h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh, you're not saying you're ever ignored on the Atelier, logicus! Don't you know that nobody is ever ignored there.

Yeah, Noggin is pretty much seething that anyone there might have 'read up on him' since he doesn't ever post there. Seems like someone took it into their silly head to post links to Nog's PS with the totally false pretense of it having something to do with the site in general. Yeah right.

Did you mean your friend visited my blog page? That's cool.

Haven't seen you posting there yet. You are very welcome to, you know. Also on Nog's. Though he still is working on doing a bit more with his blog atm. He hasn't been posting much on h2g2 either lately, though he's still there on a couple of threads that interest him.

Glad to hear that Henry is fine. The boys are also well. Quite chubby and happy - how is it that they actually get *more* adorable with each passing day?

az

yeh but less so each comeing morning,

This is true - mine seem to have little alarm clocks in their bellies constantly set for 7am, even at weekends.

az

Glad to hear you finally got your business going. Hope it's doing well.

Things are pretty slow at the moment, RDO, but we're trying various options to expand our market on the internet. Might also put some in a friend's shop here, even though I don't think Seville is really our market. Anyhow, it's been a real learning experience.

az

http://azahar.wordpress.com/2006/06/26/gatitos/

Post 13 ...

The Sunster is 13 years young today!

az

Please help me out with a *quick* answer to my question. I was going to post this in Ask, but I somehow don't think it's the place, not too many serious minded folks there and I'm not in the mood for dead cat jokes.

Rocket has been listless somewhat since last evening. When I tossed his favorite toy for him last night, he went after it like mad, as usual. Fine, I figured, it's the heat -- 95F.

A while ago, I saw him standing in the kitchen, sitting up straight but just right in front of the water dish. Now I'm getting worried. Just now, Missy came into the room, meowing her "something's up" cry (usually reserved for her hunting prowess with the catnip mouse). When she got my attention, she led me to Rocket, who was just lying in the doorway into the hall. I found the cat carrier and have put a clean towel in it, for first thing in the morning. Rocket went immediately over to it, and when it was on the floor open, got right in, so no angst with that part.

What I need from all you kind cat lovers here is an idea of what to do, as I think he *might* be having a urinary problem. I can't get him to a vet until tomorrow morning; the emergency vet in my area is too far, and the bus doesn't run there this time of night. HOW can I make him comfortable until I get him to the vet in the morning?

SC (and Missy, very worried)

Why do you think it's a urinary problem?

I don't know what you can do to make him more comfortable but if he is blocked he really does need to get to the vet's ASAP - I read somewhere that a cat can die within 24 hours of getting a urinary tract blockage. Might be a good idea to take away the water dish for the time being.

Is he panting? Perhaps he's just overheated? Have you seen him using the litter box? Often a blocked cat will sit in the box for ages, or make more frequent trips. Is his lower abdomen distended? Tender to the touch?

I wish I knew what to suggest, other than calling a friend with a car or getting into a taxi. Though it would be a shame to panic and spend all that extra money for nothing, as probably the emergency vet service is also more expensive than your regular vet. Can you at least call the emergency vet place and ask for advice?

az

ps
I'm going offline for about an hour - will check back in then


az

Good point, az. I'll call straight away. Thanks.

I was assuming, as he wasn't drinking. And he's seemed a little off since yesterday morning, really. After I posted, it occured to me he was as "pesty" as he gets in the morning yesterday (or today either, although more than yesterday).

Before the HA, I had taken him in and had him checked out, and the vet said he thought he was doing fine. I was supposed to take him back, just for a followup, but RL intervened.

SC

No suggestions SC but here's a for you.

Hope everything is ok.

Any news?

az

OK, status so far -- called my friend; she teaches a class in the morning, but will pick us up ASAP after it's over at 9:30.

I called and left a message with my vet, and wonder of wonders, he just called. He talked me through a touchy-feely test on Rocket. He's not tender anywhere; he's got no discernible lumps. His eyes are moist (but they've always been slightly weepy, since he was a kitten). His coat is ruffled, but not dry, his tongue appears ok (pink and moist), and he weighs as much as usual, I think. In short, nothing obvious. His appointment is at 10:15. Send good vibes, please.

SC

He was in the kitchen again, so I changed the water with realy cold. He stuck his face in, but I couldn't tell if he drank or not. The vet said try to temp him with a favorite food. He started meowing when I pulled out a small can of Fancy Feast. I only fed him a little bit (well, both really, she won't leave him alone if she doesn't get some too). Then when I put the plate down, he ate like he was ravenous. Now I'm watching him for vomiting.

