George Update

MOM

I thought I'd update you on George's status since his Stage 3 kidney failure diagnosis.

We came up with another way to give him his sub-cutaneous fluids.  Previously we stood him on a towel on our bathroom vanity, with my husband holding him down then I'd push in the needle in and hold the bag up.  Meanwhile George would back himself up until he was in the sink.  Now my husband sits in a chair holding George on his shoulder like a baby being burped, then I do the needle and bag thing, standing behind the chair.  George tolerates this much better because he's being held by Dad. 

The appetite stimulant pills are working, for now.  He's eating some and we let him eat whatever he wants, including human food such as sliced deli turkey and ham.  As long as he's eating, I don't care what he eats!   The vet said at some point the pills may stop having the desired effect, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

He's gotten very demanding, more so than he ever was.  So much so, in fact, that I've had to move out of our bedroom to get a decent night's sleep.  Otherwise he'd be meowing and walking on me all night.  Why, you ask, don't you just shut the bedroom door?  We can't because our bathroom and walk-in closet is where the litter boxes and food/water are.   I guess we could try moving a litterbox into the main house area at night, but it's easier for me just to sleep in the guestroom while my husband stays in our room and soothes George.  He's always been a Daddy's boy.

I noticed he's been a little short tempered with the other 3 cats.  Max adores George and tries to be near him whenever he can.  A few times George has slapped Max when Max tried to squeeze in next to him on the couch.  He did it to Tipper, too, when she laid next to him and began cleaning his head and ears.

With us, though, he just wants love and as much lap time as he can get.

Thanks to everyone for the kind words and encouragement in dealing with our sick boy.