Animal companions are so important, a home without a dog doesn't feel like home for many of us. This week we took our small, elderly dog Chloe (named by a vet's wife when she was a rescue puppy) for a check-up and an ultra-sound scan showed a liver tumour and blocked bile ducts. The vet may operate but our dog is 14 years old and I don't want her quality of life diminished. Such a hard time.
I suppose you just have to take the vet's assessment as to whether the tumour is operable and the ducts can be unblocked. If the vet is doubtful of a good outcome, you may simply have to accept that and tell yourself that 14 years is a good innings for one who was a rescue puppy. However the end comes, parting with a loved pet is never easy.
Elizabeth is the most amazing cat. She is incredibly cuddly and affectionate. She loves people. I know of no better feeling than lying on the settee with Elizabeth lying on my chest, paws tucked under my ears, head nestled under my chin.
However she is very reactive to other cats, she doesn't even like to see them at a distance through a window. If she sees one in our garden her tail bristles, she yowls, and she is often sick and pees somewhere we'd much rather she didn't.
She is almost completely an indoor cat, but if she is outside and sees another cat, she reacts. We've had to take her to the vet twice in three years after fighting another cat. She is dainty, at least 13, and slightly arthritic, so she will always come off worse in any encounter.
We are her fourth family that we know of. The first family wanted to have her put down rather than pay a big vet's bill following an accident. The second family had to rehome her very quickly as they already had a cat, and the third couldn't manage the complications of a cat which couldn't go into a cattery while they were away.
I have promised Elizabeth that we are her forever family. I love her very much.
My Beloved God-daughter has had a big row at home, and walked out / been thrown out. We have a vacant bedroom (my daughter's room) BUT Beloved God daughter has both a dog and a cat. Beloved knows she is welcome here, but her dog and cat can't stay here, while it is Elizabeth's home.
Please tell me that I am not being unfair to my Beloved Goddaughter. I do not know what Beloved is going to do, because most rental properties seem to have a "no pets clause." Her dog and cat are at her home meantime, but that is short-term.
No, you are not being unfair. This is Elizabeth’s home and while you are being charitable enough to put up Beloved God Daughter, the extra dog & cat are just not on.
No, you are not being unfair. This is Elizabeth’s home and while you are being charitable enough to put up Beloved God Daughter, the extra dog & cat are just not on.
I'm not putting her up just now. Someone is letting her stay in a vacant holiday rental this week, but that is short term and she can't have her dog and cat there. Our daughter won't be home before July, so her bedroom would give Beloved a couple of months to sort herself out.
I might suggest kennels when I see her, but I suspect she hasn't realised yet how much more difficult it is going to be to find somewhere to stay that accepts pets.
Our local humane society will house pets in this type of situation. Perhaps a local rescue or SPCA might have a foster who would house them temporarily? I can only imagine how difficult this is.
Sympathy @North East Quine. I wouldn't let anyone bring in their animals either and kennels might be the best solution. Rehoused animals are often quite destructive until they feel at home with new routines in place, and it isn't fair on one's own animals. That's a lot of adjustment when the dog and cat will be moved elsewhere in a few months time. I hope Beloved Goddaughter can organise a place where she can visit her pets and that she is able to work through issues.
The vet reluctant to operate but my little dog Chloe is doing very well for now, lively and affectionate, eating well, no pain or confusion, so we are taking it one day at a time. Her twin is also happy and active, so a reprieve for now.
One of our two boys (cats - ferals found when kittens) died a year ago. I couldn't find this place for some reason back then so forgive my discussions of things from awhile ago.
That boy was my first pet- and I'm in my later 50's now. And the death although not painful for him was distressing just to see him - we found after he had a stroke.
I miss him. Not certain parts of his behaviour but we found out just before he died that his worst behaviours were caused by a genetic condition that caused him to slowly lose his ability to absorb protein - he was always hungry & couldn't be trusted near anything that he might want to eat. The fact he lived 10 years was a bit of a miracle, truth be told.
But I miss his presence as he was my boy, always finding me & always on me.
