Hi Joanne,

Thank you for that post about cat/dog food. I am going to make a conscious effort to feed my cats more wet food. Is there a particular type of wet food that is better/worse for them? I want to do the best I can for them. I also have read about the dangers of vaccinations (I have always vaccinated every year), and it scared me quite a bit. Enough that I have decided no one is getting shots this year, just check-ups for their health. I am afraid my vet might question that, though?

Thanks again and any more insight into cat/dog food (I have 2 dogs also) would be wonderful.

I had came across this information about over vaccination~
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/petv...tm#vacc_effects


Ren, Zorro, and Nemo's Mom.

Thank you Joanne for the wonderful information. I REALLY appreciate it!

I worry about my babies at home so much after losing one cat to cancer, and another to heart disease (cardiomyopahthy), which I later learned after he had passed, his kidneys gave out before his heart so he was in Renal failure. So, I want to give my babies at home the best I can.

Most of my cats will eat canned food, so that is good (but not all of them will). I went home last night and gave my dogs/cats wet food, they loved it!

Thanks so much for all the helpful information. This pet food ingredient list is great! Now I can print this off and be armed with it when I go to the pet store!!!

Yes, I will have to be firm with my vet, but luckily this vet doesn't blindly give cats/dogs medicine, so I think they will understand what I am trying to do.

Thanks a MILLON!
Ren, Zorro, and Nemo's Mommy

Thanks! I need to print this off, too. Great information again!! I am glad I found this site. We can all learn from each other and give our current "kids" the best we can give.

I can't believe WD!! And vets give us that stuff! Of course, they are probably not reading up on every ingredient in cat food, and assume it is safe. We should protect what we put in our babies mouths..........

THANKS AGAIN for this information! It makes me feel better to know this stuff, and give my babies the best stuff I can.

HUGS!
Ren, Zorro, and Nemo's Mom

My Ren, you are gone 3 weeks today, I miss you so. Zorro, 2 months, and the pain is still just as new as when I lost you. And my dear Nemo, 3 years ago I lost you too soon as a kitten, from a vet that did something slightly wrong in your neuter procedure (my best guess at what happened).

How is Mario doing today? I know what you mean about leaving them overnight, I HATE that and then I imagine them sitting there all alone. I hope he is doing better. It's so hard when cats don't eat.

Did they ever say what the cause of his heart murmur was? I have had three cats with heart murmurs- 1 was my Nemo kitty who died in a routine neutur (I am very suspicous of that). Then Ren, who passed three weeks ago had a heart murmur. It turned out to be cardiomyopathy. He actually way outlived what they predicated for him. He was such a fighter. He took him medicine day and night, and proved the vet wrong. When I called the cardiologist a year later to let him know Ren was still alive, he didn't know how it was possible. Ren just was a fighter and it wasn't going to stop him. I got another little kitty with a heart murmur, I took her to the vet and they said she wouldn't live 6 months. So, I took her to a specialist/cardiologist, and they discovered it was mitral valve dysplasia. She takes medicine every morning and night and is doing super. She is almost 2 1/2.

Let me know how Mario is doing..... worried about the little bugger.

Joanne-

How is Mario doing? Give us an update...

Hi Joanne,

Thank you for the update on Mario and Lily! I am glad they are both eating. I hope they are still doing well and continuing to improve? I am glad you have such a good vet.

I've got my cats/dogs on all new food now, after reading some of the links you posted on good/bad ingredients. It's funny how even the expensive stuff is really junk in some cases. I even bought them all new treats. I am trying different new foods (with good ingredients), and so far the one they go nuts over is the Solid Gold - in the purple bag. They love the stuff!

We have also bought a new cat tree and cats toys for them to play with. I am trying to spoil them rotten. It's just so hard, because they are grieving at the same time I am. The house is so different without Zorro and Ren.

Take care~
Ren, Zorro, and Nemo's Mom

Wow- Dollywood really does look so much like Rassy Cat!

I am sure it is so hard for you to have lost 4 cats to kidney disease. That has to be absolutely heartbreaking. I am not sure why some people seem to have more pain than others. I am definitely feeling my share of pain today.

