Friday, March 29, 2024
black catscat photographscatsdaily photoessaymimi

Purring

Mimi as a landscape.
Mimi as a landscape.

Mimi has been quite an inspiration lately, but while her children are purr-fect models, Mimi knows exactly when to turn her head, or stand up from sitting, or simply ignore me when I implore her to turn around and look at me, the photo will be so lovely!

I think sometimes she doesn’t think she’s pretty, that leftover humility of a mama kitty taking the back seat to her beautiful children, and I also think she likes to play hard to get because she gets more attention. Of course, I am investing her with human motivations, but no doubt she invests me with feline motivations whose content I would have no idea. But for all those reasons, you see more photos of her children, and even fosters, than you do of her.

Supervising me in my studio.
Supervising me in my studio.

I have loved many cats in my life, but just as it is with our human friends and family, much as we don’t like to admit sometimes, there are always those we love a little more, or a little more completely, than others. In my first nine-cat family of beautiful felines Kublai was the man, the one who communicated with just a look, and that was that. After him, though they were younger than others, came Sophie, and then Cookie, who walked beside me, always happy to be with me, always vigilant and empathetic.

For all the love I have for each of Mimi’s children I still reach for Mimi and spend time with her not because she happened to settle on my lap, but just because. As much as I love them all as a unique and wonderful group of felines and cherish all the photos of them together, one of them really is special to me on a different level. Mimi owns my heart.

Cool sunflares; I think sunflares bring something special to the subject.
Cool sunflares; I think sunflares bring something special to the subject.

Mimi is not well this weekend, and hasn’t been for the past week. She needs your purrs and we may need a little help. In addition to how she is this weekend I’ve also been tracking some occasional worrisome activities for the past year or so. Now and then she would skip a meal, more often she would go off to another room at mealtime, but I would hold her food and she would eat later, most often in the morning. Perhaps the kittens made the room seem too crowded, perhaps she didn’t like the food but decided to eat it anyway. I made note of it and remembered the next time I served that food to see her reaction.

After seeing years of photos of the five of them lined up eating or waiting for their meal, it’s odd not to see Mimi there with them now and then, and more frequently.

Geometric and organic patterns, featuring Mimi.
Geometric and organic patterns, featuring Mimi.

I feed a primarily raw diet, occasional meals of canned or fresh cooked foods. I’ve seen these five beautiful black cats grow even more beautiful with glowing fur, bright eyes, clean teeth, no urinary tract issues or bowel issues, and never bringing up a hairball or vomiting for any reason. Except Mimi, who started bringing up hairballs in the past year. When we had our flea infestation she had a horrible reaction to it, losing so much fur and covered with little scabs all over her face and back while the others, with largely the same genetics, had no problems at all.

Mimi had a difficult early life giving birth to all those kittens and living largely outdoors with minimal care, and that early life can leave its mark on the way a body functions in later years. Also, because she was spayed at age four I have been vigilant at checking for mammary tumors, and thankfully have never found one.

On the prowl.
On the prowl.

But even though, aside from the flea bite allergy, the beginnings of her current condition were concurrent with socializing Smokie and Bella into the household, I didn’t really think the kittens were the problem. To keep stress levels low, I didn’t integrate Bert and Ernie, just in case, and because stress can make any health issue worse.

I’ve read for the past few years about the connection between hairballs and stomach and intestinal issues, the health of the intestines themselves and the flora living there. The probiotics in the food I feed them or which I add keep the digestive tract healthy. But that wasn’t happening for Mimi apparently, so I’ve been looking for other answers, thinking of the possibility of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.

Something is moving down there.
Something is moving down there.

At the same time, seeing interesting changes in pet insurance, I’ve been pricing out policies for the five of them before they get any older, considering this issue for Mimi as well as Jelly Bean’s historic urinary issues and Mr. Sunshine’s fondness for anything plastic.

So last week when Mimi didn’t eat on Tuesday morning I noted it but did not worry—I also knew she didn’t like the particular canned food I was serving that morning, and she had eaten fine the night before. However, when the evening meal was a raw food she loves, but would not eat, I was worried.

Having a good stretch and coming to say hello.
Having a good stretch and coming to say hello.

She did not eat Wednesday either, or even come into the kitchen, so it was time to start tempting her with foods to start diagnosing what was happening. She would eat nothing at all, and worse, began vomiting just fluid now and then, then more frequently, which pointed to either an obstruction or nausea from an underlying condition. I started famotidine Wednesday.

