Rusty Comes Home

Rusty's Mom here: Today started out being a very bad day. I cried from the time I got up this morning, I don't know why, but I was just feeling the loss of Rusty so much. Then the vet's office called. Rusty's remains were ready to be picked up. I didn't know how I would feel, and I was already being torn about what to do with him. Should I bury him in his favorite place in the yard or should I just keep him close to me? Well, I didn't realize this, but he came back in a very nice wooden box. They made me a cast of his paw print, which made me cry again. But, I decided for now that he should be on his window ledge where he always sat and watched outside. So, that's where he is.

Thank you everyone for all your kind comments and thoughts. I cried while reading them but they let me know how much Rusty was loved by so many friends here.

Rusty - Sad News

Rusty's Mom here. I want to thank everyone for their purrs and prayers. Rusty was gently helped to the bridge this morning. I know he's there now with his brother Grady and his friend Fat Eric and all the other kitties that have gone before.

Last night we rushed him to the emergency vet when he could no longer walk. He began deteriorating rapidly after we took him to his regular vet yesterday evening. At the emergency vet he got more fluids and they gave me a nutritional supplement. They ran blood work on him and everything appeared to be pretty good, but still the fact remains that he was not doing good. I got him home and took him to the litter box and had to help him stay upright so he could go. This morning he couldn't even lift his head and I knew it was time. So, with my heart breaking, I called his vet and took him in.

When I'm feeling more up to it, I'll post a remembrance of him here, but for right now, I just have to get used to the idea of him being gone.

Thank you everyone for being here for me and Rusty.

Rusty Update

This is Rusty's Mom again. Thought I'd just let everyone know how Rusty's vet visit went. He wasn't horribly constipated, the vet said he could feel waste in his colon, but nothing of any large consequence and nothing that indicated he could have a blockage. Rusty was dehydrated so they gave him fluids. I was given some B-vitamins with iron and also an appetite stimulant for him. This vet told me to stop the lactulose since he felt it was adding to Rusty's dehydration and to add mineral oil to his food instead. So, we'll see how it goes.

Keep your purrs and prayers going for Rusty, I know that he and I really appreciate it.

Rusty Report

Hi, this is Rusty's Mom. I just wanted to let everyone know that today he is not doing real well. He hasn't eaten all day and he really looks like he doesn't feel very good at all. I can't get him into the vet until this evening and I'm not sure if he's just constipated again or if perhaps more is going on. My husband is convinced that his body is beginning to shut down, I don't know, I just feel all I can do right now is try to prepare myself for the possible worst. He has been around a very long time, much longer than I ever thought he would. All I can do at this point in time is tell myself that he's had a wonderful life and I've done all the best I could for him.

I ask that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks.

I will try to keep you all posted as to what happens.

Mancat Monday

I'm still a pretty good mancat. I still explore and check out my yard on a regular basis. But, it's getting colder now and I don't like to go outside when it's cold, so every warmer sunny day I get outside when I can.

I have to tell you though. My Mom went away for a week to visit the Morgan-baby. She actually left me home alone all night for the first night because the house sitter was out of town until the next day! I was so mad at my Mom, first for leaving me for a whole week and then leaving me home alone! But, when she came back, I was so glad to see her. She also took me to the vet person before she left. So, that's three bad things... vet, home alone, gone for a week. But, the vet lady suggested Mom try to feed me something called toonafish if I don't eat (and I don't eat, I hate the food Mom gives me. All except for whipped cream, I still like that.) This toonafish stuff is good! Mom's not sure it's a good idea, but I like it and I eat it.

Rusty's Mom here. He did fine being home alone that first night. I was a bit concerned about it, he hasn't been left alone all night for years, not since he was much younger. But, he was ok.

The vet told me that his kidney value is up a little bit and his liver enzyme, alkaline phosphatase, was also up a little bit, but she said that it's nothing to be real concerned about yet. Rusty just doesn't want to eat much anymore. He leaves the cat food in the bowl and ends up eating maybe only 1/4 or less of a small can a day. I do worry about this not eating, but I'm not sure that feeding him tuna fish every day is also a good idea either. But, what do you do with an older cat? I guess I try to just give him as good a life as I can. He sleeps most of the day now so perhaps he doesn't need to eat much anymore. I fear that his time is getting shorter and I try to prepare myself for that eventual day. Then, when I think the time is drawing nearer, he does something remarkable for such an old cat as if to say, "I'm not dead yet".

Thanks everyone for visiting his blog, even though we don't post much anymore. I find it hard to write about him, when I'm worrying so much about him. You've all been such good friends to him.

Rusty's Thursday

Mom let me have some donut for breakfast. I LIKE donuts! A LOT!

Then, I had so much energy from the donut, I went outside on the deck for a while.

But now, after all that, I think I'll just take a nap for now. I need rest these days, it's not easy being 19 1/2 years old. That's for sure.

Mancat Monday

Mom got a new computer last week. She has been spending so much time with it getting it all set up with her stuff. I've been feeling a little bit neglected. So, I told her that today, we needed to put something on my blog, and no excuses!

So, today after I yelled at her a few times, I went outside to do some mancatly things like check out my yard and make sure there were no introoder kitties around. There weren't. Which is a good thing, I'm not so sure I can move fast enough anymore to chase them away!

After that, I came back in the house to jump in my bed and take a nice nap. Even mancats need naps. I just need a lot more than you younger guys do.

So it's been a good day, so far. I just need to get Mom out of that computer room so we can sit on the sofa together.

Mo-Cats Day!

On 09-09-09 some human decided that it should be no cats day. Well, us blogging kitties just were not going to stand for that.


So, Derby decided that from now on 09-09 should be Mo-Cats Day.

I know I don't blog so much anymore, my advanced age makes it hard, but I am still here. I am still on the internets and I plan to be here for a long while yet! Yay for internets kitties!

Mancat Monday

Don't let my age fool you. I can still be a ferocious mancat! I still have some teeth! And I can still growl and look fierce too!

But, most times I'd just rather relax and look debonair. Being ferocious is so exhausting!

Goodbye Sweet Eric

I just heard the news about my good budd, Fat Eric. He's gone to the Bridge. I'm so sad to hear this, but I know that I'll be at the Bridge soon myself, so I'll be able to check in on him. Mom is still crying, I know we will all miss him. He was a great kitty.

Tuesday

In the morning, before it gets real hot, Mom lets me go outside for awhile. Sometimes I just like to lie on the deck and look around at things.


When I feel up to it, I head down the stairs to get a closer look at stuff. Sometimes I go under the steps and head to my favorite napping place behind the big green bush. You can see when I have a good pathway between the first and second steps.


But, some days, I just like to wander around a bit and see what I can see. I enjoy these outside times and I hate when Mom makes me stay inside when she says it's too hot.


Hope everyone has a great Tuesday morning, I'm enjoying mine a lot.

World Cat Day and Update

Mom says this is World Cat Day and it's an important day to celebrate cats around the world. Mostly, I just want to celebrate me.

So, I spent a little time on the deck this morning just watching things in the yard, until Mom made me come in when it started getting warm. She says it's supposed to get to near 90 today and she doesn't like me outside in the heat and humidity. I'd rather be outside, but I just get no where trying to argue with Mom. She's the Alpha Cat you know.

So, I crawled in my bed for a nice nap. Happy World Cat Day everyone!

Rusty's Mom: I want to give everyone an update on how Rusty's doing. A couple weeks ago I took him into the vet for a checkup and blood work. He wasn't really happy about it, but I just felt it was time, it had been a little more than six months since I took him in last.

He had lost some weight, nearly a pound from the last time he'd been in, but he just hasn't really been eating real well. The vet agreed with me, that if he doesn't like the k/d food anymore and really won't eat it unless he's desperate, I should just feed him other things. She said at this point in time quality of life and Rusty being happy is more important than trying to extend his time.

The blood work surprised us both. His kidney test showed improvement. He's in the top of normal range now. She remarked that he is one tough cookie. Yeah, don't I know it. But, he did have a result that caused a little concern. A liver enzyme called alkaline phosphatase was a little on the high side. I believe she said that normal was 30-60 and Rusty was at 90. Not an extreme concern at this time, but something that we should watch. I wonder if it became high because he wasn't eating well and had lost so much weight. I know that weight loss in cats can affect liver function. But, other than that he's doing well, he wasn't dehydrated and she gave me lactulose for his constipation and it seems to be working well. I think that most of his trouble is that he doesn't do much anymore and spends most of his day sleeping and I've read that cats need to move around and exercise in order to keep their body functions working well. Just like people, I guess.

Anyhow, he's eating a lot better now, nearly double what he was eating before. He's up to about 1/2 can of food a day now. I give him Fancy Feast twice a day with his lactulose and the rest of the time I feed him Science Diet Senior which isn't too high in phosphorus and he seems to like pretty well. I've got information on the Fancy Feast but the flavors that seem to be lower phosphorus all are gravy types with chunks of food, and I don't think he likes that as well as the ground up type of food. He'd more than likely lick the gravy and leave the rest. So, I'm still thinking on that.

But, he's nearly 19 1/2 now. He's lived far longer than I ever thought he would. So, I guess at this point in time, I agree with his vet. We'll keep him happy and comfortable and when his time comes to head to the Bridge we'll gently help him there as well. He's been a great little guy and has even been an inspiration for me on how to live and enjoy life.

Thanks everyone for your concerns. He's doing well now and we'll just take each day as it comes.

Rusty Report

Hi, this is Rusty's Mom here. I know we haven't been blogging a lot lately. Rusty's been having some problems, he's not been eating much and he's been having a lot of problems with constipation. I think that's why he's probably not been eating much. You can only fit so much in there, and if it doesn't come out, there's not room for more. I've been really concerned and giving him Laxatone, which he loves, pretty much daily and it's helped some, but not really enough, I don't think. The vet told me to give him mineral oil, which I have done, but it's such a fight to get it in him. So, today I finally said, enough is enough. I went to the store and tried to buy canned pumpkin, which I hear is really great for these types of digestive problems, but the grocer told me that they don't have it in stock right now since the pumpkin crop was really bad last year and they barely got enough to cover for Thanksgiving and the holidays. He told me they didn't expect to see it in the store until the end of the summer. Oh, oh, that's not going to help Rusty out. So, I tried second choice. Baby food squash. I bought a jar of that and some Fancy Feast Turkey and Giblets. Some of the folks on the CRF newsgroup say that Fancy Feast is what they give their kitties when they stop eating well. I guess the thought is that not eating is worse than giving them a delectable food that they will eat. So, I mixed the Fancy Feast with some squash and gave it to a very tired, sick looking Rusty. He wolfed it down like a starving man! So, I came to a decision today. Rusty has been looking bad and acting weak lately. He's 19. He's starving because he just doesn't much like the k/d food and he's getting constipated eating it. So, I'm not sure how much time he's got left on his calendar, but I think he's going to get Fancy Feast and squash. If it clears up his constipation and gives him some strength to enjoy the end of his days, then so be it. He's resting now, as you can see from his photo above. I'll let everyone know how he does the next few days. Send him some good purrs, I know he'd like that.

Mom! I Wanna Go OUT!

What do you mean it's 102 degrees in the shade out there and I should stay in where it's cool? I wanna go OUT!

I wanna go OUT right NOW! Open this door! Awwww, Mom, you're NO fun at ALL!

Friday Fun

The Guy put a hummingbird feeder right outside my favorite window! Now I can watch the birds, but only thing is, I haven't seen any yet. Mom says the birds probably won't come when I'm sitting so close in the window, but I really want to see them real good.

Easy Like Sunday

Today is a lot cooler than yesterday so Mom let me out on the deck this morning just so I can relax and check out my back yard. I have this cool shady spot next to the outside food cooking thing. She and the guy are planning to go somewhere later this afternoon and she doesn't let me stay out when they're gone, so I might as well enjoy as much of this as I can for now.

Hope everyone has a good, easy Sunday!

Saturday Caturday

Mom won't let me go outside today since it's over 90 degrees. She says that's way to hot for me in my furry coat and she's worried that I'll get to much heat at my advanced age. So, I guess I'm stuck in the house for now and I'm just gonna snooze in my bed.

Easy Like Sunday

Just relaxing on the deck scoping out my back yard. Not a whole lot going on, but it's nice to just sit here and relax.

The Hunter is Back, Sort Of

Over the weekend, I was walking across my back yard and guess what I saw? A robin and two babies! They were running around the neighbor's driveway, flapping their little wings! I couldn't help myself! I forgot my arther-itis and I just RAN! And I GOT it! I couldn't believe it! I ran to the front of my deck with it and the Guy saw me. Mom yelled for him to get the bird from me. Whaaaaaaaaat? I was hoping for a nice warm lunch! Well the Guy got the bird and took it away from me and Mom grabbed me and put me in the house. They are such spoil sports. This is a picture of maybe the bird I caught, Mom wasn't sure since there were two of them.

I still think an old guy like me can still have it.

This is Rusty's Mom. Before anyone gets upset, I want to let you know that the baby bird is fine. It went on to finish running around in the yard with its mom and sibling and finally ran off to where ever they went after their workout. Rusty didn't have the bird long enough to do any harm, and without many of his teeth now, even carrying it in his mouth did no harm to it. In fact, this photo was taken when it was taking a rest after running around the yard while its sibling was on its way across the street with its mom. Eventually this one joined them. I'm not sure if this is the one Rusty caught or if it was its sibling. He did go out in the yard later and looked all around the deck for it, and I think he was not happy when he couldn't find it. It surprised my husband and I so much when he took off running after the bird and the fact that he caught it too. To see him run, you'd never have guessed that most days, he has a hard time walking. Guess he just forgot himself for a few minutes in the excitement of the chase.

