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Harry the Cat - Just Diagnosed (Hi)
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Michigan

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11 July 2016
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21 October 2016 - 12:56 pm
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Go Harry 🎉 Glad you guys are both are feeling better.  Tomorrow is the big day!

Purrkins had free reign of the house after his stitches came out. 

Its good you will be home with him and see if anything needs to be addressed, to make things easier. 

You will feel better the more you see how Harry gets around and will be amazed! 

We cheered Purrkins on and even if he stumbled, more reason to cheer them on!  

Nothing wrong with being cautious.  Your guys are doing great! 

Let us know how tomorrow goes 

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21 October 2016 - 6:53 pm
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Thanks, Jerry!

And purrkins yet again!

He IS doing so well, and my pride/relief/joy is quickly outpacing my anxiety. The last three nights, after work, I've let him have a bit of a wander, as I've been getting dinner (open plan apartment. I was never far). I was quite nervous as he tightroped along the back of the couch (which is very narrow and has big cushions in front of the actual couch back). He got briefly stuck down the crack at one point, but manages like a pro already! and I find my reactions are less fearful already, as well. I feel like I've seen huge leaps in progress in the past couple of days. He's back to twice a day Gabapentin and once a day, slightly reduced dose, Metacam...and is seeming perfectly comfortable. I'm wondering if he needed to be back on both or if I just panicked...but oh well . I'm moving the Gab to once per day and should be off both within five days. Fingers crossed that goes more smoothly. I feel good about it. He's having the odd little play, seems fine being picked up from time to time, and is moving more confidently. PHEW. So much positive stuff. One more biggish hurdle with the stitches tomorrow, and then it's just loving our new life 😀 I don't know how I would have survived without this place. 

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22 October 2016 - 1:34 pm
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Stitch free! Huraah. It went so well. They didn't need to sedate him, it went so quick, and nobody even got mauled. He was defiitely not happy about the situation, but it was so fast we were home before he knew it! The vet says to stop the metacam first, because inflammation related pain usually only lasts the first week or two, and to continue slowing down the gabapentin. She also confirmed that it's cool for him to lick the wound now, so long as he isn't constantly or aggressively going at it. She said it's healing great! I'm SO HAPPY!! 

I've been dismantling our bunker and putting things back in their proper places, while he enjoys his return to freedom (gotta say. I'm pretty pleased to get out of my bedroom, too). He seems totally cool. Almost too cool. He's happily using the steps I put up to his favourite places, but also being a tit and jumping up to all the places he's not supposed to (counters, etc). I said no and shooed him away when he started preparing to jump up onto the bathroom counter, so he went bathtub edge > toilet tank > counter oh-my I picked him up and put him down but am a bit worried he'll do it when I'm not around and snap his little foreleg....but I guess cats are built for big jumps and things..................

Here he is back in neighbourhood watch mode:

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heartheartheart

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22 October 2016 - 1:36 pm
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Oh, and the vet didn't have much to say about the cancer, except that his lungs look very clear right now and to just hope for the best ... so that's what we'll do.

Oh! and a big puppy came in with a face full of porcupine while I was paying...that's not really relevant, lol, but was super upsetting. Poor guy. I have so much respect for people who can love animals AND do that job. I'd be a puddle all day every day. 

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Michigan

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22 October 2016 - 2:08 pm
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Thats fantastic no sedation ,stitches are out , no one was injured !🎉yeah!

It is a big relief to go back to a normal!😀 

Praying that cancer left with Harry's leg and stays with that leg! Its out of here!

Harry is Happy to be back on neighborhood duty. 

I'd be worried about the tub and counter too ,maybe keep that door closed when your not home. He will have no issues getting up anywhere. But the down , big distances i would try avoiding! Just to be safe!

Poor puppy ouch, I ditto that I would be the same puddle! lol  

Big hugs to you both! 😻

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22 October 2016 - 2:31 pm
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I would have to keep him locked in my room to keep him off all counters. I can keep him out of the bathroom, but our main living space is open plan. One of his favourite naughty places to get is up on the kitchen counter, the up on top of the fridge x.x 

I suppose that I could do that easily enough, while I'm out, though. . . 

