Conference misery::feline

    Karen...hang in there.  Sometimes it is very tough to diagnose
    our kitties because they are so good at hiding all the symptoms
    and they can't tell us specifically what is wrong.
    
    I would also ask what type of blood work they did...did they
    do a kidney profile...thyroid check...diabetes etc.....
    
    It is VERY possible that one kitty has the flu and the other one
    does not.   That happens in my house alot because of my BIG
    family of cats!!!
    
    Keep us posted.
    
    Sandy

    
    	Its not looking good.  I opted not to send T.K. to the vet
    	for 3 days of hospitalization and fluids.  Instead, I'm
    	giving him 150ml of fluids twice daily.  They showed me how
    	last night at the vet and I did it myself this morning.  It
    	wasn't that bad, although T.K. thinks otherwise.  I just
    	didn't want to stress him more than he is already.
    
    	However, he is not eating.  I tried everything and the only	
    	thing that worked was Pounce... he only ate 5 of them.  I
    	carefully measured his food today and separated Bandit so
    	I could determine what,if anything, he eats today.  If he
    	does not eat today, I'm going to have to hospitalize him
    	tomorrow and at least proceed with the XRays that they
    	suggested.
    
    	I'll update tomorrow.
    
    	Thanks,
    
    	Karen
    
    	P.S.. the blood tests were quite complete.  They cost over
    	$50 so they better be!  They eliminated kidney, thyroid, and
    	diabetes.

      Did you try baby food???   I have had pretty good luck in
    getting a cat to lap baby food from my finger when all else
    fails.    Or even a little tuna...or sliced chicken.
    
    I think it's great that you learned to give fluids...it
    really is less stressful on the cat then going back and
    forth to the vets.
    
    Sandy

    
    I now have a second cat not eating.  The vet is not willing to
    rule out a complete coincidence.  I've got a perscription for
    valium to stimulate their appetites.  
    
    Its possible Bandit got food poisoning through some turkey I
    set out for T.K. Sunday night.  Monday night it was still there
    and I thought "gotta pick that up after I change my clothes".
    I came back down and Bandit was licking his chops and the plate
    was empty.
    
    Bandit is prone to Feline Urinary Syndrome so I have to be
    careful what I give him to eat.  I got some canned CD for him
    (we usually do dry).  T.K. ate some Sheba and Friskies
    Gourmet in very small quanties last night but refused food
    this morning.  Bandit has only been not eating since yesterday.
    
    I really don't know what to do at this point.  My husband is
    saying do nothing, they'll get over it.  The vet is saying
    they could starve to death.  My husband is saying the vet is
    full of it and just trying to get more money out of us.  Its
    really turning into a battle.  
    
    The vet understands my dilemma which is why we are trying the
    valium.  If things are not improved by next week then we
    need to do something else.
    
    The possibility of a virus is very slim since they are indoor
    only cats and do not come into contact with other cats or
    animals.
    
    This is just too wierd.
    
    Karen
    

    Be careful about their not eating for more than 1-2 days, as
    I believe that can bring on serious liver disease.  I would
    have the xrays done pronto, in case there is an obstruction
    that can be treated and is perhaps uncomfortable.  Also, are
    there any plants in the house?  Some plants are poisonous.
    

    Oh, Karen, I feel so bad for TK and Bandit --and you!!  It's not
    easy to care for sick kitties when you are stressed out yourself.
    Keep us updated.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.
    
    Kate, Misty and Oscar

    
    Last night, I tried the valium and Bandit ate alot.  This morning
    he didn't eat anything but who knows what he will eat while I'm
    at work.  At least he had a good meal last night.
    
    T.K. didn't respond to the valium.  He ate a little but certainly
    not enough.  This morning, I dropped T.K. off at the vet.  We
    are going to do the Xray and upper GI series on him and they will
    start giving him fluids intravenously and valium intravenously
    to stimulate his appetite.  If the GI finds nothing, I've opted
    not to go for the endoscopy.  That only finds cancer and bowel
    disease and the chances of both cats having that, well, I have
    a better chance of winning Powerball.
    
    So, if the GI finds nothing, we will start antibiotics and other
    medication until we find something that works.
    
    I'm not having Bandit tested for anything.  I can't see repeating
    tests on Bandit that had no results on T.K. so basically, I'll
    be giving Bandit whatever medications work on T.K..  I'll also
    be starting Bandit on his fluid (under the skin) tonight as
    well as working on getting him to eat.
    
    I just hope we find something that works to get them healthy
    again before they starve to death.
    
    I'm really at the end of my rope.  I'm also 20 weeks pregnant
    so my hormones are in an uproar.  And a couple of people had
    the nerve to tell me to put the cats to sleep and save myself
    the stress.  Well, I've since learned not to share my pet problems
    with people who don't love animals. 
    
    Karen

                                                                  
	T.K. went to the vets today for a GI series.  They just called

	and told me there is something in his stomach filling up his

	whole stomach.  Tomorrow morning they go in to operate.  If

	it is cancer, he will not awake from his operation (my decision

	based on my experience with cancer and the doctors prognosis

	for a tumor that size).  If he just ate something that he

	shouldn't have eaten, they take it out, sew him up, and he'll

	be fine.



