My cat Charlie was supposed to be “just a cat.”
All the cats I’ve ever had were outside cats until I lived on my own. Then I had Velvet. And then Charlie came along a few years later. I’ve never considered myself a “cat person”, always a dog person, even though I’ve had at least one cat for the last 6 years.
I took Charlie to the vet ER tonight. He was howling at me, couldn’t pee, kept trying to pee on the carpet, kept licking himself… I looked at a cat website and determined he might have a urinary tract infection.
Prepared to be sent home with anti-biotics, I was told Charlie was in shock, had stones and crystals in his engorged bladder and needed to be anesthecized (sp?) immediately to get a catheter in. But they have to do blood work and check the kidneys for failure before they can do all this.
I wasn’t supposed to get attached to my cats.
I lost it in the exam room. I petted him goodbye in between his howls and left. It’s midnight and I’m supposed to be up in 5 hours for work. I’m trying to figure out what in my house I can sell to pay the vet bill.
He’s not just a cat. He’s my Charlie.
They’re never really just cats, are they? I’m sorry to hear about your Charlie, I hope that everything turns out ok!
As you know, he’s worth every penny. Same thing happened to our cat, and he was all right. The key thing is to recognize what’s happening to him and get him to the vet ASAP, which you did. I’m praying for him.
I’m so sorry! I hope everything is okay! It’s so hard because they really do become members of the family. I will be thinking of your sweet little man today.
Awwww..Best wishes for Charlie and a speedy recovery!
Cats are sneaky that way. They have a way of making you love them even when you least expect it.
Hopefully, they can get Charlie fixed up, and you can snuggle with him very soon.
Your vet might have payment plans – I would ask.
You’re a good kitty mommie and Charlie will probably be fine. With any luck he’ll be out of the vet’s office soon and you’ll experience all the joys of a cat with a catheter. (My sweetie still tells me stories of when this happened to his mom’s cat.) I’ll keep my toes crossed for you!
Oh, I am so sorry to hear about poor little Charlie! He is just adorable, and as Leslie said, worth every penny. I was a vet tech for a while in college, and saw plenty of sad little obstructed guys come in. We always recommended filtering water for male cats (my little man gets Brita water, just like his catmom drinks out of those funny cup-things). With a quick catheterization, and a good flushing-out with water (and if it’s a bad case, removal of the stones), they have a very good prognosis. I’m sure he’ll pull through, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for him. Hang in there.
He’s such a special cat! I’m sending lots of good thoughts!! I hope he pulls through and is back to being fat and happy soon.
Hugs to you!!
I’m sending positive thoughts your way! In college, I ended up adopting a dog from the shelter I volunteered at because she was so bonded with me, and so badly abused no one else could get near her… then I found out she had heartworm. $2,500 later (begged and borrowed mostly), she was healthy. Took me ages to pay back the money, but it was worth it. Hugs to you!!
Oh girlfriend – I’m so sorry (and the “Really Big Shew” empathizes with whole stone thing!) Ask your vet about a payment plan (believe me – they know the cost of the workups/surgeries are more than most people can afford at a pop!) and ask them about Urinary SO diet (http://www.royalcanin.us/vetdiet/felineurinary.html)as a preventative diet once Charlie is back up and running. RBS has been on it for several months now and she’s doing great (and the stones have not reappeared!!)Keep us posted!
I have a lot of cats, and have had many more over the years. We’ve had a lot of male cats with problems like this. If he is a big dry food eater, they may have you switch to a food with less ash in it – either a urinary tract diet, or more canned food. Good luck with him, and keep us posted on him, and your vet bill.
That sucks! Whatever happened to the poor little cat??