Friday, April 17, 2009

Guess Who's Home

It's hard for me to believe it's happening, but I brought Pokey home this afternoon. She's definitely not 100%, and is a bit shaky, but the vet said she'll do better at home, so woohoo! This is definitely an older picture, because now she's got shaved spots and is a bit rougher looking. Definitely a much happier kitty though. And I am a much happier mommy.

The ultrasound came back without any sign of problems, so right now the only thing up in the air is blood tests which will show if she has a genetic condition that caused the kidney problems. She has to go on a special diet, eat B-Complex goo and take a pill twice a day to help renal function. Fingers crossed she takes her meds like a good girl and continues to improve.

What a relief, though I'm nervous to have her home already. The vet said go ahead and let her roam the house - she doesn't have to be isolated. There's a been a bit of hissing and I suspect it will be awhile before Lily is nice to her again. 

Again, thank you for all the well wishes and words of encouragement. They are greatly appreciated. I need to go back in the other room and stare at my baby Pokey some more, while trying not to smother her with too much affection.

57 comments:

Judy in Michigan said...

I am so happy for you and for Pokey. I've been checking your site every hour hoping for the good news. Hugs to you both.

Unknown said...

Yay!!

You don't know how many times I've checked back here yesterday and today, hoping for further word of Pokey.

Go ahead and smother her with affection. It's good for you both.

Susan said...

How wonderful to start the weekend off with good news! I pray that her recovery goes well and that she's back to her old self soon!

sewprimitive karen said...

Oh, Pokey, get better!

Allie said...

I'm so glad Pokey's home, I hope she continues to improve! Give her lots and lots of hugs and kisses.

Marj said...

Glad to hear that Pokey is recovering. The other cats will like her again when the Vet smell wears off. Just give her alot of love.

Kim said...

Great news!
Hope you can both have a relaxing weekend now and recover from the trauma of it all.
Way to go Pokey :0)

Kim in Poughkeepsie

Anonymous said...

I am so happy for you and Pokey. Norma

Twisted Quilts said...

OMG! how great that Pokey is home. Take good care of your baby.

Callie Brady said...

Great news! Happy for you both!

Magpie Sue said...

Whew! We'll continue to hold good thoughts for both you and Pokey. Hope you have a peaceful weekend.

daveandlo said...

That's great that Pokey is home. My cat took pills pretty well for years. I hope Pokey cooperates, too.

Lois

Stephanie D said...

Oh, go ahead--smother her! She's been through kitty hell and needs her mommy.

Besides, it'll help rub the smell of kitty hell off her.

kimberlym said...

oh I'm so glad you have her back home!

pwl said...

I'm so glad Pokey's home! Please give her scritches for me. (And to the others, too!)

Millie said...

I would give her all the attention YOU want to give her. It will do both of you a world of good.

This is great news. Millie and I are very happy Pokey is home and feeling better. We've asked all our pals from the Cat Blogosphere to purr for Pokey and you.

Give her some pets and scritches from me. Hugs to you, too!

Lynne

Beena said...

So glad to hear of Pokey's improvement, and that you have her home. I've been keeping Pokey in my prayers, and will continue!

Beth said...

My sister's sweet boy had a similar kidney ailment two years ago and is now all better (although they still keep him on a special diet, which is interesting for the other kitties). Glad to hear another happy ending!

Journeying said...

Happy you got good news - AND your baby back home. Bet she does fine with the meds and such. The ruler of our household, Moondoggy,has to take meds morning and evening and he reminds us if we happen to miss the time by a minute or three by becoming quite vocal and rubbing along our legs or hopping up in the middle of what we might be doing. (might have something to do with the one tiny treat he gets afterward each time) He also has to eat special food because of a kidney problem a few years ago - easier for him to eat a special diet than us because he has no other opportunities... We have to make good choices, which is harder!
Anyway - he does great, and I hope Pokey does also!

Anonymous said...

Oh I am so happy for you, you and Pokey have been in my thoughts, what a wonderful weekend.

jen said...

What good news!

I know how to make the hissing a bit better... see, Pokey smells like the vet's office, so all the other cats get a whif and say "ew, the vet's! I don't wanna go there!" and they get all furred up and then everyone gets all mad and growly-hissy. If you rub Pokey with something that smells like home, they'll be nicer to each other. Like a favorite cat-napping blanket, or a sweater of yours they always seem to camp out on. :)

Unknown said...

That is just WONDERFUL news!!

jude said...

you made my day. great! she looks relieved. and her eyes match the quilt.

Artie said...

Glad your Pokey is home! Having them home does help even in bad situations. I highly recommend using pill pockets (you can find these at Petco/Petsmart type stores. They are semisoft and have a small "pocket" for you to put the pill in and then squeeze it together to cover any hint of the pill). My cats all love treats, and consider these just another treat. It makes giving cats pills SO much easier! They have a couple of different flavors (in case she doesn't like one or gets bored with it). Purring for Pokey's recovery!

Kristin Shields said...

So good to hear this. I've been waiting and hoping that we'd have some good news. Give Pokey a hug from all of us.

