Friday, February 4, 2022

Old Cat, New Trick

Renn has been with me for going on twelve years now. He will be fifteen this year and is set in his ways. Now and then, however, even he changes.


Because of his recent stomach upsets - none in more than a week (knock on wood) - he was put on special food by his doctor. The tinned food left him cold. But for some reason, he has taken to the gastro-intestinal diet hard-food. It must be coated in something tasty (and therefore likely unhealthy) because most of the cats like it. But Renn asks for it.


This is new. I was working at my computer in the bedroom recently and my big boy sat on the bed looking at me. Then he gave a curious, drawn, verbal complaint. When I saw how he was sitting, I knew he wanted food; it was his usual, expectant position, ready for a food-bowl. But the vocalisation was unheard of, so to speak. I brought him his hard-food and he had quite a good meal from it.


He now does this two thirds of the time when he wants to eat. He knows that I will feed him, unlike the others, when he demands it, since he has lost weight over the last year or so. He’s generally a quiet fellow is Renn, but I don’t mind his new means of ordering me about; if he likes his food, all the better. We both are pleased with this old cat’s new trick.


16 comments:

  1. I'm so glad to hear that Renn is doing well. His special food seems to be doing the trick. Hopefully this improvement will continue and he will re-gain some of the weight he's lost.

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  2. Since he finds the new food tasty, he's found a direct way of asking
    for a helping. He is looking his handsome self, too. Hope the
    upset tummy is a thing of the past.

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  3. I am delighted...just happy that Renn is doing this. He is showing his innate intelligence. Cats are rarely given the credit they deserve and earn every day, because many pet parents have no expectations regarding cats and therefore don't see or acknowledge when their cat is communicating with them.

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  4. I am glad Renn is doing well. He is probably feeling very pleased with himself that you will get his food on demand.

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  5. That's a good thing sweet Renn, order away and enjoy!

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  6. As long as the requests don't come at 2am.

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  7. It's always good when older cats want to eat :)
    Good thing you know that you can ask Renn ;)
    Purrs, Julie

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  8. Renn might have learned this trick from the others, he seems to be an alert guy,watching everything going on...its a wise one to know, too!

    Hooray for the eating, too!! That is a great thing)

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  9. Hooray! It's such a good thing when an older cat enjoys his food but even asks for it?!! Lovely!
    My TomTom had to go to the animal emergency room yesterday evening. He's been sneezing and now congested. I now know what you are talking about when a cat gets a virus. With him having FIV I was nervous he wouldn't be able to shake it. Antibiotics and a steamy shower room is on his agenda today. (His regular Dr was in Florida for a veterinarian convention, so I was told to take him to the hospital)

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    1. TomTom sounds like he has what Auric had: always serious but much more so with an FIV cat. I hope he improves rapidly.

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  10. So glad to hear you found something he really enjoys. He'd make a great ad for the food: "Cats ask for it by name!"

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    1. They would have to change the name of the food to "Aaaaaarrrrnnnhhhhh"...

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  11. Oh Renn we are happy to hear you love (unscore!) your new food!

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  12. Hooray! We are so glad Renn likes his new food!

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  13. Saku has become much more vocal since Sasha passed away. He lets me know when he wants food, or water..the fountain he now passes by and wants running water from the tap.

    I think it's not a bad thing that Renn lets you know when he wants his food. Smart kitty!

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