Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Still Enjoyed by Life

I am ending the year with synopses of my cats’ conditions, after the monopoly of the blog by the former Felons. I did write something about Josie in mid-November, but I’ll wrap up the year for her now.


Like Renn, my old lady is aging noticeably. She will be seventeen in 2021 and, though that is hardly a terminal age for many cats, she is, undoubtedly, showing signs of the years. Her breathing is often rough and loud. I worry about that but I am certain it is not due to an infection or any malevolent condition, and her intake of air is not, so far as I can tell, impaired or painful. She is just noisy about it, like a reliable old engine that huffs and puffs and wheezes.


The Great White is a bit more cautious in taking steps that descend more than six inches. Dropping from her favoured seat at the top of the bedroom’s saddle-topped cat-tree (Cammie’s old tree) to the ledge under the window requires more care than it used to. I would lower the saddle if I could. And my Chubs is no longer chubby. She has lost more weight though, like her breathing, I don’t believe it is due to anything catastrophic, but simply to that slow and expected disaster of age. I could take her to the veterinary for an examination, but I think that would cause more stress than would be compensated by any relevant discovery.


Her hearing has worsened. Everything seems to startle her; because she can’t hear them coming, objects (such as me) seemingly materialise near her suddenly. I try to warn her of my presence, but that too startles her. Any speech loud enough for her to hear also comes as a surprise to her.


But Josie also illustrates that she intends to stay for a bit. She will climb from her heated cat-bed (insulated from the hard floor by the carpet, a rug and a folded towel) to the window ledge to drink from the bowl there, though there is water just a foot away from her at floor-level (she does resort to that bowl, too, from time to time.) She has started coming out to the sitting room to demand her meals, and drinking from the cup in the bathroom, which she hasn’t done in years.



As well, she is still eating. She demands a breakfast immediately upon my waking, beginning with several minutes of her Z/D hard-food, and followed by the day’s preference in soft, though she doesn’t eat a great deal of the latter. Last night, though, just before bed, she had a satisfactorily-sized snack of Fancy Feast.


And Josie still enjoys her attention, flopping down in her saddle-seat and looking at me; that’s her sign for some serious face-rubbing. (As an aside, she has just learned - or just begun displaying her knowledge - that images in the window are sometimes reflections of what is behind her; she will acknowledge my entry into the bedroom with a grunt, seeing me only via the glass.)

So, though, my old lady’s burden of time increases, she is carrying it well, I think. That may change in this coming year but thus far, Josie still enjoys life. And life, it seems, still enjoys her.


19 comments:

  1. Lovely Josie...I hope she continues to do well into 2021, with no significant health issues. I wish the same for all your fur companions, and for yourself too, of course!

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  2. Age it seems is after all of us! I'm glad your babies are doing as well as one can expect. May the coming year be blessing for them and you.

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  3. I love that photo of her in the cat bed. She looks positively blissful.

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  4. Your sweeties are all so special and we wish you all a safe and Happy New Year!

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  5. Never a doubt in my mind that a trip outside of the home is stressful.
    Glad Josie is aging gracefully and no need for a dr. exam. She is showing her age but also her perseverance in living the good life as she sees it. Enjoy those face rubs and purrs. Happy New Year to you John and all 4 of your wonderful cats. Lynn and Precious

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    1. I enjoyed this reply, Lynn and Precious. It says it all for me.

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  6. God bless the little lady..!
    Love the bottom photo..Heaven
    shear heaven..!x

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  7. All Hail The Great White!
    Josie is a cutie, and we all certainly hope she's got much more time with her paws here with you...and us...on Earth.

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  8. Thanks for the update on Josie. She is so sweet, and I love the photos you posted of her. May she continue to do well throughout the New Year, and may 2021 bring joy and health to you and your fur-family!

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    1. Thank you, and I hope all is well in your household into and throughout the new year.

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  9. We are glad that Josie is doing okay in her senior years. It certainly sounds as though she is happy and loved. Happy New Year to you all.

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    1. And a happy new year to you, as well. I hope it is a very good one.

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  10. Age catches up with us all and slows us down eventually, but Josie does look very content in her bed.

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  11. Josie sounds much like my Sasha, he too has slowed demonstrably but still demands his food every morning and evening, and sleeps lots. He too, has lost his hearing and I scare the living bejesus out of him more than once a day, poor guy! But life is pretty good and I'm thankful every morning when I wake up with him next to me.

    Take care and stay well!

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  12. I loved reading that Josie is doing well fat her time of life. And I especially liked reading that you aren't overly concerned now for the evidence of aging you seen and hear for that matter, bless her. She is the home's chatelaine after all- with duties and a household to run.

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  13. Thank you for the update on this beautiful lady. That last photo of her is precious!
    Happy New Year to you and your fur-family!

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    1. Thank you. I hope your Christmas is going well and that your new year is a very good one. How is your family doing?

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  14. We really enjoyed the update on Josie and she looks so sweet curled in sleep thanks for sharing this with us. Our family as they age have cut back on rations, and size, except Rumpy which is due to his steroids and Einstein who has always been true to his feral beginnings when eating. Long may she run and have a good year to come!

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