SAM THE WONDER CAT - R.I.P.

Today at noon, Sam the Wonder Cat started to experience difficulty in breathing which he manifested by meowing his way all around the house. By 2:30 p.m. he had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and lungs filled with fluid and he was sent over the rainbow bridge with his heartbroken Mom and his Auntie Linda petting him and telling him he was loved.

Sam was a rescue and a genuine character. He was a street kitty when he came into my life and in our 9 years together he was frustrating, delightful and loving. He had no lacks in the personality department and he kept my life from being dull or boring. I will miss him all the remaining days of my life and I mourn his loss.

No more posting until next week sometime!

THINGS/PEOPLE THAT MAKE ME HAPPY!

Last night I stopped at Sis's house to pick up some back meds (OTC) from her because we have had a lot of rain lately and more is predicted. My back is totally out and I feel like my bum is sprained! Don't you hate when that happens?

Anyway, I went running into her house (limping is more accurate actually) and she was putting a good sized portion of freshly made potato soup into a plastic container for me to take home with me! Then she sprinkled the top of the soup with gorgonzola cheese, minced up tomato and green onion. When I got home, I had a spoonful of the soup and then I dove in because it was GOOD beyond my wildest imagination. I have to hand it to her - she's a great cook!

Then this morning, as I was struggling to get dressed and ready for work, I happened to spot Sam the Wonder Cat staying out of my way in the dining room, sound asleep on his back, all 4 paws sticking straight up in the air. I had to laugh. Not a bad way to start the day! He is, after all, the clown prince of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

SAM THE WONDER CAT IS UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS - somewhat!

Sis Linda and her sidekick Bobby pretty much closed up all of Sam's escape hatches on the screened in deck back in early August, but he is still in fine fettle when it comes to intimidating each and every dog in the neighborhood. He stands in front of the front screen door and hisses at them as they are walked by the house every afternoon, just to remind them that he's still around! I find it hilarious although some of the dog walkers are puzzled by why on earth their bulldog or German shepherd seems to be terrified of an ordinary house cat. Little do they know!

Once darkness has fallen and Sam is done hanging by the front door, he strolls back to my recliner, hops on my lap and chirps as if to tell me that he has done his job for the day! What a character. Is it any wonder that I love him so?

SAM THE WONDER CAT IS FEELING MUCH BETTER!

Several months ago, Sam the Wonder Cat was diagnosed with feline diabetes which explained why he had developed the habit of peeing on the carpeting throughout the house! (Yes, I finally got it all cleaned up). Since he has been on his insulin shots, twice daily, and his special diabetic kitty food, there has been some improvement, but he was still a fairly depressed kitty.

I was doing some online shopping about a week ago and lo and behold, I found a special cat box designed for diabetic kitties that is constructed in such a way that the caregiver can easily test the cat's blood sugar without drawing blood (mine or his). I immediately put in an order and it arrived earlier this week. In the meantime, I began corresponding with someone in their customer service department and I mentioned Sam's rather listless behavior. She suggested that his food might be at fault since all cats, but particularly diabetic cats, require a carb-free diet that is filled with high quality protein. She recommended a cat food called "Taste of the Wild" which is NOT carried by any of the local pet stores. It is, however, available from a store called Tractor Supply reasonably close to my house.

I picked up a sack of this new food last Friday night. It is much less expensive than the diabetic cat food and it definitely is higher in protein - no carbs, no wheat gluten, no fillers like corn. It's venison and smoked salmon. I should eat so good! I poured some of this new diet into Sam's dish and to my delight, he nearly fell face forward into his food dish and he's been loving this new food ever since. His coat no longer looks dismally matted and greasey and his eyes are bright and happy. There is, however, one new problem that has developed!

Sam is feeling so good that he is trying to follow me out the door when I leave for work. This morning he was dodging behind me, running faster than I could grab him en route into the front yard - it took me a full 5 minutes to get him corraled in the house with the front door closed and locked and me safely in Joyce's carpool van to head to work. By the time I got into her car, she was laughing so hard I had to join her! Time to go buy a squirt bottle to discourage lurking around the front door.

In addition to all of the above, he has taken to playing his chase games at 4 a.m. and I am the trampoline of choice. I really don't need him springing forth off my hip as he races up and over the bed, meowing the entire time, running out the kitty door onto the deck! Still, I'm delighted that he's feeling so good. He is my beloved baby.

PENDING SURGERY AND OTHER HASSLES!

My roto-rooter surgery is scheduled for 8/6/09 and Sam the Wonder Cat will be staying at the veterinarian's office since he is diabetic and needs to get insulin daily! The need for this precaution became even more urgent on Saturday night. Sam the Wonder Cat had an insulin-related seizure on Saturday night and I'm exhausted from dealing with it. I shot some maple syrup down his gullet which stopped the seizure but it was hours before he really "came back" to me. He even stopped breathing for a moment at one point - I started petting him really hard when that happened and he started to breathe again. Yesterday we were both absolutely exhausted - but he gets to sleep all day today and I'm at work! And cleaning up the mess he made on the kitchen floor took a lot of energy as well. I'm just grateful my baby is okay!