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Post by mrsfawlty on Aug 30, 2022 13:13:20 GMT
I would have (another) cat - as Grey's suggestion if it wasn't for all the cats around here. The psycho-neighbour-from-hell has at least two. They attract at least one more and my little-old-lady neighbour has one as well. Plus she feeds any that pop by..... I'd need something the size of a panther to create his/her own space. Awwww, Nov, get a kitty! All kitties are born with the heart of a lion, strong- both mentally and physically, resilient-capable with creating their own personal space where no other paws will enter(they can try but it'll be at their own peril) and with a big ole fur coat that just invites cuddles and snuggles plus tummy-rubs galore! I speak from the experience of not having a kitty for three years. We inherited a kitty from a neighbour who was moving-in with his girlfriend who already had a kitty! Queen Maisie soon put a stop to the other kitties that used to hang out in our garden! And best of all, furry beasticles are truly magnificent at filling aching, empty arms! |
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holly
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Post by holly on Aug 30, 2022 15:26:37 GMT
I know how you feel. Every time my husband brings up how she’s not doing well, I tell him to stop talking because I don’t want to talk about it. We go to the vet every month as well, for blood work to make sure we don’t need to adjust her meds. Good thing we love her so much because she has cost us a fortune this past year. But the joy & love throughout the years is priceless & I dread the day when the memories are all we have left of her. ugh, I’m crying now, I just can’t do this topic anymore. I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect to have a breakdown while typing this. Hugs, big strong ones.xx Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it. |
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trixie
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Post by trixie on Aug 30, 2022 22:28:37 GMT
My history with cats is this: never had one or was even around any cats growing up. When I was in college, I decided I wanted a pet, but a dog was too much for me then, so I decided to get a cat. My reasoning was a cat was more portable and I wouldn't get as attached to it. (HA) I answered an ad in the paper, and this guy's cat had kittens then ran away so he ended up raising the kittens. Lydia was the last one, the runt. A little tortie. He gave me her food, bowls, litter box, litter. He was done with cats. I was just beginning with cats. I renamed her Layla and that cat was personality plus. The best cat ever to be your first cat. She even won over my mom, who really didn't like any animals, much less a cat. But she loved Layla.
And the rest, as they say is history. I've pretty much always had a cat (usually multiple cats) ever since. No, they're not the same as a dog but they are still very cool companions, def not as much work as a dog, but I was dead wrong about not getting attached to them.
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Post by no1novice on Aug 30, 2022 22:35:16 GMT
We had cats growing up and I love cats
I keep checking out the RSPCA & Cats Protection league pages. I think that it would be nice to have two companion cats when I get to that point, so they have each other. I'd like a pair that are already bonded, maybe an old person that had to go into a home & couldn't take their cats type of cats.
I don't want a kitten.
I have made no decisions yet
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trixie
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Post by trixie on Aug 30, 2022 23:02:35 GMT
Of course, take your time.
But I agree a bonded pair would be great. The rescue groups will let you know when a pair needs to be adopted together. And I agree about the older ones who lost their owners, those break my heart. I won't get another kitten or puppy. I'm too old and I don't want them to outlive me! Plus the puppy we got 2 years ago has FINALLY turned into a dog but that was a long two years.
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Post by kittylady on Aug 31, 2022 1:35:36 GMT
We had cats growing up and I love cats I keep checking out the RSPCA & Cats Protection league pages. I think that it would be nice to have two companion cats when I get to that point, so they have each other. I'd like a pair that are already bonded, maybe an old person that had to go into a home & couldn't take their cats type of cats. I don't want a kitten. I have made no decisions yet I've been doing the same for my mum. She's decided that she wants an older cuddlebug cat so she doesn't have to worry about it being left behind but it's hard to find anything as a lot of the rehoming centres near her/me won't let you visit to see if you can find The One. |
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trixie
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Post by trixie on Aug 31, 2022 2:57:05 GMT
What? Won't let you visit the cats?? What kind of fuckery is that? Seems like a recipe for disaster with a lot of cats returned to them because they're a bad fit.
My local cat society has several rooms, all filled with cats and encourage visits. We also have a little cat cafe that partners with a cat rescue. You can get food and drink downstairs and then go upstairs to mingle with the available cats.
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Post by no1novice on Aug 31, 2022 6:44:03 GMT
I think it's a COVID thing but some RSPCA let you make appointments but I think it's to meet one you've already applied for.
