Miss Jag

Wow it has been quite a long time since my last post!  There really hasn't been a lot to say.  My feral kitties have been doing well - until recently.

Doodle and Jag

Jag was at the vet this morning.  She is a beautiful, approximately 13 year old kitty I have been caring for since 2002.  She is quite tame so capturing her this morning was super easy.  I put food in a carrier and in she went within a few minutes.

Jag had some kind of "thing" on the left side of her face just below her ear.  I tried getting pictures so I could get a good look but she wasn't very cooperative.  Looking back at the fuzzy pictures I wonder if this "thing" was a tick.  The cats have had these ugly things before.  The spot on her face changed into more of an ugly sore and again getting decent pictures proved challenging.

I feed twice daily now that winter is here.  In the morning I leave food for the kitties.  When I return just as the sun is setting I remove all the dishes and give the kitties fresh food to get them through the night.  Full tummies help to keep them warm.  Jag was not showing up for a lot of the feedings and I assumed that she was coming out after I left in the mornings.  I could go days without seeing her.  

A couple weeks ago her sore appeared to be healing.  I gave her antibiotics when she showed up, but they only work when I can give them daily.  She was still only showing up every 3 or 4 days.  

Since my return after Christmas she was coming out every feeding and her sore wasn't looking bad but around  her left eye was looking swollen.  Her balance was not good either.  She was stumbling or falling over if she jumped to an uneven surface.  I started her on antibiotics and was pleased she was getting them at both the a.m. and p.m. feeding.

Yesterday she came out with a new sore close to the original site.  Arghhhhhhhh......Jaggy, Jaggy, Jaggy.  

When I returned for the p.m. feeding last night I had a cat carrier.  I set it up in the spot Jag usually eats.  Ollie saw the carrier and took off back into the sleeping shelter.  Jag didn't come out for dinner last night.  I waited and waited.  I left the carrier there overnight with the door locked to keep other critters from investigating.

Jag and Ollie

This morning I knew Jag would be hungry.  She went in the carrier in no time.  Off to the vet we went.

Jag is now in my garage in my giant dog crate.  She has a special pet heating pad in the carrier for some warmth, a litter box and food and water.  She was eating when I left her.  

Next week we will return to the vet to see if she is recovering well.  The vet said she either has an infection behind her eye or there is a mass.  If it's an infection then I think we can deal with this with antibiotics.  If it's a mass I will have to help this beautiful little cat over the rainbow bridge.  I'm pulling for an infection and one that will respond well to the antibiotics.

Jag now recovering

Piccolo

Trapped, at last

Finally after numerous attempts I was able to trap Piccolo and get him in to be neutered.  I have tried and tried and then last Tuesday evening he was in the trap within 10 minutes of setting everything up.  What a relief.

In the carrier, in a dog crate to recover from surgery

Wednesday morning I was up super early to get him in for his surgery and later that afternoon I picked him up to go to Joanne's for his recovery.  Piccolo spent a three nights in recovery and this morning I picked him to return him to join the East Side Gang.  

Just about to be released

Boomer, my sweet orangie boy kitteh

Boomer has been through a lot in the past two weeks.  After 9 days in hospital he came home on Friday evening.  YAY.  Mike and I are really glad he is home.



home at last

Last Wednesday he had a cystotomy to remove a rock pile of stones and crystals from his bladder. The stones are being sent off for analysis so we know what kind of a special diet he should be on for the rest of his life.  In the meantime Boomie, Annie Sparkles, Cinder and Howie are eating Urinary SO and it is possible they will stay on this diet.  I'm just glad they like this food, both the canned and the dry.

shaved tummy

Boomie may be home but he is still confined to a large dog crate while his surgical site heals and to keep his movement somewhat limited.  As well he has to wear a lovely blue e-collar but I'm glad it is not the hard plastic kind.  

The first evening I guess I didn't put the collar on properly and Boomie managed to get his front legs through it so it ended up around his middle.  The easiest way to get it off was to rip it off.  Then I had to get my sewing machine out to sew it back together.

Since arriving home and for a few more days Boomie is on a strict medication schedule of four different drugs.  Getting the meds into Boomie is not too difficult but I wonder if, as he gains his strength, he will fight me more and more.  

Today is day 5 post op and I can see that Boomie is more like his sweet orangie self.  

