SUSAN:Cat Care Concerns & Comfort: (Pre-and Post-Op)LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

wrote:

>Also, I tried putting a queen size pillow on top of my stomach/abdomen and a

kitty >sat on the pillow instead of on me. It felt O.k. but I am wondering

if this will be >enough protection...

My Dear Fellow Cat-Lover :

First--let me ask: did you happen to see a great informative post written by

Aztec (Catriona)--about two weeks or so ago-- on this very subject? Axtec

mentioned some great " defense strategies " to employ for any cat owner

recuperating

from surgery.

HOWEVER........My own opinion as a seasoned veteran of a dozen surgeries and

serious illnesses in my adult years (and--- ALWAYS, ALWAYS in the company of

at least two cats and a dog!!!!) is the following:

Cats --and dogs--(unlike human toddlers!!!!) seem to instinctively comprehend

illness and human frailty--and they will regulate their behavior accordingly.

Ladies of the List (LOL)--Fellow Feline Mothers of " Slinky, " " Danny, "

" Goodyear, "

et. al--Isn't this consistent with your experiences with YOUR cats, as well?

, I think you will be pleasantly surprised and impressed by your silky

sextet and their innate respect for you, post-myo-- and the respect they show

towards your tender recuperating sore parts!

That's been my experience--time and time, again. And oh, what a comfort they

can be--nothing like a purring cat----errrrr, ummmm....a HALF DOZEN !!!!!

PURRING CATS at your pillowside--- to soothe you during your convalescence.

I've never, ever had a single problem--even remotely-- threatening to my

incision, my health, my healing or wellbeing-- with any of my cats or dogs.

NEVER.

And I've undergone all sorts of surgery--from head to toe.(Literally... head

to toe!!) With AT LEAST three pets around me at all times. I wouldn't have it

any other way!

Are my pets somehow superior in sensitivity to the " average " dog and cat?

Well, I'd certainly like to think so, but the truth is I think most dogs and

cats

will remain respectful of us when injured or ill or infirm--but will revert

back to their mischievous and unpredictable selves the moment they realize

we've recovered!!!!

Is this the result of some form of " animal intuition " ? Maybe, Feline Vet

Maureen can weigh in with an expert opinion on this topic!!

--Trust me: your feline brood will (safely!!!!!!) stand by you (I mean,

LIE by you) through just about anything....Just about anything, post myo.

But, actually---NOT EVERYTHING. THIS I know from personal experience......

Yeah, they'll stick around you........until, God forbid.... you start to

make noises that you're going to...... puke. Then they'll suddenly bolt away

from

you---so fast you'd think a ferocious saber-tooth tiger had crossed their

path!

Yes, they can also abandon us.... at our moment of need!!!! MeOWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Arrrrrrrfffffffffff!!!!

So much for that so-called " unconditional love " they supposedly feel for us

!!!!!

I should also add my experience volunteering at a rehab hospital with my dog

for many years. My dog has undergone some basic training and yes, does some

silly entertaining tricks.

But how did she ever learn to be so attentive around-- and sensitive to--

wheelchair-bound knee/hip replacement & spinal injuries patients? How is it

possible that she (when asked) can jump on the bed of brain-injured patient on a

respirator, and then know how to move ever so deftly-- and be so careful and

as gentle as a lamb?

Never a misstep, never a paw in the wrong place, never a lack of exquisite

awareness of a patient's fragile parts. She has a perpetually vigorously

wagging tail that won't quit...but, while quite powerful, it's never hurt

anyone.

Yet I never taught her these " skills " . How does she know how? How does she

" get it? " I have no idea.

Especially since, outside the hospital-- among the able-bodied population,

she's a wildly energetic, feisty, frisbee demon. A force to be reckoned with. A

bit of a devil!!!!

If you still feel unsure among your cats, you can simply keep a few ice packs

on your belly (to reduce pain & swelling), when you're lying there

horizontal...and I GUARANTEE, I SWEAR on the FOOD BOWL of my Beloved

KITTIES..that

they'll keep a respectful distance from your incision!

Because.......Yes---You might have heard of " Cat on a Hot Tin Roof " ,

true................. But-- " Cat on a Cold Iced-Womb " ? Never!!!!!!!! Cats abhor

the

presence of ICE!!

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********************

Wait......with all this discussion about kitties post-myo.....I hear a

poignant song coming on..... in my brain........ I'm having a musical flashback

to

the '70's.......and I'm humming....... " Fee-lings, nothing more than feel-ings.

.. .

Except I'm calling MY kitty version:

" FE-LINES....... "

(sung to that the plaintive tune of that tearjerker '70's hit " Feelings " )

Sing along with me, ....if you're old enough to remember.......

**************************************************

" FE-LINES .. .

NOTHING MORE THAN..... FE-LINES......

TRYING TO POUNCE ON...........

MY SURGICAL WOUND.....

WHIS-KERS.......

BRUSHING UP ON MY FACE

(I'm )TRYING TO PROTECT MY........

MY SUTURES...... FROM CLAWWWWWWWS

FEEEEEEEEE-LINES, FOR ALL MY LOVE, DEAR FELINES

I WISH I SURE COULD HOLD, YOU, CATS

THEY'LL NEVER UNDER-STAND.....

Feee-lines, wo-oh, oh....fe-lines.....

woooah...oh, oh....feee-lines

can't hold you right now ---in my arms....

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As a final feline note, in order to help allieve any additional pre-myo

anxiety you may still have--- I hereby assign you visit this website for a bit

of

distraction and entertainment.

www.ratemykitten.com

Needless to say, after all this longwindedness-----On behalf of both myself

and my four-legged family, I wish you a furrrrrrrrry positive purrrrrrrrr-fect

myo experience !

-Roma