Miss Annie's Surgery

If you don't know Annie's story, the last few posts have been about her.  In a nutshell, her previous owners were going to take her to a shelter if they couldn't find a home for her before they moved.  We took her in hopes of finding her home.  Just one day after we brought her home, she started peeing blood.  After several trips to the vet, a urinalysis and an x-ray, it was discovered she has stones. 

The vet called me last Friday with the estimate.  It's going to cost $2,000 for the surgery to remove the stones.  In my wildest worries about the price, I never thought it would be this much.  I spoke with Trish at Katnip Lounge, who by the way, is wonderful and funny too, just like her blog. Her Grayce had this same procedure in Las Vegas for about $800. Plus, her surgery was laproscopic, which seems to have a considerable less recovery time.  I've called three vets in this area.  They all charge the same price, if not more, and none of them does the laproscopic surgery. 

I've received several ideas and even some vets to call.  I'll definitely be calling around starting Tuesday after the holiday weekend to try to find a cheaper vet. I really appreciate all the encouragement and info!  I need to also look into somehow making some extra money but I'm not sure where to start.

Although the blood seems to have abated considerably, Annie is still going to the litter box constantly.  Other than that, she seems to feel well.  She loves to play.  She's also spending a little less time under the bed and isn't growling quite as much.  Lucy and Simba have been wonderful.

I hope you're enjoying the three-day weekend!

More on Annie

There’s a little strange creature that squeaks and growls and darts around furtively.  I don’t know what the big deal is but there seems to be a big fuss in the house over it.   I’m in my golden years and expect to retire in peace.  Why, oh why, did they bring this funny-looking thing here?

Mama’s going to talk about the creature’s drama now.  Warning: When you look up the word succinct in the dictionary, you will not see Mama's picture.

I want to thank everyone for the encouraging comments and good advice about Annie.  We brought her home last Thursday.  Friday morning there was bloody urine in both bathtubs.  The previous owner told me that she did the same thing once last year when they brought home a new dog.  I called Annie’s vet.  Since she just had a check-up two days before, they asked me to bring her in but they wouldn’t charge me for the exam.

Well $135 later, we found out she has a condition called Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC).  Apparently, this is diagnosed once infection, blockage, etc. are ruled out.  FIC is brought on by stress by things like moving, new cats, new home or all of the above!  This is treated with pain medication, a canned-food-only diet and time.  It supposed to clear up in about a week.  Since then, she’s been peeing blood multiple times a day, every day.  She goes to the litter box more times than I can count and does just little dribbles.  It doesn’t help that she’s not drinking much water and only wants to bury the canned food.
 
It gets worse.  When the vet took Annie's urine she also did an ultra-sound on her bladder.  There was an unidentified mass on the ultra-sound. Back to the vet she went on Wednesday for an x-ray (and another $100).  Annie has two stones.  She’s going to need surgery.  I’ve been waiting all day today for the vet to call me with an estimate for the surgery cost.  I was awake most of the night last night anticipating how much this is going to cost.

Poor Annie has been in the car four times in the last five days and to the vet three times.  We’re not supposed to exacerbate her stress, but that’s just we’re doing.

Some good news is she’s been coming out more and receiving pets from us.  She still spends long periods of time under the bed, but she has also made some brave forays into the main part of our home.  She seems to feel pretty well in spite of the stones and the bloody urine and the too-frequent trips to the litter box.  She growls at Simba and Lucy, but they tend to ignore her most of the time.  Lucy does hiss at her from time to time, but they’ve been pretty good overall.  I bought a Feliway dispenser from the vet at their suggestion (a lot of you suggested it as well).

Thanks so much for listening.  Annie is a sweet, sweet girl.  She has a waddle more than a walk and a tiny, squeaky meow.  I still can't understand why her previous owners didn't want her.

Annie Update

It seems strange to post without pictures, but I just don't have any today.  I posted about Annie last Saturday.  If you missed it, she's a five-year-old kitty whose owners are moving and saying they can't take her with them.

