Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 23:56:55 -0500
To: wsfa-forum at yahoogroups.com, WSFA List <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
From: Elspeth Kovar <EKovar at worldnet.att.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Elspeth's cat . . .
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

Folks,

One of my cats had been on an iron lung AND dialysis and, while she was
doing well, all things considered, subsequently died.  It was rough all
around and I really do appreciate the kind condolences and apologize if I
took them poorly.

The thing is, I just looked down at her and asked her how she felt about
her trials, tribulations, and death.  To which she replied, "Myap".  That
could mean any number of things but given her position I expect that this
time it means that she waiting for me to stand up for any reason so that
she can steal my chair.  Both she and I seem to have missed all this
excitement.

She was indeed doing poorly around Capclave and I was rather stressed out:
she'd been diagnosed with diabetes and we hadn't yet figured out which
insulin, how much, and when to give her.  That took a while and a number of
changes until we got it right.  The whole thing was very far from what
anyone could call fun but really, she's healthier and, except when I
travel, happier than she has been in years.  Doesn't even mind the shots
and sometimes doesn't even notice them.

Again, I greatly appreciate people's concern and kindness.  I didn't mean
to appear callous or rude, it was just that until now I simply didn't know
what the heck was going on.

Elspeth

[Ernest, could you put that into the next WSFA Journal for me?]

The more personal, or less personal, part is that it is a major hassle when
I'm away because she has to be put into medical boarding.  Not only does
that run into quite a few pennies but Sasha, my younger cat, is quite
social and gets very lonely when everyone goes away, leaving her by herself
-- and at first probably thought that she'd been deserted.  I do have a
wonderful cat sitter who'll come up and spend a couple of hours watching
television with Sasha in her lap but there was a while when Sasha, er,
expressed her ire on my bed.  Not the sort of homecoming one wants.  Did
you know that you can get a roll of disposable ground cloths, thin but not
so thin that I have to do more than put a shoe at a corner or two to keep
them in place, *really* cheaply?  The last couple of trips they haven't
been needed but if the trips are close together or for very long I still
use them.  Still, it's rough on her.

Fribble, not surprisingly, is even more unhappy with the situation when I
travel.  The entire staff at the veterinary hospital absolutely dotes on
her to the point that when I'm seen people come over to ask, "Oh, are you
bringing Fribble in?" in hopeful voices.  Her doctor even took her into his
office one time when he had to do a bunch of paperwork, thinking that she
might like a change of scene from the usual boarding setting.  She didn't,
heading off to bury her head in a corner which is her usual behavior in
such situations when she can't bury it under my arm, but it was a wonderful
thing him to do.  As I said, they dote on her.

I love to travel.  Because of my life I travel a lot.  Now when I do
they're unhappy, I feel guilty when I allow myself to think about it, and
right now there's no one nearby who can give Fribble her shots here so as
to simplify things.  I expect that except for the medical parts parents can
feel somewhat the same way.  And we'll work it out.

Again, my thanks -

E.