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rushie'smom
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Joined: 18-August 05
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Last Seen: 11th April 2007 - 08:20 PM
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rushie'smom

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29 Sep 2005
In the month since Rush passed, my cat Miss Jackie has probably gained about 5 pounds. I never realized how much they must have played and chased each other while I was away. She's also started to get a bit aggressive as I think she's bored out of her skull, she's started attacking our ankles, scratching, biting, etc. Just seems out of sorts lately, but very happy when we play with her with her favorite strings. So, I decided to get her a playmate. We picked up a kitten at the pound on Monday. Her previous owners (if you can call them that) tossed her out on the street when she began fighting with one of her female kittens the family had kept so I got a male kitty hoping that might work out better. He's a baby (7 weeks) so I'm hoping he'll respect her alpha position from the start. And I'm hoping he might bring out some maternal instincts in her and she'll accept him more readily.

Right now he's confined to a bathroom and we're attempting to keep them from interacting until we're sure he doesn't have any URI issues and gets his first round of shots next week. She has pulled the towels away from the bottom of the door and began hissing the minute she smelled him and realized what was in there. We're very inexperienced with cats as we just took in Miss Jackie because she adopted us and we couldn't stand seeing her thin and cold on our porch anymore. Any suggestions from the experienced cat owners on a successful meeting? It took our Rush and her 6 months to accept each other. We did a house sharing thing for that time when they had the run of the house at separate times and were only together when supervised and he was on a leash. I still have his big kennel to keep one of them in so they can safely see and smell each other, but beyond that, any help is greatly appreciated!

P.S. It is kind of fun to have a new life in the house, but I sure do miss having a dog. sad.gif We had to get in and out of the pound as quickly as possible, before I brought them all home and the doggie faces were just heartbreaking!
9 Sep 2005
I can't emphasize enough how much the videos I had of Rush helped after his passing. They've helped with other family members as well. Of course, you sit there blubbering like an idiot and wishing you could have had more of those moments, but they will always be there for you to view when you're missing your loved ones. The happy memories and images can do alot to replace the awful images of their last moments. It can help you remember that their lives were filled with many, many wonderful moments and the end was just a small sliver of that. If you don't have a video, borrow one from a friend, neighbor, or some places even rent them. It's the best investment you'll ever make!

Hugs to everyone who's grieving!
30 Aug 2005
I knew this would be hard, but it was harder than I expected. I had to stop by PetSmart today for the special kitty litter that goes in Miss Kitty's automatic litter box (which I LOVE!). Had to walk by the doggie section to get to the kitty litter and of course, a few pet owners there had their babies. Then I passed the bones, which I always bought for Rush's teeth, and by the time I got to the litter, I had to stay back in the corner of the store for a few minutes to compose myself. I finally get enough of a grip to check out and there on the lost board is a picture (not just an index card!) of a male airedale terrier who's lost and a sad plea from the heartbroken owners. That "smiling" airedale face put me over the edge and I spent many minutes bawling in the car.

THEN! I've composed myself enough to pick up some books I need for school at B&N and I'm heading towards the cafe to treat myself and daughter to a frappucino and on the end of a shelf in the sale section is a "How to Train a Puppy" book and what's on the cover, "smiling" up at me???? An airedale puppy! Good grief! My broken heart just cried out, "Get one! Get a puppy! Get an airedale!!!!"

My practical mind said it wouldn't be fair to the puppy or my budget right now, but wow, what a painful day. sad.gif I want to find a cat only store with no doggie products to remind me........ sad.gif
21 Aug 2005
I'm so angry that I did not know this. Bloat is the 2nd most common killer of dogs after cancer. I know that age, his breed, and stress were the biggest factors in my Rush's death, but there are many things listed on the site below that I was doing and had no idea they were wrong! My vet spoke to me about hip dysplasia and skin disorders. The breeder spoke about skin and stomach problems in Airedales, but NO ONE ever said a thing about bloat! I'm so upset! If you own a large breed listed on the linked website, please be forewarned so you can change some feeding practices that might save your pet's life. I wish I had known these things and if I ever get another dog (which of course will be a large breed, 'cause I love them) I'll know alot more about this than I did with Rush.

I hope it helps someone avoid my pain.

http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm
20 Aug 2005
wub.gif
Well, I've never been one to believe in this type of thing. I believe it probably happens to others, but never to me. But Thursday afternoon after Rush had died, I heard him sigh in the hallway where he always laid. I chalked it up to exhaustion and hypersensitivity because I'd spent the previous evening sleeping with him and waiting for any sign of trouble. I figured I was imagining things.

Several times in the past 2 days, I've heard his elbows bumping on the slate floor in the entry. He'd always do this on hot days as it was the coolest spot in the house. I hadn't said anything to my daughter because I didn't want to freak her out or scare her.

She mentioned to me this afternoon that she heard his nails clicking on the kitchen floor and had heard the elbow sounds in the hall also. Then I saw my cat staring very intently from the top of the stairs down to the spot in front of the sliding glass door he always slept in. I though maybe there was a bird or squirrel on the deck but there was nothing, she was just staring for about a minute at his spot and would not respond at all to my calling and cajoling.

I like the idea that he's here with us. Maybe hanging around to make sure we're okay. Maybe just hanging because he was happy here and wants to linger a bit. I heard the sigh in the hallway again this morning and it made me smile for a while before the tears started. Maybe he's here to help me get over feeling guilty. I think I'll take a long walk along the lake he loved (where I intend to scatter his ashes), maybe he'll be able to follow along. smile.gif It has eased my pain some, even if it is my imagination, which I don't think it is.

Has anyone else had these experiences? How long do they tend to last?
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