Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Another Update

A rainy morning.
A rainy morning.

Monday was so beautiful, sunny and warm, but it’s been raining every day since. No matter how much Mimi tries to ignore the rain falling on her fur, it does not magically disappear. You can see her above, paused on the steps, awakening to the reality that even if you ignore the falling rain it still continues to fall, and a kitty gets all wet. Below has been her reaction each day this week, including just this morning. Mimi is not happy!

Done with this!
Done with this!

I had two very large projects this week on Wednesday and Thursday, and all my extra time was taken with Mimi so I missed the chance to update, but she has been doing well and we are very thankful for all the good wishes and donations from kitties and dogs and people we don’t even know. I have a more comprehensive update below, but here is a start. I posted these photos on Facebook on Wednesday afternoon when I had wonderful news!

The day just got better. The rain stopped, we spent time outside, Mimi had a nice long nap on my lap in several directions and she ate canned food! In three voluntary requests she finished a quarter can, and had a proper bath in a really nice box.

That was her first voluntary meal in over a week! The next day was not so promising so we started this.

Food prep.
Food prep.

I’ve done a fair amount of syringe feeding and I love that mini chopper I found at a yard sale back in the 90s—it’s pureed food and supplements for over a dozen cats through the years. It can take a Fancy Feast pate or even A/D and make it a fine paste that can be drawn up into a syringe, or be easily mixed with water or broth to thin down a bit, and sometimes it’s just easier for an ill cat to eat. I’ve been adding a raw goat’s milk yogurt with chia seeds and coconut as a probiotic.

Below, on one of our trips outside we found something had sacrificed a cat toy and made a big fuss on the rug just outside the back door. Probably one of those cats I need to trap for TNR.

Someone was on our door mat.
Someone was on our door mat.

Here is where we are

Mimi is far away from the point where she was a week ago, and even at the beginning of this week—no more vomiting at all, no signs of nausea, she is active and social has been eating, though she needs encouragement with this and some syringe feeding each day, plus supplemental subcutaneous fluids, to make sure she has enough food and hydration. She is getting daily doses of prednisolone, though, and without this she would likely not be eating on her own at all.

So, considering recovery or healing, she did stop the vomiting and nausea over the weekend with help from alternative therapies, reiki and acupuncture and Chinese herbs and continued with famotidine (generic Pepcid). She was then interested in food but would not eat on her own until Wednesday, three days into the steroid, more than a week after she’d stopped eating, and only after another reiki and acupuncture treatment, and another B12 injection. Continued and slightly increased prednisolone and supplemental fluids have her still eating less than half what she needs to and not drinking at all. She is maintaining but is not recovered, nor necessarily getting better, but at least she is stable. She is very comfortable and happy, and from here we can begin with tests next week.

But it’s so good to see Mimi being Mimi again—like exploring any cabinet, drawer or box! I opened the cabinet in the kitchen to get my stand mixer and it was the best thing that happened to the entire household in days, everyone climbed in to it, and Mimi got in there past Smokie.

Exploring the cabinet with Smokie.
Exploring the cabinet with Smokie.

Empty boxes, and even not-so-empty boxes, have a magic draw for Mimi, and she is pulled into them by an irresistible force. There is still plenty of room in here for recyclable papers—Mimi is very small!

A box cannot exist without Mimi in it.
A box cannot exist without Mimi in it.

I have a very full weekend coming up (details on that below), but I can rest easy knowing that she is stable and does not need constant care while I am away from the house with events, in and out, and, sigh, cleaning up the water in my basement.

And Mimi can enjoy a nice comfortable nap all weekend.

Mimi tries out Bella's basket for a nap.
Mimi tries out Bella’s basket for a nap.

. . . . . . .

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” and “Purr Therapy” about how Mimi’s children support her and others in illness.

. . . . . . .

"The Jewel on the Hill" one of my favorite photos of the building.
“The Jewel on the Hill” one of my favorite photos of the building.

