The State Of The Mews

TBT:   Latest update on The Mews...

1.  Feeding is getting more tricky.  The only one who doesn't like Marley's kidney care diet food is Marley!  I have to add half regular food or push kibbles into it in order to get him to eat it.  I almost don't blame him.  The stuff is mostly pig liver, and I wouldn't eat that either.  

But the other 3 love the stuff!  I have to stand over them for all of every meal to keep them away from it.  And sometimes I have to follow Marley around, encouraging him to eat it.  When he starts, he'll finish it (the tummy takes over).  But getting him to start eating is a challenge these days.

I had to buy a few different-color bowls for Marley.  It's the only way I can keep track of which bowl has his special food in it.  They all push their bowls around a bit

Meanwhile, Taz doesn't seem to like Fancy Feast much anymore.  I'll have to try some other brands to see if there are some he likes better.  When I brought Taz to the vet recently because of his peeing issues, they noted he had lost a few ounces.

Lori wants more eating privacy lately.  OK, sometimes she will eat with the others, but more often has preferred to eat in a corner out of sight from them.  And more often lately, she wants to eat in the bedroom with the light on and the door closed.  I'm not sure why.  They don't go after her bowl (much) and I am standing right there to direct them back to their own bowls.  

Binq eats anything happily.  She arrived here a pound less than Taz, but weighs a pound more than him now.  Binq's eating habit matches almost all of my previous cats.  So all this strange fussiness seems odd to me.

Yay, I actually found a picture.  Not the one I wanted, showing Lori eating alone, but you see how she prefers some distance.  Best I can get at today.

2.  Taz and Lori have been less "fussy" with each other.  Not perfect, but much less.  That is good.  So I'm holding off on the "chill pills" the vet gave me for right now.  

3.  Speaking of Taz, he had been good about not peeing on the bed for almost 2 weeks.  "Had been".  Yesterday, there was a large wet spot.  Thank goodness for the waterproof flat sheet.  I have a couple of old towels dedicated for blotting up the pee.  Then I spray a "urine destroyer", wait 15 minutes, then blot that up (per instructions).  

They go into the spare toilet (just like old cloth diapers) to soak.  At least urine is very water-soluable.  After a while, they go into a bucket for separate laundering and drying.  Thank goodness for washers and dryers.  At least I don't have to rinse them in a creek and then beat them on rocks, LOL!

I may be blaming Taz alone unfairly.  One day a month or 2 ago, I found 2 wet spots.  One looked like Taz's marking habit, but the other was small and looked "squatty".  So Binq might be doing it sometimes.  Marley has never done that, and Lori was outside at the time.

4.  Lori and Taz are getting too difficult to sleep with at night.  Taz demands to sleep on top of me, which gets uncomfortable.  Lori has always been careless of her claws against me, but is getting worse.  And even worse, if I try to move her away slightly, she wants to bite my hand.  Or she wants to sleep with her nose in my face and I am basically breathing in "used air" which wakes me up.

Marley is fine.  He likes to sleep in a corner of the bed.  And Binq likes to sleep in the old platform tree in The Mews Room.  But if the door is closed to Taz and Lori (so I can get a safe night's sleep) it is closed to Marley and Binq too.  *Sigh*

One day at a time...

Sort Of Caturday Saturday

TBT:   Not strictly about The Mews, but related to them (because 90% of my photos are of them).  As I mentioned on Cavebear's Lair I am having problems with the Photo app in the newest Mac OS upgrade (Sequoia 15.2).  I have 24,000+ photos (16 years will do that) and I often need to use the Finder search function to find them.  

I can go to Photos, scroll around and find one.  Then read the file name.  Then got to my photograph files and look at the various processed folders to find it.  But that is rather maddening.  

I keep a paper list of unused photos by cat, file name and theme.  Previously, I could just write a post, click on "search" and type in the file name.  And the photo would appear where I had the cursor in the post.

That isn't working anymore.  I suspect the new Mac OS is forcing users onto the Cloud.  And I don't understand the Cloud at all, other than it takes files off my Mac Mini and stores them "somewhere" out of my direct control.  I don't like that.  