	Bandit on the other hand... well, he might just be reacting

	to stress and I'll just need to nurse him through it, especially

	if T.K. does not come home and he is grieving.  OR, he might

	have gotten into whatever T.K. got into and need an operation

	as well.  If we do find something strange in T.K.'s stomach

	we're going to have to wait a while on Bandit anyhow because

	it still could be stress.  



	I will not be at work tomorrow since I'm an emotional wreck

	and Monday I'll be out either half day or full day (haven't

	decided yet) for my ultrasound to check on the baby.  So no

	news until Tuesday. 



	Keep your fingers crossed for us that it isn't cancer.

	

	Karen

    
>    I'm really at the end of my rope.  I'm also 20 weeks pregnant
>    so my hormones are in an uproar.  And a couple of people had
>    the nerve to tell me to put the cats to sleep and save myself
>    the stress.  Well, I've since learned not to share my pet problems
>    with people who don't love animals. 
>    
 
Karen,

It's been 23 years since my hormones were in a similar uproar, although as 
I approach 50, I'm getting a reminder.  Hang in there.  I know how frustrating 
it is to try to diagnose an animal -- if only they could talk sometimes....

As for those people, I just don't understand the "it's just a cat" attitude.
My kitties are family members, as were my dogs before them.  We just spent 
$450.00 on a dental (don't ask) and wouldn't have considered not doing it.
I'm very lucky that my husband feels the same way.  I know the costs can really 
get out of hand, but the vets have the same problems that people doctors do.
Even though we'd rather be buying new windows for the house, the kitties' 
health comes first.

Fingers and paws crossed.

			SQ and the gang of five

    I once had two cats that got lead poisoning from paint.  They threw up,
    wouldn't eat, hid (outside in their case).  After many visits to the
    vet, medications, IVs, etc. one cat was well on the mend, but the other
    one didn't make it.  While I thought they were independent, the day the
    one died, the other had a major setback--never did find a plausible
    explanation, but almost lost him due to not eating etc.  Why I'm saying
    this is, Bandit could just be stressed and sympathetic, but should be
    watched carefully.  I had a whole shelf in the fridge with different
    foods to entice my one to eat:  sardines (packed in oil and packed in
    water), tuna (oil and water), chicken (baked and boiled), hamburg (raw
    and cooked), and baby food.  It took all of them to get him to eat
    again, but looking back I'd say the sardines in oil had the best
    results.
    
    Good luck,

    Good luck to TK...and please know that you ALL are in our 
    thoughts and prayers.   Let's just hope it is something
    fixable!!!
    
    Hugs to Bandit too...
    
    Sandy

    There is not a "it's just a cat" thing. I feel more "it's just a
    human".
    
    I love my cat and all animals. I treat them as friends, as beings, as
    well as any (kind) human. The others I don't care.
    
    I keep my paws crossed for you. And do not talk to people, talk to
    cats. ANd to us.
    
    Nat

    Has anyone heard from Karen?  
    
    cj

    Re: .13
    
    In offline mail last week, Karen said she might not be in today,
    and so wouldn't be posting news until tomorrow.
    

    
    
    	I learned that T.K had eaten the lint from the furnace filter
    	and the other kitty had eaten a little of the lint.
    	They both are fine .... 
    
    	Mike

    HOORAY!!!!!!!
    
    Now if we could only get "Morris" to make a house call and teach
    these kitties to be just a *bit* more finicky eaters!!!
    
    Thanks for passing on the news   :^D
    
    Leslie

    
    re: Mike... must have talked to Debbie!
    
    	Yes, great news.  T.K. was operated on and they found a
    	fibrous substance in him.  They cleaned him out and he
    	came home yesterday.  Based on what they found, they felt
    	that Laxatone would work on Bandit and he passed whatever
    	it was on Saturday morning.  We suspect that they ate lint
    	from the furnace filter which was replaced in early 
    	January.  The old one was left laying around in the
    	basement.... it has since been discarded and we have searched
    	and not found any other possibilities.
    
    	Its so nice to see both my cats eating again!  T.K. was
    	thrilled to be home yesterday.  He followed me everywhere
    	just soaking up all the attention he could get.  He even
    	sat on my lap for 40 minutes!  That was the first time he
    	has sat in my lap since he was a kitten, 8+ years ago.  He
    	is not a lap cat.  I'm hoping that maybe he'll become one
    	but its probably just that he was seeking security from
    	me.  Bandit is hissing and growling at T.K. however which
    	I'm hoping he'll get over soon.  I woke up several times
    	during the night and T.K. was sleeping on the pillow next
    	to me like he always does.  I was so happy to see him there!
    
    	My only regret is that T.K. was operated on when Laxatone
    	probably would have worked.  It turns out the barium was
    	acting as a laxative and the blockage had moved from his
    	stomach to his intestine.... it was on its way out!  But
    	there was no telling what we were up against until the
    	operation.
    
    	I have a great vet.  She is very compasionate and called me
    	several times with updates.  She even took T.K. home with
    	her for the weekend so that she could give him continuous
    	care. 
    
    	Thanks for all your support!
    
    	Karen

    
    I am so very glad to hear this.
    
    

    Lady Di and I am so happy to hear that both T.K. and Bandit are
    going to be ok......we were thinking of all of you this weekend!
    

         That's fantastic news, Karen.  Hugs to T.K. and Bandit!
    
    					- Andrea