All's Right With Her World

Tempo’s veterinary visit went well. She has ear-mites, as we suspected, but these are being dealt with by a topical medicine that handles a number of kinds of worms, as well. She has had her vaccinations, and a physical examination which revealed no problems. Her teeth are particularly clean and white.

She was quite nervous, her motor running from stress rather than happiness, and later threw up the dinner she had before the medical appointment. This was probably the result of nerves, the medicine she’d received, and the tremendous heat we are experiencing here. I have no fears that this condition will last long, and she will likely be back to herself before morning.

Impovements for Tempo

Things have improved for Tempo. The stage of her heat cycle that brought on her constant crying and activity has passed. It lasted only a day and a half, unless she had started it when she arrived at the Cosy Apartment. In any case, it’s done with for now.

More serious was her refusal to eat. A heat cycle will be uncomfortable but it can be endured. I had only a few days to have her eat before there was a danger of fatty-liver disease. Unfortunately, refusing to eat is not uncommon for cats coming into new environments. Everything else will appear normal; all their stress is funnelled into not eating. For two days, Tempo declined everything I offered her, which included numerous kinds of cat-food and even Temptation treats. Then I tried human food, specifically, bits of turkey from a meat-pie. These she ate. I fed her limited amounts, as she had already thrown up due to an empty stomach, but the limited amount was too much for her and she brought it up. But smaller portions stayed down. Then, I offered tinned chicken sandwich meat, as it was close in consistency to Fancy Feast pate. This too she ate. And last night, she consumed some cat-food. I will now feed her as much as she likes, in order to put some weight on her.

Tempo’s behaviour is changing, too. She had been chasing Brazil, but this morning, I saw Brazil chasing her. And when she pursued him, the running was more of a loping trot than a dash for safety. I think maybe - maybe - they were playing. On the other hand, Indigo ran her out of the library and into the sitting room with the intention of giving her a good whapping. Well, Tempo may have made one friend, at least.

Tomorrow, she goes to the veterinary hospital for her vaccinations and a general examination. I think she’ll go feeling better than she has since she’s arrived in her new foster-home.

The Heat Is On

Tempo sounds to be in heat. She spent most of last night crying. I drifted off regardless of her noise about one o’clock. She woke me twice thereafter. I am tired. But I will likely stay awake to hear all of her wailings tonight, too. The veterinary hospital is down to one doctor at the moment, so surgeries are going to be backed up. Fortunately, this stage of the cycle probably won’t last for more than a few days. And nights.

The Long Kitten

Tempo’s first night in the Cosy Apartment was not bad, but not good, either. I put her in the bathroom to see if she would eat and/or use the litter-box. She did neither. Nor did she use the cat-bed, I left there; I think she spent the night – after the first hour and a half of banging (and I mean banging) on the closed door to demand an exit – on the counter next the basin.

There is often a concern with a new cat over eating and, by extension, using the litter-box. Cats in a new environment are frequently reluctant to consume food, even beloved, familiar fare. I have seen Tempo drink water, so I suspect a visit to the litter-box will be some time today. She probably ate the morning before she came here, so there is no urgency to the matter yet. I will not, however, put her in the bathroom over night again.

Her relations with the other beasts are good for the most part. She growls at them all; her growl is a low hum that sounds more like she is concentrating on how to assemble a chair from Ikea. She saves her hisses for close proximity. Neville was at first the most intimidating cat, but Tempo seems to be realizing that he is harmless. Indigo is curious about the newcomer, but isn’t forward about it. Brazil has been trying rather too hard to become acquainted. I have seen him running from the bedroom after an angry noise indicated Tempo’s dislike. Having Shimmer a little afraid of a female cat is not a bad thing. Once Tempo becomes accustomed to everyone, those two may become playmates. Maybe.

The one who worries me is Imogen. She dislikes all cats on principle, and is staying in the kitchen, high up and far away from Tempo. I would like her habits not to change because of this. The kitten is not actively trying to attack or bully anyone, but her explorations bring her near others, at which point she growls.

That Tempo is not very oppressed with her new surroundings is obvious. She hides under the bed for short periods, sometimes only a minute or so. The kitten in her, however, urges her to get out and learn about her new home. She has been everywhere, including into the library. She knows where the litter-boxes are, and has sniffed the food-bowls. She has been in the nylon tunnel and up cat-trees. Her tail is almost always straight up, and she enjoys being petted and stroked.

The astonishing thing about Tempo is her length. She is quite thin, though neither her ribs nor her spine can be easily felt, so she is not gaunt. She is about two inches wide and three feet long when stretched. I don’t think I’ve had such a long, narrow cat living with me since Bear-Bear. Maybe once she starts eating, some of her proportions will be altered.

The Cosy Apartment's New Tempo

This is Tempo. She arrived early this afternoon. She was soon to be homeless, so I decided that she could come here. She is about eight months old, and unspayed. She will see the veterinary next week, and be fixed later on, due to having to wait upon her vaccinations.

It is a bit tricky here, since I don’t have a spare room for her. She will stay in the bathroom while I am at work, which of course is not an ideal situation, but when I am home, she will be free to roam. Whether she has to sleep in the bathroom at night will be determined by the other cats’ reactions.

So far, she has seen Neville (huge cat, very intimidating; doesn’t really care), Brazil (curious and some growling) and Imogen (more curious, slinky caution.) What Indigo will have to say about it, I don’t know. I have found that kittens need less time for slow integration than adult cats, though each case is different. With me, she is friendly and very easy to handle. Right now, though, she is under the bed.

As you may be able to tell from the photographs, Tempo is long and very slender. Her thinness does not appear to be due to lack of food, though she may be a little under-weight. She is at the adolescent stage for cats, and her leanness may be part of who she is. We will see.

In the meantime, she will undoubtedly set a new tempo in the Cosy Apartment. I hope it won’t be too hectic.

Fourteen Years

Renn died this morning, at 9.53.

A mass had grown up, very rapidly against or in his intestines, and was blocking food from getting through. The huge abdomen that Renn had developed was the body trying to deal with the blockage. He was, the veterinary doctor stated, in pain. He no longer feels that pain.

Renn was the last of the First Four; his death means the end of an era. He knew every cat I had, from the first to the last. It will take a while to write his memorial article, as his time with me comprises a great many memories. He was my constant companion, sleeping on my bed each night, and, until recently, keeping me company at bath-time. He was with me for fourteen years, and it will now be difficult not to have him with me for even a day, my big boy.

Very Much Older

Renn is in a bad way. He is not eating, only licking at his food, and he is now having trouble climbing or walking to locations he could get to just days ago. He almost fell trying to get into the saddle on top of Cammie’s old cat-tree, and so doesn’t try any more. Most strange and worrying of all, is the sudden expansion of his sides. I noted not so long ago that my big boy was flat when he lies down. Now he is fat, yet his spine has no padding. This change appeared in the last week.

I don’t believe he is in pain, though he may be suffering some mild discomfort. He can still sleep undisturbed. Nonetheless, I will make an appointment with his doctor for as soon as possible.

My oldster is suddenly very much older.