Happy 18th Birthday, Fanny

This edition of my post is dedicated to Fanny's birthday and how we love our senior feline friends.

Fanny became 18 years old on December 4th and we were so appreciative of all the birthday wishes she received from her Facebook and other social media friends. She has friends from all over the world.

I personally appreciate that so many of Fanny's friends love cats and respond so kindly to her.

Since she is a senior, she has some medical issues that we are dealing with. A couple of years ago, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 kidney disease. Her Veterinarian follows her lab work closely and has her on a renal diet. My job is to watch her closely to make sure she drinks enough water and that she is peeing enough. We can't let her get dehydrated.

She loves her water fountain. If your senior cat starts to lack interest in drinking water, try a fountain. They like the running water.

 Another medical issue Fanny has is osteoarthritis in her lower back. You can look at an old post from last year where I talk about how Fanny was becoming less active and not jumping up on the bed like she used to. She wanted to be picked up so she could join us on the bed. At first, we thought it was that she was just spoiled but that wasn't the case.

Then in May of 2022, she suddenly couldn't walk and appeared to be in a lot of pain.

We initially thought she broke her leg or dislocated her right hip. But X-rays showed arthritis and she also had severe inflammation in the part of her leg which is comparable to a human's knee. 

The Vet ordered her anti-inflammatories and pain medication.

Right now she is getting a once-a-month injection of Solensia and it seems to be working well.

(Solensia is a newly approved drug for cats with osteoarthritis)

It is expensive, but the other meds she had to take made her lethargic.  Her other meds costs $30 each (Gabapentin, Buprenex and Lactulose) and Solensia costs $75. But her quality of life is so much better with it. She interacts with us more and is walking better. She uses her steps to get up on and down from the bed. I'm happy with her progress.

So one thing she hasn't recovered from is losing her best friend, CC who was 20 years old. As you probably know we had to put CC to sleep in 2020 when she deteriorated from end-stage renal disease. It was difficult for Fanny because they had been together for 16 years. She was lost without CC.

Anyway, I just wanted to mention how we have to help our little friends to adapt to old age. 

*Watch their food and water intake.

*Make sure they are using the litter box. And make sure the box has a low entrance so they can get in and out easily.

*Get a dental check-up. With age they may have decayed and loose teeth.

*Watch to make sure they are grooming themselves.

*Don't skip their regular Vet check-ups. Talk to your Vet about what your baby needs and what your options are.

Our senior cats are precious. They're part of our families.

I want to wish each and every one of you, a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy 2023.

🎄🎅🤶

Hug your pets!

Until next year.....

Darlene

Keeping your cat safe at Christmas time

I hope everyone is ready for a joyous Christmas this year.

This Christmas, we are keeping it simple. We put up a small tree in the living room and solar lights outside.

We haven't had to worry about Fanny bothering the tree anymore. She doesn't seem interested in it like when she was younger.

Although she does have to knock over the wise men of the small nativity scene we have under the tree.

Important things to remember for cats at Christmas*

• Keep an eye on your Christmas tree. Christmas trees for cat owners can be a nightmare – especially if your cat likes to climb!

• Festive plants like poinsettia and berries found in holly and mistletoe are poisonous to cats, so keep them out of reach

• Tinsel and other decorations can be dangerous if they are swallowed

• Festive foods are often poisonous for cats – from chocolate and raisins to onions and garlic

• Cats can feel stressed and anxious at Christmas time. Make sure you give them space and a safe place to hide.

 Fanny and I wish you and your cats a safe and Merry Christmas.

Give your little fur ball a hug!

Darlene

*https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/cats-at-christmas

Go to this site for more helpful tips on how to keep your cat safe at Christmas.

Fanny Went On Vacation

 

It's Tuesday morning. Mommy and daddy are going on a short vacation and Fanny is going to board with the lovely staff at our Veterinarian group. 

Here she is in her carrier.

She did not resist getting into her carrier. There were no cries as she rode on the back seat of the car. Things, so far, were going smoothly.

Two days prior, I had noticed Fanny scratching at her right ear. So when I was checking her in at the Vet, I asked them to check her ears and give her a quick general check-up.

I handed over Fanny's bag to the Boarding Tech, Ryan. The bag included all her meds, her prescription food, and a toy. They had me fill out a form that lists her meds, dietary requirements, routines, allergies, etc.

