Monday, July 30, 2012

Boxing

Olympic boxing took center stage in the foster room as the kittens got a new box this weekend.

One of the very few times that kittens were actually inside the box.  They love to use the flaps outside the box as tunnels and as hiding spots to launch attacks against their siblings.

"What am I doing IN the box??  Need to get undercover..."

Porter stalking Eloise from inside his "box fort".

Henry, also stalking Eloise.  Our poor little girl is dreadfully outnumbered.  Good thing she can take every single one of these boys.

Her small size contributes her stealth capabilities. 

Still amazed that our teeny tiny tabby princess can't collapse even the flimsiest of boxes.

Eloise hiding out from her meddlesome brothers.

Henry taking a wide turn on his supersonic, super-speedy laps around the boxes.

Henry getting his recommended daily allowance of cardboard.
 Henry 1, Box 0

Porter the vampire gets to snackin' on the box.
Porter 1, Box 0

The poor box just can't catch a break.  Sooner or later I expect that someone will pee on it and put it out of it's misery.

The Olympic Boxing Champion

Final Results:

Gold:  Eloise
Silver: Henry
Bronze: Porter

Medal Count:

Eloise: 2
Henry: 2
Porter: 2

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The Big Cats Take Their Turns in the Boxing Ring

Norman snoozes undetected in a comfy, fur-lined box.


While Penny just doesn't seem to get this whole "boxing" thing.

Simba versus the pizza box is no contest.

Final Results:

Gold: Simba
Silver: Norman
Bronze: Penny

Medal Count:

Simba: 1
Norman: 1
Penny: 1

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The Ugly Truth

Monday was pretty horrifying as I discovered a spot of what is probably ringworm on two of my own animals.  The obsession of sanitizing and medicating in the foster room is now my full time life as I battle for my pets and my family.  I am angry (although I have no idea with whom).  I am frustrated beyond belief.  I am ready to cry.

Funny thing is that Robyn over at Love & Hisses gave me the Sunshine award today.  I am sorry that I probably won't be feeling very sunshiny for the next few days while I focus on what needs to be done here.

I'd like to have fun and be Pollyanna today, but the ugly truth is that I'm just not feeling it.  I hope you will all bear with me for a little bit while I compose myself.  I'll be back in a few days to update you all and (hopefully) with better news about how we're beating this devil of an infestation.





















28 comments:

  1. Oh Kelly, I'm so sorry to hear it! :/ You take as much time to deal with this as you need - we'll always be here when you're ready to come back!

    Ringworm is clearly the devil. Ugh!

    (Also, I have a teeny crush on Eloise.)

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    1. I also have a teeny tiny crush on teeny tiny Eloise. She's remarkable (she really is!)

      The most frustrating thing is that the kittens have clearly turned a corner, so just when I let down my guard....

      I'm hoping for oral phamaceuticals to give all five adults (and that it can be crushed and hidden in their food). Bathing was difficult enough with the babies. Simba will not leave a drop of blood in my body. ;-)

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  2. I cannot even imagine...best wishes.

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    1. Thank you so much, Beachgal. At least I know what I'm dealing with this time around.

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  3. Don't worry Kelly - we don't expect you to be sunny all the time! Ringworm is a huge pain, even if it is not life threatening is still not a small thing to deal with either. Take your time and get back to blogging when you feel ready.

    I'm angry and frustrated that these babies (and by extension you) have to be put through all this. And when you say that these three were the healthiest of the bunch from this rescue just infuriates me. I know this person had good intentions but it also is not helping these little ones if their health and quality of life is affected, but sometimes it is hard for people to see this.

    By any chance was Norman the one who might have it? Because it seems he was briefly exposed to the babies.

    Lots of hugs and good thoughts for you!

    Anna

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    1. Thank you, Anna. Yes, Norman is one of them. It was probably unavoidable with how much time he spent trying to get into the foster room (and succeeding more than a couple times). Charlie the doofus dog is the other one with just a spot on one toe. They're both locked up in the basement while I sanitize upstairs and wait for instructions from the vet in the morning.

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    2. That's a good move (although I am sure Norman is thrilled having to share his space with the dog). Feet and ears are the most common places cats get ringworm because of the wrestling.

      Also - you weren't kidding when you said no pizza box is safe lol. Love it!

      And Eloise and those giant ears are just irresistable.

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  4. Oh, Kelly ... I'm sorry. Take all the time you need to deal with the ringworm. We'll be here when you get back. I'm just sorry that after all your hard work, you're facing even more. Good luck, best wishes and blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Dorothy. The support I get here means a lot and helps me through. I'll be back sooner than later with more information when I have it.

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  5. So sorry to hear about your new problems. I will sent all the prayers and good wishes I can your way. Hope you get through this quickly and easily.

    Dad

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    1. Thanks, Dad. I'm plugging along. You know me. I'm too stubborn to let this thing take over. I have an appointment on Thursday morning to get the pills. They'll give me shampoo without a prescription but not pills unless they see the animal. They're thinking that given the age and health of my critters, a couple weeks should do it.

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  6. Hang in there, Kelly! I'm sorry things aren't going that well right now. It's too bad your first attempt at fostering kittens is giving you so much trouble. I hope it gets better soon.

    Take care!

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    1. Thank you, Annie. I'm doing much better today, but this is enough to chase anyone away from fostering. Let it be public that this isn't chasing me anywhere and that the love the kittens give is greater than the stress over a fungus. I WILL beat this thing.

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  7. Well, that sucks. (not elegantly phrased, but truthful). Does it help if you think of it as athlete's foot and not ringworm? Because it's the same fungus. Finding it on Norman and Charlie doesn't mean that it is going to attack every feline and human member of your family either. I don't know anything about dogs, but Norman is more susceptible because he is older, just like the kittens were susceptible because they were young and not healthy. Stress actually makes cats more susceptible too, so anything you can do to help keep your own stress level down and not increase theirs is helpful. (Wine? Chocolate? Chicken baby food?)

