Giovanna (Gigi) Caprathe is a female mackerel tabby American shorthair cat whom I picked up from the shelter in 2017 after her previous family dumped her there when she was eight months old. (They named her "River"...what kind of cat name is that...) The name Giovanna came to me immediately after I saw her, and her last name is that of my husband's. As soon as peeked into her sad little shelter cage, I knew that Gigi and I were going to be best friends. Of course, I was right, and now we're inseparable.
Though some might think that cats are fickle while dogs are loyal (and thus superior), I couldn't disagree more when it comes to Gigi. Following a messy breakup, she snuggled with me and provided me comfort. When I get home, the first one to greet me at the door is always Gigi. She comes when called! She demands to be in the same room as me at all times (and yes, this includes the bathroom), and looks at me with the most loving gaze.
Unlike my in-law's cats (who just scream when they're hungry and howl when they're upset), Gigi has a few meows that she uses - an inquisitive, more audible purr to respond when her name is called; a whispery, almost bark-like meow when she's talked to; a drawn-out, high-pitched meow when she's unhappy; and short chirps when she's displeased but not to the extent where she wants to do anything about it. And of course, her purrs are so sweet as to make you cry.
Her fur is so soft and silky, comparable to that of a rabbit's or mink's. After a recent visit to the vet, the discharge paperwork included a statement that she was "very, very soft!" Getting to pet her after a long day of work or school (usually both...) melts the stress away. When I get home, she'll follow me from the door to my desk (with her litttle soft barks), and sit down on my lap as soon as I'm settled in.
Recently, though, Gigi has faced a series of health problems, despite being only 7 years old. In mid-2023, she was inexplicably eating less and losing weight. Following a vet visit, it was found that she had muscle atrophy from malnutrition secondary to inflammatory bowel disease, and she now receives subcutaneous dexamethasone twice a week to decrease inflammation. At the beginning of this year, she was diagnosed with a UTI, for which she received oral augmentin. She doesn't tolerate oral meds well, and she makes the most heart-wrenching cries whenever we try to give her any. Following initial resolution of the UTI, it recurred twice. The second time, our cat specialist placed her on a animal-exclusive antibiotic called orbifloxacin - which I could find almost no information on, other than the fact that it was a fluoroquinolone used primarily in dogs.
My pharmacy education made me wary - I didn't want to give her the dexamethasone with the orbifloxacin, but I also had no idea whether the drug interaction in humans was also true for cats. (in addition to the fact that I really didn't want to reload her dexamethasone dose after a period of not taking it). I tried to hold her dexamethasone, but her appetite immediately decreased, and she became fatigued, idle, and generally unhappy. Thus, I begrudgingly decided to resume her steroid. Now, two weeks after antibiotic course completion, she seems okay - but I wish there was more literature available for me to have made a more informed decision. The idea of losing Gigi terrifies me. She's been by my side through so many difficulties, and I can't imagine what life would be like without her. She couldn't be replaced by another cat - she's my cat, as my husband so frequently likes to point out.
Anyway, my overall opinion/take on this? I love Gigi! She is my sweet precious darling, my silly girl. I hope you were able to see how much love I have for my cat!
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