For the past few weeks, I felt she had been doing well and I had stopped giving her Gabapentin. Actually, she refused to take it anymore. Even with the pill pockets. It kept her pretty lethargic and without it, she seemed more alert and her interactions with us increased a little. So all I had been giving her was her Lactulose so she wouldn't have to strain when she had a bowel movement. 

We said goodbye and were off to Palm Springs🏜. The next day I got a call from Dr. Veit. She said she checked Fanny's ears and could not visualize her right ear drum. It was unclear if it was because of some sort of infection or that it was ruptured. She was going to culture her ear and start her on Tresaderm ear drops. 

 She said she repeated Fanny's lab work and that her kidney function was stable. In fact, it had improved a little. She had gained some weight and it was suggested that we pull back on the amount of food we were feeding her. 

The last thing we discussed was trying monoclonal antibody therapy since she thought Fanny was still having pain in her right hind leg and possibly her lower back from the osteoarthritis. Fanny doesn't put much weight on her right leg and this is causing weakness/problems in her left leg. Her limp is quite pronounced. The medication is Solensia and it is an injection for osteoarthritis that is given monthly. We agreed to try it.

We came home from our trip on Friday but it was too late to pick our baby up so we picked her up Saturday morning. 

She had boarded for 4 nights/5 days. The Boarding Tech gave us an update on how she ate, the time of her last meal, and that she had no problems with using the litter box. Her last poop had been that morning. They gave her the ear drops already (day 3) and we just had to give them for two more days. The doctor will call us with the culture report when she receives it.

My husband asked Ryan if he had any difficulty getting Fanny into her carrier. Well, it seems she went into the carrier herself. Hmmm. I guess she was ready to come home.
Here she is after she came home. She seems to be putting weight on her right hind leg and she walks faster.

I received a call on Tuesday with the culture results. It was a yeast infection in her right ear. Luckily, Tresaderm ear drops is good for yeast infections. She has not been scratching at her ear anymore. I can restart the drops if the infection reoccurs.

She was ready to cuddle. She missed my hubby much more than me as you can see from the photo above. A real hug.

With me, it was a semi-cuddle (semi-hug). lol

Here she is with her new favorite toy. Since she had the injection she has been much more active. Playing with her toys, going up and down her steps to the bed with ease, talking to us, following us around, and just generally doing much better. 

Even though the Solensia injection is expensive ($75) it may be worth it. It's nice to see Fanny more active. That will also help control her weight.

Here are just some bonus pics of Miss Fanny. Looking all cute and sweet.

The boarding went fine. Fanny did not come home upset or unsettled. And I felt secure knowing that she was in a facility where the staff know her very well. And they treat her like the celebrity she is (or she thinks she is).😉

Sorry. I know it's been a while since I blogged. I hope you enjoyed this edition. 

And I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving and ate lots of turkey 🦃and pumpkin pie.

Please remember..... Give your "fur babies" daily hugs.

Until next time...
Darlene

P.S. Thank you Western Veterinarian Group, Torrance, California

Fanny's Halloween Scream!

Fanny's perfect "scream face"

Well, Halloween is here and everyone is excited.

Candy is on everyone's minds. Sugar highs await us.

Costumes are receiving final touches.

Time for the annual Fanny Halloween photo.

I just wanted to let you see how Fanny and I prepare for it.

First, she is too old to go out "Trick or Treating". Second, she would never agree to me dressing her up in a costume.

Fanny is almost 18 years old and is not as active as she once was.

So I decided to chronicle our preparations for the photos.

First, you see a couple of cute little pics of her just chillin'. These depict what she most commonly looks like.

And here is one of her sticking her tongue out and touching her nose. Most likely after eating.

Now it starts to get a little interesting. 

The trick is to catch her during a yawn.

Here is the beginning of a yawn.

Here, she is in the middle of a yawn but she is lying down. I wasn't happy with the effect yet.

Another yawn, but she is still lying down. Not quite what I am looking for.

Although she is giving me a great yawn....still lying down. But this is a perfect way for the Vet to check her teeth, right? If only she could do this on demand.

And now...the "money shot". 

The perfect Halloween photo of her yawn. She's upright. Fangs (canines) in full view and her ears are flattened against her head. 

She looks scary now...for sure.

Anyway, that's how I get my Fanny Halloween Photo.
Now, the final product!

