Sally, please link my post!!! In fact, I started posting here like day 5. I’ve been posting detailed updates on facebook since day 2. And if this post in linked, I want to share what I wrote on Day 2 … it may make someone feel at ease, especially if they brought their senior kitty home the same day, and all kinds of thoughts are running through their head:

10/6/23 - Day 2

”Update on Petunia!

This morning, after only a few hours of sleep, I called the vet with some concerns since I brought her home. Those included:

(1) Not eating
(2) Not peeing
(3) Her laying entirely on her on side, worried if that would be bad
(4) Her falling 3 times on her incision side, making the loudest and saddest cries I’ve ever heard

There were more but I can’t think right now with being so exhausted. I asked if I can have her stay there for the day for monitoring. The tech I spoke with said to just keep monitoring her and if nothing changes, call them at 4pm.

I was a mess all day. Two nights of having a total of  5 hrs of sleep can do that to a person. And then of course this HUGE change that just happened to a kitty I love so much. I even called the emergency 24hr hospital to find out their rates (Spoiler Alert: RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE) cause I honestly felt like I didn’t know if I was doing anything right or if I was doing more harm:

Was picking her up and putting her in a position as if she was standing bad? Should I have just left her alone? But in my mind, I wanted to get her off that leg for a few minutes. But, was the crying indicating that I need to let her be?

Is changing the play pen from having a lot of blankets to something more manageable where she can try to get herself up easier bad? What is the best way for her?

Am I not doing enough to get her to eat? To pee? To drink water?

Last night she did walk on her front paws and back paw really well while I held her, almost even “running,” but today she can’t even do that, so did I constrain her overnight too much? Did I already fuck up her only back leg?

2pm rolls around and it was time to give her a pain pill. I couldn’t even open her mouth. I started to wonder if her mouth was so dry. Could I give her this pill? Will it get stuck and choke her cause her mouth is so dry?

And it’s all been so confusing because I’ve read stories on a popular tripawd website where cats eat and use the litter box right away.

I ended up calling the tech at 2:30pm … I mentally couldn’t wait any longer. I told him everything that was and wasn’t happening since I spoke with him this AM. He told me his biggest concern would be her bladder being big and not eating. Told me to bring her meds in and he will give them to her. Told me to bring her food and he’ll try to get her to eat. And he’ll have a vet doctor look at her bladder to determine how big it is. And also address all the other concerns you brought up. “And we will do this free of charge!”

Let me tell you, going the vet made ALL THE DIFFERENCE! I feel like it should be standard to bring your cat in either the next day or day after.

Her bladder is a little big, but taking one more night to see if she pees won’t hurt her. If she doesn’t, they want me to call first thing in the AM and they will see what they can do. I was assured that if she pees while laying down that it’s okay, and it’s just a little clean up - it’s better that she goes than doesn’t since the litter box has been a difficulty.

I was told it’s okay that she lays on the one side for a while, and that it’s okay I confined her in blankets and cushions (like I did last night) tonight as well so I don’t have to worry about her getting up and falling over on her incision side and I can get some sleep. They gave me a syringe (I asked if they had one) so I can give her some water here and there. Showed me how I can open her mouth better when giving her pills (by the way - I bought one of those “pill guns” and they are AWESOME!) and water.

There were a few other things, but again, I’m so exhausted!

Needless to say, a HUGE mental load came off immediately! I feel better about her just being stoned in meds and that she’s okay! I feel better that if she doesn’t pee tonight, that the vet will be there tomorrow.

**So as I was about to press POST, Tuni seemed to “wake up.” So I decided to take her out of the play pen and have her “walk” around as I held her. Not only did she not “cry” as much, she was using her 3 legs much better and not dragging them!!! I wanna cry!!! It’s like, you go to the doctor with a concern you’ve had for months, and then the next day it fixes itself! 😂 I only had her do a little cause I don’t wanna overdue it, but it’s a win in my mind!!! I’m not comfortable her getting up on her own the rest of the day cause although her falling on her incision side will happen, I just want it to heal for at least another day or two.” 

Holly,

I will mix the Miralax this evening with water and hope that will help. I’ve read quite a bit that putting it the food will be fine, so that’s why I did that. I did call the vet to see if I can get refill on gabapentin and also brought up her lack of pooping. Waiting for a call back. Fingers crossed! 

I’m grateful that this site was eventually opened up for cats cause I don’t know how I’d be mentally if it wasn’t for this site and you guys! When my funds replenish, I plan to donate cause I just have so much gratitude! 

It seems like it’s very common that kitties have hyperthyroidism. I’m just glad it’s an easy pill to give daily. I actually crush it up and sprinkle it on top of their food. I recently purchased a pill splitter/crusher that has been a GAME CHANGER! Especially with the massive pills for the antiviral meds. 

Jerry,

I completely understand the limitation of knowledge on the recovery of cats, but you’ve been so supportive and I truly appreciate that so much! I will definitely post a more specific topic if ones comes up, I didn’t think about that, so thanks for the suggestion!

I think I’m okay with not finding a similar story since things are starting to look up exponentially! Just now when I was walking out of the bedroom, she started following me cause she wants to get out! This is the first time, and it’s probably because she’s feeling so much better, maybe less pain from the surgery (even with the pain pills) and the symptoms from the heroes finally going away! It made me sad to have to close the door, but also made me happy that she is truly going back to what life was (minus the leg) before surgery!

I just need to figure out when I could let my other kitty be around her (since she is contagious). Symptoms are pretty much gone, and the eye looks so much better - eye drops were delivered! This weekend I am going to set the house up with the rugs and mats I do have (I have all wood flooring) in preparation for her introduction back into the rest of her home. And once I can let her around Possum, I need to figure out if it is also the best time is to let her roam freely around the house. 

Thanks Jerry for the link to Fang’s story! Sally, she is worth everything!!! And, yes, I am very lucky that she allows me to live in the house! 😂

Ope, I was reading past Facebook posts on Tuni’s recovery, and noticed that the vet said 1/4tsp of Miralax, as many other sites. Hopefully the 1/2tsp I’ve been giving her isn’t too much! 

Okay, as long as it is still safe. She’s on other meds, so I was nervous that too much would be upsetting to her. I haven’t gotten much sleep. Around 1am, Tuni started to switch places a lot. Made me wonder if she was uncomfortable with the backup. But, at the same time, she wa purring like crazy. She did have a few cries, not sure if it pain, or because she hadn’t pooped yet. Made me nervous. She did this for a good few hours until she was ready for another pain pill at 2:30am. She relaxed a bit from then.

Just now I went to get both kitties food ready. And Petunia, for the first time, was meowing like crazy in the bedroom. I opened the door and she was laying against the door. Made me wonder if I gave her comfort as she is feeling uncomfortable with the backup.

I read (in the middle of the night cause Tuni wouldn’t let me sleep) that if she is taking oral meds (antiviral) at feeding time, to give it to her 1 hr before the Miralax and that it will be more effective. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try. So that’s what I’m gonna do.