Rest and Reprieve

I'm sorry that I didn't blog yesterday. I didn't really have much to tell you on the Molly front, and as that's what's dominated mine and the human's thoughts, we didn't feel like writing much else. We have news though.

The peoples from Guide Dogs called the human today. She still hasn't made up her mind because they can't guarantee that Molly will be retired. She might go on something called the Buddy scheme, which pairs dogs which aren't good enough to be guide dogs up with younger children to give them confidence in new environments. The team might also keep her themselves and use her to go and see people to help assess if they'll be good with a guide dog or not. The human's still not happy, but Molly was due to go in for some retraining anyway in a couple of weeks while she's away on holiday. What she's planned to do is let her go, find out what they have to say after the assessment, then make a decision when she comes back from holiday. She knows that it would probably be best to let Molly go, but she just can't face the thought of her being shipped out to a few more homes before she's finally allowed to retire. She needs to be strong and do what's right for us all. I tell her this, and I have faith she'll make the right decision in the end.

To answer a couple of comments placed, the human doesn't really have the room to leave a cage up that is big enough that I'm comfortable eating in. You're right though, Molly couldn't pull that apart. I guess this is something we can explore in a bigger house, but even if cat food wasn't a problem, the dog shouldn't be jumping and climbing to get food. When you are out all day with a working dog, you can imagine the problems this could pose at lunchtime in work, for example, or at other peoples' houses. I keep telling her that working cats are a much better idea, but she mutters something about strong-will and stubbornness. I ask you, what rubbish!

Other than that, life has been fairly normal. The human's friend arrived on Wednesday night, so I've been watching him closely just in case he's here to make off with some of the ping pong balls! I know he's a shifty character because he wouldn't even let me share his coffee! It smells so good, doesn't it? The human doesn't drink it, so I can only sniff it when other peoples are here. This one said I'd not like it if I tasted it, but I'll never know. He didn't give me a chance!

The human's sleeping in the living room again, which is great. I don't even have to walk far to find a bed. Last night they had gammon for dinner. The human says to tell you that if you don't know, it's like a big thick steak of bacon, kind of. Anyway, she didn't eat all of hers, so I got some! I'm not sure if I like it though. I did the same thing with the gammon that I did with the rabbit, but she's left me some down today while she's out at work. I haven't touched it yet, but I'm really thinking about it.

I was really sad to hear about so many of the other cats on the Blogosphere leaving us forever a few days ago. While I didn't know any of them, I and my human know how hard it is to lose someone you love, and we send huge snuggles to the families of those who have gone. We grieve with you.

My human has entered me in a contest to win a Kritter Kondo, and I must say, it looks fab! This would give me the chance to go outside a lot more, something I struggle with now because the only way the human can take me is on a leash. I am not a dog, nor will I ever be, so although she's trying to teach me to walk, when she puts that and the harness on me, I belly out to make her know my point. She'll either have to drag me or give up, as no way am I putting up with the indignity of wearing what a dog would! She usually gives up. With the Kondo though, she can let me out in that and not worry that her eyes can't see me as I move around. I'll let you know if I win.

I have also been reading about a cat rescue place called Tabby's Place, and boy are they nice peoples! They take cats from shelters where they would otherwise have been killed, and they let them live in the place they've built just for cats. There's no cages, and they all get to live with the company of others. What's better, even if no peoples come to adopt them, they can live there for the rest of their lives without fear of being killed cuz they've been there too long. Currently, I have my eye on one of the cats who lives in the human offices. She's not very well, and could really do with massive support. If you want to send her love, head on over to their blog.

Tabby's Place

My human is due home from work in a few hours, and I'm getting ready to welcome her back. Mummycat's still making noise, but I'm used to that now. I'm more happy because I know she's eating more, but I wish she'd be quiet and learn that no matter how much she screams about it, the human is mine first! When next I post, I'll share with you exciting news about a kitten!

Wordy Wednesday

Well, I don't know where to begin, or how, even, to thank you all for your support for my human and our household. Never in a million years did I dream I'd get that response when I asked for your thoughts to be with us. When the human read the comments this morning, her eyes got so, so leaky. Even her nose got stuffy she was leaking so hard. I was awfully worried for a little while, but I'm getting used to their runny eyes now. Maybe the human and peoples don't get sick the same way as cats do when their eyes run.