I have known for a long time that a urinary blockage in a male cat is a serious issue and must be dealt with immediately.  What I didn't understand was what fixing the problem involved.  I had no idea that it could take as long to fix not to mention the expense.  I have learned my lesson and hope with all my heart that because Howie is still very young and has started the special diet we never have to deal with this again.

Annie Sparkles (on top of crate), Cinder (left) and Howie
welcoming Boomie home



Howie on top of crate staring down at  Boomie

 

my little blue collar kitteh

Howie visiting Boomie

I'm hoping that once Boomie's stitches are removed he will no longer be confined to the dog crate. The first I am going to do when we get the okay is to take Boomie out into the backyard. He loves being outside (always under supervision) and I enjoy having him out there while I putter.

Teika my beautiful floofy girl

February, 2014

August 30, 2000 I got a call.  Magda's 12 year old son had found a wee kitten she thought to be about 10 days old.  I fell in love instantly from the description and had to hold back from jumping in the car to get that wee baby.

Teika, September 12, 2000

That weekend my husband was leaving on a month long motorcycle trip across Canada and down the California coast with three buddies.  I mentioned only in passing that I had received a phone call earlier that day.  I didn't make any suggestions about adopting this wee baby.  We had two kitties, CiCi and The Goof and Mike was happy to only have two, as was I, sort of.



Baby Teika

The motorcycle had hardly left the driveway when I called Magda to say I would take the kitten.  Arrangements were made and a few days later Magda walked into my store with this wee tiny treasure wrapped in a blanket.  It didn't take me long to realize I was scared to death.  What if I didn't feed her enough, or often enough or she choked or, or............  So many scary questions.  Never in my life had I been responsible for such a tiny little cat.

Teika survived and so did I.  Those round the clock feedings were difficult because of my lack of sleep.  I was working 7 days a week in my retail store.  Teika and I survived and we survived beautifully, her more than me I imagine.  I was pretty much a walking zombie.

When Mike phoned me from the western most part of Canada on Vancouver Island I told him the great news.......we had a new baby.  His reaction wasn't great but I didn't care. It was too late, Teika was staying.  The following morning Mike called telling me he couldn't wait to get home to meet Teika but he was still over 3 weeks from returning home.

On the day I expected Mike home I waited for the wonderful deep throaty rumble of his bike in the driveway.  I missed him and I guess he missed me but after a very quick hello he wanted to meet Teika.  I love this man for many reasons but one of the top reasons is the love we both have for cats.  Mike is quite soft in the head when it comes to kitties.  

Mike and Teika (6 weeks old) snoozing

For nearly 14 years Teika has been such a wonderful part of the family.  She is probably the most perfect kitty in that she has never clawed furniture, no litter box accidents, she doesn't try to escape when she is outside with us, she feeds herself when she is hungry and she's beautiful.

When she was 7 months old my neighbour who shows her cats talked me into showing Teika.  I agreed to try it.  The cat show was in Ancaster, outside of Hamilton and we were going in one car.  Teika was not a good show kitty.  She was frightened and I was in tears but I was stuck with no way to get home.  Teika did win two ribbons that day, a 10th place and a 5th place. One of the judges told me she would have placed higher if she had not been so scared.  We never participated in another show.

Ribbons

Ten days ago I realized something was wrong so Teika and I went to the vet.  She ended up staying overnight.  When she came home she was still not doing great but we didn't really know what was wrong and it would take a week for the test results to come back.  Those result came back yesterday.  The fluid removed from her chest cavity had cancerous cells.  She had quit eating for the most part.   We would only see her eating 4, 5 or maybe 6 pieces of kibble.  She was losing weight rapidly and she was hiding under the bed some of the time, which had always been her safe place.

We made the decision last night that we had to let her go.  There was no hope of her getting better and if we put her on meds it would only prolong her suffering.  And I cannot keep a kitty alive just because I can't let go.  Mike is in total agreement.

Tonight about 7:30 pm my beautiful Teika crossed the rainbow bridge to join CiCi and The Goof.  Mike and I were with her until her last breath.  I miss her, Mike misses her but apparently Howie does not.  I have pictures of all 5 of our kitties as kittens on top of the china cabinet.  Howie jumped up and knocked one picture face down.  It was Teika's.

I love you my wee tiny treasure.  You are pain free and you will be greatly missed.



