Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: DaveD on September 14, 2015, 21:52:36 PM
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Over on the "A team" thread, I mentioned that Clio has some sores, and I thought they might be ringworm, though people who knew better said it probably wasn't.
I've given it a lot of thought, and now think she may have been attacked by an entire tom. A couple of the sores are just about visible, and they look like bites. The vet will see her tomorrow, so I'll have a better idea, but her increasingly skittish behaviour lends credence to my present theory.
It's her behaviour I need advice about, or rather how I should deal with it. After she disappeared for most of the day Friday, I've been taking her upstairs at night, so she wouldn't get out with the others. I'm as sure as I can be that they aren't giving her any grief, but she's going to greater lengths than usual to avoid them, and finding more inaccessible hiding places.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/DSCF4091.jpg)
She's never really liked other cats, but always tolerated them, and if they came too close she'd growl and they'd go away.
I brought her down today while the others were out, but she cried to be let back upstairs. She has food and water, and a litter tray. Most of all she has peace and quiet.
If I'm right about the cause of her problems, I'll can let her stay upstairs. It's a bit of a nuisance, but shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Should I be doing anything more though? She's always enjoyed going out for a bit of fresh air, but I don't want to risk her getting hurt again, or being scared away. On the other hand, I don't like the idea of her being all alone for much of the day.
Any ideas or suggestions would be welcome.
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Pleased she is seeing a vet because if bites they are likely to be infected.
My opinion is that you let her be where she feels most happy and safe, in time she may change again but right now she has found her solace and knows what is right for her.
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Is it possible the sores are ... well sore Dave? Often cats hide discomfort in order not to appear vulnerable. I'm very pleased she is seeing a vet today too.
Sending healing vibes to the poor lamb :care: :care: :care:
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Thank you both, that's what I thought (obviously, or I would already be doing something else!) but Clio was so skittish it felt like I should be doing more, and where better to ask than here? (Although I hadn't considered infection.)
She's better again today. Last night, I took a foil tray of Sheba up for her, and found she'd finished the dry food I'd left for her, so I picked up the bowl and came back downstairs, with Clio following close behind, so she's got a bit of her confidence back.
I've let her stay upstairs again today. Her appointment is at 3.30, so if I leave her there, I can have the carrier ready for her, and she won't see it until it's too late. :rofl:
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Good thinking :evillaugh:
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Her appointment is at 3.30, so if I leave her there, I can have the carrier ready for her, and she won't see it until it's too late. :rofl:
Who are you kidding. :evillaugh: She's a cat and in my experience they don't need to see the carrier to know it's there or on it's way.
Good luck and hope the vet can get to the bottom of things. :hug:
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No problem getting her into the carrier, though I have to admit I had a backup plan, involving chicken!
We went a lot earlier than I'd wanted to, because the taxis aren't very reliable. If I'd rung at a sensible time, chances are I would have had to wait so long I'd have missed the appointment. Of course, ringing early meant the taxi was there in two minutes. The vet didn't keep us waiting long though, so Clio wasn't cooped up for ages.
After all my speculation, it turned out to be an allergic reaction to fleas. I hadn't even considered that, but in hindsight it should have been one of first things I thought of, even though she wasn't scratching more than usual.
Clio was really good at the vets, though she cried in the taxi all the way there and back. She had two injections without a whimper, and a tablet which she didn't try to spit out, a first for her!
I'm still puzzled by the change in behaviour. Could she be more nervous than usual because she's under the weather?
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Glad it was a simple solution Dave. To be honest, Moray gets "skittish" when we get a flea problem. He races across the carpet, he seldom sits still and he looks almost "hunted." I guess with him being long haired it's probably more of a problem - he acts as though the carpets and seating are "biting" him.
I think Clio will settle once the fleas have stopped biting her.
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So mpleased its something that can be treated easily ;D ;D
My first cat who walked into my garden was infested in fleas and being new to cats I didnt know until they were jumping round the house. Had been combimg them out and tried shop bought flea stuff which was useless.
She also got allergic to them and had to have flea stuff that stopped any biting her.
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Thanks, that's reassuring.
I still haven't seen any fleas. I don't think they'll be a huge problem to get rid of, as I don't have much carpeting in the house. What little I have will be sorted by the Indorex spray, and there's spot-on for the other two cats.