I didn't read everything Mom said, but I still think that she and the Guy are such spoil sports.

Rusty - Tummy and Toesie Tuesday

Some days it's nice to just snooze on the porch in front of the big glass door.

Finally Friday - In the Yard

Here I am in the yard, sitting on the sidewalk. Mom's yelling at me not to eat the grass since it tends to make me throw up. Most times, I just ignore her and throw up anyhow.

I think I'll just head back torwards the deck, since Mom won't let me eat the grass. She just makes way too much noise and sometimes, well, it just gives me a headache. "HEY MOM! MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST CUT THIS GRASS, I CAN HARDLY WALK THROUGH IT!" (There, I yelled back at her. That should show her.)

"Ok, Mom, let me in the door already. I've had enough yard for now. I think maybe I need some whippped cream now since you won't let me eat the grass."

It's My Gotcha Day!

Nineteen years ago today, my Mom and my human sister went to the Humane Society and picked me out from all the other kitties there. They brought me to my forever home and I've been here ever since. I've had a great life here with my Mom, she's loved me very much and I love her too.

Me and Grady not long after I came to my forever home to live.
So, everyone, join in my Gotcha Day pawty. I've got lots of good things here for everyone to enjoy.

We have lots of yummy ham (one of my favorite foods)!



And shrimp and crabmeat for all the seafood lovers.
Lots of whipped cream (my most favorite food ever).
Catnip martinis for those who are old enough to drink
and glasses of cream for those who aren't old enough or those who don't drink.
And, we've got lots of toys to play with too.
I hope I've got plenty here for everyone, have a good time and ENJOY!

Easy Like Sunday

Just relaxing in my bed this morning. Not sure what I want to do today, the sun's finally out, but it's a bit chilly outside.

Finally Friday!

Yesterday, I finally got a chance to explore my front yard. So many things to see since last year.

I sniffed some of the plants in the front garden, but none are blooming yet.

The border bricks are warm on my back feet. It feels good while I look across the yard.

And, sometimes I just plain like walking on top of the border bricks. It gives me a path to walk along.

Today it's raining a little bit, but I just know I will have lots of time to explore the yard now that it's finally spring!

Wordless Wednesday

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.....

Mancat Monday

Hi Evrybuddy. I know I haven't been around much lately, but with my Mom being gone for awhile visiting the new baby, I just haven't had any chance to get to the computer. Mom's back now for awhile and I sure missed her a lot!

Mom says she thinks I'm still a very handsome mancat even though I am a very old one now. She took my photo here and I decided to let her until I found sumpin better to do

like jump up

and sit in my BIG window and watch what's going on outside. It was a bit chilly this morning so Mom wouldn't let me out on the porch, but I got to look out and see how green the grass is getting now. I think that Old Man Winter has finally gone to where ever he goes for the summer. Yay!

New Arrival!

Mom's still gone, but she told me she could put a picture of the new kitten, err baby, on my blog for me. I wanted everyone to see her. I think she's pretty for a human baby.

Morgan Elisabeth (that's her name) was born March 28, 2010 at 6:56am. She weighed 5lb 14oz and is 19 inches long. Wow! She weighs less than me!


Mom told me that mother and baby are doing fine. I can't wait for Mom to get back home. I'm being good.

Gone for Awhile

Oh, oh, Mom's green packing bag is out. I think that means she's leaving for awhile.

I don't like that green packing bag. It means Mom will be gone. But Mom tells me that they're off to Pennsylvania since my human sister's baby is coming (come from where I wonder?), but anyhow we will be gone for awhile. Not sure when Mom will be back.

Wordless Wednesday - Dreaming of Summer

I won! I won!

Rusty - Mom! Mom! I won, I won!

Mom - What did you win, Rusty?

Rusty - I won the CB t-shirt! I've never won ANYTHING before!

Mom - Well, that's very nice, Rusty. I'm glad you finally won something.

Rusty - Me too! I'm not real sure what a t-shirt is, but it sounds cool. I can't wait to get it!

Mom - It will come soon, sweetiepie. I'll let you know when the mailperson brings it, ok?

Rusty - Ok, but, I'll keep watching for the mail truck too!