celebrations Archives - Hope for Liver Shunt Cats

Newt’s Another Year Older

Newt is Now 9 Years Old!

How does that old song go? Another day older and deeper in debt? Only in this case, it’s another YEAR older!

Another Year Older

Yes, that’s right. Everybody’s favorite Spotted Schnookums had yet ANOTHER birthday, and there was much rejoicing – and ice cream and key lime pie – in Newtopia. Our “he’s probably going to die any day” kitten is now nine years old and officially a senior cat. Can you believe it?!

In looking back over Newt’s blog, I am dumbfounded to see how long it’s been since the last update. How is this possible? (I coulda sworn it had only been a couple of weeks – months, at most!) We’ve had some ups and downs during the last year. Sadly we lost a couple more family members, and Newt has had some more issues with urinary obstructions. Needless to say, he’s being monitored even more closely than before – and I thought that would be impossible!

His liver shunt cat support group is still going strong, and that is where the bulk of my online time usually goes. My current goal is to try and maybe back fill some posts with some of the brighter spots over the last year. (Am still holding a grudge about being forced to switch over to this new platform, but I will try and do better about giving more frequent updates. Y’all know how I have always been a reluctant blogger LOL)

Newt is Now Eight Years Old!

Am thrilled to report it’s that time again – yup; Newt’s birthday is today. He is now eight years old! Hard to believe that the runty, dirty, little kitty baby who was “going to die any day” is now approaching middle age. 🙂

Liver shunts in cats are rare; successful medical management is even rarer – or so we’ve been told. We are personally aware of hundreds of parents around the world (many of whom are in Newt’s support group) who are successfully managing their kitty ’s liver shunts. Many thanks to each of you who are sharing our journey with our Little Lion, and sharing Hope for other liver shunt cats.

Together, we ARE making a difference.

Big hugs, and many thanks.

PS – Newt says “send more ice cream !

Time Keeps on Slippin’ Slippin’ into the Future

Wow, where has the time gone?

Can’t believe that everyone’s favorite little Spotted Schnookums is another year older, and even more adorable than ever. He recently turned six years old – can you believe it?!

Can’t believe the last few months have zoomed past in such a blur. It’s been rather a rough winter here in Newtopia. Luckily, Newt has taken it all in stride. I, on the other hand, could take some lessons from him! Am trying – certainly doing my best to nap in the sunshine whenever possible hee hee hee

Lots to report, so may try and back-fill some posts to give you a glimpse at what’s been going on here in Newtopia. Main thing is to just let you all know that Newt is doing well, and we are so thankful and celebrate every day that he continues to not only survive, but thrive. Like so many other liver shunt cats around the world, he continues to astound his vets, and enrich our lives.

So many now are living proof that there is Hope for liver shunt cats!

Thankful

Just a quick hello. We had a nice, quiet Thanksgiving Day in Newtopia. Hope that if you were celebrating, your day was as peaceful and joyful as was ours.

Not much to report. I took advantage of the perfect weather, and took the tiny spinning wheel outside with The Dog to do a bit of spinning of the never-ending Pink Silk of Doom. Newt enjoyed a variety of snackies and morsels throughout the day. He particularly enjoyed the grilled roast. (I was a mean mummy and did not share my Klöße with him!)

As with every day, we gave thanks that our darling little Schnookerdoodle was hale and hearty. And since I was a slug and didn’t say it on Thanksgiving Day, please permit me to say it now:

I’m thankful for you – each of our, and Newt’s, friends who has been so kind, so gracious, and, so helpful and encouraging. Our journey with Newt and his liver shunt has been enriched by you.

Thank you.

Happy International Literacy Day!

To celebrate International Literacy Day, Newt wants to know “What are your favorite articles on liver shunts in kitties?”

Happy Fourth Birthday, Newt!

Ahem. Can hardly believe it’s that time of year again.

On or about this day in history, four years ago, a Star was born.

Happy Birthday Newt!

To have been told that he was “going to die any day; just keep him
comfortable” at a mere 11 weeks old, we never dared to Hope that he
would see his first birthday, let alone his FOURTH!

He is living proof that an excellent quality of
life can often be achieved for these special needs liver shunt kitties, in spite of
seemingly insurmountable odds. Thanks so much to each of you who have
shared your stories of your own shunt kitties – proof that we are not alone in
our devotion to our little Pookie Bear.

With Love and Hope,

a very proud and thankful Newt’s mum

Happy Boxing Day!

Newt in the Box Happy Boxing Day!

