Cosmo’s Big Day

Cosmo is being fixed tomorrow and I am really nervous about it.

I am more nervous about the kitten’s surgery than I was about Sylvester, who lost his manhood later in life.

I think part of the worry is Cosmo has been doing this weird panting behaviour when I make him chase after a string – up and down stairs, up and down the couch and the bed and in circles – for a period of time.

It’s possible I am working him too hard, but many of my pets died due to heart conditions, so it’s in the back of my mind that Cosmo will have troubles, too.

And then there is the fact I have to drop him at the shelter tonight for surgery tomorrow.

How do I explain to Cosmo we are not abandoning him and we’ll see him again soon? Won't he be scared being locked in a cage away from everyone he knows and loves? How can I leave him alone?

Cosmo is four months old. We have had him for three months, and while he bites and scratches and climbs the screens, I love him to pieces. I know he will be fine, but I will miss him.

Introducing…

I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family – Cosmo.

After much consideration, we adopted this little guy from our local shelter.

He is two months old, was bottle fed by his foster family and loves to cuddle, play, chase your toes – and anything else that moves – attack diaper bums, lick and purr.

My little guy calls him Kitty and scratches and pats the floor to get Cosmo’s attention. My guy attempts to pick Cosmo up and almost squished him when he lost his balance.

Cosmo, as my husband told him, has big shoes to fill. We put our Sylvester down in August 2009.

Sylvester, who we still miss, was a wonderful pet. I think he would be happy with my son has a new furry brother.

A Question for Horse Owners

Since I already picked on horse farm owners (see yesterday’s post), I thought I would pick on people who consider themselves horse lovers.

For the record, I have never been ONE of those girls. You know the type – the girls who had horse posters on their walls, hung out in stables and begged their parents for riding lessons.

In fact, it was my younger brother who spent his time mucking out stables, taking riding lessons and going to horse camps and winning ribbons.

However, I appreciate the beauty and strength of horses. I think they are magnificent looking creatures, with soft muzzles and understanding eyes.

What I don’t understand is the behaviour of people who own horses.

If you love horses and they are considered your pet, how come you are willing to sell them when you no longer have time for them?

I realize horses live a long time – on average between 25 to 30 years. It’s a huge commitment when you purchase a horse, however, it’s your pet, your child and, as you would tell a child, if you make a commitment, you have to stick it out.

So how come some people are so willing to sell their pets?

Now, I am not talking about the people who have to sell their horses because of financial hardship. That is a totally different situation. I have a friend who thinks about the horse she was forced to give up all the time.

However, it’s not uncommon to hear about people giving up a horse because they are tired of it, because they don’t want to be bothered looking after it any more or they don’t have time for it.

And that poor horse is sold to another person and then another until, hopefully, it finds a retirement home rather than being put down.

Could you imagine doing that to a dog or a cat?

So what’s the difference?

Missing Our Sylvester

We put our cat, Sylvester, down yesterday. He had congenital heart failure.

Being a cat, Sylvester hid his pain and suffering for what was likely months, which makes me feel just dreadful. The poor guy’s lungs were filled with fluid so he felt like he was drowning.

At around 3 p.m. yesterday, we noticed Sylvester’s breathing was funny and by 6 p.m., he was no longer with us.

While I feel badly that we didn’t have a lot of time cuddling, I think he had a good last day. The night before he had steak for dinner and he spent part of the night cuddling under the covers with me, his chin tucked under mine, purring away. In the morning, my son and I scratched his ears and pet him for a while before our day began. He had a lick of peanut butter and a lick of Cheese Whiz for a snack after his breakfast of soft and hard food. Our son leaped over my legs to get at Sylvester, giving him a big sloppy kiss and a couple of pets, along with some yanking.


Unfortunately, I did sit on Sylvester in order to get his flea medication on, but he did get four treats and then spent some time outside before being brought in. We had some more petting time before he was forced into the car, his least favourite place, before being brought to the vet.


I really miss him today but feel most badly that our son will not grow up as planned with his furry brother, who was like a dog, child and cat to us.