Learning from Nobi - Feline Heart Disease

Last night, my 3 year old cat, Kenobi, lost his battle with heart disease. It hit quickly and my husband and I had little time to prepare, and even less time to say goodbye. I wanted to read about other cat owners' experiences with feline heart disease, but found few resources. I would like to share my own experience to hopefully help others who find themselves in this unfortunate situation.

Kenobi was born in April 2011. We picked him up from the humane society when we moved into our first home as a couple, and our older cat, Ace, was lonely. Kenobi was quickly a great companion for him.

Nobi was generally very playful and curious, but we noticed when he was about a year old that sometimes he would wake up in the night and cough. It sounded almost like he was trying to cough up a hairball, but no hairball ever came. The older cat, being long-haired, gets hairballs all the time though, so we assumed he was getting a little extra fur and didn't think much of it.

When he was about 2 and a half, my husband took him to the vet for his yearly exam. At that time, the vet discovered he had a very mild heart murmur. She explained that next he would need an EKG and a few other tests to determine the cause of the heart murmur, but since it was so mild and he was otherwise behaving, eating and drinking and pooping and playing, normally, it wasn't that dire of a situation. 

Fast forward to March of 2014. Kenobi is about 3 weeks away from turning three years old. We had previously fostered a few dogs, and one of them needed to be returned to its foster home after its new "permanent" home didn't work out. Kenobi wasn't used to a big dog, though. I could tell within 24 hours that he was visibly stressed. The biggest concern was that he was pulling his hair out and scratching excessively, making little sores and scabs on his body. 

I took him to the vet for the scratching, but when the vet was checking his vitals, he paused for a long time while listening to his heart. I have seen the same vet for a while, so we had been chatting and joking around, but when he started listening to Kenobi's heart, his face fell serious.

He said Kenobi's heart murmur had progressed to what he considered to be a 3 on a scale of 5. I mentioned the foster dog, and he said it wasn't unlikely that the foster dog was adding stress that both worsened his heart and caused the hair pulling.  I also mentioned that he had lost weight lately, and the vet weighed him to find that he lad lost about 4 pounds in the last 6 months. I did note that he had been eating less, but we had been asked to put him on a diet, and I just assumed it was working.

He surmised that the hair pulling was likely due to allergies and would need to be addressed but he stressed that the more pressing concern right now was to get Nobi's heart looked at. He gave him a mild short-term steroid injection to address the scratching, and explained that usually they would give a stronger dose, but Nobi's heart wouldn't be strong enough. 

Nobi seemed to feel much better when he had the steroid injection. As much as it pained us to do, we transferred the foster dog to a different home to alleviate his stress. Nobi was doing better already, it seemed.

We brought him back to the vet the next week for some heart tests. They ran an EKG and an echocardiogram at my local vet's office, and sent the files to a Charleston feline cardiologist to be examined. He stayed the day at the vet's office, and I picked him up in the evening. The vet said he was a delight, and she loved spending the day with him. They had to shave off a patch of hair from his side to get the readings, but he was otherwise chipper and happy when he came home.

I was so anxious to hear the results when the vet called the next day. She had good news and bad. The bad news was that Kenobi did, indeed have heart disease (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). She called it mild, and explained that the problem was that one of his heart valves opened properly, but did not close properly, which could cause backup of blood flow in his heart and an irregular heart rate. She said it was likely that he was born with the disease - cardiomyopathy is often congenital - and that it was not unusual to discover it at this stage. It usually appears in cats around age 2. 

She said she was optimistic about him. Usually this is a serious diagnosis for a cat, but since we caught it so early, she said it was highly likely he would live a long and happy life. Sometimes cats live to 10 years old with this condition, she explained.

We were told to pick up a prescription for him - a beta blocker called "atenolol". We were told to give him a 1/4 of a pill twice a day and to reduce his stress. We bought the Greenie's "Pill Pockets" with which to give him the pill, and he took them easily, never purposefully spitting out the pill.

I was shocked at how much he improved when he was taking the medicine! He was like a kitten again, tumbling over his brother and running through the house. I was so glad we had found the problem and it seemed like we had found a solution. 

However, he was still pulling his fur out. We worked hard to switch him to a low-allergen food and a no-dust litter to help with the problem, and he seemed to improve. We marked the growth of his fur he was pulling out against the patch the vet had shaved for the EKG. He seemed to be on the up-and-up.

Yesterday, we went about our morning routine. I woke up to Kenobi snuggled up close to my side, and he kneaded my side for a while as I woke up (he was taken from his mother too early and "suckled" for a few months as a kitten. He always retained the "kneading" as a comfort in that regard). When his brother Ace woke up and left the bedroom, Kenobi hid behind my legs to pounce him as he walked by. He waited for me by the bathroom door when I got out of the shower, and chirped when I came out, like he did every morning. I gave him his morning medicine and some food and left for work.