Newt is still sleeping off the excitement of his first episode-free Christmas yesterday. Even though it was a quiet Christmas here in Newtopia, he still had a grand old time. Like several other liver shunt kitties, Newt does seem to be triggered by stress, so even though it was “fun” stress, we weren’t sure how the day would play out.

What a joy that we were celebrating his third Christmas, and with no hepatic encephalopathy signs. It was wonderful to see him so excited and having so much fun.

Much hilarity ensued. Newt Devours Nip Toy

With a gleeful gleam in his glorious copper eyes, he annexed every opened box; leapt and writhed and gnawed on his new catnip toy (after repeated and determined earlier attempts to steal the fleecey bits that I had been marinating in the Valerian and nip oil so I could make the toy); and, ended the day by co-annexing the new dog bed I’d made for The Dog.

Another Newt Box Wisely, he has NOT (yet) attempted to annex the Slasher Queen’s new bed. It’s probably only a matter of time, though.

Or, perhaps not, assuming we celebrate our “boxing day” by letting him KEEP one or two of the empty boxes he annexed yesterday!

A Day of Thanks

Well, here we are, on this fourth Thursday of November – the day Americans celebrate as their national day to give thanks. If you guys are celebrating today, Happy Thanksgiving!

Cat Daddy and I are very thankful that Newt is here for his third Thanksgiving with us. We did not expect he would see his first Thanksgiving, so this is a very special day for us!

We are also thankful for each owner of a cat or kitten with a liver shunt who has contacted Newt, or joined his support group. Thank you for sharing your kitty’s stories with other owners around the globe, and providing Hope. Big hugs!

As with everything in Newtopia, today is uncertain. Even on this happy day of celebrating, there is a minor undercurrent of worry, and a bit of an imbalance in the Force. For quite a while, Newt was on a merry-go-round of intermittent drooling one day, hen fine, the next. The last couple of weeks, he’s been perfectly normal, but, for the last couple of days, he’s been mildly drooling and slightly off his food.

Back to normal last night, but this morning, more very mild drool.

That certainly has not interfered with his appetite or enjoyment of the day so far! He was sunning himself in one of his favorite spots before breakfast, and began eating with gusto. Alas, because he is mildly symptomatic, we will likely not be preparing his customary four-course Thanksgiving feast, scattered throughout the day. Instead, we will stick with the basics (and his favorite – chicken!) Should his appetite diminish, we will, of course, be offering the tried and true tidbits to tempt his palate.

These very mild episodes seem to last less than six hours, so it is quite likely that later today, when Cat Daddy is in full Chef Mode, that Newt will be dining on hand-fed morselettes from mum’s plate. But for now, we are again reminded of just how MUCH we have to be thankful for, with our darling little liver shunt cat.

Each day is a gift for which we are thankful, and that the good days far outweigh the bad. His quality of life remains paramount, and on days like today, even while showing a bit of drool, he is happily sunning, eating with gusto, and reminding us that every day of Hope is a day to give thanks.

Happy Birthday, Newt!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Newt! You are living proof that it is possible to not only survive, but thrive, when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. Thank you for acting as the unofficial spokes-cat for your condition, (feline portosystemic shunt, aka “liver shunt”), and for being an inspiration to other kitties with severe health issues.

You are loved.

Happy Thanksgiving!

To all of Newt’s American fans, Happy Thanksgiving!

On this national day set aside to demonstrate gratitude, Cat Daddy is in his element. The man loves to cook.

Hey, if it makes him happy to do all that work, who am I to argue?

It has been our annual custom to begin our celebratory meal with a list of things for which we are thankful. Having an awesome husband who loves to cook is always on my gratitude list LOL.

As you can imagine, Newt’s continued stability and good health was once again at the top of the list for both Cat Daddy and me. Additional thanks were made for Newt’s many friends and fans around the world, whose support, empathy and encouragement have come to mean so much to us – in particular, our growing community of shunt cat parents, who continue to be a source of information, love and Hope for us.

Newt has been enjoying his Thanksgiving feast throughout the day. Due to his dietary restrictions from his liver shunt, he is not allowed to gorge and stuff himself silly (at least not when we can catch him!) Therefore, his menu for has been designed as a four-course meal, served in shifts.

Newt has partaken today from an assortment of items selected and prepared especially for his pudgy Pookie palate, including: cheese and broccoli casserole, baked ham, carrots, cucumber salad, freshly roasted chicken, roast pork and warm buttered croissant. Dessert will be a bit of Danish apple yogurt artfully adorned with a splash of cream.

Yum.

And if you tell anybody that Cat Daddy cooked for the cat, he will lose all of his man points.

So let’s keep this between us, shall we?