Diagnosis: Mental

My baby, the cat that a friend dropped off at my house a decade ago, when she was only five weeks old. The cat that I taught to use the litterbox as a toilet, not a bed. The cat that I bottle fed for a few weeks. The cat that ran full blast around the bedroom, doing somersaults off the walls. The cat that sleeps on my neck like a scarf and takes naps in shoes with her chin resting on the heel. The cat who loves Froot Loops and likes to perch herself on my shoulder and lick the milk as the spoon comes to my mouth. The cat who used to wake me up and (meow) talk me whenever she was feeling needy.

This is the cat that has given me problems since day one. She started out with Conjunctivitis in her right eye and it swelled shut. The cat who has had teeth extracted. The cat who can't seem to hit the litterbox no matter if I set her in it. The cat who likes to not eat, then eat so fast she vomits it all right back up. The cat who has serious redirected aggression and will bite me at the flip of a switch.

This cat, my baby, was diagnosed with a sickness just the other day.

It is official.

Finally.

A vet has found out what is wrong with her.

After a decade of dealing with her.

She is ----

MENTAL.

And I quote, that is what the vet has said.

I can't help but laugh because my family has been secretly calling her Sybil for a long time.

To cope with her "sickness" I have started her on a holistic set of drops that are to help with her mental anxiety. It is like healthy prozac. If this doesn't work, we go for the good stuff.

So far though, she seems to be doing much better since I started the drops. Though giving her the drops are kind of a pain.

Imagine a maine coon (about a 15 lb cat) with long hair with the personality and strength of a LION. I get to wait til she is unaware - finally eyes closing, while laying on the couch and then I pounce on her with my entire body, drops in the right hand and holding her jaw still in the left. I then squeeze that damn little drop bottle til I can't squeeze any longer and then I let her go and run like hell.

You think I am joking??

Not in the least. I will have to try and get this on video. It's has to be a million dollar winner.

It's great because there are moments where she sits there completely calm and takes her drops and there are times she turns into a WWF wrestler.

I used to have to give her eye medicine and it was very similar. My 14 niece does a great SNL type of rendition of me doing so.

Wordless Wednesday - Cat naps

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday - new kitty toys

Izabel furiously scratching the new post

Tuesday and the blanket that crinkles

As you can see, she isn't much for sharing.

Wordless Wednesday

bonding

Saint took care of my kitties while I was away for the weekend.

He fed them, cleaned out the litter boxes and just basically made sure they stayed alive. Very simple task.

Apparently Izabel decided to make him work for it.

I am sitting on the couch, just got home a couple of hours ago. Izabel is sitting next to me relishing in the fact that I am back. She is very needy.

Saint walks in and greets me only to look down and spot Izabel. He says, "hey shithead." It was smothered in disgust.

She shit on the floor everyday I was gone.

(smothering my laughter here)

He had to clean it up. Every day.

my next cat will . . .

My Tuesday, cat is the nicest, sweetest, loving cat I have ever met. When I adopted her, she had spent the last six months living in the vet's office. She was around people 24/7. She loves drinking out of glasses and leave a ham sandwich for a second and it's hers.

She is the best minded cat ever. I could probably staple gun the litter box to the ceiling and she would still manage to use it. No matter who comes over, she is nice to them. She runs up, greets them immediately then proceeds to win them over.

When I took her to her last vet visit, I was informed that she has dirty feet and my job was to clean them using these pads. I don't just wipe her feet off. I have to sit her on my lap, hold her down with my arm and then proceed to spread her toes and clean between each and around each claw.

For a really sweet natured cat this should be a breeze. Right?

Uhm, no!

I pick her up and she molds into me, purring and loving the attention. The moment I set her on my lap and try to spread her toes, she turns into a giant mountain lion squirming, roaring and acting like a two year old child who wants a cookie. She's a nightmare!!

My next cat will be constantly touched on her toes, tail, ears, opening her mouth and checking her teeth and anything else I can think of the vets do, and I may have to do in the future. I will give her treats and pop them in her mouth so when it comes time to administer medicine, I will be allowed to do this.

Wordless Wednesday - the lion cut

Wordless Wednesday - Izabel being needy

Anyone who says cats are not friendly and cuddly, do not know my Izabel. Here is an example of me on the computer and her needing attention.

















What you can't see is the ferociousness with which she is leaning and pushing on the computer screen. It usually moves all the way open and closed while she is scratching her face on it.

And then, she will sit there and stare at me until I pay attention to her.

Wordless Wednesday (sortof)