Howie peering at Teika
February 2014

Update on Boomer and Teika

Not much change in Teika. She is drinking and has eaten very small amounts of food.  I have been using a syringe to get the gravy from cat food into her. It provides moisture and I'm hoping a little nourishment.  Still waiting for test results from the fluid sample removed from her chest cavity. These results could take a few more days to come in.



Snug n hug with my Boomie

I left off my last post saying Boomie was doing well as of 9:00 pm Saturday.  Just after midnight the emerg clinic called to say they needed to change Boomie's catheter again.  This was #4.  An hour later they called back to say all went well and Boom was coming out of the anesthetic.  They also were able to get quite a bit of "sludge" (their word for it) out of his bladder as well.  Since then he has been flowing well.



Boomie relaxing

Yesterday afternoon I got to visit Boomie in the special visiting room at the clinic.  There is a comfy sofa and small table in the room.  I had a lovely snug n hug with Boomie for about 45 minutes.  I kissed his head a lot to help make up for all the kisses he has missed since last Wednesday.  Boomie and our other kitties do suffer from kiss abuse regularly.  Only Teika puts up a fuss after about the 10th kiss on top of her head.

I kept talking to Boomie and after a few minutes he began to purr.  He purred for a long time until he fell asleep while I held him close.

This morning's report is that all is well.  Boomie still has a catheter and no blockages since midnight Saturday.  This is good news but that could change at any time.  The next step is to pull the catheter and monitor closely and see how Boomie does.  Not sure when the catheter will be pulled but probably this afternoon.


My sweet boy

I am going back to the clinic this afternoon to visit Boom.  I think it is good for him and I know it is good for me.  I felt all the stress leave as I sat with and hugged my sweet Boomie yesterday.  

Boomer and Teika

This week has been an emotional roller coaster ride.  I want off now!

Teika in happier days waiting for breakfast

It started with Teika, my 13 year old grumpy goose.  She went to the vet Tuesday morning because she has lost a lot of weight - 3 lbs in exactly two months.  She was also very dehydrated plus we started noticing she wasn't eating.  

Teika is a loner kitty.  She doesn't like being handled and will tolerate being petted for about 30 seconds.  She spends the majority of time on our top floor.  She only eats dry food which is out from early morning until late evening.  She self feeds.  She is just about the most perfect kitty, even though she is grumpy.  She has never been a concern or a problem, unless I try to love on her for a whole minute.  I love her to pieces and so does Mike.  In fact Teika loves Mike.  She responds to him and he spends a lot of time with her on the top floor (the TV is up there).

at the vet on an IV to rehydrate

We still aren't sure what the problem is with Teika and are awaiting test results.  What we do know is she had a build up of fluid in her chest cavity.  She was to spend 48 hours at the vet but after about 36 hours she came home.  There was nothing the vet could do that we couldn't do at home while we wait for the test results.  

Thursday evening I thought Teika was fading and was preparing myself.  When Mike came home about 10:30 pm from a work function she perked up.  Teika loves her Mikey.

Boomie resting with his head on my leg a week ago

Wednesday morning I found Boomer straining in the litter box.  Off to the vet.  He has been hospitalized since.  A catheter was inserted and tests were done.  He had a bladder about the size of an orange (golf ball size is better).  I was unable to visit him Wednesday evening but was at the vet at 9 a.m. Thursday morning.  I sat with him for an hour and a half. He looked miserable.  Thursday afternoon his catheter blocked so more anesthetic and a new cath was inserted.  The "sludge" from his bladder was visible in the catheter tube.  Dr. Leung was concerned that if he blocked again overnight his bladder could rupture and there is no one in the clinic overnight.

At the vet
IV in his leg and catheter

Thursday I picked Boomie up around 5:00 pm to take him to CTVEC (Central Toronto Veterinary Emergency Clinic) on Eglinton Avenue, which is under construction - arghhhhhhh.  No parking close by.  Here he could be monitored and treated if another blockage happened.  After he got set up in his cage I got to spend a couple of minutes with him.

Friday morning at 5:30 a.m. I called to check on him and he had had a good night. No blockage and was flowing nicely.  So at 8 a.m. Mike and I went to pick him up.  Instead of returning him to Leslieville Animal Hospital he went to Davisville Park Animal Hospital.  Dr. Avery owns both clinics and was working out of the Davisville location Friday and today, Saturday.  The reason Boomie went to Davisville was that should Boomie require emergency surgery, Dr. Avery would be able to perform.

