Follow
Share
Read More
Oh, CM, I feel that dilemma every time I stand in the pet food aisle. Still, I feel I took on the responsibility of the animal. I have been adding my voice to the call to end global poverty for decades, so I hope it balances out someday.

One time, though, I had a cat diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. The first option was to FLY the cat (who was 11) to Vancouver for 6 MONTHS of radioactive iodine treatment! Umm.....

Ok, I loved that cat to bits, but that would have cost 2.5x more than I paid for my car at the time. So it also turns out I have limits, lol.  (Plus she had major separation anxiety, so that helped with the decision to turn down option #1.) 
(2)
Report

Not an indulgence to wonder - I hope! - but I'd been trawling through pages about dementia drug therapies for dogs... I already get incredibly uncomfortable when elderly domestic animals get things like interferon and prostheses when there are still kids in the world dying for lack of clean water. One year's vaccination = 1/100th of a well for an entire village.

I haven't yet found my personal line to draw (I once spent £25 trying to have a hamster resuscitated), I just feel there must be one.

There is a blind Scottie dog near us who is a wonder - he's learned to chase and retrieve his tennis ball using hearing and scent alone, and I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it. His owner said the main problem is getting to the park when it's quiet enough, because Scottie really doesn't like being near other animals, understandably. And he is totally blind: his eyes were removed because of some sort of infection.

We do also have a bionic pug with the rear wheel arrangement, he belongs to a pug pack and it's lovely to see how well his friends include him.

Staffy resents being made to wear a coat. How he'd react to a wheelchair harness...

I have thought about hydrotherapy. I'm not sure he'd ever speak to me again.

I like the three things idea.

#1 Snoring over crucial dialogue in crime dramas

"Boyd! I'm at the house now."
"Claire! Forensic just came back - it wasn't [snoooooooorrrrre]!!! and the gun [snoooooorrrrrre] !!! Wait 'til [snoharrumph]!!!!!

#2 Demanding treats with menaces. Unspoken menace, no teeth or anything. Just: I am going to sit immovably in front of you and stare into your eyes until you cough up. Thank you.

#3 Carrying his toy puppy around after meals, whining to it. I have consulted an animal behaviour specialist about this because I can't figure out if Staffy only loves the toy or really does think it is a puppy and gets anxious because he can't feed it. The specialist said, more or less, "search me."
(3)
Report

CM - I don't see why it's an indulgence to wonder. Pets are living longer now, too, like humans, thanks to better food and veterinary intervention.

I'm so sorry you're going through that. It's so hard to watch a beloved animal decline.

When BFF's aging dog's back legs started going, they found a special "wheelchair" online, designed to support the dog's legs and back end. Dog loved going for walks in that wheelchair!

(On that point - BFF recommended a chiropractor to me and I saw her today.  Turns out BFF met the chiropractor because she also works on dogs!  Who knew?  I never would have thought to take a dog to the chiropractor!  Anyway, BFF says she was skeptical about chiropractic care maybe having a "placebo effect," until she saw the change in that dog after each visit.  Also, the chiropractor says of course I can bring wee Brucie next visit!) 
(2)
Report

Oh CM poor Dog, he's certainly earned his keep keeping you sane the last few years. Things tend to do downhill very fast with animals so prepare for the worst and enjoy what ever time you have left with him. The Vet may have some ideas. Sorry dr herrick is no longer around. Hugs for you and dog. I do look forward to news of him.
(3)
Report

Realtime, that's a very good thought to keep in mind. Countrymouse, sorry about your dog.
(1)
Report

Our vet told me this when my cat, Begonia, started to fail: Think about the things that make Begonia, Begonia. As long as she's still doing three of them, it's probably not her time.
(7)
Report

Countrymouse,
Treat the pain.
Even though this may be his last days, his life could continue waxing and waning for some time, even a year or more. Vets say we will know when the time comes, if they do not die of natural causes, we will know when it is time to have the vet intervene.  No guilt, no regrets, you will just do what needs to be done for your dog.

There are great supplements to brighten his day, ask the vet.

Bless you and your dog.
(3)
Report

Aw, CM...I'm so sorry.

