. . . that Bugs is a “sensitive soul.” She’s the one who said it. Not me.
What she found on physical exam was that his belly was distended. What she found on the X-rays was that he is constipated. And she says that could make him throw up. Simple as that. Thank Cod. When you think of crystal in the urine, impacted colon, IBD — we’re thanking Cod that all it is is constipation. She ran tests on him to rule all that stuff out — and Bugs passed with flying colors, I rejoice to say.
(I noticed this morning that when Bugs did pee a little, his tail was quivering. I know the vet was thinking urinary problems and my blood ran fairly cold as she kept asking, So, you think he was straining to pee? Well, I replied, I don’t know enough to interpret it that way — all I can do is report what I saw. So now, knowing what we know, maybe all that was was just him being upset in there.)
And where his sensitivity comes in, the vet thinks that if this isn’t a hairball thing — and I don’t think it is, he’s never had a problem with that in the past — then he’s simply stressed. Fang’s been in the bathroom inspecting Bugs’s litter box, from time to time — I don’t think Fang’s ever used it, he uses his own — but the vet thinks him just poking around in there might be enough to get Bugs worried enough to affect his own use. That’s where Bugsy’s sensitivity comes in.
She said her staff can leave the office at the end of the day with all cats having clean litter boxes, and come back the next morning and, overnight, everybody’s used the facilities. She thinks it’s that they require the activity and bustle of the office to stop, before they can produce. They want their peace and quiet and privacy.
Just like his mama. You might like to file this next bit under too much information — but Bean herself has similar issues using public toilets, for the same reason.
You should see those films. The vet says she’s seen a thousand times worse — but let me tell you, those are some backed-up pipes on the boy.
Kim pointed out that in that condition, in pain and discomfort, maybe that’s why Bugs wouldn’t eat. Why would you want to keep tamping stuff down at the front end, if it won’t come out the back?
So the vet gave him an anti-nausea injection, recommended Laxatone, suggested I bump up the fiber in his meals, and sent us home. She will be available tomorrow to give him an enema if need be, but she said she’d prefer not to stress him with that and, rather, hope that nature will take its course. She also recommended that I go into the bathroom with him and shut the door; hopefully that will reassure him that Fang won’t interrupt the proceedings.
So what’s happened so far is that Bugs has scarfed down the Laxatone — he loves that stuff. He’s turned up his nose yet again at the meal I prepared with chicken-enhanced-with-tuna-oil — but I did get him to eat a smidge of yoghurt laced with slippery-elm and then, after that, some chicken baby-food and sweet potato-oatmeal base. So far all this has stayed down, and that’s a terrific improvement. When he was hoiking stuff up, it was pretty much immediately after he’d eaten.
And the funny chewing and head-movements? It dawned on me, preparing the food tonight, that I had some issues with my new food-mill and there were some lumps in the base. (I tell you, all this detection is making me tired. CSI in the Ozarks, happening over here.)
So we’re on litterbox vigil now.
I am very very very glad to understand, now, why Bugsy’s fur may have been so ruffled yesterday when I took this snap:
No Vacancy.
So glad it is something this simple. Not sure what sort of ‘fiber’ the V*T suggested, but plain pumpkin (not the pie filling stuff) is supposed to help kitties. (we’ve never had this problem, so we can only say ‘supposed to help’)
Purrrrrrring that everything comes out OK without further intervention.
Oh yes, relief. For me, that is. I’m just waiting on poor Bugs. The V*T suggested pumpkin, but when I told her the diet I have him on uses sweet potato, she OK’d that as just as good. Oh please no further intervention. Please. Come on, Bugs. You can do this. And a-one, a-two, and a-three let’s go!
Sweet potato? That’s good to hear – a lot of people say pumpkin is good, but I can’t get them. Would that be skins and all, or peeled, I wonder?
Peeled, Spiders.
Purring for POOP!
Go Bugs, GO!
PUSH!
Great cheer-squad! But he can’t hear you. He’s crashed out at the moment. Oh well. Gives me time to eat, myself. Something. I don’t really feel like it. But I must.
Yay, this is good news. We’re purring for poops. You’ll love our vet visit post tomorrow.
Purring for poops. Sounds like a winner of a fundraiser idea in there somewhere. Eager to see your post, Layla. Always.
Checking in before bed, so glad you posted an update. Now lets get a good BM from all the good stuff he’s keeping down!
Oh I am glad you checked in on us. That is the thing — he’s keeping stuff down now, while the anti-nausea med is working — the question is, what next? We know what we want to be next —
If Bugs is a nervous groomer like me, he’s probably grooming himself more than usual. That’ll plug him up fast! Laxatone and extra brushing always does the trick for me. I’m sure Bugs will be feeling better and pooping like a champ in no time! I HOPE Bugs feels better, because the idea of a kitty enema is pretty disturbing. Really.
No sh*t.
Status report or statement???
*giggle*
Both, unfortunately. (Spiders! Naughty! Don’t encourage him!)
Oh that is a relief. I’m so glad it wasnt anything worse. Come on Bugsy, you can do it! You WANT to do this, Bugsy, because I agree, the thought of a kitty enema.. *shudder*
I hope you’re able to breath a little easier, Bean! He should be ok pretty soon, we’re all purring for him!
