SubQ Fluids Day 1: Not So Good : (

Mom got a subcutaneous fluids kit for me from the vet, since I've practically stopped drinking water over the last week - which is one of my favorite things - and I'm very dehydrated. As you may know, I won't go to the vet, or let a vet come here. Basically I refuse contact with vets unless I'm knocked out - which they have to do by putting my whole carrier in a chamber, and which is very dangerous for an 18 year old mancat. I'm feisty. ; )

Lactated Ringer's solution

Anyway, Mom thought she could totally do the fluids herself, since I let her and Dad shave me with a loud trimmer thing (a few minutes at a time, anyway). They figured if Dad gave me lovings and face scrunchies, Mom could just come in and stick me (the cats in the videos don't seem to even feel it) and in a few minutes they'd be done.

Well, that didn't go quite right. She got some solution in me but not a lot. The water level - full - is above the 100 ml mark, now it's at the 100 ml mark. She jabbed it in once - that needle's bigger than we thought it would be! She didn't quite get it, and I cried and complained.

She had to try again and I cried the whole time for a minute or so (in a manly way), even though Dad was giving me my favorite face scrunchies. Then Mom noticed my back was starting to get wet and stopped the flow and pulled out the needle.

She thought I'd stuck it in all the way (she wasn't sure if she was supposed to do that), in a pocket under the skin - and there was no blood... Maybe I moved and it pulled out but she didn't notice that.

We can't figure out why it seems to hurt me when the cats in the videos don't even notice, and when Wynnie got hers once, she didn't even wince. I've gotten shots before without reacting. Now Mom's thinking she's a bad kitty nurse. I don't think that's it. She tries really hard and isn't too squeamish about things that have to be done. She's really bumming now cause she thought she'd be good at this.

I'm going to try to be a better patient - but I don't see what I did wrong??

 I did a Google search for smaller cat subQ needles and found a great Hub Page by danielmybrother *HERE* with all kinds of advice about giving cats subQ fluids.

Tomorrow, we're going to try these things:

1. Mom's going to see if the vet has to give fluids to one of their patients so she can observe.
2. Heat the fluid bag in hot water first, to warm it up a little.
3. Maybe we'll try it with me on the floor beside Mom's computer chair - my favorite place, or on the couch, between mom and the arm of the couch, with the bag hanging from a planter hook.
4. We saw someone suggest on another site that cats can eat while they're getting their fluids. That would distract me...
5. We're also going to see if we can get 20 gauge needles - and possibly the apparently sharper Terumo needles.

If you've had any experience with giving your cat subcutaneous fluids and have any tips or words of encouragement for my Mom, I think she'd really appreciate it! 


Thank you,
Cokes (and Mom!)

Wordless Wednesday "4th of July!"

Thankful Thursday Blog Hop

How did Thursday come so fast!? This keeps happening...
I'm grateful this week for baths! 

Don't get me wrong. I HATE BATHS.

I never used to have to take them until my nerve damage made my bathroom habits hit and miss - literally.Since I've been wearing pants, I need a bath about once a week.

Mom doesn't even have a photo of me in taking a bath because it's always such a dramatic production, so I'm borrowing some pics of other cats to illustrate this post. (Only the top and bottom pics are of me.) 

Yes, I hate baths.But this funny thing happens once they're FINALLY over.

This isn't me, but it does look EXACTLY like me!

I feel wonderful.Clean.Fresh.Fluffy.I smell good.I feel good. Life is good. 

Tomorrow is bath day and I'm glad my mom and dad care enough about me to  go to all the trouble of giving me one.  =^..^=

Join the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop! What are you grateful for this week? You have all week to join the hop. If you do, please also stop by the other blogs, leave comments, make friends...  : ) 

Wordless Wednesday

SAT Pet Blogger Hop *AKA* The Holiday Hop for Pets Giveaway!

Ok This is the dealio.This post is for the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop.But it's really just to promote my entries to the Holiday Hop for Pets Giveaway...
I know. Sneaky...Anyway, Just scroll down to the next post and you'll find my Giveaway for the: And after you enter that one, I've got three more! Head on over to www.bohopets.com where mom's giving away a custom pet portrait,then to www.thepawedsquad.com, where we're giving away a FURminator,and finally to www.anipalphotohunt.com, where BigPawDesigns.com is giving away a Santa Claws Jingle Bell collar charm.
Happy Hopping!

Holiday Hope for Pets Giveaway!

 Two Little Cavaliers is hosting this super cool pet gifts and products Holiday Hop for Pets Giveway!You can easily hop from site to site, checking out the different shops and blogs, and entering super easy giveaway contests for one week, November 18-25, 2010.
I'm giving away a porcelain Santa Claws Christmas ornament and matching refrigerator magnet featuring an award winning photograph of charismatic anipal, MOI! Cokie the Cat: Hollywood Insider! ; )

3"x2.8"

2"x2"

They're actually quite lovely. Mom's selling them at her shop: www.bohopets.com, and she has a great giveaway going on over there for a custom digitally hand/mouse drawn portrait of your favorite bohemian pet!  Www.AnipalPhotoHunt.com and www.thepawedsquad.com are also participating... But enough about them...

TO BUY: You can buy them directly from Mom's Zazzle shop at www.zazzle.com/bohopets*. The porcelain ornament is $12.95 and the magnet is $3.45. (All Zazzle orders $50+ ship free until Jan.1, 2011.) 50% of her profits go to animal charities.

WIN THEM: The winner of this giveaway will receive one porcelain cat Christmas ornament and matching refrigerator magnet. There will be one winner chosen by www.random.org. All ages and geographical locations are eligible! See instructions, below.

MAIN ENTRY: To be entered in this giveaway, follow me on Google Friend Connect and leave a comment on this post when you've done so.

One ADDITIONAL entry for EACH of the following - be sure to leave a separate comment for each:

• Follow me on Twitter @cokiethecat,
• Follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cokiecat
• Tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this page: "@cokiethecat is hosting a holiday giveaway on his blog at www.cokiethecat.com. Check it out!" Or something along those lines. ; )
• (May tweet once each day for additional entries.)

Remember - leave one comment for each extra entry, indicating you've completed the requirement.

Then visit the other Holiday Hop for Pets Giveways at the links below!

DISCLAIMER: My Mom took this photo of me and created these items on Zazzle.com, so I admit I'm biased, but I still say they're beautiful!  : P

Good Luck and Happy Holidays!

Cokie the Cat