And OMG, I have just discovered that my photos are no longer shown by dates!  It seems that Mac has decided to show my Library by "Favorites" (as if they know what they are and how I find them.  A 2012 picture shows up next to a 2024 pic and next to a 2020 pic.  I can't even scroll through the Library by date anymore!  If I can't search and I can't scroll by date, how can I find any particular picture?

So my posts may be less frequent while I figure this all out.  I'm beginning to get too old for this stuff.  Each major upgrade is harder to adjust to.  Basically, I will search for Mac help advice, read up on the new OS, and try to learn how to find stuff as I used to.

Bear with me, I'm sure I will get "back to usual" again, but I'm not sure exactly when.

Christmas Card Wensday

 First, an image I love...  So that's my card this year.  I'm not very graphically creative, and former apps that used to work on Mac don't these days.

And 2nd, my gift to our friends this year.  A link to the Community Room where I found Taz and Binq, both dear hearts struggling through life like all of us.

You can trust this link...   I watch it sometimes.

Cat Community Shelter Room.

And we thank you for the cards we have received...

Not Easy Like Sunday

 TBT:  Megan commented on yesterday's post "But it's hard to understand why Taz could be so stressed. As you say, he demonstrates how happy he is in other behaviours".  

It was a good question.  In almost all ways, Taz is a happy cat.

Well, Lori was stressed from Laz attacking her after his inner demons returned, and then I introduced 2 new cats just a week later, so she didn't react well.  And coming from a Shelter full of other cats in the Community Room (and constantly barking dogs in the adjacent room), they were probably stressed too.  

Well, Lori was stressed from Laz (her former BFF) attacking her suddenly after his inner demons returned.  She didn't know about his former problems of course, but she was taken aback by his sudden change toward her.  She hid for a couple months.

Then Ayla stopped eating and shut down due to age.  No medications helped.  I had to have her euthanized rather than watch her just starve to death.  So while Lori and Ayla weren't the best of friends, she was suddenly absent.

Then, after trying to rehome Laz (and failing), I had to have Laz euthanized.  He wouldn't have been adopted from the Shelter, would have been caged for a couple of weeks, and would have been terrified by all the barking dogs.  Sometimes freedom from terrors is all you can provide.

I spite of his fears, Laz sure loved ME and I HIM.  But seeing him hiding in corners and trembling was just too much.  I may not have explained how bad things got for him last November.

But from Lori's point of view, it was another "disappeared cat" in just 2 months.  So she must have felt some stress.  

And then I brought in The Shelter Pair just a week later.  Lori was further stressed, and of course the 2 new ones were uncertain about the change in their lives.  So they were stressed.  It was a bad decision on my part.  I changed the lives of 3 cats (5 if you count Ayla and Laz) too suddenly.  

I meant well for all, but it was a recipe for disaster.  I am generally an optimist ("things will work well").  But I was wrong.  Marley and Lori were generally happy together.  Not "cuddly" but got along fine.  I should have left it at that for a while.  Two cats are fine with me.  I have had fewer and more sometimes.

Maybe Lori would have accepted 1 new cat.  But I see now in hindsight that 2 were probably too many for her to deal with.  Maybe Taz would have been OK, or maybe Binq, but maybe not both at the same time.  I should have waited.  I should have adopted 1 to see how she reacted and then maybe another months later.  

Yeah, hindsight is always perfect.  But I acted without enough thought.  I should have asked my Vet what to expect.  I should have asked you all about any similar concerns.  I normally think things through carefully before acting, but I didn't this time.

I wanted Lori to have a loved replacement for Laz.  So I sought an orange/white male I expected to be calm like Skeeter and Marley.  Well I got Skeeter as a young kitten so he had to be friendly to the older cat (Tinkerbelle).  And Marley was just relaxed from the start.  I expected the same from Taz.

But Taz is neither Skeeter nor Marley.  It has occurred to me that he was surrendered to the Shelter for a reason.  People don't give happy easy-going cats to a Shelter.  He has an urge to dominance.  And Lori didn't accept that easily.

