Cold sores...

...fortunately, this is something pussies don't suffer from.
But I do if I get run down.
No worries though, whenever I feel the burning sensation, and see the emergence of yet another cold sore, I just take 3 granules of Natrum Muriaticum 30c + 2 granules of Borax 10 mns later : by the morning it's dried-up and dead.
Saved me a small fortune on cold sore creams so far.

Rodney, ex-diabetic puss

A friend of mines whose mother's cat had been diagnosed with diabetes--in the early stages, told me how the once fat little bastard, called Rodney ;-D, had some kind of 'remission', as in not needing his insulin injections any longer :

Her and her mom got 2 homeopathic remedies to start with, one that can halt the kidney's degeneration and another that treats both urinary disorders as well as excessive thirst. Respectively, Kali Chlor 30c and Hydrangea 30c. Worked from day one as the old tom (14) ceased to drink as much and seemed a lot brighter.

The vet had tried to push them into buying a big bag of Science Plan prescription dry food but the mommy insisted Rodney would be better off on wet food. I would most likely have said the same thing meself as it happens.

Anyway, Rodney's mam thought the likes of Denes tins and HiLife pouches would sort her beast out, but to no avail : although the cat drank less than prior to the remedies, he was still ingurgitating that bit too much water in comparison to when he had been healthier.

She then later realised that Denes contained quite a significant amount of 'cereals' as indicated on the tins label and that Hilife was fairly high on proteins--which isn't necessarily recommended for older cats with kidney issues.

In desperation, she tried the Co-Op's pouches own brand + tins ( the jelly, inexpensive ones ) which she found to be low enough in proteins and high enough in fats as to help the little bugger to put some weight back on ( since he had become skinnier for a while ).

Since then, Rodney has been going from strength to strength, is most definitely healthier and back to his cheeky chubby self too. ;-D
He now scarcely drinks, if at all I'm told.
I have seen the furry toddler recently and he appears as mischievious and lively as he ever was before the condition had developed.
This cat had been fed exclusively on Science Plan dry kibblets for quite a few years before his diabetic spell. Mere coincidence..????? you should be so lucky.

Who would've thought... that a so-called 'cheap crappy cat food' from the supermarket could actually help a diabetic cat to recover !!??

I'm learning everyday... ;-0
and so should all those high protein fanatics/raw meat maniacs/cat food snobs. That lot seem to be forever ranting at anyone who'll listen with absolutist statements that sound more like bible-bashing, all over the net in every bloody single cat nutrition article or forum I care to read--aaarrrgghhhh... This is getting on my teats a bit, even though I'm painfully aware that they do mean well..

seriously thinking...

...oh yes it does sometimes happen.
Where was I... seriously thinking therefore, about getting off the roll-ups very soon.
I only smoke roughly 6 a day in the aerated n shut bathroom as to spare my furry sprogs from the toxic smoke.
The nice thing about roll-ups though is that they don't really stink at all, nothing like the ready-made fags in any case, which is handy as otherwise I'd be forced to smoke them on the balcony in all weathers just as I expect from, and impose on my ready-prepared-ciggies-smoking visitors, since I can't stand the stench of it and most importantly nor can my dinausors'lungs and noses.

I have a serious constipation problem on my hands though: I'm sure I'm not the only one with that kind of chronic affliction and it is that whenever I quit the sweet weed, my guts seem to resign from their assigned job altogether; they obviously object to being deprived from their daily nicotine fix. I know the feeling.
I'm told chewing raw brown linseeds could help, so will be trying that one and will let you know if it does the trick.
Otherwise, I may have to purchase a good old enema from the chemist's, and why ever not. I have no sense of shame whatsoever me--did anyone notice.

I'm sure I can find some pretty good homeopathic remedies to try n fix it all if I look hard enough... I normally use homeopathy mostly on my cats but now I suppose it's my turn.

I already have tested Lobelia Inflata 30c, Tabacum 30c and Gelsemium Sempervirens
30c to reduce the cravings (when I once tried to weane myself off the fag, once in the distant past..) and soothe my nerves. It really worked for the cravings + associated nervosity but my constricted backside didn't quite follow hence I couldn't make it in the end.

