Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Cats on Tuesday: My Trip to the Vet

Cats on Tuesday So yesterday I had to go back to the vet, for a follow-up, to see how I was doing with my new food.

Seatbelt buckleInstead of having to travel in my PTU (Prisoner Transport Unit, ie. cat carrier), my mom bought me a new safety harness, designed for travel in the car. It is designed especially for cats. It has a short lead, and a clip on the end of the lead that buckles in to the seatbelt buckle in the car. You can see that buckle in the photo to the right.

I liked this much better than travelling in my PTU. I was able to sit comfortably in the backseat, with my mom next to me, and look out the window and sniff the air. Yet I was safely restrained, and my lead/leash was short enough to keep me safe in the backseat, so I wouldn't disturb my dad while he was driving.

I quite enjoyed the car trip. I was fascinated by all the interesting scents and various noises that I heard all around me.

Dragonheart in the carWhen we arrived at the vet's, my mom carried me in her arms, still in my harness. My dad had my PTU ready, if I fussed. But I was a good boy, and was quiet in my mom's arms. While we were walking from the car in the parking lot to the vet's office, we received some interesting looks, and one lady asked what I was. She seemed quite intrigued by the thought of a cat without fur!

Dragonheart in the carIn the vet's office, there were a couple of tiny woofies there, that were no bigger than me! I think they were Chihauhaus. There was another kitty in a basket, and a very nice lady with another small woofie. This last lady was quite taken by me! She said I was very cute, and asked all about me and my breed. She said she had never seen a hairless cat before, but that I looked very sweet! My humans were speaking German to her, but it is clear that they are not native German speakers, so she asked if they were American. Of course, they replied that they were Canadian. Below you can see a photo of me waiting in the vet's waiting room. I was sitting quietly on my mom's lap.

Dragonheart at the vetBefore long, I was called in to the examining room. The vet asked how I was doing. My humans explained that since switching to the Ente (duck) food, I no longer had any blood in my stool, but that it was really, really soft. So soft that my mom could only scoop it out of my litterbox because of the litter crystals sticking to it. The photo below is of me on the vet's examination table.

Dragonheart at the vetSince my stool is still super-soft, the vet decided to try me on another new food, this one a prescription food designed especially for allergies. I will try this food for the next 11 days. If it doesn't work, then they'll have to run more tests. So I hope the new food works! It is stinky goodness, and it's the only food I'll be eating for the next little while. It's pâté style, while I normally don't like, but since there's no other food available, I'm eating it. And although I'm not fond of the pâté texture, it is yummy. If it helps my tummy and bathroom troubles, I can live with eating pâté style stinky goodness.

Thanks again for all your purrs and prayers, as well as your suggestions. I do take a pre- and pro-biotic, and my mom has been looking for plain pumpkin. She hasn't been able to find it in any of the local stores, though. Thank you again.

Vote For Me in the World's Coolest Cat ShowCatster's World's Coolest Cat Show is on! Please take a look at my photos, and if you like any of them, please vote for me (Dragonheart) at The 3rd Annual World's Coolest Dog & Cat Show. Thanks so much!

47 comments

Gattina said...

That's a wonderful invention for you to travel in the car ! and you look very chic with it ! No wonder that people stop and look at you. My cats all get claustrophobia in the travel cage, so I keep them in the cage when I go but as soon as we are in the car again to return home I let them free (one at the time of course) and they settle down behind and look out of the window. They don't disturbe me at all and won't go anywhere else. (Fortunately) I hope with the new food it will get better. Here in Waterloo we have plenty of pumpkins of all sizes I bought a little one for my decortion. But it is also because there are a lot of Americans, Britts and some Canadians living here.

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

Oah Dragonheart, Dashing , dashing, dashing~!!!!!!!!!

I love your safety harness~!!! That color and style is just perfect for you~!!! Hoooo!!!!! That is Beautiful~!!!

And I still hope your condition will be better, still purrr for you lots of lots of time in my Dialy life~!!!!

Daisy said...

That safety harness and leash for riding in the car looks great! I would try one myself, but I am not as brave as you are for riding in the car. You were so well behaved at the VET, I am proud of you. I hope the new food helps.

Ramses said...

Oh boy you're a good traveller and I really admire your new car harness that looks like it might work with Tigmut'hep as he has a PTU phobia. I might not like our PTU's that much but I'm not about to act up as badly as Tigs does - it's too undignified! Oh and good luck on the paté :)

Parker said...

You know, if I am in the car and out of the PTU I do pretty well too. Looking out the window is great. I hope this new food does the trick for you!

The Devil Dog said...

What a well behaved cat you are, Dragonheart. I don't think I would be that docile at the vet's. I agree with you about the leads in the car. You get to see way more things. I hope the new food agrees with your tummy better. We do want our moms to be happy about things like poop scooping.

