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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Sunday, February 05, 2006 - 6:02 pm
Hey, About the Prednisone... Personally I use a pill plunger (bought from the Vet for $5 a couple years ago). I roll Louise in a towel and on her back in my lap. I have the plunger set up beforehand, next to a little dish of tuna. After plunging the pill, I dab a little of the tuna on her chin, to make sure she swallows when she licks it off. My beloved former cat Jezabel would make a big show of "swallowing" in the olden days, then spit it out the minute I let her up. Would find little thyroid pills everywhere! Before I knew about the pill plunger, I was having to split the Prednisone Pills in half for Louise, to stop the itching/chewing of her butt (she's intolerant of fleabites so they needed a chance to heal while the flea treatment worked). Tried to mix the pill with her favorite foods, hide in chunks of ham or cheese, icecream. All her favorite foods, but she would take one lick and walk away. I mentioned the problem to a friend who has been taking all sorts of anti-rejection drugs for life, after double transplant surgery - particularly Prednisone which is a steroid. When she heard I cut the Prednisone in half - yikes! She said that Prednisone was the nastiest tasting of any pill she had ever taken, she had to stick it at the back of her throat to choke it down. Cutting it in half meant breaking whatever protective coating & releasing the flavors already. That's when I went back to the Vet and they showed me the plunger. I do it to the back of the throat as far as I can get it and try to immediately mask the taste with the dab of tuna. Afterwards, I put the little dish of tuna down so Louise gets a treat while trying to overcome more of the taste. Just want to give folks the heads-up on the Prednisone. No wonder it was such a battle! Bisc
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Sunday, February 05, 2006 - 8:02 pm
I have a plunger, but I wouldn't dare try it with Angelina, wrapped or not (and wrapping her like a burrito is a good thing when she goes psycho.. because ehs also bites and has sharp teeth.. (to be fair she's not threatened to bite too often lately.. )
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Sunday, February 05, 2006 - 8:13 pm
Biscotti ... when I had my cats and had to give them a nasty tasting pill, I went to a pharmacy and asked for gel caps. They are just gelatine caps that pull apart. You put the nasty tasting pill inside and then give it to the cat. That way the cat resists less because they are unable to taste the pill. I also used to wrap my cat in a towel, turn him upside down, pry his mouth open, push the pill in the gel cap in and then hold his mouth and scratch his throat until he swallowed. Such a hassel but I sure did love my cats!!! 
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Sunday, February 05, 2006 - 8:59 pm
Oh yeah, if I have to medicate one of them it WILL happen one way or another..
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Monday, February 06, 2006 - 1:41 pm
Cashmere is doing so much better! She is pretty steady on her feet now and walking normally and quickly at times! Her energy level is so much higher. We see much more of her iris' now and her ears are alert and she is controlling her tail some now. The growth on her back is actually a wart and nothing to worry about. I just wish I'd quit finding puddles in the garage. They are always in the same area, now I'm afraid she's just gotten used to a new place to go. But I still find plenty in the litter boxes and on the puppy pads around the litter boxes. If this continues, I will have to put another box out there (the garage where they live) and see if she uses it I guess. She could just be having seizures. Maybe I should rig up a videocamera out there to see what she's doing leaving these puddles. I think if they were seizures though, there would be puddles all around and not just in the area where I keep finding them. The bad thing is, she now only weighs 6.2. She was 7.0 both times she was weighed last week. She is dehydrated. This means she is not eating. I am going to keep trying all sorts of different foods. The vet gave her liquid vitamins and sent the rest home with me. She says they may help Cashmere to want to eat. Also, she says not to worry if Cashmere needs more of the syrup med. that helps contol vomiting, it is a med. that she could stay on if necessary. I'm going to have to start writing down questions for the vet because the first thing I did was weigh Cashmere and was so shocked that I forgot mostly everything. Watching, I did find something on line about the potassium. It is different for cats than humans. This is from http://www.fabcats.org/crf.html (Feline Advisory Bureau in the UK) "Potassium supplementation Some cats with renal failure develop low blood potassium levels, and this itself can worsen the renal failure. Where this is identified potassium supplementation (tablets, gel or powder added to the diet) is of benefit." I read this on other sites too. The vet possibly checked both our cats pot. levels during labwork. I don't know for sure. Redstar, thanks. I'm sorry about your Phoebe. Thanks