He is so handsome ! Looks great too ! My cats get boxes for Christmas ! Glad he had a better day. I hope this did not cause alarm - he looks great … eyes, coat, expression.
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Oh the face - those death ray eyes. Yikes. 
I’m glad he was feeling good enough to make a fuss at the vet. That’s rather encouraging. GO Nigel!
I have some mirtazapine gel left over from Smudge if you would like it - it’s nearly a whole tube. And the finger condoms to go with. It sure helped her.
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Oh, that would be amazing! I’ll PM you tomorrow about that. My vet is still looking into it.
I can tell a difference in his coat, for sure, between last week and this. He’s much softer, the coat feels thicker. And his eyes look so much better, too.
Since getting the fountain set up Wednesday night, he hasn’t asked for water in the bathroom sink at all. It used to be that he would follow me in there and ask me to run water in it (or wake me up in the night to do it). So he’s getting plenty of fluids. Wish he’d eat a bit more, is all.
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Good report - be pleased with your work … coat tells me he is hydrated - eyes tell me he is feeling good/attentive. Here’s to a calm, methodical weekend of “boring normal” ! lol !
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He looks really good in that picture. Definitely not like a sick kitty. I agree that you’re doing well taking care of him and hopefully he’s improving.
Hope you both have a great weekend of resting, feeling good, eating, and drinking! 
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I used the 60cc syringes. I would fill them, cap them and put them in a large Quick Trip cup filled with warm water to warm the fluid up. Always test on your wrist first.
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Just as an FYI to everyone, a vet tech will be happy to come to your house and show you how to do fluids.
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He and Sammy could be in a pill spitting contest. I’ve found so many thyroid pills after the fact it just isn’t funny.
He looks really good in that picture! Hope he continues to feel good.
I’ve got some Terumo needles of you’d like to try a couple. PM me your address and I’ll send them Monday or Tuesday.
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I wondered if you could do it that way - is it hard to gauge the flow of the solution? Our problem right now is that Nigel doesn’t want to sit still long enough to get enough into him, so it takes both hands on him (one on his chest to hold him still, the other on the needle to keep it in place).
Little update on Nigel: he’s doing really well! Yesterday and today were both good days. He is drinking plenty of water (enough that he still doesn’t ask for water in the sink!) and eating more and more. He is now asking to go outside, which I am forbidding for the moment. I know his misses his girlfriend outside, but it will have to wait until he’s doing much better.
Continuing with the subQ’s (he only let me do 30ccs today; he’s getting tired of it), and the mirtaz and Pepcid, just so we stay on the upward trend. Fingers crossed!
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Great Saturday report ! Jingles & AO ~ continue
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I didn’t have to do this with Dewey but if they’re uncooperative for fluids, I have heard that you can wrap them in a towel. Just an idea. Not sure if it would help or make him mad if he’s already being cranky.
I’m so glad that he’s eating and feeling well enough that he wants to go outside. That’s encouraging! 
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Burrito wrap. I have done this for feeding. My elderly girl was great for SQ fluids. I would sit on the floor legs straight out and she would just lay there.
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CindyCRNA, you were fortunate to have had a cooperative kitty.
I would prefer to use syringes to give subQ fluids because delivery can be made faster than using an IV drip, but have been told by the vet to give 100 ml and 60 ml is the largest syringe readily available. I tried splitting the 100 mls among 2 60-ml syringes but having to change them–leaving the same infusion set still in the cat to avoid poking her 2X–was just too awkward, along with having to restrain her. She’s not bad but if I’m not holding her, she will depart the scene.
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IMHO - administering fluids to a cat is not an easy task.
Cats do not always cooperate … like when -
if they are feeling poorly.
if they are younger in age
if they are not lap cats to begin with
if they are “derals” 1.= domesticated ferals
if they are outside cats with ‘self-preservation’ instincts in full force
if they are athletic and strong
if there are distractions
and IF THEY ARE CATS !
- add into this * owners who are not ‘versed’ or comfortable with the process.
*owners who are upset by this need/ diagnosis
*owners who only have two arms/hands.
* owners not in the medical field.
This subQ is not easy for most individuals even after having gone through the tech “show how”
watching the tech administer the fluids
watching videos
- usually the people are just doing the best they can
getting it done
THEY LOVE THEIR CATS
THIS IS A TOUGH TASK
Cut them some slack … off my soapbox.
OP - you’re doing GREAT ! Glad Nigel is feeling better - JINGLES !
- “derals” reference & written permission for use of this term from ZuZu
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Yes I agree that’s how I do it too. So being a nurse, I had access to things. What I actually did was take a 20g iv catheter and insert it in the scruff of the neck. Needle out after insertion. My 60cc syringe had an IV extension that was about 16" long that I hooked up to the catheter…If she moved no worries as the extension on the syringe allowed a lot of latitude. Changeing the 60cc syringe was simple as you were changing the syringe on the end of a 16" IV extension set. These fluids were given SQ for clarification. For those wondering there are medical supply places that sells this stuff.
I’m sorry, you must have been misinterpreting my posts. I do not need to cut anyone slack as I have said nothing wrong. I was giving support. I feel for anyone who has no medical background trying to give SQ fluids to a cat. I did SQ fluids for 6 months and developed a system after trial and error. Which is why I suggested a vet tech doing a home visit. Your jumping on me for no reason.
He’s been pretty good all week, but I think he’s not feeling quite as well today. He’s been nibbling at the food; his eyes look tired, and he let me do nearly 80ccs of subQ’s before he got tired of it. I syringe-fed him a little canned at noon, and will probably do that again before I go to bed, just to be on the safe side.
But then he’ll suddenly perk up and get down off the bed and go get a drink, or sit and eat for a few minutes, and looks normal. At the very least, he’s here in my room hanging out, not hidden somewhere, so he’s not feeling awful. I just wish I was able to get the full 100ccs of subQ’s into him daily.
I think we’re getting the pilling down - tiny slice of salmon or tuna, with the pill bit on top of it, small enough that it’s easy to shove into his mouth. The fish covers up the taste of the pill, and he hasn’t spat them out for two days now! 
I may ask the vet to check blood work again this week, to see if we’re making any progress or not. I’ll see.
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