Life of the Lintee Bean

Louie, aka Lucious Louie Twinkle Toes, aka Louie Primo, aka Lou-Lou, was named Aloysius by the shelter staff.  Too much of a mouthful for me, I shortened it.  Louie generally seems made of springs, as he has a propensity for bouncing around the house – and is voted most likely found on top of the refrigerator.

Louie was abandoned on the front porch at the shelter in June of 2003.  He was scared, but definitely socialized to people.  He tested FIV+ (feline immunodeficiency virus positive) and therefore was put in the room designated for FIV+ cats.  FIV+ cats can live long, full lives without complications, provided they’re not exposed to illnesses (that is, kept indoors), but there’s a certain “stigma” with the status that decreased Louie’s chances of adoption.  In September of 2003, when people noted his matted fur and unkempt appearance, he had blood tests done and was diagnosed with diabetes. 

The shelter staff started insulin injections, but his blood sugar levels remained high.  A few different insulin types were attempted, finally settling on PZI (protomine zinc insulin).  Eventually, his dose was up to nine units twice daily, but his blood sugar levels were still higher than ideal.  Yet, he went into insulin shock once when he vomited up the dry food he’d eaten and his blood sugars plummeted.

I adopted Louie in November of 2006.  I changed his diet to eliminate all dry food.  No small feat, as Louie vastly preferred dry food – when he would eat.  I don’t know if it was just his nature, or all the syringe-feedings at the shelter before insulin injection, but Louie seemed to think he could live on air and exercise.  He was a roly-poly boy without much of an appetite, it seemed.  Eventually, we found a few wet foods he liked, and after time he even decided he liked the homemade raw diet I fed the other cats.  His insulin needs dropped dramatically (to two units twice daily or less), and his blood sugar levels improved.  We followed Dr. Hodgkins’ protocol, and he lost weight, became more active, and his coat took on a soft shine that had been lacking.

Louie is a real joy to have in the house.  He’s the type of cat anyone can pick up and cuddle (for as long as his short attention span will allow).  He loves to wrestle with and cuddle with my other boy cats.  He would love to play with the girl cats too, if they’d let him.  Instead, he bounds up to them and they scream at him to get away – and sometimes he “pulls their pigtails” (gives them a few playful swats) like a naughty boy before he leaves.