Looking back (again) perhaps I should have returned him to the Shelter for being adopted to a better home as soon as Lori started showing signs of stress diarrhea.  But I didn't connect her problem with Taz.  The timing seems obvious now but I thought Lori had developed a physical, not stress problem.

I should have caught on when the Vet couldn't find a physical problem and thought maybe it was biotic or a food allergy.  And Taz wasn't peeing high like marking territory or peeing on my bed at the time.

I am hoping the Paroxetine calms both Lori and Taz long enough for them to learn to get along.  I have considered returning Taz to the Shelter several times, but I just can't do it (yet).  I don't give up easily.  And Taz deserves more time.

If the future means grinding up pills for 2 cats and mixing it into their food for months (or longer) and standing over them while they eat it (however unhappily) I will probably do it.

But I'm getting older too.  Problems are slowly getting harder to deal with.  As it is, I have to cover the bed with a waterproof sheet and wash it every couple of days (due to Taz's peeing).  I have to mop around the basement litterboxes every couple of days for the same reason.  

Someday, I may have to wish Taz a hopeful farewell to a rehome or The Shelter.  And that would be hard because sure loves me.  But today is not that day, nor is next month.  But there might come some day when I can't handle it anymore due to elder issues and/or worsening problems.  

Meanwhile, it is one day at a time.  And some positive pictures...

Caturday Saturday

TBT:  I brought Taz to the Vet yesterday regarding his weird peeing problem.  He was a very good boy for the Vet.  I brought my camera but forgot to take pictures.  So here is a general pic of him (since every post needs a cat pic).

I explained about "marking territory" style of peeing he adopted shortly after I adopted him and Binq from the shelter last year.  Raised butt, tail-twitching, seeking distance and coverage.  I cautiously mentioned suggestions of the cause and cure from some of you ("cautious" because no professional really wants to hear a client's opinion of causes and cures).

So I asked about incomplete neutering, UTIs, and stress.  I asked about how those could be tested for and of course anything else she could recommend.  She took it well (years of bureaucratic office work taught me how to politely ask some things of experts, LOL).  

She felt him up pretty thoroughly (whoo-hoo!) and decided Taz was properly neutered so it wasn't that in his case.  So much for that possibily.  Then she took him away ("for 10 minutes") for a urine sample and testing.  Half an hour later (thank goodness for free green tea and a cat magazine to read, but why do they always lie about how long it will take?) and reported no signs of urine crystals or infection.  So much for that possibility.

So we discussed stress.  She asked about his "normal squatting and peeing" and was surprised when I said that I had never seen him do that.  She asked another way, and I assured her it was always "marking" style.  That surprised her but seemed to nail down the problem as stress.  OK, that was the answer I expected, but also the hardest to deal with.  

So I explained about Laz.  How he arrived here in mental distress, seemed to get other it, how Laz and Lori becme best friends, how that ended suddenly when Laz's mental demons re-emerged and he started attacking her badly.  

And how, when I adopted Taz and Binq a week later (seeking calmer playmates for Lori), she suddenly developed diarrhea and rejected both of them with whaps and fussies.  Which I originally blamed Taz for, but finally realized Lori was initiating.  

And how Taz had gone from peeing on the bed once a month, then once a week, then sometimes daily.  But also how Taz seemed to be a happy cat otherwise.  I think the idea that Taz adores me, likes Marley and Binq, eats and plays normally confused her a bit.  I guess that, normally, a stressed cat is not like that.

She asked about his food.  Wet food all the way (well a few kibbles tossed on the floor to chase), various flavors (so no apparent allergies), almost always Fancy Feast (though I occasionally try "better" brands - which The Mews don't like much).  She asked about how much water Taz drinks.  I've actually never seen him drink water.  But there is a small pond in the back yard (and I have had a few cats who only drank from the pond).  Or maybe he is a secret night-time toilet bowl drinker.

I mentioned that I have tried calming collars and alway use Feliway dispensers.  She is not impressed by calming collars (but said they certainly cause no harm) but encouraged using Feliway (which I have been for at least a decade).  So we came home with a bottle of 10 mg Paroxetine tablets for both Taz and Lori to take daily for "chill".  

We will see how that works out...

  -----------

There is some good news and some silly news.  The good news is that I haven't heard much fussing the past week.  Maybe Lori is adjusting to Taz and Binq "some".  And for the past couple weeks, her poops have some shape to them.  Not entirely normal (I'll spare you the details).  But "better is better" and I'll take that for now.  And there are some days when Lori and Taz sit within paw-reach and nothing happens.  Maybe I just need to stay patient.

Other good news was that we discovered Taz was overdue for his annual rabies shot.  It was supposed to be last month, but I didn't get the usual email notice from the Vet.  She said that is usually automatic and will look into it.  So he got his shot while we were there.

There are 2 silly news items.  First, I discovered recently that of Marley's 2 kidney-care diet (Hill's and Royal Canin) Royal Canin is mostly pig liver.  I think I mentioned that previously.  But the Royal Canin cans don't list the ingredients.  The cans just say E, D, and T.  A Petco staff member was able to find out that they are all based on pig liver.  One is just pig liver, one is pig liver with some chicken.  The other is like that but with some salmon

But the Vet said she looked up the initials once.  The letters mean nothing!  E= Enticing, D=Delicious, and T=Tasty.  Talk about uninformative...  I suppose mentioning pig liver would turn off some customers.  And I have no idea whatsoever why pig liver is good for kidney problems, LOL!

Second, I was reading a Modern Cat magazine while waiting.  One article mentioned that cat fur color has no influence on personality.  Another article said that it does.  The contradiction in the same magazine was hilarious and when I showed that to the Vet she cracked up. 

Woeful Wensday

TBT:   I am having some real problems with the Shelter pair!

Taz has always peed high.  So I bought litterboxes with high removable sides.

He doesn't like that.  He wants to pee far!  Every time he pees it is like marking territory.  He raises his butt, his tail shakes, he is trying to pee far.  Yesterday, I saw him start to pee, and I guess he could tell it was still hitting the litterbox sides.  So he raised his butt higher and got his pee over the top anyway!  It seemed very deliberate.

OK, I can sort of deal with that in the basement litterboxes (always clean).  

But he has become dedicated to peeing on the bed.  It was once a month at first, then once a week, now it is every day.  I don't understand the cause.  He can be outside for an hour and pees in a litterbox as soon as he comes in.  OK, maybe that is the only place he thinks he should pee.

But lately, he wants to pee on the bed.  It has gotten to every day now.  Even a waterproof sheet has to be cleaned.  I has a "urine destroyer spray" I use.  I blot it with old dishtowels after 15 minutes as the instructions require.  

But I can't stop him from peeing on the bed.  Damn, he peed on ME once while I was asleep.  So he really can't be allowed in the bedroom anymore (I have to keep the door closed).  But which means the other Mews can't get into the bedroom either.  

Lori very much wants to sleep next to me at night and Marley likes to sleep in a corner of the bed.  And lately, Binq has been visiting briefly at night which I think is good socialization for her.  But if I leave the door open for them, Taz comes and pees on the bed.

Worse, I caught Binq imitating Taz.  I saw her pee on the bed twice recently.  While she is slowly getting socialized to spending time with me on the TV chair, this new peeing problem of hers (infrequent, but about once a week now) is distressing.

I'm going to be honest here.  I regret adopting them.  Taz was great the from the first week.  Binq took longer but is getting closer.  But the peeing problem is becoming too much.  They are both about 4 years old.  I don't think I can take this for another 12 years.

When they are good, they are very good.  Both love me.  But (forgive me) I am beginning to realize that cats given to a Shelter were given up for reasons.  Maybe Taz was surrendered for the peeing problem.  Binq is a real clawer, but with heavy jeans, I can (mostly) live with that.  But if she is joining Taz in the bed-peeing, I can't live with that.

I am getting to the point where I might have to return them to the Shelter.  I so very much don't want to do that.  But Taz is really making my daily life miserable.

Knowing what I know now, i would never have gone to the Shelter in the first place.  Lori was so happy with Laz before he suddenly started attacking her, I thought a young orange/white male would be like Skeeter to LC and Marley to all the Mews now.  I was wrong.

