Rest in Peace Nemo

FINAL UPDATE Nemo passed away about 11.20 a.m. on Friday Morning 27th of February 2015. He had a lovely meal of organic free range chicken last night and took a short walk out in the fresh cool air of the garden. This morning after Paul said a goodbye to him before heading to work, his breathing became very odd. With the Welfare Officer for the Upper Hutt Animal Rescue by my side, we went down to the rescue vet. The kind lady said he was deteriorating fast and it would be best to help his cross the Bridge. He left us on a sunny morning the kind of weather he had been enjoyed in our garden.

Thank you everyone who offered advice and links about irritable bowel issues, and about geriatric cats, your prompt help allowed us to give Nemo even more help than that I thought we could. He was a spirited cat who worked out FAST that the kitchen counter was where the food was – that is just the most awesome thing. I do not regret a moment of us having Nemo in our home and would do it again tomorrow. Rest in Peace Nemo.

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This is our long term foster Nemo, he is old, fragile looking and spunky! He is our first entry in the Tuesday’s Tails blog hop. The alternative to ‘long term foster’ with us was Nemo languishing in the rescue, depressed and confused, for months or years. We look one look and said  “not on our watch“. Long term foster means he is with us until he crosses the Bridge, whenever that may be – and we are good with this. Technically not adoptable, but we hope acceptable as part of Tuesday’s Tails.

Mum is learning about geriatric seniors as she goes – and is a bit nervous – but is asking for help from various groups on FB and Twitter, and any people she can find as Nemo is a paper thin geriatric gent with an irritable bowel. We are very grateful for the help from blogging anipals so far, and have booked a supplementary trip to our own vet. We intend to learn what we can, and gain reassurance about dealing with a geriatric old boy. We will keep track of what we learn on the blog in the hope it may help others in turn.

Learned so far :-

• Nemo’s poop smelled very odd on the Hill’s ID the Rescue provide for him (as he is a foster), but after a 24 hour break on plain fish, organic chicken and Feline Natural, a freeze dried food with no additives or preservatives that might irritate his tum, this has subsided a bit. Feline Natural is made here in New Zealand and its contents tally with many of the recipes for raw food diets we have read so far and no additives.
• Being so thin, it is important Nemo has soft places to rest, or he may get pressure sores – these would not be easy to heal – forcing down antibiotics or more than one vet visit would, we feel, damage the quality of life we are working to improve. Nemo sleeps either in a soft bed or on the family Purrito Wrapper we got from the USA at LiveLoveMeow.
• One thing to remember is that in the USA the range of foods available for cats with bowel issues is much more extensive that here in New Zealand. I am currently looking to see what can be imported – not easy as the information is so comprehensive you can’t figure out what you can or can’t bring in. More on this as I work it out!
  

I will update you on Nemo’s progress early next week guys! Thank you to DogsnPawz and Talking Dogs for hosting this lovely opportunity to hop some cool blogs.

Silver Kitten