Parenting-Furkids

Cats => Caring For Your Cat => Topic started by: Middle Child on September 30, 2016, 06:10:18 PM

Title: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on September 30, 2016, 06:10:18 PM
Mazy cat is starting to get a bit wobbly with her back legs. I noticed it a little last year when it first got cold, and in fact remember mentioning it to the vet, but I don't remember her saying anything useful.

Last Sunday it was chilly but sunny and Mazy cat spent the whole day on the porch.  I was so happy for her to be able to spend the whole day out there (when it's hot I have to bring her in by midday) I didn't even think about it being chilly.

She stiffened right up, that night and the next day she was really stiff and reluctant to move much at all.

I got the self warming beds out, and she's using them and doing much better but I still have some concerns.

My biggest worry is Queen Eva has been playing really rough with her, well they've always played that way, after all Queen Eva learned how to play from Mazy cat and Mazy cat was a rough player.  But now she can't hold herself against Queen Eva and Queen Eva is rolling her. It's really started to worry me, especially as I've noticed Mazy cat hesitating and not jumping down from someplace, or not coming up the stairs, if she sees Queen Eva lurking. So I know Queen Eva must be hurting her.

Mazy cat still initiates Games with Queen Eva though.

Mazy cat is doing better now with the warming beds to keep her warm during naps, but I've been calling Queen Eva away when I see her stalking Mazy cat or barring the way for Mazy cat to get down or come up the stairs.

Now I've started talking to Queen Eva and telling her she needs to be more gentle with Mazy cat.  I talk to her about it when she comes under the covers for her early morning cuddle after the alarm goes off, and at night when she comes under the covers for her bed time cuddle.

I told her about how when Ootay got old and fragile how gentle Tolly was with her, pretending to pounce on her but never even touching her, just landing over her.  Then he would wrap his arms around her and bring her down, on top of himself.  Of course Tolly was almost twice Ootay's size, and Queen Eva is much smaller than Mazy cat, but I wanted to give her an idea of what I meant. I pictured it in my mind as I was telling her about it.

I tell her it's okay to keep playing with Mazy cat but she needs to be careful and stop rolling Mazy cat because it hurts her.  I tell Queen Eva she can pounce, but be gentle and just hop over her instead of knocking her down. 

And incredibly, I just saw Queen Eva do exactly that.  Mazy cat did a side stepping come-and-get-me prance, and Queen Eva threw her self at Mazy cat, but at the last minute, as Mazy cat ducked, Queen Eva's body kind of slid over Mazy cat's ducked head, instead of knocking her over in a roll! Maybe it was a fluke.  Or maybe she really does understand and is going to try to be more gentle.  I praised her highly for it.

Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on September 30, 2016, 09:38:12 PM
As I read the first part I was thinking:  talk to Queen Eva.  And then I got to the rest and saw you did.   DrLisaPiersonWorthy DrLisaPiersonWorthy  I don't think it's a fluke at all.  I think they understand a lot more than we give them credit for.  You may (or may not) have to keep reminding her, but I do think she understood you, esp. when you were picturing Ootay and Tolly in your mind.


I'm sorry about Mazy's arthritis.   :(
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 01, 2016, 08:28:50 AM
Thanks Pookie.  I will continue to talk to her about it at both cuddle times.  She comes up to the top of the covers and pulls at them with her claws until I lift them for her.  She comes under then climbs over my body and curls herself into my stomach chirping and murmuring. That's the only time I get to rub her little tummy.  She loves a tummy rub at this time.  As she is getting her rub I talk to her about Mazy cat. Last night and this morning I brought up how I had seen her jump over Mazy cat instead of knocking her down and pictured it in my mind for her.

I had the heating pad out last night for my back, and of course Mazy cat uses it when I am not (when I am home, of course I unplug it when I go out)

I turned it on for her this morning and waited for her to find it.

She did  love1
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on October 01, 2016, 09:18:54 AM
Since they've proven that dogs understand more than has been thought before, why wouldn't cats?

http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/31/health/dogs-words-mri-study/

Quote
(CNN)Do you ever wonder whether Fido really understands what you're saying?

He might be catching on to more than you think -- and your intonation when saying certain words is just as important to him as the words themselves, according to a small study published in the journal Science on Tuesday.

Dogs use the left hemisphere of the brain to process words, similar to humans, said Attila Andics, a research fellow at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary and lead author of the study.

Meanwhile, the study also suggests that dogs use a right hemisphere brain region to process intonation independently of words, which means they may separate what you say from how you say it.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 01, 2016, 09:34:54 AM
Thanks Dee, yes I've always been a big believer in talking to them and telling them what's going on and what you expect from them. But I think it's a matter of building that bond too.  You know, if you want your cat or dog to understand you, you have to put in the time and effort to communicate with them, and, most importantly, to pay attention to what they communicate to us.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on October 01, 2016, 08:22:06 PM
I had the heating pad out last night for my back, and of course Mazy cat uses it when I am not (when I am home, of course I unplug it when I go out)

I turned it on for her this morning and waited for her to find it.

She did  love1

I love her expression in that picture.  It looks like she's saying, "Thanks, Mommy.  HeadButt"
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 04, 2016, 06:25:51 PM
I don't know why I am so amazed at the way Queen Eva has responded to my request that she be more careful with Mazy cat.  But I am seeing it over and over. Instead of rolling her, Queen Eva will pretend she's going to roll her and jump over her instead.  Or rush up to her and instead of jumping on her she just runs her body along side Mazy cat's.

it's just incredible!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on October 04, 2016, 11:13:37 PM
You're a good communicator, and she's a good listener and a good girl!   DrLisaPiersonWorthy DrLisaPiersonWorthy DrLisaPiersonWorthy
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 05, 2016, 04:54:51 AM
Except this morning.  She was feeling rebellious for some reason.  She was having her morning combing in the bathroom while I was telling her how proud I was of her and she bit me.  Then she proceeded to run out into the living room and roll Mazy cat.

Hope she got it out of her system, haha!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 07, 2016, 09:15:29 PM
Oh I wish I could catch on video how careful Queen Eva is with Mazy cat now!  She's perfected the Non-roll!  I just don't know how to describe it.  Before she would throw herself at Mazy cat going into a kind of somersault-ish move, knocking Mazy cat over and rolling over with her. 

Mazy cat would flinch (if she had time) squeak and hiss, before extracting herself and running away.

When I first started talking to Queen Eva about stopping this, she started doing kind of a half roll over Mazy cat's head instead.  Also the brush -by.  But now she has it down pat, she flings herself over Mazy cat in a roll, but barely touches her! It's incredible and remarkably like what Tolly used to do with out the hug and hold at the end.

It's almost like she does a flip over Mazy cat.  She still does the brush-by too.

 Mazy cat isn't flinching away from her any more either!

Ugh, have to go to bed.  I had already shut the machine down, I booted it back up because I wanted to share this while it was still fresh in my mind, having just seen her do it again.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on October 07, 2016, 09:18:08 PM
That's wonderful!  Thanks for sharing!   thumbsup1
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on October 08, 2016, 02:08:27 PM
What an adorable picture!! 
Glad Queen Eva and Mazy are still playing... just softer.  :) 
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 10, 2016, 11:21:01 AM
I have taken some steps to keep her more comfortable as the weather gets colder.

I have designated one of the warming beds to a porch bed.  I thought I was going to have to make a new one, because they don't take kindly to their beds being moved around, but since I put them away for the summer, and only just got them out, a couple weeks ago, I had forgotten one.  Since it hadn't been given a permanent inside home yet this year, it's been turned into a porch bed.  I bring it in, not leaving it out there, but I don't place it anywhere usable. (more to come)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 10, 2016, 11:23:49 AM
Mazy cat has three Box Beds in the house.  I have rigged them up with yoga mat and reflective blanket.  I have put a piece of reflective blanket between the box and the mat, and a piece of yoga mat between the bed and the floor.

So the Box Beds are now cushioned, off the floor, and will reflect her body heat back to her.

Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on October 10, 2016, 08:58:33 PM
I got a kick out of the edges of the box in the picture on the bottom. 
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on October 10, 2016, 08:58:53 PM
VERY clever!  Where do you get the reflective foil?

You are SUCH a good Mommy!   DrLisaPiersonWorthy DrLisaPiersonWorthy DrLisaPiersonWorthy
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 11, 2016, 05:12:26 AM
Thanks. It's not foil, it's more tarp like.  I used to get the blankets at REI but the price has gone up a lot.  On Amazon they are even higher.  I finally found them at Home Depot, I can order on line and pick them up at the store, no shipping even.

https://www.rei.com/product/407106/space-all-weather-blanket
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 30, 2016, 09:13:41 AM
Mazy cat is so funny.  When I open the porch and she goes out, I put the warming bed next to her in the sun patch (if there is one).  She pretends to ignore it.  She waits a decent amount of time to get on it, figuring I will forget I gave it to her presumably, so it becomes her own idea to use it.

 Just now I peeked out and she was in the process of stepping onto the bed.  When she saw me looking she froze, and then retracted her foot from the bed, so I hurriedly turned my back and went about my business.  Next time I checked.... funny2

Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 30, 2016, 09:53:17 AM
And of course when it's time for a snack....
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 30, 2016, 10:08:03 AM
And one more..."Here comes the sun..."
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 30, 2016, 10:45:07 AM
Oh dear, here comes another.  The sun has gone in and it is too chilly for Mazy cat out there, even with the warming bed.  Before bringing her in I thought to see if she would accept a cover.

So far she is accepting it!  Queen Eva is NOT accepting it and for some reason objects to Mazy cat being covered and has tried to harass her twice.  Both times I have intervened, and even with the harassment, Mazy cat is staying under the cover!

**okay Queen Eva has gone out twice more and this time left covered Mazy cat alone.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on October 30, 2016, 09:35:50 PM
 thumbsup1  I love the stories/pics you share!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on October 31, 2016, 03:14:16 PM
thumbsup1  I love the stories/pics you share!