PS- I went to the Stitchin' Post for their customer appreciation day and there was Gwen & Freddy's new book. Also, one of Gwen's quilts is gracing the display with her Abstract quilt book. It was so great to get a close up look of her work. It's the High Desert II quilt. Anyway, I'm going to settle down with my new book and make future plans.

Sherry said...

Yeaaaaa Pokeys home. Good girl tell your mommy that you will take your meds like a very good girl and I think your mom will give you a treat that you can have. Keep up the good eork Pokey

KC Quilter said...

Oh, such good good news about Pokey! Continued good thoughts coming your way!!!

Deborah said...

Oh Pokey! Feline kisses out to you from Rusty in California. We checked in on you first thing this morning and right when Mommy got home. Take your medicine and get back up on all fours soon!

Michelle Rene said...

Tonya,

So happy for you and Pokey. I look forward to you posting more healing happiness about him.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful news!

3 kats and a kwiltr said...

Yeah, Pokey! Glad you're home and that mommy can cuddle you. Take your medicine without giving her problems-it will make you feel better and make sure you eat your special food. It may not be as good as Fancy Feast, but it will help you live longer and healtier.
Purrs and head butts,
Taz, Runt, Charles, and mommy, Anna

Dianne said...

Yay, Pokey! Give that Kitty Queen hugs and pets from me...

Sharon said...

Oh, the happiness you must be feeling! I'm so glad that Pokey got to come home. Give her all the love she can stand - you both need it! I'll hold you both in my thoughts still. Give her scritches and kisses for me, and Shade and Dunkel send more head butts and purrs!

Quiltycat said...

I'm so so happy for you both!
nichi

Loris said...

Great news! Please give her some head scratches from me. Lots of love.

trudys_person said...

That's wonderful!! And it's so great that Pokey's ultrasound is OK. My Trudy's showed that she has chronic kidney failure. She's on the same diet regime as Pokey and she seems 100%, but we take one day at a time ...

YYYAAAYYY Pokey and her vet and Tonya!

dutchcomfort said...

Such wonderful news to start the weekend with!! I hope she will be doing fine at home and I jope you can relax a bit!

The hissing is probably caused by the strange VET smells Pokey brought into the house.

Featheronawire Sally Bramald said...

Such very good news!Fingers crossed on the test results.

Clare said...

Fantastic news. Jumping up and down and doing the happy dance.

Squishy cheese - like Babybel - is brilliant for wrapping round pills so that cats swallow them, especially if cheese is a treat. I don't know what it is about cats and cheese, but all ours went crazy over the stuff. Magic had a perchant for brie.

Chris Daly said...

That is the best news! Here's to a speedy recovery.

Pat said...

I'm very happy to hear this news and it's just what I expected and she will do well on the special diet and with her pills...so you can relax, Mom!!! Welcome home, Pokey!

Julie in the Barn said...

Wonderful news! I'm so happy for you, Tonya.

Asiyah said...

Way to go Pokey! I know you're thrilled Julie. Enjoy your furry baby.

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Welcome home Pokey!

Anonymous said...

Yeah Pokey..get well. I've been told cats hiss at their bro./sis. after a vet visit because they can smell OTHER CATS from the vet. So hiss! spit! for a bit.
But how in the world do you give a cat a pill???good luck on that.

LauraJ said...

I think Lily's just jealous Pokey's getting all this much needed attention. ;) Just like kids I tell ya. I'm glad Pokey is on the mend.

byneedleandthread said...

I'm so glad Pokey is home and feeling better. hugs to your little girl.

Anonymous said...

Three Cheers for you and Pokey! You just hug that little one and give her all the "smothering" you can.
Miss Marti and Boo-Boo Kitty

Diane said...

Oh Tonya, How relieved you must be to have Pokey at home with you. I'm praying for a good outcome!

Sherry said...

Oh Tonya, what good news!!!! I'm glad to hear that Pokey is home & hope that she takes her meds well for you.

Jan said...

I only today checked your blog to find that poor Pokey has been ill. Best of luck to you both that she recovers fully. I have been there too, it is so hard to know what to do, hard to function with a loved one sick. Glad she is feeling better and is home, that has got to be good for both of you. I'm sending her healing energy and good thoughts. She is so beautiful.

Helen said...

HaPpY DaNcE for both Pokey AND you!!

Quiltdivajulie said...

'S Wonderful ~ S' Marvelous ~

SO happy to know she's home . . . sharing recovery has waaaaay more possibilities for both of you than isolation. Hugs to you and ALL the kitties!

Sassenach said...

Hooray for Pokey! Glad to hear she's home.

Lori said...

So glad she's home! This is GREAT news!

Regarding her special food - what worked for us was to feed Ella in her special spot (the top of the fish tank) and feed the others elsewhere. I changed from letting them graze on dry food all day to a set morning and evening mealtime and I introduced wet food to their diets in the hopes they would actually eat and not just nibble. After mealtime I had to take away everyone's food so that Ella didn't eat the non-special food and vice versa. Cats seem to like routine and they adapted to mealtime quite well - actually too well. Ella still reminds me in the morning and evening that it's time to eat.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Wonderful news! I'm sure with your diligent nursing she will make a full recovery.

jovaliquilts said...

I am so glad Pokey is doing better. Such an awful thing to go through. I hope her BUN score improves, but at least she seems to feel much better. Hang in there.