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.