Roxy

FelineFrisky said...

What a wonderful harness for car travle!

I am sorry you are still dealing with potty problems. No fun at all. Glad your Mom & Dad & Vet are working hard on it.

You are a very good boy at the Vet's office. My 3 would through a FIT!!! I have to use a PTU with them, sigh....

D :)

Rosemary B❤️ said...

Of course you are adorable.

That car harness is very cool. maybe we would like that too... but the great thing about the PTU is only if you have a sibling to sit with, and protect. Then it is quite comforting and safe feeling!

we are glad that things are moving forward and improving.

Mom said that when she lived in Der Schweitz people thought she was from Holland, probably becuase her German had a bit of a dutch sound to it. Moms parents are dutch.

Happy Day Drago!

Mickey's Musings said...

I'm happy your problems seem to be getting better.I hope this new food works too,and does not cause problems.
Your new leash/restraint is cool.You must like travelling in the car.I don't,so it might not be for me.You looked like you were having fun though!
Purrs

Catzee said...

Oooo, yur furry brave, Dragonheart! Nokitty likes to go to the v-e-t! I like the pichurs of ya in the car.

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Wow, we hafta send mom and dad out to look for one of those! We think that would be so much better for us than the stoopid PTU. Except for Zippy, Zippy is crazy and would try to jump out of mom's arms and run away. Hope the new new food helps. Mom is still looking for one that Speedy and the rest of us will eat that doesn't upset his tummy and will make his stinkies a little firmer. She's pretty much given up...

Anonymous said...

That was a very interesting trip to the Vet! Wow, and you look so great in your new red safety harness!!

I'm glad the pâté food is yummie and hope it works.

Purrs and hugs
Ruis

LZ said...

What an adventure! When I rode in the car without the PTU I was much happier. Sorry you have to keep switching food all over the place, I hope it gets settled for you soon!!

Latte

Monty Q. Kat said...

I got to ride in the car like that once, it was really cool!

Here's hopin' your duck food helps out/

The Meezers or Billy said...

wow, that's a great harness!

be careful with the pumpkin, it's usually for cats with constipation problems, so it may make your poos softer.

Unknown said...

Yes,that is a wonderful invention for you to travel in the car ! it scares me to get into the car. You are so brave! "Felicitaciones"( Spanish word)
Feliz Martes!


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Tara said...

That was fascinating Dragonheart! That harness is really neat! And I'm very impressed with how well you did in the car and at the vet.

I sure hope the new food does it for you!

Tara

Captain Jack and Sir Dante said...

We love the safety harness! What a cool way to travel! Perhaps we should get some for the Black Furrball so that we do not fall off when the waves start hitting the side of the ship. We are very sorry that you had to go to the V-E-T again. We hope the new foods make you feel much much better!

Luna und Luzie said...

Wow, Dragonheart, you have a great car trip. It is better to travel with the new harness.
Your story about the vet is very interesting. I hope your new paté helps by your tummy problems.
Have a nice day !

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Now that doesn't look like it would be scary at all to go to the Vet in. I am glad that he is giving you something else to try that will (hopefully) stop your problem. I will continue to keep you in our purrs.


Purr
Abby

Anonymous said...

Wherever did you get that harness Dragonheart? We haven't seen on and the woman quite things she would like to try it (yeah right)!

I hope the new food helps.

None said...

I love the car harness! I often go on long car trips and end up sleeping on my lady servant's lap because the cage vibrates too much. The servants never like it when I walk around even though I'm very good and don't interfere with the driving, but they worry that if an accident were to happen they would regret not having kept me in my strapped in carrier.

I hope you finally find a food that suits you, and Im sure you are quite the attention seeker in the streets!

Purrrs,
Tamra

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

That is a great way to travel!!! When Meowm took me with her last Christmas to Grandmeowm and Grandpaws, she let me out of the PTU once we got out of heavy traffic. I roamed all over the place but was careful to stay away from Meowms feet and arms.

I hope this new food fonally cleans up all your health issues!!

The Crew said...

You're looking quite spiffy in that red harness, D. It's so much better than being in a carrier.

We sure hope your new food will help you. To look at you, no one would ever know you're not in tip-top shape!

The Furry Fighter said...

hey weez went to Vet Place too! we went today though...just a check up - castle has lost weight and i have gaiend weigh - so the vet was happy. glad things seem to be improving for you dragonheart - that prescription diet sounds very familiar....ise been on that at one time of another i thinks! xxx

Boy said...

what an adventure at the vet!
I usuawwy hate visiting the vet but your twip to the vet sounds acceptable!

Shaggy and Scout said...

You look so alert in the car Dragonheart! Glad that you really like the harness!
You are sitting so nicely on the exam table, and are such a polite boy.
Good luck with this new food. We hope it helps your tummy.

