Sometimes miracles do truly happen. Or maybe they are simply second chances. My cat Pumpkin definitely got her second chance with giving her daily hospice care, which is keeping her alive and comfortable. Here’s her story.
Pumpkin Lived 1.5 Years Longer with Hospice Care
When I last wrote about her in November 2012, she was literally on death’s doorstep. Although she is a 19-year-old cat, she had previously been very healthy up to last year. She rarely had anything but “annual” or “bi-annual” routine vet visits. But early last year, we noticed her mouth smelled and learned she had Stomatitis, which was followed by dental surgery to remove several teeth, and she was put on the steroid Prednisilone to treat the Stomatitis inflammation. Continue reading Cat Hospice Care Extends Senior Cat’s Quality of Life→
There’s no shortcut to giving cats good dental care. Beware of the new trend in anesthesia-free dental cleaning for cats and dogs, and my advice – is avoid it like the plague.
The best dental care is always at the vet under anesthesia checking for and filling cavities, cleaning plaque and gums, extracting teeth if needed, and polishing the teeth. Beware of petfood stores advertising “Teeth Cleaning Without Anesthesia for Cats and Dogs.” Though it sounds good, my experience with two cats could not have been worse, and could have led to serious, long-term dental issues if I hadn’t gone straight to my vet afterwards for an in-hospital dental cleaning under anesthesia. Continue reading Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning for Cats — Warning, Proceed with Caution→
Learning how to treat my cat’s chronic diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease has been a long challenge and effort.
Simba was a feral cat that lived in our back yard for a couple years until he was wounded by a severe cat bite that became infected and caused an abscess. We had trapped Simba the year before and neutered him and released him, feeding him daily and building an outside shelter for him. But with this wound, he needed medical care and surgery. So we trapped him again and brought him to our wonderful vet, Four Corners Animal Hospital in Concord, who promptly gave him the surgery he needed. After two weeks of wearing his e-collar—which he fought daily—we decided to keep Simba indoors and care for him for the rest of his life in the safety of our home, and not release him back outside where he could get hurt again. Continue reading Treating My Cat’s Chronic Diarrhea and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Through Traditional and Holistic Medicine→
Fostering cats is a rewarding and satisfying experience that I am honored to have. By fostering a rescued cat you provide a needed home for a cat that otherwise would remain homeless, or stay in a neglectful or abusive home, or possibly would be euthanized at a shelter. But when you take in a new foster cat, especially an adult cat, you never really know how long it may be before they are adopted—or how long it will take to find just the right home for that particular cat.
Rescuing Gigi
Gigi’s first night at home, after her rescue – She was very, very sick
I found Gigi—a beautiful, graceful Calico—abandoned and living along the Iron Horse Trail in Walnut Creek between two busy streets–just after receiving a hotline call to the cat rescue group I belong to called Community Concern for Cats (CC4C). The caller was concerned about a calico cat that looked thin, sick, and weak, and was seen falling down outside of the local feed store near the trail. Living close by, I walked the trail to see if I could find her near the described spot. I started feeding every night—putting wet and dry food out by some bushes along with a bowl of water. Two weeks later, I finally saw her! She appeared from a ditch right beside me that was completely covered by tree branches, probably hiding while waiting for me. She knew it was feeding time. Scared, hesitant, but trusting me—she allowed me to touch her and pet her. Once her trust was gained, I ran home, grabbed one of my cat carriers, walked back quickly to where I had left her, and the rest is history.
I’m sensing the time is close now for my elderly cat Red. I instinctively felt it early this morning that Red is close to the end of his life, and could even be in the early stages of the dying process. He is getting weaker, slower, more feeble and fragile, losing weight and appearing more gaunt.
