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I had last Thursday afternoon off but was running around and didn't get home until after 5pm. I walked in and looked at the catbox area and got the scare of my life! Bloody urine all over the place, three little drops of blood, cat litter everywhere and Chris missed the box when he pooped. I ran into the bedroom where he was on the bed, snatched him up and just started sobbing. I called around and we found an emergency vet. Spousal unit came home to me sobbing and telling him that we had to take Chris into the vet. We got him in the carrier and off we went, me sitting in the front seat sobbing, barely able to breathe.
The emergency vet, bless her heart was standing at the open door when we got there. She took his temp (normal), listened to his heart, and catherized him. Got some urine with a little blood in it (less than I thought). Of course Chris has a UTI so we brought him home with 20 days of Clindamycin.
On Saturday, he kept going to the litterbox and nothing happened so back to our regular vet he went. She switched him to Clavamox with Baytril to make it a wider spectrum and pumped him full of subcutaneous fluids We had a really rough day Saturday; Chris just wasn't feeling good at all. I'd take his water bowl into him on the bed, however he was so full of water, he wasn't interested. I put him on my lap and when I switched him over to the spousal unit, he piddled all over him. We found that this had also happened on the bed so for the second time in a day, the bedding got washed. It seemed like every time we moved Chris, he would just lose control and pee a LOT. We washed quite a few towels and clothes. My poor babykins was just miserable! Also, the Clavamox with Baytril was not going down well at all. We'd try to get it in him and he would literally froth at the mouth.
Sunday was a bit better, Chris ate a little bit and I'd take him his water dish about every half hour. When we tried to give him the Clavamox/Baytril last night, he barfed it up immediately so we went back to the Clindamycin.
Today, Chris seems to be feeling better. He's still not eating well at all, at least he's eating a bit.
I know that at age 18 1/2, Chris is considered an elderly cat. Some days I think that I would be able to handle losing him and then something like this comes up and I just can't stop crying. I just want him to get over this infection, feel better, and start eating and drinking more normally. I also realize that at this age, it's going to take him longer to recover.
I just don't want this to be the start of a downhill spiral like what happened to my baby girl SkuShi. If it is indeed that, we'll have to deal with it.
Chris has been a gift in my life for 18 1/2 years and I'm grateful for every single day we've had with him. I'm hoping there are many more days to come.
I love my babykins........................

{{{{{Yak}}}}}

I am so sorry about Chris.
Please know that I am sending him (and you) all the good thoughts I can muster.

Carol

>>I had last Thursday afternoon off but was running around and didn't get home until after 5pm. I walked in and looked at the catbox area and got the scare of my life! Bloody urine all over the place, three little drops of blood, cat litter everywhere and Chris missed the box when he pooped. I ran into the bedroom where he was on the bed, snatched him up and just started sobbing. I called around and we found an emergency vet. Spousal unit came home to me sobbing and telling him that we had to take Chris into the vet. We got him in the carrier and off we went, me sitting in the front seat sobbing, barely able to breathe.
>>The emergency vet, bless her heart was standing at the open door when we got there. She took his temp (normal), listened to his heart, and catherized him. Got some urine with a little blood in it (less than I thought). Of course Chris has a UTI so we brought him home with 20 days of Clindamycin.
>>On Saturday, he kept going to the litterbox and nothing happened so back to our regular vet he went. She switched him to Clavamox with Baytril to make it a wider spectrum and pumped him full of subcutaneous fluids We had a really rough day Saturday; Chris just wasn't feeling good at all. I'd take his water bowl into him on the bed, however he was so full of water, he wasn't interested. I put him on my lap and when I switched him over to the spousal unit, he piddled all over him. We found that this had also happened on the bed so for the second time in a day, the bedding got washed. It seemed like every time we moved Chris, he would just lose control and pee a LOT. We washed quite a few towels and clothes. My poor babykins was just miserable! Also, the Clavamox with Baytril was not going down well at all. We'd try to get it in him and he would literally froth at the mouth.
>>Sunday was a bit better, Chris ate a little bit and I'd take him his water dish about every half hour. When we tried to give him the Clavamox/Baytril last night, he barfed it up immediately so we went back to the Clindamycin.
>>Today, Chris seems to be feeling better. He's still not eating well at all, at least he's eating a bit.
>>I know that at age 18 1/2, Chris is considered an elderly cat. Some days I think that I would be able to handle losing him and then something like this comes up and I just can't stop crying. I just want him to get over this infection, feel better, and start eating and drinking more normally. I also realize that at this age, it's going to take him longer to recover.
>>I just don't want this to be the start of a downhill spiral like what happened to my baby girl SkuShi. If it is indeed that, we'll have to deal with it.
>>Chris has been a gift in my life for 18 1/2 years and I'm grateful for every single day we've had with him. I'm hoping there are many more days to come.
>>I love my babykins........................

