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Picante and Marigold!
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Picante and Marigold are the newest additions to our family, after we collected them both from Chicas Cattery at Southern River, here in Western Australia. Darrell and I drove the short distance to adopt this bonded pair, after I came across an appeal on social media to find them a forever home together. Since we had been looking for an oriental cat, we thought Picante and Marigold would be the perfect companions for Pippa. I had never intended to get two cats, but sometimes fate takes control.
These two are not without their baggage, after being unceremoniously dumped at the cattery, when the previous owners had enough of them, purchasing a rather large dog and Bengal cat instead. Some people really shouldn't have animals; you don't just offload them, when they don't fit into your lifestyle.
Apart from the emotional distress, Picante and Marigold have been through. Picante, like Pippa has a disability, having suffered from 'Transient Hyperlipidemia' when she was young. This was an acute imbalance of fat v red blood cells, which resulted in anaemia and lipidemia. This blood disorder caused Picante to lose the use of her hind quarters, and she was unable to walk for a period of time, due to a lack of oxygen to the nerves. The treatment involved a blood transfusion and an immediate change of diet to high protein food. This was maintained for four weeks, including six hourly feeds with added water, and she gradually regained the use of her legs over time. Today she can walk, although with a limp, with her back legs seemingly never developing, remaining small, almost withered looking. This doesn't stop her doing everything other cats do, however. We have bought them a rather large cat tree, and she can jump up on it perfectly well, if a little unsteady.
It is going to take a few weeks to get all three cats settled, but I am hopeful they will all become best of friends. At the moment there is the usual hissing and growling, but judging on previous experience it won't last long. Pippa has had her nose put out of joint temporarily, but she is holding her own, that's for sure.
Darrell and I are cat people first and foremost and would have hundreds of felines if we could. It felt lovely visiting Chicas Cattery, and the orientals Sue has there. It was one of the most beautiful, idyllic places we had ever seen, perfect surroundings for cats to thrive and grow. Everywhere I looked, I was reminded of our old cat Lily, and it really felt good to be around her breed once again. Picante is a Siam Oriental and Marigold a Siamese. Both of them have very similar traits and, like Lily, are very vocal. Equally, both of them are extremely affectionate and adorable to be around.
The next few weeks will be spent integrating our two new additions, and I look forward to blogging about their progress. Our new house in Western Australia is finally beginning to feel like home!
These two are not without their baggage, after being unceremoniously dumped at the cattery, when the previous owners had enough of them, purchasing a rather large dog and Bengal cat instead. Some people really shouldn't have animals; you don't just offload them, when they don't fit into your lifestyle.
Apart from the emotional distress, Picante and Marigold have been through. Picante, like Pippa has a disability, having suffered from 'Transient Hyperlipidemia' when she was young. This was an acute imbalance of fat v red blood cells, which resulted in anaemia and lipidemia. This blood disorder caused Picante to lose the use of her hind quarters, and she was unable to walk for a period of time, due to a lack of oxygen to the nerves. The treatment involved a blood transfusion and an immediate change of diet to high protein food. This was maintained for four weeks, including six hourly feeds with added water, and she gradually regained the use of her legs over time. Today she can walk, although with a limp, with her back legs seemingly never developing, remaining small, almost withered looking. This doesn't stop her doing everything other cats do, however. We have bought them a rather large cat tree, and she can jump up on it perfectly well, if a little unsteady.
It is going to take a few weeks to get all three cats settled, but I am hopeful they will all become best of friends. At the moment there is the usual hissing and growling, but judging on previous experience it won't last long. Pippa has had her nose put out of joint temporarily, but she is holding her own, that's for sure.
Darrell and I are cat people first and foremost and would have hundreds of felines if we could. It felt lovely visiting Chicas Cattery, and the orientals Sue has there. It was one of the most beautiful, idyllic places we had ever seen, perfect surroundings for cats to thrive and grow. Everywhere I looked, I was reminded of our old cat Lily, and it really felt good to be around her breed once again. Picante is a Siam Oriental and Marigold a Siamese. Both of them have very similar traits and, like Lily, are very vocal. Equally, both of them are extremely affectionate and adorable to be around.
The next few weeks will be spent integrating our two new additions, and I look forward to blogging about their progress. Our new house in Western Australia is finally beginning to feel like home!
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