Ahh, Thanks Glenda. I'm much better today. I had to go home sick yesterday. I think it was just one of those overwhelming days. Yes, I'm younger--same as Caroline, I think--29.
That's so true about generations! I was very influenced by my grandparents, in fact, I think of my late grandpa as more of a father figure. But, I hope my children will become animal lovers like me. No, my family isn't mean, per se, to the pets. They are just indifferent to them. The cats aren't allowed outside (thank goodness), but Steve escapes every now and then, and he only lets me bring him back inside. They get all their shots and medical care as needed--just not enough love. You're right about Sunny (fat cats), she's not interested in playing, etc. And she eats more than her share and even eats the dog's food at times. But, I think the fact that my family doesn't play with her exacerbates the problem. Anyway, something good did happen to me last night. As I was filling up the tea kettle to make more instant soup, I was watching the birds on the feeder. Then I saw that one was caught by her head in-between the two shepherd's hooks. This has happened before and we put corn cobs down in the space, but they had fallen out, and we had forgotten to put them back. I sprinted outside to help ease the little bird up and out. She flew off. I hope she makes it. Her neck was all bloody from trying to scratch herself free. I was nearly hysterical from being sick and the traumatic sight of this poor little bird. Luckily my husband immediately found some wood blocks to put in there when he got home. This way they won't rot and fall out like the corn cobs. So, I felt good for rescuing the bird, but sad that it had to happen in the first place. Anyway, thanks for the reassuring words--Glenda and Wendy--by the way, I'm due March 7 or so. We haven't told the family yet--waiting until the first ultrasound on Tuesday to confirm that everything is okay. Good luck with your endeavors of the same Wendy!! :) Melissa -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of glenda Goodman Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 9:21 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: OT: Re: Polydactyl's Melissa, Some days are harder than others. It cannot be easy taking care of a bunch of kitties, becoming a mother, in this day and age, dealing with family that depend on your support ,but seem not to be able to offer you any support when you need it. Something tells me you are a lot younger than most of us here... Well, bless your heart! You are going to make a very fine , responsible mother. You will be a wonderful example for your own children... My mom used to tell me generations skip ...She thought children are never like their parents, but their grandparents...I think if you are a good parent, a real hands on parent, you will be a good influence on your children...You will change those dynamics... Somewhere, someone was a good influence on you...and again bless your heart for trying to be a good influence on your mom and sisters... I'm sorry the kitties at your mom's house are having a rough time...just as long as they are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and kept off the streets, especially at night. The good news is, at least Sunny and Steve have each other for affection...and it looks like nobody is mean to them? On the subject of overweight cats: I have one adult male cat named Velcro. He is a four year old, tuxedo cat. Velcro does not seem to have any interests in life. He does love me and wants to sit on me all the time. He is very jealous of Feeto, simply cannot stand Feeto. Except for Feeto getting a rise out of him, I have never even seen him get excited about anything... a grasshopper., mouse toys...nothing. He sleeps and eats and eats and eats. I do leave the dry food out for everyone, but Velcro must eat more than his share?( I do not even give Velcro treats...can't... Everyone else is muscular and reasonably trim... I do need to really try and put him on a diet...I have tried keeping food away from him,but he is not getting lighter... I think one reason he is overweight is his lack of interest in playing. Velcro not big on exercise... I'll ask my vet if it could be a thyroid problem...If it isn't, I think some cats, like people, are overweight because of lifestyle choices. Sunny must have access to food all day at your mom's? I'm glad I was here to listen...When is that human baby due? Glenda --- Melissa Lind <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Glenda, > > Too bad you're not taking any more kitties :) My mom > has a poly named Sunny. > She's probably four years old or so. I never knew > that was the technical > name for them--we've always called them "mitten > paws." We used to joke that > this happened from all the pesticides/herbicides in > the water. Sunny was a > stray. > > Well, my mom and my sisters who live at home are a > continual disappointment > to me in the way they take care of (or don't take > care of) their pets. Sunny > is grossly overweight, and their other cat, Steve, > who I love dearly, just > wants love and attention, but I'm the only one who > will give it to him, but > it just breaks my heart to spend much time over > there. I get so frustrated > and angry with them that I have to leave. > > Then there's the dog--a tiny thing they wanted so > badly, and now they want > to give him back. I don't understand it. But, I > think it boils down to the > fact that my mom has not been able to get her own > life straight, that passes > down to the kids, and then the pets get neglected > just like everything else. > It's hard for me because I can't understand not > loving an animal. > > Mom always nags me to take her pets, especially > since I love Steve so much > (named after my husband--same hair/eye color), but > we already have 3 cats of > our own, and 2 fosters that need a home, and a human > baby on the way. The > other day I started sobbing while cleaning up cat > vomit. It's just so > overwhelming. Cat messes never make me upset, but > our house is small, and > about to get smaller, and I know these babies need a > home. I just can't find > anyone who would give them the care they deserve. > (No--I'm not asking > you--just venting). Just like that lady who would > declaw--how horrible. I > could never let that happen. > > Okay, I'm hormonal and blabbering on. Sorry, I'm > sick and exhausted and > feeling a bit of a heavy load on my shoulders right > now. Thanks for > listening! > > Melissa > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of glenda Goodman > Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 11:54 AM > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: Re: OT: Re: Polydactyl's > > My Feeto has perfectly formed toes and footpads, > 6-toes on each foot...front back. Gracie my FeLV+ > girl > has 6-toes front, 5-toes back. The front feet have > four toes then one tiny toe, then one big toe. The > tiny toe is just nestled down low between the first > four and last big toe. Her back toes are all even. > My > two siblings, little girl and little boy, that I > just > received about 6-weeks ago out of a shelter in > Arizona were said to have 6-toes on the front and > 6on > the back. The little girl, 6 and the other 6 and 7 > on > the back. Well, both the little boy and little girl > have perfect back feet. Their toes are all uniform > and > match their toe foot pads...On their front feet, > however, they have six claws and five big toe pads > on > each foot. When I get them spayed and neutered the > vet > will be removing those extra claws, because all they > do is dangle off the side, they are on the side... > and > catch on things. They seem to be attached to just a > thread of skin...The real test, is if you ever are > talking to someone about how many toes a cat has, > they > need to look on the bottom of the cat's foot and > count > the toe pads. Those dangling claws, do not count. > With > Gracie there is a very small toe pad in the middle > of > the four and last big toe pad. > When I started reading up on Polydactyls I found a > page on the internet that showed patterns of the > different toe patterns. It is interesting looking up > the information. I was interested to find the info. > regarding Poly Main Coons...How 40% of Main Coons > are > inclined to be Poly...but it is not accepted as a > standard...My perfect, dream cat would be a Poly > Main > Coon...that had toes like my Feeto. After my dog > passed away , 5/01/07. I started checking > petfinders.com for Polys...That is where I got my > little Gracie out of Montana and after discovering > she > was FeLV+ found my little boy and girl. > My intention was to find Gracie an only cat home, > with > the perfect person , but that has not been the > case...I do keep her seperated ,but it is very hard > and very stressful...Lots of handwashing and > paranoia...The quality of her life, so far, is still > better with me, than anyone who might have taken > her. > Her best offer was from an older lady who would have > declawed her...She has enough trauma in her life... > I liked that saying I saw somewhere the other day: > SAVE A PAW ,DO NOT DECLAW > There was another saying I saw too, that said, > basically, something about, do not breed or buy , > too > many need homes...Does anyone remember that little > rhyme? It is a good one... > As far as scooping water: I remember Feeto eating > with > his feet a time or two and he definately can open > the > screen door ,but can't push the door forward at the > same time...which is a good thing...He'd be in he > fridge too, if he could. I have always believed > humans > and other primates have the edge ,because we have > hands with which to get into things. We are able to > test our theories out: CAUSE AND EFFECT > Any animal with that advantage is going to be a > handful. Just a thought...Glenda > --- wendy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > LuLu does not do much with her paws but walk > around > > real cute like. lol. Do either of you have > issues > > with an extra nail growing between the "thumb" and > > the other toes on the front paws. > > > > :) > > Wendy > > > > "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful > > committed citizens can change the world - indeed > it > > is the only thing that ever has!" ~~~ Margaret > Meade > > ~~~ > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: Susan Dubose <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 10:33:46 AM > > Subject: Re: OT: Pet Burial Ceremony- for Monkee > > > > > > My "Polly Go Lighty" is a polydactyl tuxie > > girl....... > > > > Does your poly drink w/ his / her fronts paws? > > > > Polly likes to scoop the water up from the bowls. > > > > She also likes it very clean. > > > > She will sit in front of the water bowl and mew @ > me > > until I change it. > > > > I think she just drinks w/ her toes to show off to > > the other cats. > > > > Susan J. DuBose >^..^< > > www.PetGirlsPetsitting.com > > www.Tx.SiameseRescue.org > > www.shadowcats.net > > "As Cleopatra > lay > > in state, > === message truncated === ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool. http://autos.yahoo.com/carfinder/
