It's too bad that cats with claws that need trimming don't live near Chez Bee, for I am the Kitty Whisperer and have firmly trimmed claws on all sorts of unwilling, unhappy cats who still liked me afterwards.

All my cats undergo a game called "Got Yer Foot!" I grab a foot and hang on for two tugs, and let go on the third. Annoyingly, I will then switch feet and we have to do that game a few more times. They learn that I won't trap them and that me touching their feet ain't no big thang. So my personal cats are pretty relaxed about manicures.

For cat hydration, I've deployed an extra water bowl in the living room, which gets plenty of action. Also I do not chase them away when they insist on drinking out of my water glass. I figure a little more cat spit can't hurt me.

Alas, my poor old Squeak is developing kidney failure. I can't believe he changed from my leggity little guy to an elder already. It's only been 15 years. I am supposed to administer subQ fluids for him, but I find I just can't do it - not to him. He's so fearful and sensitive that I just can't bear to do something that would harm the trust he has in me.

I've been eyeing the other cats, thinking about what a hard time dear Chloe had accepting the awful thing I kept doing to her. She wouldn't talk to me for weeks, and my heart was all broken. I think the smart ones could learn to deal, as Chloe did, and I think the confident ones wouldn't have their world collapse if I did something bad like sticking them with a big needle. But poor Squeak - now that the moment is here, I just don't have the sack to do what needs to be done.

Bleh, sinus infection. But I have drugs and I *will* be fine by the time I leave for New Orleans on Sunday!

my mom has one too...she's been on antibs for a few days though.

Silly kitties and their heartbreaking ways.

He's so fearful and sensitive that I just can't bear to do something that would harm the trust he has in me.

I think it's the right, heartbreaking call, KatieB.

I tread that line with Kittenish and she's totally flinchy today while still being snuggly the rest of the time. It's hard to do, but I know it's right.

yeah it's official. the haircut is teh ugleh. but I love the color. Hello scarves and barettes.

also, to make up for the sucky pimping in F2F, I bring you this new toy, from the internets:

[link]

I am supposed to administer subQ fluids for him, but I find I just can't do it - not to him. He's so fearful and sensitive that I just can't bear to do something that would harm the trust he has in me.

I think that what makes for a good quality of life varies from cat to cat. If an activity that's suppose to prolong his life means he's spending that time fearing his care-taker, that would be a problem.

Has the vet tried administering subQ fluids? If so, how did Squeak take it? Sometimes stuff that I would expect to freak out Liefur is surprisingly "meh" for him.

Squeak was pretty good about being at the vet and arrived home unterrorized by his dental cleaning. I have been thinking about bribing my neighbor, who is a tech at my vet's, if she would be the bad guy for me. I could even make that all educational by inviting my other neighbor's teenage daughter who wants to be a vet.

Oh, and I remembered: I have a story about what can happen to an old cat with untrimmed nails: my rescue cat Grace developed not one but two totally ingrown claws that damaged her toepad. The claw made a horrible calloused crater by the time I noticed. So, Doctor Katie says, buy the special parrot beak clipper and sneak up on your cat while it's relaxed. One nail at a time is plenty. Doctor Calli is totally right that fearing the caretaker is not so good.

Farewell, my Bitches, Goodnight and Happy Friday! I leave you with a question about your cats. Do they have anything to say that you understand beyond Feed Me, Let Me In/Out, etc.

Katie, perhaps if your neighbor comes over to your place and Squeak gets used to the idea, you could gradually shift to your being the one to give the injection.

One way to get more fluid into dogs and cats is to put a little chicken broth into the water. At least it seemed to make mine more interested.