![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 20 to 44 of 44. Go back in thread:
Posted by jodie on February 20, 2003, at 23:20:24
In reply to Kitty update: Fever broken!!!, posted by bozeman on February 20, 2003, at 20:19:24
Posted by kara lynne on February 20, 2003, at 23:20:40
In reply to Re: Cranky, crabby, crappy -- Part 2 » bozeman, posted by IsoM on February 20, 2003, at 1:56:24
Posted by IsoM on February 21, 2003, at 1:06:07
In reply to Kitty update: Fever broken!!!, posted by bozeman on February 20, 2003, at 20:19:24
Tough little kitty, probably just like his human mama. So glad to hear he's doing better. How old is he? =^..^=
Posted by IsoM on February 21, 2003, at 1:45:27
In reply to Iso: I thought garlic was good for kitties... (nm), posted by kara lynne on February 20, 2003, at 23:20:40
Kara Lynne, many people assume that because something is good for people that it'll help pets too but it's not always true. Their body chemistry is different enough from ours that some foods can poison an animal that wouldn't hurt us.
Both onions & garlic both belong to the Allium family & contains an alkaloid compound that damages a cat's red blood cells. Onions contain more of it, & cats probably wouldn't get enough garlic in most foods to seriously harm them, but it's still not a good idea to do any damage to blood cells, even if it's a small amount. I'm not a big believer in small amounts of toxic substances to jump start the body's system. Look what the combined effects of so many environmental compounds can have on us nowadays. Why give your kitty something else that is toxic?
The alkaloid in onions and garlic can cause Heinz-body hemolytic anemia. The changes to the red blood cells are irreversible. Any animal’s body makes new red blood cells frequently, as their life span is measured in days so its effects aren’t long lasting if the resulting damage was minor. Sometimes sick cats are fed human baby food but many baby foods have small amounts of onion or garlic powder added. Not a good idea.
Here's a quote about the alkaloid substance:
"An alkaloid, N-propyl disulphide, present in both cultivated and wild onions, chives, and garlic, affects the enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, in red blood cells that interferes with the hexose monophosphate pathway. Oxidation of hemoglobin results because there is either insufficient phosphate dehydrogenase or glutathione to protect the red blood cells from oxidative injury. The resulting formation of Heinz bodies within erythrocytes is characteristic of onion poisoning. (...)"
Marielle Gomez-Kaifer, PhD, Department of Chemistry, University of MiamiWhat it basically means is that the compound found in garlic and onions destroys an enzyme in a chemical pathway that protects red blood cells from being oxidized. The red blood cells become rigid and rupture as they move through the blood stream. I guess it may sound a little complicated, but I don’t think even small amounts of either onions or garlic to be safe for cats or dogs. Whatever benefits in them are outweighed by the harm that can be done.
Posted by lostsailor on February 21, 2003, at 11:18:52
In reply to Garlic, Onions, and Cats » kara lynne, posted by IsoM on February 21, 2003, at 1:45:27
oh bozeman, i'm sorry to have read this thread but it seems that it's getting better with at least one of you "pets".
Mine and Aurora's paws are crossed--well my fingers and her paws to be honest, too. I am sure hell get plent of tlc from you. Do you think that boyfriend may have problems with hairballs, too????
~tony
Posted by kara lynne on February 21, 2003, at 12:24:41
In reply to Garlic, Onions, and Cats » kara lynne, posted by IsoM on February 21, 2003, at 1:45:27
Actually I didn't assume because garlic is good for humans it must be good for cats; I don't remember where, but I heard that garlic powder, or a little garlic in some form (I think even maybe in a formula made for animals) was specifically given to cats for some reason to help something or other(!) I wish I could be more specific myself and if I remember I'll let you know. But in the meantime I'll keep it away from my dear kitty now that you've advised me to! (I never used it anyway.)
Posted by IsoM on February 21, 2003, at 13:51:35
In reply to Re: Garlic and Cats, posted by kara lynne on February 21, 2003, at 12:24:41
Kara Lynne, I didn't mean to that I was referring to you. When I said 'people assume' I meant too many alternative or holistic sorts who don't check into the biochemistry of cats as compared to people.
Yes, there are many (TOO many) herbal remedies for cats that contain garlic. It's thought to help ward off fleas, acts as an anti-oxidant, & have protective properties against heart problems.
The trouble is it helps with fleas but there's better remedies that are less harmful.
Garlic has anti-oxidant features for humans but by destroying that enzyme I mentioned in cats, it only makes *their* red blood cells oxidize & break down easier.
And cats, if they're not fed a diet similar to humans with trans-fatty acids & such, have no need of the blood thinning properties of garlic. An anti-coagulant does them more harm than help.
Just because someone has formulated a herbal boost for pets, it doesn't necessarily mean they know enough to make it helpful. The FDA doesn't regulate herbs, let alone pets, as far as I know (I'm Canadian). Not even all vets know about this sort of thing as they're trained in surgery & conventional meds for pets.