Ditto!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 01, 2016, 06:59:21 PM
Aww, thanks!  Hug1 Hug1
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 05, 2016, 05:48:17 PM
She's playing hardly at all.  I may have to bring her in.  Sadly I've lost all faith in my vet, but maybe she'll have some ideas on how to help. I know they have the cold laser, and of course there's always adequan injections. The injections I can do at home, I don't know if the cold laser would be doable for Mazy cat.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 05, 2016, 06:00:51 PM
 :(  I wish I had some advice I could offer, other than more Omega-3's (fish oil) - if she'd even take and/or tolerate it.

You're doing all you can.  Maybe having that friend send her some Reiki energy would help?
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on November 05, 2016, 06:32:29 PM
. . .and of course there's always adequan injections. The injections I can do at home. . .

I think that might be a good solution. I've heard it works miracles on a lot of dogs.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 05, 2016, 08:35:16 PM
I keep thinking about putting her back on the krill, but she didn't do well with it.   None of them did. They all had very flaky skin on it.

She gets the green lipped mussell in her EZcomplete, but that's only one meal a day.  And she's not getting the ACV any more either.  She won't take it in raw food.

I just realized that since I am now giving her that .2 oz of canned each night with the SEB and MMR, I could start giving her the ACV again too.

By the way, a little while after I made that post she got up out of the hammock and started rolling around asking to play and played for about 15 minutes.  Very calm playing compared to other days, but she's still out and about and quite lively.

For a change she really wanted to play with ME instead of Queen Eva. :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on November 06, 2016, 05:37:32 PM
Quote
For a change she really wanted to play with ME instead of Queen Eva.
  Awwwwww
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 06, 2016, 05:58:47 PM
I'm looking at increasing the green lipped mussel to help her.  She gets it in the EZcomplete, but that's only 1/3 of her daily intake.  I posted a question about it on the IBD group, hoping to hear from people who use it, especially the makes of EZc. They haven't responded yet.

These are the two products I am looking at.  The snout one (marketed for pets) was a recommendation from an IBD group member. The other I unearthed on my own researching.Any opinions?

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FAZRKJO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CO7LDEO/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A143XG0Q3EH6JP




Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 06, 2016, 09:21:24 PM
The second link to me to an empty shopping cart, so I vote for link #1.   :D

Seriously, I did like the Super Snout Joint Powder.  Here's the link to the product on the maker's website:  http://digginyourdog.com/joint-power-description.html

What I really like about it is this:

Quote
  How do we process our Green Lipped Mussels?
The right way.
The new processing technology developed by our state of the art manufacturing facility in New Zealand allows the use of only pure fresh mussel meat to be cold extracted from the whole mussel (without the shell). A revolutionary freeze drying technology is then used to stabilize the lipids against rancidity. No heat is ever used during any process of the mussel powder production thereby eliminating any damage to the vitamins and amino acids in the mussels.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 07, 2016, 05:09:23 AM
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CO7LDEO/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A143XG0Q3EH6JP
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 07, 2016, 11:33:26 AM
Thanks.  The 2nd one looks fine, too.  I guess I'm thinking in terms of ease of use, the one for pets would be easier, since you can change the amount you're giving (scoop size) vs. having to open a capsule.  Plus that one had more reviews.

You have to go with the one that you feel most comfortable.  Was there one that "spoke to you" more than the other?
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 07, 2016, 01:06:47 PM
I ordered the snout one this morning. And for the exact reason you stated, ease of dosing. Thanks!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 10, 2016, 07:44:30 PM
I'm really in a dilemma here.  The GLM hasn't come yet and of course I will start it in tiny tiny doses.  But I am so fearful of upsetting the balance as it stands now.  She NEEDS something more to help with her arthritis, and I've read a lot of positive testimonials about GLM. It's actually supposed to be good for digestive issues and internal inflammatory issues also.

And what if the taste is too strong and she hates it.  1000 mg sounds like such a lot of powder.  I won't know how much it is until I see the scoop size of course. It can take up to 3-4 months for full results, and it is recommended to start with double the maintenance dose to hurry the effects, but of course I can't do that with Mazy cat.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 10, 2016, 07:51:59 PM
GoodVibes

Baby steps.  Wait for the GLM to get there, first, and look at the scoop size, then go from there.  You have very good instincts when it comes to what's best for Mazy Cat (and the other furkids, too).  You are doing everything you can, and she's doing (knock wood) well.

It's going to be okay.  GoodVibes

grouphug  Hug1 Hug1 Hug1
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on November 10, 2016, 09:35:58 PM
Is the "balance" going good right now?  If so, just put it aside when it gets here.  See if things continue to go well. 
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 11, 2016, 07:10:02 AM
Is the "balance" going good right now?  If so, just put it aside when it gets here.  See if things continue to go well. 

Yes, but her arthritis is really bad.  I know she's in pain. That's what the GLM is for, to help get rid of the arthritis pain.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 11, 2016, 08:47:28 AM
Yes, but her arthritis is really bad.  I know she's in pain. That's what the GLM is for, to help get rid of the arthritis pain.

Having that friend send Mazy some Reiki energy might help.  At least until the GLM arrives.  fingerscrossed :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 11, 2016, 09:09:37 AM
Having that friend send Mazy some Reiki energy might help.  At least until the GLM arrives.  fingerscrossed :)

Good idea, thank you Pookie. Mazy cat had learned, over the summer to draw on the Reiki when she needed.  I'll start reminding her of that, maybe she will, until my friend feels better.

Mazy cat was very playful last night.  But she doesn't run any more.  Or even stay upright. She lies on the floor and beats up the cat nip toys, instead of hunching over them and beating them up. But at least she IS playing.  She hasn't lost interest or anything like that.

Still I hate for her to feel any discomfort at all.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 15, 2016, 05:45:03 PM
Mazy cat is playing more, and running more.  She still will instigate a Game with Queen Eva, but flinches and refuses to leave her bed when Queen Eva stalks her. Queen Eva is still being rough sometimes.

Don't know if the re-addition of the ACV is helping already. She definitely favors that right back leg though. Not limping, but by the way she sits.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 15, 2016, 09:33:45 PM
Mazy cat is playing more, and running more.  She still will instigate a Game with Queen Eva, but flinches and refuses to leave her bed when Queen Eva stalks her. Queen Eva is still being rough sometimes.

Are you still talking to Queen Eva about taking it easy on Mazy when they play?

I'm glad Mazy's feeling a bit better.   thumbsup1
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 16, 2016, 04:44:52 AM
Are you still talking to Queen Eva about taking it easy on Mazy when they play?

I'm glad Mazy's feeling a bit better.   thumbsup1

Every day. All the time.  During our quiet time, and when she is being rough and I intervene and tell her to stop and remind her why.  And at the other times when I see her be gentle and I thank her and tell her how good she is.

I think the re-enstatement of the ACV is what's helping. But it's not enough.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 16, 2016, 10:10:34 AM
Has the GLM arrived yet?

Sending purrs and good vibes to Mazy . . . CatPurr GoodVibes grouphug
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 16, 2016, 05:18:59 PM
Has the GLM arrived yet?

Sending purrs and good vibes to Mazy . . . CatPurr GoodVibes grouphug

Nope, not here yet.  HeadButt HeadButt
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 22, 2016, 05:04:53 AM
Mazy cat is getting a tiny dusting of the GLM every day.  It has a strong smell and she appears to like it okay.  I am eager to get her on the full dose but am being very careful about not rushing it.  Since this snow storm moved in she's been in a very bad way.

She's using her stepping stools now finally but she needs one more, downstairs at the litter box platform.  I'll pick it up after work today.

I could squeeze a litter box in my bathroom for her but I hate to do it.  It's important for a cat, for anyone with arthritis, to keep moving so I want her to continue to use the stairs.  She doesn't seem to have any trouble with them really. 

I hate having a box in my bathroom, and when I had one in there for Ootay, Mazy cat was very upset about it.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on November 22, 2016, 04:32:02 PM
Glad to here the GLM arrived!
I'd skip putting a litter box in the bathroom if at all possible... for the reasons you stated and more!   
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 22, 2016, 06:54:51 PM
Thanks Lola.  I did get the tote just in case.  But it can live in my car for now (no place for it in the house) I'll have to cut out an entrance for her if it comes to that.

Tonight I just gave her a half scoop of the GLM in a small serving (.3 oz) of chicken breast and EZc.  She ate it right up.  Now to see if how her digestion handles it.

The scoop is very small, meaning a ful daily dose is not a large amount, thankfully.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 23, 2016, 04:31:41 PM
I put the new stool down stairs last night.  She wound't use it.  Tonight she's using it as if it was her own brilliant idea, both up and down.

I was thinking of  some little self adhesive carpet squares to put on them.  The tops of them aren't bad, rubber with little no slip bumps. But carpet would be warmer on her feet. 

What do you think? 
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 23, 2016, 09:45:51 PM
I put the new stool down stairs last night.  She wound't use it.  Tonight she's using it as if it was her own brilliant idea, both up and down.

I was thinking of  some little self adhesive carpet squares to put on them.  The tops of them aren't bad, rubber with little no slip bumps. But carpet would be warmer on her feet. 

What do you think? 

Sounds like a great idea!  Would the carpet squares stick since the surface/bumps?
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 27, 2016, 08:49:17 AM
She can't sit on her haunches any more.  She lies down or stands up, or sits on her tailbone. She walks okay, gets up and down with her stools, but never sits.

Also, she's having some constipation and that is probably something to do with being unable to crouch for long enough.

I'm starting to understand why people are willing to use metacam in their cats. I wouldn't use it in a younger cat, but with Mazy cat, I am starting to....weaken. Quality of life being more important than quantity, will I risk kidney failure to give her a pain free life?

 I know I need to give the GLM time to work.

I know there are other alternatives, cold laser and adequan injections. But of course those (and metacam too) involve bring Mazy cat to the vet. And we all know what that's like.

She plays every day.  She likes to chase the Yeeow tomato. I roll it, she does a point and wiggle then trots after it. She no longer kicks at it with her hind feet, just kind of lowers herself to the floor and grabs it with her front paws.