    I have never heard of bathing cats to get rid of ringworm either, so I think you are more likely to get fluconazole to give them orally. In that case, Greenies Pill Pockets are your friend! They are not cheap, but you don't need to use a whole pocket either. Fluconazole is small, so you can break up the pockets (they are soft and squishy like Play Doh) into thirds or quarters and use them that way.

    I'll be honest, I still had to stuff the treat down the shelter cats (it always amazes me how a cat can eat every molecule of a treat and leave the pill sitting there naked!) but I found they didn't mind because it didn't taste nasty to them.

    Good luck! Comment/vent here as much as you like. I think most of us found your blog through Robyn so we are nice, cat-loving people and can sympathize and maybe even help.

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    1. Thank you so much, Teughcats. You are amazing and said everything I needed to hear. That is exactly the attitude I'm taking now. This sucks but it's not life threatening, so this is just something I need to do and deal with it.

      I stopped at the vet this morning and they would give me shampoo without seeing the animals but if I wanted pills I have to take in the ones showing symptoms (and of course they can't see them until Thursday morning). We will have prescriptions then and until then.... cleaning like maniacs.

      In your opinion, does segregation even matter at this point? Norman is beside himself being shut away. I'm tempted to let them out and let the healthy ones fend for themselves.

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    2. Yup, a lot of people use athlete's foot cream on ringworm lesions.. http://www.delvsc.org/ringworm.html

      if you want to do pill pockets, you can do the large dog size and break them down. saves money i fyou have to go through a lot of them.

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    3. If Norman hates it that much I wouldn't keep him shut away. That stress thing again. Put some athlete's foot cream on the lesion and keep him away from the kittens if you can.

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  8. Oh bless your heart! I second Teughcats' advice to do whatever you need to, especially to de-stress yourself. But everything will work out eventually. Norman is a trooper amd Charlie is a love, so hopefully it will stop there and I have a feeling that those two will handle everything just fine!

    Love Simba versus the pizza box!! I'm just surprised he isn't inside the pizza box!

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    1. I'm tempted to have a drink with lunch ;-) I will have prescriptions on Thursday and until then I just need to remember that my animals are so much healthier than the kittens were. They will get over this faster than they did.

      And just because I don't have a photo, doesn't mean he wasn't in the pizza box (on numerous occasions). He does like the feel of sitting on top, probably something about the "cush" and the heat of the pizza makes it feel good to him.

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  9. Kelly- I love the play on words! "Boxing" had me smiling all through your blog. I do love your style and look forward to reading this every morning, but if you need a break please take one :)
    ((hugs and best wishes)) about the ringworm. You'll get through it!

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    1. Thanks, Holly. I'll be back on Thursday afternoon with a quick update after taking the adults to the vet so everyone knows what's happening. I already have an idea or two for a blog post on Friday. I'll be back full-force then.

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  10. I am so sorry the ringworm has jumped. It can be airborne, so it is very possible there is no one to be mad at. They were absolutely blessed that you were willing to take them. Many people won't touch ringworm and I've seen my own shelter have to put down an entire room of cats to control it.

    Time and love will get you through this. It is beatable, and fortunately it isn't deadly so you aren't rushing the clock to suppress it before it takes a life..

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    1. My heart breaks thinking about those kitties! Honestly, I'm almost glad we didn't know about the ringworm until the kittens were already with our rescue. When I think of what might have happened to them if that little detail were known...

      My animals have tiny spots that don't appear to be growing or spreading at this time. With elbow grease and bleach, I think we'll be okay sooner than the kittens. Thanks for being here for me!

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  11. Some notes from another sympathizer -- and from someone who had to deal with ringworm. A few years ago, I adopted a kitten mainly because my girl cat is very maternal and my boy cat is more than a bit autistic when it comes to his fellow felines. The kitten turned out to be a ringworm carrier, and both cats got it. I vacuumed, threw out, and bleached like mad and the cats got the oral meds and the horrid, repeated baths at the vet's (the smellier, traditional kind of ringworm shampoo that is left on the cats for a certain amount of time and remains smelly long after it's been rinsed out). So eventually the fungus was destroyed on all fronts. In your case, I would recommend taking down the shades in the kitten room and giving the babies toys that can be thrown out each time you bleach and vacuum (which is daily, right?). You CAN AND WILL get through this. Also, re the oral medication, you can get the pills made into a suspension at the right pharmacist. Your vet should know about this, though many don't seem to. The good thing about suspensions (when done by an experienced pharmacist) is that the taste is first masked and then further masked by the flavor you request (tuna, chicken &c.). All good wishes for getting through this. You an and you will. --Kerry

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    1. Tuna suspension? I may have to hide that bottle from Norman ;-)

      Thanks for the advise. I'm hoping to avoid all sorts of baths with my adults. Simba took 3 people to administer a rabies shot last winter (which was unusual for him, but I'm not looking forward to adding water...)

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  12. Oh, I am so sorry. Scrub, bleach, medicate, relax & repeat. Come back when you ready. I've enjoyed your posts so much & it sounds like everyone else has too! We'll wait patiently, fingers crossed & thinking good thoughts for you & yours.

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    1. Thank you so much! Once the treatment becomes routine, it will be much easier. (Well, that and convincing the kids to pay better attention to the program!) I'll be back with a quick medical update Thursday afternoon with news from the vet visit. Already getting ideas for a post on Friday, so look for one then!

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  13. Hang in there! ((HUGS))
    I feel your pain, we're dealing with a re-emergent tapeworm issue in our furry kids.

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