I hope this update finds you having a blissful September. “Blissful” is, of course, Adelaide’s default setting.
“Blissful” is not how most human beings would describe the blistering weather that’s blasted New Jersey this August. (I’m the rare human who adores 95+ degree days. But I digress.) Adelaide, however, is hot stuff.
Literally.
It’s not that she’s alone in this. Picture, if you will, the hottest day of the summer: heat indices of 110 degrees; weathermen wailing “check on your babies and old people!”; air conditioners croaking under the strain. Where will you find a solid 70% of the Tabby’s Place cats?
In the crisp air-conditioned suites?
Sipping freshly-poured cool water?
Silly human. They’re beached in the center of the sunshine, out in the solaria. And frankly, most of them look kinda deceased.
I’m not kidding. The first time I peeped out into a solarium on a steamy day, I was alarmed. There were most of the FIV+ cats beached like walruses, in various states of what can only be described as “coma.” They chose to be out there; they were absolutely fine; but to the naked eye, it did appear that they had all perished.
All but one.
You guessed her.
No matter how hot it got, Adelaide was all on. Other cats may bask and beach, but Addy is never a moment away from springing to her toes and sprinting to meet you, energy and vim and zeal all at their peak. In fact, in the highest heat, Adelaide even found a new hobby: singing. Lately, I can’t walk into the suite or solarium without Addy serenading/shrieking at me in the sweetest soprano pitch (as seen by my feeble efforts to photograph her this month).
Insane heat indices? Who cares?
Fifteen years of age? So what?
Adelaide and her music are invincibly alive.
Well, perhaps not literally invincible. I’m afraid that, even if Adelaide’s attitude shrugs off her age, her body doesn’t always cooperate. Tiny Addy did lose some weight this month, then regained it. This wouldn’t be cause for concern, except that she also had some bloody urine. She didn’t have a urinary tract infection, so it was time to conduct an X-ray.
Our vet team tells me that Adelaide was perfectly cooperative for her X-ray, with nary a wiggle. The X-ray revealed two nephroliths — kidney stones. These don’t seem to be causing Addy any pain, but they are cause for concern. We will be following up with an ultrasound.
In addition, Adelaide’s phosphorus level is creeping up. We monitor her bloodwork frequently, since she has early chronic kidney disease. Her renal values are stable, but it’s likely her phosphorus is causing her to feel a little crummy. The only way we can increase Addy’s phosphorus level is with supplements or prescription food…both of which she has refused to eat. So, for the time being, we’re increasing Addy’s fluid dosage and treating her with an appetite stimulant, as needed, to make her feel better.
Dear sponsors, I can’t thank you enough for keeping our Addy feeling fine and feisty, full of her own brand of love and magic. Even with these medical hiccups, Adelaide is a happy calico. Her embrace of summer’s swelter will, no doubt, ease into a warm and wonderful winter. May we all take after Addy’s infectious joy. Have a beautiful month!