Rudy Update - Home!

Hi-ya' kitties, I came home last night!

What an ordeal! I had so many pokes and prods - so many tests! I'm really stumping the experts...all of my labs are perfect...until they looked at a stain of my bloods and Dr. Wendy saw an itty-bitty infection in them. She thinks that I may have been bitten by a flea and that I got an infection from it. She says it may have been months ago and that it only takes one little bite for this to happen. My bladder infection is all gone - so that's good news. Now I have to take some more medicine (C-Doxycycline 50 mg) for 21 days!!! Both Mommy and I are so happy that we'll have 21 days of quality medicine-taking time together...

I do feel better, the Sub Q fluids helped perk me up and the great news is that Dr.Wendy and Dr. Joe said that I can eat whatever I want - I need to bulk up. I have lost over a pound in the last month. So now I have lots of Rx stinky goodness that tastes great! I really hope that this stoopid flea bite was the culprit and that I can put all of this behind me.

Both Mommy and I want to thank all of you for your good thoughts, advice and prayers. We know that they are helping and that we are very blessed and lucky to have all of you as friends.

The Rudy Report

Hello there kitties! It's me! RUDY! with your Rudy Report! I am very happy to say that I am feeling 95% better and I have gained back some of the weight that that nasty bladder infection took from me. I like to spend my time recuperating on Daddy's lap. I'm eating and I am using the box and I am drinking lotsa' water from the bathroom tap (it tastes better there). The new food is OK and I really like getting the new food stinky goodness once a day. The sibs are liking the food and all is well in the dinnertime department. So, all in all, good news. I heard a rumor that I have to go back to see Dr. Joe on Thursday for a urine check-up, but I will choose to ignore that possibility 'till I see the PTU in the kitchen...
I want to say thank-you to every bean and every kitty and every woofie who prayed for me. I know that I was lucky and I know that even thought I had to stay at Dr. Joe's and get poked and prodded, the 'rents did the right thing by me. I just hope I never have to go through that again.
Mommy: me too Rudy, me too...

The Rudy Report - A Day Early

To quote my good buddy Max, Doods, I did not feel so good...

Anywho...let me tell you about the last week or so. It sucked - big time. I didn't want to say anything to the 'rents, they worry and when they worry, it means a trip to see Dr. Joe. And as much as Dr. Joe is a very nice guy, he has a bad habit of sticking things into me that I'd prefer he didn't. So, Mommy noticed last week that I wasn't acting my normally spritzy self. You know, not chasing Puff and ambushing Powder, maybe not being as hoover-y with my food and just generally not being my normal adorable orange self. Then she said to Daddy - "doesn't he feel a little light"? Daddy agreed and the next thing you know, Mommy was on the phone with Dr. Joe and had made an appointment for me to go and see him on Saturday (yesterday). But last Thursday night Mommy opened a new bag of Temptations and took us out on the deck. Normally this is my little idea of kitty nirvana. But I had no interest in the treats and while I was out on the deck I just sort of lolled around. That's when Mommy knew that things were not as they should be with her little orange creamsicle and the next thing I knew, the appointment got moved to Friday.

Really Mommy, I'm OK

So, OK, I lied, I wasn't OK. I was hiding a raging bladder infection and I did not see why it was anyones business. Later that evening, I joined in on a fun game of trackball but did not choose to challenge Parker's mad whapping skillz.

I could totally beat her at this game...if I wanted to...