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My Gracie had a terrible skin problem when I got her from the cats protection. I didn't want her on steroids so I had her treated by a homeopathic vet. Gracie was chewing herself raw and started to hide in the loft all the time. The vet refused to let me use chemicals on her. He had combed her and said there were no fleas or mites and that is was a stress related problem due to her past. After shelling out £350 and Gracie getting worse and worse and more miserable and hiding more and more. I told the vet I didn't want her treated any more and I was going to frontline her. (That was when frontline used to work years ago.) Almost immediately Gracie became a different cat. The itching and hiding stopped, and all her sores healed up very quickly. I used to have to treat her monthly during the summer. less so in the winter. When frontline stopped working I changed to advantage. I only had to treat her two or three times a year with that. Now (touch wood) she has gone for the third summer without having to treat her at all. I don't know what has happened to the fleas. Only the fact I sadly lost my old dog who maybe brought them into the house. The cats have the run of the enclosed garden. But still no fleas so far.
Julie.
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Have also brushed with flea allergies. First with my late dad's cat and more recently with one of the gingers we catsit. Very easy to treat as has been said :) Just have to stay on top of it.
Hoping Clio's sores clear up quickly :hug: :hug:
I can't remember the last time I saw a flea. Must be years ago now but I never fool myself they aren't lurkin :shify: :shify: Did vet find flea dirt on Clio?
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Yes, she combed Clio's fur onto some paper, then squirted some liquid onto it which highlighted something or other. I'm not exactly sure what that told her, except that she was sure it was fleas.
I think the treatment has made a difference. Physically, it's hard to tell. I think the swelling around the flea bites has subsided, but I could be imagining that.
But Clio's behaviour has improved. When we came home, she went straight upstairs. I went up to check on her a few times, and to make sure she had food and water, but she showed no interest in coming downstairs. I left her alone for a while then, when I went to go to bed, found her waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. She then ran up a few stairs at a time, stopping to make sure I was following!
She's been a bit clingy the last few days, and that's the same, but she's really perked up.
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if you comb out flea dirt onto white damp kitchen paper it goes red so probably the same
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Don't worry. It may take her a few days to regain her confidence, and to ensure all of the fleas have - in her opinion - been eradicated. :hug: And yes, Dawn's right. Easy way to distingush flea poo. ;)
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I'm glad that this is easily fixed and that Clio already seems to be improving ;D
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My only worry now is that she'll make herself too much at home in my bedroom! :rofl:
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...and FINALLY I've managed to get the Effipro on the other two. Lily wasn't too bad, but Bramble was a :censored: nightmare, scarpering whenever she saw me approach. She's looking daggers at me now!
I just hope it was worth it and the Effipro works.
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Well done Dave. :) Now all you have to do is inordinate amounts of grovelling to make up for your atrocious effrontery ;) :evillaugh: :hug:
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Clio's getting better every day, though she still doesn't want to come downstairs, so I'm letting her stay in my bedroom. I make sure the duvet is covering the pillows every time I leave the room...
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/DSCF4102.jpg)
...but it doesn't stop her co-opting a pillow while I'm asleep! This is what I wake up to every morning:
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/DSCF4109.jpg)
Bramble forgave me quite quickly, following Lily's lead in begging for food while I was eating my dinner, and taking some chicken from my hand. Lily, of course, forgot about the Effipro as soon as she saw the food!
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That's good news she is improving.
Julie.
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:evillaugh: :evillaugh: Lovely sight. :)
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Clio's almost completely better now, I'm just finding the occasional scab.
Now comes the hard work of reintegrating her with the other two. I brought her downstairs about 45 minutes ago, and she lasted about 15 of them before she started crying to go back upstairs. I think she would have lasted longer, but she spotted Lily. In the photo, she's glaring at Lily, but Lily wasn't even doing anything, for once!
This may take a while, but at least she's safe and well, so I won't rush it.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/DSCF4114.jpg)
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Thats a glare and a half :evillaugh:
Good luck ;D
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At least I can pick her up now without her growling and screeching (so long as she can't see another cat!), which I couldn't before.
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The only cat I pick up is Lupin, he is just the right size, the others too big and heavy :innocent:
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Clio's very light, as is Lily. Bramble is a big lump, and will NOT be picked up without a major battle, so I don't try any more, unless I absolutely have to.
I brought Clio downstairs again this evening, and she lasted an hour before she started crying to be let back upstairs. She wouldn't have lasted that long, but I kicked the other two out of the room for 10 minutes or so. Once Clio had settled down, I let them back in. She wasn't too happy about them being so close, but she tolerated them.
So long as she lets me carry her downstairs without showing any signs of panic, I'll keep doing it, but only in short bursts in the evening, when she can't get outside.