Other than that, jumping from the cockroll to the donkey, if you happen to have a nervous, restless and aggressive-without-provocation type of pussy-bullycat and/or who tends to chew their fur off/scratch him/herself hard even though you know for definite that s/he does not have any flea infestation going on, the remedy that might very well save the day would thus be Anacardium 30c.

That little thug of mines (rasputin) becomes a lot calmer and ever so sweeter towards my ginger bear (Fred) once he's had a granule of Anacardium to settle his delicate nerves down. He used to chew his hair off during the first few weeks I had him, as he was so traumatised I guess after having been dumped into the shelter not knowing what was going to happen to him--like most of the kitties in there.
Anyway, he was scratching and biting himself 'til blood came out and scabby skin around the base of his tail soon appeared as a result.
A visit to the vet + a course of tablets punished him that bit further in giving the poor lill bugger massive diarrhoeas (steroids I think it was..?) and as if that wasn't bad enough those pills didn't even cure him one iota.
Anacardium did however, in just over a few days.

To this day, I still marvel at the somehow 'miraculous' efficaciousness of homeopathy as it literally saved my cats from many serious ailments and infections.

The Secret's most refreshing review ever

At long last, someone who can just about retranscribe the loathing I've always felt toward those cheap & moronic philosophy fads...how lovely...
Many many thanks to the author, Matt Cale who has succeeded in giving me a good giggle n cheering me up !

Enjoy!


This is Google's cache of http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/941/secret-the/
THE SECRET
By Matt Cale: March 18, 2007



Every generation gets the pyramid scheme it deserves, and ours begins and ends with The Secret, a self-help phenomenon that differs little from previous philosophies of positive thinking, except that it uses the veneer of “science” to elevate it beyond the obvious quackery. Like its brother-in-arms What the Bleep Do We Know?, a New Age hallucination that took theaters (and soft minds) by storm a few years back, The Secret peppers its otherwise banal pronouncements (“Be the change!”) with distortions of quantum physics and natural law, which, for all of their so-called respectability, are quickly becoming the new mantras of the fringe holy-roller set; acceptable symbols for folks who stopped chanting and ingesting peyote about the time they hung up their beads and flowing robes. If it’s science – or can be labeled as such – then it can’t be classified as religion, which is a brilliant marketing strategy to suck in those still a bit cynical about church or Biblical accounts. It’s a way to feel sane and rational; to separate oneself from fainting spells, speaking in tongues, and fanatical organ music, while still securing aid and comfort in an otherwise confusing world. Nevertheless, despite having no official sect or well-dressed leader, The Secret is a mindless cult as harmful and destructive as any mainstream spiritual pursuit – perhaps more so, for it comes dressed as religion’s heartwarming opposite.

First, no philosophy, even one so seemingly benign and “instructive,” could ever hope to pass the smell test when its primary advocates are people with titles such as “Visionary,” “Philosopher,” and “Metaphysician.” It’s a dead giveaway as to the efficacy of a belief system when its most fervent champions are those who secured their positions either from online universities, or had them “bestowed” upon their persons in moonlit ceremonies involving chanting, laying of hands, and at least one person beating a drum. Not a single reputable individual – you know, someone with an actual education or degree – speaks in this movie, other than the creepy feng shui consultants and “authors” (is this ever allowable for the strict self-publishing set?) who always seem on the verge of leaping from their chairs and attacking the camera. Take Joe Vitale, for example; a man who simply must be Dick’s brother, for not only does he look strikingly similar, he also has that wide-eyed madness that could only come from a lifetime’s devotion to something that requires always remaining at the top of one’s voice. Still, their passion is obvious, and who on earth am I to dispute the man who conceived of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books? And as the introduction informs me, this “secret” was how Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, Plato, Beethoven, and Ralph Waldo Emerson lived their lives. More than that, the secret is so important and powerful that until just now – right in time for this book and DVD bonanza – bad men in smoke-filled rooms have been keeping it from the general public! What else do I need to know?

