Sparkler's appetite is off

[phesina]

Sparkler spends most of her time under my bed. At meal time she comes over to the edge and chows down there.

The last few days she hasn't been coming. I leave dry food, but I don't think she eats it. I've found I can urge her from one end and she comes out at the other end and goes into the bottom level of kitty condo, and I've been able to give her some wet food there.

I told the vet yesterday, and he said he'd like to take a look at her.

She is almost impossible to get ahold of and really freaks if I try to struggle her into a carrier. That's if I can get ahold of her at all. This week I've also not been seeing her under the bed, and I'm quite sure she is crawling up into the bed spring box, the bottom of which is all ripped up.

Any suggestions, how I can get her, how I can get her into a safe space, how I can get her to the vet's? How I can get her appetite back?

I'm just at a loss and feel awful.

Thank you,
Pat (and cats) :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[cassiesmom]

Dear sweet Sparkler, please come out and let meowmie take you to the doctor. She is worried about you. We :love: you and we want you to be happy and healthy for many years to come! Please let meowmie take care of you. We are saying a big prayer for you and meowmie, dear girl!

:love: :love: :love: :love:,
Cassie and Elyse

[Randi]

I'm so sorry to hear Sparkler isn't eating much, if at all. :( Is he drinking? There are pills that stimulate cats appetite, ask your vet about those. However, I think it's a good idea to get him thoroughly checked.

I know what you're talking about when you say you can't get hold of him. Fister was like that for years and it was nerve wrecking every time we had to take him anywhere. If you get some medicine called Diazepam - just 2-3 mg, that might calm him down enough to be able to get him into a box. Crush a pill and put inside some meat he likes.

Sending lots of good wishes and hope it's not something serious. How old is he?

(((hugs))) :love:

[Catty1]

I think a small dose of med would be helpful to get him to the vet. Prayers that it's nothing serious!:love:

[Queen of Poop]

To get Sparkler out from under maybe try a laser pointer? IF she comes out she will be distracted enough that you should be able to grab her. Do this of course with the room darkened so the light is MORE attractive.

Sorry, it's all I've got. I hope you can get her out and checked over.

[phesina]

Sparkler is quite young, 4-5 years old. I was just at the vet's with Poppaea and told him about the trouble to get ahold of Sparkler. He said see how she does over the weekend, and if she's not better by Monday he'll want to take a look at her.

She has come out to eat pretty much each meal, not a whole lot but at least she's not starving.

I got some Fancy Feast to hopefully whet her appetite and also reward Poppaea and Kitty (recovering from her dental surgery yesterday) and Kellie.

[Jessika]

The elusive kitty is a frequent reason why appointments are rescheduled at my clinic. You aren't alone with having trouble catching him!

The problem, though, is when cats don't eat it can be very bad. Not bad because of the reason why they aren't eating, but because they are susceptible to getting fatty liver. I would try your hardest to catch him and get him to the vet before the weekend. You don't really want to wait on these things... and this is speaking from experience. By the end of the weekend you're going on nearly a week of not eating, and that can just be very bad :( The only suggestions I have are "luring" him into the box with his absolute favorite treat, or catching him in a blanket and putting him in there. Does your carrier had a top you can take off? Sometimes that goes easier than shoving them in through the door.

Good luck!!! And keep us posted.

[phesina]

I've got her in a carrier... We're on our way.

[cassiesmom]

I've got her in a carrier... We're on our way.

Good girl, Sparkler! KISSES to you from me and I hope it is something that can be quickly put right!

A candle for Sparkler: http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/message.cfm?l=eng&cid=18171903

[katladyd]

Sending good thought Sparkler's way.:love:

[phesina]

Well, we're back..

Sparkler is a little dehydrated.. has pink around her eyes.. lungs sounded clear but there was a sound of congestion in her nasal passages. She's likely not been showing up for the food because she hasn't been able to smell it. The vet suggested I warm it up to make it more aromatic.

She got a Convenia shot to knock out the URI.. sub-q fluids.. Tobramycin eye drops. I'm to give her a drop of that in each eye every 4-6 hours. Fat chance I can get ahold of her to do that!

We got home, and she went straight back under the bed.

If she's not doing better by Monday, I should call and they might do blood work.

Thank you for the candle, Elyse, and for the good wishes, folks.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[phesina]

The elusive kitty is a frequent reason why appointments are rescheduled at my clinic. You aren't alone with having trouble catching him!

The problem, though, is when cats don't eat it can be very bad. Not bad because of the reason why they aren't eating, but because they are susceptible to getting fatty liver. I would try your hardest to catch him and get him to the vet before the weekend. You don't really want to wait on these things... and this is speaking from experience. By the end of the weekend you're going on nearly a week of not eating, and that can just be very bad :( The only suggestions I have are "luring" him into the box with his absolute favorite treat, or catching him in a blanket and putting him in there. Does your carrier had a top you can take off? Sometimes that goes easier than shoving them in through the door.

Good luck!!! And keep us posted.

Thanks, Jessika. She has been eating, when I've put the food right by her. She just hasn't been coming out for it as she usually does. But I took her in anyway since I was able to get ahold of her and put her in a carrier.

[Randi]

Now that you got her to the vets, I wonder why they didn't do any bloodwork, that might have showed what is going on.

Hop Sparkler gets better. :love:

[phesina]

Thanks Randi. I think she didn't do the bloodwork now because this is most likely just a beginning URI. But (now after the fact, when it's too late) I think you're right, I should have had them take the blood today, because she is so hard to get ahold of, in case she doesn't show improvement and should come back for it. I feel bad about it now.

Pat :love::love:

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Don't feel bad. When our fur kids are sick we don't always think clearly. At least I don't. Prayers she feels better real soon. Prayers for you too. :love:

[Jessika]

Yay!!! That sounds about right, since didn't you say you're treating your other household kitty for a URI right now also? Hope the convenia is all she needs to kick start a speedy recovery :love::love:

[phesina]

Thanks, MoFF, for the prayers and good wishes. We can sure use them about now!

And thanks, Jessika, for the comments and good wishes. Yes, my old girl Poppaea has a URI that she's getting Azithromycin and today a Depo-Med shot for. She and Sparkler are in the same room, I can't isolate them. The head vet, who treated Poppaea earlier today, thought it was likely that Sparkler picked that up from her.

I hope this fixes Sparkler up. I sure don't want to have to try and wrestle her back into a carrier on Monday. She'll really hate me then. I just hope she'll come out from inside the bedspring-box and have more to eat!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm glad that you were able to get her to your vet. Hopefully she'll start feeling better soon. I also hope that none of your other cats get sick. I know how hard it is to try to isolate cats when you have a multi-cat household. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way.:love:

[phesina]

Thank you, Tracey. I really hope none of the others come down with this too.

Great news -- SPARKLER CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE BED AND ATE A WHOLE BOWL OF WET FOOD!!!!!

AND SHE LET ME PET HER AND SKRITCH HER AROUND THE EARS, AND SHE PURRED REALLY LOUD!!!!!!

I guess she has forgiven me for all the indignities I subjected her to earlier today. WHEW!!!

[Pinot's Mom]

Great news!! Yay Sparkler! :love:

[Catty1]

WOOHOO!!! Yay Sparkler and especially for her caring mom!:D:love::love:

[phesina]

Well, she didn't come out for breakfast this morning. I left a bowl of crunchies under the bed, and I hope she came out while I was away and got at least some of it.

And I hope and pray she will come out later and eat while I'm there and let me pet her and give her more lovies.

Thanks, Maggie and Candace and all our dear friends.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[phesina]

I haven't seen her at all today. I'm quite worried. I left some dry food under the bed, and that has been eaten, but whether by her or one of the others, I don't know.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get her to come out from the bedsprings? Appetizing food aromas don't seem to do the job.

Thanks, and please say some prayers for my little Sparkler.

[Karen]

I would get a book and a pillow and just sit on the floor near where you think she's hiding for as long as it takes for her to approach you. Having a dish of something smelly in font of you - like tuna fish - may help! Prayers for her and you!

[slick]

My love Sparkler: I know how you feel. Sometimes I just want to be on my own, but that scares Meowmie so I crawl on her lap so she knows I'm OK. Please come out my love and eat something. Even though my Meowmie hasn't posted here in a long time, my love for you has not faded. I'd love to share my basket with you. :love:
All my love
Merlin

[phesina]

Sparkler did come out last night and ate a whole dish of wet cat food again.. which I watched her eat. The dry food I'd left under the bed was gone when I looked this morning. And this morning she came out from the bed springs again but then headed back in when I tried to look. I put a small amount of wet food under the bed in the hopes of attracting her back out. A little later when I checked again, the food had been eaten, but I don't know if that was by her.

