Cat Trouble

So add to all the stress that I've been going through, Zenith, our seven year old Siamese cat, has decided to NOT use the litter box....

And, I tell you, I have been at my wit's end about this.

I've tried everything: from getting another litter box, then yet another litter box. To making sure the boxes (now three!) are all spotless clean. To even bringing a litter box into (yuck) the kitchen (where she has been using the rug instead of the litter box).

And nothing has worked.

Zenith (asleep & innocent!)

My thought was that this new behavior was a "behavioral" problem. My fear was that there was something medically wrong with her. Especially since it is so very hard for me to get out of the house these days, I couldn't imagine finding the time/opportunity to get the cat to the vet. Even with Chris coming over once a week or so, these trips are always spent rushing around getting Bob's meds and other supplies and trying to get back in time for Chris to get home in time to watch her great-grandkids after school.

Not to mention: how on earth to afford a (probably very big) vet bill?? (One vet I called quoted me $248.00 for a visit + tests. yikes)

Add to all of that, Zenith is Bob's favorite kitty and I surely didn't want anything to happen to her, as he'd be devastated. Not to mention, I love her too!

Pre-stroke: Bob & Zenith were constant companions...

That was my dilemma, until this past week, when I found a veterinarian who makes house calls! And doesn't charge an arm and a leg. And, extra added bonus, this particular vet actually accepts PayPal!

The doctor came on Wednesday. She was absolutely terrific. She wasn't sure if Zenith's behavior is from an infection or from stress, but thought we should just try some antibiotics and see if that works, before running Zenith through a bunch of expensive tests.  She actually, for no extra charge, stopped at a pharmacy and picked up antibiotics for Zenith before she arrived as I had told her how hard it was for me to get out of the house. She was here for nearly an hour and she even gave Boomer a free check-up, to boot! And her charge was only $70.00!

She also asked if anything had happened recently that could be causing Zenith to be stressed out. But other than me, being far more stressed out than usual with all this crazy-making lawsuit business, really nothing has changed. She told me, however, my stress level could certainly be affecting the cat.

Anyway, we are trying 20 days of antibiotics to see if that clears up the problem. She also suggested that I get a "Feliway" diffuser for the house, which is a plug-in device that diffuses cat pheromones and this may help to calm her down. I am currently scoping out e-bay to see what I can find....

I am praying that all this will work, and Zenith will get back to normal. That we don't need more tests, etc. Or I'm going to need to find a human "pheromone" diffuser to calm me down!

And I do want to say: THANK YOU!!, from Bob and me and Zenith, to all my blog readers who have sent donations through my PayPal "donate" button. Those donations always come in handy, to buy little things like latex gloves and bath wipes and pressure sore creams and an occasional guilty treat, like a pair of slippers -- but this month I had enough to pay a vet bill and that has been a real life saver! I greatly, sincerely appreciate it. And don't know what I'd have done without that help. Thanks again!