Diary
28 February 2001
A quiet day all round for all, just waiting now for the results on Runcie due tomorow.
27 February 2001
There is nothing to indicate that Runcie has a tumour which is good news. She was really pleased to be home this morning as was Thomas to see her. They have been curled up on the sofa together ever since she arrived home. No reason for Buster to have been sick from the new food, it maybe that he ate too much in one go so I will give him 4 small meals a day rather than 2 and see what happens. Have rung for the results of the test just now (4.30pm) and they are inconclusive. Now they are not pointing at renal failure either. So no tumour, no renal failure, no thyroid problem these are all the obvious causes of weight loss and excessive drinking. I need to call the Vet again Thursday for more info after they have done some research.
26 February 2001
Buster was very sick at 2am this morning and looked very sorry for himself, I will mention that to the Vet when I take Runcie. No new found friendship between Thomas and Georgie, we are right back to square one this morning, ah well, we'll get there eventually. Now off to the Vet. Runcie wouldn't/couldn't produce a sample of urine so I will have to collect her later today. 5pm and still no sample, she will be staying in overnight now. Thomas missed his partner, actually had quite a cry when he was put in the kitchen for bed. Still, she will be back tomorrow, she can't hold out forever.
25 February 2001
No problems with Runcie after yesterday so all depends on her trip to the Vet tomorrow. Thomas and Georgie had a little kiss this afternoon. Purely accidental on Georgie's part however. She appeared from the conservatory where she had spent the whole afternoon asleep next to the heater and met up with Thomas in the kitchen who had also come in search of dinner. Georgie sat, half asleep with her eyes closed looking for all the world as if she was about to drop off again when Thomas strode purposefully over and touched noses with her. Georgie opened her eyes, glared at Thomas but to her credit did not back off or hiss. Good sign perhaps?
24 February 2001
Buster loves his new food, for how long is another matter but at the moment he thinks it is wonderful. Bit of a game getting them all to eat separately but I am sure I will get the hang of it. Runcie however was sick after eating breafast, not much but, when she then had a drink of milk and also brought that up it was a cause for concern. She has been ok for the rest of the day though so I will see how she goes.
23 February 2001
I haven't started Buster's diet yet as I couldn't carry him and the bag of dried food yesterday, will be collecting that later today and will start tomorrow, haven't told him yet though! All four quite friendly towards each other today, must be the fact it is cold and they are conserving their fat resources and therefore not wasting their energy.
22 February 2001
Buster was reasonably easy to get into the basket this morning, only took 5 minutes although he was very vocal about his disapproval. He was however clean on the car journey which is unusual but very welcome. Now the verdict, his teeth extractions are healing well and should cause him no more problems. However, his Keratanine level is high and shows that he is commencing renal failure. He is to have a special diet which, when given to Lady 3 years ago was totally ignored, rather than let her starve to death she ate ordinary cat food. I am told that the recipe has changed and is now more palatable to cats, we will see. He has to go back in four weeks for a further check on the level to see if the food is helping. Bad new on the test results for Runcie though, the Thyroid is healthy and the other symptoms are not conclusive to renal failure but possibly a tumour on one kidney. She has to go back Monday for some more tests.
21 February 2001
Got the basket out of the cupboard today to try and fool Buster into false sense of security. He eyed it with suspician but I don't think he was fooled for a minute. Tomorrow will prove interesting.
20 February 2001
Thomas and Georgie are a little more tolerant of each other. They have no problem feeding next to each other providing they are not touching. It is still Georgie that is the aggressor I am surprised that Thomas is not retaliating more often.
19 February 2001
Once again a quiet day all round, Buster is still taking his tablets with no problem. I wonder if he will be just as good about going back to the Vet on Thursday, I have my doubts. No problem with Thomas and his tummy, it seems he just ate too quickly and probably found the Tuna a little rich for him to digest as he is not used to it. Will introduce Tuna is small amounts in the future
18 February 2001
Spent most of the afternoon gardening with Thomas "helping", amazing, he will spend all afternoon outside so long as I am there too. As a treat I gave all four cats a tin of Tuna each, four very contented cats tucked in, Thomas was very quick to finish, gulped it down in fact which was a surprise as he isn't usually keen on fish. The other three steadily chomped their way through until all four bowls were spotless. 
Twenty minutes later Thomas was looking a little green around the gills (if a cat can look green), I shuffled him into the kitchen where he promptly brought back up all the Tuna! He then curled up on his blanket under the radiator looking very sorry for himself. I left him there for half an hour and then went back to him. Quite obviously he felt that now his tummy was empty it was time for tea. He walked over to the shelves where the tinned cat food is kept, stood his front feet on the shelf purused the selection of KitiKat, Felix and Whiskas and demanded to be fed. He then polished off half a tin of Felix, no problem with the tummy this time!