I took my little cat to the vet today to get an echocardigram. She got such a good report last time I thought there would be no problems. Wrong! He said the disease has progressed. I felt like I had been shot. I just wasn't expecting that! It's hard to say how many years she may have left 2-3, 5, ? Hard to say. She is 2 1/2. They have now doubled her medicine, and that should help slow down the progression of the disease. I'm just really sad. This is only 6 weeks after losing my other cat Ren to heart disease.

Don't blame yourself for the vaccines and boosters. It's what they have always said "responsible" pet owners do. It's hard to say what caused the kidney failure, it could have had nothing to do with the vaccines? I guess we just don't know. But we go forward with the best information we have for our pets at each time. It's hard to say if the same treatments you mentioned would have worked for Rassy cat, they may not have?? Rest assured all your babies had the best loving home and a wonderful place to live.

I'm just so sad about my kitty today........ this wasn't how today was supposed to go....

Ren, Zorro, and Nemo's Mom

OH Joanne I am sorry!

I was going to ask how you were doing Oct. 18th and I forget! My mind is all over the place nowadays. You have always been so helpful.

I am sure Rassycat was happy that you lit a candle for him. Hopefully he had a wonderful day at the Rainbow bridge and played with all Pu$$ywillow, Mew and Howard. You care so much for your babies...

You can't blame yourself. Really, you can't. You loved your babies with all your heart and that is the important thing. I have guilt creep in sometimes too. I wonder, what if, what if. But, we can't ever really answer that question.

Happy one year bridge day, Rassycat!! Hope you had lots of treats and fun with your friends!



Love is stronger than death even though it can't stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries it can't separate people from love. It can't take away our memories either. In the end, love is stronger than death."
- Unknown

HUGS
Ren, Zorro, and Nemo's Mom

As a proud new papa to a kitty, your post has given me so much valuable information. I've always had dogs (I had cats but only as a kid).


Not sure how I will be on Candy's 1 year anniversary, I'll probably loose it. But I love the idea of lighting a candle in her memory.


God bless you!

Hal

Joanne,

Let us know how sweet Dolly is doing. I was so sad to see your post! You have been through so much already. Bless you for having such a heart and caring for these babies. I am thinking of you! Hope you are hanging in there!

Give us an update when you can~ thinking of Dolly, Mario and Lily.......

HUGS
Ren, Zorro, and Nemo's Mom

Glad to hear your kitties are doing better! And sounds like Charlie is better? So it wasn't thyroid? Did they say what caused it?

Your babies definitely keep you busy (as do mine!) but you take such wonderful care of them!

Ren, Zorro, and Nemo's Mom

What lovely pictures. They are all beautiful!!!!!

Enjoy them.

Hugs!!!

Beautiful pictures! Yes, they do all look like... but like you said you can tell them apart. What cuties!

Thanks for sharing!
Ren, Zorro, and Nemo's Mom

Remembering Mew and Howard, on their angelversary. Your mom misses you so sweet babies!


love,
Dayna

Hi Joanne, just letting you know your in my thoughts. Your angels were so lucky to have your love and care on this earth. And they returned the favor by leaving you with happy special memories that will last forever..Your right, no matter how many years past, it'll always seem like yesterday..Hugs..Ann

Like a lot of us here you had many regrets, that turned into guilt but it was not a guilt that you deserved to have.
I think that by adopting special needs kids, you can give them what you thought you could have given more of.
Knowing this about you, you should realize that even in the past, the care and love you gave was the best you could give them. Forget about things that are negative and live with as much positive as you can, this is what you have to offer to your kids, do not look for the dark but welcome the light.

Hi again Joanne, just want to let you know, I like what you said about grief. "greif isn't negative, it's the mourning of a loss, it's the missing". How very true. Sometimes I think I will carry that grief for my furbabies for a lifetime. Yes, time has passed with Whiskers and Daisy, I can smile now at the memories they gave me, and yet still feel sad and miss them after all these years. New ones will never replace them, but they will let us love them just as much. Not many people would take on special need animals like you have. You have made such a difference in their furry little lives, you have no idea. And it's unfortunate that we have to learn from our mistakes in the past at the cost of our special friend, but I try to believe the "whys" will be answered in time. Sounds like you have found your "whys" by taking on this difficult, yet forfilling tasks of your ill babies. Even though grief takes on such negative trats as anger, sadness, even hatred at times, it's just our broken hearts bleeding. Only we/ourselves can heal it, and it others don't understand, so be it. Keep up the good work!..and I truely understand your pain..Hugs..Ann

Hi, Joanne:

Hope all is going well. I am a little under the weather right now..hope to be better soon.

P.S. I see the"Judge" is still hiding. We know what judgment no one can hide from.

Take care and talk to you soon.

Judy

I know soon it will be 10 years since the loss of your P***ywillow. It would be nice to have a month without any "anniversaries".

Hope you and your babies are doing better. I'm still dealing with trying to talk to my Little Guy without my words being made fun of.

Do you think there are people who don't know what PMs are? That they can only rant publicly when they shouldn't, especially when they don't know the cir%%stances? And why don't they have their own topic to use as their voice instead of getting involved in others grief and not helping at all?
Oh, well.

Take care,
Judy

Hi, Joanne:

Your reply sure makes a lot of sense, as always.

I wanted to be sure and stop here and send you best wishes that your surgery this week will be short and heal fast. Please be sure to keep us updated as best you can.

Take care,
Hugs to you and all your babies.
Judy

Joanne,

Yes, best of luck on your surgery - I didn't realize it was coming up so soon! I'll write you again as soon as I get more time, but if it's before your med. date, know that my thoughts, too, will be with you.

And if you're not able to pay tribute to Pu$$ywillow on the 25th, don't worry - she and we will understand, and again, our thoughts will be with you on that day.

Yes, our lifetime's losses are so often mixed right in with each one's. It's not unusual, even IF we've done a good job of 'coming to terms' with each. I think it's just because we miss any and all of them...but it does add to the pain, unfortunately. But there's nothing wrong with remembering whomever. They all deserve to be kept in our treasured and heartfelt memories.

Hi Joanne,
As for how you go on, besides that you just do, I don't know. Neither I nor my baby Jilly [Jacky's sister] are doing all that well with it and it has been since mid September 08. We are trying to regroup and reshape ourselves without our alpha cat who took care of both of us. I have done a few other things that have helped me--I made a memorial to him--first on Facebook, then moving on to FLICKR. Reliving all the memories as I post the pictures feels so [painfully] sweet that I didn't stop after telling their story. I keep putting up stuff -- the story of Jilly as she goes on alone here in Washington DC -- and the story of Jacky's memories. He's beginning to become sort of like Max Headroom, alive in cyberspace and when I miss him too much I visit him there. The second thing that happened is I was found by other flickr folks -- cat and other pet groups abound and you are invited to join or can seek them out. Among the flickr friends I discovered was katzarella. A Dutchwoman who has several cats, constantly and beautifully photographed, and has them talk to the visitor, tell them what they are doing and how they are feeling [with a lot of poetic license]...They are happy and loving and mischievous and reminded me so of the happiness JackyJilly shared that I kept following them back in time and discovered the death of the beloved orange Fokke. I kept going back and and forward in time on the photostream and saw how they worked through it and evolved, then back in time to see their relationship with Fokke. The love and joy was palpable and the cat world katzarella shows people [and cats who look] is warm, humorous, and soothing, even if a few tears are part of it. They also made a memorial album of him.
Maybe creating will help, maybe looking will help. Here are some ways to see this.
http://flickr.com/photos/katzarella/225782...in/photostream/ takes you back to the announcement of Fokke's death -- from that point go either forward or backward to see what happens next or what came before.
http://flickr.com/photos/katzarella/sets/72157603899850894/ is the very loving memorial to Fokke.
and my JackyJilly set is http://flickr.com/photos/anartist_flickr/s...57607591185442/

My best to you all during this hard time.
Anne

Joanne,

Wishing you speedy recovery from your surgery. I hope all goes well.


Thinking of you and your kiddens,
Dayna

I understand how you feel. When Mack and Birga and I were alone in Austin, when Charles' Dad was ill, I worried constantly about what would happen to them if something happened to me.

Do you have a pill splitter...would that help with their supplements?

Good idea from Dayna. I used a pill splitter all the time and for most (hard) supplements it worked really well and easily. It was the powders that were trickier, but I'd put whatever first, workable amt. I needed onto a little pce. of paper, then use cut that with a knife into the # of amts./mg. or whatever measurement I needed, then slide each portion off with the knife edge. This way I was able to make up several days' worth of divided amts. ahead of time, and just store them in those smaller-sized, segmented pill containers.