Well, we decided to take Annie.  I couldn't stand the thought of her going to a shelter even though I know there are tons and tons of kitties who are homeless or in shelters.  Actually, we knew all along we were going to take her in, but I was hoping to find her a home.  Two senior kitties in a small apartment makes it very difficult to bring in another kitty.
Last weekend we met Annie's owners.  They are a young married couple and also have a dog.  They are actually quite nice, and I didn't press them on why they insist they have to give up Annie.  I don't understand that decision.  It's just strange because they had all her vet records, took good care of her it seems, gave me all her belongings, took her to the vet earlier this week and bought us food and litter.  It just seems like irresponsible people wouldn't do all that.

I picked her up today.  She's never lived with other cats but she's very afraid of their dog.  Unfortunately, I don't have a room for her to be separated from Lucy and Simba.  She's afraid of them and they're afraid of her, so there has been some hissing, growling and swatting.  Annie has been under the bed for the last few hours.  We've shown her the litter box a few times and I'm just hoping she'll use it when the time comes.  It's 9:30 in the evening right now and she hasn't used it since coming here at 2:30.

I hope I'll have better news about all this within the next few days.  Right now, we're all stressed and crabby.  I feel so sorry for the cats.  Annie is so scared and spent the whole afternoon desperately trying to find a hiding place.  She hasn't eaten or drank either.  Well, at least she has a home.  I just hope she'll be happy here.  I also hope Lucy and Simba will be happy and content again.  I remember when we brought Bucky home that they never felt comfortable with him.

Annie Needs a Home by September 1

Hello Friends,
This is Annie. Her present owners are moving 9/1 and they can't take her with them.  She lives at our apartments and will be relinquished to a shelter if a home can't be found. The owner said that all the no-kill shelters are full and aren't taking any animals.

I have two kitties in a two-bedroom apartment that only allows one kitty.  Simba has CRF and Lucy seems to have the beginning of possible thyroid issues (she's going to the vet on Monday).  I'm saying this just to mention why we really can't take her.

She's a sweet, five-year-old with declawed front claws and comes with litter, food, flea meds and bowls. Transportaion would be paid for.

Can anyone help or have any ideas?

Furry Reflections

Hi Kitties, Doggies and Non-Furry Friends,
Today, I'm in the mirror. I love to hang out here.  Papa thinks I'm always staring at myself in the closet mirror, but really I just like the spot.

This picture is a reflection of Simba in the window.  That chair is outside but Simba is inside.

Simba had a little adventure the other day.  Mama opened the door to get the paper around 9:30.  They then left the house at 11:00 and who was on the porch but Simba!  He was outside for an hour and a half.  He's never done that before. He never even tries to go outside.  Mama and Papa were upset.  They didn't get back until 2:00 and would have had no idea how he got out.  The way he hops around on three legs, he's not exactly stealth.  Mama doesn't understand how she didn't know that he got by her.  Well, fortunately, all was well.  

Head Taps,
Lucy


Weekend Reflections

My Week

Hi friends. This has been a week of sunshine and fresh breezes.  I'm just kickin' it here like I usually do at this time of day.

I've taken up a new habit that Mama isn't thrilled about.  I walk around meowing very loudly late at night.  I'm usually pretty quiet so Mama doesn't understand what all this meowing means.  I'm not giving her any hints so she just needs to figure it out.  

I tried a little macaroni and cheese the other day.  Where has this stuff been all my life?

Happy Weekend!!

Tight Ship on the SS Lucy

I hope you all are having a good week.  Mine has been good but busy.  I keep a tight schedule: In the mornings, I enjoy the sunshine in the guest bedroom. In the late afternoons, I enjoy the sunshine in the living room as seen here.  In between, I enjoy my bed with my pink blankie.  There's no room for goofing off but there are plenty of breaks for Fancy Feast.