Last night, some good news we really needed:
Scott and Debi went home together! This leaves Oksana and Torvill still available, and hopefully someone will fall in love with those sweet faces SOON.
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Thank you all so much for your kind words about Maxi; we appreciate it so very much. It is always so very strange to have a cat part of your every day life for more than a decade, and then to have them just… gone. I keep expecting to see her in her usual spots, and not to see her there is jarring and I keep remembering she’s gone.
To answer the most-asked question: I don’t know how Newt will handle this. As far as I know, he and Maxi haven’t really spent much time interacting recently, but I also know that cats have relationships and interactions we don’t see and don’t know about. I think only time will tell – as of yet, he’s his usual Newtley self.
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Bloop.
In my quest to rid the foster room of anything that cannot be sanitized easily (or tossed in the washer), I removed a couple of the small cat trees and put Miz Poo’s box (or Emmy’s birthin’ box, if you prefer) over by one of the cabinets so the kittens could jump up there and hang out. They thought the new furniture was aaaawesome. Not only can they climb on top of it, they can sleep in it!
LEAP. I actually removed the ess scratcher from the room, since it’s fabric covered. But then I moved the little step stool over next to the box, and it’s working well for them.
KennyBorkBork Moopleton has some serious Precious Moments eyes, doesn’t he?
Arundel and the Fancy Sofa, which I forgot to put in the cabinet. Since it’s not easy to sanitize, I removed it from the room, soaked it in Rescue disinfectant, and ran it through the washer. And it held up just fine!
Before I removed it from the room, Buxton had to give it a try. He found it quite comfy.
When I’m taking all the laundry out of the room in the morning, I put this litter box on top of the others briefly so that I can remove and replace the washable pad in the front part of the closet. Calais thinks that this is AWESOME, and she always runs over to climb into the bottom litter box. She cracks me up – she’s like a puppy in kitten clothing.
Buxton’s eye is nearly completely back to normal, thankfully.
I gave the kittens a Ham-mick, and they thought it was awesome. It might be a little too lightweight, though – I walked in yesterday morning to find it in the middle of the room, upside-down.
Snuggle bunny Millinocket.
Moop, mostly dry after his bath yesterday morning. This is the look he gave me when I paraphrased Dr. Seuss at him. (“Look at me, look at me, look at me now. It’s fun to take baths, you’ve just gotta chill out!”)
Yesterday was foster-room-cleaning-and-kitten-bathing-day. It took me a long time to get the foster room clean, because I was also dumping out, cleaning, and refilling litter boxes. Once that was done, I moved the kittens except for Calais, Moop, and Millie back to the foster room. Calais, Moop and Millie got baths.
This time around, rather than trying to wet them in the sink and then lather them up next to the sink and then put them in the carrier for 10 minutes, I tried something new. I filled a deep bucket up with water and dunked them in it up to the neck, wet their head and around their face with a wet cloth, and then lathered them up on the counter next to the sink and popped them into the carrier, then went on to the next kitten. Y’know? It actually went pretty well. I’m not saying there wasn’t any struggling, but Moop and Calais are the hardest to bathe, and I got it done relatively easily and quickly. Then I rinsed them in the tub under gently running water, dried them off, and put them in another carrier with the heater pointed at it, and left them in the bathroom until they were mostly dry. The funny thing is that when I walked into the foster room with Calais and Millie and started to put them down, Otis came running over to greet me, caught sight of the girls, and went insta-floof. And me without my camera pointed at him!
Today is Arundel, Bethel and Dexter’s turn, and I expect that to go even faster and easier because those three are the sweetest, gentlest muffins ever. Well… Bethel might give me a little trouble, but who could blame her?
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So, the whole thing that made Maxi’s passing such a surprise to us is that we were directing our worry in another direction completely: Stefan. Fred wrote about it, so I’m going to just share what he wrote, and if you’d like to send some love in the direction of that sweet sleepy ornj boy, it could only help.
We took Stefan to the vet Monday. He was losing weight, and wasn’t very interested in food. He’d eat a little, but only a little, and he slept all the time. ALL the time. To be honest, he was acting like Elwood did when he had FIP, even though Stefan isn’t really in the age group associated with that disease. The vet examined him, didn’t see any physical issues other than the weight loss, and took blood to send for analysis. “Diabetes” and “kidney disease” were the words on everyone’s mind Monday afternoon. All we knew for sure is that whatever was wrong was killing him.
Tuesday afternoon after we’d gotten home from the trip with Maxi, he called with the test results. I’m not going to go into details here, because even though people are well-meaning, we don’t need second opinions. It’s not diabetes or kidney disease, those numbers were normal. The long and short is that he thought it was likely one of two things: something treatable and something not treatable. The only way to find out for sure would involve a VERY invasive test (think: drilling into bones) on Stefan to determine if it was the incurable thing. We spent close to 30 minutes on the phone, talking about all of the options, and what we’re doing right now is treating for the curable condition to see if it helps. If it doesn’t, we’ll re-evaluate. The problem is, even if it IS the treatable thing, the tests indicated that his body has started to give up, and curing the underlying cause might still not make him completely well. It would all depend on his internal systems starting to function again.
We started him on medications Tuesday, and giving him food and water regularly via syringe. Though overall it seemed Tuesday was probably his low point, right before bed he ate most of a pouch of gravy-heavy food without prodding. Yesterday was more syringes of food and water, several cat treats on his own, and a little more gravied food. He’s not sleeping nearly as much or fighting the syringes, and spent a good part of the morning outside on the deck, looking around with bright, curious eyes. Probably this is due to getting enough calories in him to give him some energy; it’s too soon to know if the meds have anything to do with it. The vet said it would be weeks before we know for sure.
But we hope.
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Previously
2017: More about Belle and her beasts.
2016: Here’s the story of Hemlock.
2015: No entry.
2014: “And she put this HARNESS thing on me, and then she threw me in a CARRIER, and I was in there FOREVERRRRR…”
2013: “WHAT DOON, LADY?”
2012: “Go ‘way, lady. We’re wallowing.”
2011: Random foster pics.
2010: Meet Martin’s new “sisters.”
2009: No entry.
2008: No entry.
2007: “I am former Senator Stanley J. Boogerton, and I approve this bed.”
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
Oh no! Sending Stefan the very best wishes that he can recover.
Dear, dear Stefan….. we all need and wish you to get well soon, our dear ornj boy…
Sending lots of love and healing thoughts from far away and across the ocean, waiting for good news as soon as possible.
Hugs and scritches, too, from Italy <3
Sending thoughts prayers and positive vibes for Stefan and Robyn and Fred – for healing, comfort, strength, and peace. Sending heartfelt thanks and gratitude for all you do for your permanent residents and your fosters – and for sharing it all with us… the good and the bad. “A burden shared is halved in its enormity. A triumph shared multiplies exponentially.” We’re in this together!
Congrats to Debi & Scott and their new hoomins! Now, come on, Oksana & Torvill’s peeps… where you be???
Maine kitties are looking fabulous – maybe their weekly ‘wash and sets’ are beneficial in more ways than one!!!!
Keep on keeping on, Shady Cove. Sending positivity your way!
PS: Robyn, can you point me in the direction of where to find / where to make a memorial donation in honor of Maxi. (I’m sorry, that just sounds so sad – you can ignore this portion of my comments until whenever you want. I am a daily ‘routine reader’ (coffee, L&H, start the day) and will pick it up when you’re ready.)
So beautifuly said, Jeweled Skye! May I just add my name to your voice?
Absolutely!
@Jeweled Skye: There is a link in the sidebar for Challenger’s House’s facebook page. There you will find a paypal donate button. Challenger’s House took on Maxi’s babies as fosters, and they still need donations for their shelter.
@Robyn: Beaucoup healing thoughts from Guy Noir and Carmen and me. I remember once when you sent me jams/jellies from Crooked Acres. My two kiddies, were preternaturally interested in the box you sent. You later told me Stefan was rubbing/marking on the box before you mailed it to me. Sending love and healing thoughts to the big ornj guy.
Found it! Thank you Starr!
Sending much love and lots of healing wishes to Stefan.
Oh, the roller-coaster of emotions you must be going through! On the one hand, Maxi’s passing and Stefan’s illness, and on the other, the Mainers being so, so sweet and Debi and Scott being adopted…
So happy they’ve gone home! They just needed for the stars to align, and they did.
I have such a soft spot for Stefan (and all ornj kitty dudes), and both Malcolm and I are sending positive and healing energy his way.
Geez, I’m feeling emotionally drained by this on top of Maxi. Can only imagine how you feel.
I so hope that he’ll respond to the treatments, poor boy. Want to just cuddle or pet him. Pump gravy into him and hope for the best.
Sending love and hope and healing energy to Stefan.
Sending hugs and warm thoughts to Robyn and Fred.
Every kitty knows you are good people.
Ah the dark side of pet parenting. I am sending positive vibes your way. The fact that Stefan responded to the intense food and water regimen gives me hope. At the very least he will get excellent care if it is incurable. Best case his system reacts quickly and you get a healthy Stefan back. I am sending you an email.
Sending pray and love your way. if we can help in any way let us know.
ALL the good vibes to Stephan, AND to you and Fred. {{{}}}
Echoing all the caring thoughts. What a whammy week(s) you’ve had, and so very sorry. It’s so nice that the kittens were adopted as a bright note in there, that’s wonderful!
Hugs/purrs all round, and thoughts and prayers…as always, hang in there. And thank you for all that you do for the felines.
I do adore that post-bath Moop!
I have my fingers crossed for Stefan, absolutely, really hope he continues to improve.
Sending all kinds of good thoughts Stefan’s way, and to you and Fred as well. Just went through a similar situation with Banderling. Luckily he pulled through after close to a month of meds, syringe feeding and some syringe watering. Luckily he’d drink water on his own for the most part. It worked for him and now he’s trotting around like a youngen again. And he wants to eat all the time as well.
So Bander is also sending his well wishes, purrs and rough licks to the Stefan.
Sending all the good thoughts Stefan’s way. He reminds me so much of my ornj boy Clawdius. Also sending good thoughts your way as well. Y’all have a lot on your plate and the entire Love and Hisses community is pulling for you and the kitties.
Sending love and good thoughts for Stefan.
Prayers to St. Francis for Stefan! Good luck Scott and Debi in your new furever home! Hugs to you and Fred and let’s continue to hold good thoughts for that ornj boy…
Hang in there, Stefan!
Sweet ornj Stefan! He is in the best place ever, with you and Fred there to love and care for him and to do what he needs. My thoughts are with him and you. My Precious is dealing with her own this/that situation. The only way we would know for sure would be a significant procedure, so we too are treating for the more optimistic option now and hoping all will be well. She sends her purrs and head bonks to Stefan, as I send my love and good thoughts to you all.
Robyn.
I know that you’re really busy still taking excellent care of those ( ugh ) wormy kittens but feeling the need to count tails and see how all the permies are doing.
How are the rest of the occupants? Everybody ok? Dealing with the heat? Staking out and claiming their territory?
I pray he will respond to treatment. It sure sounds like our eldest, Nelson.
I would like to add my condolences on Maxi’s passing (though I am sorry if the mention keeps rubbing a wound) and am also sending best wishes and healing thoughts for Stefan. With the fosters and the permanent residents, I can only imagine how full your hands must be. You and Fred are wonderful for taking care of them all and loving them as you do.
I know that caring for an ailing furbaby can be difficult in many ways, not of all tiring because of the worry. On Tuesday, I had to take my beloved gray tabby Muffin to the to say goodbye after a months’ long fight with cancer. While I am probably not stating things as well as I would wish, I just want you to know that I empathize with your loss and stand in awe of everything you two still manage to do for your cats. I hope my cats feel as loved as yours must.
Best wishes to you and Fred and I hope the coming weekend brings good things to you.
Whatever the length of stay a cat or kitten has with you and Fred, there’s absolutely no doubt as to its quality. RIP dear Maxi, and healing thoughts to Stefan. And much love to you both for creating such a heaven on earth for cats.