New farm two pregnant barn kitties. New pics 7/20

[moonlitoaksranch]

Jacob,“but, but, I’M the baby!” He’s really back to his old self, so I think he’ll be fine now. He has a special diet, which he gets in a different room when the others get fed. Since resource guarding is part of the issue, he knows now that he has his own feeding spot.

So, we have one very old kitty with kidney failure (Audrey). One asthmatic kitty on prednisone, when it acts up (Rocky). One slightly neurotic kitty (Jacob) with a neuro pain issue on gabapentin for the rest of his life (he was squished and trapped behind bales of hay as a two week old kitten). One, very fat, 11 year old kitty (Tiger) with a bad hip but not a candidate for surgery (our niece’s cat). And now this little twerp. Sigh. At least he’s healthy. We’re a vet’s dream.

[Rackonteur]

Wouldn’t it be great if you could get a vet school to subsidize you for food and litter in exchange for your notes on your cats and their care? Not humans invading your home to take samples of any sort, just your notes?

How do you get the gabapentin into Jacob? I was given a “chewy” tab for my girl but she would neither chew it nor swallow it like a pill, and she got so upset by me trying that I figured why stress her out trying to medicate her for stress?

Sigh.

[moonlitoaksranch]

The pill pockets, cheese, wet food, etc…all failed miserably. We have a routine since he gets them twice a day. I put him so his back is facing me, pull open his mouth from the top, pop the pill in, and poke it down with my pinky. Then, I kiss his head. He waits for the kiss. Can’t give it 30 mins before or after a meal. He’s is so used to it and I’m so quick after doing this for two years, that it hardly bothers him. He doesn’t try to hide anymore. He just puts up with it. And waits for his kiss.

We used to board him at the vet when we went on vacation so he would get his pill. The local vet doesn’t board, so I’m not sure what we’ll doin the future. He does travel well, lol.

[Rackonteur]

Thank you for describing this.
I love the kiss part. What a good boy!
My girl has gotten used to the Metacam 2x weekly oral, but for some reason she still fights the 2x daily Lactulose. She doesn’t mind the 1x monthly Adequan subcu at all.
I will try adding a kiss to the Lactulose and the post-dose cuddle.
She is a pretty good traveler.

[candyappy]

I have no idea why someone hasn’t snapped that sweet boy up??

[shiloh]

Just tell him he is the “old” baby.

No house with cats is complete without at least one (or more) being a medical issue. And like you, I’m sure all my vets cackle with glee when they see me coming…because none of my cats’ issues could be a cheap or easy fix.

[BatCoach]

My vet has my old boy on gaba and gets me the capsules. I crack open the capsule, mix the powder with 1/2 an inaba treat tube and put it in a 10 ml syringe like this:

Then I give give it to him like a horse wormer - quick and near the back of the throat, it’s very successful and the ONLY way I can get meds into him. He is an absolute monster to pill.

[shiloh]

That’s an excellent idea. I will have to remember that for the next fiend that won’t take meds.
Sadly, Bonnie was my last pill diva - everyone else I have left takes their medicine.

[erinmeri]

Just be careful to aim any liquids across the tongue, not at the back of the throat - cats aspirate easily. I have success with the silicone-tipped pill poppers, but make sure the tips are on securely. Had one cat swallow the tip when it came loose!

[tikihorse]

@BatCoach That is ingenious! If my cats ever need pills, I’m getting one of these.

[moonlitoaksranch]

Our Jacob is still not coping well with the kitten, so Miggy is off to another foster home today. We’ll miss the little monster, but…my mom might adopt him when she comes and visits this fall.

[moonlitoaksranch]

Miggy just left. Jacob climbed in my lap before Miggy’s new foster family even pulled out of the driveway. Miggy has a playmate his age to play with where he’s going, so that will help. My mom is visiting in September and she already filled out the paperwork for Miggy! She just wants to meet him.

[CanadianTrotter]

I see and feel a huge sense of relief from Jacob. Although it would have been nice if Miggy could have stayed, I’m pleased that you listened to Jacob.

[Rackonteur]

I have thought about trying that with my girl, but I didn’t know if it would work. Thank you for posting about it. I will try it. She gets her Cosequin and Miralax now in licky treats; I’ve just been squeezing some of the treat into a dish and stirring in the powdered meds. She gets either the Inaba treats or the Temptations Purreee ones.

[Rackonteur]

Purrs to you all.

[rubygirl1968]

He looks calm and happy to be near you. Miggy will happy with a playmate and Jacob will hopefully be back to normal soon.

[moonlitoaksranch]

Very sad update. Last Thursday, Jacob’s other condition (degenerative spinal disease) deteriorated. He was in pain, despite his twice daily gabapentin, and lost control of his urine. As it turned out, his problems were not caused by Miggy after all. We had been managing his health conditions since he was quite young. Despite all we did, it was time to say goodbye quite suddenly. Our niece’s cat was also deteriorating and we were preparing to take her in to be PTS. Both kitties went in together. It made for one really bad day, rather than two. Since Thursday, the house has been quiet with only two cats. Audrey is hanging in there at 16, despite her kidney issues, and Rocky’s asthma is under control. But Rocky seems lost without a playmate. Audrey walked around the house yowling at all hours of the night. We were all sad.

As you may remember, we sent Miggy to another foster last weekend because we were worried about Jacob. After some thought, all of us decided to bring Miggy home to stay. Both Rocky and Audrey got along well with the little goober. We just came home from picking him up. We’re still hurting, but he’s already cheered up both Audrey and Rocky. Our son is much happier already as well. We didn’t expect to lose Jacob and Tiger, so that was a huge blow. So, Miggy is back to help us heal. Out of 14 kittens, this little one was meant to stay here.

[moonlitoaksranch]

[rubygirl1968]

Oh, I’m sorry about Jacob. It must have a dreadful day with two.

I’m glad Miggy is home and that he’s brought some comfort to all.

Jingles for peace for you and your family.

[CanadianTrotter]

So sorry about Jacob.

You gave him peace away from “kitten crazies” and comfort before he had to go.