My Cat.

[Daisy]

Grauntie - there are lots of commercial raw cat food, and some will be better than others. I don't know who the good or bad guys are though, so if you think it might help your old lady it's worth reading round the subject.

I get Eva's food from The Dog Butcher, and they also do cat food. If you've got a local supplier I'd be confident in recommending it - the quality and their ethics are tops. Natures Menu is probably at the other end of the scale, and there are lots in between.

We can't have her shouting at you about her Felix breakfast!!!

[Gemini]

With an older fussy cat I imagine you want to initially at least be able to buy a small quantity Grauntie, in case she rejects it out of hand

[Daisy]

I would definitely agree with that, Gem.

Even with Eva, who eats most things, I've got a few packets of failed experiments lurking at the bottom of the freezer. I now know she won't eat whole prey birds - she doesn't seem to like the texture, because she will eat, say, duck meat, wings and necks. She doesn't like rabbit, which is a pity because it's a good low-fat protein, but I can't complain as she eats very well and doesn't seem to 'go off' things like some dogs do.

[Grauntie Mag]

Thanks each. Not too worried about quantity Gem, I have a friend a few doors away with a fussbag, and DD2 has a cat with a delicate tum. We tend to try out and then swap between us. 😸

[Daisy]

Grauntie - I like that. A sort of multi-flavoured Swap Shop of cat food!

[Glammanana]

We buy fresh meat from our local kennels they pack them frozen in smallish packs ideal for the freezer in lamb/chicken/beef etc Sir Oliver seems to like it as much as the 2 dogs,he loves his jelly based meals and will easily have 3/4 sachets everyday he will come in and actually talk to you until you feed him he is still a baby compared to everyones elses cat he will be 2 yrs in July
Dolly will eat anything offered she is just a Basset Hoover to be honest but Poppy needs special encouragement to eat sometimes I even have to hand feed her she is so lazy when it comes to eating.
At 21 your lady certainly deserves to be spoilt I bet she certainly has you running about after her. xx

[Daisy]

Glamm - I had to smile trying to imagine a Bassett who doesn't love food - Dolly is true to type, bless her.

We used to hand feed Rusty (one of the Yorkies) sometimes but when he went off food it was usually because he was starting a bout of colitis. It took us a while to work that out, and even longer to find that the only thing that suited him was raw! Clyde, the other one, would eat anything, anytime and would have given Dolly a run for her money, weight for weight!

[Sunshine]

All this talk about pets makes me want to get another one. My GD is ALWAYS trying to talk me into getting a pet, but I am such a gad about now I have no ties, that I think it will restrict my social calendar. I really enjoy looking after my DD two toy poodles when they are away, but that’s not very often.

[Grauntie Mag]

That is an ideal situation Sunshine. When my darling goes we will look after family/friends dogs rather than have the commitment full time.

[Gemini]

We don't go away nearly as often as we would, especially off the cuff nights or weekends away, due to the cats. OH says when they all go we will have gap without any. I could probably cope with that, as I see the benefits on a short term basis.
I have had cats all my life though I seriously can't imagine not having any unless I am to old to be able to care for them properly.

[Daisy]

All this talk about pets makes me want to get another one. My GD is ALWAYS trying to talk me into getting a pet, but I am such a gad about now I have no ties, that I think it will restrict my social calendar. I really enjoy looking after my DD two toy poodles when they are away, but that’s not very often.

Sunshine - you can borrow Eva any time!! Seriously though, I can understand you not wanting to possibly be tied down. xx

I remember when we lost Clyde and were without a dog for the first time in about 30 years we said we'd have a couple of holidays through the winter (it was November time), but within 5 weeks we'd got Eva. We really, really didn't intend to get another dog, but the house seemed so empty without one so when we saw Eva at the rescue centre, that was it. We couldn't resist! Although we could leave her with a friend or with DS2, we decided to get a caravan and that is working really well. We love just being able to hitch up and go and find it very relaxing.

[Glammanana]

I can't imagine not having a dog in the house we have always had one for the past 40+ yrs.They have always been Mr Gs constant companion for his walks every day,he goes 3 x a day,6am/lunchtime/7pm sometimes he will take Dolly on her own to the sandhills for her to have a really good run as Poppy is too much of a lady to run wild.
When we do go away together they go to a fabulous kennels in Greasby where Pops loves to see the horses and she loves the chap there,Dolly has never been as yet because Mr G has decided he is not fussed with going away this year I am just going with DD again.

[Grauntie Mag]

This is the first time in 43 years we have been dogless. When we lost our Collie we decided it wouldn’t be fair to introduce a new dog because of the elderly cat. It is easier to arrange outings and lighter on the pocket too but we miss having a dog, especially the walks. Not so sure we would be so lucky again, none of our dogs has ever had to walk on the lead and all have been totally trustworthy. I don’t think we will have another.

[Nana]

When our beautiful dog died we decided to wait before we decided to get/not get another. The house was a house & not a home & we got a puppy within that first month. We've been so lucky with our good natured, loving dogs.

One of our neighbour's has an old dog who has dementia. He won't go in the house, is doubly incontinent & prefers to stay in his kennel no matter what the weather. I think I would do the right thing by him & have him put to sleep if he were mine. It just seems to be the kindest thing to do.

[Grauntie Mag]

That’s a shame Nana. In my experience animals hate being unclean. Maybe that’s why he won’t go in, especially if he is told off for accidents, but how would you cope with incontinence indoors? I think I agree with you.

I bought the yoghurt and gravy tubes, filthy looks all round, I had polluted her dinner! We had chicken yesterday so she shared that. I am coming to the conclusion she expects a helping of what we eat, not cat food. 🙄