My Lily Kitty is So Sick!

[CatLover]

I'm in California, and my sister has been keeping me up to date. Poor Lily finally managed to eat some string or thread, and couldn't pass it. She is incorrigible about eating EVERYTHING she can get too. We tried so hard to keep anything harmful away from her, but she would either find something we'd hidden (she's nosy even for a cat, and that's saying something) or start unraveling the edge of the sofa cover, or - well, you get the picture.

She hasn't been able to eat or drink anything for 5 days without throwing it up; they give her fluids subcutaneously at the vet's office, but she getting weaker now. They were hoping she would pass the string, but she hasn't. She's going in for surgery tomorrow, and they're afraid the yarn or string may be so tangled that they won't be able to remove it. Then she'll have to be euthanized.

I feel awful about this - Lily is only a year old, and we've had her since last summer. She's such a sweet thing that we didn't even try very hard to find her a home after she wandered into our lives. She was a stray who just showed up one day, and no one claimed her after we ran ads. She helped to fill the void after I lost two of my older cats last spring - one to cancer, the other to severe arthritis.

I guess there's really no point to this post, except that I needed to share the pain. I'm really hoping she'll come through the surgery, but I don't think she will. Carol (my sister) said Lily was visibly weaker today, and the vets juggled their schedules to get her in first thing tomorrow. They were not very positive about her prognosis. The worst part is that I'm so far from home, and I can't even see her or help take care of her.

Sorry for the downer, and thank you for listening.

[Rapunzel676]

OMG, I love my kitties so much, I can't even imagine what you must be going through right now! My baby Zoey got out recently and we had to get her fixed; there were complications from the surgery and I was so terrified of what could happen. Your poor little baby, I'm sending good thoughts to her so that she can come through the surgery safe and sound tomorrow. I am so terribly sorry that this has happened to you and your little fur baby. Please keep us posted and if you need someone to talk to, feel free to PM or email me. :gvibes:

[SeaAngel]

Gosh, it is difficult enough when your pets go through something like this when you are around, but dealing with it from a distance must be unbelievably nerve-racking for you. Sending healing light Lily's way and comforting thoughts to you. Hang in there and know that we are rooting for her. :grouphug:

[Txsweeper]

Let us know how Lily is doing this morning! I am so sorry, poor thing! I'm sending prayers her way that she pulls through!!! :halo:

[CatLover]

I just talked to my sister, and Lily made it through surgery. They had to make two incisions into the bowel. In one place she had a hard stool with mats of hair, but that was probably secondary to the other problem. She had a lump of rubber, which blocked the bowel. I was afraid that would happen months ago, because she kept chewing the edges of the rubber mats we use as cushions when we're working out. We tried spraying the edges with anti-cat spray, and even put tabasco sauce on the edges, but it only stopped her for a few days. We finally taped the edges, which worked. However, we had some spare sections in a closed room, and she would slip in there whenever we opened the door - and start chewing!

She is still susceptible to infection, especially since she is so weak, and of course they'll have to keep her until her digestive system starts to work properly again. We're hoping for the best; so how do you keep a cat who will chew (and subsequently swallow) ANYTHING from doing this again?!! Any advice? :worry:

Guess I'd better get moving or I'll be late for class.

[Txsweeper]

I am so happy to hear that DK has made it through the surgery! How to stop an animal from chewing???? I have no idea! None of my kitties have ever chewed except maybe paper, which can be annoying but at least it's digestable! Good luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed that she continues to get better!

[ignoramoose]

I'm so sorry your kitty is having problems :(. You both are in my thoughts!!

I have no advice about getting her to stop that behavior, though....my cats are usually pretty good when we're around (water bottle :rolleyes: ) but they get into everything if we aren't there.

[Rapunzel676]

I am so thrilled your kitty came through the surgery okay! She must be a tough little girl to have made it through that. Hopefully her recovery will be speedy and as painless as possible.

