Happy 5th Birthday

Happy 5th birthday to my Covid cat, to the cat from the pig farm, to the cat whose mama was killed when he was very young. Oliver is 5 years old today. I got him when he was six weeks old. He was the most adorable kitten. Very photogenic. And so tiny.

His 1st picture:  6 weeks old

So tiny

Oliver was born on a pig farm on the Eastern Shore. His mother was killed by one of the farm dogs, so he had to be raised by hand from a young age. It's also why they were able to rehome him at such a young age. Jennifer, a childhood friend, had made a post about three kittens on Facebook. I arranged to get the orange one. My mom and I met Jennifer's mother halfway, at the fire station in Clarksville, where we had both lived. Pat seemed reluctant to part with the kitten. 

Crissy gradually accepted Oliver. Oliver was especially fond of Zak, who sadly passed a few months later. I took Oliver with me to Mom's in the evenings. She enjoyed him for awhile. When he got older, I stopped bringing him to her house. 

Growing up:  6 months old

14 months old

A favorite pose:  almost 3

When Oliver was 4, he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (high T4), highly unusual for a cat his age. Usually, it affects much older cats. Max got hyperthyroidism in his later years. Hyperthyroidism is treated with medication. Diet and iodine treatment are other options. Oliver takes his medication easily. He gets a half tab once daily. I toss it in the back of this throat, close his mouth, and he swallows it.

Before getting treatment, Oliver displayed the classic symptoms of hyperthyroidism:  always hungry, drank a lot of water, weight loss, and dull hair coat. He also became very irritable. Oliver was no longer the lovable cat he had once been. That was a symptom that Max never had. Even hyperthyroidism couldn't take the sweetness out of him.  I had to ask the vet to test Oliver for hyperthyroidism. The vet was surprised when he tested positive. It took a little while to get the medicine right. 

Oliver on his 5th birthday

After several months Oliver failed to gain weight, while his T4 was normal. Additional blood work showed signs of an infection. He was dewormed and treated with an antibiotic and medicine for his gut (for 10 days in December). He was easy to medicate. He stopped vomiting. Previously he was vomiting almost daily. I also changed to a more expensive cat food (hair ball formula) and began to feed beef Fancy Feast exclusively. For the past several months, I have been trying to put weight on Oliver. Cash likes the extra meals and snacks.  

Oliver and Crissy

Oliver and Cash

I don't think Oliver will ever be a fat cat, but he seems healthier now. His T4 will get checked next month and I'll find out how much weight he's gained back. He's not as lovable as he once was, but he's not nearly as irritable as before. He still "nurses" occasionally and sleeps with me on the bed sometimes. He and Cash aren't best buds, so he usually yields to Cash at bedtime.