Month: December 2015

Now that Nora has adult teeth she is less interested in her Kitten Instinctive Loaf in Sauce and more interested in the big cat foods. She wants Little Grey’s Renal Appropriate diet for the older, phosphorus concerned feline, Carter’s Calorie Control Formula for the Weight Conscious Kitty, and Shane’s Limited Ingredients in Special Flavors. She wants to eat up on the counter in the adult cafeteria now, as opposed to the cordoned off area in the bath room where she once huddled in fear as a scrawny waif needing protection. She’s even willing to sample Charlie’s medical diet for the Cocker Spaniel with Cushing’s Disease. She’s the first one in the house to rush, squeaking and clicking, at everyone else’s fare, including mine and Ruth’s. But if anyone comes close to her while she’s eating, she will utter a low, guttural sound like a five pound, oreo-colored tigress. She is exercising her right to be someone in the world, and this seems to be what healthy growth is all about.

Growth is sometimes painful. And scary. This week, Nora shed her upper back milk teeth, the deciduous premolar teeth. For a week or so prior her breath changed from kitten-sweet to sour. She was anxious. She chewed on all kinds of things and bit our hands and ankles and legs. Then, yesterday, Ruth noticed blood on a toy Nora had been chewing on. “Is something wrong with her?” Ruth said. Clients often ask this question when

adult teeth emerge in pets’ mouths. The deciduous or baby teeth usually crumble and flake off as they shed, and invariably are lost or swallowed. No kitten tooth fairy. Nope, nothing wrong with our Nora. Just successfully ending one phase of her life and moving on to the next.

I’ve been home sick all week with bronchitis. Nothing like being home with your feline and canine (and chelonian and human) family makes you more grateful for having them. It’s not fun feeling ill but it’s a blast to watch Nora grow and play! Sick time is reflection time: I’m grateful to have all this in my life!

Sometimes you don’t recognize a beginning even when it’s staring you in the face. When I first saw Nora she was just another cute kitten in the shelter. I never thought I’d take her home.

Of the 7,900 pets killed at LA Animal Services in 2014, more than 4,800 were newborn kittens (two months of age or younger) just because there are no resources to properly care for them and no foster homes for them all. A great city like Los Angeles in the wealthiest nation on Earth can do better than this. It starts with spay and neuter awareness.

This is what Nora, our kitten, seemed to be saying the first time I met her. There will be more posts about her and other animals like her here, with pictures as well. Thanks for tuning in.