nlbarber

Got home from The Land of the Mouse last night without hassle--blog entries for the remaining days are in various states, and might or might not get posted sometime...

This morning in a make-up cat attention session, I found lumps near 2 of Agatha's nipples, and one of the nipples itself is enlarged. I managed an appointment with Dr. Dunn this afternoon, and it is probably either cancer or (I think I got the right phrase) mammary hyperplasia. Feline mammary cancers have a very bad prognosis--generally they metastasize, and the life expectance is 1-2 years with aggressive treatment. The hyperplasia, if I have the diagnosis right, can have various effects on quality of life too, but is not generally fatal in itself. Dr. Dunn thinks Agatha does not have any sort of treatable infection causing the lumps, in any case.

We're going to do nothing. Not going to worry about the exact cause, and just treat any secondary effects as they show up. Aggie's life expectancy at age 17 and with the kidney disease worsening isn't going to be significantly different either way, and trying to treat a cancer would definitely be too hard on her.

She's very annoyed with me for the vet visit on top of the 8-night trip to Disney World, and is hiding under the guest bed. Fred, on the other hand, who had her annual checkup this morning, is actively seeking attention just as she was before the vet trip.

Interesting side note: Fred is extremely vocal at home, complaining, demanding, or just talking. She gave maybe 2 meows on the trip to the vet, and was completely silent while there and on the way home. Agatha, who speaks only on rare occasions to demand some action on my part, cried all the way there and some on the way home, even though she was on my lap most of the return trip. Some sort of inverse action caused by the cat-carrier, perhaps...

Fred's home, well shaved (far enough up her sides to produce something of a greyhound look), and with a few pain pills. I'm hoping she doesn't need the pain pills, as she dropped the bottle in her water dish when I wasn't looking and they got wet. Am trying to dry them out on a tissue at the moment, and will then see if there's anything like a pill left.

Fish thinks she's an intruder--she doesn't smell like the cat that left the house this morning. He's been hissing and growling at her every time she gets within 5 feet. I've tried re-anointing both of them with the scent I used to help introduce her, but that had no effect. Agatha hisses, too, but then she always does.

Fred is moving around easily but is in dire need of head scritches. The incision needs to be watched for heat, swelling, or seepage, but beyond that she should be done--the stitches are internal so they don't have to be removed (and she can't pick at them). And she should no longer be bothered by those hormonal surges.

I called to schedule Fred's spaying last Friday, but Amelia, the head of the rescue organization and who works at the vet who does spay/neuter for them, doesn't work on Fridays. I thought anyone could schedule the appointment, but it seems Amelia needs to do it for the pre-paid adopted animals.

The beginning of this week was hectic, so I didn't manage to call again until Thursday. Oh, Amelia's not working today, she'll be in tomorrow (Friday). I didn't bother to ask why.

Called back a few minutes ago at 10:40 AM. Amelia's gone for the day--she'll be in Monday. Grrr.

And on the home front, Fred's heat seems to be tapering off. But it will repeat in 2-3 weeks if the spaying doesn't happen, so I really need to get that appointment.