Jack in Diapers

All seem well after his short-turned-long ordeal at the clinic (see previous post) with Captain Jack drinking and eating on his own including passing out bloody urine. The only problem was he fought hard in refusing to take his pills. 

Jack passed out some crystals (tiny stones) with blood-stained spots of urine.

More than a week later, Jack was squatting frequently trying to urinate but only droplets of blood-stained urine came out.

He had to have his bladder drained again. This time an ultrasound was done. It showed the normal shape of bladder, both kidneys and liver. Blood test was done and the results showed an extremely high creatinine.

Though not his former self, Jack would still jump up to his favourite perch but eating less. More than a week later, he started to strain to urinate again, this time EJ noticed foul smell emitting from his mouth. He was taken back to the clinic again.

Without a choice, Jack had to have his bladder drained again. It was found that he had ulcers in his mouth; tartar was removed. He was also given a stronger dose of antibiotics. As he was waking up from his anesthesia, Jack kept kneading the air just like when he kneaded EJ.

Back home he did not have much of an appetite and preferred to drink water.

Jack became rather clingy and sought our human's attention constantly. The next few days he had incontinence and had to wear diapers.

Now in his diapers, he preferred to use the bigger specially constructed toilet lined with expensive hand-drawn Italian tiles.

Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK posing for our human trying to look suave in diapers (last photo shoot).

EJ stayed with him till midnight and he passed on at the wee hours on 9th December 2017 after EJ went to bed.

PS: to continue next week

(Jack had this problem four years ago and was on special diet since then).

It Really Is Hard to Say GoodBye!

The weather is really hot, so hot that cool spots are sorted out.

Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK and Tanya both claimed and shared the coolest spot – their specially-constructed toilet of hand-painted Italian tiles. This photo was taken last week.

Last weekend, a visiting friend said that Tanya was sticking her tongue out and panting. At first our human thought the cause was the hot weather but on closer check, Tanya also had urinary incontinence.

The big clean-up and setting-up of 'Meow Suite' began. Though by then there was a heavy downpour, our human was sweating buckets trying to work as fast as possible and checking on Tanya intermittenly.

Just before the 'Meow Suite' was completely set up, Tanya ceased breathing in our human's arms. (Tanya ate her breakfast that very morning.)

Arrangements were then made for her to be cremated. Her ashes will be coming home tomorrow.

Tanya was 19.

 PS: Tanya's story has not been told yet. Her interesting and eventful story is long and our human will start writing it.

It's Hard to Say GoodBye!

Kenggy became weaker but she managed to maneuvre herself to face the MeowRoom door. Our human placed a rolled-up cloth to support her head to ease her shallow breathing.

Her best friend, Winnie, came to keep her company, both staring at each in a silent communication.

Soon after Kenggy passed away on 10th June 2014. She was cremated.

Before our human could finish clearing the special 'Meow Suite', Pebble got seriously ill. Pebble's sickness was a constant yo-yo.

To replenish her medication, our human made an appointment with Pebble's doctor to pick it up the next day. Early next morning, on 25th January 2016, Pebble was found in a rigor mortis mode and a phone call was quickly made to her vet to cancel her medication.

Here Tanya, Winnie and Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK were telling EJ that they have finished saying their last goodbye. Just like the rest before her, Pebble was cremated.

It was when her ash came home that it hit EJ that both, Kenggy's and Pebble's, absence was really felt.

Yes, that 'Meow Suite' was dismantled and cleaned but EJ somehow could not clear many of their things. Perhaps our human need a little more time to heal emotionally.

Cinders' Say

We would like to thank all who sent countless warm comforting, encouraging wishes, thoughts, purrs, headbutts and woofs including graphics done with much love.

EJ could not locate Cinders' young photos but found some taken 10-15 years ago when EJ was a squatter in mom's home.

Cinders had cute, unique sleeping styles which was weird at times...

...and claimed whatever was EJ's, paper notes included.

