topic Pet Appreciation Thread in Staying well

Pet Appreciation Thread

Girl_Anachronism — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 00:59:59 GMT

Good Morning All,

I was watching my two cats this morning and realised just how much they have helped me. I have been in a low place for such a long time, that honestly a week or two ago, the only reason I could stand to wake up and get out of bed was because my two beautiful cats needed me to feed them, to love them. I would then go back to bed on the worst days. The only reason I didn't attempt to take my own life was the thought that they would need me tomorrow to do the same. I could go from unable to cry in despair to actually smiling and laughing at one of my cats chasing each other or jumping up on the bed for some love and attention. Since then I have another thing- a project I am working on to hold me here that I am actually enjoying. I haven't enjoyed something in months.

So while I know that there are many aspects to recovering- health professionals, family, friends, these forums and medication. All of which I need to combine to get better. I am not that much better at the moment, but I am a little better. I wouldn't have been here to feel this, if it weren't for my beautiful cats.

So this post is dedicated not only to my two furry friends, Sydney and Mayflower, but to all the pets out there, be they cats or dogs or rabbits or fish. When we feel at our lowest and we can't possibly talk to another human bieng, our pets come up to us and ask for nothing than to be in our company. Sometimes they save us from ourselves.

GA

Pet Appreciation Thread

Jo3 — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 03:23:24 GMT

Hi GA

You know we have a kelpie (Jersey) who is the most beautiful dog, intelligent and very loyal. When I am home alone she will come and sit right next to me, virtually on top of my feet and then lay down. When I have cried before she will come up to me and look at me with her big brown eyes.

I am positive that animals can sense when humans are upset, hurt or even happy. And I always love coming home from work and seeing Jersey jump up to me and I give you a big hug and it just makes me feel so loved.

Take care GA,

Pet Appreciation Thread

geoff — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:15:00 GMT

dear GA and Jo, I could not agree with the both of you any more.

The dogs especially Tessie was my partner for many years and she wouldn't let me go out without her, Moo-Moo is the same as well and I do love her, but there is no way I could ever be without them. L Geoff. x

Pet Appreciation Thread

emilyloveslily — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 03:00:19 GMT

Best post!!! My cat is the one of the best things in my life and always helps me when things are not great

Pet Appreciation Thread

Paws4Thought — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 07:52:06 GMT

Hi GA

Nice post!!!

I also owe my good days to my two furry friends - two very large dogs who I couldn't cope without.

One of them is an early bird - so her furry face nudging me under the covers makes me get out of bed each morning to let her out. Then the other one is a real bed-bug - so she always curls herself around me to give me the most loving cuddle possible.

Good luck to enjoying life with ALL of our best friends!

Pet Appreciation Thread

Starz — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 23:29:17 GMT

Couldn't have said it better. We have 2 beautiful dogs and they are the most caring little souls. There were days when their love was all that kept me going. They get close to me when I am upset, one of them tries to lick my tears although I don't let him (I am sure he is just after the salty water but it still feels special that he cares enough to try to lick my tears!). There are days where they were the only thing I smiled at. One of them would do something cute or klutzy and it would make me smile.

Their love just feels so good and pure and reminds me that I am worth loving even when I am in my darkest times. Thank goodness for these wonderful little furry babies.

Pet Appreciation Thread

EmmaP — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 01:45:39 GMT

Hi Girl_Anachronism,

What a fantastic post. You are so right! When I was much younger and had my best friend Apache- my pony whom I loved dearly, when everything seemed doom and gloom and I just needed to let it all out, I would go and grab him and bury my face in his mane and cry or talk it out to him while feeding him tid bits and I never felt like anyone else loved, understood or listened to me as well as Apache did. He is such a beautiful soul of a horse. He is so beautiful he is actually on long loan to the riding for the disabled and they use him for the most severely disabled kids.

My current girlfriend who is struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder, Asperger's and depression plays with her housemate's dog Toby whenever she is feeling down. There is nothing that can make her happier than seeing his gorgeous face and wagging tail (he is a Border Collie) playing ball, wrestling or tug of war with her. It often takes her more than an hour to eat her food as she stops to play with Toby. She was recently in hospital for unrelated issues and when I went home to get her more clothes she begged me to take a video of Toby because she missed him so much. She was so happy to come home to him and snuggle with their other dog Duke on the lounge (he is much smaller than Toby and more snuggly).

Animals understand us like no one else will. They care and love us unconditionally.

Thank you for the post and good luck with your journey.

EmmaP

Pet Appreciation Thread

Paws4Thought — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 02:34:29 GMT

Nice one Starz.

I don't believe that your furry friend only tries to lick away your tears for the salt water though. If he did, he could just lick your hand, arm, leg or whatever. Nah, don't underestimate them - you must have earned so much love from them both that they'll each do whatever they can to make you happy again.

I totally agree that our dogs give us such good, pure love - it's a wonderful gift.

Good on ya!

Pet Appreciation Thread

Mishka — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 02:13:39 GMT

What a lovely post, I couldn't imagine life without my dogs, there like my kids. I have a German shepherd and a pug. Whenever I see pets I smile and start to relax. I don't know what is but I think animals are way better than people ! No one cheers me up like my dogs.

Pet Appreciation Thread

Girl_Anachronism — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 23:27:21 GMT

Hi All,

Good to see this thread still going!

