Morris update

What an emotional week this has been for me and parts of it were not so good for my little buddy either.

At right is his face on Tuesday morning - no spark in his eyes and totally lethargic with none of his personality.  The vet and I were thinking it was time since he seemed to have given up the battle that Morris had been fighting so vigorously.  The vet wanted to wait 24 hours and in the meantime put a pain patch on, change his environment, etc and then we met again yesterday afternoon.  I asked my niece to go with me since I fully expected that we would put him down and I needed some support.  So with a pocket full of tissues we headed off to the vets.

What a surprise when we got there yesterday. He was alert, meowing and wanting his ears scratched.  You can see the difference in these 2 pictures. The vet and the whole staff couldn't wait to tell us about the change in Morris. He got the pain patch put on Tuesday morning and it kicked in late afternoon. During the day on Tuesday he was moved to an exam room where a bed was made for him with food, water, etc. The vet said a lot of animals get depressed when kept in the cages and just give up - like people.  Tuesday night he was outside his cage at the vets house and interacting with their 3 & 7 year old boys. The vet took him outside in the grass to express his bladder and Morris stalked and found a cricket for dinner while they were outside. He was in "his room" yesterday at the clinic. The vet checked his back and back legs for sensation and he reacted quickly so he does have good feeling in them but the message to move the legs isn't getting to the muscles. He is eating everything in sight, drinking some water but still doesn't have any use of the back legs nor is the bladder working.  They "express the bladder" 2-3 times a day which is squeeze it forcing urination. The room he is in at the clinic is still used as an exam room but Morris just ignores what goes on and stays in his cave which is underneath the island used as the exam table. If the room isn't in use, they leave the doors open and Morris can come out if he wants to.

Since Morris was so much better yesterday they decided to try him in a wheel chair which is shown above and he went all over the place in it. He looks funny with so many shaved places on him.  The one on his head was for the spinal tap. So....Morris is now the official Clinic Cat or as Vivian says, he is in "assisted living". The vet said he needs more care than I can provide, they love him and want to keep him as long as Morris is Morris with visiting privileges for me and I pay for meds, etc.  When he isn't Morris any more then the vet has my permission to do what needs to be done. The meds may kick in or he might stay the way he is but as long as Morris is trying then he gets the chance.  He will like all the attention and activity going on. As for me, I slept better last night and I don't have the know in my stomach today.

Primary Care Vet for Morris who is an amazing person.