The Furry Fighter said...

ps - congratulations to your dada for the excellent marathon time:

pps - did you see this sory?
http://www.itchmo.com/sphynx-cat-defends-owner-from-escaped-tiger-3319

xxx

Tybalt said...

Thank you for the welcome, Dragonheart! I read through your blog and wanted to tell you that I am jealous of you! What a stylish harness! And so much better than the carrier my mommy carries me in. I hate it and scream at her the entire time I am in it. I am sorry to hear about your tummy problems. My sister Ivy had some minor ones when she was a kitten. Thankfully I missed it, being the youngest. Our sister Holly has litterbox horror stories from that time! Please get better soon! I will be praying for you. =^_^=

Anonymous said...

What a great idea for the car! My cats hate their PTU's too.

I am so glad that you are on the mend. Hopefully the new food (even if it is the texture that you are normally not fond of), will help settle the final tummy troubles down.

Happy Cats on Tuesday!

Jimmy Joe said...

DudeOh man, DH: You. are. my. hero. I can't believe how you kept it together while you were in the car and then at the v-e-t. You are one cool dude.
Your buddy, Jimmy Joe

HRH Yao-Lin said...

Where can my human pick up one of those cat seatbelts? What a wonderful invention!!

I think you were very brave today and i really really hope that you feel better 100% on your new food. xx

Forty Paws said...

Bless your little heart DH! We sure hope the pate stinky goodness works so your poops start solidifying.

Maw has seen those harnesses for woofies, but not for poodins! That is way kyool!

Luf, Us

Irishcoda said...

DH, you look so cool in your new harness! We are glad to hear that you were doing better with the new food and hope the allergies food is even better for you! And we are voting for you, since there are 4 of us we hope we can vote 4 times!

Mark's Mews (Marley, Lori, Loki, and Binq) said...

We like your new car leash. We'd ask The Big Thing to get us each one, but our V-E-T usually has some large Woofies inna office and we feel safer in our PTUs!

Hope the new stinky goodness works for you!

Skeeter and LC

Catlady4 said...

Wow! I like your gadget for riding in the car. Bob would probably like it,but the rest of us would never behave so well as you.

Emma, Jamie, Thomassina and Bob

Unknown said...

That is a really cool way of getting to the vet. I'm still sorry you had to go though, but hope you are starting to feel better.

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

Hi Dragonheart! Now that looks much better than the PTU, which I abhor and detest. However, I go hysterical in the car and at the vet's. So I think SS will continue to condemn me to the PTU for better control and keep the doggies away from me.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Purrs,
MoMo

The Misadventures Of Me said...

You's look at ease in the car trips. That's good. I's still a bit nervous abouts car trips.

mister jeter harris, hizself said...

gee dh,
i don think we wood mind travelin anyware if we had dat harness. verree intrestin.
i like da pikshur uv u sittin on da eggzaminashun table.
luv--jh

Lux said...

I quite like that new harness of yours, Dragonheart. And I really really really hope that this new food does the trick and you'll be feeling happy again. (Not that you're not happy now, but you know what I mean.)

Best wishes!

Big Piney Woods Cats said...

Momma says here in the US, you can buy plain pumkin in large cans. It is for making pumkin pie and you add all the spices and sugar and milk and eggs if you are going to make a pie with it. Momma adds half water, to help get it up in the plunger. Funny, I use it cus I have the consupations. I have heard it called a miracle food. OH, and Momma says it stings when I spit it in her eye, hehe.... Have your Momma ask the vet about squash baby food.

Thinking of you. I know this vet stuff is awful. You are furry brave to go in the metal monster like that.

Your furrend
Mittens Pollypaws

MISS PEACH ~(^.^)~ said...

Dear brother...I will miss talking toyou this next week because mommy is going on a holiday. Please take good care of yourself and eat well with the newest kitty food. I hope it is not too cold in Munich for you yet to be out without your sweater:)
Love from Peach

Cat Naps in Italy said...

Wow, you really are brave. We just cry and meow but our darn human still drags us to the vet's.

Love the red you are wearing. I wear it all the time, it is my fav color. Hope your tummy is feeling better soon.

Love,
Roscoe (and Opus)

Andree said...

what a cat! You always astound me with your good manners, your good looks and your good outlook. My cats? They would've gone bonkers in the car like that. Altho I have driven Buddy up the driveway when he meets me at the mailbox: he's OK then but he knows where he is going. I really hope you learn to love that food!

Cats~Goats~Quotes said...

These are such good pictures, Dragonheart! Enjoyed seeing your trip to the VET.
Hope the new food will take care of your tummy.

Bad Kitty Cats & Megan said...

Wow, what a cool leash harness for you. We ar eglad you are doing better and we are sending our purrs and scritches still. V E T visits are no fun but it sounds like some interesting characters were there too!

Sending hugs