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The playful kitten, with its pretty little tigerish gambols, is infinitely more amusing than half the people one is obliged to live with in the world. Lady Sydney Morgan
Eileen, the next door cat lady, was waiting for me yesterday after a short errand run. She told me her brother had called from Toronto and that one of the shelters had been raided and the animals had been tortured, etc. She wanted to know how she could find out more information. Toronto’s her hometown. She had owned a very successful restaurant there for many years. Successful enough that she’s lived down here since she retired. Anyhoo, I asked her what papers were in Toronto. She said the Star and the Sun so I went lookin’. I’ve included the articles from both but the Sun has a video. Has a graphic image that made me cry and rage at the same time. Be warned.
This is today’s story from the Toronto Sun.
I had intended to go on a rant but I just don’t have enough information to do that. I can speculate until the sun falls from the sky but that’s wasted energy imo. I’m certainly not pleased that the people who worked there and knew better didn’t blow the whistle on this much sooner. We’ll probably never know how many animals met their fate needlessly in this horrific place. That said, don’t believe for a moment that I’m not absolutely outraged by this.
Brutus is beginning to come out of his shell. After he eats he’s gotten into the habit of getting into the recliner never intended for human occupancy and going to sleep. When I go to bed Kismet always wants to be picked up and be petted. If I lay down she starts to knead, makin’ biscuits in the vernacular, on my neck, of all places. I have to wonder if she did that with her previous caretaker. Anyhoo, the other night I was sitting there petting her and Brutus is looking at me with a "me next" look. I got up and started to pet him, which he usually tolerates for a minute or two then jumps down, and he started to roll and purr. I must have petted him for about 10 minutes before he decided he’d had enough. Makin’ progress.
Christmas is coming. Xmas trees and all those balls, bells and lights. Tiger heaven. If anybody has shown me not to hang any decorations it’s Nagi, Prince of Darkness. This little guy sits on the arm of one of the couches and jumps onto the top of one of my speakers, which is sitting on top of a huge speaker that Ptah managed to ruin by clawing at the fabric on the front and destroyed the speaker behind it. Five feet from the couch to the speaker and almost 5 feet to the top of the speaker from the floor. I know when it happens cuz I hear the thump when the speaker hits the floor upside down. I wanna know who managed to breed a gazelle with a tiger.
Share your tiger stories with us. Gotta be some great holiday stories out there.
Anybody got a good source for tiger quotes? I’ve managed to burn through just about all I have.
At whiles it seems as if one were somewhat as the cats, which ever have appeared to me to be animals of two parts, the one of the house and the cushion and the prepared food, the other that is free of the night and runs wild with the wind in its coat and the smell of the earth in its nostrils.
Una L Silberrad
117 Comments
Thank you, Elliott. You’re the greatest.
Happy Birthday again, SD.
I almost didn’t read the whole post today because animal torture can’t exist in my mind without serious heartache. Can’t click through links.
Thank you.
The only good thing that has come out of this is that the Toronto Humane Society (THS) is now closed temporarily and 5 people, including the director, have been arrested on animal cruelty charges. Those charges may only be the start for these evil people. The Ontario SPCA has taken over the shelter.
Stop me if you’ve heard these before
i’ve been listening to my tigers for a while this fall, just noting and enjoying their differences. Belle is just a bitch. Now not just Gracie but everyone teases her unmerciful and makes her lose her cool. Belle has a kind of whining meow, complaining instead of greeting. It’s kind of grating, but maybe that just reflects my dismay at the discord in the tribe because of her.
Nikki doesn’t talk as much since Gracie came. He would wander the house meowling plaintively, as if baring his soul about how lonely he was, if only someone would (please) play with me. Not Lucky, not Belle, so a-wanderin’ he went, singing his loneliness. Now that Gracie is his constant companion/tormentor, he’s pretty silent unless he’s looking for her or saying good morning.
Lucky is the strong, silent type, kind of aloof, and his voice is similarly terse and kind of confident – listen to me or don’t, I don’t care, just… here it is. Short, one-syllable bursts. He has expressive eyes, though, and one glare sends Gracie running.
Now, Gracie, fast becoming the tiger love of my life, doesn’t meow unless she’s very hungry. She trills and chirps and quirrels, these tiny, adorable vocalizations. She does it as she attacks Nikki, or Xavier the Pug (standing on her hind legs, whacking the heck out of his as he walks by, no claws), or looking for Nikki, or looking for lap time.
I love it. I’ve never heard a cat use this vocalization exclusively. Have you?
