Strange Days

It's strange waking up without a pet.  I've had pets for most of my life and consistently had one for over the last 20+ years, with exception to the couple weeks we had a cat go missing.  Being an animal person, having a pet kind of completes life.  I loved waking up to my Luke purring beside me or hearing the kids get up because he was on their bed purring so loud they could no longer sleep.  He loved sleeping with the kids.

This morning we said our final good-byes to The Luke-ster giving us all time to reflect on what  an impact he had on our lives.

Luke showed up at a perfect time. 

We were living in rural Washington state.  We had recently lost our dog, Sam.  After Sammy died our orange tabby cat, Louis, had  hard time adjusting to life without Sam and he disappeared.  Living in the country with coyotes, we suspected the worst, but hoped for the best.  We hoped for two weeks Louis would return.  I placed ads on Craig's List, visited the local animal shelters, posted Lost Cat notices, but no responses.

After about two weeks, with a heavy heart I took Louis's water bowl and placed it in the dishwasher.  While doing this, I felt like I was being watched.  Creepy!  I looked around and then looked out our large kitchen window.  Sitting on our bar-be-que, staring back at me was an orange tabby cat.  Could it be?  Did Louis return?

I opened up the back sliding glass door to a scrawny, malnourished orange tabby with a spiked collar.  This was not my Louis for sure.  The kids thought it might be, but I reassured them this orange tabby was missing a couple extra toes and Louis definitely would not have worn a spiked collar.  When I opened the door, he immediately ran to the laundry room to eat from the cat food bowl.  He ate like there was no tomorrow.  How did he know the food was in there?

We weren't sure where this tabby had come from, but began to think he was sent by God.  Immediately we began the name hunt.  This new cat needed a name if he was going to hang around the house.  I liked the African name Foluke.  It means "Protected by God."  It is a girl name, but I figured if this cat survived the rural life with wild animals, it was definitely protected by God.  The kids liked the name Luke, as in Skywalker.  We agreed he'd be called "Luke."

We placed ads on Craig's List and called local vets alerting we found a cat, but no one claimed our Luke.  He had found his FAMILY and we found the perfect cat to complete our family!

Within the first week we took him to the veterinarian for a check-up.  He guessed Luke was about 3-4 years old based on his dental development.

Immediately, Lukey cozied up to our family sleeping with my hub on the couch, cuddling with the kids.  He'd let them carry him around like a baby, dress him up, etc.  This is the most patient cat I've ever seen. 

When my husband was transferred to Orange County, Luke didn't miss a beat.  I was concerned that he would not adjust well to city life after being a country cat, but he did so well.  Upon moving in, he quickly greeted and made friends with the neighbors.  Everyone knew and loved Lukey.  He loved being outside, laying on the brick wall watching over his kingdom. 

I know in my heart, Luke was sent to us, "Protected by God."  My heart grieves his loss, but I'm so thankful for the years we had with him.

A heartache of a day...

This morning I woke up to my Luke cuddling up to me, or was he peeing next to me?  I wasn't sure.  I jumped out of bed, rushed him to the laundry room where the litter box is, and then began the changing of my sheets.  I'm still not sure if he intended to pee or if he was dripping urine and then he realized it too late.  I wondered if his recent medical problems were causing incontinence. 

Time to call the vet again.  I called as soon as I could and got him in this morning.  The news is bad.  His bladder is once again blocked and the vet said he's in a great deal of pain.  They took x-rays and saw his bladder is very enlarged.  She thought this problem would continue unless he had a very expensive surgery to widen his urethra.  Her recommendation...put him out of his misery.

My heart aches.  I love this cat.

How does someone make this kind of decision in a minute?

I'm at a loss.  We had a little bit of time in the office.  I wanted to bring him home, but she said it would be selfish if I brought him home for the day because he's in pain.

He's the best cat and this whole ordeal really sucks.

Luckily, I had my camera.  We had a few moments.  He was purring like crazy.  He doesn't even have a clue about what's going on.  Did I mention how miserable this is? 

