he reaches into his bag of tricks

I had a weird night last night. I kept waking up very suddenly, with my brain racing. It was different from the night terrors I used to have when I was younger, but the same “OH MY GOD!” heart-pounding feeling was still there, just absent the white hot blinding fear that the terrors used to bring.
So that’s a long way if saying that I’ve been really tired all day. I think I’m also a little emotionally drained, as well, with the uncertainty about Felix (even though all the signs currently point in a positive direction).
Speaking of Felix . . . I saw him this morning, and the vet, and all the techs at the hospital all told me how talkative he had been, and how eager he was to come home. He continued to “eat like a pig” they said (he ate almost an entire 5.5 ounce can of food this morning) and he was even eating fish, which he’s always hated. There was another cat in the space next to The Bear, and I guess the two of them had been talking to each other since yesterday. I think I may have seen a copy of Escape from AlCATraz — with feline subtitles, of course — behind Felix’s litter box.
The vet told me that it was really clear that our visits were helping him, and she said the he really settled down when we took his little fleece bed there for him to sleep in so he didn’t have to sleep on a towel.
She said that he’s made so much progress with the fluids and medication, that he could come home today!
So at 4:30, I picked him up, and right now he’s laying on the floor behind me, giving himself a bath.
He wants me to tell everyone, “Hi. ThiS iS FELix. My Mom AND Dad ToLD mE HoW MUCh WWDN ReADerS SupPoRteD ThEM whiLe I wAs SiCK, aND i WaNT to sAY ThANK you. ThEy LovE ME A loT AnD I KnOW THIS Was hard FoR thEM.”
I want to say thank you again, too, and so do Anne and the boys.
Felix will get sub-q fluids every day, and we’re also giving him aluminum hydroxide twice a day in his food to help take some stress off his kidneys. I’m doing everything I can to keep him comfy, too, and I ordered him some Kitty Hooch, because he loves it so much.
The next 48 hours are going to be very important. If he doesn’t slip back to pre-hospital condition, we’re going to be okay for a while. If he worsens, we’ll have to give serious consideration to putting him to sleep. We’re clearly not out of the woods, yet, so if you’ve got an extra thought to spare, we’ll take it.
Oh, and to tie up a loose end from yesterday, my audition went really well. I read for three different characters, nailed one of them, blew it on another, and did fairly well with the last one. But I REALLY had fun with the characters, and also recorded an audio blog that made me laugh.
Update: I just got off the phone with our vet. The lab results came back, and they’re not as good as we’d hoped. his levels came down a little bit, but not nearly as much as we were hoping for. She said that she uses the lab results as a guide, and really lets the cat tell us what he needs, but when I asked her if it was positive, negative, or neutral, she didn’t really want to say . . . so I think it may be more negative than we’d like.
He’s going to get re-checked in two weeks, and we’ll have a very clear picture then. I’m trying to remain hopeful, but I also have to prepare myself for the very worst.

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150 thoughts on “he reaches into his bag of tricks”

  4. Four felines, two canines, and three humans sending happy healing thoughts out for Felix, the wonderful cat.

  5. Lots of good vibrations for Felix coming from Bernadette Kitterny, Wallace McKitten, and me. Hang in there, you guys.

  6. Wil,
    My prayers and crazy monkey mojo are still with Da Bear… I hope everything goes well with him. So here is some more Crazy Monkey Mojo comming his way, and yours. Good luck with your auditions. I know you will do well. My best, Matt.

  7. I’m glad to hear he’s doing well enough to be home. Still sending mojo from me and my owners, Donut, Spot and Squeak the queen bitch kitty.
    I’m glad you did well on the auditions too, hope you get that one part that you nailed. Maybe you didn’t do as bad as you think you did on the others, but still, sounds like you did pretty good.
    Go Felix!

  8. nice to hear from you FELIX…i hear you help wil write this blog…good for you!…and this part’s for big WIL…didn’t you just wanna holler out the window: “COME ON DOWN!!!!…YOU’RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT ON THE PRICE IS RIGHT!

  9. I’m so glad to hear that he made it home! We never get to choose the time or place we lose our loved ones. Hopefully you’ll get to have Felix for a lot longer than you think–just like people, animals can miraculously recover sometimes. I’m sending all the extra mojo I’ve got down to you guys so that you can enjoy a good time with him and hopefully hear great news in 2 weeks.
    *mojo vibes*
    Thanks for sharing both the ups and the downs with us, Wil. Your site is really a community, and we are part of your support system here to buoy you up in the bad times and cheer in the good.

  11. As someone once said,
    “If their are no dogs in heaven, then, when I die, I want to go where they are.”
    Best of luck.

  13. “Hi, feLIX, my dAD ToLD me yOU WERe back hOME. I am so haPPY For YOU. I AM remEMBEriNG yOU in my
    PUrrrrrRRRsss. StaY HEalthY And sAY a PURR for me.”
    yOUR frIEnd, SqueaKY 🙂

  14. Wil,
    Cherish this time you have with Felix, no matter how much time he’s got left. We had the good fortune of having a few weeks heads-up when our old guy got sick. Although letting him go “back to the cosmos” was tough and painful (and we both stayed in the room with him until he was gone and then cried like babies afterwards), we knew we did the right thing by him.
    So, give Felix a scritch for us, too.

