November 2015 has been a bad month for the Feline Funny Farm. In fact, the whole year has been awful for us! This time it is our longest resident who has gone OTRB.

About Allicat

Allicat had kidney stones. They were discovered on an x-ray in 2009. Mom took her to the vet at recommended intervals for blood work to monitor her kidney values. Other than some dental extractions and other occasional minor health issues, our Googlie Girl remained fairly stable and generally happy. Her kidney values had improved slightly in June, and she got her vaccines in October.

In mid-November, Mom noticed that Googlie’s appetite was not quite up to par, and she was pawing her mouth between bites of canned food. Back to the vet she went on November 18. There was no apparent problem in her mouth, but the vet suspected a possible problem at or below the gum line. The vet cleaned her ears, noting some bacteria, and prescribed ear drops. She also collected blood and urine samples.

Two days later, Mom got the test results: Googlie’s kidney values had dropped a bit more, which seemed encouraging. The vet suggested that Mom bring Googlie back in for an antibiotic injection because she was still pawing her mouth and might have an infection in the gums. Upon reexamining Googlie, the vet also proposed a dental x-ray and possible dentistry in about a month’s time…until she noticed that Googlie was breathing rather heavily (which Mom had occasionally noticed at home). A chest x-ray revealed serious problems: Googlie’s heart was quite enlarged (due to a tumor or congestive heart failure), and there was fluid around her lungs. It was like having a ticking time bomb inside; when it “went off,” the results would be truly horrible for Googlie. The vet recommended euthanasia (which was not common), and Mom agreed. She held Googlie Girl as she said goodbye. Googlie was the oldest kitty, and had been with Mom and Dad since December 1998.

About the Vet

When Mom took Allicat to the vet that day, she had no inkling that she would be bidding her goodbye. As it happened, her cell phone had no charge at the very moment she wanted to take some farewell photos. Dr. C. was so kind! She took some photos with her own phone and sent them to Mom.

Patch the Pirate is missing again. This morning Mom added something the vet gave her to Patch’s breakfast. It turns out that Patch was drugged and taken away in the big carrier. I am glad it wasn’t me!

I know Mom was at her wits’ end. Patch, after seeming well on the road to recovery, seems to have suffered a relapse. The heavy, congested-sounding breathing that echoed through our living space day in and day out had to be treated, and it couldn’t happen here. The vet proposed some special testing to determine what “bug” has infected our poor fursib so she could get the proper (and lasting) treatment she needs.

Mom tried to trap Patch earlier this week without success, and was clawed for her efforts. Patch rewarded Mom with hisses every time she approached after that. Capture seemed impossible.

Desperate circumstances call for drastic measures. In this case, it led to Patch the Pirate being drugged and taken back to the kitty hospital, where Dr. R. will attempt to discover what ails her.

I may not get much attention around here, but I do notice things. One thing I have observed over the last day or two may mean more trouble ahead for Patch the Pirate. She seems to be breathing rather noisily again, although not the squeaky wheeze she had just before she went into the hospital.

I am not the only one who has noticed this. I heard Dad tell Mom about it this evening. Mom admitted that she has heard the same thing. She claims not to be VERY worried because Patch has no runny eyes or nose, but I know Mom better than that. She is concerned and, if I had to guess, Patch would rather do anything but have more trouble with her health.

We are hearing some strange things lately here at the Funny Farm. References are being made to a “Jenise.” Mom and Dad were talking about a sister of Jou Jou B and Jolie Fille, Apparently her original adopters returned her to the vet from which all but one of us were adopted. Mom keeps visiting the vet, even when one of us is not being taken in for vaccinations (or worse). We even heard one or two mentions of the dreaded cage, and Mom was talking to Dad about moving the ramp in the bedroom.

We are becoming more and more certain as the days go by that the ten feline inmates of the Funny Farm will soon become eleven. Is this a good thing? We aren’t sure.