The peoples from Guide Dogs came today to look at Molly. They didn't really do a lot other than make the talk noise with the human. She told them all the bad things the dog was doing while I strutted around and looked pretty. This wasn't easy. Molly went into overdrive with the excitability and was bouncing about all over the place, but the peoples did comment that I looked very cute when I went to the middle of the floor, miaowed loudly (to get their attention, you understand), then rolled over on my back and tucked my paws right in. I know I'm cute, but it's nice of them to say so. They are stupider than the human, though. She knows cutiful. They don't.

They talked for a long time, and in the end, they left, but left Molly behind. The human has two days to think about things. Guide Dogs are strongly recommending that the human gives her up, and they're almost sure that Molly would be retired from service, but they're not 100%. My human's best friend will take her if she retires, so she told them her decision would be much easier if she knew that could happen. This way, she can still see Molly and know that she's happy. The peoples said they would go away and talk with a manager, whatever that is, and would phone her on Friday to tell her. So we're still in limbo, but we are a bit more settled because we still have Molly with us. The human has almost made up her mind that if they'll let her retire, she'll give her up, but if they're talking about retraining her and giving her to someone else, she will probably keep her and work very hard and bravely to overcome her fears. She's not looking forward to this, but really doesn't want the dog going somewhere that she doesn't know.

I'll try to answer some of the comments that were left yesterday, as there were some really good suggestions which, sadly, the human has already tried. She's put my food up high ages ago, but the dog has learned to climb to get it now, and yesterday morning, in fact, she did it while the human was in the room (she usually waits until she's alone to thieve). She doesn't have any health problems. Guide dogs are checked by the vet (I can say his name because he's a nice man who offered my human seeds to gro fresh catnip brought all the way from his garden in Spain! We both like him) every six months, but as Molly has a skin condition, she goes every month. They always do a full exam, and they know she has no injuries or joint problems. As far as the house settling, we've been here for months, and the other little cat, Anna, was here for almost a year. Molly is very used to us, and her behaviour didn't change in the slightest when we came. This aggression is a very, very new thing, and food stealing is very, very old. It's been going on since the human got her. Molly's issues are long-standing. Guide Dogs considered retiring her three years ago, the human says, but she asked them to give her a chance to work them through as she loved the dog. Silly of her really, to love something that isn't a cat, but Molly's all right, from a distance. She smells too doggy to get very close to.

Ming, dogs are much more than just belly rubs and paws. They stink, they shout really noisily, they lick a lot, and worst of all, they eat my food! I tolerate this one because the human likes her and she pretty much leaves me alone.

Mummycat was off her food kind of ever since the human brought her home. She's just never settled, but it was when she stopped eating unless someone was in there with her that the human worried. It was Ok until the amount she was eating was dropping too. Then it was time for mummycat to go to the vet man too, except that it was a lady for her. I don't know if I like her. I haven't decided yet.

We've tried putting the food in a box, but I don't like eating in there, and Molly just claws it to pieces when the human isn't around to stop her. I don't like it because I can't see anything except box when I'm eating, and that worries me enough that I don't eat as much. The human doesn't want me getting too thin, and it wasn't working anyway, so we stopped. She also tried putting it behind the sofa, but the dog just barged that out of the way, wriggled in and ate all of my food! I find it hard to think she's all right when she does this. After all, I don't eat her stinky dog food, do I?

The human says that currently, there are 20 peoples on the waiting list for guide dogs in our area alone. Ten of those are priority like she would be, meaning they need a dog, and they need it fast. Only problem is though, they have to find the right dog for each people, and that takes a while. Given that my human needs a very, very specific behavioural type, even the peoples today said it would take time to find one. If she got a dog when she should, without problems, given that they get a maximum of six dogs to train every three months, if they had full classes each time, my human would still, at best, end up waiting nine months. Realistically though, it's going to be longer. It took them two years to find Molly, and even she was only half suitable.

The human has used Feliway before and hasn't noticed that it makes any difference at all. She's been spraying in mummycat's room anyway, but there's been no change. The apetite stimulant does appear to be starting to work, mind you, so she's relieved about that. Her ears aren't sore from grooming. She scratched it too hard at one point, and the human thinks it might have bled. The vet checked them and said there's no infection and no ear mites, so just to leave it for a while and see if it settles. It appears to be doing that.

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much to all of you. Even though the human had runny eyes, she said they were happy runny eyes because she saw how much peoples cared. All of the purrs have been so appreciated.