Posted by kara lynne on February 21, 2003, at 15:20:21
In reply to didn't mean that you assumed... » kara lynne, posted by IsoM on February 21, 2003, at 13:51:35
...and you know so many things!! Yes, I think I heard it was good as a flea remedy. Sure wish people knew what they were talking about before that kind of info (a little info can be a dangerous thing) gets spread rampantly around. I hope you're a vet. < ^..^> (my first cyber face ever!!)
Posted by kara lynne on February 21, 2003, at 15:39:18
In reply to Iso M.any things to learn..., posted by kara lynne on February 21, 2003, at 15:20:21
Posted by bozeman on February 22, 2003, at 0:08:40
In reply to Kitty update: Fever broken!!!, posted by bozeman on February 20, 2003, at 20:19:24
Most of the time I call him one of his "other" names -- Big Kitty, Handsome, Wild Thing, Great Blue-and-White Hunter, Kitty-Bunny, etc., but Zorro is doing fine (I know it's a corny name, but when he was just a wee bitty skinny kitten and appeared on my doorstep, hungry and cold, he had blue eyes and a blue mask -- he's blue and white bicolor -- and the mask positively dominated his face, along with those huge ears.) I fed him -- he was *starving*!!! -- and he slept in the tree out front every day until I came home and fed him again. No one claimed him, and after about ten days (and impending rainstorm) I opened the door and said, "Would you like to come inside?" He walked through the door like that was what he had been waiting for all along, and has been here ever since. Hasn't wanted out once. Knows the world is awful out there, and that he has a good pampered kitty home with me.
He started growing like a weed, and his blue eyes turned to grey, then to gold, then to brilliant emerald green. He's got long, beautiful white whiskers, and fur softer than an angora rabbit. I think all cats are beautiful, but he still just makes me stop and stare sometimes, he's so gorgeous. He's almost four now, and when healthy, he's about seventeen pounds of muscle and is quite a handful when he *doesn't* want to do something (like get in the carrier, or take his medicine.) <grin> His growl would scare a German Shepherd, and I am *so* glad he chose me, and that he remembers that when he's sick. Otherwise I couldn't treat him. (The vet just about can't touch him unless I'm there.)
He's still weak, and not completely out of the woods yet -- but he's only sleeping about twenty-one and a half hours a day now (instead of twenty-three and a half.) He's still very pale (his normally pretty pink nose is nearly white, still) and has probably lost at least five pounds. It will be about another week before I'm not changing bandages every day. But he actually grabbed my foot under the covers this morning! (half hearted, but it's a start.) He's doing very well, in no small part, I firmly believe, due to the combined love and prayers of all of you.
We've been napping, and I just got up to turn off the lights, etc. Going back to bed. (At least, since playing nurse to him, I have absolutely no trouble sleeping. Too tired I guess. :-)
Thank you all, again, for the warm thoughts and well wishes, and for letting me gush about my kitty-buddy. I'm so relieved he's feeling better I could just about cry. But I'm too tired for that so it's back to bed. :-)
bozeman
Posted by jodie on February 22, 2003, at 2:04:36
In reply to Garlic, Onions, and Cats » kara lynne, posted by IsoM on February 21, 2003, at 1:45:27
I agree with your post.
My mother had a chihuahua that died from onions. My brother didn't know onions were toxic to animals and he gave Chase (dogs name) leftover steak with plenty of sauteed onions, he died later in the day. He was only about a year old and very healthy before. The vet believed the onions was the culprit. I have since read many stories, and asked our vet. Onions, Garlic, chocolate - all bad for cats/dogs, and other animals.
Just thought I would share this possibly useful info.
Jodie
Posted by kara lynne on February 22, 2003, at 2:46:33
In reply to Little sleeping kitty angel =^_ _ ^=, posted by bozeman on February 22, 2003, at 0:08:40
Posted by bozeman on February 23, 2003, at 22:06:56
In reply to Re: Cranky, crabby, crappy -- Part 2 » bozeman, posted by IsoM on February 20, 2003, at 1:56:24
Fortunately, he's been drinking, and drinking, and drinking, on his own. But I took your advice and got the dropper to give him his meds. Easier than the weenie dropper they gave me, considering what a big lunk he is and how much medicine I have to give him.
Zorro's a quintessential male -- does what he wants, when he wants, pretty much. The only reason I'm winning any will-battles at all is, I'm the mom and it's my job, and he knows that (however grudgingly.) :-) He's not much for veggies. At all. Won't eat anything remotely resembling a vegetable, with the one exception of the barley or wheat grass I grow for them, and any forbidden houseplants he can reach to munch on. Actually, that's more of an attention-getting thing, he doesn't really want them, just wants me to think he does. He'll eat as much grass as I'll let him, enough that he will eventually barf it up, but it doesn't seem to have an effect one way or the other on his hairballs, it's just something he likes. My other two boys (Sulley and Wally) will eat just about any veggies, and Wally will beg for lettuce - very cute! -- but not Zorro, that's why he's the Great Hunter. If he can't catch it and kill it, it ain't proper food, in his book. Since veggies don't put up a fight, it's not fair prey, I guess.
