Hi, Grau; just in time for you a "cheer-me-up"... a video my son created two days ago. It is the ever cheerful little wren in my garden. My son built the house on a pole and I planted a clematis at the bottom. This summer is the first time the flowers reached onto the roof and the little wrens, who already raised a family in there last year, are delighted to try again, although I have not seen any young ones yet. Here now is the video, it has sound, too: Cheers!
About a year ago I had to put down my baby Bun. She was 17 but this was a fairly recent shot. She did great until the last six months or so. She loved me more than anything or anyone else ever could. LOL! I still have one more. She is about 14.
Thanks for the cheer-me-up video. Yes, there is something especially uplifting about those little house wrens the way that they puff up their chests and make up such a cheerful sound. We've got hanging plants on the back and side porches and had four nests with baby birds in them. Each produced about 4 - 5 babies that are now at the bird feeders and suet baskets with the other birds. Fortunately, the Siamese has only shown an interest in watching the birds and has never killed one. Thanks, again.
That's a good photo and it looks like baby Bun had blue eyes too. I'm sure that there's a part of you that still misses her. I know that my Siamese was a one-of-kind type of old friend. I think that most people don't realize that some cats can be especially loyal and affectionate. I know that my Siamese would frequently check on me in my blacksmith shop with all the noise and sparks flying, hang out with me on the back porch watching the birds and then sleep next to me at night. My Siamese was about 15 and was still very alert, in good spirits and affectionate at that age so you should have several good years with your other cat. Thanks again for your comforting thoughts and kind words.
I still miss animals I lost 20 years ago. I can think back or look at photos and still feel their faces against mine while I give them a hug. At times I have wondered if the pain of their loss is worth it, But it only hurts badly for a short time. And we usually get at least 10-15 great years with our friends. At one point my ex and I had 3 dogs and 4 cats that were all very close in age. And they all lived to be about 13-15. Over a matter of a couple of years, we had to put down or lost 7 animals [one was hit by a car]. It was devastating. It took me a number of years to get over it. I had lost 7 of my closest friends.
Thank you. I, too still think fondly of an Australian Shepard I lost over 30 years ago but The Siamese was the only cat I've known or even been around who was so entertaining, trusting, loyal and affectionate. I say "was" because I had to have him euthanized on Monday (11 July). I was holding him when he looked at me with his trusting, pretty blue eyes as the tearful vet. gave him the fatal injection. It's been almost 2 weeks and I still get a lump in my throat when I think about that moment. It's not much comfort to know that he was in pain and there was nothing more that I could have done but the degree to which my friends and family have been so generous, empathetic and helpful has been somewhat comforting. You're right about wondering if the pain of loosing and animal companion is worth it but, so far, I've never gone out and bought an animal companion; they always seem to find me. I wonder who or what will show up at my doorstep next. Thanks, again, for your empathy and understanding.
So cat people… We have lots of outside (barn) cats etc. and many of them are “pets” in that they come around wanting affection. But we seldom have a cat in the houses unless it’s in need of rehabilitation or something. A few days ago my wife and tripod retired working/now house dog drug in an orphan kitten. It’s been doing well on an eye dropper with goat milk but is now well past the age it should start lapping milk from a dish. But it won’t. It’s the eyedropper or hunger strike. Any ideas? My wife thinks canned cat food but I don’t have any and it’s 30 miles to anywhere that does. I may have to go to town tonight anyway, do you cat people think canned cat food would encourage it to give up the eye dropper? I’m getting weary of babying the little bugger even though it butters me up with purring etc. TIA
How old do you think it is? Are its teeth OK? I've never met a cat that can resist chicken. You could try a bit of that cut into small dice.
I don’t know age for certain. It’s eyes were opening when we found it but they were matted so not sure how far along the process was. Eyes have been open good a full week. Teeth are good and growing. It walks around good, purrs, climbs but won’t lap milk. Usually orphans with eyes open you stick their nose in milk a couple times and they eat. A guy gave me 50 lbs of chicken leg quarters a couple weeks ago. I don’t eat chicken so put it in my neighbor’s freezer for her to pass on to a family having trouble with the economy. The only chicken I have is “on the hoof”. Good idea though.