Well, the actual philosophy, for starters. In sum, the secret is the “law of attraction” – nothing more, nothing less. Put another way, “thoughts become things,” or, “when you visualize, you materialize.” Yes, it’s good, old-fashioned positive thinking, but if were simply that, the movement would fade away into irrelevance. It will certainly do that anyway (most cults, outside of the big daddies like Islam and Christianity, seem to have brief shelf lives), but immediate opposition is still required, as this worldview threatens to throw the very concept of science into disarray. According to this idea, we alone are responsible for each and every thing that happens to us, not because of the actions we take, but the thoughts and energy we project. If we want money, we need only to see it in our minds, send the thoughts from our brains, and it will come to us (as one man seems to imply, in envelopes, apparently with no apparent source). Hold on to the thoughts we want, and we can become rich, powerful, and surrounded by happiness and love. The frequencies we emit flow out into the universe and – stay with me on this one – the universe rearranges itself to suit our thoughts. Magnetic signals actually affect reality, conforming the world to what we want to happen in our very lives. The film proves this by showing a man – unshaven and alone – in a recliner, visualizing himself driving a nice car. He even shifts and accelerates as if on the road to glory. The mind is so confused that it believes it has driven this car, and the man is but one step from actually possessing the fine machine. If he is in debt, has no job, and couldn’t get a line of credit if his life depended on it, no matter, for the only blame lies in his “negative focus” on these crushing realities. If he said to himself, “I am going to have this car,” rather than, “I’d like to have this car, but owe the IRS $680,000,” it would be in his garage as we speak. When will fools ever learn?



It is curious indeed that reality has no place in the Secret World, but then again, reality is what you believe it to be, not what it actually is. But what it “is” is only what you believe it to be, so, uh, you can see where this leads. If you’re fat, it’s not because you eat too much or exercise too little; you have only the image of the fat body in your mind to blame. It’s an excuse I’ll use, believe me. The film again proves what it preaches with the re-enactment of a gay man’s tale; a poor sap who is teased, bullied at work, and attacked by soda-wielding toughs on the street, but only because he focused on being harassed. Once he decided to think happy thoughts – and still be gay, I imagine – the evil co-workers either quit or were transferred, and the street urchins disappeared, I’m guessing to kill the homeless dude down the block who hadn’t yet rented this DVD. And so it would seem that if everyone in a neighborhood experiencing high crime took the secret to heart and lived its principles, all drug traffic, violence, and loitering would move somewhere else. If enough people believed it, then, trouble would have to go to another city. More people, shit done left the state, and on and on and on. Good vibes, then, kill crime. I expect a major political party to adopt this plank sometime in the next decade.

What the film doesn’t answer, however, is how the universe is to re-arrange itself if two people send their thoughts to the realm of the rainbows that are in direct conflict with each other. If I, for example, pictured the hot blond in the tube top massaging my joint every single day for a year – visualizing with lotion and tissue handy, just in case – would I eventually acquire her services, even if her thoughts contained images of my arrest, or even violent death? Who wins? I’m certain I can outthink a blond, but maybe she’s more dedicated to the cause. This shit is “scientifically proven” (the chiropractor said so, didn’t he?), so surely there must be a hierarchy of frequencies milling about in our galaxy. The gallery of clerics do say that since positive thoughts are thousands of times more powerful than negative ones, it is imperative that good feelings define your day, so I’m guessing they would argue that I’m a bit too pessimistic to have my fantasies win out over the blond’s disgust. But if positive thoughts actually possess more power, how does so much suffering exist in the world? Is it actually being argued that if the trains to Auschwitz had featured a conga line or spontaneous outburst of “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” they would have ground to a halt, the doors unlatched, and the Holocaust completely interrupted? It’s quite telling that The Secret never considers such historical events, or anything even remotely dark in its implications.



While there are dozens of holes, flaws, and inconsistencies in The Secret (to say nothing of the distracting backdrops and painfully inept re-enactments), it is the refusal to discuss using this “power” for evil that truly offends. Not that I believe in literal “evil,” mind you, but what about those who visualize 6-year-old boys in their showers, or psychotic loners who seek to “attract” hookers to their basements, so as to dismember their corpses? No, apparently anyone tapping into the secret seeks only a better job, bigger paycheck, nicer house, or fancier car. Fine, occasionally, someone wants a healthier body, but for the most part, these are the same materialistic desires offered as “just” rewards for every other self-help school. If, as someone says, “the universe will correspond to the nature of your song,” is this to say that our world – even if we don’t worship a god in the conventional sense – is geared toward giving us stuff? Again, though, what about the undeniable fact that most of the world lives in depressing poverty? Without literacy or DVD players, they obviously can’t learn of The Secret, but I would gather that their real problem lies in the fact that they are poor because that is all that they see. If, instead of hunting for food at night, or fighting off the flies, disease, and industrial waste that seep into their hovels, they envisioned swimming pools and catered lunches, they might eventually leave the ghetto and join the country club set for a few rounds of golf. Indeed, this is conservatism writ large: Everyone gets exactly what they deserve, and what good is it to help the poor and homeless when all they need is a bit of pluck and unwavering belief?