I'll have to try the raw green beans, see if that's any luck. What do you do, grow them yourself, or buy them frozen and give a few at a time?
Like you, I get so *MAD* at the rest of the world sometimes -- how can you call yourself a cat food maker and put poison crap in the cat food? "Tomato Seafood Bisque", indeed! I'm not a deep scholar on the stuff or anything, but even I know cats are poisoned by nightshades! Makes me crazy to see peppers, potatoes, tomatoes in their food. But I owe you one, I had either forgotten or never caught the allium thing. And there's garlic powder in all their food!! AARRRGGGHHH!!!!!! I had just found something Zorro wouldn't throw up -- he's as sensitive and allergic as his Mom, and can't tolerate "typical" cat food with it's food color, preservatives, "mystery meat" meal, etc. So Now what am I going to buy? I've run through everything I can find. <sigh>
And don't get me started on the "petroleum jelly for hairballs" thing! I wouldn't feed my kid petroleum, why would I feed it to my cat? Zorro gets butter every morning, and that has seemed to help a lot, he's not thrown any hairballs up for many months. Wally started getting them, too, when Zorro was shedding so bad. Zorro raised Wally from kittenhood and Wally thinks Zorro is his mother, but don't tell Zorro or he'd be embarassed for his masculinity. :-) They groom each other and sleep together. When I had to take Zorro unexpectedly back to the vet, Wally was sleeping and didn't see me leave with Zorro, so he was mad and hateful to Sulley because he thought Sulley (the newest cat and therefore still suspect -- I found him starving under a dumpster the middle of November in a blizzard) had done something to Zorro. So Wally, who is about five pounds smaller than Sulley, was going to whup Sulley's butt. It was the cutest, and sweetest, thing I've ever seen. You should have seen Wally's face when I brought Zorro back. If he could have cried, he would have, and wouldn't leave Zorro's side for the entire first day. So imagine me, with Zorro in my lap, and Wally's chin on my knee, and Sulley looking on mournfully because there's no one to play with. You have my life in a snapshot for several days, there.
Tough-boy Zorro thinks he's healed (though his wounds say otherwise -- they are healing remarkably fast, but not that fast) and has taken to howling at me at medicine time. It's quite an amusing scene. Poor Wally can't stand to watch, so he has to leave the room, as he can't figure out where the monster is that is threatening Zorro, so he can kill it and protect Zorro, so Zorro will stop howling. All he sees is Mom and Zorro, so the poor thing gets very confused. :-)
So what do you think I should do about the garlic powder? It's in the food in about the same amount as the taurine, which as I'm sure you know is added in trace amounts to protect kitty eyes, as they can't make it on their own. What's the actual process of toxicity? Is it something that harms their liver, or what?
Medusa's lucky to have as intelligent and caring a person as you to look out for her. I'll bet you two do each other a world of good. There is nothing, nothing in the world, more peaceful than a purring kitty in your lap. Dogs are terrific, but they don't purr.
My seventeen, eighteen, and thirteen pound boys and I wish you goodnight, and thanks for your notes of encouragement along the way. Zorro's going to be fine, by all appearances. The vet says he's doing better than we had any right to expect he'd be doing twice this far out.
bozeman, Sulley, Zorro, Wally
Posted by bozeman on February 23, 2003, at 22:59:19
In reply to Re: Garlic, Onions, and Cats, posted by lostsailor on February 21, 2003, at 11:18:52
As usual, you made me LOL . . .
Actually, I think he's been abducted and a pseudo-mechanical-boyfriend-thing left in his place, and that if I were to open it up, I'd find a rabid wolverine inside pulling the strings. :-)
It's finally gone too far, I'm afraid. Not so far that he's done something absolutely horrible, but so far that I'm not sure I can cling to the illusion that things will be fine between us. As long as I keep my mouth shut and let him have his neurotic psychotic fits, everything rocks along on a more-or-less even keel. But when I speak my mind, stand my ground, he seems to get more and more unbalanced because he starts questioning my love and loyalty (internally, and worse, unconsciously, he would never question either to my face.) You would think that after all these years he would know that is something he need never question, but we're not talking logic here, we're talking insecurities, emotions, baggage, and illogic -- of which he has plenty.
So, along with nursing Zorro night and day, navigating my other life-crises (budget hell, depositions, family crises, my own illness (respiratory and psychological), legal deadlines, financial and weather stress) I'm mourning the inevitable breakup that's coming. I've been in bed sick for four days, and he hasn't even called me. Because he knows he acted like a big jerk and he needs to apologize. But he can't apologize because that would start a whole big scene that would stress me while I'm sick. And he's not sure I would forgive him if he did apologize. So he's worked himself into an absolute pretzel and consequently, will probably blow up at me again the next time I see him. Then will kick himself again for blowing up at me for no reason, and tie himself into another pretzel, etc.
