The Cat Megathread

[CountDeMoney]

My sister put her cat, Em, down tonight.  Not only had he been suffering from hyperthyroid issues that were screwing with his kidneys to the point of early onset renal failure, but his bowels were simply failing him and he has been miserable.  Apparently the girls went with him to say their goodbyes at the vets.

He was a good cat, the perfect kind for little children.  The girls could grab and hug him when they were toddlers, and he'd just "Meh."  Let himself get dressed up as a baby, or put in a toy stroller and pushed around the house, there was no indignity he didn't suffer without so much as a single aggravated meow or nasty swat.  He played his role well.  He was an all-white domestic short hair with pretty green eyes; you could sling him over your shoulder like a living fur throw, and he'd just hang there for as long as he had to.  Meh.

I had actually saved him from the same neighborhood I had found Gangsta, one summer evening at dusk when I was picking up some money on a bail.  Little bastard was hauling ass across the street through traffic and ran in front of a city bus that was going maybe 40mph;  ran in front of the left side front tire, and came out behind the right side front.  Dove under my car, came out at the curb and started to rub my leg.  Figured if he could dodge becoming a pancake in that neighborhood, he earned the right to a home.  So I tossed him in the car, he sat in the back window like it was no big deal and took him over to my sister's, who had lost her previous cat to cancer some months before. 

He was a very good cat.  Em, 2001?-2014.

[mongers]

My sister put her cat, Em, down tonight.  Not only had he been suffering from hyperthyroid issues that were screwing with his kidneys to the point of early onset renal failure, but his bowels were simply failing him and he has been miserable.  Apparently the girls went with him to say their goodbyes at the vets.

He was a good cat, the perfect kind for little children.  The girls could grab and hug him when they were toddlers, and he'd just "Meh."  Let himself get dressed up as a baby, or put in a toy stroller and pushed around the house, there was no indignity he didn't suffer without so much as a single aggravated meow or nasty swat.  He played his role well.  He was an all-white domestic short hair with pretty green eyes; you could sling him over your shoulder like a living fur throw, and he'd just hang there for as long as he had to.  Meh.

I had actually saved him from the same neighborhood I had found Gangsta, one summer evening at dusk when I was picking up some money on a bail.  Little bastard was hauling ass across the street through traffic and ran in front of a city bus that was going maybe 40mph;  ran in front of the left side front tire, and came out behind the right side front.  Dove under my car, came out at the curb and started to rub my leg.  Figured if he could dodge becoming a pancake in that neighborhood, he earned the right to a home.  So I tossed him in the car, he sat in the back window like it was no big deal and took him over to my sister's, who had lost her previous cat to cancer some months before. 

He was a very good cat.  Em, 2001?-2014.

A survivor, the best sort of cat. 

Nice story CdM.

[CountDeMoney]

Gangsta's blood work came back;  thyroid is through the roof.  Liver enzymes are elevated, so she's going to go on some liver-friendly treats.

So, because there's no way in holy hell I'm even going to try to give this furry switchblade a pill, I got the transdermal pen--kinda like a felt-tip epi-pen--and the pharmacy that makes it even has a series of neat retro instructional vids for a variety of their products--

http://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/learning-center/instructional-videos.html

I've never been so educated on veterinary medication administration, yet left so horny about it. 

[Martinus]

How's Gangsta?

Also, I now realised something. This will be my first Cat-ful Christmas. Any suggestions for dealing with the Cat vs. Tree issues?

Rufus is spirited, bitchy and likes things that are shiny or dangle, so I don't think he will adopt a "live and let live" attitude here. 

[Viking]

He was a very good cat.  Em, 2001?-2014.

If catnapping wasn't already a word meaning something else I'd accuse you of that.

[Brazen]

A few weeks ago I was giving the bathroom a spring clean and took one of the bath panels off. Taffy discovered it was a route to Narnia and spent hours exploring and came back smelling suspiciously of Turkish delight. Now he keeps scratching to be let into the bathroom whenever the door is shut, and once in scratches at the bath panel.

Last night I got up for a pee in the middle of the night. While I was in the bathroom, Taffy scratched up the hallway carpet outside so much he locked me in. It took a lot of brute force and carpet ripping to escape.

