User: cat_lovers (posted by ronnieee) Date: December 19, 2009 -- Saturday, 10:15 p Subject: (no subject) Security: Public

"Hey mom! Look! It's a-snowin'!"

My boy was very excited to frolic in the first snow fall of the season :]

User: cat_lovers (posted by the_life_of_e) Date: December 19, 2009 -- Saturday, 9:46 p Subject: Sophie is angry with me as usual- this time because I can't make Christmas come any faster. Security: Public

   I got her happy cat treats and dehydrated salmon for Christmas, and she's upset because she can't open it now.      

User: cat_lovers (posted by pattybluebird) Date: December 19, 2009 -- Saturday, 7:54 p Subject: Kitty recuperating from Surgery Security: Public Location: computer Mood: hopeful Music: not much

My snowshoe Siamese, Boots, age 6, had surgery on Thursday. 

My 10-year old son (who feels guilty and very upset with himself) was holding her and swung her backwards and then forwards, dropping her.  When she landed, she cried very loudly.  My husband heard it happen but didn't see it.  Me, I was asleep already. 

The next day I took her to the vet and she (the vet) told me that her back left kneecap was out of whack.  She kept Boots for the day, gave her a shot for pain, sent her home that night with a mild morphine med for 3 days, and I was to call on Monday if she was still acting like it hurt.  On Monday, she seemed fine.  But by Wednesday, all three of us noticed that she was limping often.

Took her to the vet Wednesday and the injury was worse.  Every time Boots moved her back leg, the kneecap popped out.  She was in a lot of pain.  So after getting an estimate for surgery and realizing that it was important to do, we left Boots over night. 

She came through surgery well.  Stayed at the vet's Thursday and came home yesterday.  Upon returning home, she was attacked by our middle cat, Smokey.  It was extremely upsetting for both my son and husband...hubby had to separate the cats and we're keeping Boots in my son's room with food, water and a litter box.  We bring her out for cuddles every couple of hours, letting her get lots of rest in between.  She's finally eating and using her box.

I called the vet about the attack and she says it's normal.  Boots was gone, came home smelling like meds and all kinds of scary things, and Smokey reacted.  Smokey will go down the hallway and sniff at the bedroom door.  While Boots is in arms, she'll walk up and growl and then run off.  The vet said to be patient and give them time.

Wow.

Please send prayers for both my girls...healing for Boots and patience for Smokey, so she's recognize her "sister"

Our other cat, Stripey, is fine.  He was shy after the attack but sits outside the bedroom door yowling at Boots...not in anger, I think he just wants her to come out and play LOL

Thanks!

~ Patty

User: cat_lovers (posted by catmomma) Date: December 19, 2009 -- Saturday, 12:57 p Subject: Multicat household and H1N1 Security: Public Mood: exhausted

Hi, I am a new member and I was referred to this group by a friend who has been following my cats illnesses over the last two weeks.  I figured it might be helpful to other cat lovers to know about the "kitty flu" and what can happen.

A little background:  I have 7 indoor only cats.  6 range in age from 10-22 and I have a 4 month old wacky kitten named Roscoe.  My husband got sick with H1N1 virus back on November 28th and was ill for around 5 days before he cut the fever and was able to go to work.  I was out of town during that week and so far have remained healthy.  During that time period he was the sole caregiver to our cats and he had no idea he could get them sick.  What do you do when you are home and sick?  You snuggle under a blanket on the couch, covered in cats.  I even took a picture of him the day before i went out of town with 3 cats on his lap in front of the tv.

Monday 12/7 - Julian (14 yr male) is lethargic and not eating.  10pm we decide to take him to the emergency vet clinic.  Spend a few hours and a few hundred dollars there to really not learn anything.  They fax info to my vet who gets it the next day but we do not take Julian into the office till the 9th.  By then his blood counts were all off and we were told he may have lymphoma.  He gets a cortizone shot and a antibiotic shot and we take him home.  2 days later he is fine. 

Monday 12/14 - Proton (15 yr male) starts same symptoms as Julian had.  I quarantine him.  Vet now thinks we have H1N1 running through the house.  He gives Proton fluids, reglan (for vomitng) and I bring him home to sleep it off.  Here it is 5 days later and now his heart is showing signs of possible damage. He spends the day under a blanket sleeping

Wednesday 12/16 - Lola (13 yr female) stops eating and starts to vomit.  I quarantine her in a bathroom and start her on the reglan.  By this morning she is feeling better, eating and wants out of her solitary but vet wants me to keep her sequestered till Monday morning.

I have also kept a "clean room" for Natasha, my 22 year old female because she can NOT catch this.  She already has kidney disease and probably would not survive the flu.

My main reason for writing this up is for information for fellow feline families.  The symptoms we have had are lethargy. low grade fever (only sometimes), loss of appetite.  then within a day the cats are having gastro intestional issues.  If you see any of this in your cats, and someone in your house has had the flu, quarantine the animal from others in the house and call your vet right away with all the details.  Do as you would with humans who have the flu, wash your hands, cover your cough, keep things as clean as possible.  Lysol is my new friend.

I have spent over $3k in vet bills this week and it has been a very scary and stressful time.  Any healing energy would be appreciated, prayers too.  I hope no one else has to go through this and they can find a vaccine soon for our furry friends.

Stay well!  Happy Holidays!

User: cat_lovers (posted by surlaplage) Date: December 19, 2009 -- Saturday, 12:24 p Subject: (no subject) Security: Public

Hi cat lovers!
I have started a pet picture blog about our pets hating us (http://www.youmakemehateyou.com). We need submissions of pets hating their owners! I know I have plenty of my cat wearing costumes / getting married, looking totally unimpressed with me.

Please submit your pics to the website and we will get them up asap!

Happy holidays :)

User: cat_lovers (posted by donnad) Date: December 19, 2009 -- Saturday, 9:14 a Subject: Update on the no-longer-feral feral cat...PeeGee. Security: Public Tags: ferals, peegee

PeeGee has spent a total of 45 minutes outside in the last 48 hours. She successfully used the litterbox twice.

Although she is spending much of the time under the foot of the bed in the spare bedroom, she comes out whenever she sees one of us. She is not closed in, she has free roam of the house, she has just found a warm spot where she feels safe, who's to argue. She'll come out when she is comfortable about it.

User: cat_lovers (posted by auryn24) Date: December 19, 2009 -- Saturday, 1:43 a Subject: Merry CATmas... Security: Public

It's not Christmas decorating...it's CAT WRANGLING!



( My Lily-cat )

User: cat_lovers (posted by miz_persnicket) Date: December 18, 2009 -- Friday, 7:15 p Subject: Help again please! Security: Public

I noticed that Aure had some lumps of goo in the corner of his eye. I gently cleaned it off and thought that was the end of it, that it was just sleep. Then a few hours later I came downstairs and his eye wasn't opening well and was red and REALLY weepy [clear fluid].

I freaked out and called the vet, but they are closed until Monday. Then I called the emergency vet [I just moved to a really small town]. They only take clients that are known to them. So I lied and said he was my parent's cat in order for them to get me an appointment for the vet tomorrow. :S

Anyways, the vet said to use some compresses on it and just gently take the weeping away.

My question [I forgot to ask the vet while I talked to him on the phone]. I have some of those eye/ear drops that you buy from the drugstore. I recently had a nasty eye infection myself and was using those, and eye gel lubricant. I have an unopened spare bottle of them, and was wondering if I put a small drop in his eye once or twice tonight if it would be okay.


I called the vet back but the on-call vet was gone for the day as it was after 5 [basically an answering/appointment service for the weekends].

Any thoughts? My aunt who's owned cats her whole life said I could, but I wanted to ask other, more experienced cat owners their opinion.

The eye drops are a no-name brand of polysporin and are used for treating eye and ear infections.

ANY suggestions would greatly help please!!


ETA: This might have been a blessing in disguise! I was checking out the website for the hospital and it looks fantastic!!! They are open 7 days per week! They have separate area for dogs/cats and exotics. Makes Victoria pet hospitals look like crap holes!! I'm excited to go and meet the Doctor now!

User: cat_lovers (posted by pixie___masque) Date: December 18, 2009 -- Friday, 9:25 p Subject: FIV and FeLV Security: Public Tags: feline leukemia

Hey everyone! I was referred here over at naturalliving. Back in September my sister a little white cat who turned out to be pregnant. She has since delivered her kittens and is ready to be away from them (I hope) The woman who took her in to help birth the kittens gave the babies to a pet store. I picked the mother up this morning. The pet store has informed me that the babies have tested positive for both feline aids and leukemia. I can only assume at this point that she has both as well. I knew before I got her I would be testing her for both. I still plan to do so. She's a little tiny thing, but she has a ravenous appetite. I'm feeding her Halo dry food and natural balance wet. I'm hoping someone with experience in taking care of such a sick cat could give me advice on how to make her life a good one. I'm a vegetarian but would be totally willing to cook her meat and such. I don't know whats going to happen with the kittens. I was kind of thinking of taking one of them. I just don't know how wise that is. I really feel like she misses them. She seems depressed. She doesn't play, she just sleeps and gets up every now and then to eat. Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this.

