Sox's Mama
Member Since 2016
This fellow is a 5YO Tuxedo, long hair who is magnificent! He had a bad habit of falling asleep in visiting cars ar our farm and 23 months ago was accidently driven off. After 20 months I found him in the most miraculous manner. He was in terrible shape having lived as a stray at a Townhouse development occasionally fed by others kindness. Sox had matts in his coat as large as mice, fleas, parasites, and upon the report of the person who had sometimes fed him, he'd recently lost several pounds. He had also become very defensive and would slash out and bite if not approached delicately. However as soon as I gently called his name once it dawned on me that he was my long lost Soxy after I got a clear look at him, he confidently walked over and slick legged me before lying at my feet. I took him to his vet (who confirmed his identity) for grooming, vaccinations and medical treatment b4 bring home to mix with my other 2 cats and 2 dogs, whom he'd grown up with.
It has been a nightmare since and he has basically lived half his day in a spacious 2 story large crate because of his violent outbursts and unpredictable aggression especially towards my two service dogs.
He began intermittent vomiting after the first few days. Originally clear but thick which became progressively darker and increased in volume and was expressed with violent reaching. I was feeding him a high grade wet food, about 11 oz a day, and for the first 3 weeks he had an appetite.
I had to learn a whole new set of reactions and behavior modification to work towards his reintegration which I originally thought was the difficult part.
I couldn't understand why he'd violently lash out without warning, leaving deep bleeding gouges or why he'd then climb up on my lap and fall asleep after giving me a lazy wink. He didn't want to be touched, but he did want to be loved. Slow but steady improvement behavior wise for almost 5 weeks and then he became lethargic and refused food and became subdued.
After 2 days took him to cat hospital where they diagnosied pancreas inflam. confirmed by blood tests (no alarming nephrological involvement), he was severely dehydrated and in spite of all the high protein foods had lost 7 ozs. TX w fluids, anti nausea and pain medication injections. He seemed to rebound after the 4th day and I restarted him on high protein, low fat wet food. The astounding thing is he essentially stopped his unexplained violent outbursts at this time (he began using a non-claw bearing normal paw swat) and was much easier to handle to the point I could pick him up to go in his condo instead of tempting him with food. But we were still working on reintegration with the 2 dogs, which in the last week he had begun to accept their presence in the room as long as all parties remained chill. But 10 days later he resumed vomiting, reduced food intake, and when I called the vet was told to bring him in to get ahead of the nausea, dehydration and pain. More fluids, longer acting IM pain and antinausea injections (since he's big, fast and unpredictable in handling and when he's not eating I'm not confident I could administer his meds.) Although his reactive violent outbursts were 95% better.
He hardly ate for 4 days, not responsive to either fresh cooked shrimp or canned foods but munched on dry kibble. He was drinking fresh water. By the 7th day he seemed himself again, steady intake of food and water, continued improvement in response, even to dogs, played and rested normally until 2 days ago.
I was cleaning his condo and when I reached in and he lashed out, startling me. Kept a watch on his intake/output and mood. He began to eat less and presented a subdued mood. Last evening we had play time and I was leaving him out for a few hours. After exercise and more light play he crawled up on my lap and fell asleep after a few minutes. I know not to startle him by unexpected or quick hand movements and I was enjoying his company when in an instant he bit me deeply 3 times and clawed me at least that many. This happened from a dead sleep, in a nanosecond. He then jumped off my lap and went under the bed. I evaluated the damage [I am 68 and have lupus which suppresses my immune system so bites can be dangerous.) And then I cried like a baby because I realized he had been surprised by a severe pain when asleep and just reacted to the stimulus. So I've again spent the day on the Internet reviewing tx possibilities and found this community and thought I'd ask for help before we make our trek to the cat hospital again.
Vet bills with his other needs have been almost $2000 since the end of January. I am concerned about the monthly costs as I'm on a fixed income with four other animals who must be cared for, 2 service dogs (forget the kids for now!) I am willing to raise the money by selling personal property but I'm 1) sad and disappointed at the lack of tx success, 2) convinced he was reunited with his family for a good reason and 3) am committed to his well being.
Sox daily demonstrates his affection and has made great behavioral improvements but I read that stress can be a huge contributor to these flares and I wonder if the dogs (who like him, even if somewhat intimidated by his hostility!) are too much of a stressor. Sox shows no longing whatsoever to going outside, but he has faced some huge adjustments in 10 weeks, including having his coat shaved, prolonged tx for parasites and flea prevention, in addition to territory changes and the HUGE shift from having to survive on his own to being returned to a loving home.
He may have lost some of the trust he needs to be routinely petted, stroked or picked up, but he's let me know by his daily dance around my legs, his plea to scratch his neck and his insistence on laying on top of my body or feet when he's done playing, that this is home.
Suggestions? Encouragements? Paths to follow. I've raised 7 children, have a husband die in military combat and have learned to live with a painful disease for these past 10 years, but I don't remember this burden of worry I carry for Sox.
