Tethers

Families are connected by tethers and in our family, our tethers are often stretched to the breaking point.  Yet, in our family, they never break and that is because our grandmother and mother taught forgiveness (and you learned it regardless if you wanted to, lol).  In alot of ways, forgiveness was a prerequisite to get through childhood, adolescence and adulthood, lol. 

I have spent this night replaying moments from our past....fights, things I have done to family members that were uncalled for and vice versa.  All the times our individual tethers were trying so desperately to break, yet, somehow held.  My mother had a gift (I have chosen to call it that, lol), one minute you could be having the biggest fight of your life with her and ten minutes after hanging up, she would call you back and act like nothing had ever happened.  I cannot ever recall hearing her say she was sorry, but then again, Love Story was one of her favorite movies, lol.  I always thought that famous quote was silly, until I learned what it referred to....unconditional love.  I don't believe that Mom every worried about the condition of her tethers, she knew they were intact and always would be. 

Our family loves to the extreme, strong personalities that believe no problem is too big.  We vow to fight the monster that threatens our loved ones, in whatever shape he takes.  Yet, sometimes, our tethers are stretched to where they begin to rip away, and we panic, our arms begin to flail wildly, terrified that we are alone, unable to keep that tether from breaking.  In our exhaustive state, we forget, that a loved one is attached to us and will keep the tether from breaking away completely...they will keep you safe until you can stitch up the rip.  In many instances, they will help you sew it up. 

I guess what I am trying to say is  sometimes life pulls and tears away at our tether and in our panic and fear, we do and say things.....but always remember, the Doherty and Key families are attached with the strongest tethers known to man and will never break.  We may not can always get away with pulling a "mom" but when asked, there is always forgiveness, and without asking, there is always love.....always.      

A Tribute to Mommie

'This beautiful creature is Mommie.  Sweet, unassuming, shy Mommie.  Unless you were familiar with the furry inhabitants of Tate Street, you never knew she existed.  During the day she would hide out behind the couch or under the bed.  She would only come out at night to eat. 

After Dolly and I had been here for a couple of months, Mommie started venturing out during the day.  She would lay on the coffee table and socialize (to an extent).  Mommie had problems with her fur, she had patches of coarse fur that tangled (best description I can give).  She would lose some hair and we would groom her as best we could because she wouldn't do it herself. 

We noticed that she started drinking a great deal of water, we didn't know if maybe she had a hyperthryoid problem or what.  We took her to the vet, he tested for the usual suspects, feline leukemia, etc.  She was also very skinny.  Finally, the diagnosis came back, it was diabetes. 

They started her on a very small dose of insulin, twice a day.  I was terrified when we gave her that first shot, but she knew we were only trying to help, and she never flinched.  After each injection, we would monitor her for insulin shock.  At times we would have to give her a mixture of water and syrup.  As with humans, we would note how much she ate, how often she ate, etc.  She went back to the doctor for her two week follow-up, and she had continued to lose weight.  He increased her dosage.  However, she didn't handle the larger dose very well.  He instructed us to pull her back.  She wouldn't eat very much and we started supplementing her food with cat milk.  She loved it and we thought it helped her.  We checked her everyday and I guess, wishful thinking made us see weight gain when there wasn't any.

One day, she sprang to life, so to speak.  She was active, ate everything in sight and was very loving.  We couldn't believe it, we thought she had turned the corner.  The next morning, she was extremely lethargic and felt cold to the touch.  She hunkered down in the bathroom and we covered her with a thick, warm towel.  Dr. Hurst scheduled us in an appointment for that afternoon.  Ceji went to work and I stayed with Mommie.  I sat on the floor with her, helped her walk to the kitchen to eat, and then back to the bathroom.  I knew she wasn't getting any better, I just hoped it was merely insulin shock. 

When we got her to the vet, she had lost even more weight and her body temperature was dropping.  Dr. Hurst informed us she wasn't going to improve, no matter what we did.  We couldn't stand to let her suffer and we couldn't stand to watch her leave us.  To say there were tears would be an understatement.  Bubbie came up to the doctors office and we all said our goodbyes. 

My heart was broken, I kept whispering to Mommie that I was sorry.  I felt that I had failed her, that I could have done something more.  But, deep down inside, we knew we had done everything we could do.    

A special sidenote:  Mommie and Dolly had a special relationship.  Dolly knew she was sick, even before we did.  Dolly was very protective of Mommie.  If Dolly happened to be eating and Mommie would walk in, Dolly would step back from the food and allow Mommie to eat.  If one of the other cats came into the kitchen, Dolly would bark them off and then stay by Mommie's side until she had finished eating.  Dolly loved Mommie and Mommie knew Dolly would protect her at all costs.

I miss that black beauty everyday.  She was so precious.  Diabetes is just as harmful to cats as it is with people.  The treatment is the same, food intake is the same, etc.  I urge you, cat owners, if your cat is overweight or if you notice increase in water consumption or their behavior changes, get to your vet.  It could be nothing or it could be a life-altering illness. 

We now know that last day, when she was so full of life, that she knew it was the end.  She wanted to spend it happy and with the ones she loved.  And she did it...I guess that's really all we can hope for, to be with the ones we love when we leave.