I see no way out of this, short of me doing what I've been doing, which is pushing myself back into a box so he doesn't go through these self-destructive cycles. But life is too short for me to live that way, and I'm out of time. My clock is expiring, and if I'm ever going to have children, I have to find another mate, because I'll be at least fifty before this one gets a clue. It's sad, and I really do love him, and I know he loves me, but I know him well enough to know what he's capable of, and this is beyond him. Not because he wouldn't do it, but because the stubborn ass won't accept help. He complains that he feels bad, so what does he do? Tells the doctor part of the story when he's in for his (mandatory) physical. Dr. gives him a sample of Paxil. He takes it on again, off again, says it doesn't work for him. So does he go back to the doctor? No. He starts self-medicating buying stuff over the internet. Several times he's worked himself into such a state that he doesn't remember anything for several days at a stretch. Even his internet meds, he takes when he feels like, not on any regular schedule, so I can only imagine what he's doing to his brain chemistry. And *I*'m not a doctor so *I* couldn't possibly know what I'm talking about. <ggggrrrrrrrrrr!!!>
He's a beautiful, loving, giving soul, much of the time. And a complete stubborn idiotic ass the rest of the time. The bottom line is, I can't raise children with someone like that, who is still that unstable (and at his age, he should darn well know better.)
So the breakup is a foregone conclusion. I just haven't had the strength or energy to initiate it. And, of course, I will have to initiate it. You'd just have to know him. He's wonderful but maddening, the kind of guy you'd love to have for a friend or neighbor, but, unfortunately, not someone you can live with. Which is why we don't already live together. I wasn't about to de-stabilize my hard-won physical/financial stability until he was ready to *ask* me to move in with him. So I never brought it up. And here we are, after all this time, "in love" but not living together. He hasn't changed one iota in all these years. And I didn't feel good enough to push that issue, or any issue, due to the depression (which admittedly was secondary to many physical problems, which I have slowly addressed one by one, with the help of my wonderful doctor, Thank God I found her.) But I do feel good enough now, to realize I can't get anywhere like this, and that this is just making him miserable by stretching him so far outside of his comfort zone.
So once again, I am reliving my ongoing (but sadly never successfully achieved) story of my life: "Educated, funny, competent, statuesque, creative, attractive, professional Christian lady seeks male complement. "Daddy figure" not required, strong self-image, spritual beliefs, and open mind a must." But somehow, I always end up with men who define themselves in relation to the woman in their lives -- and since I defy description, apparently, they can't "see" themselves, don't know who they "need" to be in relation to me, and slowly get more and more dysfunctional until they crack. I'm not blaming them for this, but I'm out of time playing the game so I have to figure out what I'm doing that's attracting men that can't, ultimately, handle being with me, so I can fix it, or resign myself to never having a family. Not sure yet if I can do that.
Tell Aurora thanks for the paw-crossing, and thanks for listening. If she needs any migrant workers for that catnip farm, I'll send my soon-to-be-ex boyfriend her way. He's great under stress, good on tasks, a very hard worker and a good soul, just can't handle the stress of a long-term relationship. Migrant work is short-term, isn't it, so he should be perfect. :-)
Wally (my smallest and snuggliest cat) just jumped in my lap, purred in my ear, walked up my shoulder to the back of my chair, and sat on my head. I think that's a hint, wouldn't you say?
Night!
bozeman
Posted by bozeman on February 23, 2003, at 23:14:40
In reply to Re: Cranky, crabby, crappy -- Part 2 » bozeman, posted by jodie on February 20, 2003, at 2:47:40
Ahhh . . . so you, too, are a hopeless pet rescuer!!! I can only imagine how cute your dogs are. Shar-pei and husky mix! What a deal! What's the other one mixed with, or do you know?
I'm still having to choke antibiotic down Zorro every day, but his wound's crusting instead of oozing, and the vet says that's a good thing (???)
Things are finally settling down around here kitty-wise . . . back into some kind of routine, which is better for all of us. I came down with lung crud in the middle of all this, so I've been in bed for most of the last four or five days (I lose track) so Zorro's been curled up with me most of the time. Been good for both of us, I think. I get up to get his food and meds, and mine, and that's about it. I'm going to try to go back to work tomorrow -- wish me luck.
Full moon was really bad this month, my friends who work at the hospital tell me. If I were looking for an excuse, I would blame that for Cave-Man's behaviour. But I try not to self-delude, I know that's not what it is. See my post to lostsailor for details if you're into the soap opera. Breakup imminent, the ship, she is seeeeenking, Keptian. (sorry, a little Star Trek humor there, and it's tooo late for that stuff.)
