Hello new friends, furry and otherwise. ;)

I'm sitting here with my two furry friends Pi and Minchin.  Pi is a 14 year old Calico female, and Minchin is a 5 month old whirling dervish, all black and full of beans. 

Two months ago I had to put down my beloved cat Ra.  It was heartbreaking, but I know it was for the best.  He's no longer in pain. 

Minchin came into my life unexpectedly.  I was going to wait to adopt a kitten until I had finished grieving, Ra, but it seems he adopted me and wormed his way into my heart.   It has been very healing having this dear kitten.  I brought him home three weeks ago and have slowly begun the process of socializing him with Pi.  This has been complicated by the fact that he's almost entirely deaf. 

I always adopt from no kill shelters.  I adopted Minchin from Street Cats in Barrie.  Pi and Ra were adopted from Furry Friends, also in Barrie. 

I love my both little ones, and still remember my Ra with treats at the base of his urn.  (I had him cremated and brought him home.)

I just found out a couple of days ago that Pi has hyperthyroidism and a related heart murmur.  This is a worry, but I have her on medication now and hope to stabilize it.

Ra had diabetes and pancreatitis.  He fought heroically for a couple of years, but continued to deteriorate.  As I said, I miss him terribly.  He was an extraordinary cat.

There is nothing like a furry friend to warm the heart.  I'm a writer, so, I'm home most of the time.  They are wonderful companions.

I look forward to getting to know you all, and finding out if any of you have had to socialize a deaf kitten with a resident older cat.  I'll start a thread if I can't find one already.

Welcome!     I'm sorry about the loss of Ra.  So many of us here can relate.  These cats become such an important part of our lives, and their loss is devastating.  

I'm so glad Minchin found you!  He sounds like a sweet boy.  We'd love to see photos of your fur-kids!  

By the way, I have an 11 year old who had been treated for hyperthyroidism before I got her, but when I got blood work done for a few months ago, she was normal--she's not on thyroid meds now.  

Thanks, betsygee.   

That is wonderful news about your kitty being in remission. 

I did post a couple of pics on my profile. 

  Hi and welcome to TCS.   I am sorry to hear about Ra, but how precious that Minchin found his way in to your heart just when you were needing something.  Cats are amazing, and wonderful healers in our lives I think.  A whirling dirvish sounds like the perfect diversion for you after loosing Ra and then this news about Pi.   I hope that Pi comes to enjoy the company of her new  furry house-mate and that her mature presence helps Minchin to learn some of the cat skills he needs.  I am sure she has tried to give him a few lessons already, and that you are helping her to find some peace and quiet when she needs it.   

I hope you find the advice and support you are looking for here at TCS.  There are certainly others here with deaf cats and kittens as well as those with older cats with hyperthyroidism - and many doing well like the experience @betsygee  has mentioned.

We love photos around here, and Cat Pages too - telling us all about your cats. 

Welcome!  We're pretty new to the site, too, but look forward to seeing more about your kitties.  No words of advice re: socializing a deaf kitty -- thankfully, I've never had to do that.  Good luck