[Dejibo]

Jack the cat has been pretty sick this past week. He is back in a flare, when he uses his box, he dripped blood for a bit. Landed back in the vet hospital and it showed he had a bladder full of broken crystals that were tearing up his bladder. VERY painful condition. He went back on pain shots 2x a day at 2x the strength he was down to. He has spent the last week hiding in my armoire, and that is no way to live.

We have decided that he MUST take these pills, so for the 3rd day in a row I again, wrestled him to the ground, and plunked a pill in his mouth, followed by a table spoon of yummy stuff. (in case he cheecked the pill, he will swallow it with the food) Today I knocked his shot from .6 to .4 and we hope that with the new pill he WILL turn the corner.

we cannot allow this cat to live a life of pain, hiding in armoires, bloody urine, painful days, and being so afraid of being handled for fear that its going to be an injection, pill, exam or someone pushing on his already sore bladder. We have chosen that if we can bring him around the corner and get him pain free again we are blessed. If not, we have a hard choice to make. Would just rip a hole in my soul to lose this wonderful cat, but how much can I ask from him?

So, please say a lil Jack prayer. He could use the boost.

[4-eyes]

So sorry Jack is suffering again. It breaks my heart.

I have two cats who have been having crystal/bladder issues as well. After much research, I switched them to a 100% raw diet along with a little cranberry extract added at first. They are both completely recovered, and doing well with the raw---more playful and alert and happy.

I know you have a TON of things going on right now. There are commercially available raw foods that you can order and have sent to you. I make my own raw meals for my 3 cats, but I've been at this for a while.

There is a bit of info on this site: www.felineinstincts.com . The owner will talk on the phone with you as well.

Good luck.

[Kitty]

Still praying for Jack. I just hate it that he's in pain and would honestly rather have the pain myself than know that this sweet kitty is suffering. I pray he turns the corner and returns to his happy, playful self. I know how hard this must be for you, Dej. I tear up just thinking of losing one of my own kitties.

[tkrik]

Aw! Poor Jack. I will say some prayers for him. Let us know how he is doing.

[Dejibo]

Jack is on a very good prescription diet, and before that he was on an organic human quality food. The presciption diet breaks down the crystals that he develops. it became so bad and his ureter became blocked so many times by so much garbage, that I had to have his male opening, reconstructed to be a female opening for urine output. The garbage was blocking the flow, he would get backed up, and he almost landed in kidney damage. He doesnt eat fish, he gets suppliments, and he receives the best of vet care. Trust me when I say this cat has received more attention in his 5 short years than most cats get in 20.

Today finds him a teeny tiny bit better, and its our hope that we can keep him pain free long enough to allow this new pill to kick in, but some cats can take up to 2 weeks for it to start working. 3 days down!

I love this silly cat more than I can say, and would rather suffer the pain myself than ask this sweet boy to carry it. His personality has changed since being in and out of pain for so long. He has become anti social, anxiety is his middle name, and quite fearful of anything loud. He is also extremely senstive to the moods of others, including those on TV. If newscasters are arguing he becomes upset, and goes to hide. We frequently keep the TV OFF now, and play soft music to avoid stressing him while in transition.

I dont want to make this about money, because for a cure, I would continue to poor money at this problem, but we are reaching 5k on this issue, and the poor cat isnt doing any better. We have had accupuncture, accupressure. Massage, reikei, IV therapies. Since he is so afraid to be pilled, we changed his pills to cream that gets rubbed in his ears till his ears had a reaction, cracked open and bled. He has distilled water, the best prescription food (tests show it IS working on his crystals. They are showing up as broken and dissolving) I dont believe I have spared a single thing that I thought would help him. I am just at my wits end, and with my own health crisis, its really hard to hold both of us up at the same time.

Thanks for the prayers. JAck the cat is so special to me, and I miss his bubbly personality.

[ginnie]

Hey Dej, sorry about jack the cat. He certainly will be in my prayers. shots are ok. I gave my kidney problemed cat fluids for two years. he got another 4 years out of life. When he re-infected his annal gland, and it hurt real bad, that is when I had to say goodbye. It hurts no questions about that. I had mine 21 years. Hope Jack the Cat gets better and the crystals stop so you can have your baby awhile longer. They do not mind the shots as much as the pills I think. so sorry you are having this happen. I still get emotional over him, so I do understand that kind of love. ginnie

[Dejibo]

Day 4 got another pill in him! whoo! he really HATES pills! its like a rodeo over here to pill the cat. He seemed calmer about it, and seemed to understand more about what I was asking. So, he is learning. He then got a yummy treat.

He did end up with a shot today, and he is back in the armoire where I have hidden the pheromone collar so he cant see it, but the smell should be helping him. He went last night without a shot, and I was so tired I didnt see what effect it had, but he seemed ok when I got up this morning. I placed him in the sun, wrapped in a blanket for a bit, and stroked him. he loves the sun.

So, one more day closer to the 2 week line of trying to decide if this med will help. His back door was urine wet, and urine scalded so he got a mini bath which upset him greatly. but the urine will really scald if you let it stick. I have his back door shaved short but not to the skin so he has some protection with the shortie fur. Do you know how hard it is to shave a cat when you cant see? Give an injection? determine if that is blood or urine? Its been a challenge around here. Today, is not such a bad day tho. I will take it!

[Earl]

I am also praying for Jack. I also pray for your family. Hope to hear good news soon.

[ginnie]

[Sorry it is hard with Jack the Cat. I know you are doing the best you can. Cats by nature just don't like to be messed with. I do hope he is de-clawed when you go to pill him. There is a device the vet has to push the pill in quicker. I never had trouble with giving fluids, as my cat was submissive and knew he was sick. Sometimes they do know you are trying to help. I so hope that he turns a corner, and can be with you awhile longer. ginnie

[Dejibo]

Day 5 and another pill in. He seems to be figuring out that its just a pill, and what I want him to do with it. He is not fighting like a wild tiger to let me open his mouth, and he isnt kicking me to bits while I try to drop it in. He did try to cheek this one, but he also righted it himself and swallowed it. GOOD BOY! He then got a dish of treat food.

He is not going to get a pain shot today. He has been very medicated for a week now, and he has been so medicated that he doesnt know he has to pee, and dribbles. I am hoping that with mental clarity will come control. He spent most of last night OUT of the armoire, and I found him this morning looking out the back deck at the birds, and squirrels with his sister Lily. I got to pick him up to pill him without having to chase him. HURRAY!

So, keep the prayers coming. I think he is standing on the corner. He needs to come far back around the corner before we can safely say he is good to stay. Isnt that awful? yet, I cant have a pee dribbling cat who hides all day, flinches at any loud noise, refuses to be loved, is terrified of what you are going to do to him (even if its petting) and spends his day in pain, bleeding and full of misery.

Come on Jack! you can do it!