Grasshopper's Sick

[gini]

Kohala, prayers are continuing for Grasshopper, and also for you and Dadkat!

[Logan]

I have Grasshopper in my prayers too. I hope you will be able to get her healthy enough, soon, to have the necessary surgery. My kitties are drooling at the thought of having pure baby food to eat!!

Keep us posted, as you can, and good luck with that urine sample! That would be no easy feat around this house!!

[zippy-kat]

{{Thinking of you today!}}

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by emily_the_spoiled
If I remember correctly Phred had to get urine samples from "Boots the Kat" when he had surgery. I think that he just put a plastic liner in the box with no litter and that was how he collected the sample.

We actually did it two ways...

At first, when Boots had a catheter, he wasn't supposed to use any litter (too dirty), so his tray was filled with shreded newspapers. When it was "sampul tyme", I substituded a Single Sheet of newspaper. Then had to *watch like a Hawk* because there were only seconds to shoe da Kat out and try to pour the sample into a plastic baggie! Take too long - and the newspaper absorbed what little he was producing!
Not to mention he wanted to *dig* - newspaper doesn't hold up well to Kat Klawz!

As tyme marched on, he reluctantly agreed to *P* on a plastic garbage bag (partially split and arranged as a liner in the tray). If he acted upset with just the plain plastic, I'd add a 1/4 sheet of newspaper on top of the plastic for a more down-home "feel"!
Still - Quick Action was required to retrieve what was produced before he attempted to cover it!

I became quite talented?? at *Bootin da Kat*, pullin out the newspaper, and attempting to pour whatever was left into the Zip-Lok. Takes "talent" to cradle a pool of *P* in an open plastic bag and then try to hold open a Zip-Lok while you make the transfer! >With two hands to work with!<

A final thought...
Boots was NOT drinking enough - so HE get the extra thrill of being forced to drink. The method was crude, but quite effective. I used a standard plastic medical needle/syninge *with the sharp needle un-screwed and discarded!* as a waddur pump/sqwirt gun! Suck up a load of waddur, hold his mouth open, place the end of the *gun* over his tongue, and in about two seconds *pump* him a generous mouthful. Sounds cruel - and he DID make some frightful *GAAkk* & Gurggle* noises - but he would swallow it! And this technique WAS Vet approved! Being a BIG Kat, Doc suggested about 6 syringe fulls at a "sitting"... more than that and poor Boots made serious *Sloshing* noises when he walked away from a "wattering"!
I mention the wattering technique as a possible solution to GrassHopper's not being "in the mood" to produce a sample when you are ready to "collect" it! Get the collection apparatus ready, load her up with 6-12 *sqwirts* of water, and she'll be "in the mood" to dump the tank!

Happie Collecting!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Prayers on the way for you, Dadcat, and sweet Grasshopper. I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner.

[Randi]

Sorry we're late too.

Poor Grasshopper! We're sending lots of positive thoughts your way and hoping you'll put on a pound or two so you can get that nasty thing off your tail!

Will have all our paws and fingers crossed here for you! Get better sweetie!

Kohala, at our vet, we got a packet of something called Katkor, it's from Specific. It comes in a little plastic bag and contains small grains and a pipette to suck the urine up. See if you can get it, it should be perfect for this purpose.

All the best of luck and hugs and headbumpies to you all!

Fister, John and Randi

[SANDY FROST]

GRASSHOPPER WE LOVE YOU AND PRAY FORT A FULL RECOVERY.
LUV,SANDY,TIGGER,YURI AND BABY BAXTET& ZOO

[Prairie Purrs]

My Cricket had a "tail thing"--she kept biting her tail due to feline hyperesthesia. The poor girl went through two amputations--the vet tried to save part of her tail, but she just kept chomping on what was left, so now she's got no tail whatsoever. But apparently getting rid of the bad ol' enemy tail took care of things. She does just fine tail-free. Now if I could just get her to lose some weight.

Cricket and the rest of the crew and I are hoping that Grasshopper gets strong and has her surgery and lives happily short-tailed for a good long time!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by Randi
... at our vet, we got a packet of something called KatKor, it's from Specific. It comes in a little plastic bag and contains small grains and a pipette to suck the urine up. See if you can get it, it should be perfect for this purpose.

NOW she tells us!!!

Here's a link to KatKor, but it's not mentioned if it's available in the US .
KatKor product web site

And found this link, for a complete collection KIT available in the UK...
Vet urine collection kit

[kohala]

Thanks you guys! I'm gonna do the hose-down-the-throat-and-be-ready-to-kapchur-kitty-P thing tomorrow - if no luck, I'll see if I can locate the KatKor. Considering we're building a stadium for the Padres and calling it "Petco" stadium, I think anything we need, Petco should get for us, if they don't have it!
However, my vet gave me a needle free syringe to transfer the P in, so I think I'll use that to "hydrate" 'hopper in the a.m., then wait for the sprinkles to start. I get up at 5 am, and don't have to leave until 6:30, so that outta be enough time! Thanks for the tips, not an easy request unless you ask people who have had the joy of caring for a furkid!!!!
TBC

[NoahsMommy]

Oh goodness!! I'll be praying you get what you need and Grasshopper is well on his way to getting better.

Lots of prayers being sent your way.

[rosethecopycat]

Oh Grasshopper, we love you - no tail, half tail or whole tail.
Just get feeling better, ok?

All fingers and paws crossed for you, Tuxie cousin.

[Felicia's Mom]

I will be praying for Grasshopper.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by kohala
I'm gonna do the hose-down-the-throat-and-be-ready-to-kapchur-kitty-P thing tomorrow...

Ahhhh... the *Joys* of FurParentHood!

One more note about *preservation* of the sample...

Doc said if "it" couldn't be delivered to him within an hour, it needed to be placed in the Fridge (NOT frozen) until just before we drove it to him. And remove as much air as possible before you *Zip* da baggie.

Good Luck!
Hope the GrassHopp is "in the mood"!

[JGuitaristR]

I will be praying for Grasshopper.