Saturday, December 20, 2003

Peanuts

It is too long since I have partaken of Charles M Schulz's Peanuts gang. This afternoon there is sports, sports and more sports on most of the free-to-air television and channel surfing has brought me to Charlie Brown and the kite-eating tree. Moments before the tree gobbled up the kite, CB had managed to get his kite in the air, soaring magnificiently, and then it just went and exploded. As Lucy commented "that's the first time I've seen that happen". Peppermint Patty is now talking to that kid with the big nose that lives with CB - Snoopy. What a great group of characters and what a fantastic view of life.

Insulin Regime

The feline insulin era is now well and truly underway. Em is taking it fairly well, given that if she wanted to, she would be able to tear flesh from our limbs as we administered the shots. Mind you, she is less co-operative some days than others, but that's okay in the grand scheme of things.
We've also changed blood testing methods. We're now doing blood collection via ear pricks. We downloaded instructions from the internet - complete with pictures - and it is slowly getting easier ... on both of us. I don't think I have heard Em growl as much in the 11 years we've had her as in the last fortnight.
The other part of having a diabetic cat is how to explain to your other cat that you're not really ignoring them, and the attention the diabetic cat is getting is attention the other one really does not want.

Saturday, December 06, 2003

Feline Diabetes

One of our cats was diagnosed with feline diabetes this week. Her treatment starts Monday - diet and insulin injections. Not unlike humans really. My partner and I have both been taught how to do the injections, and I have also learned how to take blood so I can do regular checks of her blood sugar levels. It was this or urine testing, both of which give accurate readings. Do animals feel pain the same way we do? And will the cat who will cheerfully pincher you with her claws (and then hiss a warning) when you accidentally brush against her in bed, take kindly to this latest invasion of her personal space and lifestyle. We shall see.