for writing about her. This gives me some information that my cats could have problems with the kidney failure and recover. I know if nothing else causes their passing, the renal failure will. I thought that if it ever came to bad reactions due to renal failure that would be it, I'm glad to hear the bad times with crf can temporarily pass and they can get better a bit. Prisonerno6, thanks. I hope it's not anytime soon too. I'm sorry to hear about Spats. (Vanilla ice cream?!) Sea, are Critter and Angelina still at odds? Wow, it sounds like Critter was doomed at the beginning and here she is after 17 years! I'm so glad you kept her! Thanks for the good wishes. I laughed at your 8:59 am post, I trapped Oreo in the bathroom off and on for a couple days about 18 years ago when she wouldn't eat the med in her food and my husband was out to sea in the navy. After the initial time, I had to refig. the food so it wouldn't spoil. I didn't want to reheat it for fear of changing the composition of the med. Poor Oreo, there was no way she wasn't getting that med. Luckily she only had that one dose left. Biscotti, now I have an idea why Cashmere reacted so badly to the ground up Prednisone. Poor girl. Never again will I do that. I'll either use those pockets that Costa mentioned or a plunger. I'm going to get both to have on hand in case my husband goes out of town. I don't want to have to drive to the vet every time someone needs a pill! Your tuna trick sounds good too. I wonder if my cats would clean tuna off their faces? They barely groom. Cashmere always has icky fur around her mouth from the potassium gel. Your Jezabel did the same trick my Oreo was doing. My husband occasionally gives her the thyroid pills. I'd find them in her chest hair all the time. She really had him fooled. Now he's really watching her for awhile afterwards. I usually do Oreo thyroid med anyway, she gets 1/2 pill twice a day and it doesn't have a lot of taste to it (to me anyway!), I just grind it up and dump the powder on the back of her tongue. She really doesn't seem to mind. Those pills are tiny, but even 1/2 seems to generate more powder than one would think. Vacanick, the gel caps are a really good idea. I just cannot give them pills if I have to open their mouths and put the pill in there! I feel like I need a lot more than 2 hands! The vet says the stinkier the food, the better (more likely Cashmere will eat it). I wonder if there is anything stinkier than tuna? I'd love any suggestions. I don't care too much about the nutritional value at this point. I think any food she eats may stimulate her to eat more and finally get back to regular food. I am going to keep trying different canned cat food and tuna and chicken, she won't eat either right now but has liked them in the past. She won't even eat a Pounce treat and she usually loves those.
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Redstar
Member
07-08-2005
| Monday, February 06, 2006 - 2:21 pm
I'm so glad Cashmere is doing better! I think that a videocamera is a great idea. That way you could hopefully get a look at what's really going on.
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Monday, February 06, 2006 - 2:27 pm
Cashmere So glad to read she's doing better! I realize that your main concern now is keeping her comfortable but I know I always felt like it was a blessing when my Casper would perk up some. Has the vet said anything about giving her subcutaneous fluids? Sometimes that can make a major difference. I remember standing in the grocery store, feeling so lost and worried and desperately trying to think of something to try to coax Cass to eat. I suddenly recalled that a long time before she had gotten a piece of ham as a treat and she had loved it. So I bought some and her eyes lit up and she gobbled it down. I swore she remembered having it once before! I think you're right, if you can find something to stimulate her appetite and she finally gets some food into her, it can really help her strength. The most important thing at this time is to just get her to take in some calories (although not giving her any medically prohibted foods, of course)!
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Monday, February 06, 2006 - 2:36 pm
YAY Cashmere!! If she really won't eat soon (and it sounds like hydration is more of an issue at present) they can try to stimulate her appetite. My vet used IV Valium on Critter way back when she was so sick and it took a couple of tries but when it kicked in, he called me, so excited. I brought her home and she was napping and I was just watching her, and she suddenly woke up and started eating! I was so happy! She's been such a joy. Yes she and Angelina are still at odds (loudly, at times) A video camera would probably be interesting for most cats.. just to see what they are doing when we aren't there. At the time I got Critter I had an answering machine that had a feature where I could call home and "listen" to the room. (I guess I still have the same machine but have no idea how that works anymore). Anyway a couple of times I tried that and actually heard her, up in that same room, just ACKing away (the little machine gun noise she makes when she sees a bird, or sometimes when I sneeze).. Too funny!