When I came home, Kenobi met me at the door and followed me to the kitchen for his afternoon dose of medicine. He was eager for the treat it was packed in, and danced around my legs like he always does. He took the treat easily and went to sit on the screened-in porch which is his favorite spot in the house. 

I made dinner and noticed he was sitting strangely in the center of the porch looking in the house. I went to pet him, and he was appreciative, but almost shied away from my touch. This was unusual, but I didn't think much of it. Maybe he was distracted by a bird outside or something.

However, not 20 minutes later, as my husband and I sat on the couch eating dinner, we heard a crash from the porch. My husband jumped up to see what the problem was. Assuming it was Kenobi chasing something outside, I stayed where I was. But when my husband asked, panicked "are you okay, Kenobi??" I knew something was wrong. I went outside just in time to see him making the same dry-heaving noise that he used to make as a kitten. He was convulsing. My husband scooped him up in his arms and I ran for my phone to call the vet. I didn't know what to do or think. I ran in circles as my husband ran outside towards the car with Kenobi, telling me to get my keys. I scrambled for my shoes, and it was then that I heard my husband say "he's gone". He stood on the front lawn with Kenobi limp in his arms. 

We took him to the emergency vet, not knowing if he was unconscious or what. The vet rushed him into the back room, and emerged only a couple minutes later. she confirmed what my husband had said - Kenobi was gone.

I was in shock. This was not how I expected my Tuesday to go. I thought he was doing better. Was it the medicine? I didn't know what to do or think.

The vet explained that it was highly likely that he just gave in to his heart disease. She felt him to feel for urinary blockage, but found none. We blamed ourselves, but the vet said that we had truly done everything we could. She brought him back out for us to sit in a quiet room. We held him and rocked him for several minutes, wrapped in a towel. He seemed so peaceful, and I suddenly felt much better knowing his suffering was over, and he was with me. 

We are still hurting very much. We will receive his ashes in a couple days, and I'm sure whatever healing we have done at that point will be torn open again. But I hope we helped him to live the fullest and happiest life that he could have had. He undoubtedly made our lives happier and more fulfilled.

We will miss him everyday.

I hope that this will help someone else to see the warning signs of heart disease. Please do not hesitate to follow your vet's instructions if you find signs of heart disease. Bring your cat to the vet often. Do not ignore weight loss and coughing.

I hope Kenobi's story can save just one other cat's life. Hug your pet everyday.

We love you always, Kenobi.

EDIT: We considered starting a fund for pet owners whose pets were recently diagnosed with heart disease, but were pleased to find that someone has already started one! The Big Hearts Fund collects money and distributes it to those in need whose pets have a range of heart diseases like Kenobi's. Please consider leaving a donation to the fund in Kenobi's name, and remember it if you are ever looking for a charity to donate to in the future!

Temporary Pups

Last Monday, I saw a photo on Facebook of two handsome pups. They were beautiful husky mixes, and very young. The post stated that they were in need of a foster home, and fast! All of the agency's other foster homes were full.

On a whim, I submitted an application, but in the back of my mind, I knew people would be clamoring to have these adorable pups in their home. Imagine my surprise when I got an email saying I could pick up the pups the next day!

Katniss and Peeta were so full of life when I first met them at the vet's office. It was hard not to fall in love when one of the nurses handed Peeta to me, and he immediately slathered me in kisses! Ever since then, we have been so lucky to have such wonderful animals in our home.

A couple days ago, I caught up with the girl who found them. Katniss and Peeta had been dumped behind a church with 5 other brothers and sisters. Her neighbor found them and took them in, but with many other animals of his own, he wasn't able to care for them sufficiently. Their rescuer said they were so covered in dirt and fleas that she thought they were black dogs! The man had already given many of the pups away, but she knew she needed to get them into a good home to give them a great life. After a quick trip to the vet, they ended up with me.

Katniss is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met. She is the kind of dog that follows you from room to room and watches you closely to make sure that she's making you happy. She has an infectious puppy smile that makes it hard to say "no" to her. She loves walking with you on a leash, and also loves to sit quietly and gnaw on a bone. We have two cats, and she absolutely loves them! Sometimes she gets excited and barks at them, but mostly she just loves to have new friends. The cats think she's hilarious, too, and they love to watch her hop around.

