Cat Troubles

Post by **Franck** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:42 am

blue wrote:With the feline leukaemia virus, there is no vaccination and no cure. It is always fatal, nothing to be done about it, and the estimate is that 1 in 4 of the cat population carries it. So every time your cat goes out the door, 1 in 4 of the cats it comes into contact with could pass on feline leukaemia. It's such an insidious thing too because it is symptom-free until just before the end.

And that's what's horrible, you just can't foresee anything...

The conclusion I came to after all my research was that it's really a lottery - there are viruses out there that can harm your cat no matter what you do, so it's best to just love them while they're alive and well, and hope for the best.

Hum, not a too optimistic conclusion, but that's what I was thinking when I stopped vaccination for my first cat Pooka (who was regularly ill during her first 2 years)... let's hope for my other cats now.

Wirbel, as I said, our conversations are half serious about cats/children, anyway the relationship with a child is completely different from the one with a cat, obvious.

About dogs, I had many ones when I was younger that I really loved, but as soon as I settled alone in a flat, I got myself a cat, and after years of living with cats, I'm definitely more cat, our characters fit together quite well.

d.a.walker · Post by **d.a.walker** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:30 am

I've just put photos of Misty and Cinnamon on my myspace page if you want to see what the duo look like!

barrett · Post by **barrett** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:32 am

Heres a Monday morning chuckle for all you cat lovers out there -

Excerpts from a Dog's Daily Diary:

8:00am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40am - Walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00pm - Wow! Watched TV with my master! My favorite thing!
11:00pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing! </o>

Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary:

Day 683 of my captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and myself are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the floor.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. The audacity! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded! The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. The captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe....... for now

**********************************************************************************

blue · Post by **blue** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:03 pm

[love] [love]

Brilliant!

blue · Post by **blue** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:04 pm

barrett wrote: Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

This is seriously one of my worst nightmares.

Post by **sound world** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:00 pm

That's great,John

Is there more?

barrett · Post by **barrett** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:10 am

Glad you enjoyed it.
This was e-mailed to me .if i get any more,i'll post it.

Post by **sound world** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:30 pm

My cat Tatty(old) and dog Alfie(8 months now but already big) have still not met face to face because we're able to neatly divide our house into two halves using an old fireguard as a barrier to stop the puppy attacking the cat,which he'd love to do.
Occasionally when the dog's asleep,Tatty creeps up onto the hatch in our kitchen to peer down at him as if he's some space alien who's invaded her planet.Which he has...the poor old girl is terrified of him.

Post by **RobB** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:10 pm

I was too young the following but was told about it years later.......

My family use to have a cat (Tiddies) who we had from a kitten.He suddenly appeared in our back yard and we never did find out how he got there as he was far too small to have climbed over the fence.

Anyway,when he was 4 ( I was about the same age) we got a puppy,a cross Alsation / Labrador who we called Kurty.

The cat wasn't too impressed with the new arrival and for the first year the cat use to hiss and spit at the dog.

Then one winter Tiddies became very poorly and near deaths door. Kurty seemed to sense this because he curled up the cat but the cat was too weak to show any sign of aggression. After a week or so Tids made a full recovery and after that, Tiddies and Kurty were the best of mates, often sharing the same food bowl.

Tiddies lived to be 17 years of age and died in front of the coal fire we had at the time. He was sleeping on the rug that evening,sneezed once.......and was gone.
Quite a nice way to go I reckon.

And Kurty lived until the following year when we had to have him put down at the age of 14 after his back legs gave way and he couldn't get up anymore.

Post by **Franck** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:35 pm

nice story, Rob !

oh and

to Barrett's post ! Loved it !

blue · Post by **blue** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:42 pm

My girls would leave home if I ever tried to bring another dog into the house, I reckon. I looked after an abandoned Staffie cross for a week or so some time back, when I only had my two older cats. Blue stayed outdoors for the first three days and nights, and when she did venture back in, she took to living on the window sills where he couldn't get at her.

Missy had many run-ins with him. One time he chased her upstairs onto my bed and when I got there her entire being was puffed out to about twice its usual size. I have *never* seen a cat do that before or since. It was like something out of a cartoon.

Post by **sound world** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:46 pm

Yep,I think a young cat will take to a dog,but not an old one.
Tatty has let out some truly bloodcurling hisses and growls in Mutley's direction.

blue · Post by **blue** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 3:09 pm

Does anyone else have a cat that gives them love-bites? I call them that. When Blue is in an affectionate mood, wanting to be stroked and lovey-doveyed, she'll sometimes sink her teeth into me as I stroke her, not in an aggressive way but in a way that clearly signals affection. Weird.

Post by **sound world** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 3:39 pm

My cat's favourite seat/sleeping place at the mo is the piano stool of one of my keyboards.I sat down next to her yesterday and started to play something or other and she went completely gooey,stroking against me and looking up into my eyes like a Hollywood love scene.

(I spent a while experimenting with various sounds and keys to see if it was a particular one which had this effect).Van Morrison records have the same effect on her

I had another cat,Humph,who used to gnaw my arm when I played the penny whistle or flute.He could have just fled if he didn't like it-I think it was meant to be affectionate

Meanwhile my dog,normally very quiet-he hardly ever barks,which is a blessing-goes into wolf mode,howling away,if I start playing the harmonica.It works every time,and completely creases me up.Again he seems to like it .
He did the same when Robin discovered an old set of bagpipes I'd made years ago and pleaded with me to set them up.Instantly Alfie started howling for his pack.

blue · Post by **blue** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:56 pm

I've noticed that with certain pieces of classical music on, the cats will come and lie in front of the hi-fi, looking at it intently. It's quite obvious they like the music, but it's only certain things. Chamber music - things like violin sonatas - seems to draw them.