I'm Back!

I would like to thank Myst for filling in for me here. He spends so much time on top of the monitor that he knows what to do.

My thanks also to everyone for your support. Terry said it was a great comfort to have ideas and suggestions and to know everyone was thinking of or praying for me. You are all the best

My humans never knew I was sick except that I seemed more affectionate. It's hard to convey aches and pains sometimes. I am getting a little more energy every day though the parents may have to take me to the vets for pills because I am becoming more stubborn about taking them. Terry says the vet is only 2 miles away and twice a day trips would not be so bad.

I hope to regain my energy though I am still walking slowly due to this scar and staples. Here's a picture Terry took of me a few minutes ago. She says its a good thing I had a little extra weight to lose.

Waiting for Another Cricket

There have been two crickets in this bathtub of late and I figure it would be good to hang out here a lot incase another one shows up.

Muddy is getting much better and the parents are getting better at giving him pills although he is hiding more. Unlike me, he can not get into really small places. I love to watch all the goings on here twice a day. -- Myst

Progress Report

Myst writing here. This is a picture of Muddy and me just before he got sick. He started to enjoy drinking out of the sink but he has no patience to wait for it to fill like I do.

He is eating well which makes everyone happy since he will have to go on his special diet food after he recovers more.

The cheese was a curious thing to him and he licked it though the pills were wrapped in it. It's a great idea but he still has a fit with the pills. I know how he feels. Muddy is getting stronger and protesting more. I like the smell of that cheese! -- Myst

Sleeping Muddy

Myst here again. We want to thank all of you who have offered very excellent advice. We are going to wrap the pills in cheese now as Daisy suggested and we never knew why Muddy was hoarse, just had nightmares of his fussing too much, but glad to know it was only the breathing tube thanks to Tun Tun. You are all the best in the whole world. I do not know what we would do without you.

This has also been traumatic for my humans though Muddy seems to be getting more energetic and healthier every day. He does like to sleep just about anywhere these days, even right in the middle of the floor. He is eating again (when he refused at the vet's).

His tummy and part of his arm here were shaved for the surgery and you can see his bare arm a little bit in this photo.

Happy Thanksgiving

(This is me, Myst, with a cricket I found today in the bathtub.)

Muddy continues to recover but he sounds different and meows hoarsely. He also moves very slowly. We know he is still healing from surgery because he can not jump up on things so well. He tried to climb the cat pole and fell. Fortunately it was only falling a little but our pet humans were so alarmed that they will not let him near the cat pole without their supervision, now.

Dandelion seems to have accepted Muddy, though we are not absolutely sure about that so we still keep an eye out. Muddy is still taking appetite enhancers as the vet wanted. We do see him eating a couple of times a day, which is good. We just hope he is eating enough.

Muddy does not take his pills without hissing and growling. He takes 8 pills a day, still. It is a big job for our humans to do. They hope Muddy will not hold this against them in the future. So far, so good.

Our humans changed their plans and stayed in town, but had a good Thanksgiving with Muddy back among us and hopefully getting better.

--Myst

Back Home Again

Still me, Myst, here. Muddy is back. He was not eating at the vet, but as soon as he got his bearings at home, he went to his food dish and ate! It was a good sign. He is not so lethargic, either, but is walking around meowing for a brushing and wanting attention. He has to take 8 pills a day, one is an appetite enhancer that is making him anxious, but it helps him to want to eat. He has a 6-inch line of stitches on his tummy but he seems to be getting to the litter box ok and was able to jump on the bed after several tries. I feel a little less sad cause he purrs when my humans pet him.

Here is a picture that Terry just now took of him. While Dandelion and I sniff him a lot, nobody has been too aggressive towards him though Dandelion is not completely sure so the parents supervise their visits for now and do not leave them alone yet.

They cancelled their Thanksgiving trip out of town and will be staying around here. Yay, cause I hate when they leave. I follow Terry around all day long and I get too lonely when she is not here, so lonely that I don't eat, either.

News of Muddy

Muddy's triaditis is a fatal illness eventually, but we are still wanting to try and save him. He is not eating at the vet's, not since he went in on Sunday. He has been lethargic though today, he was grouchy which we all take as a good sign since he is that way normally with vets and it shows that he has some energy.

The vet thinks he needs to come home and we do too. Perhaps the familiar environment will induce him to eat again and give him a will to live. Besides, a cage is no fun.

He has to take 4 kinds of pills a day, some twice a day. The biggest challenge will be if he can keep them down and if they help in time. This disease does not always respond and the vet is not making any promises.

My humans are retaking a pill-giving lesson (they took one with me before) at the vet's this afternoon before they bring Muddy home.

Then again, Muddy is so sick that he might never get his appetite back and the pills might not help enough. Saturday will be a big decision day, maybe. We are still holding out hope that we can extend his life 1 - 5 years, but he may be suffering too much for that. We never knew he was in pain. This disease often has no outward symptoms until it is well-progressed though Terry is searching for any clues she might have missed.

Thank you for your comments and thoughts in our behalf. Your support has been wonderful.

-- Myst & Terry & Everyone