Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Rescue & Rehoming => Rescue & Rehoming General => Topic started by: Gillian Harvey on September 27, 2010, 00:11:32 AM

Title: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Gillian Harvey on September 27, 2010, 00:11:32 AM
When I went in to the foster cats yesterday morning - the three girls came running over to me as usual, except that Duchess was staggering, like she was drunk. Holding her head down, and she fell over a couple of times. Went straight back in to phone vets - couldnt get appointment at the closest branch (cats action trust use different vet to my own) and then couldnt get an appointment till later at the further branch  >:( Anyway, vet thinks probably an ear infection, thinking about it she had been a bit sensitive when stroking round that area, but is really affected her balance. She had antibiiotic and steroid jab, vet said to keep her confined for safety - so I put her in my large crate with her bed and try etc - up in spare (?) room, so's can keep close eye on her.

She was worse yesterday evening, couldnt even stand up without falling straight over, and she's not eating. I'm thinking, she's perhaps a little better this evening, but still not had anything to eat, maybe a few bites of tinned, am leaving some dry overnight for her.

Got cats everywhere now lol! Chico still being brought in (to my grooming room) from his pen overnight - in case he is vocal and wakes the neighbours! and now Duchess is in my workroom  :Crazy: This wasnt supposed to happen when I started fostering - that is why I've got pens in the garden I thought lol!  :doh:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on September 27, 2010, 00:30:38 AM
Poor thing :care: Must have been really frighetning for you too  :hug: Hope the meds do their job and she's back to normal soon enough  :)
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Jiji on September 27, 2010, 10:08:19 AM
Hope Duchess is improving.
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Stuart on September 27, 2010, 10:17:06 AM
Sending Duchess tn's of get well soon vibes :care:

I had a bad ear infection years ago, Very Very Painful, and yes it really affects your ballance greatly
didn't want to eat anything iether  :sick:

sure the meds will kick in for Duchess and She'll be back to normal in no time  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Janeyk on September 27, 2010, 10:28:17 AM
Poor love, sending get well wishes for her xx
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: puggy1975 Zoe on September 27, 2010, 10:35:22 AM
Get well soon duchess
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Zenith (Liz) on September 27, 2010, 11:52:54 AM
Get well vibes for Duchess  :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on September 27, 2010, 13:59:19 PM
Lots of love to Duchess and as you probably know I suffer with ear probs and as Stuart says they affect your balance and also can make you sick so you cant really eat.

I hope that she improves quick  cos if its a virus, it could take a longer time.   :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Jasmine on September 27, 2010, 14:13:49 PM
Oh poor Duchess  :(

I'm on strong drugs to stem what the doctors think is viral labrynthitis (sp?) or worse case scenario a pituitary tumour - on top of the ME!!, and when I was initially spinning round the room at a hundred times a second, my first thought was how awful if a cat got this!

Sending her healing vibes for a quick recovery
 :wish:

N
X
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Dawn F on September 27, 2010, 18:11:05 PM
poor duchess oh has these attacks as well - I've literally seen him fall on the fall with it (hes a former rugby prop so not easy to lift up lol!) the meds do kick in fairly quickly so hope she is on her feet again soon and you get your room back
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Lindsey (thefunkyinuit) on September 27, 2010, 18:31:52 PM
Sending healing vibes  :hug: Get well soon Duchess
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Guest on September 27, 2010, 18:52:48 PM
Oh nooooo!  :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on September 27, 2010, 19:03:39 PM
Thanks everyone  :thanks: there is a slight improvement today I think and we'eve been back to the vets for another jab, plus pills for the week. I let her have a wander round the room while I was on the computer yesterday evening, big mistake, she wasnt very keen to go back in the cage oops!! Still hadnt eaten much this morning, but she stretched her legs again out of the cage, and bless her, she even tried to bat a ball around  :Crazy: After vet visit I decided to try her back out in the pen, put a bed down on the floor, rather than on the shelf, for her, and when I went back a bit later she was curled up in it. She also joined the others when I went in to feed them, and was tucking in to her plate while I watched for a bit, so think she is going to be ok.

It was scarey seeing her falling over like that, especialy as she had seemed fine the evening before, I immediately thought neurological - but then remembered one of my cats having something similar which turned out to be a middle ear infection.

I've had labriynthitis too and the dizziness is realy horrible.

Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Guest on September 27, 2010, 19:06:18 PM
bless her. Give her a kiss from me x
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Tan on September 28, 2010, 15:45:45 PM
 :(  Hope she is a bit better today hun. Sending loads of love over for her and you.  :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on September 28, 2010, 15:50:44 PM
Pleased she seems to be doing better and hope she is on the road to recovery  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: cazzer on September 28, 2010, 18:11:53 PM
glad she is doing better
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on September 28, 2010, 19:44:26 PM
Thanks all  :thanks: She is eating much better today, but still very wobbly and if she shakes her head she promptly falls over! Anyway we've started the antibiotic tabs today and its back to the vet in a week, unless I'm worried about her before then of course. I've got lots of those carpet pieces over the floor of the pen, so's its a bit of a softer landing than vinyl if she does wobble over  :)
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on September 28, 2010, 22:29:56 PM
Yes shaking head is not a good thing to do lol and hope she continues to improve  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: madkittyrescue on September 29, 2010, 09:53:55 AM
great to hear that Duchess is improving Gillian.  All the harbour babies send their healing vibes and :hug: for her and you x
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on September 29, 2010, 17:43:54 PM
thanks  :thanks: she's still quite wobbly, and it doesnt help that mum Juliette keeps swiping her  :(
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on September 29, 2010, 20:54:54 PM
Oh dear got it all wrong thought that Juliette was a kitten LOL never realized she was the mother.......sigh

Anyway lots more good wishes for Duchess  :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on September 29, 2010, 22:36:44 PM
Oh dear got it all wrong thought that Juliette was a kitten LOL never realized she was the mother.......sigh


She just acts like a kitten Gill lol! (she's 12 yrs old  ;) )
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on September 29, 2010, 23:08:38 PM
Wow  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Guest on September 29, 2010, 23:09:43 PM
awwwwwwwwwwwwww!
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Tan on September 30, 2010, 10:09:18 AM
That's so brill hun so glad she is feeling better  ;D  :Luv: :Luv: :Luv:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Daisymac on September 30, 2010, 15:01:32 PM
So glad she is feeling better  :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 04, 2010, 20:11:16 PM
Well, despite 7 days of antibiotics, Duchess was still very wobbly and holding her head at a funny angle, so I took her back today and vet wants to do exploratory look in her ear under anaesthetic. Duchess wouldnt let vet look in her ear properly this time (funny, she was ok last time) so it was impossible to see whats going on. Vet's thinking possibly polyp/mass of some sort, but we won't know until she's had a good look. Duchess is booked in for tomorrow, poor little girl  :(  - this also means that her, Juliette and Bramble can't have any treats when I go in last thing tonight - cos Duchess is nil by mouth, which means her mum and sister will have to be too - they will be pleased!  :scared:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: ChrisB on October 04, 2010, 22:26:08 PM
Do hope that the vet can quickly find out the problem and Duchess soon feels better  :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: bunglycat on October 04, 2010, 22:54:39 PM
Lots of vibes for Duchess to get better soon , hope the vet can find out what it is .

Bungly had polyps in her ear before i had her , she had her ear taken off and them removed in a major op , then had her ear sewn back on again ,but over the hole !
I imagine she was deaf in that ear after , but she never had any more problems with her ear .
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 04, 2010, 23:48:06 PM
Thanks  :thanks:

Lots of vibes for Duchess to get better soon , hope the vet can find out what it is .

Bungly had polyps in her ear before i had her , she had her ear taken off and them removed in a major op , then had her ear sewn back on again ,but over the hole !
I imagine she was deaf in that ear after , but she never had any more problems with her ear .

Wow! thats some operation! well I suppose I will know more tomorrow .
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on October 05, 2010, 00:12:48 AM
Poor Duchess and suspect its ear related but nothing that can be seen and she just needs loads of time and care. Lots of good wishes for her  :rofl: :rofl:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on October 05, 2010, 08:00:02 AM
Good luck today
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Susanne (urbantigers) on October 05, 2010, 08:27:50 AM
sending lots of good luck vibes for Duchess today.  I hope the vet can find out what is causing the problem.
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Daisymac on October 05, 2010, 09:02:49 AM
Best of luck today xx
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: tab on October 05, 2010, 09:35:38 AM
I hope it all goes well
love
tab
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 05, 2010, 17:15:18 PM
Well Duchess is home (got her in the indoor cage in workroom at the mo - again!) Vet found lots of gunk and theres thickened areas inside and inflammation, but unless they do an op to see what those areas are etc (very invasive and expensive apparently) they are treating for middle ear disease - with steroids (pred) for 2 weeks and review again then. This will reduce any inflammation and hopefully her balance and head tilt will come right, but vet said she may always have the head tilt now. Ears have been flushed too.