As for the chewing problem, there's a possibility she suffers from a disorder (I think in humans it's called "pica") that causes her to eat indigestible objects. I know this sounds sort of ridiculous, but you might consider putting her on some "kitty Prozac" (they really do make it!) or a similar medication that can control these obsessive-compulsive tendencies. You might discuss these options with your vet once Lily is up and around. It could also be a form of "acting out," so to speak--her expressing her frustration with you for leaving or even something as similar as bringing a new piece of furniture into the house. Cats are very sensitive to changes to their routines and will often act out when they feel that "order" is being disrupted in some way (think of Monk, or Rain Man). When I started back to school a few years ago my cat Jade expressed her anger at my leaving by peeing on my backpack. I got her another cat as a playmate, and the behavior stopped. I'm not saying that's a solution to your problem, but cats are ultra-sensitive to disruptions of any kind, so it might be worth looking into.

Anyway, best of luck to Lily and to you in solving a very difficult and worrisome issue. Keep us posted! :gvibes:

[bulldglit]

Glad your baby made it through surgery. Hope she gets well very soon :gvibes:

[SeaAngel]

So glad to hear that Lily made it through her surgery okay. Will continue to send healing light her way for a full recovery. :gvibes:

[CatLover]

I am so thrilled your kitty came through the surgery okay! She must be a tough little girl to have made it through that. Hopefully her recovery will be speedy and as painless as possible.

As for the chewing problem, there's a possibility she suffers from a disorder (I think in humans it's called "pica") that causes her to eat indigestible objects. I know this sounds sort of ridiculous, but you might consider putting her on some "kitty Prozac" (they really do make it!) or a similar medication that can control these obsessive-compulsive tendencies. You might discuss these options with your vet once Lily is up and around. It could also be a form of "acting out," so to speak--her expressing her frustration with you for leaving or even something as similar as bringing a new piece of furniture into the house. Cats are very sensitive to changes to their routines and will often act out when they feel that "order" is being disrupted in some way (think of Monk, or Rain Man). When I started back to school a few years ago my cat Jade expressed her anger at my leaving by peeing on my backpack. I got her another cat as a playmate, and the behavior stopped. I'm not saying that's a solution to your problem, but cats are ultra-sensitive to disruptions of any kind, so it might be worth looking into.

Anyway, best of luck to Lily and to you in solving a very difficult and worrisome issue. Keep us posted! :gvibes:
Good advice - Thanks! I don't think it's acting out, since she has done it since we got her, and has been doing it ever since! We thought for a while that the texture of the rubber might feel good while she was cutting new teeth, but it continued long after. Of course, it could have become a habit during that time.

We can ask about Pica, though - never thought of that. The vet pointed out that she just may like the texture, and likes chewing it. When cats get something in their mouths, they can't spit it out because of their rough tongues (something I never knew). So if she chews on the mats because she likes the texture, she will end up swallowing any bits that get in her mouth. Evidently she only got small pieces before, and could pass them. She just got unlucky this time.

We think we have the rubber mat problem solved; now lets' hope the foolish animal doesn't find something else to chew in their place. :rolleyes: We need to put our yarns where they are totally inaccessible, too. She is a yarn thief with a vengeance, and will tear open bags, and work open boxes to get at our yarns. Sheesh - I wonder if these little fuzzy critters are worth the bother (and expense!) sometimes. But awww - she sure is cute.

At the last update I had, she's now awake, and threw up again (poor thing must be awfully tired of that). But vet said that was normal; they'll keep observing her to make sure she regains proper bowel function, then we get the little "sweetheart" back again. http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/catdevious.gif

[Rapunzel676]

You're more than welcome! I am so glad your baby is okay. I know what you mean about kitties being a lot of trouble (one of mine has a stinky abscess now--it never ends!), but when they cuddle up next to you and purr, you know they're worth it. :gvibes:

[Dundee]

So sorry to hear your little kitty is ill, and I am SO glad that she made it through surgery please keep us up to date! :worry:

[CatLover]

Lily is home again, on a special diet for a while (no rubber mats yet). She's not exactly lively at the moment, but lots better.

I'm going home Saturday, and I will be so glad! I will miss the nice weather (not looking forward to cold and snow again), but I'm sick of this hotel, and I want a computer with a real mouse (I hate touch pads!). I'm going to get a mouse for this computer before I take another trip!

And, of course, I'll be happy to see my furry babies again! http://pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/emoticons1/1_gif01.gif