I had a tuxedo tiger named Emma a few year back. She woke me early one morning by batting me gently on the forehead. I opened my eyes and she was sitting, Sphynx-like, on the pillow, gazing out the window. I looked out the window and saw this weird red light rolling across the trees. I woke hubby up and said Honey, I think aliens may have landed in the yard. He said, Huh and went back to sleep.
Turns out it was fire trucks and police cars. Some kids had set a fire in the canyon behind our house and it had crept up and crested the ridge right behind our house. WE made coffee for the firefolks and I made a special treat for Emma for letting me know in time to get dressed so when the firemens came to the door I was not nekkid.
Whoa, that link’s a keeper. Thanks.
I don’t remember ever hearing Shiimsa meow. He vocalizes in little, short trills and chirps and quirrels. Gabby was named because he never shut up but now, after moving into this place 6 years ago, he vocalizes more like his brother Shiimsa. Igraine has a higher pitched meow but it isn’t loud at all. I get it when I touch her or if she wants attention. I’ve never heard a peep out of Nagi. Maste was loud before I brought him home but now is quieter and speaks when he wants to get in my lap, which is most of the time. I know when it’s 11pm cuz Ptah and Bapu start howling at the moon. Funny bunch these tigers.
When I adopted Dan’l, they told me at the adoption place that he was quite vocal. What I’ve since discovered is that he’s vocal when he wants me to pay attention to whatever critter is outside annoying him or if he just wants to let me know I’ve been remiss at getting him some food or water down fast enough.
Oh, and when it’s the middle of the night, that can be a tad bit annoying but I just ask him what the hell he wants and then he usually comes running, jumps onto the bed and lies down on my chest, snuggling into the crook of my arm.
I just ask him what the hell he wants and then he usually comes running, jumps onto the bed and lies down on my chest, snuggling into the crook of my arm.
I will always picture this now, dakine, when I think of you in your home. *grin*
To complete the picture, you have to envision me with my hand in front of my face, blocking him from sitting there and suffocating me (which is how I get him to settle down into the crook of the arm. Of course, after a while if he doesn’t move, my arm cramps up)
Ah, that is so sweet! You got a love bug.
Tootsie also merows plaintively in the middle of the night, to ask “permission” to jump on the bed. The closest she comes to what Daniel does is to do the kitty flop with her pantaloons in my face, and her tail over my nose.
She’s stopping grooming my hair in the middle of the night(full on cat slobber) but occasionally still licks my eyebrows.
Except Dan’l's isn’t a pretty please from beside the bed. His is a MEOOWER from the other end of the house then a bounding series of leaps up the stairs and onto the bed.
He hasn’t quite bounced me out with his leap from the door but has come close a couple of times. :})
I actually place the back of my hand on my chin, right above the wrist so that when he snuggles in, the hand is right there to skritch his neck and head. And keep me from smothering.
Oh that’s funny! What a picture I have!
What happens when you ignore the MEOOWs in the middle of the night?
He usually still comes into the bedroom, although not usually in the bounding. On those time, I may have not heard him and sometimes he gets on the bed and lies at the foot, grooms himself for a bit, then goes to sleep or sometimes he goes and jumps in the laundry basket, grooms himself for a bit then goes to sleep.
The grooming and sleep are pretty consistent items tho.
You should hear Ptah and Bapu doing their version of “11 o’clock and all’s well.” Enough to wake the dead.
That was a lovely post about kitty voices. They are all so different.
Gracie has a quiet, polite, higher pitched mew that borders on sounding plaintive.
Abner, on the other hand, sounds peculiarly feminine for a tom, yet very insistent. Heh–especially when he is speaking as he hangs from the screen door to say it’s time for him to come in.
LOL
I read the stories but couldn’t watch the vid. It almost sounds as if some of the people in charge were hoarders.
It’s such a terrible dilemma – no money to care for the cats, no one to adopt them, and people who apparently don’t care. What would you do in that situation? Spay and neuter them all, for starters, IF there is money. Oy, our modern society sucks in so many ways.
Eileen said her brother told her there was plenty of money in the form of donations, etc. I think that is going to be part of the focus of the investigation. Seems they had the money to hire qualified people but didn’t.
OK, that changes everything in Toronto. but the dilemma still remains for many shelters.
Yes it does and I’m not sure how reliable brother’s information is but there’s a hint of it in the Star piece. I’ve got the Star and Sun bookmarked and am going to keep an eye on this but I’ve got a feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg in this case.
THere are three links, SD.
Oops, missed that. I clicked on the first word and wasn’t payin’ attention. Thanks.