Do you think you might be able to do that ahead of time, Joanne? Like many of us, you need a clone of YOURSELF to get through such times!

What day do you go in? (if you'd rather not say, that's okay)

Oh, Friday the 13th!!! WONDERFUL!! And I'm not kidding! No fearful thinking, now, remember and this is why -- I'll lend you some of Sabin's "13" 'magic' then! Remember, he was 13yrs. and 13 days old when he graduated, and a black cat, of course, so 13's are WONDERFUL day's now, and esp. if they also fall on Fridays! DOUBLE luck!! So just think of The 13th Ascended Master himself when you're being worked on!

Awfully glad that storm has passed you by, and that your sitter is going to lend you that support, too. Get some well-needed rest now, K?


........hee-hee-hee....and so without the use of your opposable thumbie, I guess you're even more CAT-LIKE for now, so that can't be ALL bad, right? And soon you'll start growing some lovely, soft fur there.......talk about one GREAT DNA combo.!

Joanne,

Let us know how your surgery goes tomorrow... thinking of you!

Rassy had toe tufts? How cute!

Hope your dear babies are doing well. I know what wonderful care you take of all of them.

My babies are all doing pretty well, too. Right now (it changes weekly) they really love the EVO canned food duck flavor... they can't get enough of it!!

Take care and give us an update after your surgery when you can!

Ren, Zorro, and Nemo's Mom

Hi Joanne,

I know you'll probably already be at the doc's by now today, but wanted to leave a 'note' for when you're back. (was out last night so couldn't get here any sooner)

Try not to panic about Moose. It might just be an emotional thing. If you stop to consider how frantic you've been feeling lately, with all the arrangements you've had to make, it's not unreasonable to think that he may have been picking up on your distress - you know, like animals do, esp. cats. I know everything feels like a horrible concern, but just trying to lend another perspective here...even though it's kind of late to already!

That's AWFULLY nice of your clinic to offer to drop him off for you, though! Wow. Count THAT blessing!

And remember, too, that Dr. G. might be able to recommend a homeopathic remedy or two for YOUR post-surgical pain, too! (maybe someone could go pick it up for you) If you'd asked her earlier, she may have been able to let you know what remedies to even start taking prior to your procedure, as this is a common way to address surgery with the remedies, so the body is then already set up to begin healing afterward. If you can't get ahold of her right after and you happen to have them in on hand already, you could certainly try Arnica (and Rescue Remedy in FEs if you have that), &/or Hyperic*um. You'd have to ask your vet how to dose yourself properly, though, as acute dosing is different than constitutional dosing.

We used up to 3 dif. remedies for Nissa's one major dental surgery.....and the results were astoundingly effective. She had ZERO pain and was eating normal food just fine w/i one day (albeit handfed, as her body was still recovering and just tuckered out). At her recheck in a week, the vet was also astounded, as she'd NEVER seen (she said so, emphatically!) any animal's mouth heal so fast in all her years of being board-certified in dental work for animals. That's quite a testament to their efficacy! There are also, naturally, remedies to help with swelling and all sorts of other post-op conditions. As well, we'd taken her kidney counts beforehand (to check if she could even have the surgery safely w/o further harm to her kidneys) and......they actually IMPROVED afterward, all due to the extreme care we took with every part of the procedure AND the remedies given both before and after. All THREE of the vets involved were astounded, even the 2 homeo. vets!

So I'm so happy to hear that Lily's doing so much better! (but not that surprised, given her new care regime!) Yes, I remember clearly how, once we hit on the right remedy for whatever was happening at the time, Nissa could be suddenly running around like a total kitten w/i an HOUR or so of giving the remedy (after having been feeling SO down), and how gratifying that was to see! I witnessed the remarkable speed of giving the correct remedy many a time with her. Like night and day, and SO amazing to observe! I always felt SO darn grateful in those moments, knowing how WISE these other ways of helping the innate wisdom and miracle of the bodily processes to do their thing naturally were!

Waiting to hear back about your opposable thumbie and how you're feeling afterward.
Much love and healing thoughts for both you and your babies,
F.'s Mom

Hi, Joanne

Just a note to let you know we are all here for you, as you can see by your many replies.

