God help me when I'm a parent!

[Little Bird]

I clip my cat's claws every few weeks or so, just the tips of them as he doesn't do a lot of climbing anymore so there aren't getting the wearing down they used to get when he was younger. Anyway, went to clip them last week and I noticed the first claw on his left paw had grown awkwardly and grew right into the pad of his paw. It had broken the skin and had begun to bleed.

He seems in no discomfort but I tried to clip it anyway. He wouldn't let me near it. Tried to get an appointment in our local vet all week but they are only open certain hours so managed to get an appointment yesterday for the vet in the nearby town.

Baz, as usual, hated the car journey there and was wide eyed and nervous when we got there. The vet couldn't get near his paw and said that it was very bad. At this stage, it had really grown well into his paw though he still didn't show any signs of discomfort walking.

Well it was decided, he had to be taken in and sedated the next day to have the claw clipped or removed, whichever was the best option for him. He had to fast and seeing as he had access to food all day, and wouldn't be able to drop him off the next morning, I had to leave poor Bazzie at the vets overnight.

Walking away from the vet, I balled crying. I was totally inconsolable and Peter had to drive home. We had put him in the cage in the back room and he had his blanket with water and a litter box and plenty of room and comfort but I still kept thinking how he was going to be all alone with no-one to cuddle. He wouldn't be on my bed that night and I wouldn't see him as I woke the next morning. I was literally in bits and couldn't even speak for the tears.

He'll be sedated this morning and we can pick him up on the way home from work this evening. I can't wait to see him, I miss him terribly. I hope he'll forgive me. But I'm going to have to toughen up with this kind of thing or I'll be crying the rest of my life. LOL

If I'm like this with my cat, could you imagine what I'm going to be like as a parent?

[DreamsLast]

Oh, Kiera!!!! As a cat person myself, I totally relate to everything you're saying here!! I don't know what to do either if I don't have my kitty with me at night. He has a routine he goes through each night and if he isn't sleeping on my bed I think something is very wrong.

The truth is that, yes, it is very stressful to transport a cat to the vet, and even worse once they're at the vet's office. Little Baz will be stunned and shocked for awhile, but have FAITH that the vet & the vet techs will do everything possible to make him as comfortable as they can. But remember this postive thing; he will most likely be groggy most of his time there from the surgery and anesthesia, so overnight he'll be sleeping and out of it. Once he's home and comfortable, it won't affect him too much. The entire event will seem like a foggy haze to him, and things will return to normal in no time!!! :-)

I'm thinking of you and your kitty. What you're feeling is natural. Every pet parent feels the way you're feeling now when this happens. And while I don't have any children myself, I know from others who do that it will be difficult when you have to leave your child for the first few times. But over time it becomes less worrisome, and you begin to relax about it more. Just make sure that you've got trustworthy people watching the little one and everything will be ok.

And you're going to be an excellent parent!! No need to worry, ok?? It will all come together for you, just like it does for all first-time mothers, I'm sure.

I'm praying little Baz kitty will come through this safe and sound!! He'll be back to clawing furniture before you know it!!! ;-)

[Little Bird]

Ah thanks Christine. That is very reassuring. I figured out of anyone one the forum, you'd know where I was coming from. I do feel silly for how upset I got but as you put it so well, I'm a 'pet parent'. I like that. He really is like a child to me. I've had him since he was 8 weeks old and now he's 11 and a half years old.

Luckily for us, he's not one for clawing furniture though he has destroyed the carpet in Peter's office. We're going to be replacing it anyway so we didn't fuss too much. The new carpet will be cat friendly so he won't be able to pull it.

I know he'll be very sluggish and to be honest, it was never the procedure or his treatment at the clinic that had me upset. It was totally down to the fact that I wouldn't be with him and he wouldn't be with me. He is with me every single night and when I wake up, it's usually to him pawing at my face to get up, or his nose tipping mine. It's very cute and I love him so much.

I guess I just miss him. I can only imagine how destroyed I am going to be when he passes. That is closer and closer to the forfront of my mind the older he gets. He's already showing his age. The joints aren't what they used to be and he even gets the shakes from time to time.

I'm serious, I really will be completely inconsolable when my Baz passes on. I am seriously dreading it.

As a Buddhist, I totally understand that nothing is permanent and everything dies. It's a fact. I can embrace death and feel very open to it. But when it comes to thinking of Baz not being with us one day, all that goes out the window.

[last_dance_rodeo]

haha poor kitty, i'm glad he or she is getting it fixed though

[wackyoverkhaki]

:lmao: All I know is when I'm getting married, I'm getting my tubes tied! My guinea pigs are children enough for me, without the helping with their homework and dealing with their bratty teen years part! Woo-hoo!

[DreamsLast]

Ah thanks Christine. That is very reassuring. I figured out of anyone one the forum, you'd know where I was coming from. I do feel silly for how upset I got but as you put it so well, I'm a 'pet parent'. I like that. He really is like a child to me. I've had him since he was 8 weeks old and now he's 11 and a half years old.

Luckily for us, he's not one for clawing furniture though he has destroyed the carpet in Peter's office. We're going to be replacing it anyway so we didn't fuss too much. The new carpet will be cat friendly so he won't be able to pull it.

I know he'll be very sluggish and to be honest, it was never the procedure or his treatment at the clinic that had me upset. It was totally down to the fact that I wouldn't be with him and he wouldn't be with me. He is with me every single night and when I wake up, it's usually to him pawing at my face to get up, or his nose tipping mine. It's very cute and I love him so much.

I guess I just miss him. I can only imagine how destroyed I am going to be when he passes. That is closer and closer to the forfront of my mind the older he gets. He's already showing his age. The joints aren't what they used to be and he even gets the shakes from time to time.

I'm serious, I really will be completely inconsolable when my Baz passes on. I am seriously dreading it.

As a Buddhist, I totally understand that nothing is permanent and everything dies. It's a fact. I can embrace death and feel very open to it. But when it comes to thinking of Baz not being with us one day, all that goes out the window.

You're welcome, Kiera. I totally understand when you say you're worried about him as he's getting older. I grew up with a kitty that lived to be 16 years old. We got her when she was 8 weeks old and I was in the 6th grade. She ended up in renal failure in her old age and the decision was made to put her to sleep....unfortunately it was like the day after Christmas; Dec.26. It was a horrible time, but she went to a better place. She was more like a sibling to me than a cat. We grew up together. She slept with me every night and I knew all her quirks, and what her meows meant. I showed her in cat shows when I was in 4-H from the age of 9-18. She won blue ribbons and I won trophies. She was a beautiful girl, and she is definitely missed. Then you realize that they aren't really gone, they're actually there with you all the time...

[Little Bird]

Christie, I know exactly what you mean. I totally understand Baz's meow's. People think it's funny. My husband understands them too. They are actually very close. Baz has always favoured men (for some reason) but I'm still his number 1!!

In the end, he didn't need to be sedated. That worried me more as I realised how much he struggled for me and it made me feel like he was more traumatised by the whole thing. But the vet said it was done very quickly and he was actually much calmer after a good nights sleep.

We picked him up and took him home last night and he was actually in great form. He immediately meowed hello to me and Peter in his special 'I missed you' way that he does. It's the one he does when we come home from work every day and without fail, he is ALWAYS at the door to greet us, Every Day!

He actually seemed in much better spirits than I've seen him in a while. It obviously caused him more discomfort than I realised. Luckily, he didn't lose the claw and they just clipped it right back to the quick. He's in really good form actually which is really reassuring.

[louloublu]

That's great that they didn't have to put him to sleep Kiera! We had a dog called Jessy who we had to put to sleep on my 15th birthday. He was old and had gotten really agressive and had bitten my little cousin and my younger sister so you feel like you're doing the right thing but also really guilty at the same time. I've never had a pet since. We always had cats when I was younger but we lived beside a busy road and inevitably (and unfortunately) cars never seem to slow down.

Anyway I digress. I'm just really glad Baz is ok!

[007]

Yeah, I'm the same way or I used to be with dogs, when I was a lad. I'd worry, but I found out once you accept the fact (like your Tao Te Ching reads) that nothing is permanent and you are already dead, life becomes interesting. That's all I can say for your advanced treatment on how to brace yourself. You needn't worry, having a child I cannot help you with. But, it is like having men under your command.

I really am in no position to speak aobut hits, as someone once said 'I have no salvific value' about this matter, but I'll offer my view of it.

I know you're thinking I'm crazy, but my reassuring words are quite simple, LISTEN TO THEM. I had a lot of eighteen year old kids in my platoon, I took care of them. A bunch of young (some seventeen year old) guys just fresh from high school, like me when I enlisted. Although I had them only by one year, I was still a PO3/2 later on, I went up the ranks quicker than usual. But I took care of 'em. Its about reprogramming their heads.

All you have to do is program the person's way of thinking. If you teach your child to behave and use their head, you'll be just fine, Kiera. And you know, so will they. Just train and bring them up like you would yourself. Teach them how to laterally think, and follow your orders like they would the word of God, and they'll be fine.

That is the best way I can relate it to you, and that's really all I can say on the matter. I know you'll probalby shake this off as mere enthusiam, but reread these words once more, and trust me, it works. I wouldn't misguide you.

