We could use your prayers please

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
81

I’m so happy to hear she’s showing improvement! Mewkitty, Thomas and I are sending all the happy, healthy kitty vibes we can your way!

Does your vet have you giving her Pepcid AC or any other type of antacid? She may not be eating because her tummy’s upset. Mew’s appetite improved greatly when the vet prescribed it (and it negated the need for appetite stimulants).

Also, we’re giving her Nutri Cal as a supplement (“A high calorie, palatable dietary supplement for pets who won’t eat. Contains added vitamins.”), and ever since we started her on it, she’s put back on 1/2 a pound! (You don’t have to order it online – you can pick it up at Petco or Petsmart. Just a link so you can picture what I’m talking about.) We’ve found we have the best luck squirting it into the back of her throat with a syringe like this or this.

Good Luck and keep us posted!

82

Shayna, so good to see you! I’ve been keeping my eye out for you this week.

She has almost died 2x in the past 8 days.

She’s receiving around the clock care. Translation: I won’t leave her unless Ric is here to sit with her.

Both drs have said to bring her home and make her comfortable. The first time he didn’t give her 24 hrs. The 2nd time he didn’t give her any more then 72 hrs at the outside.

She’s doing a great job of telling them fluck u… She’s far from being stable yet, but she’s getting stronger slowly. She’s had 2 good days out of the 8.

I do have to leave her for a little while tomorrow to attend my Aunt’s funeral. I just hope she’s having a morning like today tomorrow morning.

No, no antacid or anything. She eats when she is strong enough. If she’s to weak, I feed her by hand and she eats. YAY for Fancy Feast and tuna water. There is no indication that her stomach is upset the drs could find but that could be wrong.

I’m focusing on her stablizing. Then I’ll get them to look into that further.

Thanks hun,

Kathy

83

My condolences on the loss of your Aunt, Kathy.

As for Miss Shae, at the very least, I wouldn’t wait for the doctors to “prescribe” the calorie supplement. First of all, it doesn’t require a prescription, and second of all, I’m sorry to say, but not all vets are completely clued in on CRF, I’ve found (unfortunately). I’ve had to change vets twice now, in order to find one who knew what the flick she was talking about.

The vet who first diagnosed Mew, immediately put her on Potassium supplementation, claiming that all CRF cats need added Potassium. I just blindly listened, believing he knew what he was talking about – he is the vet, afterall. Well it turns out that Mew did not need Potassium supplements because her Potassium levels tested on the high end of normal. And 2 years later they’re still well within the normal range!

Also, acid build-up is common in cats with kidney failure, and one of the primary reasons for their loss of appetite. Some doctors (like the 1st and 2nd one I went to), prescribe appetite stimulants (and I’m sure sometimes they’re necessary). Others, like the one I use now, prefer treating the cause and not the symptom. Once I took Mew off the stimulants and put her on the antacid, not only did she eat better, but she was calmer and happier. Even if they haven’t “found” anything to indicate her tummy’s upset, I’d ask the vet if at least trying 1/4 Pepcid twice a day would do any harm – perhaps the potential benefit outweighs the “we don’t know” factor?

I talked to Mew about Miss Shae today and she said she wishes her well, and then grumbled something I didn’t quite understand, but I’m sure it was something about what a meanie I was for dragging her out of her comfy tent under the bedspread to poke her with a needle. :wink: ^…^

84

This morning we buried my Aunt…and came home in time to hold Shae as she passed away quickly in our arms.

Rest Little Girl. You put up a brave fight, but now it’s time to be reunited with your sisters who went before you and frolic in the great catnip field.

We will always love you and miss you Princess Snow White! Don’t ever doubt or forget that.

With so very very very much love,

Daddy and Mommy

85

i’m so sorry.

i’m sure your aunt will take good care of shae.

86

Me and my Susie-Q will be thinking of you and Shae!

Susie means the world to me, even though she bitches at me every morning when I come in from work, “asking” where I’ve been! :smiley:

I would miss her so much if something were to happen to Susie, and so I send my prayers to you both, wishing for a speedy recovery.

Quasimodem

87

On NO!!! I replied to your first thread, and didn’t read the end! PLEASE forgive me! I am SO sorry for your loss! And so embarrassed!

Cadolphin please accept my sincere condolences on your loss!

Quasimodem

88

:frowning: :frowning: :frowning:

I’m so sorry, cadolphin!!! I know there is nothing I can say that will really help. But please know that we are thinking of you.

And remember- Every kitty goes to Heaven. I just know this.

89

My condolences, cadolphin & Rico.

I had been following your reports on her progress and as I started reading today was preparing to second Shayna’s comments on dietary supplements based on our experience with Muffin last year. Then I got to your last post. :frowning:

90

Bad week for the little ones. The ferret I was caring for didn’t make it either.

Hugs to you, and a headbump from Bookitty. At least you know you did all you could. I’m sorry about your Aunt, too.

Love, zoogirl

91

Please don’t feel embarrassed. I don’t want you to. I have posted before reading all the way to the end before.