I've stayed very, very close to my human all day. She seems surprised about that, but I don't know why. I'm a responsible cat, and I care for her happiness. I could tell she was upset, so I haven't been far from her side all day. I'm a cuddler, yes, but I'll usually cuddle for a bit, then flop on the sofa beside her. not today though. I sat on her, lay on her, slept on her, even slept on the arm of the sofa rather than the cushion so that I could be right by her face. She says she's not used to having someone who's in tune with her emotions like that. No wonder, if she's only had the dog for all this time. Well, human, things are going to change, whether you want them to or not. Let's hope that the old saying stands true. "A change is as good as a rest". We all know how much cats love rest! Change must be great then. Come on, change. We're ready for you, even if it does mean we have to fight a bit to feel happy again. These paws were made for fightin'!

Once again, much love and purrs to you all. you made my human feel a bit better, and for that, I am in your debt.

Terrible Tuesday

Why? Because the human is very upset. It all started last night, but for this one, I think I'll let the human tell it.

I came home from work last night to find that Tia's mum, Cindy, was still off her food. I'd put this down to being separated from Tia, but yesterday, I just felt that something wasn't right. She had a little sore on her ear too, and didn't much like it being touched. So it was off to the vet's, but before I went, I filled up Tia's dried food as it was empty.

The vets took a good look at Cindy, but couldn't find anything wrong except slightly pink ears. They've given me an apetite stimulant and advise me to bathe her ears in this shampoo that I'm using all ready. Poor bean really doesn't like them being handled though.

When I got home, the cat food was empty again. Now I know Tia's a tub, but she doesn't eat half a kg of food in the space of just over an hour. Myself and my guide dog, Molly, have an ongoing battle about this. She's absolutely food obsessed, to the point where I can't free run her without a muzzle, as, if she eats something she shouldn't, she invariably vomits it up in the middle of the night on the carpet. I knew what had happened the cat food. I've caught her at it before, and have always responded the same. I've been told to bring them back to the scene of the crime before teaching them that what they're doing is wrong. I'm never rough with my animals, and as Molly tried to back away (when she knows she's done something wrong she'll belly out of it until she can scuttle away), I scruffed her. This, for dogs, is painless. There are very little nerves in the scruff, so I knew I wouldn't hurt her. Then she did something that she's never done before. She turned and snapped at my hand.

I let go of her of course. If I hadn't, I would have been bleeding. But again I've been toldd that if you let them dominate and dont' challenge the undesirable behaviour, it's all but impossible to break. I approached her where she was on her bed, and for a second time, she snapped. After that I hearded her into the hall and gave her time to burn off her temper.

But why am I so upset? Well, firstly, I have a history with dogs, and had a horrendous phobia of them for years after being bitten as a child. This brought a lot of the old fear back. Secondly, I know I won't be able to trust her again after this. I'm afraid to discipline her with hands now, and I'll never resort to booting her to accomplish the same thing, so my control over my dog's undesirable behaviours, and there are many, is gone. Thirdly, if they snap, I am duty-bound to tell Guide Dogs for the Blind. In nine cases out of ten, they retire the dogs, and given Molly's past history, her misbehaving, growling at people when they come into my house, food addiction, I doubt they'll let her continue working. This effectively means that I lose my dog. I can't keep her if she isn't working. I just don't have the right set up.

At the moment, I'm waiting for a call back from my Guide Dog trainer. I'm thoroughly miserable. Not only is one of my cats unhappy and possibly quite sick, and even requiring apetite stimulants, but now my dog, my almost constant companion for the last four years, is about to potentially be taken from me. I'm not a happy bunny at the moment, I can tell you. I'll keep you updated as soon as I know more, but the outlook's grim at the moment.

Poor human. I've never smelled her so afraid as she was last night when the dog thing tried to bite her. At least when I do it I do it lightly, and usually always lick the spot better once I'm done telling her I don't want her to touch me right now. I guess I'd better make her stroke me. It worked last night when I came and sat on her chest to try and stop the fear smell. Her eyes got runny, but after a while, the nasty smell did go away a bit, so it must have worked. She's going through a tough time, is my human. I' guess I'm along for the ride, but I don't really mind.

Oh, in the battle of the belly as I'm now calling it, I did get a victory yesterday It's a bit hollow though in the face of the human's problems. I didn't eat the rabbit! It was hard, but I listened to the advice of the lovely ladies who commented, quite rightly, that one bite would be the end of me! By the way, Whicky, you're not helping my stand here! You can have the rabbit if you want, but I'm staying firm. So firm in fact that she gave me fish this morning.

Anyway, that's all from me for now. I have a human to snuggle.