The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder saved my cat’s life.
Jaimz, a little gray kitty boy, had been abandoned by his people and left on the street to fend for himself. The doctors at the Oregon Humane Society estimated he must have been on his own for up to a year before a kind soul brought him in. Malnourished and flea-bitten, with hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease, he was in bad shape. The docs did what they could and then sent Jaimz into foster care. That’s when he came to me.
I cared for Jaimz for several weeks, regulating his thyroid meds and plying him with whatever foods he would eat. He went for regular exams during that time, and it seemed like he was getting better. But after one of the exams, I got a call from the doctor. Jaimz was losing weight. The vet called it “failure to thrive” and even recommended euthanasia.
I was shocked! I didn’t see it. In all other ways, Jaimz seemed to be improving. He was happy, active, and curious. He didn’t display any of the lethargy and depression that went along with that dire diagnosis.
I’d noticed that Jaimz only ate sparingly during his twice daily feedings, no matter what food I tired. Then our other cat Tyler would swoop in and scarf the remainder. If Jaimz did manage to eat more than a bit, he would vomit. I realized he needed to eat slowly and have access to food on his schedule instead of mine. The microchip pet feeder was the answer. When I started him eating from the feeder where he was able to “graze” whenever he chose, he began to gain weight.
Jaimz isn’t the first cat in our family who’s benefitted from the microchip feeder. We originally got the feeder for our cat Little who was a dainty eater and couldn’t compete with the other three of our feline family. We’ve also used it for foster cats on a special diet, as well as the cat that likes to get up at four in the morning and yowl until he gets his breakfast—you know the one.
For us, the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder was an investment in cat care that’s paid off over and over. We’ve had ours now for several years and it works just like new. A year and a half later, Jaimz is holding his own and doing well. (Yes, I ended up adopting Jaimz myself!) Thank you, Sure Petcare!
The poem I wrote about my foster cat Sweet Baby Ray has won a Certificate of Excellence for Poetry in the Cat Writers’ Association Communications Contest this year! The poem, Sweet Ray, (read it here) was published in Katzenworld’s Purrsday Poetry on September 30, 2021. It will now go on to compete for the ultimate prize, the CWA Muse Medallion.
I fostered Sweet Baby Ray, a four-year-old silver tabby boy, for the Oregon Humane Society for a little over a month. I was the last of a string of foster parents who had nursed him through a lengthy recovery from horrific wounds inflicted by a farm machine. To make matters worse, there was something about Ray’s constitution that inhibited his ability to heal. But throughout his five months of intensive care, Ray won the reputation of being the sweetest boy around. When Ray was finally cleared for adoption, it took only one day for him to find his forever home.
Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cozy series, the Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and the Tenth Life Mysteries. Her Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy features extraordinary cats saving the world. Mollie also pens a bit of cat poetry.
Mollie is a longtime volunteer for the Oregon Humane Society where she socializes sad, fearful, and behavior-challenged cats. She also fosters sick and elderly cats in her home. In 2014, she had the privilege to work with cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy on a particularly thought-provoking case.
Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA). She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats.
You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: https://molliehuntcatwriter.com/
Mollie Hunt launches Adventure Cat, the 8th Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery
I love writing the Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery Series! My hero, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer, never means to get herself in trouble, but that cat-like curiosity of hers has a different plan. Adventure Cat takes up five years after my Cat’s Cradle short story where Lynley saves a kitten stuck in a gym bag and ends up running for her life. The bag is later revealed to hold more than a kitten. What happened to the bag? What happened to the kitten? The story is just beginning.
From the back cover:
An elfin recluse, a handsome feline archaeologist, a stolen artifact, and one very special cat…
Five years ago, cat shelter volunteer Lynley Cannon discovered a gym bag in a warehouse. Inside the bag were a kitten, a cat toy, and ten thousand dollars. Then shots began to fly. Now, half a decade later, Lynley is thrown back with the very people from whom she’d been running.
Adventure cats, those fantastic felines who go boating, hiking, and traveling into the wilds! When Friends of Felines cat shelter starts their own adventure cat group, taking cats for strolls in the quiet parks of Portland, Lynley can’t wait to join up.
Then disaster happens! Dirty Harry slips out of his harness and runs up the Mt. Tabor hillside, leading Lynley on a merry chase. Finally she finds him resting in the arms of an enigmatic stranger named Carry.
Carry lives a solitary life in a bungalow at the top of the hill, surrounded by an amazing red-foliaged garden. Carry has a cat of her own, the very kitten Lynley rescued five years previous and been shot at for the effort! Suddenly Lynley finds herself embroiled in the caper that precipitated that long-ago encounter. She survived the first round, but can her luck continue to hold?
