Almalfi- the boy in a bag

[rosethecopycat]

Well,
To start, you need to see Malfi's history in a previous thread.

His splinted leg only got worse the week the splint was on. It was so raw and goopy the vet said she could not put it back on, the wound must dry out.
Then came the E collar.
At over twice the length of his head, he could not manuever it. It would just tip him over, remember he's not putting weight on that broken leg.
He was truly helpless. After that weekend, he saw the vet again and they took biopsies, because all the feet looked to be getting infected. But, home he came with the giant E collar. It was taking a serious toll on his spirit and humor. So after spending 6 days in the e collar, I thought, well he's totally dependent on me, even to get to the litter box. I'm going to make a cat sack out of a pillow case. I sewed up the case with some velcro and after one large modification, for more front leg room, he's much happier than in the collar. only his head sticks out.
He can sleep like a cat, in many positions. I can put him under the covers, his favorite place.
Now we are 6 days in the cat bag. He is desperate to lick his feet, all four which are infected. We dip his feet in antiseptic every night. The process takes over an hour. Cleaning his toes, which had been stuck together by infection and clumping litter. (I changed litter to crystals)

I am with him 24 hours a day, with some break time given by my husband, when he's not working. He got us a TV up in Malfi's room, for my sanity. And a baby monitor for when I must leave the room to feed our cats.

The biopsy reports should be complete by Wed.
Pray they find the cause and it is treatable. This patient boy really deserves it.

Despite all that, he is a loving boy, who is purring more than before this happened.
Sweet Malfi, the boy living in a bag...


Cinder & Smoke... your prayers please.

[AmberLee]

OMG! Prayers and ~~~ healing vibes ~~~ headed his way.

[jazzcat]

Poor baby. That sounds horrible for you all. Bless his little heart.

Prayers on the way.

[rosethecopycat]

Well the answer is here.

Pemphigus Foliaceous


It is a controllable condition he may have for life, but the treatment is Prednisone.

It is an autoimmune disease, and he can go into remission. He may need small doses of pred from time to time, and his blood count monitored.

Vet says I can try ‘letting the cat out of the bag’ in 2-3 days to see what he’ll do with his feet.
Right now, I know he’d have them completely bloody in minutes, if not seconds.

I think this is rather good news for the ‘best boy in the world’ who let’s mama dress him like a doll baby.

Thanking God for looking after Malfi.


Rose

[QueenScoopalot]

OH MY! Poor Almalfi! I can't visualize the cat in the bag you made, but I think pictures are in order! Glad you have a diagnosis, and hope the pred kicks in fast for the poor guy. ;) How old is he? :confused:

[rosethecopycat]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/rosethecopycat/Malfisack3.jpg

Here's Malfi in his cat sack. I made a major modification to give him more front arm room, but you can see he is relaxing.

[rosethecopycat]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/rosethecopycat/Malfisack1.jpg

You can see that he can get into a normal cat position for sleeping.

[rosethecopycat]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/rosethecopycat/Almalfi1.jpg

As you can see his cone was giant, and he was inconsolable. He's much happier now.

[slick]

Oh Rose, bless you for loving this little kitty. I can't believe that any kitty could possibly get around in that e-collar. {{{HUGS}}} to you and kisses to little Almalfi.

[QueenScoopalot]

That's one sacked out kitty! Couldn't the E-collar have been cut down more? Or would that allow him to still reach his legs to chew on them? Poor guy...give him a kiss for me! He's very handsome! :) :) :)

[rosethecopycat]

No, I begged the vet for a smaller E collar but they said: No.

I was breaking my heart, the expression on his face, and the fact he could get no rest.

I thought, he's totally dependent anyway, so, why not make a comfortable sack instead.

He is my dress up doll baby mow. Although he does grumble when he goes back in the bag. He wants to lick SO badly.

[Laura's Babies]

That is really love and devotion on your part and I know I speak for all of us when I say, you are a angel for helping this poor baby and devotiong yourself to his 24 hour a day care. You are AWESOME! He looks very comfy in his sack though and I know he has to like that so much better than that old ugly collar.

Prayers are already going up for Malfi and the healing he needs. God has already belessed him with you to take care of him and he will continue to bless Malfi and YOU!!

[GraciesMommy]

He is so blessed to have such a caring family! I hope he gets to feeling better now that you know what the problem is and the pred works!
Bless your heart and his! ~big hugs

[rosethecopycat]

Malfi's paws are about 70% better now, with the exception of the broken rear leg, which is scabby and not as good.

He is more active now, and being kept in the sack is starting to drive him crazy. He is SO restless, he keeps me up all night and much of the day.

