Have you seen my cat lately? Probably not, as my 365 has turned into more of a *whenever I feel like it* project. Well, whatever. She has gotten big. Not big as in regular-cat big, but for her she’s enormous! And I am a proud parent. Today we had Derek (the window repair man) and his assistant over to re-repair the bedroom window. As they were trekking up the stairs I warned them about the new overly-friendly kitten that may be under foot. She chose that moment to appear out of nowhere. She was standing tall with her neck fully extended (she’s like ET with that neck of hers). Her bright blue eyes glinted in the afternoon sun coming in. When the burly repair men saw her they both did an “Ooooh!” and tried to pet her.. Aw! Sadly they must have not smelled as good as the Cable Guy that was here 2 weeks ago that she was literally ALL OVER, as she would have nothing to do with them.

Either way, I was inspired to take her photo later today when she was being especially cute, albeit less striking than she was with the men:

tagged: cat pets versace siamese kitten

daniel · late afternoon · 1 comment · ping it

Versace drank water. Like plain, right out of the water bowl, water! AND had kibble. Not a lot, but she ate it on her own!

Also, she’s been on the counter. I couldn’t be happier!! My baby is feeling better! Really actually better. *sigh* All this within the last hour too. Weird how sudden it is. Hrm. I just hope it lasts!

I am a proud papa tonight. I just hope she doesn’t injure herself with all of these shenanigans. I had forgotten exactly how “death defying” her “normal” really is… Good gawd. Hang on… VERSACE!! Get down!!

Gotta run.

tagged: cat versace siamese kitten spay complications

daniel · mid-afternoon · 1 comment · ping it

My cat isn’t dead! In fact I would cautiously venture to say… she’s getting better. But I can’t get too much hope going. She’s been better and worse and better and even more worse for days. But I am still *cautiously optimistic*. I have decided, groggy or not, it wouldn’t be right to groom her in any way while in this state. That is definitely OCD self control. There is some ear trimming one does on a purebred Siamese.. But I refrain. I do!

All kidding aside, I do hope we are finally healing. I have been sick with worry. This cat is my very first actual pet that has been all my own. Not the family dog. Not the Pre-Existing Cats I moved into with my Richard. I chose her. Or more actually, she chose me. I just chose the breed. The rest was magic. I feel totally responsible. Her surgery hurt me.

And on that note, since I brought it up… What the hell with the Spay-Neuter campaign? I get, *no*, I TOTALLY GET the importance of both procedures. However, they are recommended and tossed about like candy. Like it’s totally natural for your pet. Common even. In most cases it may be all those things! In our case it was not. It was a very real, very major surgery. It had very real and serious complications. I just imagine how it would be handled if it were a woman, instead of my cat. She was sent home with me the same day. Like it was nothing. I didn’t know. I thought it was “nothing” too. Although I had done a bit of online research, I went with the flow. I selfishly wanted my kitten back home. Now that I have been through it, I find it amazingly cruel to send an animal home with untrained, unprepared regular folk to handle the POST MAJOR SURGERY CARE. All I got was a useless e-collar (the lampshade that my cat could both reach around and remove at will) and a painkiller that was hard to administer. No antibiotics, which as it turns out are the magic cure for rejecting sutures. I had little idea of what to expect, and the online info combined with the “discharge instructions” were absolutely useless. It is my belief that an overnight stay would have saved her all this undue suffering. The veterinary hospital has much better “kind confinement” than I can provide at home to speed healing the first day. My cat did some amazing body slams and contortions because she wanted out of the suggested “isolation in one room” as well as repeatedly removing the e-collar (and that took BODY FLIPS people, all with a fresh incision) The symptoms of my cats complications would have probably been noticed had she been overnight. Or had we been given antibiotics to start right away. But the surgery is so common. So many cats have no issues that the rules are based on the majority. So here I am, exhausted from fear and guilt, and 300 dollars poorer (not counting the cost of the spay) for something I feel could have been totally avoidable.

Dude. Learn from me and ask questions. Make sure you and your pet never has to endure what we did due to lack of knowledge. Had I known what to ask for and insist on, we would have had none of this pain and heartache.

tagged: cat kitten advice spay procedures

daniel · late evening · 3 comments · ping it

I am not neglecting you. In fact I have lots to talk about. My lesbian aunt, for one. Of course I have much to say regarding veterinary medicine and female cats as well. That topic enrages me… I cannot wait to let it all out. (I will flag those entries, in case you are sick of my cat-blogging).

