1/29 - Gen, AMPS >400, PMPS 334, +1 271

[Allie & Gen]

Yesterday

Feeling a little downhearted this morning, I have to admit. My morning routine right now involves feeding Gen, shooting, pilling, and hurrying out into single-digit temperatures, leaving a cranky cat who avoids my attempts to pet him goodbye because he thinks I'm going to do some other unpleasant medically necessary thing. He'll have forgiven me by the time I get home, but then we have to do all those steps again, and I'm finding it exhausting right now. I keep hoping he'll get used to it and not act so wary of me anymore.

I'm feeling the financial strain as well; hopefully I can work up the mental and emotional bandwidth to look into sources of assistance over the weekend.

I know some of this is seasonal affective disorder, and there are any number of other things in life weighing on me right now. I just wish I had more in-person support. I am endlessly grateful for this board, and I wish I had a little more energy to participate lately. Please know that if I'm not as talkative/given to commenting right now, it's not a loss of interest by any means. I've come to care for the people and cats in this community so much.

Anyway. We had a nice dip into the blues overnight! I just wish he didn't have to come alllll the way back up to the red like that. Depending on how things look after surgery/test results/whatever happens next, maybe it'll be time to look into an autofeeder to regulate his intake a little more, in hopes that it will help smooth out his curves. He does a pretty good job of eating in little bits through the day, but it does vary.

He's had pudding-consistency poops for the last couple of days. The vet said he was full of gas yesterday, also; she doesn't think he needs a laxative anymore, but that the psyllium husk might still be helpful (as well as the probiotic); he's had some in his last few meals, and I hope it helps.

Wishing you all a pleasant (and cozy! if you're in the same deep freeze as us) Thursday, and safe surfs for all the kitties. Give them kisses for me, if they like that.

 

[kitten68]

Yesterday

Feeling a little downhearted this morning, I have to admit. My morning routine right now involves feeding Gen, shooting, pilling, and hurrying out into single-digit temperatures, leaving a cranky cat who avoids my attempts to pet him goodbye because he thinks I'm going to do some other unpleasant medically necessary thing. He'll have forgiven me by the time I get home, but then we have to do all those steps again, and I'm finding it exhausting right now. I keep hoping he'll get used to it and not act so wary of me anymore.

I'm feeling the financial strain as well; hopefully I can work up the mental and emotional bandwidth to look into sources of assistance over the weekend.

I know some of this is seasonal affective disorder, and there are any number of other things in life weighing on me right now. I just wish I had more in-person support. I am endlessly grateful for this board, and I wish I had a little more energy to participate lately. Please know that if I'm not as talkative/given to commenting right now, it's not a loss of interest by any means. I've come to care for the people and cats in this community so much.

Anyway. We had a nice dip into the blues overnight! I just wish he didn't have to come alllll the way back up to the red like that. Depending on how things look after surgery/test results/whatever happens next, maybe it'll be time to look into an autofeeder to regulate his intake a little more, in hopes that it will help smooth out his curves. He does a pretty good job of eating in little bits through the day, but it does vary.

He's had pudding-consistency poops for the last couple of days. The vet said he was full of gas yesterday, also; she doesn't think he needs a laxative anymore, but that the psyllium husk might still be helpful (as well as the probiotic); he's had some in his last few meals, and I hope it helps.

Wishing you all a pleasant (and cozy! if you're in the same deep freeze as us) Thursday, and safe surfs for all the kitties. Give them kisses for me, if they like that.

not easy.. its chilly here and when able we’re sitting in bed w the heating pads. ..

having issues w teefs can make controlling numbers a challenge too generally.. to say the least w eating. its wonderful he can eat!!! i imagine when that gets addressed, things may also look a bit different.. over time, u may also find new ideas and ways to go about your routine. have u tried hiding his pill in treats somehow? imagine prolly tried it all..

if u can, get sun whenever it happens to peak through.. a fish oil (if permissible w your diet) might really also help.

i know u doing good!! and your buddy is doing his best too not easy again.. its hard sometimes. just do our best.. nugget here aint feeling too good either rn.. but we trying. (his numbers bit high still.. ..)

 

[Allie & Gen]

not easy.. its chilly here and when able we’re sitting in bed w the heating pads. ..

The funny thing is, it's super hot inside my apartment - 80 degrees most days! Which I find really unpleasant, honestly, but it's even worse when I have to go from that out into these frigid temperatures. The contrast feels awful, and I get sweaty bundling up which makes me even colder once I'm outside.