Love you Mommie.

                                        Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.  When a pet dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bidge. there are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.  There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor, those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and time gone by.  The animals are happy and content, exact for one small thing, they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks in the distance.  His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. 
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.  You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.  The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Anonymous

Diet? I've Never Heard of Such a Word

Weight gain.  Such a touchy subject.  Especially on Tate Street.

The felines of Tate Street have lived under the assumption that their home is an "all-you-can-eat buffet, 24/7" establishment.  This is not an exaggeration of fact.  This is the truth.  Everytime someone would wander into the kitchen and simply meow....a can of food was opened and deposited on the plate.  Did not matter what time of day or night...food was given.  In addition, two bowls of dry food are kept filled all day and night for free-feeding purposes. 

Feddy has always been the most fit.  Feddy does not care for wet food.  Dry food only and IT HAS TO BE FRESH!!!!!  I don't care if just the top layer of food is gone, she will stand there and meow until the bowl is filled (overflowing) with fresh dry food.  If her food bowl was a beer cooler, the beers on the bottom would never be rotated to the top.  Feddy's weight never varies due to her eating dry food.  She never gorges.  The other two...what a different story.

Lacy and Puppy are habitual eaters.  If the sun comes up...they think it's time to eat, if it rains...they think it's time to eat, coffee pot turns on?....you got it...they think it's time to eat.  If allowed, they would be perfect applicants for The Biggest Loser. 

Puppy is the fattest of them all.  I know she has to weigh 15 to 16 pounds easily.  If you compare her to a weight chart for cats...she is in a class by herself.  Beyond obese.  When she sits down, she looks like a grey penguin. 

I shudder to think of the expense of feeding these people.  When Richard would get up at 2:30 am, he would be followed into the kitchen by two furry blobs and he would proceed to dump not one, but TWO cans of food.  Oh my lord.  In addition, these people would wake Ceji up at all hours of the night and she would stumble into the kitchen, pop-a-top and the feeding frenzy would begin.  They never ate it all, it was just a fix they needed to get through the night.  The waste would just be thrown away.  It had to stop, not only for their health but for the health of the checkbook.

A diet was implemented.  It had to be, if not for them, then for my dog.  You see, Dolly is very old and I try to adhere to a very strict diet and feeding schedule for her.  The problem started when Dolly realized that there were two feeding stops on the way outside.  She hit them both.  Ceji refers to it as "cleaning the plates," I call it for what it was...overindulging.  I literally have to pull her, sliding across the floor, to get away from the food.  But that's enough about Dolly...back to the cats and their revised eating schedule.

They would receive one can in the morning and one in the evening.  That still didn't work.  So we went to phase two.  Instead of a full can, they were each given a teaspoon of food in the morning and late afternoon.  If they grew hungry throughout the day, they could take a few bites of dry food.  Lacy actually lost her weight and is now hanging firm at ten pounds.  Puppy still hasn't committed to the program.  She is in denial.  The adults sometimes have a problem adhering to this feeding schedule as well.  At the time of this posting, I am looking at a plate with wet food on it (more than a teaspoon) which will be thrown out because they took one bite and walked away.  Oh wait...Puppy just wandered in and is eating.  SURPRISE SURPRISE 

Pulling their intake back has helped.  They don't go through half of the food they used to.  If we can just get Puppy on the right track, all will be good.  If not, do they offer liposuction for cats?

Round and Round She Goes, Where She Stops Nobody Knows

There are so many stories about Lacy and her "habits" that I have chosen a couple to talk about.   

One of her favorite games to play is "Here we go Round the Mulberry Bush."   She walks in circles all the time.  If she comes in to eat, she turns a few tight circles and then goes up to the plate.  If she uses the litter box, once again, she completes a few circles and then stops and does her business.  As with little children, she does become dizzy and as a result falls over.  I think you can use your imagination as to the level of alarm this causes.  I just feel that Lacy is a big fan of NASCAR...she always turns to the left. 

One morning, around 5:15 or so, I was awaken to Ceji calling for me.  I struggled to hear what she was saying and it finally dawned on me she was yelling that something was wrong with Lacy.  I assure you, this did not come as a surprise to me, I was just a little shocked it started so early in the day.  I stumbled out of bed and felt my way to the door.  I opened it to find Ceji standing in the kitchen.  Her words tumbled out, "Lacy's Blind!!! I think she's blind!"  During this time, I am watching Lacy walk around the kitchen in her slow, circle-making way and then going into the dining room.    I chose my words carefully so as not to scare Ceji any further...."What exactly makes you think she is blind?"  By this time Lacy is making her way under the table, without hitting anything!  Luckily, it was just a misinterpretation of her behavior.