I talked to my veterinarian Thursday and consulted with all those others who answer questions for me. She had an acupuncture treatment with Dr. Michelle and a distance reiki session with Ingrid King. According to our vet I started giving Mimi fluids along with famotidine, but she couldn’t keep that down. Even presenting food choices to her made her vomit. So last Friday night we ended up in the emergency hospital/specialty clinic because it was a holiday weekend and we could not wait until Monday, and they have unique diagnostic abilities.

Shadow.
Shadow.

Blood work was fairly normal, xrays showed no obstructions, kidneys looked fine, she is in good shape but in addition to the IBD I’d been thinking of we are also considering pancreatitis. Only more specialized diagnostics, an ultrasound and possible biopsies, would tell me more. I could not afford them and wanted to talk to my vet, so I brought Mimi home with an anti-emetic and orders to keep up the famotidine.

She is home getting fluids and enjoying the outdoors, as you see. As for me, when I’m upset about something I turn my fears into creative efforts so I’ve been furiously photographing her, and she has been cooperating, all weekend. A second acupuncture treatment from Dr. Michelle using information from the blood tests and Ingrid’s reiki report made a noticeable difference and she is acting more like her normal self, did not vomit for most of the day and I was hoping to have good news to report today and hopes we could get her back on her feet at home, but she did vomit again, and she is still not eating. Broth or pureed food comes right back up. She does not willingly eat anything, though she is interested and obviously hungry.

Mimi rubs her sun-warmed fur on my foot.
Mimi rubs her sun-warmed fur on my foot.

I’m doing my best to arrange care for her either here or in a clinic where they can give her IV fluids and tube feed her, making sure her intestinal motility is still functioning. I’ll also need some of the diagnostic procedures and further blood tests. I’m applying for assistance related to costs of pet emergency care and I’m picking up a few extra small projects just for the cash.

The costs of her immediate care ranges from $500 to a potential $3,000 if we need to look at biopsies and possibly surgery, chemotherapy and other treatments. If you would like to help us, I would be ever so grateful and there may be actual rewards for you here on earth for your generosity. Just below I have a link to “support The Creative Cat where you can donate to my PayPal account, but you can also browse and purchase from my Etsy shop, Portraits of Animals on Etsy or contact me about custom artwork, framing, prints or gift items just for you.

Rainbow sunflares; I think sunflares bring something special to the subject.
Rainbow sunflares; I think sunflares bring something special to the subject.

By my best guess Mimi will be 12 this year. I want her to enjoy many more years of her rescued life. I also hope you enjoy the images she inspired as well, and I hope to have the time for the sketches.

"Oh, lighten up!" she says.
“Oh, lighten up!” she says.

I have posted an update on her condition for Monday, and will continue to do so daily. Thank you for your prayers and good wishes, and generous donations and purchases. She is stable though not eating, but tolerating syringe feeding and sub-cutaneous fluids for now, so we have a little time for other diagnostics and puzzling things out. I also want to share how wonderful her children were in the days when she first became ill, and some art inspired by her as well!

. . . . . . .

For those of you who visit and don’t know Mimi’s story, read “Mimi, Mewsing” to find out more, and click “Mimi” from the tags or categories linked to this post.

For more information on Mimi’s condition and how this all started, read “Purring”, and the first update, “Feeling a Little Better” , “Another Update” and “Purr Therapy” about how Mimi’s children support her and others in illness.


Read more Essays on The Creative Cat.

All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check my Etsy shop or Fine Art America profile to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.


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Bernadette

From health and welfare to rescue and adoption stories, advocacy and art, factual articles and fictional stories, "The Creative Cat" offers both visual and verbal education and entertainment about cats for people who love cats, pets and animals of all species.

43 thoughts on “Purring

  • Pingback: June Featured Artwork and Desktop Calendar: Mimi, Reading My Mind ~ The Creative Cat

  • Thanks so much everyone! I’ve been giving Mimi a lot of intensive care and she’s finally beginning to eat on her own and feeling good again. I’ve had to big projects this week and spent all my extra time on Mimi, but finally have some time for another update. https://thecreativecat.net/another-update/#.VSfgV5PIlyA. Thanks for all your good wishes and your donations! I’ll be back to answer your comments. You have no idea how encouraging it is to read them while I’m worrying about Mimi.

    Reply
  • Lynda Donati

    Bernadette, check your PayPal. For Mimi. Get well Sweetheart, we’re all sending healing purrs and hugs to you. Lynda, Dante & Puck

    Reply
  • We are here to offer our prayers and support for you and for Mimi…Ann sent us! We sure do hope that she is feeling better and better! xo Chloe and LadyBug

    Reply
  • tweedles

    sending love and purrs

    Reply
  • Sending lots of purrs and prayers yours and Mimi’s way! It is never easy when a beloved animal isn’t well. We hope you are able to raise the funds that you need. Wish we could contribute… Until then we will be purring and praying!

