Whitey and The Usual Suspect

Whitey is wounded.  He's not hurting, but we're not used to seeing blood on his hind leg like he got tonight.

(Scratched nose? Yes. Other wounds?  No.)

Whitey's Right Rear Paw

After getting a photograph of it at a good angle, above, we can see it is obviously a claw sized puncture wound. If I was in CSI mode, I'd get a sample and compare any foreign DNA to a certain Tuxedo.

Billy's Lab Results

Billy, age twelve and a half, was back in to the vet Wednesday for blood and urine samples. This morning, I got the results when I took Oscar in for his own regular exam and shots.

It's official, Billy has the beginnings of kidney disease, the same arena that claimed Her Emilyness a decade ago. This startled and somewhat saddened me; I sort of expected Billy, if not to live forever, or to seriously outlive his brother.  That doesn't sound as likely now.

Our senior prince has good years left, of course.  Exactly how many, the doctor was vague about.

Short term actions: Switch him to all wet prescription food and recheck in a year.

Oscar, as always, was both grumpy and healthy.  Sufficiently grumpy that he got the wrapped-in-a-towel-in-the-backroom exam, but he's back home and free now.

Family Portrait

Wednesday  morning, something happened which I'm not sure has occurred since Penwiper arrived years ago -- all the cats more or less in the same place for more than ten seconds.  And war didn't even break out.

I was even able to get a picture.

The Four Feline Overlords, Together at Last.
(click for a larger view)

Travel Accommodations

Speaking of the vet . . .

As always, the Catzilla Brothers hated going to the vet on Friday. However, since then, Whitey showed that he does like cat carriers – so long as they don't move!

Whitey enjoying his private cabin in the front hall

And yes, that picture is post vet visit.  

Elderstates Cats, Redux

Billy and Whitey got their annual shots on Friday.  The vet also drew blood to check on our geriatric kittens.  The vet called back with the results of the blood work this morning.

Whitey is normal.

Billy has slightly elevated kidney function, he needs more tests.   It's early, so this should be looked at, but is not a serious issue ... yet.

Ten Years After

It was ten years ago today that Her Emilyness went over the rainbow bridge.

Three tigers and a tuxedo moggie all got their ears rubbed by me this morning.

Billy & Whitey, Elderstates Cats

Billy in His Younger Days, High On a Laundry Room Cabinet

The Catzilla Brothers turned 12 this past February, and that's not young.

Several months ago, Whitey seemed less limber than he has traditionally shown, and after consulting with our friends at +Kenmore Veterinary Hospital, we put him on a daily supplement for possible arthritis.  He seems a little more limber and comfortable with it.

Now Billy is troubled. In particular, the Mighty Hunter of Kitty Treats is showing real signs of slowing down. I noticed sometime ago that he doesn't get as many treats on the fly as he once did, but that's subjective. What's not subjective is that in the past week he has shown diminished confidence in his trademark leap from the kitchen counter to cabinet tops in pursuit of traits. A treat tossed up on a cabinet causes him to put his paws up on the cabinet, measure the distance ... and then puts his paws back down.

Then while Billy reconsiders the problem, Penwiper, at less than half the age, goes up and gets it.

Billy is not completely hindered; he's still chasing treats on the floor, and getting on the counter when he wants. However, but he usually goes up via the kitchen trash can conveniently located at the end of the counter as an intermediate step. (That's always been a good route, but his bias has changed to use it almost exclusively.)

It could just be Billy has a cold; he's been sneezing. But we're also seeing loose stools in the litter box (we don't know from who) -- a vet visit is in order after the holiday.