Someday I'll get to live in a place where I can control the thermostat again!

having issues w teefs can make controlling numbers a challenge too generally.. to say the least w eating. its wonderful he can eat!!! i imagine when that gets addressed, things may also look a bit different.. over time, u may also find new ideas and ways to go about your routine. have u tried hiding his pill in treats somehow? imagine prolly tried it all..

I hate to say it, but I really do think I've tried everything. I've tried hiding pills in his food/treats in a bunch of different ways, and he always manages to avoid them, or spit them out, or just refuse to eat (that was when I tried to crush meds and mix them into his food; nothing I added could hide the taste enough). Even with pilling he has managed to spit it out a couple of times, so that now I have a whole routine around squirting in water, massaging his throat to get him to swallow, and trying to make sure he eats something immediately afterwards in case he managed not to swallow it. He is the most stubborn little guy.

i know u doing good!! and your buddy is doing his best too not easy again.. its hard sometimes. just do our best.. nugget here aint feeling too good either rn.. but we trying. (his numbers bit high still.. ..)

Thanks, hon. I'm sorry to hear that Pudge isn't feeling his best; I hope that improves soon! You work so hard to take care of him.

 

[Jessica & Indy]

I'm sorry that you are feeling overwhelmed Allie. If anyone understands, it is the people here. Have you tried a pill shooter? It is what works for Indy when we have to give him pills.

Hope the weather eases up soon, seasonal affective disorder is a pain in the butt. *huge hugs* Make sure to keep taking care of yourself. <3

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Well, you certainly have found the most empathetic community for support and caring for both you and Gen.
You are doing a wonderful job with him, please know that

Hoping the dental surgery will make a big difference for him.

All we can do is try all the tricks, come here and discuss it. We've all had different experiences, so it's always possible someone has a great suggestion!

I have learned so much here, things I never would have come up with on my own.

I think over time they do get more used to the routines and so do we the longer we do this.
It's a lot of work and care, we know that. Hoping it gets easier for both of you, Allie.

Gen is a very lucky boy to have you! Sending lots of hugs and understanding your way, stay warm!

 

[Allie & Gen]

I'm sorry that you are feeling overwhelmed Allie. If anyone understands, it is the people here. Have you tried a pill shooter? It is what works for Indy when we have to give him pills.

I haven't tried a pill shooter, but I'm hesitant because I'm not sure it would make a positive difference for Gen's experience? I'd still be sticking something in his mouth and making him swallow it, and since I'm able to pill by hand now, I think I might as well stick to that and hope he learns to tolerate it with less distress. Unless you think a shooter is experientially better on the cat's side? I've never seen it in action, so I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Hope the weather eases up soon, seasonal affective disorder is a pain in the butt. *huge hugs* Make sure to keep taking care of yourself. <3

Thank you! I am doing my best. I actually like winter for the most part (especially when there's snow), but I wish it were just a bit warmer so I could spend more time outside, which is a huge help for my emotional wellbeing. I'm trying to plan really nice (and cozy) things for my weekend.

Well, you certainly have found the most empathetic community for support and caring for both you and Gen.

All we can do is try all the tricks, come here and discuss it. We've all had different experiences, so it's always possible someone has a great suggestion!

I have learned so much here, things I never would have come up with on my own.

All so true! I've been using your butter trick, and someone else (Wendy, I think) suggested using flavored capsules and fitting multiple meds in so you just have to pill once. I don't think I ever would have managed to pill Gen at all without the encouragement and ideas I've gotten here. And the support just means the world to me, especially when I feel worn down by it all.

I think over time they do get more used to the routines and so do we the longer we do this.
It's a lot of work and care, we know that. Hoping it gets easier for both of you, Allie.

I hope so, so much. I know I can get used to the actions, but I don't think I can get used to him acting, I don't know, like he's been beaten or abused, every day, even if he does bounce back quickly. It hurts so much to see. I'll put up with it to keep him healthy, but I want him to be happy, too.

Thank you for your kind words, as always. I know you (and the rest of FDMB) always have my back.

 

[Albert & Xander]

I feel you, it can be SO much combined with everything else going on in our daily lives. It's hard to do things for their benefit when it upsets them, but I think they trust us enough to know we're doing it to help. You do an excellent job caring for him! No matter how tough things get, they have a way of eventually working themselves out Thinking about yall and best wishes for his surgery next week!

