My boyfriend's back.....

The illustrious powers that be decided to denude all the green spaces around us along the passeggiata.  As a result, besides taking away beautiful trees and leaves and homes for birds, they created a lot of dust and debris from leaves and dirt and whatever else was stirred up out there.  Even I was having trouble breathing in the early morning hours.

On top of that, it is autumn and there is pollen in the air.  And, the construction down below us...for drainage and a parking lot (we think) continues, also creating dust. 

So, it was no big surprise that Scruffy, after being amazingly good for ages, started to cough (he has asthma.)  At first, it was a cough here and a cough there and he was alright.  Then they escalated a bit, so I increased his prednisone, hoping that would be enough.  It was not.

Starting the day before yesterday, he was REALLY having trouble.  He wasn't playing anymore.  He stayed by himself a lot.  So, out came the inhaler.

He used to run away from it, but he FINALLY realized somehow that this thing could help him.  I have the mask to use with it, but Scruff will never, never ever, let that be used on him!  So, we just get as close as possible to him before we release a puff.  He's gotten to the point where he actually leans into it.

We were, unfortunately, busy yesterday and had to take a trip to Pescara.  I was sick with worry.  And, rightfully so, because when we got home, Scruffy was in bad shape.  There is only so much inhaler you can use.  We were scared.

Even Missy Tee was scared and made sure to stick close to him and she tried to comfort him.

Instead of being on our bed, as usual, he slept on a chair in the kitchen.  I woke up at one point to check on him.  I resisted the urge to pet him and let him sleep as I could see he was still struggling with each breath.

This morning he was sometimes "mouth breathing." It's a very bad sign.  We contacted the vet and he said to double his prednisone, which would be fine except at this point, he was not eating.  However, we noticed the inhaler was pretty much empty.  So my husband went to the pharmacy as soon as they opened and got a new one.

Well, hallelujah!!! One puff and within minutes Scruff was grooming himself.  Then he got affectionate (About TIME you got something to help me!!!)  And then, he had a bit to eat.  YAY!!!  

He improved so much, he begged for his "mousie."  I watched carefully to make sure he didn't overdo or have any coughs.  He played with his beloved mousie for nearly an hour!

                                                           ^^ mousie   

Then he spent some time in the sunny front window.  

We can give him another shot of the inhaler this evening.  

Although it is still hot (this is supposed to change on Monday) we have closed all the windows and we always have an air purifier going.  I turned it up to a higher level.

I was absolutely sick with worry, and I am still hovering, but I feel somewhat better now.

My sweet Scruffy with his beautiful aqua eyes.  Feel better little buddy, I love you.

You don't tug on Superman's cape....

 Because there are cats outside, because they know they will get fed....because they have a small amount of shelter....every summer a flea manages to get inside our house.  It drives me crazy.

So, every Spring, before the season begins, I purchase some Frontline for all of my clowns.  In addition, I use mint oil around the house as a deterrent.

The last time I gave the cats Frontline, I noticed that Lupo had a tiny bald spot right where the stuff is put.  Well, lo and behold, he not only lost fur there, but also on his tummy and a little on his back legs.  Lupo is tiny...only 6 or 7 pounds.  And, since I am convinced he has some Siamese in him, his fur is short and sleek.  

I have a vague memory of doing something for another cat, long ago, because of this, so I went to the internet. Where else?   Most everything said that it's a common problem and not to worry.  OK, but how to help?  Simple....brewer's yeast.  Just add a tiny bit to the cat's food and the problem should improve.

Naturally, being in a small, obscure hill town in nowhere, Italy...I went to the internet for the yeast.  I could get half a kilo (about one pound) for ten euros, or I could get 6 kilo for twenty.  Well, heck!  That's a bargain!  Six kilo it is!!  It arrived in one day.

I transferred some to a small container and we put the rest of the tub in the back room.  It was only necessary to give him a fraction of a teaspoon mixed in with his food.  

The little bastard refused to eat.  He eventually raided everyone else's dish.

So, then I tried putting some in everyone's dish.  Well, that resulted in an all out boycott.  No one ate a damned thing.  It all went to the outside cats...who had no problem with it.

I give up.  Now I have tons of brewer's yeast and I have no idea what to do with it.  

What I will do, when the time comes next year, is give Lupo just a half dose of Frontline, because of his tiny size.  Hopefully that solves the flea problem and his fur problem.

"Don't mess around with my food, Mamma!"