She'll play with a string or wand toy, batting at it, even chasing it for a few minutes, but inevitably lies down and bats at it that way.

It's even more difficult taking her to the vet now that my vet is so anti-raw and blames everything on the raw diet.

<edit>  I just watched her scratching on the cardboard X scratcher.  You'd never know there was a thing wrong seeing her do that.  So why can't she sit?
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on November 27, 2016, 11:31:13 AM
Get her in your lap and go through her fur in the area that she normally uses to sit. Go through it VERY carefully. Make sure there's nothing stuck in that area that you can't feel with just a quick rub.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 27, 2016, 11:41:57 AM
Dee makes a good suggestion.  It doesn't hurt to check the area where she'd sit for anything unusual.

 :(  I really wish I knew of something to say that would help.  All I can think of is to ask her what's going on, and to remind her to draw on the Reiki energy when she needs it.  Is it possible that the constipation is actually causing her not to crouch, rather than being the result?   :-\

Sending purrs and good vibes to you both:  GoodVibes GoodVibes GoodVibes
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 27, 2016, 01:08:18 PM
Thanks you guys.  It's only today that she seems to have constipation.  Pushing out some hard little balls. I don't know if you are aware, but round balls are terribly hard for cats to pass.  The ball acts as..well a ball joint, spinning instead of being expelled.

 I will try to feel around her hind areas, but I risk getting bitten.  I do think it is just her hips hurting her, or maybe just too stiff. I would rather think of her being stiff than in pain. :'(

If you could see the way she rises now.

I recognize that stop and hitch because I have it myself. Oh it's so awful when they start aging.  though this is the first time I ever thought of 12 1/2 as aging.

On the other hand Ootay's arthritis started when she was around 11, and she was a tiny cat.

I do remind her to call on our Reiki practitioner friend if she needs.  M is very busy just now with a new kitten, but maybe I will write and ask her to start helping Mazy cat on a regular basis like she did with Ootay.

I have written to M.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on November 27, 2016, 03:40:01 PM

I have written to M.

Glad to hear that. If something has helped in the past, it's definitely the thing to do when things happen again.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 27, 2016, 04:12:39 PM
She has replied that she will start sending to Mazy cat again. She helped Ootay so much in her last six months.

  fingerscrossed fingerscrossed
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 27, 2016, 06:56:55 PM
How is it she can do this, this, and this and this (see pictures, all taken today) but cannot sit in the Statue Cat position?
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on November 27, 2016, 07:48:10 PM
A lot of times, joint issues are only apparent when a certain movement is performed. My knee only hurts when I move it a certain way.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 27, 2016, 10:03:38 PM
She has replied that she will start sending to Mazy cat again. She helped Ootay so much in her last six months.

  fingerscrossed fingerscrossed

multistars multistars multistars multistars

 fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 28, 2016, 04:54:50 AM
A lot of times, joint issues are only apparent when a certain movement is performed. My knee only hurts when I move it a certain way.

Okay.  I hadn't thought of that.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 29, 2016, 04:16:27 PM
I am beside myself whether to give the GLM time, or make an appointment for Mazy cat.  Tonight I watched her try to sit.  She really just...CAN'T.

Thing is, if I am noticing her trying....I don't know if that's new as in..she is starting to feel better, and so soon will be sitting again? Up until tonight, I have not noticed her actually trying to sit..she just...stands or sits on her tail bone or lies down.  But I opened the porch just before dark and I watched her, twice, try to sit, she gathers her back legs toward her front as if her haunch is going to lower, but then..it doesn't, but it did seem to go just a tiny bit lower.

Inside again, I saw her do it one more time, and this time she instead stuck her right leg out, and settled on her spine, then went into a lie down.

OH! Two other things that make me wonder...I saw her get up from a lie down, and it was a much more fluid movement that it has been.  Usually there is a hitch and hesitation and her movement goes very slow.  This time, there still was a slight hitch, but she definitely moved more quickly into the jump up from lying down.

I guess what we need is x rays.  So this will involve multiple visits.  Just thinking about vet trips with Mazy cat makes me sick to my stomach.

How long do I wait?  If it were any other cat, I would have had her there already.  But with Mazy cat, I really do have to weigh what's going to be best for her. And of course x rays means more anesthesia.

 She's almost up to the full dose of GLM.. Do I give it more time?  She doesn't cry out as she tries to sit, or wince in any way..but I know cats hide pain until they are in agony.

But then...I DO think I am seeing signs of improvement.  I just agonize daily over whether to take her in or give the GLM a chance.

Oh one more new thing...she came downstairs to greet me and use the litter box when I got home from work.  Lately she stays upstairs until I come up. She asks to be carried down the stairs and sometimes I do, but most times I take her down three steps and set her on the landing and she runs the rest of the way down, and comes up on her own.

But tonight she came up on her own.

I don't know if maybe she get Reiki today, or if the GLM is already helping her.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 29, 2016, 04:30:07 PM
My  2cents:

If I remember correctly, she's only been on the GLM for about 1 week or so.  If you're already seeing signs of improvement, as difficult as it may be, it might be best to give the GLM (and Reiki, or both) more time.  I know that's hard to do.

I'd suggesting asking Mazy what she recommends, but I'm pretty sure she'd say "no" to the vet!   funny2

HangInThere
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on November 29, 2016, 04:57:25 PM
Most natural joint supplements can take 1-2 months before you see actual benefits.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on November 29, 2016, 05:49:23 PM
I think I would make a decision based on her behavior for everything else she is doing... other then the sitting.   Hug1
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 29, 2016, 06:39:17 PM
Thank you all so much!

Most natural joint supplements can take 1-2 months before you see actual benefits.


Thank you Dee! The brand I am using states it can take a two to three months to see benefit "in some cases" . But..I believe cosequin for cats says the same thing, and when I first started Ootay on it way back when, she was improved in a week.

They recommend a double dose for the first week or two (I would cal it a "loading dose") but of course I can't do that with Mazy cat, I have to start from the other end, very tiny amounts and slow. 


My  2cents:

If I remember correctly, she's only been on the GLM for about 1 week or so.  If you're already seeing signs of improvement, as difficult as it may be, it might be best to give the GLM (and Reiki, or both) more time.  I know that's hard to do.

I'd suggesting asking Mazy what she recommends, but I'm pretty sure she'd say "no" to the vet!   funny2

HangInThere

Okay, thank you Pookie!  Mazy cat has been on the joint power for 11 days, and tonight I gave her the first full scoop. I went to a half scoop after 4 days, and after 5 days on half scoop, two days on 3/4 scoop, tonight she had a full scoop. They recommend giving it all at once in one meal, and that is what I am doing.

I have followed your advice on the ACV and haven't noticed any more of that urpyness.  She did regurgitate Saturday, twice, morning meal and supper meal. She did not have the GLM that day.

I think I would make a decision based on her behavior for everything else she is doing... other then the sitting.   Hug1

Thank you Lola, and okay.  She seems content, has short spans of play activity, nothing really lively, but she does like me to roll the Yeeeow tomato across the floor  and she does a point and wiggle then trots after it.  Sometimes she flops down, well a greatly modified flop anyway, and takes it in her front paws and bites it a bit, no more bunny kicking though.  Sometimes she waits for me to follow her and roll it back the other way.  She does that two or three times in a row.

Normal appetite.

Using her stools, but waits to be lifted up to the table for meals.  Jumps off herself, onto her stool.

Likes to be carried downstairs, but will go down on her own if I set her down on the landing.  Comes up by herself.

She can't seem to get comfortable lying on my chest though, so she isn't doing that any more.  Well she's still trying, but not staying and settling.  One time when she was getting off, her leg slipped and she squeaked, so she must have hurt herself.  Since then she can't seem to settle and after trying, she gets off me again.

Comes to bed at night, though for a week or more, when it was very cold she was staying in the hammock all night.

The weather fluctuations are very hard on her I think, and when it gets cold she really feels it, even though I am keeping the house warm.  Much warmer than I am comfortable in, I hope it is warm enough for her (about 68-70). But when it goes from warm to cold to warm to cold, she and I both have trouble with that.

It seems so unfair that with all she has to cope with in her little life, she has to have arthritis too. Her stiffness started last winter but it went away in summer, and when it came back this fall it was much worse.  Here Jennie is, only a year or so behind Mazy cat and she (thankfully) shows no signs of arthritis.

Ootay was 13 I think, when she started needing the cosequin for cats

Thing is, there ARE other things to try. Adequan injections, which, after the first intramuscular (or maybe two times) can be given sub q at home.  Cold laser therapy.

But those involve vet trips. I planned to just wait for her 6 month check up in January. 

Tonight I just started to doubt myself. I've never been wrong yet about my choices for her, regarding to vet or not to vet.  I guess I should keep trusting.

Thanks for your support.

Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 30, 2016, 02:05:51 PM
Question:  how often does she get the bone broth?  I'm thinking the gelatin from that might also help, and maybe she could use more?   :-\  Just thinking out loud . . .
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 30, 2016, 04:35:19 PM
Question:  how often does she get the bone broth?  I'm thinking the gelatin from that might also help, and maybe she could use more?   :-\  Just thinking out loud . . .

She gets bone broth every day.  She was getting slightly over a full tablespoon, but there were some problems. Her stool got very hard and dry, and she seemed to have some trouble peeing, so I cut her back to 1/2 tablespoon a day.

That broth is chock full of ACV by the way.  It smells of it even.

There is noticeable improvement today!

 This morning she jumped up to her meal spot on the table, twice.  She used to be able to jump from the floor to the table. Then she went to using her jump-off step (one of those S curve scratchers) then she started using the kitchen chair.  2 weeks ago she stopped jumping up at all, waiting for me to lift her to the table.

When I came home for lunch she jumped out of bed and ran over to the tower and got up on the top of it to greet me. She hasn't greeted me in weeks.  She stays in bed until I coax her out to come eat.

