because he's refusing to eat. I'll be going over and trying to feed him once Fed Ex delivers his med that was supposed to be here an hour ago.
X-ray did show something with his spine but can't tell if it's arthritis, possible tumors, or something else. Possible that holding him for the blood draw Monday inflamed something, moved something just enough, don't know.
Only way to determine (maybe) what's up with the spine would be MRI at several thousand dollars, and the things it might show would mostly be untreatable things.
So we're concentrating on treating for inflammation and pain and trying to get him to eat. Then we'll see about results. Could be treatable, could be he's on very short time. (Oh, and of course the best med for him diabetes wise would be around $150-200 a month unless situation changes.)

13/08/2024

Emergency Help! Bob had to go back to the vet due to a full urinary blockage. I suspect it's stress from yesterday's visit, but they are doing x-rays and ultrasound to make sure nothing else is lurking, and they'll be inserting a catheter. Expect to keep him until Friday.
Looking at $2500 today on top of over $800 yesterday. Even the Care Credit can't handle it. We need as much help as we can get and fast.
Since it takes days to get money via the GoFundMe, the other methods are preferred, but we aren't going to be picky.
Photo is Bob yesterday when he was feeling better.
Paypal: [email protected] (Will show as Gin-For’s Odditiques.)
Zelle: 812-480-8416
Venmo: -Poston
CashApp: $GinFors
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/5a24bee2

11/08/2024

Took about an hour or so, but we managed to catch Reggie. (We can pet her when she's eating, but that's the most she allows.) She's in a three-cage "apartment" until we take her to the vet on Monday.
Does look like she at the bit of Fancy Feast I had waiting, but Raucous managed to reach in and eat the baby food while I was catching Reggie. Pretty sure I had that plate farther from the side of the cage...
So it will either be Charli, Bob, and Reggie for vet trips, or Reggie will take Bob's spot if they don't have an opening. Either way, that rushing sound you hear is the Care Credit balance going up.

10/08/2024

We eventually got Natasha back on track, and then we got Raucous as back on track as he gets, and now Reggie is three days into her worst "not eating" stretch.
If she keeps up current issues, I'll have to isolate her in this room with Raucous and possibly do a vet trip Monday.
Have never had this bad a stretch of rotating issues before.

24/07/2024

Crap. Looks like a vet trip needs to be on the schedule for Wed. Natasha hasn't been eating, and it's into the risk period. She's also FeLV positive, so we can't take risks.
Was hoping it was just the three-day virus that sometimes goes around, but even if it is, she may not be fighting it off.
Of course, tomorrow afternoon was the only day all week that I had something else scheduled, but that will have to take a back seat.

16/07/2024

If someone asks you about giving a cat an e***a, you really want to say you've never had to try. Hopefully, this video will help you maintain this status.

Constipation is one of many issues more common with hyperthyroid cats, but the information in this video largely applies to all felines, hyperT or not. I co...

08/07/2024

Oh crap.
Great gobs of thanks to those who already helped, but we came up really short and we're already overdrawn. Cat meds and such hit really hard this month. (For those who don't know, we take care of 15 fur-kin, most with issues.)
We need help in a hurry, and then we're going to need more once we cover what's overdrawn. Gonna be a bad month, and a lot of bills aren't paid.
Sorry to dump on people, but for those who watch my assorted channels, if they are a help, your help would....help.
Note that Zelle is the very fastest, although I can do an instant transfer from Paypal or Venmo if necessary. The assorted options are below.
Paypal: [email protected] (Will show as Gin-For’s Odditiques.)
Zelle: 812-480-8416
Venmo: -Poston
CashApp: $GinFors
GoFundMe:

Bringing in four ferals this summer brought the Legacy cats up to six total. Cara Fera… Forrest D. Poston needs your support for Al's Legacy Ongoing Cat Fund

04/07/2024

Due to rear leg weakness and other issues, Raucous is now limited to one room. To give him options and a view, I've been fixing a ramp and reducing risk of falling. Got it good enough for a trial today, and he headed up the ramp before I even finished the "tunnel."
Whether he'll continue to use it or not? We'll see. He is, after all, a cat.