Adventure Cat and Cat’s Cradle are available from Amazon in both ebook and paperback form. You can also find Cat’s Cradle in the 9 Deadly Lives Anthology published by Fire Star Press
For more information, see Mollie’s blogsite: www.molliehuntcatwriter.com
Catnip Pop Tarts from a House of Dreams, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer
House of Dreams in Portland Oregon is the little cat shelter with a big heart.
The volunteers at this free-roam, no-kill, all-volunteer-run shelter do more than take care of cats, however. They also chip in to make handcrafted items which they sell to bring in much needed funds to keep the shelter running. The creative folk at HOD have come up with a wide variety of saleables, such as one-of-a-kind knitted animal dolls, cat mats and beds, colorful napkins and household goods, and a wide range of cat (and dog) accessories and toys. One of the most popular items, universally loved by both humans and cats, are the Catnip Pop Tarts made by Jenn Johnson.
Jenn lives in a tiny house in Portland, Oregon with her husband and four cats. Elizabeth is a sweet torbie who seems to totally lack the usual feisty tortitude one equates with the breed. CathyCat is soft and flirty—Jenn’s husband Mark traveled nearly 900 miles to rescue her when she was abandoned in a campground in Utah. (Jenn comments that CathyCat is an expert Pop Tart thief!) Olivia, a long haired Siamese point mix, is another rescue, this time collected from Roseburg, Oregon. Their fourth cat Chloe is a shy tabby who only peeked at me from the loft.
Jenn tried several motifs for her catnip-filled pillows before deciding on Pop Tarts—mustaches, owls, peace signs, and pizza slices to name a few. All were made by hand from quality felt and stitched with colorful embroidery, but some designs turned out to be too labor-intensive, while others just didn’t pique Jenn’s imagination. Then in 2018, she came upon the Pop Tart concept, a toy that was straightforward to create and pretty to look at. (Not that the cats care, as long as they’re filled with that enticing 100% organic nip!) She unveiled them at that year’s Pretty Kitty Bazaar and sold out! The next year, she made twice as many. Again they were gone before the event was over.
I asked Jenn why she thought cats love the Pop Tart design so much. She answered, “Flingability!” I had to laugh, picturing my cats tossing and catching those flat little toys all around the room.
Jenn’s Catnip Pop Tarts are available only from the House of Dreams Etsy Shop, houseofdreamspdx, and the shipping is free!
House of Dreams and their much-loved bazaar:
For the past twenty years, the Pretty Kitty Bazaar and Silent Auction has been a unique holiday event with growing attendance each year. When Covid hit and in-person gatherings were canceled, the folks at HOD had to think outside the (cat) box. In the fall of 2020, HOD opened an Etsy shop and held their auction virtually online. The switch has been successful and they’re doing it again this year. For more info about this year’s online auction, check out the Pretty Kitty Bazaar Facebook page.
The houseofdreamspdx online store has just relaunched for the winter season so be sure to check it out. Every item for sale is made by House of Dreams volunteers and supporters and donated to the store. Many are limited edition, so if you like something, I suggest not waiting to purchase. They are adding new things several times a week. All profits go to support the kitties at House of Dreams.
About House of Dreams, from the House of Dreams website:
WHO WE ARE
House of Dreams provides shelter and care for abandoned and homeless cats, with the goal of finding them permanent homes or providing them a lifetime home in our facility. We are a free-roam shelter, where resident cats can explore, mingle, or curl up in their own private space. And we are a no-kill shelter, which every healthy or treatable cat can call home for the rest of its life—or until it’s adopted into a loving home!
We began in 1999 as an all-volunteer organization, and remain so today—so every dollar donated and raised goes to the cats! House of Dreams is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization. And we’re one of the only area shelters with facilities for geriatric and feline leukemia positive (FeLV+) cats.
WHAT WE DO
As we do not discriminate based on age or medical history, many of our cats are considered to be “difficult to adopt” in a traditional shelter. We bring these special cats to House of Dreams, where they find friends (human and feline), enjoy regular meals, and obtain quality medical care. Think of it as “assisted living” for cats.
Some of these older, medically-challenged cats will spend the rest of their lives with us—and we are happy to have them! Others will find their forever homes with qualified, caring adopters; meet the cats currently available for adoption here.
All of our cats have been spayed or neutered, tested for FIV/FeLV, and are current on vaccinations. We also provide any additional dental and medical care the cats may need during their stay with us.