 

[Brianna & Xander]

I'm so sorry that you're feeling so down right now, though I certainly understand it! It's so hard to know you're doing everything you can for your kitty and feel like it's negatively affecting your relationship with them because they obviously don't understand. I know how awful that feels.

Can also relate to not having a lot of in-person support (my partner is absolutely incredible, of course, but other than them I am generally alone). I know I've said this before but I wish we were closer by because I feel like we'd be so much help to each other.

You've got so much on your plate and there always seems to be an ebb and flow of "this is no longer a problem, but now this is" and constant adjustments to every factor to try to balance this seemingly impossible scale. You're doing an amazing job with it all and Gen and this community are both so very lucky to have you.

I hope so, so much. I know I can get used to the actions, but I don't think I can get used to him acting, I don't know, like he's been beaten or abused, every day, even if he does bounce back quickly. It hurts so much to see. I'll put up with it to keep him healthy, but I want him to be happy, too.

Thiiiiis. So much this. It's so hard.

 

[Jessica & Indy]

I haven't tried a pill shooter, but I'm hesitant because I'm not sure it would make a positive difference for Gen's experience? I'd still be sticking something in his mouth and making him swallow it, and since I'm able to pill by hand now, I think I might as well stick to that and hope he learns to tolerate it with less distress. Unless you think a shooter is experientially better on the cat's side? I've never seen it in action, so I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Indy seems to prefer it and since I can "shoot" the pill into the back of his throat he doesn't have a chance to spit it back up so the process is over fairly quickly. Which means he recovers fairly fast and forgives me even faster.

 

[Allie & Gen]

I feel you, it can be SO much combined with everything else going on in our daily lives. It's hard to do things for their benefit when it upsets them, but I think they trust us enough to know we're doing it to help. You do an excellent job caring for him! No matter how tough things get, they have a way of eventually working themselves out Thinking about yall and best wishes for his surgery next week!

Thanks, Albert. I honestly worry that he doesn't trust that I'm trying to help him ... I hope he figures out that the things I'm doing are helping him feel better. He's smart, but so independent and stubborn, too. All I can do is keep trying.

Can also relate to not having a lot of in-person support (my partner is absolutely incredible, of course, but other than them I am generally alone). I know I've said this before but I wish we were closer by because I feel like we'd be so much help to each other.

Agreed, I think we would too. Since we're stuck on opposite coasts, though, I'm always happy to share mutual support remotely in any way that would work for you. Thank you for the kind words and the solidarity/validation, it means a lot!

Indy seems to prefer it and since I can "shoot" the pill into the back of his throat he doesn't have a chance to spit it back up so the process is over fairly quickly. Which means he recovers fairly fast and forgives me even faster.

Hm, I may have to try it, then. Thank you for sharing your experience!

 

[Staci & Ivy]

I haven't tried a pill shooter, but I'm hesitant because I'm not sure it would make a positive difference for Gen's experience? I'd still be sticking something in his mouth and making him swallow it, and since I'm able to pill by hand now, I think I might as well stick to that and hope he learns to tolerate it with less distress. Unless you think a shooter is experientially better on the cat's side? I've never seen it in action, so I'd appreciate your thoughts.


Thank you! I am doing my best. I actually like winter for the most part (especially when there's snow), but I wish it were just a bit warmer so I could spend more time outside, which is a huge help for my emotional wellbeing. I'm trying to plan really nice (and cozy) things for my weekend.



All so true! I've been using your butter trick, and someone else (Wendy, I think) suggested using flavored capsules and fitting multiple meds in so you just have to pill once. I don't think I ever would have managed to pill Gen at all without the encouragement and ideas I've gotten here. And the support just means the world to me, especially when I feel worn down by it all.


I hope so, so much. I know I can get used to the actions, but I don't think I can get used to him acting, I don't know, like he's been beaten or abused, every day, even if he does bounce back quickly. It hurts so much to see. I'll put up with it to keep him healthy, but I want him to be happy, too.

Thank you for your kind words, as always. I know you (and the rest of FDMB) always have my back.

We see you and we are here for you.
And we appreciate your input and support as well

 

[Allie & Gen]

Gen tried to run away and hide when I went to give him his shot this evening. But he's draped over my feet now, so I'm trying not to let it bother me too much. And he appears to be breaking his bounce.

 

[Allie & Gen]

Goodnight, friends!