Hope everyone has a wonderful, scary, but safe, Halloween.

Please remember to keep your pets indoors, especially if you have a black cat. There are people that try to hurt black cats around Halloween. Most shelters will not even allow adoptions of black cats around this time of year just for that reason.

Remember to hug your pets at least once a day and remember that we are blessed to have them.

Until next time.....
Darlene

If Being Spoiled Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right

Okay. Look at that face. 
I will admit that I am biased in thinking that she is cute. But she is such a sweet old girl. 

I have a comforter folded up on the bed and she found it to be the perfect pillow for taking naps.

Back in May of this year, she became lame in her right hind leg. Those of you who have followed her journey know that she has to take daily medication to help her with pain. She has severe arthritis in her lower back and can't put weight on her right leg.
Since then, she has made a lot of adjustments to her everyday routines.

Here she is by her water fountain, which she loves. She'll sometimes spend hours lying near it.

And will sometimes just lay her head on it or drink without standing up. We can tell if she has been sleeping with her head on the water since her neck and whiskers are really wet. I removed the waterfall feature from the fountain because the top of her head was always getting wet.

It's important for her to drink water since she has kidney disease. We observe her litter box every day to make sure her kidneys continue to function.

She has finally started grooming herself. Grooming is an activity that I follow closely. When cats are not feeling well, they tend to ignore this routine.

A well-feeling cat commonly will wash their face every time they eat.

You don't want their hair to get matted. This can happen if they are unable to groom themselves. So it is very important that you try to brush them daily.

Fanny has difficulty raising and straightening her hind legs so she doesn't groom her hind quarters like she'd like to. That's an area that will be prone to matting.

Before, Fanny didn't like to be brushed, but now she seems to love it and it seems to relax her.

Another activity that I have to observe closely is that she is pooping and that she isn't straining. Our Vet has prescribed a laxative that I give her daily.

But, I think she is doing much better. She seems to have adapted to her limp. She takes frequent rest stops when she walks a long distance. 

She is interacting with us more. 
She is more vocal and her appetite has increased.

Love❤ 
Fanny loves to be cuddled and pampered. (spoiled)
Who wouldn't?

Show your pet some love❤

Please share any stories you may have about a pet with aging or medical issues. Would love to hear how they (and you) are coping.

Darlene
 

Decrease Your Pets Stress During Vet Visits

Here is a great article addressing how to decrease the stress on your pet when you take them to visit the Veterinarian.

https://www.timesonline.com/story/lifestyle/pets/2022/06/13/maro-decrease-your-pets-stress-during-veterinary-visits-beaver-lawrence-county/65360073007/

 Luckily, Fanny doesn't seem to mind going to the Vet. She has been going to the same office her entire life (17+ years). Even though the actual Vets have come and gone, she recognizes the atmosphere and seems quite comfortable. 

Everyone there uses a calm and friendly voice. They practice minimal-stress handling which Fanny and I both appreciate.

It makes a difference that they place a nice soft towel or blanket on the examining table instead of having the cat lay on a cold, bare table.

Good girl

You may not have a cat, but the article may give you tips for your dog or other small pet.

Personally, I make sure there is something soft in her carrier for her to lay on. And as I have mentioned before, calming (Pheromone) collars are good, too. If you don't usually use a Pheromone collar on your cat, I suggest you put one on a few days before their scheduled visit so they get used to it and they won't stress as much on the day of the visit.

I'm sure a lot of you have your own tricks that you use on "Vet Days".  Would love to hear them. You can leave comments here on the blog or you can contact me on my Facebook Page.

https://www.facebook.com/DarlenesBookshelf/

Here's wishing you and your pets a happy and safe Labor Day.

Darlene

Fanny Went On Vacation

Hubby and I wanted to go away for a few days and were worried about what to do with Fanny. Unfortunately, the last time we boarded her at a lovely kennel/spa, Fanny was definitely upset while she was there and when she was brought home. So I called our Vet's office and asked if they would board her, and they agreed.

We wanted to feel comfortable leaving her since she had been acting a little listless lately. The staff knows her well, which meant we were still good to go.

So we made our reservations as well as reservations for Fanny. I gathered and packed all her medications, her prescription wet and dry food, and wrote out specific instructions. I'm not quite sure why I wrote out instructions since she was going to her own Vet, and they are the ones that order everything for her. I guess it's the nurse in me that makes me do things like that.