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Redstar
Member
07-08-2005
| Monday, February 06, 2006 - 4:37 pm
Oh, I love that machine gun noise! Phoebe always did that. I haven't heard Emma or Natalie do it, though. Neither did the cats I grew up with.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Monday, February 06, 2006 - 7:39 pm
Critter's the only cat I've had who makes that noise.. it is too funny. I don't think she's done it lately, maybe she's not looking outside or seeing/hearing as well. The funniest used to be when she'd be flopped out on her back, making the ACK ACK noice.. when she couldn't possibly be able to catch anything.
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Jimmer
Member
08-30-2000
| Monday, February 06, 2006 - 7:56 pm
I had an enormous cat when I was little. Anyway, he was the sweetest guy with people but he would attack anything with more than two legs that moved! Fortunately, for the surrounding animal population, we rarely let him outside (probably for his own good too) and when we did, he never left our backyard. He was funny in that he would chase everything over the fence though. Anyway, the first time he made that sound it scared me half to pieces. But he was lovable to us.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Monday, February 06, 2006 - 7:58 pm
I've heard Critter make that sound in her sleep, undoubtedly dreaming of the bird she caught. And their mouths move to mimic what they are doing to said bird..
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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Monday, February 06, 2006 - 8:25 pm
HappyMom, so glad to hear Cashmere is making progress! Actually, when I did the Tuna Dab routine it was more on her bottom lip (not really her chin). Don't know if they just don't like the foreign feel/taste/smell without knowing what it is - but Louise licks it right off. Frankly, I only do the tuna w/vegetable oil since the w/water stuff just doesn't taste like tunafish to me - like we always had as kids. I usually make a sandwich to share the can - treat for all of us. I used to do the old rubbing of her throat with Jezabel too. But, like I said, she was a heck of an actress, she could have won academy awards. As far as the plunger goes....it's very slender, so we don't really have to do the "open wide". Just a little crack when she starts a yelp, that's all it takes and I just slide it right in. What I ESPECIALLY like is that the part which holds/embeds the pill is like foam (not hard plastic) so I'm not chancing a cut to the inside of her mouth. I like the idea of the 'pill packet treat' and plan to get some next time we have a different RX. It was helpful just to discover THAT "nasty" info, from someone who HAD done the 'taste test'. So if I have to do the Prednisone Ickies, I think the pill packets might leave the same predicament as poking holes in the chunks of ham to entice Louise. So I'll stick to the plunger for Prednisone. Vacanick, the gel caps idea is brilliant! I remember as a kid my Mom bought a bunch so I know what you're describing. She made tiny rolls of paper (printed fortunes or prizes) pulled apart the capsules to place them inside. Then people reached in the jar for their capsule to see if they got a prize. That is wonderful! I'm hitting up the pharmacy tomorrow & will keep some gel capsules on hand in case I need them. No reason for Louise to have to taste anything if she doesn't have to. But I still think I'll do the tuna routine to make sure she swallows the gel cap too. Speaking of tuna, has anyone heard from Taterhead2 lately? Bisc
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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Monday, February 06, 2006 - 8:31 pm
Did anyone else watch/see the "Puppy Bowl" on Animal Planet? Yesterday, apparently during the Superbowl halftime. I didn't either, but a friend sent a link to the puppies (and kitties doing the cheerleader poms). Jeepers, it's just so CUTE! http://tinyurl.com/a5kfl A pseudo game in a pseudo stadium with pseudo crowds. Awwww! Bisc
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 9:10 am
Your so welcomed Biscottii!! I always kept the gel caps on hand ... they last forever ... just in case. We watched the "Puppy Bowl" ... so cute! Loved watching that little white poodle playing tag with the other dogs and then watching the other dogs gang up on him. So funny!