I appreciate your compassion in joining with the rest of the incredibly wonderful people on this board cheering Shae on.

Kathy

92

Rico and I had decided to get the supplements Shayna told us about and to get some Pepcid too.

Hearing you seconding it, would have been reassuring for me that it, indeed, was a good idea. We thought they sounded like good ideas and that neither one of the two things could have hurt our little Princess.

Kathy

93

I have been doing so much praying, adding the ferret was very easy to do. I’m so sad and sorry he/she didn’t make it. I was cheering for the little one. :frowning:

It’s been a bad week all around.

My brother-in-law had to take their dog in to be put down Friday. Needless to say, between our Aunt’s passing, Arleen’s dog and Shae being so sick for 9 days, my sister and I were quite the pair yesterday.

Hugs right back toyou and Bookitty.

Kathy

94

Rico and I want to thank all of you so very much from the bottom of our hearts!!!

Your love, support, ideas, etc. have all been very much appreciated and we both found strength in knowing there were so many people from around the world pulling for our little girl! And for us too.

It’s been so hard on all of us including Duffy and Pearl. Especially Duffy. I keep bursting into tears, can’t focus or concentrate on things for very long or to think about anything serious yet, and I understand. I believe animals understand more then most people give them credit for, but I don’t know how much they understand.

We’ve been talking with Duffy (and Pearl although she never showed any interest) all though this and explaining it all to him step by step.

We brought him in to the bedroom yesterday and explained that the time had come we had told him was coming … that his sister was on her way to heaven so it was the only chance he would have to say “bye” or “see you later” or whatever he wanted to say to her.

The past few days, I think he understood she was getting sicker. He has become jumpy. He’s never been nervous or “jumpy”. He’s also not ever been one to spend time under the bed, but he’s been doing that too. He’s become sad, less interested in playing, etc. Today, he looks so lost.

Pearl hasn’t show any reaction whatsoever to any of this. Maybe because she hadn’t become part of the family earlier and didn’t bond with either Shae or Duffy or maybe because she’s been a stray for so long she’s learned not to become attached to another cat. Or maybe it’s just her personality. I don’t know. I’m still getting to know her. I just know in the 1 1/2 yrs. I watched her as a stray who called our yard her home, I never saw her interact with any of the other yard cats. And her experience inside has been to make it clear I’m her chosen person with Daddy a close runner up and she has no connection with Duffy or Shae.

Anyway, it really has meant so much to us to have ya’ll supporting us during these last 2 months.

Thank you don’t sound like it says it strong enough but I don’t know what else to say and Rico had a commitment he couldn’t get out of today so he’s been gone all day and won’t be home until late. I didn’t want to wait that long to post.

Hugs for ya’ll from both Ric and I, and purrs from Duffy.

PS New pictures have been added. Our Cat Children’s Webpage We have more pictures to add and will do it as soon as one of us can, so check back again later if you want.

95

cadolphin, I am so sorry for you and your family. Our grief seems, at first, to be such a high price for loving them, but then we realize it really is a very small price to pay, because they bring such joy and love into our lives. You can hopefully take comfort in knowing that she was a very pampered kitty, and I have no doubt she appreciated it. You can also rest assured that you did all possible for her, and she knows that too. God bless you and yours.

96

Wow. Shae looks like our Powdered Donut, except Donut is frightfully skinny (though we have since decided that she may not have FIP, because she’d definitely be dead by now).

I agree that animals know more than people say they do. After Giuseppe died, Donut seemed a little lost. She’d run all over the place, meowing loudly and relentlessly at something that wasn’t there, at least to us.

Anyway, what you’re doing is great. Keep the memory alive.

My condolences.

97

I’m so sorry on the loss of Shae. It’s rare that reading a thread on ANY message board will make me cry, but I’m sitting here trying to control my tears for your baby. She was definitely a fighter - and from what I’ve read, you were wonderful parents to her. I think I’ll go give my furbabies an extra kiss and cuddle tonight in memory of Shae.

Ava

98

dammit, dammit, dammit! I’m so sorry, Kathy. You tried so hard and you did everything you could to get her well and to make her comfortable. You did everything right – never doubt that. I just know she loved very, very much and appreciated all you did for her. I’m so sad for you – I know how hard it is to lose a furry baby (I’ve burried 2, myself). I’m sure Miss Shae is frolicking with her sisters now, content that she had the best kitty life possible!

Our deepest condolences.

Warmest hugs,
Jill & Thomas

99

((((cadolphin and rico))))

Oh my goodness, I don’t know how I kept managing to miss your thread on Shea. I am so very sorry for your loss, and I’m keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.

Losing a beloved furbaby is so hard. They become such an integral part of your lives - sometimes you don’t realize just how much until they’re gone.

This wonderful piece has helped to heal my broken heart in the past… I hope it will help you, too:

The Rainbow Bridge

100

Cadolphin - I just got back from vacation and looked for news of Shae first thing. Please accept my condolences. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to lose a furry child.

StG