Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Nekkid cat pics (Gingy got a haircut)

Poor Gingy's lovely long fur became very matted in late summer. I could brush her a little but not nearly enough. She had to make numerous trips to the vet because she had a urinary tract infection, which then also affected her kidneys. Her fur around her back end was really matted...not good. So i called around and found a place nearby to get her groomed. Suffice it to say that it cost more than i've paid in my life for a haircut!

Her cut is called a "lion cut"...they leave the fur on the face, a little bit of the ruff, anklets on the feet, and the tip of the tail...the rest is trimmed right down to the skin. Here she is, right after her haircut.
Poor naked kitty! The one upside...Gingy has been more willing to sleep near the boys
Now, four months later, her fur has grown out to about an inch long all over...and in the meantime, Gingy has taken over the prime "spot between the pillows" as her personal napping zone.
After a couple of months of medication, weekly subcutaneous fluids, and a change in diet, she has started to feel a whole lot better. I should probably take her in for another round of tests, just to make sure her kidneys are doing o.k.

But in the meantime, Fuzzy has been unwell...he's been very constipated. I'll spare you the details (which don't involve an enema, yet) but he's felt very miserable. However, his vet prescribed Lactulose, which is a stool softener, on the off chance that he might agree to take it (most internet citations say cats hate it). It's a sticky liquid and he's been taking it from a syringe with no fuss. It seems to be helping, although there's still a whole lot of "stuff" that needs to move out.

In the meantime, he inexplicably has lost several pounds, maybe because he was just picking at his food... All of his bloodwork is good, and now that he's feeling better, he's started eating and drinking and snuggling regularly again. I'm so relieved. Hate to see my big guy be so uncomfortable, missed his snuggles when he spent the night hunched uncomfortably in his nest box instead of in bed, and even worse, hate the reminder that he's at least 16 years old and is becoming an old cat.

I've started him on a very palatable canned food to get more liquid into his diet and every few hours he comes to get me to tell me he'd like another teaspoon or two of food. I am soooo happy to oblige!

7 comments:

  1. Hey, Gingy, we're glad your furs are growing back and you're feeling better and snuggling more. And Fuzzy, we hope that medicine helps you "go" better!! Eating canned food will help too. Have your mom mix some water in it to get more liquids in you!

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  2. We like your haircut Gingy! We are glad you and Fuzzy are feeling better.

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  3. Its good to catch up with what you and your cats are doing.
    Watching our beloved pets grow older is so hard. Ours are not always willing to eat what we think will be good for them instead teasing for cat "junk food."
    I've never had a long-haired cat clipped, but have been nearly desparate enough to try it. I work away at our two during shedding season trying to forestall hairballs without and within.

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  4. We are so glad Gingy's furs are growing back so nicely. And poor little Fuzzy ~ we are sending healing purrs straight away. PURRS.

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  5. We fink Gingy's haircut was pawsome and we are glad that it's all growing back now. Our Uncle Orlando had Lactulose and found that it really helped him.

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  6. Sorry about the various issues. It looks like Gingy's fur is growing back beautifully! A d we really hope thatFuzzy's "transit" issue is resolved soon!

    Purrs,
    The Chans

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  7. Gingy, you look like a little lion now. We are glad to read that you are feeling better. Thanks for the share. Have a wonderful day.
    World of Animals

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