I had my Christmas Miracle!
By Loverbear
@Loverbear (4918)
United States
December 24, 2008 9:47pm CST
Yesterday while I was cleaning in my work room, I noticed that my Siamese, Murphy was having problems urinating in the litter box. She would strain and strain and only do a little bit. I was really worried because she is 15 years old and there are so many possibilities that could cause the problem.
This morning she was restless and it was obvious she was in pain, so I called my usual vet, but they couldn't get me in. So they referred me to another vet. Well my BF and I literally "FLEW" to the vets office. It takes us an hour to get to the nearest town and another half hour to get to the town the vet was in. We left at 10:15 and got to the vet right at 11:40!! We promptly got to working on Murphy, who was very subdued and lethargic. I was sure that they were going to say that she had to be put down due to kidney failure. Well after two hours and $150 it turned out to be a urinary tract infection and she also had diabetes. She got her first antibiotic tablet before I left the Vet's office and she was really quiet on the trip home.
We got home and I turned her loose and she kind of staggered around for thirty minutes then took a nap. She just came in to the family room and is laying beside me felling great! She has demanded canned food, whipped cream and a ton of loving (after all the vet shoved that thermometer up my...under my tail and it was traumatic!)
It's made Christmas for me, as most of you know last year at this time I had to put down my Rottweiler, and to have lost Murphy this year would have been devastating! She's okay, and after the first of the year we go into her regular vet to get the diabetes checked out and she goes on insulin for that...but she is doing so much better and is her crabby vocal self...Man what a Christmas present! 
5 people like this
7 responses
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
26 Dec 08
I don't blame you for being careful. But you know...a lot of those whip creams have very little grams of sugar per serving in them. I didn't realize that until I had my gastric bypass and had to start paying attention to stuff like that. So hopefully it won't affect her at all. I'm sure she hopes so too. Hahahaha! She is just too cute btw. Thanks for posting her picture.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
26 Dec 08
She's getting whipped cream but I am being careful about the amounts. I am kind of worried about the diabetes, but then thought that maybe it was caused by the infection.
What is so wonderful is that Murphy is back to normal today, two days after her trip to the vet.
Thank you for being there for me, and sharing the joy that my little girl is doing so much better. It makes my Christmas!
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
25 Dec 08
Diabetic cat huh? No more whipped cream and carbs for that gal!
My Hobo was insulin resistant, but he also had FIV, my poor old fangless boy (he came with his fangs broken the old dear.)
I'm glad one pill got her feeling so much better, if you can hit those UTI's fast, you can knock them down pretty quick and BOY do they feel better!
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
25 Dec 08
Fortunately she isn't too bad of a diabetic. I am just wondering if when they do another blood test after the infection is over if she will test out as not being a diabetic. She doesn't get that much whipped cream as we both are careful about how much of it we consume and it is only bought as a huge treat for both of us.
I was really lucky that I caught it the night before last. Apparently it was the first sign of the infection and I of course had the good sense to get her to the vet the next morning. As the vet told me if I had waited until Friday I would have certainly lost her. Most people wait too long to get the cats help and by then it's too late. So I feel really lucky that I was where I was when I was to see that she was having problems.
She was in her favorite spot this morning, sleeping on the Dish box where it is nice and warm. I petted her and she purred like a motor boat! She got her second pill and left in a huff (she isn't partial to taking pills) and is hiding in her box. But she is her normal erasable self.
It hurts so badly when I hear about cats that have fangs broken...it is a sure sign that someone abused them. There is no reason to abuse an animal...yet people feel free to do so. But it sounds like you are such a loving, doting pet lover. And that you're as bad as I am about adopting animals that need to be in a loving home. Keep up the great loving work and have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! And thank you for responding to my discussions!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Dec 08
Aww--I'm glad you were able to get him to a vet....what was it? Cystitis for her urinary tract problem? I have a book here about natural remedies for just about any ailment a cat can have and I'll scan the pages about diabetes as it might help out Murphy...I'll scan as soon as possible for you and email the pages to you, okay?
I'm glad you had your Christmas miracle Lovebear...give a hug to Murphy for me
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
25 Dec 08
I read all the stuff from the vet and about all it says is a UTI. As he said in cats with diabetes it isn't uncommon for them to get them. He prescribed Baytril for her. The first tablet really did a great job. I am so thrilled that she is her crabby talkative self. She is laying beside me snoozing and when I pet her she purrs and then complains.
Thank you so much for doing the research for me. It has been one of those years that I hope won't repeat it self! Between kids, my friend's problems, my medical problems and then the cat...it's been a year from hell! I so appreciate your helping out with the information! Thanks for being there for me. Have a happy holiday, and there is a second box coming your way next week sometime.
Toni
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
25 Dec 08
What a great gift, I am happy that you still have your friend with you this Christmas..:)
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
25 Dec 08
My little girl is doing sooooo much better this morning! I woke up dreading checking on her, but she was curled up in her favorite spot and purred happily when I petted her.
I was so wiped out from worrying about her yesterday that I slept through the alarm and the telephone. I was in shock when I discovered that I slept past noon! I gave her her second pill and she marched off in her typical huff. It feels so good that she is going to be okay!
I have been really down this Christmas. My daughter sent me a very nasty email chewing me out and telling me that I wasn't to contact her and that I didn't have grand parents rights anymore and I couldn't see the grand daughters. She uses that as a weapon on both grand mothers to keep them doing what SHE wants them to do. I finally got tired of the weapon and told her to grow up and contact me some time after she had. I felt awful because I wouldn't get to see the "girls" and with the medical problems I've had including being told about the heart murmur and the need for the valve replacement, Christmas was rather sad for me. Then with Murphy girl getting so sick...but now Christmas is that bright and shining star again.
Thank you for your post, and have a wonderful Christmas!!!!
I gave her her second pill and she marched off in her typical huff. It feels so good that she is going to be okay!
I have been really down this Christmas. My daughter sent me a very nasty email chewing me out and telling me that I wasn't to contact her and that I didn't have grand parents rights anymore and I couldn't see the grand daughters. She uses that as a weapon on both grand mothers to keep them doing what SHE wants them to do. I finally got tired of the weapon and told her to grow up and contact me some time after she had. I felt awful because I wouldn't get to see the "girls" and with the medical problems I've had including being told about the heart murmur and the need for the valve replacement, Christmas was rather sad for me. Then with Murphy girl getting so sick...but now Christmas is that bright and shining star again.
Thank you for your post, and have a wonderful Christmas!!!!
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
25 Dec 08
Now that is what I call a Christmas MIRACLE!!! THANK YOU for sharing!!! 
@dreamweaverjan (3471)
• United States
25 Dec 08
Oh Gosh!! I'm so glad she is ok too!! how wonderful! My poor Minx is still recovering from having pneumonia of all things she's doing really well we go back for a check up in the next few days, that first vet bill for this was $166.00
OUCH!! not sure what all we'll have to do yet for her she is going on 12 years old and is the Mother Cat to my Screamer...the things we go through with our babies right? they are worth it but mercy me!!!
I'm glad your Christmas gift was a good one like this (G)!