Sweet Ray is a four-year-old silver tabby boy whom I fostered for the Oregon Humane Society. I was the last of a string of foster parents who had nursed him through a lengthy recovery from horrific wounds inflicted by a farm machine. To make matters worse, there was something about Ray’s constitution that inhibited his healing ability. But throughout his five months of intensive care, Ray won the reputation of being the sweetest boy around. When Ray was finally cleared for adoption, it took only one day for him to find his forever home.
Mollie Hunt & Tinkerbelle
Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cozy series, the Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and the Tenth Life Mysteries. Her Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy features extraordinary cats saving the world. Mollie also published a little book of cat poetry called Cat Poems: For the Love of Cats. Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA). She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like her cat lady character, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.
You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: https://molliehuntcatwriter.com/
Trigger warning: A cat gets hurt, but there is a happy ending.
It started with an ad on Craig’s list.
A potential adopter had been answering an ad for a cat that needed to be rehomed. When he went to the previous owner’s house to see the big black male cat Odin, Odin ran outside and into the street where he was struck by a car. His back end was run over, and he had to crawl out of the street on his front legs.
That was the unlucky part, but then the good luck began. Though the original owner wasn’t interested in doing anything for Odin, the new adopter was compassionate and immediately took him to an emergency clinic. Odin was found to have a shattered pelvis and a dislocated sacroiliac joint.
A bit more bad luck when the clinic gave an estimate of $5,000 to $7,000 for the surgery and care. The adopter couldn’t afford that, but—good luck again—there was a place he could take the injured cat where to get the care for free.
But there was a catch.
The Oregon Humane Society would give Odin the medical care he needed, but in order for that to happen, he would have to be surrendered to OHS. Odin wasn’t the only pet to find themselves in that situation. Many people who can’t afford expensive medical needs make the difficult choice to surrender their beloved pet for the sake of their health.
OHS had good reasons for this seemingly callous rule, a rule that has been traumatic for both people and pets, but now that’s about to change. Oregon Humane Society is adding four extremely important pillars of animal care to their services, and one will be a Community Teaching Hospital. Soon people like Odin’s adopter will be able to bring pets in for care at a price they can afford without having to surrender them.
Here’s what OHS says about their groundbreaking project:
“The Community Teaching Hospital will be the first clinic in Oregon dedicated to offering accessible veterinary care to thousands of under-resourced clients and their pets. With rising housing, transportation, human health care costs and other unemployment and economic impacts, it is becoming increasingly difficult for families in our community to provide medical care to their pets. Even basic preventative veterinary care such as annual checkups and vaccinations can be expensive, but when a beloved cat or dog becomes sick or injured the medical costs can be out of reach for many families. The Community Teaching Hospital will offer services on a sliding scale to ensure pet owners can afford care and to help keep animals safe and healthy in their own homes.” —OHS Website-The New Road Ahead
This project has been a long time coming. As a foster parent, I’ve cared for several cats whose families opted to give them up to save their lives. The most notable was Snowball, a fluffy white cat who suffered life-threatening injuries when, much like Odin, he escaped from his home and was struck by a car.
The story of Snowball:
“Snowball’s owner, Tom, couldn’t afford veterinary care and had to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender his beloved companion to OHS. Snowball received life-saving medical care at the OHS Holman Medical Center, and Tom checked on him by phone and in person every single day. Since OHS’s resources are intended for homeless pets, it isn’t typical that we provide care for animals owned by the public. However, because Tom never gave up on Snowball, it became clear that we had to make an exception and reunite them. This incredible human and animal bond is one of the many stories that inspired the New Road Ahead…” —OHS, Snowball Challenge
Odin is the luckiest unlucky cat around.
When Odin came into my foster care, he was still in a lot of pain. He couldn’t use is back legs, but that didn’t hamper his sunny disposition. Bit by bit, he’s been recovering miraculously. He’s still on kennel rest, but he can stand and walk around his little kingdom just fine. I’ve tried to make it nice for him. Besides a big window looking out onto a garden, there is Bird TV on a tablet and catnip pillows, which he loves. Lately I’ve added dangly strings from the top of the kennel that he can “fight” while lying on his back. He chirps and snuggles in spite of his ordeal.
I am so thankful to Oregon Humane Society, to Dove Lewis Emergency Clinic, and to the kind person who cared for him after his accident. If it weren’t for all three of those amazing forces, this wonderful cat wouldn’t have had a chance. He is truly one lucky kitty.
Native Oregonian Mollie Hunt has always had an affinity for cats, so it was a short step for her to become a cat writer. Mollie Hunt writes the award-winning Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series featuring Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Cat Seasons sci-fantasy tetralogy where cats save the world. She also pens a bit of cat poetry.
Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA). She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like Lynley, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.
