Get A Compass! The Excellent Cats embrace a new rallying cry

[TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne]

........... even though none of them understand what it means.

That's very good news about Finlay.

Not really surprising about the arthritis in his hip despite his age - traumatic joint & bone injuries can cause that at any age. To be honest if it's in the ball joint sorting that is a pretty routine operation these days as well.

I'm glad you've had good news about Finlay. Hopefully any issues can now be treated relatively easily (and cheaply!).

For the last few nights I have been woken up by Fred knocking everything off my bathroom windowsill shelf. I clearer a spot for him earlier thinking maybe he just liked the coolness of the room. However when I was having a bath earlier, I saw a few pigeons flying up to the window and either sitting on the outside windowsill or just hovering. That explains Fred's fascination!

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats there is a voucher on zooplus for agail!
Those of you that brush your cats-
Did you start a bit at a time?
After coughed up furball at the weekend I was determined to try did about 3 mins. Then was swatted so stopped
At the moment the routine is Micia makes a little cry noise, which summons me then she jumps on the bed to lie down and be stroked.
This may have to change next week as I am having a knee replacement so she may need to be more flexible on location

It may be the brush you're using, they all have their preferences. Girlcat gives me the filthiest looks if I go near her with a brush, but just the sight of one of the ones that's a sort of flexible paddle with soft silicon spines and she's demanding grooming.

Here's an example on Amazon of the ones she likes. They also do similar as grooming mitts, but she doesn't approve of those.

Finlay is home! Thank you for all your kind messages and good wishes

Cheers 😁

Very pleased to hear it - what did the vet say?

Yay for Finlay. I assume he's had an unaided pee if they've let him home?

That’s great, @JaceLancs!

Good luck with the knee replacement, @Breadcat24.

Kitty’s very tired after helping to change the bed AND supervising bread making.

Fantastic @JaceLancsGlad to see he's as handsome as ever.

Raven loves being brushed and isn't fussy about the tool. Ghostie on the other hand only accepts a grooming gloves, and my boy Alizè preferred the furminator.

Interesting names for your feline overlords. Rum !
Great to see Mr Velvet Coat Finlay back where he belongs: is he under house arrest for a bit Jace?

So sorry to hear about Tobias, Allergic 💐, is he still at the vet?

Wonderful news with Finlay, I bet you are feeling so relieved (as he is!).

Breadcat24 my first cat hated being brushed until we bought one for rabbits. Then she would roll over for her other side and tummy to be done. We tried the same rabbit brush on The Stray and she's the same. It seems to get out the underfur rather than the top layer.

Thank you everyone! Vet said just to monitor and not let him out for a few days - on cyst aid, sedatives and pain relief/anti inflammatory meds - we will keep an eye on hip etc - might be a physio assessment to start with
Bill was less than I expected (under £1200) hopefully insurance will pay out soon
Finn is hopping mad about being grounded and has already tried to break cat flap so we have had to barricade it!
Now drugged up for night - hopefully

Trying to hatch an escape plan

DD cat is adjusting to life as an older sibling
At first he ran away if baby moved - now he’s getting closer and decided if baby is here to stay it might as well have a wash!

Not staying at the vets at all - it was just a quick introduction to his new vet, once over, check the dreaded weight, check heart/lungs & whether his belly was painful.

It's literally a case of whatever he eats he can no longer digest it properly so isn't getting enough nutrition. Not really anything the vets would be able to do bar force feeding him pre-digested food, which is NOT going to happen.

It was take him home, keep an eye on his weight & general demeanour, be prepared for his quality of life to reduce until I need to make the decision to PTS. Could be weeks, could be months, but it appears he's reached that tipping point now when the downhill will just accelerate.

Catching up with the thread. 💐 to all the excellent cats and their excellent owners who may be having a challenging time at the moment.

@Pudmyboy yes we are trying to keep him in till at least Saturday - he’s really not happy and dug up the sitting room carpet by the door hoping to get out that way!!!

I'm a bit behind, but @Defiantly41 Miss B looks so fabulous in that photo! I'm big on framing photos and pictures etc and that would be on my wall so fast if she was mine ❤
I'm so big on framing things that when I wasn't sure what to do with a Britney CD (yes I know 😁) DH said why didn't I frame it as it is literally the reason we met - I was playing it was too loudly way too early 😂
We have a pictures and photos wall on our stairwell. It makes me happy and calms me when I'm very ill to look at our life together.

I started by putting photos of my foster cats on my wall, then decided to put family & friends up too, & there’s a growing collection of photos of Kitty. Much nicer than having them hidden away in albums or on my phone… although obviously that’s full of photos of her too.

Frankenstein has commandeered a massive box as his new "house' so last night I decided to give it windows. I think he wants curtains so he can stop me peering in at him.

@RumNotRun love Franks house, can you make another with fake pigeons on the roof for Fred

Love the cardboard house x

Thanks @lostcats2,this is the one I have on my wall, painted by a super talented friend who does pet portraits for a living. She normally does dogs and horses but did an incredible job with Miss B