Hope today's surgery turns out to be a breeze and when you can "talk" again (type), let us know how you are doing.

Hugs to you and your babies...

Judy

An update on Joanne:

Her surgery Friday was a breeze and she is feeling good. She will be able to take off her dressing Monday and wear a bandage and hopes to be back here Monday...typing.

She wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and is still feeding and pilling her babies in spite of ..right now...wearing gloves that aren't easy. But we all know how we "Moms" are, don't we? Nothing stops us from taking care of our babies.

Judy

So glad to hear all went well, Joanne! Now more of US can rest easier, too. Yah, just take it easy and don't push yourself to write until you're feeling more back on track. You don't want to re-injure anything.

I'm also gathering that Moose is back home with you, so that's good, too!

Always glad to see you are back, Joanne.

Looking forward to more updates when typing is agreeable with your hand.

Hugs to you and all your babies.
Judy

Thanks for the update, Joanne, and it's so good to hear you're healing up so well. Don't worry about rushing to get back to writing - gives us all a chance to practice patience!

As for Lily, the new plan might just be the ticket for her. You'll see if that's so in time. Dr. H. used to actually promote a day of fasting each week or two for reasonably healthy cats, as that's more natural to their roots (and digestive processes), where wild cats may only eat their full once every few weeks. So I highly doubt you have to worry about her "starving." Besides, if it doesn't go as planned, you still have Dr. G. to consult with. Remember, you're in the process of "peeling layers off the onion," so you have to have patience yourself, as well as perseverance.

With Moose, you may have to just 'make do', at least for the present. It sometimes comes down to making some concessions for each of our animals' individual issues. Don't forget, Nissa never would eat nothing but her raw food, and we had to work within those confines because having her keep her weight up (and in tandem, enjoy her food) was the highest priority for her overriding kidney issues. But at least she ate the highest quality wet food as well (plus her very tiny amts. of high quality dry, plus drinking plenty of water). As always, we do as much as we can and that they can handle at any given time. Sometimes the 'perfect' plan just isn't totally attainable by the time we begin trying to get a better handle on their chronic conditions. So try not to fret too much, and just take one day or week at a time.....just like we do with grief.

But I know it's also very hard to feel very settled and calm, when you're still experimenting to find the best possible solutions, and cures, if possible. It's hard on everybody, but eventually you usually find the most workable methods and then the routines are easier to implement.

Take care yourself, and use this time away from typing as a wonderful opportunity to spend more time with your beloved furries!

Joanne,


Hoping your memories of your girl are mostly, and overwhelmingly sweet today! I'm glad your recovery is going well.


Wishing you some comfort,
Dayna

Hi Joanne,

Since I'd just passed my dearest Sabin's 9th Year mark myself, I 'get it' fully about how, although our grief has evolved, too, the longing always seems to remain a part of us. How could it not?...unless maybe we could actually really tangibly visit those other realms whenever we wished. And we all know that if we could, we'd be spending at least 50% of our days there!

Time is nothing but a construct, and so appears totally relative to our inner world. Thus, the feelings that can arise, making it seem like 'losing' our loved ones was merely a short time ago. The fact that our love still resides within our essence 'shortens' that linear time span to almost nothing...again, regardless of how our mourning may have actually moved since. In an instant, we can be right back where we were, and that's fine, when it happens. We get on with the rest of our lives regardless, so it's not as if anything has really quit moving, it's just that the past can ALSO reside right alongside our present. We sort of live in 2 worlds at once at these times -- light and dark -- the land of duality. That doesn't mean we haven't made any progress.

Many of us repeat ourselves. It's part of the whole process. And when one has had multiple losses to contend with w/i a relatively short period of time, it's even more common and natural to have to rehash things over and over, until more movement comes about.

So yes, it's more about the love that never dies and all the attendant feelings that go along with that, and the physical 'loss' of those we remain so connected to, regardless of that lack of physicality. The heart never forgets. Never ever, not if the love was true.

This is what we're all mainly here for, to grieve, to experience compassion, to work through our myriad of feelings, to use this place as a journal of sorts, to lend aid as we are able in whatever ways, to become more aware and to effect some healing. I didn't even get a chance to write about my darling Nissa 2 days ago on her 2.5 Year Angelversary, even though I dearly, dearly wanted to, and so there is much still 'stuck' inside. So I'm glad you could on your beloved Pu$$ywillow's 10 Year mark.