When we dropped Boomie off I spent a few minutes with him.  He was in a cage beside a very chatty and friendly Siamese kitty, named Penny.  At the end of the day Mike and I went back to visit him and speak with Dr. Avery.  The plan was to pull the catheter last night because Boomie had been flowing well for over 24 hours.  The hope was that when the clinic opened this morning there would be a lovely pee in the litter box.  And there was.

I called the vet's office first thing this morning to get the good news.  It was looking like Boomie would be coming home if all continued well.  Two hours later Boomie was straining in the litter box and another catheter had to be inserted.  This was not good news.

The clinic closes for the weekend at 2:00 pm so Mike and I returned to pick Boom up and take him back to CTVEC for tonight and tomorrow. 

At the moment I am in a fog and constantly on the verge of tears.

However on a happy note, Teika has finally as of 2 hours ago, started eating on her own.  This morning she drank on her own several times.  I am feeling a little better knowing she is fighting to stay with us for a while longer.  

8:45 pm Saturday
Just heard from the emergency vet.  She says Boomer is doing well.  I can't wait to go see him tomorrow afternoon.  If I could I would sit with him all night and day.

Ollie my littlest feral



Beautiful Ollie

When I arrived to feed yesterday morning all the kitties came running out to meet me.  I put down the prepared bowls of food in each cat's fave eating spot.  Ollie sniffed at her food and turned away.  I put out a couple other bowls with different food and got the same reaction.  Then I saw her chin.  It was so swollen and when I looked into her eyes I could see she was in pain.

Ollie with swollen chin

Back in 2003/4 when I was trapping the kitties in the colony to take in for spaying and neutering Ollie proved to be the most difficult little cat to trap.  In fact she was the very last to go in for a spay and that was after numerous trapping attempts.  Since then I have always felt she would prove to be a challenge to trap again.

Yesterday I went out twice to try trapping her.  I was very concerned about dehydration so the sooner I got her medical attention the better.  Both the a.m. and later afternoon attempts failed.  So out I went this morning knowing Ollie would be good and hungry.

Swelling gone

I arrived to find her sitting on top of the feeding shelter, where she often snoozes.  The swelling was gone.  I strongly suspect she had an abscess because under her chin it is a bit of a wet bloody mess.  Ollie ate well and hidden in the food was a little pill (antibiotic).  I will keep her on the antibiotics for at least a week and thankfully my ferals are very easy to pill - much easier than my kitties at home.

Bobsey Goes Home to His Colony

Today I picked Bobsey up from the vet where he has been recovering from his neuter surgery on Monday.  He looked rather frightened when he came out to the front counter in a carrier.  I put him in the back of my van just behind the passenger seat and checked on him at every red light.  He seemed less frightened once we were under way.

Twenty-five minutes later I pulled into the location of his colony.  Just before releasing him I managed to get this one last picture.  When the carrier door was opened he bolted as if shot out of a canon.  Poor little cat.

Bobsey with his back end shaved

While at the vet he was shaved to remove mats from his fur but it looks like he only got shaved from his middle to the puff on the end of his tail.

Bobsey and His Brother Piccolo



In the van ready to go into the vet's office

This young fella is thought to be Piccolo's brother.  Robin was able to trap him at a colony down the road from my colony. This morning I took him to the vet for his little snip snip and then he will stay at the clinic for a couple days to recover before being returned to his colony.  He is a very good looking fellow, just like his brother.



The empty trap on the left should have contained Piccolo
 

Yesterday and very very early this morning I went out equipped to trap Piccolo but neither time did he show up.  Piccolo was there Saturday for a bite to eat and it was the first time I had seen him in 10 days.  This guy is a wanderer so trapping him is going to be somewhat of a challenge.

Because I showed up so early, the East Side Gang was quite surprised to see me and to get their breakfast.  And after about 20 minutes little Rachel Raccoon showed up.  She is quite unafraid of me and we had a couple of tug o'war episodes with my bags of food and supplies.  To keep her away from the trap I had to give her some kibble.

I really want to get Piccolo so am going to keep trying.

Happy Doodle

It's a holiday and the sun is out and it is a great temperature for being outside.  After feeding I played with Spirit for about ten minutes with Da Bird then sat with the kitties for about 15 minutes. Doodle is the picture of contentment in these photos.

Uncooperative Piccolo

Today I was to trap Piccolo so that he could go in for his snip snip, aka neutering.