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It sounds as if you have found a solution that works for you Dave :)
My Cleo is around 3.5kg and loves to be carried around. Alfie is more than 7kg and hates being picked up - thankfully! :briggin:
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I usually leave the back door open so the cats can come and go as they please. As I don't want Clio to go out just yet, this means I don't bring her downstairs during the day.
Today though, it was a bit chilly, despite the sunshine, and Bramble and Lily didn't see to want to go out, so I shut the door and brought Clio down.
It may be because the other two weren't very active, but Clio stayed downstairs for over two hours, and when she did cry to be let upstairs again, she wasn't panicking at all. Quite an improvement!
She spent most of the time sitting on me, but she did a bit of sunbathing in the window too.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/DSCF4125.jpg)
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She is coming on very quickly ;D
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She is, but she's grown used to being allowed upstairs, so it'll take some time to get her used to staying downstairs.
It's not too much of a problem though. The main reason for keeping the cats downstairs is that when they run up and down, it sounds like a thunderstorm! Bramble and Lily would chase each other up and down the stairs all day and night, given the chance, but Clio isn't so noisy. It's a bit of a nuisance, with the food and water, and the litter tray, but it's worth it for the peace of mind.
I don't even mind getting cramps from having Clio lie on me when I'm asleep!
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Well it seems to be working. Nice photo of Clio on windowsill.
Julie.
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Looks like Clio will be staying upstairs for the foreseeable future. My efforts to get her used to coming downstairs seem to be alarming her.
Luckily she's clean and not destructive, so it's not too much trouble to let her have her own way.
Actually, I sometimes see her at the bottom of the stairs, but she's just waiting for me, and runs back up as soon as she sees me, only stopping to wait when I take too long!
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Actually, I sometimes see her at the bottom of the stairs, but she's just waiting for me, and runs back up as soon as she sees me, only stopping to wait when I take too long!
Sounds like Sasa ;D
Sasa does come down though to eat and go out sometimes, she is getting to like going out less and is so much more sensible than Misa :shify:
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Something very unexpected happened last night, and again earlier this evening.
Clio was waiting for me again when I went to bed last night, but instead of running upstairs, she went into the living room (there's a door from the living room to the stairs) and, because I left the light off, I didn't realise until I noticed she wasn't pouncing on my bed when I got into it! I had to go downstairs again, and I thought it best to let her explore for a while, until she got fed up with Lily, who of course wanted to play) and decided to go back upstairs.
Then a couple of hours ago, Clio followed me downstairs, and again went into the living room of her own accord.
I'll take her back upstairs with me when I go up, but for now Clio is back in her usual place on the back of my chair.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/WP_20151225_21_40_35_Pro_LI.jpg)
I'll let her go at her own speed, but hopefully she'll be happy to come downstairs again.
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Sounds good and she is very pretty ;D ;D
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Lots of fearsome noises from Clio when the others get too close, but I think they're getting the message!
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A quieter day today, even though Clio came down earlier, at 2 pm, and she's still here. I was able to let her in because the rain meant the other two didn't want to go out, so I didn't need the door open. There was a bit of hissing and growling from Clio, but only for less than a minute, then silence, apart from Clio's snoring!
You might notice in this photo that from the front of her hind legs to her head, her fur is as normal, but her back end seems to have lost the top layer of fur, with just a rough lower layer left. It's not in patches, so I don't think it's due to nervous, overzealous grooming. My current thinking is that it's because of age, but if anyone else has another idea, it would be welcome. She seems completely healthy otherwise. She sleeps a lot, but has no trouble moving.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/WP_20151226_20_15_07_Pro_LI.jpg)
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Clio's downstairs again, and Lily is behaving herself. No attempts to play with Clio, and Clio hasn't hissed or growled once, even though she's been past the other two cats several times for food and water, or to use the litter tray.
I had the back door open because I was using the tumble dryer, and I didn't want the windows steaming up, so I didn't let Clio come down as early as yesterday - I don't think she's ready to go outside yet.
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Well done Clio and no dont think outside is for heryet.
Sorry dontn know about her tail end fur :shify:
She is very pretty ;D
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Lily's still chasing Clio, but it only happens occasionally, mostly in the first few minutes after Clio comes downstairs, then she remembers she won't get the response she wants!
Bramble, though, has started greeting Clio, nose to nose, and there's no growling or hissing at all, so she's making progress.
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A bit of peace and quiet. Clio knows that Lily is there but, so long as she doesn't get closer, she won't growl!
