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Sixteen years ago today, I brought home a little one year old siamese cat from the county animal shelter. When I met her, she was sniffly with a respiratory virus, and when I took her out of her cage, she curled up in my lap with her head in my hand. When I brought her home she slept in a little willow basket. Little did I know what a determined little hellion she could be when well, but still the same little woobie with head in my hand when tired to this day. Today Saki is 17 years old, or thereabouts. Happy Birthday, my Saki!
There are bonus pink Tuxie paw pads on the top of the pic above beyond Saki.
Her front paws are weak--she walks on her whole front feet, not just the toes as healthy cats do. I don't know if the tendons are weak, or she has neuropathy. I don't know if she's got arthritic pain or not. She doesn't play, and her tail does not go straight up high in the air behind her anymore, but her appetite is great and her face is all aquiver when I bring her her pill pockets or other treats. She's 12 and a half pounds up from almost 8 pounds a couple of years ago and looks glossy and filled out--she could actually use to lose a pound. And she still purrs when pet or brushed and licks me and Tuxie, and she looks like she's resting comfortably most of the time.
When I took her to the vet 2 weeks ago, we found her thyroid levels are a little low now, so we've lowered her dose a tad. And the vet said the flagyl we've been giving her daily for years could be causing neuropathy and it is sometimes reversible, so we've quartered her dose. She does seem to be slightly more energetic, walking a little more briskly, and is talking a little more like her old self--she was pretty silent for a while. So I think she's feeling a little better than she has been the past couple of months. I'll take her in to the vet in 2 weeks to see how her thyroid levels are doing and see if we can lower her steroid dose, and see if that helps. The paw problem developed this spring--I hope we can get them better and help her feel as good as she looks. And she looks darned good for a little old lady of 17 years.
So on the birthday party menu for all of us today was roast chicken, garnished with catnip for the furry members of the household, along with a fresh pot of wheat grass, crumpled dried catnip leaf showers, and for dessert, sardines. There were puff balls in a bag of catnip, but she was only mildly interested in sniffing them.
Now we work toward 18. And if she makes it to 18, she'll be able to vote for president next fall. Here's to Ms. Saki Took!
There are bonus pink Tuxie paw pads on the top of the pic above beyond Saki.
Her front paws are weak--she walks on her whole front feet, not just the toes as healthy cats do. I don't know if the tendons are weak, or she has neuropathy. I don't know if she's got arthritic pain or not. She doesn't play, and her tail does not go straight up high in the air behind her anymore, but her appetite is great and her face is all aquiver when I bring her her pill pockets or other treats. She's 12 and a half pounds up from almost 8 pounds a couple of years ago and looks glossy and filled out--she could actually use to lose a pound. And she still purrs when pet or brushed and licks me and Tuxie, and she looks like she's resting comfortably most of the time.
When I took her to the vet 2 weeks ago, we found her thyroid levels are a little low now, so we've lowered her dose a tad. And the vet said the flagyl we've been giving her daily for years could be causing neuropathy and it is sometimes reversible, so we've quartered her dose. She does seem to be slightly more energetic, walking a little more briskly, and is talking a little more like her old self--she was pretty silent for a while. So I think she's feeling a little better than she has been the past couple of months. I'll take her in to the vet in 2 weeks to see how her thyroid levels are doing and see if we can lower her steroid dose, and see if that helps. The paw problem developed this spring--I hope we can get them better and help her feel as good as she looks. And she looks darned good for a little old lady of 17 years.
So on the birthday party menu for all of us today was roast chicken, garnished with catnip for the furry members of the household, along with a fresh pot of wheat grass, crumpled dried catnip leaf showers, and for dessert, sardines. There were puff balls in a bag of catnip, but she was only mildly interested in sniffing them.
Now we work toward 18. And if she makes it to 18, she'll be able to vote for president next fall. Here's to Ms. Saki Took!
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