ATTABOY
came to us through the local rescue group for which we foster. At a few
months of age, he had been found lying in someone’s front yard, where he had
not been moving for 8 hours. Finally he was turned over to
SavingGraces4Felines. His head hung to his knees all the time, and he was
blind. As his head gradually lifted to a more normal position, he was given
to us to foster. A few tests were done to determine the cause of his
blindness and neurological damage, but we can only guess it was due to head
trauma. Attaboy did not use the litterbox properly, although he usually
came close, but then scratched through his waste as if to cover it. We did
not think we would be able to manage this sweet boy, but finally he began to
go into the litterbox. He still tries to cover his waste, but really only
scratches through it. I have developed “mother’s ears” and when Attaboy
uses the litterbox, I run to remove him before he can “pawpaint in poop!”
After a few more months Attaboy began having daily grand mal seizures. We
finally have that under control with phenobarbitol daily. Now we are trying
to manage chronic diarrhea, for which the vet is suspicious of irritable
bowel syndrome and Attaboy is getting meds for that three times a week. For
a long time we kept Attaboy in the main portion of the house because we felt
close monitoring was warranted. Now however, he has graduated to the Magoo
Room where he is enjoying the company of his peers. He has learned to go
out the pet door, but hasn’t mastered coming in so we need to be very careful
of his whereabouts in cold or wet weather. It looks as if Attaboy is all or
part Maine Coon, and he is our lovely, gentle giant, who needs much
protection and care.
May
2011: Sometimes good news is really bad news, and such was the case
with Attaboy. He too often had a case of blow-out diarrhea and one
particular case was especially difficult to get past. He spent a week in
the vets and came home with a new diet which he loved (and no more
diarrhea!) The vet removed him from all medicines except his Phenobarbital
for seizures. Attaboy was eating two cans of food a day and still losing
weight so the vet recommended putting him back on prednisolone as that must
have been helping with his Irritable Bowel Disease more than we previously
thought. However, Attaboy was now eating 3 cans of food a day, and still
losing weight. We had new blood tests performed and the results were
good--he had no kidney or thyroid issues causing Attaboy's problems. But
the good test results were bad news for Attaboy, because it meant there was
nothing more we could do for him. He either had cancer, or the IBD had
advanced to the point that he was no longer able to absorb the nutrients
from his food. And so, on May 26, 2011, Joe took Attaboy for his last visit
to the vet's office, as I could not bear to see my dear, damaged boy pass.
It was only because I witnessed the weight loss and the change in
personality that I could be peaceful about the euthanasia decision. Many
people came to know Attaboy in person or through our website, and I would
like to think that each of them came away with the idea that even damaged
kitties can have a good life. May that message be spread, that Attaboy's 7
years on earth has some additional meaning for more than just the people who
loved him day-in and day-out.
ATTABOY
came to us through the local rescue group for which we foster. At a few
months of age, he had been found lying in someone’s front yard, where he had
not been moving for 8 hours. Finally he was turned over to
SavingGraces4Felines. His head hung to his knees all the time, and he was
blind. As his head gradually lifted to a more normal position, he was given
to us to foster. A few tests were done to determine the cause of his
blindness and neurological damage, but we can only guess it was due to head
trauma. Attaboy did not use the litterbox properly, although he usually
came close, but then scratched through his waste as if to cover it. We did
not think we would be able to manage this sweet boy, but finally he began to
go into the litterbox. He still tries to cover his waste, but really only
scratches through it. I have developed “mother’s ears” and when Attaboy
uses the litterbox, I run to remove him before he can “pawpaint in poop!”
After a few more months Attaboy began having daily grand mal seizures. We
finally have that under control with phenobarbitol daily. Now we are trying
to manage chronic diarrhea, for which the vet is suspicious of irritable
bowel syndrome and Attaboy is getting meds for that three times a week. For
a long time we kept Attaboy in the main portion of the house because we felt
close monitoring was warranted. Now however, he has graduated to the Magoo
Room where he is enjoying the company of his peers. He has learned to go
out the pet door, but hasn’t mastered coming in so we need to be very careful
of his whereabouts in cold or wet weather. It looks as if Attaboy is all or
part Maine Coon, and he is our lovely, gentle giant, who needs much
protection and care.
May
2011: Sometimes good news is really bad news, and such was the case
with Attaboy. He too often had a case of blow-out diarrhea and one
particular case was especially difficult to get past. He spent a week in
the vets and came home with a new diet which he loved (and no more
diarrhea!) The vet removed him from all medicines except his Phenobarbital
for seizures. Attaboy was eating two cans of food a day and still losing
weight so the vet recommended putting him back on prednisolone as that must
have been helping with his Irritable Bowel Disease more than we previously
thought. However, Attaboy was now eating 3 cans of food a day, and still
losing weight. We had new blood tests performed and the results were
good--he had no kidney or thyroid issues causing Attaboy's problems. But
the good test results were bad news for Attaboy, because it meant there was
nothing more we could do for him. He either had cancer, or the IBD had
advanced to the point that he was no longer able to absorb the nutrients
from his food. And so, on May 26, 2011, Joe took Attaboy for his last visit
to the vet's office, as I could not bear to see my dear, damaged boy pass.
It was only because I witnessed the weight loss and the change in
personality that I could be peaceful about the euthanasia decision. Many
people came to know Attaboy in person or through our website, and I would
like to think that each of them came away with the idea that even damaged
kitties can have a good life. May that message be spread, that Attaboy's 7
years on earth has some additional meaning for more than just the people who
loved him day-in and day-out.