You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: www.molliehuntcatwriter.com
When Jaimz came into foster with me back in January, he was just another cat. Don’t get me wrong—I love them all, but it’s a generic sort of love. Real love grows over time, sometimes less, sometimes more. With Jaimz, it went all the way.
Right from the start this little cat tugged at my heart strings. He had been abandoned when his family moved away, left on his own for a year before a kind neighbor brought him to the Oregon Humane Society. He was in poor shape, flea-bitten and hungry, but in spite of his hard knocks, his sweet personality quickly made him a favorite at the shelter hospital.
Jaimz’s doctor diagnosed him with hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and dental disease. Once he came into foster, we were able to pinpoint other problems as well, including diarrhea and vomiting, bad itching leading to overgrooming and hot spots, and a chronic cough. Working with the docs, we took each one at a time. He was put on meds for the hyperthyroid, his thyroid numbers were closely monitored. Another medication controlled the itching, and he was given a dental. The special food for the stomach upset didn’t work since he wouldn’t eat it, but the diarrhea cleared up. The vomiting became less frequent and could often be associated with stress.
But Jaimz had issues from long before coming to the shelter. One of his front paws had been badly damaged in some long-ago accident, causing a permanent deformity. It doesn’t hurt him now, but the anguish he must have suffered when it happened makes me cry. He is also very small for a male cat, only 7.5 pounds, which speaks of poor nutrition when he was growing up. He was shy and skittish when he came into foster, and it took time for him to stop trembling, then longer still for him to come out from behind the curtain in his kennel. All things considered, this cat seemed truly a special case. (You can read more about Jaimz’s story here: The Story of Jaimz, cat Abandoned)
Jaimz was in foster with me for 77 days. Once he learned to trust, he blossomed into an outgoing, curious, sweet, friendly cat. He liked to sit on laps and curl up anywhere soft, such as a pile of clean, folded towels. In spite of his small size, he had a huge personality, and I soon deemed it time to introduce him to the rest of my clowder, Tyler and Ginchan.
Integration with the clowder.
Both Tyler and Ginchan are very senior males and set in their ways. Ginchan, who just turned 19, lives in his own world of food-seeking and naps. Tyler is a vigorous tabby who had been known to intimidate other cats because of his size. I wondered how little Jaimz would get along and watched closely. Turns out I needn’t have worried. Jaimz learned quickly to leave Ginchan alone, but he fell absolutely in love with Tyler. He wasn’t daunted by Tyler’s chase and play, and soon they were fast friends.
This was the signal I was waiting for, the go ahead from my cats, and I began to consider taking Jaimz into the clan.
Now that Jaimz was acclimatized, he showed none of his original shyness, but I knew better. There is a fragility to this boy that would escape a first impression. Every time I had to take him to the shelter for a checkup, he would return in a state of shock. I prefer to adopt cats with special needs since they’re the ones who need me, and he seemed like the obvious choice.
Happily Ever After.
Then the shelter vet gave me some dire news. Though the thyroid numbers were remaining relatively stable with the medication, Jaimz’s SDMA had risen into red-flag levels over the course of the last month. The IDEXX SDMA Test is a sensitive kidney function test that helps to identify kidney disease in dogs and cats.* It looked like Jaimz’s kidney functions were deteriorating.
Ginchan also has chronic kidney disease, as have many other cats I’ve cared for. It seems to be almost inevitable when a cat lives past a certain age. CKD is a killer, but there are a few things that can be done to postpone that end, and I was willing to take it on.
The adoption went forward, and I brought home my new family member. I read later in Jaimz’s paperwork that because of his multiple issues and possibly declining health, he was what they called, “not a candidate for adoption.” This meant if I hadn’t adopted him,…well, you know what it means.
I don’t know how long Jaimz has left. I don’t know if his condition will improve now that he’s in a stable home under vigilant vet care. What I do know is that he isn’t ready to go any time soon. Today, he’s a vibrant, happy, curious little boy who deserves a chance to live out his life in a safe, warm, loving home. Jaimz is a blessing and a joy. For however long he thrives, his place is with us.
*SDMA frequently asked questions, the IDEXX Site
Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the author of the Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mysteries featuring Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy where cats save the world. She also pens a bit of cat poetry.
You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: www.lecatts.wordpress.com
A locked room. A dead man. The cat is the only witness, and he isn’t talking.
A new Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery launched on National Cat Day, October 29th, 2020. “Cat Conundrum” finds our hero, sixty-something cat shelter volunteer Lynley Cannon, on the wild Washington coast with her friend, Special Agent Denny Paris. The pair are all set to give a presentation on shelter cats at a prestigious cat summit. Little do they know they will be confronted with not one, not two, not three, but four bizarre murders!