So remember the process: ask, believe, and then receive. Not only is it that simple, it’s available to all for the price of an evening’s excruciating pain in front of a television set. Next, set up a “vision board,” wherein you cut out pictures from magazines as inspiration for what you expect to have in a short amount of time. Sure, you could be obvious – like the examples in this movie – and choose images of watches, furs, and diamonds, but I’d like a single shot for my board: me, unshowered and pajama-clad, sitting on the couch, eating chips and watching all the DVDs I’ve purchased with the mysterious bags of money that keep being dropped on my doorstep. It differs little from my current existence, absent the cash, so it’s eminently achievable. Funny how no such people seem to embrace The Secret, and to a man, woman, and guru, they all find a way to earn their bread peddling ways to live as they do. In other words, the secret seems to be: take the obvious, dress it up with a few fancy terms, bribe a few disreputable (but important-sounding) “experts” to offer their wisdom, and sell it as a new way to live life to its fullest. Better yet, get Oprah Winfrey to do a show about it, then watch your sales explode, thereby confirming capitalism’s creed that what sells is what’s important, and you can rest knowing that your job is complete. Money’s made, sheep have been lulled to sleep, and all is well. But be grateful, as gratitude (in the form of a “gratitude rock,” if possible) has the power to cure hepatitis in a dying African boy. It can also send cancer screaming from the body, or take a paralyzed man and make him walk by Christmas; simply by believing. Duly noted, my good man. Ah, but what’s that in my mind’s eye? My brain, penetrated by a high-caliber bullet? Self-inflicted, is it? I see it, so it must be so.


Spread The Word!

Farting cats...

If, like me once upon a time, you made the dreadful mistake of allowing your pussy a bit of cabbage (resulting in the lill rascal farting his arse off all day long just like a friend of mines whose name I'm more than tempted to reveal but that i'd better not mention--unless i want my head chopped off), try not to despair from the suffocating fumes as there are very effective remedies coming along just now :

1) Lycopodium in 30c--2 granules at once
2) Antimonium Crudum 30c--1 granule, 20mns later
3) Carbo Vegetabilis 30c--2 granules, 20mns later

It should work on human chimps too by the way.

Unfortunately, homeopathy doesn't come cheap in the U.K, talk about ripp-off-britain...Tis why i would recommend to anyone the option of ordering their remedies from a trusted french (european in any case) website where at all possible, consider this : one homeopathic `tube' in france only costs 1 euro-sumfink, which is roughly 1lousy quid in sterling compared to the british exorbitant price of 5 flaming quid and 50 p--from Yards' Remedies' shops amongst others, approximately the same pricetag all over the island. They really are taking the p*** !!!!!!

Constipation in pussies...

...is easily treated with a bit of olive oil.
Still, I would avoid the extra virgin one as even I, among some other bipedes I know, find it hard to digest and often end up with nauseas with such oils, whether extra virgin olive or any other sort.
Basically, the straight olive oil is by far the safest in me humble opinion.
I would only use paraffin liquid if cattus has been unable to poop for at least 3 days n if the olive oil hasn't quite worked.
I'm pleased to say I have never had to use the paraffin liquid since I have discovered the `olive oil effect' on my dinausors' guts. Great results everytime. It also helps them to pass hairballs smoothly.
Perhaps it's not too wise to give the monsters olive oil everyday though, as it could soften their poopeezzz that bit too much in the long run. ;-D

Thyroid disorders in cats

If you suspect, or rather, know for sure that your kitty is in the early stages of Hyperthyroidism,`Flor di Piedra' in 12c will balance and regulate the glandular secretions and hormones.
The cat should also put some weight back on pretty quickly after just one dose (1 granule for just 1 day should be enough) and whilst being put on a high fat diet + FRESH meat. The one thing to avoid is fish which makes the condition worse, (especially tuna and cod) except for fresh salmon--from my observations.

