Today is Thomas's third birthday, making him irrevocably, and in even the eyes of the most generous vet, a cat. He does not believe this. He thinks he's still the world's most super-sized kitten, as evidenced by the way he draped across my shoulder and attacked my braid this morning. He is goofy, insouciant, and utterly shameless, willing to flop and trill in the most undignified manner if it means he gets a little extra attention.
He is perfect.
When I first brought him home, he was all legs and tail and mischief, and could easily fit in my backpack. Now he is legs and tail and mischief and mass, heavy enough that picking him up is something to be considered carefully before it is done. The small orange stripes on his muzzle give him a permanent Cheshire grin, a smile with a cat attached. I can't imagine life without him.
So happy birthday to my puffy boy, to the first boy-cat I've had since my beloved Seymour died when I was fourteen. You are the best of brats, and I shall love you always, and all I ask is that you live forever. Okay?
Well, mine [Dusty] made it 22 years [until she hurt her paw and was allowed to sleep last month]. But until her last month she was very much active and all cat.
... she was also all barfy, being a bulimic shelter kitty, adopted at 3 months. She averaged throwing up about 8x a week her entire life [even with non-grain kibble and small meal portions spaced out through the day].
At about 9 years old she started getting arthritic, so I ground up people quality glucosamine & chondroitin and gave her 1/8 teaspoon of it a day, mixed in with her wet food. She perked right on up, got frisky again [jumped up on the counters again ... sigh] - and my sister-in-law who is a vet believes that the glucosamine & chondroitin greatly extended Dusty's lifespan.
... so in the matter of 'living forever' I offer that idea FWIW.
July 16 2013, 21:47:29 UTC 3 years ago
... she was also all barfy, being a bulimic shelter kitty, adopted at 3 months. She averaged throwing up about 8x a week her entire life [even with non-grain kibble and small meal portions spaced out through the day].
At about 9 years old she started getting arthritic, so I ground up people quality glucosamine & chondroitin and gave her 1/8 teaspoon of it a day, mixed in with her wet food. She perked right on up, got frisky again [jumped up on the counters again ... sigh] - and my sister-in-law who is a vet believes that the glucosamine & chondroitin greatly extended Dusty's lifespan.
... so in the matter of 'living forever' I offer that idea FWIW.
July 23 2013, 16:12:19 UTC 3 years ago