Back to normal

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Christmas and New Year’s Eve have come and gone, and our little family is finally settling down to our usual daily routines. Chewbakka is a little sad since Lovey took down the Christmas tree. He loves to hide under it and play with the low hanging ornaments. Although the ornaments are well-secured to the branches, every once in a while Chewbakka manages to knock one loose and it goes flying across the living room floor to the delight of Indiana who then proceeds to bat it around the room until she looses it underneath the couch forcing Lovey to retrieve it and place it back on the tree. I, for one, am glad we are back to normal. The frenzy and hoopla of the holidays always makes me nervous. And this year, our next door neighbor decided to set off fireworks on New Year’s Eve. It drove the dogs crazy: timid Rio tried to hide under Lovey’s bed (I say tried because he could only get his head under the bed), and Barkley barked incessantly, driving everyone up the wall. I retreated into a dark corner of Mumsey’s closet and didn’t come out until the following morning. So much for New Year celebrations. Not looking forward to the 4th of July.

 The weather has turned quite cold for South Texas, although I understand it is good in a way since the freeze will kill a lot of unwanted insects like fleas and ticks. We haven’t had a hard freeze in our neck of the woods for quite some time. I am glad that Missy is living with us now and not in that big cold barn. She is a very nice cat, quiet, very well-mannered, and an excellent mouser to boot. She caught one of those horrible creatures just the other day, I am proud to say. Job well done!

 

Thoughts of Summer

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Before I tell you about my summer, I want to thank those who have taken the time to subscribe to my little website. It makes me feel good to know that someone out there is reading my blog and, hopefully, sharing it with your own feline companion and human friends.

Summer was a quiet affair at our modest country estate. Lovey, of course, was busy with the mowing, and the trimming, and the weed killing, and the insect controlling. And then there was the visit to the vet. Definitely NOT my favorite place to go; but Dr. L is very gentle and kind, and he was very impressed with how well I had recovered from the injuries I suffered during that awful scuffle with the dogs last May. I bear them no ill will, but now stay well out of the reach of their very large teeth.

I have been doing a lot of reading this Summer and plan to post a lot of good information gleaned from my readings such as creating a cat-friendly garden, choosing the best cat treats, understanding feline behaviors, as well as information on various diseases specific to us cats. My trustworthy secretary Chewbakka will be doing all the typing while I dictate. After all, it is my blog and I am his senior.

Cats and Feline Diabetes

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Did you know that cats are one of the most popular pets in North America? The latest census from the Human Society shows 86.4 million cats owned to 78.2 million dogs owned, which averages out to 1.7 dogs and 2.2 cats per household. We are loving pets, and will provide you with years of companionship. But, as with any pet, we can also get sick. One ailment I would like to talk about today is Feline Diabetes. It is a serious disease but treatable by a veterinarian.

More common in humans than in cats, diabetes occurs when there is high blood sugar because the pancreas is not producing sufficient insulin to control the blood sugar level in the body. Feline Diabetes symptoms vary. The most common symptoms are an increase in urine as well as increased thirst. Other symptoms of Feline Diabetes include appetite loss, weight loss, and poor coat.

Should you notice any of the above, take your cat to your veterinarian immediately. If the diabetes is treated in time, your cat will be able to lead a relatively normal and healthy life. Bear in mind, though, treatment does not happen overnight. It will take time and dedication on your part.

Cats with Felines Diabetes need to be fed at the same time every day and should be kept indoors. Some cats will need to be given insulin shots once or twice a day. Your veterinarian will tell you how many shots and how much insulin to give your cat.

Make sure your cat has eaten before giving him his insulin shot. Giving him an insulin shot on an empty stomach could cause your cat to go into hypoglycemic shock. This can be very dangerous and should be avoided at all cost since this can cause a cat’s demise.

If your cat’s Feline Diabetes requires you to give him insulin shots, you should always keep a watchful eye on him after administering the shot. Once your cat has been on insulin for a period of time, your veterinarian may reduce the amount of insulin. Remember, even though your cat may need insulin for the rest of his life, he will still be a healthy companion for you for many years to come.

Going where few go

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Hello, I am finally back from convalescing! Terrible experience. I have not been out of Mumsie’s bedroom for weeks. Fortunately, Lovey was kind enough to provide me with food and water bowls, as well as my own private litter box. She is such a dear.

While convalescing, I had much time for thoughts. One of these was how we cats can go where few others can follow. Have you ever wondered how we can squeeze through spaces that seem narrower than we are? It’s all due to our super supple bodies, and the fact that we do not have a rigid collarbone to block our way through nooks and crannies. You see, once we can get our head and shoulders through, the rest of our body follows, as long as it is sleek without any extra padding. How do we know we can fit? Our super sensitive whiskers which are approximately as wide as we are, as long as we do not put on the extra pounds, since our whiskers do not grow longer if we get wider. Little Nena GreyShadow, for example, would have a little trouble trying to fit her round little body through those nooks and crannies I mentioned.  

Nena Greyshadow

Nena Greyshadow

Dog Attack

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Hello. My name is Chewbakka Swiftpaws and I am writing on behalf of my good friend and mentor, Jessica Snowpaws., who is convalescing after an incident which occurred a week ago last Wednesday.

It was early morning and we had all had our breakfast. Lovey was preparing to leave for work when there arose a terrible ruccus in the hallway: spitting and growling and more spitting. I later found out that Lady Jessica had been trying to make her way back to Mumsie’s bedroom after visiting the litter boxes in the hallway, but Barkley, the big Border Collie, was lying in the doorway. She tried to get by him, but he was in his “guard the doorway” mode and wouldn’t let her by. She spat at him, and that’s when all h*** broke loose! In the ensuing scuffle, Jessica was able to get by all three dogs (Rio, the other Border Collie, and Sammy, Mumsie’s little dog, had joined the fray), unfortunatley, not without getting hurt in the process. When Lovely got home from work, it was obvious that Lady Jessica was in need of medical attention.

Lovely made arrangements to take her to the vet where she underwent surgery for three broken ribs and torn muscles. Thank the Great Cat there was no internal damage and she will recover fully. Right now, Lady Jessica is staying in Lovely’s office where she can recuperate unmolested by any unwanted visitors. I look forward to the day when I am allowed to see her again and we can resume our daily chats.