StrangeRanger

The Latest Word

Well.  Whatever we were expecting from the vet, it certainly wasn't "...I consulted with a colleague and she thinks there's a 90% change that Maddie has ideopathic hypercalcimia and that it's normal for her."

Wow.  Much better than we were expecting.

 
See?  Told ya.

This is, of course, not the last word.  We're going to keep Maddie on a diet of high-fiber food and go in for another blood check in three weeks.  If this is ideopathic (which seems to be doctor-speak for "hellif we know why") the fiber will bring down the calcium a bit.  We're trying to prepare ourselves for what could still be rough news, but hey, now we've got some good news to help keep us balanced.  Of course, another blood test is *just* what Maddie wants right now.

 
Okay...do I jimmy the window or just make a break for it out the front door while they bring in groceries?  Up the chimney maybe?  No, too dirty...got to maintain my good looks.  Hmmm....

We'll let y'all know.

The Latest News

Maddie seems to be back to her usual self nowadays. She's gotten over the trauma of The Return Trip.  Of course, this return to normal will be tossed over on Tuesday when we valium-ize her again, stuff her in her carrier and take her in for her third blood test. This one is for "ionized calcium" and some thyroid testing. If there's no ionized calcium, then Maddie is just a high-calcium cat (it's a feature, not a bug). If there is ionizing going on, well, it's a bad thing. How bad would be determined by other tests. Maddie may be in for a very stressful period in her life, so any spare good thoughts you might be able to send her way, well, we'd appreciate it. Of course, it's hard to believe that she's unwell...she's pretty much been herself all this time.

 

 Well? Of course I'm well. No one as pretty as me could ever be unwell.

And in garden news, the Morning Glories have come out to play. HooRay!

 

The Garden in July

The garden in July is rather like the garden in June.  There's a difference in some of the flowers that are out, though.  A slightly different display of lovely.

 
These were our 4th of July daytime fireworks.  And we're not the only beings around who enjoy them!

 
 
 
This is a female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (I think).  Lovely creature, don't you think?

 
I think this is a Spicebush Swallowtail, but I'm not sure of that.  It was moving around very fast and this is the only pic I could get.

We have unwittingly planted a butterfly buffet.

 

Over at my parent's place, however, there is a completely different order of fauna.

 
This is a breeding pair of Red Shouldered Hawks. They've got a nest in the holler behind my parents house.  The hatchling is now fledged and flying and is almost as large as the parents.  Needless to say, the chipmonk and squirrel population has dropped dramatically  in the neighborhood.  And never fear.  We never take Maddie to see my parents.

 
Fah!  I could take 'em!  Both of 'em at the same time!  One paw behind my back!  Hah!  Smack!  jab!... hey, ummm, these windows are closed, right?  I'mo go check the rest of the house, ok?  Just trying to conserve electricity...

The Return Trip

Well, got Maddie back and forth to the vet on Thursday.  Not quite as much trauma because valium is our friend.

 
Have you ever looked at your paw?  I mean really looked at your paw?  whoa......

Really, she's not a peaceful, relaxed stoner.  I think she was kinda freaked out by how she felt, but just wasn't energetic enough to pitch a fit. 

 
I wonder if the walls are really made of marshmallow fluff?  I never noticed that before!  I'm almost sure they're not supposed to be moving like that, though.....oh well.....

We did find out that valium, hardwood floors and long-leggedy cats do not mix well.  She had quite hard time staying upright so we put her in her carrier to keep her confined.  The visit to the vet was not as energetic as the last time.  They took one blood sample, but Maddie only managed verbal protests and the physical part was over with quickly enough.

The stress and paranoia, however, are still lingering.  The valium took a while to fade and our girl is a surly stoner.  She's been on edge since we got back and hasn't really gotten back to her usual happy self.  It may take a while before she feels safe again, and that's upsetting. 

Here's the big issue with that:  her blood test results show an elevated calcium level.  Dr. G. feels that the next step should be a test for ionized calcium and a thyroid test.  This means another blood draw.  This means more mental anguish for the cat.  The vet visits have been getting harder and harder on Maddie.  We've got to find a middle ground, I think, 'twixt immediate physical care and more relaxed mental care.  If anyone has suggestions, please let us know. 

You know that we'll keep you up to date.  Just tune in here!  Further bulletins as events warrant!

The Fourth

As we approachthe 4th of July I figured that I should take a moment to wave my favorite American original around. Figuratively, of course.

The Maine Coon is the original American longhair breed. I've heard many origination stories about them, and really, I like them all. They could be the descendants of the cats that were kept on Viking ships. I think I'd have preferred staying in the New World to a long, cold wet sea voyage back home. Maine Coons could be the rugged descendants of Marie Antionette's pampered cats, smuggled to America to wait for whatever parts of the queen made it to these shores. The Maine Coon could be offspring of a Sea Captain's cats, hearty and rugged with a taste for their grog.

And a Maine Coon named Cosey won the first American cat show in 1895.

Maddie exhibits traits I can imagine in all of these predecesors. While she generally displays more of the pampered princess in her daily life and habits, she's shown her general ruggedness in her swift recovery from her knee surgery and time in the mewlag. She's a very intelligent cat, which sea cats in general would have to be, in order to stay alive and on the ship. And Maddie certainly went all Rampaging Viking Cat on the vet during her last visit.

This melange of possible backgrounds seems to be a very American idiom to me. We're a mix of ideas and cultures. Culturally we're much more the alley cat than a pure-breed. It seems though, even our pure-breed cat has a vibrant mix in the background. That's the way it should be.

Here she is, waving the only flag nature gave her to wave:

HooRay!