Mister Puffles
Donation protected
“Kitty MS” is what I’m told. Kitty MS. Some things just cannot be made up. And this is one of them.
Earlier this week I noticed something was off with Puffles. He wasn’t eating much. When we went in for a nap, he wouldn’t lay next to me. He was retreating. Hiding. Not like him at all. Yesterday I woke up and put out a can of his favorite wet food to try to entice him. I put it right under his nose and he wouldn’t even pick up his head. So I put his food bowl on the ground, picked him up, and placed him on the ground in front of it. He glanced at it, and tried to walk away... but couldn’t. His hind legs were lame and dragging behind him. My heart broke.
Immediately I drove him to our veterinarian where staff was awaiting his arrival and I waited in the parking lot. All day. I couldn’t handle the thought of not being near him while he was going through this. Multiple diaper changes and naps later (that’s how I tell time now), the vet called and said “This cat has some serious issues.” His choice of words made me so angry. I asked “Are we talking about his wellbeing or his temperament?” and he replied “Both.” I know Puff can get nippy when he’s scared, but he doesn’t feel well and his mommy wasn’t there so OF COURSE he’s going to act deviantly. What a jerk doctor. Anyways, he explained to me his findings and ultimately I decided to take Puff to a 24-hour Emergency Veterinary facility where they can treat and monitor him around-the-clock. With a two hour drive ahead of us, I held Puffles in my arms, kissed him endlessly and promised him everything is going to be OK.
When we arrived at the emergency clinic, we dropped him off and waited the rest of the day… so long that we had to drive to a nearby Walgreens to pickup more diapers for the baby because we ran out. They did their own extensive workup and had additional (and more thorough) findings. When the doctor called she said “Puffles has neurological failure to his hind legs. Kitty MS, per se.” My jaw literally dropped. How the hellllll did those words just come out of this doctor’s mouth when she doesn’t even know Puffles nor my story. She explained that he his disks between his spine and his tail are too close together which explains that “funny walk” we all noticed when @bethostern rescued him. She explained that the disks being this close cause fecal incontinence and the inability to pass toxic matter has caused an extremely large fecal buildup in his body. She said it’s so large that it must have been building up for a long time and that if I didn’t bring him in, he would have passed from toxicity. She went on and said he has a low heart rate (likely from this large mass pressing on his organs), low potassium, severe hip disease, and neurological failure to his hind extremities. This is when “Ms. I’m so strong” broke down and cried.
As far as treatment goes, he is going to need surgery to remove as much of this fecal matter as possible. Deostipation, so I’m told. There are a number of surgeries that are also being considered, but right now we are focusing on one thing at a time. The doctor said that with a kitty this age and with the amount of health conditions he has, we need to be realistic about how best to maintain his quality of life. I feel gutted. I feel scared. I just want to be there for him through all of this and tell him that mommy’s here and everything is going to be OK. But I can’t. I have to trust the process.
The veterinary office staff keeps calling to provide updates on costs, and I am so emotionally drained that I just can’t wrap my head around formalities. It’s been less than 24 hours and we’ve already accrued a few thousand dollars. Do I have that kind of money... no. Do I care... also no. I will do everything in my power to save Puffles and provide him with the best life. Please pray for Puffles. Pray that he continues fighting this fight, that he stays strong and makes it through surgery, and that everything goes according to plan. I love him so much. We love him so much. Puffles and I saved each other. And I will never give up on him. #PUFFLESSTRONG
I know how much many of you love Puffles and will want to help, so I opened a GoFundMe page to help towards his medical bills. If everyone gave $1, that would more than cover the expenses. And if a contribution is too much to ask at this time, a prayer for Puffles is equally valuable. Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts and know that we love you.
Earlier this week I noticed something was off with Puffles. He wasn’t eating much. When we went in for a nap, he wouldn’t lay next to me. He was retreating. Hiding. Not like him at all. Yesterday I woke up and put out a can of his favorite wet food to try to entice him. I put it right under his nose and he wouldn’t even pick up his head. So I put his food bowl on the ground, picked him up, and placed him on the ground in front of it. He glanced at it, and tried to walk away... but couldn’t. His hind legs were lame and dragging behind him. My heart broke.
Immediately I drove him to our veterinarian where staff was awaiting his arrival and I waited in the parking lot. All day. I couldn’t handle the thought of not being near him while he was going through this. Multiple diaper changes and naps later (that’s how I tell time now), the vet called and said “This cat has some serious issues.” His choice of words made me so angry. I asked “Are we talking about his wellbeing or his temperament?” and he replied “Both.” I know Puff can get nippy when he’s scared, but he doesn’t feel well and his mommy wasn’t there so OF COURSE he’s going to act deviantly. What a jerk doctor. Anyways, he explained to me his findings and ultimately I decided to take Puff to a 24-hour Emergency Veterinary facility where they can treat and monitor him around-the-clock. With a two hour drive ahead of us, I held Puffles in my arms, kissed him endlessly and promised him everything is going to be OK.
When we arrived at the emergency clinic, we dropped him off and waited the rest of the day… so long that we had to drive to a nearby Walgreens to pickup more diapers for the baby because we ran out. They did their own extensive workup and had additional (and more thorough) findings. When the doctor called she said “Puffles has neurological failure to his hind legs. Kitty MS, per se.” My jaw literally dropped. How the hellllll did those words just come out of this doctor’s mouth when she doesn’t even know Puffles nor my story. She explained that he his disks between his spine and his tail are too close together which explains that “funny walk” we all noticed when @bethostern rescued him. She explained that the disks being this close cause fecal incontinence and the inability to pass toxic matter has caused an extremely large fecal buildup in his body. She said it’s so large that it must have been building up for a long time and that if I didn’t bring him in, he would have passed from toxicity. She went on and said he has a low heart rate (likely from this large mass pressing on his organs), low potassium, severe hip disease, and neurological failure to his hind extremities. This is when “Ms. I’m so strong” broke down and cried.
As far as treatment goes, he is going to need surgery to remove as much of this fecal matter as possible. Deostipation, so I’m told. There are a number of surgeries that are also being considered, but right now we are focusing on one thing at a time. The doctor said that with a kitty this age and with the amount of health conditions he has, we need to be realistic about how best to maintain his quality of life. I feel gutted. I feel scared. I just want to be there for him through all of this and tell him that mommy’s here and everything is going to be OK. But I can’t. I have to trust the process.
The veterinary office staff keeps calling to provide updates on costs, and I am so emotionally drained that I just can’t wrap my head around formalities. It’s been less than 24 hours and we’ve already accrued a few thousand dollars. Do I have that kind of money... no. Do I care... also no. I will do everything in my power to save Puffles and provide him with the best life. Please pray for Puffles. Pray that he continues fighting this fight, that he stays strong and makes it through surgery, and that everything goes according to plan. I love him so much. We love him so much. Puffles and I saved each other. And I will never give up on him. #PUFFLESSTRONG
I know how much many of you love Puffles and will want to help, so I opened a GoFundMe page to help towards his medical bills. If everyone gave $1, that would more than cover the expenses. And if a contribution is too much to ask at this time, a prayer for Puffles is equally valuable. Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts and know that we love you.
Organizer
Christina Papillo
Organizer
North Salem, NY