His brother has adjusted well after & is a great cat to be with. He continues to sleep beside me each night & is a constant companion when we are at home - very sociable.
love Aroha, but there is still a painful Georgie-Porgy fat'n'fluffy shaped hole in my life. I think it's due to a combination of her pussonality and the fact we went through so many earthquakes together.
I have become Mama to a kitten who is less than two weeks old. I came across his mum, hit by a car, and he had been thrown away from her. I guess she'd been carrying him in her mouth. She died soon after, but Lucky Jim came home with me.
He had a day when he struggled to understand what was going on, but now he's a feisty wee thing. His eyes are not yet open, but he's mobile and vocal. He's on 3/4 hourly feeds, which is difficult for me, who loves her sleep, but he's putting on weight and growing more kitten like every day.
Bringing up an abandoned kitten is a wonderful thing to do. My Francis was about that age - the size of 2 small eggs.
But only ONCE.
By the time Ginger Francis was big enough our (actual) cat "saw him off the property" but he was adopted and lived to a ripe old age
Our current Ginger Thomas was an abandoned kitten a student rescued before he came to us. He had a hard start with "sniffles" but he's healthy as a horse now and of course we'd not give him up for anything even though he definitely has psychological problems around aggression and is always looking for fights and food
Lyra is being kept in this afternoon after killing her fourth baby bird this week. Any advice regarding how to deal with murderous cats would be welcome. I suspect she would manage to remove a collar and bell, and that wouldn’t prevent her raiding nests anyway. The birds are nesting in other people’s gardens so we may need to advise the neighbours to purchase water pistols or something.
Cassie has not been killing birds (as far as we know) so is allowed out as usual, which is a little complicated to arrange.
Just as i start to contemplate getting a cat again, preferably an older one, maybe an indoor one….folk across the road have moved in, with a positive plethora of cats.
The birds are in uproar, I am almost certain I have seen frogs stalked across the lawn , one corner of our (quite substantial ) garden is now v smelly indeed ……..and so I ve changed my mind.
For now.
But just reading about a cat snuggled up on one’s body, maybe a Guinea pig?
Ethne Alba - You might want to check whether guinea pigs can be toilet trained first. We looked after the school one during one lot of school holidays and it was incontinent. i don't know if this is usual, or if it was just that one.
Just as i start to contemplate getting a cat again, preferably an older one, maybe an indoor one….folk across the road have moved in, with a positive plethora of cats.
The birds are in uproar, I am almost certain I have seen frogs stalked across the lawn , one corner of our (quite substantial ) garden is now v smelly indeed ……..and so I ve changed my mind.
For now.
But just reading about a cat snuggled up on one’s body, maybe a Guinea pig?
You could consider adopting a cat that *needs* to be an inside cat ? Also therefore more likely snuggle.
(Once you find a decent flushable cat litter, this is a lot less hassle.)
@Sojourner my very first thought. Helpfully they appear very well attached to their home + they are not really my sort of cat.
There is a local cat who Very Obviously used to take up residence here, again.. that one has a home + not my sort of cat.
@Huia , I think Mr Alba Will shudder at the thought of incontinent guinea pigs….
@Doublethink this is exactly where my thoughts land!
However Mr Alba is not exactly nimble on his toes and a friend fell over their cat recently, with disastrous results .
Guinea pigs are absolute poo machines and somehow I doubt whether they understand litter trays
No they don’t. They are poo and wee machines and their wee is very smelly. Guinea pigs are best with a large cage and an outdoor run on grass, brought in for fun and snuggles.
Rabbits do use litter trays. I’ve had some super house rabbits in my time. I had a school rabbit with a litter tray in each classroom. Never one ‘accident’. 🙂
Cold and wet here, so Aroha and I snuggled . I didn't sleep well last night so I dozed off and when I awoke there were 3 of us in the bed- Spooky from the house at the corner invited herself in. I invited her back outside to the place I'd made for cats to shelter. I do feel mean, but she does have a home, and she dribbles all over my pillow. besides which Aroha (her name is Maori and means Love) beats her up.