Cat Conundrum (Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mysteries #7) by Mollie Hunt is available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KSK1531
From the back cover:
Locked-room murders are being committed in sleepy little Long Beach, Washington. As to the killer, Sheriff Matt Boulder has no idea who or why.
The sheriff needs help. He calls his friend, animal cop Denny Paris, and gets a surprise bonus: Lynley Cannon, amateur sleuth. This isn’t how the sixty-something cat shelter volunteer envisioned her beach vacation, but when Denny asks her to join him in the search, how can she refuse?
While the officers investigate one line of inquiry, Lynley takes a different approach. Her only clues, a cat found at the murder scene and a rich man’s missing wife, lead her thread by thread to a scheme more insidious than fiction.
But who will she tell when she turns out to be the one in the locked room?
Cat Conundrum is the 7th Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery, featuring Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip. For cat-lovers who like clean mysteries with a little bite to them. Cat tips, tricks, and facts at the beginning of each chapter.
Praise for the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series:
“I knew this novel was about cats but it’s theme is cats! Cats are as much the main characters as the main character is! — Sharon from Goodreads
“…Each book drew me right into the story and kept me intrigued and guessing all the way. They’re as cozy as can be for cat enthusiast, but there are also some real scares…” —Catwoods Porch Party
” …an outstanding amateur sleuth mystery that will delight cat lovers and mystery lovers alike. I liked the addition of “cat facts” at the heading of each chapter. I learned a few fascinating tidbits that I didn’t know.” —Readers Favorite 5-Star Review
About Mollie Hunt: Native Oregonian Mollie Hunt has always had an affinity for cats, so it was a short step for her to become a cat writer. Mollie Hunt writes the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series featuring Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Cat Seasons sci-fantasy tetralogy where cats save the world. She also pens a bit of cat poetry.
Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and NIWA. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like Lynley, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.
You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: www.lecatts.wordpress.com
Note from me, Ginchan the Persistent: I have instructed my PAWT (Personal Assistant With Thumbs) to pen my life story so people can see that though cats get old and sometimes sick, they are still as worthy of love and care as the tiniest kitten. But where kittens are adopted from shelters within hours of their arrival, an old cat like me can languish for weeks, even months, waiting for someone courageous enough to take a chance. Thankfully, I live in a community that lets us stay and be cared for until that person comes along; in all too many places, shelters aren’t able (or willing) to afford us that dignity.
Why don’t we get adopted? It’s a combination of things, some real and some imagined. People are afraid that an older cat will be more work, more expense, and more sadness when the final days arrive. But I’m here to tell you it’s all relative. All good things take work, right? And partnering with a good vet to find an affordable and achievable regimen makes a big difference.
When my cohabitors found out I had diabetes, they were really scared. They knew diabetes was an illness which required, among other things, expensive meds and a rigid routine for administration. But after talking with our wonderful Dr. Berhends, we came up with a plan, and now it they can’t recall what all the fuss was about.
It’s true a senior cat will need more vet visits— twice a year wellness checkups are recommended. That’s in order to keep up with any changes, because many issues, when caught early, can be treated, just like with humans. But the point is, those things that seem so daunting when you sit and worry about them, are not that hard to deal with if you go day to day.
This is my message: Old cats just have more experience in being great!
Adopt a senior cat, because Love is Ageless!
GINCHAN’S STORY
Ginchan is a survivor. At nearly eighteen, the big Maine coon cat has beat the odds. His story describes why we should love and care for our precious senior cats.
Ginchan’s Story, written by Mollie, his loving cohabitor and PAWT
Ginchan has seen better days. If there was an Ugly Cat Contest, he might well be a contestant. His fur was shaved and is now growing out in random tufts and patches. His pupils are perpetually dilated, giving him a lost but demanding look. His skinny legs are wobbly with arthritis. His teeth are bad, and his breath stinks. We love him more than anything!
Ginchan is coming up on his eighteenth birthday, and we’ve known him since he was a kitten. He lived with our son, and the two were inseparably bonded. Then tragedy struck last March when our son died. There was no doubt we would take Ginchan, and from that day forward, he’s been a huge part of our lives.
Being of the Maine coon breed, Ginchan had an abundance of fur, and as he grew older, he didn’t take good care of it. He became terribly matted, and there was no choice but to shave him. That was a fiasco, beginning with the groomer who gave up after the first few swipes. (Ginchan was not a willing client, and his Maine coon yowl could be heard around the block.) From there, we took him to our vet, who suggested a pre-visit dose of Gabapentin. Unfortunately the calming drug made little difference, and the doctor saw right away that Ginchan would need more than a light anti-anxiety medication to keep him from going ballistic. Next step was a clinic that had the facilities for full sedation. Yup, they had to knock the old boy out completely to remove the horrendous matting that extended over 90% of his body. (We had no idea at the time, but Ginchan would suffer from post-clipping alopecia. Nine months later, the fur will have yet to grow back!)
