Angel the Cat Passing

Angel the cat passed away on August 26, 2009, from complications of a paralyzed diaphragm and feline asthma.  He fought the good fight lasting way longer than his specialty vets thought he could.  He lived his last months as a happy albeit less active cat who was loved by me and his cat buddies, especially his BFF Buffy.  We learned a lot about his condition and how to make his life better but in the end, there was no cure and little that could be done to lessen the progression of his breathing limitations.  He is missed very much by everyone who knew him as the spunky little guy he was.

Welcome to Ask Angel the Cat

Welcome to Ask Angel the Cat, an opportunity to Ask Angel questions about your cat or cat care in general. Angel has feline asthma and FORLs so has a particular interest in helping cat owners identify the early signs of feline illnesses. He also likes to give advice for cat owners struggling with various cat issues like inappropriate elimination or barfing or general behavior problems. Ask Angel. He always has an idea, an opinion, and a quick wit!

This Blog in no way is a substitute for veterinary expertise and counsel. Always have your cat examined by a veterinary professional at the first sign of abnormal behavior or signs of illness. You are your cat's advocate and voice.

Ask Angel about Feline Asthma

Feline Asthma is a very tough disease and diagnosis. When I first started coughing, Mom thought I had a hairball. I felt like I had a hairball. But I didn't barf anything up. Instead I got short of breath, my tongue started sticking out of my mouth and turning blue, and I became very frantic. Symptoms can vary from cat to cat. My symptoms are consistent with feline asthma except for one big difference: my diaphragm is paralyzed. Paralyzed you ask? How did that happen? Well if you can tell me I will be very grateful. My vets cannot figure this out and Mom has no idea. It is, as they say, a mystery.

Mom has spent a bundle on me. I am on Prednisolone, Theophylline, Albuterol, oxygen, and Rescue Remedy for Pets. I am also on antibiotics and pain medication following my dental on Aug. 11 where I had 11 infected teeth and roots extracted. I have had three blind BALs (neutrophils showing up all alone), a fluoroscopy, and all sorts of cultures. The diagnosis remains the same: feline asthma, paralyzed diaphragm, and pneumonia.

I have anxiety attacks. These occur when I cannot breathe. Which is pretty common I hear. Once my infected teeth were removed the attacks stopped. Until August 21.

I had a bad bad attack August 21. The Vet School at MU told Mom I had an anxiety attack. They put me in oxygen for 2 days and then I got to go home where I was much better again. This feline asthma is a roller-coaster.

Mom went back to Kilgore's and got my oxygen concentrator again. I had it for three months but since I was not needing it she took it back. I had to use it the moment she got it downstairs into my room. I was having another anxiety attack. But several minutes of the oxygen and I was fine again. I am getting very good with this therapy. I just stick my nose up to the plastic tube and inhale. Ahhhhhhh.....

Do you have a cat with asthma? Do you have any questions to ask me? I have a lot of time and when I am breathing OK, time to respond!

Angel the Cat




August 25, 2008

I am having a bad breathing day again. Mom is using my oxygen concentrator on me each time she visits. Which is not often enough:( I have to live in her spare bedroom where it is less stressful and hectic for a cat with feline asthma. Here I nestle among the pillows on her bed, snuggling into the soft bedspread to snooze. Sometimes I can sleep on my side, but not often. It is one of the changes in my life since developing asthma. I don't play much and try not to think of the walks Mom and I used to take outdoors where I would wear my harness and leash and prance like a pony. Now I mostly sit and watch the butterflies out my window, or think deep cat thoughts. When Mom arrives I meow and beg for attention, food, and now a days, my oxygen "fill".

I wish I had better news like I am cured now that I have gotten my 11 bad teeth taken out. That was my theory since I was almost like myself the day of the surgery up until Aug. 21st. Now I have to think about this being my reality, there is no cure, there is only what there is each day. I cherish my days and still enjoy my time here.

Angel the Cat

CSC Foster Cats to Adopt

Angel here. You need to come meet these frisky felines, these little bundles of fur (BabyPhat the furry), these purring buckets of love, yes, I mean my foster sisters and brothers. Some have been a year or longer. Some think they are a Goddess (yes, that means you, Aruba the Siamese). Some are getting on my nerves (yes, Zeke you are a very big orange tub of blubber and love and no, you cannot sign like Elvis).

Do you have room for another cat buddy? Do you want a smart one, a beautiful one, or just a handful to keep you laughing all day? Well here are your choices-Baby Phat aka Angel 09009, Aruba 08332, or Zeke.

Ask Angel about Frontline Plus Skin Reactions

My cat buddy Bordeaux had a bad reaction to Frontline Plus. Mom rarely uses it on us as we almost never go outdoors. Except of course for Buffy the Escape Artist Cat. Buffy jumps off the deck every so often and roams the yard. Mom's yard has a lot of seed ticks this year. So when Buffy went roaming this last week Mom decided to treat all of us with Frontline Plus. No problem for all of us - except Bordeaux. Bordeaux now looks like a commercial for Proactive Skin Care. See photo. The first several days it didn't look that bad. However the "spot" erupted into a horrible sore and Mom took Bordeaux to the vet. Now Bordeaux is on antibiotics and Butt Creme for babies. The sore is about ready to drop the big scab any day now. But Bordeaux is still miserable.

So lesson learned - never ever use a flea medication that is identified by the company as a pesticide.

Thanks for listening.

Angel the Cat