What have we done? Cats, 6; Tsu and Ivan, 2

[GeorginaS]

My big cat, Frank, came with gingivitis and needed his teeth brushed. He's a pretty easy-going guy if you play things his way. He had a few back teeth that were especially bad that needed a gum scrub daily. He sat patiently on the kitchen counter while I got out the little toothbrush and the fish-flavoured toothpaste. Wow did he love that toothpaste. He wouldn't tolerate teeth brushing until I'd let him lick most of the toothpaste off of the brush. There was generally enough left behind to help lubricate the brushing, but he wouldn't tolerate it unless I did it his way.

And, years ago my vet pointed out to me that it was nonsense that hard food helped clean cats' teeth for precisely the reason that's been mentioned here. They'll either crunch it once or swallow it whole. Cat's don't chew a whole bunch. And they aren't like dogs who can get a good tooth scrubbing by gnawing on a bone.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

This seems to shed a bit of light on things.

... Feline Stomatitis is a very serious form of dental disease in cats. This is usually seen as an autoimmune disease and is most commonly found in cats that already suffer from more serious health issues. Stomatitis is caused when the body rejects and becomes allergic to the plaque on the teeth. Sometimes it can spread into the throat causing painful red lesions. When a cat has stomatitis, it will become very uncomfortable and may stop eating. You should seek the advice of your veterinarian right away...

http://www.fullpetential.com/cat-edu/dental-care.htm

 

[Ivan Seeking]

My big cat, Frank, came with gingivitis and needed his teeth brushed. He's a pretty easy-going guy if you play things his way. He had a few back teeth that were especially bad that needed a gum scrub daily. He sat patiently on the kitchen counter while I got out the little toothbrush and the fish-flavoured toothpaste. Wow did he love that toothpaste. He wouldn't tolerate teeth brushing until I'd let him lick most of the toothpaste off of the brush. There was generally enough left behind to help lubricate the brushing, but he wouldn't tolerate it unless I did it his way.

We've especially had difficulty in getting ours to gargle. They really don't like Listerine.

 

[Moonbear]

...but he wouldn't tolerate it unless I did it his way.

And I wonder why my boyfriend keeps comparing me to cats.

 

[Tsu]

Eh, the vet specifically referred to it as an allergy. Tsu, where did you get that?

Um... I got it from here?

http://www.petplace.com/cats/stomatitis-in-cats/page1.aspx

But, you're right, dear (of course). This statement of Moonbear's does describe it better...

"Stomatitis is caused when the body rejects and becomes allergic to the plaque on the teeth."

 

[Ivan Seeking]

But, you're right, dear (of course). This statement of Moonbear's does describe it better...

"Stomatitis is caused when the body rejects and becomes allergic to the plaque on the teeth."

You mean my quote.

I was asking where you got the name. I didn't know what it was properly called.

 

[Tsu]

You mean my quote.

I was asking where you got the name. I didn't know what it was properly called.

Ah. Google is my friend. So is our Vet.

 

[Moonbear]

But, you're right, dear (of course). This statement of Moonbear's does describe it better...

You mean my quote.

You don't even get credit when you do find the right thing.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

You don't even get credit when you do find the right thing.

Yeah, no matter what it is, I just assume I'm guilty unless told otherwise.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Made me think of baby Bun:

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/funny-pictures-kitten-is-evil.jpg

 

[Ivan Seeking]

>90% confidence that Isaac is going into renal failure. We had hoped that he may live longer, but we knew his kidneys had been seriously compromised. It seems now that he hasn't many days left. I have gone into my spoil-him-rotten mode, as I do with all of our pets in their last days.

He had a good year+ though - lots of kitty play and love. He has been a very affectionate cat. However, once he got past the "save me" phase, he became a complete mama's boy and stuck to Tsu like glue. He always comes over to say hello to me, but within a few minutes he heads for Tsu's lap for an hour or two of squinting and purring. Apparently I just can't compete.

I really hate that last trip to the vet though. We've only had him a year but it will be a sad day.

 

[lisab]

So sorry to hear the news...my condolences to you and Tsu .

 

[GeorginaS]

I'm so sorry to hear about Isaac, Ivan and Tsu. Those last steps are truly some of the most difficult in this lifetime. I'm sure that his year of unconditional love with you two is second to no others.

 

[turbo]

I really hate that last trip to the vet though. We've only had him a year but it will be a sad day.

