Saturday, June 05, 2010

News from the Cat nursing home


The Mighty Favog (Jax, our 14 yr. old) has had us hopping for the longest time. He has needed to go to the vet *a lot* over the past few months with his itchy ailment (eosinophilic granuloma plaques). He breaks out in itchy spots and requires bandages, e-collar, topical meds, and steroids. Because he's impossible to pill we are limited in our ability to treat him. His breakout spots seem to be concentrated more on his left leg than on his belly now, which is a bummer because we discovered that he can still get to his leg even with the e-collar on. He's proud of his belly, which we are happy to report is growing some hair on it again now that the leg has become the culprit. We are also trying the Prozac again (which has made him easier to care for in some ways, but doesn't fix the itchies) but instead of the cheap pills, we have to get it made special in a meat-flavored compound that we smear on him so he can lick it off. He also gets regular allergy shots, which MrB administers because I can't deal with needles. Ugh.

Henry, who will be 19 years old this summer, is hanging in there with very little change. He maintains a steady level of high maintenance: twice a day prednisone pill and liquid pain med, once a day asthma inhaler. He throws up fairly often (like this morning I had to clean that up before coffee even). If you have a cat, you are used to that though, or you will be soon. His arthritis is getting worse, and we now bar him from stairs as well as carrying him from room to room in his bed like a King (whenever we think it's time for a change of scenery). We believe he still really misses his buddy, Duncan, who died of heart troubles in 2007. Duncan spent his entire 11 years of life buddied up with Henry - that's a long time in cat years. Henry howls through the night a lot. His eyesight is failing, and he probably has a certain amount of pain despite the meds, but we also think he's lonely. We spend as much time as we can with him, but we are no substitute. Love goes on.

4 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

The Goddess Bast will have a special reward for you in Heaven because of your devoted and selfless nursing of Jax and Henry. Speaking of Bast, is that Her image manifested on a piece of toast? (I think I will steal that for my blog! You know how I love food manifestations of the Divine!)

Connie, Orlando said...

Old age sucks in oh, so many ways. Most cats are relatively low maintenance (full food bowl and scritches on demand) for most of their lives. And most, when they aren't feeling well, are terrible patients. However, life without these truly marvelous creatures would be unbearable (dare I say, I uncatable?). Good vibes and much love to both Jax & Henry.

Blueberry said...

Debra, it is one of our house-Gods, Henry, on the toast, but you are welcome to steal it!

Connie, so true. They are easy to maintain when they are healthy, and I remember the days when we could put out extra food, water and litter boxes - or put the boys in a kennel, and go away for a day or two. Now we are home-care nurses until... whenever. It's a commitment, for better or worse.

yellowdoggranny said...

what a wonderful mommie you are..I'll light a candle and send up some prayers for good health for your babies