Log in

No account? Create an account

Previous Entry | Next Entry

I've known for several years that I've been living with a neurotic cat. Now, it looks like I may be living with two. Manasse is currently showing all the symptoms of 'urge bladder', the same nervous affliction that Leila's suffered in the past and that according to the vet, is wholly stress-induced and ultimately psychological.


I love my cats, and I flatter myself that they love me, but when two of them start pissing blood and the third won't eat while I'm away, how can I ever go on holiday again?



( 10 Speak Like A Child — Shout To The Top )
Apr. 9th, 2007 05:30 pm (UTC)
Oh dear, hope now you're home the cats will soon feel better

The only way I can go away is to leave my husband at home. If we ever go away together I'll have to get a live in cat sitter because Numfar can't be left even overnight
Apr. 9th, 2007 11:05 pm (UTC)
Yes, a live-in catsitter is your answer. Someone that they know and like though, preferably female if you don't have any blokes around normally.

What do you normally do with them when you travel?
Apr. 10th, 2007 10:31 am (UTC)
My family takes care of them. Either my mum or my nephew will come to feed them, change their litter bin and play with them. These people are not strangers to them, and although they will not come and stay with them while I'm away, they're hardly neglected, and in my opinion, much better off than if I took them to a cattery e.g. At least they're in their own home...
Apr. 10th, 2007 01:09 pm (UTC)
Of course! I made the mistake once of getting a BOY to come in and look in on my cats, that's all. And they knew him, but apparently that didn't matter. Sometimes cats can just be so silly. I miss having one dreadfully.
Apr. 9th, 2007 11:15 pm (UTC)
*hugs* Poor silly kitties. And poor you.
Apr. 10th, 2007 03:07 am (UTC)
"pissing blood"? I was assuming "urge bladder" just meant they had to pee all the time.
Apr. 10th, 2007 10:42 am (UTC)
Well yes, 'urge bladder' means they have the urge to pee all the time. But because the bladder isn't allowed any time to fill, their straining to pass any kind of moisture causes blood vessels to burst, and so they start to pass blood. It's not serious in the sense of life-threatening, but can cause problems if the lining of the bladder gets no time to heal...stones may start to form, or an infection may set in.

A vet will typically prescribe muscle relaxants and anxiolytics.
Apr. 10th, 2007 02:31 pm (UTC)
Poor things! Sorry to hear that. Haven't had that problem with mine; I've been fortunate and they're not "neurotic". With mine, they were healthy until just the past few years,when they've had GI problems, which they're taking prednisolone to reduce.
Apr. 10th, 2007 05:29 pm (UTC)
GI problems? That stands for gastrointestinal problems, IIRC? Poor kitties! Prednisolone is no fun (well, it isn't when you're human and you're put on prednison; I was, years ago, and I still haven't shed the weight I gained while I was on it).

Most of the time, my cats are happy and healthy. But they seem to get abandonment issues if I go away and don't come back within a day or two...it's really weird, it's not like they're rescue cats that have a whole history -- mine have been with me since kittenhood.
Apr. 10th, 2007 06:05 pm (UTC)
Yes... irritable bowel sydrome or disease; don't know if there's a difference. But since they're old, and they have this problem, weight gain isn't a problem! Basically it means they lose interest in eating because of constipation or throwing up. The prednisolone really helps to calm thos problems down, and I haven't noticed any side effect. The worst part, in fact, is getting it inside them!

Mine seem to do okay. I think the first few times they figured I was dead... and then I came back! Wow! Now they seem to take it in stride. Having somebody good come in each day to feed them and change their litter really helps.
( 10 Speak Like A Child — Shout To The Top )
Powered by LiveJournal.com
Designed by Tiffany Chow