What's the big deal? They're just animals!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

Actually, it IS a big deal. The Nashville Cat showed up on my doorstep one fine summer day perhaps twelve years or more ago. At first I tried to ignore the fuzzy little meow machine that kept staring at me every time I opened the door. That didn't seem to work. She didn't go away. Persistent little mini-monster, she!

She must have known that deep down I was a world class softie. I took pity. I picked her up, petted her, and put a bowl of milk on the front step. She drank the milk, wrapped herself around my legs, and began purring twice as loud as before.

I was doomed. This little creature that had appeared from nowhere had sunk her sharp little claws into my heart. She had a home and she knew it. I didn't even have to pick her up and carry her across the threshold- she detached herself from my legs, walked into her new home, and twitched her tail at me in thanks.

She's stayed loyal to me all these years. We've moved more than a few times, and she's taken it all in stride. She's in control of her domain, and if that domain changes from time to time it's cool with her. As long as I keep the tuna fish and chicken coming, we don't have a problem.

Mostly, though, I feed her canned food. She's picky- what she loves one day she turns her nose up at the next. I have to buy a great variety, and that means more than one brand. I can't begin to calculate how much money I've wasted on uneaten cat food- once the tail goes up, that's it. It will NOT be touched.

A couple months ago she began losing weight, and her fur lost its gloss. She began hurling her food a few minutes after eating it, and she began licking sores onto her back and haunches.

Now I know why.

I hope this is reversible. I hope I can feed her the right food, and I hope she gets better. She's not an old cat yet, and she trusts me to do right by her. I've tried, but what can ya do when everything you feed her has poison in it?

They're NOT just cats. They're NOT just dogs. They're friends. They're companions. They're playmates. They're confidants. They're funny, beautiful, agile, intelligent, amazing creatures. They're as good for our health as we are for theirs.

Do you honestly believe it's an accident we are able to so easily and completely bond with these animals? Do you really believe it's a meaningless mistake of nature that lets us instinctively communicate with them, and them with us? Do you actually believe this great tie between man and beast is not meant to be?

No, I don't either. I DO know they're NOT just dogs and cats. They're our FRIENDS. And they deserve the best we can give them. From now on I know The Nashville Cat will get unpoisoned food. She's worth it.

As are they all.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Prisoner_Number_Six....

You sure put your finger right on it........

They aren't just animals, not at all...

They sure are our friends.....

I hope that your beautiful Nashville cat will recover and be her glorious self once more.....



:pals:

[Tyo]

2. Man I'm really sorry

We had a cat like that. Long story short, I convinced my parents to let me take him in. He was maybe 1 year old at best. I was 6. My partner and I had to put him down two years ago. He was about 18 then. He had three legs, lived in two countries, and accompanied me and later my partner and I through life. I will always miss him. We have two new cats now. They're good guys. I hope that Nashville Cat pulls through. They're NOT just cats or dogs. And it is so incredibly cruel that we didn't get alerted to this food problem earlier. It's already too late for a lot of companions. Give our love to Nashville Cat.
Ty and Takeshi

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

3. She'll be okay.

She's happily slurping up some tuna juice at my feet right now. She's got a lot of life (and fight) in her yet.

[judaspriestess]

4. children and pets

are Gods angels on this earth. I hope your cat gets better. My beloved passed away of stomach cancer, makes me wonder if things could have been different

[qnr]

5. Best wishes for both of you. The last of our boys passed away last

summer. However, reading reports of how all this has been impacting them physically, I have to wonder if it wasn't happening even then, as I remember certain things that happened to Alinak.

[Nevernose]

6. Of COURSE it's no accident. It's evolution that causes it.

We've bred these animals for tens of thousands of years to be dependent on us, and -- especially in the case of dogs -- vice versa. We've bred them for the traits they posses. Darwinian evolution is no "chance," it's a scientifically justifiable principle.

Which makes us even MORE responsible for the way we treat them. They're not just friends, they're responsibilities.

I draw the line between cats and dogs by determining who would eat your corpse. If you died tonight, would a dog eat your corpse? Probably not. Would a cat? It depends on how low it's food is :evilgrin:.

[Skittles]

7. yes

when my car gets recalled, it's a pain in the ass. When pet food is recalled, it doesn't matter that my brand is not on the list because the list keeps changing. I am disgusted and angry and fearful and heartsick at the whole situation. :(

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. Hey, lady!

It's been a while since you and I have sparred! Howzit goin'? :yourock:

[Skittles]

9. good, good, just turned 50, no gray hair, no sagging boobs

YEE HAW!

I hope your cat will be OK PN6, I loves me two feline furbabies :hi:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. She'll be fine.

A couple months and I'll be 52. However, I DO have gray hair (what's left of it) and my entire body is sagging.

However, my heart is still only 18 years old- at least that's what the guy who sold it to me said! :evilgrin:

[stuntcat]

11. I'm glad she's okay

I mean I hope she's really alright.
Their little souls are real as ours.

[Katina]

12. the symptoms you describe

are the same my boy had a few years back. The weight loss, the thinning hair, the constant licking and the vomiting, yet the constant crying for more food. It turned out he had a thyroid condition. With medication, he is back to his old self, with clear eyes, beautiful fur, and constant snuggling. O8)
Hope your little girl improves.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

13. Next day vanity kick

:kick: :shrug:

I don't write much for the Lounge that is serious. This is.

[fizzgig]

14. i am glad to hear nashville cat is getting better

and you are right, they are our friends, companions, playmates and so much more. i much prefer the company of my kitties to that of many people and i love them like they were my own flesh and blood.

:hugs: to nashville cat

[Courtesy Flush]

15. "Friends" isn't a strong enough word

"Companions", "Children", few words really fully describe the relationship. When I get home and say "Where's my girlfriend?" my wife knows I'm talking about the cat.

Live long enough and you'll observe that you cry more when your pet dies than when your own parents die. There's no baggage associated with the cat. No negative associations at all. They're just wonderful.