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  #31  
Old April 16th, 2008, 01:23 PM
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NoahGrey NoahGrey is offline
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Originally Posted by Bev832 View Post
Hello all! Well, Sassy hasn't left her place under the covers at Granny's feet except to eat and use the litter box, but I was able to reach under and say hello without any hissing or spitting, so I consider that progress.
Don't know if anyone wrote about this...didn;t read all the posts, but...

I would also look at it like this. Since cats can sense everything...the cat knows that your granny is very ill. This is also scary/confusing time for the cat. The cat will not leave your grannys side, because she is protecting it's owner. Your granny is also giving your cat somekind reasuurance and fimilarity in a strange environment

ACO22

Last edited by NoahGrey; April 16th, 2008 at 01:28 PM.
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  #32  
Old April 16th, 2008, 01:33 PM
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First of all my sincere condolences to you and your family for the loss of granny.

Good luck with Sassy's vet visit. It sounds like she is going to make a wonderful addition to your family. Looking forward to seeing pics soon.
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  #33  
Old April 21st, 2008, 09:34 AM
Bev832 Bev832 is offline
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A positive update

Hey all!

The visit to the vet (which we had anticipated being one step above horrific) went so well. Sassy sat quietly in her carrier until I took her out, and she stayed in my arms for a few minutes. The biggest thing was getting her nails done as it had been several years since they were last taken care of.

The vet said she has good teeth, a strong heart, nothing wrong with the hips (he suspects the falling over when you stroke her hips is just a behaviour she learned) and is in excellent health for what we now know is a 14 year old cat. (My brother traced back through relationships and gave us an accurate date! Lol!)

Since Granny died, she has become a loving, quiet social creature. We are using my ex pen to create a barrier with several spaces between the animals, not just one that could be hopped over easily but we've bent the pen back and forth, if that makes sense, to let them still see each other but from about 8 feet away at the closest. They both seem to know the other won't make the attempt to cross over.

And it does seem that without Granny's pain and anger being focused on Mom, who was the primary caregiver and so was subject to the most energy, Sassy has accepted Mom as the new mommy. She is again able to pick her up, to cuddle her, to talk with her and interact as they used to.

I am so glad we (Granny, me and Mom) were all wrong. I need to thank you all for keeping me sane and able to be objective and supportive for my Mom through this. I'll take some photos as soon as I can and then maybe we can talk about the best way to introduce brushing to a cat convinced that brushes are evil...

Take care all!
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  #34  
Old April 21st, 2008, 09:43 AM
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Thanksv for the update....Happy to hear everything well be ok and that Sassy has come around.

ACO22
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  #35  
Old April 21st, 2008, 10:16 AM
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I'm so happy Sassy has been able to make this turn around. It looks like she was definitely picking up on some stressful energy. I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures of her.
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  #36  
Old April 21st, 2008, 10:25 AM
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Love4himies Love4himies is offline
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I am glad everything is working out for Sassy, sounds like she is coming around and becoming more relaxed. I agree with ancientgirl, the poor kitty was probably just picking up on the negative energy around her.

It has always been my thought that cats and dogs know when a person is terminally ill and Sassy was very stressed and frightened over this.

Take care and we would love to see pictures.
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  #37  
Old April 21st, 2008, 03:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Love4himies View Post
It has always been my thought that cats and dogs know when a person is terminally ill and Sassy was very stressed and frightened over this.
Very true..I agree.

ACO22
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  #38  
Old June 5th, 2008, 10:11 AM
Bev832 Bev832 is offline
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A June Update

Well, Sassy has been here almost a month now and we've made great progress on some fronts and have new challenges, too!

Sassy and MY cat, Jessie, don't really bother with each other at all. Where I am having problems is, Sassy chases my 14 mo. old spaniel!

Meira and Jessie "play" but since they started when Meira was the size of a small plush toy, its fairly harmless and not very aggressive. Jessie can stop it when she wants. Sassy has no sense of play.

