The Search for the Perfect Food

I'm as clueless as the next guy; so much to consider! There are so many special labels out there that you can only get in pet stores. There is also my friend who has always always given all her cats Purina Cat Chow. One would think that would be like the McDonald's of cat food but her cats live forever!

Being that my household is 90% neutered males (my son not included in census), there are special health concerns. Neutered male cats get crystals in their urinary tracts. (neutered dogs get FAT) The vet bills for these crystals far outweigh the cost of premium food. Even "Doctor No Nonsense" is pretty emphatic about this one and has a special diet that maybe I ought to try. But the hard part is getting something they LIKE!

Money is definitely a concern here but so is flavor and the convenience of getting the stuff factors in too. I'm not a well organized person and being able to buy the food at the grocery store sure is appealing and often necessary. HOWEVER the grocery store is more expensive than the fancy pet stores when it comes to the price of the brands that you can get at both places. Maybe I'm just stupid but that surprised me as I always figured that a place that charges six dollars for a little squeaky toy was marking up their food as well. Not at all, Fancy Feast Elegant medleys is ten to fifteen cents a can cheaper than at Ralph's (Kroger's). Walmart is lower still but shopping there is not something I'll ever endorse (unless they pay me a lot) but something I do because at this point in my life I'm not wealthy enough to have ethics. (I'd love to spew my political feelings about what corporations are doing to this country and its CITIZENS but I'll do that elsewhere and try to keep my focus here on kittens.)

If I'm going to spend a minimum of 75 cents on a thimble sized can of food, I'd like to think that it has some nutritional benefits. The Elegant Medleys taste great. Yes, I have sampled them and they don't have that awful crude fat by product taste that most have. (Yes indeed, I have tasted cat food. Get over it, this is the kind of stuff I'm willing to do as research) In the case of Captain, just getting him to eat regularly was the goal but normally I would prefer to say "Here's your food, like it or starve."

I would prefer to say that but more often I say, "Oh itty bitty baby no likey da poo poo foody! Baby try bury like doody in widder box! Mommy make good num num! Mommy do now!" then I cook a chicken and rice and pathetically await my kitties' approval of my cooking. If they don't like it, my self esteem plumets.

I may have found the solution: Newman's Organics. It is a premium food and they now stock it at Kroeger's (Ralphs). I wanted to try it because ... well, I like Nell Newman, her Dad's cool too and some of their profits go to good causes. I don't know what good causes but I'm sure they're good because I trust Cool Hand Luke. Also, when I was a kid, I really liked Nell's performance in "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds"*. Now I know that it is just that kind of blonde logic that won't have you coming back to this blog for more of my sage advice, but hey, why not try it? It comes in larger cans so it's not as expensive as the Shebas of this world and Nell says it's good for them. (I trust Cool Hand Luke's daughter)

It must taste healthy. They didn't like it too much but I finally realized that this isn't all that important. Canned food is a treat. It is not what they live on. Fortunately, I have been lucky with the kibble. I buy Iams kitten and Iams adult. Why Iams? Because it makes their poop smaller. With five litter boxes this is a good thing. Upstairs I have Purina One. This two kibble routine is a habit from foster parenting. You don't want them to be too brand specific. This way they also have a choice. And if I find that one has been recalled there's a good chance that half my cats will survive.

I'd love to know what others are swearing by or swearing at. When it comes to the really small babies I'm very clear, Royal Canin makes a very tiny kibble for really young kittens. It seems to score well on all levels but I still ALWAYS have a problem with runny stool. (Not ME, the kittens!) Is this just the way? Is there any way to keep these tiny tummies from having such a hard (and stinky) time with handling solid food? I'm open to all suggestions.

*That has to be the best movie name ever.

Hypoglycemia in Kittens

"Captain" kneaded my heart into silly putty. Now I miss him and foolishly regret not keeping him. Funny how attached you get when an animal has siezures in your hands. OK, it's not funny at all, it was a very scary and costly experience.

I found him one evening lying on the floor (as if he'd fallen) when I picked him up I knew something was wrong. He was lifeless and cold. Were it not for the tiny mew he let out I would have thought him dead. I felt he needed treatment immediately and rather than take him for a half hour drive to the shelter vet, I chose to take him to a nearby emergency clinic. he siezed a couple of times on the way. He had so little life in him that even his siezures seemed half hearted.

I got him in, they looked very worried. They rushed him back to the doctor and once he was stabilized, I was told that his blood sugar had become fatally low and he would have died had treatment been delayed. We discussed how this could have happened and the vet was implying that maybe with all the kittens in the house, this one didn't get enough to eat. Once they had brought him around, he ate very hungrily. I'm sure the vet thought that he had missed a few meals but I knew better, I had seen him at breakfast. They believed he needed to be hospitalized for the night. The bill was already 350.00 and the hospital stay would have brought it to over 700.00. "This isn't even my cat! He's a foster kitten, I can't spend that kind of money on him!" They had brought him out during his revival and while he was sleepy, he seemed OK. He meowed and purred, bless his heart. They suggested they keep him until closing and in the meantime I went out to buy a heating pad and baby food.

Against their advice, I took him home. I put him in my bed and stayed up most of the night with him. He got too hot for the heating pad and eventually ended up under my neck. His brother and sister joined us in the morning and all assumed their positions under my neck to knead and suckle my blanket (I have learned to get them on the blanket and off my skin, kitten hickies are only cute for a little while). He showed no signs of brain damage but was the "wussiest" of all the kittens, crying immediately when tackled. Maybe he was always like that, he had only become affectionate a few days before this incident so I didn't know him very well. I did a little research and bought a bottle of Karo syrup to rub on his gums should this ever happen again. I also made certain that he ate at every meal and even started buying the rediculously expensive Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys because he liked them.

When we did a follow up another vet said that the whole thing was just a fluke and would probably never happen again. This would not mean he is at risk for feline diabetes or anything. I explained this to the shelter when I surrendered him and his brother and sister. Anybody adopting him would certainly have enquired as to why his arm and neck had been shaved. It must not have been of much concern to whover adopted him because he was gone before the weekend was over.

Thursday, I took my teenagers (Sacha and Smokey) in for their final round of shots. I took them to the low cost vaccination clinic (just under 50 bucks each... I shudder at the thought of "high cost") I like the vet there. I refer to him as "Dr. No Nonsense". I asked him about Captain's incident. What I found out was that while it may have been a fluke, there are non diabetic animals that have delicate blood sugar levels. He said that certain small dog breeds are notorious for it. and that they usually have a strong taste for human food and maybe even a sweet tooth. (These guys were eating muffins in their dressing room) Captain definitely had more of an interest in what I was eating than any of the other kittens ever showed.

He said that there was no need for concern or high vet bills because all that's needed is the Karo syrup. If it's caught right away, the animal will come right around and you can give it some food and it will be fine. BUT if not caught or a person doesn't know what to do, the siezures start and brain damage or death can result.

So it's been a week since I said "Goodbye" to Captain and I'll admit I've regretted it ever since. No, I shouldn't have adopted him but I do miss him even more than I thought I would. But hey, that's what happens! You fall in love! Get over it, the job is to take care of them not to adopt them all and become the crazy cat lady of the neighborhood!

BUT what if this happens to Captain again? If I was his owner I would certainly want to know that a simple bottle of Karo syrup could save money, brain cells and even his life. I know all adoptions are confidential. Animal services is a law enforcement agency and can't give any information on adoptors but I wrote to my two contacts to see if they had any way of contacting his owners if they could please pass on the information. It's no big deal, no reason to not keep the cat, it may never happen again but just buy a bottle of Karo syrup and keep it around.

I'm sure I looked like an idiot for writing the letter but I couldn't rest until I did.

Teenage Boyz

My sister and I and Michael went to see our cousin in Palm Springs right after I took my little ones to the shelter. I was kind of glad to have a distraction so I might not notice the lack of kitten mews or feel the full sting of missing Captain. Now I will get some time with my newest real members of the family, Sacha and Smokey.
We arrived home last night. Now with Michael at school, I am experiencing my kitteens. They don't have any little kittens to play with. Normally at this hour they would be upstairs in the cat play room impressing the little ones with how big and manly they are. Now they seem a bit bored. They are in my face constantly. I feel like the wife of a striking writer; I'm always saying, "Don't you have anything else to do?"

