one year later - now he purrs when I test

[Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA]

We sort of missed his one year anniversary. It was Oct 3rd and I was out of town. A year ago, on the first attempt to test him he bit and scratched me. Luckily, I was wearing gloves. Not so luckily, he had a good memory and held a grudge and the next day when I put his food down he went after my hand and bit me really hard on my thumb pad. I had four puncture wounds and swelling for a few days.

With a lot of patience, burritoing him in a big fleece blanket, and the luck (again) of him going OTJ for three months I could at least test him without getting bitten. He never accepted testing like Beau did. Sometimes it was still a struggle where I wished I had three hands even just six weeks ago.

But he is purring now! At first (about two weeks ago) it was infrequent, but now it is all the time. He even looked like he was going to jump up on the table at two of today's three tests, but he is not quite there yet.

He has been on prozac since mid August, so that could have something to do with it. The prozac is for inappropriate peeing, but it is having a subtle effect on him - not on his personality, but it is taking the edge off. I was afraid it would ruin his personality or make him a zombie cat, but it hasn't. He clearly feels like part of the pride now, where I don't think he did before - like he didn't trust what he had even though he cuddled with me and a couple of the other cats and played with the young ones. He was even playing with Beau last week.

And Beau was playing with the two girls and his toys which he hasn't really done since I got Jeddie. I wonder if Beau picked up on Jeddie's anxiety and it stressed HIM out and that is why he got grumpy and lost weight. Because he is eating better now and is slowly gaining weight back.

I sure wish I had started prozac when you all first suggested it to me. I was just so afraid it would "ruin" him.

 

[Melissa&Paul-Kyle]

yeah for a not ruined Jeddie man!

I am so glad to read things are working out so well ( knockwood,antijinx) and that you are so pleased with the results.

good job! :thumbup

 

[Wendy and Boo (GA)]

Yay for Jeddie (and you too!!)

 

[pamela and tigger]

So nice to hear the prozac seems to be doing the trick. I am glad you took Lynda (and Melissa too) up on their suggestion to give it a try. It makes sense that Beau might be stressed out if Jeddie was too.

Maybe also Beau was picking up on your stress and frustration not knowing what else you could do for Jeddie to help with his behavior problems.

I forget, how much prozac are you giving him now? Just for the record in case others are wondering too.

 

[Vicky & Gandalf (GA) & Murrlin]

You've made a believer out of me on the Prozac. Or rather Jeddie has. I'm sure he's happier in his now happy home too.

I love that he's purring during testing. I find the moments we spend testing, shooting, giving fluids, feeding, and giving meds can either be a struggle or rewarding. Glad he's moved on to the rewarding part! You deserve it!! cat_pet_icon

flip_cat

 

[Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA]

Jeddie is getting a 1/4 tablet once a day - I think that's from a 10 mg tablet, the smallest it comes in (and its the generic, BTW).