Cats Just Get It
I have been absent and in quarantine and still managed to get pneumonia again – this time with a cracked rib to boot (from coughing). I don’t even have to be upright and moving in order to injure myself which is a new one for me. I am accident prone, and no one is ever going to call me graceful, but even I had to get a little mad about the rib and think, ‘Come on! Seriously?’ So, literally any movement has been sheer pain. Being stuck in the recliner, while not bad on the surface, gets pretty awful after a few days. After a few weeks….not pretty. (I am not a great patient and I have very little patience for sitting while other things could be getting done.) However, there is literally nothing to be done about the cracked rib but rest and wait.
Every day the fur babies have taken turns hanging out on the chair with me, and not even one time did any of my kitties go anywhere near that rib. They seemed to sense something wrong or just picked up on my guarding that area. Where before my body was fair game as furniture, bed, or jumping off point, suddenly even the younger kitties became sweet little patient beings. Gwen, my baby Torby, brought her toys to me and made sure I had them in hand. Usually a ten-foot radius is good enough for her. She also actually listened this year when I told her to get out of the Christmas tree. She listened – like the first time! I will be amazed by that one for the rest of my life, I am sure. I was in shock! Not one cat stepped on my rib cage, and they all waited until I was done shifting around to find their spot(s) on the chair or bed with me. I have often woken up to a purring kitty right next to the bad side of my ribs. Purring is very good for pain relief and cute as hell.
The most interesting part about all of this, really, is that the things that used to be “my” thing to do with them. The rest of the family had to take over basically everything. All of the cats have accepted this new routine where a random family member handles the feeding, watering, testing, etc. Dogs are generally cool with anyone walking them, feeding them and petting them whenever. (Okay, except for Winston, the Jack Russell, who has severe separation anxiety after five minutes, and needs to be touching a person at all times.)
Our kitties comfort us as we do them. They also try to take care of their humans – at least if it is really bad or they feel like it right now. Either way, my perspective on cat behavior is much different than it was pre-COVID. The fur babies have really had to adjust since I am one of those long-hauler people. Considering how particular many cats are, they have adapted extremely well to the situation. They come see me. They wait patiently while I attempt to stand (takes a few minutes these days) and they don’t make a fuss if I am sleeping during some other part of their normal routine; they go yell at somebody else or just wait. Granted, I have been sick since I had COVID in April, so they have had a LOT of time to adjust to the general things. The newest broken rib situation has spiced things up a bit more, but all the animals just made adjustments right along with the rest of the family.
Order, make, or buy Kitty some new toys, catnip, or whatever they like this year. I have come to the conclusion that I need my fur babies just as much, if not more, than they need me. Sometimes a little snuggle with Kitty is just as much for you as it is for them. Cats just get it.
As always, Feline Diabetes Support Group on FB is always available for support for questions, venting, and all things sugar Kitty with details and help for the concerned fur parent.
I would also be remiss if I did not mention how helpful my household family has been through this whole mess. They have all come together to help out so much this year. So, Greg, Rose, Alex – you guys totally rock!