  15. Much good mojo and happy thoughts coming to Felix from fellow felines Misty and Charlie and dog Max.
    You’ll know when it’s the right time to make ‘that’ decision. I’ve gone through that twice now, and while the aftermath is horrible, the decision itself seems natural and loving.

  16. Glad to see Felix is feeling a little better… And here’s some mojo so that he’ll feel even better. -does a kitty mojo dance in Felix’s direction-

  20. Felix,
    Glad you’re feeling better, and I hope you get over this 100%. Wil, Anne and the boys need you. So I’m sending you as much mojo as I can… wait one sec…
    HeY, FeLIx. ThiS IS COokIE anD as a FelLOw FeLINe I HOPE You FeeL BETteR. I’M SenDiNG YOu HaPPY KiTty tHOUghtS fRoM Me aND mY LiTTle BROthER tiGGer. HolD ON…
    heyfelix, this ischarlie d dawg andevenI want youtogetbetter. solidaritymyfuzzy friend! weanimals needtostick together! muchpuppymojo to you!
    Well, Felix, my cats, dog and I send you our thoughts. Feel better, bud!
    – Guillermo, Cookie, Tigger and Charlie D. Dawg.

  21. Spock the Cat is doing a meld through cyberspace for your sick kitty.
    Mi mynd tu yor mynd. Mi thots tu yor thots. purrrrrrrr!

  22. Hi Wil,
    Im very glad Felix is safe and warm under your watchful eye.Hopefully Felix will recover quicker being home.What auditions did you go in for,?Im totally out of the loop for that story..Is your book in book stores ?? Im intrested in getting a copy.
    Im keeping my fingers crossed for Felix.
    Kenny ( Baltimore,MD )

  23. Spock the Cat is doing a meld through cyberspace for your sick kitty.
    Mi mynd tu yor mynd. Mi thots tu yor thots. purrrrrrrr!

  25. Cat 1.0 sacred the wooly bejeepers out of us along these lines about 10 years ago.(Cat 1.0 and my wife were a package deal – take it or leave it. Good thing the cat liked me. THANK YOU OPPOSABLE THUMBS THAT CAN WORK THE CAN OPENER!) Glad to hear that Felix is doing well.
    Our son and Cat 2.0 are going to think really, really good thoughts for Felix.

  26. It’s good to hear the Felix is well enough to be back home with you and the family. Hopefully he continues to improve, regardless of what the test results may indicate.
    Me and my six furkids shall continue wishing lots of good Kitty Karma(tm) Felix’s way!

  27. Hey Felix Bear–
    Here’s best wishes and muy loco kitty mojo from Punkin, Q and Matt Yower (a.k.a. Matty-Bear the insulin-dependent diabetic) for you to beat the numbers and still be happily bitin’ on the staff for many moons to come!
    ***mojo mojo mojo mojo mojo***
    To Wil and family–
    I hope Felix recovers–I truly do. But having lost as many furpeople as I have over the years, one just a couple of months ago…well, sometimes preparing for what we hope WON’T happen is a smart thing. At least you know–and Felix knows–you gave him a warm place to call home, and as much attention, care and love as it was possible to give. Enjoy the time you have with him, whether it’s weeks or years (and I SO hope it’s the latter!).
    My best to you all–
    Syd

  28. Is that Felix in the picture on the left-hand column?? He looks identical to our neighbors’ cat. I did a double take for a moment!! LOL I’m so glad to hear that he’s doing better. I know he’s happy to be home. One thing I’ve learned about animals is that their will to live can surpass any test results. He sounds like a strong cat who’s loved dearly. My thoughts and prayers will stay with you all throughout the coming weeks.

  29. Felix is in my thoughts and prayers, Wil! He sounds like such a sweetie! I know how it feels to lose a beloved kitty and my heart is with you.
    Hugs!
    Tracey

  32. From all the posts I’ve read it seems like you really love your cat.
    But why would you be considering killing your cat if he becomes more ill? I’ve never understood why people would do such a thing.

  33. Wil:
    Much monkey mojo for the little bear. I know what it’s like to be worried sick about a pet, and I sincerely hope he gets better. I can see from his picture that he’s a well-treated, sweet kitty. Good luck, Felix!

  34. Glad to hear Felix is home! Have you considered a raw diet approach for him? I’ve had two cats go through CRF in the past, and while it’s a harrowing experience, they did wonderfully once we took them off the prescription renal diet food. BUN and creatinine both came down quite a bit within a couple of weeks. http://www.holisticat.com/ is probably the single best reference site I’ve found for CRF and raw diet in cats, and http://www.felinecrf.org/ is another site I’ve found useful in the past for more general CRF related info. You’ll definitely want to consult with your vet, though, before converting to raw food if you do go that route, since protein and phosphorous levels need to be adjusted significantly for CRF cats.