[Little Bird]

Jones - I think you've missed the point entirely. I'm talking about my cat.

[007]

No, I meant it towards having your first child, oh well. Think I should've clarified that one a little more. After all, I thought that was the name of the thread, maybe I am confused.

Just forget I said anything, this is none of my business here.

[DreamsLast]

Christie, I know exactly what you mean. I totally understand Baz's meow's. People think it's funny. My husband understands them too. They are actually very close. Baz has always favoured men (for some reason) but I'm still his number 1!!

In the end, he didn't need to be sedated. That worried me more as I realised how much he struggled for me and it made me feel like he was more traumatised by the whole thing. But the vet said it was done very quickly and he was actually much calmer after a good nights sleep.

We picked him up and took him home last night and he was actually in great form. He immediately meowed hello to me and Peter in his special 'I missed you' way that he does. It's the one he does when we come home from work every day and without fail, he is ALWAYS at the door to greet us, Every Day!

He actually seemed in much better spirits than I've seen him in a while. It obviously caused him more discomfort than I realised. Luckily, he didn't lose the claw and they just clipped it right back to the quick. He's in really good form actually which is really reassuring.

Great news about Baz!!! I bet he's greatly relieved to be back home (and so are you!!!). :cheerleader: I'm surprised they didn't give him some sort of sedative to relax him at least when they clipped down that claw. I guess they probably used some local like lidocaine or something. Maybe that's all he needed. Does he have a wound where the claw grew into?? I didn't know if maybe he needed stitches from it.

I do think it's true of all pets that when you're really close to them, you really learn & know each other's body language, meows, barks, chirps (whatever, depending on the animal). They really are like family members and you know how to read them like a book after awhile, just like you would anyone else who lives with you. I think it's a wonderful thing to have a pet. It is so relaxing and as well as a source of entertainment! I always feel good to know that I saved my 2 kitties from a horrible life. They bring me and my husband such joy every day, and we don't know what we'd do with out them!

[last_dance_rodeo]

Glad to see he's back and in good shape. Kiera you must have been going crazy with all the emotions. Poor girl. Ahhh I can't say your name right in my head i'm like kira kira kira and I'm saying kiera like sierra

[DreamsLast]

Me too, Chris....Kiera as in Sierra!!! You might just have to be pronounced that way, Kiera. I can't change now! ;-)

[last_dance_rodeo]

exactly i can't either haha

[batsocks]

I have totally been there myself hun!

What started off as getting Tabby`s claw removed from her paw ended in realising she needed some teeth removing. As she is 15 the vet was scared to put her under anaesthetic, but the op was needed real bad.
I could not sleep or concentrate at work whilst she was at the vets. I even made sure the nurse would phone me with updates which she did, it really helped.

Oh no Crazed overprotective mother hormones are lurking about!! ;)

[Little Bird]

Trust me...hormones or not, I am like that anyway when it comes to Baz.

I'm just really pleased he's so happy now. I still feel slightly bad because I hadn't noticed until now that it really had affected him. He's become playful again though he still sleeps most of the time, he's definitely more active than before the claw was fixed.

[DreamsLast]

That's good to hear. Sounds like Baz is really getting back into the routine!! That is always a good sign. He's able to walk ok on that foot? I'm sure it will be awhile until he's 100%.

I've got to go take my kitty to the groomer's to have her claws trimmed tomorrow!! I have tried I don't know how many times (& very unsuccessfully!) to trim them myself, but she's figured out what the clippers do so she runs at the sight of them!!! Smart cat, huh? I have to have a professional do that. No way am I getting scratched by those talons!! But I don't believe in de-clawing cats, so it is something I must do. When I got my female kitty from an adoption agency, I had to sign something that says I cannot ever de-claw my cat, which is perfectly fine for me. That's the first time I've seen such a 'contract' before...

[Little Bird]

Actually, it's like there was never a problem with his foot. He's walking around and jumping up on our laps and things without any problems which is great.

I don't believe in declawing either. They need their claws and although they can be quite destructive on furniture and carpets, if you train them well enough, they don't do that. Baz knows all the places he's allowed to scratch and that's where he scratches. On very rare occasions does he disobey that but he knows he's done wrong when that happens.

Baz is a big wimp so I can easily clip his claws without any problems. He makes it clear he's not happy about it but then again, he'll just sit there until the whole unpleasantness is over. He's good like that.

He doesn't bite or scratch people (not intentionally anyway) and he's very caring and gentle with children, even if they poke and pull on him, he'll never attack. Even the few times, when provoked, that he has gone to bite, he has never broken skin. I just don't think he has it in him to be like that.

It's hard to come by such gentle cats who are as well behaved as him. I know we'll be very lucky if we ever get another cat like him.