Wednesday, March 22, 2017

An Unsatisfactory Menu

Perhaps it is no surprise that Cammie has disdained all the varieties of food provided to her for the benefit of her kidneys, which are beginning to fail. The princess lives up to her nickname, and wants only what she wants - and not always even in that case. She will change her mind about what food she likes while she is eating it. She will be contentedly consuming a portion of Fancy Feast - because the Merrick offered her initially was refused - stop, sit up and not want another bite. Wise to her ways, I will then suggest the Merrick earlier condemned as inedible. That will then be eaten without hesitation.

My battle of wills with Cammie - doomed as my attempts to win it may be - is not over. There are other brands of kidney food that I have yet to try. These will be brought from the veterinary hospital soon. In the meantime, I am researching the methods I can work with my cat to increase her health.

Cammie is the worst of the beasts for medicating in even the most innocuous way. The slightest deviation from what she desires - at the moment - will be met with unbending resistance. I look at her with frustration and wonder why I ever adopted her. The reason is that no one else would have. That isn’t so much a reason as a warning. No, the real reason is that I wanted her to be a part of my home and family. I’d tell her that she could show her gratitude by eating well, but she’d probably respond that allowing me into her presence is gratitude enough.

That’s my princess.

18 comments:

  1. We're sorry you're havin' trouble with Cammie. Mommy 'members doin' this with sis Lexi not so long ago. Altho' mommy went da oppawsite direction of those kidney diets which purrvide far less purrotein. Mommy said kitties are obligate carnivores and thus needed high quality purroteins, and so dat's what sissy got. In da end, she got whatever she'd eat. Sendin' hugs and purrayers.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

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    1. Yes, it always comes down to eating what they want, I think.

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  2. Do your best and let the rest go. I understand the frustration, and the desire to go to any length to keep our companions as healthy as possible for as long as possible. But the bottom line is that it comes down to quality of life, IMO, not quantity of years--be they human or cat. Do what you can, whatever Cammie will accept, and know in your heart you're doing all for her--and it's enough.

    Purrs and peace.

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    1. It'll eventually be that way, I think; giving my girl what she wants, what will make her happy - or as happy as she ever gets.

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  3. No wonder, she is part Siamese! My Artemidora (Gift of Artemis), who is barely a tuxedo, is so non-fussy it's wonderful. I have to be really careful to get her only really good food. She loves tuna. Sometimes I will make my own cat food for her (no grain ever!). I even have a kitty nip plant just for her. I don't grow anything else. I love reading about all your little ones -- even including the naughty princess, who doesn't seem to realize it that she fell into the lap of luxury up to her whiskers.

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    1. Thank you for reading about my beasts. I should've gone for the easy-going types. But then I really only chose one of the cats I have now; fate did the rest. But I wouldn't give any up.

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  4. my stars girl, that's cat a tood.....keep up the good work ! ~~~ hugs from dai$y =^..*= ♥♥

    { john; check into purina pro plan focus; urinary track health; canned

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    1. Thank you. I'm looking at any site for advice.

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  5. there is just no telling a princess who is siamese that she MIGHT be wrong :)

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  6. Situations like this are so frustrating for both the pet and their human. We're trying to give our beloved animal the special food or medicine she needs, and she won't cooperate by taking them. Fingers and paws crossed that you'll soon find a brand of kidney food that Cammie will like. And Cammie, please be a good girl and stop giving your poor dad a hard time!! :-)

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    1. It may come down simply to plying the princess with whatever she will eat, as often as she'll eat it. Whatever makes her happy.

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  7. It is very frustrating to have a picky eater. Flynn will only eat one variety until he tires of it, then he goes on to a different variety and eat nothing else. He can have 4 or 5 dishes of different varieties down and will turn his nose up at every one of them. Sometimes nothing will tempt him apart from his junk food diet of treats. Definitely not satisfactory, but I would rather he ate that than nothing.

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    1. Yes, something is better than nothing. You know better than many how worrisome is a fussy cat. But we keep trying with them because we love them.

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  8. Cammie must be in channeling my Jessica. I guess princesses think alike. In her later years I think all my thoughts and energy were consumed by my worries over her eating or lack of eating. When she did choose to eat a certain food I was so happy! And thought we might have turned a corner. Of course the following day she had decided that yesterday's chosen brand of tinned fod was, well, not good enough. I always bought a large variety of tinned foods to entice her to eat. Just seeing her eat was enough to make me feel happy. Good luck to both of you.

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    1. I too feel very pleased when the cats eat, even a small portion. They are all fussy eaters except my new foster-cat, Parker. I wish they would all eat as eagerly as he.

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  9. Why you ever adopted her? Because no one else would?
    John, you've broken our hearts.

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    1. That was partly in jest and partly in truth. Cammie was one of those cats no one would consider, because she wouldn't have come across as friendly. As Mary Anne at Feral Cat Behavior (http://www.feralcatbehavior.com) has reported, many shelters take only 'snuggable' cats (their words). I've learned that the shy, unsocialised cats have the most to give, because they are looking for a family without knowing it. But, as I wrote, the real reason is because I wanted Cammie to stay with me. Grumpy and irritable, sweet and purring; how ever she is, I'm glad she is with me.

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