Katie Bee, I am so sorry about Pearlie.. I am glad she got to lay in the sunny spot one last time..

I just got off the phone with my mom, and it sounds like she has sciatica, or some sort of sciatic nerve irritation. She has been in PT for her knees, but this is different and much like my sciatica.

Trying to decide between making egg salad or Italian sausage... I think I doing Italian sausage,

ETA,Katie Bee I think you were the person who gave me the Rainbow Bridge poem when Mr. Kitty died living with my mom. It was such a comfort and I stil think of it, and it would be great if there were a Buffista bridge too. With ita there waiting for Connie and DX, and them in turn waiting for us.

Katerina Bee - I'm so sorry, but focus on the good day she had beforehand. I put Maeve through all kinds of medical tests before she died, and I really, really regret it. You did it right.

Thanks for the kind words. I’m always glad when my cats die naturally at home instead of being euthanized at the vet’s office. It’s much more peaceful and less scary than having to go for a ride in the car.

Lily understands that something is wrong, so she climbed into my lap and washed Dave’s hand when he petted her. She will miss snuggling with her furry friend.

Oh no, Katerina Bee! I am so sorry to hear about Pearlie. Tons of ~ma to you and your family.

Katie Bee, I'm so sorry. This has been a rough year for Buffista pets; I'm giving the piggies extra cuddles right now (Prubs is tolerant of affection, Marcie resents almost all humans almost all the time, but both are grudgingly putting up with it).

::hugs the stuffing out of Karl, carefully pats the stuffing back into place--good as new!::

Does anyone have tips for behavioral management for older cats with social issues? My mom just adopted a cat who it turns out is somewhat older and more emotionally difficult than she had been told (among other things, long history as a largely outdoor cat with what sounds like some neglect, even after she limped back in from a fight with serious injuries--she got medical treatment, but as soon as she was healed they let her right back out again), and who is hard to handle and very overdue for a checkup and shots (the last time her last human brought her to the vet, they couldn't get her out of the carrier even with heavy gloves). CBD or other calming treats? If so, which ones? Would it be a good idea to just get her a new carrier since the old one with the old smells is associated almost entirely with trauma? Are there carrier styles (maybe something that opens from the top?) that are easier for handlers to manage? Any and all advice eagerly welcomed.

Edited: Umm, do we know who (Jen) is who isn't JenP?

That was me. Thank you for emailing or I'd have missed it. Would have been better if I had a phone charger. I think I'm going to change my Zoom background to a picture of being on a boat.

It was so good to see everyone.

Cass - I sent you an email.

Definitely a top open carrier, Feliway spray which is a cat mommy hormone that can calm (if it works, they have wall plug ins that will work long-term) and see if the vet will will prescribe gabapentin before the appt. If you're okay with it, let them know they can muzzle. And they might need to sedate once she's there.

{{Katie-Bee}} I'm sorry for your loss, but agree that it is the easiest way for all.

From the records, she's been prescribed gabapentin before--the problem would be getting it into her; she's a big girl and I suspect will be just about un-pillable unless we can find a pill pocket she thinks is yummy enough.

I was looking at this carrier: top *and* front opening, or this one: similar, but boxier (but maybe the open sides will make her more anxious and she needs something more covered?). She's a bit of a chonker--somewhere between 15 and 20 lbs.