And try to handle her and pick her up as very very little as possible. You don't want to start things bleeding if they aren't. Besides, it hurts!
You are doing wonderful and doing such a great job of caring for Bella. This is all a learning curve and one with some moments of difficulty, I know. But the love you have for Bella and she for you makes it all so wonderfully worthwhile. Hang in there.
Hey Paradox, I have to leave and take care of the day's business. Jcat, who's in your hemisphere has gone to bed.
I'll check in again in an hour or so and then again later in the day. I've also asked anyone in the morning cafe thread on the list to pop over here with support for you and Bella.
Hope all is well. Bella is in my prayers that God gives His precious little kitty creature healing and relief from pain and that all is well for her.
Please post back later with updates on how Bella is. We do care and want to know.
God bless.
Later.
Thanks Marnet, I decided not to ring the emergency vet as for now. She has been sleeping soundly for the past hour and I hope it stays like that, we'll ring the vet tomorrow morning. I'm off to bed as well, although I don't think I'll get much sleep tonight. Thanks for all the help you've been offering me!
I just got back from school.
She's so much better compared to yesterday.
She's not biting her stitches nor meowing in agony. She's affectionate today and a little more lively. The stitches seem to be fine too. I'm really glad everything seems fine right now. I might even edit a video to share with you guys, if I find the time :)
Thank goodness! You had us worried there, Paradox. I'm so glad. I think Bella needs lots of extra scritches and headbonks! We would love to see a video!
Hopefully now she'll need nothing more than an annual check-up and her shots for a long, long, long time (cross fingers, touchwood!)
{{{HUGS}}} to you and Bella!
Hi Paradox. I happen to be up at what is 4 a.m. my time and checked to see if you'd posted any updates.
I'm delighted and relieved to hear Bella is doing so much better! This is wonderful. Worried prayers for her are answered.
I'm glad your beautiful Bella is recovering and that she has someone as devoted and loving of her to take good care of her. My respect is yours for your continued good and responsible efforts.
When you can, yes, do please post a video for us. We'd so enjoy seeing it.
Have a wonderful day and may her royal kittiness Bella continue to heal quickly!!!
I greatly appreciate all your help, prayers and worries towards Bella!
Bless you Marnet for staying up so late just to check for updates, sorry for being slow as I have other things to do, the big one being homework and the stack of assignments which are due soon.
She hasn't ate until today, and I just gave her the sachet of tuna/chicken, she gobbled it up like it was nothing and I ripped open the sachet as she continued to lick it clean! I guess tuna will be her treat from now on.
All I'm concerned about now is how she'll cope when going back to the cheesy vet in 9 days time to take out her stitches, I hope she doesn't panic again as she's probably already traumatized by her past visit.
Hi there Paradox. Well, since I happened to already be up at that way too early hour, there was no way I wasn't going to check for any possible Bella updates!
Of course your school work, care of Bella, and any family responsibilities come before hanging out on the internet! No apologies needed. You're doing fine.
Yes, sounds like tuna is the treat. Bless her heart.
Even though she doesn't like her carrier, that is still the best way to transport a cat. She may fuss and loudly protest but as long as she is in the carrier, rather than loose in the car when being taken anywhere, she is much much safer!
First, she can't dash off and get run over or lost when you open the car door. Secondly, she can't get underfoot of the driver and interfere with the gas and brake pedals. Thirdly, heaven forbid you're in an accident, the carrier provides her quite a bit of protection as well as keeps her from becoming a flying object through a windshield. I mean that literally.
Even if she protests, put her in the kitty cage and secure it with a seatbelt through the carrier handle when taking her to the vet.
And as to the vet being cheesy, I can tell you don't like or trust him. So, for future needs, before you have any reason to take Bella to a vet again for yearly booster shots and check-up or any emergency, find another vet you like better. Ask all your neighbors and friends which vet they go to and what they do and don't like about how their pets are treated. It's okay to visit the offices of various vets to ask questions and get a feel for which one you think would be best.
Obviously money is always a concern. I can, however, tell you from experience that it is sometimes better to pay slightly more if need be to take Bella to a vet you like and trust to give her good care rather than try to save a couple of dollars and end up with one you don't like. Why don't you talk with your parents about the situation and see what they think?
Hope all continues well with beautiful Bella. And hope all goes well for you with your schoolwork. And may you and Bella have such wonderful times together.
Please keep us posted as you can. We truly do care. *gentle petting to Bella and virtual hugs to you young sir* God bless. Have a great day.
How is little Bella doing today? I trust she is feeling better and you are feeling less worried.
Posted 8 months ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
Hey everyone, the video I made is up! I'll post an update on Bella soon after.
Its been a couple days since her stitches came out, and prior, I was really worried as she had severe swelling on the stitches. After the stitches and the E-Collar was taken off, she recovered swiftly, with now minimal scars and she is now herself again.
I'm glad she only had to go through her heat once in her life.
Not so corny vet after all.
Phew :)
Great video. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Bella is beautiful -- beautiful beautiful Bella!!!
Seriously, Bella is lovely. She has a sweet face and quite a plumed tail. And from what you've told us, her temperament is adorable, sweet, and loving. Oh my, you have quite the kitty pet there.
Thank you for updating us. It's wonderful to see she is doing so well.
May the two of you have many delightfully happy years together.
Please drop in here when you can and keep us up to date on your wonderful journey of discovery of life with beautiful Bella. We truly enjoy hearing from you about her. God bless. And give Bella some petting for me!
Thanks for the good news about Bella. She is a beautiful cat! I like your other video on Anything Andy too. :)
Posted 8 months ago by Kitten Whisperer #
I'm amazed at the different spaying technique - she seems to have most of her tummy shaved. Over here they go in through the side and shave a square about 2" x 2".
Glad she's feeling better.
Posted 8 months ago by Pollys_Mum_in_UK_2605 #
What a lovely big plumy tail she has. And I like the one long white eyebrow whisker; it gives her such a jaunty look.
She gave you a scare but it looks like she's recovered and is back to her happy laid back self.
Enjoy her, she's beautiful.
Posted 8 months ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
Hi there guys :)
Ive been following this post all day! picking up at bits here and there to read, i am after a kitten of my own and after reading this im so much more aware of what i want and whats best for my soon to be princess :)
thanks alot,
Bella is the cutest thing and the things you say she does just deserves a giggle or two here and there :)
hope you have happy memories together :D
Hey guys! Remember me?
Well, good news! Everyone in our family has fell in love with Bella and cats in general and since a family friend is offering a newly born kitten... we're going to adopt it.
Yep, prior to having Bella, my parents were against pets and such, but now we're absolutely in love with her. She's going very well and she just seems to get smarter every day. I haven't seen this new kitten yet, although I heard she's about 4 weeks old, pure white with blue eyes - she (or he) will look so out of place with Bella, as Bella is predominately black with white accents on her neck and feet haha.
So, I'm asking for some advice (again) from you lovely bunch.
My 8 week Christmas holidays are coming up in a week, so I'll have more than enough time to look after her while as grows a little. Thing is, where should I place her litter box and bowls? I have barely enough room in the toilet for Bella's stuff, let alone another set. Would it be okay if I placed everything in the garden, and take them outside a few times a day to do what they need to etc. as Bella loves going out for a stroll in our backyard, and meowing at our door step whenever she wants to come back in.
And is there anything else I should take into consideration when having two kittens?
Should I take any precautions with the new kitten and Bella when she/he arrives?
Cheers!
Hi Paradox. What wonderful news to hear how Bella has become such a loved member of the family and converted everyone into cat lovers!
Ooooh, getting a second kitty. Sounds like you'll have a matched pepper and salt set with Bella and the new kitten.
To answer your questions:
It is best for kitties to have access to their litter trays all the time. Although normally it is advisable to have a second litter tray if you are getting a second cat, if you simply have no room elsewhere inside the house, you can manage with one tray. However, you will need to be more vigilant than ever about keeping poop removed several times a day and keeping the litter changed more often than at present to avoid soggy litter!
The kitties can share a water dish if, and only if, you make sure there is ALWAYS plenty of water available. Depending on how large Bella's current water dish is, you might need to use a larger water bowl, especially once the new kitten is grown and consuming adult volumes of water.
If you are feeding only dry food, again, the kitties can share but as with the water bowl you'll need to be sure there is always plenty of food. If you are feeding canned food, then just put down a second dish of food and then pick both food dishes up again when the cats have finished eating.
As to special precautions with the new kitten and Bella when the new one arrives:
First, remember how Bella needed to start out in a confined space so as not to be overwhelmed? This new kitten will need the same. Remember, little one will be frightened, lonely for its momma cat, and not know where it is, what is safe, what the rules are, etc.
Second, Bella will be naturally jealous and protective of her territory. So you'll want to introduce the two gradually and always with close supervision at first. It's quite a good idea to keep the kitten in a room by itself for a few days where it and Bella can smell and hear each other under the door and get familiar with each others smell and sound. Then you can gently introduce them to each other face to face. Expect that there may be some hissing and spitting and even a bit of slapping at each other at first. As long as Bella doesn't hurt the kitten, it is okay for her to exert dominance and teach the little one she is the senior cat. Hopefully she will want to mother the kitten once she gets used to it.
Third, please be sure the new kitten is healthy, free of fleas, and been tested for the several nasty communicable diseases even newborn kittens can have before it is introduced to Bella. It is important that Bella's vaccination shots are up to date before the kitten comes home. That way Bella is kept safely healthy and it gives the new kitten better odds of staying healthy too.
I'm sure other folks on the list will have additional suggestions for you.
When you can, we'd LOVE to see current pictures of Bella all grown up!!!! And we will also be eager to see pictures of the new kitten when you get it.
Good luck!
Paradox, it is late at night for most of the folks on the list. I'll bump this thread again tomorrow, earlier in the evening, for more people to see it and give you additional feedback to your questions. You're not being ignored, it's just things will be very quiet here for the most part for the next seven to eight hours.
Paradox, that is GREAT news, that Bella is doing so well and that your family have become cat-aholics....
I am not great on the subject of new cat introductions as my two gang up on any new cats unmercifully but lots of people here have done it and yes, you do need to take it very gently and easily, and give Bella loads of attention so that she doesn't feel she's no longer your best kitty. Some people recommend swapping their bedding back and forth, while you're still keeping them apart, so that they each get very used to each other's smell, long before they actually meet. Take it slowly and lots of patience (and keep checking back for the US TDKers!)
I don't think putting everything in the garden is such a good idea. You want them to think of INSIDE the house as where their home is and where the food is -- that way you can get them back inside when you want them. Can both their bowls etc go in your bedroom while both litter trays go in the bathroom -- or one in the bathroom and one downstairs?
Anyway, we would love to see and hear about the new kitten too. So good to hear from you!
Nice to see you guys still around!
Thanks for the immediate feedback and clearing up the litterbox issue. I'd probably see if this new kitty minds eating in the same bowls and using the same litterbox, if not I'd probably have to rethink where to place everything.
Bella seems to take about three days to consume a whole bowl of water as she also drinks out of the shower whenever we aren't looking haha. With the food, I predominately feed Bella dry food with the occasion of a Whiskas sachet - trying to keep her teeth healthy.
I wonder if Bella would be more INTIMIDATED by the new kitty? She really is a very shy and timid kitten. She would always run away when we have guests over our place, and still does now - If I picked her up she'd look absolutely horrified with large pupils, clinging to my t-shirt!
I'll also have to litter train the new kitty, but that shouldn't be too hard.
Another incentive, picking this kitty up was to give Bella some extra company, and I'd love to see how this plays out... hope they bond together though! I'll be sure to post some pictures up once the new kitty is settled into our home :)... on the same note, it's a bummer how I don't know exactly how old Bella is, although roughly estimating she will be a year old soon. Time flies.
You must log in to post.