Tuesday, June 23, 2026
catsdaily photoMr. Max

“Not today!” says Mr. Max

"Not today!" says Mr. Max
“Not today!” says Mr. Max

“Not today!” says Mr. Max, “I have this back yard to explore.”

(This is my update from Max’s vet visit on Tuesday, and I apologize for not sharing it yesterday! I was not only exhausted, but had a back spasm that made me lie on the floor.)

Reporting from Mr. Max’s veterinary visit: 

A little more information and a reprieve. He’s not full of –it 😊 that’s just what his intestines look like. Which is pretty scary, but he’s not constipated. He had a lot of gas built up in there and that would be very painful, unfortunately a condition I was well aware of leading up to my gall bladder surgery. No, I didn’t want to eat either.

It is likely IBD, lymphoma or he really does have something stuck in his gut long-term. He didn’t respond to steroids, which IBD and lymphoma generally do to some extent, and he could just be one of those cats who don’t.

My veterinarian decided to treat him with an auto-immune medication. I’ll probably pick it up tomorrow or later this week to get him started. We’ll see how that goes.

Not much else to choose from. He didn’t respond to alternative therapies either. And even this medication is not a fix, so his long-term prognosis still isn’t good, but at least he’s still here and aside from not eating he’s feeling great, being his usual self.

I still plan on an ultrasound which will likely tell us more, but now it can be a regular appointment, not an urgent or emergency visit.

Thanks everyone for your purrs and prayers, support and help for Mr. Max!

And from the morning

Mr. Max Sun Salutation
Mr. Max Sun Salutation

Mr. Max in a hopeful sun salutation this morning! He’s feeling good, another garden walk, no photos because he was moving too fast. Still no poop and just a few nibbles. Hard not to be really hopeful, though. We are leaving for our veterinary appointment. Be back later.

~~~

He’s been a little subdued but feeling good today, garden walk in the morning, eating really well—for him. Saving up for the ultrasound.

I have my annual art exhibit on the Panhandle Trail this Friday-Saturday and have a book cover to finish and a portrait that needs to be done by next Tuesday, so I’ll be super busy getting all that together. But I’ll try to keep updated.

Wish me good sales! This one is artwork only, so if you’re in the mood to shop on my website for kitty things, the information is below. Anything helps us get through this as I rebuild finances with my new lower insurance payment!


Donations for Mr. Max’s Care

You can email me for more information: bernadette @ bernadette-k dot com or

PayPal: http://paypal.me/bernadettekazmarski1

Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/Bernadette-Kazmarski

Thanks for any amount you can give!

Or Go Shopping!

Especially after the market didn’t continue I miss that weekly income. And it was developing into a really good day with a lot of shoppers who were there for business. I sold $20 before the storm hit but spent the rest of the time, cleaning up and packing up. But you can go shopping on my website!

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.

Go to my Handmade Gift Gallery to see what’s available in unique, handmade gifts.


Gifts featuring cats you know! Visit Portraits of Animals

AfterDinnerNap-Etsy

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

Blue Pitcher With Cat
Blue Pitcher With Cat

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.


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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!

 
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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.

6 thoughts on ““Not today!” says Mr. Max

  • Brian's Home ~ Forever

    Purrs and prayers from all of us handsome Max.

    Reply
  • 15andmeowing

    Praying he responds to the autoimmune meds. XO

    Reply
    • Me too. I can’t wait to see if it’s the answer.

      Reply
  • knot two day dood, ore any time soon…waaaaaaay two much ta
    eggs plore in yur gardin….!!!!! ya knead sum trout…:) contin mewed
    blezzingz for ewe …

    Reply
    • He loves it, even when he’s not feeling his best!

      Reply

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