I will climb this hill. I just want to take the best course of action for Sox the Magnificent! Oh and if you're the sort who prays you could send some his way to the blue skies of Chapel Hill, NC. Being the wife of a Marine I'm not used to quitting but it's hard to accept the suffering Sox must be enduring. I thought I wore that tee shirt out. Sigh.
Thanks for being here, I am at my wits end.
It has been a nightmare since and he has basically lived half his day in a spacious 2 story large crate because of his violent outbursts and unpredictable aggression especially towards my two service dogs.
He began intermittent vomiting after the first few days. Originally clear but thick which became progressively darker and increased in volume and was expressed with violent reaching. I was feeding him a high grade wet food, about 11 oz a day, and for the first 3 weeks he had an appetite.
I had to learn a whole new set of reactions and behavior modification to work towards his reintegration which I originally thought was the difficult part.
I couldn't understand why he'd violently lash out without warning, leaving deep bleeding gouges or why he'd then climb up on my lap and fall asleep after giving me a lazy wink. He didn't want to be touched, but he did want to be loved. Slow but steady improvement behavior wise for almost 5 weeks and then he became lethargic and refused food and became subdued.
After 2 days took him to cat hospital where they diagnosied pancreas inflam. confirmed by blood tests (no alarming nephrological involvement), he was severely dehydrated and in spite of all the high protein foods had lost 7 ozs. TX w fluids, anti nausea and pain medication injections. He seemed to rebound after the 4th day and I restarted him on high protein, low fat wet food. The astounding thing is he essentially stopped his unexplained violent outbursts at this time (he began using a non-claw bearing normal paw swat) and was much easier to handle to the point I could pick him up to go in his condo instead of tempting him with food. But we were still working on reintegration with the 2 dogs, which in the last week he had begun to accept their presence in the room as long as all parties remained chill. But 10 days later he resumed vomiting, reduced food intake, and when I called the vet was told to bring him in to get ahead of the nausea, dehydration and pain. More fluids, longer acting IM pain and antinausea injections (since he's big, fast and unpredictable in handling and when he's not eating I'm not confident I could administer his meds.) Although his reactive violent outbursts were 95% better.
He hardly ate for 4 days, not responsive to either fresh cooked shrimp or canned foods but munched on dry kibble. He was drinking fresh water. By the 7th day he seemed himself again, steady intake of food and water, continued improvement in response, even to dogs, played and rested normally until 2 days ago.
I was cleaning his condo and when I reached in and he lashed out, startling me. Kept a watch on his intake/output and mood. He began to eat less and presented a subdued mood. Last evening we had play time and I was leaving him out for a few hours. After exercise and more light play he crawled up on my lap and fell asleep after a few minutes. I know not to startle him by unexpected or quick hand movements and I was enjoying his company when in an instant he bit me deeply 3 times and clawed me at least that many. This happened from a dead sleep, in a nanosecond. He then jumped off my lap and went under the bed. I evaluated the damage [I am 68 and have lupus which suppresses my immune system so bites can be dangerous.) And then I cried like a baby because I realized he had been surprised by a severe pain when asleep and just reacted to the stimulus. So I've again spent the day on the Internet reviewing tx possibilities and found this community and thought I'd ask for help before we make our trek to the cat hospital again.
Vet bills with his other needs have been almost $2000 since the end of January. I am concerned about the monthly costs as I'm on a fixed income with four other animals who must be cared for, 2 service dogs (forget the kids for now!) I am willing to raise the money by selling personal property but I'm 1) sad and disappointed at the lack of tx success, 2) convinced he was reunited with his family for a good reason and 3) am committed to his well being.
Sox daily demonstrates his affection and has made great behavioral improvements but I read that stress can be a huge contributor to these flares and I wonder if the dogs (who like him, even if somewhat intimidated by his hostility!) are too much of a stressor. Sox shows no longing whatsoever to going outside, but he has faced some huge adjustments in 10 weeks, including having his coat shaved, prolonged tx for parasites and flea prevention, in addition to territory changes and the HUGE shift from having to survive on his own to being returned to a loving home.
He may have lost some of the trust he needs to be routinely petted, stroked or picked up, but he's let me know by his daily dance around my legs, his plea to scratch his neck and his insistence on laying on top of my body or feet when he's done playing, that this is home.
Suggestions? Encouragements? Paths to follow. I've raised 7 children, have a husband die in military combat and have learned to live with a painful disease for these past 10 years, but I don't remember this burden of worry I carry for Sox.
I will climb this hill. I just want to take the best course of action for Sox the Magnificent! Oh and if you're the sort who prays you could send some his way to the blue skies of Chapel Hill, NC. Being the wife of a Marine I'm not used to quitting but it's hard to accept the suffering Sox must be enduring. I thought I wore that tee shirt out. Sigh.
Thanks for being here, I am at my wits end.
for you both.
