My new baby kitten is probably on her way. :) The heat was on in the cattery of BigDaddy's as mommy and daddy of a fine quintet were combined to create another nice litter. I decided to have a pet/show level kitten instead of one for breeding as I'm only starting a Maine coon hobby. I got my dog, Iiri, for breeding despite the lack of experience with the breed, I guess that's all I need at the moment.
So the Christmas is over and such. It's unbelievable how quick it comes and goes and how few days it is for the peace and calmness. I got two presents for Lilli, the little den I spoke of in the last entry and a fishing rod. ;) I should get her more stuff, a tree and a feather toy at least. She has had a scratching post and has still, but it isn't that lot of fun as it's quite low and she only scratches it. I have planned to get a real tree trunk into my balcony and make a scratching tree of it myself, but there's a long way ahead.
I haven't got yet the enthusiastic fever of waiting for a kitten. Maybe it strikes when I buy something new for her. :)
keskiviikko 28. joulukuuta 2011
torstai 8. joulukuuta 2011
Did life go on?
It's two months since Tasha's death. Life has been on its way back to track. I have moved closer to my birth town. I've been having a renovation going on in my new home. It's finally finishing. Lilli, my remaining cat, has been in the care of my mom as I wanted her to have a somewhat stable place to live instead of furniture wandering around, huge piles of cardboard boxes and walls to be painted. I guess I could have her here next week.
I miss Tasha still so much. Today I read my last entry in this blog for the first time after writing it. It was difficult. I have seen some photos of her. It's been so hard to realise that I couldn't have imagined her dead before the year end. What did I do wrong? When should I have acted? It's useless. It doesn't bring her back. One can only think that it shouldn't happen again. Try to learn.
I have started to plan a new kitten to the year 2012. It's probably a Maine coon from the cattery I have written about earlier. But we'll see. I don't know whether I want to breed them, a pet level kitten would do if not. But I'm quite sure that a kitten is in schedule for the next year.
I ordered a new cat den for Lilli for Christmas. :) She has never had one, I'm a bit nervous of how does she find it comfy. She's been seeming a bit lonely, no wonder. She has never really liked dogs but now she has started to bend. The puppies are still a bit too much for her with all that enthusiasm, but there are situations when she's perfectly relaxed in their presence. That usually can't involve more than one puppy. ;)
I miss Tasha still so much. Today I read my last entry in this blog for the first time after writing it. It was difficult. I have seen some photos of her. It's been so hard to realise that I couldn't have imagined her dead before the year end. What did I do wrong? When should I have acted? It's useless. It doesn't bring her back. One can only think that it shouldn't happen again. Try to learn.
I have started to plan a new kitten to the year 2012. It's probably a Maine coon from the cattery I have written about earlier. But we'll see. I don't know whether I want to breed them, a pet level kitten would do if not. But I'm quite sure that a kitten is in schedule for the next year.
I ordered a new cat den for Lilli for Christmas. :) She has never had one, I'm a bit nervous of how does she find it comfy. She's been seeming a bit lonely, no wonder. She has never really liked dogs but now she has started to bend. The puppies are still a bit too much for her with all that enthusiasm, but there are situations when she's perfectly relaxed in their presence. That usually can't involve more than one puppy. ;)
tiistai 11. lokakuuta 2011
My baby girl's gone
Last Thursday turned out to be a very difficult one for me. On Wednesday Tasha was at clinic receiving liquefaction, just like I wrote in the last entry. I got her back after 5 pm. She was quite much in the same condition I left her there in the morning. I was told that if she wouldn't eat at home there would be another day of clinic liquefaction on Thursday.
The miracle didn't happen. As I watched Tasha refuse to eat a thing my heart became heavier each moment. This cat didn't have a will to live anymore. This cat wanted to crawl somewhere to die. It was my only duty to give it to her.
Thursday morning dawned sleepless and I called the clinic to ask for an appointment. I got it. Once more I put Tasha into a crate and left to see the vet. I watched her withered little figure twitch for the last time and life escape from her eyes forever. Gently I covered her with a towel and lifted her into a box. I shook hands with the vet, thanking her of everything and carried my sweet little friend into the car. The heavy weight on my shoulders was gone. I had given my girl the last favour she needed. She was painless. She was free.
The miracle didn't happen. As I watched Tasha refuse to eat a thing my heart became heavier each moment. This cat didn't have a will to live anymore. This cat wanted to crawl somewhere to die. It was my only duty to give it to her.
Thursday morning dawned sleepless and I called the clinic to ask for an appointment. I got it. Once more I put Tasha into a crate and left to see the vet. I watched her withered little figure twitch for the last time and life escape from her eyes forever. Gently I covered her with a towel and lifted her into a box. I shook hands with the vet, thanking her of everything and carried my sweet little friend into the car. The heavy weight on my shoulders was gone. I had given my girl the last favour she needed. She was painless. She was free.
keskiviikko 5. lokakuuta 2011
Tasha's fate
There's so much happened since the last update. I'm kinda lazy to update my blogs nowadays.
At the moment, Tasha has been taken into emergency care at our vet. At Monday she stopped eating and went quite phlegmatic. That carried on at Tuesday so I contacted a vet. We got an appointment for this morning. Tuesday night, she went worse. She doesn't like Iiri very much and usually gnarls when the puppy approaches, but now she let her nudge and lick without saying a word against it. I called the veterinarian emergency duty and took her there. She was diagnosed with ketoacidosis, intoxication for ketones which comes from soaring blood sugar. The rate was 26,5 (!). Again, when caring for diabetes, you aim for <10. 20+ is a life-threatening condition. She was given liquefaction and insulin. We were sent home to the appointment made for the next morning.
So, there's a while since I came from the vet. Tasha was left there because she needed more liquefaction and more intense medical watching. The vet told me that this wouldn't be her last time when she needs emergency care for the disease and that it's highly stressing for her body to suffer of these conditions. So we're facing choices. One is to carry on with the treatment despite of these ups and downs. And then there is putting her to sleep. It's awfully difficult as she's not old and she maybe could get better with time and stable care. But there's an equal chance of not getting better. And that's really not a cat's way of good living just lie down depressed and without appetite. I would still like to try. But I really don't know how this is going to end.
At the moment, Tasha has been taken into emergency care at our vet. At Monday she stopped eating and went quite phlegmatic. That carried on at Tuesday so I contacted a vet. We got an appointment for this morning. Tuesday night, she went worse. She doesn't like Iiri very much and usually gnarls when the puppy approaches, but now she let her nudge and lick without saying a word against it. I called the veterinarian emergency duty and took her there. She was diagnosed with ketoacidosis, intoxication for ketones which comes from soaring blood sugar. The rate was 26,5 (!). Again, when caring for diabetes, you aim for <10. 20+ is a life-threatening condition. She was given liquefaction and insulin. We were sent home to the appointment made for the next morning.
So, there's a while since I came from the vet. Tasha was left there because she needed more liquefaction and more intense medical watching. The vet told me that this wouldn't be her last time when she needs emergency care for the disease and that it's highly stressing for her body to suffer of these conditions. So we're facing choices. One is to carry on with the treatment despite of these ups and downs. And then there is putting her to sleep. It's awfully difficult as she's not old and she maybe could get better with time and stable care. But there's an equal chance of not getting better. And that's really not a cat's way of good living just lie down depressed and without appetite. I would still like to try. But I really don't know how this is going to end.
sunnuntai 18. syyskuuta 2011
Kittens mittens littery bittery?
Today I met the first Maine coons I've ever seen as I visited BigDaddy's cattery. Their Coon number contained two girls and a boy, all less than three years old. They've already bred one litter somewhat year ago and planning another one for the same pairing. Their tomcat is an import from Poland, quite imposing 8,5 kilos pounding creature and as kind as a Golden retriever. The eldest girl is a bit over two years old. Both of them are brown tabbies. They've got a new kitten, an import from Austria and 5 months old. Right now I'm considering a kitten from the pairing of her and the tomcat. Somewhere in the future. :)
The visit was quite inspiring. I have found many cat breeders a bit negative against letting their bred kittens breed on. But not here. That is pretty peculiar, when I think about it. There is no real reason to forbid anyone from breeding litters. Yes, of course there are many unplanned litters who end up being drowned or given away to people who let cats wander around unneutered. I still believe that if you can point real interests in animal's health and genetics, that should only make one a very potential breeder. Surely people can lie - but you should point those things out anyway when considering someone to be a new owner of your kitten.
