My Dweezil - my kitten and constant companion for over 17 years - had a stroke (so we believe at this point in time). We’ve just returned from the emergency clinic - they couldn’t say for sure what was going on with him but his prognosis is not so good. We have him home tonight…tomorrow he goes to his regular vet for a more thorough examination.
When I came home from work tonight Barry mentioned Dweez’s pupils were two different sizes. His right eye is unresponsive - no reaction to light or touch. The same for the whiskers on the right side of his face. He has great difficulty walking…but he still gets around (gotta make it to that litter box…neurotic rat ;-p). He can still feel his right ear - he pushes into my hand when I rub it. The vet said to watch for seizures…if he starts to seize we have to rush him back to the hospital. He’s calm now…he’s sleeping on his heat pad on the sofa. Barry and I are sleeping next to him, on a sleeping bag spread across the floor.
I’ve had my little Dweez since he was only a teeny kitten - his eyes still closed when I found him wriggling in the street back home in New York (it’s been *that* long). He was a bottle fed kitty…he traveled to work and class with me in my purse (a college educated kitty, how about that). He used to go to the beach with me…he actually chased the waves as they receded back into the LI sound. He was brave enough to confront the seagulls head on. His best friends when he was little were my ferrets - Kara & Korey (I didn’t pick the names…shaddup). He’s never feared a dog…not even our big ol’ mastiff Why-dog. He’s greeted all visitors to our house with purr-box going full force, petting himself by standing on his hind legs and rubbing his head against what ever free hand was closest. He used to wait in the window for me…when he saw me pulling into the parking lot he would start meowing (so I’ve been told :) Dweez doesn’t like to be alone for very long…he’ll actually make himself sick over it. He slept on top of Willa as a show of dominance…or affection (who knows with this guy). He nuzzled Willa when she was sick…stayed close by even when she had her seizures. Whenever Barry or I were upset he would plant himself on our lap and purr. He is a love-slut, affection-whore…he loves his people. He loves to sleep under the blanket between the two of us…though he rarely makes it through the whole night (one or the other of us is a restless sleeper). He sucks on fuzzy blankets…kneading them with his paws…I never quite got that one, and its kinda gross to roll over face first into a patch of cat spit. He likes fuzzy toy mice…only the white ones - he won’t touch any of the other mice but he’ll groom the heck out of one of the white meeces. He likes to wake me up by gingerly tapping his paw on my lips…or if my mouth is open I’ll wake up with a mouth full o’ Dweez paw *yeck* Dweez is mad about catnip - his cat tree is coated in it. Up until last week all it took was a bit of catnip on teh tree and he was climbing it like a wild cat - demon eyes flashing. He’s been quiet for a couple of days…but he gets like that from time to time. He’s an old man…
Dorky fact - one of the things that won me over in the early days was how well Barry got along with Dweez. Silly, I know…but he showed a really tender side early on…and it hooked me. Dweez took to Barry right away. In a way, Dweez helped pick out my hubby ;-p
I really hope something miraculous happens before tomorrow. I don’t think it will…but I really do hope so.
This is going to hurt…
Willa & Dweez
Dweez on Barry
Sleepy Dweez on the Sofa
Dweez being Dweez
Dweez, peering down at me from the back of the couch…
Dweez after conquering the mighty Sammishred
Dweez & his girlie Boobi (Hexy’s kitty)
Crazy Eyes Dweezil
[edit] The vet has determined Dweez has a tumor in his brain, putting pressure on his optic nerve, etc. She states it is treatable ~ and so far he’s shown incredible improvement from the treatment (he’s on steroids to reduce the swelling). At almost 18 years of age something like this is to be expected - Dweez is an old kitty. The possibility of a tumor in his brain is not a complete surprise ~ Dweez has had a small fatty tumor on his side for about a year now (per his vet he is too old to anesthetize for removal of the tumor, and it does not seem to cause him any discomfort). The vet kept him over the weekend for treatment and observation. He really has made great improvement under her care ~ Cro and I were expecting the worst, but totally elated when we saw our little guy so active and alert. We were able to visit him at the vet’s office on Saturday the 8th but we had to wait to take him home until Monday the 10th.
As it was with Willa, we do not know how long we will have with Dweez - but we are happy to have any extra time with him that we can get…as long as he is happy and not in pain. For Dweez’ part - his personality is back full force…he is a character, for sure, with a strong will and personality. His right side is a little off but it is barely noticeable when he walks, once he gets going (getting up from a seated position requires a bit of extra effort ~ his equilibrium is off a tad). He does not have vision in his right eye - but the eye itself responds to light. He seems very happy to be home, loving the extra attention (oh, all of the fur brushing…he’s a purring machine!) and the especially *steenky* canned food the vet sent home with him. His appetite is great, he is very interested in food and water (good sign).
We had to make a few changes to his environment. We picked up a litter box with a lower front end, to make it easier for him to step in and out. We placed his heated mat inside a fleece lined bed (he seems to prefer having ‘walls’ around his sleeping area, now). A true sign of an old kitty - he now has a little staircase leading up to the sofa, so he doesn’t have to jump up and down to sit next to us (he took to those right away :) For the time being his living area (litter, bed, food, etc) is limited to our living room…until he gets used to being blind in one eye.
I’m just happy to have him home with us ~ happy that he is doing well and that he seems happy to be home too.
No comments yet.