Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke
This morning began with a delicate operation: administering two pills to our cat.
Surprisingly, she handled it quite well. After a small meal, she climbed onto my lap and stayed there for most of the day, as if she had officially decided I was her recovery station.
My wife returned to work today—duty called, especially during audit season—so I took full responsibility for medication duty. I had been observing her technique closely, and today I attempted it myself. Thankfully, it worked. No dramatic protests, no long negotiations—just a quick, efficient delivery.
Both pills were painkillers with sedative effects, which meant our usually energetic kitten transformed into a very quiet, very sleepy version of herself. She did not even purr while I petted her, which felt unusual enough to double-check that she was still, in fact, our cat.
She spent most of the day asleep on me.
As a result, I skipped my push-up session—clearly, I had been reassigned as “human heating pad.” However, I still managed to complete my planking and stretching, so I consider that a partial victory in discipline.
At this stage, she needs constant reassurance. We gave her another dose of medication later so she would remain calm through the night. She clearly senses that something is different. She is less alert, more subdued, and far sleepier than usual. For a naturally athletic and energetic cat, this must feel like an entirely different life.
For now, we are keeping her in my office to limit her movement. If she suddenly remembers that she enjoys running and jumping, we would prefer not to witness that experiment.
We also dressed her in a post-surgery onesie to prevent her from licking the incision. She is still adjusting to the concept of “wearing clothes,” which she does not fully appreciate. At one point, she attempted to reverse out of it—a bold but unsuccessful strategy. The onesie, however, does its job well. It allows her to sleep comfortably and eat more easily compared to the cone.
When my wife returned home, she immediately took over comforting duties. Our kitten clearly wants to stay close to someone at all times. At one point, my wife tried moving her to the bedroom, but we quickly relocated her back to the office—she was already showing signs of wanting to resume her normal, highly active lifestyle.
For now, rest remains the priority.
The good signs are there: she is eating well, sleeping deeply, and gradually settling into recovery mode.
With a bit more rest—and perhaps fewer wardrobe complaints—she should be back to her usual energetic self very soon.