The event this weekend is the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall’s ninth annual Civil War Living History day and weekend of events; this is not only one of my long-time customers but also one of my lifelong favorite places, and I take care of all their design, photograph events, and whatever else needs to be done. Above is one of my earliest photos, which I caught kind of by accident on a lovely April evening in 2005. It’s the signature photo of the building.

Just one corner of the Espy Post.
Just one corner of the Espy Post.

The library houses one of only six remaining post rooms where Civil War veterans would gather for social time together and to plan benevolent activities for veterans in need and their families. The Capt. Thos. Espy Post is the most intact of all these post rooms—once there were about 7,000 all over the country—and is unique in its setup and the collection of artifacts left behind by the veterans themselves. For this reason we began hosting annual events in April or May, months rich with Civil War anniversaries, including re-enactors both military and social, speakers, displays, sutlers or vendors, book sales and tours of the restored Espy post. This year and forward includes the Lincoln Gallery, which I spent two weeks in February installing.

And very exciting this year, we are producing a Broadway musical to be performed Friday, Saturday and Sunday, The Civil War, a moving account of the war through a series songs of all sides of the battle. The performance includes recitations of the words of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Music styles range from traditional folk and gospel to rock and swing and soul. I photographed an early rehearsal and a  recent dress rehearsal to have photos for promotion and social networking. I am so moved by the voices and the lyrics to the songs. Tonight I get to see the production all the way through for the first time. You can see a portion of the photos in this post on the Library & Music Hall’s photo gallery.

I am not so much a Civil War enthusiast as I simply love history. My family did not arrive in this country until well after this time, 1912 at the earliest, and I don’t feel as much of a connection as others I know whose ancestors actually fought the battles. But it’s a critical part of this country’s history and something we should know about and never forget.

"Peculiar Institution", the slave market scene from "The Civil War".
“Peculiar Institution”, the slave market scene from “The Civil War”.

I will be busy this weekend but I miss sharing my photos and art and my stories! I will get back to it as soon as I possibly can, and of course will continue to care for Mimi and plan for next week’s tests.


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.

10 thoughts on “Another Update

    • Thanks, Rumpydog! We’re pretty stable now but still have some work to do.

      Reply
  • Bernadette, I’m so glad Mimi’s felling better! My cat Taffy was severely ill with pancreatitis quite a while ago, and we were feeding him with a syringe through a tube into his stomach, poor baby. But he’s 18 years old now and doing fine. He gets a prednisolone pill every 3rd day and a limited ingredient diet, and demands his food loudly every morning. It sounds like Mimi is going to be fine too with all your loving care!

    Reply
    • Kay, that’s wonderful for Taffy at that age! I’m glad he’s doing well and that it could be treated. I thought we were headed for a feeding tube as well, but I think Mimi heard that conversation and decided to eat. Thanks for your good wishes!

      Reply
  • Hi Bernadette and Mimi and the Kitties
    You are all in my thoughts and prayers. You do so much for everyone that we all need to help you now. Without Mimi there would be no Fantastic Four or all your pictures and funny stories. I see she likes the basket. I will be sending you something. Take care of yourselves

    Reply
    • Sharon, that is the basket you brought here at Christmas! Bella adopted it first and now everyone takes their turn in it. Thanks so much!

      Reply
  • Sending comforting purrs to Mimi that she continues to improve and feel more like herself.

    Reply
    • We’re doing okay this weekend, and it’s made better by a lovely spring day, thanks Colehaus Cats!

      Reply
  • mimi…..continmewed blessings frum R rockin pal st francis for ewe…heerz hopin next weekz testz go veree
    smooth lee…

    tell mom B…ewe & de crew furst….

    N oh course her haz ta werk… 🙁

    blogging…..way down de ta due list….we understand why herz knot heer…

    heerz two a largemouth bass lined sole kinda week oh end ♥♥♥

    heerz all sew hopin ya *** ** *** *** { cat speech for due knot jinx by typin~~

    Reply
    • Thanks Tabbies, we hope you’ve had a good weekend! I’m so glad the big projects are over for now and Mimi and I can spend some serious backyard time.

      Reply

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