17 February 2001
Runcie may be the easiest cat to give pills to but I have to say Buster is not too far behind. True he doesn't just take it from my fingers but he wasn't too much of a problem. He needed one tablet per day, not the sort you can crush into food but a slimy coated capsule. So, with cat firmly caught between the knees and unable to move, I held his head back, prised open his mouth and dropped the capsule in. Two minutes later I found it on the carpet. We had another go, this time it went straight down and so has each of the others since, two to go.
16 February 2001
Buster is home. He has two shaved legs, one where the drip for the glucose used in the operation went and the other for the anaesthetic, also his neck has been partly shaved where he had his blood test. Looks quite pathetic poor love. Anyway, is he glad to be home? You bet, he hasn't stopped purring. Slight accident before I got him back though. When he was being removed from the "hospital" by one of the nurses he decided to show his appreciation of their kindness and hospitality by weeing down her leg, still made sure he was clean for the journey home.
15 February 2001
Almost impossible to get a cab this morning but as I had no other means of getting there I had to keep trying, eventually with just 5 minutes to go befor the appointment one turned up. Buster was difficult to get into the basket going totally rigid at one stage except for the claws! My hands will never be the same, this is when I need some help with him. Anyway we got there. Unfortunately, he has a mouth problem. First examination looks as though he has a bad tooth that has inflamed the gum, however, it could be a possible bone tumour. He too is having a full health check as he has lost 0.5kg since last year and as luck would have it he was able to have all this done today so was spared his return trip at least until tonight. I have to ring about 4.30pm to see if all is well, another day worrying!
I have the results:
Buster - the canine tooth was the problem in his mouth so no bone tumour, good news. The canine and two other back teeth one on each side have been removed and the canine is bleeding so he can't come home tonight. However, his keratinine levels are high, meaning that the kidneys are not functioning as they should. Nothing excessive at this stage in fact right on the border.
Runcie - a further test is bring done on the thyroid as problems with this can mask problems with the kidneys. There is a definate lump where the left thyroid is and this could mean a) she just has an over active thyroid or b) she could have an over active thyroid and mild kidney problems or more worrying c) the thyroid problem could be masking a major kidney problem. We just have to wait.
This is likely to mean that they will both have to be on a special diet to help the kidneys function and also have to have 3 monthly injections of a substance that also helps the function.
14 February 2001
The appointment last night did not go according to plan. I think I need another pair of hands when it comes to taking Buster to the vet. He did not take kindly to being put into the basket, but eventually I got him there. Now I had to take Runcie as well so she could give another urine sample. So off we went. I had been out of the house 5 minutes and got probably 500 yards when it was apparent that Buster was in a terrible state. He was turning over and over inside the basket and howling as though in pain. I thought it best to go back home and get a cab with them both. I had almost made it across the road when Buster broke the front of the basket and started climbing out, all teeth and claws and desperation. A motorbike was coming towards me and I dropped Runcie's basket in front of a parked card and then pushed Buster back into the basket with my free hand. I got hime back in and held the open door end against me whilst I got him back into the house. He was in such a state I left him at home and just took Runcie, I made another appointment for him. As last night, Runcie was as good as gold on my lap in the waiting room, she attracted lots of attention and was fussed over like a new kitten, she loved every minute. I get her results tomorrow when I take Buster (hopefully).
13 February 2001
Now at 7.15am I had to rescue Georgie from the garden fence where she had taken refuge from the black cat with the white face mentioned on 22 January, she does make a hell of a row for no obvious reason. At 10.00am, there were more squeals from outside, this time I got to the back door just in time to Georgie come tearing round the corner at the bottom of the garden with the black & white cat AND a teeny weeny tabby in hot pursuit. I don't think there was actually any malice intended but you would have thought they were trying to murder Georgie the racket she was making. Anyway they saw me and trotted off. At this point I sat Thomas down and suggested to him that he could get into Georgie's good books by acting the big brother and protecting her, he was after all twice the size of the black & white and as for the tabby, well, Thomas would squash him if he just sat on him.
An hour later there was more noise, this time Thomas was standing nose to nose with the black & white (outside!), his 1st 1lb frame now twice the size and the language was appalling! So, had he taken notice of me and tried to protect Georgie? No, he was protecting Runcie, showed he cared anyway. Now in view of today's events it was suggest by someone I know that Georgie should have the nickname "Scarper", I prefer "Spit & Run", cos, that is what she does.