SD, how do you pronounce Igraine – E-grain or I-grain?
I pronounce it E-grain-e with a rolling “gr”. Sorta bastardized Scotch/Welsh. I got it from Excalibur, mother of Arthur, sister of Morgaine. I’m a great fan of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Avalon series. Shiimsa is she-im-sa.
I thought I smelled Avalon
*big wide g*
IMO “Mists of Avalon” is the best Arthurian story I know of.
Avalon
I’ve shared the story of our Peanut with y’all – he was the boy who traveled 7+ miles back to our home twice after his original family moved away – (a water crossing and an expressway!)
I wont be able to do it justice in this medium but my favorite Peanut story involves vocalizations – Peanut was mute due to a opposum mauling earlier in life
one morning at sunrise, oldnslow was headed out to the shop and there was P and some mates hangin’ on the corner – (apparently he was unclear on the whole neutered kittehs stay home at night thingy)
anyhoo, oldnslow rolled down the window to say “Mornin’ P, what’s up ?’ Peanut looked right at him and acknowledged him with a little head’s up nod
and then went right back to hangin’ with the homies
one kewl kitteh
I’m continually amazed by them.
LOL! I can see that, how funny. Cool cat, indeed.
No holiday stories except that I found two sweet kittey TG vids to send to friends, and posted them too- make ya smiles.
http://teh-kitteh-antidote-anecdote.pictures-of-cats.org/2009/11/happy-thanksgiving-from-kittehs.html
One of the tigers in the first vid is the subject of a vid cbl sent me via FB. Shiro-bu
Back to the vids.
Ah, I just watched that vid you linked! TY!
Two calicoes and a tortie! The facial and head markings on the first calico are gorgeous. Wow! What a lucky fambly, 3 tri-colours. Thanks, VG.
SD- and, the music on that vid was great. I wish I knew who played. The only association I could make was that the tune sounded “kinda” like “I’m gotta sit right down and write myself letter” but that’s silly!
LOL now I’m gonna hafta go back and look at it again. Awwwwwwwwww, poor me. Tell ya the truth I was so absorbed by them the first time I didn’t even notice the music. I saw that little callico butt and it was zone out time.
Here ya go:
SD- please tell me how you found that info on the YT page. I know a lot of YT stuff, but that escaped me. And, thanks!
If ya look below the vid there are 3 expansion arrows. The top one is “Statistics and Data.” Expand it and some of the vids that have audio that’s not native to the vid show the artist data. I got lucky with this one.
SD- okay hugz! I went back and checked! TY
Oh youtube is so great:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0sesU1l2hU
Charley Pride Lovesick Blues- From a 1967 Lawrence Welk show with Lloyd Green on steel guitar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Green
~~Lloyd Green (born October 4, 1937 in Leaf, Mississippi)[1] is an American steel guitarist. Green is most notable for his session work, having played on records with artists such as Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Paul McCartney, and many others.~~~
~~~Green played a Sho-Bud Fingertip Double 10 on many gold and platinum records for hundreds of major artists such as Ann Margaret, Frank Sinatra, Lynn Anderson, George Jones, Ferlin Husky, Freddie Hart, Jimmy Dean, Dolly Parton, Faron Young, Johnny Paycheck, Roy Acuff, Bobby Bare, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Brenda Lee, Jerry Reed, Jerry Lee Lewis, Statler Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, Peter Paul and Mary, Marty Robbins and Hank Williams, Jr..[4]~~~
As I said: LOL “SD- and, the music on that vid was great. I wish I knew who played.” Iz I got tastz eyt? *g*
Buddy Emmons (b. January 27, 1937, in Mishawaka, Indiana), is an American guitarist.
Emmons has been called “The World’s Foremost Steel Guitarist”[1] and his talent is greatly admired by fellow steel guitarists.[2] His musical versatility spans genres such as country, swing, jazz, folk, and country-rock, and he has performed or recorded with a wide variety of vocalists and musicians including Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt, Ernest Tubb, John Hartford, The Everly Brothers, Ray Price, and Lenny Breau. His innovative musical stylings range from tasteful ballad accompaniment and classical music to be-bop jazz, big band swing standards, and Western swing. He has also made significant contributions to the design, development, and evolution of the pedal steel guitar as a musical instrument.
Also from Wiki
The reason I know about this dude is because I’ve been friends with his daughter Tammy pretty much since I moved here. She turned me on to The Dave Matthews Band.
Buddy Emmons and Phil Baugh
Not a big fan of country music but the dude’s good.