FYI I did talk to a vet this afternoon but she didn't give any insight on what exactly I can do for her.

User: cat_lovers (posted by fuckthediet) Date: December 19, 2009 -- Saturday, 2:08 a Subject: (no subject) Security: Public

( Am I evil for finding this funny? )

User: cat_lovers (posted by humglum) Date: December 18, 2009 -- Friday, 6:52 p Subject: One-eyed Bengals need ride to new home by x-mas Security: Public

Reposting this link here, just in case someone is near enough to Clinton Township, MI to help these two beauties out.

User: cat_lovers (posted by biteduringclass) Date: December 18, 2009 -- Friday, 3:26 p Subject: Traveling/Litter Box Problem Security: Public Mood: confused Tags: litter box, traveling

I have a cat that has issues using the little box on a regular basis(as in I have to clean up after her at least twice a day). I am leaving town in a few weeks and am debating whether or not I should board her while I am gone. A few issues I have are she is one of two cats, and although I have someone coming to feed the one cat while I'm gone, I do not want to burden them with the poo poo problem. Also, I do not want the other cat to be lonely.( Then again, the person feeding her is my boyfriend and will spend time w/her as well). Also, will said poo poo cat have issues when I come back? I am wondering if the time @ the vet will train her to use the litter box? Ahhh Help!!

Post from mobile portal m.livejournal.com

User: cat_lovers (posted by sleepykelvina) Date: December 18, 2009 -- Friday, 7:51 a Subject: Inappropriate Urination Security: Public Tags: new addition, pictures, urination issues

A few weeks ago, we adopted a gorgeous tortie kitty. She is two years old, very sweet and friendly. My husband and I fell in love with her at the PetSmart this local rescue group was working out of, and took her home. We named her Isabell.

We have a resident kitty, a 5 year old Maine Coon, also female, named Madeline. They didn't take to each other so well in the start, but three weeks later, they can at least be near each other and not throw a hissy fit.

Anyways, here's where the problem comes in. Isabell had an accident on the futon. I immediately packed her fluffy butt off to the vet, where we found out she had a UTI. We were given antibiotic pills for her, and we figured that was that.

She piddled on the futon a second time, but I figured it was because I didn't get the smell of the first incident completely gone. We threw the mattress away. Then a few days later, she went on the couch. Thankfully, most of it got on an old blanket, but I sprayed the couch cushin down with Nature's Miracle and used the little sample packet of Felaway we got from the rescue. We also confined Isabell to the bedroom so her box would be always close at hand (paw?)

We're taking her back to the vet on monday for a follow-up, to see if she needs another round of antibiotics. But I'm really worried the UTI is merely incidental, and not the cause of the inappropriate urination. Madeline has made it clear that she is the dominant cat and Isabell might be upset about that. But that's hard to say until the vet gives her a clean bill of health.

In the meantime, we're getting waterproof covers for the beds and furniture, and perhaps a Felaway diffuser for the living room, which is where all the "accidents" took place. I'm scooping both boxes daily. I'd like to add a third, but we have no place to put it. We live in an apartment and we cannot afford to pay for new carpets if she soils them. My husband has said that the cat has to go if she continues to pee outside the box after the vet says she's healthy. This really depresses me, because Isabell is such a sweet and loving kitty.

So all that said, I'm looking for advice, opinions and whatever words of wisdom people can offer. I've lived with cats all my life, but this is new territory for me. Is there anything else we can do to make Isabell more comfortable? Is there anything else we can do to curb the inappropriate urination if her issue is behavioral?

( Pics of the Fluff Monster below the cut )

User: cat_lovers (posted by melonmagellan) Date: December 18, 2009 -- Friday, 2:58 a Subject: Ass Cat Security: Public

My cat is one of those who loves to turn around and put her ass directly in your face whenever you're petting her and she's super happy.

Do all cats do this? None of my family's cats ever did, but, I hear it's pretty common from my cat owning friends.

Why the hell do they do this? It's the least endearing trait I can think of.

User: cat_lovers (posted by gypsywitch) Date: December 18, 2009 -- Friday, 4:37 a Subject: Meet Sash and Natu! Security: Public Mood: grateful

Hi, I'm new to the community, and I figured I would intro myself and my kitties, Sash (Pronounced S-AH-sh, not like a sash you might wear) and Natu, and add to the overflowingly cute trail of kittie pictures that I have seen in this community so far!



( More behind the cut! )

And so our household was completed once again. I love them. I especially love when they both come curl up with me while I'm working on my laptop in the evenings.