My old tripod border collie mothers the kitten. He’s loved cats since he was a pup. He bathes and grooms this kitten. But he hasn’t taught the kitten to eat. LOL
Eyes open when they are only about a week old. They don't fully wean until around 6 weeks. He/she could just be too young.
I'm reluctant to recommend a specific course of action without knowing more information about the "orphan kitten". I know that they have specially formulated canned kitten food that may be suitable but I think that the most important thing is to keep the kitten hydrated. I know that it is neither cheap nor easy but I think that it's time to take this kitten to your vet. for a professional evaluation and possibly shots and neutering. I wish that I could be more helpful but I feel that no advice is better than the wrong advice. Goof luck,
We have eleven cats... all with distinctively different personalities: Abbott and Costello - Brothers. Our oldest cats. Costello is the HMFIC (Head Male Feline in Charge). Our sage old guy and a real friend. Abbott roams all over you, biting your hair and giving licklovels along the way. Laverne and Shirley - Laverne We found three newborn kittens in our driveway. We got a big cage for them, some soft bedding, and a small litter box. "Clumping litter" can end up choking them so we used "Feline Pine" litter. Cheapest bottles (Pet AG) are at Wal Mart. Go to Pet Smart and you'll pay a fortune. (Well, a kitty fortune.) We bottle feed them using "Pet AG"... "Pet Replacer Plus". Get some bottle brushes to wash and reuse the bottles. We're slowly getting them off the formula and onto dry 'Hill's Diet" "Kitten Food" and then "Fancy Feast Gourmet Natural" pate for kittens. They've been in the cage since the end of may and we're slowly introducing them to other cats. They all seem to get along well. One of our adult female cats ("Schnoz") almost acts like a nanny, letting them slap her, bite her and play with her. Definitely get them to a vet for checkout. We recommend soft sided carriers for the trip.
WOW! Eleven cats... You really are a good hearted soul to take in so many wayward felines. At one point, we had 9 cats that either found us and / or were abandoned in our front field. I suppose that The Siamese was my favorite and I keep running into things that make me remember his antics. We currently have 0 cats but the day is young. Good luck
Finally made it to town for cat food and the shelves were pretty bare. Came home with one can of Wal mart brand “turkey” pate style. A couple times pretending the spoon with pate on it was an eye dropper and it started eating cat food from a dish. With gusto. Still won’t lap milk from a dish. LOL. Whatever. I still give it it’s milk with an eye dropper but it doesn’t have to be every couple hours now. That was the goal!
No problem with dehydration or caloric deficit. I’m blessed with plenty of goat milk that is one of the best cross species milk replacers on earth. And it loves the eye dropper. The problem is it will not transition from the eye dropper to lapping milk from a dish. Still won’t even though it’s on solid food as part of its diet now. I’ve dropper fed puppies, kittens, and skunks and never had one transition to solid food before lapping milk from a dish! I think it likes the attention and I’m being played! I think you’ve given good advice. If it would not have eaten from an eye dropper it would have been tube fed milk. We tube feed lots of different critters and it saves a lot of lives. But for those without resources a veterinarian is absolutely the best option. She will be a barn cat so no spay. It will be her job to eat mice and procreate more mouse eaters!
For a long time cats have been seen as closely attached to the supernatural, as in Egyptian will paintings, being the witch's familiar or involved in Halloween and folklore. Maybe because they are out at night, make little noise and insist on being obeyed. I cant remember the movie where à cat wore the universe on a collar.. can znyonechelp?+ So we are negatively associated with them . Just à thought. As a dog person.
Here is the little bugger. It purrs now so I guess the eye dropper feeding labor is value for value exchange and ‘m not being exploited! Her left eye was very bad when we found her but is getting better.
Re: I believe the movie you're thinking of is one from the "Men in Black" series and Orion was the constellation around the cat's neck. Does that sound right?