I started giving him 'supervised' visits with his 3 good paws. He really licks them. One toe on each can get rather pink, but he hasn't drawn blood, which is the problem if he goes at his bad paw.

I have been authorized to get him a sedative, to buy him a few more days of healing, before he comes out of the bag.
His appetite was a bit off today. I hope I can keep him eating for the next few days.

Continued prayers needed for us and this boy.
It's been 17 days of round the clock care, and we are getting weary.

[Barbara]

Rose it is so wonderful what you are doing for this little boy:)

I hope your patience will be rewarded and he is better soon.

BTW: by looking at your signature I notice Bella with her adorable face. Please post some new pics of her and Snowy- are they still best of friends?

[AbbyMom]

Bless you.


Continued prayers needed for us and this boy.

You got it!

Poor little thing. Keep us updated.

[rosethecopycat]

After 21 days confined to a cat sack (or E collar, at the beginning):

On Thursday I took Malfi to the vet and had his bad leg wrapped.
My husband and I both had to work, and we let Malfi out of his bag for about 6 hours. Praying he would not mutilate his ramaining three paws that were almost healed from their terrible infection.
I anxiously arrived home to find my husband with Malfi (he got home 1 hour before me) and Malfi is still out of the bag! He did not damage his paws!
This is the threshold I've been wanting to cross for a long time.
Malfi licked off a little fur at the top of his bandaged leg, but I put more bandage on it, up higher.

You wouldn't believe the things he can do now. Hop around the room on three legs, he went potty twice, by himself. He ate out of his plate and drank out of his bowl. He found a snuggly place under a comforter on the floor. Although mama called him to come under the covers a few times, he would enter then had to leave again. Freedom calls!
He is so purry and happy.

Now, keep praying for him as I change the bandage on Saturday night, that his bad leg has gotten NO worse and hopefully better.

[Barbara]

Oh I missed these news: that's soooo good to hear. I am happy for Malfi- that he can walk around and sleep as he wants:)

[kimlovescats]

Goodness, Rose ... I am just now reading this thread, and I have to say that you are amazing for taking this on!!! What a difference you are making in this precious boy's life, and I know he will repay you with undying love for the rest of his life!!! He is a gorgeous boy, and I am so thrilled that your love and persistance with him is paying off for you both!!!

GOOD JOB!!!! HUGGIES to Almalfi!!!

Kim:)

[rosethecopycat]

Malfi is making progress. He saw a vet dermatologist and she changed his steroid.

He is out of his 'cat sack' and has his broken rear leg wrapped. Unfortunately, he will still try to eat that leg. So, it is wrapped, but not splinted. :(

This Dr. wants to see if the PF is idiosyncratic (for no good reason) or has an underlying cause which 'threw' his immune system off. (such as a cancer, etc.)

He can move around his room with the 'peg leg' on and go pee pee and get some food by himself. He likes to stretch himself out and relax, and he couldn't really do that before.

His remaining three paws are looking good, and he's not overgrooming them, although the Dr. said there is active disease deep within the paw pads.
His paw pads have an eerie bluish/pink translucent look to them. Like clear jelly beans.

Please keep on singing for this Meezer boy, that he will go into remission and be able to find his furever home.


Rose

[AmberLee]

Poor little kitty. Thank you for the update and all that you are doing for this special boy. Here's hoping he's better soon.

[Corinna]

Glad to hear hes doing so well. But one question (maybe nieave BUt) after all this how can you give him up? he has such a sweet face.

[rosethecopycat]

We've been through SO much, and unless he can manage to get along with my three cats, I don't think he'll ever be happy here. Right now, he's isolated in a foster bedroom, and I can't let him stay there forever, serving all his meals for the next how many years?:eek: :rolleyes:

I'm going to try to integrate him with my three, but from what he's seen of Bella, my totally unintimidating female, it won't be easy. He got Bella to hiss. The first time I've ever heard her do that.

I don't know if an adopter will come by that will take him on. But really, I've done all the hard part. He'll just need some extra vet visits, bloodwork and some steroids now and again.

I hope there's someone out there that I feel comfortable handing over this amazing little guy to.

Rose

[Corinna]

If you can't find the right one .Let me know my God mother has had siamese for as long as I can remember . She has just lost 2 of here very old babies . She might be intrested. Not sure but getting him to Washington state may be the biggest problem.

[rosethecopycat]

We have a woman that can fly the right cat to the right person. It would have to be a special needs cat like Malfi though.
And I believe it would be at no cost. Still FL to WA is a long flight, no matter how you cut it.

Have her look at siameserescue.org
The Virginia center. His number is VA2853

You wouldn't believe how brave and loving this boy is.

This disease is so rare. But, I think it can be controlled so it never gets this bad again.