Honestly, Andrea, that was my very thought, as I watched him try to get out of the bathroom yesterday, after failing to produce. Bugsy! You WANT to do this! Exactly. And I am still not breathing. I will breath when the sh*t hits the fan. Not a moment before that.
Let’s it comes out all right in the end!!!
I meant “Let’s hope….” bit early for me!!
I liked it without the hope. Gave my imagination a lot of scope to play with.
Oh good! I saved your update to be the last one I read of all mt new emails this morning. Good to hear it is good news – or will be, once things start moving again! That’s gonna be one big stink-bomb when it goes off…might want to wear a bandanna over your face if you close yourself in the bathroom with him! The mental pictures…I think my sense of humour is even more immature when I’m on my first cup of coffee, sorry 🙂
Oh have fun with this, Spidey, by all means. Somebody needs to.
What a relief! You know, most cats are sensitive in the litterbox department, especially when territory issues are involved, like when a new cat is introduced. You’ve been doing great, take care of yourself too, bean!
I’m joining the team that’s purring for poop! LOL
Thank you for your encouragement and purrayers, Ivy. For joining the Poop Vigil. I’ve never had a child, myself, but this subject is of great interest to them, too, right? I have witnessed new parents carry on about the topic and never understood the fascination. Until now.
What a funny point you make! LOL New parents do talk a lot about poop too.
I’m a careful observer of my cats’ poop… the quantity, the quality. Sill keeping my fingers crossed for Bugs to get busy real soon! Keep us posted! 😉
You and I are kindred spirits. I actually used to take pride in Bugsy’s poops. Pride goeth before a fall. (Like the way you put that, “get busy.” Hey Bugs! SNAP OUT OF IT and get to work!!)
You’ll be proud of Bug’s poop all over again, sweetie, believe me!!!!!
It’s just a temporary thing. It’s just really a tiny little bump on the road. Just let him go for now, just allow him to do his thing (quite literally :-))))). LOL
No, seriously, it’s true. Believe in his power to heal himself and let him go for a little while. His whole world changed in a heartbeat and he’s just taking his time to adjust to it. So you gotta allow him find himself balanced again. And keep us posted, of course, cause this letting go thing is easier said than done! 😛
* I mean “You’ve got to allow him to find himself balanced”…
Honest, Ivy, your comments remind me that Bugs really is a little darling. And I really truly don’t know him. I feel as though a whole nother side of him is emerging, with Fang — this constipation thing is just one expression I’d sooner he skipped — but as you say, he’s finding his own way and I must trust that. More children analogies arise. I feel as though he’s having more fun with his buddy than with me . . . . No wonder it’s so hard to be a mother. I might be able to have more empathy for my own now! Nah. Let’s not get carried away.
I love your sense of humor… Even after being a mother to 2 cats for over six years, I haven’t had any more empathy for my own mother so far! Hum, this sounded really bad now that I wrote it. Well…
Anyway, there are only 2 things you can actually do for Bugs: one is to trust him to find his own way (you already gave him all the medicine, food etc). In case he can’t find his way in time, then the second thing comes in play: to take him to the vet. So try to focus on only these 2 things. And be at peace with yourself, for you’re doing everything that you possibly can! Let’s see how things go today, right?
Right! So far nothing! And about mothers — if you don’t laugh . . . . But I know what you mean about it sounding bad. I hesitated to hit “post” and then I hit it anyway. Story of my life.
So I see it’s the story of OUR lives… Good to know we’re not alone, right? Love to you!
So psychiatric constipation. Let’s hope he opens his bowels soon. Constipation can be very serious, in humans and in animals.
Psychiatric constipation. What a concept. But we are whole beings, body and mind inseparable . . . .
For a while I worked with children who were PCs or CCs, chronically constipated. People have died from constipation unbelievably. There were kids who hadn’t had a poo in months!
Awful to contemplate. Seriously. Tragic.
Constipation is a pain in the butt. Literally and figurely.
I hope everything turns out fine, and that Bugs will feel better. 🙂
Isn’t that the truth, about the pain in the hiney. May this, too, pass. Pun intended. Really. Bathroom humor is just too easy.
Poor Bugsy, being so sensitive under that tough guy exterior! He had us all fooled, didn’t he?! I hope you find mountains in the sandy desert of the litterbox…
Two things I’ve tried with success with my older cat are an occasional bit of mineral oil in his food, and regular canned food with water mixed in, to provide extra moisture. It’s made a huge difference.
Looking forward to a good report!
Purple mountain’s majesty. I love it. Thanks for the tips, and thanks for pulling for us.
Just checking in. Purrrrrring that things are moving along.
Waiting. Waiting.
Oh, darn. The waiting is just excruciatingly annoying, right? Hang in there!
Gnash. Gnash.
Has he been yet?
No! I added stool softener down his gullet today. Vet threatens enema on Monday.
Keeping tabs… oddly enough I have a foster cat this weekend that was just at the vet’s for constipation last weekend. I’m supposed to keep an eye on him to make sure that he’s using his litterbox normally.
Go Bugs, go!
Oh dear. Well — misery loves company. Better hop over to your place, see how it’s going.
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