Her route from the top of the perch to a meal used to be: jump down to the book shelf, leap across the opening between the book case and the stairway half wall, trot along the wall, then leap from the wall to the sewing machine, and thus to the table.

She hasn't done that in over a month.

Today she has done it twice, at lunch time, and tonight for her pre-meal. I actually didn't let her leap from the half wall to the sewing machine, I lifted her over.  I was afraid it was too far and she would hurt herself, then never try again.

I do think this is a result of the Reiki rather than the GLM.  She hasn't even been on that 2 full weeks, and not at a full dose until just a few days.

I hope Marci is willing to continue the Reiki indefinitely.  Or at least until the warmer months. I've offered to pay her, but she won't hear of it.  She already has a number of the beds I make, and toys too. I don't know that there is anything else I can do for her.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on November 30, 2016, 10:25:22 PM
Quote
There is noticeable improvement today!

 love1 love1 love1 love1 coolgif2 tiggerbounce dancingbanana multistars multistars multistars

Quote
  I hope Marci is willing to continue the Reiki indefinitely.  Or at least until the warmer months. I've offered to pay her, but she won't hear of it.  She already has a number of the beds I make, and toys too. I don't know that there is anything else I can do for her.

You probably already do this, but:  let her know how much it's helping Mazy, and how much you both appreciate it.  Positive feedback never hurts.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 01, 2016, 10:45:39 AM
Question:  when you increased the ACV, was that in the GLM meal, or close to the GLM meal?  If so, it occurred to me that maybe she's getting more out of the GLM due to the added ACV, since GLM is a meat protein, and maybe that's helping the GLM to work for her.   :-\

Then again, if the ACV meals are waaaay off from the GLM meal, forget the above.   :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on December 01, 2016, 12:00:38 PM
Whatever the reason, glad Mazy is showing improvement! 
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 01, 2016, 01:16:19 PM
Question:  when you increased the ACV, was that in the GLM meal, or close to the GLM meal?  If so, it occurred to me that maybe she's getting more out of the GLM due to the added ACV, since GLM is a meat protein, and maybe that's helping the GLM to work for her.   :-\

Then again, if the ACV meals are waaaay off from the GLM meal, forget the above.   :)


ACV in the GLM meal. :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 01, 2016, 03:44:38 PM
 thumbsup1 thumbsup1 thumbsup1 thumbsup1
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 02, 2016, 10:06:30 PM
I could  Doh1.

I know you're thinking of having the bloodwork done on Mazy for the endocrine-immune imbalance the next time she goes to the vet.  I totally forgot that, if she tests positive for the imbalance, the low doses of cortisol should also help with her arthritis.

Think about it:  cortisone is used to reduce inflammation, and arthritis is joint inflammation.  Dr. Plechner has used his protocol to treat arthritis in dogs (and probably cats as well, it's just not specifically mentioned in his book).

From his book "Pets at Risk" (page 35):

Quote
  Dogs also develop rheumatoid arthritis, a painful and debilitating autoimmune condition of the joints.  Here the body attacks healthy joint tissue, causing inflammation and subsequent damage.  The joins of the elbows, ankles and wrists swell, and feel warm to the touch.  Over time, the animal may become lame.

I have helped numerous animals with these types of problems by correcting the endocrine-immune imbalances.  The therapy restores regulation back to a de-regulated immune system.  When imbalances exist, regulation is lacking, and immune cells lose their guiding intelligence and ability to discriminate between "self" and "non-self."  Without control, they lash out at both.

Just a thought!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 03, 2016, 05:56:53 PM
Thanks Pookie, yes it has occurred to me that a steroid will help her with her arthritis pain.

Tonight Mazy cat bunny kicked her Yeeow tomato! Not as violently as she used to, but she did use her hind feet for the first time in weeks.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on December 03, 2016, 06:03:52 PM
Tonight Mazy cat bunny kicked her Yeeow tomato! Not as violently as she used to, but she did use her hind feet for the first time in weeks.

That's WOOOOOOOOOOOONDERFUL news! I hope she continues to improve as she builds up the supplement in her body.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on December 03, 2016, 06:42:35 PM


Tonight Mazy cat bunny kicked her Yeeow tomato! Not as violently as she used to, but she did use her hind feet for the first time in weeks.

AWESOME news! 

Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 03, 2016, 10:14:13 PM
Tonight Mazy cat bunny kicked her Yeeow tomato! Not as violently as she used to, but she did use her hind feet for the first time in weeks.

multistars multistars multistars multistars multistars
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 04, 2016, 06:37:39 PM
She really feels the weather changes.  She's gotten more and more subdued and not wanting to move as the day went on.  I wondered about it until I checked the weather and saw we have a storm coming in late tonight/early morning.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 04, 2016, 10:38:20 PM
She really feels the weather changes.  She's gotten more and more subdued and not wanting to move as the day went on.  I wondered about it until I checked the weather and saw we have a storm coming in late tonight/early morning.

 :(  GoodVibes grouphug
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 06, 2016, 06:45:04 PM
Very playful last night.  Nothing vigorous but we found some fun Games that satisfied her while not hurting her.  She only did one kick with the hind leg and the tomato.

She doesn't want to play tonight. She has enjoyed watching Queen Eva's New Game though.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 07, 2016, 04:58:00 AM
Haf an hour after I wrote that she DID want to play. bananamiddlechild
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 09, 2016, 06:44:47 PM
Mazy cat has been on the GLM 20 days with a couple of missed days (due to regurgitation)

Her improvements as reported in this thread are inconsistent.  One day she might jump from floor to chair to table, but that's the only time, the rest of the time she wants to be lifted.  But she's back in her Crow's Nest which I am very happy to see.  For about  2 weeks when the arthritis was at it's worst, she wasn't getting in there at all. I don't know if it's because she couldn't climb in by way of the scratching part like she usually does (she CAN access it from the couch if she wants) or if because once she's in it she can't get down out of it, or if it just wasn't comfortable being in it.  But she is back in it again, anyway.

Last night after I went to bed I heard her singing..haven't heard that in AGES.  When she is singing like that it means she is downstairs carrying one of her special toys in her mouth.

I do find myself wondering if, on the days when she does things like get up to the table on her own, those are days she is getting the benefit of Reiki.

She still will tease both Jennie and Queen Eva. She doesn't like them going after her because they can be too rough, but it doesn't stop her from giving it back on her own terms. Queen Eva tries to be gentle but still sometimes forgets, and I suspect sometimes she just feels rebellious.

It is difficult for her, I do understand she is used to being able to have rough Tumble Games with Mazy cat.  I remember back when Tolly was 6 and Ootay and Bibbs were 14 + and getting too old to rough house with him. Though their Games were never quite as rough.  That's when I got Mazy cat, to play with Tolly.  She settled right into the Job, but OH my she was rough!  Tolly had to toughen up in a real hurry then, he was used to playing with old ladies!  he did toughen up though and developed some muscles he'd never had before.

He was always so so gentle with Ootay when she got old and fragile though.  I keep reminding Queen Eva how to do that with Mazy cat.

Tolly's been n my mind a lot today.  Not sure why but considering the way my thoughts were rambling just now (getting Mazy cat for Tolly) I am here and now reminding you Tolly that there will be no more cats, so don't think about sending anyone for Queen Eva!  She can just play with me and get Jennie riled up when she needs more activity.

Mazy cat is also on for a Game every night.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on December 10, 2016, 12:09:04 PM
Quote
  Last night after I went to bed I heard her singing..haven't heard that in AGES.  When she is singing like that it means she is downstairs carrying one of her special toys in her mouth.

I absolutely LOVE hearing the cats sing! 

Quote
I am here and now reminding you Tolly that there will be no more cats, so don't think about sending anyone for Queen Eva! 

Never say never....    Silly7
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 10, 2016, 01:34:59 PM
I absolutely LOVE hearing the cats sing! 

Never say never....    Silly7


Now technically I did not say "never".. I said "No more".  Silly7

I have more updates on Mazy cat, but not just now.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 11, 2016, 07:36:05 AM
Did I say singing? Last night again with the singing! And this time it was more like shouting! Shouting for JOY that she felt well enough to play her old Solitaire Game, is what it sounded like to me!

After she was quiet Jennie got up and started singing with her toy.  It was a lively song filled night.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 11, 2016, 03:43:06 PM
Maybe you could teach them a lullabye to sing you to sleep?   Silly7

So glad to hear Mazy's been feeling good enough to sing!   thumbsup1 thumbsup1 thumbsup1
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 11, 2016, 05:22:44 PM
I get purring lullabies.  HeadButt
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 11, 2016, 06:13:48 PM
I wanted to show the difference in two days.  The first picture shows how she was sitting on December 8. The second picture shows how she was sitting 2 days later, December 10th.

 Today she didn't sit at all, she slept on the heating pad all day.  She always does that on Sunday. :)

I am excited for the day she sits normally again.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 13, 2016, 04:34:15 PM
Quote
Her route from the top of the perch to a meal used to be: jump down to the book shelf, leap across the opening between the book case and the stairway half wall, trot along the wall, then leap from the wall to the sewing machine, and thus to the table.

She hasn't done that in over a month.

Today she has done it twice, at lunch time, and tonight for her pre-meal. I actually didn't let her leap from the half wall to the sewing machine, I lifted her over.  I was afraid it was too far and she would hurt herself, then never try again.

She did this again tonight (first time since November 30) but this time SHE MADE THE JUMP!   I only caught it out of the corner of my eye.

I've noticed the last few days she is moving much more quickly, and I called her for her second half of her premeal without looking, then turned  expecting to see her slowly and carefully lower herself from the top of the tower, to the chair, to the step,  to the floor and over to me along the floor, instead she was already mid leap across the wall to the, landed and was at her Meal Spot before I even realized what I was seeing!

Still sitting like the 2nd picture above though. It's so strange how she can do all those twists and turns in the tunnel and Crow's Nest and floor, on her back and all, but cannot sit in the Statue Position.

But she's TROTTING more instead of walking.  Tonight she GREETED ME AT THE DOOR.

