Christmas complete! We had a wonderful visit. I got to sit and
talk with both LJ and Collin and Mollie came for the weekend. It does a mom
good to have all her babies back in the nest. I think they enjoyed their visit
very much, but they are true New Yorkers now and I know they were also anxious
to get back to their city and their cats. And no matter how much you love your
kids, once you’ve lived in the empty nest there is always a little relief getting
it back.
Mollie is going through some trials, being the mom of a cat.
Mollie loves animals, all animals.
Her cat loves going out, and she lives way back from the road so she lets her
out for a while in the afternoon and early evening. The cat brought in her
first prey yesterday. A baby bunny. Mollie was devastated.
It was much too young to survive without it’s mother. It was
totally unharmed, her cat had treated it gently, but Mollie couldn’t just take
it out and leave it to die. She called her vet, but they said they couldn’t (or
wouldn’t) help her. She’s calling her old mom, the former vet tech for help,
but what could I tell her? I knew it had
only a small chance of survival but I told her feeding it with an eye dropper
was all I knew to do.
She is so torn now. Her cat loves going outside. It’s
spring, there are baby mice, rabbits, squirrels, voles, moles… the list goes
on. It’s going to happen again and she can’t drive forty-five minutes to the
vet every time. I’ve suggested keeping the cats nails trimmed and even having
her wear a bell on her collar, but that won’t help any with baby animals.
I’m open for suggestions if anyone has any. I have the same problem with one of my cats, but Mollie is way more tender hearted than I am.
I’m open for suggestions if anyone has any. I have the same problem with one of my cats, but Mollie is way more tender hearted than I am.
Hi PK, I'm so glad to hear you had such a wonderful time with the family and belated family Christmas :)
ReplyDeletePoor Mollie, it definitely is a worry owning a cat. So glad she found a vet that would help. I don't really have much in the way of suggestions, other than my neighbor who is a vet nurse curfews her cat inside at night.
Hugs
Roz
It was really great. Mollie only lets her out for a while in the afternoon. She always tries to get her in before dark.
Deletehi Pk, I am glad that you finally had that lovely Christmas. No idea on the cat thing, mine were too lazy to try and catch much. I am thinking that most of the time they won't be unharmed when they arrive on Mollie's doorstop :(
ReplyDeletelove Jan, xx
I'm afraid you're right. And that's going to tear her up.
DeleteHi PK, Lovely to hear your Christmas with the family was a success. Over here there is supposed to be a curfew for cats. Some people have enclosures made so the cats can still go outside, yet not harm any wildlife. Its like a huge wire cage with activities inside to amuse the cat. Might be worth a look into.
ReplyDeleteHugs Lindy xx
The curfew is a good idea and Mollie does get her in for the evening. Hope that helps.
DeleteWe did have a great time with the boys.
A bell does help, but we had a cat once who moved so carefully that it didn't ring until he pounced. We lived next to a cornfield at the time, so it was mostly mice.
ReplyDeleteMy brother and his wife have one of those tunnel enclosures, and their cats just love lounging in the sun out on the porch.
Glad your Christmas was so much fun, PK.
Hugs From Ella
I'm afraid the bell wouldn't be that much help either. I don't think Mollie could afford an enclosure big enough to do any good.
DeleteThe boys say they might come back in the summer.
Sorry no help on the cat thing. Lindy's idea might be a good one though cats do love to roam.
ReplyDeleteSo happy you had a wonderful time with the boys home.
Love,
Ronnie
xx
They are fun boys!
DeleteIt is wonderful having the whole clan under one roof once again...and then it is nice to get back to 'normal'. No help on the cat situation..mine stay in!
ReplyDeletehugs abby
Yes! Both things are wonderful!
DeleteI understand the dilemma. I would have a hard time receiving presents from a cat as well, especially if it was a bunny. I have a soft spot for bunnies. I remember my mom trying to save a litter of bunnies - we used eye droppers to feed them and learned you had to rub their bellies. That is all I remember. Glad you had such a nice visit with your kids. Hugs
ReplyDeleteI worked with all kinds of babies when I worked for the vet, but that been over thirty years ago. It wasn't always successful and you could get very attached.
DeleteHi PK, :) I'm SO happy that you had such a wonderful time with all of your kids in one place! I know how much you were looking forward to your boys' visit!
ReplyDeletePoor Mollie! That is a tough one. What a sweet baby bunny. I'd feel the same way. I can't be of help either because the Professor is an indoor cat. When I got him from the shelter we had to promise to that. Many hugs,
❤️Katie xoxo
Ours go in and out. One it old and rarely leaves the carport or deck. The other is the most gentle cat I've ever had - with humans, but she is a voracious hunter!
DeleteHappy to hear you had a great Christmas in March with all the kiddos, PK!
ReplyDeleteAlas, so sorry about the kitty and the bunny but I think that genie is out of the bottle. From our experience, the only solution to making sure you have a non hunting kitty is to have it be an indoor cat from the get go. Once they are let out and once they get a taste of hunting, it's pretty difficult to change their behaviour.
When we first moved here from the city, our 2 cats were strictly indoor. We made the mistake of letting them out and there was no turning back. We now have 4 - 1 is too old to hunt, 1 doesn't care to, one would like to but he isn't capable (as is nickname isn't 'Moose' for nothing :>)) However, his brother is our our 'working' cat. When you have chickens, you usually have rodents so we want him to hunt. Molly can try a breakaway collar and a bell but our experience with those is the cats end up ditching them more often than not ... so sorry - I'm no help :>( ... nj ... xx
I'll take Christmas with the boys anytime.
DeleteOur old cat used to hunt, but no more. The little girl has brought in birds, chipmunks, mice, squirrels, crawdads, lizards and snakes. The majority she brings in alive. You can just imagine how thrilled we are with her.
snakes are a big ewwww! for me ... I think once upon a time an old cat did bring one in many years ago but so far none of the current feline residents have done so ... I run for the hills if a snake crosses my path!
ReplyDelete... have Mollie try a breakaway collar and bell ... you never know it might work ... nj
I agree but at least she killed the snakes before she brought it in.
DeleteI saw something on FB the other day that might help. It involved long tubing that went from the (kittie) door outside and directly into a large cage. The kitties could get outside but they and their prey were protected. Nick might have a weekend project.
ReplyDeleteI've seen those, they look like the cat would have fun. I hope Nick would like a project.
DeleteOh! That precious bunny! We had cats (four at one time when my father moved in with his two) and they brought us gifts. We tried to keep them in because we moved to a wooded area and there are fisher cats-ugh! And coyotes. We lost two of them. My husband is allergic to cats. We used to vacuum all the time and he tolerated them. Now, I have promised not to have another cat, but I miss them. Our last one was born in our house and lived 19 years. I miss her.
ReplyDeleteRosie Dee