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From: "RTR" <rtr@here.com>
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References: <4je0lv0117pehob17antj35so6lfk2t1nj@4ax.com>
Subject: Re: Stray Problems
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Date: Thu, 04 Sep 2003 22:45:57 GMT
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Hi Marek, (sorry for the length of this post):
First of all you are a person of great love. I commend you on your =
concern, care and patience with this lost little wanderer. Sounds like =
he's on his way to being yours (more like you being his...after all he's =
a cat). And that's what Old George sounds like he needs now.=20
One of my two has always had the matting problem on his bum and back and =
he's an inside kitty. Shaving and clipping (like you've been doing) is =
the key right now. He's definitely more cozy without the mats pulling on =
his skin.=20
OK. I see the dilema about the vet. And I can understand any concern =
that you may lose him if you freak him out while just at the beginning =
of trust development.=20
He does no doubt need a vet in general though (I know you know that). My =
advice is almost always to insist on vet care immediately on this NG. =
But, this is a special circumstance, IMO.
My advice is simply this: Follow your heart (it's a good one) and take =
him to the vet when you think you are able.=20
Keep a close eye on him at all times for signs of failing health wise.=20
Again, I'm having difficulty with this type of advice but I think it may =
be appropriate in this case. George already loves you.
He comes running with his tail high to greet you? That's love and =
companionship emotion. He's yours. And thank you on his behalf for being =
so kind and gentle and loving him the way you obviously do. I have a =
feeling you may be right about the abandonment. And since then, it =
sounds like he's had a rough and tumble life for quite a few years by =
the sounds of his thick hair and extreme defensive reactions. I'm glad =
he found you.
And being an outside hobo for so long, he wouldn't be grooming himself. =
He wouldn't be able to stay clean anyway.
Comes with his past "territory"....Once he's more "yours" and =
comfortable at "home", he'll be beautiful after the necessary=20
vet care and especially the care you give him.=20
Want to try something? Go to your pet store and get him the cushiest, =
coziest little kitty bed, not huge or with high sides all the way around =
it, but low to the ground (but cushy) so he can just step onto it. You =
didn't state wether or not he comes into the house with you yet or not. =
But if he does, just put the bed down in a space he's used to being in =
and let him discover it on his own. If only outside right now, put it =
there when you're with him. The more cozy, homey things you can offer =
him will make him trust you more and more. Then you have to be the judge =
of what he responds to or doesn't.
Don't know about his voice. Hmm....could be a symptom, but not =
necessarily. Any negative health conditions he may have
can only be discovered by the vet unfortunately. Though this NG is a =
great source of info, most here are just cat "parents" and not qualified =
medically no matter what we've been through with our babies. And I've =
been through a ton of medical things with my two over the last 16 years. =
His eating to one side? One of mine does that too. He has a broken tooth =
with the nerve exposed (just found out) so he'll be having that fixed =
soon. Probably a teeth thing is why but again, only a vet can make that =
distinction.
His eyes? He's been outside for years it sounds, so he could have =
allergies (mine does in the summer) or something worse.
Again, vet. We can only guess here. You know what you have to do. Follow =
your heart on this one. You've been doing pretty good so far.......
-R
"Marek Williams" <abc@example.com> wrote in message =
news:4je0lv0117pehob17antj35so6lfk2t1nj@4ax.com...
There is a stray that has been around the neighborhood for years. The
lady down the street had been feeding him table scraps out of pity, so
he decided to stick around. He's probably about 10 years old. Everyone
calls him Old George, so I guess that's his name.
When I first saw him he was almost feral. He would hiss and scratch at
anyone who tried to touch him or even came close. Over the past month
of working with him I've gotten him to the point where he loves to
have me pet him. He rubs against me as I do so and purrs -- acting
just like a cat finally. He won't let me get both hands on him at the
same time, though. Not yet, anyway, although eventually I'll probably
succeed.
While I am sure I will get him to love me (he already comes running
when he sees me, tail in the air), there are a couple problems I could
use some help with.
First, he doesn't seem to groom himself very well. His hair is not
especially long, but it is really thick and downy. Looks like he was
engineered for a very cold cliamte. There's more hair than cat.
