Sitting with Chase

Chase Bird

It started with an upset stomach.

Our cat Chase Bird began throwing up early on the Friday morning after Thanksgiving, and he continued to do so periodically throughout the day and night.

Late Friday and early Saturday, he threw up spots of blood.

Saturday morning we took him to his regular vet.

She gave him a shot for nausea and took a “wait and see” approach, telling us to offer him soft, plain food for the rest of the day.

Once we got him home, Larry and I took turns sitting with him. He lay around, sometimes sitting up to cry and drool. He didn’t throw up anymore, but he didn’t eat any of the soft food we offered.

We finally offered him some dry food, and he ate a few pieces.

By Sunday morning, he wasn’t eating or drinking anything.

By Sunday afternoon we were at the emergency animal hospital, discussing possible surgery.

The vet thought Chase had an obstruction. All the symptoms pointed to it, including the fact that he wouldn’t eat.

Tests through the night showed no blockage, so they began treating him for an infection. He ate a little food for the hospital staff.

We brought him home Monday morning. And waited for him to eat.

I had to go to work, but Larry kept an eye on him during the day. That evening, we again took turns sitting with Chase.

He was agitated. His pupils were huge. He stayed on a pad in his open crate. He came out occasionally to look at us, look at the food we offered.

He still wouldn’t eat.

At around two in the morning, I woke up to see the light shining from across the hall, and I knew Larry was sitting with Chase.

I fell half-asleep, glad that Larry was with Chase, worried about what would happen if he wouldn’t eat.

When I awoke early Tuesday morning, Larry was in the bedroom, standing by the bed, holding two food bowls.

He had stayed with Chase, offering him food, putting treats on top of the canned food to try to entice his appetite.

He held Chase when he briefly jumped up on his lap.

He patiently waited while Chase walked around, sniffed at the food, walked to the litter box, sniffed some more, walked to the litter box, jumped on his lap. Over and over.

“Did he eat?” I asked.

Larry turned both bowls upside down. No food fell out.

He ate.

  And he’s still eating and is OK.