SD- well, there’s generic “my wimmen done be wrong” country music, and then there’s real music. Sclock vs. subtance. Tell me you don’t like the you tube of Emmons & friends, and we have duel at dawn. I bring Tootsie. Who you choose as your main cat? *g*
Some of it I like but, yeah, that “mah dawg done run away” stuff…
Hmmmmm, comin’ out of a Zen household I’d hafta put Shiimsa in the Shoalin role.
Okay, we now talk cats:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2574709471_2d49e4a965_o.jpg
Ya like my little Skoshi, do ya? *g*
Yes I do! I was not looking for a poly when I adopted Tootsie, but now polys have a special place in my heart.
She was my first. She’s just 100% pure sweetheart. She’s only been sick once and that was years ago but she was so compliant with meds. Kismet is the same way. I don’t have any trouble manipulating either. My first trip to the vet he told me to be sure and trim the claw that’s nestled down in between the pads. One of hers was just about to curl into the flesh.
Tootsie’s got some weird claws that must have been trimmed before I adopted her, because I didn’t notice them at first. They don’t seem to cause her any pain. But, she won’t let me near them, at least not close enough that I could trim them. One is really a circle of a claw (not on the main 5). That’s up for our next vet visit.
Can you trim her other claws?
No- can’t trim her other claws- well actually I’ve never tried. All I’ve done is to try to look at them, and once she let me get close enough to remove a dried covering from one of them.
Should I be trying to trim her other claws?
It’s cheaper than having the vet do it. Have them show you how when you take her. I was thinking that if you could trim her other claws but she balked at the 6th it might be that she is having some discomfort if 1 is already curled into a circle.
Okay, after you’re back from the “food riot” -question.
This whole “claw trimming” thing is totally new to me. So, I need to be educated. Never even thought about trimming a cat’s claws before. Tootsie is the first totally “indoor” cat I’ve had, but apart from the odd poly claws, she seems to take good care of her claws all on her own.
She’s got a cardboard scratch pad, a carpet-covered claw tower, and now a wicker basket to work on. The latter was just something I put down for her to explore, but she is really enjoying sitting in it an tearing the bottom apart with her claws.
So, what am I missing about trimming cat claws?
Outdoor cats tend to reach up and claw bark. And I think dental issues for indoor cats comes from not eating little rodents, e.g.chewing on bones.
okay, thanks for mentioning the dental issues. On the list for the vet.
But, I gotta tell you Tootsie is really fierce when she reaches up to claw the carpet cylinder. She gets all fluffy in attack mode. And, when I see her doing this, I always say “good kitty!” And, she’s the same about attacking the cardboard scratch pad and the wicker basket. And, I find plenty of shed cat claws about.
Do I still need to try to trim her regular claws? (leaving aside the poly claws problem)
I guess the bottom line is really it’s up to you. The 6th claw definitely needs to be trimmed because it never comes in contact with anything and will just grow back into itself. I trim those I can who get in my lap. Not only does it hurt when they knead on my legs and grab while being petted, every pair of jeans I have, long or short, is threadbare over the left pocket where those sharp claws have broken the threads. The couches look like they’ve been in a razor fight. The curved table legs look like you think they look. Perfect angle to stretch and scratch. Pull on the carpet, you betcha. It’s their home. Inexpensive or free furniture isn’t hard to come by. I’m not trying to get into Better Homes and Gardens anyhoo. Unless it’s for the “Tackiest Home in the World” award. In the last 25 years I’ve paid for the waterbed, the table my machine is on and the dining table and chairs. Only the waterbed was new. Dining table and chairs $30 like new 6 yrs ago. Now ROFLMAO hmm sorry Table $20, I think. Tigers tearing stuff up not an issue. *g*
Notice the couch arm. The other couch, same arm is much worse. Cushions and backs are fine. Arms and bottom, trashed. Damn, Igraine, how’d you get in there?
Heehee. Igraine says, “Who, me? Why would I claw your couch?”
yes.
mui- okay, see my note to SD above. I need this explained to me the trimming cat claws thing.
And, re: the other, yes, Julie said the same about Smootie. Even tho her SO is not a cat person, he still was incredibly good about helping with all the infusions. I think that J still felt that as a result of the infusions, Smootie was feeling better, so the time on the table (ironing board) were okay for him. But, that was her first cat loss, ever. And, it’s always tough, no matter which path one chooses.