I hope the Convenia is knocking out the stuffy nose. Last night I tried to give her the eye drops the vet had given us to clear up the pink rims of her eyes. I hope that wasn't something that made her not want to come out again.

Pat

[phesina]

Oh, my dearest Merlin! I'd love to share your basket with you. I wish you were here so I could do that. It is so lovely to see your sweet face on my Catberry screen again. I did eat some nice wet food last evening so Meowmie wouldn't worry quite as much.

All my love right back to you, my darling, :love::love::love:,
Your Sparkler

56137

[Jessika]

Yay, Sparkler!!

I think I need some convenia myself for my stuffy nose today :(

[phesina]

Well, she hasn't come out at all this evening for me to give her some wet food. I've left dry food in a bowl under the bed, and it gets eaten.. I hope some of it at least is being eaten by her.

I just don't know how to get her out from the bedsprings box. I worry about her, and about all this, so much.

There are under-the-bed storage boxes partly under this, which are high enough to give her a platform to walk on in the bedsprings box. I removed one of those yesterday, and the fabric from the springs box just hangs down. She retreated to where the other storage boxes still are. I wonder if I should take the other two out from under the bed, whether that would really freak her, or if there is some place back in the corner where she could still hide.

[cassiesmom]

Dear Miss Sparkler, could you please come out and try to eat some gushy food for meowmie. I know you aren't feeling well, sweety but it's unsettling for us meowmies when our kitty-kids are not in the mood to eat. Continued prayers for you too :love:

[phesina]

Thank you, Elyse! She must have heard you. At about 11pm (way past my bedtime) she did come out, and she ate nearly a whole can of Fancy Feast!

I feel better when I know she's getting some food into her. Especially some wet food, because she was a bit dehydrated when the vet checked her, and she got some sub-q fluids there.

I get so worried when I don't know if she's eating.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[lizbud]

Prayers for dear Sparkler and for Poppaea too.:love: It is certainly hard to watch & wait while they don't feel 100%.

[phesina]

Thank you, Liz. Between the two of them, they really have me worried. Poppaea is still wheezing, too.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm glad to hear that shes eating. Hopefully she'll continue to eat well and improve each day.:)

[phesina]

Thanks, Tracey. The vet thinks that she's slowly improving, too. He said the Convenia can take a little time to kick in. I'm to report back to him on Wednesday about how she's doing when I report in on Poppaea.

I mentioned not wanting to have to try and wrestle her into a carrier again to bring her in for blood work. He said she's always had issues with being held and carried.. He was the one who repaired her hind legs after they been stepped on when she was a kitten.

Please continue prayers and good thoughts for Sparkler too. Thank you! :love::love:

[cassiesmom]

Continued prayers for Sparkler and Princess Poppaea :love: :love:

[phesina]

Thank you, Elyse, from both girls and me (and all the rest of the gang, too). :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Prayers for both your under the weather babies and you too!!! :love::love::love:

[phesina]

Thank you, MoFF, from the three of us. :love::love::love:

[katladyd]

I hope they both improve and things get back to normal!

[phesina]

Thank you so much..

Last night Sparkler did not come out for some food.. at least not that I was aware of, as I slept quite soundly. I did leave a bowl of kibble under the bed, which had been all eaten when I got up in the morning, again, I hope by her but can't tell for sure.

When I was feeding the other guys breakfast (kibble) in the bedroom, I looked under the bed and saw that the box-springs fabric volume was way weighed down in the middle (by guess who), so I quick went in the kitchen, got some wet food and scooped it out into a bowl, then went back and stuck the bowl in through one of the holes in the fabric bottom.

A little later I went back to get the emptied-bowls and checked the one in the fabric bottom.. all had been eaten! I am hoping and am fairly certain by guess-who but can't be absolutely sure that Poppy didn't slip in there and eat it. (The others in the bedroom aren't capable.) I don't think so, because Sparkler was still there in the middle, but I can't be absolutely certain.

This is all such a worry to me. I don't know how I can get her OUT of there and put her somewhere else she'll feel safe and begin to relax in.. I get thoughts of her getting really sick in there and just wasting away..

