How I lost my balcony privileges.

While Ma was working in the kitchen, she left the kitchen screen door propped open so Stivali and I can go in and out as we please. We are only allowed on the balcony.  She puts a screen in front of the steps so we cannot walk down them.

This allows us to be outside but limited to the space of the balcony.

It is very nice – we get to watch the birds, squirrels, and bunnies from a distance.  We can sunbathe, and breathe in the fresh air.

Mamma checks on us every fifteen minutes or so, a little neurotically, if you asked me – she just worries we would get into trouble of some sort if she didn’t, I guess.

From the kitchen, she heard a loud thump so she quickly ran out onto the balcony to find out what the noise was.  She did not see me right away, only my lil sister stood on the balcony, staring off into the sideyard – eyes as large as teacup saucers…

Ma peered over the balcony, to her amazement, to find me sitting on the awning of the first floor side door.  

 

She was so alarmed, she went running down the balcony steps to come get me, but I was too afraid to jump into her arms, and there was no way I was gonna be able to jump back up onto the balcony railing. 

Ma did not have her cell phone with her so she failed to take photos of me getting into trouble.  She told me later who could think of photos at a time like that – she was scared for my safety and sanity.

She hurriedly went back into the kitchen, opened the window, and leaned practically all the way outside on to the awning where I climbed into her loving arms.

I don’t know why she got so angry with me – you think she thinks I have congestive heart failure or something, like I coulda caused myself to have a heart attack.  I don’t know, but she says I cannot go outside onto the balcony anymore. 

My privileges have been revoked. 

The Slipper Series.

Monday

                                                                                        Tuesday

Perhaps Mamma is creating a "Slipper Series" and will share with you a photo of me each day of the week resting on her slippers...

Lately, she is taking more photos of me than usual, and usually she takes lots and lots.

As I have written before, I like to wake my mamma up a little before her alarm, so I can get her full attention and some really nice cuddles.  Recently, I have been jumping on her bed at 5am. Sometimes, Stivali, my little sister, is sleeping on mamma's belly, chest, or by her feet.  Either way, once I jump up, she jumps down.  Mamma and I usually snuggle for 15 minutes, but last week and this week, we've lingered longer into a half hour.

During this quality time, I rest in my little nook - which is the space on her side between her shoulder and hips.  My front paws over her underarm, my head on them, and my back paws over her hip and belly.  She wraps her arm around me, cradling me like a mother would a human baby.

Purr... Purr... Purr...

In March, I weighed in at 21.7#.

Doctors always told us that I was okay, perfectly healthy at 20# - 21.7# was considered a little heavier than I should be.  I am a big cat.  Not fat.  Just big.

Like I mentioned before, for a few days after my annual check-up I felt sick; but once I got my bloodwork, x-rays, and echocardiogram done in March, I began taking medicines, and I quickly got back to my peppy happy self.  I have not felt sick at all since.  However, I keep weighing in less and less.

I don't wanna lose weight.

Mamma is feeling alarmed, and is starting to really notice, physically, that I weigh less.

DATE:       WEIGHT:

March 19            21.70

April 08              20.50

Aug 01               19.11

Aug 16               19.04

The good news is, my quality of life has not negatively been impacted by my disease, I am still playful, joyful, and talkative.  I am loved, and that is a blessing to me. <3  

Your continued prayers are appreciated.

If love alone could save me, I would never ever die.

Yesterday, August 01, I went to the vet.  This little photo shoot of me was a few minutes after my return from the animal hospital.  Mamma thinks I don't know how sick I am because I look great to her - and now that I have been on medicines since March, my behavior is totally back to normal (for me).

I am sure you would agree that I am completely adorable. 

