July 12, 2018

Hi friends!

It’s been a while since I’ve given any sort of updates, I’ve been busy with work and other sorts.

Clyde had another vet visit on Monday, and hopefully that was the last time they’re going to have to do any type of surgery on him.

His amputation wound was healing, so the dead skin was starting to peel off and they just re-stitched it for him! He also got a neat little t-shirt, which I think he hates.

I think sometime last week, I was letting Clyde sleep outside of his crate because:

1. He hates the crate and
2. He never really left his bed when I left it outside the crate

To my surprise however, I woke up early in the morning because of a dream I had – Clyde pooped everywhere. Waking up from that dream, I smelled it immediately.

Initially, I was excited because I was worried that his digestive system was not working properly. I checked the small litter box I had for him in his crate, and NOTHING WAS THERE. I saw his tail hanging out from under my bed and that was where the strongest smell was coming from.

He got it E V E R Y W H E R E. Smeared on the floor, my wall, and all over his splint. 🙁 Luckily I woke up early enough to handle it the best I could before I had to leave for work.

They also replaced his bandages during his last visit – it was desperately needed.

Outside of that, Clyde seems to be doing well but he still just lays around. I’m worried that the tripawd life is making him sad, being that he can’t move around the way he used to. The splint is going to be on for another couple of weeks, so I’m hoping that he’ll be able to do more once it’s off.

Also, from a comment before, I’m getting a little paranoid that Clyde may have aspiration but I’m not completely sure how to tell. Everything seems pretty normal, but I am paranoid so I may just be overanalyzing his every action.

I did decide that the small baking tin litterbox wasn’t doing the job for him, so I finally cut a side of his old litterbox and he’s been really good about using it! I let him sleep outside of his crate once again now that I know he knows where to do his thing.

I’ve been trying to boost his mood, and trying to encourage him to play. So far, he’s not really interested in what I’ve been offering, outside of this tiny plush taco I pester him with.

I think at this point he just wants to be able to move around and wants a change of scenery. I do try to open my blinds and my windows a little so he can get some fresh air and have something to look at.

Another worry is that I maybe spoiling him too much, which is making him lazy, so I’ve been working on letting him be independent and get to his food and water bowls, rather than me holding them in front of his face for him.

I know recovery is a process, so maybe I’m just getting to eager, but also the progress he was showing me in the first week has given me so much optimism.

He does miss snuggles, so occasionally I’ll carry him up to my bed and let him lay around and he seems to really like that.

He still has his weekly vet visits, so I’ll be taking him again Monday morning for them to change out his splint bandages. The vet did say this is the home-stretch for him, so I’m really optimistic about that.

We just have to hold on for two more weeks until his splint is off, and hopefully he’ll be the same energetic kitty I know he can be!

Much love,

amb n clyde a.k.a lt.dan

July 2, 2018

I can’t believe it’s already July!

I was able to bring Clyde home Saturday morning, and as soon as I brought him out of his carrier he was purring nonstop! He is so happy to be home.

The vet advised me that he he doesn’t eat on his own, so he would need to have a wet food/water mixture syringed to him. However, Clyde ate and drank just fine on his own! I do hold the bowls up for him so he doesn’t make a mess everywhere but he’s doing great.

He is also incredibly eager to start moving around on his own! Several times he has tried to get up and crawl out of his cage and I cheer him on! Once his back splint is taken off, I think he’ll do great.

He hated the 24-in crate I had for him, and it was pitiful to see how small of a space he was in, considering he likes to flop around.

I had myself a nice little set up on the floor right beside his crate – just a comforter and some pillows.

I left the crate door propped while I went to the bathroom the first morning home, because his head was resting on the threshold. I came back and the crate door was wide open and my lil guy was gone!!! It was actually funny to me, seeing how he wasted no time to sneak out on me! He didn’t get very far, just tried to crawl under my bed, but I was able to grab him.

I did buy a larger crate for him yesterday, so in the future I’ll have room for his litter box and food bowls when he’s ready. I let him crawl out of the crate as long as I’m watching him, and he usually just plops on the comforter I have set up on the floor, and snuggles up with the plush blankets I have for him.

Last night was his first night sleeping in his bigger crate and he didn’t seem to mind it! As long as I’m near him he seems to be comfortable.

I had to give him his pain medication in pill form yesterday and he did great! He’s not a very big fan of his antibiotics, and gives me a hell-look whenever he starts swallowing it, but we both get it done and it’s over with!

The vet gave me enough pain meds for the weekend, and I should be getting more today. He doesn’t seem too bothered by any pain right now though. He’s such a strong lil guy and I’m so incredibly proud of the progress he continues to make with every day.

Of course, I have a ton of pictures to share since I haven’t posted in a while! 

So this is him a couple of hours after bringing him home, eating all by himself!

This is Clyde working on getting out of that God-forsaken crate!

So with this one, I thought that he was just really anxious to get around the crate, but it’s just an action shot of him peeing.

He started snuggling with the blanket as soon as I took it out of the bag!

So I do have a vet appointment today, and I’m excited for them to see how well he’s doing and I can’t wait to hear about the next steps we need to take to get him on all three’s!