Be well, sweetie, and hope you sleep tonight. Thanks for the encouragement. I read all your posts even when I was too sick to respond, and it helped.
Night
bozeman
Posted by jodie on February 24, 2003, at 1:55:31
In reply to Hopeless pet fanatics » jodie, posted by bozeman on February 23, 2003, at 23:14:40
Hi!!!!
Yep, I'm a hopeless pet rescuer. I could probably make some money by opening a petting zoo. :-)
My other dog is a male shar pei/ black lab/pit bull/whatever else - mix. He is all black, about 70 lbs, & has a huge wrinkled head. He is so cute. Our vet thinks he will be around 80-90 lbs when he's finished growing He loves to give & receive hugs & kisses.I know how fun it is to give an antibiotic to a kitty. Samantha, my siamese mix, just got over cystitis (bladder infection). First I had to give her the liquid stuff, that didn't work so I had to give her 2 pills a day for 10 days. Her last dose was Friday. She put up a fight everytime. I have plenty of scratches to prove it. She's getting spayed March 12th. Can't wait, she has been in heat & meowing so loud. We were going to get it done sooner, but kept having to reschedule because of the bladder thing.
Sounds like Zorro is doing much better. Crusting instead of oozing...great sign. I'm happy to hear he is improving. I've been worried about the little guy.
Sorry about your lung crud. No fun. Yes, all of the rest is good for both of you. Good luck going back to work. I hope things keep getting better for you.
My fiancee & I are getting over strep throat. I have been catching everything that is going around. I'm sick of being sick. Of course insomnia doesn't help things. I'm sure not getting much sleep has my immune system all messed up.
You be well & thank you for the encouragement also. I tried to go to sleep earlier, no luck. It's about 2:45 a.m., and I think I'm on my way to try again.
I'm glad my posts helped. I'm the same, I read posts even when I'm not feeling well & can't respond (or at least respond like I would like to).
Good night to you also, again good luck going back to work. Let me know how it goes.
Jodie
P.S. Good night Zorro!!!!
Posted by IsoM on February 24, 2003, at 14:23:56
In reply to Re: Cranky, crabby, crappy -- Part 2 » IsoM, posted by bozeman on February 23, 2003, at 22:06:56
Thank you for the update. After slicing off part of my thumb (only a little piece & a fairly shallow slice), I've been having trouble typing so just gave up on the comp for a few days. The whole thing throbbed too much. I can now type with the other fingers while holding it in the air. So excuse any typos, it’s too bothersome to correct all of them.
I knew Zorro would get better. A cat with spunk & the will to live along with an attentive human almost always makes it.
Your Zorro sounds like my Medusa. She's unbelievably lovey & can't get enough love except when she thinks I'm going to feed or give her pills again, then she turns into a banshee. Her growl rising in crescendo & volume sounds like someone trying to start a small engine. If I didn't wrap her firmly in two towels, I wouldn't own hands any more. I know her feedings stress her no end, but afterwards she calms down & turns lovely again.
She was a stray & when I took her to the vet to get spayed (when they opened her they found she'd already been previously), the vet told me she hoped to never see her again. Called her the cat from hell & had the long scratches to prove it. It's a matter of knowing how to handle her. I do believe she'd been abused wherever she lived before. The first year or two, though very loving, she watched our hand movements with narrowed eyes, ready to swat any one she thought was going to hurt her.
I had another boy a few years back who had been a stray too. He was the smartest cat I ever knew. He honestly understood simple sentences & would respond appropriately. When we first got him, he was a full Tom & was courting a wild little lady love stray (we never did catch her). We called her Flossie & would jokingly corrupt it to Floozy. She adored Taco (the Tom) & he was a perfect gentleman. After we knew he was going to stay, we neutered him. He couldn't understand why Flossie wouldn't come to his calls any more. It was sad to see him chirping & trilling to her only to be ignored. I still dearly miss him. He was also a big tough boy, but he let one small kitten, we were finding a home for, nurse on the fur of his belly. He'd look embarrassed but never chased the kitten away. He sounds like Zorro.
I'm interested that you say butter eliminates hairballs?? I've been told that digestible fats, unlike mineral oils, won't work because they're digested, not eliminated through the tract. But you have success? I do have a on/off problem with Medusa as she refuses veggies too.
The raw green beans my other two eat was by accident. One summer, while making supper, I dropped a bean on the floor. My now boy, Mozza, always watches everything I do when I'm working around the house. He ran & grabbed it but I expected him to drop it immediately. Instead he crunched it up. Curious, I dropped another. He ate that too. And ever since, he's eaten beans almost daily. The little girl, Morgana, wanted in on this too. She wouldn't eat them but toss them in the air, wrestle them into submission, & thoroughly mangle the bean. After a month of this, she seemed to develop a taste for fresh raw bean "blood" & started eating them. Unlike Mozza, who just wolfs them down, she has to wrestle each of her beans before dealing it a death bite. She literally bites the "head" off the bean before she eats it. She wants her beans alive so I often wiggle them about before tossing them to her.
