Caaaaaaaaats...

[ninjakitten]

Oh, cats. Last Friday night Cream wasn't himself, being terrified for no apparent reason, so he had to hit the vet on Monday. Good news: he seemed fine as of noon Saturday, and got a clean bill of health at the vet (though he needs shots). He's 21lbs 1oz, though, so it's time for reconfiguring how feeding was happening... Miles needed his last

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[heavenscalyx]

When it rains, it really pours with animals. So much sympathy.

If it helps at all, we had the same worries about taking our Perdita, who was a semi-feral that didn't cope with humans well, to the vet for things. But we didn't lose any progress, even the really traumatic time we took her in for dental surgery. In fact, she kind of learned to come to us for comfort (we were, at least, familiar). She really warmed up after we started having to give her insulin twice daily -- amazing powers of resignation in that cat -- and eventually got to a point where she'd sit on our laps for a short while from time to time.

[ninjakitten]

Thank you, it really does help to know that! We think Little probably started out life around humans, but by the time she showed up here she was definitely edging toward feral. I haven't been willing to risk trying to pick her up yet, even though she's been making progress on the petting and brief-lap-sititng fronts. She'll even consent to let the Boy give her a pet or two now and then. She's definitely not convinced we won't suddenly change our minds and do something terrible to her, though -- that's part of what worries me about trying to get her in a carrier and driving her about.

Both her sons dealt with vet-terror by quietly burrowing into us and trying to hide, though, so I can at least hope that's a family trait...

[biomekanic]

being more affectionate with me than he was before, for some reason. When Shiro had his issues with urinary tract crystals, he was also very cuddly. I chalk it up to "I feel like Hell, cuddle me."

Since I got custody of the cats, he's down from 20 some pounds now to about 16. I find that feeding them 3 to 4 small meals a deal helps them control their weight, and guarantees they both finish their appropriate foods.

I don't know if you have anyone local with a Costco membership, but they sell a Kirkland brand of no-grain, very low ash/sodium content cat food for a pretty reasonable price. I think it's a 25 lbs. bag for about $20. Since it's less filler, you don't need to feed as much. Their brand is about 1/2 the price of "regular" grain free cat food.

[ninjakitten]

Pushkin definitely seemed to be wanting comfort-cuddles. I'm less certain with Peaches, who seems to be getting cuddlier as he gets treated... but it might be what's up.

I've been thinking about 3 or 4 meals, but I'm not sure we're in a position to do that. My circadian rhythm disorder means I can't commit to any particular time, and the Boy would be either asleep or at work between the two times we have going. It makes things tricky.

We have a Costco membership but I'm not sure they have that kind here. We used to use one they sold but our vet highly disapproved. *^_^* But the biggest issue is that Cream's got a very sensitive stomach or an allergy or something, and most dry foods make him ill... Even so, I'll keep an eye out for it! Thanks.