Conference misery::feline_v1

    Poor Bella! It sounds like you are doing all the right things for her.
    If she recovers enough to go home, couldn't you take her in? It sounds
    like she needs some affection.
    
    Keep us informed of any progress, we'll be thinking of you!
    
    
    Lisa ( Percy and Pookie in the UK )
    

    barb...
    
    we are really sorry to hear about bella. it doez sound somewhat like a
    stroke, doesn't it?
    
    i could carp about the lack of care--after all, these furry babiez put
    their trust in us to look after them--but this is not the place...
    
    best of luck to all.  prayerz from the atlanta crew...
    
    diane, stella & stanley
    

    Barbara -
      Let me know what the vet finds out.  If there's any way I can
    help don't hesitate to ask.
      Nancy DC

    I'm waiting to hear from Wendy this morning to find out how the
    night went and what they think.
    
    -.1  If there were any way I could take Bella, or any other of Wendy's
         into my home, I would do it in an instant.  I already have
         my "3 P"s (Pookah, Pywacket and Pebbles) at home and the landlady
         has been very specific that any more (she originally said I
         could have one) and I'm out the door).
    
         If there was a way, I would take in every one of her babies
         and love them to death, but I can't and, therefore, have to
         try to physically and financially keep my distance.  It just
         breaks my heart, but, Nancy has heard all of this from me many
         times before.
    
         I'll post any news from the Vet as soon as I get.  Thanks,
         all of    
         you.  (Woops!  Messed up didn't I?)
    
    
    

    Barbara,
    
    I am basically in the same boat as you and know how frustrating it can
    be to see the loving, but non-medical treatment our furry friends get.
    
    I hope everything turns out ok for you as I know it will for me.
    
    Sandi mom to THUNDER, LIGHTNING, STORM & DEJAVU & grandmom to STAR
    
    

    
    
    Count us in, Bella has our prayers too, and so do you!  It's often
    harder to have to stand at a distance and let our Kids (Human) learn
    to stand on their own two feet.  Hang in there, we are all pulling
    for all of you.  Please keep us posted on Bella, and let us know
    how we (else) we can help, if you need it!!  (Vets are expensive,)
    
    Feline Concerned,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
                        

    I am on the phone with Wendy right now.  It appears there is a very
    slight improvement in Bella.  She can stand by herself, but is still
    very wobbly.  She is taking food on her own, medicine by IV and
    doesn't seem to be as uncomfortable.  Personality has even returned
    a little more to her normal, bbeautiful self.
    
    Wendy says "Thanks" to all of you for your prayers and support.
    It has helped the morale of all of us.  Another update before I
    leave at 2:30.

    I have the vague recollection that expectant mothers can get some
    sort of vitamin or mineral deficiency that shows up this way.  I
    think I read about it in oone of James herriot's books;  maybe
    it was a calcium deficiency?  I think giving them a massive
    suppliment helped very soon.  On the other hand, possibly
    this only applies to cows or something.  It might be worth
    menioning to the vet, however.  Sounds like she might have not been 
    fed properly is a possibility.
    

                      FINAL UPDATE FOR TODAY ON BELLA
    
    The Animal Hospital called Wendy.  There was a negative result on
    the FLV test, so now they are in the process of running a "Feline
    Screen".  Does anyone know what that all involves.  Bella herself
    is not yet walking, but she does seem to be able to stand on her
    own, and is eating "like a pig" instead of a cat.  They are encouraged.
    I guess the Screen tests will be in tomorrow and then a decision
    will have to be made, what to do exactly.  
    
    I have told Wendy of all your support, and she in turn told the
    hospital, who said they have never heard of such a great bunch of
    people.  (But WE knew that, didn't we.)
    
    Again, thanks.  I'll give an update tomorrow and we'll see where
    we are.  
    
    Karen - the calciuim deficiency is one of the things they are testing
    for.  Also, she may have a severe inner ear infection, which having
    gone untreated, got horrendous.  Perhaps that's why the improvement
    from havng antibiotics, steroids, etc. by IV.  I still hope this
    works out well for everyone.  She is a miniature, but she has the
    biggest heart of any of Wendy's cats.  She loves the world.
    