She's also my mighty bug hunter. A couple years when mosquitoes have been bad, she hunts through the house in the evening with me, looking for mosquitoes sitting on the walls. I whack them with a rolled up tea towel & when they drop stunned to the floor, she nibbles them up. She loves the taste of mosquitoes & I don't mean bloody ones! If I say "let's go hunt the bad bugs", she's ready.
I thought it funny when Wally doesn't know how to kill for hurting his poor Zorro. It can't be "mommy" as she loves Zorro. When Medusa howls & growls at me, Morgana calmly (almost disdainfully) watches, but Mozza's afraid she might get loose & take vengeance on him. He's quite terrified of her as she won't put up with any guff from him as Morgana does. He just runs when he hears her growling start.
Ah, life without cats - I wouldn't want to be. I saw some red pandas on the news today. They're only a little larger than cats & easily tamed - very friendly & gentle. Too bad they’re so endangered. I first say them about 20 years ago & have loved them ever since. It's funny how a small furry face with forward pointing eyes (unlike sheep or deer with side facing eyes) tugs at our hearts. I've seen logical biologists when handling wild tranquilized animals like that, break into coos & snuggles with them. It strikes something deep in us. I know when I snuggle with Morgana (the only one who loves being held in my arms), I can feel my muscles soften & I feel so calm & peaceful. She loves full body hugs, presses her body close against me, leans her cheek on mine & wraps her tail tight about my arm.
Please continue to keep us updated on Zorro, Wally, & Sulley. I love reading cat stories.
Posted by bluedog on February 25, 2003, at 8:33:48
In reply to Re: Cranky, crabby, crappy -- Part 2 » bozeman, posted by IsoM on February 24, 2003, at 14:23:56
>
> She's also my mighty bug hunter. A couple years when mosquitoes have been bad, she hunts through the house in the evening with me, looking for mosquitoes sitting on the walls. I whack them with a rolled up tea towel & when they drop stunned to the floor, she nibbles them up. She loves the taste of mosquitoes & I don't mean bloody ones! If I say "let's go hunt the bad bugs", she's ready.
>Hello Iso
In Aussie Land mosqitoes are carriers of nasty little diseases such as "Ross River Virus" which can affect both humans and wildlife and can result in many nasty CFS and fibromyalgia like symptoms (see this link for some info on Ross River Virus :- http://www.wn.com.au/prohealth/rrv.htm ....There is also heaps of info on this disease if you do a Google search on the topic) They are also carriers of heart-worm lavae that can infect and eventually kill our pets whenever they are bitten by these nasty buzzing bugs.
Because I'm really lazy tonight, I assume that these diseases can only be caused by being BITTEN by a mosquito but I'm wondering if your cats can actually catch anything nasty by actually EATING these pests? Just curious really!!
By the way the mosquitoes at my house only seem to buzz around me when I'm almost asleep and then promptly disappear when I turn the lights on to hunt them down and kill them. I do however refuse to use those horrible poisonous bug killing sprays in my bedroom so sometimes I miss out on a couple of hours sleep just hunting down and killing these nasties.
see ya later
warm regards
bluedog
Posted by coral on February 25, 2003, at 13:27:13
In reply to Re: Mosquito eating cats!! » IsoM, posted by bluedog on February 25, 2003, at 8:33:48
Dear Bluedog,
You say in Australia, there are big mosquitoes that eat cats??
:)
Coral
Posted by IsoM on February 25, 2003, at 15:08:19
In reply to Re: Mosquito eating cats!! to Bluedog, posted by coral on February 25, 2003, at 13:27:13
Nope, no problems eating mosquitoes. The diseases are passed through blood. When any insect bites, it injects a small amount of an anti-coagulant & some species inject a small amount of chemical to numb the bite so you don't notice them.
Eating the bug would dissolve any pathogen in the cat's very strong stomach acid. The only harm may come if a certain pathogen could escape digestion. I know cats can get tapeworms from cleaning & eating any fleas they come across (thank goodness, my kitties never get fleas). Fleas eat tapeworm eggs & egg cases & the tapeworm will initially hatch in the flea. When the cat eats a flea, the cycle continues in the cat's intestines.
Want some good mosquito repellent advice? Of course, you do! ^_^
One of the strongest mosquito repellents out there is *not* DEET - it's an compound found in catnip! Seeing you don't have kittens (yet), you can use catnip to deter the mosquitoes.I read about this in one of my science mags last year & decided to put it to the test. I made up a mix & sprayed it on my arm. Sure enough, mosquitoes would fly toward me & then suddenly veer away when they got close enough to the sprayed arm. The drawback to catnip is the same as citronella sprays - it's not long lasting. I get around this by applying it frequently, knowing that I'm not doing any harm. I told a few friends who have young babies about this. They didn't want to use repellents on their babies but the mosquitoes were biting so much. No harm to babies either.