Ginchan’s new haircut.
While he was sedated, they were also able to give him a thorough examination. They found a large lump on his throat, but whether a mass, tumor, or cyst, they couldn’t tell without a biopsy. Stretched financially, what with the death of our son and the bills Ginchan was quickly racking up, we opted to deal with the mass a little later, and to resolve more pressing problems first. Ginchan’s labs had revealed stage 3 kidney disease, for which he needed special (and expensive) food, as well as medication. He also had arthritis— more meds— and dental disease— even more meds.
Josh’s brother James stepped up to take Ginchan since we already had three cats in our home, one of whom had been recently diagnosed with lymphoma. We managed to find a less expensive food that was similar to the KD (kidney disease) prescription diet. We gave Ginchan a round of antibiotics and prednisolone to see if it would shrink the mass. All was going relatively smoothly, then Ginchan had a seizure, and it was back to the vet.
The doctor didn’t find anything obviously wrong, and barring a CAT scan for a brain anomaly, there wasn’t much we could do besides monitor for more aberrant behavior. James learned to administer subcutaneous fluids because, in spite of drinking incredible amounts of water, Ginchan was dehydrated. He kept a good watch on Ginchan, and the seizure seemed to be a one-off.
Ginchan had been an indoor and outdoor cat.
James had only a small apartment, and having previously been a cat with unlimited outdoor freedom, Ginchan wasn’t used to the confined space. He did well for a few months, then began eschewing the litter box. As all cat people know, that’s the worst. Between the inappropriate peeing and Ginchan’s raucous Maine coon yowls, it was decided the old cat would come to live at our house. Our sick little one had crossed the Bridge, and we now had space for him with a room of his own where we could try to work things out.
On July 24, 2019, Ginchan moved in with us. He is a self-assured cat and had no trouble asserting his place with our other kitties, Blaze and Tyler. We now had three senior males under one roof, but it’s a big house with lots of space and personal enrichment for all. Ginchan began his stay in his room, but it wasn’t long before he was cruising the house with the boys. Amazingly, the others accepted him, so long as he didn’t get in their face!
Three litter boxes, a case of pee pads, and a bottle of Anti-Icky-Poo later, we’ve pretty much dealt with Ginchan’s inappropriate litter box problem. Fortunately he only has slips at night in his room and never out in the rest of the house. For this and other reasons, we find it prudent to keep Ginchan in his room at night. He loves it there, with both a heated bed by a window and a plush cube beside the heater, which is his favorite hangout.
We learned his foibles, such as screeching at his reflection in the window and pushing his face into our plates as we tried to eat dinner. He was not an easy cat, but we enjoyed his sweet company. He liked to curl up in our laps as we watched TV (or any other time he thought he could get a lap, including when one was sitting on the toilet!) He would stare up at us with those big, round eyes, as if thanking us for taking him in. I know he must have missed Josh greatly, as we all did. Our bond was made closer by that terrible loss.
One of hundreds of selfies Josh took with Ginchan.
Though Ginchan was eating and drinking voraciously, he was getting skinnier. Then one day, we noticed he wasn’t doing so well. His legs were wobbly and he was overly lethargic. At seventeen-plus, with multiple complications, we knew the day would come when we would have to say goodbye, but no matter how much logic tells us, we are never, never ready.
“Why me?”
First step was the vet. When we loaded him into the carrier, we feared it would be his final journey. After all our recent losses, another goodbye seemed like too much to bear. When we put Ginchan on the exam table and he didn’t make his usual raucous complaints, we all knew something was terribly wrong.
Ginchan came home, but we didn’t know for how long. Dr. Behrends had taken blood-work, which we feared would reveal a deadly cause.
The next day, the doctor called. The test had indeed revealed a cause, but one that could be treated! In the few months since his last labs, Ginchan had become diabetic. With proper medication, food, and schedule, Ginchan’s diabetes could be held in check and possibly even reversed into remission. There were issues with his kidney disease, the kidney diet being in direct conflict with the diabetic diet, but a compromise could be achieved.
Baby Ginchan. Photo credit: Yukiko Hunt, April 2002
Four months and two-hundred-plus insulin injections later, Ginchan is doing great! He bounced back from his decline almost immediately after getting the first dose. His follow-up appointments revealed him stable, and now his next visit with the doctor, baring an emergency, is three months away.
