Page 5 - Winter 20-21

Experience the death of a companion
One of the other cats – Čiepa – died 4 weeks ago at age of 21 years. Čiepa gradually declined over the previous few months. Both cats – Kate and Rūdis – witnessed her death at home. They both became withdrawn and quiet and their appetite decreased. Kate also didn't drink much. Both cats stopped playing and interacting with the owner. While Kate mostly was hiding, the male cat had episodes of sudden crazy senseless running around the flat.
Both received Aconite 200C split dose immediately after Čiepa's death and some days later Ignatia 1M split dose.
The male cat, Rūdis, recovered quickly, but Kate’s behaviour didn’t change.
Acute illness
Kate's owner recognised the signs of the cat’s illness: ” she is light as a feather”. I took Kate to work, where my colleges examined her and put her on treatment.
Clinical examination: Dehydration, weight loss, anorexia, severe pain in kidney region, ungroomed coat.
Clinical test results: Renal azotemia- urea 43mmol/l, Creatinine 315mmol/l, Urine specific gravity 1.017. Ultrasound examination: irregular misshapen kidneys. Hereditary or acquired renal dysplasia was considered. No other clinical tests were performed. One of my colleagues described Kate as an old-looking cat and gave guarded prognosis for Kate's life expectancy.
Treatment
• Intravenous fluid drip
• Berberis 30C twice a day
After 2 days she was much brighter, started to eat on her own, I brought her back home to my mother’s flat. Fluids and Berberis were continued for 2 more days. At home Kate was eating a bit and was drinking a lot on her own. She was till quite reserved, mostly were hiding. I gave Kate Nat rum Practicum 200 c split dose.
Approximately after two weeks my mother told, Kate, feels much better: she has good petite, grooms a lot, becomes more social – from time to time she plays with male cat. She sits next to her owner, sometimes puts both front paws up on the owner’s lap.
After 2 years – August 2014
Kate again eats less, grooms less; her coat is matted.
• Her thirst is pronounced, always prefers fresh water
• She urinates rarely and only passes small amount of
urine frequently
• Her previous social behaviour has returned – she avoids
the male cat, hiding, she is jealous of male cat. • Still seeking my mother’s company.
Kate received split dose of Natrum Muriaticum 1M
• Physical symptoms improved first – her appetite comes back, starts to drink less, her coat become shiny and smooth again.
September 2014
• Kate is playing with the male cat, sometimes even chases him.
• She doesn’t immediately hides from visitors – even from me :-)
• She sometimes sits on her owner’s lap.
Kate is now 10 years old and enjoys life, although her health is not always perfect. She learned to eat raw meat/organs, but still doesn't want to chew anything bigger and harder. She prefers pork or beef but isn't so fond of chicken. She is more affectionate towards the male cat, Rūdis – she plays with him and sometimes she even chases Rūdis away from her food bowl. Her shyness from visitors is not gone and she also hides from me when I come to visit.
Symptoms of kidney disease are sometimes seen as sudden excessive drinking, diminished appetite and more frequent urination. We haven't done any repeated
ultrasound or blood work, but a dose of Natrum Muriaticum always helps her and Kate returns back to health within a few days.
I was still a homeopathy course student when I took Kate case. I had to help my mom and her cats in acute sad situation. My first approach was acute homeopathic prescribing based on medical history and clinical manifestations. Aconite I prescribed because both cats had witnessed the death of their companion cat and most likely they suffered from fright and fear.
After couple days both cats still were depressed and didn’t interact much with my mother. Therefore I prescribed Ignatia because I thought both cats were in a state of acute grief and great instability. However, I later discovered that I was only right about male cat, Rūdis – Ignatia helped him, but didn’t change Kate's mood.
When Kate developed kidney failure with great sensitiveness and pain in kidney region and thirstlessness I prescribed Berberis, which worked well together with intravenous fluids. Kate soon was able to return to her home, but she hadn't recovered completely. I realised that Kate was in a deep state of chronic grief and stress. The loss of her companion cat had an adverse effect on her hidden kidney disease. Natrum Muriaticum helped her to a large extent and continues to help whenever Kate's health declines.
I believe Kate has many of Natrum Muriaticum symptoms and whether Natrum Muriaticum is her true remedy or a very close related remedy I'm glad it allows her, despite guarded prognosis, to live a full life.
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