NE Pets Forum #27

Oh my, Sherrie. Terrible news. Is there no other option to help Mr. G?

Try a brace, Sherrie. They advertise them in Dog World magazine.......

My New Year is a whole lot happier right now.....Suey was acting ill, & felt feverish, so I brought her to the vet on Tuesday......the lymphoma has not returned, & the tumor in her throat is gone.....The vet was amazed....he knew she was on meds but he thought the tumor might just be reduced in size. He thinks she was suffering from another UTI, so he started her on meds & she seems much better......

Soooo happy for you and Suey Marilyn!!!!
What a way to start the new year ♥♥♥

Medical advances seem to have done their best, but the patient and owner probably had a great attitude too. So glad all is well.

Thanks......this med, piroxicam, has kept many a dog going according to my vet.......I asked if it was available to humans, but he didn't know......

Yay!

I'm doing a happy dance, Memory!

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-dogs-poop-compass-magnetic-field-earth-20140103,0,6764603.story?track=rss#axzz2pRkacXie

Read this if you think about science more than about poop.

LOL....yes, Suey was N-S today....I don't usually notice, but now that it was brought to light, so to speak....or bark.....

I wonder if this has something to do with circling so many times.

Could be.....my cousin did have to put down his beloved 10 year old lab....never ready for that heartbreak......

So sorry. That is undeniably hard at any age.

We are getting a new addition on Saturday...a sweet black kitty! Her name will be Nera and I adopted her today, she has been at the shelter since July. I've been thinking about getting a cat for a year now. After my son rescued a kitten last month from the farm he takes my GDs to for riding lessons I new it was my time.

I looked at quite a few and went back several times and just bonded with her. The owner died suddenly and there was no family to take her in so she wound up at the shelter. She has the most striking gold and green eyes. I will get better photos once she is here with us!

I have lots of learning to do about cats!! Any tips from all you cat lovers are appreciated!

She is a beauty. I grew up with cats and dogs, but am no help about modern cat veterinary. Will you declaw her front paws?

No Rosemary I won't. I am going tomorrow to pick up supplies and a scratching post is on the list!!

She should have a place where she can get away from the dogs when she feels like it. Were there dogs in her other home? Shots, of course.

Yes up to date on all shots and she is getting fixed on Friday. I have quite a few places she can be minus dogs, gates in just about every doorway. According to the person that dropped her off there was a dog don't know the size that a neighbor took in. So she does have some experience. Of course mine are a lot bigger so I have been reading about how to slowly introduce them.

One question if anyone knows, should I keep her in the crate at night? In our bedroom? Not sure where she should sleep.

She's a beauty, Ronnie.....and a lucky girl to have a home! We had cats with some of our dogs...not airedales, though. We brought 2 kittens into our home when we had Nora, our Irish wolfhound. She bonded with the male, Pippy, and they would sleep together in a pen in the basement every night....she never liked Squeak, the female, but she wouldn't hurt her....she just growled at her & Squeak got the message......Nera probably should have her own space at night, close to the litter box.

First, watch every episode of My Cat From Hell (Jackson Galaxy) He is the MOST amazing cat behaviorist ever.
Keep an eye on the incision until it is completely healed - they have been known to pop open or become infected. She really should not be running and jumping around much for at least a couple of days.

The latest recommendation is to feed only grain free, canned food, or a balanced, raw food diet. It may be more expensive, but in the end you will save on Vet bills for traumatic diseases such as diabetis and cystitis. Cats should not be allowed to get fat - it is really bad for them. If you don't feed dry food - the weight usually isn't an issue.

Cats bond with their people by sleeping in the bed with them - so a crate is only a cat cave with the door always open. Cats need vertical spaces - especially a small cat with large dogs - she needs to be able to watch them from a safe distance to figure them out.

Different cats like different kinds of scratching posts. Several of mine like the cardboard wedge types. Sisal posts and door mats are good. One loves foam insulation board and rubber mats. (Go figure - she has the sharpest claws of all!) You need to trim the nails with cat sized "scissor" clippers instead of the big dog guillitine nail clippers. Start with one nail and then a treat and work up from there. Most don't struggle if they know they are getting a treat.

I clicker trained my Wallingford (he's a "special" guy - probably a Bengal which has a wild asian cat as a close ancester) and he learned not to bite me that way. Clicker training teaches the cat that the human can actually understand the cat and give the cat what s/he wants - which is food. Cats do not do behaviors out of love - they work for food.

Playing is bonding for cats. Wand toys are the best for interactive play.

Jackson Galaxy sells holistic remedies on his website and there are phernome diffusers and Bach Flower remedies, etc. availble for soothing and settling purposes. I'm trying out two of his remedies at my house right now. The first thing to grab is Rescue Remedy to ease the trauma of the spay and change of venue. I used that when I brought my neighbors cat home after the neighbor died, and I think it really helped him.

Your new girl is beautiful! There is nothing like a cat curling up next to, or on top of you!

Love the sound a a cat purring and kneading claws contendedly. My DD1 is cat sitting for a month at a professor's house. While the family is away, the cats have heating pads on the main bed. She says they only rarely leave their warm nest. She is not inclined to let them sleep on her.

