Gus the Cat's VET BILLs

Hi everyone!

Gus' appt was yesterday - he's gained back a lb in a tick under 3 weeks, his temp was normal - blood work has been sent off for analysis, and I have to try and get a urine sample because his bladder is tiny, LOL.

Everyone at the vet was so happy to see him thriving! I think they tried to keep me there longer just so they could visit with him, LOL.

I do have Gus on a canned food only diet, these are the varieties he can eat. If you know of an actual store that I can get these at, instead of paying $ shipping, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!! I'm listing these products here in case you'd like to help Gus out (he's tearing through everything like he's never eaten before, LOL).

EVO 95% VENISON, 95% CHICKEN AND TURKEY

MERRICK COWBOY COOKOUT, THANKSGIVING DINNER

WELLNESS CAT FOOD, TURKEY AND CHICKEN VARIETIES

NATURES VARIETY BEEF, CHICKEN, TURKEY, LAMB

**NO SEAFOOD FLAVORS!** They're bad for kitties with kidney issues.

I have been buying all of the above at PetfoodDirect.com. If you register at their site, they send out email specials often - I bought food for 18% off the other day! They also have other sales on top of those percent offs :)

Thank you to everyone that helped Gus again!

Gus has been home for over a week now, almost 2. He is doing GREAT!!!! I see no sign that he was ever sick at this point, let alone that he was staring death in the eye (sniff). He is one tough cookie (I sooo knew that from the second he was pulled out of that van engine!).

He's been off meds for a full week now (boy did I have my fingers crossed when those ran out)...and is running, jumping and playing just like normal.

He is not on a special diet right now, but I am feeding him only canned food (based on my research - oh the hours of research!) - between he and Bunny Boo, they are eating me out of house and home! The canned food (not the cheap stuff from the grocery store) is only lasting about 1/2 as long as I anticipated.

He does have to go back to the vet in a bit over a week for follow up bloodwork and a few tests, I think it will all be just fine.

I've just started working on THANK YOU'S for everyone that sent a donation. Your kindnesses should not go unrewarded. Thank you again everyone for having such a sweet soul.

Clear Day

Hello! I went to visit Gus yesterday, 2/14. Wow. What a change! It was my BOY! As soon as he saw me he started meowing, and rubbing up against the cage..I haven't seen "that" Gus for weeks now. I opened the cage and it was all he could do to barrell out of there and onto me.

I gave him lovies for a while, it was so nice. He's even eating a little bit now. I did not get to speak to the vet, but was told he did need to stay the rest of the weekend so they could continue to give him fluids and meds. I looked at the charge on his cage and am going to Google the meds. The one, Baytril, I know is an antibiotic.

Your donations paid for the 1st bill - I cant express enough thanks. I dont know what the 2nd bill will be, but I suspect it will be a lot too. Thats why I've increased the chipin amount needed.

Fingers crossed, I feel so much better about his chances for recovery after seeing him!!!

It is his kidneys. They were traumatized by the bladder problem. He has elevated white blood cells and phosphorus.

He responded well to the fluids overnight - they are keeping him so they can continue those, along with a medication to lower the phosphorus, which is what is causing his nausea and subsequent disinterest in eating.

The good news is that like people, cats only need to have 30% of their kidney function to be "fine". We do not know the level of injury however.

Plan of action - continued fluids and a long course of antibiotics. Hopefully this is an acute situation that can be cleared up by this treatment, but we don't know for sure.

Vet inititally said they are going to keep him over the weekend, but then told me to come in tomorrow. They can teach me how to give him the fluids (cats don't do well with IV's so they are delivered by needle under the skin (subcutaneously), so it's a possibility he can come home tomorrow. He never has had a problem with being poked or his temp taken or anything, so I think he'd be Ok with me doing that. For $ sake, I want to bring him home tomorrow if I am capable of caring for him.

So that's the update. There is still hope.

Gus isnt himself. He's lethargic, and not interested in eating.

I called the vet today - In addition to the above, he hasnt pooped since he came home Monday, so they need to see him again as soon as I can get him there.

Back we go :(

Hello, and welcome to Gus' corner of the web. 'Tis a shame that it has to exist cause he's not feeling so well these days.

Here is the story of Gus (aka GUSSY GUS) the cat.

At my previous job, we would make deliveries by van. One day the van left, and the driver called us and said "I think there's a fuckin' cat in here..I keep hearing a noise!" We told him to come back right away. So he does, and there are 3 of us laying on the ground looking under the van - then looking in the van, in the engine, calling for a cat...we finally heard him...he had somehow ended up in a cubby above the wheel well...next to the engine. He was TINY...and filthy...it took some work to jimmy him out of there..he was covered in dirt and oil...my coworkers vet was up the street, so we took him up there for an exam - he was fine. Then it was "ok, now what do we do with him?" I said "I'm taking him. He's obviously special! He's a survivor - you cant have him!!"....and that was that, over 5 years ago.

About 2 years ago, he had his first kitty UTI. For about 3-4 weeks he was on antibiotics and a muscle relaxer (so he could "go"). It cured the problem. Until now.

About 3 weeks ago, he started having the signs of another UTI (they try and pee where they are NOT supposed to, frequently, restless, etc.). I took him to the vet, and he was put on antiobiotics for 2 weeks. After a few days, he was his normal self again. And after the drug regimen, he was great for a week..then..he started acting funky again..and within 1 days time, he was a wreck. He made sounds that I've never heard come from a cat. I knew it was serious..that he could die. I left work right away and took him to the vet. The confirmed his UT was blocked - that he could die - he needed to be admitted right away and given IV drugs, oral drugs, painkillers, special food, etc.

My god I was a train wreck that day. THIS IS MY KID! I loved him from the 2nd he was pulled out of that van engine!! He is a total lap cat - always on top of me, whether I am watching TV or sleeping.

I've visited him every day since Wed. Last night I talked with the vet..she was in the cage with him giving him a belly rub. He is not ready to come home yet, he can't control his bladder and is still on some heavy meds. It's Ok, I want him to be 100% ready to leave. The bill is high, of course..thus the reason this page exists. The final tally will be a bit higher because he will be staying an extra 2 days.

This weekend I am researching pet insurance.

There will most likely be a new or edited widget once this particular crisis is over, a continual fund of sorts for his care and food.

Thank you to everyone that has contributed. Such big hearts you have for a kitty that you never got to hug. Sniff.