I have a 16 year old tabby, Ceecee, who does not much like other cats. She is a snuggly, psychotic, needy, moody, mighty hunter with a fear of birds. A pretty standard-issue cat.
My friend is trying to find a home for a pathetic 3 year old female cat who appears to have some congenital muscle weakness:her scapula wing, she crouches rather than stands, her walk is spraddle-hipped bunny hop, and she can’t run, but it is reported that she can get up and down stairs. Pathetic kitty does not sit upright. She has had annual vet visits. Pathetic kitty is quite docile and low-energy, I am actually a little concerned that Ceecee would bully her.
Does anyone have experience with hemiparetic cats? Is there anything I should consider or need to prepare for? I suspect that Pathetic kitty is rather weak, she has poor posture control, and her humans shave her, so she may have trouble grooming herself. (Her rear end is clean, and she uses a litterbox) I am looking for opinions, Thank you.
I have no experience with hemiparetic cats, but I have taken care of many scratch-and-dent kitties over the years. (One blind, one missing a leg, a couple of fe-leuks, one with an autoimmune disease that opened the way to cancer - the list goes on.)
Since Pathetic kitty may be physically weak, you need to assess how Ceecee may react to her and treat her. Has she been an only feline or has she had others around? Is she likely to exhibit dominance behavior to Pathetic kitty? For example: has Ceecee mounted other cats, or scruffed them by the back of the neck?
Just my two cents. Hope it helps. Good luck to you!
Pathetic kitty sounds very cute!
I have a pathetic kitty (PK), but her issues are immune/sinus/stunted rather than muscular. She in general hates the other cats but keeps out of their way. Cats are pretty resilient. Let 'em meet very slowly and on good terms, and see if Ceecee can play nice. Give PK a few good places to hide (like a kitty condo.) My PK usually hangs out in a handful of places that she defends as “hers.”
I’m curious about why one would wish to take on the responsibility of a pet that you already know has special needs and will likely require extra effort and expense, instead of one of the many healthy animals who need homes.
(Tried to phrase this politely, as I am truly curious. I know we’ve had the discussion before about how much care and expense you would accept should your pet become ill, but I don’t recall discussing a pet you know has special needs.)
Well, I (speaking just for me) would do it just because I am willing to care for an animal that is less than perfect and that I am financially, physically, and emotionally equipped to deal with it. I know I can’t save all of the cute fuzzy animals, but my kitties are as happy and well-cared for as they could be. I took the first one knowing that she might not live, and the second one knowing that she has behavior issues that could drive a sane person bonkers. I love them.
I would be worried that the reason this kitty has special needs is because she was infected in utero with something such as FLV, pancytopenia, or some other viral disease that she may or may not be a shedding into the environment and thus pose a risk to your cat.
I’m not a small animal specialist so my experience is limited, but the paralyzed, spina bifida-type kittens I’ve been in contact with had FLV.
LTFT, I was wondering about that sort of thing, I can start looking into that. I will need to check with Pathetic’s vet, and also my own. It is easier to check out possible viral risk then vague suspicions.
Dinsdale, it is because I like having cat around, but my parrot Steve bird has a history of biting toes off of cats that have jumped on to his cage. Not pecking, but snapping off like the tip of a carrot stick. Pathetic kitty is unlikely to ever do that.( Ceecee knows darn well that birds are evil and avoids them) I don’t mind a physically or mentally strange pet. Most of my pets have been recycled or rescued animals. Also, pathetic kitty has a very pretty face, and is exceptionally snuggly.