We haven’t given a Sam health update lately, and she wants you to know she is doing well! She complains that she doesn’t get as much blog time, but I have to remind her that she needs to do more that we can write about! There are only so many sleeping photos we can share, Sam. We’ve been trying to get her to help more with our #PetPhotographyChallenge photos, but often this is the type of cooperation I get:
In her defense, I think she holds her head like that because she’s listening, trying to hear what I’m doing (for those that don’t know, she is mostly blind).
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I got her this fun tower in hopes that she would like exploring it, and use the cozy bottom hidey-hole to sleep in.
This Vesper V-Box* really is an excellent cat tower. I think it’s stylish, and love that the carpet pieces are removable for easy cleaning.
She doesn’t love it like I hoped she would and even putting catnip or toys on there doesn’t attract her for long. I want to try some of those other toys – I think they’re made with valerian, that’s supposed to attract cats? I read about them on a cat blog, but now I can’t remember where. I need to remember to write things down when I see something interesting!
I’m pretty sure the only time she’s been in there is when I put her there for those photos. She does sit on top some though. Sam tends to have favorite spots to sleep in and sticks with the same one for some time. It’s been my office chair for a while now. When I need to work at my desk, I bring another chair over so she can stay in hers. Plus I don’t want to sit on her cushion, because with all the warmer weather we’ve had, she’s been shedding quite a bit!
She has been branching out some lately, and moving up to her favorite scratcher/bed* in front of the window now that the warm sunshine has been shining in more.
At her last veterinarian appointment in late January, all was well. Her blood pressure and thyroid were within normal ranges. She’s been eating well (which I can tell when I pick her up!), and is still loving her Tiki Cat canned food*. The only issue that has arisen again is with her litter box.
I don’t like keeping Sam’s world so small, but it almost seems like that is how she is more comfortable, maybe due to her blindness? She was never hanging out upstairs any more, and that’s where we had her kitty litter. For quite a while she still went up there to use it, but then she stopped, so we had to move them downstairs again. We’re wondering if we should just move them into the bathroom; whether moving them again will make things better or worse (she’s using them where they are now, but the location is not ideal for us).
I think one of Sam’s true joys in life is trying to confound us. 🙂
Those darn litter boxes. Soth is not using his consistently right now–for the first time since we moved–and I’m at my wits’ end again! I’m tired of having to deep clean the carpets every other day. I hope you find the right spot for Sam’s boxes for you and her! That cat tower looks great. Every time Soth’s gotten a new tower, it takes him some time to decide he likes it. Usually I’ll put treats in different places for him to discover while he’s exploring it and after a few days he decides he loves it.
I’ll need to try stashing a few treats in there too, and see if that helps.
Well, sorry to hear Soth is having issues, but glad to know it’s not just Sam! It’s so frustrating when you don’t change anything, but all of the sudden they do this for no apparent reason. We’re at least lucky to have the wood floors in some areas, though the wood will only take so much moisture too, before showing the wear.
LOL I can relate to trouble getting kitty pictures. You got a nice one though.
Is Sam completely blind? We weren’t aware of this, but can understand how keeping her world the smaller the better will make her feel safe. Rhette doesn’t show up in my blog much either because he is so lazy and does nothing! Cats! Love Dolly
She is not completely blind – her eyes still respond to light, but for the most part she really can’t see (maybe shadows at best). It was most likely brought on by the high blood pressure. Now that is under control, but all that will do is keep it from getting worse, it will never get better. But the truth is, Sam was never an active cat, so I don’t think the blindness has really changed her life all that much, other than making her space a little smaller.
We’re glad Sam is doing well. Bear Cat won’t go in a box to save his life. He’s got two cat condos on his cat tree and he’s never used them. You’d almost think Sam would appreciate the closed off area because she’d feel more protected from what she can’t see … but cats have their own ideas 🙂
I know, that’s exactly what I would expect; that she’d be more comfy in a cozy space like that. Cats definitely do have their own ideas though, that’s for sure! 🙂
Lovely pic of Sam at the end, although they were all good too! Too funny, on the chair thing, though, Jan, doesn’t that remind me of Eric with Aja-he would never dare to move her from anywhere she was, he worked around her! Regarding the kitty litter-ugh that this is an issue again-but in spite of the fact that she was used to going upstairs, I rather think you could be right, that with harder to see, she doesn’t like to venture as far-familiar or not? Also what one of your friends said here, that it is by smell she finds the box-so if you show her where it is, she may be okay, as we are saying that is closer to her places maybe than upstairs? Good luck with that anyway, so glad she is well overall-love my Sam! 🙂
I actually wonder if her eyesight isn’t getting worse too, even though it wasn’t supposed to once they got her blood pressure under control. It’s really hard to judge though, but if it is, that may be why she’s not wanting to venture as far.
That last picture is a keeper! We have some valerian toys…valerian really has a different smell to it than catnip. Not everybuddy likes it. We like valerian…but honestly, we like catnip a little bit more.
Good to know! Sam likes catnip, but she doesn’t really go nuts for it, at least not for more than a minute or two. So who knows if she would like the valerian that much either.
That last photo is really great! My cats would have loved a tower but back in the day, they were content with boxes and brown paper bags. LOL!
LOL….I probably should have tried to build her a tower out of boxes. At least then if she didn’t use it, I wouldn’t be out the $65 I paid! 🙂
I’m really glad that Sam is doing well! <3
I’m glad she is doing so well! Keep up the great work with her meds and such.
Hopefully she keeps up the cooperation with taking those pills!
Sam you’re such a sweetie. I love your cat tower, it looks easy to find things on. I think you could try to move the litter box as I’m sure she finds it by smell and as long as you show her where the new place is, she should hopefully be ok. You never know with a cat though! Kisses on your nosey Sam xx
Thanks for the tip, I hadn’t thought of her finding it by smell!! I think we’ll give it a try. When the weather gets better we really want to use the entryway which is where her litter is now. She actually has two boxes, so maybe we’ll move just one to start with.
She is such a cutie beauty!! <3
Sam does take a beautiful photo. What if you put a blankie in the bottom of the box instead of toys, maybe she would want to sleep in there.
That’s a good idea, I think I will try that, thanks!
You are a pretty gal Sam and it is so nice to see you!
Aw…that last pic is especially adorable!
oh you became the chair(wo)man of your crib? bravo :o) I wish cat towers for dogs would exist too… is saw such a cute one in a store it was a giant mouse (absurd if we ponder about this fact, that a cat sleeps in a mouse) and I watched it 87 times… but for the two weeks it would fit for Phenny the 89 bucks were way tooo much :o)
LOL….there used to be a dog out here in the blogosphere who was often seen sleeping on the cat tower! Somehow she made herself fit!
I imagine towers made for dogs would take up a lot of room in a house…..
Aw, glad her health is good! Animals just seem to adapt to life changes better than we humans do. And I thought cats live to confound their humans. Since I don’t have one, I’m only guessing based on what my best friend has told me over the years. ????
I think you are right about that! 🙂
We are happy to hear you are doing well Sam. I have aches and pains too
Lily (& Edward)
Such a sweet kitty. We are happy to hear her health is pretty good. Getting old is hard.
It sure is!