The CAT room!

Yikes! each of those pom-cats weighs less than Mikey, and Bailey (the blonde) just passed Oscar's weight.

You folks raise some mighty big cats. Are you sure they're not cougars or something?

It took almost a year and half after the passings of our Puddie (17 years) and Blue (19 years) for L and I to think about getting new cats. We went to the shelter folks who sold us a teeny black kitten and her cage mate, a white with splatters of yellow and black. Ruby and Max.
It was awful. Ruby had apparently been wild for her short life and had no interest in being around humans. She stayed under the furniture for days coming out only in the pitchy black of night and then only to pee and eat.
and hiss.

Max was a different story but even he was a challenge. Lots of picking and clawing and tearing up to be done every day. And he ran anytime anyone approached. One forgets how mellow old cats are and now we had babies and one of them was a little nuts.
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I have to cut this short, my bed beckons.
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Today Maxine (surprise!) has turned into a little sweetie-pie who loves to nap with L. And Ruby, well, no one has yet been able to pick her up, but she comes when she's called, she loves to get slicker brushed and if I am very, very good she will sleep at my feet like she is doing now. She must smell your fingers before any hand contact is allowed and then only six or so pets or strokes are allowed before she bounds off for the living room.
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Today, as the rain drizzled down on our holiday, we napped in the big bed and both cats joined us, each on a far corner. Apparently, we are civilized enough after all.

that occurred to me too, ehBeth; gives new meaning to the term "fat cat"!

actually today one of mine brought me a mouse carefully wrapped up in her mouth, then proceeded to 'loose' it under the sofa.
(i think it's still there )

Back at university, a girlfriend's cat brought a live crow home while we were away, and had it out with the creature. The resulting feathery, bloody carnage kinda turned me off cat ownership. However, at least I had the opportunity to say: "Your cat, your mess. You clean it up."

Very nice cat story, Joe. I know it takes a long time after an old cat dies to be ready for a new one. Took me two years after Katy died (age 16). Now we have Rosie (long-haired gray & white, green eyes) and Buster (short-haired orange tabby)...and I can't even remember being catless. So glad I decided to get two this time. They are 3 yrs. old now, and they alternately love and hate each other.

I say that to my cats all the time, but it never works!

(did you make her 'eat crow'?)

Yup, Mikey's a big guy. Not so much cougar size as lynx.

Bo, Mikey is about 2 pounds overweight. He's naturally big--in the chest and shoulders. Also his neck is like a tree trunk. Big.

Joe, Your patience is obviously paying off.

Of course it does, dlowan! Anyway, it makes him a cuddly critter!

but are they supposed to be 'cats' or 'pillows'?

Pillows with claws...and fangs....

I think i might prefer a "denatured" pillow!

Fuzzy pillows. Bo, Mikey is the only cat I've ever had who's big enough for me to use him as a pillow without him getting squooshed. No problem with fangs and claws. He likes being a pillow.

Mikey sounds beautiful.

One of my tabbies, Fred, likes to be completely 'disabled' (sortof);
I hold him so he cannot move a muscle, and he starts purring like a......
'cat'; for about 30 seconds, completely limp; then survival instinct kicks in,
and

"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Vivien, Mikey is a beauty. A big one.

Bo, You are a brave soul. Duck!!! Those survival instincts are kicking in.

Temple Grandin has done a lot of research on the calming effects of hugging on people and animals. She created some sort of hugging device that calms down cattle on the way to slaughter. (I eat meat, and I prefer that the cattle be happy than upset, I guess, but...)

No, no Roberta;
Fred is a 'cat', not a duck!

soz;

maybe Texas would like to use that device on their 'death row'!

I've put off posting this, mainly because I haven't coped too well with the bad news : Last week my vet discovered (while treating another ailment) that my last remaining cat has a tumour, about the size of a pea, in his mouth, on his gum. (This is Flatcat, a refuge I took in some 3 years ago, after he'd live a very precarious life (health & safety-wise) for some time.)
Since diagnosing the tumour, my vet has tested Flatty for the feline Aids virus. He is positive (as are something like 30% of cats).

I then had to make the decision on whether to agree to have the tumour surgically removed & tested to discover whether it was malignant or not. After thinking about this for a day, I decided to go ahead with the procedure (this Monday), as the alternatives (of allowing the tumour to grow larger, or else having the cat put down) seemed unsatisfactory to me. This is a very expensive procedure, & even if it is successful, the fact that he has weakness in his immune system could complicate/slow down recovery, even if the operation is successful, or the tumour turns out to be benign.

This situation is causing me a great deal of distress & some confusion. What is the "right" thing to do in a situation like this?
I certainly do not want to cause Flatty unnecessary pain & suffering, however I won't know for certain how serious the tumour is without his undergoing the procedure. THEN (!) I worry about the after effects : How difficult might recovering be, given the weakness of his immune system? Might it be kinder to have him "put down"?

I have based my decision (to proceed with the operation) on the fact that he appears alert, wanting to engage my attention & play, & that he is merely (something like) 6 years old - I want to give him a chance to survive! I'm also very attached to him. But, I have my doubtful moments.

If you have any thoughts on this situation I'd certainly appreciate them. This is very hard & I'm very worried about him.

Dear Olga, I know that you've been worried about Flattie, and I was almost afraid to open this thread. My feeling is that your first reaction was the right one. Find out what the tumor is. Then figure out what to do next.

All of us who love our pets worry about the thingsthat concern you. Should I have him put down? Is he in pain? Am I being selfish? I think these are genuine questions we need to ask ourselves, but I don't think you're there yet.

Take this one step at a time.

My heart and my thoughts are with you.

Thank you again, Roberta, for responding my cat worries & concerns. As usual you are sensible & very kind!
Yes, that's what I figured. One thing at a time. And hope for the best!
(Here I am, at almost 2 am. Wide awake & reading your words of comfort. )