Smokey: Hiya Mom! Watcha doin'?"
Sacha: "She's doing the dishes, Stupid! Hey Mom, can I help you?"
Me: "Boys, please get off the counter."
Sacha: "Awe Mom, you look like you could use a hand, Here's my paw. See I put it in the water, see?" (splash)
Me: "Sacha!"
Smokey: "Here, I wash cup." (thunk)
Me: "Smokey!"
Sacha: "This bottle cap looks like it could use a good scrub". (splash)
Smokey: "You wanna wash this dish again?"(SPLASH)
Me: "No!"
Sacha: "There's that word again. "No". She says it a lot. I think it's your name."
Smokey: "No it your name! She yell at you! See her eyebrows look mad!"
Sacha: "No way, my name's 'Num num' YOUR name is 'No'"
Smokey: "My name is 'Iloveyou'. I know cuz she smiles when she says it."
Sacha: "You're name is 'No!'"
Smokey: "YOU'RE name is 'No!'"

Sacha: "Hey she's going in that room again, let's get in before she closes the door!
(SLAM)
Sacha: "Damn! Foiled again."
Smokey: "She always forget to wait for us."
Sacha: "That's cuz she's getting old. It's hard for her to remember stuff. That's why she needs our help. Remember last night when we were helping her type?"
Smokey: "Ya. I make lot of letters."
Sacha: "Well I'm the one who turned the computer off for her!"
Smokey: "Ya, you is real smart."
Sacha: "Damn right I am. I even had to unplug stuff. She really needs us!"
Smokey: "How can we help her? We out here."
Sacha: "We'll just knock on the door and she'll let us in. It works for Ryan and that's how she lets the dog out."(Bang bang bang)Smokey: "She not coming."
Sacha: "That's weird."
(Bang bang bang bang)
Smokey: "Oh no! Maybe Mommy unconscious! We have to rescue her! I scratch the door down!"
(Scratch scratch scratch!)
Sacha: "That's no good you big pussy! You gotta put some muscle in it! Like this!"
(BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG)
Smokey: "Oh no! Mommy dead! Mommy dead! Waaaa! I miss Mommy!"
Sacha: "There's just one thing left to do; we've got to dig a trench under this door. It's the only way we can save her."
Smokey: "Don't worry Mommy! We coming!"
Sacha: "Hey this carpet comes up real easy!"
Smokey: "And taste good too. Nom nom nom nom."
Me: (Approaching the door) "God $@!*&!!!"

In the distance, my grown cats, Tabitha and Ryan, observe:

Tabitha: "What are you doing?"
Ryan: "I'm watching all their cuteness wear off."
Tabitha: "Awesome! Hey while they're busy, let's go eat all the kibble."
Ryan: "Ah, you're beautiful AND smart."

Last Litter Syndrome

Ain't he sweet? Look at those itty bitty hands. I wonder what kind of chip the aliens implanted and why didn't they choose the kitten named "Chip" for this procedure.

