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The vet called this morning with some good news! Basette’s morning glucose was 405 (much lower then the prior day’s 500+), and her lunch-time glucose was 339. She’s edging back towards a normal glucose level finally.

The best news was that Basette was up and walking around the clinic. Not just a step or two — but the entire circumference of the back room. Her change in activity says more to me than the glucose numbers.

Truly a Little Black Wonder Cat(tm).

When Basette was a kitten, she used to play tag.

She’d sit under my chair and purr when that tail-twitching mood descended. Not a half-hearted purr-so-you’ll-put-me-down, but her full-throated, shake-the-floor-like-Granddad’s-snoring purr. It didn’t matter if I had to finish a paper for the next day’s class. She wanted to play, and she wanted to play now.

As her human, it was my obligation to fulfill her every whim. I could ignore her to my peril: sitting under my chair, her purr would vibrate the wooden chair. A clear indication she was plotting something. When I didn’t immediately pet her or get up to follow her, she would scrape her claws down the wall to create a bone-grating screech. Screaming her name only caused her to purr louder.

Once the chair slid back, she would bolt from the room and stop in the door way. Eyes dilated, crouching down in pre-pounce mode: time to play! As soon as I stood up, she would charge across the hall, down the stairs, and make the 90° turn into the living room. I’d run after her until I could tag her tail, or roll her over and rub her belly.

She’d swat at me–tag!–and it was my turn to be charging across the house, up the stairs, with the Little Black Wonder Cat(tm) close on my heels. Once I’d stop to catch my breath, she’d swat at me and take off again. I was “It” and the game was afoot!

Eventually she tired of the game and stopped following me back up the stairs. I’d walk downstairs to find her thwapping her tail on the carpet, and purring, as if to say, “Please, I’m more dignified then you silly humans with your games. You may pet me now.”

Every other day with Basette has paled in comparison with today.

When I took her in to the vet’s this morning, I fully expected to face a horrible decision. She wasn’t comfortable, and I did not want her to suffer. It’s a sad considering saying good bye to an animal you love dearly. How do you prepare? How do you know when it’s time to let her go instead of trying just one more treatment option?

I was in tears when I dropped Basette off. The vet told me to breathe and calm down. She held Basette for a few minutes, cuddled her, noted that the Little Black Wonder Cat(tm) wasn’t full-throated purring, and that she had trouble standing. The vet smiled patiently, gave me a hug when I started crying again, and reassured that she would do everything she could for Basette.

My bestfriend called me after I left the vet’s office to make sure I was doing okay. She knew how upset I’d been the night before with Basette. She even offered to come out and sit with me all night if I needed someone here with me. (She is such an awesome friend. She knows I’d do the same for her if her kitty was sick, or if she just needed someone there, for whatever reason.)

Dr. Kris called in the early afternoon. Basette’s morning glucose was over 500, and by the afternoon it was was down to 420, so the fast-acting insulin had some effect. Basette was resting, but didn’t seem to have much change. She had been given some fluids.

More waiting… Ever try to focus on work when someone you love is in the hospital? This felt about the same.

Midafternoon and another call. Not much change. However, Basette was drinking and eating a little.

Finally, a few minutes before the clinic closed, I called Dr. Kris and asked for one last update. Basette not only responded well to the fast-acting insulin–her glucose levels had dropped to 128! Dr. Kris was guardedly optmistic. Basette will stay in her kitty condo at the clinic overnight, possibly most of tomorrow too.

Thank you to Basette’s friends and the ladies at work who prayed for Basette (and for me). Every little bit helps, and it sure made a minor miracle happen today.

Go, Little Black Wonder Cat(tm)! Keep on fightin’, kitten. I’m routing for you.

A friend just sent me an email with some Web sites with additional information on diabetes and adrenal gland problems in cats:

• Feline Adrenal Disease
• Feline diabetes tips

Basette went back to the vet’s this morning. She really isn’t herself today. She’s been walking into cabinets. Her water and food seemed almost untouched. Only one spot in the litter box this morning. She is still having trouble standing.

I was on my way in to work this morning and I called the vet. She said to bring Basette in for a neurological exam, so I turned around, drove home to pick up Basette, and took her to the clinic. Poor kitten sat on my lap, barely purring, mrowing periodically (something she never does). She really doesn’t feel good and she isn’t herself.

Basette’s exam showed some neurological problems with her back legs, and possibly a little on her front too. Her glucose levels were above 500. The plan now is to see if the fast-acting insulin has any effect and to try and rehydrate her. We’ll be consulting with the local teaching veterinary school and hoping for some suggestions.

Maybe she will get a little better during the day.

Basette isn’t doing well tonight. For several minutes, she couldn’t stand up. Whenever she tried to, her back legs gave out and she collapsed on the floor. She sat there for several minutes, unmoving, tail flicking unhappily. I picked her up, and comforted her. She fidgeted to be let down, so I carefully placed her down. She promptly collapsed again. I called a friend of mine in tears. If Basette couldn’t stand up, I was going to take her to the vet’s in the morning for an exam and to review options. I don’t want her to suffer.

After a while, Basette seemed to regain some strength and was able to move around a little better. I put down some bathroom rugs for better footing.

She is moving around now, but still having trouble. She has stood up and walked around the kitchen a few times. Her back legs are still unsteady, but at least she is up and walking.