A Sad Day in Naples
Today is Friday, September 19th already. Time is flying by and even way down here in southwest Florida, a change is in the air. The days are getting a bit shorter and (thank God) cooler. I am really REALLY looking forward to October and then a couple of months to have the windows open 24/7 and letting the fresh air in!
My closest buddies here on DS already know that I have been through Hell and back with my cats the last couple of weeks. I will spare you the gory details, but let's just say that I have spent about $1,000 on vet bills so far. This morning, I took Jake back to Dr. Sisco with a diagnosis -- he apparently has the Calicivirus -- and she put him on an oral antibiotic to be given 2x a day for the next 5 days. She clipped all his toenails for "damage control" LOL -- he's not all that bad about taking medicine, BUT the Calicivirus causes little ulcers in a cat's mouth, so he's touchy touchy to begin with. This new antibiotic follows a shot of Convenia which was administered on Sept. 8th when Dr. Sisco was out of town at a veterinary convention. She says that 5 days of Clindamycin will "kick the infection in the butt." I sure hope so!
TWO weeks ago, Woody went into a medical crisis (with an inconclusive diagnosis) on a Saturday afternoon and I had no choice but to take him to the Pet Emergency Room -- knowing full-well what a rip-off those places can be. While the staff was very attentive and kind (and there's no doubt that Woody may have expired had I tried to wait it out until Monday) I had to swallow hard when I paid the bill $508. Ugh. There went my "fun money" for the month. But at least Woody got better and is back to his normal self again.
Now for the sad news...in my last Journal, I wrote about the two kittens I was fostering from the Naples Cat Alliance. Graham came out of his shell pretty quickly and after finishing treatment for the parasitic infection he had, is now ready for adoption. The Director assured me that "he won't last long -- we have people in here all the time specifically looking for Red Tabby kittens!" The little gray kitten that I was calling "Salty" remained with me and I was surprised at how much more outgoing he was after Graham left! After just a few days, I was able to sit by him while he ate (when he would eat) and pick him up and do some towel therapy with him. But I was still concerned about his lack of appetite. He was a "capture" for the Alliance and was picked up with his mother and siblings, but he was still painfully thin. I had guessed him to be much younger than Graham just because he didn't ACT like an older kitten -- he showed little interest in toys or food.
On Monday this week, after consulting with Megan again, I brought home a supply of kitten milk replacer and baby rice cereal to do syringe feeding a couple of times a day. While he took it willingly, he still refused to eat even the expensive canned kitten food! So yesterday (Thursday) I packed him up and took him down to the Cat Alliance for Megan to have a look at him.
She gave him some subQ fluids and a liquid vitamin, but asked if I would drop him off down at their vet so they could do a more thorough exam and some blood tests. All kittens are tested for FVP and other fatal diseases before they are brought to our shelter. He had been de-wormed and given all his age-appropriate shots, too. We were both kind of puzzled by why he wasn't thriving.
Two hours later, Megan called with some sad news. Harborside Animal Hospital ran an antigen-specific test on the little guy and discovered that he had what is called "a mutation of the FVP virus." This is NOT CONTAGIOUS, but there is no cure and it means a slow and painful death due to organ shutdown. Megan told me that she gave them permission to euthanize the little fellow and I had all I could do NOT to break down in tears. I told her, "This is so hard -- I can't imagine doing what you do as Director." She said, "But we know that he was LOVED in the past few weeks thanks to you." And it's true -- hard as it was NOT to get attached, I was getting a little attached. While I had looked forward to getting him fattened up and well socialized so he could get on the "Adoptable" list, I had already decided that I wasn't going to foster any more kittens. Partly because I DO get attached, but also because I'm pretty sure that Graham brought the Calicivirus to my house.
So today there's a new little kitten soul at the Rainbow Bridge. I know I will see him again one day and I know that I did the very best I could.
