For The Animal Lovers

For all the animal lovers.

I have 4 cats,  I usually use the word kitty or kitties because it sounds more like what a cat is ie cute, busy, affectionate etc.  Cat somehow sounds a bit derogatory as in"just a cat!"  There are 3 males and one lonesome female who share my home.  One of my male cats, Seamus has developed congestive heart failure and diabetes. A pretty serious problem for a cat.  He's now at the vets and they are sort of keeping him because they need to keep an eye on him.  They check his blood glucose, give him insulin, and good food and at this point they have not charged me  anything, but they will.  I miss him, and go to visit him every day. It's fortunate that they are about a mile from my house so I can go back and forth easily. I spend time with him and bring him catnip (which he ignored today), but then I have to leave and go home empty and sad.  I want him home, but I also want him to be safe and cared for.  I don't know how to bring it all together.  The techs in the vet's office check his blood glucose levels periodically during the day before and after the meals.  I am so attached to this kitty.  He has the best personality of all the cats I've ever had: gentle, affectionate, easy to litter box train, and just plain cute, beautiful really. He's easy going, friendly and never scratches, but I don't have him with me anymore, just liberal visiting priviledges,  The cost of the insulin is $350.00 approx for a small vial. I also feel a bit guilty because I might have over fed him which may have led to the diabetes.
It's so easy to spoil them esp. with food.  Not so easy to help them lose the extra weight.

Few weeks later, Seamus is home and doing well.  I give him insulin injections twice daily.  He's very good about it, ie doesn't squirm, or resist, or try to escape and even purrs during the process.  I don't think he knows how important it is, just that I've always been very gentle with him and he has in turn  been very gentle with anyone with whom he comes in contact  including even the veterinarians and sometimes little kids who  aren't so gentle.  But I'm usually right there to guide the kids to a more gentle activity.   I must admit that sometimes I might hug one of my kitties a pinch too tight. But they all seem to tolerate it so it can't be that bad.  Sometimes the cats come to me for attention ie hugs,
petting, scratching or food and of course I try everything until they seem satisfied.  They are cute and great company.  Everyone should have a few cats.

Seamus again

I've been visiting my cat Seamus every day, twice most days.  I miss him.  He is at the vets because he has some serious medical problems ie congestive heart failure and diabetes. He is a sweet, mellow, gentle little kitty and loves being petted and massaged and chin scratched.  If you rub too briskly all he dose is bump your hand with his mouth.  He's just so sweet, and now I have to leave my home to see him and hold him.  It is breaking my heart and I cry every time I leave there.  All I keep thinking is how do parents with seriously sick children cope with the worry, sadness, the separation, and scheduling visits.  It's all so sad and complicated.  When I get home I give some extra attention to the other feline residents.  I no longer take their presence for granted.  My mother liked cats to some extent, but never wanted to be bothered with caring for them, When we did have some I did most of the feeding and litter box cleaning because I thought it was important and I wanted to be sure they were happy and clean etc. And I'm still that way.

We never had a good place for the litter box in those days, but here I keep them in the basement and clean them several times a day.  That's the part that many people don't think about when they are considering a pet.  Who will walk the dog, clean up after the cats, feed them when the mom isn't home and for little kids teaching them to be gentle so they avoid serious scratches.  It's a tall order that most people either over think or don't think about at all.  Got to be a happy medium there some how.  At this time in my life I do it all.  I live alone with my feline roomies so I am responsible for everything  cleaning up after them, remembering to feed them, sleeping with them, and taking them to the doctor.  They don't complain too much about that, but they don't like the ride in the car.
Seamus is doing well now, allows me to give him his meds without a fight or scratches and bites.  He's a really mellow little guy and great company too - when he's awake.   His meds consist of giving him an injection and some pills.  He's very good about it.  But I still feel sad doing it.  I also get a little hyper because I'm afraid I'll forget something  or he'll bleed or it'll hurt him.  I'm a whimp when it comes to my kitties.  I love them and I spoil them.  I kiss them, I invite them to sleep on my bed, and they seem to like that.  I'm a little neurotic about the whole pet parent thing.  But there is nothing like dozing off to the sound of a cat purring as he lies in the crook of an arm. However waking up to loud meows is not quite as pleasant.  Fortunately they don't do that much if at all.
I truly believe that life is better with pets, any pets that one enjoys will work.

Seamus Has Problems

Hello to anyone who reads this blog entry.  I hope you'll leave a comment  even if it's critical.  It's always good to hear the critics and then get on with the blog and maybe make some changes.  It's been a busy and worrisome time for me.  One of my cats has been diagnosed as  diabetic and CHF (congestive heart failure), but the other 3 are not so that makes feeding a little difficult. Right now   3 are sleeping and look pretty sweet and cute, and the diabetic one, Seamus is at the vets waiting for me to pick him up.  I miss him when he's gone.  Weight loss is hard for anyone, but for me to help my cat lose some weight is near impossible.  I guess I'll be giving him insulin injections which can be expensive and tedious.  And on that note I must go pick the kitty up because they just called to remind me.  This may be continued a bit later.

