h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Very true, Mudhooks. And as long as Lua can still be her usual cranky self and is eating like a pig (this morning she had *two* breakfasts!) then I think she can't be feeling too badly yet.

Meanwhile, just got back from the clinic. I told Maria my plan and she said the only problem with giving Lua tranquilizers is that they will probably kill her - but more slowly and perhaps painfully - than the injection.

So I explained how I didn't want Lua's last memories to be of being afraid in her cat cage and then afraid in the clinic and Maria told me not to worry, that she would come over and give her the injection at home. I reminded her that when I first asked her about this in February she said they didn't do house calls. And Maria said - 'Well, things are different now. No, my boss doesn't allow me to do this, but now I know you better and you know how fond of Lua I've become. So just call me on my mobile and I'll come over.'

Isn't that wonderful of her?

However, if Lua takes a bad turn during the night or when Maria isn't available I was given two pills - basically an overdose of tranqs. Though god knows how I'd ever get them into her at that point. Well, let's hope it won't come to that.

And so, the 'moment' will be when I find her trying to breathe through her mouth, apparently. Not knowing if it will be tomorrow or next week or next month is the hardest part, but yeah, I'm just taking things one day at a time.

Thanks again everyone. You have also been wonderful throughout all of this.



az

Very brave of you, az -- and very proper. Lua is a fortunate little kitty, whatever her crankiness!

s to you and Lua.

SC

az and Lua

I'm away at a pagan camp for the next few days - thinking of you now.

Jez

It's Sunny's birthday today!

He's 11.

Think it'll be shaved ham all round this afternoon.




az

Happy Birthday to Sunny, and extra shaved ham for Lua... (With garlic, if that keeps her interested.)

Ivan.

Happy Birthday, Sunny

Hard to believe he was ever this small:

http://public.fotki.com/azahar/gatitos/sunny_on_the_right.html


Or that he and Lua once got along:

http://public.fotki.com/azahar/gatitos/happy_together_2.html


He's still best mates with Azar though:

http://public.fotki.com/azahar/gatitos/best_mates_2.html



az

Happy birthday, Sunny

And s for azand Lua.

Noggin

hi az
happy birthday to sunny.
--
mudhooks,helen said thanks for the (cornstarch)cornflour idea.snowy,s a lot cleaner
he still wont lick for more than a few seconds but he,s white again for now jim

Happy Birthday to Sunny! and for az, and shaved ham all 'round.

Shaved ham is pretty good stuff; I hope Lua doesn't get jealous when you give a share to the birthday puppy!

SC

Sorry, Az!! I really thought Sunny was a dog! Imagine my chagrin when I belatedly checked the photos!!

Can I claim old age or brain freeze as an excuse? Pllleeeaassee?



SC

This is so typical, to which I'm sure Mudhooks would reply (and quite rightly) - gotta love 'em.

On my way home from my last class (about 4pm) I stopped at my favourite breakfast bar, which also has a take-away counter, to get some shaved ham. And I reminded Paco to shave it extra fine because that's how Lua likes it. Which led to a discussion about who Lua is and how many cats I have, etc.

Normally when people here find out I have three cats they look at me like they think I'm kinda nuts. But Paco said - *only* three? That's not enough cats!

He then went on to describe the little zoo he has at home, most of which I can't remember now but it included a three-legged dog (now hey, there's a coincidence!), birds, several fully-stocked aquariums, quite a few large turtles, as well as other small animals, but as I say, he rattled this off very quickly and I was too shocked at him not thinking me nuts for having three cats to take it all in.

Anyhow, he shaved the ham so finely that you could almost see through it.

Got home and called everyone into the living room and explained this was a birthday treat for Sunny (yes, I *know*, I just like talking out loud, okay?) and proceeded to hand out strips of almost transparent ham. Lua and Azar snapped their bits out of my hand in no time flat and then Sunny came over, took one sniff, turned around and walked away.

Sunny refusing food???

It might have had something to do with waking him up from his usual five-hour-long afternoon siesta. So I'll try the ham on him again later on. If not, then it'll be a tin of water-packed tuna as his birthday treat.

Meanwhile, no changes in Lua since yesterday. Another day together.


az

hi SC,

In fact, Sunny *is* a dog - he just looks like a cat. But he totally behaves like a dog, has done so ever since he was a, um, puppy?

He adores people, he makes a big fuss over everyone who comes over and usually wants to sit on them. He isn't shy at all. Really, he is lovely. Also, he is quite enormous - all 7-8 kilos of him. And aside from being FAT he is also just, well, BIG. Kinda looks like he should be playing American football or driving a semi-trailer, if you know what I mean.

btw, you are not yet in the photo gallery! I can't remember if you are one of the few who don't want to be seen in public. But if not, please send in a photo soon, okay? (and please don't tell me you are already there or I *will* truly fear for my sad excuse for a brain).

az

I mean, doesn't he look like a dog? Or is it just me?

http://public.fotki.com/azahar/gatitos/sunny_keeping_cool.html


az

Az just to let you know I am still here. I don't have that much to say about cats and cat medicine, but I understand the love you have for Lua, and I understand what you are having to face upto.

If reincarnation is true, I wouldn't mind coming back as one of Az's cats cause I would get to live really well!

Thanks Kaz.

Nice to see you again!

I'm feeling quite worried this morning as Lua had a bit of a rough night, 'coughing' a lot more than she has been. And when I got up to comfort her I could hear her wheezing. She has stopped wheezing now, but it was quite upsetting to hear that, thinking that it meant she is almost out of time. Needless to say I couldn't sleep at all after that.

In fact, people here have started to comment on the dark circles under my eyes and my 'tired' face, which I think is actually quite brave of them.

Well, another day.

s to all of you.


az

Az maybe its the heat making her cough? The books recommend when it gets past a certain heat gently spraying gerbils and hamsters with an ironing mister. So maybe cats need the same sort of thing, though good luck if you intend spraying Lua with a mister!

I hope Lua is more comfortable now.

Cassie came in yesterday panting like a dog. It is still very humid here in spite of yesterday's storm and I expect she had been running after something. She has lost a lot of weight though, I am assuming at the moment it's because of worms. She is due her flea jab and vaccinations so she will get a check with the vet at the same time.

Hi Az,

Thinking of you and Lua. It is very hard to part with an old companion. My own late and much lamented cat, Chester, was nearly twenty when he finally snuk off down the garden, hid in the old dog kennel and breathed his last. He had been getting very shakey and weak in the back legs for just a few days, and suddenly, he was gone. But we gave him a great send-off, in a glorious mixture of traditions, Hindu, Tibetan Buddhist, etc, incense and Ganges water, fireworks and sherry ( the Irish Protestant element ). And he was so intelligent there is no doubt he has reincarnated as a benign being, maybe a whale. You are lucky to have the wondrous Sunny to carry on the line.

PS. My nickname was yikesed, I think because I included an Url in it. Awaiting re-instatement, having grovelled and apologised to the thought police.

Cheers

Chaiwallah \|/