We are getting a Cavapoo puppy, a brother for Tatze, our black Lab.
He arrives a week on Thursday (30th June).
I can’t wait.
We’ve been on their waiting list and we discovered yesterday that we have been chosen. His Mum is a Ruby Cavalier and his Dad a black and white merle miniature Poodle. Parents fully health and DNA checked and he was born in a loving home. Ted was born on the 5th of May and has two brothers and two sisters.
He‘s the cuddliest, most delightful puppy. I can’t tell you how happy I am. After a year in the doldrums, pain, spinal surgery and the awful news that my Guide Dog puppy raising days are over.
I’m going to raise him as a Pets-as-Therapy dog and I’m hoping to take him to nursing homes and childrens wards to cheer people up.
I told our granddaughter about him on our video call yesterday and asked her what we should call him. She said ‘Dot, because Dot is a hospital dog’. I explained he’s a boy so he can’t be called Dot, but he is going to become a hospital dog.
I‘m in a flurry of preparation as I go away with my friends for a week on Monday. Ted has timed it perfectly to come into our lives, before we move house, giving him plenty of time to settle in. We are going to Germany for two weeks in August and he’ll be going back to his Mummy for those weeks.
Apparently Cavapoos are not easy to toilet train - but no pup could ever be as difficult in that area as Spencer - and look at him now!
(I also note that Cavapoo wees are tiny compared to Lab’s)
Comments
Aroha has become even more cuddly and loving recently. Of course the colder nights and mornings help. 😻
It seems no matter how long we have with them, it's just not enough.
However she is very reactive to other cats, she doesn't even like to see them at a distance through a window. If she sees one in our garden her tail bristles, she yowls, and she is often sick and pees somewhere we'd much rather she didn't.
She is almost completely an indoor cat, but if she is outside and sees another cat, she reacts. We've had to take her to the vet twice in three years after fighting another cat. She is dainty, at least 13, and slightly arthritic, so she will always come off worse in any encounter.
We are her fourth family that we know of. The first family wanted to have her put down rather than pay a big vet's bill following an accident. The second family had to rehome her very quickly as they already had a cat, and the third couldn't manage the complications of a cat which couldn't go into a cattery while they were away.
I have promised Elizabeth that we are her forever family. I love her very much.
My Beloved God-daughter has had a big row at home, and walked out / been thrown out. We have a vacant bedroom (my daughter's room) BUT Beloved God daughter has both a dog and a cat. Beloved knows she is welcome here, but her dog and cat can't stay here, while it is Elizabeth's home.
Please tell me that I am not being unfair to my Beloved Goddaughter. I do not know what Beloved is going to do, because most rental properties seem to have a "no pets clause." Her dog and cat are at her home meantime, but that is short-term.
No idea.
I'm not putting her up just now. Someone is letting her stay in a vacant holiday rental this week, but that is short term and she can't have her dog and cat there. Our daughter won't be home before July, so her bedroom would give Beloved a couple of months to sort herself out.
I hope a good and workable solution presents itself soon!!
The vet reluctant to operate but my little dog Chloe is doing very well for now, lively and affectionate, eating well, no pain or confusion, so we are taking it one day at a time. Her twin is also happy and active, so a reprieve for now.
That boy was my first pet- and I'm in my later 50's now. And the death although not painful for him was distressing just to see him - we found after he had a stroke.
I miss him. Not certain parts of his behaviour but we found out just before he died that his worst behaviours were caused by a genetic condition that caused him to slowly lose his ability to absorb protein - he was always hungry & couldn't be trusted near anything that he might want to eat. The fact he lived 10 years was a bit of a miracle, truth be told.
But I miss his presence as he was my boy, always finding me & always on me.
His brother has adjusted well after & is a great cat to be with. He continues to sleep beside me each night & is a constant companion when we are at home - very sociable.
But I miss my boy.
love Aroha, but there is still a painful Georgie-Porgy fat'n'fluffy shaped hole in my life. I think it's due to a combination of her pussonality and the fact we went through so many earthquakes together.