[Barbara]

I am also following Malfi's touching story and hope so much he can get in a better shape and stop eating his leg- poor boy:)

Wishing him all the best and his purrfect home:)

[rosethecopycat]

Thanks Barbara. :)

Taking off his bandage today, to see if his leg can stand his licking it.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Good luck to your leg Malfi! Hopefully the bandage can stay off. :)

[kimlovescats]

Hang in there little guy! Rose ... thank you so much for all you are doing for this precious boy!;)

[Corinna]

I talked to my God mother she just had a reletive "give" her a litter of 6 kittens to raise as mom died . They are 3 weeks old so now a total of 9 cats she just can't. Sorry hope you can find a great home for him.

[rosethecopycat]

Malfi was cleared by the vet dermatologist to have his fractured leg treated.
The pemphigus is under control.

At the regular vet today, upon discussing if he should have surgery on the leg, we decided to have a chest X ray done, as his breathing has been rather heavy for a week. (vet said probably due to the steroid drug)

Well, bad news,

He's got fluid in the lungs.

Tomorrow, after all he's endured, he will have the fluid drawn out of his chest and analysed. :(

It could be anything from FIP to tumors (cancer), heart disease or more.

I'm asking all the PT'ers and firedogs to SING for him.

Rose

[RedHedd]

We're singing in sunny San Francisco .... sweet Amalfi .... it's almost time for the Christmas carols and I'll get Mishi singing too as he sings in Cat.

Tonight I'm going to the opera (ex-boyfriend is now singing with the San Francisco Opera!) so we'll make sure the whole opera sings for you too!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by RedHedd
We're singing in sunny San Francisco .... sweet Amalfi .... it's almost time for the Christmas carols to and I'll get Mishi singing too as he sings in Cat.

Tonight I'm going to the opera (ex-boyfriend is now singing with the San Francisco Opera!) so we'll make sure the whole opera sings for you too!

Wow, can't ask for much more than that! Even though I'm a horrible singer, I'll be singing loud and clear for sweet little Almalfi. Such a tough time the poor little guy is having. :(

[Barbara]

I'm singing, Rose:( :D
In tears.

[Killearn Kitties]

:( Fingers crossed for the precious boy. He's already come through so much.

[kimlovescats]

Oh no...... please, Lord ... don't let this be FIP!!! :(

[RedHedd]

The opera was fantastic! 2.5 hours of solid singing! Yup, no intermission for The Flying Dutchman. I hope Amalfi is feeling better today.

FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA :D

[Corinna]

all paws in prayer here.

[AbbyMom]

Songs for Amalfi! Get better soon.

[NoahsMommy]

Oh Rose, you've been through so much with this little one. Bless you!

I'll praying and singing, for Almalfi for good results.

:( Poor little thing. :(

[rosethecopycat]

My foster Almalfi is like a Hospice case now. All the alternatives sound pretty bad.
I will care for him as best I can but the rescue can't afford to persue the cause behind his symptoms any more. It's not that they are turning their back on him, they've spent $500+ on him to date. It's just that more cost to find out it's a terminal condition doesn't make sense.
They are giving him lasix and Baytril to see if it can 'kick out' what ever is going on with him. If he goes down hill, it is because it is one of the more serious conditions like FIP or cancer. And then he couldn't be saved anyway. :(

But there is a chance for him to beat it, and I'll be there for him.

Please sing that his lungs stay clear of fluid and for him to start purring again.

[Killearn Kitties]

Loads of love to you tonight Amalfi. You have the best care you could have baby. Still singing for you ...

[QueenScoopalot]

I'm sending many purring special needs kitty songs to Almalfi that he can pull out of this. FIP is such a terribly hard diagnosis to even attempt diagnosing. It bothers me terribly that so many vets go by the random test which only determines if a 'corona virus' is present, but how can they tell a common kitty cold, from FIP? There are literally hundreds of corona viruses, and experts say over 75% of cats that are over a year old, have a corona virus in their system. There is a newly developed test involving the paws, but I haven't read the latest article due to lack of a moment to absorb it. Have you considered Zithromax to clear his lungs? One half a 250MG tab one dose. I have used tiny chips and saved small kittens lives when pneumonia hit here several years back, and the very next day the kitten gasping for breath, was bouncing off the walls. To be on the safe side, I redosed a week later, and all seven kits, and mom went off to new homes. I'm really hoping your gorgeous boy can overcome this. :(

[Barbara]

Malfi-boy- we continue to sing! I hope you have some happy and quiet moments and enjoy your food and being petted because these are the very important things, don't you think so?

Love
Barbara

[rosethecopycat]

He's feeling better as of Thursday. Purring.

Ate his turkey dinner.

Keep singing everybody.

