Calmer today

 Lukas and I have had a calm day, mostly spent sleeping. I have light congestion and a cough and he has been loved on, had his trip for fluids, is holding his weight, eating and liking attention between naps. He does not have a UTI, knows how to jump down from the bed successfully and is otherwise adjusting to the change in vision. I've asked that his vet weigh in on the latest incident and will see what she has to say or suggest. He is in a small space with his bed, litter box, water and food so he does not have to walk long distances and his litter box is changed after each use. At this point, I have taken all vet suggestions, read up and implemented changes, all with vet approval. I truly do not know what else to do but cat pee in bed when one is unwell seemed just too much.

I'm hoping for a quiet evening.

A good Monday

 The boy went off this morning in a good mood and has done his cat stuff easily today. He and I had a good early dinner and we're set for a good evening. I got all the outstanding bills paid and can breathe for another month. My volunteer cards are all sent so there is a sense of being done, at least for now.

I'm moving into summer eating--salads, cold soups, yogurt, fruit, cold veg and things like crackers and cheese. It is a lot less cooking but still good eating.

What about you??

Happy Sunday

 The boy has had a good day. I've had some sleep but could use more. I was able to have him on the bed with me this afternoon without incident. He dozed and purred and licked my hand contentedly as I was reading. When he wanted to get down, he let me know and I placed him on the floor where he found his way to the box and water bowl. He has been fed, has clean litter and has preened.

As for me, during his day out on Friday, I cleaned, did all of the laundry, washed hair and other necessities, made the bed with fresh sheets and then took a nap. All of the groceries are in and tonight will be early to bed. I hope some day to be able to write about more than mundane tasks and life with a newly blind feline friend but I figure if people are bored or find this boring, they can move along. The last weeks here have been a bit difficult for Lukas and me as we both adapt to a new routine and changing needs. For those of you who have expressed support, I am grateful.

I have learned much from years of having companion animals. Giving them the time and space they need to adapt to a changing situation is paramount to domestic happiness for both human and cat. I do understand that Lukas is approaching the end of his life. His kidney disease will be the arbiter of the time table for that and I went down this now familiar road with Jacob years ago. Kidney disease is fraught with complications and side effects for cats just as it is in  people. A day-by-day approach is best. Today was a good day.

Wishing everyone a good evening.

He has a day out

 Lukas will be at his cat hospital all day. so after clearing his box, washing his dishes and mine, doing and putting away his laundry as well as my own and turning off the phone, I am returning to sleep. I was up at 3 AM, Goodnight world.

A quiet day

 I got to almost sleep in, until a text from someone pinged my phone at 528 AM asking if I'd gotten a text from her. presumably before that one and this was after spending two hours on the phone with her the night before. She lost her mother recently and sometimes all of us need a willing ear. I did not have the energy for a reply and simply asked why she texted at that time. I turned the phone off and after feeding Lukas and myself, returned to bed. Awakened again at a bit after 7 AM, I realized the electricity and Internet were out and after calling a friend for the number, dialed our electricity provider only to learn of a power outage including my address.

Since I could do nothing but wait, I cleaned our breakfast dishes and spent time snuggling the orange boy and listening to the birds outside. Lukas and I have enjoyed a quiet day and will be early to bed tonight.

One of you asked what the vet could do at this point. Some pain meds for feline arthritis which may also help with anxiety. suggesting placing large paper chucks beneath the litter box in case of misses which helps make clean up easier for me, spending designated time with Lukas while he is awake so he knows he isn't alone and that I am nearby, and allowing him to adjust to the change in his vision, The vet also let me know that it is okay to keep him in my bedroom if that is where he is most comfortable since he is older and not as active as a younger cat would be. He still enjoys contact. food, treats and snuggles and was chill at the vet the other day so he still has some time left to enjoy life. Euthanasia is not recommended for blindness and while he has several things going on, he also deserves whatever happiness I and his vet can provide.

I keep it real here, and while it is hard to adjust to a change in health and routine, and sometimes tiring, too, as a friend reminded me, I am his best shot at a happy life for whatever time he has.

4 AM

 Awakened at 3 by a smelly litter box, I'd barely flipped the eyelids up when the little blind one raised his tail and left a puddle beside the closet doors. So much for a peaceful sleep. He is now enjoying an early breakfast while I deal with the smelly trash and pack a bag for his day out at the vet.

My friend will drop him and then pick him up at 5:30 PM when her workday is done. I got no nap yesterday, so I will turn the phone off and sleep after he departs, As much as I love him. I am bone weary.

Wishing everyone a good day.

4:36 AM

 There is nothing quite like the sound of a raspy feline tongue against an empty metal bowl  to jar one from sleep. Time for some meditation and perhaps a cup of tea.

Good Morning.

No infection and more pee, oh me!

 Lukas went off to the vet this morning with a friend. His pet sitter has taken her two littles on an adventure out of town. He does not have a UTI. He was fine over the weekend confined to the bedroom. Today, however, just minutes after I opened the carrier, he did a bumpy sweep along the walls of the front room, and promptly peed in the entryway just shy of the kitchen threshold. When he did manage to find the bedroom, he drank some water and eventually made his way to his bed box, meowing until he settled.

As much as I understand this is difficult, I am so deeply frustrated at having to wield a mop and cleaning spray and having to figure out what to do. He used his litter box in the wee hours so I have been up since 4 AM and find myself in need of respite. Some lunch might be a good idea too.

I hope you all are having a good day!

Midweek and beyond

 I had a tummy bug, so never got out of my night dress. Spending the day in one's pajamas is great for tasks such as cleaning, clearing and mopping. all of which I've been doing since Lukas has been once again peeing around our house. His vet took two and a half days to call me so the staff only took the requested urine sample Friday morning and as of today, the lab results are still pending. Lukas and a box bed and rug have been relocated to the bedroom and as of now, no further accidents have occurred, though he is not happy without the run of the place. I do love on him and talk to him but I've also had to clear out two desks, my clothes closet, the bottom of the hall closet and my bookshelves. The bathroom and kitchen are next as are photos and old clip books which I will likely discard.

My main photo book was a mess, with photos and keepsakes and all manner of crap jammed in. Duplicates, blurry pictures and those of people I don't recognize and a lot of old photos from my college days have been discarded. Old cans of paint were taken to the dump today courtesy of a friend and the same friend then left me some sunflowers as a sweet pick-me-up.

I also had to get a locksmith this week because the lock on my mailbox was not working. He came promptly, did a minor repair and charged a small fortune.

How is life in your part of the world?

Happy weekend.