User: cat_lovers (posted by amnos_kamikaze) Date: December 18, 2009 -- Friday, 3:08 a Subject: Question Security: Public

I noticed today that my Nina has a sore on her upper lip right under her nose. It must have been new when I saw it because there was still a small amount of blood. I was wondering what it might be, any help would be very welcome.

User: cat_lovers (posted by mscatamaran) Date: December 17, 2009 -- Thursday, 10:28 p Subject: update on odessa-- any tips on how to deliver liquid meds Security: Public Music: Cherish by The Association Tags: medicating

so i had to take her to the vet today and she hid behind my hard drive. i couldn't get her to come out and its a pretty tight squeeze so i couldn't reach in and grab her. i finally coaxed her out with tuna and then grabbed her. she seemed very clam until i tried to put her in the carrier. her legs curled up and she wouldn't go in-- i finally got her in then before i could close it she leaped out. i realize its a small carrier (its only a 'one size fits all' general carrier i got with the adoption, made from cardboard. i was quite prepared to get one suited better for her when i planned on getting her checked up but she got sick before i could even schedule a checkup or purchase a carrier.

so my neighbor was helping me out and he got her from behind the hard drive and slowly walked over to the carrier. then he slowly lowered her and she freaked out. this was so frustrating, i know she doesn't want to go in it but we have to get her the vet. so i just held her to the car, in the car and at the vet's office. they gave me a pink liquid anti-biotic and a goopee med delivered through a plastic syringe-like thing. they showed me how to give her the meds.

so we get home and she eats a little bit of the tuna, then proceeds to puke, probably puking up the meds in the process. i called the vet and they said to give her the one meds tonight. fast forward to tonight-- i asked my dad to help because they said its probably be easier. yeah right, next time (which will be tomorrow morning) i'll do it myself. i know he was trying to help, i told him how to do it, how to hold her that is. and he messed it up completely. instead of holding her like a cat, he held her like a baby slightly on her back. i tried to maneuver him into holding her differently so i could give her the meds. i think i nearly choked her, and some of it dripped down the sides of her mouth so im not sure what she swallowed of it, if any at all!

so my options for tomorrow are to mix it up with her food some how or use the floor and mirror when holding her and just do it my damn self. not to mention she's very angry with me, she's not even coming over to me when i call her. i have been shunned. do you think she'll forgive tomorrow?

User: cat_lovers (posted by campion7) Date: December 17, 2009 -- Thursday, 11:37 p Subject: Query. Security: Public Mood: confused

Hullo all.

I have to ask something about my little girl. Lately, she's been licking her bottom a lot more than usual. Nothing else seems to be going on. She's peeing and pooping normally; no straining or crying. Nothing is leaking out that isn't supposed to. She just seems to be licking her bottom a lot more than she usually does.

Does anyone have any clue what this might be?

EDIT: She's a spayed 7 year old. And I have an appointment for the vet tomorrow as I've discovered she's leaving dark spots around where she's been sitting.

User: cat_lovers (posted by texasoddity) Date: December 17, 2009 -- Thursday, 10:30 p Subject: Boy Meets Girl, fireworks ensue? Security: Public

I have a 2.5 hear old male neutered cat.  He's a bit fiesty and kind of big.
I am about to acquire an 8 month old spayed female.  She's kind of a brat and still fairly small.

I'm scared.  I know about separating the cats at first and only letting them meet each other under strict supervision.  What else can I do to make this an easier transition?

My boy kitty hasn't been around other cats since he was a weeks-old kitten in a lumberyard.
Girl kitty was born in my cousin's back yard and has been living with one of her siblings and my cousin's other 2 cats.

We have one 5' tall cat tree and am not opposed to getting another but don't know how much that matters.
I will have 2 litter boxes, and we will keep new kitty shut in the bedroom I suppose.  Old kitty...  shut in another room or free to roam the rest of the house?

Am I over thinking this?  Should I be making more preparations?  I'm picking her up Sunday.

User: cat_lovers (posted by amethystrse) Date: December 17, 2009 -- Thursday, 9:36 p Subject: Update Security: Public

I was just about to talk to my husband about Angel to talk about getting him to a vet. Just as I sat down Angel came running over to me and started purring while rubbing up against my leg. I pet him and he rolled onto his back so I could scratch his belly (he loves that). Then he got up and walked over to his bowls and started to eat. He seems perfectly fine and I know my husband is going to say that I was being a hypochondriac.

I am going to take him to the vet though. Even if it's just for a check up. While there I can bring up his behavior. See what the vet says. My neighbor has lived here a long time and has cats. I'm going to ask her opinion on where I should take Angel.

Thank you guys for letting me know that the change in behavior could actually mean something. I felt like I was being silly asking about it. Thank you.