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 9:18 am
Beat the Super Bowl all to heck.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 9:23 am
Just a note... I never ever use a pill plunger or other forceful means to get meds in my cats. It's one of the reasons I was so pleased to find out about the pill pockets. Costa's usually good about taking meds mixed with a spoonful of canned food, but the benazapryl has been troublesome. Even after buying a pharma grade mortar/pestle, it was still sometimes a problem. I think it's traumatic enough for a cat to have to take medicine. If I can avoid the physical aspects of it, and make it seem like it's a treat, all the better. My kids have been clicker trained and always receive positive reinforcement when we are training. I want to continue the positive tone when pilling them. If they think it's a treat (even though I've tricked 'em), all the better. But a pill plunger, wrapping in a towel... all of that? No thank you. It's my own personal choice. (Same for the way I clipped their toenails. I try to make the experience as positive as possible so that it's never a problem.)
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 10:35 am
Well, Cashmere is still doing fairly well. Last evening though, she was not as energetic as yesterday morning. She looked a little out of it and wasn't walking great, ok, but not great like yesterday morning. I think maybe she had a seizure. So hard to tell. Maybe it's just lack of nutrition. I held her for awhile late last night. She was her usual restless self though, so, that was a good sign. Biscottiii, thanks so much for that! very cute! I think I'll pick up a can of tuna in oil to try. We always have the tuna with water on hand, I eat it. Oh, I see in my post yesterday that I wrote Cashmere is dehydrated. I meant to write that she is not dehydrated. I really should proofread or proofread better. Calamity, I always have an iv bag and syringes on hand, have for years, to give her subQ fluids, ever since she was diagnosed with kidney failure. She's not dehydrated right now, her skin goes back quickly and her gums aren't dry. When I first had to give her the fluids, it was awful trying not to pass out, even in the vet's office when she first showed me, I had to sit down. But when I got used to it, it was no big deal at all. Cashmere is just normally so restless that getting her to sit still was the hardest thing. I've just tried to get her to drink chicken broth and tuna water over the years too, anything to keep fluid in her. She actually drinks an amazing amount of water anyways. I like having the iv bag here just in case, I don't worry as much knowing I can get her hydrated quickly. I actually had to use fluids on Oreo a few mos. ago. I felt so bad because I left it out in the garage and it got so cold. (Not dangerously cold, but maybe uncomfortable.) She's never been restless, so I held her for awhile to warm her back up. I should have realized it and warmed the bag some, but I'd already started and although Oreo isn't restless, she doesn't like to stay in that type of position, so, I just wanted to get it over with. I know what you mean about feeling desperate about what to get to encourage the eating. I have 5 bowls of different dry food lined up for them (well, really just for Cashmere, but Oreo has free access to them all, she only weighs 8 lbs, so even if she pigs out, she will be ok) plus a little plate of some whisker licking treats. She did eat at least 13 of those this morning. To my knowledge, that's pretty much all she's had. Maybe she is eating some dry cat food. It's hard to tell. (I haven't seen hardly anything solid in the litter box. I can tell the difference between the two cats, usually. Sometimes I am more sure than others, right now, I think she's only gone once in many days.) I had all these foods and treats on hand, so just decided to try them. Too bad the treats are treats and not cat food. I also have several differnt types of canned food that I'll try off and on. She may have had a bite of canned kitten food yesterday. Oreo has really been making out like crazy with all of this. I am going to try ham! Sea, the vet wants me to bring Cashmere back on Fri to weigh her again. If she has lost again, I am going to talk to her about the IV Valium. I may ask about putting food in the pill pockets! (I have yet to see how big they are, I'm going to go today or tomor to get some if possible.) I would never make any of this a habit, I just want to see if I can get her back on the right track since she seems so much better other than the weight loss. That is funny about you listening to the room! LOL! I bet that machine gun noise is cute. My cats don't make that noise. I'm trying to think if they ever did because it rings a bell from years ago when we lived in San Diego and they would look out the windows a lot. But I think I'd remember it more clearly. Things happen with the pets and kids that I think I'll never forget and then I do... Costa, I understand how you feel about the pill