Sophie's World

A big M-E-O-W to you! Nice to see you again!

Losing a pet is never easy no matter how well prepared you are nor if your pet has been ill for some time. Saying good-bye will be the hardest thing you do.

A cat I’ve known just briefly was euthanized last week. He had been sick a few weeks, diagnosed with heart disease. Poor Simon was such a stinker anyway, but he even made giving his six meds a day a chore. Saying good-bye to his uncanningly human-like face made me cry.

Simon was a good boy, albeit an ornery old man with a penchant for mischief. Simon was notorious for opening pet food–even if it weren’t his own. He liked to work over your workspace, abruptly cutting off your phone calls or making calls you didn’t know that you had. Oh, and don’t leave your glass of water unattended. In a fit of orneriness, Simon would slap it off your desk whether or not it was near a plugged-in computer.

Simon’s end mercifully came at a time when those who loved him could say good-bye. I don’t know if Simon understood what was happening, but one could see that he was tired, tired of being sick, tired of laboring to get around, tired of taking meds.

I’ll miss my feline friend. He was one in a million.

 

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OK,so I’ve been on my “catkins diet” for several months now and I’m ready to weigh in a verdict about my diet change. I love it!

Since being on Wellness cat food, my coat has transformed into this luxurious fur. I feel sated between meals. I sleep better. I like the regular schedule of feedings, though with Chris and Norm working, my afternoon meal is sometimes delayed. This is to say nothing of the taste. I love it! All in all, it was a good change.  Again, the whole reason behind the change was to let me as the carnivore I am, eat a diet that is in tune with my biology and my physiology.  Only polar bears could be considered more of a carnivore, but then again, they don’t have much choice in the matter, do they?  And it’s like I’ve always said, cats and dogs are just not the same animal.

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Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me,

happy birthday dear Sophie,

happy birthday to me!

Photo by @rek

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This story comes out of New Jersey about a 44 pound cat found wandering the streets.  Now I may be carrying a few extra pounds myself, but I wouldn’t consider myself fat.  This cat though is just plain fat.  The story didn’t carry a picture, unfortunately, but maybe just as well.  It’s terrible when those old photos get out.  Princess Chunk’s after picture will certainly be something to see.

Just as with people, obesity in pets is unhealthy and can seriously impact life expectancy.  Some estimates put the percentage of obese pets at just under 50%.  Owner intervention is vital.

Photo by basykes

It’s hard being a cat, especially an indoor cat.  When you compare the 15 year life span of an indoor pet versus the 2 to 3 years of an outdoor cat, it’s easy to see why Tiger doesn’t venture out at night.  So how does a cat manage?  It’s not like there’s a lot of running around to do inside unless you’re fleeing the kids or the family dog.  Exercise can be difficult.  Here are some tips:

• Invest in a laser pointer.  Chasing that red dot around can be quite entertaining.
• Feed a weight loss diet.  Some diets are high in fiber, low in fat.  It’s an option, but maybe a better option is a diet high in protein, low in carbs, a "Catkins" diet if you will.
• Watch the treats.  While we love them, they can be just that bit of extra to put us over the top.
• Catnip.  Sure, we’ll fall asleep afterwards, but while the catnip is working its magic, I’m tearing around the house.

A healthy pet is a happy pet. 

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