Very hard times, Ivan. Due to our rather remote location and work schedules, I was always the one that had to take the final trip to the vet with each of our ferrets (many of them rescues). It was never easy. Even when they were in pain or crippled up, they always wanted to be held and cuddled and talked to.

 

[rootX]

We had another stray show up who was in pretty rough shape. We have learned the hard way that once they latch on, we have three choices:

1). Take to shelter [almost certainly doomed to either life in prison, or death]
2). Watch them slowly starve to death. Possible disease threat to our other cats
3). Be complete idiots and take them in.

So, we opt to be complete idiots. This one is an orange neutered male, approx 7 year old, with medium length hair [breed?], now named Isaac [I don't know why Isaac... it just popped out]. He had mats on his back that formed a clump as large as a fist. He has an infection in his mouth, he is thin, he stunk to high heaven, and he was filthy. But a day with the Vet did wonders and he turns out to be an extremely affectionate kitty. Not a wild cat by any means, he was certainly someone's pet. Either he got lost, or someone moved and left him behind, or he was dumped in the hills behind us. The vet said that they have seen a lot of abandoned pets since the economy tanked.

I would guess that he has been on his own for at least several months; no more than half a year I would think. But there was no mistaking the fact that at one time he was a pet. It only took a few minutes to gain his confidence to the point where he would lie right on top of me to sleep. In fact he is so affectionate that I have to wonder what did happen. This clearly was a cat that someone loved and gave a great deal of attention. In any event, as some here know, he hit the jackpot when he hit our place. Tsu and I are both complete suckers for animals.

So we now have Zoobie, Bun III, Little Tyke, Jack, Mr. Spock [another stray who has been around for three years now], and Isaac.

Btw, we have some acreage that acts like a stray cat net. They follow the creek down out of the hills. Our place is one of the first places to land.

...

>90% confidence that Isaac is going into renal failure. We had hoped that he may live longer, but we knew his kidneys had been seriously compromised. It seems now that he hasn't many days left. I have gone into my spoil-him-rotten mode, as I do with all of our pets in their last days.

He had a good year+ though - lots of kitty play and love. He has been a very affectionate cat. However, once he got past the "save me" phase, he became a complete mama's boy and stuck to Tsu like glue. He always comes over to say hello to me, but within a few minutes he heads for Tsu's lap for an hour or two of squinting and purring. Apparently I just can't compete.

I really hate that last trip to the vet though. We've only had him a year but it will be a sad day.

I went back and read the first post.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Thanks. Hard to say how long he might last; maybe days, maybe weeks, but when the quality of life of goes down the drain, it will be time to make THE trip. Unfortunately, we have gotten pretty good at this.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Thanks. Hard to say how long he might last; maybe days, maybe weeks, but when the quality of life of goes down the drain, it will be time to make THE trip. Unfortunately, we have gotten pretty good at this.

I'm sorry, Ivan.

I saw lots of homeless kitties at the pet store yesterday. They would probably trade all their 9 lives just to have a month of cozy comfort at Ivan and Tsu's.

 

[Evo]

I'm so sorry Ivan, Dr foofer died of renal failure it seems. So sad. My condolences to Tsu.

 

[Moonbear]

Sorry to hear that Isaac is doing so poorly.

All of my pets we had when I was growing up died at home, so I've never before had to make that final trip to the vet. We were fortunate that they always went quickly once it became apparent that they were declining, so never had to make that decision of taking them to the vet to end suffering.

 

[turbo]

Not happy, Ivan. Due to circumstances, I was always the one to make the final trip with our pets. It was crushing every single time. My best wishes.

 

[Borek]

Sad & sorry :(

 

[Huckleberry]

Condolences for Isaac. Whenever I'm feeling blue I remember Tennyson. I hope you and Tsu are doing alright.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Thanks again. It's sad but it goes with the turf. We've had to put down about thirteen animals now... I think. The worst was a period of about three years, during which we lost 7 animals, including our three dogs. That was seriously depressing. However, all but two were quite old. Our record holder is still Yiddo, a silver-shaded chinchilla persian, who make it to age 19.

It almost seems an inappropriate joke now, but for anyone who didn't see this, you might appreciate a pic of toothless Isaac sleeping.

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/1174/isaac1.jpg

As lisab observed, it is hard to get much more relaxed.

Did I scare anyone?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Well, he managed to last ten more weeks, but his quality of life continued to decline to the point where it was all bad from here on.

A very sad day, Isaac turned out to be a very special kitty who completely captured our hearts in the short time that we had him. He will be missed. Goodbye little buddy.