Safe Spots on Rainy Days?

Lately the monsoon rain not only has strong winds but a lot of lightning and loud thunder as well.

Frightened by the sound of pouring rain on awnings and loud thunder, the kitties hid in what they believed to be safe spots.

Safe spots for Winnie and Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK.

Safe spots where their late buddies hid.

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.

Claws, Fangs and Trots

Cinders has put on a little wee bit of weight. It was confirmed at her third blood test, weigh in and evaluation last week.

This reminds EJ of a very slim lady wearing a coat with fur collar showing off her slim neck looking relaxed crossing her limbs.

This is what you get after being shaved for the third time at the same area.

She has started eating kibbles though she mostly consume wet food now. Next to her is 'fatty' Kenggy gorging in.

Cinders seems happier now and has started trotting!

With that little increase in weight, her meds dosage increased which means additional pills to be swallowed. With both Cinders' and Tommy's numerous pills combined to be shoved down their throats daily, EJ's hands take the beating of being accidently bitten. Index finger holding the pill take the brunt of being bitten at the same spot all the time.

Unfortunately Tommy didn't fare as well as Cinders. He lost weight and has no appetite. His favourite vet gave him appetite stimulant pills. His second blood test results will be known early next week.

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A Visit to Tommy's Favourite Vet

He was a glutton. Now his appetite is poor. Tommy is losing weight. And this worries EJ.

After confirming his favourite vet was on duty, EJ drove Tommy to the clinic yesterday in a drizzle.

Tommy's favourite vet was about to leave for a house call but on seeing Tommy, he exchanged duties with another doctor so that he could attend to Tommy. Read about Tommy's reaction on their first meeting here.

A thorough check-up was done and an irregular heart rhythm was detected. Blood had to be extracted for tests. Tommy put up a fight and only a small amount was obtained. More staff came to help and EJ left the room. EJ is known to have scratchy eyes only but when Tommy gave a long, really loud heart-rending wail, EJ's eyes welled up.

The x-rays confirmed his enlarged heart.

Tommy has cardiomyopathy -- heart problems.

Results of the blood tests to be out early next week will show whether Tommy has other accompanying complications in the liver or kidneys.

EJ would love to but could not visit all you wonderful friends as often and will post on Tommy's and Cinders' health progress.

The now aging 14-year-old not-so-handsome Tommy but still as vocal and loving.

Hang Down Your Head Poor Cinders

It is the first time in her life Cinders had to take medication. It is the first time she got sick in 17 years.

With so much medication to swallow on the first day, her frail body simply could not stomach it and she threw up. Here feeling absolutely miserable and feeble, she hung her head down.

Since then EJ spread the medicine-giving throughout the day to some in the morning, some in the evening and the remaining medication late at night. Cinders is responding well either because she is getting used to pills and medication being forced down her throat or EJ is getting better in doing it.

Cinders seems a little stronger now. Only a blood test  can confirm whether this is true.

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Cinders' Turn

When everything seemed to go well, Cinders took a turn for the worse end of last week.

There were spots of blood in her urine again and she refused to eat.

The visit to her vet last Sunday morning showed that her white blood cells were high indicating infection but without a temperature. She lost weight and is now getting anorexic.

(This photo was taken in late February. Cinders is much thinner now.)

Antibiotics, appetite stimulants, vitamins and Cystaid were prescribed. 'Assisted Feeding' was recommended to prevent her from losing more weight.

The term 'Assisted Feeding' is preferred as the cat is helped to eat, not forced though the cat may disagree. 'Assisted Feeding' refers to finger feeding or syringe feeding. EJ is using both methods. But still Cinders is not eating enough as more energy is used up during sickness. EJ is trying very hard to coax her to eat.

Cinders howls a lot lately. Other cats sort of avoid her but not good-natured Tommy. Good old Tommy keeps her company by squatting beside her and gives encouraging support with cleaning licks.

EJ is keeping an eye on Tommy too as he has not recover fully.

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

We are still stylish!

Having received many 'get well soon' and 'healing' purrs from bloggers all over the world, both Cinders and Tommy are much better.

EJ would like to thank all for those positive thoughts, prayers and vibes, and believes that it helped greatly to put these two on the road to recovery.

Cinders' urine is not bloody anymore but is straining to urine constantly and a little  each time which means she probably has incontinence. 