The main reason to trim claws is to blunt the sharp pointy ends, protecting furniture and skin. It also keeps claws from getting so long they curl under and embed themselves in the tissue between the pads. Scratching is associated with marking territory with the scent glands around the pads. Kismet, Brutus and Feurae are declawed and each one “scratches” stuff. Outdoor kittehs are always scratching on something. It keeps the claws worn down but they remain sharp. Same with indoor kittehs. I was looking for one of those horizontal cardboard things when I came across this site. Good read. Some commenters on previous threads aren’t sold on the SoftPaws solution and neither am I. I’d rather trim those I can and let the rest tear the place up. Shiimsa likes to give me catlap but, man, he’s got some needles on the ends of those feet. No way I’d ever be able to trim his claws.
VG, thanks, I had to log off. It was a little intense for me to pour out all that stuff. It’s not something I talk about in day to day life. I guess some of us feel we have to “suck it up” and “be tough.” I guess I am no exception.
About the claws, when I was living in a studio apartment with all windows and carpeting (the stupid mistakes we make in our 20s– bare floors for me thanks), my boy cat would sharpen his claws in the bathtub sounding like Nightmare on elm street at night. So the clippers would come out and he’d be trimmed. Then that would make him furious and he’d run away and sharpen them again either on the back of a couch (I gave up on that couch entirely. it was his) or back to the bathtub again, giving me a glowering triumphant look. My girl cat was less hormonal seeming. So it’s good to do the claws as SDragon says, because when the cats get older, lack of maintenance means the vet has to untangle that hoary beast of a nail. But you’re always going to be in a contest with the kitty. Especially if that kitty is like a big baby with male adolescent hormones–leakage I guess they call it.
sounding like Nightmare on elm street at night
Was his name Freddie?
Oh wow- ty again! Thanks to that tip I found this fab youtube- it totally rocks. or rolls. or whatever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhLqe2xbqS8
Buddy Emmons & Friends Improvising
Oh lordy, I’ve created a monster. *g*
U rly sry? I really the miss kinda old time threads at FDL where we had fun together. Okay, so you never could have anticipated… *g*
No, no, I was thinking about what yer gonna do playin’ with YT. Not here, at your house. *g*
I liked those old threads. We be doin’ it now. I’m pretty eclectic and can chat about a lot of things. *g*
Now, Jerry Douglas and bluegrass are a different breed of tiger. *g* Them was some young dudes.
Me, I likes me some Mark O’Connor!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvI3QOZyVws
Mark O’Connor Fiddle
Oh, you think Tootsie not know martial arts and balance?
http://www.shaolin.com/
Just couldn’t click on the links.
This is the time of year, just turned cold, when I have to apologize for taking the car anywhere because Jocabel has a warm spot on her pillows on the hood, but then when I come back it’s all warmed up for her and she does appreciate it vocally.
There was a good conversation between Bill Moyers and Jane Goodall on his Journal Friday, I featured part of it at my post. She told about a very communicative encounter with a major chimp she studied.
Goodall is such a wonderful person. Dian Fossey did great things with the great apes. Really sad.
In his last few shows, I suspect Bill Moyers is making sure he leaves his audience with a few jewels that will keep them for awhile, maybe until another show that digs into developing needs our world has to have corrected, and the facts that we need to know, is generated.
SD- I lived in the UK for 10 years, and when I was leaving I had a small goodbye dinner with 2 friends. One arrived late- his first words were “Dian Fossey’s just been killed”. They were great friends. What a tragedy.
I was stunned. I’d followed her stuff since I first heard about her. The tragedy of Digit is still vivid.
Mine don’t usually bound onto the bed, except Ptah when I wake up. They do, however, go from 9-12 pounds to about 50 when they walk on the waterbed. Yang was the worst. When she got on the bed it was like an elephant was tromping around on it. I’ve got the old style mattress, without baffles, so I’m like a cork in a bathtub with a kid in it. The funny thing the waterbed is that it’s a “No Hassles” zone. Six or seven cats on the bed, they settle down where there’s room. Usually ends up with the 2 sets of brothers cuddled with each other.
I had to replace my 20 plus year old “semi motionless” mattress a couple of years ago and it made a big difference on how much jostling I was doing. The new mattress is “motionless” and it really did cut down on the wave action. Also took about half as much water to fill it. The downside is that the baffles don’t dry and empty as easily as the old so it winds up being super heavy and never really drains.
Haven’t set the waterbed up at this place since it was already furnished and I just got lazy
I replaced mine at 20 years, too, when I moved into my current digs. I’ve slept on the “wave free” beds and don’t like them. My friend Joe has one. I had to help him set it up, oh geez, prolly 15+ years ago and had to help him move it twice since then. Son of a bitch was heavy.