For those reading who did not follow my updates on my now-deleted FB page - here is a small recap:

On April 30th, 2007, I wento the vet for the first time: I weighed in at 7.9# and the doctors approximated I was about 8-12 months old.  I was living with Mamma for about a week at this time, but had been hanging around her house and business for more than a month ... the rest of that part of my story is essentially her falling madly in love with me quickly, and keeping me as little brother to puppy girl, Zoe, and a big boy orange tabby-cat, Kismet. :)

Together we lived in Searsport, Maine; Ocala, Florida; Lakeland, Florida (where sadly Zoe and Kismet both passed within a week of one another); and Winter Haven, Florida (where we (thanks to Ashley) introduced Stivali "Boots" - the little tuxedo cat as my lil sister).

Fast forward to March 19, 2016 - I wento the vet for my annual check up. I got a clean bill of health. Pure green light, weighing in at 21.7#. The beautiful and friendly doctor laughed that my motor is so loud, she could not get a clear heartbeat reading through her stethoscope.  Mamma and my doctor laughed and laughed - Mamma told the sweet smart doctor that no doctor has ever been able to hear my heart because I am way too happy and I'm purring all of the time.

It is true. I purr all of the time. I am an incredibly happy cat.  Mamma has raised many cats in her years and no other has ever purred as much as I do. She tells me all of the time. I am just a happy and purr-filled cat.  It sure helps that Mamma is a joy-filled girl, because it really rubs off on me.

When I returned from the March annual exam, Mamma noticed I was not eating, I was not sleeping in my normal manner, and I was not purring, playing, or trilling (I tend to chirp and trill a lot, after all I am a Maine Coon).  That first day she attributed my lethargic and odd behavior to going to the vet.

The following day, she monitored me closely, and noticed my breathing was heavy and noisy.  She became concerned and called the vet.

The vet thought perhaps I had contracted a cold during my visit and made an appointment for me for the following day (March 22nd) for a re-check.  The vet asked Mamma if I have ever had an asthma attack.  Mamma never realized that whenI sound like I am coughing up a hair ball which does not come up actually may be an asthma attack.  The doctor did blood work and x-rays.

The x-rays revealed I had fluid on my lungs - so the doctor ordered me to go on a diuretic (Lasix) and ordered an echogardiogram and a blood pressure test - which I had done on the 24th of March.

The non-invasive ultrasound, echocardiogram, revealed I have congestive heart failure.

Which, by the way, is a specific gene mutation in Maine Coons.

On March 25th in addition to the diuretic, I started taking a heart pill, Enacard (to dilate blood vessels and help my heart work more efficiently).

The prognosis was guarded when I went for follow up x-rays on the 8th of April.  The diuretic seemed to be working minimally, as my condition did not worsen, but did not get much better,

A follow-up echocardiogram was scheduled for August 01.

During the time between my initial diagnosis and today, my mood has elevated, I have returned to my happy purrful self, but today I received notification that I am in heart failure.  This is the progression of my disease.  I weigh 19.11#.  My heart contracted 47% in March and is now at 31%.  The doctors want to increase my Enecard intake and add a third medicine, Pimobendan - which will help my heart contracting since I show signs of decreased systolic (pumping) function in my left ventricle.

Mamma is devastated and disappointed.   She was confident my disease would have stabilized and that the echocardiogram would only reveal good-things.  She is also upset because the vet did not take x-rays yesterday, but asked that I go back today for them ... knowing I have been on a diuretic since March, if the doctors wanted to know if I still had fluid in my lungs, they should have taken the x-rays yesterday!!  Going to the animal hospital is extremely stressful considering how aggressive little girl, Stivali, is with me when I return, as she does not recognize my scent from the doctor and she hisses and is plain mean to me. :(

Mamma told the doctor that she will bring me back for x-rays and more blood work come fall, like October, but the doctor said it should not wait more than 3-4 weeks, if I could not return today for it.

Mamma is beyond upset.  Today is the anniversary of Kismet's passing in 2009.  Remember, "Never put off until tomorrow the hug you can give today."

    Kismet, the King.

You can read about him here: Kismet
 
Me (L) and Kizzy (R)  in Ocala, Florida.                        Kizzy is behind me in this photo taken in Ocala, Florida.


Please pray for me and my mamma during this difficult time, thank you!