Pets & the humans who love them

[Darth Denkay]

I share my home with 4 cats and 1 dog.

Jeoffry. Black and white male, my first animal companion as an adult. A friend of mine's cat had kittens, Jeoffry being one of them. He was born April 16, 1995 - I picked him out of the litter when he was less than 24 hours old. I've known him his whole life. While I love them all, Jeoffry is the one I am most bonded with. He's been an important part of my life post undergraduate school. He's been with me through every single significant decision and relationship since 1995. He's my rock. I recently finished my dissertation, and he is included in the dedication. Almost three years ago he was diagnosed with early cardiac disease, but I am happy to report that it does not seem to be progressing at all. It's not uncommon for cats to have cardiac conditions that they live with for many years, and never end up seriously impacting their lives. Hopefully this is the case with Jeoffry.

Midnight. Black female, came along about a year after Jeoffry. She was rescued from a vet clinic. She's my acrobat - I don't think there's a surface in the house she hasn't sat on. She is hyperthyroid and in kidney failure. She takes meds for the thyroid and is on rx food for the kidneys. Recently we decreased her medication dose and that seems to have given her a new lease on life. It complicated balancing the two diseases but for now we've got it. She's my sweetheart.

Booger Bear. Gray striped, came along a year after Midnight, rescued from an emergency animal clinic when she was maybe four weeks old. Recent bloodwork shows all systems are go, which is a good thing, because I don't know that I could give her any sort of regular medication. I used to work at a vet clinic, and while I was there, we never saw a cat I couldn't medicate. I handled all the difficult ones and kept a perfect record. So of course it's one of my own cats who I can't.

Nimbus. He's the youngster of the group, about a year and a half now. My other cats are close in age and I didn't want to risk losing them quickly and being left without a cat companion, so that's why he entered the fold. He and Jeoffry play some, and he plays with the dog. He can be a little bully, then turn around and be the biggest lover in the world. I was a little nervous bringing in a youngun, but he's been great.

Norah. Jack Russell Terrier. 6 years old now, was a rescue of sorts. She lived with friends of a friend of a friend who decided to get rid of her when they had a baby. She would have gone to the shelter, but my friend knew I was looking to take in a small dog, and when I saw a picture of her I knew she was the one. She has anxiety issues, but has come a long way with medication and behavioral interventions. I still crate her when I'm not home, but she has really come a long way. She goes to doggy day care two days a week and does phenomenally. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago at her annual check-up a heart murmur was detected. Next month I'm going to have a dental done on her, and while she's knocked out we'll do an EKG and get chest films to try and get an idea of what's going on. So far she's completely asymptomatic. Unfortunately heart murmurs are generally worse in dogs than in cats, but they can often be managed with meds. I think she intentionally developed the murmur so she could be more like Jeoffry.

[lipstixgal]

Originally Posted by Darth Denkay

I share my home with 4 cats and 1 dog.

Jeoffry. Black and white male, my first animal companion as an adult. A friend of mine's cat had kittens, Jeoffry being one of them. He was born April 16, 1995 - I picked him out of the litter when he was less than 24 hours old. I've known him his whole life. While I love them all, Jeoffry is the one I am most bonded with. He's been an important part of my life post undergraduate school. He's been with me through every single significant decision and relationship since 1995. He's my rock. I recently finished my dissertation, and he is included in the dedication. Almost three years ago he was diagnosed with early cardiac disease, but I am happy to report that it does not seem to be progressing at all. It's not uncommon for cats to have cardiac conditions that they live with for many years, and never end up seriously impacting their lives. Hopefully this is the case with Jeoffry.

Midnight. Black female, came along about a year after Jeoffry. She was rescued from a vet clinic. She's my acrobat - I don't think there's a surface in the house she hasn't sat on. She is hyperthyroid and in kidney failure. She takes meds for the thyroid and is on rx food for the kidneys. Recently we decreased her medication dose and that seems to have given her a new lease on life. It complicated balancing the two diseases but for now we've got it. She's my sweetheart.