    Reply
  • spittythekitty

    We are purring for Mimi and all of you XOXOXOXO

    Reply
    • spittythekitty

      P.S. We sended you a few green papers XOXOXO

      Reply
  • miss peach

    we came to offer you soft understanding purrs…it is so hard when that one we love with all our heart is feeling poorly. you have a magical way of loving those entrusted to your care. I wish for your Mimi a complete return to her former self so she can lay in the sunshine and you can rest easy.
    with love, Karla and the cozy cottage cats

    Reply
  • We’re purring for Mimi and hope you can figure out what is going on with her and can help her feel better.

    Reply
  • I will pray for Mimi. I can make a small donation and I will spread the word.

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  • We will be purring very hard for Mimi.
    We understand how much the bond between cats and humans means.
    We also know about that “one special cat”.
    We wish so hard for good news.
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ
    and mom Nancy

    Reply
  • I hope you can figure out what’s causing this problem and keep Mimi comfortable. We lost our heart cat Tommie about a month ago after a long valiant struggle. I wouldn’t presume to say that I know what you’re going through, but we’re sending our most powerful good positive wishes and purrs.

    Reply
  • We are sending purrs and prayers of support for Mimi and will add her to our family purr circle.
    Timmy Dad Pete and Family

    Reply
  • We all have our special cats, the ones who are our second selves. I read about your Mimi, and my thoughts immediately flew to my Dawnie, my heart-and-soul girl. Wishing you and Mimi many more heart-to-hearts in the studio and out in the garden

    Reply
  • Sending love and rumbly purrs for Mimi, get well soonest little girl

    Mungo & Jet

    Reply
  • We’ve got our Doxie paws crossed for Mimi and for you too. We know it’s so stressful when our loved ones are not well. Sending you love from Florida.

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle & Muffin

    Reply
    • We’re grateful for your Doxie paws, Lily Belle& Muffin!

      Reply
  • We are so sorry that Mimi is not doing well. It really is frustrating when the tests don’t reveal much. She is beautiful, and sounds like such a dear, sweet amazing cat. Sending purrs, prayers and all good thoughts for Mimi, and you.

    Reply
    • She really is Meowmeowmans, and especially dear to me. I don’t know if we will ever really find out “what” but I will do all I can to keep her happy and comfortable. Thanks for your purrs.

      Reply
  • So hard when the blood work doesn’t show anything… No increased white blood cells? Praying with all I have right now for Mimi – that you will feel a precious healing anointing on Mimi right now in Jesus name… amen. -Katie.

    Reply
    • Katie Kat–no, not at all! I was almost hoping it would since it would be an infection we could fight in some way, but her blood tests were normal but slight variances for not having eaten. Puzzling! Thank you for your prayers.

      Reply
  • bluemoonalone

    Oh dear sweet Mimi…your Moma B loves you so..I know what you speak of B..I have that special connection with one of my kitties here too..I swear we can read each others minds..I have been wanting to place an order so I will get that done to help out what little I can..Please give her an extra hug from me today..Nancy

    Reply
    • Thank you Bluemoonalone–we had a good day but still have a ways to go. I think she’s thriving on all the good wishes.

      Reply
  • mimi….all de manee blessings oh st francis two ewe….him az plentee ta spare N iz willin ta share….we troo lee
    hope yur new regime helpz……pleez all sew tell yur mom ta chex her e mails….. ♥♥♥♥♥

    Reply
    • We got em Tabbies, and thank you! We visited the yard this morning and St Francis was surely there in all the little critters hopping and scurrying and birds flying and singing.

      Reply
  • Anne Slevin

    Bernadette, Please check your PayPal. I hope Spring brings healing “vibes” to Mimi and some deserved peace of mind to you for all you do. My thoughts are with all of your (not so) little family!!!

    Reply
    • Thanks so much Anne! Mimi and I had another session outside and with some meds and acupuncture she’s almost back to eating, so I don’t have to rush into testing.

      Reply
  • My very dear friend, my heart is breaking. Mimi holds a very special place in my heart too. Check you pay pal. (Bernie and Jay)

    Reply
    • Thanks so much Bernie and Jay! I have no idea where this will go, it’s just not fair that it’s Mimi.

      Reply
  • Check your PayPal account, b. My best wishes for Mimi and you.

    Reply

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