I've pulled my hair off when living with my girls unsterilized. It was intolerable - the heat was on once in every two or three weeks. I still never hadn't realized the cycle of their heats. Not anything like dogs, once or twice a year, couple of weeks of genital leaking and a bit annoying behavior. Only one mating season during which heat may come and go and come again. And then half a year with no heat at all. Maybe I could bear that.
So I've been thinking about giving one litter a try. I've been planning dog litters anyway - why not cats as well? The girl can be neutered after that as well. And if someone thinks that I'm rushing into decisions, one should think about that the possible mother of my kitten is at the moment five months old and I'm not going to get a new cat before the end of 2012. I've got my hands full of work with Iiri being a puppy in training and Tasha being a diabetic. A lot of work before it calms down. And (I may reveal this in the English blog which very few read ;)) I've been dreaming about a blue merle Sheltie. I could get it sited for me from a suitable breeder. I have thought about Vauhtitassun where Nekku the tricolour is from. Her dam will have another litter maybe next year. So, that's a lot going on! In addition I'd like to have another Belgian. But THAT is not until Iiri is an adult and hopefully gained success in some sports, at least trained properly!
The visit was quite inspiring. I have found many cat breeders a bit negative against letting their bred kittens breed on. But not here. That is pretty peculiar, when I think about it. There is no real reason to forbid anyone from breeding litters. Yes, of course there are many unplanned litters who end up being drowned or given away to people who let cats wander around unneutered. I still believe that if you can point real interests in animal's health and genetics, that should only make one a very potential breeder. Surely people can lie - but you should point those things out anyway when considering someone to be a new owner of your kitten.
I've pulled my hair off when living with my girls unsterilized. It was intolerable - the heat was on once in every two or three weeks. I still never hadn't realized the cycle of their heats. Not anything like dogs, once or twice a year, couple of weeks of genital leaking and a bit annoying behavior. Only one mating season during which heat may come and go and come again. And then half a year with no heat at all. Maybe I could bear that.
So I've been thinking about giving one litter a try. I've been planning dog litters anyway - why not cats as well? The girl can be neutered after that as well. And if someone thinks that I'm rushing into decisions, one should think about that the possible mother of my kitten is at the moment five months old and I'm not going to get a new cat before the end of 2012. I've got my hands full of work with Iiri being a puppy in training and Tasha being a diabetic. A lot of work before it calms down. And (I may reveal this in the English blog which very few read ;)) I've been dreaming about a blue merle Sheltie. I could get it sited for me from a suitable breeder. I have thought about Vauhtitassun where Nekku the tricolour is from. Her dam will have another litter maybe next year. So, that's a lot going on! In addition I'd like to have another Belgian. But THAT is not until Iiri is an adult and hopefully gained success in some sports, at least trained properly!
tiistai 13. syyskuuta 2011
Diving into depths of diabetes
Today I gave Tasha her first insulin injections. Or to be frank, she got one already yesterday as we went to vet to learn the dosing and the use of insulin pens. Her first morning shot was a failure as I kept the needle under her skin too short time. When you fail you must not try again as you don't know how much you got in. There's a risk for overdosing if you retry.
Next time this evening it went better. She was eating and didn't even notice the needle - although my hands were shaking quite badly. Very tense, you might say. Well, it's something everyone doesn't have to do during a lifetime - stinging your pet with a needle. There are people studying health and nursing who have a severe anxiety when it comes to practicing vaccinating, blood sampling and such. Repeat, repeat, repeat. In time I'm sure it will become routine.
A little more worried I am about teaching someone else to tend Tasha. I'm sure I will continue travelling and making weekend trips so I need to keep Tasha with me or teach someone else to give her the medication. And it takes practice. You just can't show them once and leave them cope with it - or wait, that's what the vet did. :D Oh well, as it's my pet I can't just throw the responsibility to someone else. I was anxious and failed the first time, but I have to keep on doing it because it's my cat, even if the teaching was very brief. I guess I need to get a friend to see the procedure several times and let her/him give Tasha the dose under my eye before letting them do it alone.
Another question is how ethical is it to leave Tasha for someone other's caring. There's always a chance for hypoglycemia so she in the right situation should be kept eye on for longer times than an hour thrice a day. That's something I really should think of when travelling.
Next time this evening it went better. She was eating and didn't even notice the needle - although my hands were shaking quite badly. Very tense, you might say. Well, it's something everyone doesn't have to do during a lifetime - stinging your pet with a needle. There are people studying health and nursing who have a severe anxiety when it comes to practicing vaccinating, blood sampling and such. Repeat, repeat, repeat. In time I'm sure it will become routine.
A little more worried I am about teaching someone else to tend Tasha. I'm sure I will continue travelling and making weekend trips so I need to keep Tasha with me or teach someone else to give her the medication. And it takes practice. You just can't show them once and leave them cope with it - or wait, that's what the vet did. :D Oh well, as it's my pet I can't just throw the responsibility to someone else. I was anxious and failed the first time, but I have to keep on doing it because it's my cat, even if the teaching was very brief. I guess I need to get a friend to see the procedure several times and let her/him give Tasha the dose under my eye before letting them do it alone.
Another question is how ethical is it to leave Tasha for someone other's caring. There's always a chance for hypoglycemia so she in the right situation should be kept eye on for longer times than an hour thrice a day. That's something I really should think of when travelling.
sunnuntai 11. syyskuuta 2011
The pack of mine
The next thing I should definitely do is a little introduction.
My name is Katariina, or Kate, I'm a perky animal person living in Northern Finland. I got my first pet in the age of eleven. She was a lovely little Shetland Sheepdog, who unfortunately passed away last spring.
My first cat arrived when I was sixteen and moved from my childhood home. Her name is Natasha, often referred as Tasha. She's now seven years old, gorgeous smoke-blue little girl. She was diagnosed a diabetic very recently so we're undergoing a huge change in life. I'm sure this will be one of my top subjects in the future entries.
Tasha's sharing apartment with another cat, a three-year-old harlequin-like girl Lilli. I call her often Pulski, which could be translated into something like Chubbsy, although she isn't fat at all. On the contrary, she was quite athletic type before her sterilization and hasn't changed a lot after that.
The reason I originally started updating a blog was a dog puppy I was planning for in the very beginning of year 2011. That was a really long way but here it is, sleeping at my feet. She is a nearly four months old Belgian shepherd dog baby and she's called Iiri. That's a wordplay - "iiri" means "Irish" in Finnish (Iiri is a Tervueren so she's a redhead ;)), but it's also pronounced like the word "eerie". So she's eerie little Iiri! She's the Baywatcher one in the name of my dog blog, hence her registered name of Rantavahdin Jäätelökesä - Baywatcher's Ice Cream Summer.
With all these creatures I'm having a lionhead rabbit. His name is Wolfgang, or Wolle, and he's two years old. At the moment he isn't living with us as I lack a little space for his huge cage. He lives at my parents' place in Southern Lapland with the Shetland Sheepdog Nekku.
Nekku is the Speedpaw. She's a sassy little tricolour miss. She's only two months older than Iiri, which makes the couple the best of friends. I'm a bit frustrated of not seeing Nekku as often as I'd like. She would need training. She could be a promising one in agility.
I'm regularly experiencing serious yearns for different kind of animals. At the moment it is all about a Maine Coon. Iiri's breeder has a mixed Coon boy and he's a lovely cat. I've been gathering some Coon contacts in Northern Finland, maybe I would have one some day! But at the moment it's about having routines with Tasha's fresh disease and raising little Iiri. Although I've made a wonderful contact with one cattery - which I'm going to visit maybe the weekend to come...
My name is Katariina, or Kate, I'm a perky animal person living in Northern Finland. I got my first pet in the age of eleven. She was a lovely little Shetland Sheepdog, who unfortunately passed away last spring.
