You know that feeling when your child is finally potty-trained? I know what it feels like.
You want to shout from the rooftops! Sing Hallelujah! Do the Snoopy dance! Tell anyone who will listen!
No, I did not potty train a child…or a cat. Cats come trained. Let me start from the beginning.
Gracie is the new catkid. She came in January and has had a gazillion health setbacks. You can read them here and here.
She recently needed dental surgery and after that refused to eat the kibble she loved. It hurt her booboos.
After much trial and error (driving me crazy) she settled on Fancy Feast chicken but only grilled and with a little real chicken on top. (Must have real chicken.)
She was dumpster diving into our kitchen garbage can. It stopped with her chicken selection and also the fact that I stopped putting any food stuff in there. (Can I hear a Hallelujah?)
All was good. For a week.
Then she got a stomach bug. For two days she threw up everything she ate. (Ok, I’m crazy again.)
She refused all food. Slowly, ever so slowly, I got her to eat real chicken. Then I started slipping in the chicken cat food, teaspoon by teaspoon.
One day I slipped in some turkey cat food. She gave me the stink eye but ate it! (Another Hallelujah please!)
We went from eating about two tablespoons of food a day to a half can every hour. We worked up to needing tractor-trailer loads of cat food! (Don’t ask. I am a weak person.)
Now I’m working to get her on a schedule and on more variety. She’s not happy about schedules. She has a staff who will wait on her whenever she wants. Room service without the tipping.
I’d love to say I put on my big girl bloomers and got tough but the truth is that I had to do some things that required me to be out of the house for extended periods during the day. I missed the puppy dog eyes, the dramatics of a starving cat (this cat is Academy award material) and the pathetic no one loves me postures. She adjusted. Mostly.
When the final transition is done and she eats like a normal cat, you will hear me sing from the rooftops! Perhaps maybe even a little dance!
In the meantime the other cats are enjoying extra meals. If you open a can, they will come. Especially my Hoover cat Hazel.
Next plan is to get Hazel back on her diet.
Postscript: I wrote this on Monday. As is always the case, things change quickly in this house especially when it has to do with Gracie. She is now eating like a starving lion waiting for the tasty Christians. I am considering liquidating all our assets so she doesn’t starve. She has broadened her horizons. So far she has scorned beef and we haven’t reintroduced any fish but most other flavors are winners even those with cheese. Tomorrow is another day. What a cat!
Pingback: Sassy cats — Peaceful pictures | Views and Mews by Coffee Kat
You get a bus ribbon for patience, Kate. It’s frustrating to have so much to offer our pet babies and then when we can’t meet their needs it’s truly difficult. It sounds like Gracie has crossed an important threshold! Woo-hoo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have picky eaters here but she tops them all. Yesterday I tried something new that a blogger said was crack for cat. Well, she’s not into cat crack. Fortunately Hazel ate it and I adjusted things. I need to get her off the need for real chicken on top. I’ve been cooking it plain and packaging to freeze but that will get old for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are truly wonderful… when I was struggling with my fussy cat and stomach problems, the vet told me no beef – bad for cats, and no milk – bad for cats… we manged the no-beef, but the milk crept back in whenever I had a cup of tea… her milk in a tiny tiny dish…
LikeLiked by 1 person
She won’t eat beef or fish except for the steak scraps she stole. She’s all about the poultry. My vet says the best food for a touchy stomach is duck or lamb. Both are expensive so I’m trying to stay with the more standard poultry selections I can buy in cases. As for milk, she is a milk drinker. I get the lactose free milk for her. When she wasn’t eating anything, it was the only thing she consumed.
LikeLike
Entertaining post for me, but I’m not the one having the cat feeding struggles. I can relate in part though because we just got back from a week puppy and kitty sitting for our son. Animals like to keep us on our toes. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they do. I thought it was almost over but tonight I tried something new for dinner for Gracie. She ate most of it and promptly threw up in her dish. Then she wanted real supper. Argh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear 😦
LikeLike
She seems to be able to barf on cue when she’s not happy with the selection.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pushing like for this comment doesn’t seem appropriate 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Every critter has their skillset.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Eats like a normal cat.” What does that even mean? My three cats all have different menus and eating habits… and just when I think I have everybody figured out it all changes. When I win the Lotto they are getting their own chef.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know what it means but one effect would be that I wouldn’t be on call 24/7. The older 3 will supplement with kibble if they are hungry but Gracie is refusing that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find heathens tastier, but that’s just me.
Gracie, you have hit the jackpot with your wait staff. This is why I need to come back as YOUR cat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll talk to Gracie about trying heathens. She’s really a picky eater.
LikeLike
Fingers crossed that you and Gracie reach purr-rect agreement . . . before you have to mortgage the house. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so too or we’ll all live in the poor house.
LikeLike
Love this post. You are the best 🐱Mom 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know about that. I can be manipulated easier than most.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gracie is one lucky duck/cat to have a cat-ering service available on call. I think it’s all a test to see if you really care and once she is convinced of your true love there will be no more eating disorders. I don’t understand cats but consider myself an all-animal whisperer who can read critter minds. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gracie is definitely one of a kind. She’s a plucky thing and for all her 7 pounds, she will demand what she wants.
LikeLike
I am glad Gracie is eating well again 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s almost a normal cat again. Almost.
LikeLike
If I were a cat, I’d definitely choose to live with you. Love the Gracie stories. Glad she is feeling better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You would have to share a bedroom with Mollie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gracie is lucky to have you on her staff. I hope everything will settle down soon… but then you’d have nothing to post about! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right. Every time I think I’ll do some cat pictures, she does something out of the ordinary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Life with Gracie is almost as wild as life with our Chelsea.
Almost.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We should trade for a weekend….
LikeLike
I know my cats are sick when they won’t eat. Piggies, all.
I had to potty train my dogs (they only use a designated part of the yard as their toilet). Woofie was easy. Fey — the ghetto elk — was not. She was used to peeing everywhere. Including the house. Including the expensive carpet. It took ages!
LikeLiked by 1 person
When a dish isn’t emptied, I go out of my way to find out who is sick. There is no other reason unless they don’t like it. Then they usually have their way of telling me that, like dumping it upside down. Fortunately, cats come potty trained compliments of their mom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel for you. Reboot is a special cat. She has a horribly sensitive stomach. Sometimes she begs for something different, only to lose it an hour later.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had a lot of barfing issues with Gracie from the beginning. Every time I thought we had a solution and all was under control, something happened. She doesn’t toss hairballs but spit with little hair mats or just her whole lunch or dinner. I hope she’s ok now. The chicken cat food seems to work without major barfs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad Gracie seems to be adjusting. I am real leery of giving Reboot different food. She tends to leave it on the desk, YUCK! Once she got my keyboard, so now the keyboards are covered at night
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jake (my old deceased cat) liked barfing on wicker. Watching me clean that was a sport to him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
you’re the best mommy around, Kate! And they all know it. Ah the dances we do around feeding time, lol. There’s a special place in kitty land for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I hope it’s on a lounge with a margarita rather than cleaning the litter boxes! 🙂
LikeLike
You’re a good cat mommy, Kate. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No cat starves on my watch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so patient!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am not a patient person. Cats bring something out in me!
LikeLike
I had so much fun reading this post – and all the hilarious comments to it. My Kessy comes around to wonder why this crazy old cat lady is cackling so loudly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet purrs to Kessy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is just right now eyeing my dinner.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only Gracie will do that. Still training her to stick with cat food.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OH, she would not eat one morsel – after all this is a vegetarian dinner tonight, but she eyes it nevertheless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reminds me of Morgan. When I open the potato chips, she comes a running. I give her a chip and she smells it from every angle for 5 minutes. Maybe take a lick of the salt, maybe not, then walk away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That Gracie, what a high maintenance girl. Next up: The WeightWatchers post. 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
WW, I wish! I have a hard time getting her on the scale because she knows it’s a bad thing! Jenny Craig anyone?
LikeLike
LOL Happy Friday, Kate. :O)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right back atcha!
LikeLike
:O)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Snorts with piggy laughter. Can I come stay with you for a bit? I promise I’m easy. XOXO – Bacon
LikeLiked by 1 person
You sure can! I’ll get a truckload of strawberries!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so there!!! XOXO – Bacon
LikeLiked by 2 people
Kate, you are hopelessly goodnatured. Well, there are worse things one can be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only with animals. I can be quite crotchety with people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kate: If they/she can manipulate you that easily, NEVER, EVER get a dog! They are equally manipulative but BIGGER… from the big sad eyes all the way to the tail!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dogs, hippos, giraffes, they would all manipulate me! Even sweet Mollie has her way with me. Right now I’m sitting on my computer chair. I have 1/4 and Morgan has the other 3/4. I need therapy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I do believe that you do! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
LikeLike
Gracie is a challenge, Kate! You won’t be bored with her quirky self around. Makes me wonder about all the things that happened to her before she landed in your 5 star resort. I am glad she is eating and what she is eating is staying down. I will be waiting to hear you sing from the rooftops! Got my fingers crossed for you and I am so happy she landed in your home!
LikeLiked by 3 people
She is not boring. When she wants to play she hollers….loudly. When I watch TV she hops up in my lap and flops over. If I don’t scratch her, she gives me a nip to remind me that she is there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are Gracie’s person… you are loved! Z was like that with me. She was the most demanding of the cats that had a home with us and our love. I don’t think my lap was ever empty when Z was alive… and I miss that… 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am her person, that’s clear. I have 3 other cats who think I am their person too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have a dog who decided to stand on me yesterday (I was laying down napping). Wanna swap?
LikeLiked by 1 person
80 lbs? I don’t think so.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Cats can be such drama queens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought Jake was the big drama queen (or king as the case may be) but I think she is going to beat him out.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s amazing how they can work your entire schedule and life around them. I’m glad she’s feeling better and eating like a champ!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So am I but she is still only doing poultry. The cases I get have beef and fish too so I either have to find other cases or ease her into them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lily won’t eat the beef either. She is OK with fish, but she just refuses to touch the cloven ones. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
She does like the remains of a steak from the grill. Guess cat food doesn’t taste anything like the real thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well. At least she has good taste.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s never easy with cats, but with the right attitude it’s always funny. Poor starving kitty…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like anything would starve on my watch, right?
LikeLiked by 2 people
what a food-a-thon… I hope that Gracie is on the way now to eat like a normal cat.. although a lion is a normal cat per se too LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, she is eyeing up tasty Christians as we speak.
LikeLike