Later:   So Seamus is home and right back to his sleeping schedule. He has been here for several days and I'm giving him the insulin and he just watches with a look of curiosity. He gets the insulin twice a day  5 units and it's expensive.  The shot doesn't seem to hurt him although the first one seemed to startle him a bit.  I also have 4 different meds in pill form to give him and that sometimes presents a problem. I have to chart the doses just like I did with patients when I was employed as a registered nurse.  He clamps his mouth tightly and pulls away, but he never scratches or bites so I guess I can't complain.  Of all the cats I've had over 30+ years he's the most gentle and laid-back kitty I have ever known.  I think he's about 12 years old now so in cats age that is elderly and having diabetes is not unusual for a cat his age.  I hope he'll be with me and feeling good for several more years, but
of course I don't know what will happen as he ages.  I may have to make the sad choice when I think he is in pain or unable to eat, etc.  I imagine my vets will provide some guidance at that point.  Choosing to euthanize a beloved pet is not an easy thing to do, but for me it has to be about his quality of life, and not because I can't afford his medicine or vet bills or because I don't want to
deal with the difficulties etc.  One problem is that I can't go away over night, one night maybe, but more requires a sitter who can administer the meds and observe for a negative reaction.  So I'm home bound.  I don't like traveling much these days so that's not a problem, but it also means that I don't get to see my daughter and grandchildren either.  I wonder how things will work out in the next 12 months.  I have hope that all will be ok, but experience tells me that if it can go wrong it will. And on that note I'll end this blog note.

Thanksgiving Musings

Hello friends.  Today is the day before Thanksgiving.  I woke up thinking it was Thanksgiving, and I was sad, because I will be alone on that day.  Of course I'm alone today except for my kitties and will be alone tomorrow.  It happens.  Sometimes I have too much company, too much noise and I worry about preparing the turkey and other elements of the  Thanksgiving holiday.  So I am alone today and will be tomorrow.  My sister is having her Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday because all of her guests have different times and agendas.  She hasn't invited me so I'm not sure if telling me when she would have the dinner is actually an invite or just info.  How do I figure that out?  If I thought anyone in my family would be reading this blog I'd be worried, but I don't think I need to worry about it.  I'm actually not sure anyone reads my writings.  I can only wish and pretend.  But to anyone who is reading this I wish you a happy Thanksgiving celebrated with many loved ones.  I'll just be with my 4 cats.  They love me because I feed them, brush them, pet them and sweettalk them.  When I've been out for a while and come home I sort of expect to see them all near the door and rubbing into my legs. But that doesn't happen either.  They look up at me and as if to say "it's only Linda" then turn away back to their naps or food dishes.  But I've learned not to expect much affection from them unless they are hungry or I'm in bed trying to sleep.  That's when they seem to come alive.  They do purr nicely though and that relaxes me somewhat.  It's just that I can't always get them on my bed or in my lap. I guess they have things to do, promises to keep, and miles to go before they sleep.  (I think that's from a Robert Frost poem that I love.)  Look it up sometime.  You will love it too.  The cats I'm not so sure about.  One kitty has just joined me on the couch as I type this.  He's pressed against my lap and taking a mini tongue bath.  He's purring loudly and I love that.  He looks up once in a while as though to say "What's up doc?"  and I pet him and he goes back to sleep. If you don't have a cat this is all pretty weird, but if you have a cat  or 2 you understand exactly what I'm saying.  Anyway stay safe and have ah happy Thanksgiving.

Only one more thing - if you are traveling today or tomorrow or the next day the traffic is usually awful on these days so stop frequently, and maybe spend an extra day in a motel to let the traffic dissapate.  That would be safer and more relaxing.

My kitty is sick.

My usual scattered thoughts are a bit more scattered over the last 4-5 days  I have been very worried about one of my cats.  Mr. Seamus (Shea for short) who is very ill.  He doesn't know it and seems cheerful and wants to play, but we can't let him. .  He is  suffering from congestive heart failure, diabetes and more.  He's a cute little guy peach with some brown colors, medium length hair (he's in some of the pics at the first page of this blog. His name is Seamus because of his Irish like reddish hair.  He's a very sweet kitty never seems irritated, never scratches, never bites, and loves to sleep on my bed or on my stomach in the bed.  Right now and for the last 2 weeks it seems like he belongs to the vet's office, he is there so much.  They have him tonight and that worries me because I don't know if they have staff at night.  It seems to me that they would, but I just don't know it for sure, I hope someone is  there.  It feels like they have taken him from me.  I visit him every day and let him walk all around the office as long as I am with him it's ok.  Then when I leave I cry. They are nice to me and good to the animals, but I wonder if I will ever get him back home with me.  It's sad not to be able to help him more.  I think in the weeks to come I will put some more stories about Seamus and his activities here.  He's a beautiful cat, no pedigree, but a wonderful personality.  Everyone at the vets seem to like him and they have been very nice to me.  Of course I bring all my kitties to them, but only Seamus has medical problems right now.  I hope the others remain healthy for a long time.  I don't know what the outcome for Seamus will be.  This condition will not go away.  There is only treatment, but no cure.  At some point I may have to make the decision to end his life to avoid any more pain and suffering.  That also will be difficult.  Sometimes life is hard, really hard.