Woo-hoo!

We have a new total for Miss Mousie's surgery fund: $3639.44!!!!

With the surgeon's 10% discount, we can afford her surgery! We'll let you know when we get the surgery scheduled.

Miss Mousie and all of us thank everyone for their support and donations!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Waiting

We are still waiting to hear how much is in Miss Mousie's account and where we are in regards to the surgery. WCGHS had a big fundraiser on Saturday night so they've been busy. Now that's over with, we're hoping someone will be in touch with us. We've sent several emails over so now must wait.

Miss Mousie says hello to everyone! She still has the sniffles, but is feeling fine. Strong appetite and had a blast playing with her servant, Yoda and Beauty.  Feathers on a string are wonderful things! She is still on medication for her cold as well as the drops for her ears.

Hope you are enjoying your day!

A Birthday Wish

Miss Mousie turned 14 yesterday! Her family thought that called for a cake. Given the choice between a salmon or chocolate cake, the kids chose chocolate. Miss Mousie didn't seem to mind one bit. She seemed to know this was all about her. She actually tried to grab her mommy's piece of cake off the plate. Yes, chocolate was everywhere, including on Miss Mousie's face!

We're not sure what she wished for when she blew out her birthday candle, but our wish is that all animals in need of medical care could have the same support you've shown Miss Mousie. Thank you so much!

Happy Birthday Miss Mousie!

According to vet records, today is Miss Mousie's 14th Birthday.

Happy Birthday to our sweet girl!

A Shout-out

Miss Mousie says hi!

We're still waiting to hear where we are with the fundraising. Tonight is the WCGHS Dinner & Auction which is their big fundraiser for the year so they're busy over there.

In the meanwhile, we wanted to thank Lynn Kerstan for giving Miss Mousie another shout-out on Storybroads. You can read it here.

 Miss Mousie is doing well! She's on medication for her cold and loving that her servant is on deadline. Miss Mousie has even been using the MacBook Pro for her pillow! That is when she's not using her mommy.

Have a nice weekend!

The Latest News!

Miss Mousie saw a new surgeon today, who gave us a lower estimate on the TECA procedure. We're waiting to hear back from the WCGHS on how much is in Miss Mousie's surgery fund. That will tell us how much more we'll need to raise, but we're so much closer to getting her surgery than we imagined we'd be after only three weeks of fundraising! Woo-hoo!

Also, Miss Mousie is coming down with a cold. On the way back from the surgeon, we stopped at her vet to drop off her x-rays and get medicine for her. She gets these URIs every once in a while so this is nothing new or worrisome, but we all want to make sure this doesn't turn into something more. Plus, it's better if she's well when it's time for the surgery!

As soon as we have actual numbers, we'll post another update.

Miss Mousie, her foster family, her friends and the WCGHS thank you for all your help, donations and support!

A Diabetic Cat

Elizabeth Ashworth and Clwyd...

The first time I saw Clwyd he was at the bottom of a cardboard box, under a furry pile of his brothers and sisters. I’d wanted a tabby tom for a while and when a friend who runs Blackburn Cat Rescue here in Lancashire in the UK told me that a stray she’d taken in had given birth to kittens, I said I would give him a forever home.

Clwyd & Elizabeth

He grew into a handsome boy and never had any health problems until he was around 13 years old when he began to lose weight and drink his bowl dry. I took him to the vet for tests, convinced that he was going to die. Later that day I received a phone call: “He’s diabetic. He will need insulin injections twice a day.”

“He will get better,” the veterinary nurse assured me as she handed me a needle and a plastic ‘cat’ for me to practise on. She showed me how to pull back the plunger, put it into the vial of insulin and draw out the units. Then I had to push the needle into the fake cat and ease the insulin in. It seemed easy, but plastic cats don’t wriggle and squirm.

Once she thought I’d mastered the technique she brought out Clwyd and I gave him an injection of distilled water into the scruff of his neck. My hands were shaking but I managed it. Then I was handed a bag of needles, insulin, and glucose in case his blood sugar became too low – I was to rub it onto his gums if he seemed ‘drunk’ and disorientated.

The first time I injected him on my own, I cried it was so traumatic. But gradually I became more adept; he became more co-operative; and he began to put on weight again and thrive.

I’ve been treating Clwyd’s diabetes for over four years now. At 17 years old he’s becoming a bit deaf and a bit daft, but he’s still full of life. The injections are part of our daily routine and although he’s had a couple of ‘hypo’ attacks I know the signs now so I can take fast action and hand feed him until he comes around. It does mean I have to watch him carefully, but he is allowed outside. He likes the garden and the sunshine - although he still can’t understand why I refuse to ‘turn off’ the rain.

I sometimes wonder if Clwyd realises that the injections keep him well, because he never struggles now and he loves the cuddles we have when it’s injection time. I would say to anyone who discovers that their cat is diabetic that it isn’t difficult to treat, and that the close and loving bond you have with your cat will intensify. Any pet deserves the best of health care and I hope that funds can be raised for Miss Mousie’s treatment.

Elizabeth Ashworth