Hello, I’m Christopher! To learn more about me and my silly Russian blue cat, Olga, please read my bio.
Cats are surviving, and some seem almost invincible. They are solitary hunters like their ancestors, but can form small wild colonies to survive life on the road. Older adult males usually separate after mating, but females and their young stick together. It is not uncommon for females in the wild to care for kittens while their mother is away.
cat health concerns
Even though they have nine lives, pet cats are susceptible to several diseases and infections both indoors and outdoors. Some cats are prone to severe health conditions, so it’s depressing to see your cat on a list of “breeds most at risk.” I’m glad it’s so much easier to find accurate information about your cat’s health, but I’m guilty of expecting the worst and getting hung up on the details.
I had a more easy-going attitude until my Siamese cat, who had no problems until age 17, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. He died two months before he turned 20.th On my birthday, and a few months later, I adopted Olga. About a week later, the rescue center called and asked if Olga was okay.
disturbing news
They said her sister died after suffering a gastrointestinal infection and wondered if she had diarrhea or vomiting. Luckily, she was fine, but I couldn’t sleep for a while and annoyed Olga by hovering over her. She wasn’t as friendly as a kitten and needed more alone time. She was treated for ear mites before I adopted her and has never had an ear mite problem again, but she has had ear mites several times.
In addition, she was treated for severe diarrhea and recently idiopathic vomiting. A few weeks ago, Olga kept throwing up right after eating food, but she didn’t show any other worrying signs and seemed normal. The veterinarian examined her and performed several tests, including comprehensive blood work, a urine test, and an x-ray to confirm the blockage.
peace of mind and worry
Although I was reassured that she was healthy and all the results were good, the “idiopathic” part of the diagnosis did nothing to ease my anxious mind. The memory of the phone call about her sister came flooding back, and I couldn’t stop thinking about kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis, cancer, and hyperthyroidism.
Despite the veterinarian’s assurances and positive blood test results, it took several days before we felt more optimistic about Olga’s health. She was back to normal and running around the house like crazy, but I was worried. In previous articles, I criticized her strange behavior and violent ways, but I can’t ignore how much she has improved my life.
It’s hard for me to stay mad whether she’s shredding the soles of my feet or playing soccer with my contact case. She beats me up even when she attacks me, but when she’s sick my brain becomes a useless lump. It’s hard to erase or block bad thoughts from your head, but watching a few hours of Monty Python’s Flying Circus usually helps.
This article is part of the Christopher and Olga series.