She will block Meira in hallways, keep her from going in or out the door (depending on which size we are all on), chases her into her kennel and then keeps her in there. Having felt the sting of claws, Meira is probably smart to run. Still. When I catch Sassy being the trouble-maker, I escort her back to her room and put the gate up and she has to stay in there for a while, until she calms down.

I know Sassy wants to be more involved in the daily activities and we keep the gate down 99% of the time so she can come and go as she pleases. But every couple days it seems, she is just growly and wants to be a **** disturber. She comes out in a bad mood and it goes downhill from there.

I've seen some advice that when this happens, you have to back the introduction phase up and isolate the cat completely again, and restart the introduction process. Pecking order at the moment is Jessie on top, Sassy then Meira. Is this just a phase? Is this a form of playing? She isn't easily calmed afterward, she will eat but yowls when being petted. I've never found cats understand the psychology of not rewarding negative behaviour; its pointless to treat a cat the same as a dog or child in my experience.

Am I wrong in that? Is it really the same? Do I have to restrict Sassy or do we just weather the storms until she doesn't feel threatened and doesn't overreact to the dog?

Thanks everyone! Your help has been invaluable so far, we wouldn't be here without you!

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  #39  
Old June 5th, 2008, 10:25 AM
Jim Hall Jim Hall is offline
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you doiing ok thats the right thing to do out her back and let her calm down

eventually she will get the hint u might try leaving something with meira's scent by her area so she gets used to the smell
a lot of times what sets cats off is the strange smell /.
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  #40  
Old June 5th, 2008, 12:04 PM
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Hi Bev, so glad you came back for an update.

I have the same problem with a foster momma, Sweet Pea who I ended up adopting, except it is with my Puddles who is a cat that she is moody with,not a dog. I found that I had to cut out carbs from her diet almost completely to keep her in an even mood. I mix Wellness canned (only the grain free varieties) with Ogranics by Nature canned and try to keep her out of the Orijen.

http://www.bynaturepetfoods.com/prod...nnedcat.php#tc

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/cat_w...an_turkey.html

Good luck and keep us updated! Would love some pictures too!
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Jasper RIP (2001-2018)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
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In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb

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  #41  
Old June 5th, 2008, 12:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Hall View Post
eventually she will get the hint u might try leaving something with meira's scent by her area so she gets used to the smell
a lot of times what sets cats off is the strange smell /.
Oh you are so right with that one, Jim. I would brush Sweet Pea with Puddles' brush (they hate each other) and Sweet Pea would get all fluffed and attack the brush!
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Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs)

Jasper RIP (2001-2018)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
Puddles RIP (1996-2014)
Snowball RIP (1991-2005)

In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey
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  #42  
Old June 5th, 2008, 12:33 PM
Bev832 Bev832 is offline
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Oh you are so right with that one, Jim. I would brush Sweet Pea with Puddles' brush (they hate each other) and Sweet Pea would get all fluffed and attack the brush!
We do this already. Everyone gets brushed with the same brush so everyone smells like everyone else. Sassy never was brushed and finds it intolerable, Jessie absolutely loves it and Meira lets me but pouts the entire time.

Now, Meira does have boundary issues and will sneak into Sassy's room every chance she gets. (Why can't I have a gate that lets Sassy out and keeps Meira out?!) I know she's stolen food before I moved it up, and she destroyed a toy that was never played with. Sassy sleeps under the sheets most of the time and Meira has bounced up onto the bed, unaware of the fact Sassy was there. It was a surprise for everyone... So it isn't like the dog hasn't given her cause to be cranky. I don't tolerate anyone being aggressive or nasty so whether its a cat or the dog (or my sisters-in-laws ) you get sent to your space for time out (or booted out into the rain). Sassy actually tries to attack me instead of allowing herself to be herded nicely or running away from the loud voice and stomping feet. I'm starting to think this is just the cat I have and that any change will be a bonus.

