Completely satisfied fifteenth Birthday to my gorgeous seal mitted Ragdoll cat, Charlie!
As I sit down to jot down this, I simply completed giving Charlie sub q fluids, and I take into consideration how a lot has modified since his final birthday. Actually although, a lot has modified since late Might/early June, when my different Ragdoll cat, Trigg, acquired sick and died.
Across the identical time, I discovered about how sick Trigg was. The vet phoned me a number of days later to let me know that Charlie’s kidney values had progressed—they’d been in stage 1 or a questionable raw-fed food plan stage (BUN could be greater when you find yourself a raw-fed cat). I’m not sure which “stage” he’s in now, as my vet by no means likes to “diagnose” that – she a lot believes it is determined by the cat.
And she or he doesn’t like me to fret about these issues – she’d reasonably I concentrate on the medical cat. In actual fact, I used to be stunned that his values elevated as a lot as they did as a result of he had been consuming and performing nicely. Given his values, our vet recommended I begin giving Charlie fluids twice weekly.
I didn’t begin something till after Trigg died – I couldn’t deal with something extra.
Whereas Trigg was dying (which I didn’t know was taking place – I say that in hindsight), Charlie solely swatted him as soon as; the animal communicator had warned me which may occur – that typically, when one cat is sick, the more healthy cat could assault them. And Charlie did – however solely within the type of a swat. Moreover that, he was totally respectful of Trigg and often sat with him wherever he was.
I discovered so much about Charlie by means of Trigg’s dying course of and, after all, after that. I didn’t know the way very a lot Charlie favored Trigg. I knew he cherished him, however I didn’t know the way a lot he favored him. Usually, it was Trigg who approached Charlie, not the opposite means round. So when Trigg was lastly gone, Charlie went right into a despair and a grief stage. It was powerful to see him mourn whereas navigating my grief. We each nonetheless have bouts of it, too – and I might guess that may proceed for a bit longer.
As soon as Trigg was gone and our flea drawback below management (sure, the day after the night time I put Trigg down, I found Charlie had fleas), I began to consider giving Charlie fluids.
When Charlie was youthful, we have been going to a distinct vet (I went to the identical vet for nearly 12 years – and I switched in 2020 to a brand new vet as a result of I wished to be extra holistic in my strategy with my cats. I wanted a veterinarian who was aligned with that). And Charlie wanted fluids for one thing – he went nuts and virtually at all times became Chuckie, his alter ego, on the vet.
It was terrifying, and having had three kidney cats and realizing 85% of cats die of kidney failure, I figured there was a superb probability it was in my future. I simply hoped it wouldn’t be with Charlie as a result of I didn’t suppose it could be doable to present him fluids. I requested our vet then, “What occurs whenever you can’t give a kidney cat fluids?” She mentioned, “I had one like that, they usually simply die sooner.” I used to be totally ready for that after I first discovered that Charlie had kidney markers.
So after Trigg was gone, and we nonetheless doubtlessly had fleas, I requested my mother to return choose Charlie and I up in her automotive – I knew Charlie was flea free, however didn’t suppose that my automotive was. So, she got here to choose us up, and the vet would see us as a walk-in for fluids.
We waited patiently within the automotive (ready within the ready room on the vet pisses off Charlie), and the vet tech got here to get him. She was gone with him for some time and finally introduced him again out. I assumed for positive he’d gotten fluids as a result of they’d been gone so lengthy; nonetheless, as she handed him to me, she mentioned, “He wouldn’t let me do it.” And this was a VERY skilled vet tech that’s been doing it for like 15 years.
You’ll be able to think about my feeling realizing we made all that effort in the summertime warmth, and he didn’t get fluids. I used to be so excited for him to have the fluids, too, given what he’d been by means of with Trigg and the fleas—little doubt he wasn’t consuming, and so on., like regular.
Our vet, who was out of the workplace on the day that occurred, advised me to return the following day, and he or she would attempt. So I did, and we acquired it executed! It was nothing in need of a miracle as a result of it was fairly darn straightforward! Our present vet has by no means wanted to “sedate” Charlie to attract blood or study him, whereas our outdated vet at all times REQUIRED he be on a small dose of Gabapentin.
I requested if we may return in 2 days to get extra fluids. She was okay with that, and we did. That point, we screwed up 4x – poked him 4x, and he was comparatively compliant for being poked 4x. I couldn’t imagine it.
Please know, nonetheless, that none of it could have been doable if Pam of Completely Holistic hadn’t gotten his Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome below management two years in the past.
I bear in mind when Dr. Sally noticed Charlie after we had labored with Pam diligently to get him higher. Dr. Sally mentioned, “He’s like a distinct cat.” And I replied, “Sure, his physique is not on fireplace, so he’s not bothered by each little factor that touches him.”
That’s why he was capable of deal with the 4 pokes. If we hadn’t executed the work with Pam, I don’t suppose he would have allowed even one poke.
On my drive residence from Dr. Sally’s 2nd set of fluids, I assumed, “Man, I’ve gotta do that at residence to see if I can do it on my own.” The primary cat I gave fluids to on my own was Caymus – my sister Amy had bravely executed it by herself, so I knew I needed to attempt the identical. I did fluids on my mother and father’ cats, Caymus and Murphy, and my Rags, Trigg, Hobbs, and Maddie (my Aunt Jean’s Ragdolls), so I’m an skilled fluid giver.
So, I made a decision to get the braveness up and check out it. The primary poke went by means of like an ear piercing. The second was excellent, however then Charlie bolted away, so it got here out. I needed to pierce him another time, and we acquired it. He stayed, and I acquired the fluids in. I virtually held my breath whereas they have been operating. Nonetheless, I discovered a very long time in the past from a veterinary acupuncturist that you simply by no means wish to maintain your breath with a cat as a result of that’s the one time she acquired bitten.
It felt like I held my breath, however I didn’t try this on objective. As soon as we have been executed with the fluids, I cheered and clapped my palms, kissed him, and hugged him. He was excited as a result of he knew I used to be excited. Then I picked him up and began crying, saying, “We will do that, Woo!”
The considered hauling him forwards and backwards to the vet for fluids – a process that takes lower than half the time to drive to the vet, was overwhelming. And I do know that fluids can and can get to the purpose the place they want them day by day, so I simply didn’t know if I may do it that means ceaselessly. And my caregiver fatigue is out of this world proper now, so I didn’t need another factor to do.
I’ve continued fluids at residence. General, he’s nonetheless doing nicely with it – there was one Chuckie look. That’s extra of my fault, although – I ought to have paid extra consideration to the place he was in his day (he wasn’t keen to remain put). He has additionally bolted away from the road a number of occasions, inflicting the needle to fall out, however I don’t wish to re-poke him, so he will get a bit much less. I nonetheless can’t imagine I’m giving Charlie: 1. fluids, 2. on my own. BLOWS MY MIND.
I advised Charlie a number of weeks in the past, “Bub, it began with you and me, and now it’s simply you and me once more.”
When you imagine in manifesting what you need, it labored for me getting my Charlie. The primary Ragdoll in our household, and the explanation I wished one for myself, was Halston, a seal mitted with a blaze Ragdoll cat. I at all times wished a seal mitted with a blaze due to Halston.
After I began Floppycats and knew I wouldn’t have my Rags for much longer, I had a imaginative and prescient board. I put a cat that seemed virtually precisely like Charlie on that imaginative and prescient board. Earlier than Rags died, I had a consolidated record of breeders I knew who have been nonetheless breeding cats associated to Rags. A kind of was Soulmate Ragdolls in North Carolina.
About 5 months after Rags died, I used to be in Albuquerque, New Mexico, trying by means of the accessible kittens on that consolidated breeders’ record – I simply went to every of their web sites to see if they’d listed one thing new.
I wasn’t prepared for kittens. However that night time, staring again at me was “Casey” – which was Charlie. It’s humorous as a result of “Casey” sounds aloud like “KC” (Kansas Metropolis), which is the place I’m from. Though I wasn’t prepared for a kitten, I knew he was imagined to be mine. He was excellent…and had an ideal hourglass blaze.
I nonetheless can’t imagine I lucked out with a seal mitted with an ideal blaze. He was like a needle in a haystack and simply sitting cute as a button on Soulmates’ web site years and years in the past.