Happy,

Amb n Clyde!

June 29, 2018 (Now technically June 30)

Before returning to work today I stopped in to check on my lil fighter! He’s doing a lot better today than yesterday, which is a good sign for his recovery!

He’s not quite able to eat or drink on his own yet, but with mixing wet food with water and putting it in a syringe and putting it to his mouth, he’s willing to eat! I was very happy to see his willingness to eat through a syringe, and how easy it was for him to take his meds. I was also giving him head and chin rubs and he was purring for me which made me incredibly happy. As soon as I stopped giving him attention he started meowing, and would instantly stop when I started back again.

The vet wanted me to take him home today – although I planned on him staying over the weekend. I was so close to getting my lil buddy back home but they checked him and he had a fever so I won’t have him back until the morning.

I bought a small 24-in crate today, smaller than I had planned but all of the pet stores were closed by the time I got off so I had to work with my options.

Here’s the set up I have for him so far:

The vet said that he was sitting up a little today! Even though he was propped up against the cage door, that’s still a positive sign to me. Since he can’t get up and move around on his own yet, I purchased some puppy pads to make clean-up a little easier.

He hasn’t been eating any solids yet, but with the mushy food I’ll be feeding him I’m expecting a mess so I bought sensitive baby wipes to prepare for it!

Once he starts mobilizing himself a little more, I bought small aluminum baking trays to try and use as a litterbox. I also purchased a bunch of canned food for him, all varieties of seafood flavors – one person recommended the smellier, the better. I got milk replacement and a bottle for him to help give him some nutrients and maybe restore his health.

And of course, the softest blanket I could find!

It’s going to be a long journey during his recovery but I’m trying my best to prepare for it! I have to feed him his mush about every hour, and I’ll probably try to syringe some water to him as well.

He also has several vet visits planned for the upcoming week, but I’m excited to finally be able to take care of him on my own.

It’s a miracle Clyde is alive, and I’m going to cherish every second I have with him. He’s always been the sweetest cat and after everything he’s been through he’s remained the same.

So blessed that my fur baby beat the odds and is getting stronger with every day!

Until tomorrow,

Just Amb

June 28, 2018

I am so excited that I made the decision to join the Tripawd community! Everyone has been so welcoming, comforting, and helpful.

As an update from my first post: It turns out that Clyde more than likely crawled under my hood the night before, and was injured from the fan belt of my car, rather than being it. Either way, he still took quite a beating!

He is spending another night at the veterinary hospital, and I am beyond grateful for the help and consideration of the staff to give me continuous updates on my lil buddy.

Here are some pictures I took of him today when I went to visit!

He’s on a lot of meds so he spends all of his time sleeping and resting. Occasionally he’ll raise his head up and have a loopy look on his face that makes me giggle. He’s in a lot pain and he meows and squirms a little bit – which pains me.

His front left leg was amputated, his front right bandaged up, his back right leg has a splint on it, and the vet is still monitoring his back left. The way he described it to me, his back left leg is in a similar condition to a torn calf muscle, so depending on his progress with the back right, they will either put a small splint on it or add a temporary robo-implant to help it heal!

He’s such a tough and strong boy and I am very proud of him. The vet bills are going to be very pricy but I started a gofundme that has accumulated a surprising amount of money towards my goal.

I am very thankful that I found this amazing vet office so close to my home, I am thankful for my friends, family and those who have helped to aid  me financially, and I am thankful for this wonderful Tripawd community!

I plan on taking videos and pictures of Clyde everyday that I can, though it may be difficult if he spends the weekend at the hospital.

I am optimistic about his recovery, and I can’t wait to have him back home again!

I have also decided to nickname him Lt.Dan.

Once again, I appreciate and love all of you. I’m so ecstatic that I found this community.

Much love,

Amb n Clyde (aka Lt.Dan)

June 27, 2018

My name is Amber and this is my future tripod kitty, Clyde. He was ran over accidentally and rushed to a veterinary clinic immediately.

I received him from a coworker who had rescued him from outside of our workplace. One work night in January, she went around asking everyone if they wanted a kitty, and I fell in love with him from the first picture.

When he was ran over, I was devastated and hysterical. I managed the 5 minute drive to the nearest clinic, uncontrollably sobbing even as I stepped through the veterinary hospital’s door.

He had never been to a vet before, and now he’s going to be one of their special tripod kitty clients!

Upon doing X-rays and examinations, they informed me that he definitely had a leg fracture, and once they took me back to look at the X-rays they said that he was going to have to have a leg amputated.

Being in a distraught and emotionally unstable state, I wasn’t sure how his lifestyle would be with only 3 legs, but he is so young and I planned on having him in my life for the next 20 years and I wasn’t going to end that plan today.

Euthanasia wasn’t even a thought in my mind, despite feeling that it may be an outcome. So given that I had an option to keep my baby Clyde with me, I took it, even if it meant taking one of his legs.

He had his surgery today, and the vet called me and told me that it went well, they got his leg off, and bandaged the others.

I can’t take him home until tomorrow, but I get to see him in a few hours. I know that recovery is going to be a process, but I am so happy that I still have him here with me and I can’t wait to go through this journey with him.