I feel for this little precious who appeared on our back deck about 3-4 years ago as a scrawny, bony runaway donning a spiked collar.  He adopted us and easily adjusted when we moved from the Pacific Northwest country life to Orange County.  He's loved by so many in our neighborhood.  In fact, there are people in our neighborhood who know Luke, but don't know us.  He has so many friends.

Should have tried for the self-portrait before today.

I Love You, Luke.

Luke Hospitalized

Remember my recent post about our cat, Luke?  He's been struggling with his health for a few weeks now.  Yesterday he took a turn for the worse. 

When he came in yesterday morning, his meow was a more like a wail and he could barely walk.  I knew immediately something was terribly wrong.  Whatever was bothering him the last couple weeks had just gotten worse.

The kids and I rushed him to a local veterinary clinic, I didn't go back to Dr. Bang (Bong) and Dr. Kang (Kong).  Their office is quite far away, and I wanted a fresh, second opinion given to our Luke.

After checking in and filling out our necessary forms, we sat in the veterinary office room decorated with yellow Labrador photos and cat pictures.  This office was much cleaner and welcoming than our previous vet visit, and it smelled much better!

When the vet and veterinary assistant entered the room, she felt Luke's abdomen and immediately said he had a blockage and was in great pain.  I knew he was in great pain just by the look on his face and the disappearance of his constant purr.  Lukey purrs if you just look at him.  No purring...serious problem.

She then said they'd need to sedate him right away, catheterize him, drain his bladder, give him IV fluids and other medications, and keep him for a few days to monitor if he'd make it.

What?  If he'd make it?  I've since read about this condition and apparently urinary tract blockage can be fatal to a male cat if not treated in 24-72 hours!  According to Dr. Ronald Hines:

It is a medical emergency when your male cat can not urinate. Urination is how the body cleanses itself of toxic waste products. Urination is also critical for the cat to keep the proper balance of minerals and water in its body. It doesn't take long (24hrs) for cats that can not urinate to become depressed and for systems in their body to begin to fail. If you suspect blockage in your male cat during the day, take it to your veterinarian immediately. If their office is closed, take the pet to a 24-hr emergency veterinary center.

He continues,

"When urine backs up into the pet's kidneys, the pressure within the kidneys goes up. This will cause irreversible kidney damage if the pressure is not relieved. Three days in this condition is often fatal."

After the brief examination, the veterinarian left the room with Luke to get started on the treatment.  She said she'd send someone in to discuss the fee.  Yikes, I hate fee discussions.

She instructed me to go up to the front counter to speak with fee lady.  I left the examination room and headed up front.  There sat hard, merciless bookkeeper lady.  I know she has a job to do and obviously she's a good little collection agent, but show a little compassion.  She presented me with the $900 treatment program!  I love my cat.  I do!  But, $900?  Furthermore, she said 75% of the $900 was due now.  I was shell shocked.  A couple months ago our son broke his collar bone.  We had to make an emergency room visit.  That was $1200, but thankfully we do have insurance.  Our cat visit was almost as much as our ER human visit, but we don't have pet insurance!  My heart quickly sank.ow

In high school, I worked at a veterinary clinic in a small Midwest town.  My official title was "Veterinarian's Assistant."  I received a great deal of veterinary experience while at this job.  I did everything from reception work to cleaning cages to caring for animals to assisting in surgery.  I remember small town folk bringing their cats in with blockage.  None of them had $900 to dish out for a cat with a blockage.  We'd take the cat.  I don't even remember much sedation going on.  The vet would take the animal to the back, place it in a large tub, catheterize it right there and you could see the relief on the cat's face.  He'd drain the bladder and all would be back to normal.

Ma or Pa would pick their cat up and all was well in the world again.

Looking at an itemized list of procedures adding up to $900 did not give me the "All is well in the world" feeling. 

I told bookkeeper lady I'd need a few minutes.