...and hopefully it's not wishful thinking, but I think Clio's fur is growing back.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/WP_20151231_16_49_21_Pro_LI.jpg)
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Lovely picture and sounds like things are getting towards a happy household ;D ;D
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Her top fur on her back end seems to have started to grow back, which has me wondering if the loss was due to nerves after all. It's still thin, so when she stands up, there's a clear line and it doesn't look as if it's grown, but it feels softer now than it did a few days ago. She seems quite happy to stay downstairs for hours at a time, but occasionally cries to be allowed upstairs, so I let her, and she always comes upstairs with me when I go to bed anyway.
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(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/DSCF4434.jpg)
I've been AWOL again for a while, so I thought I'd better give you an update, especially as it's good news!
Clio has developed a sensitivity to fleas, and it's been a struggle to keep on top of the problem. She keeps getting sores, including on the neck which makes spot-on treatments awkward, as I'm not keen on applying them to broken skin. I was looking in the pet section of the supermarket, and something made me pick up a spray bottle of Bob Martin Clear. I haven't heard great things about their stuff, so I'm not sure why I bought it, but I did!
It's for both the home and for cats, and you can (they say) spray it directly onto the fur. I tried that once, and Clio ran off! Then I had a brainwave. When Clio came back, I sprayed some on my hand, and massaged it into her, rubbing it into her skin. She was quite happy with that and, best of all, it seems to have done the trick. Not only have the sores started clearing up, but Clio seems to have a new enthusiasm for life. She will even let the others come close, especially Bramble as you can see!
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I'd be careful with the Bob Martins treatments there's a facebook page which has lots of people that's pets have died or been very ill after using it.
One of my cats is sensitive to the flea treatment that goes on the back of their necks so the vet recommended a tablet that's now available so might be worth asking your vet about it.
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To be honest, I had misgivings, but I'm looking around for a better one in the same "format", a non-aerosol spray. It's this that seems to have worked rather than the formulation.
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Hi
Try and google for natural flea remedies - please dont use Bob Martin it can have horrendous consequences x
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I'm going shopping tomorrow, so I'll take a look in an actual pet shop, rather than a supermarket.
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I used this on Buffy last time:-
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_grooming_care/flea_and_tick_protection/flea_and_tick_sprays/29982
Xander had advantage at the same time though so not sure if it was that but they don't have fleas now.
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Get the flea and worming injection from your vet. Its £60 and lasts 3months.
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We use Program injections for all the Clan cats works out at 35.00 fro the 6 month period and it can be bought in liquid form from vet uk for monthly application as weel swear by the stuff and have no issues with fleas and find it kills ticks as well
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Typical! I went out shopping with the one thing in mind, and that was the one thing I ended up not even looking for! I'll try again on Monday.
Thanks for all the suggestions. The cats won't need another treatment just yet, so I have time to find a suitable replacement.
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Clio is even showing some tolerance of Lily now! Lily was already there when Clio decided to climb down from the chair back. Until today she'd been giving Lily a wide berth. I still don't think they'll be best friends, but I think we've turned a corner, and Clio's improved health is giving her more confidence.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/WP_20161015_15_18_34_Pro.jpg)
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It still may have been down to over grooming, Merlin had very thin fur on his tail when he first came here, the vet put it down to overgrooming, and as he has settled the fur on his tail has regrown.
She does seem to be getting there now ;D
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That's great news Dave. Bet you're feeling quite relieved. :)
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Certainly am! Although meal times (for me) are a little stressed, as I now have two cats trying to steal my dinner! It's a small price to pay though, and it's great to see Clio so interested in her surroundings, even if she's not supposed to be. It's a little strange as well that Bramble, who I was told was named for her prickly behaviour, is now the best behaved of all of them! :D
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Clio is getting even more tolerant of the other two, especially Bramble. Bramble had already made herself comfortable, but Clio wanted to sleep in the same place, so she just plonked herself on top of Bramble, who seemed happy with the arrangement!
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/DSC00014.jpg)
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That is lovely! ;D
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As well as a new camera, I recently got a laptop. Fortunately, I have a desktop PC at home, and the laptop is for when I'm out of the house, so it's not such a problem that Clio's commandeered it as a bed.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/DSC00034.jpg)
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Just as well really :evillaugh:.
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CLIO IS LOOKING FAB AND SUCH A GORGEOUS GIRL DESERVES A NEW BED :rofl: :rofl:
LOVE THE 2 IN THE ROLATOR THINGY :Luv2: :Luv2:
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A couple of photos showing Clio greeting Spring.
Every time she looks like she's slowing down, she perks up. I had to go out just before noon, and I like to get the cats in before I leave the house, in case one of them, usually Lily, tries to follow me into town. It's also usually Lily who tries to get out of the house when I do, but today it was Clio. She managed it a couple of times too, though she wasn't quite quick enough to evade recapture!
