Caring for the Caregivers.

My mom sent me some money last week (for which I am extremely grateful) so that we could take sucha to the vet to find out what was wrong with her. The news was not what we had hoped for, of course, but at least now we know. That money has been used to pay for the vet visit, the medication, and for a pallet of what taxlady calls "gold-plated cat food".  Yesterday it was also used to buy a cat drinking fountain in the hopes that sucha will be able to drink from it without getting herself soaked down the front, as is happening when she tries to use a bowl, and which can't be good for her. Cats are not meant to be wet all the time.

Only indirectly cat-related was the purchase of a box of wine. The stress levels in this household have shot up as a result of caring for a very needy cat (she's called for me three times while I've been writing this) and for dealing with the jealously that shreddy is feeling because sucha is suddenly getting all this attention. (I had to take him aside and pet him to calm him while I was writing this as well.)

I anticipated needing the wine to be able to sleep at night, but instead I've been finding that emotional exhaustion has had me hitting the sack earlier and earlier each day, which is why I'm up at this hour. I've also had a continuously upset stomach so I haven't been very willing to pour wine on top of it, but I am happier knowing that that particular stress reliever is available if needed.

Despite the interruptions, right now is a particularly calm moment. Most of the time lately I have been unable to sit and think for as much as five minutes at a time before being interrupted by yowls. Even if I've determined that she doesn't need me, and is just venting anger or frustration, its impossible for me to think through that. As a result there are a number of things which I had planned to get to this long weekend which I have been completely unable to work on.

In fact, the only time I really have any peace lately is when I'm out of the house on an errand or something, and so can't hear sucha's cries. And of course that makes me feel guilty. Still, for the sake of my own sanity, I am finding excuses to be out of the house.

Right now I am planning to take some of the money mom sent, to go out for breakfast. Its a cheap way for me to relieve some of the constant tension, and to be able to eat a meal without having to constantly jump up to see what the little cat needs now. Again, that makes me feel somewhat guilty, but if I don't take care of myself, I won't be able to help sucha when she really needs me.

Safe on a Technicality.

The situation being what it is, sucha probably wouldn't have gotten punished if she was in the wrong, but actually she technically had the right to do what she did. You see, taxlady believes in trying to have the house rules decided upon by all affected house members, including the cats. So it is that the carefully negotiated rule for the supper table is that no cats are allowed on the table while the apes are eating, but the cats are allowed to scrounge any tidbits they want before we put the dishes in the dishwasher.

Well, today we had a guest over, and got distracted after the meal, so when sucha hopped on the table. she found a piece of roast beef larger than her head. She was completely in her rights to declare it hers, and haul it onto the floor for extended munching. Now, had we noticed what was going on in sufficient time to stop her, we might well have done so, but by the time I noticed, the beef was already pretty thoroughly gnawed upon.

So, all we could do was watch in amusement as she devoured roughly half of the chunk before sauntering off to have a lay down. We've saved what's left for her to have some other time, if she's interested. Normally, she doesn't show much interest in beef, so I'm doubly surprised she went for this large chunk, but maybe tearing off mouthfuls of meat fulfills some atavistic urge inside her. In any case, she seemed quite proud of her catch.


taxlady managed to get a number of pictures, which she'll no doubt post as soon as she's finished driving our guest home.