I don't know what can be done - definitely a vet question. At some point, there's probably little they can do to help improve that - just like for humans. :-(

Your post really struck my heart this morning. Sending you hugs - I wish I could do or say something more to help.
(3)
Report

What do we think about treating suspected dementia in companion animals?

Is it a) completely idiotic First World self-indulgence or b) worth further investigation?

Dog has been a bit "off" for a few months but now it is getting... tricky. Eating non-food items - soil, toilet paper, soap. Going into his pre-supper routine twenty minutes after he's just had supper. Forgetting which door he came through and getting lost. Roaming from room to room instead of settling in his basket.

He's thirteen this year, eyesight and hearing deteriorating, back legs weakening.

:(
(2)
Report

Gershun, so happy that your Henrick is doing well.
(1)
Report

Thank-you Lu!
(1)
Report

That's downright Wonderful news Gershun!
Henrick is beautiful,too pretty to be sick.I'm so glad he's ok~
(4)
Report

Good news about my Henrick. His bloodwork had been abnormal around Christmas time but we took him in yesterday and got the call today that everything is back to normal. I'm so relieved. :) He looks just like the orange cat in the Hugs photos :)
(6)
Report

What a sight to behold realtime,you'll never forget that~
My old boy cat,Odom chews up the toilet paper and eats it.
(4)
Report

My two Siamese cats, Bonnie and Beau, got shut into a bedroom one morning while I was at work. I came home in the evening to hear loud music blasting from the bedroom. When I opened the door I saw the cats asleep on the bed and the entire room and integrated bathroom draped with toilet paper --- over the furniture, around the lamp, across the floor. It reminded me of the musical "Cats." Evidently they had chased each other around the room, stepped on the "on" button of the stereo, and pulled the toilet paper behind them as they ran. It was the music that cracked me up --- as if they had had a party while I was gone.
(10)
Report

Poor Chloe had her first lyme vaccination today, and she all sleepy and goofy. The vet called to let me know she can still have Bellas heartworm pill this month, but to get her weighed again before the next one as she will likely be over 10 lbs. (9 pb 3 oz today) . She is a bit concerned Chloe is all goofy.. so we are keeping an eye on her , and the vet will call again tomorrow. Maybe need to give her a steroid before the next one in 2 weeks. Poor baby.. this is the first reaction she has had. They are splitting all her shots up due to her size... they also do this with Bella.  And she lost her first tooth!  (That we have found)
(3)
Report

Oh gosh - cats! My own has completely changed his personality since the dog passed away several weeks ago.

He's never been a "talkative" cat (except at night when he yowls as he prowls the house) - now he chatters at me like you see cats do when they see a bird outside. I chatter back. We have a regular little conversation going most days.

He used to bite out of spite - literally just walk up and bite you for no reason - and God forbid you should scold him or forget to feed him when he expects it - you'd wear his teethmarks for the rest of the day. And he didn't care *where* he bit you, either - he's been resting on the back of the recliner and bitten me right on the boob when I stood there petting him. (And while I stood there exclaiming my dismay over that act, he reached out and bit the other one for good measure.)
Now he rarely bites me at all.

He liked the laser pointer before, but the dog was obsessed with it and would chase it all over the place - so the cat would just perch somewhere and watch him. Now that the dog is gone, the cat bugs me every morning and every night to get the laser pointer out and play with him - even to the point of jumping on my desk to make me get it out if I don't do it when he wants me to. He *loves* to play with it at night especially, when he's more energetic. He races all over the house chasing it.

He's always been a loner. He'd initiate playfights with the dog - until the dog got older and just didn't want to play anymore - he'd bite the dog to get him to play with him, and the dog would just go to his bed and lay down, not wanting to be bothered. He even snapped at the cat a couple of times - just didn't feel like dealing with him.
Now the cat stays in whatever room I'm in at all times. If I'm working at my desk in the living room, he's there. If I walk into the kitchen to make food, he follows me. If I go back to my room to do laundry, he jumps on the bed to "help" by batting at the clothes with his paws as I pick them up and shake them out.

