12/06/2026
Ivy’s care update❤️🐾
As you will know, our gorgeous Ivy has a number of health issues. She is in forever foster and will be our responsibility for the rest of her life. Her main issue has been the spinal nerve damage which has caused her to be doubly incontinent as well as being a bit wobbly on her back legs.
Her incontinence has led to numerous bladder infections, which is a common problem for her condition. Ivy’s bladder is damaged from the infections, with now thickened walls. She is becoming antibiotic resistant, which is a major concern. With all that in mind, it is absolutely imperative that we do all we can to keep her as clean as possible as well as frequently monitoring her urine for signs of change.
Ivy can release urine herself, but she also responds well to being ‘expressed’ to ensure as much urine is removed from her bladder as often as possible. We don’t want stagnant urine in her bladder, which increases her risk of infections.
Her lovely foster mum does her best (along with her sister helping to bathe Ivy) to keep her back end as clean as possible. That’s a bit of tricky job for a cat that wriggles like Ivy! 🙈😆
Caring for Ivy is a worry for her foster mum and getting her to a vet can also be problematic, and stressful for everyone, including Ivy.
We are absolutely delighted that a new local mobile veterinary service has recently launched called Heart at home vets. Often, Ivy and her foster mum need support, but Ivy isn’t always poorly enough to warrant seeing a vet, so a nurse visit every four or five weeks helps us to be more proactive with Ivy’s care. It also helps her foster mum learn how to spot any changes in Ivy’s urine and know when Ivy needs to see the vet.
These appointments are an unrushed half hour in Ivy’s own little house. There is time to check her and her urine, give her a bit of a hygiene clip around her back end (two person job) and there is time for the nurse to get to know Ivy and give her cuddles.
Do you have a pet that struggles with car journeys and vet waiting rooms? Do you work from home or don’t drive? Heart at Home Vets can come to see your pet. It saves on travel time and also massively reduces the length of time your pet is stressed.
As you can see from the photo, Ivy is very relaxed and enjoying the attention from her lovely Heart at Home Vets nurse and this is after having her ‘trousers’ clipped. We are so pleased to have this kind of support in caring for Ivy ❤️🐾
We do also like to support local small businesses where possible. Ivy is sponsored by Michelle's Mobile Cat Grooming Service.Please consider giving Michelle a call if your cat has a thick/long coat and struggles to keep it in top condition.