Yeah, we drained the water out first.
Happy Birthday SouthernDragon!!
Have many more my friend!!
Thanks. Great lyrics, but I don’t think I’m familiar with the band. *g*
SD- oh, and HB!
And, this TY of Lloyd Green is Ab Fab. Thanks so much SD for figuring who made the music for the kitty vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbjViunwfvQ
Farewell Party – Lloyd Green ISGC 1992
No, I think it’s NOT his farewell, but farewell party at International Steel Guitar Convention!
Gamble Rogers – Blood Mountain
Oh, that’s a pretty sophisticated version of “my wimmen done me wrong”!
Gamble was also known for his storytelling. It’s unfortunate that only one appears on YT. He created a fictional town and characters. Side splitting funny. Florida boy. Drowned trying to save another guy on the Atlantic coast. Both drowned. Big loss to Florida folk music.
Oh my! Very sad.
I’m a big 12-string fan. Leo Kotke
Another.
SD, I see you figured out how to use the dragon for an avatar. Very nice.
Not sure I can bear to click on the Toronto stories links — my imagination is working all too well just on the bits posted here.
The tiger stories here are lovely, though.
The tigers landing in bed and needing to be diverted from one’s face reminds me of a couple of mine. The very first, a rescue kitty whom I inherited from a bf, used to actually lie across my throat, and sometimes across my face. She grew out of it.
One of my currents, Patchy, liked to sleep on the top of my head when he was very small. Also, on top of the head of a friend who slept over and took care of the kitteh chores, as she told me when I got home. Laughing, fortunately.
That same week the cartoon strip For Better or For Worse featured a strip where grown daughter Elizabeth woke up with her new kitty on her head. Adorable.
Actually, I asked Elliott about it on the birthday thread and when I posted Caturday there it was. Can’t thank her enough. That’s my Rainbow Dragon.
That precious little gray kitteh who like to sleep on Elizabeth’s head was Shiimsa. Ojibwe for “little animal friend.” That’s where I got his name.
Ahhhh- answered before I could ask.
I went to the For Better for Worse website looking for that strip — couldn’t find the onk-the-head one, but did find exactly the one where her Ojibwe friend suggests the name Shiimsa. Light bulb went off, but I had to leave the computer.
Very nice. I’m filing that away for my next. ;)
I read the Toronto headline and couldn’t read further. It’s bad enough when cats /animals get ill naturally. One of my cats had kidney disease (to the transplant point). Don’t know what I was thinking, but me & vet kept up the drips and all, because I felt like it wasn’t her time to go and she still had spirit, lots, and really I didn’t want to let her go. It didn’t work out, instead I watched her deteriorate, with drips and all. I still have the occasional nightmare and guilt over that, and when my boy cat got terminally and unmanageably ill, i had the vet give him the golden shot. And I am still torn over that too.
Enough of that. Happy B-day SouthernDragon.
For cat fun, look up library cats.
Thanks.
It doesn’t get any easier. Even my vet says it gets harder. He’s got a bunch of animals and we had a long discussion about it when I lost Gigi in August. He’s very up front about when it’s time but will bend over backwards if there’s a chance for recovery. He bases it on quality of life.
mui- my best friend (college friend) went through all of that re: kidney failure, drips, and so forth for kitty Smootie. Thing that made his departure somewhat easier was that the vet came to the house. Julie and I talked a lot about this- whether she would do the same (saline drips, etc.) again- Smootie’s mom Cougar is on her way to kidney failure, so it’s an issue. My friend said she probably wouldn’t do it again (Smootie was her first kitty), but it’s a big issue. And, yes, kitty lovers are always torn up about this, in a way that non-kitty lovers really can’t understand. My friend’s SO (not a kitty lover) really didn’t “get it”- said she needed to see a shrink to address deep-seated issues. Thankfully, I was able to convince my friend that her reaction was perfectly sane and normal.
Once Min turned 12 I made sure I got bloodwork done every year. We caught her at the beginning of kidney disease at 17. Put her on a renal diet and her numbers stayed down until the last. Renal failure is the cause of death in most older cats, barring shit like cancer. I’ve lost 3 to cancer in 5 years. If they’re 12 or over I also have their blood pressure taken. They can lose their sight before you even know somethings wrong. Another hard lesson I learned with Min. For all intents and purposes lost her sight at 18 due to high BP.