I can't even begin to tel you how much relief I feel to know she is feeling better. 24 days on the GLM. Regular Reiki. (probably once a day)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on December 13, 2016, 08:28:12 PM

I can't even begin to tel you how much relief I feel to know she is feeling better. 24 days on the GLM. Regular Reiki. (probably once a day)

bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild BanWooHoo bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 13, 2016, 11:36:16 PM
multistars multistars multistars multistars multistars
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 14, 2016, 07:10:59 PM
She's moving so much faster, I didn't realize until now how realy slow she'd gotten.  I mean I knew she was slowed down, heaven knows I worried over it constantly, but..my goodness, she's just zipping around now! Well, relatively speaking.

last night she did lie on my chest for about 10 minutes.  It took her 5 minutes to decide she was going to try to settle there, and then she did.

Still no Statue Cat.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 14, 2016, 08:10:41 PM
Still no Statue Cat.

Give it time.  GoodVibes  Hug1 FlowersGif
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 19, 2016, 05:13:15 AM
STATUE CAT!!!!!!  I thought I saw her sitting upright the other day but wasn't sure, but this morning I am sure. I took a pic but she started to move just as I snapped it.  But we have Statue Cat sitting again!!!!  I am weeping with joy!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 19, 2016, 07:36:41 AM
multistars multistars multistars multistars multistars
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on December 19, 2016, 10:04:01 AM
  BanWooHoo bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild BanWooHoo
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on December 20, 2016, 03:34:02 AM
Yay!!!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on December 21, 2016, 05:08:12 PM
I meant to tell you... your post made me take a look at all my cats.  Make sure they all can "statue" sit.  Thanks... I probably would NEVER have thought of it, if it weren't for you. 
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 21, 2016, 05:18:06 PM
I meant to tell you... your post made me take a look at all my cats.  Make sure they all can "statue" sit.  Thanks... I probably would NEVER have thought of it, if it weren't for you. 

 Hug1 Hug1 Hug1

She's only done it the one time (for sure and possibly another), so far.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on December 22, 2016, 08:24:16 AM
Lola statue.  Tell Mazy to get to doing the same! 
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 22, 2016, 06:04:53 PM
Lola statue.  Tell Mazy to get to doing the same! 

Beautiful! A Ture Statue Cat!  I also call that the Perfect Cat Pose, but she isn't quite there, her tail should be curled around her feet for that.

Anyway, today Mazy cat has been observed to be sitting normally, and this time I saw her from both saides so I know if for sure.  She is also not only singing with her toys downstairs but I am starting to find them brought up the stairs again.

here are the pics I took to mark her being back to a full sitting position, not quite statue cat because she is not sitting tall like Lola is, but she IS sitting normally.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 22, 2016, 07:45:33 PM
It makes me sad that my vet is missing out on all this.  I've lost faith in her because of her prejudice against raw feeding, and I know her prejudice has changed the way she views me and my knowledge and care of my cats. I feel very discouraged about it.  In previous days I would have been on the phone with her weekly reporting progress. She doesn't even know how bad Mazy cat was suffering.  When I brought it up last year she kind of blew me off saying she "didn't think there was much problem yet" or something like that.

I might have tried harder to keep the lines of communication open but they no longer have voice mail for the vets, and the vets do not have private (as in between client and vet only) e mail accounts.

There is NO way to contact the vets in that clinic now except to call and ask that the vet call you back, which is useless to me as I am at work during the day and can't talk then.  Or send an email to the general address and ask that the vet be shown it.

And of course, non of this is on record in Mazy cat's records.  She can't be examined properly anyway without being knocked out, so maybe it doesn't matter anyway.

I have never yet seen the x rays that were taken when she was under for her dental last summer. I wonder if I can get those e mailed to me. Not that I would know what I was looking at.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on December 22, 2016, 08:57:45 PM
It makes me sad that my vet is missing out on all this.  I've lost faith in her because of her prejudice against raw feeding, and I know her prejudice has changed the way she views me and my knowledge and care of my cats. I feel very discouraged about it.  In previous days I would have been on the phone with her weekly reporting progress. She doesn't even know how bad Mazy cat was suffering.  When I brought it up last year she kind of blew me off saying she "didn't think there was much problem yet" or something like that.



We know that the boys don't have any problem "yet," but they're being tried on a life-long joint supplementation to see if it makes a difference in old age. It won't hurt them, so their vet is curious about what I'm doing too. I just can't imagine having a vet that wasn't interested. I'm so sorry for what you have to deal with from that front.


I might have tried harder to keep the lines of communication open but they no longer have voice mail for the vets, and the vets do not have private (as in between client and vet only) e mail accounts.

There is NO way to contact the vets in that clinic now except to call and ask that the vet call you back, which is useless to me as I am at work during the day and can't talk then.  Or send an email to the general address and ask that the vet be shown it.


I've had to play phone-tag before. It IS kind of irritating.


And of course, non of this is on record in Mazy cat's records.  She can't be examined properly anyway without being knocked out, so maybe it doesn't matter anyway.


I can't imagine it not being important enough to document.


I have never yet seen the x rays that were taken when she was under for her dental last summer. I wonder if I can get those e mailed to me. Not that I would know what I was looking at.

I've never had a dog get x-rays and not be shown them to have what mattered pointed out to me. NEVER. Even in the emergency hospital, they show the x-rays as soon as they've got them. It DOES matter for a pet's human to understand things like this no matter if they find something wrong or not. That's what I'd call lax veterinary medicine.

I really wish you could find someone else for your sake.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 23, 2016, 06:02:14 AM
I haven't seen the x rays because Mazy cat hasn't been back since they were taken last summer.  Vet just said "everything looks good".

I am going to try the other woman vet in the practice for Jennie and Queen Eva and sound her out on her beliefs regarding raw feeding.  I've seen her only once, for an emergency with Queen Eva.   I liked her but was concentrating on Queen Eva, not looking for a new vet, at the time.

If I like her opinions I'll see how she does with Mazy cat.

This business of making it so difficult to contact your actual vet is really bothersome.  I have complained about it numerous times. I get no real response though except that I can call and ask for the vet to call me or e mail and ask that the vet be shown the e mail.  It's ridiculous.  I have no idea why they've made these stupid changes. Probably because they are the only decent clinic locally, and they know it. Or they used to be.  I am no longer so enamored, obviously, but the other clinic in town is a chop shop for kitty toes and I will not step foot in there.

The vets are staff vets.  The owner of the practice really only does dogs.

On to better things -next post.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 23, 2016, 06:10:57 AM
Last night during Bed Time Games Mazy cat kept doing her come hither dance toward the stairs.  I knew she didn't have to pee or poop so at first I couldn't figure out what she wanted and kept trying to play a different Game with her.  She would take a swipe or two at the stick then go back to the stairs.  Finally it dawned on me that SHE WANTED TO PLAY HER RED DOT GAME DOWNSTAIRS!!!!!!!

I got the Red Dot and she practically danced for joy before hurrying down.  She played with great energy wiggling and pouncing and running.  I stopped the Game before she did, after about 5 minutes. I was afraid she would hurt herself running so much all at once.

 But.  SHE WAS RUNNING. And jumping!

PS 2 hours later  Mazy cat is definitely stiffer this morning from her running last night.  I'm glad I stopped it when I did.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on December 23, 2016, 11:09:11 AM
Try this for keeping her limber:

https://www.google.com/#q=tellington+ttouch+cats
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 23, 2016, 11:54:52 AM
That's wonderful!   fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed

 BanWooHoo bananamiddlechild multistars multistars coolgif2 dancingbanana woohoogif happydance1 yaygif
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on December 23, 2016, 03:20:21 PM
I feel for ya.  Your vet was open to raw feeding for a while, wasn't she?  There must have been a Hills and/or Purina class not so long ago.  I swear that happened with my previous vet.  He was on board for a long time.  All of a sudden he wasn't... and he was not nice about it either.  He sounded like a commercial for "prescription food."  We parted ways after that encounter. 

I sure hope the other vet is more doable for Mazy... and you. 

Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 24, 2016, 08:49:09 AM
She definitely over did it in spite of my efforts to be careful.  I was gone most of yesterday but she didn't want to move at all last night when I got home.


Try this for keeping her limber:

https://www.google.com/#q=tellington+ttouch+cats

Thanks Dee.  I remember Pookie also mentioning this.  I don't think Mazy cat will tolerate that, and I am concerned about being bitten if I try, but I'll think about it ....

That's wonderful!   fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed

 BanWooHoo bananamiddlechild multistars multistars coolgif2 dancingbanana woohoogif happydance1 yaygif

Thank you Pookie!  Hug1 Hug1

I feel for ya.  Your vet was open to raw feeding for a while, wasn't she?  There must have been a Hills and/or Purina class not so long ago.  I swear that happened with my previous vet.  He was on board for a long time.  All of a sudden he wasn't... and he was not nice about it either.  He sounded like a commercial for "prescription food."  We parted ways after that encounter. 

I sure hope the other vet is more doable for Mazy... and you. 



Yes, she was very supportive, and took a lot of interest.  But those conventions she goes to every year have really amped up their anti-raw propaganda now, and when she goes to those things she comes back  glowing fervently with worship for Purina and Hills and RC.

Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 24, 2016, 12:39:22 PM
Quote
Thanks Dee.  I remember Pookie also mentioning this.  I don't think Mazy cat will tolerate that, and I am concerned about being bitten if I try, but I'll think about it ....

If I remember correctly, you don't have to do it directly on the animal.  You can also use yourself as a "substitute."

Quote
   But those conventions she goes to every year have really amped up their anti-raw propaganda now, and when she goes to those things she comes back  glowing fervently with worship for Purina and Hills and RC.

 bangshead bangshead bangshead bangshead >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on December 24, 2016, 01:52:39 PM
If I remember correctly, you don't have to do it directly on the animal.  You can also use yourself as a "substitute."



It's not like massaging though. It's extremely gentle. I can have Vlad half asleep in an exam room when we weren't even in there a minute before the vet comes in.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 24, 2016, 03:30:01 PM
But it also looks like training is required to do it right.

