One of the fantasies about retired life is all your time is your own. “Freedom!” you gleefully yell as you walk out the plant main entrance the last time: No more of that! Ever! Nope! Free at last to be me! Yep! ALL FOR ME, ALL THE TIME! Hooray!
Yeah, so I thought. Then…[duh-duh-duhhhhhhh!] I got a cat. Then another. One died. Then the other. I got two more cats, brothers, kittens that ate a “bad” (infected with amoebic parasites) grasshopper they and their two other siblings caught while at the veterinarian’s.
Kitty diarrhea is not a good thing, actually a serious thing, no less than in a human infant since they can become dehydrated very quickly. All the baths required to keep them clean don’t count for hydrating them, either, so suck it up and pop them into the wash water before they sit down somewhere and leave a little, cute “poop Cheerio” on some smooth surface, like a window sill or the kitchen table.
(“They’re only kittens, Doug! Only kittens! Sick, poopy butt little kittens. This, too, shall pass! I hope. And soon!”)
Digital “Post-It” notes keep me on track.
It was during this burn in phase with Andy and Dougy that I realized something about my retirement status: I’d become the appointment keeper for a couple of kitties! Thanks to digital “Post-It” notes to myself on my computer, Andy and Dougy make it to beautification appointments every other month, and to the veterinarian, as needed.
It gives me discipline and purpose at a time I thought I could sit back and become a burden on society, not work as a cat valet, business manager, social secretary, play supervisor, and chauffeur! 😉
Not complaining. It feels good to be useful, even if it just means keeping track of appointments…for my cats.
Somebody has to keep our buddies healthy!
I talked with Andy’s veterinarian yesterday, and he was encouraged Andy’s more interested in feather toys and other cat amusements than he had been.
I’m anxious to find out how much change there’s been in his heart/blood pressure since the whole business of the medication started. To Andy’s credit, once we get over the formality of “tricking/catching the kitty”, he’s always a very good boy about taking his medicine.
I grant he tries to avoid the syringe-like thingy that’s used to squirt the medication into his mouth, but that’s easy enough to overcome. For one thing, his head’s immobilized enough that there’s just so much moving side to side, up and down possible, so, if he manages to avoid the applicator, more likely than not, any not in him is on his fur. That requires a clean up, eh!?
One way or another, he gets his medicine!
My doctor once told me that doctors presume patients will fudge on or forget to take their medicine as prescribed, so the dosage is set up to be adequate but not harmful at whatever rate the patient takes it. (I doubt he was serious, but I kind of get his point in some unfocused way…!)
Frankly I never understand doctors, but I trust vets more than MDs! They absolutely amaze me with their diagnose! Just glad the little fella is feeling better.
Veterinarians are on my “favorites” list, too. My boys go to one who is very good about explaining things I need to know about my boys, even things not particularly related to their current health. Persian cats, for example, are more likely to have kidney issues than other cats, something to be aware of. I agree with you on their diagnostic skills. A cat is not a horse is not a cockatiel is not a…! Yet, they need to have some sense of the characteristic disorders and symptoms for many species to do their job. Where I live, they tend to break down into small animal or horse/cow specialists. It seems there are more specialists even in veterinary science these days!
Oh man I kno what it is like to be owned and i love it.
😉
Oh, the many things we do for our little ones.
…and how! It’s the “cuteness trap”, which works for doggies and other critters with cute babies!
If that wasn’t a great pitch for your new profession. Cat sitter! Your hired. Sorry about the kittens though. I remember rescuing 2, 6 week olds that had Mange. It was a lot of work, but happily they lived to ripe old ages.
The first three and a half months I had Andy and Dougy were when I dealt with the illness. After Christmas time of 2011, they’re bodies finally conquered the parasite, and they got to be fun little kitties again!
Mange would have been a much more difficult issue, I think, and you are to be commended for dealing with it, especially in such little guys as 2, 6 week old kittens. Whew! Rescue animals in general often require heroic efforts to restore them to health and sociability (sometimes the latter…). I have lots of respect for people who deal with such issues, especially since you too often see the results of human neglect and abuse of defenseless creatures.
Hence why I have 18 cats! And you thought retirement would be quiet and restful. 😀
My head spins at the idea of 18 kitties!!! Anyway, good for you!
Awww! You’re a good human kitty daddy! Woof!
Until cats evolve opposable thumbs, we humans are kind of stuck in the role! Ha! 😉
You are a furry good employee to your cats. Benefits of being employed by cats include: snuggles (only when WE feel like it), entertainment (again, when WE feel like being entertaining), the comfurting sound of our purrs, sandpaper kisses, health benefits: (by petting our furs, you can lower your blood pressure… and make us happy all at once), exercise (chasing us around, going on missions fur our noms, opening cans), and many other wonderful amenities!
Trills, Addycat
Addycat, you are exactly right! It’s an honor to be servants to Andy and Dougy, who ask so little otherwise.
I went through similar feelings when I retired. But even only one (luckily) healthy cat it keeps you on your toes. Plus church & a little bit of volunteering I’m nice & busy.
Yes, those activities help keep me busy, too!