Poor Miss Luna had what should be her last follow-up yesterday. It was just to get the blood drawn and it will be some time before we get any results (my regular hospital has never ordered this test before!). But, going to the doctor is now a very stressful thing for poor Miss Luna. The past two visits, she has soiled herself, and she's never done that before. I feel so bad for her. I understand her nervousness completely, given how much I just adore doctors (insert sarcasm- dear Laurel notwithstanding, of course!). I hope this is the last trip to the vet that she'll need until it's time for her regular shots at the end of March. And, I hope this mess will be far enough in her kitty memory that the regular visit will not be too traumatic.
In other news, they're calling for a big snowstorm again this weekend. I was hoping to spend the weekend with my folks. There's something at a museum downtown that we want to see (though I forget what, isn't that crazy?) and then there's brunch on Sunday. None of that will happen in the snow! Oh, I found it. There's an exhibit of the Terra Cotta Warriors at the National Geographic Museum. It will be there through March, so maybe my parents and I can plan to go next week if snow gets in the way this weekend. Given my love for anthropology, I really really want to see this! Hey, Fox and Fae, you guys got a weekend day to spare if you wanted to join us?
I just overheard one of my coworkers on the phone, "Yes, ma'am?" pause "I looked in a crystal ball." I wonder if he's talking about making plans for the snow? Or that his team is in the Super Bowl. I just heard him saying it was the boss's boss asking "where'd you get that information?!" I do believe they are talking about snow, rumors are it will carry into Monday and Tuesday. Fun!
Oh no! - 31 Amigurumi in October Continued
6 years ago
7 comments :
No offense taken! Some doctors are pretty scary! Luckily for me, however, that none of my patients soil themselves...though I've had a few soil me (usually the newborns, so that's ok). I hope Miss Luna will be done with her workup soon, so that she can go back to a more relaxing kitty lifestyle. Laurel
FyreCreek is it ok if I ask you a question completely unrelated to your post? ( I'm happy Miss Luna's visits are wearing down, and that she's feeling better!) You seem to understand cats rather well, and my Ella has developed a rather strange behavior that I've never seen from her before and her previous owner hadn't either. She will occasionally come up to my husband and nip him, dragging her teeth over the skin of his hand or head, he is the only one she does this with and it confuses me greatly. When he get on to her about it she goes nuts "apologizing" to him (rubbing up against him, and then she starts shedding a great deal like she does when she's stressed). I don't understand at all. Thank you for any insight that you could give me.
Zillah
I have some thoughts.
How long have you had her? How much do you know about the previous owner? Did she have a lot of men around?
We once had a cat who just hated my brother and father. He didn't attack them, but he ran from them. He was a stray, so it's hard to say what his previous experiences were, but it was very clear that he had issues with men.
It could be this, or it could be the opposite. It could be that she's become very possessive of him, and the nips are her way of saying that she needs to be the top female around. Or it could be that she is very possessive of you and doesn't understand that he's not hurting you when you're *um* together.
Possible solutions would be to make sure everyone in the home gives her as much attention as you can. Also be firm when she misbehaves, because that's how she's going to learn that you are the top cat. Cats understand prides (though not all cats are pack animals) so you need to make sure the pecking order is very clear to her.
And I'll think some more too....
The nipping always happens when we're in the living room being completely appropriate ;). It might be asking for more dominance in the house because it usually happens when he's focused on me(talking). She's affectionate with both of us, though she's always seemed to like him more. I got her over a year ago now when my husband came to visit me in Oklahoma, then he left for 6 months and she and I bonded rather well before we moved here. Her previous owners were a couple, they'd had her since her birth and still had her mother when I adopted her. She was an indoor outdoor cat with them and lately we've been noticing more and more anti-social/panic behavior when there are other people in the house. Meaning she runs and hides under our bed sheets till company is gone, though she does like his parents. We solve this by letting her retreat and not letting anyone go looking for her, even shutting doors between her and company when she goes to hide. We spend as much time with her as she wants to spend with us, anytime she is out with us we pay attention to her, but when she wants to disappear we don't go looking for her. Any insight would be helpful, because I'm stumped.
Zillah
Ok, so it sounds like she's very fond of your husband and, while she was close to you, she somehow might believe that she should be first in the pecking order - and first as in before you is not what you want.
Continue with the attention as you have been and both of you need to be sure to correct her behavior when she tries the nipping. Some of what you can do depends on what you do now. For example, if you all eat dinner at the same time, change the schedule. You two eat first, and then feed her. Does she sleep in the bed with you? Encourage her to sleep at your feet if she doesn't already. You basically want to show her that you love her, but she is not top cat. Squirt bottles are effective for most cats. Are you having a problem with nocturnal behavior too? There's a trick to correcting that.
As far as hiding from visitors, Miss Luna does that too. I let her do it as well, because her being comfortable in her home is important to me. The cardiologist called her needy because of how she follows me around the house. That may be so (and it sounds like your cat is, in a way, too), but the truth is that I need her just as much. She's even tolerant of my boyfriend, though I'm not quite sure how that happened.
What else? Thoughts?
It sounds like we've got all that covered, sigh. Another idea that my husband came up with is the fact that the day's are short here, with not a lot of light, which is something she and I are not used to yet. Many humans get depressed this time of year so it may be effecting her as well. We'll just wait it out and see. I love your snow pics! It's so pretty when you're not the one dealing with it ;). Sorry I didn't respond this weekend, my husband is sick and I've been taking care of him. He's on the mend now though which is a good thing!
Zillah
Oh, yes, I think you might have something there. Animals can get depressed just like people. Really, with the snow, our cats have been a little off, though I'm sure some of it is that we're not going anywhere!
Continue to show her love and affection and patience, and she will get used to where she is. If it gets really bad, your vet could prescribe an antidepressant, but I'd definitely say to wait and see before going that route!
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