Peeta is the dominant dog of the two. He seems to have no end to the energy that propels him to run lap after lap around the house. He plays rough with Katniss sometimes, but as soon as you let him know it's too much, little Peeta's ears and tail sink straight to the floor. His droopy brown eyes let you know that he really meant no harm! He's been doing great with his housetraining. He needs some discipline, but you can really tell that he wants to be a great dog, and someday will be an amazing pet for someone.

It has been an amazing experience to get these puppies the start they deserved, but the ultimate success will be when they get adopted to great homes! Check out Katniss's bio here, and Peeta's bio here, and submit an application online to be considered for their new forever homes. 

We will miss them greatly when they go to their new homes, and we hope some families looking for a new family member will see how much love these dogs have to give!

A little bling never hurt anyone...

My friend Kristen got married this weekend, and of course she asked me to provide the cake for her! I've known Kristen for a few years, so I knew that she would need something equally elegant and quirky for her wedding day!

Kristen's cake used the modern "telescoping tiers" look, in which we make each tier of cake taller than the one below it. This gives the cake a statuesque, avant-garde look.

The cake was adorned with hand-made sugar flowers adorned with real rhinestones and a real rhinestone chain at the base of each tier. The flowers were painted with silver leaf dust, which is edible (but expensive!). This is a great way to include a little bling on your cake without harming your guests. Since the flowers are removed from the cake before cutting, you don't need to worry about your guests biting into a rhinestone while enjoying their dessert. The flowers can then be preserved and saved for years to come!

Kristen's cake is a great example of a cake that did not necessarily use elements from her reception. Although she used red roses and black damask throughout the wedding, we both knew that repeating those elements on her wedding cake would make the room start to look very matchy-matchy. By giving me a feel for her reception and allowing me to have some creative freedom, we came up with this beautiful cake that fit right in on her wedding day!

Congratulations, Kristen!

New York is Boring

When I moved to Savannah, I didn't know a thing about it. What I did know was that I had come for a two-day visit to scope out schools, and when I passed under the moss-covered oaks, that was it; I was in love. Although I have now called Savannah my home for almost seven years, it is still easy for me to see how many brides would fall in love with it the way I did.

Savannah is one of the country's most popular destination wedding locations. Why get married in Savannah? Let us count the ways...

1) It is beautiful.

As someone who grew up in New Hampshire, Savannah's greenery was a big part of the reason I chose to make it my new home. Of course, the city is famous for the Spanish moss that drapes it's ancient trees, but what you may not know is that Savannah works very hard to maintain it's beauty and charm. The Historic Savannah Foundation helps to restore old buildings to their former charm and make sure new businesses honor the beauty that Oglethorpe laid out for us. Being able to walk down to the Savannah River and still be in the heart of the city certainly helps, as well. I don't know what more you could want for your romantic day! Oh wait, maybe I do...

2) It is fun!

Although the city gets a rap for being a sleepy Southern town, those of us who live here know that is only true part of the 20% of the time. For the other 80%, we are out and about seeing live music shows, going to galleries, seeing our friends, and drinking!! Savannah loves the arts, so there is rarely a time when you aren't able to find a great band performing or some beautiful paintings to take a look at. FUN FACT: Savannah is one of only 5 cities in the US with an open container policy. Combine that with our next bullet-point, and you've got yourself a good time...

3) It is walkable.

Historic Savannah was one of the country's first planned cities, planned at a time when most people needed to get around on foot or by carriage. Although our modern changes have made it so that this fact makes it sometimes difficult to find a place to park your car downtown, Savannah is still a great place to get around on foot. This means you won't have to worry about shuttling your guests from hotel to ceremony to reception. Many of Savannah's most popular wedding venues and lodging are walkable to each other! And you'll get to take in that beautiful Southern sun on your way there...

4) We know how to have a wedding here!

Because so many people get married in Savannah, it means that myself and my fine peers and cohorts in the wedding industry here have had lots of time to hone our craft and really get to know what you, the bride, are looking for. We keep in touch with current fashion trends and decorating trends to make sure we can help you have a wedding that is stylish and perfect for you! There are many florists, caterers, and cake shops here who specialize just in wedding services - no need to worry about hiring a sometimes-DJ or a fair-weather photographer!

5) You can still feel like it is your day.

We lovingly refer to Savannah as the country's biggest small town. Although there are a lot of weddings happening in town, we are still a close enough community to make you feel like you are the star of your day. Don't be surprised if your bartender knows your name the day you arrive! And as many say, "you never really leave Savannah"...you know you can always come back to celebrate your special day, and be welcomed with open arms!

Whether you are from Macon, Charlotte, or Burlington, Vermont, you'll be sure to find more than a few reasons why Savannah could be the perfect place for your wedding day.

