Big, Long Post to Come About Brainball...

...but I'm going to need to get some sleep first. The Ballicus Mom here -- this cat mom hasn't gotten a lot of sleep these last couple of days. Brainball, who had been doing so well, got sick again suddenly last Thursday night/Friday morning and was rushed to the vet on Friday morning.

The diagnosis: bronchitis, conjuncitivis, fever and dehydration -- Brainball received subcutaneous fluids for the dehydration, antibiotic and steroid injections for the other ailments. Brainball is now home, and will be receiving medication: steroid pills, antibiotics pills, eyedrops. Prognosis is good.

But being a worried cat mom, I am deeply concerned that Brainball's appetite is so poor. Brainball was just brought home Friday evening -- seems better, but still doesn't want to eat anything but tuna and tuna juice (but, thankfully, is pretty enthusiastic about that). That's fine; I'm just glad Brainball is eating some, but I would like to ask for advice anybody has on helping a cat with a low appetite to eat.

I guess I should clarify -- since Brainball has been back from the vet, it isn't so much low appetite as it is bronchitis lowering sense of smell. For a cat, sense of smell is crucial to appetite. So any advice anyone has on tempting a cat with bronchitis to eat and drink better would be more than welcomed. And of course, Brainball's medications and continued treatment at home will improve matters with the bronchitis, too, thereby hopefully helping appetite to return to normal.

And boy oh boy, does Brainball have a story to tell the Cat Blogosphere *grin* along with giving more of the medical details -- but for now, more purrs would be deeply appreciated. Lots of love to all from the Ballicus Mom and all the Ballicai.

Thanks MaoMao, sweet boy, for letting Mom blog.