Feline life lessons

Before the Feline Mob, I shared my home with The Original Posse. These cats were the first group to become my feline family.  (Sage is actually the only cat that has been part of both groups. She was the baby in The Posse, but was the senior in The Mob.)
Caring for Carrie, Jack, Toby, Parsley and Sage taught me many valuable life lessons about looking after our “feline overlords.” But one of the biggest, most terrifying learning curves came when Toby developed diabetes.

Being someone with a bit of an aversion to medical needles, the idea of injecting my cat daily filled me with dread. What if I did things wrong and hurt him? What if he hated me because I had to give him a jab?

I needn’t have worried. After the diagnosis, I was taught to ensure I was administering the insulin correctly. And then in all honesty, I took my lead from Toby.

Toby adapted exceptionally well to the new necessity in his life. He would come and gently pat my face around 8am every morning, and then wander downstairs to sit on the worktop near the sink. He knew the jab was over quickly, and was well worth it to secure his ham treat.

Toby’s diabetes was controlled and levelled out for around two and a half years; then something odd happened. He went into remission – his readings showed no indication he needed insulin assistance any more.

Sadly, a matter of months later chronic renal failure was diagnosed and I didn’t have anywhere near long enough with him after his remission due to this condition.

But Toby taught me something about caring for a feline that you love. Things don’t have to be insurmountable even when they seem it. They’re a challenge to begin with, definitely. But given the right advice and support they’re something you can learn to factor into your every day life as easily as any other aspect of cat care.

It helps if you have an outstandingly smart cat that recognises something might be a stumbling block and is the most receptive and cooperative cat you’ve ever encountered, though.  That’s something that goes without saying.

Dubbed “Little Junkie”, Toby taught me one of many valuable life 

lessons about caring for cats….