29/06/2024

My latest cat video deals with how companies make raw cat food safe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32JOaIkcpZg
The videos are free, but if you want to support the channel, here are some options...and thanks.
Paypal: [email protected] (Will show as Gin-For’s Odditiques.)
Zelle: 812-480-8416
Venmo: -Poston
CashApp: $GinFors
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/5a24bee2

If you've worried or wondered about the safety of frozen or freeze dried commercial raw cat food, this video actually might help as I look at cleanliness plu...

31/05/2024

Raucous and I are competing to see who can come up with the greatest variety of issues.
His rear leg weakness was unusually bad at lunch, and vet had an opening in 30 minutes, so today's plans got changed.
Likely arthritis, likely diabetic neuropathy, possible ligament issue, early kidney disease, touch anemic again (probably from fleas), and into the gray zone on his T4 (but no weight loss).
On the plus side, we accidentally learned that alprazalam (Xanax) may help with hard to control diabetes after Raucous accidentally got Reggie's dose.
His next glucose reading was unusually low even though I had hedged on the insulin dose, and when I ran a search, the effect has been studied in humans with hard to control diabetes. Effect on glucose is evidently unrelated to effect on anxiety. We'll see how it goes.
Raucous had it rough on the streets, torn up ears and intestinal system just a mess, but he's still one of the purriest, bliss-drooliest cats around...but just about the least photogenic.

27/05/2024

Cara Feral enjoying the catio arbor...and letting me get the camera close enough for a photo.

29/04/2024

Bianca is back as top model, but she wouldn't pose until I gave her a pad...

05/03/2024

Just uploaded a new video about hyperT cats and diarrhea. Also trying out a new "studio" arrangement and hope that works for you.
(Also added a Paypal link in the pinned comment.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k2OwPZxPSY

27/01/2024

Rooter likes "uncle" Brulee.

01/11/2023

My new video about reading blood tests covers the Chemistry and Endocrinology sections. Next one will cover Hematology and Urinalysis.
Still need 145 more subscribers before I can ask for donations directly on the YouTube channel, but if you feel an overwhelming need to donate now, you can use any of the links below. (Giving videos a thumbs up, commenting, and sharing also help a lot.)
Just about everyone is hurting, I know, and that also means donations have been very low for a while, which has us looking at finances the way I watched horror movies as a kid (p*eking between my fingers).
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66vlKI6FcxY
Paypal: [email protected] (will show as Gin-For’s Odditiques)
Venmo: -Poston
CashApp: $GinFors
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/5a24bee2

Reading blood test results can be confusing, but it's critical to doing your best with a hyperthyroid cat. This video is one of two in which I talk about ho...

28/09/2023

Reggie's additional tests were not definitive, which means more tests (digestive panel), x-rays, B-12 injection, and steroid injection on Friday.
Charli has to get vaccines on Friday so she can get an ultrasound next week...so we know if it's a lymph node (lymphoma) or a tumor (meds or surgery).
We're already $1000 or so deeper in debt on this and it's going to at least double soon.
Help would be beyond appreciated:
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/5a24bee2
Venmo: -Poston
CashApp: $GinFors
Paypal: [email protected]

Bringing in four ferals this summer brought the Legacy cats up to six total. Cara Fera… Forrest D. Poston needs your support for Al's Legacy Ongoing Cat Fund

19/08/2023

Linus said, "Let's do a photoshoot." So we did....

08/07/2023

Still a lot to do to finish the update (add links....but the pages aren't there yet), but you may enjoy reading The Cat Wisher. If you like it, please share this post: http://cattaletherapy.com/catwisher.html

cats, hyperthyroid cats, feline hyperthyroidism, stories about cats.