  35. Wil and Anne – you have some quality support here at WWdN. And Felix has more mojo en route than prolly any cat in the history of the world. You got my extended family chipping in, too – so chalk up good cat Mojo from Skitters and the Skittens (Thought and Memory), plus Saul (the ‘good’ dog) and Buster (the ‘bad’ -from a cat PoV dog). Heck, I bet even Beej and Tweeters will support a cat that resides nearly 800 miles away – they just don’t like the ones who live in the same house :). No vote from the fish, but they tend to live in their own world anyway 🙂

  36. Mojo out to Felix (sounds funny saying it to me, because Mojo is the name of my youngest cat!). I know what you are going through, Wil, and I know how “not fun” it is. We had to put a friend of ours of many many years down right at the end of last year, and it was a very tough decision to make. We tried a lot of things, but the years were getting the better of him, and it was simply time. It was especially tough, because he didn’t seem to be suffering too much, but his body was failing him. So I really hope things work out with Felix. He sounds like a great friend.

  38. All the best to Felix – our good thought vibes are coming your way, babycat. I and my dear cat friends Max and Star and Tiff are wishing you will get well soon. Meow. Meow. Meow.

  39. Felix sounds like a pretty special guy! My girlfriend lost her cat to kidney failure a couple of years ago. Some people just don’t get how much of a family member pets are. It’s devastating when one gets sick. Our thoughts are with Felix, and your whole family, Wil!

  40. okay, so my favorite part is “yeah, that’s a red light jac@#$!” Comedy gold, I tell ya!
    I am so happy Felix is home where he can be more comfortable. mucho mojo el gato!
    🙂

  41. I’m not trying to start a flamewar here, really, but… Swan, have you ever seen a cat go through renal failure? At the end stage they lose weight, have no quality of life, they’re listless, no appetite, ect. In short, they’re suffering! (Sorry if this upsets you, Wil. Not my intent) A good owner who truley loves their pet is willing to make the selfless decision to end that animal’s pain. It is one of the most brave and loving things I’ve ever witnessed. Unfortunately, I go through it too often, but every time someone requests that I stay with them during their friend’s crossing of the rainbow bridge, I consider it a great honor. Sorry if this sounds cheezy or overly emotional, but it’s how I (and many others in my profession) feel. To hear anyone make it sound like a cold and unemotional decision, i.e. killing your cat because it’s just sick, really pisses me off. I’m guessing you’ve never had to make such a tough decision, Swan. Consider yourself lucky. Sorry for the blog-jack.
    /rant off

  42. We (I and two pussycats) send you the very best good luck and good health wishes. We’ve been burning Indian incense and catnip for you. We’re even going to try meowing at the moon. We’re hippie cats! We love you Felix. We love you too Wheaton.
    Demian, Zenobia, & Spats

  43. Wil,
    Several things went through my mind when I read about your ‘brain racing’ symptom waking you up. There could be several reasons for this happening, probably all related to stress and nutrition and possibly some unresolved issues you may have facing death or the death of loved ones.
    It seems that all adults in one way or another have to start dealing head on with death issues in their 30s. Seems it is now happening to you, too.
    I wish you well, and hope that your meditation garden is finished soon. Quiet time is an important portion of all our healthy daily lives. I hope you find some soon. Even if it is to read a book for 30 minutes of selfish enjoyment.

  44. They say that pets are psychicly bonded to their parents, and that we really adopt them as familiars to guide us through our lives. Our love for them is an intense presence of our bond with the Earth, and with all the things we love. As such, everything they do and every way they effect us is a way for us to learn and grow, and as a reward, we do our best to make their lives contented ones filled with love.
    I think our pet knows, also, when it’s time to move on, and why it’s time, and that this is one of the harder but most important lessons they leave us with. So I hope that if Felix does move further away from you, you will, in time, find the memory of him and the many lessons he taught you to be some of the most valuable things you’ve ever possessed.
    And also, if and when the time comes, I’ll pass on some mental messages to my cat Brutus that he’s got a friend coming to visit.
    Mad hugs,
    EB

  46. My five kitties and I are sending out some good vibes for Felix (and his humans)!!! Get well soon, big guy!
    Wil, keep your chin up. You’re doing everything you can for Felix. He definitely knows you love him. I’ll be thinking of you!
    Much love from Kim and her babies: Evita, Algernon, Ozzy, Elton John, and Kiki Dee.

  49. good luck and much love…i really hope felix does better…i got really sad when i read the update, so i can only imagine how youre feeling. hes a lucky guy to have people who care so much about him. were all rooting for him here

  50. Wil, it’s possible that the news was *good*, and she was being cautious rather than get your hopes up prematurely.
    I once heard the Pragmatist’s Creed, and I’ve remembered it ever since: “Hope for the best; plan for the worst; shoot down the middle.”
    Swan: because sometimes perpetuating suffering is more cruel than taking a life.

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