The Rudy Report

Me 'Splorin' Dr. Wendys Stuff

dzień dobry kitties! It's me - RUDY! with you Rudy Report! Last Friday I went for my final check up with Dr. Wendy. The news was awesome! If you remember at my very sickest, I weighed 7 pounds. Today kitties, I am proud to report that I weighed in at 10.5 pounds! Dr. Wendy was so shocked that she weighed me on 3 scales. I was happy, alert and full of cuddles for my favorite vet. She said I was "special" and that I was a "miracle". Here is some more good news. She doesn't want to mess with perfection, so for the time being I do not have to get the shots that I am due to have. She wants to wait until April - and I am A-OK with that! All of the vet techs, the receptionists and Dr. Joe came in to say hello. They all said that I was such a good cat and that they are so happy that I have my health back. I still have a teensy bit of weight to gain as my ideal weight is about 11 pounds. Not a problem, I'll get to work on that right away! I know that I had a close call with seeing the Bridge up close and personal and I am one grateful kitty. All of your good thoughts, prayers and purrs got me back on solid ground. I am not ready to leave this little corner of O Hi O just yet. Thanks kitties.

The Mom-'rent here - my hubby and I want to say thanks to all of you as well. We are so very happy that we got our Orange Menace back. Dr. Wendy had one word of caution, once Hemobart is there, it's there. He can have a relapse, but she thinks that the probability is slim for our Rudester. We have to always watch his stress levels as stress can bring on another onset. She did say that it was OK to make a grooming appointment for him. So - don't tell Rudy, but in a few weeks he gets the pleasure of going to see Tiffany, his favorite groomer at Diamond Doggies vet. Heh-heh...

The Rudy Report

Namaskar kitties! It's me - Rudy! - With your Rudy Report! Well the 'rents weren't kidding about taking me back to Dr. Joe for a check-up last Thursday. I was once again stuffed into the PTU and taken to the opposite of the most wonderful place on earth. They examined my ::whispers:: pee and I still have some bacteria. Sooooo....for 14 days I have this liquid gunk (Orbax) shot down my throat. Let me tell you kitties, I give the 'rents a run for their money. Mommy said she never knew that I could be such a squirmy-worm! Four days down and ten to go and then I have to go and see Dr. Joe again!!! Cripes kitties, this is getting old! Stupid bladder infection...
I do feel pretty good. I have learned a new place to get the best water. Right before Mommy brushes her toofies every morning, I jump up for a good lonnnnng drink. This really torks Powder off because that was her "thing", now she has to wait for me to finish before she gets a turn. What can I say, I'm just not a gentlecat like that. After Powder gets a shot, Mommy can finally get down to the business of getting ready for her day. She can wait, we're worth it.
All weekend the 'rents cooked and all weekend we got nothin' - they are sticking to this "no tastes for the kitties" thing. Which sux mightily because you know what holiday is right around the bend. Let it be known - I will not be denied my turkey!!!

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)))!!!

Formerly Feral Friday

Today is the day my calico sisters venture off to the VET for their geriatric wellness visits. As you might imagine things are a little stressful this morning. Anytime we even SENSE that something is amiss with our routine we are not happy. Puff is fairly clueless, but Powder has planted herself under the guest bed and I am guessing she's not going to go willingly into the PTU. She won't be bribed out with stinky goodness, tuna or even HAM!  Mommy is being all Scarlett O'Hara about it and will "worry about it in a few hours"...

What Powder does not realize, even after her 11 years on this earth, is that Mommy has always won the game. Always.

With that being said, I ask that you think good thoughts for my tri-colored sisters and that their visit shows them to be in excellent geezer  geriatric health. Even we formerly ferals know the importance of good health!

Smoochies to all of you on this first Friday of December!

A Question About Puff's Speckles

Puff is the kitty who gets a lot of "Oh what a pretty cat" comments from everyone and I agree, she is quite the looker. The first photo you see is of Puff in February of 2008. If you look at her left eye you see the beginning of a speckle. There is some dark coloration on the corner of her right eye as well. Our VET said that since it doesn't bother her that there is no reason to worry, it's just "speckles".

