Ralphie

I adopted Ralph from Tree House on December 2, 2004. He'd been at the shelter since November 1998, when he was admitted at around age 3. That made him around 9 years old when I took him home. Ralph suffered from IBD and anemia. The anemia caused a heart murmur. One of the medications he took caused liver damage. The other suppressed his immune system, so he was constantly catching viruses and fungi, such as ringworm, getting infections, and it had induced diabetes. In fact, he spent much of his time at the shelter in ringworm isolation. At the time I adopted him, he'd spent nearly a year straight in the ringworm ward. Because of the ringworm, he had to reside in my bathtub (with shower doors closed) so as not to expose my other cats. When we moved to our new house, December 27, 2004, he lived in a room in the basement.

I was determined to try another form of treatment for his problem. I changed his diet to a wholesome grain-free wet food, and supplemented with vitamin B12 injections weekly. I also got him off both the medications he was on. Ralph is my "poster boy" for illustrating what a HUGE difference the proper diet can make. Cats are carnivores and should not be eating foods loaded with grains. Read more at www.catinfo.org and www.catnutrition.org. The information there saved Ralph's life.

As of his vet visit on April 22, 2005, Ralphie was ringworm *and* anemia free! Yay!

He got a complete work-up in September 2005, and his heart murmur was gone and all blood values (including liver and blood glucose) were normal. No anemia, no infection - all clean! Only thing necessary was a dental, which he got. Subsequent bloodwork panels have shown some elevated white blood cell counts and globulin levels, and low potassium levels - nothing alarming.

Ralph's lab work results are tracked here.

You may notice Ralph's cloudy eye in the pictures. A veterinary opthamologist examined him and feels the cloudy eye was caused by a birth defect. That's actually good news, as it means it's unlikely to worsen over time. She thought he still had vision in both eyes, but the sight was most likely better in the clearer eye.

Visit Feline Outreach, a not-for-profit dedicated to promoting routine and medical care of cats!

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first day in new home

first day in new home

after his first bath in his new home

moved into the new house - room in the basement

Ralphie and Studley in the "ringworm room" (aka the room of fungus)

We can both fit! (Studley's back leg)

April 2005

May 2005

September 2005

With Omaha and Afer (January 2006)

Ralphie with Studley - and Afer

with Omaha

with Patti (of Patti & Merlin)

Playing with a "nippy ball"

April 2008