Treating illnesses in animals

Lost4words said:

True, but, one swipe of my paw can make the earth shake!

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Oh Yah??

ilovejcsog said:

Your post sounds like you are a vet. Very informative.

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Heavens, no. But wrestling with chronic Lyme for years now has forced me to research herbs and supplements, and to deeply question many things about the medical industry.

This is my first pet in some 15 years, the last one being a dog that was very dear to my heart. Actually, this cat is my friend's, but she broke a hip and is recuperating, so I'm taking care of the cat. And as you mention, I have had some serious retraining to do with the cat, due to a lack of discipline by the owner. To everyone's surprise, including my own, the cat and I have drawn very close, and in an atmosphere of love it is soaking up godly discipline like a sponge, and appreciating it once the initial sting is over with. As I type this, he is lying on my lap, and I consider his calm trust as an honor. Truth be told, I've learned a lot from this cat, and am very thankful for the chance to interact with him.

ilovejcsog said:

I am glad he is in your life, they have a way of helping to find love you may have missed Truthfully animals do bring out the love in us, A Siamese?
I have had a few, they are very temperamental. Much more than any other cats I have ever had.
Here's a link for you.
Siamese cat - Wikipedia

It sounds like you both are on a good road to recovery. It makes me happy for both of you.
God bless you and family!

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Thanks. Best I can tell, he's a trad Siamese, or Thai Cat. I need to ask my friend's daughter, who got him originally. He was a rescue, from a fire in a pet store. I think his eyesight and smell have been affected.

I wouldn't say he is temperamental. He did have a lot of fears, though, due to the fire, being declawed in front, etc. But I walk him now, and step by step he is overcoming his fears. It's very encouraging to watch. He's gentle and very affectionate.

paul1149 said:

Heavens, no. But wrestling with chronic Lyme for years now has forced me to research herbs and supplements, and to deeply question many things about the medical industry.

This is my first pet in some 15 years, the last one being a dog that was very dear to my heart. Actually, this cat is my friend's, but she broke a hip and is recuperating, so I'm taking care of the cat. And as you mention, I have had some serious retraining to do with the cat, due to a lack of discipline by the owner. To everyone's surprise, including my own, the cat and I have drawn very close, and in an atmosphere of love it is soaking up godly discipline like a sponge, and appreciating it once the initial sting is over with. As I type this, he is lying on my lap, and I consider his calm trust as an honor. Truth be told, I've learned a lot from this cat, and am very thankful for the chance to interact with him.

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he is beautiful, by the looks of him he could be one of the other breeds that came with crossing Siamese and establishing other breeds, Burman for instance, doesn't matter anyway they are all gorgeous.

I am fortunate where I live even though its a very small rural town we have no stray cats.

My current cat is 10 months old and I got him from a rescue group as a kitten. The group had brought his mother and babies from a city pound so they could all be rehomed.
I have never had a cat like this before, he follows me everywhere, even when I think he's asleep he will beat me to the bathroom sitting on the bench while I have a wash, shower or whatever.

I really wish that vets would be funded so that animals could be desexed for free, it would save so much money in the end and I definitely think they should do it for the stray population and people who care for them.

Everything has become just businesses now and the mighty dollar seems to be the focus for so many now (sadly).

ilovejcsog said:

It sounds like maybe you will be able to keep him?. I hope so.

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I knew a woman who was outside one day, and she heard this terrible screeching and meowing and laughing---she looked and saw a group of young boys that had gotten a kitten, hung it by its neck with pillow case and then lit the case on fire! She ran screaming, the boys ran away and she grabbed the kitten and smothered the flames and bundled him in the pillow case and ran to the car and to the vet. The vet wanted to put it down, but they tried. They did manage to save it. She took it home and emptied a cabinet at the bottom and made a little home for it. She would not come out unless everyone was gone. Then she would come out and eat and drink and use the litter box. At the slightest noise she would run back to her little home. I was astonished at the patience of this woman and her husband for it took them 8 years, before the cat finally became a cat and jumped on their bed for attention!! It was a very slow process during those 8 years where she slowly would come out more and more, and little by little investigate the rest of the house with them around, but if they made the slightest move, she ran back to her home. Then she slowly followed them to the bedroom and would sit by the door without coming in, always running back when they moved. It was finally on that 8th year that she one night jumped up on the bed, and sat at the very corner of it. Slowly she eventually worked her way up the bed to where she could "nose" them, and then she finally let them pet her and after that she was fine. She lived for another 12 years as a totally loving and very affectionate kitty. The patience of that couple just amazes me. The cat never went outside, even if the door was open.

ilovejcsog said:

It sounds like maybe you will be able to keep him?. I hope so.