She was still crying to go out when I got home so I let her out for half an hour, which is when I got these shots.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/DSC00122.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/DSC00123.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/DSC00124.jpg)
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How old is Clio again, Dave?
Lovely pic's. :Luv: :Luv: :Luv: Clio
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I'm not at all sure!
She's been with me for 10 years, and I was told she was "getting on a bit" when she arrived. I would guess that she was at least 7, maybe a bit older, which would make her 17 or more.
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SHE LOOKS GREAT FOR HER AGE AND TODAY LUPIBN IS TELLING ME IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT HE WANTS TO GO OIT!.
ITS TERRIBLE WHEN A CAT FOLLOWS YYOU UP THE ROAD,
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I wonder if that's what happened when Clio went missing. Perhaps she followed me to town, then panicked.
Another one from half an hour ago, just to show yesterday wasn't a fluke!
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/DaveD_05/MyCats/DSC00131.jpg)
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Lovely girl!
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If you tell her she looks good for her age Dave, I sincerely hope that she gives you a slap. :naughty: :naughty: No Lady likes that phrase. :rofl:
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:rofl:
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Doesnt matter what age she is, she's gorgeous. :Luv:
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She's still going strong. She spends ages tucked away somewhere, then comes bounding out, full of energy, looking for attention or food.
Lately, she's been sleeping in the cardboard box that Lily showed a brief interest in yesterday. I was worried that one of the others was bothering her, until I saw her emerge and stroll casually past both of them. She just likes it in there, obviously!
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4671/25767425618_376321712b_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FfYMUW)
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Sadly, Clio was put to sleep today. The vet said that she was dying, and though he could do some tests, they'd only tell us what she was dying of. I didn't want to put her through any unnecessary stress, so I decided to let her go. I stayed with her till the end.
Shockingly, she was half the weight she was last year. I thought she'd lost weight, but I didn't realise how much. She seemed happy though, so I kept putting off the vet visit, until yesterday, when she didn't try to steal my dinner. I'd been fighting her off for months, and she'd got bolder and bolder, but yesterday she wouldn't even eat chicken handed to her, so I knew something was wrong.
I just hope Bramble doesn't miss her too much.
I have a lot of photos of her. This is the last one of her trying to steal my dinner, back in February. I'd managed to distract her with a piece of chicken, but she got bolder and more persistent, till I dared not even look away to find a camera!
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4654/28428947479_73f81bb84e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KjaMCT)
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Dave, I'm so sorry. Rest in peace lovely Clio. :hug: :hug: Thinking of you tonight.
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So sorry for your loss :hug: RIP Clio run free on the bridge :'(
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I'm keeping Bramble and Lily indoors tomorrow. I doubt if Lily will be bothered, but Bramble already seems a bit unsettled, and has wandered around a few times, I think looking for Clio.
Actually, I think Bramble looked a bit nervous when she saw the carrier, it may have reminded her of her last vet visit, after which she wouldn't come indoors for months, so I think I should play safe.
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Dave, I am so sorry that you have had to say 'Goodbye' to you friend. I think you are wise to keep Bramble inside for a while, given her history.
RIP Clio, play hard at the bridge little girl.
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Thanks everyone, both here and in the Purrs Facebook group.
Bramble has settled down now, and is my headrest for the evening. I'll still keep her in tomorrow, just to be safe.
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Dave I'm really sorry to read this :'(
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I'm so sorry to hear this, RIP Clio
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I'm so sorry you had to say goodbye to Clio Dave - it's no easier when they are a good age, is it
I hope Bramble and Lily keep your head warm for many years to come :hug:
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Bramble is on the back of my chair now, snoring away! Lily is asleep on my lap. I think they've settled, although I've seen Bramble wandering around the house seeming to looking for Clio.
Maybe it still hasn't struck home, but I don't feel too bad about the decision. The vet, although not at all pushy, didn't give much of a window for when the best time to let Clio go would be, just a day or so, so I didn't have too much time to dither, and perhaps keep her going too long. That was my biggest worry, whenever I've thought about it, but that part was pretty much taken out of my hands.
I will miss her, but I have plenty of good memories.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4427/36782997051_4a38051bd1_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Y3otwk)
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Lovely photo Dave. :Luv: Very kittenish. Beautiful baby. :hug:
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So sorry for your loss :hug: :hug:
RIP Clio
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Dave, :care: :care: :care: That's a lovely photo of her.
Play hard on The Bridge Little Clio. :Luv:
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From just over a year ago:
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/867/27548787588_8f6d0b8e2c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HYoJLm)[u