It's not self-absorbed, no....it's just grief. No one usually questions when a widow or widower still sits and cries , whenever, even 20 or more years after they've 'lost' their spouse. So what's the difference? Our love for our furkids is just as large and all-encompassing, and that should be respected just as much.

Thinking of you and Pu$$ywillow today, and honouring the both of you...

Hi Joanne
I'm new here. I've been reading about your journey with Rassy cat. Your expressions of love for him have been a great comfort to me in my own grief for my baby girl, Nicole. Nicole, a tortie himalayan, died in the early morning of Dec.7th. Like you, I still long for my baby. The pain is still sometimes shockingly raw. Thank you Joanne for sharing your experiences with Rassy, Howard, Mew, and all your furkids. The warmth of your heart shines through your words. Special thoughts to you on Pu$$ywillow's 10th year anniversary.
Lynda

Thanks for welcoming me here, Joanne - not only in your personal welcome to me just now- but the warmth and love you have for Rassy, Pu$$ywillow and all your babies feels like home to me.
Thanks again, yes, I'd like to share Nicole's story when I've been here awhile. She was a private little person. I want to honor that and be as sensitive as she was when I share my memories of her. Lynda

Joanne

You have said it all so very well (about judging, etc) that I can't think of words to add to what you said except I have something to add to this one thing:

Today marks ten years....Self absorbed, hardly not, this is about love that is the strongest bond of all.


I could only add "and lasts forever."

Hugs to you and all your babies and your Angels from me and mine,
Judy

There isnt any difference....that is to those of us who have come out of the tunnel and into the light of love and wisdom. For those who just dont get it, i guess they have to find their way out. They have to let go of the judging others and thinking they are so above the rest of us...who are still grieving. Those who judge dont understand that their judging is nothing more than a projection of how much they loath themselves.


Hi, Joanne: I just reread what you said above. If the Judges of our words reflect what you are saying and we know they do believe they are "above the rest of us"...is that why I see they are reluctant to stop and are contacting new victims rather than move on instead of creating more hurt than we already have? Because deep down they really do loath themselves? Even so, that is no excuse for pretending to be comforting while inside waiting for a reason to explode and ridicule. People come to a place like this to get away from people like that but there are no guarantees, are there?

I found some words from the Judge I thought interesting: "It is not acceptable for anyone to explode and attack another person no matter what is going on in their life. I would have to be willing to take a good look at myself before I could ever explode and attack another person."

Of course that was long ago whereas the "explode and attack" were recent. Hard to believe this is the same person, isn't it?

Well, venting helps...as it does with everything that causes pain. Thank you for being here for me. It helps.

Judy

Thanks for your encouragement, Joanne.

Hope Charlie is okay. Keep us updated on him, please.

I see the Judge is back....like you said..some people are so self-absorbed they don't take the hint.

Will be checking back.

Judy

Hi Joanne, I just wanted to say that you are truely an angel on earth. I know how stressful having all those special needs in your care can be. If they did not have you, they would probably be sitting in a shelter somewhere with no possible hope for adoption. I believe there is a reason you have them, time will tell. I takes loads of courage to stick by them to the end. Yes, it's sad to say good-bye, but you will always have peace in your heart knowing you gave them tons of love and care. St. Francis would be proud!..Take care.. Ann

Hi again, Joanne
Just wanted to pop in to Rassy cat and Howard's thread and see how your furkids are doing. I hope Charlie is doing better. What is this appetite stimulant? What ingredients are in it? Have you found that it does help your babies? I'm glad you're consulting with Dr. G. Like you, i know longer put a lot of trust in allopathic vets.

Self-absorbed????? You???!! Please!! With all your special needs, furkids? You've hardly got time to take care of your own special needs.
Hugs, Lynda

ok, enough is enough. this post is closed as i should have done sooner than now.

lovethem and jackjackbojack, please find another place for your passive aggressive behavior. it is clear you two are upsetting the support balance here, and these long and winding threads are no longer welcome. your accounts and instant message access has been suspended for 7 days, please reflect and do not email or IM me, this squabbling is finished.