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.