To make it easier for her to take her medicine instead of shoving the capsule down her throat, the powder from the capsule is mixed with wet food. With that strong fishy smell of wet food easily permeating throughout EJ's small house, all the other cats clamoured to have a part of it. There were times when EJ had to give the other cats the same wet food so that Cinders could have hers with 'hidden medication' in peace. 

There is still another week of medication before evaluation of her progress on whether antibiotics and other medication is necessary.

This picture shows one of Tommy's scratch wounds below his ear clearly. The smaller ones are near his eyes and nose. 

These wounds healed after being cleaned with antiseptic liquid and as soon as scabs formed, Tommy would scratch till it bled and the whole cycle starts again, at times creating an even bigger wound. Temporarily, steroid cream for these wounds have been stopped to prevent adverse results, so EJ has to be more diligent in monitoring and cleaning the wounds. EJ is happy that the wounds are now getting smaller.

Even in dire discomfort and itch, Tommy relax in style with paws crossed. Cinders lost a bit of weight and is resting well on the right. That furry butt below belongs to Pebble.

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

Bladder Out

Being out and busy yesterday, EJ came home in the late afternoon.

As soon as EJ opened the door, Cinders, a senior cat, walked out to the porch to greet EJ which was unusual. Before leaving in the morning, EJ left Cinders to roam the whole house while the other cats were limited to their room and yard.

On entering, EJ was horrified to see the state and mess the house was in. There were drops of blood on the floor.

Her vomit was on some old newspapers and her wastes on the floor mats. Two floor mats had to be thrown away as it was too messy to clean.

Cinders has urinary problems with blood in her urine. A phone call was promptly made for an appointment with her vet this morning.

By the time the cleaning the whole house of the mess was finished, EJ was too zonked out to do anything including checking emails and blogs.

The journey to the vet this morning was full of wails from Cinders.

Being 17 in 3 months', her vet decided against giving any antibiotics. Instead Cinders was given Cystaid Capsules, a complementary feed to sustain the production of Glycosaminoglycans in the bladder. 

Tommy, still suffering an allergy from mosquito/insect bites, had his bath this afternoon to help clean and ease the itchiness from the healing scratch wounds.

EJ is tired and may not be able to visit as many blogs.

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

Black or White

It's Sunday!

'It don't matter if you're black or white'...so sung Michael Jackson. 

Yes, it don't matter if you want a cosy corner to nap. And EJ was lucky to have snapped this shot as Tommy and Tanya don't exactly nap in sync with senior Cinders eyeing them.

Pet Pride

Roly-Poly Tommy

It's Sunday!

Though he loves resting all stretched out on two children's-sized chairs, there are times when Tommy do enjoy curling up like this.

Pet Pride

Hanging Loose

It's Sunday!


Let it all hang out...

...beer belly and foot!

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Unity Aspirations

It's Sunday!


They are united even in sleep.

When in elementary/primary school, EJ had a tiny diary. It had little sayings in it. One which EJ still remembers vividly is 'Unity is strength and so is onion'.

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The Opposite

Living on opposite sides of the globe, EJ and brother experience life differently.

Weather is different too. EJ copes with the tropical heat with once a year rainy monsoon while brother braves the four seasons.

EJ feels year end is worse for both as it is the monsoon season with torrential rain for EJ and heavy snowfall for brother.

There is an air of festivity to brother's house with the front beautifully decorated with Christmas and New Year lights. The road on the foreground is completely covered with snow.

Backyard is lighted up too. It is too cold even for desperate squirrels to visit.

In contrast, the only air of festivity in EJ's house is the tinsel-wrapped one leg of the dining table! To see the picture, please click here.

This is the cats' eye view of EJ's postage stamp sized garden after heavy rain...

...and the covered tiny backyard where the cats lounge even when it rains.

From left: Winnie, Pebble, Tommy cleaning Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK and Cinders.

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

Full House

Since the cats constantly jostle to rest on their two chairs, EJ decided to add one more chair. These three chairs are popular and usually occupied.

Cinders glared at Tommy when he rested his head and E-collar on her. That glare did not bother easy-going Tommy and he promptly fell asleep. Pebble on the right did not stir when Tommy shoved his butt into her space. Tanya, in the foreground, watched the whole scene. 

