Sick Kitty Blues

[jeriendhal]

Maxx, the Alpha Cat of our household, had recently lost a great deal of weight, though he didn't show any other signs of illness. Worrisome enough, which is why we had an appointment for him to go to the vet's on Friday. But last night Steve got home to find Maxx sitting in the same spot as when he had left this morning, and refusing to take water or wet food even when we put it right in fron of him. When he did get up, I started petting the old man, and when I took my hand away he just fell over onto his side and lay there. Stege took him to a 24-hour vet clinic immediately, and found out MAxx was badly dehydrated, and could be suffering anything from feline leuk to kidney shutdown. :(

He's an old cat, at least ten years old, but up until now he's been a pretty healthy fellow. I don't want to have to put him down. He's been the very best cat I've ever known, friendly, but never needy or in your face, and smart. And I'll never forget in the first months after THomas was born, how Maxx played guardian, and kept a watch on Thomas from the edge of his floor pad.

Sigh. In other news, happy birthday to me. :(

Comments

[jvowles.livejournal.com]

Major birthday bliss, dude.

(Hugs on the sick kitty blues, you know I feel for you on that score.)

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I got a more coherent rundown on Maxx's condition from Tracy this morning (the first diagnosis was given by Steve while he was still at the vet's office). Best bet right now is that Maxx has diabeties, and was going through a diabetic episode when we saw him, and also suffering from dehydration. The vet gives him a 50 to 60 chance of pulling through, and he'll be staying at the office for a couple of days, and then have to go on a special diet for the rest of his life if he survives.

[xinef.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!

[nesme.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday and get well wishes for the kitty!

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Steve visited him at the clinic this morning. He's more aware of his surroundings, and is responding to treatment. The hard part is he's got a heart arrythmia too, so they can't re-hydrate him as fast as they might want. But he is doing better, which is what's important.

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday, Jeriendhal! I hope it is a year filled with much writing success - and that your birthday is a good one, despite kitty sadness.

Good luck with the catboy; I really hope he pulls through. Keep us posted.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

May your birthday be as happy as possible, and do keep us posted. It sounds as if the prognosis is a bit better than initially feared, at least.

[neonnurse.livejournal.com]

Adding birthday wishes, and also good thoughts for Maxx's recovery!