In the meantime, my little kitten Versace is having an awful time post-spay. She has been to emergency care twice since the operation. At this point we should be almost done with the healing process. Versace has only started healing, and the situation is still very “iffy”. My energy and focus are with her now. I chose to put her through this. I need to be with her until the outcome. If I hadn’t elected to spay, hadn’t insisted on buying HER, had just kept quiet, none of this would be happening to her. I have cried every day since the operation. The guilt of it is killing me.

Right now I am regretting the whole thing. If you are the praying sort, please include her. Or send some healing mojo. Or a wish. We need all the help we can get. I don’t want her to suffer more. I don’t want to lose her.

tagged: cat versace siamese kitten regrets

daniel · evening · 3 comments · ping it

My cat was almost back like she was on Sunday when I took her to the Emergency Hospital last night when I got home. I couldn’t believe it. Richard had been with her all day! Apparently she had been acting normal until an hour before I got home. Frantic, I canceled our dinner plans. I needed to keep an eye on her. She got worse within the next hour. I was about to take her back to the ER, when her regular Doctor called to check on her. After talking with her we thought forcing water down her throat to keep her hydrated would be fine till morning. Then I was going to drop her off at the vet, and skip the expensive ER. So we gave her about 2 ounces of water, and let her sleep a bit. She woke up around 9 and was obviously feeling better. She ate and drank on her own, her fur looked normal, and she was alert again. Relieved, we all got on the couch and watched TV before bed. This morning she seemed fine too. She drank water as soon as she was up and about. She ate breakfast. I called the vet and let them know I was going to watch her at home, and not drop her off since she still seemed okay.

Later in the afternoon I became concerned. I hadn’t seen her drink anything. I tried to give her water, but she turned away. So I tried her moist food. She went for that, so I mixed it with more water and hand fed her. After a few more hours she still hadn’t drank on her own and was starting to look gaunt again. Dehydrated again. I gave her more canned food with water and called the vet again. She said we should bring her in. We just dropped her off. I hope to hear something by 5:15. That’s when they said I should return. I just hope she’s okay. I thought this “spaying” was a Routine Procedure. I thought there were rarely complications. I thought most cats were feeling normal after 24 - 48 hours. It’s been nearly 5 days. The ER vet thought she was fine. My cat isn’t acting fine. Is she in pain, tear a stitch, or just a drama queen? Hopefully I’ll know in an hour.

I am so afraid I am going to lose her. For something I elected to have done. I cannot explain the guilt and remorse I already feel. If this gets worse… I am going to be a mess.

tagged: cat versace kitten spay

daniel · mid-afternoon · 5 comments · ping it

Well, I just returned from the Emergency Pet Hospital.

After a day and a half of feeling fine and being far too active Versace was feeling the effects of her spaying this morning. She didn’t want to get out of bed, and when she did she was moving slow. I noticed right away that she was shivering. I figured she was cold so I popped on the heat and went about my morning routine. I started by putting down cat food. Coco of course came running. Versace did not. Odd, but I had figured she was finally feeling all the jumping around she had been doing. I felt bad so made her food a special treat by mixing in some cottage cheese (loves it, and good for her coat… they say). I even brought it up to her. She didn’t want it. She wasn’t even interested. Worried, I went and got the other treats she really *REALLY* likes. She sniffed at it a bit but only ate it after I tore it up small. Scared, but still thinking she was hurting I gave her the pain medication. She slept for a bit, but was clearly feeling and looking worse when she woke up. That’s when we went to the Emergency Room.

I hadn’t been there since Chanel died, and panic really hit when I dove into the driveway. By the time I walked in the door I was feeling waves of emotion combined with my worry over Versace. They took her to the back right away. I had to fill out forms. Then I was sent to the waiting area. After what felt like forever a young man came out with my Portable Pet Home that we use as a carrier. It was empty. I think my heart stopped, but he quickly explained that Versace was with the doctor, and someone would take me back shortly. They really shouldn’t come out with empty pet carriers. It’s just cruel. After another eternity I was finally led to the exam room. No it wasn’t exam room 3, luckily. Still, as soon as I got inside it was all too much. It looked the same. Smelled the same. In my mind I could see Richard bent over the exam table with Chanel. I lost it. I cried. I cried for Richard’s loss, for Chanel, and out of fear for my new little Versace. I hadn’t pulled it together by the time the doctor came in. I think I startled her. She had to think I was crazy. So I explained my last visit to that particular hospital. Which got me teary again. She assured me that Versace was fine, and not going to die. Once I had relaxed a bit she explained what she thought was going on and we talked about how it happened.