Rose

[Barbara]

Rose I was opening this post with a trembling heart.

And now I will continue to sing. Still very soft but happier tunes:)

Kisses to sweet Malfi!

[lbaker]

hush little baby don't say a word
Momma's gonna buy you a mocking bird
If that mocking bird don't sing
Momma's gonna buy you a diamond ring
If that diamond ring turns brass
Momma's gonna buy you a looking glass

I sang that to my (RB) Cheeky Bitch when she was in labor and she gentled down. My voice isn't the greatest but she just loved to hear me sing to her. Now let me sing to Malfi.. with all my love.

[NoahsMommy]

Sweet Almalfi,

We're praying for you, honey. I'm so glad you ate your turkey and have been purring for your foster meowmie.

Feel better, little cutie.

:)

[catmandu]

The Found Cats,especially,of course,the Simaese Squad send our Prayers,to that poor Siamese Cat,and hope that he is better,soon.

[rosethecopycat]

Despite the vet and the specialist considering Malfi as terminal, he is improving.

He has no symptoms of anything now. Of course, his leg, which is broken, is trying to mend itself, without any help. It is doing a good job, and he dosen't seem to be in pain like he did. (it may sound cruel, to those first reading this, not to have his leg fixed, but when he had the skin condition, it couldn't be helped, and it had to wait. The worst part is over, and it is healing now, so I don't think it will need futher intervention, only time)

He is a happy boy. Eating well, breathing normally. Weaning off of meds.

Pray for his contiuned improvement, so he can say: I beat the odds. I'm such a special boy!;)

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Such wonderful news! You go, Malfi!

Good work Rose, you must be so relieved that he is doing so well. :D

[Barbara]

Whenever I'm driving home and listen to the radio and I hear a favorite song of mine I sing it for Malfi:)

And will continue to do so- because it seems to work.

Kissies to the sweet boy.

[NoahsMommy]

He IS a special boy! I'm so happy he's heading back on the right track.

Gentle kisses to Almalfi. Gentle hugs to you, Rose. :)

[rosethecopycat]

Well, we had to do it.

We had to keep him.:p


Almalfi proved all the Dr.'s wrong and got better. Ever since Thanksgiving, he has improved, and even though he is a crotchety guy, with a busted up leg, an autoimmune disease, and a bada** attitude, we still thought he'd be better off with us and our gang, than with someone who couldn't imagine how bad he could get, medically.

We did a super slow integration, and now he can be left alone with the other three. Except for when we leave the house, then we close his door.

I'll give you all periodic updates on our boy, who was sicker than any cat that I can ever imagine.

We are so lucky to have him. It's so fun to watch him find some joy and fun in life again.

New proud parents,

Rose & Chris

[Prairie Purrs]

:D :D :D

Great news for Amalfi! May his health keep improving and may he have a long happy life in his furever home.

[QueenScoopalot]

That is wonderful news! He's such a stunning boy. :) :)

[Corinna]

I knew he'd never leave!!! How can you bag a kitty and then find him a new home.(Way to go amalfi

[Barbara]

That's the best news I can imagine. As I could not really come over and as I would not know how attitude kitty Filou would react:D

I love that little boy and hope he has lots of fun- more than he has experienced in the last years:) Another example for the power of love!

How about some new pics?:) (And couldn't you add one of Bella ;))

[Medusa]

Bless, bless and bless you for taking such good care of Amalfi and giving him a forever home. It makes me feel so good to know that another one has been saved and is safe from harm and getting the best of love and care. I'm so happy for him and so proud to "know" people like you, if only on the web. Your patience, perseverance, faith and love saved the day. And Amalfi.

Blessings,
Mary

[rosethecopycat]

Thank you, all.

We are so very grateful to have Malfi in our home, for however long or short of time it may be.

He will be cared for and loved, all the days of his life.

:D

[ratchet22]

rosethecopycat you are an amazing person. I personally am amazed to have read your story, but yet through this whole ordeal you still took time out for me and Mr. foogy. You are an amazing person, I thank you so much, Almalfi is in good hands and in the purrfect home. Thank you again. You are truly amazing in my book! If you need anything you just ask!:D

[Killearn Kitties]

Aww, I'm so glad to hear that you have kept Amalfi! I hope his little leg mends well. :D

[MULTICATMOM]

I REMEMBER WHEN YOU TOOK HIM AS A FOSTER. IS HE NOW A RESIDENT? I'VE 2 "FOSTERS" THAT NOW LIVE HERE...
Y'ALL HAVE MANY HAPPY THOUGHTS & PRAYERS FROM ME & MY CREW :D :D JUST WATCH MORE FAMILY GUY!! RENT THE DVD, IT'S HYSTERICAL!!