She's just sat gazing into space at the moment  :Crazy: - with her head on one side!
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Jiji on October 05, 2010, 19:39:02 PM
Poor Duchess, I hope the steroids work and an operation is not needed.
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: cazzer on October 05, 2010, 19:40:36 PM
aw poor Duchess.     Hope she feels better soon
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: bunglycat on October 05, 2010, 19:40:52 PM
Poor Duchess , hope the tablets work.

Apparently , Bungly had her op whilst she was at Chapelhouse and i was told it was around £1000 then, she was also in a bad way after and they nearly lost her  !
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Janeyk on October 05, 2010, 19:59:42 PM
Poor love, I hope the meds make her feel much better  :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Tan on October 05, 2010, 23:47:22 PM
 :( Poor darlin. Hope she will feel better very very soon. Give her a hug from me hun  :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Ann Clarke (Tabby cat) on October 06, 2010, 12:02:11 PM
Poor Duchess, I hope she feels better very soon  :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 06, 2010, 19:54:57 PM
Thanks  :thanks: I've put her back out in the pen today, she was pretty fed up being in the cage indoors, she hadnt used the litter tray nor eaten, as soon as I put her back in the pen with Juliette and Bram she went and had a good long wee! and then tucked into some food. I started her on the steroids last night, so we'll see how it goes. The fact that her balance is still poor and her head tilts, it doesnt really seem to bother her.  :Luv:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: AliCat on October 06, 2010, 20:35:43 PM
 :hug: Good luck with the steroids. Fingers crossed that they'll do the trick.
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Guest on October 06, 2010, 20:41:12 PM
awww bless her xx
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 07, 2010, 23:43:48 PM
I think she's worse since she started the steroids  :( She didnt eat any tea and when I did my last check at around 10pm, she was more wobbly and definitely not looking right, and someone had been sick, don't know if it was her of course, as she's in with her mum and sister, but think it must have been as the other two are bright, eating ok etc.  I think it will be back to the vets tomorrow, unless she picks up overnight.
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Tan on October 08, 2010, 10:12:46 AM
 :( How is she today hun.  I soo hope she picks up very soon.  Sending all my love and get better vibes over.
 :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Cooper & Peanut on October 08, 2010, 10:15:56 AM
A shed full of healing vibes coming your way hun, oh and some hugs  :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: cazzer on October 08, 2010, 10:31:23 AM
Oh dear Gilian. Hope she is better today  :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 08, 2010, 12:54:09 PM
Don't they ever make you worry? its bad enough worrying about my own, never mind the foster cats too!!  :tired: She seems fine this morning! She was sitting waiting for breakfast, ate fairly well and has even been sitting up on the cat tree looking out the window. When I went in again just now, she'd got up into one of the beds on the shelf in the sleeping compartment, which she hadnt been able to do while she's been so wobbly. She IS still wobbly, but looking much brighter, phew!  ;D

Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Ann Clarke (Tabby cat) on October 08, 2010, 15:56:52 PM
Thank goodness for that, they do like to worry us don't they! Fingers crossed she is on the mend now that the steroids are starting to kick in. Sending her lots of  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: ChrisB on October 08, 2010, 23:02:43 PM
Great news - do hope that she continues to improve  :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Janeyk on October 09, 2010, 07:26:44 AM
Glad to hear she seems better  :)
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 22, 2010, 21:47:37 PM
Duchess has been improving on the steroids, but she still has a head tilt which they vet said she may always have now. She had a check up at the vets today and the vet said her ears look nice and clean and no infection at all now, but the ear causing the prob still has a mass which no amount of flushing when she had the op, could budge.

The steroids have been reduced to every other day now - just as well, as vet mentioned how 'portly' she was looking  :evillaugh: Thats prob my fault too - I think I've been a bit too generous on the portion sizes, not thinking about the fact my fosters are confined and not doing an awful lot of exercise  :-:

Sadly I was supposed to be doing a homecheck tomorrow for Duchess and Bramble to go together, but the lady has apparently phoned our coordinator to say she's got 2 cats from somewhere else  :(
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on October 22, 2010, 21:52:21 PM
So sad why are peeps so impatient!

