... maybe do some sessions upstairs?
Your two cats are so adorable....At one point they engaged in a wrestling match practically on my lap.
Their litter box behavior is so weird. Twyla now only wants to use the bedroom closet box (not sure if it is because she prefers the clay litter there to the grass seed type in the other boxes). She will use the box and Hooper will just sit and watch until she is done and walks away.
Hooper's name and my getting Twyla both come out of a sad sequence of events. Two years ago I lost my partner (Eric) of eleven years right before Christmas. We had two cats, Abby and Lucy, and he always wanted to get a black male cat to even things out. His favorite movie was "Jaws" and so he wanted to name the cat Hooper after the character in the movie. I didn't want a third cat because Abby was semi-feral and introducing Lucy to her was very difficult. Two months after Eric died I had to have Abby put to sleep at 17 (multiple health problems) and two days after Abby was put to sleep Lucy died suddenly at home (she had CRF and HCM). Needless to say, I was heartbroken.I was not planning to get any more cats for awhile and wanted to get a bonded pair when I did. Instead, after about four months a co-worker approached me because he wanted to rehome his older cat. Well, that was Twyla. I was reluctant, but took her in and I am so glad I did. Having her made a big positive difference in my life. Flash forward a year and a half and a starving black male kitten showed up on my back patio. Of course I had to rescue him! And what else could I name him?How did Hooper get his name?
Twyla was sitting quietly next to me and Hooper jumped up on the bed. He just wanted to play and she did not!"At one point they engaged in a wrestling match practically on my lap." - Were they doing it over your lap or did on just get restless and want to play?
That was ending not because of a relationship issue but a health issue. Nothing to worry about regarding their relationship. Poor Twyla.
"I sat with her on the couch for a few minutes until she calmed down and then I managed to scoop Hooper up and put him in his room." - Very good.
"She did follow me up the stairs to see what was going on."- VERY interesting. Not something a cat that has a bad relationship (fear) or lacks confidence would do. Another positive sign.
"She is about due for her semi-annual check up so maybe I should just try and get her in next week to see what the vet thinks. If I do put her back on steroids do I need to pull back on the interactions?" - I think I would move up her check up given all this. I don't think I would pull back on their together time but I would distract Hooper more so that Twyla doesn't get too worked up. I know it is hard but try your best. Hooper might surprise us and understand Twyla may not be up to all the play that she was before this flare up.
I am so sorry about your losses. I think Eric would be very proud. Loss is very hard but when we make such powerful positive differences in more lives I think we turn sadness into something more uplifting. I truly believe Eric, Abby and Lucy would be very proud of you.
Thank you so much for all you are doing!! You have saved 2 more lives.
"Twyla was sitting quietly next to me and Hooper jumped up on the bed. He just wanted to play and she did not!" - Very good. Yes, this does happen. Not an issue.
Keep up the great work and please let us know how Twyla is doing. I hope she gets over this very soon. She and Hooper are so special!!
As you're already thinking, see what your vet thinks about her physical activity/exercise and steroidsShe is about due for her semi-annual check up so maybe I should just try and get her in next week to see what the vet thinks. If I do put her back on steroids do I need to pull back on the interactions?
If I do put her back on steroids do I need to pull back on the interactions?
I've never had an asthmatic cat, so I hope that if Twyla does have to go back on the steroids that it will help ease her breathing/coughing and settle down any flare-ups. It might be a hairball like you said since she did vomit. So it's very hard to say.I was able to get Twyla's mid-year checkup scheduled for Monday. She will get her annual blood work, etc, and we can talk about the respiratory issues. I honestly don't think she would have started coughing if she hadn't been running and playing so much. Some of that overdoing I was worried about earlier!
She seems much better now. After I shut Hooper in she went to sleep under the guest bed and I let him back out. After about an hour I heard them playing quietly at the top of the stairs and I then gave them some supervised play downstairs, keeping physical contact to a minimum. She is now getting private nap time.
Hooper's name and my getting Twyla both come out of a sad sequence of events. Two years ago I lost my partner (Eric) of eleven years right before Christmas. We had two cats, Abby and Lucy, and he always wanted to get a black male cat to even things out. His favorite movie was "Jaws" and so he wanted to name the cat Hooper after the character in the movie. I didn't want a third cat because Abby was semi-feral and introducing Lucy to her was very difficult. Two months after Eric died I had to have Abby put to sleep at 17 (multiple health problems) and two days after Abby was put to sleep Lucy died suddenly at home (she had CRF and HCM). Needless to say, I was heartbroken.I was not planning to get any more cats for awhile and wanted to get a bonded pair when I did. Instead, after about four months a co-worker approached me because he wanted to rehome his older cat. Well, that was Twyla. I was reluctant, but took her in and I am so glad I did. Having her made a big positive difference in my life. Flash forward a year and a half and a starving black male kitten showed up on my back patio. Of course I had to rescue him! And what else could I name him?
Calicosrspecial said it so meaningfully.I am so sorry about your losses. I think Eric would be very proud. Loss is very hard but when we make such powerful positive differences in more lives I think we turn sadness into something more uplifting. I truly believe Eric, Abby and Lucy would be very proud of you.
Thank you so much for all you are doing!! You have saved 2 more lives.