Wellness

[Madisson]

I agree that cleaning the litter box is a pain, but we do it at least twice a day. We have two cats. Female cats are easier to care for, as males sometimes spray. The fur really is a lot to keep up with though. We bought a leather couch just because we knew the fur wouldn't stick to it. We have to keep the nails clipped though.

$350 nonrefundable deposit it alot! However, cats sometimes vomit on the carpet or cough up furballs. We clean those messes up right away with the carpet cleaner, but they can cause some damage to the carpets, so I understand the deposit. I have heard of places charging $40/month for a cat in an apartment!

[PatsyCline]

A pet can lower our blood pressure, yes I believe they help releive pain. :-)

[hckynut]

On 9/27/2014 Madisson said:

I agree that cleaning the litter box is a pain, but we do it at least twice a day. We have two cats. Female cats are easier to care for, as males sometimes spray. The fur really is a lot to keep up with though. We bought a leather couch just because we knew the fur wouldn't stick to it. We have to keep the nails clipped though.

$350 nonrefundable deposit it alot! However, cats sometimes vomit on the carpet or cough up furballs. We clean those messes up right away with the carpet cleaner, but they can cause some damage to the carpets, so I understand the deposit. I have heard of places charging $40/month for a cat in an apartment!

Just want to add that "female felines" also spray. I don't want anyone to think because of a gender they will not have the same problem. When a female feline has a problem or just does not like a certain litter, they will also do the same as a male. We've had very many of both genders and the problem is not exclusive to the male species only.

Having a feline is certainly less work than a canine, and my wife now fostering Boxers makes this much easier for me to say. She works and I am retired, so? I take care of the fosters during the day hours and that requires keeping them company, and yes, walking them in the rain and below zero weather. Felines do not require that same attention.

Neither of these species is going to be without need for someone to take care of their needs and I think, like others here have said, if a person is not real mobile or is financially living barely meeting their necessities, it is neither fair to the person or the animal to be put in this position.

While I love all of our felines and our fosters, to even think they do not require a certain amount of work and expense, would be a pipe dream.

[ical]

Oh well. I guess if I said having a Bentley would help with pain management, I could understand. But even in areas and places one cannot have a pet, due to expense, or physical inability, or whatever reason, feed the birds, or listen to that cricket that chirps outside your window, or put a pan of water on your window sill so the bees can get a sip, or maybe a sparrow, or a moth might go to your screen, if you put your shade up and watch it go toward the light shining from the lamp by your bed. And for all you know, maybe even a fish would be better than bitterness. The point is to divert pain and to know you are not alone with it… At least I thought so.

[Madisson]

On 9/27/2014 hckynut said:

On 9/27/2014 Madisson said:

I agree that cleaning the litter box is a pain, but we do it at least twice a day. We have two cats. Female cats are easier to care for, as males sometimes spray. The fur really is a lot to keep up with though. We bought a leather couch just because we knew the fur wouldn't stick to it. We have to keep the nails clipped though.

$350 nonrefundable deposit it alot! However, cats sometimes vomit on the carpet or cough up furballs. We clean those messes up right away with the carpet cleaner, but they can cause some damage to the carpets, so I understand the deposit. I have heard of places charging $40/month for a cat in an apartment!

Just want to add that "female felines" also spray. I don't want anyone to think because of a gender the will not have the same problem. When a female feline has a problem or just does not like a certain litter, they will also do the same as a male. We've had very many of both genders and the problem is not exclusive to the male species only.

Having a feline is certainly less work than a canine, and my wife not fostering Boxers makes this much easier for me to say. She works and I am retired, so? I take care of the fosters during the day hours and that requires keeping them company, and yes, walking them in the rain and below zero weather. Felines do not require that same attention.

Neither of these species is going to be without need for someone to take care of their needs and I think, like others here have said, if a person is not real mobile or is financially living barely meeting their necessities, it is neither fair to the person or the animal to be put in this position.

While I love all of our felines and our fosters, to even think they do not require a certain amount of work and expense, would be a pipe dream.

Hmmm...interesting! I've only ever had female cats, so I guess I was lucky that they did not spray. I just lost my 17 year old cat due to kidney disease a month ago. Toward the end when she was having a problem eliminating, she would stand along side the box and try to go as she seemed to need to stretch her body to eliminate. I had puppy pads all around the litter boxes. I agree that the dogs are much more work...we have three.

[newziesuzie]

On 9/27/2014 ical said:

Oh well. I guess if I said having a Bentley would help with pain management, I could understand. But even in areas and places one cannot have a pet, due to expense, or physical inability, or whatever reason, feed the birds, or listen to that cricket that chirps outside your window, or put a pan of water on your window sill so the bees can get a sip, or maybe a sparrow, or a moth might go to your screen, if you put your shade up and watch it go toward the light shining from the lamp by your bed. And for all you know, maybe even a fish would be better than bitterness. The point is to divert pain and to know you are not alone with it… At least I thought so.

That's a nice post. I think you're right. Caring for other living creatures even the tiny ones can give us the added reward of less pain.

[hckynut]

On 9/27/2014 Madisson said:

Hmmm...interesting! I've only ever had female cats, so I guess I was lucky that they did not spray. I just lost my 17 year old cat due to kidney disease a month ago. Toward the end when she was having a problem eliminating, she would stand along side the box and try to go as she seemed to need to stretch her body to eliminate. I had puppy pads all around the litter boxes. I agree that the dogs are much more work...we have three.

Madisson,

I am sorry to hear you lost your 17 year old recently. All of our felines have been indoor only and they all have been fixed also. Several of of them also ended up with kidney disease and we were able to extend their functional happy lives for a couple of years by giving them fluids ourselves at home on a regular basis. When it reached the point where we knew they were no longer enjoying their lives be had them euthanized. It is never easy no matter how many times one has to make that decision.

Of our well over 30 felines over the years, more of them have been females than males. That is just the way it worked out for some reason. While the females don't do "it" quite the same, the results on carpets are exactly the same. When any of them started going outside the litter boxes the first thing we always do is take them to our vet. Most of them we were able to keep from doing this, but I can't say we were successful with all of them, male and female. I just had to do a whole lot more cleaning and buying more odor removers.

Been a long time since we've had this problems so haven't had this extra work for quite awhile now. I thought the same things with males versus females until I saw several of our females doing it on the carpets. At that point I also started watching them all, not just the boys.

Best to you and all of your furry family,

[spindlegirl]

(((((((((Madison))))))) I'm sorry your kitty passed over the rainbow bridge.

[Madisson]

hckynut ~~ Thank you for your condolences. It is just awful to have to make that decision to euthanize. We decided against giving her fluids because she had severe arthritis also and could not handle the pain medications the vet prescribed. It's like you said...when they get to the point that they are not enjoying life anymore, then you have to make that very tough decision. That was probably the most traumatic experience of my life.

You have quite the furry family also. I've read before that you and your wife foster dogs. That is just so kind-hearted and unselfish of you. It must be so hard to give them up when they find a permanent family. You must be very special people.

[Madisson]

Spindlegirl ~ Thank you so much for your condolences. My furbaby passed just two weeks after my brother passed unexpectedly, so it has been a double whammy. I visit the Rainbow Bridge site frequently. It is very comforting. It also consoles me to think that my furbaby is with my brother and my father.