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Posted by Victoria on 13-07-2014 at 04:57:
About my cat
My tom has disappeared at the beginning of the year, so I went to the animal shelter and got myself a new kitten. I took her when she was around four months old. Now she's around ten. As I don't have any offline friends closer than several hundreds of kilometres, I've grown very attached to her, but recently she started to show a loss of appetite. I thought the sudden temperature rise was to blame, but few days ago the temperatures dropped again and she didn't get any better. And two days ago she started to have trouble breathing.
I just woke up after my Friday night-shift to see her panting hard, so I took her to the vet emergency room. The doctor took a blood sample, which she didn't like at all. She bit me about three times as I held her, and then we took her to the X-ray room. Her lungs were almost non-functioning. Full of some stuff the doctor couldn't identify, as she was in no condition for a biopsy. I was completely shattered. She's still a kitten, and I had her vaccinated and all when I picked her up from the shelter. The doctor told me this is sadly too common amongst shelter cats. He told me that he could have her spend a night at the animal hospital, in an oxygen room, so I agreed. I've returned this (eh... last. It's already Sunday) morning. He showed me another x-ray picture. Her lungs have gotten much better, so she was cleared to return to home, but he told me that it could go either way. Either her health can take a nose-dive overnight, or she can get better. I still have to return with her for a check-up later today. Even though it got disinfected straight away, my hand is swollen and I've drained the puss and re-disinfected it about twice by now, but I really dread the check-up. She regained her appetite and she's still on meds, and there's a cannula under the bandage on her right paw, but I can't keep this treatment up forever. The last 24 hours already swallowed a quarter of my wages. But I really hope she got better. Her breathing evened out, but she's still quite lethargic. And her appetite returned, somewhat. I've buried my father two months ago, and lost my first cat in January. I'm not really sure what am I going to do if I lose her as well. I can't understand why do these things happen to cats so young.
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Die Sonne tönt, nach alter Weise, In Brudersphären Wettgesang, und ihre vorgeschriebne Reise, vollendet sie mit Donnergang.
My fanart is here
Posted by ChrisW on 13-07-2014 at 06:18:
Oh no Victoria. I hope she bounces back soon. It's amazing how fast a creature can worm itself into our lives and our hearts and make itself at home. At least she has someone like you who loves and cares for her, and gets to know that feeling.
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Eagle Whisperer
Posted by KT1972 on 13-07-2014 at 08:27:
Just keep doing the best you can for her, and I hope, with your love and attention, she continues to improve.
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Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope. - HELEN KELLER
Posted by Redbird on 13-07-2014 at 12:50:
I'm so sorry Victoria, I've been there before myself. I really hope your kitten gets better quickly and can go home soon! 
I'm just surprised the vet didn't give you a definitive diagnosis? And just a thought: can the vet work out a payment plan with you?
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Playing darts with the Condor's feather shuriken...
Posted by ElectricWhite on 13-07-2014 at 14:33:
I'm so sorry, Victoria. I hope things work out for you soon.
BTW, you'd better get that hand looked at -- you won't do that kitten much good if you fall ill!
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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
Posted by Springie on 13-07-2014 at 15:22:
Oh no...sending positive thoughts and prayers for you and your kitty... 
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Posted by rachel on 14-07-2014 at 01:05:
Victoria, I hope your kitty would be get better soon.
It is so kind of you to bring a cat from a shelter. My puppy had caught distemper when he was four months, vet recommended me euthanasia for him because he was too young to fight against the virus. I brought him home back and cured him by myself. Make him eat and maintaining his body temperature were all I did. I brought royal jellies/beefs/ginseng powders/abalone shells/steamed crab meats/salmons...and I ground my parent's Amway nutrition supplements for him. I mixed it with water and organic honey, I fed it to him with dropping pipettes. Finally he restored, but he got sophisticated taste on foods and he never ate dog food (I mean tiny brown biscuits) again. But I lost him like your Tom after a year or so.
Your cat shows similar symptoms with my friend's cat, it was pneumonia. She had her cat stayed animal hospital for several days. After she brought it to her home, I(a quack vet) recommended her the same treatment as my puppy. It restored after two weeks or so and lived long. We were both university students then and it was during our vacation so she could stay by the cat all the time.
I trust my body's natural defense system and do not rely on western medications and especially Korean doctors who always prescribe antibiotics bombs. I never go to see a doctor unless I got physical injuries. I just let my body ill, sleep well, take nutrition supplements and tasty healthy dishes/fruits remembering the moment I spent with my puppy.
I don't know the exact condition of your cat, but you said it still has appetites. I think it is a really good sign. I wish the same luck of my friend's cat to yours.
Posted by Victoria on 14-07-2014 at 03:16:
Went for a check-up today (eh... yesterday, that is). The doctor said she does look somewhat better, but her nose and gums are still too pale (=her blood isn't oxygenated enough). He took out the cannula and set up next appointment for Tuesday, when he'll take another x-ray. Chaika looks a little bit livelier, but she still sleeps all day, which is a huge difference from how she used to be. I gave her the name after the old Soviet Polikarpov I-153 biplane, because she was so hyperactive, she kept zooming around the house all day long.
Redbird: He took her blood and named several possible conditions, but without biopsy he couldn't pinpoint anything specific, as x-rays and blood tests was all he had to work with. And for a biopsy she'd have to be under full anaesthesia, and for that her lungs need to work properly.