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Michigan

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22 October 2016 - 2:38 pm
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I meant the bathroom lol  

I dont have a good solution for the cupboards . 2 days after stitches were out this is Purrkins!😳

We were home luckily and moved the steps over to the counter and had him go down that way. He has only been up there couple times since. I am hoping he realized that is not such a good idea but who knows. Will see.

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22 October 2016 - 3:05 pm
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I came to realize that I have to pick my battles with my cats. They have got themselves into nerve-wracking situations over the years that I learned that I just had to walk away. They are very smart and can usually think things through.

After Mona's amputation she would take flying leaps off my very high bed. After a couple of uncomfortable landings she started using the boxes/steps I have in place.

Harry quickly worked out a way on to the bathroom counter. That was very smart and he could go down the very same way. That is, if you are okay with him being on that counter. 

I agree that being up on a fridge or cupboard looks a bit scary and it looks like Purrkins was probably wondering how he would get down. But, he went back to the fall back plan and got rescued! Smart cat. They sure know how to run the household, don't they?

Have fun with Happy Harry.smiley

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

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22 October 2016 - 3:15 pm
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I think you're right, Kerren, about them thinking things through. My concern in the bathroom was the slipperyness of the tub side. He's fallen into the bath (when I was in it, with bubbles) in the past, on four legs....although, that said, it only happened once. I need to give him more credit - for both of our sanity. 

Purrkins looks so cute and stuck in that pic! Big eyes!  

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Virginia



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22 October 2016 - 10:00 pm
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Such a GREAT updae!! And YAY for stitch removal!! 🙂

Yes, Harry has really come aback long way.....and so have you!!! Yiu have gone from fear to feeling empowered and living in the moment!! You are so much stronger than you realize!

Love ALL the kitty pictures and love our kitty family!!

Hugs!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

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23 October 2016 - 12:33 pm
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Thanks 😀 

Harry's pretty tired today, but he did a LOT of moving around yesterday (comparitively) so I think that makes sense. I've also put the litter box back in my room because last night he was starting to get worn out and went over to where it has been in my room, then had to cross to the other side of the apartment to where it usually is and it was like i could see him visibly tiring as he went. He used it and then just lay down on the floor beside it. lol. I scooped him up and put him on his spot on the couch and he curled up and started purring. If he wasn't spoilt before... 

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Michigan

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26 October 2016 - 5:20 am
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Just wanted to check in and see how you guys were doing the first week free ?

Hope medication slow down went well and no issues this time!

I wanted to mention Harry will get stronger in the next months . Purrkins does tire easier then he used to . He just rests and then he is up and going again. We are at  3 months this month. He still has some more fur to grow back but I think in another months you wont even know. 

Keep Healing Harry and no counter surfing when Mom is at work please!

Holly & Purrkins

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26 October 2016 - 9:22 pm
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Thanks for the check in. Thing are going well. He's sometimes jumping down from the couch arm instead of using his steps but otherwise staying out of trouble I think. He's also getting some of his play back, which is so nice to see. I've been busy trying to get caught back up with work after letting things slide for a couple of weeks. That's the only reason I haven't been around. Every once in a while I'm hit with some major worry about their being cancer somewhere in his fuzzy little body, still, and that makes me sad, but mostly I'm just SO happy he's still here 🙂

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Michigan

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27 October 2016 - 3:17 pm
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Glad to hear things are going wellbig-grin

Harry will continue to improve and amaze you. Its a joy to see them go back to a new normal!

Take care of yourself and Harry!

Hugs to you both

Holly & Purrkins

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Virginia



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27 October 2016 - 8:08 pm
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Just stay in the moment like Harry! Be More Cat....no worries about anything! Make everyday THE best day ever and take lots of pictures! 🙂 🙂

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

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