    Thanks again.

    The best of everything to you and Bella.  I know what it's like
    to have a *very* sick cat in the hospital strung up on IVs and
    to wait for updates from the doctor.  Trust in Bella's abilities
    to care for herself--if she's eating, that seems to me to be a very
    good sign.  And trust, too, in your doctor.  If he's anything like
    ours, he's doing everything he can for her.
    
    LandShark sends her best to Bella and says "Hang in there, kid!"
    
    We're praying for you and Bella,
    
    Jill
    

    Re:  .9
    
    Now that you mention the ear infection, this sounds similar to
    when Momma Kitty (my mother's cat) had her ear problems.  She
    had polyps in her ears and they were giving her fits.  Her balance
    was off and she kept falling over when she tried to walk.  She
    would also shake her head alot as if trying to clear her ears
    of something.  There is a note in this file on Momma Kitty.  I
    think I titled it "Ear Surgery".  Momma Kitty's problem turned
    out to be unfixable.  Hopefully Bella's problem will be treatable
    with antibiotics.   
    
    The crew and I are thinking good thoughts for Bella (and Landshark
    too).
    
    Jan, Bailey, Amelia and Carrie

    Our prayers are with you.  She sounds like a real fighter and with
    that much heart and determination I know she'll be fine.
    
    God bless,
    
    
    Giudi, Pippin Gino & Stitch Too

    re: ear infection - the balance centers are located in the inner
    or middle ear (I forget which) so having an ear infection can really
    knock you on your a**, so to speak.  It really messes up balance.
    Hopefully, this is the bulk of Bella's problems.
      The calcium deficiency would effect neural transmission.
      Nancy DC
    

    Good Mornin', Guys!
    
    As of late last night (9:00ish) our baby Bella appears to be making
    it back.  She is able to stand much better, (although she was asleep
    when they did the last check up last night), is off the IV, eating
    like a Mommy Kitty "Piglet" should be, and altogether improved.
    I really am becoming convinced that it is the untreated Innerear
    thing.  Sure hope so.
    
    We have had a death in the family (my son-in-law's grandmother -
    90 years old) but after the Wake this afternoon I am bringing Wendy
    home so Dennis can stay with his family, and we are going in to
    visit our little girl.  It will be good to see her so improved.
    Wendy will be calling again this morning for further update, and
    I'll let you know.  They (Wendy & Dennnis) are going to make payment
    arrangements before they pick her up, as the Vet had indicated they
    would do, so hopefully I can sit back and watch them to start taking
    responsibility for their own lives.  I could never sit back and
    watch one of their babies go untreated as in this instance, but
    I need to try and nudge them closer to be responsible in advance,
    rather than after the fact.  This has been an ongoing struggle for
    many years and for various reasons, but I keep on trying.  
    
    Thanks for your support everyone.  It helps so much, as I know so
    many of you understand.
    
    Barb

    Barb, I'm glad to hear that Bella is doing so well and the vet has
    agreed to let Wendy and Dennis make payments.  That's terrific.
    
    While Bella is at the vets, might it be a good time to have her
    spayed?  Or has this already been done??
    
    
    --Roberta (who firmly believes in altering pets and can really be
               a pain in the neck about stressing it!).
    
    P.S.  You've done a great job in helping Bella!  What a good human
    mommy and kitty mommy you are!!
    

    .16  Hi, Roberta - 
    
    I can only accomplish so much in a short amount of time.  The real
    problem is, she is going to be kept over the weekend and as of today
    the bill is already up to $148.00.  I don't think they are going
    to be able to afford enough weekly payments for a short enough period
    of time to make spaying a possibility at this time.  In this area
    I really can't do much either.  Payments will help them, but if
    the time period they allow them isn't enough I don't know what they
    will do.
    
    We're going to visit her this afternoon and I think I'm going to
    suggest that Wendy try and discuss the financing with them at that
    time so we have an idea of what it is going to entail.  I just hate
    it when treatment and proper care has to be judged by the purse.
    
    Again, thanks for caring.
    
    BTW, Roberta, it was nice meeting you at the show Saturday.  It's
    fun to be able to put a face and name together.
    
    Have a good weekend all.
    
    Barb

    Nancy can get you a spay certificate for Bella.  Also, if they can't
    spay Bella, then maybe they can keep her inside so that she can't
    become pregnant again any time soon.  She has been through a lot
    lately, and the last thing her body needs now is another pregnancy.
    
    Jo

    Barbara and I have discussed that and it sounds like there isn't
    a participating vet anywhere near Bellingham where the daughter
    lives.
      N
    

    Hi, Gang - 
    
    Sorry for the lack of communication yesterday, but our System crashed
    a little after 7:00 yesterday, and never came up until almost time
    for me to leave.
    
    Jo -
    
    Not only are there no participating Vets in our area, but the
    suggestion of keeping Bella an "inside only" kitty has already been
    done.  The problem is:  Wendy has also adopted 3 stray males, all
    unneutered, so in or out doesn't make any difference.  Believe it
    or not, she really thought that because she closed Bella up in a
    separate room at night, she didn't get pregnant during her last
    heat.  Well, 3 dead babies and a serious illness late.......  One
    good piece of news.  She is going to discuss the cost and ability
    to pay the fee for the spaying with Dr. Shea when she goes to get
    Bella today.
    
    Yup - she's coming home today.  She is ever so much better, that
    they feel home will help her recuperate faster.  They have not been
    able to specifically identify the cause of all this, but it probably
    is one of two things.
    
    1)  The inner infection (untreated) that I predicted at the beginning
        of this whole mess last week;
    
    2)  The possibility of a tumor on the spine.  X-Rays haven't shown
         anything, but there is still that remote possibility. 
    
    They (The Hospital) are sending her home today but keeping her on
    a low dosage of Prednizone (that's the steroid they had my husband
    on before he died), and she will stay on that for 5 more days. 
    When the Prednizone is stopped, they want Wendy to monitor her very
    carefully, because if it is, in fact, a tumor that's when it will
    show.  
    
    So, it looks like it's not really over yet, but with hope it really
    will be the untreated inner ear infection.  Time will tell.
    
    There are times when my daughter is the dearest, most caring individual
    in the world - but there are times when I really would like to throttle
    her.  Instead, I write in here to you guys.  It makes trying to
    be realistic and deal slowly and sensibly with the issues created
    by a big heart, and not quite so big a sense of responsibility,
    when they crop up as they have in this instance.  It makes facing
    the realities of "Wendy" easier to deal with when I have someone
    (lots of someones) to bounce things off of.
    
    I truly hope that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. By just
    having our furry babies we will all have more to be grateful for
    than many people.  But I can also be grateful for the new friends
    I have found in Notes. 
    
    H  A  P  P  Y    T  H  A  N  K  S  G  I  V  I  N  G 
    
                          FROM
    
    Barbara and "The 3 P's" (Pookah, Pywacket and Pebbles)
    
    (They are even eyeing the FROZEN turkey.  God help me!!!!!!!!!
    
      

    Please keep us up to date.  Happy Turkey day to you
    and yours.
    

    How much will the spay cost? How much would it cost to neuter all
    three of the males at the same time?  Maybe the vet would give a
    discount if all three were done at once.  Let us know what the costs
    are. 
    
    Also, if she has three whole males loose in one house together,
    she must be insane! ;^)  It is amazing they haven't torn each other
    limb from limb.  And what about the spraying?  With them competing
    for one girl, they must be spraying like fire hydrants!
    
    I am so glad that Bella is doing better and coming home.  I wish
    you luck with Bella and your daughter.  I know how frustrating it
    can be when you see a member of your own family treating an animal
    in a way that you don't agree with.
    
    Another suggestion, I would suggest that she leave Bella isolated
    in one room, away from the males for awhile, probably until she
    is spayed or all three of them are neutered.
    
        
    Jo

Is it possible to suggest to your daughter
that you find homes for the cats...homes where they could get the
proper care because the people could afford to go to the vets?  If
she keeps only one cat - and if that cat is neutered - maybe she
could afford to take care of that one cat better?  Surely she can
see what damage happened when she didn't get Bella to the vet?


