With regards to cat illnesses, I really don't have an idea what illness hit my dear cat. Puffy's strange behavior gave me fear because two weeks ago, he just stayed at home on dark corners, most of the time under my bed. He barely moves his head and I've noticed that whenever I touch his head especially near the neck area, he would harshly meow at me, as if telling me not to stroke his head. It looked like he had a stiff neck. And worst, because he can't move his head comfortably, he barely finished his usual ration of food. Sometimes, he don't eat his food, maybe because he just simply don't like it or lose his appetite. As a result, he became a little skinny.
Then one day, I decided to give him a warm quick shower because he was just so messy and dirty. He was okay after the shower so I thought he was feeling fine. After two days, I noticed that Puffy really had no appetite for food. I decided to deworm him because I thought he had worms. Pardon me, I had never considered taking Puffy to a vet because it will be useless. Why? Because our vet here in our place just don't have enough passion for cats. If I send Puffy to them, Puffy would be dead.
Two days had passed. I was calling on Puffy when my sister told me that she saw him went outside with his legs trembling. According to her, Puffy could barely walk. I guessed because he had not eaten on time. After many hours that Puffy did not return home, I started looking for him. Finally, I found him under the storehouse. I was so shocked because when I lift him up, he was so weak that he can't even move his front legs to stand up. When I put him down, he was out of balance and kept on tumbling down backwards. Puffy may have gone through what they call cat stress and he looked like he has cat paralysis. I brought him inside the house and started feeding him up with Alpine Full Cream Evaporated Milk because he won't accept solid food.
I have read an article on cat care, which says that cats and kittens do not need to drink milk and can live their entire lives without having one lap of milk. According to what I have read, water is all they will ever need. But how can I not give Puffy milk? He don't want to drink water even if I forced him to, and don't want to eat, either. My last recourse was to give him milk through a syringe. Just like what I gave King when he was also really sick. Read my post here on how my lovable King has been revived. I thought that the Alpine Full Cream Evaporated Milk could heal Puffy's stomach, too. And this treatment of Alpine milk went on for days. I was just so glad that Puffy was so eager to drink the milk I gave him through a syringe.
You know, my heart really aches seeing Puffy unable to move. My family had thought that Puffy won't be able to make it. He would just pee and poop while lying. And my goodness! His poop really sucks because it's watery soft and very smelly. That is why, every time he rolled on his poop (because he can't move), I had to wash his butt. But then again, I am glad to take good care of my Puffy because this cat had given me so much joy when he was very well. It's my time now to return the kindness and happiness he had given me.
Right now, Puffy is still recovering and I am very happy to see his development. He starts to eat his usual food (rice with fish). He can't still balance fully his walking but he can manage to walk a little. I hope Puffy could walk normally again in a few days.
I'll update soon.....
May 13, 2010 update :
Puffy no longer wants to drink the milk I usually give him. He now prefers to have lots of water which I think is just what he needs to rehydrate his body.
