Hi Barb,
What wonderful news that Smoky is improving! Hooray! The little stinker, now that he feels better, he's giving you a hard time. I would try calling him in a way he's not used to. A different kind of coo perhaps. Toss him something irresistible, a small piece of chicken maybe, just a small taste. Do this a couple of times, tossing the chicken closer and closer to the edge of the bed. The first couple of times he gets close enough to touch, let him have the treat without grabbing him, let him go back under the bed if he wants. Start calling him and making him follow you out into the open before giving him the treat. Let him eat the treat in the open without any negative results. Tell him how much you appreciate his cooperation. When he gets used to this, you'll be able to draw him out, dose him, give him more treat, and let him go. Hopefully, he'll begin to accept the negative (getting dosed), because of the payment (yummy treats).
I'm so pleased it looks like he's going to be okay! Nina
Barb Moermond wrote:
yep, it's weird and that's the food that I've added to their mix. Smoky still has the fentanyl patch on, but he can reach it - he also figured out that if he curls up in the sink his skin moves so he can reach more of it.... bitter apple doesn't work on him and now he won't let either of us near him and since he's been feeling better (mostly just yesterday afternoon and evening, Bandit seems to have called off the truce. hubby says Bandit was picking on him this morning and that's the initial reason Smoky went under the bed. But when I put out their breakfast, Smoky had come out into the hallway, but as soon as he saw me facing him, he went straight back under the bed, so he hasn't gotten his antibiotics or anti-spasmotics this morning. The vet wants me/him to finish the course he's on even though the culture came back w/only one colony which is insignificant. He was feeling fine last night, bouncing around and being happy, but he seriously won't let us near him anymore - VERY distrustful at this point. and it's a king size bed in a corner.... there's NO way to get him, which is kind of good, because he needs a safe place... but as of the glimpse I got of him this morning, the patch was still mostly attached, it's just loose around the edges.... aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh this is really frustrating, I'm waiting for the clinic to call back because I want to have some oral pain meds as a backup in case he does get the patch off. The vet had also mentioned that sometimes when there are problems like interstitial cystitis, and with the bladder lining, some cats do well on the joint meds chondroitin/glucosamine because the bladder lining is so similar to the joint linings.... I thought that was very interesting.
I'll continue to keep you posted - I'm very thankful for all the good vibes coming his way, they've helped and it seems that he's over the worst of it - there doesn't seem to be any blood in his urine now and we just need to keep him stable:) and not peeing outside the box!! although, the puppy pads are a godsend!!!!
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