Lori was happy with Marley.  I should have just left things at that.  What do you do when you make a mistake?

So what do I do now?  I spent so many decades with happy cats who all got along and caused no problems.  Was I just lucky for decades and finding out that a calm multiple cat household is rare?  Am I expecting too much from cats who came from a Shelter.

Nothing has gone right since Laz went nuts again Spring/Summer of 2023.  Everything I've done with cats since then seems to have gone all wrong.

I really need some help here.  

Twofur Tuesday

TBT:  Today's Twofer features Binq and Lori.  And the theme is "chewing"...

Binq was giving an old Nip Cigar a good workout, claws and teeth.  But when I came near with the camera, she stopped.  I'm sure she went at it again as soon as I left.

Lori usually prefers to eat alone.  And especially in corners.  Her bowl is far more defendable that way!

 

Mancat Monday

 TAZ:  Its LAPTIME!

Easy Like Sunday

TBT:   I don't remember who started "Easy Like Sunday" years ago, but I sure do love the idea!

Marley on laundry...

Binq joining...

Taz on the folded towels on the sho rack...

Lori enjoying the seldom-previously-used bed...

Binq actually in the bedroom and acting politely...

Showing off shiny black furs...

Doesn't get much better than that.

But here is Marley too...  My special calm guy, a whole drawer-full. of cat...

Caturday Saturday

BINQ:  I've been a Bad Girl.  I peed on the bed.  Twice.  Well, I sleep by myself each night, and only come into the bedroom when TBT gets up.  Then I dance all around him and seek stritchies  (which are allus provided).

Taz pees on the bed too, so TBT bought a waterproof sheet he can soak clean and hang to let dry.  Really, TBT has watched Taz pee right on him (but on the special sheet).

But a few days ago, while I was the only Mew there, he suddenly saw a puddle.  I jumped cuz my paws were suddenly wetted!  But yeah, it was me.  And the litter boxes were all clean!

And then a couple mornings later, he saw me sniffing around the bed.  The instant I squatted, he shot me with the water gun!  But yeah, I had started to pee again.  There was a few spots before I ran.  I don't know why I am doing this suddenly...

TBT:  I have the waterproof flat sheet because Taz has this bad habit.  He even peed right on me one morning and he pees high like marking.  Taz and Lori have some stress between them, so I assumed it was that.  But Binq really surprised me!

Since she sniffed around carefully before the first peeing incident, I assume there is some smell that gets through the waterproof sheet.  So I have to do laundry.  Which, with a waterbed, is a real pain.  Even a heated waterbed needs insulation.  So it has a blanket, a sheet, a blanket, a sheet, and a blanket, and a sheet.  I sleep on that last sheet.

There is a sheet, a blanket, and the waterproof sheet above me.  But I suppose I need to strip the bed of all and launder them just in case some cat pee has gotten through.  That 4 blankets and 4 sheets.  It will take all day to launder them all.

And The Mews won't by sleeping with me for a while.  Lori is "all claws" against me at night.  Marley is fine, but he is happy to sleep alone.  I need better calm sleep...

No pictures.  Who needs to see cat pee puddles?  I'll see how this works out.

Flashback Friday

Today we flash back to this week 2015.

Ayla and Iza were helping me clean the dishes.

They were all enjoying a cat tree peacefully.

Marley was enjoying the computer chair.

Iza was enjoying some packing material...

And the box it came in...

More dish cleaning.  A bowl this time.

Marley and Iza were curled up on The Lap nicely.

Iza was using the Nip Nanner as a pillow.

 

Werdless Wensday

 

Taz Tuesday

 TAZ:  I explore stuff all the time.  This time, the recycle bin was removed while TBT took it away ta empty the part that comes out ta carry away.  

Well, I never found an avalable place to not explore!  So I got up on the edge an hopped down.  Well TBT came back soon and there I was.  

Am I not about the handsomest cat ever?

But when he brought the insert part, I had to hop out.  Well, it could have crushed me!  So I checked out the insert to make sure he had cleaned it well.  OK, of course it didn't smell.  It just smells like plastic an glass.

But it was a really cool place ta sit in fer a while..