He had a day when he struggled to understand what was going on, but now he's a feisty wee thing. His eyes are not yet open, but he's mobile and vocal. He's on 3/4 hourly feeds, which is difficult for me, who loves her sleep, but he's putting on weight and growing more kitten like every day.
This is my friend’s service dog enjoying the waves in Cornwall. Yes, that is a wet suit he’s wearing!
https://youtu.be/DrpEx8uLzro
But only ONCE.
By the time Ginger Francis was big enough our (actual) cat "saw him off the property" but he was adopted and lived to a ripe old age
Our current Ginger Thomas was an abandoned kitten a student rescued before he came to us. He had a hard start with "sniffles" but he's healthy as a horse now and of course we'd not give him up for anything even though he definitely has psychological problems around aggression and is always looking for fights and food
Cassie has not been killing birds (as far as we know) so is allowed out as usual, which is a little complicated to arrange.
https://youtu.be/Q-0c0k5DvOM
The birds are in uproar, I am almost certain I have seen frogs stalked across the lawn , one corner of our (quite substantial ) garden is now v smelly indeed ……..and so I ve changed my mind.
For now.
But just reading about a cat snuggled up on one’s body, maybe a Guinea pig?
You could consider adopting a cat that *needs* to be an inside cat ? Also therefore more likely snuggle.
(Once you find a decent flushable cat litter, this is a lot less hassle.)
There is a local cat who Very Obviously used to take up residence here, again.. that one has a home + not my sort of cat.
@Huia , I think Mr Alba Will shudder at the thought of incontinent guinea pigs….
@Doublethink this is exactly where my thoughts land!
However Mr Alba is not exactly nimble on his toes and a friend fell over their cat recently, with disastrous results .
No they don’t. They are poo and wee machines and their wee is very smelly. Guinea pigs are best with a large cage and an outdoor run on grass, brought in for fun and snuggles.
Rabbits do use litter trays. I’ve had some super house rabbits in my time. I had a school rabbit with a litter tray in each classroom. Never one ‘accident’. 🙂
Guinea pigs are not for us.
Nor rabbits , but for other reasons.
I m going to hold out for an old indoor cat that requires a home and until then will read all about everyone else’s pets here!
He arrives a week on Thursday (30th June).
I can’t wait.
We’ve been on their waiting list and we discovered yesterday that we have been chosen. His Mum is a Ruby Cavalier and his Dad a black and white merle miniature Poodle. Parents fully health and DNA checked and he was born in a loving home. Ted was born on the 5th of May and has two brothers and two sisters.
He‘s the cuddliest, most delightful puppy. I can’t tell you how happy I am. After a year in the doldrums, pain, spinal surgery and the awful news that my Guide Dog puppy raising days are over.
I’m going to raise him as a Pets-as-Therapy dog and I’m hoping to take him to nursing homes and childrens wards to cheer people up.
I told our granddaughter about him on our video call yesterday and asked her what we should call him. She said ‘Dot, because Dot is a hospital dog’. I explained he’s a boy so he can’t be called Dot, but he is going to become a hospital dog.
I‘m in a flurry of preparation as I go away with my friends for a week on Monday. Ted has timed it perfectly to come into our lives, before we move house, giving him plenty of time to settle in. We are going to Germany for two weeks in August and he’ll be going back to his Mummy for those weeks.
Apparently Cavapoos are not easy to toilet train - but no pup could ever be as difficult in that area as Spencer - and look at him now!
(I also note that Cavapoo wees are tiny compared to Lab’s)
He is dark red/ginger in colour.
😊😊
I would love to see a photo when you can manage it.
I’ve looked up Pets-as-Therapy and the puppy training is just like it is for Guide Dogs, so we’ll be off to a head start. 🙂
https://youtu.be/LXRhA9vHUOE
These are the tests he needs to pass by around twelve months old - plenty of challenge for me with a new breed! https://tinyurl.com/5h4cputp
Ted
I wanted a name beginng with T to match his big sister, Tatze - and ‘Teddy’ is too cutesy.