Weight Watchers

Today was another of our regular trips to the vet with one of our cats. She's not ill, this is a weight watchers visit. Not being a very energetic cat and slightly prone to greediness, ToTo has put on a bit too much weight in the last year or so and for the past couple of months she has been on a diet on the advice of our vet.

Apparently, overweight cats are prone to diabetes and this is to be avoided at all costs if possible. No tit-bits or extras allowed - just 50 gms a day of dried, low-calorie diet food for cats.....looks barely enough to feed a sparrow let alone a cat.

She copes reasonably well with the cat carrier and the car journey which is only ten minutes although usually manages to poo on the way home. We arrived at the vet and was seen almost immediately. We let ToTo out of the carrier and the vet weighed her and since her last visit about a month ago she has lost the grand total of.......80 gms which in old money is 2.82 oz. Not as much as we would have liked but at least her weight is going in the right direction albeit slowly. I think when the weather warms up we'll be encouraging her out into the garden regularly to get more exercise.
At the moment she is stretched out in front of a hot radiator - her favourite place at this time of the year.

Smurney's journey

Smurney and her sister Smudgie, came into our lives nine years ago when they were about five or six years old. Their owners couldn't keep them any longer due to an allergy and we took them home on the day before they were due to go to the cat rescue.

When I first saw them, they were curled up in a cardboard box together but soon after arriving at their new home with us their true characters started to show through. Smudgie turned out to be a hunter - frequently bringing in mice, sometimes dead and sometimes alive. Although friendly and affectionate with family members she wasn't keen on "alien" people that she didn't know. Her favourite place to sleep is in our bedroom and often shows off outside by racing around and climbing up trees.

Smurney, on the other hand, never caught or killed anything (that I am aware of) - she just never seemed to be interested. She would half heartedly watch birds but seemed to lack the killer instinct. She was always "top cat" and had first choice at the feeding station - not because she was bossy but somehow had an aura of superiority. She loved being outside in the garden and had several favourite places to sleep. When indoors she would often lie between the computer keyboard and screen - making sure she had full attention from the computer user by standing up and stretching from time to time. Smurney always had time for visitors and was loved by everyone.

When our latest arrival (To-to) came to us Smurney just accepted her as if she had always been there although To-to knew to keep her distance and that Smurney was to be respected, whereas Smudgie takes every opportunity to bully To-to.

When poor Smurney became ill we rushed her to the vets immediately. She was admitted for tests and the diagnosis was heart disease, complicated by thyroid problems, which led to a thrombosis resulting in her being unable to use or feel one of her legs. The care she received at the vets (Cathcart & Winn) was excellent and after 48 hours when there was no real improvement and after much discussion to decide the best course of action, we visited Smurney to say our goodbyes.

After lots of cuddles, stroking and comforting (amidst much weeping and wailing from us), the vet administered the lethal dose and Smurney quickly and painlessly fell asleep whilst on my daughter's lap. Once home, we buried Smurney in her final resting place - beneath her favourite bench in the garden she loved and knew so well.

Rest in Peace lovely Smurney and enjoy your next journey - we miss you so much.