A Good Cause

I have always been an animal lover, but I have not always been a shelter lover. We adopted a lot of shelter animals when I was a kid, but going to select a new pet was always a somewhat depressing experience. We knew we were helping our new family member, but you couldn't help but feel sad for the other animals left behind in cold, metal cages.

Last spring, my boyfriend and I decided it was time to get a friend for our cat, Ace. Ace is very social, so I knew we were going to need an animal that was absolutely perfect for him.

When I stepped foot into the Humane Society for Greater Savannah, I could see it was a different place than the shelters I had been to as a kid. The walls were all brightly-colored, the staff was excited, and the animals actually looked.....happy.

Friendly cats were allowed to roam in a big screen porch area. Dogs had a lot of area to play. We found our new cat, Kenobi, there, and began the adoption process. The staff were sad to see the kitten go, which showed real compassion for their charges.

I knew I'd really found a great organization when, right before we took Kenobi home, one of the staff members picked him up and gave him a kiss on the head. For an industry where it is easy to grow numb to the troubles of homeless animals, I knew Humane Society for Greater Savannah was different.

Since then, I've tried to help the organization as much as I could. We donated a cake to last winter's fundraising event, and it was such a big hit! We also do our best to try to help make the community aware of when the shelter could use a little help.

Now, we'd like to help again. Humane Society for Greater Savannah is holding a "Dog Lovers' Walk" at the Landings on February 25th. This is their biggest fundraiser of the year, and they could use your support! You'll also find an ad for TIER Luxury Cakes in their program! If you aren't in Savannah, consider making a donation to help them help homeless animals this year.

This is a organization that I feel 100% awesome about supporting, and I hope you will, too!

Food into Cake? Cake into Food?

Making a cake into something that resembles another food is always a weird thing. It is certainly deceiving to the brain ("Is that really a burger? What am I looking at??"), but always a BLAST for me to create!

Alfredia came into my shop looking for a groom's cake, but wasn't sure yet what to do for it. When she told me that her fiance was the owner of 520 Wings on Victory Drive, I knew we had our answer!

I began work on the big bowl of wings the day before her wedding. The first step was to create all the pieces. First, I made a bunch of sugar celery and a little bowl of "ranch dressing" to go on the side of the cake.

The celery was created from pale green sugarpaste. I formed them to shape with my hands, and let them dry over a wooden dowel rod to keep their shape. When they were ready, I airbrushed them slightly for depth, and used a fine paintbrush to add the lines. For the dressing, I just took some frosting, crumbled some chocolate cake crumbs in, and piped it into a sugarpaste "bowl".

Of course, the next step was the wings! Being a vegetarian, I was sure to pull up tons of reference photos to make sure I was getting them right. Alfredia sent me some photos of his wings, too.

I started with chunks of pale orange fondant, and formed them to shape. Next, it was time to airbrush! The airbrush color is specifically made for cake decorating, and is really just watered down food coloring. I started with a layer of orange airbrush color to add depth, and them used a darker brown to add the "burnt" areas.

But they were still looking a little flat. The answer: a paintbrush, and some darker brown food color for accent areas!

Now they're starting to look like wings! Once they got onto the cake, they were looking great, but I knew they needed a little extra "umph"...

Ah, that's it! The sauce on wings makes them glossy! So I whipped up a little orange piping gel, and used a big fat paintbrush to spread it onto the wings in the bowl. A few little drips of the "sauce" and now we were in business!

What fun!! I always think people probably feel a little deceived when they cut into a cake that is in the shape of another food, but I suppose that is part of the fun!

Until next time!

Anna's Birthday Cake!

It is always a pleasure when I get to create birthday cakes for my friends. When you know someone really well, you can always create something for them that you know will fit their interests perfectly. And the especially fun part is that: you often get to have some creative freedom!

I haven't known Anna very long, but we've become fast friends. So when her mom called to ask if I would make her a cake, I was quick to say "yes!". Anna is a member of one of Savannah's favorite local bands, General Oglethorpe and the Panhandlers, so the easy way out would have been to make a guitar shaped cake or something of the like. But we knew better than that!

Anna's boyfriend, Nate Marsh, also happens to be a fantastic illustrator. Anna's mom suggested using one of his drawings on the top of the cake, so I got him on the phone! He was quick to send me an illustration to use on the cake; Anna's favorite character of his: a dog riding a unicycle.

(this is hand-painted in food coloring, using Nate's drawing as reference)

So I had the top of the cake figured out. But what to do for the rest of it?

I was thrilled when Anna stopped by the shop the day before her birthday (not knowing I was making her cake), and pointed out her love for the silver bird on one of my cakes in the showroom!

Perfect! So I whipped up this cute, hipster-vintage birthday cake for Anna. The especially good news: she loved it!!

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Happy birthday, Anna!