Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Mark on July 28, 2008, 12:38:26 PM
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She was lying down next to me last night and I was brushing her. When I brushed her left haunch, she scratched me - it is so out of character as she is so gentle normally. I touch the area again and got scratched again. She is a bit stiff when she walks so I think I will ask the vet to x-ray or something. I wondered if I should take her insurance out now?
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Mark do. Now. She might have hurt it. The only way I knew Lexy had dislocated her knee from a fall was by touching. Well she wanted to hide as well. It could be arthritis and you need to get that checked soon.
Give her a head fuss :hug:
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Yes, Blip walks stiffly sometimes with the arthritis. Another time, she had an injury that needed an antibiotic jab. Always worth checking these things :hug:
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Mark i would think about getting Alice checked out.. as she had that scare last year, painful joints can sometimes have a underlying cause and its worth making sure about knowing Alice past history..
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I have started her insurance (Axa £134 for the year - I put her as 10 years old, the higher end of the vet's estimate) and will get her booked in to the vet for tomorrow to be safe. I know this won't be covered but hate to think she may be in pain :(
I hate taking her as she cries all the way :(
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Aw, poor Alice, I hope its nothing serious :hug:
Give her a gentle head rub from me :Luv:
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I hate taking her as she cries all the way :(
So does Blip. I just harden my heart to her cries :(
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I don't understand them. I just gave her a full on brush with a slicker and she was rolling round in ecstasy. I made a point of brushing well on the same leg but there was no reaction - other than the double purring, eyes rolling round in her head and dribbling :evillaugh:
I will keep a close eye. It's nothing to do with money or time. I just hate putting them through it unnecessarily. I'm lucky to have the luxury of being able to keep a close eye on them basically 24/7 so any more signs and I will get her in. Her appetite is fine - so far today she has had 1/2 pouch of felix, some Orijen biscuits (which have glucosamine in) and just now, a saucer full of roast chicken breast. She is as happy as Larry at the moment :Luv2:
Edit - I just had a gentle prod around the area and she lashed out again so she is booked in "no breakfast" for tomorrow 9am
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Best wishes for tomorrow Mark xx
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good luck Mark and Alice :hug:
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Thanks - She isn't interested in the garden today. She has opted for the rug on a hard floor rather than her bed on the sofa so may be in some pain. She is fast asleep right now so I will leave her to it :Luv2:
I this in the bakers today -
"There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart... pursue those" ~W. Churchill
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I hate ignoring them when they want breakfast. I have offered her a few biscuits as if they keep her in, the earliest she would be looked at would be 2pm - she wasn't interested in them which is probably a good thing. I have been watching her walk and there is definitely something going on with her left leg. OH said he would pay to have a vet over but I have pointed out that a mobile vet can't bring x-ray equipment etc with them :evillaugh:
As Christine says, we have to harden our hearts - I feel sick at the thought of bundling her into the car and driving 4 miles to Herne Bay - even more sick about the idea of leaving her there thinking she has been dumped :'( - I know it's for the best and I shouldn't be so soft :shy:
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I hope everything turns out well for Alice today and that she doesn't get too stressed with her vet visit. Looking forward to an update later on
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The new woman vet saw her. After examining her, she said she couldn't find anything wrong as all her leg joints extend OK. She said I had 3 options. 1. A week on Metacam to see how she goes, 2. x-rays, 3. A 2nd opinion from one of the regular vets. I went for option 3 :evillaugh:
James said he recommends a week on Metacam to see if it makes her more mobile, I have to take her back next week. I said I was happy to go straight for x-rays but they said it is more likely to be something that needs ongoing NSAIDS so better to do it this way. Alice was drooling in fear :'(
She is annoyed with me now and gone upstairs.
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Hope the metacam helps. Poor Alice it is awful for them when they are scared.
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hope the metacam helps Mark, she'll forgive you, women huh??
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I hope she eats the food with it on - I'm wary of wasting doses when they decide they don't want something :-:
No disrespect to the new vet - I know everyone has to learn their job but was surprised she offered a 2nd opinion as a 3rd option saying she couldn't find anything wrong. I assume she is newly qualified as I said I was amazed at how much Alice was moulting in there. I said you wouldn't believe she was brushed 3 times yesterday. She said it could be the stress "well that's what the vets says" :scared:
Anyway, Alice obviously sees the Attic room as her safe-haven as she hadn't been spending any time up there for days - except sometimes she goes all the way up there (3 floors up) just for a poo :Crazy:
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Forgot to mention before, James said her legs are fine but the tenderness is in her lower spine. She still has the pot belly although it's less noticeable as she has filled out all over :evillaugh: - They said she is in very good condition generally :Luv2:
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poor girl, maybe its just age, she has had a rough time no wonder she has retreated to the pent house! mine always shed tons of hair at the vet as well, it always makes them look neglected!
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I know - she got extra brushing yesterday as I was gingerly trying to see if it hurt her.
She loves under her chin being slickered. If I stop, she rubs her chin against the brush :evillaugh:
I said to the vet it was just as well I didn't have kids as I would be a nightmare - she said I would be a good parent if I treated kids the way I treat cats :evillaugh:
Another thing, luckily, Lynn, the Practice Manager checked the label as the vet made a mistake and put down to give Alice the Metacam twice a day :scared:
I don't know what the issues are if she had been double dosed? :scared:
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I just went to the Attic and she was waiting for me to escort her downstairs - she is out in the garden now and hopefully a lot more comfortable :Luv2:
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Awww bless her, I hope the Metacam makes her more comfortable :Luv: :Luv:
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I think she is more comfortable judging by the way she was lying down. It's overcast so she came in. She got a bit short with me for fussing around her which is probably a good sign. I think she has retreated to the attic to sleep off her ordeal :Luv2:
Alice yesterday :Luv2:
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I'm sure you'll be forgiven in no time for the vet visit ........ I wish they knew we were trying to help them :shy:
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Just what I needed - I googled Metacam cat - and look what is at the top of the search :tired: http://www.metacamkills.com/
Anyone have experience of this drug?
I am on close watch now :scared:
I wouldn't mind if they offered alternative suggestions. What do you do if your cat is in pain?
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Blip has just been prescribed Metacam too. My vet told me it has now been licensed for use in cats. Why not have a chat with your vet about that website, Mark?
I know that there are similar sites devoted to various human drugs - they do affect different individuals differently. For my part, I shall continue to give Blip Metacam unless I see grounds for concern.
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I use metacam but on a "when needed" basis with my 14 year old who has arthritis with muscle wasting in his right hind leg. He had renal and liver function tests first to check that all was ok there.
He has three mls only when in pain and this can be once a week or 5 times a week. I can tell when he is in pain as he walks with a pronounced limp. My vet was quite happy to issue it on a PRN basis.
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I asked the vet if it was safe to give as an ongoing med if needed. She said the only issue is some cats have gastric problems with it - I pointed out that Alice already has those and doesn't need them aggravated. I will just keep an eye on her. If it gives her relief then it can only be good. I couldn't allow her to just exist in pain and this is the alternative so I am willing to give it a go.
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the internet is a bit dangerous where these things are concerned they usually dwell on the worst case scenario - like Christine says I'd have a chat with someone at the vet
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I asked the vet if it was safe to give as an ongoing med if needed. She said the only issue is some cats have gastric problems with it - I pointed out that Alice already has those and doesn't need them aggravated. I will just keep an eye on her. If it gives her relief then it can only be good. I couldn't allow her to just exist in pain and this is the alternative so I am willing to give it a go.
Our vet nurse told me to mix the daily dose with Blip's food or, if she wouldn't take it like that, to administer by mouth after food, thus minimising the risk of gastric upset. I pass this advice on :)
Blip seems to like the taste, in fact, and eats it with her supper.
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Hope the metacam helps Alice's leg - has she forgiven you yet? :hug:
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She hasn't forgiven me. She is under the bed in the attic.
I rolled under the bed to see her but she moved away. Strangely, she isn't purring now and she always purrs for me :(
I will let her stew and she will come down when she is :hungey:
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Could all the stairs to do a poo be aggravating things?!
Twice daily metacam wouldnt be good, longterm other than gastric issues it build up so should be used wisely in older/crf cats.
Accurate dosing is crucial so that label mistake wouldnt have been good if it was for a patient to use the whole bottle, lucky your on for a week before assessment.
Its wonderful stuff tho, and with badly arthritic cats you have to decide whether a longer stiff life is better than a shorter pain free one. I know id always choose to use it.
Dabs, when you say 3ml do you mean 3kg on the dosing syringe? :scared:
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Its wonderful stuff tho, and with badly arthritic cats you have to decide whether a longer stiff life is better than a shorter pain free one. I know id always choose to use it.
Yes, I have no qualms at all about this decision. My mother has arthritis and - being of the generation she is - I once walked into her house to find her crawling up the stairs on her hands and knees as the pain was so unbearable. Blip is not going through that.
PS my mothers feet didnt touch the ground as I whisked her to her doctor and I went into the consulting room with her to be certain she told the truth about her pain.
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Could all the stairs to do a poo be aggravating things?!
Possibly but it's her choice as sometimes she uses the one in the basement and other times the garden. She now sleeps in the basement so no idea why she chooses to go up there :Crazy: - I think she sees it as her safe haven as no other cats go up there. It's funny but the others just don't go up there. Anyway, she is acting strangely. I went up to see her a while ago and she was still under the bed. I laid on the bed and she jumped up and sat on me for a while.
Then she decided to have a lie down on a chest of drawers :Crazy: - when I got up, she hopped under the bed again. Anyway, she will hopefully come down later. I didn't feed her up there on purpose as I don't want to undo 6 months work.
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Well she's back at the vets in the morning for a check up. I feel so bad as she gets so upset :'(
I assume I don't give her Metacam in the morning as I can't feed her in case she has to have x-rays?
She is fast asleep :Luv2:
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hope she gets on ok, she'll forgive you!
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The vet said they could keep her in for x-rays but would probably advise Metacam anyway so there wasn't much point. She said I have 2 options - either reduce 1/2 her dose or take her off it completely and "pulse" treat. ie if she looks "old ladyish" treat her for a few days. If that doesn't work, go to the first option. She said I was probably better off try the 2nd option as this would mean less of the drug going into her.
She told me to buy a large Metacam on the way out but apparently it only comes in one size.
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that's good then isn't it? suppose its like us taking something for a headache - is she resting in the penthouse now??
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hope she gets on ok, she'll forgive you!
Not yet she won't! :(
As soon as I let her out the carrier, she started to go down to the basement but changed her mind 1/2 way down. She has retreated to the attic. She hasn't been up there for a week In fact, I gave it a really good clean out last week and told OH the bath can now be used :evillaugh: (the attic ensuite is the only bathroom with a bath - the others have showers :evillaugh: )
I will leave her in peace and let her come back down when she is good & ready - I suppose it's her sanctuary :Luv2: - I'm sure she will be back when she's hungry :evillaugh:
Right, off to check on the others - I haven't seen Kylie yet today and been up since 5.30am :scared:
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that's good then isn't it? suppose its like us taking something for a headache - is she resting in the penthouse now??
You guessed while I posted my last one - she is quite predicatable :evillaugh:
The other thing I want to do is try to find a form on glucosamine that she will take.
I also asked the vet about the "Metacam Kills" site - she said, like any powerful drug, it needs to be used with caution but it's a very good drug. She said never give more than you need to and don't give it unnecessarily. She said it can have an effect on the kidneys so watch out for increased drinking or anything else out of character. She said if unsure, we are always here to advise on the phone at any time :)
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She is back down already :Luv2:
Polished off a pouch and now playing with a Catac sack :)
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That all sounds very sensible and reassuring, Mark. I'm interested in the treatment regimen that your vet recommended: it'll be interesting to see what ours says when Blip goes for her assessment in a couple of weeks' time.
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I find these vets much more approachable - Also not pushy with paying for things. She recommended human glucosamine as it's cheaper but said to check the dosage. I used to leave my old vets with 6 x stronghold every 6 months for each cat, like it or not - here you just ask for whatever you want on the way out.
Now she has been for a poo and there is blood in it. I'm sure she didn't eat any grass yesterday as she was in her bed most of the day - back to watching like a hawk :scared:
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Looks like we are both on Poo watch then Mark! :doh:
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mmmmmm nice :sick:
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Well I didn't give her any yesterday or today and she seems to be lying comfortably :Luv2:
She even wandered into the garden this morning so fingers crossed she will be fine - I know it won't last but the longer I can keep her off it, the better :Luv2:
I think the dog bed may be helping as upstairs, she was cramming herself into a donut bed.
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Fredcat has Metacam for his arthritis , but we only give it to him when he starts to limp. After a day nor so's dosing he is full of the joys of spring again and we stop giving it to him , untill the next time. The vet was fine with this - as he said , if he doesnt need it then dont give it to him!
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I want to try her with the powdered glucosamine again - I would rather that than Metacam - a necessary evil I suppose.
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We use liquid glucosamine on Fredcats fish (I know , hes very very spoilt)! we get the capsules from Holland and Barrett and squeeze one on a day.