Below is a very unflattering photo of the Puffster taken today. You can see that her speckles have gotten larger, but they still do not bother her and she still acts like a cat half her age.

We all have to go to the VET in August for our wellness checks, Puff and Powder also get a geriatric panel of labs run since they are now 11 years old. Mommy has a question - should she press the VET harder about the speckles? She's been on the internet looking for what these may be and some of the answers get her very nervous. All of the advice says that if it isn't bothering the kitty that it's normal...but Mommy thinks that maybe they should be checked anyway...maybe...the other half of her brain says that it's not good to put Puff through extra stress. What we want to know are your thoughts and opinions - what would your 'rents do?

Rudy's Report Card

So...I guess we get report cards now when we get groomed. Let's see what they had to say about Rudy-Toots...(you can biggify if your eyes are old like Mommy's are).

So the Orange Menace had snarly furs. We knew that! Dirty ears too! Bright and beautiful eyes - I guess that's true. And Rudy should be brushing his teefs - that'll be the day! But what's this about his behavior? He's better than most?!? This is a cat who whapped me and gave me a BooBoo! Didn't they know this? How could they say his behavior is better than most??? What a suck-up he is! AND they found dead FLEAS on him! The groomer told Mommy that she only found two, but that's two too many!!! Next thing you know Rudy is gonna' give me fleas!
Now we're all going to have those terrible drops put on us before it gets warm outside.
Can you believe what I have to put up with here?
I hope your Friday is flea-free and full of fun - even if it is Friday the 13th!
Smoochies,

Hey Parker - PPPFFFFFTTTT!

Easy Like Sunday - Diamond

Kitties, I can't even begin to tell you how many treats this little lab draw bandage has garnered Diamond Doggy. You will be pleased to know he is very healthy. Diamond (and all of us) plan on having a very easy and restful Sunday. Yesterday was hectic; Mommy and Daddy had a squillion things to do AND they decorated the ol' homestead for the holidays.
Here's hoping that you all have a nice and easy Sunday and that you still have some yummy leftovers to munch on from Thanksgiving!
Smooches!

Saturday Caturday - Rudy Chillaxin'

It's good to be me today. Nothin' to do but nap and eat and enjoy the Hammicks and the fireplace. Diamond, on the other hand, is not having as good of a day. It's his annual check-up at the VET's and he has to get his nails clipped. Daddy had to take a sample of Diamond's poops in too! So actually, it sux to be Diamond and it sux to be Daddy!
AND we get leftover turkey again! Yay!

Toofies!

"Hi everykitty, it's me, Rudy! I am so thankful for my friends who sent me good thoughts and prayers and purrs. They really helped. I am feeling better this morning. I even ate a little bit last night before I went to sleep. I'll tell you this, anesthesia is really something! I saw purple mousies, hippos with polka dots and all sorts of stuff. It makes you walk like you are drunk! Anyhow, I am much better and thought you'd like to see my bright white toofies!"

Fraidy Cat Friday - Rudy

*Update from Mommy* Your good thoughts, prayers and purrs were very strong and worked. Rudy is home with all of his toofies! He's groggy and grumpy and has a PINK bandage on his front leg. AND he's a very healthy boy according to all of his labs. We are all happy to have him home and there have been no hissy-spits from his siblings. We are going to rest this evening and keep an eye on our wonderful orange boy. Thanks from the bottom of my heart for your kind words. They made a stressed out Mommy feel a lot better!
Smooches from me - the Mommy!
This morning my brother Rudy-Toots is going to the VET to get his toofies cleaned. This means we have not had food or water since last night at 9:00. This means that we are kind of grumpy about not having any food or water. But what it really means is that we are hoping that Rudy does well and has no complications and that he doesn't have to lose any toofies. It also means that Mommy worries and will continue to worry 'till she hears he is done with his cleaning and awake. We know that there is a lot more serious things that other kitties are going through, but if you could send a good thought or two Rudy's way that all goes well and smooth, we sure would appreciate it.

Rudy the Floof-Meister
Rudy in the evening sun.

I love you Rudy, even if you are a pain in my patootie sometimes!

Oh, Hi!