Dried catnip won't work & neither will most commercial preparations as they're not strong enough. Catnip grows so easily & quickly that it's worth growing a patch just for using as a repellent. I take a bunch of catnip, put it in the blender with water, & liquefy as best as possible. Then I mix rubbing alcohol (I use ethanol as it's not poisonous like other alcohol compounds) with the sludge. I don't know if the active ingredients as water or alcohol soluble so I use both. Strain & keep in the fridge. I put some in a spray bottle for use. Do you think this may be the reason my cats love me so much?
I'd honestly be nervous about using this when hiking the back trails around here though. There are mountain lions (though not plentiful, poor things) here plus bobcats & lynx. All cats from big to small are attracted to catnip. I could just see me having a few mountain lions trailing me, not sure whether to play with me or eat me.
Thanks for the info on the Ross River virus. I love learning all things medical. I'd love to have been a disease pathologist except I hate being in a lab all day. It's a very fascinating field. If mosquitoes are so deadly where you are, I'm surprised you don't sleep with mosquito netting about the bed. I'm glad to say, so far anyway, none of the mosquitoes carries any human diseases here. All one does is itch & scratch.
One last tip - if you eat enough garlic as you do, I'm surprised mosquitoes bite you. Mosquitoes don’t bother me. Only if I eat bananas will they bite. I stop eating bananas through the summer months - besides, there are so many other fresh fruits to eat, I don't miss them.
Posted by IsoM on February 25, 2003, at 19:38:55
In reply to Little sleeping kitty angel =^_ _ ^=, posted by bozeman on February 22, 2003, at 0:08:40
Posted by bozeman on February 25, 2003, at 23:57:58
In reply to How's Zorro Doing Today? (nm) » bozeman, posted by IsoM on February 25, 2003, at 19:38:55
Galloping around here like a kitten. He and Wally were wrestling (their favorite game) and broke his incision open, but he doesn't seem to care. I'm pretty freaked out, but it's not bleeding or anything, just . . . flopping . . . funny, is I guess the best way to describe it??? He's obviously in no pain, and it's not bleeding or oozing, so I'm sure it can wait until morning, but I'll call the vet first thing and make sure.
Wally -- so named because he wallows all over you -- is affectionate like your Medusa. The snuggliest cat on the planet, I swear. He jumps up on my shoulder when I get home and just purrs the loudest, happiest song, like he hasn't seen me in a year. He loves it when you lean your head down so he can snuggle between your ear and your neck. The only thing in the world you can hear, is him purring. I wish the rest of the day could be like that, sometimes.
Anyway, Wally missed Zorro *so* much when Zorro was sleeping 23 hours a day and I kept him completely isolated. Wally was showing signs of anxiety and sadness, so I started letting them sleep together, on my bed, and Wally's been soooooo happy! But he gets carried away, sometimes, snuggling and grooming turns into wrestling, kicking, biting, etc, and I'm sure that's what happened to Zorro. I was in the kitchen and heard a muffled "meeooommpfff", and I know what that sound means. That's Wally with a mouthful of Zorro fur. So I went running into the bedroom, but not fast enough -- there were tufts of Zorro fur all over the bed and a very guilty-looking pair of kitties. (Mind you, this is normal behavior for them, any other time. I find clumps of fur all over the house from their wrestling matches.) So I scooped up Wally and rubbed his head affectionately while I scolded him for being too rough on Zorro while he was on medical leave, then put him out of the room so I could examine Zorro more closely. No evidence of harm, so I started to breathe easier, but when I checked his wound more closely I could see into it!!! After my heart started beating again (!) I gently pressed to one side of it and it opened up! Yikes! He just looked at me like, "Are you finished yet? Wally and I were busy." No wince, no pain, no flinch, just bored with my fussing over him. I put Zorro to bed, then, figured he'd had enough excitement for one day.
I guess it's a good thing I don't have children, or I'd be a complete wreck. :-)
Anyway, that was the most exciting thing this evening.
Humorous aside: Like your Tom . . . Zorro understands every word you say. He may not agree, may get mad, may pretend to not understand, but he gets exactly what you mean. He knows darn well what he can get away with and what he can't. Wrestling after lights-out is strictly forbidden, and Zorro knows it, as they get pretty loud, yowling as they pounce on each other, and when thirty pounds of cat-wrestling crashes into the wall, it makes quite a racket, wakes up the whole house, if not the neighborhood.