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What is the dosage? - my vet recommended using human glucosamine but said reduce the dose according (but didn't tell me the dose)
I will pick some up as the Seraquin are like horse tablets and she woudn't eat the food with the powder on. I know Orijen has some in but probably not enough to be beneficial as she only eats a small amount a day.
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I think the dog bed may be helping as upstairs, she was cramming herself into a donut bed.
she is just lush...
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:)
How could I have allowed her to leave? :Luv2:
Dennis is getting soft and didn't complain about me feeding her on the sofa bench when her back was sore :) - although admittedly, I should have put something down :shy:
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Make sure the human stuff is HCl not sulphate (KCl? :-: )
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This site is for humans but recommends taking both at the same time to get "the best hit"
http://www.medschoolchat.com/displayarticle324.html
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Make sure the human stuff is HCl not sulphate (KCl? :-: )
HCI = Human ...... ........ ?
KCI = Kitty ..... ....... ?
:Crazy:
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HCl = hydrochloride
KCl = sulphate, was never 100% in chemistry tho so may not be KCl lol :innocent:
I read that HCl was better as it was absorbed easier, hence the price difference in shops...
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That's what I read before but the site I linked to says "science hasn't made it's mind up" - maybe it's an old article?
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VetUK have some liquid glucosamine for cats and dogs, I have just bought some Seraquin for Molly, Rosie loved it, so hopefully Molly will, although Molly is extra fussy with treats, will only eat Whiskas treats, and I can't put much in her food or she wont eat it. They do smell meaty though.
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She just won't touch seraquin or the powdered form. Also they are too big to hide in food. Alice does have quite a few teeth missing which doesn't help. I will get some liquid for her. I agree with a comment in the link I posted that taking glucosamine is better than any NSAID.
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I just mixed a sachet of Noractive in her food and she is eating it :). I think I tried it a bit too soon in the winter when she was still poorly. Fingers crossed she will start eating it now. The snag with things you add to food is they need to clear the dish for it to be fully effective.
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VetUK have some liquid glucosamine for cats and dogs,
What is it called, Desley (or anyone)? I had a look on the site but couldn't see it (I'm having a bit of a dense week in general, actually :-:).
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There are a few on there but Cortaflex seems to be a better one as it has the smaller Isolates in - I read about this a while ago http://www.vetuk.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_241&products_id=382
Although it's more expensive, you only need 1ml per 4kg bodyweight so actually cheaper :) - I think it works out a small bottle would last 6+ months :)
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:thanks: Mark - I'll talk it through with our vet when Blip has her follow-up next week :)
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Would be great if you could let me know as I wasn't given much info other than to buy human grade. The other liquid VetUK sell is called arthriaid and says "contains MSM for immediate relief" - I wish I knew what it was. It has a dosing tube similar to Metacam :scared: - I'm not sure how you dose Cortaflex as the dose for Alice would be 1.25ml which is a tiny amount.
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Id like to know how cortaflex tastes, if it was flavoured i'd opt for that for lola but she wont have icky fluid syringed in her mouth every day :evillaugh:
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Mark, my Dragan had the arthriaid. It came in a pump type container and you pumped one does onto his food. He wouldn't go near it.
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I think I will try some cortaflex. She is eating the food with the powder now but not all of it. I would rather something she can eat in a small amount of food. She isn't one for treats.
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Have nothing of value to add right now, just need to check the thread for an Alice fix :Luv2:
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She's fine after her scare this morning - I got up suddenly and she ran, skidding on the wood floor. She went in the garden to get away from me :evillaugh: She is back in her bed now - I took a couple of new pics for you :)
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:Luv2: thank you. I just love those little paws of hers. I know she'd have my face if I tried to nibble em but still :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2:
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She still hasn't budged. You would be surprised. She is gentle like Clapton and I am allowed to kiss her paws :shy:
The only time she scratched me was very lightly to let me know I had hurt her bad back :( (Which seems a lot better without meds :) )
I think now she is relaxed, she is happy to sleep most of the time like Clapton - who has now migrated to an old guest bedroom :evillaugh:
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Awww she's such a cutie :Luv:
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She is in the garden now - and hissing at poor Kylie who is just relaxing on her chair - Kylie is humouring her though :Luv2:
That Alice's day :evillaugh:
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Last ones :Luv:
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Gone to mush. What is it about Alice that just makes me go all googley :Luv2:
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I think a lot of it is because we know some of what she went through :( + she's gorgeous :Luv2:
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She really is! She makes you just want to cuddle her! :Luv2: