...further update

Lucyfur stopped eating on Sunday night and didn't eat on Monday, even when I offered her tuna. So, on Tuesday morning, I rook her back to see the vet. The jaundice was back in her ears and mouth, but she still seemed strong and was coming to eat, even though she ultimately wasn't eating. He gave her a steroid shot that he said should stimulate her appetite and thirst.

It seems to have worked, as since late Tuesday afternoon, she has been in to drink several times and has pestered me for food, actually eating when she gets it.

I don't know how long this will last, but it's good to see her eating again, even though the inevitable end will come... I just don't want her to suffer.

In my continuing battle with finances, my health insurance has disallowed all my SG Immediate Care charges from 2/12, so now I owe Sutter Gould $500+. I suppose next, they'll disallow the Dr visit I had yesterday & the routine labwork he scheduled.
Fortunately, I'm getting my taxes done on 3/9 & am due the same refund as last year, which will be enough to pay for having the taxes done, my property taxes AND the medical bills the insurance won't cover.

It's always something...

"Holy Michael, the Archangel, surround me with your holy angels...
protect me from the enemy and all his minions...
by the grace and power of God, consign them all to hell"...

...lucyfur update

Mz Lucyfur is slowly getting used to being back home. She avoided me the first day or so, since I was putting salve in her right eye and she was NOT amused, even though her eye is almost well now.

She was showing up at mealtime, but not really eating much and the vet had warned that if she stopped eating, she would relapse quickly.

She has a history of periods of finickyness, [issues with the "Turkey & Giblets"...]
which has not long persisted, but now is NOT the time, she needs to eat & regain her strength, so I considered getting different flavors to tempt her.

Then, it hit me... tuna...

I had several cans of chunk white or albacore tuna, canned in water in my pantry.

Years ago, when I had a bunch of kitties who would go outside to play, I used to buy tuna by the case at Costco and when I called them in from outside, they always got tuna... not nasty, smelly, cat-food tuna, but nice, people-food tuna... just enough for a taste for everyone, [with quality protein, a little goes a long ways...].

They would all come running... eager for their reward...

So I opened a can and offered it to Lucyfur... she started eating right away...

Of course, so did Cagney, who pushed her way in, while Mac & Sneaky Pie, noticing the enticing aroma, began to "circle".

Understanding that the "jig was up", I put the can, with lots of tasty bits still inside near their dish. Then I opened another can and gave the beggars most of it.
Lucy fur was still nibbling at hers[on top of the TV cabinet]. Later, I gave Lucy some more. She didn't eat as much, but she did come into the bedroom to drink and visit later on.

This morning, she came onto my bed, announcing that it was time to eat, then she came for cat-food, licked some of the gravy, nibbled a bit then retired to the TV cabinet, where I got her to eat a bit more tuna. She seems more alert, but getting her back to her normal weight may take some time. When her eyes are all well, that may help as I think they affect her sense of smell which always is linked to appetite.

So I hope that she's on the mend... she seems better...

...late breaking good news

The good news is that Lucyfur, who gave us a real scare on Wednesday, is responding to the IV treatment at the vet. She is eating, drinking and up & about, so I get to bring her home this afternoon.
I took her in for irritated eyes and on closer inspection, the vet showed me the jaundice. Her eyes, [beyond the inflammation], ears, tummy and gums were yellow. We decided to give her,"a chance", because she hadn't given up yet, [she kept fighting to get back into her carrier] and even though I knew that she'd lost weight, this had just happened over a couple of days since I thought that she had a kitty cold.
This is costing $355, [that's the most I could justify spending], but I consider it worth it since she has responded so well. We don't know how long it'll be before the liver starts to have problems again, but at least she has this time, now...

Time to snooze in front of the fire with her buddies who have missed her...


On other fronts, spring seems to be "springing" rather early this year.

The Meyer lemons have finally gotten enough water to get the right size...
and there are even a few blossoms starting to open. Trees everywhere around are blooming, making my allergies bloom too.

I found these cherry tomato seedlings at OSH. A "Sunsweet" and "Sweet 100"...
just what I wanted to put into my front porch container. They seem to like it there and I get a lot of tomatoes for the water & effort. I tried a smaller regular garden last year. It was a waste of effort, since I can no longer afford to water enough and the big oak shades the yard most of the day. So a small container of tomatoes is about my speed. I also have some herbs on the porch that do well. I may expand the front garden if I get so inclined.

Of course, I couldn't resist these "johnny jump-ups"[violas]. They will do well here until it gets into the 80's regularly, then I replace them with portulacas which take even the hottest days. I was hoping to plant the "johnny jump-ups" in December, as they don't mind cold, but didn't go looking for any since I was having to be so careful with money. To fill these 2 big containers cost about $11.

I never got around to cutting back the roses and they are all showing new growth. The creeper is still "asleep", however...

As you can see, it still has quite a ways to go before its buds even begin to swell.