My closest buddies here on DS already know that I have been through Hell and back with my cats the last couple of weeks. I will spare you the gory details, but let's just say that I have spent about $1,000 on vet bills so far. This morning, I took Jake back to Dr. Sisco with a diagnosis -- he apparently has the Calicivirus -- and she put him on an oral antibiotic to be given 2x a day for the next 5 days. She clipped all his toenails for "damage control" LOL -- he's not all that bad about taking medicine, BUT the Calicivirus causes little ulcers in a cat's mouth, so he's touchy touchy to begin with. This new antibiotic follows a shot of Convenia which was administered on Sept. 8th when Dr. Sisco was out of town at a veterinary convention. She says that 5 days of Clindamycin will "kick the infection in the butt." I sure hope so!
TWO weeks ago, Woody went into a medical crisis (with an inconclusive diagnosis) on a Saturday afternoon and I had no choice but to take him to the Pet Emergency Room -- knowing full-well what a rip-off those places can be. While the staff was very attentive and kind (and there's no doubt that Woody may have expired had I tried to wait it out until Monday) I had to swallow hard when I paid the bill $508. Ugh. There went my "fun money" for the month. But at least Woody got better and is back to his normal self again.
Now for the sad news...in my last Journal, I wrote about the two kittens I was fostering from the Naples Cat Alliance. Graham came out of his shell pretty quickly and after finishing treatment for the parasitic infection he had, is now ready for adoption. The Director assured me that "he won't last long -- we have people in here all the time specifically looking for Red Tabby kittens!" The little gray kitten that I was calling "Salty" remained with me and I was surprised at how much more outgoing he was after Graham left! After just a few days, I was able to sit by him while he ate (when he would eat) and pick him up and do some towel therapy with him. But I was still concerned about his lack of appetite. He was a "capture" for the Alliance and was picked up with his mother and siblings, but he was still painfully thin. I had guessed him to be much younger than Graham just because he didn't ACT like an older kitten -- he showed little interest in toys or food.
On Monday this week, after consulting with Megan again, I brought home a supply of kitten milk replacer and baby rice cereal to do syringe feeding a couple of times a day. While he took it willingly, he still refused to eat even the expensive canned kitten food! So yesterday (Thursday) I packed him up and took him down to the Cat Alliance for Megan to have a look at him.
She gave him some subQ fluids and a liquid vitamin, but asked if I would drop him off down at their vet so they could do a more thorough exam and some blood tests. All kittens are tested for FVP and other fatal diseases before they are brought to our shelter. He had been de-wormed and given all his age-appropriate shots, too. We were both kind of puzzled by why he wasn't thriving.
Two hours later, Megan called with some sad news. Harborside Animal Hospital ran an antigen-specific test on the little guy and discovered that he had what is called "a mutation of the FVP virus." This is NOT CONTAGIOUS, but there is no cure and it means a slow and painful death due to organ shutdown. Megan told me that she gave them permission to euthanize the little fellow and I had all I could do NOT to break down in tears. I told her, "This is so hard -- I can't imagine doing what you do as Director." She said, "But we know that he was LOVED in the past few weeks thanks to you." And it's true -- hard as it was NOT to get attached, I was getting a little attached. While I had looked forward to getting him fattened up and well socialized so he could get on the "Adoptable" list, I had already decided that I wasn't going to foster any more kittens. Partly because I DO get attached, but also because I'm pretty sure that Graham brought the Calicivirus to my house.
So today there's a new little kitten soul at the Rainbow Bridge. I know I will see him again one day and I know that I did the very best I could.
Replies
Oh Kathi, I\'m tearing up reading about little Salty. He\'s lucky he was rescued from the streets and ended up in your home. No telling how long he would have suffered out there. I\'m sorry you went through all that.
I hope everyone else in your household stays well...including you (((HUGS)))
So very sorry to hear about little Salty. Losing a pet at any time is very sad. Hope you feel better soon!!!.