When I arrived to feed the East Side Gand there was no sign of Piccolo but the other kitties wanted food so they got their brekky and then I got myself comfy and waited.  And waited.  About 30 minutes later Piccolo made an appearance.  

I had to run back to my van to get the trap.  It's a long way from where I park to where I feed.  Of course when I returned no Piccolo but I set everything up and resumed my card game on my iPad.  Another half hour went by and Piccolo came out from the lumberyard.  He could smell food so I was hopeful.  

My fingers were crossed Piccolo
would goin

For the past few weeks I have been feeding Piccolo in the spot that I had planned to put the trap.  Piccolo walked towards the trap and my heart began to race, as it always does when I'm trapping cats.  He walked up to the trap but didn't seem to be the least bit interested in the food.  He hardly looked in the direction of the two food dishes.

C'mon Piccolo.  In ya go.

He walked around behind the feeding shelters and made himself comfortable in the straw on the sleeping shelters.  I continued to play cards while trying to watch him out of the corner of my eye.

Seems he's not too interested in eating

Eventually, maybe 20 minutes later, he walked behind the feeding shelters again and over to the trap, stopped under the raised trap door but again didn't even glance in the direction of the food.  Arghhhhhhhhh......  Then he walked away, under the opening in the wall and disappeared into the lumberyard.

I waited and waited hoping he would come out again but no.  I decided to run home for a bite of lunch and then go back as soon as I was done.  

This afternoon I only saw the raccoon who was attracted by the stinky smell of the sardines I brought with me.  I ended up giving her a large handful of the dry cat food away from the cats area.  Doodle and Spirit where making moves on the sardines in the trap so I had to give each of the a few bites.  

After an hour and a half and no Piccolo I packed it in and headed to the garden centre.  When I was poking around I saw a sign that indicated there was a birds nest on the top shelf.  The picture is not that great but a robin has built her nest in the plants on the top of the rack. I think it's great the Loblaws garden centre is going to allow the nest to stay.



Mrs. Robin on her nest

The above picture isn't great but if you look closely you will see Mrs Robin's above the middle plant tag.  Good luck little bird. I hope the customers are as kind as the staff and allow you to raise your family without too much disturbance.

Doodle

Doodle can't believe he's 11 years old today

I have no idea when Doodle's actual birthday is however a long time ago I chose May 10th so Happy 11th Birthday sweet boy kitty.

Coming to me for a kiss on the
top of his head

Of all the ferals I have cared for over the past 11 plus years, Doodle is the most affectionate fellow craving attention more than food at times.  He is such a love bug.

Happy Boy

Jag and Ollie in background

I love my Doodle Noodle.

Me and Piccolo

I love it when the weather is good and I have time to sit with the kitties.  They get to eat while I sit watching them and talking to them.  It is very peaceful way back between the two buildings on the weekends - most of the time.

Today Ollie, Jag, Spirit and Doodle were all there immediately after I arrived.  I didn't see Piccolo but used my clicker to let him know I had food.  A few minutes later he arrived.  Because I wasn't in a hurry today I decided to sit just out of sight from Piccolo in the hopes that he would come out to eat while I was close by.  And he did after about 15 or 20 minutes. 

I had bowls placed in different spots but what surprised me is he chose to eat from the bowl closest to me because it had the dry food.  I could have leaned forward and almost touched Piccolo while he ate he was so close.

I sat quietly while he ate occasionally saying a few words.  He ate until his tummy was full then saundered off through the hole in the wall and back into the lumberyard.

I feel I made a wee bit of progress with him today by letting him know he could trust me and I think he is beginning to.  The entire time he was eating he only glanced at me a few times.

This Wednesday I will be trying to trap Piccolo so that he can go in to be neutered.  I just hope he will be there.  Shhhhhh.....don't tell him.

Still no signs of either Jazz or Que at the other location.

Piccolo and The Raccoon

Tonight I went back to feed Jag, Spirit, Ollie and Doodle some dinner.   Piccolo was there this morning for breakfast but I don't usually see him at the end of the day.  

The little raccoon with the stubby tail came out and she was very hungry. She kept coming over to me and no way was I going to scare her off. She could smell food and she was going to have some.  I gave her some dry cat food away from the other kitties and shortly after Piccolo appeared. 

Here's a short video of Piccolo and the raccoon

http://youtu.be/AiDmf5JIt5E. 

Meanwhile the other kitties finished eating and then relaxed

I'm very happy that the raccoons and the kitties get along.