| Kari
& Montana |
In November of 2001, I logged
onto felinediabetes.com when I found out my 6 year old cat, Montana, had
diabetes. I really asked some hard questions about if I could do right by
him with twice daily shots when my work required that I travel so much. I
was really leaning toward the feeling that it might be better for me to
let him go to sleep than to put him through this process. I received some
very non judgemental help from several pet owners on the messageboard.
Make no mistake, this past year has been
every bit as difficult as I thought it would be. That first month, I
stayed here by myself with Montana instead of going with my husband to
visit in-laws over Thanksgiving. I went through 5 pet sitters, the best of
which had 15 years of vet tech experience and called me on Christmas day
to tell me Montana had bit her and she would not be able to care for him
any longer. I tried to board him, they couldn't handle him either. He came
home from being boarded and refused to eat or drink for a couple days. I
ended up being the only one that could give him shots. It took several
weeks of working with Montana to get it where my husband could also do
shots for a day or two while I was gone. We were far from perfect.
Sometimes we missed a shot, but we learned how to balance our lives
together with his needs. One thing I learned was it never hurts to
ask.
After a year of not being able to go
anywhere with my husband overnight, we called our favorite Bed and
Breakfast and told the owner what our situation was with Montana and asked
if we could bring him with us and set him up in the bathroom of our room
where he would be comfortable, we could give him his shots, and we
wouldn't get cat hair everywhere else in the room for the next guests. I
was shocked when she said yes. The three of us had a great weekend. Now, a
year and a month after we started this, Montana is in remission. He hasn't
needed a shot in 5 weeks. So, if you are a newbie to this situation, make
no mistake, it will be a challenge, but you will also find the work worth
it. |
|
Paula and Robbie
|
My story is
unlike most of the others here. In most cases someone's beloved pet of
several years has developed diabetes...in my case the cat and the diabetes
arrived at the same time. lol
One evening I was in my kitchen and I saw
my five cats looking out the back door. I figured it was another rabbit or
squirrel that got their attention. Well I went over to investigate...I
love to see the wild bunnies in my yard...and what do I see but a cat with
his nose pressed against the glass of my french door. I thought maybe he
was a neighbor's cat so I went outside to offer him food and water. Once I
got a good look at him I immediately knew he was homeless...he was
starving, severely dehydrated, infected feet and his eyes were rolling
back into his head. This cat was one paw away from the grave. I quickly
put him in my garage for the night since I didn't want to spread anything
contagious to my girls.
I took him to my vet and had him checked
out. My vet said "this cat is really old...like 14 years old...and I
think he has feline AIDS." Well my heart sank because I knew that
would be the end for my new friend. While I sat in agony waiting for the
blood test results several of the vet's staff walked by the exam room (the
door was open). Each one of them said as they passed by "hi
Robbie!" Robbie??? Who the heck is Robbie?? Then the vet came in and
said "you know this looks just like my daughter's cat but he's only
four years old and this cat is fourteen so it can't be." Finally his
staff assured him that it was Robbie so he said "I'll be right
back...if this cat has diabetes then it is in fact Robbie." You
guessed it...after checking his blood it was obvious that I had managed to
find my vet's daughter's cat. He only looked so old because he was so
sick.
Turns out that the vet's daughter is 21
years old and her new boyfriend doesn't like cats. She had been trying to
get rid of Robbie for some time and even abandoned him at her dad's vet
clinic for a couple of months. She finally gave him to a woman who
evidently threw him out of your apartment because he was urinating on her
carpet. Somehow he managed to make it to my house after being out on the
streets for several weeks and without insulin I might add (and she knew he
was diabetic!)
Anyhow, the vet gave me choices...I could
either have Robbie PTS since he was so very ill at this point or I could
take him and try to get him well. Well that wasn't even a choice for
me...there was only one answer as far as I was concerned. The vet said
that Robbie didn't have much longer to live and at that moment I decided
that Robbie needed a new vet!!!
So there you have our story. Thanks to my
dedication, a wonderful new vet, and everyone here Robbie is alive and
well.
If I am willing to take on caring for a
diabetic cat that I only had for one day then certainly someone can do the
same for their lifelong companion. It is challenging but extremely
rewarding and you owe it to yourself and your cat to do everything
possible to keep them happy and healthy. I never thought I would be able
to give shots and now I don't even think about it. I am an avid hometester
and I am so glad that I am. Robbie has become a very special part of my
life and I will do whatever I need to do in order to keep him in it!!! |
| Brett
and Ragnar |
What can I say about Ragnar?
He is at least 11 yrs old and I have only known him for 2. I know he has
had a hard, hard life on the street, his beaten, battered body attests to
that. I also know that, at one time, he was loved and lived in a home
because he knew about litterboxes and food dishes and about being a house
cat. He has been through so much that I can only guess at.
Ragnar has a scared lower lip that won't
shut all the way so it looks like his tongue is hanging out and broken
teeth (well, no teeth now). We think he was hit by a truck or bus because
he is so scared of them. When I found him he was covered by skin infection
and his whole face was swollen with infection. But he chose me, there is
no doubt about it. And he stayed by me the whole time I worked to get him
better. From surgery for his infection, to antibiotics and anti-parasite
meds, to rubbing vitamin E on his calloused, cracked pads. Never has he
stopped me from treating him. He may not like it but he doesn't fight too
bad.
His trust has helped build my faith in
myself. I truly believe he is my guardian angel. When I first noticed he
had lost weight, I was convinced he had cancer or kidney failure. The vet
was leaning toward kidney problems and I had always been told that those
were fatal, quick. I was actually happy when I found out he had diabetes
but I was also a coward. I made my husband take the call from the vet
because I was so scared. I have done whatever it took for him to be
better.
And he is! After 3 weeks on PZI, we had
all his teeth out and he was on antibiotics. We haven't looked back since
and he has been off the juice for a month and a half. Dry food, new cat,
nothing seems to mess him up or make his numbers higher. I am so lucky
that he is ok, but I think it means I have more to learn from him. I know
in my heart, that when he leaves, it will be because he knows his job is
done and he has taught me well. I don't know what I did to deserve him in
my life but I am eternally grateful. I asked him if his bout of diabetes
was just to get me to the FDMB and to see all the wonderful, giving,
caring, supportive people out there. A way to restore my faith in humanity
that was certainly waning. He just looked at with a cats inscrutable eyes.
No matter what, though it has been scary, it has been worth it both in
growing even closer to Ragnar and meeting all the wonderful people. |
| Terry
and Binky |
As with all of you, Binky is our special love
and light of our home. He was recently DX'd and we have been trying (and
mostly failing) at getting him regulated. We are switching from Humilin L to
PZI in hopes of doing better. It has been a drain financially, but its for
the Binky! And besides, we didn't want to buy stuff we don't really need
anyway. All we need is the Binky to get better.
And on that count, he is stronger than we
are. I am having trouble with an elderly mom who is in the final stages of
chronic heart failure and there are times I want to dig a hole and crawl
into it forever. Its gets hard and the will to go on gets fragile. Then I
take the Bink out into the yard so he can bark at the birds and sniff the
air. He drags himself around and his bright eyes search out every detail of
the garden. And at those moments he totally puts me to shame.
He has more heart, more will to live in
that tiny body of his than I have in this big old frame I lug around. It
stops you in your tracks and forces reevaluation. If one small kitty can
love life so much and trust me so completely, why can't I have even a
portion of his faith? Binky you are my teacher and my love. I will do all I
can for you and bless you with every thought and every breath. Get well
little guy. I need your courage to replenish my own. (^..^)
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