We are following his multiple health concerns, but at the moment, all is well. The kidney disease seems to be remaining stable, and though we can’t feed him the KD diet, we give him aluminum hydroxide with his food to lessen the bad effects. Aluminum salts are inexpensive and help reduce the amount of phosphorus absorbed from the intestine by flushing some of the buildup from his system.
The mass on his neck turned out to be a benign polyp which could be surgically excised, but at his age and with his other problems, we’ve opted not to risk putting him under anesthesia. Loss of hearing or mental acuity are only two possible side-effects of anesthesia in the elderly, to say nothing of death. For the same reason, we’re not giving him a dental. In a young, healthy cat, teeth can easily be cleaned and any bad ones removed, but for a senior, it’s a toll-taking process. Instead he gets a natural oral product that promotes gum health and joint health as well. He still has bad breath, but we can handle it.
Ginchan’s fur has begun to grow again. It’s coming in patches, but it’s a start. Apparently cats with chronic illnesses don’t always grow their fur back like healthy cats do. Since it’s winter, we got him a sweater. It worked for a while, then he began to bite at it and get his fangs stuck in the weave, so we’ve given up on that idea. The house is warm, and Ginchan has his heated bed and cube over the heater, to say nothing of willing laps, so he’s staying warm. For this moment in time, we can be thankful for the peace of health.
So there you have it, the story to date of an amazing, difficult, brave, persistent cat. Ginchan has not been an easy cat, nor has he been cheap, but taking what comes day by day, enlisting a caring doctor experienced with geriatric kitties, and not being afraid to try new things, we have worked it out. Too many senior cats are tossed away at the first sign of illness or behavior issues. People give reasons: they can’t afford the bills; they don’t have time for the extra care. But all obstacles can be overcome by taking them one at a time. Time and love… and love is ageless.
Follow Ginchan: Love is Ageless on Facebook.
About Mollie Hunt: Native Oregonian Mollie Hunt has always had an affinity for cats, so it was a short step for her to become a cat writer. Mollie Hunt writes the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series featuring Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Cat Seasons sci-fantasy tetralogy where cats save the world. She also pens a bit of cat poetry.
Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and NIWA. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like Lynley, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.
You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: www.lecatts.wordpress.com
I am an omnivore. In the past, I’ve been a vegan, a vegetarian, a pescatarian, and a macrobiotic, but at this point in my life, I’ve found it prudent to be flexible. Whether traveling in other countries or visiting people here at home, it’s simplest to eat what is offered. Since my husband eats meat— and cooks it for me— I accept it graciously. When I cook vegetarian meals, he does the same.
I won’t cook meat myself because, yuck! (Also because I ruin it.) And when it comes time to feed the cats, I have a certain amount of yuck factor there as well. This is what started me wondering how true vegetarians and vegans reconciled the conundrum of feeding their cat meat. I reached out to my vegan/vegetarian friends and acquaintances, and I learned a lot.
What does it mean to you to be vegan/vegetarian?
First off, I asked my little group of ailurophiles to explain what being vegetarian or vegan meant to them. Why were they moved to limit their lifestyles so drastically? Most answered with variations on the theme of not wanting to take part in animal cruelty and suffering.
Adriana answers neatly, “Being vegan is all about reducing animal suffering.”
“I really just feel like we have no reason to kill animals for food,” says Elisa, “and we especially have no reason to treat them so cruelly before we slaughter them.”
“For me, it’s about doing the least amount of harm in the world as I can…” Leslie replies, going on to add, “…with the understanding that the amount will never be zero no matter how hard I try.”
I found that statement particularly thought-provoking. Much of the ridicule aimed at veg/vegans points to some flaw in their practice. Maybe they own a pair of leather shoes or eat figs. My question is, why should non veg/vegans expect such absolute perfectionism?
How do you reconcile your cats’ need for meat with your vegan/vegetarian philosophy?
The people I talked to are serious cat people, and most agreed that since cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need meat to survive, feeding them a healthy diet is just part of the deal.
I tend to agree with Leslie when she says, “I can see why some meat-eaters consider it hypocritical for vegans to have cats and feed them meat. But I also think those criticisms come from a place of defensiveness; it’s easier to criticize those of us who are trying to limit our negative impact than it is too seriously look at what harm meat-eaters are causing…. By (their) logic, it makes no sense to even try. If you can’t be perfect, then you might as well just kill as many animals as you want.”
“It is definitely uncomfortable to be vegan and still have that unbreakable link to the slaughterhouse,” she goes on to say. “It’s something I struggle with. There are vegan pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs for those who can’t deal with this, but I love cats.” (Leslie has a magnificent clowder of senior and special needs cats.) “I do what I must to give them the best quality of life for however long they have left despite my discomfort.”