As you can see from the photo above, she turned away from us when we put her in her carrier. She doesn't usually do that when we take her to the Vet for just a little visit. But I think she saw our luggage and decided we were tricking her. Cats are smart that way.

While we were gone, I was confident I would be called if anything went wrong. I have all the confidence in the world in our Vet's staff. And we needed as much of a break as we could get.

But.....I did check in once. I spoke with the boarding tech, and she was so sweet. She updated me on how Fanny was eating and taking her medicine. It sounded like everything was under control.

She mentioned that there were 2 other boarder cats who were both "talkers" and that Fanny had plenty of company. My husband and I thought that could be interesting since she hasn't been around another cat since CC passed, which was over 2 years ago. Well, except for the kennel/spa that one time, and there must have been 15 cats in that place.

We were only gone 4 days. When we got home I filled her water fountain, my husband got her litter box ready and I put some dry food in her dish. 

Now I was ready to retrieve our little fur baby.

At the office, we said our goodbyes and I offered my thanks for taking such good care of her.

At home, I was barely able to get the top off the carrier when she actually jumped out, lame leg and all. She was so alert and chipper.

 First, she sought out her water fountain and drank some water, then used the litter box, and finally, went to her dish and ate. It was like it was very important to make sure everything was where it was supposed to be. Like, make sure the humans didn't screw up.

Here she is....camped out by her fountain. She is in love with that fountain

She was so perky and very vocal. I guess she learned that from the other two boarder cats. She was talking to us, following us around, and seemed in such good spirits. Not like when we boarded her at the kennel/spa.

Here she is yawning, but I think it looks like she's laughing

On the first day home, she had a normal, formed stool, but on the second and third days, she had diarrhea. I know this can be normal after they have been boarded, so not too concerned. I just stopped giving her the Lactulose. 

Also, on day 3 of being home, she started acting listless again and wasn't eating or drinking very well. And she didn't take her Gabapentin at bedtime.

Then today, day 4, she was alert, interacting with us more. She took her Gabapentin in the morning, eating and drinking more. So, I am going to try just giving her the Gabapentin in the mornings and see if only one dose a day will control her pain instead of twice a day. It might be having a sedative effect on her. We'll see. She hasn't required the opiate (Buprenex) for a couple of weeks.

I just wish she wasn't getting old. 

Big stretch

I think she will be fine once her system gets completely used to being home again. Cats get so used to routines, and then the simplest of disruptions send them over the edge.

Well, that's it for now. Will keep everyone posted on how she is doing.

Feel free to leave comments. I'd love to hear about your experiences with your senior cats.

And remember. 

 Hug your fur babies!!!!!

Darlene

PS: Thank you, Western Veterinary Group of Torrance, California

Fanny Had an Oops

This will be a short post but just had to tell you about what happened to Fanny the other day.

*Note: For those of you who aren't aware, Fanny is lame with severe arthritis in her lower back and right leg. This causes her to walk with a pronounced limp and unsteady gait.

She had a 'bad day'.

First, she was going up her steps to get on the bed, but she got too close to the edge and tumbled off the third step. My husband saw it happen and he was freaking out. But she seemed fine, and after she tried not to look embarrassed, she went up the steps like nothing happened.

Then in the evening, my husband picked her up and placed her on the foot of the bed.

She slept there for a couple of hours, then woke up and took a big old stretch.

I bet you can't guess what happened next. Yep, she forgot she was close to the edge of the bed and when she stretched and rolled over, she fell off the bed. I heard the thump.

I ran to her to make sure she was okay. Again, she was just laying there like "Nothing to see here. Move along".

I really tried not to laugh. I wasn't sure if she hurt herself, but it just seemed funny to me.
I am such a mean mommy.

Pic from today when I caught her yawning.

 Anyway, My husband now knows not to place Fanny too close to the edge of the bed. He actually asked me if we should put something like a rail on the sides of the steps. I don't think we have to go that far. 

Since cats mask their pain, I did give her some pain medication....... just in case. I haven't given her any in about a week. But for someone who falls twice in one day, I think they deserve some "good stuff". lol 😁

Well, that is it. Just wanted to give a quick update and tell you about Fanny's falls.

Have a great week and see ya soon.
Hug your pets

Darlene