She thinks my cat is in extreme pain from the surgery, and her activity since. She doesn’t think Versacec was shivering from cold, but fear and pain. After talking we established that I was administering the medicine incorrectly and she wasn’t getting enough. It wore off. Once in so much pain she stopped eating and drinking, and got dehydrated too. I feel awful about that, but I am relieved that my kitten is okay. If the doctor was right my baby should be feeling better and continue healing just fine. She thought that the incision looked clean and good. Nothing was torn open, the swelling there was normal. All of that looked fine. They helped administer the medicine correctly and we went home.

Since then Versace looks better, still sleepy and not moving, but responsive. She also ate a kibble. Yay!

tagged: cat versace kitten emergency surgery spay

daniel · early afternoon · 2 comments · ping it

*Read no further if you are sick of Cat Blogging*

So as it turns out, my kitten has an amazing threshold for pain. Or she’s insane. Or both. I went to pick her up at the vet at 4. She had been out of surgery for about 4 hours from what I was told, and she was just waking up from the drugs. Groggy. And all dolled up in one of those e-collars. Poor thing. The tech told me she had chosen a soft collar for comfort. Comfort. In an e-collar? Right. So I pay my 3 billion dollars and off we go. She was in her Portable Pet Home in the seat next to me. As soon as I got the car out into traffic she started thrashing about and screaming in there. By thrashing, I do mean just that. Throwing herself about in there like an insane cat. I am lucky I didn’t get into an accident on the way to the house with all that going on.

After what seemed like an eternity we finally get home. I let her out of the carrier, expecting her to settle down a bit. She was clearly still drugged after all, and was quite wobbly on her feet. She didn’t care. She was all over the living room. Circling. Then she went down the stairs. Then she came up. Then down. Then up. Stairs are to be avoided! The instructions upon discharge made that very clear! She was not “settling down” so I tried the recommended “isolating her in one room” method. I even brought up her box! She could be in there, avoid stairs, and recover in peace. She didn’t want no peace. She was up and down on the bed, circling around, NOT holding still. I was panicking at this point. She’s just stitched and glued shut from the operation. All this activity and she’s gonna pop her seam!

So I call the vet. They say to put her in her carrier to limit her movement, and that at 7 when we give her the pain medicine it’ll make her sleepy. Okaaay. So I pop her back into the Portable Pet Home.

That’s when she really went wild. She thrashed and rolled and body slammed herself in that thing. It was like one of those cartoon cat fights in there! She also worked her way out of her e-collar. (I really don’t think those work for cats…) after about a half an hour we decided that was no good either. We let her out, put the collar back on her and just let her be. She still jumped, and climbed, and took off the damn collar again, but was at least calm. That had to be better for her recovery than the confinement. So we just watched her close, ready to take her to the Emergency Clinic if she tore her incision. She didn’t.

Now it’s 10AM the next day. We are all up and about. She lasted the night without tearing or picking. I think I might survive this.

tagged: cat versace kitten emergency surgery vet recovery

daniel · at some point · say it · ping it

I knew the Siamese, as a breed could be vocal and distinct. I was totally prepared. When things are normal I get a lot of joy from little Versace. However, last night things weren’t normal. She clearly was not herself.

She started acting a bit off in the afternoon, a bit moody, a bit nervous and distracted even. As we neared bedtime she seemed a bit clingy, and still distracted. Not even interested in her “bedtime toy”. (Yes, “bedtime toy”. It’s totally not weird if you have had a kitten. 20 minutes before bed she gets to play with a toy that only comes out at that time to burn off that last bit of energy so she’ll sleep through the night.) Anyhoo, so no-go with playtime. So I shut out the light and we attempt to sleep. Versace placed her self on my chest, which is totally not where she normally sleeps. She purred and was still for about 20 minutes. I know this because she purrs really loudly. Then she was up and about the room crying, then down the hall, then down stairs. Crying. All night. Of course on the night before Richard and I were due back to work.