12 February 2001
Runcie's appointment at 9.10am went well. I took her out of the basket as soon as we got there and she happily sat on my lap ignoring the 2 German Shepherds on the other side of the waiting room. A little terrier came up to her, tail wagging and whining at her, I don't think Runcie was all that impressed, she didn't actually move, just looked down her nose and spat, charming! She had her full health check, no sign of cystisis so no more "sweets" for her. Should get the results later today or tomorrow.
10/11 February 2001
What is it about English weather? February is supposed to be dry, sunny but cold, at the moment it is wet, windy and cold. Subsequently those of us who can stay in, certainly the cats do.
9 February 2001
Runcie is still taking the tablets as though they are sweets, just as well really. Back to the vet for her on Monday, then Buster on Tuesday for his annual booster. Don't relish that, Buster is terrified of the basket and gets very agitated.
8 February 2001
Thomas was treated today, I don't encourage him into the bedroom as that is usually Georgie's domain, however, this morning Georgie went out after breakfast and Thomas came upstairs with me. I let him in the bedroom and he immediately jumped on the bed cuddled up close, wrapped his paw round my arm, placed his head on my chest and purred himself to sleep. We stayed about an hour before hunger and work tempted us out of bed.
7 February 2001
Runcie is the easiest cat in the world to give tablets to, if she doesn't immediately take it from your fingers and eat it just dip it in cream chesse, preferably with garlic and she is looking for more, I wish they were all like that. 5 days of antibiotics and then back for the full health check.
6 February 2001
Not a good day, firstly I found I had no electric downstairs at all, then when the problem was identified it turned out I had an inch of water under the kitchen floor in which the junction box was lying so although I now have a new junction box safely out of the water I now have to establish where the water is coming from. On top of this Runcie has contracted cysitis and need a trip to the vet, she gets motion sickness so it is never a pleasant job with her. To add insult to injury she is still losing weight and now needs another full health screen to establish why. It seems that although when it was previously done in August 1999 and showed nothing sometimes a second test can differ totally. Is this an easy way of getting me to part with my money?
5 February 2001
You would have thought it was Sunday again, at least as far as the cats were concerned!
4 February 2001
A typical Sunday for all concerned today, a lie in and a lazy day indoors away from the rain and the cold.
3 February 2001
Thomas was in his usual spot in front of the cat flap with Georgie on the window ledge outside. Now whether Georgie was tormenting him I don't know but Thomas suddenly jumped up at the door and through the glass came face to face with her, Georgie was obviously well aware she was quite safe and simply looked down he nose at him as if to say "stupid boy!", Thomas however seemed to give himself quite a shock, once safely back on the floor he ran into the lounge.
Buster is usually a very quiet cat. When he does meow his pathetic little squeak is not in proportion to his size and as such he sounds most odd. Generally, his meow is directed as a warning to Thomas to keep his distance, or to remind me that the fish I have been cooking has not as yet been shared. However, tonight he was very vocal, the reason? it seems he wanted to try some chicken in black pepper sauce. Not only was he vocal but physically demanding too, reaching up to the table with his paw and trying to grab hold of a hand. Despite being told the chicken was too spicy for him he persisted so, once we had finished I gave him a couple of pieces of chicken in my fingers. Now Buster is a cat who refused to eat prawns from my fingers at one stage and has always been very fussy over food however, this time, there was no hesitation, he ate all the chicken I offered and spent the next 10 minutes smacking his lips with his great long pink tongue, this was thoroughly enjoyed. Strange cat.
2 February 2001
Why are cats so selfish? maybe it is just the male gender? Thomas and Georgie have really taken a deep seated dislike to each other. They only tolerate each other at meal times, but they always have one eye on the other one even then. Now Thomas has worked out that if he sits "on guard" in front of the cat flap then Georgie can't get in, so that's what he does. When fed up with this he retires to a warm spot and has one ear especially trained to identify movement at the cat flap, as soon as he hears it move he flies into the kitchen to establish who is entering, if it's Georgie then he chases her out again and sits in front of the flap to prevent another try. Most unfriendly.
1 February 2001
A very frosty start with dense fog which did not lift all day. As such another day spent indoors asleep. Slight change of routine this morning though, when I went to get breakfast for the cats at 6.30am Buster decided that having spent the night totally on his own, Runcie and Thomas in the kitchen, Georgie with me, it was time for him to have some attention. We left the others in the kitchen and he went without breakfast and came back to bed with me. For the next 2 hours he cuddled up on the bed and purred himself to sleep. He was ready for breakfast at 8.30am though!
Home Page