TBT: I think I will use today for a 2023 summary of The Mews. So it is both thankful and sad.
There were 2 losses and 2 gains. Ayla and Laz went Over The Bridge. Both by my decision, not quite theirs. Loki and Binq joined The Mews, and I suppose not quite by their decision either. When some doors close, others open.
Ayla succumbed to old age. She stopped eating and drinking. Appetite stimulation medication did not help. The vet could not find anything "fixable". When she started to stumble a couple days later, I had to say goodbye to my dear sweet Princess. I adored her from thye day she arrived as a kitten to the moment of her last heartbeat. I am nothing but thankful for her.
Laz basically succumbed to insanity. He had a wretched kittenhood with thretening dogs and grabby children. He calmed down some living with the rescuer for a couple of months. He calmed down further when I adopted him, but was still very frightened. A few months of soothing talk and gentle attention helped him. Then he started attacking Ayla until she learned to just stay up high all day.
When Lori arrived, he calmed down completely. They napped together played together and ate together for months. But last Summer he started attacking her. His demons had returned. At first, it was once every couple weeks. Then once a week, once a day, then sometimes twice a day. And the attacks were more violent. The vet couldn't find any physical cause, so he went on 2 calming medications. They had no effect.
I finally had to bring him to the vet for the last time. I couldn'd find a new home (petless and childless), couldn't find a no-kill cat sanctuary that could take him. I feared sending him to a regular adoption shelter. I am thankful for the Laz/Lori BFF days that brought some peace to his mind (and the household). I am very sad he couldn't stay happy and peaceful. He adored me.
I am thankful for Loki and Binq. I had never adopted cats from a shelter. The visitation and take-back parts of the contracts always disturbed me. I understand why they exist, but the lingering threat was too much to accept.
I went to the shelter seeking 1 particular cat, but she did not like me. But there were 2 others who came right to me. After they did their best "Take Me" performances, I couldn't decide which one, so I adopted both. I decided to ignore the visitation and take-back parts. They are way too busy to bother visiting.
I was unsure about my decision the first week. Loki had some head infection, wouldn't eat, and was suddenly stand-offish. Binq just stayed in The Mews Room even after the door was left open. I brought Loki to the vet. He had a temperature, infected inner eyelids, and an ulcerated tongue. The vet gave me some medicated eye ointment and an appetite ear gel stimulant.
I am thankful they both got over their problems. Loki's infection cleared up, his tongue got better, and he started eating. He would only eat the stinkiest of Stinky Goodness at first, but now he eats anything. He follows me around everywhere.
He had the bad habit of searching for food on the kitchen counters and fought being gently pushed off. He still does, but less often, and he is learning "Down". He still wants to steal food from my plate even when I am right there. He will probably learn "No" in time.
Binq worried me when she kept hiding in The Mews Room all day, but after a week she suddenly started sniffing around the rest of the house. She still tends to stay in The Mews Room during the daytime, but she is out and about most of the evening. She isn't a lap cat, but when she is around, she stays "near". On the arm or back of the TV chair or at my feet while I prepare dinner.
She had a bad habit of clawing at my pants and grabbing at my hands with claws and teeth. I had a few wounds. But I started wearing heavy jeans, and I heal quickly... With some encouragement, she is doing less of the clawy/bitey stuff now.
Both Loki and Binq play with toys. Loki found a gray fish and an old Nip Banana he really likes. But Binq is The Queen of Toys! She likes cloth mousies, rattley mousies, springs and balls. I even saw her tip over the bow of toys and rummage around in it looking for different ones!
And she doesn't just play with them. She goes crazy with them. It is like FRAP and toys at the same time. She also knows how to manage the TurboTrak. She's the first cat I've ever had who can get the ball over the bridge! She can also scoop the ball out of the track and bat it around. Which means I sometimes have a time trying to find it.
Loki and Binq are now both happy and healthy kitties and I am thankful for that.
Lori is not adjusting to Loki and Binq very well. I was shocked when she started hissing at them. But they are new and Lori seems to be a very "status quo" cat. She forgets that she was new once herself. I dare say she is adjusting, but only slowly and slightly. I am giving her the leftover calming pills from Laz. That may be helping. She will accept them wrapped in a pill pocket that is rolled around in dried chicken powder (I ground up some pellets of it). I also use Felliway.
Marley is as calm and tolerant of other cats, as always. I am thankful for that. Orange/White male cats always seem calm and peaceful. I've had 3 now. Skeeter was like that, Marley is like that, and Loki seems to be like that.
Loki and Binq seem to have been friends in the community room at the shelter and they stay friends here. Lately Binq has started seeking licks and grooming from Marley and he obliges (of course). If (when) Lori would just calm down a bit this will be a happy multi-cat household.
This picture is a rare event, but hopefully a good sign of the year to come...
So in summary, this was a sad year losing Ayla and Laz, but a thankful year gaining Loki and Binq. And I look forward to a better one in 2024 regarding The Mews.