Pets are good therapy

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  • sheilaj81
    sheilaj81 Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2011

    yeah i believe pets are good theraphy to recover one's from sickness or health problems

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2011

    I had three dogs sleeping with me last night, was lucky to get enough of the comforter to cover myself up....but knowing they are there with me is comfort in itself.  One of my main concerns is when and if things start going downhill for me, what will happen to the pets because the cat is the only one over 4 yrs old.  I hope I have not already posted out Xmas card becasue I am going to do it now so you can see the gang....if I did, forgive me, Chemo Brain is setting in.  

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2011
    oops, I went back and found I HAD already posted the Xmas card.  Julie....loved the cat pics.  I was never a cat person until someone talked me into giving George a home and I love him to death.  I am attachng a pic of him, hanging out, helping me wrap gifts,  which I may also have posted....now that I have the hang of doing pics, I am out of control.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2011
     I call this cat and mouse. 
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  • julie75
    julie75 Member Posts: 635
    edited January 2011

    marybe:  Loved your pix as well!  Cute picture of cat and mouse. 

    I understand about your concern for finding the pets a new home (let's hope that doesn't happen for a long, long time!).  I suggest talking to friends and relatives and seeing if they will take them in.  Also, there are many adoption agencies (out here in CA, we have "purrfect partners", which places cats with new owners; I'm sure organizations exist for dogs as well).  My husband and I have decided to work things this way, and will include funds in our living will to help ease any financial concerns.

    Julie

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  • mscal02
    mscal02 Member Posts: 522
    edited January 2011

    Marybe that is so true. My daughters' friend gave her a poodle for Christmas one year. She moved back home and when she move out the poodle stayed. He thinks that he is a real boy.So now we have a grand dog. I am a stay at home grandma to him and he has become so attached to me that I think sometimes my hubby gets jealous.He is so funny and when you have to take them for walks you get your exercize too. I also have a fish. Taking care of a pet or two really keeps your mind off your problems and pains.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2011

    I was tired last night so didn't make the larger two go to the basement...usually just Harley, the little blob of gray silky hair closet to the front of the pic, sleeps with me.  Lucky for me, non of them snore.

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  • julie75
    julie75 Member Posts: 635
    edited January 2011

    marybe:  Too cute!  Glad they all fit onto the bed with you!

    Julie

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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited January 2011

    I have two cats, both rescue.  Emma is an overweight, 16 lbs. sealpoint siamese, who's main areas of interest are eatting, sleeping, getting petted and chasing Sophie, it's the only exercise Emma gets.  Emma is 4 yrs. old, Sophie is 2.  She is a snowshoe siamese, has the coloring of a sealpoint but has a face mask like a racoon, she is as lively as Emma is not.  After Emma chases her, she will lie in wait around a corner and wiggle her butt and run up and scare Emma.  They are both fond of the computer, standing smack dab in front of the keys to make it impossible to read or type.  The only reason this is so long is that it is naptime.  They both sleep with me, Emma on the other pillow, Sophie behind my knees, heaven forbid I need to move during the night.  They are quite definitely in charge of the house!  Wouldn't trade them for the world.  Karen

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  • julie75
    julie75 Member Posts: 635
    edited January 2011
    karen333:  Aren't cats wonderful!  Four of ours are rescue cats as well.  One of ours sleeps on my husband; whenever he moves, she will just adjust her body position to his new one.  Love them to death!
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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited January 2011

    julie, they have such individual unique personalities, Emma wakes me up by sitting on my hip, much like your cat.  She is so heavy eventually I wake up.  That's why I'm up now, she feels it's time to eat, breakfast isn't till 8 though, but she keeps on trying.  Karen

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  • julie75
    julie75 Member Posts: 635
    edited January 2011

    Karen:  hehehehe!  Yes, sometimes we try to ignore our little darlings as they wake us up from a sound sleep.

    They do indeed have unique personalities, don't they?  Six of our seven get along - the seventh one thinks she is human and doesn't deign to mix with the rest - so funny.

