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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Penny on April 27, 2004, at 11:31:31
Well, not a human baby - a new kitten!!! Yes, I now have two dogs, a kitten, a fish and a frog. Just wanted to share with my babble friends, all of whom I love very dearly!!!
His name is Pip (after Pip in Dickens' "Great Expectations") and he's solid gray with a bit of a tabby stripe to him. He's only about 4 weeks old. A woman who was doing a roadside cleaning project on Sunday found him and his three sibs abandoned on the side of the road and found all of them homes (as she's allergic!). Anyway, I'm having to bottle feed him right now as he's not ready for real food, so he's getting kitten milk replacer. And I have no business having ANOTHER pet in my little apartment, but my apartment complex rules state that you can have up to three, but only two dogs (so I can have two dogs and a cat)...
I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow for a check-up, though he's too young yet for his shots. I need to find out more about weaning and introducing him to solids and such.
And, just so you know, Puddin' (the younger of my two dogs) is perfectly fine with him. In fact, she has almost no interest in him whatsoever. But Penny, my little spitfire, wants to eat him. She thinks he's a rodent, I believe. She's acting the way she acts when she sees a squirrel or rabbit outside. But she's been around adult cats (lived with them) before and was fine. I'm hoping that as he grows, she will get used to him, but any thoughts on helping the process along is, of course, appreciated. I am showering both her and Puddin' with much attention and affection - don't want them to think they're being replaced!
P
Posted by Wildflower on April 27, 2004, at 11:42:10
In reply to A new baby for me :-), posted by Penny on April 27, 2004, at 11:31:31
Congrats Penny! Pip sounds like a wonderful addition to your clan. Is there anyway for you to share a picture of him with us? I have such a soft spot for rescued animals...
Wish I had some advice about how to get all of the animals to get along but I don't. I think it's just going to take some time.
Posted by All Done on April 27, 2004, at 11:42:49
In reply to A new baby for me :-), posted by Penny on April 27, 2004, at 11:31:31
Posted by Dinah on April 27, 2004, at 11:43:35
In reply to A new baby for me :-), posted by Penny on April 27, 2004, at 11:31:31
That's terrific, Penny. High maintenance, but terrific. :) I'll bet the vet has some good advice on introducing a new member of the household. Mine are so used to a multipet house, and my parents dogs visiting, that new ones just get a quick sniff then are expected to fit right in.
Posted by Penny on April 27, 2004, at 11:48:13
In reply to Re: A new baby for me :-) » Penny, posted by Wildflower on April 27, 2004, at 11:42:10
I'll try to get some pics soon to post on my yahoo account. He's sooooo sweet!
I forgot to mention, however, my concern. I have therapy today, and I'm afraid to tell my T that I got a kitten! One of my biggest issues is the financial trouble I have. I got both of my dogs during times that I was financially strapped, and it may have seemed like a bad idea at the time, but I did it anyway, and I certainly don't regret it!!! But I didn't use a great deal of logic. Same goes for little Pip. I'm not as financially strapped as I was when I got my girls, but I really have no business getting ANOTHER pet. Really. Which is why I'm not telling my grandmother - I don't want to hear her lecture.
But I'm actually afraid of telling my T. She loves animals, has two cats of her own, and in that respect will be supportive. But I feel like I should be paying off my debts (some of which are owed to her) rather than paying for a new pet right now. Sigh...
P
Posted by Dinah on April 27, 2004, at 11:57:35
In reply to Re: Thanks! and a concern..., posted by Penny on April 27, 2004, at 11:48:13
Well, it's not as if you called a breeder and put in an order. It was a rescue. Your therapist will probably understand that. And while I guess it's possible she might consider the money angle, I still don't think it's a case of heedless irresponsibility.
Posted by gardenergirl on April 27, 2004, at 14:30:15
In reply to A new baby for me :-), posted by Penny on April 27, 2004, at 11:31:31
Penny,
That's wonderful. I actually had a puppy in my arms yesterday, and I wanted so badly to bring her home. She was running around campus and no one knew where she came from. She looked reasonably well-cared for. We eventually brought her to campus police because we were concerned she would be hit by a car. I hope her owners claimed her. My hubby said absolutely not when I asked about bringing her home if no one comes forward. :( He's right, but gosh darn it. Something about a puppy or kitten nuzzling and licking your face is so appealing. And she was so beautiful.......
Congrats!
gg
Posted by Fallen4MyT on April 27, 2004, at 20:01:24
In reply to A new baby for me :-), posted by Penny on April 27, 2004, at 11:31:31
Awww how cool conrats...and I remember Pip in that book.....Penny I have 4 cats and they are such a joy.,..many happy healthy years to you both :)
Posted by Penny on April 28, 2004, at 11:18:01
In reply to Re: A new baby for me :-) » Penny, posted by Fallen4MyT on April 27, 2004, at 20:01:24
Well, I took lil' Pip to the vet this morning, and he's fine. Got his deworming treatment, and they estimated 3-4 weeks old. The vet said I can start him on a soupy mix of his kitty formula and either powdered kitten food or canned kitten food. He's struggling to learn to lap out of a saucer, and it's a hoot to watch! He ends up with a huge "milk mustache". LOL
Anyway, I told my T about it yesterday, prefacing by saying how I had done something stupid b/c of my finances being what they are...and she said, "Well, I'm probably the wrong person to talk to about that!" (b/c she's a cat lover) and then said, "I think that you can't really know right now if it was a 'bad idea' to get the kitten or not - what if getting this kitten kept you from another downward slide? You have to factor in how he'll make you feel..."
I love my therapist. :-)
Thanks for all the well-wishes with lil' Pip. He's such a sweetie. I'll try to get pics up tonight!!!
P
Posted by Ilene on April 28, 2004, at 16:08:51
In reply to Re: More on Pip!, posted by Penny on April 28, 2004, at 11:18:01
I tried to post last night about how cats were actually very cost-effective, etc., but the post got lost.
Cats are inexpensive, esp. if you keep them inside so they don't get hurt or sick. Just gotta take care of the up-front costs (shots, neutering) and the annual shots, and you're done. Food and litter are cheap.
I bet Pip is the cutest cat in the world, with the world's best purr, and does the silliest cat things.
Reminds me--gotta clean out the litter box.
I.
This is the end of the thread.
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