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- Aug 22, 2012
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Hi
I'm new to this site, so I apologize if there is already a thread like this (I didn't find one).
My kitty, Bogart (pictured in my avatar), is my love He is just a sweetheart, and I love him to bits. He's a bit shy with new people, and even a bit shy with my fiance (even though we've all lived together for just over 2 years). He's the second youngest of 5 cats, and gets along great with everyone. His health is good, although he had a urinary blockage at a very young age (9 months). I was a vet assistant for 8 years before becoming disabled, so luckily, I recognized the symptoms very early. His bladder had not yet even become full, so he suffered no kidney level elevations, potassium issues, etc. It was determined to be a struvite stone issue, which is good (they dissolve with proper pH balance restoration in the urine), and after 24 hours at the vet, he came home in good condition. Bogart was on good nutrition when he blocked, so I believe his genetics were at play (his mom is a Siamese, his dad an unknown barncat). Since then, he's been on a strict Science Diet C/D for the prevention of stones, drinks well, and all u/a's have come back quiet promising (concentration has been high, so I try and feed wet food frequently, but dry is easier, and he prefers it).
So... my main issue... whenever Bogart is particularly "happy," i.e. is getting pet vigorously, scratched the way he wants anywhere south of his neck, or is patted anywhere near his bum, his anal glands just squirt everywhere!!! And this can happen day after day after day... I know that it is healthy for them to replenish themselves to express during a BM, but sheesh... he just lets them go!!!
I've checked his glands a few times at home, fun for us both... and never found any evidence of impaction or infection. I can't figure out why he still has material to express... is he not expressing them during his BM's? They appear normal (rather large, in fact), firm and he seems quiet impressed with himself on a daily basis. Can they replenish themselves on demand like that? as in, express just some for a BM, and save enough to squirt all over myself and my couch when he's super happy? Why oh why is this his way of showing his pleasure?!?!?!? I have a fiance who did accept that in order to be with me, he would have to accept my cats as well, but it's caused a few fights, and I feel like I'm constantly defending my cat... He clearly doesn't do this on purpose... It appears like they just "pop" - not the right wordage, but they just... go....
He really enjoys vigorous scratching and petting, and I feel like I'm not able to do that as much as either of us like... I love hearing him talk to me the way a siamese/siamese mix does when they're happy.. I love the purrs, and happy looks he gives me. When I have to worry about the furniture, and a fight over his messy habit... I find myself not giving him the loves either of us wants...
Any help and advice would be welcome
I'm new to this site, so I apologize if there is already a thread like this (I didn't find one).
My kitty, Bogart (pictured in my avatar), is my love He is just a sweetheart, and I love him to bits. He's a bit shy with new people, and even a bit shy with my fiance (even though we've all lived together for just over 2 years). He's the second youngest of 5 cats, and gets along great with everyone. His health is good, although he had a urinary blockage at a very young age (9 months). I was a vet assistant for 8 years before becoming disabled, so luckily, I recognized the symptoms very early. His bladder had not yet even become full, so he suffered no kidney level elevations, potassium issues, etc. It was determined to be a struvite stone issue, which is good (they dissolve with proper pH balance restoration in the urine), and after 24 hours at the vet, he came home in good condition. Bogart was on good nutrition when he blocked, so I believe his genetics were at play (his mom is a Siamese, his dad an unknown barncat). Since then, he's been on a strict Science Diet C/D for the prevention of stones, drinks well, and all u/a's have come back quiet promising (concentration has been high, so I try and feed wet food frequently, but dry is easier, and he prefers it).
So... my main issue... whenever Bogart is particularly "happy," i.e. is getting pet vigorously, scratched the way he wants anywhere south of his neck, or is patted anywhere near his bum, his anal glands just squirt everywhere!!! And this can happen day after day after day... I know that it is healthy for them to replenish themselves to express during a BM, but sheesh... he just lets them go!!!
I've checked his glands a few times at home, fun for us both... and never found any evidence of impaction or infection. I can't figure out why he still has material to express... is he not expressing them during his BM's? They appear normal (rather large, in fact), firm and he seems quiet impressed with himself on a daily basis. Can they replenish themselves on demand like that? as in, express just some for a BM, and save enough to squirt all over myself and my couch when he's super happy? Why oh why is this his way of showing his pleasure?!?!?!? I have a fiance who did accept that in order to be with me, he would have to accept my cats as well, but it's caused a few fights, and I feel like I'm constantly defending my cat... He clearly doesn't do this on purpose... It appears like they just "pop" - not the right wordage, but they just... go....
He really enjoys vigorous scratching and petting, and I feel like I'm not able to do that as much as either of us like... I love hearing him talk to me the way a siamese/siamese mix does when they're happy.. I love the purrs, and happy looks he gives me. When I have to worry about the furniture, and a fight over his messy habit... I find myself not giving him the loves either of us wants...
Any help and advice would be welcome