plunger. I would probably not do it on a regular basis, however, I think sometimes the cats get used to taking med and then it's just no big deal at all, plunger or just dropping the pill down their throat. Both cats are good about taking pills dropped down their throat from my husband. Oreo doesn't seem to mind at all when I dump the thryroid powder in her mouth. I just cannot do the actual pill at all. I wish they'd take their med in a bit of peanut butter like our dog does! If I had to wrap them in a towel to clip their nails, they'd get them clipped by the vet! Both lay there like wet noodles when I clip. If I start cleaning their nails though or in between their pads, then there's usually a problem. Oreo complains and yanks away, but she'd never bite me. Cashmere, she has bit before, such a biter when she's mad. She scares me. (only rarely though, I'm very careful with her old body. She is normally content to be messed with a bit.) Our vet says she's a lot more afraid of being bit by a cat than a dog. Anyway, if they'd groom themselves better, I wouldn't have to mess with them so much! At least Oreo still does a fairly decent job keeping her paws somewhat clean. Cashmere, no way. She is also unaware of what she steps in at times (maybe all the time). I can hold her like a baby with her paws her the kitchen faucet though to loosen everything up. I actually may have to not use the clumping litter anymore. We used to have at least 2 and probably all 3 litter boxes filled with clumping litter. Now we have 2 crystals and one clumping.
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 2:20 pm
Thanks for the update, Happymom. Keeping you all in my prayers.
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 2:34 pm
Linus makes all sorts of strange noises - chirps and rowls and brrs. He doesn't do it as much as he used to though. He's almost 8 months old now but when he was really little, he would make a little noise with every step he'd take, lol. Oh we also watched the Puppy Bowl. And that Kitty halftime show was too cute. Loved how they dimmed the lights, set-up a stage, and then...the grand finale! It was just like the real thing, lol. But a few of the kittens looked a little scared - poor little fluff balls. I'd have to call Barry the poodle MVP of Puppy Bowl II because he was so darn playful - although he was only third on my "most adorable" list. But he's the one I'm probably going to remember the best. Just like the golden retriever pup who kept playing in the water bowl during last year's show.
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Rupertbear
Member
09-19-2003
| Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 8:32 pm

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Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 10:25 pm
Glad to hear Cashmere is doing better! Rupie - I've had two cats who looked like that kitty, though neither one was subjected to a HAT! LOL Misha makes those birdie machine gun noises every morning!! It's like clockwork! DS goes to school. I climb into bed. Misha jumps up to watch the birds in the back yard. My last cat Jade made the same noises. Depending on when, (like if I'm wide awake!) it will make me laugh. Misha did goofy things when she was little and still DOES goofy things!!! Right now she's trying to drive me up a wall by being naughty because I'm on the computer. Never fails at night. I had her in her carrier but she wouldn't stop meowing so I let her out. Then the trouble started!! She is such a KID! She so wants attention!! Here's a pic of her from the other night when she got up on the entertainment center and I managed to snap a pic when she was on her way down. Of course, all of this is to get me to pay attention to her!! LOL
This one is her looking at me like.. "What?!! You have a problem with something I did? I have no idea what you mean!" LOL

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Redstar
Member
07-08-2005
| Wednesday, February 08, 2006 - 11:51 am
Misha is such a gorgeous girl! Such dainty little paws!
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Wednesday, February 08, 2006 - 12:31 pm
Yes, Misha's a beauty! Rupertbear: Is that kitty yours? What a cute picture and I just love white cats!
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Wednesday, February 08, 2006 - 2:46 pm
Cute pics Watching and RB! I was a little sad this morning and thought the pic with the hat was cute, but this afternoon, it is really making me LOL! Thanks to all who post pictures, I love seeing them! I hope Cashmere is eating, I keep trying to get her to eat. She may be eating dry food, with all the moist stuff, she is just getting gravy mostly, better than nothing though. She's started dragging her back right leg again at times and her back legs aren't as steady again. Her eyes look good though. She is so skinny. The thing that has me more worried than anything is the way she reacts to water in her drinking bowls sometimes, like pulling back like it's startling her.
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