This has been quite a winter at Heidi Ho. Kittens have been growing up an and shipping out and from down here in the boonies that can be a problem. Everyone has to change planes in Atlanta which makes a nervous wreck out of me and the men at the Atlanta air freight offices. I call and bug them to see that the kids get out on the correct flight. So far, so good; everyone has reached his or her desti nation in good time and good shape.
We also had a harrowing experience with the arrival of the newest litter and found out the hard way why it is so important to count placentas. Due to circum stances beyond control, there was a missing placenta. Two days later, its where abouts became obvious–Heather stopped eating and drinking, spiked a fever of 105⁰, and lost her milk. Then, because of the high dosage of antibiotics necessary to bring down the fever, she developed a drug psychosis. The whole world must have looked upsidedown to her; she would go to her kitten when it cried, but didn’t know what to do with it. (The other kitten died during delivery) So for nearly a week I had to force feed Heather and bottle feed baby. Thank goodness, my mother was here. Although midwifery and bottle feeding kittens is not her cup of tea; she really came through in the pinch. Mother and daughter are doing fine now (both two-legged and four legged).
This reminds me of something I’ve been meaning to do for some time. I would like to recommend that anyone with cats, especially breeders, (we are subject to more problems than pet owners) keep a bottle of «Prodean» on hand for emergencies. It is a liquid, predigested protein compound with vitamins and iron. One tea spoonful per day plus water (10cc per paund) will maintain a sick cat. This epi sode is only one of several times I have used it. Las summer Abner existed on it for nearly a month. He lost weight but he stayed relatively healthy and active while recovering from a bad bout of cystitis. It is rather expensive, but keeps indefinitely if you store it in a dark cupboard. The price is $9.95 for a 16 oz bottle or $35.00 for a gallon. It can be obtained from Twin Laboratories, Inc., 543 Miller Avenue, Freeport, N.Y. 11520.
Besides being a good emergency food, Prodean also does marvelous things for coats that need a little perking up before show time. Some cats like it and will lick it out of a dish. If they don’t an easy way to administer it, or any other liquid is with a syringe. Slip a piece of rubber tubing about 13 inches long on the tip of the syringe. Then you can insert the tubing into the side of the cat’s mouth and squirt the liquid back in the throat. Please, use small squirts, about 1 cc at a time. My Andy has to have Prodean every day because of a digestive problem and he has learned to take it like a gentleman.
I would also like to recommend keeping a can of Esbilac and a Pet Nurser kit on hand. Heather’s little girl continued to gain at a normal rate during the whole time she was being bottle fed and had no diarrhea or any other problems.
I’ve had a couple recent questions on how to groom a Maine Coon Cat. There are some folks who insist that Maine Coons don’t need grooming. FISHFEATHERS!! Even Abner (Siamese) needs grooming! Granted, most of our MCs can get along with very little compared to Persians, but they do need it.
The tools I use are three metal comba–one coaras, one fine, and a «flea comb with very fine teeth for use on the shorter parts of the coat around the head and shoulders. For the tail, I use a «people brush», the half round type with stiff nylon bristles.
If your furry friend likes being groomed, put him up on a table of comfortable height (for you). Start with the coarse comb and when you have gone over him with that, do it again with the fine comb. Then use the flea comb on his head and shoulders. Pay special attention to places where matts are likely to form such as under his arms and between his back legs. Finish the job by thoroughly brushing his pride and joy. Occasionally, during the shedding season, I use the ccerse comb on the tail.
Remember that you are working on a Maine Coon, not a Persian. This means that you comb with the grain», from front to back. None of this hair teasing stuff for our cats. The same goes for the tail; brush toward the tip. If you want it to fluff a bit, when you are finished brushing, grasp the tip, hold it up and shake it. You may get swatted, but you’ll get just the right amount of fluff. The only parts that should be combed backwards are the bloomers. Comb them up toward the tail.
When you are finished, you cat’s coat should flow smoothly down and back over his body, and the hair on the tail should follow this same pattern when held in the horizontal position. His coat on head, shoulders and back should have the same satiny gleem you find on a short hair. Never use powder; you’ll dull the color and the gloss.
If your furry fiend doesn’t like grooming, then pin him on the floor, sit on him and follow the same procedure as best you can. Andy is a hellion when it comes to being combed. I pin his head and shoulders under one leg and comb as much as I can reach. Then I get a half Nelson under his chin and hold him against me while I do his tummy. By then he is so pooped from swearing and squirming that he will usually hold still while I finish up with the head and shoulders. Oddlly enough, he doesn’t mind having his tail brushed.
One last tip for this time. United Pharmacal Co., Inc., 306 Cherokee St., St. Joseph, Missouri 64504 is a good source of pet supplies of all kinds. your order is $5.00 or more you get wholesale prices. I’ve been using their products for three years and have found them very satisfactory. catalog. Write for a If
Have to go now; Heathcliff just came to remind me that it is time for treats and Henry is hollering complaints about not having had his liver.
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CONNIE