- Joined
- Dec 30, 2014
- Messages
- 8
- Purraise
- 3
I'm Wanda and I've been a cat-person my entire life.
Growing up I was "mom" to a long-haired dark girl we named Putsy (short for Puss 'n' Boots). She was in my life 17.5 years before crossing. She had developed seizures much like epilepsy in her last few months. We buried her under a tree in the yard.
After a few years without a fur-baby (restrictions from landlords) I was blessed with a little orphan I named Cammy Jo. She was a caramel-colored tabby with chocolate points on her ears and tail. She picked me out at the shelter and graced my life for 16 years and 4 months. She had been diagnosed in her 9th year with kidney disease. After changing her diet she lived that additional 7 years. What finally led to her journey across the bridge was cancer under her tongue. Her kidneys would not have been able to handle the chemo treatments. She crossed on January 13, 2006 (yes, it was a Friday). I had her cremated.
When Cammy was two I realized she was a latch-key kitty so after consulting with my vet I brought home a beastie boy I named Vincent James. A tuxedo with peds on his front paws, knee socks on his back legs, and the cutest little Charlie Chaplin under his nose. He was with me for 14 years 8 months. He also had kidney disease, as well as cirrhosis of the liver and hyperthyroidism. Vet told me the hyperthyroidism offset the cirrhosis and my care gave him good years at the end. He crossed on March 15, 2006 (the Ides of March). He, too, was cremated.
After saying farewell to two fur babies in less than three months, I was lonesome. Fortunately I had "inherited" two parakeets earlier in March, so I still had critters to feed and could hear sounds other than just me or the house. I made myself wait a full month before beginning to search for new fur babies.
On May 11, 2006 (Mother's Day) I welcomed two little girls into my home: Hester Ann and Hannah Jo. Twin sisters. Both ticked grey tabbies. I had to put different color tags on their collars so others could tell them apart! As Mommy, though, I could tell the difference, even by voice. I told people Hester was Mary-Anne and Hannah was Ginger (ala Gilligan's Island). Hester sadly left us November 14; I've put her story on the Rainbow Bridge page and created a web page for her with her adoption story (and photos).
Hannah and I are still learning to live without her. Hester was the social girl and cuddle-kitty which meant Hannah was mainly in the background. Now I'm trying to learn Hannah's vocalizations and her mannerisms. I know Hannah understands me better than I understand her! And of course I am hypersensitive to Hannah's behavior given what happened with her sister. I've successfully changed her diet to better quality food based on ingredients and nutritional value (I started a thread titled NV Rabbit source no longer China). So far her eating, drinking and litter habits seem stable.
Now after six weeks we seem to be "falling into" something of a routine. In the morning after she eats some canned food we play for a bit before she takes her first siesta, which may or may not be on my lap while I'm on the computer. In the evening I try to make sure I'm home and showered by a certain time so she can keep my lap warm while we sit on the sofa. She is not the cuddle kitty Hester was, and absolutely will NOT be held under any circumstances, but she willingly curls up on my lap every night. Hannah does not head-bonk (Hester always did, and often initiated said bonks) but she does like to be scritched and often leans in to the hand doing the scritching.
At some point I'll create a page for Hannah. For now, I'll just include this one photo.
Blessings, all!
Growing up I was "mom" to a long-haired dark girl we named Putsy (short for Puss 'n' Boots). She was in my life 17.5 years before crossing. She had developed seizures much like epilepsy in her last few months. We buried her under a tree in the yard.
After a few years without a fur-baby (restrictions from landlords) I was blessed with a little orphan I named Cammy Jo. She was a caramel-colored tabby with chocolate points on her ears and tail. She picked me out at the shelter and graced my life for 16 years and 4 months. She had been diagnosed in her 9th year with kidney disease. After changing her diet she lived that additional 7 years. What finally led to her journey across the bridge was cancer under her tongue. Her kidneys would not have been able to handle the chemo treatments. She crossed on January 13, 2006 (yes, it was a Friday). I had her cremated.
When Cammy was two I realized she was a latch-key kitty so after consulting with my vet I brought home a beastie boy I named Vincent James. A tuxedo with peds on his front paws, knee socks on his back legs, and the cutest little Charlie Chaplin under his nose. He was with me for 14 years 8 months. He also had kidney disease, as well as cirrhosis of the liver and hyperthyroidism. Vet told me the hyperthyroidism offset the cirrhosis and my care gave him good years at the end. He crossed on March 15, 2006 (the Ides of March). He, too, was cremated.
After saying farewell to two fur babies in less than three months, I was lonesome. Fortunately I had "inherited" two parakeets earlier in March, so I still had critters to feed and could hear sounds other than just me or the house. I made myself wait a full month before beginning to search for new fur babies.
On May 11, 2006 (Mother's Day) I welcomed two little girls into my home: Hester Ann and Hannah Jo. Twin sisters. Both ticked grey tabbies. I had to put different color tags on their collars so others could tell them apart! As Mommy, though, I could tell the difference, even by voice. I told people Hester was Mary-Anne and Hannah was Ginger (ala Gilligan's Island). Hester sadly left us November 14; I've put her story on the Rainbow Bridge page and created a web page for her with her adoption story (and photos).
Hannah and I are still learning to live without her. Hester was the social girl and cuddle-kitty which meant Hannah was mainly in the background. Now I'm trying to learn Hannah's vocalizations and her mannerisms. I know Hannah understands me better than I understand her! And of course I am hypersensitive to Hannah's behavior given what happened with her sister. I've successfully changed her diet to better quality food based on ingredients and nutritional value (I started a thread titled NV Rabbit source no longer China). So far her eating, drinking and litter habits seem stable.
Now after six weeks we seem to be "falling into" something of a routine. In the morning after she eats some canned food we play for a bit before she takes her first siesta, which may or may not be on my lap while I'm on the computer. In the evening I try to make sure I'm home and showered by a certain time so she can keep my lap warm while we sit on the sofa. She is not the cuddle kitty Hester was, and absolutely will NOT be held under any circumstances, but she willingly curls up on my lap every night. Hannah does not head-bonk (Hester always did, and often initiated said bonks) but she does like to be scritched and often leans in to the hand doing the scritching.
At some point I'll create a page for Hannah. For now, I'll just include this one photo.
Blessings, all!