Now I know you have all heard about a Siamese cat’s cry. It is often compared to a crying infant. Only louder. And, as Randy Jackson would say, “pitchy”. So I got no sleep, and I am sure Richard only got about an hour or 2 during those brief times I was able to get her calm. When morning came I got on the net. (Sounds exciting when you say it like that! I also leapt into action!) I researched her symptoms and came up with a lot of sources regarding “cats in heat”. Erm. I thought she was a bit young for that, but apparently Siamese will go into “heat” as early as 5 months. Sometimes as early as 4! I freaked out a bit. I mean, talk about an abrupt end to Kittendom! Also, she didn’t quite have all the symptoms… but her constant cleaning of her kitty-zone had me really worried. So I called in sick so I could watch her, just in case. I also put a call in to the vet. Since I had no appointment I had to wait for a doctor to call me back between appointments. Hours later I spoke to a doctor who felt she had an infection in her urinary tract, not an early “heat”. He advised I bring her right in. I did.

200 bucks later and we have a diagnosis, a prescription, and hopefully a cat that will sleep tonight. (Thank gawd for pet insurance!!)

UPDATE: Things have escalated! Gotten louder! And it’s odd how my cat can walk in reverse with her ass poking out like that… I think we have been miss-diagnosed.  This heat thing, if that’s what it is, can go on for 2 weeks, only to start up again a week later… Ugh. I hope I am wrong.

tagged: cat loud versace siamese kitten

daniel · mid-afternoon · say it · ping it

from dp.com… and Versace!

tagged: holiday christmas cat versace siamese kitten 2008

daniel · mid-morning · 2 comments · ping it

1. el gato diablo
1. the cat devil
2. nitnelav
do not mess with el gato diablo

And so there we were, in the middle of our “training” session. You see, I had been reading this book that I picked up… “Cat Training in 10 Minutes”. We have had limited success, but enough that I had a bit of hope. I want a well trained cat. One that you just trust. Right? But tonight training was not going well. In fact she was a total rebel in all regards. Richard had told me that she gets like this, but I have never seen it. Little Versace is my baby! She can do no wrong!

But tonight she was terrible. Awful. I was losing my patience! I was… Well *she* was on my last gay nerve and I was gonna explode! She was even unresponsive to her “training”, where usually it goes pretty smooth. She is very smart after all. Anyhoo, so there we were, a soggy chip on the floor and a very naughty kitten. I cleaned up. I scooped up Versace and we went to another room where I could shut the door and eliminate distractions. She still wouldn’t behave. I decided to try a trick Richard taught me. I picked her up and flipped her on her back. I tried to calm her. She fought. I held her in place as best I could and continued. I told her she doesn’t always get her way. did she understand me? No, of course, but in my body language I think yes. After the clawing and fighting she settled at last. I eventually put her down. After a few minutes of pouting (she always pouts!) we had the best training ever and are again BFF’s.

*phew*

In non-cat news I also purposefully pissed off a grocery store clerk today. I know, I am awful. Going straight to hell. Sure. I get it. But the woman was retarded! Look. I was next. All that there was in front of me were these two dudes with like 3 things. Golden. So I waited. Dude #1’s card was declined. He then slowly counted out all the cash in his pockets. Not enough. So then his buddy emptied *his* pockets. After counting, and the recounting (BTW this was the “Express Lane”) they were still 84 cents short. So dude #2 says he’ll go to the car and get the rest. WTF? So Dude one tells the clerk to go ahead and “void” the transaction and let us pay. “Oh no”, she says. “Then I’ll have to get a manager to do the void, and just to re-ring you when you get back. No way. Y’all go ahead.”

Again. WTF? Is this woman for real? So she holds up the (only) express line so dumb and dumber can go dig in their car for nickels. So I say something rude as she “apologizes” even tho we all know she has instigated the whole thing to avoid doing a *void*. “This is why I never shop at Von’s” I say. An honest remark. We have complained all the way to regional level with no results. The SoCal Safeway Co. clearly is way different than NoCal. Anyhoo. She snaps back at me. Rudely, of course, but I was not nice and expected a challenge. I was pissed. “But y’all keep on coming back!” She then told me to gather up my things and wait on check-stand #1 because she had called for back-up. I didn’t move, which was good because as expected no one came up. Even after she herself screeched into the overhead. After like an eternity dumb and dumber had found enough pennies in the car to pay and I was finally rung up. Miss Thing at the register and I bickered some more. Dude. I hate that store. It’s always the same. I am a manager in a customer service field and I cannot, will not tolerate stupidity, poor training, AND rudeness all in one transaction! But I feel bad for being so awful. But she was clearly an idiot! But I have guilt.

Gah!

tagged: work cat versace service wtf siamese kitten bad von's

daniel · early evening · 2 comments · ping it