Booger Bear. Gray striped, came along a year after Midnight, rescued from an emergency animal clinic when she was maybe four weeks old. Recent bloodwork shows all systems are go, which is a good thing, because I don't know that I could give her any sort of regular medication. I used to work at a vet clinic, and while I was there, we never saw a cat I couldn't medicate. I handled all the difficult ones and kept a perfect record. So of course it's one of my own cats who I can't.

Nimbus. He's the youngster of the group, about a year and a half now. My other cats are close in age and I didn't want to risk losing them quickly and being left without a cat companion, so that's why he entered the fold. He and Jeoffry play some, and he plays with the dog. He can be a little bully, then turn around and be the biggest lover in the world. I was a little nervous bringing in a youngun, but he's been great.

Norah. Jack Russell Terrier. 6 years old now, was a rescue of sorts. She lived with friends of a friend of a friend who decided to get rid of her when they had a baby. She would have gone to the shelter, but my friend knew I was looking to take in a small dog, and when I saw a picture of her I knew she was the one. She has anxiety issues, but has come a long way with medication and behavioral interventions. I still crate her when I'm not home, but she has really come a long way. She goes to doggy day care two days a week and does phenomenally. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago at her annual check-up a heart murmur was detected. Next month I'm going to have a dental done on her, and while she's knocked out we'll do an EKG and get chest films to try and get an idea of what's going on. So far she's completely asymptomatic. Unfortunately heart murmurs are generally worse in dogs than in cats, but they can often be managed with meds. I think she intentionally developed the murmur so she could be more like Jeoffry.

All of your pets sound so lovely. I too have a Jack and is not well with hypothyroidism and Cushings Syndrome an endocrine disorder so I have to medicate on a daily basis too but good luck with your cats and dog too. My dog doesn't like it when I leave for too long a period so doggie day care would be an option for me!!

[Rook]

I used to have a pet rooster...
I was a kid, though...
He was an Easter gift {dyed purple}, nowadays I know that's a rather cruel action, but, to kids from poor residences, it's the closest to Nintendo.
After he molted the last of the Dye, he turned out quite "handsome"...
Beautiful tail feathers, my neighbors kept sayin' I should train him for cockfighting and get some money out of it..
At the time, I didn't even know how that was done, my closest neighbor, Cheo, would give tips...
"keep him away from other roosters, don't breed him, feed him well until the day before..and always use long spurs"
I got my first taste at 13, I managed to win 6 bets in a row..after the 6th, my so-called bookie said 'no more, they'll think she's got insider information'
Sooo, I sat ringside, and saw how they fought...
When the round was done, I think I turned green from nausea at the thought of my pet being the Loser {They think it's humaine to snap the Loser's neck}.
I did ask on the way to the car what was the end result..
My neighbor shrugged and said "Probably a good stew the next evening"
I thought of that while they tried on some rather sharp spurs for "Don Quixote", and I told 'em to take it off, when he started squawking and making a fuss...
They did protest and I waved it off with "he's my rooster, go away"
yeah, I would walk him -smirk-
Small cushioned string to his leg, i let him strut while I bought candy from an elderly neighborhood lady...
Eventually, landlord said to get rid of him, something about Policy and city codes.
My uncle said he had a farm that could use a Rooster.
I was young, not stupid...
I would visit, and ask for him, and they'd stutter..
"he's busy....there's a cute hen he likes, let's not disturb"
-snort-
For quite some time I didnt talk to them..
Recently he asked "you're still mad at me over that damn rooster?"

I think this is the closest possible pic resembling him..Quixote's "Crown" was a bit more prominent

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Jude

I'm curious. Does anyone here believe that four footed life is as valuable as the two legged variety? If you could save an unknown human being or a strange cat or dog about to be hit by a car (but not both), which would you snatch out of harm's way?

Anyone a vegan or vegetarian solely because of a reverence for all sentient beings? (Anyone eat only freely fallen fruit so as to avoid causing pain to the tree or bush?)

I love animals and, truthfully, I'd try to rescue the human first -- well, perhaps with the exception of a couple of individuals that I know, but I digress.....

If the human wasn't hearing impaired and facing away from me, I'd go for him or her. If they could hear me, then the words, "Get out of the way!" or "Car!" or whatever should do the trick while I went for the animal.

Nope and nope.