				Good luck with this..It's a painful one,


						D

    re: -1  A good suggestion, but I think you underestimate the effort
    it takes to place a cat - especially an adult.  It may be a long
    while before she finds good homes for all these kitties.
      N
    

    Hi, Guys - 
    
    Sorry for the long silence, but I finally have enough work coming
    in on the job to keep me out of any Notesfiles for a few days.
    
    The situation isn't an easy one to resolve, as I have tried suggesting
    all of the above "suggested suggestions".  Wendy won't give up even
    one of the cats voluntarily, and I wear myself out trying to talk
    sense into her.  But, there's not too much that seems to penetrate
    her misguided sense of making a "good home" for all her babies.
    I'm tired, guys.  No matter what I say or do, it precipitates some
    form of argument, wears me out, and doesn't improve much of anything.
    Thanks for all the good thoughts and words, though.  As you all
    know it really does help to be able to talk openly and honestly
    about the situation.
    
    Bella's condition.  She came home the Tuesday before Thanksgiving
    after the bill had reached $200.00 (not including the $20 I put
    in that first night).  They made arrangements with Dr. Shea and
    if they don't blow it, I think they will be able to make other
    arrangements to get other necessary procedures/doctoring/etc. done.
    I fear that they will blow it though, somewhere along the way, just
    because they ALWAYS do.  So, at this point, I have NO expectations.
    
    Bella is still having some real problems and I am bewildered by
    them.  (By the way, she was supposed to have a re-check yesterday
    morning, but "Mom and Dad" couldn't get out of bed and moving early
    enough so they MISSED THE APPOINTMENT!!!!!!!!!!!)  I'll never be
    able to understand them.  Here are the problems with Bella that
    they missed getting checked.  
    
    She still can't hold her head up higher than a 45-degree angle.
     She is walking better, but still draggy.  On top of that she seems
    to have developed a (for lack of a better word) personality disorder.
    She is attacking almost every cat in the house (but most particularly
    the unneutered males - I can identify with that - can't you?) even
    to the inclusion of her own babies that were born in APpril.  The
    littlest baby hides under the couch and won't come out she is so
    afraid of Bella. Now this was a REALLY gentle, loving cat before
    all this happened.  Anyway, they are keeping her as segregated as
    possible in the baththroom, but I wonder about the fairness of that
    to Bella.  I think there is more to her condition than we can ever
    be sure of.  But -  and this is what upsets me -THEY MISSED THE
    D**N APPOINTMENT.
    
    So, that's it for now, I guess.  I keep praying for Bella, that
    this will some way or other be resolved for her, and for the rest
    of the house.  I don't see anything forthcoming in the very near
    future.
    
    In spite of it all, we had a nice Thanksgiving, and I hope ou all
    did too.
    
    Barb

        Barbara -
      I would say the the cat is still quite sick.  Pain could be
    causing her behavior. Too bad your daughter doesn't have access
    to this file.  
    
    I find it very hipocritical for your daughter to claim to love
    these cats so much and then be too lazy to bring Bella in for
    much needed veterinary care.  In fact, I would go as far to
    say that your daughter is V*E*R*Y selfish.  This must be and
    incredibly difficult situation to deal with!  
    
    Keep us posted and let me know if there's anything I can do to
    help.
      Take care.
      Nancy DC

    I think we have all been in your shoes, loving someone who doesn't
    treat their animals as we would treat them.  It is incredibly
    frustrating.  All you can really do is try to keep your sanity.
    Your daughter has chosen to keep her cats in the manner that she
    is and there isn't anything you can do about it short of kidnapping
    the cats.  I wish the best for Bella.  She sounds like a real trooper.
    I agree with Nancy, her behavior change is probably brought on by
    pain.  Also, if she is off balanced and disoriented, she may not
    recognize the other cats.  It is not unusual for a female to reject 
    her grown kittens.  It is part of the weaning and growing up process.
                                                              
    Good luck to you and Bella
    
    Jo