Please continue sending prayers and good wishes for both Sparkler and Poppaea.. thank you so much from us all,

Love, Pat and cats :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[lizbud]

More prayers, good wishes for Sparkler and Poppaea & (((HUGS))) for Pat.:)

[Barbara]

I can understand that you are worried. A happy and healthy kitty does not hide that much over so many days. I hope Sparkler gets better and will come out in a couple of days. At least she is eating...

[phesina]

Thank you, Barbara. Last evening she came out, and I gave her a dish of their regular wet food (Trader Joe's Turkey and Giblets Dinner). She ate some but not the whole bowlful. Maybe she's spoiled with the Fancy Feast.

This morning when I was bringing in breakfast for the other cats in the bedroom, she was out, but she went back into the bedsprings box. Maybe she's feeling a little better and getting more outgoing again. I hope and pray so.

[phesina]

Sparkler is coming out some now, and she spends time on the "hammock" created by the sagging material under the box springs, where I can reach in and pet her or give her food.

The apartment complex owners are going to be replacing all the windows in all of the apartments. Mine are scheduled to be done April 8 or 9. Since according to my lease I can only have two pets here, I may need to board all 7 cats that day. Or maybe Sparkler can stay here, but I'm sure she'd head right back up into the bedsprings once the atmosphere got alarming. Poppaea can maybe stay here too, because I don't think she'd roam far. But if any cats stay here, I will want to be here while the work is being done, so I can check on them and maybe move them from one room while the other is being done.

It's all quite alarming for me.

Please keep the prayers and good wishes coming. Thank you.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm glad to hear that Sparkler is starting to come out.:) I live in a condo complex and we have annual fire alarm and smoke alarm testing. Since I have two bedrooms, I just put the 7 younger cats in the second bedroom which is a cat room and the oldest 3 stay in my bedroom. They all run and hide from the noise so no one even knows that I have cats. I also like to be home when repairs are being done. Sky used to get a bit overly friendly with repairmen in the past and bug them.;) The rest of my gang isn't used to company so most of them will just hide. I would think that you would be able to put most of your cats in a different room away from the windows that will be replaced. Good luck.:)

[phesina]

Thanks, Tracey. i'm really glad Sparkler is starting to act a little more like her "regular" self, too.

I only have two rooms (living room and bedroom) plus the small bathroom, and each has windows that will be replaced and will require workers inside the room as the window is done.

Also, according to my lease I am allowed to have only two pets. I have five cats plus the two fosters, so I could possibly keep two here and move them from room to room as needed, but the other five will have to be somewhere else. I will probably board them at a pet-boarding facility across town for the day.

I'm thinking of keeping Sparkler and Poppaea here.. I think being stuffed in carriers and then moved in the car across town and then put in a place full of the smells of lots of other animals and the sounds of dogs barking would be more frightening for them than just being moved from room to room, possibly in carriers, while the strange people and the loud noises are in the apartment. At least they'd be home and could get back to their usual territory once the workers are gone.

[lizbud]

I'm thinking of keeping Sparkler and Poppaea here.. I think being stuffed in carriers and then moved in the car across town and then put in a place full of the smells of lots of other animals and the sounds of dogs barking would be more frightening for them than just being moved from room to room, possibly in carriers, while the strange people and the loud noises are in the apartment. At least they'd be home and could get back to their usual territory once the workers are gone.

I think that's a wise thing to do. These ailing babies don't need the stress of moving & being in a strange place right now.It will be nice to have new windows.:)

[phesina]

Thanks, Liz.

[slick]

To my eternal love Sparkler:
My love, I'm so happy that you have decided to show yourself once in a while. Will your Meowmie give you more treats if you come out? For some reason, now I get all the treats I want and that my ailing body can handle. All I have to do is look at her with loving eyes and she gives in every time. I wish I was there to be with you when the workmen arrive. We could swing in your hammock together and I could keep you safe. Oh well, we will just have to dream of each other until we meet again.
Your love always
Merlin :love::love::love:

[phesina]

Oh, my beloved sweetie Merlin, I wish you could swing in my hammock with me too! I love you so much. I am feeling much better now. All your love and good wishes have worked! I love you so very, very, very much!!!!

:love::love::love::love: Love always from your dearest Sparkler

[phesina]

They have started the work on the windows, doing the upstairs apartments first, one apartment at a time.

