Thursday, March 28, 2024
black catscat photographscatsdaily photofoster catsKennedy

An Update on Kennedy

black cat on table
Kennedy resting after his ordeal at the veterinarian’s office.

It’s time to catch up with things!

Kennedy had his exam on Wednesday and most of the news was good. He had blood tests and another chest/abdominal X-ray along with a lot of consultation. But it all looks as if he’s got some time left here, possibly quite some time, if we can get him back to eating and drinking normally.

black cat on exam table
Kennedy exploring the exam room at the veterinarian.

Whatever the mass is near his heart that shows up on the X-ray, it hasn’t changed that can be seen (with all the organs and bones in that area you can usually just tell that something is there, but it’s hard to see details). I had been concerned that it was a mass expanding or moving or otherwise encroaching on his esophagus or trachea, or a cancer that was spreading. It may be in some ways difficult to see on an X-ray, but physically it’s not in a position to cause too much trouble.

On the outside it looks as if at one time he had a traumatic injury to his entire right side, hence the stiffness/weakness in his right hind leg, the bend to his right front leg, and the swollen/cloudy right eye, plus his general stiffness. It’s quite healed, so it was some time ago, but when can’t be said for certain.

It looks like what may be the issue with him right now is pain from the results of these injuries. He lost 11 ounces, though we are not sure why except for his decreasing appetite; he’s not wasting from any condition.

His eye is likely not truly cataracted but has corneal damage, which looks a lot the same but it’s treated differently. Most important about his eye is that he has glaucoma in just that one eye caused by what was apparently an injury to his eye, the flow of fluid out of his eye is blocked so the pressure builds up and damages his optic nerve, and it’s very painful. He will get drops for that, the drops are kind of expensive—$200 per bottle for what the vet prescribed!—but Dr. Becky Morrow found a much less expensive solution that we’ll get soon.

His blood values were nearly all in the normal range. One. “EOS” or eosiniphils showed that he may have a parasite. I have a dose of Strongid to give him a little later today.

The other values were consistent with a cat who is a little dehydrated and hasn’t eaten much in a few days. There may also be an intestinal issue in the form of inflammatory bowel disease or even the beginnings of lymphoma somewhere in his GI tract that are part of this because the issues seemed to begin as mild constipation, but only a scan or an exploratory would show that for sure.

black cat with acupuncture needles
I held and comforted Kennedy while Dr. Michelle applied the needles (photo by Dr. Michelle Elgersma, www.kalmeren.com)

I will be giving him small doses of fluids for the next few days to get him rehydrated and he’ll be eating A/D for a few days. He’s also begun a small course of steroids, prednisolone, to help with pain from arthritis and from the swelling in his eye, if something is developing in his GI it will help slow it down, and it will help perk up his appetite. Also Dr. Michelle will be stopping by to poke him with a few needles, and I’ve asked for a reiki treatment for him, touching all the bases I hope help to ease his discomfort.

Last night he was happy to be home after his experience in the car and at the veterinarian’s office and though he was interested in food he did not eat until late, and only a small amount. He needed hydration and a little bit of food before his dose of Strongid and his first dose of prednisolone and I decided to wait until morning. He did not eat at all overnight though he was very alert and talkative first thing. I gave him a treat and then his dose of prednisolone and another treat, and an hour or so later he did eat a quarter can of food, still not his usual but I was happy to see it.

Dr. Michelle stopped by around noon and worked on a few points for the glaucoma pain and general pain and calming and assisted me with a small dose of fluids, and two or three more treats as he was very upset after that, and during and immediately after this he also had his distance reiki session. Even though he was totally exhausted after all this treatment he let go of being upset and was back to his sweet self, walking around the room and rubbing his face on things, giving head butts and being generally affectionate with both Dr. Michelle and me.

charcoal sketch of cat
“Kennedy”, white and black charcoal on gray toned paper, 5″ x 8″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

I think he’s been just compensating, just getting by, for a long time, years perhaps, and now he wants to heal and has hit a wall, and needs help getting over it. He has a very big, strong, confident personality and I will keep him on his way.

. . . . . . .

About Kennedy’s care, and the Sketch Auction

My sketch of him is still up for auction, and speaking for those who rescued him and all in the rescue who are fostering kittens and cats we want to give a

BIG THANK YOU

to all who have bid—and all who have donated for Kennedy aside from bidding on the sketch. Everything helps his care, and helps the care of cats and kittens in foster homes, helps colony caretakers who need help feeding their colonies and rescue cats who need veterinary care, and lots of low-cost or free spays and neuters. For more information about the sketch and the auction, and how to donate to help Kennedy and all the other cats in foster, see Daily Sketch: Kennedy, and a Benefit Auction. I’m also extending to anyone who donates for his care and gives a mailing address I’ll send a print of the sketch when the auction is over.

. . . . . . .

I’ve missed an entire day and nearly a second of posting on The Creative Cat, not a wise thing while I’m a finalist for the Petties. I actually began this post at 10:30 this morning and did not finish until 6:30 p.m. because the day flew by and Kennedy’s condition changed all through the day. Organizing Kennedy’s care involved the coordination of many others aside from myself as well as good old driving from here to there for the appointment, fluids from another rescuer, attempting to fill the prescription and other details, as well as looking into other situations involving cats that have come in to me locally from other sources. And that on top of household stuff (hot water tank, etc., grrrr), my commissioned paintings and illustrations, and regular everyday work I do as a self-employed commercial artist which, for the most part, believe it or not, has nothing to do with cats. I hope you’ll please excuse me in all of these things and continue to vote for me in these categories. The Homeless Cat Management Team can certainly use it!


Browse some rescued cats and kittens!


Click here to vote for TheCreativeCat.net in the Petties.

Best Cat Blog

Best Blog Post

Best Video Post

Petties 2014
Petties 2014

Read more about the Petties in this post.


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.


© 2014 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

—

Weekly schedule of features:
Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life
Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters
Tuesday: Rescue Stories
Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork
Thursday: New Merchandise
Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy
Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats
And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!

—

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | ETSY SHOP | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | STUMBLEUPON | GOOGLE+ | EMAIL

HOME

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.

9 thoughts on “An Update on Kennedy

  • dood !! glad yur… ewe noe wear visit…. wented most lee grate….but ya gotta start eatin pal, how bout a nice plate oh perch
    topped off with sum pizza pies N a few donuts !!! sound good ?? …oh kay, then eat up sew ya get bak sum strength N stuff like
    that…♥♥♥♥♥ heerz two a raccoon butterflyfish kinda week oh end… ♥

    Reply
    • We’re going to enjoy our time and even work on having some treats, Tabbies! Hope you have a great weekend too!

      Reply
  • bluemoonalone

    You listen to Mom B. Kennedy..take your meds and eat and drink..Now that you have a loving home we want to see you spend a long time there buddy..

    Reply
    • Bluemoonalone, it’s all on us now to figure out why he won’t! He is eating today though.

      Reply
      • bluemoonalone

        So good to hear this!

        Reply
  • Kennedy, we know you couldn’t possibly in better human hands than our Aunt Bernadette. We are so impressed that you were that calm with the acupuncture. Purring for you!

    Reply
    • Thanks, guys! It took a little bit of creative meditation on my part to keep him still enough to insert the needles, but I know cats who would have shredded me. He’s so good.

      Reply
  • He is making the best out of this time with you and your feline family. I hope he will feel better and enjoy a fine bunch of time with you.

    Reply
    • Maru, even when he doesn’t feel good he’s filling each moment.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this:
Verified by ExactMetrics