I miss my dog, but I'm sure glad I have the cat. He's become really good company in the absence of the dog. I'm sure he senses there's an emptiness in my home now, and he needed to fill it.
(4)
Report

Lol FF - Bruce bites chunks out of the paper towel rolls, but he outright murders the TP if he gets ahold of a loose roll. Luckily he can't jump up on the bathroom counter yet.

I swear he just needs to kill something. Cat = psychopath. He's not going to be content till he murders.

Barb - post-its now in place, check. ;-)
(1)
Report

Dorianne, my black cat use to bite chucks out of the toilet paper. Interesting designs. Guess he was expressing his artist side of himself :P

There were also major teeth marks on the telephone books [back when we actually had telephone books].... and he would run off with the paper coming out of the printer.

I remember once when he decided to sleep on the unlit gas logs in the fireplace. We searched and searched for him not knowing he was there. Eventually we saw charcoal paw prints on the light beige rugs coming from the fireplace. That's my boy :)

He's now 17, and finally has outgrown these traits a couple of years ago.
(4)
Report

I don't hang toilet paper in the holder any more. I leave a roll on the sink. Put a post-in on the roller that says DON'T PUT TOILET PAPER HERE: CAT WILL DESTROY.
(3)
Report

Now that we have more home support....I have to train ALL of them not to hang the toilet paper rolls! I just got back from dropping mom at dialysis and found an entire roll "dispensed" by young Bruce onto the floor.

Sigh. Heck with it, I just put post-its in the bathrooms.
(2)
Report

Good of you to do that, Susan; some of us can take in rescues, but couldn't do any long distance driving for them now.
(1)
Report

Trip to take the kitties to their new shelter went well yesterday - only one got carsick and vomited in her carrier and one other had a bout of nervous diarrhea, which forced me to make half the trip with windows down - up - down - up, because it was cold and I didn't want the cats to get cold. Got to the destination and traded the cats off to the person taking them the rest of the way to the shelter, got the 2 carriers cleaned up so the kitties wouldn't be uncomfortable for the rest of the trip and then enjoyed some time taking photos, etc. Got some pictures of the blue ice going on near the bridge and enjoyed a nice whitefish dinner (YUM) before heading back home. I was *tired* when I got home!
(5)
Report

Around here lots of people don't care for cats, because they only have barn cats to control rodents. Several people I know, including my husband, finally got an indoor cat (or 2) and fell in love with them! It's much easier to discover and appreciate cat personalities if you actually live with them; we have 6 indoors, and while that's really too many, we love them dearly and it goes both ways.
(2)
Report

Cats or rats....what a choice. Cat wins.
(3)
Report

Apparently,there is a mouse infestation at our local grocery store.A worker there found chewed through spice packets with rodent droppings around them.If Mother was still here,there's no way she'd have shopped there with ANY mice,anything.Maybe if they had a few cats,they'd get the mice.
(3)
Report

cwillie - hmm, trying to imagine which is worse. A cat lolling on the produce or a mouse gnawing at it and pooping on it? Or a rat! Eek!

I tend to think being a bodega cat is a natural extension of the cat's historical relationship with humans. We came to live together because they kept the rodents out of the granaries and such.

My cats are indoor cats, and the only thing they protect my food stores from are moths and spiders!
(1)
Report

I'm pretty sure I'd have a hard time shopping at a place that had cats lying on the produce, I'm not sure I'm too keen on them nesting among the chips and chocolate bars either. Hm, I guess this probably marks me as a non cat person but it's not true, I had lots of kitties in my youth. Of course they were all outdoor/barn cats. (I guess that means they were working cats lol)
(1)
Report

Bodega Cats of Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/bodegacatsofinstagram/?hl=en
(1)
Report

glad - I believe a working cat is there for the main purpose of controlling rodents and other pests, but is still people-friendly. Like a bodega cat/shop cat. A feral cat wouldn't be people-friendly and wouldn't do well in a shop.  (Apologies if your question was rhetorical!)

What surprised me most about NYC when I visited was how many shops had cats!  Even the hostel I stayed in had one. 
(3)
Report

Start a Discussion
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter