11-10 Cami update

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Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA

Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA

Member Since 2009
She is losing her hold on great numbers - we are seeing some 300s again.

I have been really busy and not home during the mid-day so few spot checks. I also will be trying for an early curve today before I head out for the evening. I should be able to get up to +6. I am not convinced she needs a dose increase, but I bumped her up to .3u a few cycles ago as the numbers climbed. They started going up after I decided to try feeding her "as much as she wanted". That seemed to not only fuel the numbers but her appetite as well AND her irritation at one and all. I am now feeding her about 2-3 ozs every 2-4 hours, except overnight when she can go about 7 hours between meals.

She has been very irritable the whole time I have had her. I would have thought that consistent food, insulin and attention would have calmed her down a least somewhat by now. I remember with Jeddie that he was very mad when I got him, struggled so much during testing that I had to burrito him, and he ate a lot, but he also explored, slept in the various kitty beds, looked out the window, got on my lap, purred, presented his belly for rubs and mostly ignored the other cats. By one month's time, he was touching noses with Ariel and Beau. Cami is not doing any of those things, except a few minutes on my lap once or twice a week. She is so angry and agitated, cries for food even when she has just been fed 3 ozs, growls and hisses at the other cats and me (if I don't feed her again). She is also peeing outside the LB routinely now.

I don't know what else to do. I am prepared for this to take time, but I just don't think she is happy at all and I don't know what I can do to help her. I also don't want to have the carpet in my LR/DR ruined because I can't afford to replace it or even remove it and put in a hard floor surface - like I had to do in the bedroom after Jeddie ruined that carpet.

Anyway, I wish things were going better for her because I think she would be happier. She is so sweet for those few minutes she will get on my lap and purr. It never last more than about 5 mins though.

If you can spare a moment to send her calming thoughts maybe that would help.
 
Gosh - finally dawned on my that this emoticon cat_pet_icon is perfect for her (since she is black). It's been so long since I have had a black kitty...

Actually, THIS one is perfect for her: angry(2)_cat or this one: grumpy_cat

But the first one is where I wish we could be.....
 
cat_pet_icon cat_pet_icon cat_pet_icon Calming Cami vibes are definitely coming your way...
and :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG: 's for you Sheila.

About the only thing I can think of that you haven't already tried is a calming collar - my pet sitter is using one of those for her cat who is being aggressive towards a new cat she just took in and so far it's working for her. I'm thinking of trying one for Hadley who is being uber-agressive towards Princess who is feeling sick right now.

And then there's Dawn Allen - maybe a talk with her and Cami to find out what's making her tick?
 
She has been somewhat subdued today - so, of course, I am worried about her. After a month of grumbles, the (relative) silence is odd. She isn't wanting to be cuddles (never has), but I can't even get her to purr today although I have been talking to her quietly and stooping to scratch her neck every time I walk past her.

pmPS was 209 so I did not increase tonight.

She still wants to pee on my carpet in once place in the LR. She keeps going over there and circling and I have to say "no, Cami" and then she growls at me and walks away. I scoop her up and place her in front of a LB and she growls some more, but goes in and pees.

I am wondering about raising the fluoxetine dose from 1/4 tab to 1/2 tab once a day, or 1/4 tab bid. Her vet records show that the vet that did the declaw suggested 1/2 tab once a day for her mood changes after the surgery and rehoming last February, but there is no record that it was tried.

Near as I can tell, the declaw surgery "ruined" her. I just wonder how much of her good catness can be salvaged at this point - and how to go ab out doing it.
 
Sending calming thoughts to Cami and hugs to you Sheila. cat_pet_icon
I'm wondering if the litter is causing her pain on her declawed paws and that is why she is going outside of the LB...just a thought.
 
I don't think so, Marcy. She uses the box most of the time and does "dig" a little when she does. She also lets me gently touch her toes, so I am not sure how much pain she still has. Although, from the reports of humans that have had toes amputated, there remains "phantom" pain indefinitely.

Her BG has been high over the past week or so. Maybe that is it, except she has been doing this longer than her BGs have been high (I am pretty sure). I am using the "ends" of pens that have 5-10u in them from a friend who uses lev with the dose dialer and says you can't get the last little bit out that way. So maybe I got a dead pen? I can't remember when I "started" it, but I have about 10 more so I will try one of those tonight and see if she comes down. She has been flat at 330 all day (well, 6 hours at least. I am testing every 3 hrs).
 
Here's hoping she calms down, she has had a rough go of it and is probably a little afraid to trust yet, but she should soon figure out she is in the best furever home.

Good luck Sheila
 
One month is not that long to get adjusted after all she has been through in life,
although i'm sure it feels like a time time for you.is she still on Rescue remedy?
i having a feeling things will get better in time-what cat can resist your caretaking? One day she 'll wake up
and realize how lucky she is to be with you.
 
I'm not sure the rescue remedy was doing much. I might go back to using it and see.

She is a little better than she was a month ago, mostly the others have learned to ignore her, get around her, or actually challenge her (that causes a ruckus). She is marginally less food focused - maybe getting used to the routine and knows I won't feed her every time she demands it. But the last 2-3 BG tests were a real struggle. She is fighting and growling and struggling so it is hard to get the meter up to the blood drop. I might have to start burritoing her if this keeps up.

And, while I was gone for 5 hours, she pooped and peed on the bedroom rug. That is totally unacceptable. I now have to keep the bathroom door shut because she was peeing on that rug. I really think she does it because she is mad at me for not being here. I don't think she does it when I am here, but asleep.

She is, by far, the most difficult cat I have ever tried to work with. I just feel like she is not enjoying her life at all. I have tried to pat her or brush her, sat down next to her and put her on my lap, but she has not purred in days. All she does is demand food, sleep on the kitchen or hall rugs, and poop and pee. It's like there is no playing, no purring, no preening and no interest in anything around her. It's really sad and I don't know that I can do anything for her.

At least her PS tonight was in the 100s instead of near or over 300.
 
Sheila & Beau & Jeddie (GA) said:
She is losing her hold on great numbers - we are seeing some 300s again.

I have been really busy and not home during the mid-day so few spot checks. I also will be trying for an early curve today before I head out for the evening. I should be able to get up to +6. I am not convinced she needs a dose increase, but I bumped her up to .3u a few cycles ago as the numbers climbed. They started going up after I decided to try feeding her "as much as she wanted". That seemed to not only fuel the numbers but her appetite as well AND her irritation at one and all. I am now feeding her about 2-3 ozs every 2-4 hours, except overnight when she can go about 7 hours between meals.

She has been very irritable the whole time I have had her. I would have thought that consistent food, insulin and attention would have calmed her down a least somewhat by now. I remember with Jeddie that he was very mad when I got him, struggled so much during testing that I had to burrito him, and he ate a lot, but he also explored, slept in the various kitty beds, looked out the window, got on my lap, purred, presented his belly for rubs and mostly ignored the other cats. By one month's time, he was touching noses with Ariel and Beau. Cami is not doing any of those things, except a few minutes on my lap once or twice a week. She is so angry and agitated, cries for food even when she has just been fed 3 ozs, growls and hisses at the other cats and me (if I don't feed her again). She is also peeing outside the LB routinely now.

I don't know what else to do. I am prepared for this to take time, but I just don't think she is happy at all and I don't know what I can do to help her. I also don't want to have the carpet in my LR/DR ruined because I can't afford to replace it or even remove it and put in a hard floor surface - like I had to do in the bedroom after Jeddie ruined that carpet.

Anyway, I wish things were going better for her because I think she would be happier. She is so sweet for those few minutes she will get on my lap and purr. It never last more than about 5 mins though.

If you can spare a moment to send her calming thoughts maybe that would help.
Click to expand...

Sheila, what about trying a pain med? If it works, then you would know that she is indeed in pain, if at all.

I feel so bad for you and Cami. She doesn't understand why all this has happened to her, and I really feel it is going to take a lot of time. Sending prayers to you for patience and understanding; I know it hasn't been easy, but she has the best chance in the world being with you.

Try the pain med and see what happens. At least it will help you to decide which direction to take if she reacts favorably to it. Hang in there my friend.
 
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