I had two german shepherds growing up. They are lovely dogs. One of them passed away when I was 16, due to a heart attack ( he was 12 years old) but my sister still has the other one, who is turning 13 this year herself. While her sight and hearing are starting to go, she is just a happy excitable puppy as ever and always happy to see me when I visit.

I personally struggled to get out of bed at all recently, particularly after I lost my precious Sydney, my russian blue kitty. I still don't know if she is ok, or if someone else is taking care of her. I have gotten a new kitten, a pure white called Elsa. She makes me get out of bed every morning, waking me at 6 for food. But I have pulled myself back from the edge because I want to see her grow up, I want to see her become the long legged kitty that she is already showing signs of being.

I look at her now, sleeping at my feet, full of breakfast and can't help but smile, no matter how sad I am.

Pets really make such a difference

Pet Appreciation Thread

geoff — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 00:14:45 GMT

dear GA, I have just come back from the vet where Moo-Moo has been on cortisone tablets to stop her from scratching her little tummy, legs and you know what, but she has put on 1 1/2 kgs, because these tablets make her hungry, so the vet has put her on a strict diet.

It's not so much Moo-Moo, it's me that has to not give in to her, and feed her some little treats, I have to be strong. L Geoff. x

Pet Appreciation Thread

AGrace — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 00:49:52 GMT

Yesterday I braved the cold Melbourne weather and ventured outside to play with my cat Loulou and a bunch of leaves that had fallen from our neighbors tree. She had so much fun chasing leaves and attacking them. I felt like a child again. It was the best 10 minutes of the entire day. When we came back inside we both cosied up on the couch with her favourite blanket and had a cat nap. She is the epitome of unconditional love:)

Pet Appreciation Thread

Girl_Anachronism — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 03:57:52 GMT

Hi Geoff,

I know that temptation all too well. I had to step up the feeding schedule as Elsa, being a kitten required being fed more than twice a day. Little did I know that Mayflower was sneaking food at the same time. So Mayflower got quite round around the middle over the past weeks. I have since cut back the feeding schedule to two times a day, which Elsa seems happy with, though is a little more insistent in the mornings. Mayflower is looking a little more like her long lean self.

Agrace - I can just imagine the chaos the leaves would have caused. Mine are indoor kitties and love chasing cat toys like mice and balls around the house. The problem is sometimesthey like chasing socks and foam Nerf bullets around the house. Mayflower has taken to attacking the socks when they are on my feet.

Pet Appreciation Thread

HelenM — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 18:35:47 GMT

I just love animals. We have a rescue dog called Cassie. She has separation anxiety and wants to be with us all the time. I love it when she's lying on the bed when I'm going to sleep at night. Our last dog, Nemo - the fish was named after her - was a german shepherd, another rescue dog. I adored her. She died in 2009 at 15 years old. I still miss her.

Pet Appreciation Thread

AGrace — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 08:35:20 GMT

We split our bed in 3's every night. 1/3 has to go to the cat! My partner often says we're like sardines in a can! Goodness knows what we'll do when a child comes along. I wouldn't give it up for the world, seeing her face, and hearing her "maa" (she cant seem to meouw) as soon as I wake up is priceless. ...if only she could learn to self feed and make a cup of tea....Sometimes she's my reason for getting out of bed in the morning.

Pet Appreciation Thread

Girl_Anachronism — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 12:09:42 GMT

I am currently in a single bed and I only get half if I am lucky, the other half goes to my 6 month old kitten who can take up a surprisingly large amount of room when she tries (see my profile pic). On the bed I have three pillows. I get the flat one and semi fluffy one. The new big fluffy one is where my other cat, Mayflower sleeps. I am not the master of this relationship.

I woke up this morning and fed the cats then was tired enough to go back to bed. I managed to fall asleep and when I woke I had Elsa, the kitten stretched across my stomach and hips and Mayflower curled around one leg. This despite the fact I left them their half of the bed. I tell you I never felt so loved and didn't want to move. Who needs hot water bottles when you have cats.

Pet Appreciation Thread

HelenM — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 15:53:14 GMT

I would love to have a cat. Growing up we always had one and I had a ginger girl (unusual) called Morag when I was with my first husband. We live too near a main road, but I couldn't get a rescue cat who needed to be indoors because my 2nd husband isn't a lover of cats. Eventually when we lose Cassie, our dog we feel we couldn't get another due to problems going away. Cats don't cause such a problem here. I'm really going to have to do some persuading.

Pet Appreciation Thread

Girl_Anachronism — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 01:24:44 GMT

Pets I general have such therapeutic qualities . I really hope you can get a rescue cat. All my cats have been rescue cats. All they want is a home, a little food, a warm place to sleep, a little company and some love.

Pet Appreciation Thread

HelenM — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 18:33:06 GMT

I hope so too GA. Your cat looks lovely. And I love it when people get rescue pets.

Maybe it's wrong but I prefer animals to people. Whatever they do it's instinct, never nasty. Only humans deliberately cause pain to other living things.

Helen x

Pet Appreciation Thread

geoff — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 22:07:44 GMT

dear All, well I wasn't sure who to address this too because all your replies are just so lovely.

Beds, well I have a queen size bed and sometimes when I want to turn over I'm just as likely to fall out of bed.

So far so good with Moo-Moo and her diet, I feel as though I have to wear blinkers, like horses do, because it's the look they give you 'please please a little more', but then I get the usual comments from people 'what do feed her, oh not that, you should give her -------------------whatever.

Anyway she's asleep now so she can't eat. lol. L Geoff. x