Hey guys, ever have one of those days that just goes from awful to plain frantic. Mine was like that today. Typical Monday but got much worse when my girls stayed home with sub grade fevers (100) and decided when they felt better to bathe my sick kitty. They used flea shampoo and I found out today that it can put sick kitties into a toxic shock. Knock her right out and boy did she crash. Barely breathing by the time I got home, couldn't walk. Non responsive. Luckily she's now starting to come around but it was almost like a nerve agent hit her system full force. My poor girls didn't know it would do that to her, heck I didn't even know but now we do. So I thought I'd warn any kitty lovers out there, DON'T use pyrethrin based shampoos on your cat if there sick and fighting all kinds of stuff. (Like Pulmonary Edema, Congestive heart failure, Diabetes..) Anyone from Bird Scramble knows how bad my Dutchess is. She just finished her 8th life today and is now on #9. ((but we'll say it's her 7th)) Praying the vet has good news for us tomorrow but I know its only a matter of time. Scared the Bejesus' out of me earlier. She was non- responsive had fully dilated pupils, locked her jaw, was seizuring a bit. Scared 10 yrs off my life and my poor 10 yr old is now blaming herself when I'm the one who bought that stupid shampoo. Gave her 100 cc lactated ringers, and a few drops Karo syrup then took her to the vet. She started to wail in the car, guess that was a good sign. She finally started coming out of it around 6 this evening. I didn't mean to bring anyone down just needed somewhere to talk a bit. I know there are a bunch of kitty lovers here and just wanted to warn anyone else who may not know about flea shampoo and sick kitties. I know there's a lot going on in the world with much more grief and devastation than a sick kitty, but I knew you guys would understand. I definitely don't think works does. Thanks for listening. to all my friends here at GM

Flea shampoos and dips are nasty stuff! Ask your vet about Revolution or Advantage for flea preventatives. Hope she gets better soon. But I gotta ask . . . why would you have lactated ringers around the house and what does the Karo syrup do?

Hugs for you and cuddles for the cat. Program will interfere with the flea life-cycle, folks. Keep your feline babies indoors, give them their monthly dose, and no more itchies.

Oh honey - what a day!!!

Comforting hugs sent to you, Pufles! I hope both you and your cat are feeling better today ... and even your girls!

kitty hugs from me and my pack , to you, your children, and your cat, It sound like you acted quickly, and a protesting cat is always a good sign. I like to think there is a deity/angel who looks afer all 4 legged furres, I'm sending a pray up now, and asking for a few extra lives

Oh, awful awful day! to you. Have four furface felines myself, and I know how precious they are. I'm glad you had the Ringer's lactate and the Karo syrup to treat any possible hypoglycemia. My best wishes to you, and hears hoping for many more kitty birthdays.

I'm sorry you had such a lousy day, Puffles. I hope everyone is feeling better now.

Puffles sorry to hear about your bad day. I hope everyone is doing better now and your kitty can return to her normal self. Please continue to let us know how things go.

Thank you all for the well wishes and hugs. Unfortunately we had to say good bye today. She got so bad this morning she didn't even recognize me and crawled up under the foldout couch where there's barely 3 inches of space and got stuck. She was trying to die. Took me 40 mins to even find her. That's when I knew it was time. It's hard but kids are doing ok through tears and some laughter. My poor oldest turned 13 today, heck of a way to celebrate her birthday. No one feels like eating so we are putting her b-day party off until the weekend. As for shampoo and ringers... The only reason I had the flea shampoo was becuase I was told a long time ago it was good for shampoo even if there were no fleas. No fleas in my house (NE gets cold enough to kill them off in the winter and we used advantage to get rid of them before we moved here.) I just had it to bathe them in. Never in a million years knew about the Pyrethrins or I would have thrown it away and used dove soap. Terribly late lesson to learn I know. Had ringers at home due to back in Dec between Christmas and New Years she was severally dehydrated and she has no veins to hit so we gave her sub Q fluids. The vet let me give her ringers at that time to off set her dehydration. The vet told me last week when she started having severe diarrhea to give her a 100 cc's a day. As for the karo syrup she was crashing and a few drops of karo syrup gives enough sugar to help stimulate from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Being diabetic I thought the way she was acting was due to her sugar being too low. It wasn't until after seeing the vet we found out it was the shampoo that caused her to crash. She had pulmonary edema which is fluid around her lungs due to her congestive heart failure. We were giving her lasix to pull the fluid off around her lungs and heart and glipside for her diabetes. We knew it was only a matter of time. Poor things had diabetes for 2 1/2 yrs and got sick at Christmas. At least we got 3 more months with her. I guess being an Ex-Vet Tech had some use. The Dr's gave me free rein with her treatment as they saw fit. Never once hesitated in letting me treat her at home. Which was good cause she hated the vet's office. We miss her terribly but she was definitely dying. Was an easier way to let her go, hard on us easier for her. We even had the whole veterinary staff crying along with us. The Vet even stated that if he died and was reincarnated he wanted to come back as a cat and live in our home. Letting us know we did everything we could. My poor little 10 yr old is blaming herself but it wasn't just the flea shampoo. She started snapping out of that around 6 last night. She just finally gave up is what I'm thinking. I too believe angels watch over our fur babies, in fact KK (13yr old) stated she saw several clouds with angel shapes. Sun was shinning when we left and I believe it was her smiling and happy that she can now run again, climb and jump. She loved to do all 3. Several of my past fur babies are waiting to welcome her, I truly believe. Just so numb right now and wore out. Missing our Thanks again to you all,

to you on the loss of Dutchess. Obviously she was well loved and knew it, but knew it was time to move away from the pain and on to a better place. Such a sad way for her to depart, but it sounds like you know she has been welcomed by previous pets you have had.

