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

When he was little, Benjamin looked like he was wearing pantaloons, too. He is still called Mr. Fluffypants, even though he grew into his pants and they aren't really "fluffy" any more.

Yeah, the poo/pee thing used to worry me, in the sense that it might mean there was a health problem happening. But it's been going on for so long now, and is also so random, that I think it's just old age crankiness setting in. Like the other morning it happened when Nog and I were rushing to go out early and forgot to give Sunny his second breakfast

Anyhow, the sofa has already been destroyed by Lua so it can't get much worse. But if he ever pees on the bed I'll murdelize the little bugger!

Glad you are on the mend and keeping active. How are your legs? Meanwhile, don't worry about not being as cute as your cats - I've never met anyone who was.

az

<>

A lowering thought, but tooooo true!!

My legs have been a pain today! I set out to the sporting goods store to buy some new trainers, then halfway there realized that they were too swollen to try shoes on, to get a good fit!!

I'm getting kind of worried -- I spent an inordinate time out of the house yesterday, including standing in a line at the pharmacy for an hour and a half, and my darn feet were still puffy when I work up this morning. Sitting at the computer is not good for them, either. I'm supposed to be on a walking program, but can't get into it, without some suitbale shoes. Grumble, grumble, grumble. Rocket will be over to force me to pay attention to him, if I keep this up!

SC

<< ...when I work up this morning>> Let's make that "woke", shall we?

(wondering how long I can use my health as an excuse for the typos... )

SC

Did I mention on here that I got the results of the biopsy of the growth on Benjamin's leg? I can't recall if I did....

It was, much to my relief, a benign growth.

Well, never you mind about new shoes, SC. If needs be for now, get a pair that fits your swollen feet . . . because daily walking *is* what you need to be doing and I won't listen to any excuses - ya hear me?

Sorry, but it's just stupid stupid stupid that you are not walking every day as much as possible. You *need* to do this to get the circulation happening again. And yes, I do know all about post-op depression and I really feel for you that your friends are not as *there* for you as they were for your gorgeous cats . . . but man, we're talking about you getting better! And you really need to do this for yourself.

A half-hour walk every morning wouldn't kill anybody - even somebody with bad shoes - so that's where you start. Just half an hour. There and back again. Okay? Even if you don't feel like it. Do it for me and everyone else that loves you. Just go and do it. And if half an hour is too much, then just walk to the corner and back again. But DO it, honey. Okay? Please?

Start off slowly if you need to, even if it's just to the corner and back, but the important thing is that you do it. Oh, sorry if I'm sounding like a drill officer, but it does sound like you need some serious prodding.

The swelling should get less with regular walking, and also putting your feet up when you are at home. Set up your computer so that you can have your feet elevated while you are online - not impossible, I've done it myself. Do you have a laptop or a desktop PC? In any case, you should be able to wangle things so that you can still be online whilst having your feet UP.

And in case you're wondering, no, I won't stop pestering you about this. But I hope you know that my pestering is because I care and I think you are a wonderful person and I want to see you taking care of yourself as much as possible. Okay?

much love,
az

Mudhooks, I'm also relieved to hear that Benjamin's lump was benign.

az

Thanks!

Yes, m'am. I'll walk every morning as you order, er, suggest. I do have an old pair of shoes I can wrestle on, until I can get some others.

I do have a laptop, which I use some of the time, with my feet up. And I do make *numerous* circuits daily of the walkway/balcony around the second floor of my building -- enough laps that if I didn't change direction, I'd start leaning to the Left!! Oh, right, I do that anyway....

Mudhooks, I'm so glad that Benjamin's news was good; I hope he has a speedy recovery from the lump. He'll be out bedeviling the neighborhood in no time, I know!

SC

Well, Benjamin was "recovered" from the l;ump the next day, as soon as he managed to pull the pressure bandage off his leg. Even the night he got home from the vet, he was trying for the door.

As for getting out and bedeviling the neighbourhood, he has been out despite my efforts to keep him in. We have a very large Fisher in the neighbourhood (a member of the weasel family, large enough to kill a cat). He lives in the area behind the co-op, in the creek, and is about 4 feet long.

Mudhooks, I get the idea that Benjamin is just a bit of a handful...

Would it be sporting of you to warn the Fisher that trouble is coming, now that Benjamin is out and about again?