Looks like they are not doing them a room at a time.. they remove all the windows in the apartment, then I guess prep the window frames, then install all the new windows. So even if I don't board Poppaea and Sparkler, I'll still need to take them somewhere else while my apartment is being done. Maybe I can put them in my car, cover their carriers with blankets, and put the car in the carport so the sun isn't beating down on it.

Or it may be easier just to board them with the other five. Something else I have to do after I get the cats out and before they start the window work: move everything by the windows back at least two feet so the workers have an open path to the window spaces in the apartment (they are working both inside and outside).

[lizbud]

They have started the work on the windows, doing the upstairs apartments first, one apartment at a time.

Looks like they are not doing them a room at a time.. they remove all the windows in the apartment, then I guess prep the window frames, then install all the new windows. So even if I don't board Poppaea and Sparkler, I'll still need to take them somewhere else while my apartment is being done. Maybe I can put them in my car, cover their carriers with blankets, and put the car in the carport so the sun isn't beating down on it.

Or it may be easier just to board them with the other five. Something else I have to do after I get the cats out and before they start the window work: move everything by the windows back at least two feet so the workers have an open path to the window spaces in the apartment (they are working both inside and outside).


Boy, it's always something, isn't it. Will they call you or tell you ahead of time before they show up to work on your windows? if it's just for a few hours, either of your options
would work out don't you think? I know you'll be so glad when this is over.:)

[phesina]

Thanks, Liz. My projected date is either next Monday or Tuesday. The management is supposed to notify me when they have it narrowed down or if it changes. I asked one of the window guys yesterday about how long it would take them to do one of the apartments like mine, and he said probably a couple of hours. So (assuming there are no problems) that shouldn't take too long, and maybe I can just keep Sparkler and Poppaea in the car.

Then, my two foster kitties, Kitty and Kellie, are supposed to be going to their Furrrever home next week, and I will be busy helping get them settled in..

And yet ANOTHER COMPLICATION: next week I have a petsitting job Sunday-Friday at a home way out in the country taking care of 5 cats and a dog.. and now it turns out the dog is terminally ill, with a grapefruit-size tumor on his spleen. He is still having good days, enjoying his nice long walks and being happy and friendly, but he could crash at any time, and I may have to deal with that, i.e., take him to the vet for his shot. Another person is doing some of the pet care too, and we will both be in on anything that might need to be done. His person will also be available by cell phone.

Anyway, all these things happening at once are very worrisome for me, and I will indeed be glad when it's all over!

Thanks again, Liz and everyone, and please keep the prayers and good wishes coming. God bless.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[Grace]

And yet ANOTHER COMPLICATION: next week I have a petsitting job Sunday-Friday at a home way out in the country taking care of 5 cats and a dog.. and now it turns out the dog is terminally ill, with a grapefruit-size tumor on his spleen. He is still having good days, enjoying his nice long walks and being happy and friendly, but he could crash at any time, and I may have to deal with that, i.e., take him to the vet for his shot. Another person is doing some of the pet care too, and we will both be in on anything that might need to be done. His person will also be available by cell phone.


They are going away and leaving their dog who is terminally ill? He could crash at any time?

That sucks :(

[pomtzu]

They are going away and leaving their dog who is terminally ill? He could crash at any time?

That sucks :(

Agreed! No way I could ever go away and leave one of my furkids if it was that seriously ill. To begin with - I wouldn't even be able to enjoy myself and would constantly worry about what was happening back at home!

Hoping that you don't have to deal with the inevitable, Pat. :(

[phesina]

Thank you, Gretchen and Ellie. I have to say I agree with you both.

I've known Mary (the owner) and pet-sat for her for a long time. She has given Bear (the dog) and all her pets very good care and love and lives. Bear is 11+ years old and is a medium-size dog of mixed ancestry.

After I'd already said I would pet-sit, she later got ahold to update me, saying they'd been to the vet and "Bear is dying of cancer." I thought she was next going to say she was cancelling the trip. But rather, she asked me if I thought I would be up to handling what might possibly happen or if she should make other arrangements. She said he could have several good weeks (not months) yet, but he could go downhill fast. The vet gave her a list of signs and symptoms to watch for to bring him in.

I said I'd like to come out and see how Bear is and get a sense of things. Bear was so happy to see me! He and Mary and I took a nice long walk together. I've known him for a long time, and he's a really sweet dog. I felt that, if he does need to go to the Bridge while she's away, I would as soon be with him to say goodbye to him.

Mary said she has thought this through and gone over it with her vets and decided to go ahead with her trip, which is to some remote forest in California where she can be alone to commune with nature and meditate for a few days. She feels that her and Bear's long and good times doing so much together are more significant than a possible brief end-time apart. I guess she feels she really needs the time away and the solitude right now.

Today she said he's doing fairly well, good appetite, likes to walk, a little more in the way of frequent pees.. he seems happy and alert, no scares or downturns.

With luck he'll keep on keeping on like this and there won't be any emergencies.

What an additional headache with all this happening in the midst of the window-replacing and cat-boarding.. Sparkler and Poppy are going to be the hardest ones to catch for THAT..

Sigh, with luck all will go smoothly.. Meanwhile, thanks again, everyone, and again please keep the prayers and good wishes coming..

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[Grace]

Thank you, Gretchen and Ellie. I have to say I agree with you both.


Mary said she has thought this through and gone over it with her vets and decided to go ahead with her trip, which is to some remote forest in California where she can be alone to commune with nature and meditate for a few days. She feels that her and Bear's long and good times doing so much together are more significant than a possible brief end-time apart. I guess she feels she really needs the time away and the solitude right now.


Baloney!! I'm sorry, Pat, but you don't want to know what I am thinking of this woman right now. She should be there for Bear, and commune with nature later. What a load of crock!!

[pomtzu]

Baloney!! I'm sorry, Pat, but you don't want to know what I am thinking of this woman right now. She should be there for Bear, and commune with nature later. What a load of crock!!

Well Gretchen - I guess people handle issues such as this, differently. I know I could never do what she is going to do, but that's just me. Last summer I elected not to go away anywhere because of Sparky's declining health. He was not in any absolute danger of passing within a specified time, but at the same time, he could have gone at any time. If I had gone away and he passed when I was gone, it would have devastated me and left me with guilt till the day I died. He (and Myndi) have always been there for me thru good and bad, and I needed to do the same for him - and will for Myndi when her time comes too.

[Grace]

Pat - just a thought or two.

You need to get it in writing, that she will not blame you if Bear should pass while in your care. Also, she needs to let the Vet know, in writing, that you have her permission to make end-of-life decisions for Bear.

[Grace]

Well Gretchen - I guess people handle issues such as this, differently. I know I could never do what she is going to do, but that's just me. Last summer I elected not to go away anywhere because of Sparky's declining health. He was not in any absolute danger of passing within a specified time, but at the same time, he could have gone at any time. If I had gone away and he passed when I was gone, it would have devastated me and left me with guilt till the day I died. He (and Myndi) have always been there for me thru good and bad, and I needed to do the same for him - and will for Myndi when her time comes too.

Like you, Ellie, I would never go away, knowing that one of my cats was seriously ill. For one, I would feel so guilty I wouldn't enjoy myself - even if communing with nature. It would be like leaving a sick child :(

[phesina]

Oh, I'm with you there, Gretchen and Ellie. I could never just go away when any one of my babies was seriously ill. If I was off "meditating" or "communing with nature," that's all I'd be thinking about including how guilty I'd feel if anything final did happen.

If Bear should need a vet trip (for any reason), I will get Mary on the phone before any decisions are made.. and if it looks like end-time, I'll call FROM the vet's so she can tell them herself what to do. Before she leaves I am going to find out from her just what instructions she is leaving with the vet in the event that I (or Amy, the person doing some of the morning visits) bring him in.

I thought it was interesting that she's going to have her cell phone with her during this deep retreat.. and now that I think of it, I'm going to ask her if it's going to be on all the time or if she's only going to check it from time to time and if so how often.

Bear is NOT going to be put down before Mary tells the vet to do so.

[slick]

My dearest Sparkler: You know how much I love you and I'll always be here for you. Send me a msg on my catberry if you want to talk. I would love to hear your sweet purr again.
Much love always
Merlin :love::love::love:

[krazyaboutkatz]

I would never be able to leave any of my animals if they were very sick or going to die soon.:( Since she'll be in a remote area, I wonder if her cell phone will even be able to work. I would also get everything in writing just in case you can't get a hold of her. Hopefully everything will go smoothly with this pet sitting job while she's away.

[phesina]

I started the petsitting job today. Bear so far has not wanted to go for walks. He's gone outside when I've arrived, presumably pees and I hope poops, but does NOT want to walk. I got him to come very short distances by kneeling on the grass maybe 10 feet away and calling him. He comes over and leans against me for me to pet him, but then when I stand up he just wants to head back to the house. He's eaten small amounts.

Tomorrow morning Amy will be there. I sent her an e-mail detailing what's happened so far. She does a lot of home maintenance and repair work for Mary regularly, so she knows the general lay of the land much better than I do at this point. I plan to talk with her tomorrow morning to see what she thinks, maybe even stop out there. And if we think Bear should see the vet, even if just to be checked out again, I want to get Mary in on this too and in on any decisions that might have to be made.

Mary took not just her cell phone but also her laptop (some withdrawal from the world!..). You're right, though.. depending on how remote the place is, will either of these even come in?

Pat

[phesina]

My dearest Sparkler: You know how much I love you and I'll always be here for you. Send me a msg on my catberry if you want to talk. I would love to hear your sweet purr again.
Much love always
Merlin :love::love::love:

Oh, my dearest Merlin!!!!!! It makes me so happy to read your message and imagine your sweet little pawsies tapping out the words! I'll be on the catberry right away, can't wait to exchange more purrs and lovies with you!!!!!

Your always-adoring sweet lady Sparkler :love::love::love:

[phesina]

Bear went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday morning.

Rest in peace, darling Bear. :love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[slick]

Oh this is so sad. RIP Bear. :(

[phesina]

Thank you, Vicki, and I know Bear thanks you too.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[krazyaboutkatz]

This is so sad and even sadder that his owner wasn't there with him.:( RIP sweet Bear.:(

[Catty1]

Bless sweet Bear. He is healthy and happy at the Bridge. Wishing Bear and his owner peace.

[slick]

How is Sparkler doing? Is she eating?:love:

[phesina]

Oh, Sparkler is doing MUCH better, thank you, Vicki! She's been eating like a little horse.. she comes out much more into the "public" (i.e., places I can get to) areas..

Last week they put in the new windows in my apartment.. I took her and Poppy over to my sister's (and boarded the other three cats). Sparkler hid way back in the corner under the bookcase the whole time. I was afraid I would NOT be forgiven soon for this outrage, and indeed once we got back home she went straight back into the bedsprings.

But before long, she came out again.. so I guess I am back in her good graces after all that.

The job is not done yet, though, .. turns out there was a defective part on one of the BEDROOM windows.. and they have to ORDER the replacement. Could come in any day this week. Or maybe not until next. And then "it will just take five minutes to put it in!" .. but that means they will still need access to my bedroom to do that. (The bedroom is the normal place I stow the cats when any maintenance work has to be done in my place, but this is the first time the work is being done IN the bedroom, and I have no other space in the apartment so at least some cats have to go elsewhere.)

So I have to limit the cats on hand still. Yesterday I took Poppy and Elmer over to my sister's. I figure (hope) Sparkler will stay under the bed when strangers come in here, and if Bob and/or Poppaea come out, well two cats are allowable. .. I hope this works out all right...

Sparkler and I are both grieving beloved, sweet Merlin and are sending along our biggest hugs and purrs. :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::l ove:

[Medusa]

I'm just catching up w/this, Pat. I hope Sparkler continues to improve. I don't have any advice for catching a cat. Yodie is my biggest challenge in that way, in every way, actually. LOL However, I have learned that, when I finally do catch her, I have the carrier standing on end w/the door open so that I can lower her into it and then quickly shut the door. It sure beats pushing her and having her push back and sometimes get out before I can close the door.

And I'm so sorry about Bear. When my RB Boo was sick, I had a ticket to go to L.A. to be w/The Boy for Thanksgiving and I bought emergency insurance just in case Boo got sick again before my trip. Well, he did get sick but I had to have him PTS, not b/c I wanted to take my trip but b/c it was his time.

I gave up my cat sitting business b/c I couldn't seem to get the interest of anyone who had less than 25 cats. The highest number was 37. I just couldn't deal w/that. Plus now, I'm up to my ears in cat drama. Sigh. LOL