Now, I don't want anyone to be critical of Ceji and her devotion to Lacy.  Her attention to detail is second-to-none. I do feel that Lacy works this to her advantage.  She wanders around like she doesn't know where she is; she waits until Ceji walks in the door and then begins to cry (this can go on forever); and she has been observed waiting until she is with Ceji and then falling to the floor in a heap.  She also ignores Ceji thereby causing Ceji to believe she has had a stroke or something to that nature.  Lacy wants the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Ceji's undying attention.  Lacy knows that if she pulls one of her stunts then Ceji will spend the next hour or so, holding her and basically, waiting on her hand and foot.    Don't get me wrong, I love Lacy and I also keep a watchful eye on her.  The only special treatment I give her is I know how much she loves to lay in front of the door and soak up the sun.  I make sure she gets that every day.

That's all for now...have a great day and love your cat.

Lacy - The Cat Who Cries Wolf (or does she)

I decided to go ahead and write a few things about Lacy.  Lacy is a hard one to figure out.  My aunt swears that something is wrong with her, yet she has been taken to the vet on numerous occasions and received a clean bill of health, except for a minor upper respiratory infection.  I confess that I do not have an exact age for her, so I don't know how far up in years she is getting to be.

Lacy is "The Chosen One."  Her siblings know this, I know this, everyone knows this.  Lacy, to her credit, milks this for all that it's worth.  Something is always wrong with Lacy, always.  Ceji watches her like a hawk.  Puppy and Feddy firmly believe they could be lying in extreme pain and still would not receive half of the attention that Lacy gets.  Not true...it's just the way they feel.
 
When I first arrived on the scene Lacy was not allowed to walk on her own, or so it seemed.  I was informed that she had a problem with one of her legs and could not jump onto or off of the bed, sofa, etc. Ceji would carry her throughout the house and all that was missing was the satin pillow.  When Lacy would walk, she did so with a limp.  She would either hold her leg completely off the ground, or limp like you or I would.  On occasion she would give her best impersonation of a German soldier.  The type of limp exhibited changed from day to day. 


I started noticing a few things...when Lacy felt she was alone, she walked just fine.  No limp, no nothing.  She also had no problems getting onto or off any surface.  From time to time, Lacy also seemed to "forget" that she was supposed to be "disabled."  She would venture into the kitchen for food and then realize the leg was touching the floor and POOF up it would come.  I told Ceji of my observations, yet she continued to swear that Lacy could not walk without difficulty.  She did admit however, that Lacy had been examined and her leg had been twisted, turned and probed with no findings of any problems.  AWWW HAW!  I urged Ceji to stop carying her around like an infant and everytime I observed Lacy limping I would tell her to put her foot on the ground.  To make a long story short....Lacy no longer limps.  Her bluff was called and she had to give up the charade.

Now, I am not an expert on the behavior of cats.  Was her foot really giving her problems....no, I don't think so, because of the following:

No discomfort when leg was touched....ruled out arthritis.....carrying too much weight (possibly).  With that being said, I will touch upon the sensitive subject of weight in the next few posts.  Yes, there is a weight problem on Tate Street.  As with any female, they don't like to talk about it.  They refuse to acknowledge there is a problem.  Don't we all.

Saying Hello

Tate Street is home to six of the most opinionated felines you will ever come across.  Each day is something new.  So I decided that I would write about them and maybe receive some answers and/or tips along the way. 

I guess at this point you need some background.  I live with my Aunt Ceji and Uncle Richard.  I moved here from the metroplex in December of 09.  I have since become known as "nanny."  This alone should tell you how exciting my life has become. 

Out of the six, three reign supreme.  Their names are Lacy, Puppy and Feddy.  They are the "rulers" of this house.   



I will begin by giving you a brief overview of these three.  The first one I would like you to meet is Lacy.  Lacy is for whom this blog was started.  This cat has so many emotional issues it's not even funny.  Lacy would be the perfect case study for anyone writing a thesis on feline behavior.  She is smart, manipulative and all-around spoiled beyond belief.  Her siblings have annointed her "The Chosen One."  Her every move is fretted over by Ceji.  Ceji swears something neurological is wrong with Lacy, although in truth, 80% of the time, the problems only appear when Ceji is here.  We will delve into the psyche of Lacy in greater detail in future blogs.



The middle child is Puppy (aka Angelica).  Puppy, as with many middle siblings, suffers from an acute case of "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia."  In her world, Lacy garners all the attention, thus forcing her to act out in a negative nature.  When Ceji is not here, all the cats hang out together, sleeping, etc.  The minute Ceji walks into the door, Puppy begins attacking Feddy, over and over again.  She attacks Feddy because she knows she can get away with it...if she were to attack Lacy, she would be banished to live the life of a feral kitty.  As far as Puppy is concerned, any attention is good attention.





Last, but not least, is Feddy.  She is the most misunderstood cat in this house.  When I arrived here, I was told that Feddy was extremely anti-social.  She supposedly would attack anyone without any warning.  This type of attack is commonly referred to as a "drive-by."  I can honestly say that during my 15 months here, I have yet to witness such an attack.  The truth has come out, thank goodness.  The witnessed attacks in the past were merely Feddy defending herself against Puppy.  Since the truth is known, Feddy is much more lovable, no longer depressed.   



'
'In the next couple of days I will introduce the newest additions to the household, as well as submitting stories for your entertainment and analysis.  Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my entry.  Hopefully, in the future, my style will become more fluid.  Have a great day and love your cat.