 I don't know why, but it doesn't feel like the right thing for Mazy cat. I have to go with my gut on this. I'll keep thinking on it and maybe can figure out why my gut says this is not right for Mazy cat.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 25, 2016, 08:14:50 AM
Last night, in spite of her digestive issues Mazy cat was THUNDERING AROUND THE HOUSE! Been along time since Mazy cat thundered.

She didn't get her GLM yesterday though.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 25, 2016, 09:55:51 PM
I don't know why, but it doesn't feel like the right thing for Mazy cat. I have to go with my gut on this. I'll keep thinking on it and maybe can figure out why my gut says this is not right for Mazy cat.

You have very good instincts when it comes to your furkids, so go with your gut.  It was just something to consider.

Last night, in spite of her digestive issues Mazy cat was THUNDERING AROUND THE HOUSE! Been along time since Mazy cat thundered.

That is pawsome!   thumbsup1  :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 26, 2016, 12:24:14 AM
Thanks! False modesty aside, I agree that my instincts are to be trusted with my cats. kissyou

More hi-jinks tonight! Almost AIRBORNE (relatively speaking) playing with her Scribble Scrabble. I mean up on hind feet to bat/catch them!

 Thundering around the house again!

Jumping up and down from things like it's nothing.

Seen sitting up right regularly. No GLM for two days, but I hope to get her back to her regular diet tomorrow.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 26, 2016, 09:53:03 AM
No GLM for two days, but I hope to get her back to her regular diet tomorrow.

Is it possible to stir in the GLM with the broth, at least some of it?
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 26, 2016, 10:10:31 AM
I'm sure it would be but she's back on normal diet today anyway.  Yesterday I wanted her to have nothing but the broth and meat that goes with it.  And her probiotics, and the mineral oil of course.

  Still waiting for a poop today, but she is running around like a maniac! Like a 6 year old! The running and climbing should help move things along too.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 27, 2016, 06:25:25 PM
I just can't get over raving.  She is taking such delight in being able to jump and run and jump some more. 

And I am so thankful, SO GRATEFUL, that she is able to take the Green Lipped Mussel, without it bothering her digestion.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on December 27, 2016, 09:44:29 PM
I'm so happy for you both!   :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on December 29, 2016, 04:49:27 PM
It is nice to hear good news!!! 

 CatLick PookieLove kittyball purplekat KissLick coolgif2 tiggerbounce
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on December 30, 2016, 11:55:53 AM
Her movement improvement is just astounding.  Watching her turn back into the busy active cat she's always been is just an incredible experience for me. Multilevel jumping, you can see she is taking so much delight in being able to move freely again.

Today she has chosen to sleep in a bed she normally doesn't use.  In summer this is Queen Eva's bed and in Winter it is Jennie's bed.  (I do not know why, you'd have to ask them).  Only once in a very great while is this ever Mazy cat's bed.  But I am always happy to see her in it.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on January 01, 2017, 08:26:12 AM
Mazy cat is sleeping on my chest again.  As awkward as it is for me, I am thrilled that she can do it.  Not sure why she couldn't when the arthritis was bothering her so much, but glad she's back.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on January 01, 2017, 10:21:57 AM
Mazy cat is sleeping on my chest again.

That's a happy cat!   :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on January 07, 2017, 06:52:05 PM
Goodness a week since updates.  Mazy cat's latest milestone is she is hangning her head and neck out the Crow's nest again. She started that last week.  She's active, but I haven't yet seen her really thunder around the house yet. 

I've gone ahead and ordered a human GLM supplement for msyelf.  I am not going to wait to finish the krill oil after all.  I was just remembering how much my hands and wrists hurt last year during tax and water collection. By April last year I was in agony.  Maybe I can avert that for myself this year.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on January 07, 2017, 07:30:55 PM
I've gone ahead and ordered a human GLM supplement for msyelf.  I am not going to wait to finish the krill oil after all.  I was just remembering how much my hands and wrists hurt last year during tax and water collection. By April last year I was in agony.  Maybe I can avert that for myself this year.

Don't forget to do those arm/wrist stretches, too!   :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on January 10, 2017, 06:54:28 PM
Another milestone.  Today at lunchtime Mazy cat jumped up on the freezer after she finished eating.  She hasn't been up there since summer.  And here she is sitting in the Perfect Cat position on the freezer for the first time in months!  I watched her do it, she had a little trouble on the edge, she  had to jump over her table to do it!!

She jumped down okay too, and did one of her one-two-three multilevel jumps!

By contrast the second picture was taken November 6, 2016.  One of the last times I observed her sitting that way,(until recently again of course).  I took that picture because I had observed the way she favored her right hind leg. See how the foot is sticking out a bit.  She's not really resting her weight on it, and, what you can't see from as still pic, is she was continually shifting the foot a little, re-positioning to keep her weight off it.  And then she stopped sitting like that at all.

I am really astounded at how the GLM works for her.  Just stunned. She is trotting around even more (as opposed to walking slowly or not wanting to move around) she continues to take great delight in multilevel jumping both up and down..and tonight Queen Eva rolled her and she didn't yelp.

It's the first time I've seen Queen Eva get rough with Mazy cat in a long while. I missed the beginning and I am half wondering if Queen Eva hadn't been as rough as I thought and Mazy cat had just done a bit of flop and roll instead.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on January 10, 2017, 09:55:04 PM
multistars multistars multistars
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on January 22, 2017, 09:46:25 AM
Mazy cat is sitting on the Notebook again!  That picture up above was taken in November and was the lat time she sat there until this past Thursday!  There is another milestone too, she THUNDERED AROUND THE HOUSE the other night!  Only for a short time and I haven't yet seen it again, but that's how it seems to go.  As she feels better and better, each time i see an old behavior resumed, I only see it once at first, and eventually she starts doing it regularly again.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on January 22, 2017, 09:41:49 PM
multistars multistars multistars
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on January 25, 2017, 05:36:22 PM
THUNDERING AROUND THE HOUSE!!! Again tonight!  That's twice now, and this one was of a much longer duration, with multilevel jumps taken at a run included!!!!!!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on January 26, 2017, 07:37:17 PM
Quote
Mazy cat is sitting on the Notebook again!

Mine sit on things like that also.  I wonder what the deal is.  One of these days, I'm going to leave a postage stamp on the counter...  Silly7

Anyway...  Sooooo glad Mazy is doing better!! 
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on January 29, 2017, 07:30:56 PM
THUNDERING AROUND THE HOUSE!  And play play play!  Not every day. She rests in between.

 But I am starting to see some physical changes with her increased activity.  I didn't realize how much muscle tone she had lost during the worst of her arthritis flare up over those two months before the GLM.  But looking at her sleek saunter, now I realize it.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on February 04, 2017, 09:57:34 AM
It's really interesting to watch this progression, and see that Mazy cat has learned to PACE HERSELF!

When she first started playing again she was so happy, so THRILLED, to be able to move and play without pain that I was afraid she would over do and be sore the next day, so I would limit the session to only a few minutes.

However watching her carefully I see she has learned her limits, she will play as long as she feels is right, then stop. She was skipping nights, playing every other night, or every second night, I mean for a few weeks.

Mostly she plays every night now, but I do notice on a night when she has thundered around the house and/or been airborne a lot, the next night she will only play quiet Games that don't involve a lot of moving.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on February 10, 2017, 04:42:42 PM
I just makes me so happy to see Mazy cat trottrottrotting around the house again, instead of that slow painful walking.

Trottrottrottrottrot!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on February 10, 2017, 05:15:00 PM
 thumbsup1 thumbsup1 thumbsup1 :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on February 10, 2017, 05:26:57 PM
Well for goodness sake, Mazy cat just did a genuine somersault in her Crows Nest!  She does curls and spins again, but I've NEVER seen her do a somersault in there!

In fact I haven't seen her do a somersault in a long time until now.  Spins, yes, but not heels over head.

And she's dancing sideways to entice me to Game time, every night.

Okay, back to the Games
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on February 10, 2017, 07:34:31 PM
Well for goodness sake, Mazy cat just did a genuine somersault in her Crows Nest!  She does curls and spins again, but I've NEVER seen her do a somersault in there!

In fact I haven't seen her do a somersault in a long time until now.  Spins, yes, but not heels over head.

And she's dancing sideways to entice me to Game time, every night.

Okay, back to the Games

That would be a fun video to share.  :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on February 10, 2017, 09:52:56 PM
Well for goodness sake, Mazy cat just did a genuine somersault in her Crows Nest!  She does curls and spins again, but I've NEVER seen her do a somersault in there!

In fact I haven't seen her do a somersault in a long time until now.  Spins, yes, but not heels over head.

And she's dancing sideways to entice me to Game time, every night.

Okay, back to the Games

I'm so glad she's feeling so much better!   kittyball
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on February 11, 2017, 08:45:38 AM
That would be a fun video to share.  :)

No video.   :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on February 25, 2017, 08:30:15 AM
Another new/old thing!!!  And I haven't seen her do this in YEARS!

One of Mazy cat's things, since she first came home was to pull open the drawer under the oven and get in it, then get behind it and push it further open.  She first started doing it to find toys she lost under there, but has always kept the habit, until the last few years.

This morning, just now, I sat here and watched her do it!

bananamiddlechild bananamiddlechild
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on March 09, 2017, 05:41:21 AM
Oh if you could only see Mazy cat's New Game! She's running again and taking such joy in it!  And the running is soooo good for her, it helps keep things moving inside too.  I hope I can keep her at it for a long time to come!

How it works is..I throw her chosen toy across the room (living room to kitchen)  She races after it, usually just runs right past it and then waits.  I walk into the kitchen, pick up the toy and throw it back into the living room.  She races after it again.  In the LR there is carpet (so to sepak) and she sometimes will  bunny kick the toy.  But mostly she just wants to run!

This is a similar Game to the ones Queen Eva plays, so I wonder if that's where she got the idea.

