For Tiny's fans, a couple of glam shots, outside in The Little House (above) glistening in the early morning light, and inside the big house (below) curled into a tight furball on the kitchen counter. Hey baby, it's cold outside in these parts. Had a real freeze yesterday, with ice-topped puddles atop the garage to prove it, first of the season in this late-to-give-up-the-summerghost heat island that is Greater Boston. Hey, Al Gore, come on down!
Medical (Health-Care?) Update: What with her diabetes and feline asthma, Tiny keeps us on our toes (not even half as cute as HER tufted toes, see above) worrying and administering twice-daily insulin shots and flovent inhalings (see AeroKat). A week or so ago she was racing ahead of expectations, her glucose level lower than anticipated this early in the treatment. Then we noticed she was back to drinking excessively. Took her in for a glucose check today and were relieved to hear she was doing just fine by veterinary protocol standards. They start with a low dose and then increase as indicated until blood sucrose level is within regulated range. Her early surge of improvement was atypical. The level she's at now is considered appropriate. We'll up the insulin dose from 2.5 to 3.0 cc's and go back for another glucose check Friday. As ever, the vet visits and shots and this and that are horrifying to Tiny herself, who got wind that we were about to grab her for a little trip in the cat carrier this morning and headed for the hills. Among her health-care workers Tiny's hissing and feistiness are legendary.
Update: More hissing and feistiess at Modulator's Friday Ark.
Yay! So glad to hear Tiny is progressing well. I'm sitting here in my office (which isn't all that cold but when I'm not moving my fingers and toes get very cold indeed) and thinking I'd love to be curled up on the couch with Tiny next to me keeping me warm. ;-)
PS - Note to Algore... the weather has been pretty nice here so just stay away!!! LOL
Posted by: Teresa | December 02, 2009 at 04:16 PM
Tiny's pussycat toes are absolutely adorable. I would love to give her a little toe massage which - administered properly - leaves a pussy cat in a state of total bliss. I find her antipathy to health care workers entertaining. Sam, on the other hand, purrs when he's at the Vet's office - any vet. Apparently his hostility to people other than his mother doesn't extend to the girls with the sweet voices and the flowered smocks who cart him around the vet's office! Who understands cat logic? Not me.
Posted by: Gayle Miller | December 02, 2009 at 04:31 PM
I am very pleased that Tiny is progressing as hoped, and she certainly looks happy and content.
Posted by: goomp | December 02, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Hi Sissy--
Good to hear Tiny is progressing. Don't feel bad about the roller-coaster blood glucose levels-- my Princess's scores went up and down like a demented Zogby poll for months. At one point the vet had her on 4 units of insulin twice a day; it was only after she lost a little weight that her insulin dose was lowered to 2 units twice a day, then 1 unit twice a day, then 1 unit once a day, then off insulin altogether. FWIW, diabetic cats take longer to regulate than diabetic dogs-- at least, that's what the vet says.
As for feistiness, I suspect Tiny and Princess are two of a kind. My other two kitties were perfectly well behaved when they had their annual checkup the Monday before Thanksgiving, but Princess took a skin biopsy and blood sample from one of the techs at the end of her exam. It was a good thing I had brought a pre-Thanksgiving treat (Italian chocolates) for Dr. Davis and her staff!
Princess calmed down, though, when Virgil (the office cat, named after the poet) started to flirt with her as he does with all female cats. Maybe Earl Grey will help Tiny feel better about her trials at the vet's.
Posted by: Connecticut Yankee | December 02, 2009 at 06:58 PM
Meanwhile, that other diabetic fellow, Sam the Wonder Cat continues to muck along on his 1 unit twice per day. He was looking dreadful after his diagnosis - all matted and greasy and skinny and unhappy. Even had a bout with insulin-related seizures. I started feeding him something called "Taste of the Wild" which is a very reasonably priced (cheaper than the prescriptive stuff from the vet) no CARB cat food - venison and smoked salmon. We should eat so well. It's not easy to find; we get it at Tractor Supply of all places. My sister has put her overweight Corgi Mix on the dog food and Harley is looking quite lovely these days - and has lost 25% of body weight - with 25% more to go. She was REALLY pudgy. And the cool thing is that the cats think the food is a TREAT! Sam looks fabulous now and is in much better spirits.
Posted by: Gayle Miller | December 03, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Oooh, I am such a sucker for tufty toes and little pink paddy-paws! Glad to hear Miss Tiny is doing so well that she's still a legend at the vet's office!
She looks so sweet all curled up like that.
Posted by: Stoutcat | December 03, 2009 at 02:19 PM
Good news. Keep it up tiny-pawed-Tiny. So cute.
-dent
Posted by: new york asthma doctor | December 28, 2009 at 02:26 AM