    Julie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2011
    I call this cat and mouse.....George insists on being in front of the computer when I am on it! Part of this is the fact he doesn't feel safe on the floor with the 3 dogs, but really he just likes to be where I am
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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited January 2011

    Julie,  I had a male like that a few years ago, "deign" is a good word, he thought he was vastly superior to other cats and people.  He would only sit on 3 people, myself, my father and my cousin from Tenn., whitch was strange since he only saw her 2x a year.  Don't you wish you knew what they were thinking?  I know mine knew I had had surgery, rarely lelt my side as if they were comforting me.  They are dear.  Karen

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2011
    I bought this scratching post, kitty stand deal at Costco for George because I thought it would be something he can use when we move to Portsmouth...(he has the shelves I had built for him here) so he can get away from the dogs. He hasn't wanted to have a thing to do with it so I moved it closer to the desk and shelves, still no interest.   Well yesteday morning I came into the computer room and looked around and no George and I knew he couldn't be in the BR closets because I had the doors closed.  I kept looking around and then reached my hand up into the top basket and felt fur and sure enough there he was snoozing. 
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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited January 2011

    Marybe, they lead a wonderful life don't they.  For example, tomorrow I am going to follow their schedule - eat, play, get petted, nap, eat, play, get petted.....   Karen

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2011

    Some of them do ....there is this poor cat up the street that these people feed and had neutered, but they don't allow her in the house and actually she was a feral cat, but she comes whenever I go up there and call her and also she knows my car.  I have been taking her some canned food as a treat since it is sooo cold out and I figure is she's burning food it might keep her a little warmer.. I have no idea where she sleeps. Another neighbor feeds her also....these people are in Florida or somewhere now so I carry catfood in my car and when I see her sitting there on their steps, I always stop.  When I go there she has a hard time deciding if she wants to eat or wants to be petted.  When I tried to pick her up one time, she really scratched me good on the nose and cheek so I have not done that again. I would be afraid to  move her into the house because of George and the dogs would be chasing her all the time, BUT I have thought she might like living in my garage in this cold weather. It's attached to the room Tim hangs out in and has heat and I could fix her up a nice little bed. She's a sweet cat and has a very deep voice...almost sounds like she is hoarse. 

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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited January 2011

    oh. that makes me so sad, I bet she would love to live in your garage, how would you get her there?  She must be so sweet, so hungry but wanting petting too.  I don't understand how people can do this.  My daughter found a litter of squirels, mom was hit by a car, and the 4 babes were just in the driveway, in a state of shock.  She brought them home and handraised them using first an eye dropper then a small doll bottle using goat's milk till they could eat fruit and veggies.  She built a large cage near the tree in our backyard, so they were safe from predators but could venture out when they were ready up the tree.  They would come to her for about a week but then made the transfer to regular squirels.  This is the second litter she has brought up.  Keep feeding and loving that homeless cat. How can people do this, abandon pets.  Karen

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  • julie75
    julie75 Member Posts: 635
    edited January 2011

    Marybe and Karen:  I'm SO GLAD there are people like you and yours in this world! 

    Marybe:  Agree with Karen, keep feeding that cat.  

    Two of our cats were semi-feral cats.  Well, we nabbed them both one night, put them into a room together for some time (all our cats are indoor cats, and we had to have them tested for Feline Leukemia) and then let them assimilate with the rest.  One scratched my husband pretty good, but he kept working with her.  Now, she's the biggest lapcat you ever saw and SO affectionate.  

    So, there's always a chance of the kittie maybe assimilating with the dogs?  I guess we'll have to wait and see.

    Julie

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  • Paula1231
    Paula1231 Member Posts: 456
    edited January 2011

    I would not have recovered well if it were not for the love of my two boys.  They loved me thru surgery and are loving me thru chemo.  Their understanding eyes and the way they follow me around are the best comfort.  They sleep with me and DH at night and keep the bed and my feet warm.  Sock monkey is very good for stopping the tears when things get really rough. 

    The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep..and miles to go before I sleep. LBMX on 8/17/10. TE with Alloderm. OncoDX score 28. 4 AC + 4 Taxol dose dense.
    Diagnosis: 6/26/2010, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIa, Grade 2, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

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  • julie75
    julie75 Member Posts: 635
    edited February 2011

    Hey, Paula:  Yep, agreed, they are such a comfort!  Gotta love 'em.