Oh I'm so sorry, Pufles! I know how very hard, and sad, it is to realize that it's time, and to lose a cat that's been with you for so many years. It's so clear though, that Dutchess had all the love and care that any cat could ever want, and a very happy life with you and your daughters.

I hope your daughter is able to have a proper birthday this weekend.

Until someone has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened http://www.prayerlinks.net/PetPrayer.htm Bast - Egyptian Cat Goddess, goddess of sex and fertility Bast, Sekhmet, we give you back your child. Noble, regal , honourable cat. Watch over her, and guide her on her way to the spirit world. May she be blessed in your names, and hunt ever after beside you. An Old Russian Pray... Hear our prayers, Lord, for all animals, May they be well-fed and well-trained and happy; Protect them from hunger and fear and suffering; And, We pray, protect specially, dear lord, The little cat who is the companion of our home, Keep her safe as she goes abroad, and bring her back to comfort us. ...Author Unknown http://sandtracker.tripod.com/prayers.html may you, your children and family be watched over and cared for under grace by those who you beleive in

Pufles....there are not enough words in the world to tell you how sorry I am to hear about your loss. I've lost several furkids of different types over the years and each one is stamped forever on my heart and soul. My idea of heaven is that they all will be there waiting for me when it's my time... Duchess was loved to the moment she was gone, with so many poor abused and stray animals out there, that is something to hold close - especially when her passing hurts the most. She was loved and cared for and I am sure if she could have she would have said thank you.

Oh Puffles - I'm so sorry to hear this. We've all lost pets, and you never really do get over it- they are such total members of the family that it is as if a relative died. You will always have a Duchess shaped hole in your life, but she will always be in your heart.

Hugs Pufles, kids do things unaware of the danger sometimes. I have a cat too and little girls that adore him too much somedays. He's had a few narrow escapes. (He's an old cat, 16yrs old)

I'm so sorry to hear this news of yours, Pufles, but admire you because of how you're facing the situation! There's now another happy little angel up there ... happy as much as your cat was when living on this Earth with a unique, loving family as yours! I so hope you'll all overcome this unfortunate event and that your daughter will feel good enough to celebrate her birthday as she deserves to ... Duchess will be celebrating with you!

Oh Pufles- I am so sorry to hear this...the loss of a pet is so devastating. Duchess was so lucky to have you!

I wanted to thank everyone for all the it's been a long hard 24 hrs, but we did have a beautiful day today. 73 degrees with a little gusty wind so the kids wanted to fly their kites. We went out until dark just to get out of the house and have a little fun... Did good for the 2 youngest, me and the oldest still feel the loss, but I know she wouldn't want us to be sad. CD - I really do believe she's with our other lost babies. Just a mental picture that came when I needed it most. I like to think it is really true. LB - She was definitely loved. Britt wouldn't eat anything yesterday and cried so hard I got worried enough to let her sleep with me. She was a little better this morning but she'll be fine. TJ - We are defintely celebrating this weekend. We have a natural museum in Lincoln NE we all want to go to I think that's what we'll do to go somewhere new and help her have a good memory for her birthday weekend. She may even get to have a friend stay over that may help too. I plan on doing a lot to help her have a good time. LW - thanks so much for the prayers. I love the one saying you had until someone has loved an animal, their soul remains unawakened. I've seen that on posters over the years and it is so true. Thank you! Green - I know exactly what you mean, one comforting thought is they'll be waiting for me once its my time. I still can't get a dog after losing mine at age 11. He was 16 at the time. She was definitely loved. Its been hard but we're doing better. Maddie - Thank you, I know it never gets easier does it. There will definitely be a big hole in our lives. It was really hard today when she didn't great us at the door. Eb - I know my middle one has dragged her around for years. I believe her to have had some ragdoll breed in her she always just hung from her arms but as she got sicker I had to keep telling her she couldn't tote her around like she use to. At least she was kinder to her this past year shows she's finally growing up. GM - Thank you I know she has to be happier and keep remembering the movie all dogs go to heaven and know kitty cats do too. I know deep down she wouldn't want us to be sad. I'm so lucky I got one more night with her and slept all night with her that night. At one point during the night I woke up and her little head was on my shoulder just like the kids do. I truly believe she saw me as mommy too. strange I know but her and Twinkle will meow and I swear it sounds like Mahmom. I answer like I do with the kids--what? Twinkle is real good at it. Springie - Thank you so much, it is devastating but we've at least had months to get use to the idea even though there was that imbeded hope that she would get all better. I knew deep down it was only getting worse not better. Thank you I like to think she was lucky. Especially when the my Ex's wife almost gave her a way at one point. So glad she got her back and so I could get her back. So glad I did not long after that we found she had Diabetes in 2008. Missed not only my babies but my girls (the kitties) while I was in Korea. I really do appreciate everyones kind words. Thank you so much for understanding and being there for me. to all