Today was a really weird day for me. First I am hired and finally got the job I have wanted for ages, then all of a sudden, my tom cat Dexter starts making weird noises.

I have two cats and Dexter is the in aproachable one, he is afraid of sound and sudden movements. Getting him to trust me is still a contest. He will only let me lift him for a month, he is learning to trust me over the four years that I had him



So Dex is making these weird noises and first I think he is having hairball problems, but the sound is just too weird, like a growl.

Then, after 15 minutes, I hear the sound again. It is SO unlike him; he never makes a sound. He is the toughest cat on the block.

Then the sounds come faster and it dawns on me he is in extreme pain. Poor kitty! I had some trouble getting him in a basket, but when he was I rushed to the vet.

Almost immediately the vet told me he was very ill. He had a good heartbeat and good lungs, but his bladder was swolen up beyond believe.

This mostly indicated kidney problems, and when this is ignored for a long time, it will explode the kidney, so to speak. There is no chance of a cat living through that kind of failure. It happens quite often with cats.

So he got a shot to calm him down and i had to leave him! Og m, that is SO hard to do! I just walked out of the vet in a trance!

He told me he would take a blood sample that would help him establish if Dexter was going to survive this; if he had kidney failure, I would have to go back and put him to sleep.

The half hour I had to wait was SO hard. My buddy, who is on holiday, called from Spain to ask if I got the job and all I could do was cry. I had to cut that conversation short, cuz of the incoming call from the vet.

Even though my cat is really sick, his kidneys are allright! I was SO happy with this news. His problem is that he has kidney stones and a big one was blocking his penis. They got this out and then inserted a catheter so he could pee.
He has to keep this for a few days and then will get a special diet to help him get rid of the smaller stones. And he gets antibiotics for the infection he of course has.

Poor little kitty. This is going to cost me a fortune, but I dont even care. I love my cats so much. I am glad he is going to be alright, hopefully!

Thank you to Dawntreader for being there AGAIN when I needed someone. You are one of the most faithful friends a person can have. I love you, Dawnie!
[This message was edited Tue Aug 17 13:14:06 2004 by CookieMonster]

How much is it going to cost you?

Vets really do charge too much!

aww gooey... I'm glad your cat is okay. My guinea pig died of kidney failure in April. It's very sudden and it sucks.

dexter

I am glad your kitty is ok.

tell him I said hello

BinaryJustin said:

and at the same time, I don't understand people who get pets without taking into consideration how much care and money they will take up. A vet bill is hefty, but no one should buy an animal without having the funds to take care of it, or without the realization that hey, my animal could get sick at any time, and it might need veterinary attention.

I've known far too many people who just opt for the animal to be put to sleep, or just let it die, or give it away because of these reasons.

Makes a person sick.

<===

Awww, thanks, sweeties.

My cats were lil orphans that I gradually came to love. I would never abandon them. They my kitties.

I luvs them

His Mrs DeeDee is walking around the house looking for him!

Awwww

She is like tapping my leg every five minutes; "Where is Dexter?"

Cooks

Glad to hear the kitty will make it


and congrats on the job

CookieMonster said:

This is such good news Gooey. I know how it feels to have your kitty being so sick. Some people won't understand but it can be like your child being in distress. My three cats were all rescued or abandoned and the vet bills can be staggering. They've gone up so much in the past two years. But, your little boy sounds like with your love, care and special food, that he will live a long and happy life with you. He is BEAUTIOUS!!!!!

awwwww! I'm glad to hear he's OK!!!!
My kitty has been through some tough times herself. She was diagnosed with kidney diease about 2 years ago and I about lost it in the vet's office. They had to teach me how to administer her fluids myself at home (which was only for a week or so) and I made Darin come with me and practically had to have him talk for me cause I was crying I was so upset with it all. But with diet we have kept her as healthy as we can and she's still very happy. She also had surgery to have her engorged uterus removed about 4 years ago or so. I've had her since I was 11. She has grown up with me and has moved with me everywhere I've been since then.

to your kitty

CarrieMpls said:

ohmygod, carrie!!

THis thread reminds me of cborgman.

Im glad your kitty is ok. Kiss your kitty for me

awwwww....
this made me cry! I'm SO happy your boy will be ok! Let us know when he comes home, ok?
YAY DEXTER!

Dex is a handsome cat. Glad he is going to be okay, and that you got him to the vet's on time. It's hard to know when a cat is sick, because a lot of times, they hide it so well that we don't even realize what is going on. I know how hard it can be when your pet gets sick, and am glad that the prognosis is positive.

My parents once had a cat who had a problem with getting bladder infections all the time. One year, on Christmas Eve or Day (can't remember which), the cat was very, very sick. We could tell that he wasn't feeling too well, because when my dad picked him up to take him to the vet, he meowed very loudly (brought tears to my eyes, the poor kitty).

We called the vet, and he was nice enough to meet my father and I at the vet's office. The vet examined the cat, and determined that he had a bladder infection, which was caused by tiny stones that were blocking his uretha so that he couldn't pee. The doctor was able to empty the cat's bladder, then gave us medication to give to the cat several times a day. I believe the cat also had to have an operation to make his uretha bigger so that the stones would not cause problems. After that ordeal, as long as the cat got his medication every day, he was fine, no more problems with bladder infections/stones. He lived to be 14 years old.

Sounds like your kitty is on the way to leading a long, happy life too. I love cats too, I have three of them, they're my babies.
[This message was edited Tue Aug 17 22:55:18 2004 by psychodelicide]

Thank you all for your heartfelt replies!

I was so wired I again had troubles sleeping! LOL

I have to call in half an hour so they can tell me when to pick him up. I hope immediately, cuz I miss him lots.

CarrieMpls said:

Please tell me you just turned 16....

LoL

How old is she????

And hurray for good friends like Darin and Jurgen (Dawntreader)!

Jurgen and my good friend Marielle kept me sane yesterday evening; my head was spinning!

I believe it. No matter how many cats you have, the house seems a little emptier when one of them is missing.

I am gonna pick him up in 30 minutes!

Finally!

gooeythehamster said:

that soon, good ! but... but...when did you post this...

i'll be waiting you know where !

CookieMonster said:

I wish that were so! My kitty is 18 years old. She's a very old a wise kitty.

gooeythehamster said:

Great news!

He's baaaaack!

Still in pain, wearing a catheter (so incontinent as can be) and wearing a collar preventing him from removing the catheter he now reclines in soltitude in my spare bedroom.

He is really not in the mood for company. Poor Dexter. Normally he hides underneath the bookcase I have there, but because of his collar I removed all the books off the lowest bookcase, put boxes in front of it so he could hide.

But when I came back from a real nice beer with Dawn, Fhunkin and a mutual friend, he had pushed the boxes aside to hide in the place he obviously likes best; UNDER the bookcase.

He is SO uncomfortable!

gooeythehamster said:

Aww... poor baby.
When can he be without the catheter?

applekisses said:

Friday evening!

I am looking forward to that. I just want him being his neurotic self...

gooeythehamster said:

Only two more days!

You are a good daddy!