My wife and I were going to get a kitten to go with our new adopted two-year old cat Murray, but we had a hard time picking just one, and we figured a brother and sister could play together, and. . . I'm sure you can guess the rest. We're now a three-cat family.

Henry's autopsy results came back today, and I thought you cat people might benefit from what we learned. (The vets were so puzzled by his case that they footed the bill to send his kidneys off to Hopkins.) Turns out the acute kidney failure, as well as a couple of previous illnesses, was brought on by a long-term, low level kidney infection called pyelonephritis. He'd had a lower unrinary tract infection months ago, and we beat it with antibiotics, but apparently the bacteria stuck around and made its way up into his kidneys. Most of the time, he didn't appear sick. He was throwing up and running fever once in August, and the vet chalked it up to hairballs giving rise to an opportunistic infection. We treated him with antibiotics again, and he got well, or so we thought.

Just over two months later, Thursday before last, the same symptoms reappeared suddenly-- one minute, he was playing, and the next, he was throwing up-- and although he was still drinking water and seemed alert and all, when we saw he didn't get much better in 48 hours, we took him to the emergency vet. That guy said he didn't see any outward signs of disease, and that sometimes a cat eats something that makes it queasy for a few days, and that basically this was a healthy cat. He wasn't even dehydrated or feverish. The vet was very noncommital about doing blood work and recommended that Henry see his regular vet on Monday. So we did, and by that time-- 36 hours later-- the cat was about three-fourths dead.

He'd been seen by several vets, one a cat specialist, over the past 6 months and even had bloodwork done. Back in August, his vet had detected a slight heart murmur and said that eventually Henry should have a cardiac workup. (A cardiac workup! Even I've never gotten a cardiac workup!) Nothing about the kidneys. Turns out that blood work at that time might have saved him. If we'd got him into the vet that previous Thursday, or if the Saturday vet had had any brains, we might have saved Henry-- maybe. Although this disease can be very hard to detect before it does major damage, it is treatable with an aggressive course of antibiotics.

This is unusual. Healthy kidneys are very resistant to bacterial infection. But it can happen. So if your cat is throwing up, take him to the vet right away. And it can't hurt to check his blood chemistry while you're at it (although even that might not have caught it).

I already knew that a UTI can result in blockage and death very quickly. I also know about the dangers of fever and dehydration and was watching Henry closely for signs. I did not know about acute renal failure from chronic infection. Where I come from, animals get sick and barf sometimes, and you don't call in to work and rush them off to the hospital every time it happens. I figured you watch them for a while, and if they get really bad, or don't improve, it's off to the vet. Well, you can bet your ass that this changed my mind.

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What others say about boorite!

My cat has never had these problems. In fact, that's a very good thing because my family says that if the cat ever needed a operation, they wouldn't pay for it cause its just cheaper to get a new one, and the cat isn't worth the money.

But awhile back, Oliver(orange old tabby) got sprayed by a skunk. Really bad. He was in some kind of shock afterwards, being a "mighty hunter and all", he was foaming at the mouth, confused, etc. Afterwards(it took weeks for stink to get off his face, which we couldn't wash), he exhibited some strange psychological differences in his behavior. He was mush more friendly, less violent, and overall nice.

I recommend everyone have their cat sprayed.(by a skunk)

Cheaper to get a new one. Geez. I spent four years investing in my relationship with that cat. I know that sounds bizarre to some people, but really, it took a long time for us to grow into each other's habits and to learn each other's games and all that. And not every cat has such a playful, outgoing, gentle personality as Henry. How much is that worth?

(I have to think this way whenever I reach in my coat pocket and feel the vet bill in there. $1000 bucks this episode cost us. AAAARRRRG.)

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What others say about boorite!

After we move into our new house (looks like December now), my wife wants to add a new kitty to our household. It has required all of my resolve up to this point to prevent us from owning a herd of cats. Up until now, I have had great success using the "how are we going to find an apartment that will let us bring in several cats?" argument, but it would appear that I am doomed now that we are buying a house.

I like cats, but I wish they would just use the toilet and clean up their own puke. Lazy, cute little bastards.

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"And Wirthling isn't worth the paper he isn't printed on."

That's what they think. I didn't mean to say me.

That's what they think. I didn't mean to say me.

I know! I wasn't criticizing.

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What others say about boorite!

Ah yes, Cat Lady Syndrome.

As my friend Nancy once observed: "A cat lady is a bag lady with a house."

