I See a Pattern Developing for Mr. Max

I see a pattern developing in Mr. Max’s response to this medication. He felt pretty bad yesterday morning, kind of weak and floppy, no appetite, before he’d had his dose, but improved over the day and started eating a little. Today is an off day (he’ll get it again tomorrow) and he was fully balanced and ready to go first thing, and had eaten some of his overnight food, about an ounce. He was on my lap, looking out the doors on a chilly morning, ready to go for an adventure, and when we did we had to walk all over to find spots of sunshine.

It took him a while to get to eating today, and he fought being syringe fed. I listen to that because there’s a reason he’s rejecting it when he’d been okay before. A soon as he finally had a good bowel movement he was famished. I get the feeling the inflammation returns somewhat on the off day and it’s hard to poop, but diminishes slowly after his dose so he can go again and then he’s hungry. By 3:00 today he was fully back to good, eating and sleeping comfortably. Usually I keep him downstairs with me but I went up to visit Morty and to my surprise he came up the steps after me, checked out Morty’s dry food, hopped up on his chair and laid down. I got his food bowl selections and put them on the table for him and he immediately put his face in one of them. I can’t leave food out down here because all the other cats will eat it, so he can eat his fill upstairs, and rest more easily than on my lap, for sure.

We ended up in the back yard and the garden area was sunny, but I’ve been so busy watching him I haven’t kept the brick paths or patio clear. We walked around and he found a couple of sunny spots on warm brick, like above where he’s hiding behind two small horseweed plants that purrfectly match his eyes. When that started to fade, I asked him to follow me down the path to a nice sunny area in the corner.

Even though the weather is cool the sun is hot and he’s black so I don’t like him to be in direct sun for too long. In this arrangement, I could cast my shadow on him as I picked green and yellow beans and he enjoyed warm bricks but cooled off his fur.

After that sunbath I got my handful of beans and we went up onto the deck where he settled on our old partial cat tree that I have outside for cleaning.

The old cat tree in the corner of my office here has sooooooo many memories of Mimi and the siblings and Basil. I let things be after a loss, and moving that too soon would be painful, especially when I go back and look at all the photos of all five on or around it as I worked all day when they were the only ones here, then Basil and all the other fosters as they moved through or stayed. I had pulled that thing out of someone’s trash in 2014, already well-used, then took off the top section when they scratched through the cardboard pillars despite the sisal wrap and placed a three-shelf corner tree on top of the middle section’s round cubby, and later added the square tower scratching post. They used it all, and the photos of four levels of black cats are priceless.

A friend gave me a cat tree that would fit there and is in really good shape. I’ve had it out on the deck for just a few weeks, waiting for the right moment, whenever that would come, looking at the old tree and remembering and letting it sit in my heart. This morning was the time, I knew it was okay to remove that older conglomeration of cat tree parts and move the pieces to different places around the house and basement. I wanted these cats to have something new, and I felt those who are watching over use approved too, understanding our evolving feline family. With Mr. Max feeling good, and a week off of vendor shows, I was energized and got it done in no time. And while I was moving it in Mariposa was on it having a good scratch on the posts. Then in place Hamlet was right on it inspecting each level and Mariposa joined him.

Mr. Max has been resting in the baskets by the window, but he couldn’t resist the new cat tree when we came back inside later. He looks a little ragged, but happy.

Looking forward to the ultrasound

Today I’ll say I’m looking forward to the ultrasound and hope I can get it sooner than the September 10 appointment I made. It’s $455 and possibly more for an extra view, medications, etc. Hearts and Paws, the organization whose event I attend each June, will pay the $300 grant toward his ultrasound directly to the hospital. I’m trying to put my time into paying work right now but I’m missing the income in this week with no vendor shows!

Thanks for following Mr. Max’s journey here, and mine. It’s been a long two years of loss.

---

Go shopping and help me reduce inventory!

Farmers market shoppers are different in September, one of the reasons I’m glad it starts earlier for those three markets and I wish it would go into October. I take far more items including framed prints and photos for autumn sales, and the less I have to unpack and display of small gift items the faster I can set up and the more easily people can shop.

Go to my Handmade Gift Gallery to see what’s available in unique, handmade gifts. I’m short on the dishtowels but I am well-stocked with tiles, jar lamps and keepsake boxes.

If you’re thinking of an animal portrait of any size for yourself or as a gift now is a good time to book one. I get last-minute portraits in November and December and my schedule isn’t so flexible. Visit Commissioned Animal Portraits.

It’s also a good time to think about Custom Pet Memorial Gifts, a votive, suncatcher or garden flag—and they don’t need to be a memorial, just a nice custom gift. Visit Custom Pet Memorial Votives to read more about them.

Or visit Portraits of Animals and use the menu on the left, or under the three horizontal dashes in the top left on a mobile device, to find what you are interested in.

---

Gifts featuring cats you know! Visit Portraits of Animals

Fine Art • Photography • Gifts • Greeting Cards • Books • Commissioned Portraits & Artwork

I have to say, I do like it, Mr. Sunshine, subtle, almost abstract. I have some talented cats here. Read more and purchase.

---

---

Copyright

All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals 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.

---

Subscribe to my e-newsletter

Subscribe to The Creative Cat Preview E-newsletter.

---

© 2009-2025 | 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!

 

PORTRAITS OF ANIMALS WEBSITE

FACEBOOK | X | LINKEDIN | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | THREADS | BLUESKY | YOUTUBE | SUBSTACK | EMAIL

HOME