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Post by eatsleepbeer on Aug 31, 2022 15:32:22 GMT
I feel like you all will understand....just took Louie the pug for his bi annual wellness (they do twice a year now that he's 15 and a half) and he's been having mild seizures for years that were controlled by meds. They're getting more frequent so his vet recommended he see a neurologist to test for brain masses etc. But....I don't know if I want know if he does have one. He's too old to have any surgeries and I can't imagine he could tolerate other treatments. He's happy otherwise, and i would hate to ruin his quality of life, or worse, have him die from treatment. Plus, putting him through all the testing and the cost of it all if there's nothing we can do seems futile. I'm so torn. Maybe I'll take him just to see if there's any medication they'd suggest to help the seizures. I'm also dreading getting his blood work results back because who knows at his age. On another note, he peed all over my hand while trying to get a urine sample. Thanks for letting me get that out. Needed to vent.  |
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trixie
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Post by trixie on Aug 31, 2022 16:39:01 GMT
Aww, what a cute little pug. I'm sorry, eatsleepbeer. I understand wanting to keep his quality of life for as long as possible. The only thing I would probably consider is meds.
When my border collie was 15, she had a lump on her hip which was bleeding. Took her to the vet and he removed it. Before it was even time to take the stitches out, it grew back. Vet did a second surgery. Same thing happened. Long story short, we ended up putting her down. And I felt so bad for putting her through that. She hated that cone of shame so much that she would go all Cujo when you tried to put it on her. She was all shaved, rear and tail and was just miserable. If I had known the result, I would've just let her live out her life.
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funky
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Post by funky on Aug 31, 2022 17:03:38 GMT
Awww what a cutie! And I totally understand you, eatsleepbeer. I always remember the story my grandma told me, when her mother was very old they discovered breast cancer. She said she's too old to have surgery or anything that would make her life just a tiny bit more difficult, so she decided to not do anything - and she ended up falling asleep one day and she died of old age. If my dog would be a human she would be somewhere between 90 and 100. My vet is a good vet, he doesn't want me to check her blood more than once a year. He said - what if we find something? There's not much we would be able to do anyways. Just make sure she lives her best life she have for the time she has left.
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Post by no1novice on Aug 31, 2022 19:39:11 GMT
I'm sorry Trixie
Hol had a "cone of shame" due to a damaged ear. But we cut it & shaped it so she could drink with it on & it wasn't too bad.
Funky your vet sounds cool.
Eatsleepbeer - you pug is fab!
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Post by czb on Aug 31, 2022 21:11:36 GMT
eatsleep - how do they 'test' for masses? MRI?
our last dog had a tumor ... what happened was that i was petting her one day, she had super dense fur (border collie/skipperke/lab mix) and i felt this tiny, pea size lump. she had to go to the vet for something else so they excised it and sent it off for path ... turns out it was some aggressive type of dog cancer. they gave her a few months because there was NO way i was going to put her through dog chemo ... turns out that when they did the biopsy the margins were so good they got all of the cancer. so she ended up being with us for another 1.5 years. the pain/dementia/old age was what did her in.
so you can't always tell how long, it's about quality of life. i think all of us here are on the same page.
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Post by eatsleepbeer on Aug 31, 2022 22:13:09 GMT
eatsleep - how do they 'test' for masses? MRI? our last dog had a tumor ... what happened was that i was petting her one day, she had super dense fur (border collie/skipperke/lab mix) and i felt this tiny, pea size lump. she had to go to the vet for something else so they excised it and sent it off for path ... turns out it was some aggressive type of dog cancer. they gave her a few months because there was NO way i was going to put her through dog chemo ... turns out that when they did the biopsy the margins were so good they got all of the cancer. so she ended up being with us for another 1.5 years. the pain/dementia/old age was what did her in. so you can't always tell how long, it's about quality of life. i think all of us here are on the same page. Yup, the vet mentioned MRI. I'm glad you got to enjoy your girl that year and a half you weren't expecting. Thanks for your responses, Trixie, funky and novice. It really felt cathartic to write it out and among people who are on the same page as czb said. |
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holly
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Post by holly on Sept 1, 2022 12:36:00 GMT
eatsleepbeer your pug is so cute! I agree about the whole situation of if they find something, what can you really do at his age. Better to just enjoy him & not worry about “what if”, when there’s really nothing you can do. trixie that breaks my heart for you! I’m so terribly sorry. czb glad you got another 1.5 years with your dog Hugs to all!
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