ALL IS WELL!!

Firstly, thanks so much to everyone who took the time to offer their support in answer to my last post from a couple of days ago. It's always nice to know that others in the kitty world care and are concerned, and I'm so grateful to know that you're out there :))

I'm delighted to report that whatever tummy ailments Rocky seemed to be suffering from the other morning have passed and he seems like his old self again! Also, Garfield's tummy is also back on track, and if anything, this little setback just confirmed that he does infact have a sensitive stomach and so the appropriate food is required to keep that in check.

Lastly, after afew email exchanges with Flossy's Mom and a handful of trouble shooting tips/suggestions - it would appear that her inappropriate bathroom habits have been brought under control. There were afew different factors, one being that litterboxes had been moved around and a guest to Flossy's home had disrupted her routine a little bit, thus causing stress for our little baby girl.

Again, looking at this from a positive point of view, this too has taught Flossy's Mom (and us as well), that some kitties are far more sensitive to change of any kind than others, and that we need to be sensitive to the signals they try and give to share that. It also goes to show that we never stop learning and that animals are a great deal like people - we all have our own insecurities, anxieties and dislikes.

And me? Well I'm looking forward to the coming weekend so that I can relax and hopefully decompress a little bit.

In closing, I thought I would share a photo of a lovely girl who is currently up for adoption via our rescue group - her name is Payne and I think she is a beauty.

ONE OF THOSE DAYS.........

It hasn't been a very good day in the world of kitties..............

I woke up and went first off to feed the kids, only to discover that Rocky wouldn't come.  Being the sensitive little muffin that he is, sometimes he gets his nose out of joint if Silly and/or Garfield beat him to the dishes, or if I don't make a big fuss over his appearance.  I fed the other two and thought perhaps he was simply enjoying lounging abit longer.

Then I went downstairs to clean litterboxes, only to discover that after about a week or so of no bathroom issues for Garfield, his diarrhea is back. Since his stools had gone back to normal, I can only assume that he must have gotten into the boys' food when my back was turned. I've been very careful about monitoring and keeping it out of his reach when they are done, but somewhere I obviously was a little slow in getting there because it's clearly it had been consumed again by him.

So after cleaning that up, it was time for a shower, hair and make up. By the time we were getting ready to leave, Rocky had vomited up twice (not uncommon for him since he gets a great many hairballs), but still wouldn't eat his food. Now THAT is unlike him...........he has a ferocious appetite and loves to pick!
But it was time to go to work, so he was left virtually on an empty tummy, and me, while I've worried about him all day hoping it's not something more serious rearing it's ugly head.

Then, just to add to my fretting, I received an email from Flossy's Mom to tell me that 5 months after adoption, Flossy is now eliminating outside the litterbox! I was completely and utterly shocked since that little girl lived in our house for 14 months with one of the nasiest cats around, and she never once did anything inappropriate. At this point, we don't know if it's behavioural or medical, but one thing is clear, Flossy is not happy in some way and that is just breaking my heart.

I hope that determinations can be made quickly regarding what could be the cause, goodness knows that Flossy's Mom is a lovely person who has a high tolerance level but of course the rescuer in me is worried about what this means long term if it can't be brought under control. I've made a whole host of suggestions and am now waiting to hear if any of them have/will work.

This is where my worry wart nature kicks in. As much as I'd like to believe that my 12+ years in the rescue/foster world have have toughened me into not being fazed by issues such as these............the truth is, I'm a worrier, always have been and always will be.

A TENDER SOUL

I took these shots of Garfield last night as we got ready to watch a movie together.  He  loves to snuggle and spend time together which just makes me so happy!

Alot of the time I think about all the other cats just like Garfield who are sitting in cages in shelters on death row in cities and towns all across this world, and it just breaks my heart.  To think that beautiful, loving, animals such as him find themselves on the brink of being put down because they are no longer wanted or haven't been cared for as they should have been, is nothing short of a travesty.

I wish more people cared but I also give thanks for the ones that already do!

 

PS: His tummy issues are all cleared up!! :)

CUDDLES ANYONE?

Some of you may be wondering how Garfield is faring after almost two weeks of being with us.  Well in one word, TERRIFIC!!

He's settled right in, lovable, quiet, unassuming and best of all...........SWEET, SWEET, SWEET!

If there are any negatives, it's that we're still battling abit of diarrhea with our boy.  We changed his food over to something from Science Diet for sensitive stomach's, and although I thought we were on our way to remedy, it would appear from this morning's bathroom visit that we still have a ways to go.  So now the confusion lies in whether it was the original food, this new food, a combination of switching, or the meds, anxiety about being moved, or is he needing to be dewormed again.

I doubt the repeat of deworming only because he had no issues when he first arrived and I know that had he been battling them at the shelter, they would have either noted it on his intake card OR euthanized him (convinced he was unwell).

