Au Tests RetroMAD1: Vet Visit

We've just been for our first check-up, 5 days after Au started his RetroMAD1. 

Although he hasn't put on any weight (or lost any) Au has filled out a bit.  He was a little dehydrated last week, so we think that it's taken him these few days to get his body is functioning properly again. 

Au is eating, he's looking much better and he's much more active.  All good signs.  We think he should now start putting on lost weight again because that's what the other kitties did.

If Au does well this week, we don't need to go for 2 weeks. 

The one concern we have is that one cat (there have been only 14 other test kitties) showed slightly higher liver ALT counts when he took the meds.  The ALT was not very high, but just in case, I've got to keep an eye on Au's eyes rims, etc.  If they look yellowish, then we stop everything and rush to the vet. 

I'm not concerned: Au is visibly improving.  Instead of being tired from the ordeal and sitting in bed, he's underneath the sofa, showing me the Tayul of Displeasure, and grumbling loudly at me to show what a mean-mean person I am. 

I won't disturb him with the flashy box today.  Instead, here's a picture of Target complaining that his pal from across the street is stealing some biscuits from Boris' cat bowl.  Target sees Boris' bowl as his own, so he's suitably upset.

See you Monday with another update!

Au Tests RetroMAD1, A New Wonder Drug Fighting FIV

I went to see the man who makes RetroMAD1 yesterday, so here's a quick FAQ.

What is RetroMAD1?
RetroMAD1 is an experimental recombinant protein biologic antiviral drug.  It's developed and made in Malaysia by Malaysians.

What does RetroMAD1 do?
It greatly reduces viral counts in mosquito cells infected with Dengue Fever Virus and in monkey cells infected with Herpes Simplex 2 that causes Genital Herpes in humans.

RetroMAD1 has also treated 14 sick cats with FIV or FeLV (Feline leukemia).  Every single kitty has recovered.

How is RetroMAD1 given? 
It's a oral medicine that has to be given 3 times a day.  As it is a clear odourless, tasteless liquid, the easiest way to give it to you pet is to put it in his or her food.  Your cat won't even know it's there.
 
What side-effects are there?
None so far.  Toxicity trials carried out by the University of Malaya showed that there were no adverse effects on rats dosed with 500 times the dosages given to the cats.

PS: edit after vet visit: in 1 cat blood tests showed a slight elevation in AST/ALT counts – indicators that point to liver health. 

I have a sick FIV kitty.  How and where do I sign up?
Trials are taking place in Puching, Selangor, Malaysia.  Contact Vet Dr Tan and Dr Wong at Klinik Haiwan dan Surgeri Wawasan by calling 03 5882 0755.  They are in the position to assess how your cat may be treated with RetroMAD1.

Do I have to hand over my baby to mad scientists?
No, you treat your pet at home yourself.  But you do have to make several return visits so the vets can check on progress.

I am a vet in Malaysia, a billionaire investor looking for a project etc.  How do I talk to the man himself?
Visit Biosatria and contact Ung Eng Huan.

I want to talk to you about Au and your experience.  How do I contact you?
Leave a comment or email me at katztales AT lepak.com.

Au continues to do well!  More tomorrow....

Love romance? Please check out my latest book Blackmail Bride, a tale of passion and mystery set in Scotland.   First chapter is free, and if you like it, you buy the book at RM7.56/US$2.32.  It may be downloaded from here.   10% goes to Friends Furry Farm, a no kill animal shelter.

Au Speaks Out: I Am De FIV Poster Kat

i am now testing RetroMAD1 a new drug dat fights FIV. yes, i am at the forefrunt of science.

you know i haf always been a trendsetter.  i am de star of dis blog, and de newspaper column in de Star and de book katz tales.  and yet i am still a humble kat.  dis is bekos i am furry wonderful always.

while i was recovering from my illness, de survunt got dis memo from purrsonell abowt de annual purrformance review from Zoolatry.  i think she was hoping i wouldn't know abowt dis.   dis is silly bekos i always know efurrything!

i kannot trust target to fill it owt bekos he is a fur brain.  he think efurryfing his "mummy cat" does is purrfekt.  and boris will give 4 paws to anyone who gives him food.

so here goes: straight from de kitty's mouth... 

1. kwantity of owtput.  de survunt was doing furry well wif blogging 6 days a week, but she's fallen down in de last few weeks.  she says it is bekos i was sick.  dat's no excuse.  BUT she has put me in many  newspapers and in de book and on TV and radio.  so 3 paws.

2. kwality of owtput.  hmm...  i am remembering she wrote dat feature abowt me tripping and falling down de stairs and den dere was dat foto of me krossing my eyes and sticking owt my tongue.  just for dat i'm giving 2 swats.

3. klient pawticipation.  i haf to share de survunt's email!  yes, me a famus kat has to rely on her!  but she does pass on email.  also treats dat people send me.  so 3 paws.

4. pawticipation II.  de survunt is furry lazy abowt dis.  at de moment i am only entered in 2 kontests.  she says we lif too far away for most contests.  dis is no ekskuse.  2 swats.

5. klient satisfakshun.  do people love me?  well YES!  how kould dey not?  i am furry loveabul.  but do enuff people love me?  hmm.  don't know.  kan dere be enuff love sent my way?  never!  others haf to decide dis.

6. overall rating and suggestions for improvemunt.  overall rating is 3 paws wif de tayul of disapproval for sum fings.  for eksampul, de survunt still spends several hours a day not tending to me.  she says she is using dat time to earn de kat biskuts but i am not satisfied wif dat explanashun.  i also want more ham and more rost chikkun, all served to me pillow side if i'm napping or to my bocks if i am in retreet. 

i am now going for a 10 hour nap.  see you tomorrow... 

Love romance? Please check out my latest book Blackmail Bride, a tale of passion and mystery set in Scotland.   First chapter is free, and if you like it, you buy the book at RM7.56/US$2.32.  It may be downloaded from here.   10% goes to Friends Furry Farm, a no kill animal shelter.

Au Tests RetroMAD1, A New Wonder Drug Fighting FIV

Au is eating tiny little meals now but he's still fur over bone thin.  He's so weak that a wind would blow him over.

On Saturday we heard that the company developing RetroMAD1, an experimental recombinant protein biologic antiviral drug, was looking for sick FIV positive kitties to try out their medicine. 

In the last year, they've dosed 13 cats with symptomatic FIV or FeLV (Feline leukemia) with this drug - and all 13 have recovered.  No side effects have appeared either. 

So we rushed off to see Drs Tan and Wong in Puchong, the little town near us, and signed Au up.

First we did a blood test.  Au's AST has dropped from 197 to 78.  His ALT has dropped from 247 to 118.  This means that just with his liver pills and vitamin B complex tablets, his liver has started recovering.  It also meant he was allowed to be a test cat.

RetroMAD1 is a clear, odourless, tastless drug.  I have to give him 3.7 ml three times a day.  I don't want to stress out my Au-meow with droppers, so I get a teaspoon of fish jelly from the top of the can, drop the liquid over it, and present it to Au in a small dish.  Then we sit together as Au licks the jelly until the dish is clean.  No stress, no muss, no fuss.

I'm told that within a day or two we will see a difference in Au.  This RetroMAD1 will boost his whole metabolism, giving him back his appetite and his strength.  The one thing I have to keep an eye out for is jaundice.  So I'm looking at his eyes twice a day. 

We will be blogging and twittering about this trial every day so you can all keep up with the news.  I am meeting the developer of RetroMAD1 on Wednesday and will post the interview here on the blog on Thursday. 

Paws crossed this drug that will treat sick FIV kitties successfully world-wide!

Love romance? Please check out my latest book Blackmail Bride, a tale of passion and mystery set in Scotland.   First chapter is free, and if you like it, you buy the book at RM7.56/US$2.32.  It may be downloaded from here.   10% goes to Friends Furry Farm, a no kill animal shelter.

Au Is Eating And There May Be More Good News...

Au has been eating steadily since Friday.  He eats a spoonful of food every 2 to 3 hours.  He's still so weak that when he tries to scratch his ear with his paw he falls over.  But he's eating, so I am hopeful - again!

Everyone has been so kind.  Ann from Zoolatry made this badge to ask you all to purr for Au and KC from the Cat Blogosphere put it up so you could all see it but I was so freaked by Au being sick I didn't even notice.  THANKS!  Also for the email and comments with advice.  Quite apart from the support, I've learned a lot from all of you.


Going to the pub on Friday was also great as I got some good advice from a friend who has a liver problem.  He told me that his sense of smell and taste disappeared, that his tongue felt metallic, and that only sweet things had any sort of appeal.  He advised looking for a sweet jelly food to appeal to Au.

Au has been ignoring all cat foods except for SmartHeart so I went home and had a taste: it's sweetier than his regular Snappy Tom and the Fussy Cat and Fancy Feast that we've opened recently.

Tanks Bobbi; if this happens to anyone else, this tip is really useful. 

I also heard of some special trials for a new medicine.  It's all rather hush-hush so I can't tell you at the moment what it's about.  However, it is possible that Au may be testing a new thing

As Au is still very weak, we went for another blood test and spoke to the vet.  The test results and a follow-up chat with the vet will take place at lunchtime today.  Au will Tweet about it and I'll blog tomorrow.  Paws crossed all is well. 

We Eat And Starve And Eat And Starve...

After I blogged day before yesterday, Au stopped eating again.  I let him pass up one breakfast and one lunch and then I had to force-feed him.  I thought he was a gonner, and then last night he started eating again.

This morning he's still sleepy but he is sniffing at his breakfast so I've left him to relax and work at his own pace. Au is still cheerful.  Last night he was scratching his cardboard box and whapping Target for pestering him.


These ups and downs are terrifying.  I would be in the nuthouse if it weren't for De Male, Target the comfort kitty, cheerful Boris, and all of you.  Thanks for the support, the helpful tips, the gifts of food Au may like, and just for being there.

I'm also thankful I'm a writer so I work from home.  My writing has gone to pot but at least I can spend almost all day with Au.  Mind you, as I've just given him his pills, I don't think he feels the same way about talking to me right now!  After pill time he is very much showing me the Tayul of Disappoval.

There won't be a post tomorrow as my mind is not on writing.  I'll post again on Monday with Au's latest news.

You probably already know this but in case you don't, Annie passed away day before yesterday.  If you can, please drop by to see her mum.

And if you've time, or like romance, please check out the latest interview for Blackmail Bride, my latest book.  Blackmail Bride, a tale of passion and mystery set in Scotland is priced at RM7.56/US$2.32.  It may be downloaded from here.   10% goes to Friends Furry Farm, a no kill animal shelter.

Reprieve!

Au ate roast lamb and biscuits last night.  When he jumped into bed at 445AM to ask for biscuits, I raced to the bathroom and listened to him crunch away.  Target rolled out of bed and put his face in the bowl too.

I left them to it and went to the kitchen to slice some roast lamb.  I offered it to Au AND HE ATE IT!

Target couldn't believe it. "Lamb before 5AM?" he asked.  "Is it my Gotcha Day?  Is it Au's Gotcha Day?  Is it your Gotcha Day, Mummy Cat?"  He purred and purred which added to our happiness.

Au has had another mouthful of biscuits so I'm deliriously happy. 

Cooking roast chicken for lunch as it's Au's favourite.  Paws crossed everyone! 

PS this is a pic of Target looking smug after a predawn lamb breakfast.

Au's last Days

Au is in bed.  He is grooming himself, he plays his games at night but he has no appetite.  I'm feeding him twice a day to make sure there is something in his tummy. 

We've been to the vet again but nothing can be done. Au's liver is actually OK now with those pills, but our kitty has been diagnosed with FIV.  If he doesn't get the urge to eat again, these will be his last days.

It is very difficult for us but it's important to remember that Au is not suffering.  He clearly feels fine, except that he doesn't have an appetite.

I'll keep you posted.

LIM: The Price of Malaysian Racism

A few months ago a friend called me up and announced with a voice of doom that she'd been promoted.  To understand why, you need to know two things: she's Malay and Malaysia has an official policy of positive discrimination.

The whole thing is summed up very nicely in "The Price of Malaysia's Racism" by former US Ambassador to Malaysia John Malott which was published in the Wall Street Journal on February 8, 2011. 

The thrust of the piece is that Malay Rights, an official policy that  gives Malays priority over all the other races in terms of education, government jobs, etc is causing problems.

As Mallot said, "over 90% of the civil service, police, military, university lecturers, and overseas diplomatic staff are Malay" and "almost 500,000 Malaysians left the country between 2007 and 2009.......most were skilled ethnic Chinese and Indian Malaysians, tired of being treated as second-class citizens in their own country...."

Stupid people think this discrimination is all very clever.  It's the clever ones who suffer. Like my friend.

When we had lunch, she said, "I have worked really hard.  The company I work for is private, so it's not like I'm in the civil service or anything.  I think I deserve my promotion." 

But what really bothered her was the nagging feeling that she was promoted as the "token Malay" - someone who can be trotted out when the company needs some government paperwork done, or to attend official functions. 


My friend is talented but the sad thing is that it may not really matter.  Everyone who doesn't know her will assume she got the job because of her race. 

Plus, as she is Malay, she will be trotted out at official functions and sent off to do govt paperwork.  In theory anyone can deal with official departments, but the sad fact is that many officials give non-Malays the run-around.

My friends company knows the advantages of having an official face and they'd be silly not to take advantage of it.  In fact, there is a great danger that the "token Malay" part of her job will become the sole part of her job. 

I really felt for her but I couldn't help but tease.  "There's one sure way to prove your worth to yourself," I said to her.  "Go abroad and show them what you can do without all your special privileges."

It worked because she laughed.  Told you she is clever.

Au and Boris Update

Au is eating tiny meals several times a day but he's still skin over bone.  The vet says to be patient, so it's wait and see time.  Good news is that Au is grooming, perky, and interested in life.

Boris has been diagnosed with flea allergy dermatitis, a skin disease that comes from being allergic to flea saliva/bites.  Thing is, Boris has never had fleas!

The vet says this makes no difference as cats can get bitten by one flea, and get this irritation. 

As Boris has just had a course of medicine to reduce the itchiness, he recommended Frontlining him and applying some iodine to the various tiny scrapes he has. If Boris gets itchy again, then he needs more meds. 

So at present we're in a holding pattern. It's now 654AM and as Au hasn't had anything to eat since 430AM, I'm off to tempt him with some lamb.  Wish us success!

PS that pic of Boris posted yesterday was taken 2 weeks ago when he had an infected cut.

Wordless Wednesday: How To Rest Comfortably While Wearing A Lampshade

The Wordless Wednesday Meme

Love romance?  Check out Blackmail Bride, a tale of passion and mystery set in Scotland. Price RM7.56/US$2.32.  Instant delivery, no post charges.  10% goes to Friends Furry Farm, a no kill animal shelter.

Target Speaks: My Job As Comfort Kitty

As Au has been sick, I have an extra job. I am now a Comfort Kitty.

This is my job:

1. Purr up a storm 24/7 so that Au and mummy cat don't get sad.
2. Cuddle mummy cat whenever she sits down.
3. Play with my toy mouse and act silly to make her laugh.
4. Hold paws with Au in bed.

and most important:

5. Hoover up all the food that Au leaves.

This last point is challenging as I have to eat tuna, chicken, sardines, ham, and many different treats. Can you see the Target circle on my side growing?  It's OK, a Comfort Kitty has to make sacrifices you know.

For more cats, check out Gattina's Cats on Tuesday.  


Love romance?  Check out Blackmail Bride, a tale of passion and mystery set in Scotland. Price RM7.56/US$2.32.  Instant delivery, no post charges.  10% goes to Friends Furry Farm, a no kill animal shelter.
 

Au Still Eating But Now Boris Is Sick!

Au is eating, little by little.  He's nibbling 2 tablespoons of biscuits or wet food at a time.  And he's eating between 4 and 6 times a day. 

As he has told us his taste is way off, we're buying all sorts of different food to tempt his appetite.

Au is nibbling at Fancy Feast, Whiskas, and other stuff he's never wanted to eat in his life.  He seems to like strong smelling food best, so we think his sense of smell is impaired.

Anyhow, although Au is is eating, he is stick thin.  These two pics were taken 3 weeks apart.  If all goes well, we'll see the vet next week for another check-up.

Bad news is that Boris has a patch of dermatitis.  We've seen the vet twice for it and nothing has happened, so we're off for a second opinion tonight.

Purr for us? 

Love romance?  Check out Blackmail Bride, a tale of passion and mystery set in Scotland. Price RM7.56/US$2.32.  Instant delivery, no post charges.  10% goes to Friends Furry Farm, a no kill animal shelter.

Au Eats To Wild Applause

Au is eating and drinking like a small, bony pig-in-fur. He had 7 meals yesterday, and this morning he has chowed down 2 helpings of biscuits - one at 430AM and one about 5 minutes ago.

Another good sign is that Au is no longer sleeping in the hall closet. Instead he is sleeping in bed. I feel this is good because sickly cats hide and happy cats like to sleep where they can see and be seen.

Target is sleeping next to Au, paws entwined in their own personal hug style. Boris is outside, having a chat with Snow from across the street.

In other words, all is well.

We are so flaked out from our week of terror that we're going to take a break. We'll be back on Monday.

Thanks again for the support.  We couldn't have done this and stayed sane without you.

Also, Gong Xi Fa Cai! Wishing you all a very lucky, happy, healthy, wealthy, auspicious, and fun Year of the Rabbit!

Love Romance?  Check out Blackmail Bride, a love story set in Scotland.  10% goes to Friends Furry Farm.

COT: Au Update

Yesterday morning Au refused: roast chicken, chicken breast roll, scientific healthy biscuits, ordinary biscuits, the expensive healthy cat food, his favourite cat food, and salmon crunchy treats.  I was in despair.  At lunchtime he was interested in food but something seemed to stop him eating.  I gave him a few shreds of chicken and made him swallow it, just to make sure there was something in his tummy.

At 430PM his male survunt came home.  Au trotted upstairs and meowed for biscuits.  He then sat down and ate a whole bowlful of his regular crunchies.  An hour later he demanded cat food.  He refused the healthy stuff and his regular packet and demanded to try the free sample that came with Boris' biscuits.  Au at half the pack.  An hour after that he demanded more biscuits.

I hope I'm not premature in saying this but I think our kitty is back on his paws.  He ate biscuits and fish this morning, then went back to bed for a snooze.  He's been in the hall cupboard all week, so being out in the open is another good sign.

Here's an old pic of him; I didn't want to disturb our convalescent kitty with the flashy monster.

Thanks for all the advice and support.  Really, it's great to have it - especially when so many people around me tell me it's silly to have sleepless nights "because it's only a cat and not even a pedigree."    If it weren't for you, and the cat girls, I might have committed murder by now.

And thank goodness Momo is eating again, and Annie is pooping, but KC still seems shaky.  All the news is at the Cat Blogosphere, so do pop round and catch up on the mews.

Love romance?  Check out Blackmail Bride, a tale of passion and mystery set in Scotland. Price RM7.56/US$2.32.  Instant delivery, no post charges.  10% goes to Friends Furry Farm, a no kill animal shelter.

For more cats, check out Gattina's Cats on Tuesday.