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I'm actually caring for my friend more now, as she is spending less time at her children's houses. And she lives upstairs, so the cat is almost both of ours. But we shall see how it unfolds.

mmksparbud said:

I was astonished at the patience of this woman and her husband for it took them 8 years, before the cat finally became a cat and jumped on their bed for attention!! It was a very slow process during those 8 years where she slowly would come out more and more, and little by little investigate the rest of the house with them around, but if they made the slightest move, she ran back to her home.

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I found this interesting. My cat also had a lot of fear, and I've learned a lot about helping him overcome them. I've found abundant love in general, sometimes with healthy challenges, to be the best way forward. It's hard to put into words, but I rely on the spirit to lead me in how to approach each situation. For instance, when on the leash, I'll usually give the cat all the time he wants to become comfortable with being outside, before we start walking. But then once we're out and about, I'll often hold the leash firm so the cat can't retreat from situations he finds a bit fearful but that I know are safe. In all this, I've seen how God's loving hand disciples us to conquer new territory and raise us up to do things we thought we never could have done. It's amazing how much we can learn from dealing with animals and the inherent wisdom God has place in them.

ilovejcsog said:

adopted

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ilovejcsog said:

There are programs that I found out about some time ago. A person advertised that she would come and trap them and take them in to a vet which she had funding for and get them fixed and bring them back. She charged 25 dollars for each cat for her services. I told her I couldn't help her in the trapping of them. I didn't tell her why as I don't like to use my physical problems as an excuse. I don't remember why but I knew this upset her and I never heard from her again. I consider that cost very reasonable and it is too bad that it didn't work out. Most of the cats originated from neighbor cats that the families didn't feed or fix. None were mine. I wish there were laws. About fixing them before they can be given or adopted or owned.

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Here in Australia all are desexed and microchipped when they are adopted, that is law with any rescue group but on the flipside it got me thinking if every one was, well then I wouldn't have got my kitten. One thing is the early desexing now that is done, they are done at about eight weeks, that's so young and maybe not so bad for the males but the females its an internal operation. When getting kittens from private homes the onus is on the person adopting to desex their pets.
Our local council gives vouchers for cats to be desexed for $20.00 which is a great thing.

Heavenhome said:

Here in Australia all are desexed and microchipped when they are adopted, that is law with any rescue group but on the flipside it got me thinking if every one was, well then I wouldn't have got my kitten. One thing is the early desexing now that is done, they are done at about eight weeks, that's so young and maybe not so bad for the males but the females its an internal operation. When getting kittens from private homes the onus is on the person adopting to desex their pets.
Our local council gives vouchers for cats to be desexed for $20.00 which is a great thing.

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A cat can get pregnant as young as 4 months old!! I found out the hard way---I took my 6 month old cat to the vet for she had been acting strangely---I couldn't believe it---she was 2 months pregnant! I was stunned, I was ignorant. We had just started talking about when we should get her fixed. She a litter of 5. When she had weaned her kittens, we took her back to the vet to get fixed---she was already pregnant! But the vet took them this time as they were barely there. 2 months seems a little young, but if you wait for the 4th month, it might be too late! I guess 3 months would be better---hopefully.

mmksparbud said:

A cat can get pregnant as young as 4 months old!! I found out the hard way---I took my 6 month old cat to the vet for she had been acting strangely---I couldn't believe it---she was 2 months pregnant! I was stunned, I was ignorant. We had just started talking about when we should get her fixed. She a litter of 5. When she had weaned her kittens, we took her back to the vet to get fixed---she was already pregnant! But the vet took them this time as they were barely there. 2 months seems a little young, but if you wait for the 4th month, it might be too late! I guess 3 months would be better---hopefully.