Charlie has been one in every of my best lecturers. When he had his lively hyperesthesia, I assumed for positive the one means for it to cease was for him to die – I wouldn’t have put him to sleep. I simply thought there was no means he would ever get higher.
However a pal inspired me (after I had spent hundreds and gone to a number of veterinarians) to attempt Pam of Purrrfectly Holistic. And I watched as Charlie’s little physique healed from the harm I had executed feeding him dry kibble (why he has kidney illness), giving him too many topical flea drugs, giving him too many vaccines, and dwelling in a poisonous atmosphere with too many harsh chemical substances and fragrances. Whereas Charlie’s not excellent, given the kidney scenario now, how a lot he has rotated is exceptional. I can’t thank Pam sufficient for the cat I’ve now vs. the one I had then.
Talking of surprises with Charlie, his willingness to eat uncooked is superb. I additionally acquired assist from Pam to get my cats to eat uncooked – and I used to be very proud after they transitioned. I’m nonetheless loopy proud. I CANNOT BELIEVE Charlie eats uncooked. I can’t, regardless that I serve it to him. I’ve needed to swap him to eggshell as a substitute of bone. Eggshell is fabricated from calcium carbonate, whereas bone is fabricated from calcium phosphate – and phosphorus is an issue for kidney cats, so limiting or eliminating bone is greatest. Fortunate for me, he loves this new boneless recipe I’m following. However he’ll solely actually eat pork – he tells the animal communicator that it digests simply for him. This August will mark two years since Charlie has been raw-fed. Loopy.
Charlie is a type of pets with F.A.D – also called flea allergy dermatitis. It’s MISERABLE. Even when they don’t keep on him – if a flea bites him, it’s all downhill. He scratches, itches, and licks like a loopy man. The pinnacle tremor he acquired from topical flea drugs comes again, and it’s a dwelling hell for us each – though most likely extra only for me.
On prime of attempting to handle Charlie’s loopy response to the flea bites, you have to sustain with vacuuming, cleansing, and so on., in order that the flea inhabitants doesn’t enhance. I’ve discovered so much from our summers with fleas – and their magnetism to Charlie. I launched a free collection on pure flea management due to it. If Charlie will get a flea (one flea), I do know fairly shortly now and have a whole plan to take motion to get it off of him and get them out of my home. It’s not a enjoyable course of, nevertheless it’s extra methodical, organized, and efficient than a 12 months in the past.
Charlie is a really outgoing cat however has been extra subdued since Trigg died. He sleeps in spots the place he can’t hear all the things in the home.
I’m engaged on new dietary supplements with him to assist his immune system after the fleas – and in addition for his kidneys. I’m seeing some constructive modifications, and I hope these proceed.
Charlie has been instrumental in my Floppycats’ enterprise. He often saves the day on the subject of me getting footage of him utilizing a product (which is absolutely needed when reviewing a product—however it’s not at all times the best factor to have your digicam prepared the moment they’re utilizing it. Cat scratchers are the toughest!). Anyway, even at virtually 15, he knocked this one out of the park for me this 12 months, and I’m grateful.
I’ve discovered so much from Charlie within the final two years. I’ve discovered so much about what makes kitties sick, what makes them stronger, what merchandise we can provide to assist them, what checks we will do to get them higher, what we will feed that may give them optimum well being, and a lot extra. I’m very grateful for that. I’m sorry that Charlie has gone by means of what he has gone by means of due to my ignorance. I hope the life classes I’ve discovered might help many different Floppycatters and plenty of extra of my cats.
I want I may shock Charlie together with his Chiggy for his birthday—I can’t think about how stunned he’d be.
I don’t know how for much longer Charlie has—and I actually by no means thought Trigg wouldn’t be celebrating his fifteenth birthday—so that you by no means, ever know. However after what I’ve gone by means of with Caymus, Murphy, and Trigg, I’ve determined to concentrate on high quality with Charlie, not amount.
Completely satisfied fifteenth Birthday, my stunning boy! I hope you may have many, many extra birthdays.
Hello, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt acquired the primary Ragdoll cat in our household, I’ve cherished the breed. Impressed by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to attach, share and encourage different Ragdoll cat lovers all over the world,