I went back into the exam room.  The kids were sitting there looking at me with big eyes.  I told them of the bill.  They were as stressed as I was.  What could we do?  We've recently had a number of large bills come up and there's just not an extra $700 sitting in the cookie jar for cat care.

Next, I called my hub.  Surely he'd know what to do, but how do you know what to do when you're faced with a bill you can't pay for and a cat you love close to death?  He was as shocked as I was.  Is this the going rate for the treatment?  I called a friend.  I called another vet.  No one had an answer.  What do you do when no one can tell you what to do?  I should have stopped and prayed.  Instead, I stood and cried.

We didn't know how to proceed.  I looked at our kids, one was tearing up.  Another had pulled his baseball hat over his eyes and was crying.  Dang!  I hate being in these predicaments when you have to make a decision on the spot.

I called the vet back in and explained our situation.  I asked her, what NEEDS to be done, and what is just the bonus fluff?  She told us what we could opt to have done and what was critical.  We were able to get the bill down to $500.  It still seems like a lot, but I love my Luke.

We then met again with bookkeeper lady.  She figured my 75% owed on the high side.  The remainder is due tomorrow when we pick up the bud.

We received an update call yesterday.  They had sedated and catheterized him draining the bladder.  There was blood in the urine.  When the sedation wore off he had dinner and seemed to be doing pretty well.  The fact that he was eating is a good thing.  I asked if he was purring, but the lady didn't know.  

I called today and he has one more day of observation.  He'll forever probably need to be on a special diet.  The bummer thing is he's always had the best of food, mostly organic, but for whatever reason he grew the crystals that caused the blockage.  From what I've read there's not a definitive answer as to why a cat gets the blockage, but for whatever reason his pH was off causing the crystal formation.

According to Cornell University if you see these signs in your cat make the trip to the vet.

Signs of Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Straining to urinate.

Frequent and/or prolonged attempts to urinate.

Crying out while urinating.

Excessive licking of the genital area.

Urinating outside the litter box.

Blood in the urine.

***Cats with a urethral obstruction will show the above signs but will pass little or no urine and will become increasingly distressed. A urethral obstruction is an absolute emergency, requiring immediate veterinary treatment.***

Some days I wake up optimistic of the wonderful events the day holds.  Sometimes the events are tough, but we learn from them.  Maybe it's time to start stashing away in the cookie jar.

The Accidental Career Day

Do you wonder what your children will grow up to be one day?  I often do.  I think about their God-given gifts and try to imagine what occupation they will one day grow up to have. 

We have a great negotiator and I wonder if he will be an attorney.  He's also extremely caring and physical.  I could see him as a fire fighter, perhaps.  He's also a great leader.  Maybe he'll be a corporate manager or a politician and will help the masses figure out how to get along.

Another child of ours has a question for every minute of the day.  He's great asking questions of which he already knows the answers.  I wonder if he'll be a journalist or a television interviewer.  He's also very analytical.  Perhaps his field of choice will be engineering.  Maybe he'll combine the analytical with the questioning and will become a doctor.

Our youngest child is singing and performing all the time.  She's great on a stage.  Will she be an actress or take a leadership role in a company.  She's also a wonderful baker.  Will her talent in the kitchen guide her life occupational choice?

There are so many options, it's fun to wonder.  One day they'll make a decision and I'm looking forward to knowing what it will be, but for today I can just about guarantee none of them will go into the veterinary field.

This is Luke. 

Luke hasn't been feeling well lately.  How do I know this?  He's been staring at me.  He follows me around the house and occasionally he yells at me.  Well, it's not actually yelling, but when he stares, follows, and then lets out a yelp/meow, it feels like a yell.  He's been unsettled.  Inside, outside, back inside.  At my feet, staring.  A mom knows when something is not right and something was not right with Luke.

We scheduled an appointment at a new vet.  Dr. Bang (pronounced Bong) came recommended. 

When we arrived at the vet we were directed to a room.  I was with our two youngest kids and Luke.  We went to the room and eventually two gentlemen came in.  One was Dr. Kang (pronounced Kong).  I guess Dr. Bang (Bong) was not available.  Dr. Kang began to ask questions about Luke's health and demeanor.  The kids watched.  I watched.  I love these teachable moments when everyday occurrences are like field trips.

Dr. Kang asked about Luke's eating habits, his potty times, and vomiting.  He began checking Luke's abdomen to see if there were any obstructions.  Dr. Kang and his assistant were by Luke's head.  The kids were sitting on chairs on the other side of the examining table.  I was standing in front of them.  Luke's backside was facing me.

"Uh Huh,  Hmmm," said Dr. Kang.  He squeezed Luke and the next thing I knew Luke's pee was shooting across the table all over my new Gap shorts and the floor.  The kids jumped on their seats.  I stood there like a mom does who gets peed on routinely.  Actually, I haven't been peed on for some time, but I know how it goes.  I guess the good news is, Luke doesn't have any obstructions.

Dr. Kang and assistant continued the examination as though it was no big deal.  They quickly grabbed a urine tester and began mopping up the urine with it.  I guess there was no need to ask Luke to pee in the cup after that.  After a moment, Dr. Kang came back to reality and realized I was covered in pee and asked the assistant to clean up the table and floor.  I asked for a wipe.

Before I sound like a urine-whiner, we have to clarify this is cat pee.  Cat pee is some of the worst in the world, at least in the domestic front.  Once cat pee gets on something, it could be a goner.

Over the years we've used Nature's Miracle to counteract this type of accident.  Let's hope it works.

While all this excitement was going on, our youngest gave me the, "I'm going to be sick look" and asked if she could move to the waiting room.  "Why?"  I asked.  I was a veterinarian's assistant in high school and thought even though there was a bit of an accident, this was still educational material.  I encouraged her to stay.

The look of horror on the faces of our kids let me know neither of these kiddos was going to ask to go to veterinarian school. 

Fortunately, the rest of the appointment was pretty low-key.  Luke had to get a couple antibiotic injections then we were on our way.  Well, after we paid the $100 bill. 

Today our little Lukey seems to be doing better.  He's a bit more spunkier and seems to be in a better mood.  Maybe he just doesn't want to go back to the vet.

Me neither.  Next time I'll consider wearing my disposable apron.

Luke

The kids like to dress him up. This is Luke in his special Volcom hat.
Just over two years ago a VERY special little cat walked into our lives.


At the time we lived out in the country where coyotes roam at night and cats live a life of risk and/or adventure if they stay out past dark. We had a precious orange tabby cat who was an indoor cat. But late in his life he decided he wanted to hunt for bugs and hang out on the deck. One day a terrible storm came rolling through and that was the last we saw of our orange tabby named Louis.


I combed the shelters put out ads, but no one had heard nor seen our 11+ year old tabby.


After about 2 weeks from his disappearance, I was startled by a skinny, malnourished orange tabby who peered at me through our kitchen window. Being the animal lover that I am I opened the back sliding door and in ran the fur covered bag of bones. He was so skinny and pitiful.


We still had Louis's food and water out in hopes that he would return. This vagrant cat speedily ran to the food and began devouring it.


The kids thought this cat was Louis, but I knew better. I was confident that this kitty was a gift from God. I so missed my orange tabby and since I don't believe in coincidence, the fact that an semi-identical orange tabby showed up at our doorstep, in the middle of country fields, just reminded me that God was looking out for us and this little kitty.


After a trip to the vet we learned that this guy, we now call Luke, was about 3-4 years old.


I put out ads and alerted local veterinary offices in case someone was looking for him, but never received a response.


Now this guy has been with us for just over 2 years. He's left the life of skinny, wandering cat. He's the most friendly cat I've ever met. Our neighbors love him. He's gone from wide-open spaces to the life in the O.C.


This morning as I was holding him I thought back on his last two years. What a change! He was found by a family who would love him. And I think he's got quite the life!