What, Me Worry?

Santino seems to be doing great, going about his normal routine.  He even made me laugh last night with his playing.  

Today he tucked himself in next to Sophie.:-)
(Yes, his head is down, but only because he anticipates the flash!)

Rudy, who has been extremely agitated, seems to be back to normal...or close to it.  More than missing Miki, I think they take their cues from me...and I take that responsibility seriously.  The lighter my spirit, the happier they are.

And, I am so hoping that Miki is with his beloved Zippy as he is in this 3 and a half  year old photo.  No space was too small for the two of them together.

Mikimoto, July 14, 2002-April 12, 2010

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Bags of fluids, 3 different antibiotics, wrapping in wet towels...nothing would keep Miki's fever down, and except very occasionally, he even refused Gerbers's chicken and his favorite tuna juice. The vet could do not more for him, and I could not allow him to suffer any longer.  This morning, before his fatal injection, his temp was up to 105.

Miki was never my cat, but did his best to make do with me after his beloved Zippy died.  I say "made do" only because from that day on, he cried almost every night, the only exceptions being when he fell asleep cuddled tight against the warmth of my body.  When Zippy died, Miki also stopped his routine of bringing me a mouse which he would fetch over and over.  He seldom played, and most often looked depressed.  As crazy as this may sound, I think he lost interest in living.

There will be an autopsy.  Perhaps he can help other kitties this way.  He was a wonderful cat, very loving....He and Santino were always on my bed to wake me every morning.  The house is so quiet.  Not because Miki was noisy, but because his sibs know....They have known all along.

Emotional Whiplash

Yes, I know this isn't about me.  But, just the same, this is very hard, and it's been going on 11 days now.  Miki is down again.  His temp measured  104.5 when he lurched away from me, so I don't know whether it would have registered even higher.  This is in spite of the medication I have faithfully given him as instructed.

I've spoken to the vet twice today....He was the one on call.  Wet him down, he said....which I did, and do.  But, it's all feeling like it's not working, and I am only making him more miserable.  I try hard to not think those thoughts, but they are coming just the same.

Unlike any of my previous cats whom I helped across the Rainbow Bridge, Miki shows no sign of distress.  He is perfectly still, breathing  evenly.  There doesn't seem to be any pain anywhere.  If he makes it through the night, I will not hospitalize him again.  No more.  It's quiet and peaceful here, and he is where he loves to be.

Miki

Miki is home and awfully glad to be here.  The vet called this morning to say that Miki's temp. was only slightly elevated and that he had his head in the food bowl chowing down!  

We are cautiously optimistic.  I need to give him antibiotics twice a day for two weeks!, which means after the first pilling, I will need to isolate him to a small room...I weighing bathroom against my pristine, cat-freoffice.Oh, he isn't going to be happy about this, and neither will the others. I think the guest bathroom is IT!  At least I stand a chance catching him in there.

So beautiful in this photo, he is scraggly now.  He has tiny bits of litter "glued" to his butt.  Santino says "EUW!", but everyone is happy to see him, nevertheless.

Miki

Miki is in the hospital.  His white blood cells (neutrophils, specifically) and temperature were up.  This afternoon his temperature had spiked to 105, but they got it down to normal by 4:30.  He is on IV fluids and antibiotics.

Hopefully, he will respond to this type of antibiotic....If not, it is likely to be FIP.  

From what I read, the Coronavirus can lie idle in the cat's body for several years before mutating.  But, all I know for certain, Miki's condition is very serious, and FIP is an ugly fatal disease.  After looking it up, I understand why the vet suspects it.  Miki's symptoms fit the criteria.

The house is incredibly quiet.  I don't even see the cats.  We are all affected.

Update

Miki doesn't seem to be in any discomfort, though he has not eaten or taken in any water since last night. He has even refused tuna juice, his absolute favorite thing.  He has not moved from the extra  kitty bed I keep underneath my bed.  Sophie is sitting nearby. Rudy and Santino are arguing.  I am numb....well, almost.

If the vet had even an idea about what to look for...other than what he already checked for...I would have pursued more tests.  I do appreciate that he was honest with me.  Not only do I trust this vet, but Miki was also seen by the senior vet at the clinic.  

Monday morning:
Miki is better this morning!!!  Twice he drank water, and came to breakfast when I called!  I am hopeful and grateful to have reason to be.  I will call the vet to see if there is more that we can do for Miki.

Kitty Love. Kitty Joy

The love my cats show for each other and for me brings joy to my heart!

When Sophie and Santino snuggle together, they look so blissed out ....It's as if they adore how the other feels and smells.  (I, too, like to burrow my face into Santino's silken fluff....but, I don't think he smells so good:-) Hmm...maybe I should buy some dry shampoo?

Miki who appeared to have completely recovered from the dental surgery, took a sudden turn for the worse a few days ago.  In two weeks he had lost an entire pound...some of this water weight, of course.  I've had him to the Vet both Thursday, and again today because he had not responded to the fluids and antibiotic he was given.  This time he received more fluids and an injection of a short acting steroid.  He went straight to the food bowl when he came home and he has been visible...not hiding...ever since.  

In the past, I remember my cats hissing at anyone I brought back from the vet...but not anymore!  Both times I brought Miki home, Santino and Rudy were happy to see him.  Miki got a bath from both his brothers at once.:-)

Oh, and Rudy sits on my lap and my shoulder. Santino has brought peace, love and joy. And, though Sophie is usually in the background, she is a sweet, happy, and playful kitty.  This is where my focus is now, not on the "what if's" regarding Miki.

(Blood work showed evidence of an infection, but his mouth looked good.  I hate the idea of exploratory testing for a cat!  Vet did say he has no idea what he would be looking for, and we've already done TWO blood panels.  Sometimes I really hate being the sole decision maker here.)