EW: My hand looks somewhat better. I keep draining the puss and cleaning the wound with a cauterized needle, a handkerchief and copious amounts of iodine tincture. I can close my fingers again and the pain is almost gone.
rachel: It's not pneumonia, as she doesn't have any fever. I don't see my GP very often either, but that's because I have a freakishly good health. It's been at least ten years since I had anything more severe than a common cold.
Thank you all for your support. It means a lot to me. I always found it very hard to speak about these things, but right now I just can't think of anything else but her. Actually, when I picked her up from her night in the oxygen room, the vet said she improved beyond his expectations. The day before he told me there was about 20% chance for this to help her. So I'm still not sure whether to consider this battle won, but at least she looks a little bit better, even though she's nowhere near her usual self.
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Die Sonne tönt, nach alter Weise, In Brudersphären Wettgesang, und ihre vorgeschriebne Reise, vollendet sie mit Donnergang.
My fanart is here
Posted by ChrisW on 14-07-2014 at 03:41:
At least sleeping could mean healing! It is frightening when an active critter suddenly becomes a furry lump, but it sounds like your kitten's a fighter.
Youch on your hand. I'm such a baby, I wouldn't be doing that all on my own, so I'm a bit in awe. 
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Eagle Whisperer
Posted by littlewolf on 14-07-2014 at 12:25:
A Prayer to St. Gertrude, Patron Saint of Cats
St. Gertrude of Nivelles, ask you I pray
Safeguard my kitties this and each day.
Defend them from those who might wish them harm.
Keep them at home safe from danger and storm.
Instill in me wisdom to care for them well.
Pray, fill me with strength never to yell.
And Gertrude, a last thing I beseech from thee,
Protect my sofa from claws and my carpets from pee.
Amen.
On of the Fourteen Holy Helpers - St George (Georgius) is the patron for health of domestic animals
St, Francis of Assisis - is also good for assisting pets
Also , Bastet, Sekhet, Mau, Freyja
Prays being sent to all of them
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May the bad things get lost on the way to you door!
Posted by Becky Rock on 15-07-2014 at 00:17:
Victoria, I hope your kitten gets better. Maybe she just needs a few more days to recover.
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Posted by jublke on 16-07-2014 at 03:01:
Hugs, Victoria. I hope that both you & your kitten continue to heal.
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"The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing." -- Blaise Pascal
Posted by Victoria on 19-07-2014 at 01:33:
Thank you all for your prayers and wishes.
Chaika is doing a little bit better. Her breathing isn't quite there yet, but she has a healthy appetite again and her nose is pretty pink. For some reason whenever I giver her her antibiotics, she just eats them, crunches them up and swallows them without me having to mix them up with her food. Just like that. She doesn't like her Medrol though. Guess it isn't pink enough...
This all is good news, but on the other hand she's still quite lethargic. She greets me whenever I come home from work, meows and dances around the bowl when she's hungry (and stalks my glasses of milk), and if I don't wake up after my third alarm in the morning (or whatever time of day I need to wake up for my shifts), I get a facefull of kitty-fur, but apart from that she just lies around the house. Could be the meds, or the aftermath of such a serious illness... or that's what I'm trying to convince myself of. We have another check-up on Monday. The doctor will probably clear things up then.
...and my hand's fine again.
__________________
Die Sonne tönt, nach alter Weise, In Brudersphären Wettgesang, und ihre vorgeschriebne Reise, vollendet sie mit Donnergang.
My fanart is here
Posted by ChrisW on 19-07-2014 at 02:30:
Remember that young animals (like young people) do sleep quite a lot. Hopefully between that and her still recovering, that's all it is. Appetite is a huge deal for sure! Glad to hear that it's easy to give her her antibiotics ... we've resorted to something called Pill Pockets here, they're hollow treats that you slide a pill inside and our dog just swallows them down.
Glad to hear your hand is better! Hang in there!
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Eagle Whisperer
Posted by jublke on 19-07-2014 at 03:29:
Victoria: You are taking good care of her and loving her. That's the best medicine of all.
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"The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing." -- Blaise Pascal
Posted by KT1972 on 19-07-2014 at 07:23:
it does sound like she has made tremendous progress Victoria. I think she just needs a little while longer to recuperate and she'll be back to her old self in no time.
I think you're doing a great job caring for her. 
__________________
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope. - HELEN KELLER
Posted by ElectricWhite on 19-07-2014 at 12:54:
It's great to hear that little furball's made so much progress! The fact she's eating and taking her meds is wonderful. She's been through a serious illness, so it's going to take some time for her to get back to her normal, playful self. It just takes a little patience.
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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
Posted by rachel on 19-07-2014 at 14:03:
Victoria, I think she will be just fine. Restoring her appetites tell everything!
I hope you and your cat establish a kind of contact.
I can say she knows that you've tried hard for her.
Animals can't talk, however my puppy seemed to know that I took every possible means for him when he was severely ill.
Posted by Redbird on 19-07-2014 at 15:30:
Glad to hear she seems to be doing better Victoria. I hope that she continues to improve!
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Playing darts with the Condor's feather shuriken...
Posted by Kritter on 19-07-2014 at 21:10:
Sounds like she is a smart kitty. We've had cats for 30+ years and during that time we've had a few that really seemed to figure out that the meds were making them feel better. We adopted a shelter kitten who had a respiratory virus several years ago. It took several weeks for her to get back to normal but she finally did. I hope you kitty continues to as well.
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No matter how much cats fight there always seem to be plenty of kittens.
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