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What others say about boorite!

yeah- i was just checking. n/o

Another strange thing about my cat is that whenever he gets ticks{and that seems to be more often now} they seem to procced to his neck to feed. We went away for a week awhile ago, and when i came back, he had 1 big one, 3 mid sized, and several smaller ones all over his neck. My grandfather didn't check him, so i guess he just lived with it all that time. He loves me to scratch his neck now.

How many others out there were rooting for the Cats in Cats and Dogs?

I hate cats. Dogs are the shit.

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I had lovely "oyster" colored carpets installed when I bought this place. Now that there are cats here, have been replacing the carpet with carpet patterns and colors that don't show puke and hairball stains.

Which sounds like a great idea, until you step in the puke or vomit that you CAN'T FRIKKING SEE.

"100% Olefin carpet. Recommended by Jimi Hendrix, if we were alive."

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...Trot and Cap'n Bill were free from anxiety and care. Button-Bright never worried about anything. The Scarecrow, not being able to sleep, looked out of the window and tried to count the stars.

cats are generally stoner pets, it's the lazy man's dog. You don't need to walk them or play with them or train them or really even bother to look at them. Some food, somewhere to shit, that's all they want.

I tend to drift off and forget about my cat for a couple of days, fuck, it's a struggle to remember to feed myself

not to mention make it to the toilet in time

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Dad was flammable

Russ, my housemate, has an ancient black tom and a small, greyish, I don't know what kind... female kitty.

I feed them now and then and as long as I don't pet them, I'm ok. We just found them. Tom was a street cat for ages and he's in retirement now. The little cat has never been outside and is very squirrely. I don't know much about them, but they're pretty neat.

:- )

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I wanted my half in the middle and I wound up on the edge.

My cats throw up quite a lot. I thought it was a cat's way of getting rid of hairballs.

I've had dogs but I don't do the nazi dog-owner crap. True I had to walk them but they generally only obeyed me if they felt like it - just lke cats. I would never buy the kind of dog you had to turn SS on to keep it from biting kids.

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"Jelly-belly gigglin, dancin and a-wigglin, honey that's the way I am!" Janice the Muppet

Mine had the same problem until I switched to purina.

That's what they think. I didn't mean to say me.

wait, is this the cat thread, or the wife thread?

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When they invent BookFace, I'm -there-.

Then you hate me, motherfucker.

(I mean that in a nice way.)

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What others say about boorite!

That's what I thought until mine keeled over dead.

As long as they're still interested in food and play and all that, I think they're ok. You can control the hairballs with this stuff called LaxAire.

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What others say about boorite!

My cats are obviously freaks.

They very rarely vomit, at least anywhere I can see it. When they do, it is always due to them eating too much or eating something that doesn't agree with them.

They never, ever go to the toilet where they shouldn't - they both prefer to go outside, and will use the litter tray if they have to.

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This signature has performed an illegal operation and has been shut down.

*gives boo a big hug*

Funny, my old kitty's name was Henry and he was exhibiting some of that behavior just before he died, as well. He was so old, though, (about 15 in human years) we just chalked it up to old age. I cried for days (come on, I grew up with that cat) and then we got a dog. Which is never the same. You can't duct tape a dog to the ceiling fan... just kidding. I don't know what I'd do if my new kitty died. Probably fall into a deep depression like I did last time. Anyway, my point is that I'd like to offer my sympathies.

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Mediocrity at its most average.

Not that you're looking...

http://www.summum.org/mummification/pets/

But just in case.

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"Jelly-belly gigglin, dancin and a-wigglin, honey that's the way I am!" Janice the Muppet

You're not going to be ridiculed for that around here, chicka. We're all big animal-loving softies.

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This signature has performed an illegal operation and has been shut down.

Ah, I've been in full-on badass mode lately. Just trying to prove how tough I am. You scared yet? ;)

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Mediocrity at its most average.

quote:

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*gives boo a big hug*

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This fawn has diabetes. What do I do?

Actually, it is my cat, Diva, that has just been diagnosed with diabetes. Diva was not satisfied with just having liver and thyroid problems, so she has decided to not process sugars. The vet is doing some additional blood tests (checking fructosamine level) to confirm it, but he is pretty sure.

Diva has been eating a lot, drinking a lot of water, and peeing in various places (outside the litter box). We at first thought it was just a UTI, but the vet found no evidence of such in her urine.

Any advice, doc israphael?

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"And Wirthling isn't worth the paper he isn't printed on."