Oh Kathi, I am so very sorry!! I know how much you love your own cats, so I can just imagine the love and care you gave poor little Salty. Just know you made his last days and weeks as happy and as loving as you possibly could have.
I pray your own cats mend totally and quickly. Wow that is a huge expense to sustain for being a loving and caring cat \"fosterer\".
(((Hugs))) I\'m so sorry...
Hugs Kathi. It doesn\'t take long to become attached especially when you are nursing them to health as well. I\'m glad you had little Salty and he was able to get a lot of loving in during his time with you.
I hope Jake gets better soon and Woody stays stable. Keeping you and the kitties in my thoughts.
I\'m so sorry, Kathi. That\'s heartbreaking. But I\'m so glad Salty was with you and received some love and kind attention. I hope Woody and Jake are much better. Yes, those vet bills are scary when they\'re that expensive. My sweet 11 year old cat disappeared a couple of months ago. I miss her so much. As much as I love cats, I probably won\'t get anymore. With my asthma, I can\'t keep them inside the house. We used to have so many pets and animals it looked like a zoo here. Now, I\'m down to two outside big dogs I took in when someone dumped them near my house. I don\'t think I\'ll get anymore dogs either. I get way too attached. Hope things improve for you and your babies soon, as well as cooler temperatures in your near future. I love the fresh air and open windows, too.
I\'m really sorry Kathi I\'m glad the had you......your brave caring for little ones when you know this can be an outcome but God knew who would love him best for his brief time here.....sending you my hugs and love
Hi Kathi,
I\'m a big cat person so I know what you are going through is very difficult.i am thankful that little Salty had you to show him so much love in his short stay with you. Hugs ,thoughts and prayers to you.
Maggie :)
It is always so sad when an animal faces a diagnosis like this, but your love made a difference in both of your lives and his passing was far more humane and less painful than what would have happened to him without your intervention. Don\'t close your heart off from the idea of fostering again. You have learned so much and have so much to offer to another kitty in need. I do hope your own kitties are on the mend. I\'ve been through the monstrous vet bills and the middle of the night emergency vet runs. Never fun, but so worth it to keep our furry family members healthy!
I\'m so sorry to hear about all you are going through with your cats. Hope Jake & Woody heal quickly. Sorry about those vet bills, ugh. Glad you were able to help Graham come out of his shell. So sorry about Salty but he was lucky to have had you to provide love & attention. You have done a wonderful thing. Hugs
Just hugs, my friend. Hope that Jake and Woody are better now. Those vet bills sure add up. I can get attached to them very quickly too. So I keep away from shelters. That little fella was lucky to have you.
So sorry to hear about all your troubles . You are such a good soul to have taken care of the kittens and even though little Salty\'s life was so short, he must have felt all the love you gave him. I hope Jake\'s well on the way to full recovery, and I\'m glad to hear that you got Woody to the emergency room in time, but sorry about those exorbitant fees. I had a similar experience myself recently when Ziggy needed emergency care for a blocked urinary tract, and it cost $2500. Ouch.
Sending big hugs and many blessings.
I am so sorry Kathi! It is great that you foster these poor babies. I have had to put some $$ into my \"free\" kitten. A window fell closed on her and broke her leg last Spring; now she has to have three teeth pulled. I\'d do almost anything for my baby girl.
I\'ll keep Jake and Woody in my prayers-you have such a big heart :)
So sorry Kathi for your loss. I can\'t imagine how you must have felt when you heard the awful news. I have 2 dogs and they are 14 and 12 1/2. I can\'t even begin to imagine the pain of losing them since I had them since they were puppies. My whole family takes in rescues and it is a wonderful thing that you did. Little Salty had a great quality of life even for a short time and many others never have that at all. It breaks my heart. He was blessed to have spent his little life with you. I hope you and your babies feel better very soon!
Hugs,
Donna
Shit! Teary-eyed I grieve with you. Not much more to say than that!