Vet didn't seem to be horribly worried, but Rocket's going to at least have his blood drawn -- poor baby, he really hates that, and cries.

I'm crossing my fingers and toes, and well, whatever else can be crossed.

SC

Eating is usually a good sign. That was great of your vet to take you through a little 'home revision'. I'm sure he'll be fine until the morning and let's hope it turns out to be nothing at all (or at least, nothing serious).

Once a neighbour of mine went away for the summer and his girlfriend was going over to his place every couple of days to replenish food and water. It was an indoor-outdoor cat and Eric left one small window that had bars on it open so the cat could get in and out.

Anyhow, I got a call one evening - actually, close to midnight - and it was Eric's girlfriend, all upset because when she went to the apartment the cat was just lying there on the floor and panting. So I called a taxi we picked up Teresa and the cat and raced over to the emergency vet. Turned out that the cat would only have lasted a couple more hours - we really got him there in the nick of time.

Of course, this was because Teresa (feeling very guilty) hadn't been to the apartment for about three days and the last time she'd gone the cat hadn't been around. So who knows how long it had been suffering. Anyhow, it was a happy ending (for the cat at least). Teresa took him home with and nursed him back to health but when Eric came back they split up and she refused to give the cat back to him.

It was in a 'holistic cat care' book a friend gave me that I read that a cat could die within 24 hours of a blockage - note the *could*. Sorry, hadn't meant to worry you unnecessarily there.

How old is Rocket now? Apparently we should be taking the boys in for annual blood tests now that they are 'of a certain age' as kidney problems are quite common in older cats, especially males. I think they are due for their next checkup in October.

Anyhow, for the morning. And I hope you are able to get some sleep.



az

Sleep? What's that?

Actually just feeling a tad anxious; those plates were licked clean so, they could be used again!!

I can't get over the vet calling at 11:45 at night! I wonder if he had to deal with a really sick animal. They do boarding there, maybe one of the pets got sick? Very strange -- but good for me. My friend (and former college professor) has been taking her pets to him for 15 years now, she raves about him.

Rocket is on his favorite living room chair, sleeping. No sick anywhere, that I can find. Missy is sleeping on the floor right under this chair, almost as if she's his little nurse.

Think I'll go to bed now -- it's 1:25.

SC

"licked clean so" -- meant licked so clean. Preview preview.

sc

Poor Rocket. I hope he will be able to get into the vet straight away and that everything will be OK.

News Flash!

Short report -- he's got a slight infection from a scratch that's *in* his ear.

I got Rocket's little butt into the vet's office, and the time worked out to be slightly later than he'd said. He had asked me when I could get there, and I told him 10:15, and he'd said "we'll fit him in". Since I got there earlier, though, we still only waited a little over an hour, and got in at 10:30.

Rocket *really* hates blood tests, but ordinary jabs don't seem to bother him much. Tests showed that he has a slightly elevated white blood cell count; and there was a reddened scratch on the inside of his ear I hadn't even seen, from you know who (damned it I know how she did it on the *inside*, though) -- vet said he'd bet folding money it was that. Rocket's urine was fine, his body temp was fine, no bumps, no lumps, everything was pretty much fine! Then he got a little jab of antibiotic, and I got a tube of cream to dab on. If it's still red on Tuesday, I'm to bring him back.

I asked why he'd been so listless; vet said that the heat was probably part of it, but infections are tiring for little beasts. Then he gave me a couple of pamphlets about how to help cats cope with the heat. It was only 95F yesterday; it was much hotter over the weekend!

When I got him home and let him out of the carrier I got a look that said "Sheesh, can't even get a scratch and *you* drag me out of the house and I got stabbed and poked...!".

SC

<<< How old is Rocket now? Apparently we should be taking the boys in for annual blood tests now that they are 'of a certain age' as kidney problems are quite common in older cats, especially males. I think they are due for their next checkup in October.>>>

Rocket is about 5 1/2 and Missy is 4, give or take a month. Some days I think I've only had them a little while, and some days it seems like I've had them *too* long...

az, that story about your friend's cat was interesting (glad I'm not the one person who's ever called a friend in the middle of the night over my cats). I think there's a lot of renegade cat-keeping going on! Some friends of mine broke up last year, and the dumpees kept the dumper's cat.

SC

Awwww SC! I am glad it was nothing more serious.

We would all do anything for our little furry ones to make them stop hurting - even if it hurts our purses and wallets! But they are worth it aren't they! Aren't they?

*nods*

Right now, my darling little Tasha is sitting between me and the keyboard, across my forearms, so that means this post has taken well over 5 minutes (and much use of the backspace button) to write!