Adriana brought up another point. “Keeping my cats indoors and not letting them hunt is a way (of compromising). By providing them with all the nutrients they need to be healthy reduces animal suffering too, in this case, their suffering.” She also mentions that cat food is often made with meat by-products, so animals are not specifically killed to make it.
Cathy has gone a whole different direction. “I decided to try my cats on a vegan diet… I learned that although cats require a high protein diet and certain essential nutrients, it is possible to formulate a healthy and tasty diet for them that does not include animal products. Many of our cats have been vegan for more than 10 years and are doing fine.” Cathy does mention that she also has cats who are on prescription non-vegan diets for medical issues.
Before talking with Cathy, I would have insisted the only healthy diet for cats must include meat, but as she explained to me the complex mixture of protein and nutrients supplied in the cat food she makes and buys, I will have to reconsider.
What foods do you feed you cat and why?
So the next step was to find out what these veg/vegans did feed their cats.
“A high quality food… the expensive stuff. Wet food mostly,” Elisa says, echoing what many cat people feel is the right diet for their furry cohabitors.
“I have seven (senior) cats and they are on different diets,” Leslie explains. Leslie lovingly tailors meals for each individual cat, depending on their special needs. “Senior cats often don’t eat enough so I’m always looking for ways to get more calories and water into them… One of those cats has chronic kidney disease so I add half a can of water and half a scoop of protein powder to his meals. The seventh cat has inflammatory bowel disease, and she eats a limited ingredient diet.” Leslie tries to choose foods “that do not include problematic ingredients and (are) transparent about what they put into their food.”
Cathy, as she said before, feeds a complex vegan diet, but she adds, “I am excited that a company called Bond Pet Foods is working to make cat and dog food from In-Vitro meat (meat proteins derived from animal cells— no slaughter required) so we can have animal protein without the animal. Hopefully this will be available some day in prescription diets.” Adriana also mentioned In-Virto meat, saying she will use it for her cats when it becomes available.
What else would you like to say about veganism and living with a cat?
Cathy again brings up the issue of progress verses perfection. “I realize that some cats are very finicky eaters, so what my ones are eating might not work for everyone. I’m not trying to impose a vegan diet on anyone’s cats, just wanting to get it out there that it can be possible. Another option is that some cats might be willing to be flexitarians. Every little bit of harm reduction helps.”
Adriana says, “As a vegan, I feel good my cats are protected and the wild fauna around them as well by keeping them indoors.”
Leslie states, “I love my cats so I feed them the diet that is best for them. I love all other animals as well, and since I can not only survive but improve my life by eating plants instead of eating their dead bodies, that’s what I do for myself.”
What other questions should be asked?
Often in an interview, it’s best to let the interviewees ask and answer their own questions. After all, who is more qualified to tell us what we want to know?
The debate on feeding vegan continued with Elise saying, “I guess to make sure that people know that they can harm or kill their cats if they don’t feed them animals,” and Cathy countering, “Perhaps ask if people would be willing to try their cats on vegan cat food.”
To some extent, both are right: Absolutely, without the correct diet, cats will suffer and die, but apparently for some cats, that diet can be attained from sources other than meat. I want to impress that, in my opinion, veganism for cats is neither simple nor inexpensive. Cats must be watched and checked regularly by a vet to make sure they are maintaining their health.
Leslie wanted to leave us with an observation:
“If we treated cats and dogs the way we treat cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, etc., people would be up in arms. Labeling some animals as “food” does not change the way they experience their lives: they feel pain, grief, despair and fear, just as our pets do. The fact that torturing and killing them is legal while rescuing them from confinement and death is illegal says nothing about what is right or wrong.
The major difference between vegans and others is that we don’t put a box around our compassion and find ways to exclude some living beings from it. The thing that annoys me the most is that we are considered weird, while those who justify torture and killing think of themselves as normal… I am more bothered by the fact that my family members and most of my friends refuse to even consider these points.
Cats are just being cats and they eat what their biology requires. People have the capacity to think and realize what they are doing if they would just open their eyes and stop being defensive about their choices. I wasn’t raised vegan, but I do ascribe to what Maya Angelou said: “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
Are you a vegan or vegetarian cat guardian? If so, I’d love to hear how you handle the feeding of your cats.
This blogpost first appeared on Mollie Hunt: Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and more.
About Mollie Hunt: Native Oregonian Mollie Hunt has always had an affinity for cats, so it was a short step for her to become a cat writer. Mollie Hunt writes the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series featuring Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Cat Seasons sci-fantasy tetralogy where cats save the world. She also pens a bit of cat poetry.
Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and NIWA. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like Lynley, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.
You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: www.lecatts.wordpress.com
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