On Vets ...

... and their advice, regarding the medication of cats.
Cats do not like to take their medicine, this is known by all. It's why this is so funny. Ha, ha, ha, we've all been there, right?
It was a good 20 years of cat ownership before a vet told me about the 'butter method'. That's got the pill thing fixed, but Tigger's recent medication is in liquid form.
"Here" said the (rather charming and handsome young) vet, "I'll show you how, it's easy". And with that he grabs the scruff of Tigger's neck, pokes the squirty end in the side of her mouth and squeezes in the medicine (palatable, apparently, banana flavoured!). Not a struggle, no spitting out, easy as pie. Handsome curly-haired vet smiles and hands over the rest, "twice a day until it's gone".
Seriously, do vets not get it? Of COURSE it's fucking easy at the surgery! The cat is terrified and will accept anything, don't they know this? Don't they believe owners when they tell tales of medication trauma? Are they that bloody obtuse?
Fuck.
*Wanders off to find the antiseptic cream*.

Our baby, she's all grown up ...

... Little Miss Tigger has come into season for the first time. Finally.
She's just under a year old so she's very, very late. We were beginning to think a visit to the vet may be in order, to make sure all was well.
I suspect it's her size that's been the problem, she's only just now got to a weight where the whole thing kicks in. And boyoboy, has it kicked in, in a huge way.
She's howling like a banshee.
She's writhing all over the place.Touch the back of her neck and she 'presents' like a champion. bum up, tail to the side, back feet pedalling.Poor wee thing, addled with desire.It's off to the vet as soon as this dies down.

Not a little angel ...

... This sort of thing is only supposed to happen to people with puppies, not kittens.Just when you think she's calming down she finds some new naughty. The face of naughty!

Well ...

... our first introduction session did not go well.
My o my this is one fierce and feisty little Tigger we have on our hands!

I can't remember what it was like ...

... when we first brought Small home, it was almost 18 years ago after all. I think we locked her in the laundry, with a hot water bottle and a basket of woolly rugs. I do not recall her howling all night long.
I do recall bringing Toogie home, we did the laundry thing and found Small was beastly to her, not letting her out of her basket, so we divided the house into 2 for a week or so. Toogie did not howl all night long either.
When we brought Ping home, we did the house divide thing again, Small being Small was not very welcoming. Ping slept with us, she jumped up onto the bed, dived under the covers and slept the entire night through in the crook of my knee. Not a peep. (I'll be honest, she never slept an entire night through ever again and can be a restless bedmate, but quiet, no howling.)
Last night I learned what parents of a new bebe must feel like. The HOWLING and yowling for ages and then, up and kneading and wrestling and romping all the while miaowing and purring. And then, instant snuggle sleep, crash she's passed out mid purr, but for only 40 minutes to an hour, then it's the whole cycle again, and again, and again.
I'm exhausted.
Ping is all cuddlesome again, despite my reeking of vile usurping kitten.