Pages from my sketchbook [and a few photos]

I thought I'd devote this post to a few pages from my sketchbook.

I love the silly positions cats get into when they're washing...

Kitties at play...

And below, a selection of cats sprawling on their backs being most unnecessary....

 

more silly washing positions!

I finished crocheting Worrals' new jacket in time for the weather to improve, but there were a few chilly nights when she was glad of it!

She loves being with her brother and here they're holding paws, I couldn't resist... below you'll see she has as big an obsession with his lavender toes as I do, as she's washing them for him.

And Merlin also just adores his big brother Jasper... not so much bigger really any more!

Guest Blog: Jessica speaks of the impact of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Those of you who follow me on Twitter know that I do my best to highlight causes that need advocacy, and in my book keeping people aware of what can go wrong with their dear furbaby is one important cause.  This is about the ongoing struggle of darling Brady, whose medical fees chip-in button is on the right of this blog.  Thanks Jessica for a hard task in writing about something so close to you to help others be aware. 


Imagine your kitty full of love and gentleness.  Imagine this innocent kitty sunbathing in the window and gazing at you lovingly before he starts to stumble.  Imagine his body stiffening up and his breathing becoming labored.  He’s looking at you with his eyes wide with fear and crying out to you for help.  He’s frightened and falling over in a seizure type episode.  There’s nothing you can do but hold him and try to ease his pain.  You’re helpless.  HCM did not take him today, but it will be back.  You’ll never know when and you’ll never know how vicious, but it will come back.   There is no cure.  Sooner or later, HCM will win… it always wins.

What is HCM?  HCM stands for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  It is a deadly heart muscle disease that is claiming more and more lives each day.  HCM occurs when the left ventricular wall, papillary muscles and septum thicken, causing stiffness.  This stiffness prevents the heart from expanding correctly and makes it difficult to receive blood properly.  The thickening may also lead to problems of the mitral valve causing it to leak.  The leaking fluid can, and in most cases does, leak into the lungs and causes heart failure.

Are there symptoms?  Sometimes you’ll have symptoms such as a heart murmur, trouble breathing, weight loss, loss of use in back legs, lethargy and others.  Sometimes you’ll have no symptoms at all and your kitty may die suddenly and unexpectedly. 

How is HCM diagnosed and treated?  An ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) is the most recommended way to check for HCM. If HCM is present you may need other tests done to rule out other possible causes and to check the function of other organs.  Again, there is no cure for HCM but some medications may help to control the symptoms and hopefully prevent it from progressing rapidly. 

This is probably the hardest blog that I have ever written because it hits so close to home.  My Brady has HCM.  What I described to you in the first paragraph happened to my baby just a few short months ago.  HCM has also tortured him with congestive heart failure and pneumonia.   Brady is only two and a half years old.  He continues to fight everyday and is on several medications to keep his symptoms at bay.  He is the sweetest kitty you have ever met with a purr and head bonk that will melt your heart.  Every day I snuggle him knowing that it may be the last time I’ll ever hold his warm body in my arms, and every night I pray to God asking Him to give Brady the strength and comfort that he deserves. 

As animal lovers, we are some of the luckiest people in existence because we get to witness the love from some of the most amazing creatures on Earth.  They are not our pets, and calling them so will get you the stink eye and a correction with quickness!  They are our family.  They are our children.  I end with a request to you… Please remember my Brady and others suffering like him.  If you are a breeder; please scan your babies before breeding them, if you are buying a kitty from a breeder; make sure that they have scanned the parents for HCM.  HCM breaks more hearts than you may think.  Please help us spread the word.

You can follow Brady’s story and adventures on Facebook, Twitter or his website. 
https://www.facebook.com/ForBrady

https://twitter.com/#!/TheloveofBrady

http://fortheloveofbrady.weebly.com/index.html

More about HCM on wiki at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertrophic_cardiomyopathy

Fenella - not good news.

There's no easy way to put this.
Fenella has mammary cancer; and our vet said that as it's likely to come back if he operated, and with the risk of an operation to an old lady of 17+, while she was comfortable there wasn't a lot that can be done besides love her to bits and keep monitoring it and bring her in to be put down if it became painful, or ulcerated. So there we have it.  Fenella is on borrowed time. 
Mammary cancer is fortunately fairly uncommon in cats as apparently it's more of a problem than in dogs or humans as 90% of tumours are malignant [cf 50% in dogs].  I've also been told [though not by my vet] that the risk of contracting it is four times higher in a cat who has had a season before being neutered than if neutering takes place before a season, so you can bet I'll be monitoring Worrals pretty closely too.  Especially as Worrals has a voice and face shape that suggests Siamese heritance and Siamese cats are apparently more at risk. 
Fenella hasn't got a clue however and is a happy girl, she notices her skin condition more and is going to need regular steroids for keeping that under control.  She's thoroughly Frontlined for her flea allergy and can I please take the opportunity to point out that Frontline, Stronghold or Advantage from the vets are the only safe flea treatments, over the counter proprietary brands may actually be toxic as well as being ineffective, one brand causing up to one third of cats to have seizures. 
Here's a list of ingredients to avoid in products you use on your cats: List of toxins
We don't Frontline all year round either, as there's a risk of developing an allergy to that too! As we don't have central heating our house drops below the breeding temperature for fleas in the winter.
However, on to a celebration of Fenella.  Fenella loves her Dadstaff and likes to lie in his arms, either way up whenever she can corner him sitting down....

"Well you weren't planning on going anywhere were you?"

 
And of course she has to share his breakfast milk - and often insists that he holds it in a more convenient position for her.

Big mug holding a mug

We don't know how long Fenella has.  She's old enough that she might die of something else before the cancer progresses far enough to need to be put down.  I just want everyone to know that she's a dear girl, if cantankerous and ornery as usual, and she's enjoying life while she has it.  We won't let her suffer.

Brittney - my life as a cat.

This is the story of a stray and his forever home with Carol Foster, his story and photos.
Carol is a wonderful caring lady and she's one of the troopers for Trooper, [who continues to do well and is now living with Delores Samms and is shared by Gwen Samms, his own special angels].
Brittney is diabetic and this lovely book has practical advice from Brittney's point of view. 

My Life as a Cat

www.amazon.com

 Autobiography of Brittney, "My life as a Cat" Brittney tells his life story as a Cat, he is courageous, and has adventures to share with everyone. Illustrations and Brittney’s photos shown as the narrator tell his life story as a Cats point of view. 

Brittney's home page
http://brittneythecat.wordpress.com/ 
 Brittney's facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Life-as-a-Cat/251393634894284?skip_nax_wizard=true 
 Brittney on twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/BrittneyTheCat