We'll keep trying to find the right balance and hopefully can have it under control before anyone comes to see him for adoption.

PS: Have I mentioned how much I'm loving having him in the house - always a bad sign.

PPS: Here is Garfield, snuggled into the crook of my husband's arm for an afternoon snooze together.

HOME AT LAST

The friends of ours that adopted Magnum have kept in close touch over the past two weeks and all is well.

Magnum and his new sister (girlfriend?) Holly are getting better acquainted every day.  His family shared a few shots with me of just how "settled in" our little black magic is, so I thought instead of my typing to describe it, why not just let you all see for yourselves :))

MANNERS GALORE

I came home from work last night and literally the first thing I did was go up and announce to Garfield that his quarantine was over!  I don't think I even got all the words fully out of my mouth before he was pushing out the door past me!! *L*

Would you believe that he has been golden, absolutely perfect with introductions to our own two boys?  We watched a movie last night and went to bed with him having full access to the house and there wasn't a peep out of anyone all night long.  I am not only pleasantly thrilled, I am amazed.  Rocky usually puts up way more fuss over a new foster's entering the "general" area of the house than this, and even he is seemingly way more relaxed and un-stressed than is usually the norm.

Today we were gone for about 3 hours and came home to find the three boys all resting in their respective spots.................it's as if Garfield has lived here forever as opposed to 1 week.

Hey, don't get me wrong I'm not complaining - I'm actually pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming :))

GOOD PROGRESS!

How great it is to type that Garfield is now eating on his own *HOORAY* - no more force feedings for him............ or us! :)

He appears to be feeling loads better even from just afew short days ago and we're so happy.  He did suffer a brief bout of diahrrea (which we suspect was from one of the meds he was on), but I think even that too is now under control.

Otherwise, he appears happy, relaxed and settling in a little more each day.  He's anxious to leave his private digs, and explore what's beyod the door I keep disappearing out of, so hopefully we can start introductions tomorrow after I come home from work.

Rescue, check.  Vet checkup, check.  Shelter sickness, check,  Recovery, check, check.  Family introductions............pending.

BABY STEPS

For those of you who may have missed it, our latest foster was named "Tank" by shelter staff.  Now I know that there may be some who like it, but I personally find it insulting to pin such a name on a really large cat.  In my minds eye, it's right up there with calling a heavy person "fat" - NOT!

Soooo as hum drum as it may sound to some, we've decided to call this boy, Garfield.  Yup, stereotypical perhaps for an orange/white male, but nonetheless, there is something about him that reminds me of his cartoon counterpart - so there you have it.

As of tonight we're still force feeding but I suspect we're making abit of progress if only because he showed abit more fight toward the end of the meeting than he had the previous two days.  To me, a cat that has the energy to fight back a little, is starting to feel stronger, so although I don't relish the idea of a 22 Ib cat taking us on in a relatively small space - if it means he's starting to feel better; than heck, I'm ready!! *L*

I just shot these photos and it would appear that he not only likes the attention but also that he's not camera shy..............thanks goodness for small miraces because I need all the help I can get.

Enjoy :))

PS: Don't panic about the red splotch at the top of his forehead (that's only my lipstick from kissing him)

 

UPHILL BATTLE

Our new foster arrived yesterday afternoon..........a gorgeous orange/white (creamsicle is how I refer to these kitties) boy, who sadly tips the scales at 22.3 Ibs.

Right now we're having to force feed him since he's suffering from an URI (Upper Respiratory Infection), that has taken away his sense of smell.  He also evidently has sores in his mouth, so we're battling both with antibiotics.

I don't know what makes me angrier, the fact that someone overfed him to the point where he is now obese and can't even jump on the bed because of his weight, or the fact that he was totally neglected, ended up in a kill shelter, got sick, and is now ironically not interested in eating because he feels so lousy.  To top it off, can I just say that I feel absolutely horrible that our first day together has been spent with my washing him (he'd urinated all over himself on the transport here), forcing food down his throat, shoving pills in after that, and not being able to even explain what the heck is going on!

His disposition so far has been that of a little gem, which makes the situation that much more heartbreaking.  He's quietly submitted to everything we've had to do to him, all the while purring.  I've also given him two good brushing's which he just loved!

I'm hoping that he'll be feeling better soon.  Kitties this size that won't eat are in real danger of becoming even sicker, and goodness knows that I'm going to fight tooth and nail to ensure that everything possible is done to help him. 

To the person/s who put him this situation, you will answer for it.  To those who have already expressed their disgust at his weight (opinions are alive and well), shame on you for looking down at a defenseless animal and casting judgement.

PS: The shelter gave him the name "Tank" - we will be renaming him very, very soon.