Hope that Duchess will be OK  :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Mark on October 23, 2010, 08:14:57 AM
Glad she seems much better and happier with feline company  :hug:

It is so annoying when people are impatient. I remember a while ago, I was busy, but found time to do a local home check. They kept me chatting for ages and we didn't hear any more from them. A couple of weeks later, I bumped into the man in the co-op and asked him what was happening. He informed me that he had bought a kitten  :tired:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on December 16, 2010, 22:34:12 PM
Might - I stress, might  :shify: have a potential home for Duchess - about time, she's been with me right from the day after the cat pens were built at the end of May  :shocked: . Of course her mum Juliette and sister Bramble (Nancy) both got new homes, so she's been on her own since then. Still got a head tilt, but I put all the info about her ear problem in her write up on the Trust's website and these people read that and are still interested  ;D
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on December 16, 2010, 23:46:16 PM
Fingers crossed  :hug:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls
Post by: Gillian Harvey on January 09, 2011, 14:59:56 PM
I am over the moon! Duchess went to her new home yesterday - again, like Minnie the Minx, she'd been with me right from the start - 7 months! and she's the last of the little family (Juliette - her mum, and Bramble  - her sister) to go. Yesterday was the first time they'd seen Duchess, apart from the photo on the website, and it was a family, couple plus son (never sure on kid's ages  :innocent: - but think about 11 or 12), but he loved her and Duchess was really comfortable with them - so having done the checks previously, they were able to take her there and then!  ;D

Considering she's 8 yrs old, and the problem's she had with her ears (and being black!) I wondered if we'd ever home her. Can't stop smiling  ;D

(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb234/scruffyjoe/FOSTERS/IMG_5801.jpg)
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: bunglycat on January 09, 2011, 15:21:49 PM
What great news  ;D

So pleased for her , she really deserves it . :Luv2:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on January 09, 2011, 17:32:08 PM
Wonderful news Gillian  ;D
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Shirley on January 09, 2011, 18:05:40 PM
Brilliant news-she's such a beautiful girl!   :Luv2: :Luv2:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: nickynoo93 on January 09, 2011, 18:46:05 PM
Welldone, she is very beautiful, but then I am biased to black beautys.  Hope she is very happy in her new home.

Nicky
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: AllShookUp on January 09, 2011, 18:51:57 PM
Im glad she has now been rehomed. Shes a very beautiful cat  :Luv2:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on January 09, 2011, 21:41:38 PM
 :wooooo: 

Excellent news Gillian  :)

Definitely calls for a chicken banana combo! :narna dance: :chicken: :yayyy:


Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Rosella moggy on January 09, 2011, 23:37:16 PM
So pleased for Duchess Gillian  :) :). 

Well done for giving her such good care whilst with you.  Isn't it lovely that her new family are happy to take her on knowing her history of ear problem.  Restores your faith and all that  :)
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Gillian Harvey on January 10, 2011, 20:01:01 PM
Thanks   :thanks: I have a pen free now (say that quietly lol!) not for long tho!

Definitely calls for a chicken banana combo! :narna dance: :chicken: :yayyy:

Loving the chicken banana combo  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Stuart on January 10, 2011, 22:06:30 PM
Brilliant news  :wow:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Janeyk on January 11, 2011, 06:54:56 AM
Great news  ;D will move this now
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Gillian Harvey on January 13, 2011, 21:47:05 PM
Can this thread go back in R&R general, not in sorted. It was initially in R&R general, not in Cats needing homes, as it was a general thread about Duchess, thanks.
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on January 14, 2011, 00:25:20 AM
Will move and maybe you should change the title a bit  :innocent:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Janeyk on January 14, 2011, 07:11:37 AM
I already moved it, I put it back here in the section Gillian wanted :evillaugh:
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on January 14, 2011, 12:39:21 PM
Well Janey one of the two threads was here and the other wasnt, cos moved the first successfully but when I came to do the second thought I had gone mad because couldnt finfd the right board so moved too general cc to strt with. then saw that the bloomig thread ahd come from where I waas sending it  :rofl: :rofl:

But the first one I did move here.
Title: Re: Vibes for Duchess pls - NOW REHOMED!
Post by: Gillian Harvey on January 14, 2011, 16:06:42 PM
Oops, it seems to be everywhere this thread now lol!  :evillaugh: sorry to confuse the issue!   :naughty: