On Tuesday I picked up my new Cat Eye cycling computer at the LBS (local bike shop). It's the cyclist's equivalent of a pedometer, measuring speed, distance, and cadence. C helped me to install it that night, and I'm feeling pretty proud that I did most of it myself. I'm not a tech person, but it's important to me to learn how to do these things, so that I will be taken seriously in what seems to be a predominately male cycling world. [Even better, C tells me that a lot of male riders often have their bike shop install these units for them]. Now Grace is fully outfitted, and we are on week 2 of our 7-week training program. Our first event of the season will be the 40-mile NYC ride we are doing with S&J in May. It still seems so far away, but I know the time will go by fast!
It has been a tough week for Charlie and us. After gaining weight back and looking so much better than he has in months, he decided last Sunday to stop eating and drinking. We took him to the veterinary ER that night, and they assured me that other than being a little dehydrated, he did not have a temperature, and would be fine through the night until we got him to his regular doctor. She has done some bloodwork, and so far everything is in the normal range, except his thyroid is low. C and I are so relieved, because I would have staked my knitting life on kidney problems. In the meantime, it's been a daily challenge to get food and water into him. We've been to the vet twice for IV fluids, and I'm buying the fishiest food I can find at the pet store. Both cats staged a rebellion and refuse to eat any more of that canned duck from the vet! I don't blame them -- the stuff is exceptionally nasty as far as pet food goes.
We're waiting on more information from the Radiocat clinic, where Charlie was treated in November for his thyroid. Perhaps these swings of weight gain and loss are considered normal, since we are still within the three month period of treatment, and it's possible in his case that the thyroid only aggravates his IBD. In any case, it is so upsetting to see him so frail and weak, and we're trying to comfort him without driving him crazy. I was so happy last night that he crawled up on my lap while I was knitting and seemed to be encouraged by our company.
I finally finished the Lacy Serpentine Stole. Block party at the seashore tomorrow night, with hopes of posting photos for you this weekend.
Poor little Charlie...I hope he feels better soon. There is just nothing more disheartening than a sick kitty.
Posted by: Sheepish Annie | January 25, 2007 at 05:53 PM
Poor Charlie, I hope he is feeling better. Give him extra hugs and scritches for me.
Posted by: Kristen | January 25, 2007 at 06:07 PM
Great cycling computer! Give little Charlie a pat from me =) I hope he feels better soon.
Posted by: Sarah | January 25, 2007 at 09:28 PM
Ooh gadgets - I love gadgets!
Hope Charlie will be OK.
Posted by: tiennie | January 25, 2007 at 10:22 PM
Isn't it the worst thing when beloved pets are sick? Every time one of ours starts to droop a bit, I start hovering...
I hope Charlie is back to his normal self soon!
Posted by: sprite | January 25, 2007 at 11:46 PM
My "boys" send Charlie healing thoughts. Cisco is still on fluids weekly and it does seem to help his appetite. Please keep us posted.
Posted by: wendy g | January 26, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Hi! First time in, just wanted to lend my support for your sick kitty, Charlie - and for you! We're just recovering from a blocked bladder at my house, and so I know what it's like when your kitty actually wants back in your lap! Hope he contiues to improve.
Posted by: debsnm | January 26, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Poor Charlie! When Cleo was very sick we could only get her to eat canned tuna--the kind for humans. And then she wouldn't eat much. Perhaps Charlie would like that.
I can't wait to see the stole!
Posted by: Laura | January 26, 2007 at 02:52 PM
Thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog. I am glad to hear Charlie isn't faring as badly as you originally believed. I remember that the night before Cyrano passed away he slept on John's side of the bed rather than cuddled up against my side and wrapped by my left arm--and I was so hurt. I realize now that he was in pain and staying on the side of the bed where he would get moved about less while we all slept. So, point being, I am glad to hear that Charlie crawled up into your lap while you were knitting. That means a lot--for both him and you.
As for Cyrano's Creature Comforts Charity Drive--no button...yet. I am working on finding someone with the skills to make one for me (or rather, convincing a friend to make one) or trying to figure it out by working harder/researching more about how to make one.
Posted by: Holly of HollYarns | January 27, 2007 at 02:50 AM
Poor Charlie. It's a real struggle to get cats to eat when they don't feel well. I hope Charlie gets to feeling better soon.
Posted by: Sydney | January 27, 2007 at 02:52 PM
Way to go installing your own whatchamacallit! (Obviously I don't cycle.) I love the feeling of accomplishment and knowing how to DO things, you know? (I get that with knitting, but it's even more satisfying with things that really surprise people.)
Sorry to hear about Charlie. I hope he bounces back quickly.
Posted by: Rachel | January 27, 2007 at 04:02 PM
I've been trying to respond to your comment re: Charlie; it's been returned as undeliverable by sbcglobal. Resent it this morning, but will copy it here, just in case.
An update too: Maya has finally (after about 3 weeks) returned to eating her glop and will soon, I hope, be getting better.
My fingers are crossed for Charlie.
And here's my email:
We have a lot of experience with Maya not eating well, or at all. She's just coming out of almost of month of picking at her pumpkin glop, and not really eating a lot of the regular cat food either. She lost some weight and her fur is rough and almost oily.
We just continue to make fresh pumpkin glop every morning, and anytime I'm in the kitchen and so's Maya, I put her up on the counter where the glop is and stir it up. Tonight she climbed up all by herself and ate a fair amount. She also seems to need extra cuddles when she's not eating, so I've been getting up 15 minutes early so I can cuddle her before I get dressed for work. (I try not to get any more white fur on my dark clothes than seems to migrate there naturally!) Often right after we finish cuddling she'll jump up and eat a bit.
If she hadn't started eating her glop I was going to put her in "kitty intensive care". We have one of those big cat cages that kittens are often shown in - about 4 feet tall, and 3 feet by 4 feet with shelves at different levels. When one cat needs to be isolated for any reason, it becomes the ICU, and Maya's spent a fair amount of time there! She'd have no choice but to eat pumpkin glop because there'd be no other option.
Several years ago, I had a cat whose kidneys were failing. I learned to give her fluids, and did so 3 times a week for 3 years. It isn't difficult, as long as the cat cooperates or 2 people work together. Charlie may need an occasional boost to his liquids, especially if he gets dehydrated.
Let me know how it goes with Charlie; I often check your blog to see if he's mentioned! If I think of anything else I'll let you know.
Posted by: Diann | January 28, 2007 at 11:13 AM
I'm sorry Charlie is feeling poorly. I hope he improves more soon and that you and C are doing okay.
Posted by: Beth | January 28, 2007 at 08:04 PM