The Birthday Girl

This is a slightly different post today as I want to tell you about our cat…she just turned 18, so is definitely a senior, a lady of leisure.

Tilly came to us when she was about 10 weeks old, so I’d say we know each other pretty well. It has been a joy to have her in our lives, sharing in all the ups and downs of life.

Tilly (which is short for Tiger Lily) is a true lady, but she can totally look after herself in a spat. Nowadays, she rarely goes outside, and if she does it is just to lie in the sun on the deck. She spends most of her day either on “her” chair (pictured in the photo), on my desk or tucked in under the stairs.

For most of Tilly’s life we had another cat too, a neutered male named Taz (Tazmanian Devil). He was a bit of a bully, so on and off over the years, Tilly would go through stages of licking all of her fur off. Now, we realise that that was all about stress and maybe a bit of depression - since Taz crossed the rainbow bridge 2+ years ago, Tilly has been a picture of health. And long may it last.

I brush her regularly, an exercise which she just loves and I kinda like too, so her coat looks fabulous and glossy. Her breakfast is a small amount of milk with some chow on the side, and her dinner is tuna with chow on the side. This has basically been her food make-up for her entire life. Canned cat food just did not pass the taste test. Recently, when I have been preparing fresh fish, she has come snooping around, so I give her a very special treat of a few pieces, which she has eaten with great relish. For the first 17 years of her life she had zero interest in anything raw, so I was quite surprised when the raw fish seemed to be a hit - occasionally. And a bit of vanilla ice cream as a very special treat.

Grooming Kitty

We all want to have a great relationship with our cat companions, understanding their individual wants and needs, and grooming is just one of the great ways to gain your cat’s trust.

Aside from the practical benefits of less hair on the furniture, floor and your clothes, grooming is usually a very pleasurable experience for both cat and human, and I’m not talking about grooming for show purposes. 

If you have a long haired cat, chances are that you already do a bit of grooming to keep kitty’s fur in good shape - nobody wants to deal with matted fur. But grooming is beneficial for any cat, irrespective of their coat type.

Granted kitty may not be too keen at first, but once you go carefully and gently, and be very aware of kitty’s signals for when he or she has had enough, it will gradually become a pleasurable experience for all concerned.

Which brush or comb to choose? That’s a good question and there are dozens (if not hundreds) to choose from. Personally, I tend to go for simple and functional, and have always used a silicone brush on both my short haired and medium haired cats, plus a flea comb to tidy up loose strands and, of course, keep tabs on any fleas that may invade my cat’s coat. I like the silicone brush because it’s comfortable in my hand, it can be washed regularly, it’s gentle on my cats and it works really well.

So the brush or comb you use is very much about what’s suitable for the cat’s coat and what is comfortable for you to use. There’s no point buying the latest brush with all the bells and whistles but finding that it’s awkward in your hand. And yes, it’s possible that you may buy one and find it’s not suitable and have to go get something different, but it’ll be worth it in the end.

Vet Stress in Cats

Many cats (and their humans) get stressed when it’s time for a visit to the vet, and there’s a very simple solution out there that helps most of the time: Rescue Remedy. You can buy this in health stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, and maybe even in pet shops. A few (4) drops on your cat’s lips half an hour or so before you’re ready to load your cat into it’s basket/carrier should do the trick. However, cats are very smart, and they know when it’s time to go to the vet, so you might want to catch yours a little earlier as the Rescue Remedy will last for several hours. You can have a few drops too if you get overly stressed when taking your cat to the vet (or yourself to the doctor). And you can give him or her a few drops later in the evening after the vet visit too if it was a particularly unpleasant visit, just to seal the deal.

Rescue Remedy is a homeopathic remedy that has been around for many many years. It is one of the many Bach remedies that have been tried and tested by humans (and their pets) for donkeys (pardon the pun) years. It keeps very well, so don’t be phased by using just 4 drops at a time and having to throw out the rest. That won’t happen. Give it a try, your cat (and vet) will thank you.