Furry Feline Turns Household Upside Down

There's been a lot of change here, lately. The biggest being the start of my new job. Well, technically, I haven't started doing the actual job that I have been hire for. For the first 3 weeks I'm in training, getting my head stuffed with as much as anyone would ever care to know about the financial aid process, or at least, where to find it. This first week went well and each day I walked out of the building feeling like there must have been strands of information hanging out of my ears, or anywhere else in my head that they might find a hole to ooze out of.

Then there's coming home to our four-legged trio, Tuesday, Allie, and JarJar (yes, that's Binks). Since Monday, they have all been placed on a twice a day feeding regimine. Though that is probably better for them, it has created quite an adjustment for us humans. You see, last Friday JarJar wandered into the livingroom and attempted to pee on the carpet in front of us. He followed this with a planitiff MEOW that told us he was not in good shape.

Urinary blockages are not unknown to me, having dealt with it with a previous family kitty. I looked it up in my trusty "Taking Care of Your Cat" book to verify his symptoms and the flow chart on the page directed me to get him to the vet immediately. Thankfully, I wasn't working at Petsmart that day so it wasn't difficult for me to attend to our poor boy. It took calls to a couple of vets to find one that could see him TODAY.

So, over $1100 and 3 days later I brought him home. Actually, it wasn't exactly that easy. In addition to 2 medications to be given twice a day for the next week or so, there are dietary changes. For the cats, who are used to having a bowl of dry food out all the time, to nibble on throughout the day, it is a challenge.

JarJar has prescription canned food that he is supposed to eat, for at least a few weeks, then we can switch to the prescription dry food for both of them (of course it's a lot more expensive.) Allie could stand to lose some weight so the controlled feedings are probably good for her, but since we can't leave the regular dry food out for her, she is getting some canned food, as well. Just not the same kind. The main problem is that they have to be closely monitored when they eat because JarJar has decided that Allie's food smells much better than his does.

Now Tuesday, well, it is quite likely that JarJar's love of her food is what got him into this mess, to begin with. Thus, she can no longer have her daily ration of dry food left out for her to graze on throughout the day. In order to get her to eat a meal in one sitting, I am now mixing a little canned food in with her dry food. Works great.

One of the many reasons I like to feed everyone dry food is the lack of any major odor from it. Now that canned food is the rage in our household, it seems like all I can smell anymore is that awful canned food. I mean it's permeated my sinuses. At work I have passing awareness of that smell on several occassions throughout the day. Our kitchen is very small and separated from the livingroom by a small breakfast bar. It seems to cascade over the bar into that area. The fact that they are fed on the counters most likely doesn't help, but it's the only way to keep the dog out of their food and to easily monitor them. (One eats on the left side of the sink, the other the right.)

My morning starts at least a half hour earlier than it would have the previous week, in order to attend to the "starving" beasties that have been stripped of their ability to engage in late night snacking. When I come home, I am greeted by 3 eager faces, watching my every move to make sure I don't forget to feed them and loudly announcing their plight. I'm looking forward to the dry food switch. It comes out cheaper than the canned food and I can get back to an easier feeding routine. Tuesday will have to remain on the 2 meal plan, in order to keep JarJar from pilfering her meals.

It's amazing how such a small creature can have such a huge impact on our lives. Of course, anyone who shares their home to one, or more, will attest to both the positive and negative points to this sort of relationship. I know I will get used to the new situation and it is best for everyone (at least for the furry ones of the household). Perhaps that is the feline in me, uncomfortable with changes to my routines and the offering of strange-smelling food!