She worshipped the morning sun. (Note her sagging belly!)

Of all places, between EJ's knees were her favourite.

When her cross-eyed brother, Cookie, was alive, they both were always together, resting or watching the world go by under the Jasmine tree.

After Cookie passed on, she sat on the table by the window looking out at the spot where Cookie was buried in the corner of the playground next to the house. (See arrow) 

There were times she would sit under the Jasmine tree alone to look at that spot or watch the world go by.

Cinders need not eye that spot anymore for she would be frolicking and resting with her Cookie always.

PS: Cinders laid on EJ's lap on the eve of her passing from afternoon through evening and night till 1am.
EJ played this music for her to listen daily when she was not well.

Cinders' Turning Point

Tomorrow is Cinders' birthday.

Yesterday Cinders decided she had enough and joined her brother, cross-eyed Cookie.

She's 18.

Please click here if you wish to know how she came to our life.

We thank all who sent prayers, wishes and purrs. Special thanks to Ann of Zoolatry who did this lovely graphic.

With much love,

Father and Sons United

EJ believes that when Tommy used to stare into nothing, he was mulling over his sons.

At times he mulled till his ears curled up. Perhaps he missed them both, 4Head and last-born handicapped Tortie.

4Head had heart problems resulting in fluid in his lungs; Tortie had severe kidney problems; Tommy had all of these.

Both Tommy and Tortie sat alike and slept in the same style; with 4Head, they relaxed in the same manner with that special air.

In the earlier years, these three always slept together either head to head or head to butt.

Now they probably are doing the same over at the Rainbow Bridge...and EJ misses these 'three stooges' so.

For more cat stories, please visit http://gattinamycats.blogspot.com

Tired Out

Results of Tommy's second blood test was worse than his first. His kidneys worsened considerably. Additional meds was prescribed and dosage increased. 

During his check-up, Tommy's favourite doctor listened long and hard at his heatbeat. Tommy had a 'gallop rhythm'. Normal heartbeat goes 'lup dup lup dup'; Tommy's enlarged heart went 'lup lup dup dup lup lup dup dup'. It did not beat in sync.

Yesterday, in the early morning, Tommy's tired heart succumbed to its weariness and gave up.

Usually gregarious Tommy was the one who would let others use him as pillow but for the first time a very thin Tommy borrowed Kenggy's fleshy rump to rest his head.

Voice from Beyond

Hello friends, Tortie here. I would like to thank you all for the purrs, prayers, hugs and love expressed. I am comforted and truly blessed to have so many friends all over the world.

In my nine and a half years, I only allowed EJ to carry me with the exception, of course, my doctors during check-ups. If relatives and friends requested, I would allow EJ to place me on their laps or arms for a limited time only. The reason was EJ cared and carried me since I was born. I was not born exactly healthy; click here if you want to know.

EJ was amused on how I relaxed and said I was a cat version of Jabba the Hutt, an alien character of the famed Star Wars.

Due to my condition at birth, my hind legs looked a bit atrophied. And I liked sticking my arm out in anticipation to touch when EJ walked past.

I was truly relaxed in sleep.

I love squeezing in small places which never failed to make EJ uncomfortable.

Whenever I slept on the catwalk, I held on to the railing so I would not fall off in mid-sleep like some of my roommates.

EJ used to laugh when I made sexy poses like these.

These shades showed I was cool.

I looked dashing.

EJ used to say my eyes were the most expressive ever on my handsome face.

Now EJ can sleep a little longer in the mornings as I would not be making morning calls anymore. Hope EJ will not miss it too much.

Got to go, 4Head's waiting. Have great, loving days ahead. Purrrrrs!

Tortie Joins 4Head

As Tortie and 4Head were close since birth, they were inseparable as they grew up. 

Both loved to play and enjoyed wrestling like this until 4Head went to the Rainbow Bridge on 1st December 2007.

Yesterday, on the eve of EJ's birthday, Tortie joined 4Head.