While first litter syndrome resulted in me adopting, the urge is on me again now that I'm facing last litter syndrome. I'm pretty sure this is the end of feline babies until the weather warms and I'm getting way attached to my last three. These kittens never purred the first week I had them, now they are so loving. They have such great little "hands" they are always kneading and it looks really cute because they are all wearing little white gloves. Captain sort of kneads the air and touches my face when I pick him up, it's very endearing. This is the kitten who started dying for no reason and I took him to the emergency clinic (to the tune of $350.00)His name was Cookie but he did that magic sex change like Lucy did and my son said the name "Cookie" was just too queer so we changed it.
I noticed that some stitches were poking out of him Tuesday while waiting for our time to go on camera. I knew he'd been shaved on his neck but this was the first time I'd seen or felt the stitches. I figured there must have been some life saving device plunged into his corotid artery or something but thought it strange that nobody mentioned bringing him back to get them removed. I guess they don't use the dissolving CAT GUT stitches any more. This will have to come out before he goes up for adoption. Bad enough he has the obvious shaving which will make people think twice about him...
So I called the office and asked about coming in and they put a vet on the phone. "There's no reason for that kitten to have stitches, there is nothing in his record to indicate that sutchers were ever used." "Dang, maybe it's just something stuck on him but it looks like stitches , er, um, sutchers to me."
I remember years ago getting a call from the veteinary office where I used to get my Dog, Cortez, groomed. I got that grave phone call saying "We've found a tumor, the doctor will need to speak with you when you pick up your dog." My heart as pouding on the drive over. When I got there, the tumor had turned out to be a piece of candy cane with a couple of Thomas the Tan Engine stickers that the fur had grown around. I hadn't noticed it before since it was near his dick and I always figured he could clean that part himself. I thought maybe I'd take Captain in and they'd say "Look, it's your dental floss mixed with jam" or something.
The vet said to bring Captain in so he could take a look. I took him into the place and Danielle Spencer was on duty. She's an old friend, you might remember her as "Dee" from the 1970s show "What's Happening". The kids from that show were guests on the Variety Hour so we got to know each other then. (Geri Reischl and Earnest Thomas are still friends and working on a project together) I saw her years later when she was just starting veterinary school. It's so cool that she is practicing near where I live. She's really nice and still looks like she's fourteen (She must have gotten Florence's secret map to the fountain of youth).
We hugged and went bla bla bla for a while and then the vet I had spoken to on the phone came out. He looks at Captain and says "Hey those ARE stitches. Why does he have stitches?" "Don't look at me, I have my sewing machine out but I haven't used it on the kitties, REALLY, I haven't." He removed the sutchers still shaking his head. I talked to him about Captain's little near death experience and he assured me that there is no indication that he will have any more blood sugar issues again. Basically, it was a fluke. (Lucky me). Maybe we can explain his shaved arm and neck as being some kitten fashion statement now that the stitches are out... but why were they there?
We arrived at the only LOGICAL conclusion: Captain must have been abducted by aliens.

I told Danielle that I'm really tempted to adopt Captain. I was hoping she'd say something smart and practical like.. "No, Susan don't." Instead she said "It's always good to have another cat, it's nice the way they interact with each other.""I already have four!"She just smiled a great big smile.I was tempted to do my best Shirley Hemphill impression and say, "Thank you, Dee." but I refrained.

Kitten and Crow

As much as I love kittens I'm going to give the crow credit here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JiJzqXxgxo&mode=related&search

Going Postal

From This

To This

I foolishly ignored a friend's advice and got a scratching post covered in carpet rather than rope. I ended up with a post that was shredded to bits in no time.

Scratching on carpeting teaches cats that it's OK to... scratch on carpeting. Who knew? Yeah it's pretty obvious but you see so many posts covered in carpet that I just assumed that it was a good thing. It's not! I have carpeting in my house that looks like the carpeting on the post. Those long fibers from scratched up carpet can be swallowed and choked on and they just look bad. (If your little darlings have transferred their scratching to the carpeting on your floor you know what fun that is to vacuum) So if you have one of these or find somebody who's throwing one away, you can restore it into a better post that won't teach your cats to trash your house.

Get some rope and a glue gun. Take off the old carpet, leaving some on the top as a cushion and wrap the rope around it. It takes a while as you must wait for the glue to cool and harden with each row. Note: hot glue on fingers - not good. That is one nasty burn because it seals the pain in. Weee. Take care and soon you'll have a GOOD AS NEW post that your friends will oooh and ahhh over and wish they were as clever as you.

Bye Bye Lucy and Fred

If you know anybody who's looking for a couple of really SWEET cats... They said they would try to adopt them out on the "Best Buddy System" which is where you can adopt two for the price of one because they are best buddies (Truthfully, Louie played more with Chip from the other litter)

Lucy (Louie) A906944 Freddie A906945

West Valley Animal Shelter