He came to me in bed this morning seeking to be close—very close, nosing to get under the covers for warmth and safety. He gently plows his head into mine messaging me he wants to lie next to me. I cuddle him, hold him, embrace his frail, skeletal body. As he lies stretched out along the length of my body, I cuddle him to comfort him. I gently run my hand over his thin body. He purrs loudly, strongly, breathing and purring. I can’t sleep to his constant machine of a purr, but somehow it comforts me. I will miss this purr, this beautiful soul, this survivor, this brave cat that has endured so much. Continue reading My Elderly Cat – Signs the End is Near→
Sweet Alana, rescue kitty from a bad hoarding case
Pumpkin under the Christmas tree
Simba–from feral cat to uber lap cat
We rescued Red from the Oakland Airport, he lived at the airport for years before being trapped and neutered; he was a very traumatized, frightened, damaged cat that became completely transformed with love.
Morgan and Pumpkin, always together
Gracie is from ARF, where teens worked to socially rehab this frightened cat
Pumpkin loving our protected garden and being outside
Angus loves being in the sink and watching me put on my makeup
Pumpkin celebrating Christmas
Pumpkin relaxing
Simba and his lover Alana
A Farewell Letter to my Beloved Cat
Pasha sun-bathing
Marcello was a feral trapped outside, now a loving, sweet lap cat!
Angel and her lover Angus, they love to be together
Mischa is our latest rescue cat. I had been feeding her at our feral cat feeding place outside our house, and she was coming every night and morning. It took two months before I was able to pet her with many scratches every day along the way. But I knew Mischa could get there. Every day there was progress. Gradually she accepted coming inside the house for her pets. She had never been picked up before, so I worked on that too. Then finally, I said that’s it, and lifted her up and took her upstairs. She had already been spayed and was in surprisingly good health for being outside for at least 1.5 years. But she was thin. She proceeded to gain weight, a full lion mane around her neck! And fill out, she looks beautiful now! She is a dear kitty, lies beside my computer all day with me, sleeps on our bed, and is super affectionate, but lets no one else come near her.
Alex, rescued and trapped twice, finally have him back inside! Read about Alex in my blog post.
Darling Gigi rescued from the Iron Horse Trail, sick and starving.
Can You Afford the Cost of Owning a Cat?
Getting some sun
Romeo happy!
Pumpkin getting ready for bedtime
Enjoying the garden
Godiva, our blind kitty, gets extra special care and attention
Attentive Angus
Beautiful Pumpkin
Marcello with his sleepy eyes
Red has so many cat friends that love him
Romeo enjoying life in his cottage
Gigi and Pumpkin
Red and Angus
Gigi and Piev, both cats trapped and rescued off a trail, now in new loving homes
Alana making muffins in her bed
Her favorite time of year
Piev catching some good rays
Pasha soaking in the sun
Piev, loved cool sinks, on hot days
Mama, a feral cat, had kittens in a busy road, kittens are all adopted and we kept Mama
Angel – a true Angel
This is MY couch! 🙂
Nap time, I’m relaxing!
The sweetest cat that ever lived – we adopted from the Martinez Animal Shelter on her last day
Why Cats Need Good Dental Care
Pasha’s favorite place to be-High in the cat tree!
Girl time!
Studying hard!
Shy Morgan, was traumatized and abandoned by her previous people
My favorite position!
Ahhh, a nice breeze and some sun, perfect combo!
Beautiful, shy Morgan
Red enjoying having his ears cleaned!
Romeo loving the warm summer sunShy, timid Dusty, our oldest cat at 21 yearsMarcel, the character! Smart as a whip, wise beyond his years, a bigger than life personality! Marcel needs a TV show!
It seems every day I learn something new about my cats, how to care for them better, improve their health, improve their quality of life, understand them better, and appreciate their unique gifts and personalities.
My cats have taught me so much over these last 20 years, that I wanted a way to share what I have learned. I love my cats so much that I’m constantly pursuing new ways to provide them with the best of everything — veterinary care, nutrition, comfort, contentment, safety — and yet with a multi-cat household this can be a challenge and there are big hurdles, but you just have to be willing to spend the time and make the commitment.