Oh, hi there. Just getting the last of that V.E.T. stink off of me. Bleh!

Easy Like Sunday - I Hope!

Hi everyone. I have had a rough few days. First I had to go to the V.E.T. for my check up and they shot me - twice! It was time for my Rabies shot and my FELV/FRCP-C shot. I was shot in each of my back hips and they made me sore and sleepy. You can see below I was sucking up the sympathy big-time yesterday. I was even given a whole can of stinky goodness! I weigh 11 pounds 1 ounce and I am very healthy. I have good toofies and gums, so I don't need a dental!

Mommy and Daddy tricked us into our P.T.U.'s (That stands for Prisoner Transport Units Island Cats!) by letting us out on the deck then bringing us in one by one and stuffing us in! Diamond was watching over us while Daddy brought the car around. We were not very happy.

Here we are at the V.E.T.'s I am giving the hairy eyeball to a Chihuahua named Mickey who thought he was tough. The lady in the picture was waiting to pick up her new kitten who had just been spayed.
A close up of me and my hairy eyeball look.
Powder was very brave and didn't cry very much. She tried to be Zen like me. She weighs 6 pounds and is also very healthy. She doesn't need a dental cause her toofies are good too! Puff weighs 11 pounds (I have a whole ounce on her!) and her toofies are great! The V.E.T. said that we must have very good genes.
And then they examined Rudy. His toofies are NOT OK. He has gingivitis and has to have a dental in a few weeks. He's the biggest of all of us, he weighs a very Mancatly 13.8 pounds. The V.E.T. said that we all weigh just about what we should. No diets are necessary!
The poop that they stole from us was negative for bad things. We were happy about that. The V.E.T. said that we were the most well-behaved kitties he had ever met. None of us hissed or tried to run away from him while we were being examined. Well, maybe Rudy hissed just a little, but that was when the V.E.T. was poking at his butt! Mommy likes this V.E.T. His name is Dr. Joe. He and his wife, Dr. Wendy seem to know their stuff when it comes to kitties.

Diamond tried to give me a kiss when we got home and were released. I tried to give him "The Paw of Death."
Then I took a bath and a nap. The nap lasted most of Saturday which was probably good because blogger wouldn't let me on my blog. What was up with that? It wouldn't let me on a lot of blogs as a matter of fact. I think blogger must have had to go the the V.E.T. and have shots too!

Look at this! That lovely little Tabby, Abby thinks I am a cool cat! Thanks Abby, I think you are a pretty cool kitten your own self!
I hope every kitty has a very easy Sunday. I plan to have a few naps and some snuggle time with Daddy. I deserve it!

Formerly Feral Friday - The New O Hi O V.E.T.!

Feral cats don't go to the V.E.T., Formerly feral cats do...

Oh dear, oh my. Kitties, kitties, kitties...do you see what I am on top of? They are files. Of our V.E.T. records. They are on the table because AAAIIIEEE! ALL OF US ARE GOING TO THE NEW O Hi O V.E.T. TODAY!
According to the woman formerly known as Mommy we are all due for our wellness checks. The plan is that we will all get stuffed into our P.T.U.'s this afternoon and, and, and...I just can't think about this anymore! Blood and poop stealing, tooth inspecting and shot getting. There is nothing pretty about this.
Send us good thoughts - I really don't mind the V.E.T., but the rest of my siblings are not as Zen about it as I am. I fear I am in for a very bad day...

Formerly Feral Friday - Spring is in Da' House!

We have some Spring in our home!

Mommy got some pretty flowers for the house. She loves the way that they smell. It reminds her that Spring really is here, it's just that our outside doesn't know it yet!
When I was feral, I think I used to pee near these things! Now I just like to sniff 'em!
Have a wonderful Friday everykitty! Diamond and I have been tagged for some Meme's and we need to work on them this weekend.
In other news, Diamond had to go to the VET yesterday, his tummy was upset and now he has to take Pepcid everyday. AND he has to cut down on his treats! He got his nails trimmed and they did that thing to his butt again (ewwwww!) He feels much better now!

"I don't think I like this..."

Turbo the kitty greeter was there again!

"I think my tummy hurt because everyone laughs at my ears!"