Imagine my surprise when, a few months ago, Zorro awoke in the middle of the night (he didn't know I was awake), came up to the head of the bed, looked at me to make sure I was asleep (I pretended, I was a kid, once, too), then quietly got down off the bed and padded away up the hall. Wally was asleep in a chair in the living room. I heard a soft "whack" of Zorro slapping him with one of his giant paws, to wake him up. Wally, being a very verbal cat, of course trilled in response "Whaaaat? I'm sleeeepin," and Zorro made some kind of cat noise that could only be interpreted as "SHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! You'll wake up Mom and we'll get in trouble!" Zorro then padded quietly back down the hall, stuck his head in the door of my room, and, very, very softly, called "Meow?" to see if Wally had awakened me. I, of course, laid still as a stone, because I wanted to see what they were up to. When I didn't respond, he trotted back up the hall, and darn if they didn't start wrestling! But you could tell they were making a point to be quiet about it, no wall-whacking, only the softest of tail-thumps on the floor, and very subdued verbal cues. Every time Wally (the high-strung one) would start to get wound up and loud, Zorro would quiet him down again, because he know as soon as Mom woke up, the game would be off, and they'd be in trouble for breaking the rules.I had my hand clamped over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud, because as soon as I did, all bets would be off, they'd know I was awake, and would stop being quiet, and everyone would have been up for the rest of the night. Have you ever belly-laughed with your hand over your mouth? The harder I tried not to laugh, the harder I laughed, the more I tried to be quiet, the less air I got, so I nearly passed out. Fortunately, Wally started getting too wound up to be able to stay quiet, so Zorro ended the game and came back to bed, curled up to go back to sleep like nothing had happened. Fortunately, he's used to me petting him in his sleep. He was an abandoned and abused kitten, did not know what physical affection was, and the only time I could touch him was when he was eating or sleeping. So I petted him when he was captive, doing both, so he'd get used to me. Anyone with insomnia could relate, I suppose -- every time you wake up, pet the kitty, then it's easier to go back to sleep. So he curled up on the bed to go back to sleep, I rolled over, petted him, he stretched a big kitty stretch like "Hmmm? Lemme sleep, " and we both went back to sleep.
I just laugh when people try to tell me cats are selfish and don't care what you want, they do what they want. To an extent, that may be true. But what they *don't* want is me in a cranky mood. So they very carefully avoid anything and everything that makes me cranky. Smarter than most people I know, a lot of days. :-)
Posted by jodie on February 26, 2003, at 0:16:23
In reply to Re: How's Zorro Doing Today? » IsoM, posted by bozeman on February 25, 2003, at 23:57:58
Posted by IsoM on February 26, 2003, at 0:43:07
In reply to Re: How's Zorro Doing Today? » IsoM, posted by bozeman on February 25, 2003, at 23:57:58
Oh, I love your stories!! I had to show my son your story (as he loves cats too) & a big smile grew on his face as he read about Zorro's & Wally's night time escapade. We both agreed that intelligent owners who love their cats & spend time with them, develop very intelligent kitties. Can you guess who we think is intelligent?
I wish my cats would play together. When Mozza jumps Morgana, he tends to be too rough & he is almost twice her size, so it's not a fair match. But then Morgana is a little snitch anyway. She screams before he even touches her which gets me running to see what's happening. That doesn't stop her from pouncing on him from ambush but she's all bluff - she never fights but loves the chase & the other cat's startled reaction.
Where's the open wound on Zorro? His belly, I assumne due to the operation? How deep does it go that you can see into it? If nothing's oozing, the main part must be healed but I'd still be nervous like you. Too soon after a major operation to leave open. It might be easy for the semi-healed parts to get kicked open. Keep us updated on this too, please.
Have you considered writing a column or story about your kitties for the newspaper? Lots of cat lovers would gobble them up.
Posted by lostsailor on February 26, 2003, at 18:16:13
In reply to Boyfriends with hairballs . . . . or worse » lostsailor, posted by bozeman on February 23, 2003, at 22:59:19
My ex had ADD and too took her daily meds every so often. That was always a treat. She would not use her stimulant, Ritalin, and then after a month or so figure it was a good idea and take her regular dose. She would fly around like a cat chasing one of those little laser pointers. HA. Life would turn to chaos as I am frazzled usually while on my meds but to add to it became too much.
Sometimes I think of riding for Camelot and seeking life as a noble Knight… Sir tony has a neat ring to it. That might do.
I am honest, I am odd and "eccentric" but I am happy that I have learned to stand my ground on issues that are really important to me. I had to end an engagement last year for various reasons that sound a bit similar to yours.
My God just look at Jodie... (Sorry if you are reading this, Jod...lol)
Boze, you seem cool. If life is because you love the concept of love, you may want to move on. But some love affairs a great despite the tediousness of them and are worth holding on to. It's sometimes a tough call so I suggest rock scissors paper or flipping a coin. Like you suggested, maybe the cat is the indicator...like litmus paper in school...
Post us, k???
~tonyOh, I think Aurora will be interviewing early next month. So if he wants to work he’d best be ready. I am just afraid she will eventually end up like Martha Stewart or Kathy Regis and hire underage cats and people in sweatshops. But I guess she knows I’ll be there to bail her out…
This is the end of the thread.
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