Clancy Huff

Clancy Huff is one cool cat who happens to have some serious medical conditions – even living up to his last name. But he thrives, due to the great care of his owner, Julie Huff, the finance director for Paducah Independent Schools.

Julie has three rescued cats: 12-year-old Tori, and 5-year-olds Clancy and Laci. “At the age of 1, Clancy began having coughing spells,” Julie explains. “This went on for about six weeks. I even videotaped him having one of these spells so that our vet, Dr. Daniel Everett, could see what he was doing. After numerous tests (and a lot of money) Dr. Everett sent us to St. Louis to see a specialist.”

Finally they had a diagnosis – asthma! Clancy now takes two types of medicine daily and even has an inhaler for sudden attacks. “Most people find it interesting when they hear that Clancy has an inhaler,” Julie shares. “It is a chamber that allows you to put the inhaler on one end and has a mask on the other to place over his nose and mouth. He still has a few really bad attacks where nothing I do helps and we have to make an emergency run to the vet to get shots.”

Then, last year Julie noticed that Clancy was losing weight, dramatically. “He went from 12 pounds to eight pounds in a month,” Julie recalls. “I took him to the vet and he was diagnosed as a diabetic. He takes two insulin shots a day and has gained some weight back. He now weighs in at about 10 and a half pounds.

“With a lot of help from Paducah Veterinary Clinic and God we are learning to live with Clancy’s medical issues,” Julie adds. “It takes a lot of patience. The severe attacks are the most difficult. My cats are like my kids, and I panic every time he can’t breathe.”

It might seem like a one-way street, but Julie insists that it is not. “My cats truly add a great deal to my life,” she says. “They give unconditional love and I would be miserable without them. There is nothing better than coming home at the end of a long day and having one or all three curl up in my lap and listening to them purr. I have difficulty sleeping when I go out of town because I am so use to having them sleep beside me.”

Everyone who’s ever been blessed with a special-needs pet can understand the special bond between Clancy and Julie. “I know I will not have these three cats for the rest of my life, but I cherish each day I get to spend with them, especially Clancy because of his health issues.”

Rock on, Clancy Huff!

 

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