(just kidding, I know you worry)

Is the 4 foot long mentioned including the tail? I know that the weasel family is pretty large (mink, martin, and ferrets, too?), but I wasn't aware they bothered domestic pets all that much. Guess it would depend on the pet. My little crew would be toast, er, canapes...

SC

No... that includes the tail. I am afraid Benjamin probably would not stand a chance with a Fisher. They are related to the Wolverine and, while Wolverines can and have attacked people, Fishers are small-prey eaters.... Small meaning from mice on up to porcupines. Porcupines are larger than your average cat and no easy meal from the most determined predator, what with their quills, and all. Porcupines are a favorite dish of the Fisher.

Fishers climb trees and, while usually found well out of human habitation, are slowly moving into the cities. In fact, Natural Resources have actually been releasing them into areas to keep vermin down. The problem with that is that they then move closer and closer to habitation and start preying on peoples' pets.

This one has been seen in peoples' back yards and up their trees.

<> (SC)

That's what I like to hear! Just remember that if coaxing and cajoling doesn't work I may have to resort to my Divine Mind Control Powers . . . who knows, I may have done so already . . .


az

az,

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo -- Scary!!! I hear and obey!!!



Mudhooks, I hope Benjamin doesn't run into this Fisher, if what you say is true! Bad scene....

I grew up in Michigan, just a tad south of Canada -- state animal is the Wolverine (Bob knows why, it's a deranged idea -- meanest things per pound of any critter in that neck of the woods!)

SC

Wolverines also smell truly horrible, apparently.

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I wonder if they might also be a danger to very small children, Mudhooks.

Did I mention I found a lump under one of Sunny's nipples awhile back? Well, this was actually a couple of months ago but I stupidly forgot to mention it to Maria last time we took him in (around that time). And last week I saw that it was still there.

Talked to Maria about it on the phone and she told me that the chance of it being 'breast cancer' in a non-castrated male is about a million to one. More likely it's a cyst or fatty deposit. So she told me not to bring him in about this but to keep an eye on it and if it's still there a few weeks from now she will stop by and have a look at it herself (nice to have a vet who makes house calls). The important thing, apparently, is that it doesn't seem to hurt him, as I gave it a little squeeze while I was giving Sunny a belly rub and he just stayed all comfortably stretched out. Also, it's 'loose' and moves around, so it's obviously attached to the skin and not anywhere deeper. Sheesh, it's always something.

Meanwhile, the Sunster is looking quite 'svelt' (well, for him) since his bout of gastro-interitis. I think not eating for a couple of days and then being on a very controlled quantity of food since has actually turned out to be quite good for him. Especially with regards to the aforementioned regained ability to clean his own bottom.

And SC, I didn't mean to come across as Sargeant Bilko . . . it's just concern and caring on my part, which I think you know. Anyhow, glad you are keeping up with the walks and stuff.

az

<< And SC, I didn't mean to come across as Sargeant Bilko >>

I know, az! I possibly forgot to add a or two, before the ! I don't recommend this method, but being ill has been a total eye-opener for me -- I really am blessed with the most wonderful friends!! Now all I have to do is deserve them! (my grouchiness recently notwithstanding, everyone really has been there for me, including my hootoo pals...Thank You!)


And now for something really different...well, okay, just different then.

I was doing some research on diabetes and was interested at some of the sites I came across dealing with diabetes in pets:

http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/pets.htm (from a national diabetes organization)

http://www.sugarcats.net/sites/jmpeerson/ (I really liked this one -- very personal; and it had some good info, too)

http://www.2ndchance.info/diabetes2.htm (this is a vet's website, with a good overview of the development and treatment of the disease in pets)

Hopefully, no one here needs this information, but it's nice to know it's out there.

SC

Wow, I am so jazzed!

Today, Missy and I had an actual Moment!! She came right up to me, plunked down and put her paw on my arm! She has NEVER done that before. She likes me, she really likes me! For a whole 8-10 minutes!!!

SC

Was she trying to tell you that little Timmy had fallen down a mine shaft?

I am pleased for you SC! I'm sure she loves you anyway - she is just the kinda gal that don't show it that much. If she didn't love you she wouldn't stay.

Oh yeah - meant to add...cats instinctively know when you are not well. They become little nurses. It may have taken Missy a few days to act on her instincts but better late than never eh?