My first cat arrived when I was sixteen and moved from my childhood home. Her name is Natasha, often referred as Tasha. She's now seven years old, gorgeous smoke-blue little girl. She was diagnosed a diabetic very recently so we're undergoing a huge change in life. I'm sure this will be one of my top subjects in the future entries.
Tasha's sharing apartment with another cat, a three-year-old harlequin-like girl Lilli. I call her often Pulski, which could be translated into something like Chubbsy, although she isn't fat at all. On the contrary, she was quite athletic type before her sterilization and hasn't changed a lot after that.
The reason I originally started updating a blog was a dog puppy I was planning for in the very beginning of year 2011. That was a really long way but here it is, sleeping at my feet. She is a nearly four months old Belgian shepherd dog baby and she's called Iiri. That's a wordplay - "iiri" means "Irish" in Finnish (Iiri is a Tervueren so she's a redhead ;)), but it's also pronounced like the word "eerie". So she's eerie little Iiri! She's the Baywatcher one in the name of my dog blog, hence her registered name of Rantavahdin Jäätelökesä - Baywatcher's Ice Cream Summer.
With all these creatures I'm having a lionhead rabbit. His name is Wolfgang, or Wolle, and he's two years old. At the moment he isn't living with us as I lack a little space for his huge cage. He lives at my parents' place in Southern Lapland with the Shetland Sheepdog Nekku.
Nekku is the Speedpaw. She's a sassy little tricolour miss. She's only two months older than Iiri, which makes the couple the best of friends. I'm a bit frustrated of not seeing Nekku as often as I'd like. She would need training. She could be a promising one in agility.
I'm regularly experiencing serious yearns for different kind of animals. At the moment it is all about a Maine Coon. Iiri's breeder has a mixed Coon boy and he's a lovely cat. I've been gathering some Coon contacts in Northern Finland, maybe I would have one some day! But at the moment it's about having routines with Tasha's fresh disease and raising little Iiri. Although I've made a wonderful contact with one cattery - which I'm going to visit maybe the weekend to come...
The return of the serial blogger
Once again I've created a blog. I have already four of 'em. One for directing the Finnish blog service Vuodatus.net users to my Blogspot dog blog, one for sharing thoughts about my other absolute favourite animal, penguin, then the most frequently updated blog of my dog hobbies and now one for the feline beauties inhabiting my place.
For now I'm going to write in English. The dog blog Rantavahti & Vauhtitassu (The Baywatcher & The Speedpaw) is written in Finnish, but I've made some entries in English. I have also written several entries concerning cats in my life. Now I could make a little delegation: From now on, I'm having all of the English updates in Feline Living, cat or dog. And all the Finnish stuff can be found in Rantavahti & Vauhtitassu.
Why did I want to open another blog for cats? Well, I have owned cats for seven years now. I love them, but I really haven't got deep into it. Last winter as I opened the dog blog I was reading all about dog sports and hobbies. I considered different training techniques, diets, etc. Went all the way into being a dog person. That was a bit unfair for the purring pets I already owned. Now I've fallen in love with them again. I want to be a questioner for the traditional way of keeping cats as well. I've questioned quite much about keeping dogs. They have huge training capacities, but so do cats as well. You can manipulate dogs to learn many things, but you can't really say the cats are stupid either.
For now I'm going to write in English. The dog blog Rantavahti & Vauhtitassu (The Baywatcher & The Speedpaw) is written in Finnish, but I've made some entries in English. I have also written several entries concerning cats in my life. Now I could make a little delegation: From now on, I'm having all of the English updates in Feline Living, cat or dog. And all the Finnish stuff can be found in Rantavahti & Vauhtitassu.
Why did I want to open another blog for cats? Well, I have owned cats for seven years now. I love them, but I really haven't got deep into it. Last winter as I opened the dog blog I was reading all about dog sports and hobbies. I considered different training techniques, diets, etc. Went all the way into being a dog person. That was a bit unfair for the purring pets I already owned. Now I've fallen in love with them again. I want to be a questioner for the traditional way of keeping cats as well. I've questioned quite much about keeping dogs. They have huge training capacities, but so do cats as well. You can manipulate dogs to learn many things, but you can't really say the cats are stupid either.
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