It's only about 8-10 feet from one end to the other, but still, it's so good for her! She'll run back and forth like that at top speed for about 5 minutes, maybe a few minutes longer.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on March 09, 2017, 05:52:02 PM
I am glad to hear she is running and having a good time!  It IS fun to watch the furkids run.  EXCEPT when they run up from behind and cut in front of you.  Just a matter of time before one of us (humans) trip.  Hubby and I make bets... which one of us will end up with a hip replacement first.   Silly7

I find it interesting how they all run just a bit differently.  Okay, I guess that is stupid.  People don't have the same form... why would animals.   Doh1
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on June 25, 2017, 10:08:45 AM

I've thought I might reduce Mazy cat's GLM to half dose for the summer.  Thoughts?




I am glad to hear she is running and having a good time!  It IS fun to watch the furkids run.  EXCEPT when they run up from behind and cut in front of you.  Just a matter of time before one of us (humans) trip.  Hubby and I make bets... which one of us will end up with a hip replacement first.   Silly7




Jennie and Queen Eva both do that to me.  I fell full length on the floor last winter. It
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on June 25, 2017, 12:45:15 PM
I've thought I might reduce Mazy cat's GLM to half dose for the summer.  Thoughts?


I wouldn't. Just because it's sunny outside doesn't mean my joints feel any better. In fact, these humid, rainy days make my joints feel worse. I can't imagine that it would be any different for an animal.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on June 25, 2017, 10:14:36 PM
I've thought I might reduce Mazy cat's GLM to half dose for the summer.  Thoughts?

Is there a particular reason why you were thinking of reducing the dose?  Or are you thinking along the lines of what Dee said, that the warmer weather would make the GLM less necessary (which it doesn't for her)?  Just curious.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on June 28, 2017, 07:14:21 PM
Thanks you guys. I'm not sure what I am thinking except...last year she seemed "fine" all summer, then as soon as it got cold her body just seized up.  The GLM gave her such dramatic relief..I worry that keeping her on the same dose, year round, when it gets cold it won't be enough anymore.  She's on the maximum therapeutic dose for a cat already.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on June 28, 2017, 07:15:34 PM
Maybe just reduce the dosage during the warmer months.   :-\
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on June 28, 2017, 08:45:21 PM
The only reason I'm asking why is b/c there's likely a cumulative positive effect, and I'd hate to lose that and go backwards once it gets cold. If use in the summer helps continuing improvement, it just sounds like it would be a lot better on her in the long-run. This stuff isn't a pain-med that someone can develop tolerance to. It's something that actually causes a physiological change.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3525174/
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on July 05, 2017, 05:20:38 AM
Thank you Dee, and everyone.  I'll keep her on the usual dose.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on July 15, 2017, 10:17:32 AM
Mazy cat takes such joy and pleasure in jumping and leaping!  She has a new way to get into her Crow's Nest now. She used to just climb up the sisal part, it's slightly slanted like a steep ramp. 

But now she jumps onto Ootay's bench, leaps across to the Perch, jumps to the roof of the Play House, then leaps to the Crow's Nest.  It takes me much longer to write it than it does for her to do it, it's all done in a running rush.

She moves with such..joy in the moving, you know? I hope the GLM continues to provide this benefit for her for a long long time.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on July 15, 2017, 04:52:19 PM
I hope the GLM continues to provide this benefit for her for a long long time.

I hope so, too!   fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed  :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on July 16, 2017, 04:22:44 PM
I hope so, too!   fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed  :)

Ditto!
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on July 16, 2017, 06:39:56 PM
Thanks you guys.  I just can't believe it.  She's making jumps I haven't seen her do in years.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on August 05, 2017, 09:14:42 AM
Mazy cat has a MAT.  I'm posting this in her arthritis thread because mats along the spine are not uncommon in cats with arthritis.  This is because they have trouble bending and reaching certain spots.  But with the amount of activity Mazy cat shows, and her ability to leap and fly around, I never dreamed she might be having trouble reaching certain spots on her body for washing.

Anyway I felt the mat one day when she was on my lap here, while I was on the computer.  Well at first I thought it was an -almost mat- The hair there felt a bit stiff, not soft and flowing like her normal fur.  She let me scratch there, and work the fur through my fingers, and then underneath I felt a sure enough mat.

Mazy cat allows very little in the way of grooming and I've let her slide on this.  For years I worked on getting her to accept a few strokes down her back with the comb when she's on my chest when I'm reading on the couch at night.  But I've let that slide over the past few years.

My reasoning was, I want her purring as long as possible (good for digestion and well being) and when she sleeps on me like that she purrs.  When I start with the comb she tolerates two or three strokes then growls and gets off me.

Anyway, so knowing the mat was there, one time I picked up the comb while she was walking past me and swiped it down her back.  She swore at me, and I missed the mat.  So last night while she was on me purring and petted her until I found the spot. It wasn't right where I remembered it.  I forgot to say she doesn't like a lot of petting when she is on me either.  She just wants to lie on my chest and purr and doze (after kneading for a few minutes)

Anyway I had her comb at the ready.  After finding the spot I stealthily reached for the comb and resting my hand where the mat was I quickly swiped the comb down, moving my hand at the last minute.  I got a bit of the mat and stroked again, and again, each time the comb would snag on the mat and then come through. It wasn't very big, just a few tangled spots, which would have become a big mat if I hadn't found it.

In the tangled spots there was a bit of dandruff/skin flakes mixed in.

SHE LET ME DO THIS! Mazy cat let me comb out that mat.  I couldn't believe it!  I gave 7 strokes in all and I think I got all of it.  She never growled or protested, even when the comb pulled a bit. And she stayed on me.  I put the comb down and she went back to her snooze.

Obviously she knew she had a mat and needed help with it from me.  However I've told her that she is now going to have to let me comb her down her back and especially in that area, again.

She's just been up on my lap here as I was typing. (left because I was typing too much) and allowed me to feel all over the area where the mat had been, and there's no more, so I did get it all.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on August 05, 2017, 10:58:02 PM
I'm so glad she let you do it, and you're right, I'm sure she knew she needed help with it, which is why she didn't protest.  She's a smart girl.

It always amazes me, the relationship you two have.  Not just that you know her limits, but that she knows when you're trying to help her.   HeadButt HeadButt
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on August 06, 2017, 01:27:05 PM
Thanks Pookie.  I, too, am often amazed at our relationship and bond, though I don't know why I should be.  It's the type of bond I am used to with my cats, but still...she never fails to astound me. I guess it's because I remember her early days when she was not socialized.  I also know that that scared wild cat is still lurking just under the surface even after all these years, it's only that she controls it.

Mazy cat is an amazing cat. I am honored daily by the trust she puts in me.

On to more practical things.  I am keeping a close eye on that spot (much to her annoyance haha) I see it tends to flake there, too. Not a lot, but now that I am looking (after noticing the flakes involved in the mat) I see them.

I hope she will let me run a comb over her, especially over that area, now and then to keep control over it. I did try last night after warning her what I was going to do, but she refused after the first stroke. And she let her back claws out a little when she jumped off me too. That's how much she disapproved!  funny2
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on August 07, 2017, 05:43:37 AM
I got the back claws again last night.  funny2

This morning I found another mat, in her neck ruff.  :( It's very thick there.  She has such heavy fur.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on August 07, 2017, 12:59:17 PM
This morning I found another mat, in her neck ruff.  :( It's very thick there.  She has such heavy fur.

 fingerscrossed that she lets you help her with it.  fingerscrossed
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on August 07, 2017, 04:46:08 PM
Thanks Pookie! Not yet.......
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on August 07, 2017, 08:10:08 PM
Quote
I'm posting this in her arthritis thread because mats along the spine are not uncommon in cats with arthritis.  This is because they have trouble bending and reaching certain spots.

Since she isn't fed dry, I was wondering why the mats.  Thanks for the explanation! 

Sorry about the back nails.   Silly7  I have no doubt she WILL let you help her... once she gets entirely used to the idea.   HeadButt
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on August 08, 2017, 06:07:17 AM
Mazy cat never stops surprising me. I got the mat under her ruff last night. It was driving me crazy that it was there. It was tiny, like I said but I didn't want it to have a chance to grow. She wouldn't let me even feel for it when she was on my lap anymore, she was getting so annoyed with me about it.

 I just picked her up and carried her into the bathroom and shut the door talking to her about it all the while.

I put her in between my knees in the holding position and combed the ruff out and got it out. She let me do it without even a growl! Of course I praised her and thanked her, released her, opened the door and she trotted off without another thought about it.

She is just the most amazing cat.

It was very small, just a little bit of fur twisted. Felt much bigger before I could see it.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on August 08, 2017, 11:01:04 AM
I put her in between my knees in the holding position and combed the ruff out and got it out. She let me do it without even a growl! Of course I praised her and thanked her, released her, opened the door and she trotted off without another thought about it.

multistars multistars multistars multistars multistars
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on August 09, 2017, 04:43:23 AM
That mat on her back/spine is back again already!  I combed it off last night and Mazy cat was greatly annoyed. I keep telling her she's going to have to let me swipe that spot every day now.  She Does  Not Agree.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on August 09, 2017, 03:47:28 PM
That mat on her back/spine is back again already!  I combed it off last night and Mazy cat was greatly annoyed. I keep telling her she's going to have to let me swipe that spot every day now.  She Does  Not Agree.

I got the back mat off, just now, that I found this morning.  It wasn't QUITE a mat yet, but almost.  The fur was thickened and twisted. I had to just hold her still and comb it out with her screaming bloody murder.  I was NOT hurting her!

I also found one on the left side of her thick ruff, to match the one on her right side that I removed the other day, and a new tiny one on the right side.  I got them too. 

 Maybe I should have started a new mat thread after all.  What the heck is going on with these mats?  Her fur is just superior in quality, thick soft, shiny, couldn't be nicer.  But she is getting these mats.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on August 09, 2017, 04:55:36 PM

 Maybe I should have started a new mat thread after all.  What the heck is going on with these mats?  Her fur is just superior in quality, thick soft, shiny, couldn't be nicer.  But she is getting these mats.

Barkly will get mats if I don't watch it. It's always places that he likes laying and rubbing on--we call it the wiggles--his sides of ruff, bottom of ears and chest.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on August 11, 2017, 05:42:11 AM
It's awful isn't it?  I was so shocked when I first felt them! The one on her back that I thought came back, I think now maybe I just hadn't gotten it all. Because it's been clear and smooth since that last effort.

I also realized after all the screaming that I'd used Queen Eva's comb, not Mazy cat's and that was probably the main cause of her upset. I mean she hates it, certainly, but never yelled like that before.  All three combs are the same, but she knows which one is hers, their sense of smell is so strong.

I haven't checked her ruff again yet.  It's so heavy and thick and the mats were very deep. She's gotten suspicious and doesn't want me drubbing there lately.  Cant' say I blame her.  But I am talking to her about this every day, telling her how much the mats will hurt her if she doesn't let me keep after them.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: DeeDee on August 11, 2017, 10:17:55 AM
The only reason I can figure out for mats like this in those places is that their wallowing around causes movement in the undercoats and that twists the fur.

I know I've seen cats doing that same kind of rubbing movements that Barkly does out in the yard.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on August 11, 2017, 01:02:19 PM
Mazy cat does rub her face, marking, all over the place, but it's her cheeks she's rubbing, not the ruff around her neck. Her ruff has gotten so thick!

However, she does a lot of rolling and spinning, which could twist the fur on her back, like you suggest, and that may be just that one spot on her spine she cat quite reach any more.  It has that weird flakiness too, which she has no where else.

A few flakes this morning, but not twisted or rough fur.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on August 13, 2017, 03:45:44 PM

All I can say is ... thank GOODNESS Mazy has you.  You never give up.   DrLisaPiersonWorthy
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on August 13, 2017, 04:34:59 PM
Aw, thanks Lola.  Earlier today I was reading through this whole thread.  Funny how quickly you forget things...like how bad off she was last year in September, and how she quickly got much much worse.  And I enjoyed reading about all the tiny improvements as they came on.

My gosh...I can't imagine what I would have had to put her through if it weren't for the GLM.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Lola on August 15, 2017, 10:06:40 AM
This thread has been a good thing then!  When you feel poopy about SO much going on with Mazy...you can read that SO much as also improved.  :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on September 01, 2017, 09:30:22 AM
Yes, Lola, I like very much having threads to come back to.  This forum is my life line in many ways.

Mazy cat is allowing combing of her back!  When she is on my chest, kneading her shoulder pillow.  Sometimes she will only allow 2 or 3 strokes but last night I got 10!

That mat prone area is staying smooth with the nightly strokes but it still dandruffy.

May cat has the strangest fur I've ever seen.  I've been noticing how different it looks pulled out of the comb compared to Jennie's and Queen Eva's.  I've taken some pictures and mean to start a new thread about it.  Hopefully today.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 05, 2017, 05:04:50 AM
Mazy cat is still allowing me to comb her back, just a few strokes every night, and this has kept the mat away.

I am so thrilled that when it's gotten cooler she has not stiffened up at all. Relieved. Glad I followed the advice of you all and kept her on the full GLM dose.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 04, 2017, 10:04:49 AM
Mazy cat does seem to be stiffening up a tiny bit, but not too much. Time to get the warmth reflecting liners out for all her various box beds.

Queen Eva has gotten a bit rough, and has had to be reminded to be gentle with Mazy cat.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on January 07, 2018, 05:30:34 PM
Mazy cat is a lean playing machine.  She is what I would call highly active, almost every night.  Now and then she does take a night off.  Leaps, butt wiggle pounces,  multilevel jumps, somersaults, climbing, running, and this new thing..using Queen Eva's tunnel in her interactive Games.

All this, with (suspected) IBD, and arthritis, at almost 14 years old.

Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on January 07, 2018, 08:34:42 PM
Mazy cat is a lean playing machine.  She is what I would call highly active, almost every night.  Now and then she does take a night off.  Leaps, butt wiggle pounces,  multilevel jumps, somersaults, climbing, running, and this new thing..using Queen Eva's tunnel in her interactive Games.

All this, with (suspected) IBD, and arthritis, at almost 14 years old.

multistars multistars multistars

I'm so glad she's feeling so good!  And I'm REALLY glad you found the green-lipped mussel.  I'm sure that's made a HUGE difference for her, especially with this winter being SO cold.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Catgirl64 on January 08, 2018, 01:10:23 PM
Lola statue.  Tell Mazy to get to doing the same!

I'm reading through this whole thread, following Mazy's story, and this is completely OT, but I have two of those scratching posts.  They are great! 

I also have to say that MC has to be the most amazing pet parent ever.  I am in awe.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on January 08, 2018, 03:26:19 PM
I also have to say that MC has to be the most amazing pet parent ever.  I am in awe.

Yep, she is.  I think we're ALL in awe . . .  HeadButt
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on January 08, 2018, 05:16:27 PM
Oh gosh you guys, thank you.  But every one of you are as awesome as you say I am.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on November 08, 2018, 07:25:55 PM
Mazy cat has a MAT.  I'm posting this in her arthritis thread because mats along the spine are not uncommon in cats with arthritis.  This is because they have trouble bending and reaching certain spots.  But with the amount of activity Mazy cat shows, and her ability to leap and fly around, I never dreamed she might be having trouble reaching certain spots on her body for washing.


Mazy cat has those mats again.  I was surprised to see that last eyar they showed up in August,. I thought it was a cold weather thing. But she didn't get any this summer, only just finding the start of them now.  Again in her thick ruff around her neck and two down her back, one on her spine and one on her right hip.

They are just starting, barely mats at all yet, just thickened fur, but the areas there are flaky too like last time.  I've worked the spots good with my fingers and then, much to her displeasure, kind of held her in place and put the comb through them.

You may remember how curly her fur actually is underneath!

http://parenting-furkids.com/index.php?topic=5287.0

Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on July 28, 2019, 09:16:33 AM
Mazy cat is still getting those little mats..well they are really pre-mats, because I check her daily so they don't have a chance to get worse.  her fur is sjut so thick and curly and chunky.  She keeps herself clean and shiny and soft, but the fur just keeps chunking up.

I think her arthritis is progressing beyond what the GLM can do for her as she is showing signs of wobbliness and stiffness. She's still running and doing multi-level jumps but there is some hesitation now that wasn't there before.

 And Queen Eva is bullying her something terrible again.

I'm going to try the microlactin I think.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 14, 2019, 01:02:27 PM
Mazy cat is showing a little wobbliness in her hind legs.  She's just as active as ever, jumping running playing somersaulting, but sometimes, her back legs slip.  I'll be mentioning that at the vet tomorrow morning at her check up.

I decided to not start the microlactin until after her blood work, because it there are any changes in her numbers, I don't want to wonder if they are being caused by the microlactin.

No mats in the last few weeks, her coat is smooth and soft, and the white flakes have disappeared too. Have no idea what was causing that. Perhaps all the stress. Or..hmm..the frontline plus.  They are done with that I think I haven't seen a dead flea in 6 weeks.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on October 14, 2019, 02:07:16 PM
In case I forget later . . . sending GoodVibes GoodVibes GoodVibes and  Hug1 Hug1 Hug1 to you and Mazy for tomorrow's appointment.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 14, 2019, 02:20:27 PM
 HeadButt HeadButt

Poor Mazy cat just had her nails trimmed for the event.  Queen Eva..well I told her she wouldn't be on the list for the trims today, because it's only been two weeks.  She must have understood because while she was on high alert during Mazy cat's session she stayed in her bed and as soon as I sat down here, she lowered her head again.

Usually when I get started with Mazy cat Queen Eva hides and/or stays on high alert and I have to wait several hours to catch her unaware again.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 15, 2019, 09:35:47 AM
At check up today:

I mentioned the wobbliness on her back legs and my concern about her advancing arthritis, and vet checked her over carefully and said her hips are creaking a bit..arthritis.

Vet seemed to think I was asking for pain meds and did a spiel about the pain med choices and no safe NSAIDS and all that. Things I already know of course.  I said I don't want to put her on drugs I want to add microlactin. I added that there is a made for pets version called Duralactin.  She hadn't ever heard of it!  I was sure she'd be the first to recommend the pet brand.

I don't intend to use the Duralactin though, just pure microlactin powder. However when I speak to her about the blood work results I hope to remember to say casually, did you look up the Duralactin to see if it would be okay for Mazy cat?

She felt it was okay to keep Mazy cat on the lactulose and suggested I give it daily. If 1/2 ml a day was working, then she recommends staying on that. With her arthritis and all, I can see why this would benefit Mazy cat, but I don't want her to have to suffer any cramping or anything, that's why I am using it so sparingly.

https://prnpharmacal.com/product/duralactin-feline-capsules/

Better info here:

https://www.chewy.com/duralactin-feline-capsules-cat/dp/110916

The product I am going to be using is this:
https://smile.amazon.com/Swanson-Microlactin-Powder-4-9-Pwdr/dp/B07NCZ5C92/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3J02FL8879HOR&keywords=microlactin&qid=1571149692&s=hpc&sprefix=microlactin%2Caps%2C154&sr=1-4

The patented microlactin source is the same for both products: Stolle Milk Biologics

I prefer the pure powder to avoid the flow agents and flavorings in the capsules

Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on October 15, 2019, 09:51:56 AM
Thanks for sharing the info!   :)
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 17, 2019, 05:18:54 AM
Mazy cat seems very sore and stiff after her vet visit. I remember noticing that last time too.  I think it's from being restrained during examination and blood work, not to mention the anal glad business.
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Pookie on October 17, 2019, 12:34:35 PM
Sending GoodVibes GoodVibes GoodVibes to you and Mazy cat.  Hug1
Title: Re: Mazy cat's arthritis
Post by: Middle Child on October 20, 2019, 09:59:11 AM
Thanks Pookie. She's doing much better now, Thundering Around the House, dancing sideways for Games and all. bananamiddlechild