Tommy wears the E-collar for about an hour daily to allow the cream applied to be fully absorbed before the E-collar is taken off. He is responding very well to this method.

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

Caught!

It's Sunday!

Tommy caught Winnie doing...

Spiderman, Spiderman Does Whatever a Spider Can...

Yesterday, Christmas day, was Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK's Gotcha Day! 

How he came can be read here. 

Pet Pride

Tommy Wants Two

With so many comforting and healing purrs received, Tommy is getting better and says 'thank you'. Skin has formed on those sores on the legs. The ones on his face will take a longer time.

As EJ is a vegetarian due to allergy, the cats usually eat kibbles. Occassionally wet canned food is  given as a treat or to entice as well as reward an unwell cat in taking medication.

EJ found out that Tommy possibly could not eat fish. He vomitted when fish was given with his antibiotics. EJ tried the same thing again the next day, Tommy vomitted again. From then on Tommy took his antibiotics after eating the usual kibbles; no vomit. So Tommy do not need food treats.

He wanted something else. He want to rest and relax comfortably.

Wearing the E-collar, resting on the chair seems to be his favourite. The chair is also Cinders' favourite.

Inspite of the squeeze with the E-collar taking up more space, Tommy was relaxed enough to cross his legs.

With Cinders, who is 16 going on 17, pushing intruding Tommy back, he still kept his crossed-legs position.

Tired of sleeping uncomfortably, Cinders left. Finally Tommy got what he wanted...and splayed across two chairs.

Tommy Collared and Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK hatted

EJ had trouble digitally camouflaging Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK's missing right eye globe and asked for help from blogger friend Sammy and Andy. Their mom did it wonderfully. Our Captain look so very sauve and dashing, doesn't he? The Captain is also featured in Sammy and Andy's blog http://samandy007.blogspot.com

To EJ's horror, a number of sores suddenly appeared on Tommy on Sunday morning but could not go to the vet as an appointment was made to visit an elder relative.

Journey to the clinic was yesterday, Monday, and as usual Tommy wailed all the way there and back. Tommy meowed so loud that he could be heard through the wound-up car windows. Traffic was smooth. It was only while waiting for the traffic lights to turn green that drivers of vans and lorries would grin and meowed back at Tommy.

His vet checked him and found that the possible cause could be environmental allergy. A course of antibiotics for two weeks and topical cream was prescribed. Cleaning of the wounds and application of the cream must be done three times a day.

Now it is Tommy's turn to wear that E-collar to prevent him from scratching and licking.

The pink arrows shows those wounds where the cream has been applied.

Tommy being checked out by his roommates.

He tried hard to remove the E-collar.

Angered by having to wear the E-collar, Tommy transformed into a stegosaurus - a mini albino stegosaurus. Can you see the wound on his leg?

A very unhappy Tommy.

PS: To see whether it helps, EJ stopped using floor cleaner and is now using just plain water to clean floor.

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

Labour Over Box

Wanting to make sweet corn pudding in cute teddy bear shapes for the grandniece's belated birthday, EJ had to go to the supermarket to get the ingredients.

It was a Saturday. And imposed on every Saturday in Selangor state is "No Plastic Day". Free plastic bags will not be provided to customers by participating shopping centres and retailers. This is to educate and encourage shoppers to bring their own bags and change their habit of excessive use of plastic bags which are environmentally harmful.

EJ clean forgot about this "No Plastic Day" but was pleasantly surprised when a free cardboard box was offered at the payment counter to contain the stuff bought.

On reaching home, this free cardboard box became the cats' property. This was what happened.

Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK peeked with his one good eye from the box.

Tommy came along and decided that the best way to conquer the box was to just pounce on it with Captain Jack still inside. He's that dark patch just below Tommy's belly.

The minute Captain Jack jumped out, Tommy guarded the entrance.

Not giving up easily, Captain Jack made a turnaround and confronted Tommy. A staring contest ensued. Tommy stood his ground, more of sat his ground, till the fur on his spine spiked up like a dinosaur (stegosaurus). Those spikey furs did its job well.

In the foreground is Kenggy who did a perfect timing of shoving her butt at the camera just as EJ clicked.

Just as written on the box, Tommy laboured and enjoyed an all stretched-out relax.

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