Cali is home!

and she's doing great. I think Heath definitely had the sulks while she was gone. He seems happy to see her. I let Cali out of her carrier and she greeted her brother and the dogs. Then she went to check on the birds out the window. She hadn't been home 20 minutes before she was on the counter and having a little crunchy kibble snack. Now she's giving herself a good bath. I'd say she's going to be just fine!

Training the human

Heath will tell you that as a cat servant I'm sometimes a little slow on the uptake. Just this morning it took him hours of naughtiness and racing and banging around for me to get the message to get out a cat toy and play with him. He even had to resort to knocking magnets off the refrigerator, one of his less endearing little games, as far as I'm concerned. It did finally dawn on me that I should spend a few minutes playing with him. Of course, then I was trying to take pictures of him at the same time as I was dangling the cat toy. That's just how it goes.

Cali had her surgery yesterday. We thought she might come home today, but now it looks like tomorrow. She is not eating yet. From what I've read that is the hardest thing about this surgery, getting them to eat. I'm sure her mouth hurts a lot. I feel so bad for her. If you're inclined, a few prayers or well wishes for her to start eating and feeling better soon would be very appreciated. Heath particularly wants his sister home and well so he can quit having to teach the human servant how to play properly.

Enough with the camera, human. I'm hunting.

Crazy cat is triumphant! The prey is captured! (and the camera battery died)

Pictures

Heath seems to missing his sister. He is being more demanding, naughty, and a little clingy. I'm missing Cali, too. Here are some recent pictures.

Feeding Finicky Cats

It may not be exactly fair to call Cali finicky. It is likely that her mouth is uncomfortable. It's hard not to compare her to Heath, though. Heath never met a meal he didn't want two of. Cali is in a good weight, so I haven't worried too much.

Cali has gone to her breeder to have her dental work done. She'll come home with most of her teeth extracted. So, what will she be able to eat? It seems apparent that at least for a while she will be eating only soft food. And there is the problem. She only likes Friskies!  I am really concerned about her getting good nutrition. I having been buying every type of food on the shelf. I keep hoping she will like a higher quality food, but so far, the more it costs, the faster she turns her nose up. (why am I complaining?) I guess we'll be experimenting some more. I really don't want to feed a raw diet, and I'm not sure she'd eat that either. Maybe she will be less picky when her mouth feels better.

I'm missing my sweet girl. Can't wait for her to be home again. I have some new pictures on my camera. I'll have to upload them and see what I've got.

Biotene review

If you've been reading along, then you know all about Cali's issue with juvenile gingivitis. If you're not keeping track, she and Heath are now ten and a half months old. Biotene was a product suggested for possibly helping with Cali's dental issue. I bought three of their products, the antiseptic dental gel, which is supposed to be used short term for severe dental issues, the maintenance dental gel, and the water additive. As you'll know from my last post, none of it has helped Cali.

I started the antiseptic gel about a week before she started on her antibiotic therapy. I've continued using it, switching to maintenance just recently. It hasn't helped her. I'm also using the maintenance gel as a toothpaste for my dogs. I have to admit, I don't brush their teeth every day. Again, I haven't noticed a difference. My opinion on the gels is that they work about as well as any other pet toothpaste. What helps is brushing your pet's teeth. (tarter is not Cali's problem)  I don't recommend the water additive. All my pets refused to drink when I first added it to the water. I cut it down from the recommended amount, and they would drink, but still don't seem to like it. Don't use it in something like a Drinkwell fountain. You need to change the water every day when using the additive or you will get mold. (yes, I found this out first hand)  I have not noticed cleaner teeth in anyone.

My advice, brush your pet's teeth and have their regular dentals done.

feeling sad

I have been holding out hope that the Zithromax would work on Cali's juvenile gingivitis. Sadly, after 2 weeks, it doesn't seem to have made a difference. She is maturing into such a beautiful cat. The thought of having to pull her teeth makes me incredibly sad. I'm also sad that she will be gone for a short time back to her breeder to have the procedure done (but grateful the breeder is taking care of it!). I will miss our sweet girl while she is gone. I think Cali is the sweetest cat I have ever known. She has gotten so good about taking her pill every evening. She will even come in the kitchen to remind me to give it to her. I just open her mouth and put it in and she swallows it down. I need to take some new pictures.

Son tries to hold on to an armful of Maine Coon

Heath is doing well

Naughty Heath

I haven't dropped off the earth. I'm just buried in the workload for my current Master of Ed. course among other things. So I apologize to those of you who have become loyal readers. The next eight weeks (or sixteen) will be sporadic.

Today's topic is some of the naughty things Heath does. Nothing like a teenage male cat! He is so funny that we usually just laugh. He throws the food bowls around and shares with the dogs. He climbs on the sink and bangs around dirty dishes. (you'd think that would get the family to clean up faster) When you open the fridge door, he stands on the counter and leans over to put his front feet in the fridge door. Sometimes he climbs into the fridge when it is opened! The other day he ran off with a bag of dog training treats that were on the coffee table. Anytime you walk down the stairs, he will grab your arm from his perch on the cat tree. He really is very funny and cute. I'm sure I'll think of more. How naughty is your kitty?

Pack/Pride

When we first met Heath as a kitten at a cat show my overwhelming first impression was "here is a cat who will live comfortably with our dogs". He was, and is, a big, confident boy. That impression is what led to Heath joining our family, despite the fact that we were most definitely not looking for a cat. That impression has proven correct beyond my expectations. The Maine Coons get along so well with the dogs that I have taken to calling the whole group our pack/pride. The Coons remind me of the only social cats, lions, and Heath even looks a little like a male lion with their broad jaws and big ruffs. The Coons will wrestle and even play chase with the dogs. You think a dog is chasing the cat, when suddenly the cat turns around and is chasing the dog! The love to play. When treats are being passed out, they all appear in one great mass demanding their share of the goodies. I have a new picture of "getting along like cats and dogs".

Friday Pics

A rare picture of brother and sister together.