[CountDeMoney]

How's Gangsta?

She has been tolerating the transdermal, as long as she gets her crack rocks of Pounce.  Will be taking her back to the vets on the 21st to see her blood work, hopefully her thyroid numbers will have dropped, but she still looks deathly gaunt.  She lost a lot of weight fast.  :sad:

Also, I now realised something. This will be my first Cat-ful Christmas. Any suggestions for dealing with the Cat vs. Tree issues?

Rufus is spirited, bitchy and likes things that are shiny or dangle, so I don't think he will adopt a "live and let live" attitude here. 

Lulz, expect all the low hanging decorations to be all over the floor when you get home.  It's what they do.

You have a small tabletop tree, or a full tree?  He may like to climb if it's big enough, I think the see themselves as big cats dragging their kill up into the branches like on he Serengeti. 

Search "Christmas tree cats" on YouTube.   

[Martinus]

Haven't got a tree yet. Last year I had a full size tree standing on the floor. This year he will be left home alone for two nights / three days (my boyfriend will just check on him) when I go to Vienna with my parents so I expect he may be more pissed off than usual.

[Martinus]

Rufus's Christmas gift ordered:



(The cat in the picture is not Rufus - it is some stock photo).

[Brazen]

Pretty sure Taffy's got all the classic signs of hyperthyroidism - skinny, always hungry, unkempt coat, hyperactivity and super-fast heart rate when he gets excited. Oh and meowing like a bastard at 5am. On to the vet imminently, hope it's not too expensive, second-hand cats don't come with a warranty 

[Martinus]

Pretty sure Taffy's got all the classic signs of hyperthyroidism - skinny, always hungry, unkempt coat, hyperactivity and super-fast heart rate when he gets excited. Oh and meowing like a bastard at 5am. On to the vet imminently, hope it's not too expensive, second-hand cats don't come with a warranty 

Hmm, Rufus has been behaving like this too. I thought he is just getting anxious (he is not neutered as he does not go out).

[Brazen]

Hmm, Rufus has been behaving like this too. I thought he is just getting anxious (he is not neutered as he does not go out).

Rufus is too young to be getting thyroid problems, it usually starts in middle age. Getting a male cat neutered isn't just about not getting lady cats pregnant, you know. It's better for their health and reduces behavioural problems, plus they get angsty being indoors when they want to be out spreading their seed. And prevents your fancy furniture getting all stinky.

[Martinus]

Hmm, Rufus has been behaving like this too. I thought he is just getting anxious (he is not neutered as he does not go out).

Rufus is too young to be getting thyroid problems, it usually starts in middle age. Getting a male cat neutered isn't just about not getting lady cats pregnant, you know. It's better for their health and reduces behavioural problems, plus they get angsty being indoors when they want to be out spreading their seed. And prevents your fancy furniture getting all stinky.

Yeah I thought so too. But I talked to a vet and he told me that if he doesn't spray stuff and doesn't go out, he recommends not neutering him. 

He (Rufus) has been reasonably well behaved so I took the advice for the timing being.

[Tonitrus]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=923080304374833

[CountDeMoney]

How's Gangsta?

Got the blood work results from yesterday's follow-up;  after a month of treatment, her thyroid numbers are back down to normal, even though she's lost another half pound in the last month.  Now that her thyroid numbers are back in the normal, vet said she should slowly gain back her weight.  But it's thyroid meds from here on out.

She caught a mouse yesterday;  I had noticed she was having herself a old good time among all her toys, only to discover that she had brought a mouse--one that had been caught in one of the adhesive traps my father put in the utility room--downstairs with the rest of the toys that she likes to lounge about when she surveys her domain, like Ed Anger surrounded by his throw pillows of skulls.  Rather disappointed that I took it away from her, as the fun was just starting.

Those adhesive traps are a horrible death for a mouse, as once they are stuck, it's over:  so I took him outside and did the right thing, quickly.  A rather sad event.  He was cute little mouse.


You really should consider getting Rufus fixed:  while he may not be spraying now, he eventually will.  Not to mention that unfixed males tend to develop unattractive, meaty-looking faces as they get older, due to the high levels of testosterone in their systems.  Rufus looks too cute for that to happen.