… so let’s cover it in cat hair!
Well, it’s part of the reason I have washable covers on my sofa and comfy chair. But while I wasn’t surprised to find the boys keen to get the freshly washed covers back to “normal”, Azar took things a step further. My poor darling continues to have problems with his bowel movements in spite of keeping him well-hydrated and the occasional use of enemas. Yesterday he suddenly got very distressed trying to go in the box and ended up “leaking” all over the place, including the soft furnishings (what timing!). Another enema and half an hour later he was comfortable again and since then has been eating and drinking normally.
I’m so torn about taking Azar to the vet’s. Last time I did they ran a bunch of tests over three visits, expensive for me and very stressful for both us, only to tell me they couldn’t find anything obviously wrong with him. So do I do that again just in case there is something else that I should be doing for Azar, or do I keep on making him as comfortable and happy as possible? My next plan is to take him off the dry food altogether, at least while it’s so hot, so he gets more moisture in his system. I’ve done the “skin pinch” test and it doesn’t show him to be dehydrated, but his eyes look a bit sunken in the inside corners, which is worrying. But he’s drinking a lot, really much more than a healthy cat would, so I’m guessing his kidneys aren’t functioning very well.
On the one hand, I want to give him the best care possible, but I also have to accept that at 16 1/2 he is likely to start “running down” now and no matter how many times I take him to the vet’s, there ain’t no cure for old age. Right now he’s just had his morning dose of malt and is happily curled up next to me on his comfy footstool (within easy snibble reach) and I hate to disrupt his happy morning. On the other hand, maybe I’m living in denial and he should be getting regular check-ups? What to do…
casa azahar 
I wish I could help you. My cat has not reached such old age yet, but she’s not so far either
And she loves freshly washed bedsheets as well 😉
Anyway, here’s hoping that Azar will feel better soon, and that it is just normal old-age ups and downs.
LikeLike
Well, that’s the point. Is it just normal old age ups and downs, or has he got a serious blockage somewhere? Though I suspect if it were the latter he wouldn’t be so hungry and otherwise frisky.
I’m sure that if I had lots of money and a car I’d be taking him in all the time (neurotic worrier that I am) but the thought of all that expense and hustling Azar to the nearest taxi stand while he screams his head off is a deterrent…
LikeLike
You have a Comfy Chair? Are you expecting the Spanish Inquisition?
LikeLike
Apparently nobody expects it…
LikeLike
Here’s Azar having a few minutes ago… we have made drinking into such a big snibbling event for him that he’ll come over and demand a “drinky” at all hours. What better fun than having two humans making a huge fuss over you while you take a drink out of your own special “drinky glass”? Honestly…
I do catch him drinking out of the “communal bowl” as well, but since having his own drinky glass he hasn’t had any recurrences of Loki’s feline herpes. When Loki gets it he just has weepy eyes for a couple of days, but when Azar gets it he sneezes a lot and gets all congested in his chest. So the separate drinking vessels are a good idea all round.
LikeLike
Last week when we had several days of intense heat, Jacques became dehydrated.Some fluids at the vets seemed to fix him right up though, and we kept him inside for a couple days.
LikeLike
Poor Jacques! Did they do the fluid injection or give him an IV?
I’ve been using the aircon more than I normally would, just so Azar has a chance to cool down during the hottest parts of the day.
LikeLike
I just spoke to the vet who understands why I don’t want to bring Azar in for nothing. She said the only reason she would suggest a blood test would be to confirm if the problem was due to kidneys or thyroid, simply because the latter is treatable with meds. With kidneys the only thing to do is be careful with his diet and fluid intake and try to slow down the inevitable. She has given me the name of a very mild liquid laxative to give Azar twice a day for a couple of weeks to make pooping easier. If that goes well I’m supposed to cut it down to once a day, then once every couple of days… meanwhile, she recommends giving him wet food at least half the time.
So basically what I thought I should do, but with the laxative stuff instead of the malt extract I’d been giving him twice a day.
What amazed me the most was that I called Yolanda out of the blue after a year and asked if she remembered me and she said … “of course – Azar!”
That’s my kind of vet.
LikeLike
Poor Azar… probably his age catching up with him. You have reminded me that I need to get Benjamin in for his LOOOOONG overdue rabies, etc, shots. Some mother I am.
Benjamin has taken to jumping up on the bathroom counter expecting to be combed EVERY time I walk anywhere near the bathroom. I have to sit on the toilet (whether I have to or not) and he chortles and squeaks while I comb him. When I stop, he has a drink out of his bowl which is kept in the sink. Such a silly boy.
LikeLike
And not spoiled in the slightest…
LikeLike
I totally relate to the whole matter of not wanting to put the cat through it. My Nickel, at five years old, is having her first dental cleaning today and I’m a nervous wreck to say nothing of the cat. What a pair of lungs; she used them all the way to the vet. I always worry like hell until I have them back home.
LikeLike
Dental cleaning – yeesh! I’ve been spared that so far as all my cats since moving to Spain have had very healthy teeth. Though I suspect the switch to wet food for Azar might make a difference as the crunchy “pienso” helps keep his teeth clean.
LikeLike
The whole teeth thing is weird. My old boy Taffy needed cleaning every year — whatever he ate, he got clumps of tartar bigger than his teeth (I was trying to pick one off for him once and the tooth came with it!). Patty Twinkle lived to be 15 and never needed it done at all. Nickel looked pretty grungy on her last checkup, so I don’t want to leave things to the point she needs teeth drawn, but it’s wrecking me.
I think I’d punch a cab driver who said “Put the cat in the trunk.”
Love the little drinky photo…
LikeLike
Those taxi drivers (there have been more than one) who’ve suggested that I put the cat cage in the trunk get a full dose of The Rayâ„¢, or at least enough that still allows them to drive afterwards.
Pity their ignorance and despise them…
LikeLike
I totally sympathise with the yowling! Imagine if you had to drag her over to a taxi stand, find one that didn’t want to stick her in the trunk, and THEN listen to all that complaining. I am always a wreck doing this. Once Flor took me in her car and that was so much better.
LikeLike
Luckily we don’t have to bother with calling a cab for Benjamin as we have a car. If we did, I would call the Pet Taxi… which will drive them for appointments. It doesn’t take passengers (human) , so most people use them only for grooming appointments. Usually, we can call and ask for a cab that will take pets. Most of my friends with pets have a particular cabbie they can call.
Benjamin actually enjoys his rides in his carrier, even though the only place he goes is to the vet. I pull out the carrier and he’s in it like a shot. He’s quiet and interested in his surroundings. Of course, once at the vet’s we need a crowbar to get him out. It seems to be a genuine surprise that he’s been taken to the vet, despite, as I say, it’s the only place he’s been in his carrier with the exception of the trip from the old apartment 10 years ago. Silly old cat!
LikeLike
Pingback: malaga mascot? « casa az