    We unfortunately lost one of our 7 cats today.  Took an emergency trip to the vet, only to find out she'd passed.  No symptoms of illness whatsoever!  I'm thinking heart attack or something.  At any rate, she had many good years with us.  And, once we've grieved, we'll welcome more kitties (would  have doggies, but no time to walk them).

    Best to everyone.

    Julie

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  • Paula1231
    Paula1231 Member Posts: 456
    edited February 2011

    Julie,

    So sorry to hear about your cat.  I had a beautiful tuxedo cat and he dissapeared Jan  15.  I do not think he is coming home.  We are heartbroken.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011
    And here's George enjoying his new structure.....way up high away from the dogs.  Sorry about your kitty JulieSeems like George gets a lot more press that the dogs so I guess I am going to have to start giving them equal time. 
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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited February 2011

    So sorry about your furbaby, evev when they are old, it's hard to lose one.  Have you seen the poem-prayer about the Rainbow Bridge, it talks about all our pets waiting for us at the Bridge, it is a tearjerker.  Got it from my vet when I lost my dear cat Murphy, he was fine on a Friday and passed away on Sunday.  Vet thought it was a heart attack.  I wait a while and grieve, then get a new rescue, just like you do.  I think cats are happier when they have a companion.  Was a dog person until I moved into my first apartment, could not live without a pet.  I got a nice quiet Siamese, the landlord heard her the first day, he was very vocal!!!  She let me keep him though, since then I've had dogs also, rescues also.  The last 5 years have only had cats, due to no fenced in backyard.  I don't know what I'd do without my babies.  Have you noticed how many women at BCO have animals as their avatars, I think that speaks volumns about the compassion we have.  Karen

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

     I love the Rainbow Bridge even though, it makes me cry to watch it....I remember when my old dog Sydney was gettin up in years and a friend had lost her pet and she sent it to me when I asked what this bridge was ,She would say things like that was before he crossed the bridge, or old Jake had crossed the bridge.  Sydney was old then, but I think he lived a few years ( he made it to 17 1/2)  after that and even though he was right by my feet as I played the link on the computer, tears were just streaming down my face....Now Sydney has crossed the Rainbow Bridge and I know his eyes are going to light up when he sees me.  This was his last Xmas....he LOVED to open packages.  Harley, with me in my avitar is the same breed, but a much smaller dog. 

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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited February 2011

    Mary, it always makes me cry too.  Sydney was a boy on a mission opening up the Christmas presents.  My Sophie, a snowshoe Siamese has an importment mission at Christma too.  She bats the ornaments from the lower third of the tree off, I only put non-breakable ornaments there  By Cristmas only the top 2/3'rds of the tree is decorated.  Last year she pulled it over by tugging on an ornament, this year we tied it off at the top, it stayed upright, she was a little annoyed.

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  • chabba
    chabba Member Posts: 5,065
    edited February 2011

    Karen,  You might try an upside down tree hung from the ceiling.  Wink

    Actually,I saw quite a few of them in magazines and on TV last Christmas.

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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited February 2011

    Chabba, that would proably do it, you gave me a good chuckle when I read that.  'Would love to see Sophie's face as she tries to figure it out, perhaps a leap from the dining room table?

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  • snowflower
    snowflower Member Posts: 68
    edited February 2011

    Hi Marybe,

    George is especially striking, what a hunk! My kitty Archie got so sick and had to be euthanized just 2 days before I went in for the single mastectomy and diep 12/15/10. My heart has been broken ever since. He was my best friend for 10 years and without him here there is a huge void. The love they give is so wonderful. I need to grieve his loss before I can love another kitty.

    Kim

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2011

    Kim, Oh, I remember when I had to have Sydney put to sleep, I cried and cried for days and my face actually hurt and I just went to bed and stayed there.....everywhere I looked in the house reminded me of him.  It's a terrible thing to say, but I think I took it harder when he died, than when I lost my mother.  Maybe a new pet, will find you.  I did not plan on getting a cat, that's for sure and some patient was telling me how she had this great cat, she was looking for a home for because he was terrified of her husband and spent most of his time under the bed and also did not get along with her other cats.  And I thought yeh, right, I don't even like cats. But George came to my house and he is such a lover and a talker and the best cat ever in spite of the fact I never go anywhere without cat hair on me and some of those hairballs he coughs up are pretty gross. 

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