Thanks SD- I will pass this on to Julie- I’ll be staying with her for 2 weeks- Christmas in CT. Last year, same time, I went with J & Cougar to the vet. I know Cougar is on a renal diet- but she’s only 14. I’ll mention the BP thing, and tuck it away for future reference.
Thanks, both you and SDragon. I still feel guilt. I guess it’s because cats and dogs rely on us, the pet owners, in a way that most humans don’t, and they don’t have human understanding to know why they’re being plugged with a drip needle. It used to make me break down to see that innocent look questioning me and the needle. And I am not good with needles so that’s a different story.
SD- I remembered her (poly Skoshi) when I was joking about a duel at dawn, where I bring Tootsie…
But, you’re the only other person I know who has a poly, so I’m interested to hear what you say about her, or polys in general. I wonder if their extra toes help them with prey capture, for example. I only have one cat, so I can’t compare- but is there anything about Shoshi that is different compared to your other kittys that you can attribute to her being a poly?
Skoshi‘s 7 and I haven’t seen anything that I don’t see in the others. If she plays with a catnip toy, which isn’t very often, it seems she just gets more paw on it than the others.
Got a food riot starting in the living room. Yes, Kismet, ein komin. Be back in a bit.
Brutus is gray with white front toes and white back feet. And white whiskers. Really long white whiskers. He was kind enough the other day to leave me one in his food dish.
Anybody finding whiskers since we last talked about it?
my sis just adopted a cat from her local shelter. They were calling her ‘Bardot’; she’s now ‘Evie Bardot’. And like catnip: she has a catnip sack that’s soggy from being licked.
My own cat tends to get loud when she’s talking to me up close. When she’s stuck in a tree (it’s happened a couple of times: gets scared and forgets how to climb down) she’s quieter. Go figure.
Abner has gotten stuck in a tree more than once. You’d think there would be a learning curve, but nooOOooo.
Abner lacks all cat-like coordination. No litheness, no grace…He could fall off a carpet and land on his back.
Hey, SD: I love the picture. We had the cat Housecall Vet over the other day for shots, regular checkup,etc, all a continuation of practice from earlier owner. Angela has also been on a “flora” for occ. vomiting that has off & on continued. Dr. was concerned, so stopped the flora as not helping….try change in diet, which has been CatChow and Fancy Feast. So Small changes now with a “non-grain” dry. We’ll see. Have you had any similar problems.
Plus, Dr. cut nails….I will have examine. Nails so short that I cannot even tell they are there….starting to grow out, but makes an important difference.;)
No, I haven’t. I would think that an organic/natural canned food would be better. Since you’ve only Angela it shouldn’t be too much of a financial hit. I suggest asking your vet if it would be better. Don’t forget to ease her into any diet change to avoid diarrhea. I’d also suggest either dry or canned, not a combo, and that her food is only left out for an hour or hour and a half at most, then pick up. If she gobbles it up in 15 minutes that’s OK too. OK to give treats but leaving food out for her all day will eventually lead to her getting fat. You won’t notice it happening and when you do the weight is really hard to get off. Sound familiar? And no human food.
Thanks alot. The non-grain is organic; she seems to like it pretty well. So that seems to be a successful trial and means the end of the Cat Chow. I’ll be watching for a few days. The vet said what you say; trial, easy, and monitor. Thanks alot. I have seen the Iams….is it organic as well?
Just to note…I had told you the cat gift came with a credit for the housecall vet…a little $ shock how much the housecall fee is + an assistant’s fee. We will be thru her legacy very quickly.;) So, nice to have consultants here, dontcha know?
Iams isn’t organic, not even in the “natural” category, but is considered the next best thing to Science Diet. If I have to change foods I start out with 3/4 old and 1/4 new. Feed that for a few days then go to 1/2 and 1/2 for a few days, then 1/4 and 3/4, then all new. Gives me a chance to monitor their poops cuz they don’t poop every day. I get a chance to see them in the box in the mornings cuz there’s a virtual parade to the boxes before breakfast is served to the princes and princesses.
Eukanuba, like Science Diet, makes a lot of special diets you can only get from the vet. I’ve never used their commercial foods.
I do give them heavy cream once in a while. Couple, three tablespoons for those who will belly up to the saucer. Not each, total. Some of mine haven’t figured cream out yet so stick their noses up at it. Oh, well. Too much will give them temporary diarrhea.
VG-re Tootsie claws
I think it depends about claws. Some cats like it when you massage the paws. If you do it regularly, you can check and see if anything is weird looking. Did you say you have a poly-digit cat? I love those.
Cat do like wicker. It’s probably good to say to yourself, that’s her wicker (fill in blanks, chair, basket whatever,).
See VG’s 68. The pic is my Skoshi but her Tootsie has paws that look similar only Tootsie has bigger catcher’s mitts than Skoshi. I’ll have to check previous Caturdays to see if I can find where she posted some pix of Tootsie. That 6th claw is the only one that absolutely has to be trimmed.
Speaking as a former mental health professional it ain’t good to keep up with that “suck it up” shit. *g* Even though most of us here have never met each other face to face we’re a community and expressing feelings is perfectly acceptable. This diary link is a good example.
RevBev – re the food — I started off my first cat on Cat Chow – she seemed fine, but in a few years, with 1st male, he eventually developed FUS- tendency to urinary tract problems, which can kill males. Treating it was a terrific problem – sweetheart boy turned into devilcat when resisting being “pilled,(even veteran vet had trouble). That’s another story; point being, we put him on SciDiet FUS-prevention prescription diet, which gave him a long life, no further urinary problems.
All my kittehs have been on SciDiet ever since – I know some people have trouble with it, also, and I’ve tried other “premium” brands. They all do very well with ScienceDiet, not so good with anything else.
When I lost my job last years, I tried mixing CatChow with SciDiet to extend it – almost all had stomach troubles, nasty litter box leavings, more furballs, etc., etc. Couple of expensive vet visits.
In short, I conclude feeding good tho’ expensive food prevents even more expensive illnesses and miseries for kittehs. So I eat beans, if necessary (perfectly good for me!) so the kittehs can stay healthy and strong.
Mine love the Science Diet. Nothing else comes close.
A few months ago mine all suddenly refused to eat Science Diet dry. They’d been on it since I got them, for the ferals that’s almost 7 years. Switched to Iams and occasionally mix in a little Cat Chow. Haven’t had any problems yet. Once a male develops urinary problems with dry food they can never eat it again. It will form crystals in the bladder, plugging the urethra. That can lead to excessive potassium and they suddenly drop dead in their tracks. Years ago potassium was the chemical used in euthanasia. Both Ptah and Tama-chan are on canned food for that reason.
Whew. There’s a scary thought.
Yeah, my poor adorable Dweezil went through (and put us through!) some very bad times before we got his FUS under control. Long enough ago I can’t remember all the different things we tried, outside of having to learn to give him shots because even the vet gave up on giving him a pill. (How does a sick kitty develop the strenght of Goliath when resisting a pill by mouth?)
He lived at least ten more years; a good life; was the first one we had to ask the vet to ease over the Rainbow Bridge. I held him; will never forget the look in his eyes as she prepared the injection. Only knowing he was being spared pain and misery made it possible to do it. Wish it could have been done at home; being at the vet’s made it more stressful on him, and I regret that.
Except for when you were trying to medicate him, he was one of the two sweetest cats I’ve ever had. Miss him still; pix on the wall and the bookshelves. (he was not easy to photograph; solid black, with beeyootifull green eyes, and a soulful expression. My big lap kitteh.)
Uh-oh, I digress into sentiment, here.
Anyway, for some it may be Iams or Eukanuba or somethiing new; but SciDiet (and the late Dr. Tim Piggott) saved Dweezil, and I will be always grateful.
I love Caturday!
SD, hope your kittehs served you fresh cream last night on the fancy-china saucer :)
I had been wondering….whatever happened to milk for kitties? Is it not a good thing?
Rev, kittehs luuuurve milk and anything milky, as we know from all those tales, but only kittens can digest it. Once they’re grown, they no longer have the enzyme (enzyme? hormone?) that allows digesting dairy. Like humans who are lactose-intolerant.
They don’t know that, tho’, so they still go for any milk you might leave around. Mine will ask for it, plaintively. Especially when I come to the end of a bowl of cereal. *g*
I let them have a taste on the tip of my finger a time or two a week; enough to make them happy, not enough to upset their stomachs.
Although, oddly, when I was getting ready to whip cream for the pumpkin pudding the other day (I no longer need pie crust), I spilled cream on the counter and on my hand.
Offered cream-covered fingers to the kittehs surrounding; all but one sniffed, then turned up their noses. Surprised me, but apparently they didn’t quite recognize it as related to the milk they love so much. Oh well. Licked my rejected fingers myself.
heh What I got was a couple hairballs and Maste was kind enough not to leave any Hershey kisses in the recliner (I keep a towel on the seat now) or on the floor.
I’m seeing less and less evidence of his condition. Got my fingers crossed. I feel so sorry for the little guy.