Also holding good thoughts here.
-----
Terry, confused human companion of Liat.

Big hugs from us over here too...keep us posted...

oh no!! i'm so sorry to hear this!! try coating the meds with some stage2 baby food (make sure it has no onion)... cats really love that... and if he's not eating too much, he might like this. that's what i did for my cats. sending thoughts and prayers to Chris to make a speedy recovery.

We lost Chris yesterday.
When I took him in for his recheck, the vet seemed very concerned so he kept Chris for hydration and lab work. I didn't hear anything so I closed up a few minutes early and went up to the vet. He showed me Chris' labwork which was just horrible. His BUN was over triple (indicating serious kidney problems), his creatnine was over double and his white cell count was about triple, indicating that a weeks' worth of antibiotics didn't help a bit.
I called Jim from the vet and we decided to let Chris go rather than take him home, go back into crisis, take him back to the vet and hydrate, home, and on and on and on.
I got to hold Chris and tell him how much I loved him, how essential he has been to my happiness for over 18 1/2 years, how much I'll miss him. He went very quietly and peacefully and I'm grateful for that.
We'll have him cremated and his ashes will go under the Beloved rose bush. SkuShi's ashes are beneath the Cherish rose bush and that is blooming like crazy........beautiful reminders of my baby girl.
Every time I think I've cried it all out, I start again. I went home and expected to see him on the bed and that made me fall apart. All the routine things; washing his dishes and getting new food and water, taking care of the catbox, brushing the cat hair off of the blanket, saying goodbye when I go to work....I'll need to let go of all of those habits and it just hurts so much.
I do have a recent picture of Chris and me that was taken for a special edition of the Sunday paper that featured "People and their Pets". I have Chris' darling face memorized along with so many other things about him, he'll be in my head and in my heart always.
I loved my Babykins so much, I'll miss him so much.

ooooooh no no no!!!! i saw the first line, and my heart sank, and i have a pit in my stomach. i am soooooo sorry. i really was praying for chris to make it to 25 years.
it brings back to me all the memories of losing my Kleo just as quickly in a matter of days. that's when i got my Rigby (and then later Izzy). i was still grieving, but he really helped to heal my broken heart.
you're in my thoughts...sending big hugs....

{{{{Oh Yak}}}}

I am so very sorry.
I know how much you are hurting now, but I hope you can find comfort in the knowledge that you gave Chris a full and wonderful life. He was a very lucky kitty to have such a special home.

Carol

>>We lost Chris yesterday.
>>When I took him in for his recheck, the vet seemed very concerned so he kept Chris for hydration and lab work. I didn't hear anything so I closed up a few minutes early and went up to the vet. He showed me Chris' labwork which was just horrible. His BUN was over triple (indicating serious kidney problems), his creatnine was over double and his white cell count was about triple, indicating that a weeks' worth of antibiotics didn't help a bit.
>>I called Jim from the vet and we decided to let Chris go rather than take him home, go back into crisis, take him back to the vet and hydrate, home, and on and on and on.
>>I got to hold Chris and tell him how much I loved him, how essential he has been to my happiness for over 18 1/2 years, how much I'll miss him. He went very quietly and peacefully and I'm grateful for that.
>>We'll have him cremated and his ashes will go under the Beloved rose bush. SkuShi's ashes are beneath the Cherish rose bush and that is blooming like crazy........beautiful reminders of my baby girl.
>>Every time I think I've cried it all out, I start again. I went home and expected to see him on the bed and that made me fall apart. All the routine things; washing his dishes and getting new food and water, taking care of the catbox, brushing the cat hair off of the blanket, saying goodbye when I go to work....I'll need to let go of all of those habits and it just hurts so much.
>>I do have a recent picture of Chris and me that was taken for a special edition of the Sunday paper that featured "People and their Pets". I have Chris' darling face memorized along with so many other things about him, he'll be in my head and in my heart always.
>>I loved my Babykins so much, I'll miss him so much.

I am so sorry Yak...my heart is breaking for you...big hugs from all of us here...

I'm sure he's already hanging with SkuShi and Aston and that other little dark kittie Charlie...they will take good care of him now...

and we're here for you...

So sorry to hear about Chris. I know how tough losing a long time companion can be. Holding good thoughts for you.
-----
Terry, confused human companion of Liat.