Small Services
Living with a very old cat gave me some lessons and is a privileged time of communication with another being. I’ve had a couple of cats that made it to 17 or 18 years old, but Kiwi making 20 is a surprise, beyond expectation.
We work out the nurse thing ( she depends on daily care) a bit at a time.
Kiwi has a particular bray-meow that signals that she wants me to come to her cat-bed for some important service. This is repeated in an urgent loop sequence. Once I answer with my Laguna whistle, she'll calm down a bit, perhaps emit a short meow now and then. If I fail to appear in a REASONABLE TIME, she'll resume the braying meow. Once I'm there in front of her, I give a very short meow in response to once of her calls.
This signals a change, and she sometimes pantomimes what is needed. Example, moving her head to toward the empty food dish, the soiled bedding, etc. Sometimes she meows a greeting. If I'm sleeping, she has patterns that are sure to wake me up, with intervals between sounds precisely phase locked with my cycles of deeper sleep, less deep sleep...... When I'm smart, I get up, take care of changing the bedding, give fluids, give meds, feed her, and then go back to bed myself..... Once she’s sure that I understand her and am doing what she asked me for, she’ll become almost chatty. Completely different demeanor.
When she's had a difficult time, she communicates it in a different set of meows. I'm sensitive to this, but it usually passes and she is very interested in life, snuggles with Carol ( our New Jersey Mat’s rescue cat), so I consult with the vet, and we go on, one day at a time.
Of course when she's happy eating, she purrs even while wolfing down some Fancy Feast "Tender Beef", chomping loudly. She purrs when I rub her head, when she rubs/marks my hand after I scratch behind her ears.
Kiwi also has taken action when I was not paying sufficient attention, and I appreciate that. I've had a hard time with the responsibility for this being, I do my best, and give thanks for the lessons. When I place her in a carrier cage to go to the vet, she’ll emit a distressed call. I hear it until we’re in the Vet’s back room. I reassure her that we’re doing our best, never knowing if it’s the last time. She’s really fragile, and I’m thankful when we both wake up in the morning.
It's also a communication that I have learned to read the pantomime a bit better, I'm able to observe when the eating pattern changes, and respond. Eating changes may signal a need for fluids, or it may be a sign that she's getting stopped up, or doesn't like the food offered. I'll do what the vet suggested first, heat the food for 8-10 sec in the microwave, then present it. Many times this works. Next step is usually to give fluids usually 120cc ringers lactate, wait an hour and present new food. Most of the time this works. Consult vet.
Good communications with a vet is essential, and I buy periodic blood tests to check kidney function. Her numbers aren't great, but are ok and pretty stable, better than a year ago.
There is always a question in my mind when I provide care for a being other than a human, should I be giving all to the greatest human need?
In this case, I felt a spiritual calling to give Kiwi the hospice care that I'd given to Alex, Alicia Star and Sharon’s cats. I was not expecting that these simple supportive measures would be so effective, would extend her time with me for this long. I'm thankful for the time and the amazing experiences, lessons I'd never imagined. I don’t know how I would do in such a situation myself, of if I was doing extended care for a loved one.
Very much like farming, you can’t go away without planning and covering the time away. Has been challenging with my job, and required travel. Having Grace Bruening’s Cat Care Service able to provide competent respite care has been a key capability covered. It's such a privilege to have enjoyed the past couple years when she passed a threshold of need for daily care that often leads to folks getting rid of a pet. For me, it's involved learning how to skillfully administer fluids with sterile technique, learning to be observant of her body rhythms, her need for "production", her meds being out of balance. By taking her to the vet before things get too far out of balance ( and her surviving my mistakes and learning process) she’s been helped through some rough spots, some difficult issues.
It's also been quite amazing to see her relationship with Carol- our rescue cat. Carol and Kiwi sleep together on Kiwi's heating pad, and Carol lets Kiwi put her forehead against her flank, they share food, and water. Carol and Kiwi are together for a while just about every day.
Snowy ( big white Turkish Van) now eats with the other cats at Kiwi's station, most mornings. They have never had hissing, he respects her, eats in his own space.Kiwi's set up includes a 23x32" heating pad with thermostat, insulation under, towels and fleece (usually 3x day). Also fresh water bowl, side towel, ramp towel + fresh water bowl for Snowy, cat scratching post ( Kiwi doesn't use it anymore, it's for Carol). There is an incandescent lamp over her bed provides light and heat.
Kiwi doesn’t stray far from her nest, but does come over to sit by me if I’m watching tv, for example. Her continued interest in life, in the other cats, her interactions with Sharon and me, all point to a being who likes to be here.
I've had cats who were sick that clearly wanted to curl up and pass ( Grey Kitty ), others who were with me to the end, and others we've euthanized. So while Kiwi isn't having serious pain, while she wants to be here, I'm here to, with her, doing my little bit.