Because he's been outside on his own, he gets pretty dirty. Coupled
with the poor grooming, he has developed some thick clumps of hair on
his back -- the rearmost three inches or so. When I say thick clumps,
I mean embedded with dirt and so hard you can't get your fingers
through them. When I first met him a couple months ago it was sticking
up about an inch and a half, making him look like he had some horrible
disease. But it's just thick clumps of matted hair, and only on the
rearmost three inchs. The rest of his back is normal. I've never seen
a cat that came close to this degree of poor grooming. I've been
cutting it off with a scissors slowly -- he still doesn't trust me
completely so I have to go slowly.=20
Since it is just in one area, and on the top of his back, at first I
thought he might have gotten motor oil on it from being under cars.
That would explain why it is just in one location. But as I have been
cutting clumps off it appears that it is just natural oil, fine,
fluffy hair, and dirt. The top part is dirty, but inside each clump it
is smoother and just his natural hair.
I wish I could get him into my lap and give him a thorough brushing.
It would take hours! Has anyone else ever run into a cat with such
horrible matted hair? Is there something that might cause a cat not to
groom himself very well?
The second problem is that he is totally mute. In speaking with the
neighbors, no one has ever heard him utter a meow, a cry, or anything
other than a hiss. He doesn't even try. Like, if a cat wants to meow
but can't, at least the mouth moves. Old George never says a thing. He
does purr, though. It's as if this cat is of a species that doesn't
talk. I mean, if his vocal cords had been injured, he would still try
to meow. He doesn't even try and seems to be unaware that cats are
supposed to meow.
My third question has to do with his eating. I've had several cats
over the years, and he chews his food rather strangely. I've seen that
he has all four fangs, but haven't gotten to the level of trust where
he'll let me pull his lips back so I can see the rest of his teeth.
I've been the only one feeding him, and I've been giving him the
"senior" and "special diet" canned foods. Just like my previous (male)
cat, he eats dry food only if he is starving and that's all there is.
He loves wet food, the more gravy the better. When he chews he holds
his mouth to one side or the other, to the point where his mouth is
completely perpendicular to the ground. Sometimes he holds his head
under his chest, like a backhoe with its bucket tucked up. It's almost
like he has difficulty swallowing. Oh, and he doesn't shake his food
from side to side as he grabs a bite like most cats do. He eats more
like a dog. Does anyone think this might be symptomatic of something>
My final query is that his eyes seem to be a bit runny. Actually, I'm
not sure if that's true. All my other cats washed their faces so often
that if their eyes were runny they'd clean it up. Old George just lets
it sit there. He also seems a bit arthritic, although that could be
just old age. I found a place on the web that spoke of calicivirus and
mentioned that runny eyes and arthritic condition were symptoms of it.
If anyone has any further ideas or observations I'd like to hear them.
And before someone says to take him to a vet, that is not yet
possible. I'd have to trap him, and even then the vet would have to
sedate him to keep from being shredded. Other than the above he seems
perfectly healthy, so I've decided to hold off on the vet until after
I've developed more trust. Eventually, I will, of course.
Everyone in the neighborhood is amazed that he lets me pet him and
comb him. I've become known as the "cat whisperer." However, I think
my efforts are not fully responsible for the progress I've made. I
think he once had a family, who probably moved away a long time ago
and abandoned him. Thus, he knows about being petted and loved. He
just hasn't had anyone for so long that it will take him a while to
accept me.
--
Bogus e-mail address, but I read this newsgroup regularly, so reply here.
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<DIV>Hi Marek, (sorry for the length of this post):</DIV>
<DIV>First of all you are a person of great love. I commend you on your =
concern,=20
care and patience with this lost little wanderer. Sounds like he's on =
his way to=20
being yours (more like you being his...after all he's a cat). And that's =
what=20
Old George sounds like he needs now. </DIV>
<DIV>One of my two has always had the matting problem on his bum and=20
back and he's an inside kitty. Shaving and clipping (like you've =
been=20
doing) is the key right now. He's definitely more cozy without the mats =
pulling=20
on his skin. </DIV>
<DIV>OK. I see the dilema about the vet. And I can understand any =
concern that=20
you may lose him if you freak him out while just at the beginning of =
trust=20
development. </DIV>
<DIV>He does no doubt need a vet in general though (I know you know =
that). My=20
advice is almost always to insist on vet care immediately on this NG. =
But, this=20
is a special circumstance, IMO.</DIV>
<DIV>My advice is simply this: Follow your heart (it's a good one) and =
take him=20
to the vet when you think you are able. </DIV>
<DIV>Keep a close eye on him at all times for signs of failing health =
wise.=20
</DIV>
<DIV>Again, I'm having difficulty with this type of advice but I think =
it may be=20
appropriate in this case. George already loves you.</DIV>
<DIV>He comes running with his tail high to greet you? That's love and=20
companionship emotion. He's yours. And thank you on his behalf for being =
so kind=20
and gentle and loving him the way you obviously do. I have a feeling you =
may be=20
right about the abandonment. And since then, it sounds like he's =
had a=20
rough and tumble life for quite a few years by the sounds of his thick =
hair and=20
extreme defensive reactions. I'm glad he found you.</DIV>
<DIV>And being an outside hobo for so long, he wouldn't be grooming =
himself. He=20
wouldn't be able to stay clean anyway.</DIV>
<DIV>Comes with his past "territory"....Once he's more "yours" and =
comfortable=20
at "home", he'll be beautiful after the necessary </DIV>
<DIV>vet care and especially the care you give him. </DIV>
<DIV>Want to try something? Go to your pet store and get him the =
cushiest,=20
coziest little kitty bed, not huge or with high sides all the way around =
it, but=20
low to the ground (but cushy) so he can just step onto it. You =
didn't state=20
wether or not he comes into the house with you yet or not. But if he =
does, just=20
put the bed down in a space he's used to being in and let him discover =
it on his=20
own. If only outside right now, put it there when you're with =
him. The more=20
cozy, homey things you can offer him will make him trust you more and =
more. Then=20
you have to be the judge of what he responds to or doesn't.</DIV>
<DIV>Don't know about his voice. Hmm....could be a symptom, but not =
necessarily.=20
Any negative health conditions he may have</DIV>
<DIV>can only be discovered by the vet unfortunately. Though this NG is =
a great=20
source of info, most here are just cat "parents" and not qualified =
medically no=20
matter what we've been through with our babies. And I've been through a =
ton of=20
medical things with my two over the last 16 years. </DIV>
<DIV>His eating to one side? One of mine does that too. He has a broken =
tooth=20
with the nerve exposed (just found out) so he'll be having that fixed =
soon.=20
Probably a teeth thing is why but again, only a vet can make that=20
distinction.</DIV>
<DIV>His eyes? He's been outside for years it sounds, so he could have =
allergies=20
(mine does in the summer) or something worse.</DIV>
<DIV>Again, vet. We can only guess here. You know what you have to do. =
Follow=20
your heart on this one. You've been doing pretty good so =
far.......</DIV>
<DIV>-R</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"Marek Williams" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:abc@example.com">abc@example.com</A>> wrote in message =
<A=20
href=3D"news:4je0lv0117pehob17antj35so6lfk2t1nj@4ax.com">news:4je0lv0117p=
ehob17antj35so6lfk2t1nj@4ax.com</A>...</DIV>There=20
is a stray that has been around the neighborhood for years. The<BR>lady =
down the=20
street had been feeding him table scraps out of pity, so<BR>he decided =
to stick=20
around. He's probably about 10 years old. Everyone<BR>calls him Old =
George, so I=20
guess that's his name.<BR><BR>When I first saw him he was almost feral. =
He would=20
hiss and scratch at<BR>anyone who tried to touch him or even came close. =
Over=20
the past month<BR>of working with him I've gotten him to the point where =
he=20
loves to<BR>have me pet him. He rubs against me as I do so and purrs --=20
acting<BR>just like a cat finally. He won't let me get both hands on him =
at=20
the<BR>same time, though. Not yet, anyway, although eventually I'll=20
probably<BR>succeed.<BR><BR>While I am sure I will get him to love me =
(he=20
already comes running<BR>when he sees me, tail in the air), there are a =
couple=20
problems I could<BR>use some help with.<BR><BR>First, he doesn't seem to =
groom=20
himself very well. His hair is not<BR>especially long, but it is really =
thick=20
and downy. Looks like he was<BR>engineered for a very cold cliamte. =
There's more=20
hair than cat.<BR>Because he's been outside on his own, he gets pretty =
dirty.=20
Coupled<BR>with the poor grooming, he has developed some thick clumps of =
hair=20
on<BR>his back -- the rearmost three inches or so. When I say thick =
clumps,<BR>I=20
mean embedded with dirt and so hard you can't get your =
fingers<BR>through them.=20
When I first met him a couple months ago it was sticking<BR>up about an =
inch and=20
a half, making him look like he had some horrible<BR>disease. But it's =
just=20
thick clumps of matted hair, and only on the<BR>rearmost three inchs. =
The rest=20
of his back is normal. I've never seen<BR>a cat that came close to this =
degree=20
of poor grooming. I've been<BR>cutting it off with a scissors slowly -- =
he still=20
doesn't trust me<BR>completely so I have to go slowly. <BR><BR>Since it =
is just=20
in one area, and on the top of his back, at first I<BR>thought he might =
have=20
gotten motor oil on it from being under cars.<BR>That would explain why =
it is=20
just in one location. But as I have been<BR>cutting clumps off it =
appears that=20
it is just natural oil, fine,<BR>fluffy hair, and dirt. The top part is =
dirty,=20
but inside each clump it<BR>is smoother and just his natural =
hair.<BR><BR>I wish=20
I could get him into my lap and give him a thorough brushing.<BR>It =
would take=20
hours! Has anyone else ever run into a cat with such<BR>horrible matted =
hair? Is=20
there something that might cause a cat not to<BR>groom himself very=20
well?<BR><BR>The second problem is that he is totally mute. In speaking =
with=20
the<BR>neighbors, no one has ever heard him utter a meow, a cry, or=20
anything<BR>other than a hiss. He doesn't even try. Like, if a cat wants =
to=20
meow<BR>but can't, at least the mouth moves. Old George never says a =
thing.=20
He<BR>does purr, though. It's as if this cat is of a species that=20
doesn't<BR>talk. I mean, if his vocal cords had been injured, he would =
still=20
try<BR>to meow. He doesn't even try and seems to be unaware that cats=20
are<BR>supposed to meow.<BR><BR>My third question has to do with his =
eating.=20
I've had several cats<BR>over the years, and he chews his food rather =
strangely.=20
I've seen that<BR>he has all four fangs, but haven't gotten to the level =
of=20
trust where<BR>he'll let me pull his lips back so I can see the rest of =
his=20
teeth.<BR>I've been the only one feeding him, and I've been giving him=20
the<BR>"senior" and "special diet" canned foods. Just like my previous=20
(male)<BR>cat, he eats dry food only if he is starving and that's all =
there=20
is.<BR>He loves wet food, the more gravy the better. When he chews he=20
holds<BR>his mouth to one side or the other, to the point where his =
mouth=20
is<BR>completely perpendicular to the ground. Sometimes he holds his=20
head<BR>under his chest, like a backhoe with its bucket tucked up. It's=20
almost<BR>like he has difficulty swallowing. Oh, and he doesn't shake =
his=20
food<BR>from side to side as he grabs a bite like most cats do. He eats=20
more<BR>like a dog. Does anyone think this might be symptomatic of=20
something><BR><BR>My final query is that his eyes seem to be a bit =
runny.=20
Actually, I'm<BR>not sure if that's true. All my other cats washed their =
faces=20
so often<BR>that if their eyes were runny they'd clean it up. Old George =
just=20
lets<BR>it sit there. He also seems a bit arthritic, although that could =
be<BR>just old age. I found a place on the web that spoke of calicivirus =
and<BR>mentioned that runny eyes and arthritic condition were symptoms =
of=20
it.<BR>If anyone has any further ideas or observations I'd like to hear=20
them.<BR><BR>And before someone says to take him to a vet, that is not=20
yet<BR>possible. I'd have to trap him, and even then the vet would have=20
to<BR>sedate him to keep from being shredded. Other than the above he=20
seems<BR>perfectly healthy, so I've decided to hold off on the vet until =
after<BR>I've developed more trust. Eventually, I will, of=20
course.<BR><BR>Everyone in the neighborhood is amazed that he lets me =
pet him=20
and<BR>comb him. I've become known as the "cat whisperer." However, I=20
think<BR>my efforts are not fully responsible for the progress I've =
made.=20
I<BR>think he once had a family, who probably moved away a long time =
ago<BR>and=20
abandoned him. Thus, he knows about being petted and loved. He<BR>just =
hasn't=20
had anyone for so long that it will take him a while to<BR>accept=20
me.<BR><BR>--<BR>Bogus e-mail address, but I read this newsgroup =
regularly, so=20
reply here.</BODY></HTML>
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