Catering to the Kitty

Bree, also known as the "Zoom Meeting Cat," an "Indoor Farm Supervisors," and sometimes referenced as our "Bree LF" (for those that might know that CS Lewis reference), has been on our minds a lot recently.  Since her sister passed on last year, Bree has continued to get thinner.  We're pretty sure it isn't because she misses her sister as they weren't the best of friends all the time anyway.

She has become less interested in her favorite toys and she has taken to having wheezing fits.  But, she is still quite personable with us and she still purrs when we give her the skritches and attention she so richly deserves.

In any event, things were to the point that we felt a vet appointment was necessary, so I went and got the carrier. The carrier is not usually a welcomed sight because it means a trip in the car - not Bree's favorite activity. 

This time I just happened to grab the carrier that was the same one Bree and Hobnob occupied when they came home to live at the Genuine Faux Farm.  And, as I often, but don't always, do, I set the cage down with the door open so Bree could inspect it.  Usually what follows is feigned indifference followed by an attempt to leave before the human can pick her up and put her in the carrier.

This time, Bree, after checking around the perimeter, walked right in.  So, I shut the door - more than a bit surprised - and not surprised at all.

Our instincts matched Bree's.  Something was wrong and we were all at a point where we needed to get answers.

The people at the veterinarian's office were kind and listened carefully as we discussed what was going on.  Not terribly interested in food.  Low energy.  Less interested in things that had interested her before.  Even her "meows" were quieter - as if they took too much energy sometimes.  And since both Tammy and I had recently been through the process of not feeling well, we could relate and empathize.

A quick x-ray confirmed issues in the lungs.  Probably issues that will not go away.  But, the current strategy is to give her some medications (always fun with a cat) and see if it clears some things out and gives her a chance to be a bit happier for a while.  We're trying numerous other ways to entice her to eat and we're making sure she gets all of the kind words and skritches she might possibly want.

So far, catering to the kitty seems to be working.  Still not eating much.  Still not interested in playing.  But the eyes are clearer and the wheezing has become less frequent.  We'll take it.

While it is unlikely that this will result in long-term physical healing, the mental healing for the cat and for the humans has been good.  And, we're giving her that chance to discover that this is something that can clear up.  And today, she has an opportunity to enjoy a nice sun puddle on a cool day.

Now that's catering to the kitty!