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Author Topic: A cat lovers experience...  (Read 3959 times)

crabby3

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A cat lovers experience...
« on: October 26, 2014, 12:01 PM »
Sorry for your loss Mouser.  The passing of a best bud is always difficult.  I'll miss Crabby when she desides to leave. (most things are up to her)   ;D
Although 18 years is considered elderly... some live over 20.  I attribute this longevity mostly to proper diet.

---------------------

I didn't want to clog Saffrons thread with my blog.

NOTE: I am not a vet or even a doctor; this is just my past experience with 3 indoor cats.

My first cat passed at age 2 from kidney disease.  Smokey was a purebred Persian.  There were known health issues with Persians including kidneys.
The vet said feeding her only canned food may have weakened her system as well.  After-the-fact advice always sucks.  >:(  Sorry Smokey

Squeeky left after 17 years (from boredom i think).  She was an abandoned stray kitten.  We met when she was about 6 hr old.
Dry cat food with an occasional soft-treat.  I used a very basic auto-feeder (bad idea).  She became 22 pounds of fur and bad attitude.
She may have lived longer if I hadn't used the auto-feeder.  :(  Like some humans... she ate when she was bored.  Sorry Squeeky

Finally there's the crab.  Crabby is 19.  Crabby is 10.  She was an abandoned stray kitten as well and we met when she was about 1 day old.
No auto-feeder and dry cat food only.  She's a lean mean couch potato.  She gets fed 1 cup, whenever her bowl is empty, about every two days.
She also gets some stuff i eat.  :-[  Assorted meats, processed cheese, ice cream and an occasional 1/4 cup of 2%.

No shortcuts with Crabby but she seems to know what's good and what isn't.  At times I'll trash some of my food that she won't eat.
No auto-water either.  She plays with the water, splashing all over the place, until the gallon's empty.   :-\

---------------

For those who may want to switch to dry food...

Always make a change in diet gradual - per several days at least and sometimes over a few weeks if your cat is fussy.

Start by mixing a very small amount of the new food with your cats old food, and make sure it is well mixed.

Only increase the amount of the new food slowly.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2016, 07:49 AM by crabby3, Reason: typo »

KynloStephen66515

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Re: A cat lovers experience...
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2014, 05:02 PM »
Lovely story crabby :)

crabby3

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Re: A cat lovers experience...
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2014, 11:44 AM »
Lovely story crabby :)

Thank you!  It wasn't meant to be a blog but it turned into one.   :huh:

-------------

Epilogue

Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) powder mix was used for the two newborns.  Mine came in a kit: KMR w/ measuring cup and a small baby bottle.
KMR comes premixed as well.  Both powder and premix need chilling but the powder warms quickly when mixed with tap water.

kmr-powder-28-oz.png

Your newborns first few potties will be the color of this border... as you softly rub and gently pinch their lower belly.  Mother cat stimulates by licking - I didn't  ;D

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As with some human families i learned on the first kitten, Squeeky and was well prepared when Crabby arrived.
Didn't have Squeekys KMR any more but a fresh batch is better.  Still had the bottle and custom-built Mother Cat Snuggle Box.
The MCSB was just a shallow cardboard box w/ heating pad and a folded bath towel on top.

crabby3

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Re: A cat lovers experience...
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2016, 08:23 AM »
Saying goodbye to Crabby... I miss you already...  :(  Sigh...

mouser

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Re: A cat lovers experience...
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2016, 03:44 PM »
So sorry to hear that, crabby.  My condolences.