When I had cats as a kid it was clear they formed attachments. My cat would jump only onto my shoulders from on top of the fridge, and I was sure that she didn't need words to talk. When her child Ringo was several years old, I went to college. She promptly ran away, but the day I graduated and returned home for a semester, Ringo returned. When I eventually left again, she left never to return.

Funny story is that Ringo was born on top of my angora sweaters because of a hole her mother clawed through a garment bag in my closet. When the babies started mewing and my parents investigated, the jig was up. Their moma's idea of a protected home in our heated garage was inside a keg of nails. Mama didn't like the baskets and soft rags we had lovingly prepared.

Oh thank you Memory I was hoping you would give your advice!

I already decided on strictly canned, grain free, and bought a few cans today to see if she likes it. I know at the shelter they are doing a mix of wet and dry, and will send home a bit with her so I can star to transition her.

We don't have a problem with her sleeping with us so that is an easy fix! Does she need a litter box upstairs too? I can put one in the bedroom if need be.

I did get her a wand toy and a few other thing to play with. My husband is going to build a scratching post/watch tower for her, I got her a mat you hang on a doorknob for now. I do only have giant nail clippers so will look into a small pair.

Not sure if I still have the phernome diffuser I used for Atticus or gave it away...will have to give a good look for it. I have a holistic store near by I can get the rescue remedy from on Friday.

Off to search out Jackson Galaxy!

That's funny about Ringo Rosemary, I wonder if he was looking for you!

Wouldn't hurt to have two litter boxes. Especially when she is not used to the house and the dogs. The rule is one per cat plus one extra - I'm not sure if that applies to single cat households. Clay litter is not recommended any more and there are a number of other kinds to try. Some cats are extremely picky about litter and it would be good to bring home some litter that she is used to as well as the food.

She also needs fresh water available. I retired a electric drinkwell fountain at Christmas that I would be happy to send you if sharing the dogs drinking bowl is an issue. The idea behind the circulating water fountains is to encourage cats to drink more water. My cats favorite place is a large water pitcher sitting on the floor in the kitchen. They can sit upright and drink and I am constantly adding more water. The electric fountains hold a lot more water.

She looks short haired - so she will need a soft brush. Start gently brushing the sides of her face and see how she reacts - most cats love that. Some of my cats will run to me if they see the brush in my hand. Others are not so happy about being brushed - so I just go slow and try and catch them when they are sleepy.

Thank for the fountain offer I will take you up on it if I may :) I have a bench next to an outlet I can keep it under and Winston won't be able to get to it.

I bought a small wire brush since it really looks like she needs a good grooming. I will see how she does with it I can always get another. My son's vet recommended two litter boxes also.

DM me your address and I will mail it to you. It is well used but has a brand new motor and a bunch of filter refills. The wire brush may be too harsh unless you use it VERY gently. When she gets better food from you, her fur will be better - it is amazing how fast their fur changes with good food.

Our dog's fur got amazingly better after we transitioned him to better food, also.

Memory, you are a fountain of knowledge.....pun intended! I love My Cat From Hell....watch it when I can.....Robin came to me with ugly fur.....the fellow who owns the feed shop in town was a science teacher, became interested in animal nutrition, wrote a book...anyway the food he recommended fixed Robin right up. I also gave one of my airedales fish oil caps & her fur was lovely....she was my only dog in the past 20+ years that didn't die of cancer....maybe the fish oil?

That is an interesting thought. I occasionally give the cats a salmon oil capsule - two of them think it is a big treat - the others I have to open the capsule and put it on their food. Do you have baby gates to put up to give the cat dog-free spaces?

Yes we have gates in every doorway!!

A quick update on Nera's arrival...she has made herself pretty much at home. I haven't let her meet the dogs yet, they were a bit too excited. I want to give her a few days and let them get used to seeing her and smelling her from a safe distance. We thought it best to keep her food and potty in the family room for now so we can close the pocket doors, and gate. She can still see us and the dogs when we aren't in the room. She hasn't showed any reaction when the dogs bark or are standing at the gate whining to get in. She enjoys sleeping on a blanket on the couch with a pillow under her head!

It took her all day but she finally peed and pooped in the box and has eaten a good bit. Took a salami treat from my hand with her pain pill for the stiches.

I can not believe I actually have a cat LOL, what was I waiting for! She is so sweet and extremely calm and has the most incredible eyes I've ever seen!

I won't bore you with a ton of pics just a few!!

She's a beauty.

lovely face

She's a lovely girl! Good luck with her, Ronnie....she'll have those dogs in line in no time......

Thank everyone! She has stolen our hearts!

Her "new" fountain is on the way to her and should be there on Wednesday. I tossed in a couple of toys and a little cat nip. Not all cats like cat nip - but if she does, it will be fun to watch!

Thank you again Memory! I am sure she will love it and the new toys too. Nera is getting to be one spoiled girl!

put Salem down today (cat). he was 18, this day has been coming for awhile. he went very peacefully.

This message was edited Jan 20, 2014 12:09 PM

{{{hugs}}}

After all, he came to you as a stray kitten so he had a good happy life.