But she does follow me around, and she comes out to get me when she wants cuddles or treats or her box done. She is showing tremendous progress. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that she might keep making these kinds of changes. And no one can give me that.
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  #43  
Old June 5th, 2008, 12:38 PM
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Since Sweet Pea is the aggressor we keep a harness and a rope dangling from it to grab Sweet Pea before she attacks Puddles, and it is off to Time Out in the bedroom. We also clap out hands loudly if we notice Sweet Pea is getting set to attack and that seems to snap her out of her trance and she backs off, if not, it is time out for her. Sometimes when we smack out hands, she runs into the bedroom by herself.

Sweet Pea is not all guilty either, Puddles hisses and growls up a storm at Sweet Pea getting Sweet Pea all rowled up, but would never attack. Sweet Pea attacks.

I really found the change in food really helped decrease the attacks and smooth out her moods.
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Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs)

Jasper RIP (2001-2018)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
Puddles RIP (1996-2014)
Snowball RIP (1991-2005)

In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey
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  #44  
Old June 5th, 2008, 12:40 PM
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Love4himies Love4himies is offline
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BTW, we have had Sweet Pea for almost a year now All she has to do is ignore Puddles!
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Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs)

Jasper RIP (2001-2018)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
Puddles RIP (1996-2014)
Snowball RIP (1991-2005)

In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey
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  #45  
Old June 5th, 2008, 12:41 PM
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Love4himies Love4himies is offline
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Oh you live in Salmon Arm! Beautiful place.
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Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs)

Jasper RIP (2001-2018)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
Puddles RIP (1996-2014)
Snowball RIP (1991-2005)

In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey
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  #46  
Old June 5th, 2008, 12:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bev832 View Post
(Why can't I have a gate that lets Sassy out and keeps Meira out?!)
If you look on either the Petco or Pet Supermarket website they have gates that have a little door that will keep a dog out of a certain area, yet it has a little door that allows the cat to go through.
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  #47  
Old June 5th, 2008, 06:34 PM
Bev832 Bev832 is offline
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Yeah...

Quote:
Originally Posted by ancientgirl View Post
If you look on either the Petco or Pet Supermarket website they have gates that have a little door that will keep a dog out of a certain area, yet it has a little door that allows the cat to go through.
The only problem there is the dog and cat are the same size. Small cocker & large Wegie!

I will definitely look at trying a different food for Sassy, she's been on the same food forever. Thanks for the suggestion. She is trying, bless her heart. I know she is, and I can tolerate her chasing the dog around so long as it doesn't create aggression or fear towards cats in her.

And why on Earth are you sorry that I live in such a beautiful place?!?! Albeit a little damp here today... lol!
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  #48  
Old July 7th, 2008, 12:40 PM
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Love4himies Love4himies is offline
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I am sorry to go off topic, not that you live in Salmon Arm, I love BC.
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Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs)

Jasper RIP (2001-2018)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
Puddles RIP (1996-2014)
Snowball RIP (1991-2005)

In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey
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  #49  
Old September 23rd, 2008, 03:28 PM
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grissom grissom is offline
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cat's point of view

I am very sorry to hear about your grandmother's illness.
As far as the cat goes, animals know when something isn't right. Even though the cat has not been an affectionate cat, she has still been a companion to your granny and your granny to her. She can sense that something is wrong with granny and on top of that she has moved into a house that is not familiar to her. When you add all the stresses to the cat (I am not saying you are not stressed also) but when you add all the stresses to the cat, the cat don't understand. Maybe if you put some sort of item (a sock, a wash cloth that granny has held or something) that smells like granny maybe the cat will calm. When I am away on business trips, my husband puts one of my non-laundry socks where my cat sleeps and he seems to be less restless and agitated while I am away. Maybe mom could put on granny's socks and let the cat get use to mom's smell and away from granny's smell.
Again, I am very sorry about your granny.
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  #50  
Old September 23rd, 2008, 05:17 PM
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grissom - this post is from back in April. A lot has changed for the original poster. Her grandmother passed on :sad: and Sassy had settled fairly well into the household. The latest problem was with the pup but even then the last post was in July.
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