So Friday morning I got stuffed into the PTU and off to Dr. Joe I went. Honestly, I didn't even care, I felt like last Monday's poop. I just wanted to sleep. I didn't want to eat, I didn't want to do anything. I got on the scale and all I heard were the gasps - "He weighs 9.7 pounds!" (I usually weigh about 12 pounds).  So I had lost a few pounds, what's the big deal?  Dr. Joe poked me, prodded me, stole my bloods, and stuck a tube somewhere that I don't even want to tell you about  - and then he told Mommy and Daddy to go away and call him in a hour. THEY LEFT ME THERE KITTIES!  Mommy and Daddy went home and I went to a suite in the back of Dr. Joe's hotel. I had a  lot of nice people waiting on me hand and paw. Needles here, thermometers there, it was really a lot of fuss over my poor bladder. Back at the ranch, Mommy and Daddy were beside themselves - they didn't know what Dr. Joe was going to tell them. When they called to see if they could come and get me Dr. Joe said no! He wanted to keep me overnight and said that I had one of the worst bladder infections that he had ever seen. I had to stay the night and get IV aunty-biotics and fluids. Crappity-crap-crap crap...

Sooooooo...I stayed at the kitty Hotel California on Friday night. Luckily I was much better on Saturday morning and got sprung from the joint to enjoy the weekend at home.

Now I'm on a new diet and the 'rents are hovering over me - frankly it's a little annoying. I love them and all, but a guy needs his alone time. I feel better, but I have a ways to go 'till I'm back to my old menacing self. I leave you with a little picture of what I went through - kitties, I hope this never happens to you. As much as Dr. Joe and his staff are awesome, home and healthy is the only place you want to be.

Yeah, it's a lot of dough, but the 'rents say I am totally worth it.

Woe Is Me...

...I could not pee!

I have a bladder infection...

But I am going to be fine, Dr. Joe said so!

First thing yesterday morning I was stuffed into the PTU and taken to see the very nice Dr. Joe. He listened to my heart and lungs and took my vitals. He squeezed me and said that I had swollen ::whispers:: anal glands! And then kitties he...he...he catheterized me! I cried, and then Mommy cried when I cried. It was good that he did that because I had blood in my pee and Dr. Joe knew exactly what to do! He expressed my ::anal glands:: and then he gave me two shots - one for the swelling so it would go down and one for the infection. The one he gave me for the infection means that I do not have to take any pills! He said I should be fine and feeling better very soon.

You know what helped me the most? Your purrs and prayers, I can report that they are as magical as the loving I am getting from Mommy and Daddy. I want to thank all of you for the very heartfelt wishes. I read every one of them and I want to say thank-you from the bottom of my little kitty heart.

I am feeling better, but not 100% yet. Cuddles and snuggles with Mommy and Daddy are helping a lot.

Smoochies to all of you my friends, you are the bestest! (((HUGS)))!!!

Don't Even...

...think about it!

...oh...'K

Nothin' to see here...

Grounded!

A photo of the perp.

Puff got her floofy butt grounded yesterday from our deck! She decided that it might be fun to walk on the rails. Mommy calmly and slowly walked over to her and snatched her up from the railing and then put her inside. The rest of us got to stay outside and enjoy the rest of the afternoon. Mommy had to go and make an adult beverage - "for her nerves" she said...

Funny Friday

Mmmm! Cicada's do taste like chicken!

Chimney's Aren't Just For Santa Anymore!

Always keep your eyes to the skies kitties!

I really, really, really got into big trouble this weekend.

I decided to go exploring. Without permission.

On our roof. And Chimney. It rocked!

Daddy and I were deck chillaxin' and quick as a flash I got the urge to climb...

so up, up and away I went! I can be pretty swift when I wanna' be!

Try to imagine me on the top of that chimney. You can see lots of stuff from that high up!
(and yes, that is Santa's Sleigh - he leaves it here all year!)

Here's an old photo of the back of our home to give you perspective.

Here's my route - railing, taller railing, low roof, tall roof, chimney...
Easy Peazey!

Here's another photo of our deck (pre-chicken wire) for perspective.

Daddy had to climb up to the roof to catch, er, ah, I mean rescue me. It was quite dramatic for both Mommy and Daddy, for some reason, they don't think I belong on the roof.

There are no actual photos of me getting caught, er ah, I mean rescued. The 'rents were both too worried about getting me down than getting the camera. I fear I am grounded unless both Mommy AND Daddy are on the deck together.