They are together again.

Like Father Like Son?

Going through some old photos of the cats, EJ found this picture of the late 4head taken a few years back.

EJ remembered chasing and crawling after him under tables and around chairs trying to give him his medicine. Notice those drools on his chin after the medications.

Tommy says, "4head look like me, right? That's my late son!"

Noël is Not Alone

Continued from previous post Noel Learns to Walk

His little stump of a tail was healing nicely. With the sudden loss, Noel walked funny with his stump and rump sticking up.

There was discharge from Noel's eyes again and were fast getting infected. EJ was not sure what was the cause. Could it be flu, the shock of snipping the tail without anaesthesia or even possible irritation from the fleas he had earlier?

Another bottle of antibiotic eyedrops was obtained from his vet. His vet reminded EJ that Noel's persistent eye infection could be an indication that he probably had complications.

A few days later, Noel's abdomen became slightly distended and several bulges started to develop. He had little appetite and took a turn for the worse. EJ phoned long distance to Noel's vet who was back at his hometown celebrating Chinese New Year. According to symptoms EJ described, he said Noel was probably stepped on and that he would schedule Noel for an x-ray as soon as his clinic opened.

With two festivals, one after the other (Chinese New Year on 29 & 30 January 2006; Awal Muharram on 31 January 2006) and including weekends, it was an almost a week-long public holiday that year.

In desperation, EJ took Noel to a 24-hour animal hospital but nothing much could be done.

EJ was stroking his head when Noel drew his last breath on the night of Awal Muharram. Wrapped in EJ's old T-shirt which Noel loved to sleep in, early next morning when the air was cool with the rising sun at an angle, EJ buried Noel in the corner of the playground next to EJ's mom's house where the pet cats and animals were buried.

No tears were shed for Noel.

EJ's tears were all shed dry some years before when walking barefoot through the slums in India witnessing and trying to feel their life, their hardships, their sufferings.

Instead what EJ had were scratchy eyes and a huge painful lump in the throat. The same would happen during Christmas seasons especially whenever the song Noel was sung or the music played.

EJ is consoled that Noel is now at a beautiful place called Rainbow Bridge with EJ's and siblings' pet cats and animals guiding and keeping Noel company.

That's right! Noël is Not Alone! And never will be again!

Born 25 December 2005 (Christmas)

Died 31 January 2006 (Awal Muharram)

(From Wikipedia: Awal Muharram, the Islamic New Year is a cultural event which Muslims observe on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims use the day to remember the significance of this month, and the Hijra, or migration, Islamic prophet Muhammad made it to the city now known as Medina. For Shia Muslims, Muharram is a month of grief and sorrow because they mourn the death of Imam Hussain and his companions.)

Cabbit Cookie?

"On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer."
- Douglas Horton

EJ could not find the right bunny ears for the late Cookie but...a cute little tail attracts a lot of attention....

Here's to wishing you peace, love and happiness always.

Yo, Brother!

They look alike! Twins? This was what came to EJ's mind when visiting a fellow blogger's site and saw Noll.

EJ rummaged through old photographs and finally found it. If nothing else look alike, at least their eyes do. Please do judge for yourselves.

Brother to Cinders, Cookie was born on 30 July 1994 and would be 16 soon if he was alive. How both Cookie and Cinders came can be read in this post here.

Cookie was named by EJ's then 9-year-old nephew who is now a strapping handsome young man. It was so named as he could draw Cookie's crossed-eyes on the double o's alphabets.

Being a glutton, Cookie was thoroughly dotted on and spoilt by EJ's mother, nephew and niece who kept feeding him his favourite food, rich fruit cake and meat jerky. Each time, Cookie wolfed it down so fast that he finished at least three-quarters while the human managed to eat the remaining quarter. And imagine this times three!

Any way, at the age of 5 human years, Cookie, one day keeled over to the Rainbow Bridge - suspected heart attack!