Albus had surgery yesterday afternoon. Poor baby has been at the vet-hospital since Wednesday morning. He hadn't eaten since Tuesday night until this morning he had a little bit. It all depends on whether or not he keeps his food down if he will be able to finally come home on Monday. They didn't expect the surgery to be major as they thought the hair ties were just in his stomach but once they got in there they discovered that they were in his intestines. It was a major surgery, especially for one so young. He hasn't been eating or drinking since Tuesday night and has had a drip in but it was taken out this morning.
He has lost alot of weight, his face is gaunt, his fur looks very wirey and he just looks tired and stressed out. He is so skinny!
Fingers crossed that he keeps his food and water down and that he has a speedy recovery when he gets home. I want my shiny, fluffy furred, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, energetic boy back
Also, when he does get home he will be confined to his cat carrier (let out for toilet and food/water) for aprox 14 days until his stitches are ready to come out. He will also have a special diet for a little while.
Oh, they found bits of wire from a phone charger, lots and lots of hair-ties, a piece of plastic and some hair out of someones hair brush in his stomach and some in his intestines. The vets said that they have never come across a carzy cat like him and that he is more dog than cat! Albus! We are very serioulsy considering a cat muzzle type thing for him, because there is just no stopping him. Does anyone have any suggestions as to stop this behaviour (we have sprayed cords and the like). The vet also said maybe a fur friend might stop it but maybe it won't. We are very seriously considering this (we already were before this incident).
Please pray for him, if you're not religious then think of him please. Thank you, Matthew.
I just read my post "Found Out" and have seen all of your replys, thank you so much for all of the support!
Oh Matthew, I am so very glad to hear from you. We were very worried, and I am so happy Albus has come out of surgery successfully. I can't believe he ate all that he did. Maybe Jan or another breeder with alot of kitten experience can tell you what to do, or why he is eating everything . Poor little guy, and poor you and your family.
I know I have to police my studio carefully for thread, pins and the like, but even when stray bits have been left out, Gussie & Blue have not been interested. I don't know why some kittens are curious eaters and others not. Of course I will keep Albus and your family in my prayers, and wish for a solution, and quick healing.
Hi Matthew,I'm sure we are all very pleased to see your post, I know I am, we have been worrying not hearing anything. Poor Albus has really been thru it hasnt he. Will be keeping him in my thoughts and prayers until we hear he is out of the woods. It is going to be a long weekend for you waiting to see if he can come home on monday. Apart from the obvious it is difficult to see what you can do to stop him chewing these things other than to keep them away from him, but that is easier said than done! Anyway,fingers crossed until monday.
The worrisome thing is that he didn't just eat one hair-tie but about 7 and other things??! I have told my daughter to make sure that she keeps her hair-ties locked away, I do think that she has learnt her lesson though.It kills me seeing him like this and all the kids have been crying. He is a vey strong boy though, he has been through so much. The kids have had a shock seeing him this morning as he just doesn't look like himself, he is so frail and gaunt and stressed out looking and his tummy has been shaved and the stitches are about 2 inches long- much bigger than I would of thought. It has been a very hard few days on the family. Also his 'wrist' is shaved for the drip. Our poor baby.
Thanks so much for the support
(12-04-2009 07:07 PM)Albus Wrote: [ -> ]The worrisome thing is that he didn't just eat one hair-tie but about 7 and other things??! I have told my daughter to make sure that she keeps her hair-ties locked away, I do think that she has learnt her lesson though.It kills me seeing him like this and all the kids have been crying. He is a vey strong boy though, he has been through so much. The kids have had a shock seeing him this morning as he just doesn't look like himself, he is so frail and gaunt and stressed out looking and his tummy has been shaved and the stitches are about 2 inches long- much bigger than I would of thought. It has been a very hard few days on the family. Also his 'wrist' is shaved for the drip. Our poor baby.
Thanks so much for the support
Ithink the kids will be more watchful of leaving stuff around now they have witnessed what the consequences can be, it will have distressed them to see Albus like this. Usually chewing stuff is a kitten thing and hopefully Albus will grow out of it, but some cats do continue to do it when they are older, its the curiosity thing ! Do let us know when you have him home again.
Oh poor Albus! After reading your post I went around the house picking up all my wayward hair ties. I leave them out everywhere, and other than pushing them around Monkey has seemed uninterested, but its certainly not worth the risk. I feel so bad for you, your family, and Albus right now. My pup will eat anything off the floor, but I've never seen Monkey do it. I hope you can find a way to keep Albus from doing so. Its too bad animals can't associate what they did with why they were sick, he'd certainly of learned his lesson. He'll be in my thoughts, and I hope he can come home soon.
Ohhh, poor Albus! We have all been praying for him.
My friend's Chihuahua ate a "feminine product" and had to have it removed from his stomach. It had actually started to travel to his intestine so I believe they removed part of his intestine too. He only weighed a few pounds and was in the vet hospital for awhile but made it and is just fine now. I know dogs are much different than cats, but I'm sure Albus will heal quickly and will hopefully have learned his lesson!
He really does sound like a puppy! I too hope someone has suggestions on how to get him to stop eating everything, cuz I sure don't have any!
Praying for a speedy recovery!
Prayers are with you. I am so glad I just have Ally here during the week and as I tell their Mom I do not do girl's hair and so of course no hair ties here. The boys have never really ate any wires but then James did go and cover most of them up before hand. I agree I do think having 2 would cut down on it since they would be chasing each other. Just know we care and if you need anything ask.
I am so happy Albus is thru the surgery. I will continue to keep him & your family in my prayers.
I have been keeping a close eye on my Teddy since your post. He puts everything in his mouth but so far hasn't eaten anything and I am now putting all hair things in drawers.
Hi Matthew,
I'm so sorry about Albus' surgery. If there's a positive, it's that he's young and has a good chance of recovering quickly. The other positive of course is that he's well loved and cared for.
It sounds like Albus has a condition called pica, which tends to be more common in Siamese cats. Pica is where cats consume non-food items - wool, leather goods, cords, etc. From what I remember, it's something in their psychological makeup. There are treatments for it, but one of the important things (obviously) is keeping as much of those items out of reach. On the flip side, it can help to ensure Albus has lots of healthy activities to keep him occupied when he's awake, especially when he's recovered and back to his usual self. You may want to look into finding a cat behaviourist who can help you manage Albus' penchant for non-food items. I know Vicky Halls covers it in her books (she's a UK-based cat behaviourist).
If this is any comfort, a good friend of mine has a cat who did something similar as a kitten. He is alive and well - it happened about eight years ago. Lots of positive vibes being sent your way for Albus.
Take care,
Coral