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Thank you for that, I had no idea they could get pregnant so early.
I always used to think about six months was good however I think vet techniques for female cats and dogs are much less invasive than they used to be.
Most of my cats for some reason are males (I have always have them neutered) so I'm probably behind the times.

Heavenhome said:

he is beautiful, by the looks of him he could be one of the other breeds that came with crossing Siamese and establishing other breeds, Burman for instance, doesn't matter anyway they are all gorgeous.

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Thank you. The pictures really don't do him justice. Everyone who sees him oohs and ahhs about how beautiful he is.

I've been looking around Wiki. The Birman is close but not quite right. Then I remembered another friend called him a ragdoll or ragamuffin, the two being closely related. I think ragamuffin has it though. The physical description fits him to a tee. And the temperament, taken from the ragdoll description, really describes him:


I even call the cat "puppy" or "puppy dog", and he comes when I call him. So now I have a bit more of the history behind the breeding. Thanks!

ilovejcsog said:

had always heard that females should be allowed to have at least one litter before neutering. It makes them a better pet. She was a typical female, not a very good pet. She was jealous of her baby boy all of his 18 years and let him know it.

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Interesting. I had heard that too, about the benefits of having the first litter, but this morning I read otherwise at Neutering your cat | International Cat Care, FWIW. My friend's daughter, who is big into animals and used to work for a vet, and currently has six dogs (she used to have a small farm), also says that males make better pets. I'm pretty sure my cat is fixed, because he never sprays or has temperament problems.

ilovejcsog said:

@Paul
I laugh when I think of you walking your cat on a leash, lol. You are the only one that I know of that does.

My two cats died in 2016. They were 18 and 19 years old. Mother and son. I had always heard that females should be allowed to have at least one litter before neutering. It makes them a better pet. She was a typical female, not a very good pet. She was jealous of her baby boy all of his 18 years and let him know it. Some of these ferals are the same way here. Oreo the girl that died here recently was different from the other females I have had experience with but probably because I was by her side all of her life trying to save her. With my own cats they were raised in the house always. I think street cats have a short unhappy life. For me I found no reason for them to be outside but on occasion I would let them out for grass or bring some in for them. There are too many dangers here for them outside. Both of mine were fixed around 6 months old and turtle the mom had a litter before. They did not live outside so I did not have to worry about reproduction. I had a third cat that was not related to her and was the father. He was an outdoor and indoor cat unfortunately . He was not very healthy, he lived to be 12. Sorry I didn't mean to give you a personal history.
Hope you all have a wonderful day.
Blessings
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Mom, dad and son. Turtle, Bear, Julius(Julie)

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They are lovely. I have always loved cats.
I remember when I was little I always said I wanted to be a cat lady.
However the most I've ever had at one time is three.
Now only one but its due to financial reasons and my physical conditions.
Paul when I looked closer I noticed your cat has the most beautiful emerald green eyes wow!

Heavenhome said:

Paul when I looked closer I noticed your cat has the most beautiful emerald green eyes wow!

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They're actually a beautiful light blue; not sure why they look green in that pic. But even so, watch out, he seems to have a mesmerizing affect on females - and not just the feline types!

Here's a shot of him during his morning meditations. He's contemplating his favorite verse: "Be ye purrfect...."

ilovejcsog said:

There are too many dangers here for them outside.

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That's why I use a harness and a leash to walk mine. We have 1.5 acres, some of it wooded, but still the road is dangerous. Then there are ticks in the tall grass, and other animals, and Truffey doesn't have front claws.

Walking a cat is different than walking a dog. It's more of a stop and go affair. The cat periodically tests the sights, smells, and sounds for danger and opportunity. But once the cat's greatest fears began to be overcome, and once I got used to letting him acclimate himself to the outside each time, and realized he needed assurance, whether verbal or by stroking, at times, things went much better, and he learned to respond to what I do with the leash. Now that I know some of his lineage's history, I'm sure him bred to be a cat-dog in temperament makes this even better.