For more advanced cases, alongside Flor di Pedra, Iodum in 30c can be given once a day (1 granule): the cat will have lost a lot of weight despite having a voracious appetite, will drink a hell of a lot and have a scruffy/greasy coat.
If that remedy fails to work, Thyroidinum 30c should be tried--one granule once a day until symptoms start disappearing/waning.

Natrum Muriaticum 30c can be administered for Hypothyroidism, usually accompanied with kidney problems, lack of appetite + acute thirst. The diet here should be low on calories & fat.

I have definitely noticed that commercial wet food (pouches or tins) tend to aggravate hyperthyroidism symptoms, more so than any `premium' (...) high fat n calories dry food. Given that I'm not a big fan of kibblets in general ( apart from the jameswellbeloved brand ones ) I was quite surprised there..

Freddy's favourite sport..

..other than whacking me and rasputin 'round the head for the hell of it, is his very special n unique technique for killing spiders.
First, Fred, from his lofty throne (the computer chair that i can no longer use since the fateful day he established it as his) notices a creepy spider. That's enough to get him out of the deep slumber he normally sinks in for most of the day. Then it finally clicks that if he wants to catch the creepy-crawley thingie at all, he'd better lift his fat bottom and start running after it. which he does, eventually. So there he goes, stretching his chubby paw towards the poor creature, as an invitation for play. Freddy loves playing with spiders, until he gets a bit bored. And when he does grow tired of the game, he simply sits on the spider, not so much on his hind legs, but on his rather large backside. Now, I obviously cannot see the intricate gory details of what is actually taking place right under his monumental rear, but I can make a wild guess...no spider would ever survive under the weight of Freddy's arse + the potentially fatal fumes it might possibly emit. I think that would be enough to suffocate anyone to death in such circumstances, surely. Indeedy, I invariably find the spider quite lifeless afterwards, which suits me fine as I'm petrified of these creatures.

Other than that, baby Fred also has a weakness for daddy-long-legs and very much enjoys eating them alive & kicking, usually around september. Not as cruel a fate as what he reserves for the arachnia species i'd say. he's a sweet boy really.

A catfood recipe, courtesy of Louise..

I meant to post this interesting recipe sent to me by Louise a week ago...in her own words--many thanks Louise! ;-D :

" Basically, you mix about 2lbs of turkey mince with 2 raw eggs, 2 grated parsnips (they love the sweetness) and 2 grated potatoes.
Finish with a few spoons of marmite or Bovril to add a savoury flavour and “stick” the mixture together then steam until the meat has turned white.
We got this recipe from a nifty little book re cooking for your cat I must try to find it at home and get the name of it for you.
Anyway they all loved it and this was really the only way we could get him [Tigre] to eat carbs (sneaking brown rice into his food never worked)
It’s funny you mention carbs because I know they don’t need them but instinctively I wanted him to have SOME so I think go with your instincts.
One of our lads is crazy about broccoli (will actually pick it over lamb or beef if we give them leftovers!) so I think they don’t do any harm [veggies]. "

baby Fred loves homemade food

There is one of my poxy cats at least who does appreciate his mommy's efforts in cooking fresh food for him...unlike that other little punk Rasputin who'd rather keep on eating his usual junk such as felix n da likes. Some cats are just born as obligate moaners, ungrateful, deliberately awkward spoilt brats; It's kinda tightly entwined to their DNA. Puput is one of those. He drives me up the walls. I'm madly in love with him but he's a nightmare all the same :-D

Anyroad, since I have been feeding them both with fresh meat n veg, I have noticed a massive, brilliant difference in the condition of their fur. It's pretty impressive.
Sproglet Fred looks a hell of a lot happier too; I have recently caught him on a number of occasions lying on his back with his paws cutely folded, the spitting image of a contented cuddly bear waiting for his rounded belly to be stroked n kissed. Now, I know he only ever takes this posture when he's feeling on top of the world.

Here's what I've been feeding the gluttonous piglets with --meat & veg are steamed at a medium-low temperature to keep da texture tender, also to try n preserve as much vitamins n taurine as poss:

Monday : turkey
tues : fresh salmon
wed : beef
thurs : kidneys (the smell of this is more like a pungent stench--takes at least 3 hrs to evaporate, incense sticks work wonders to fix da prob though. )
friday : tinned macquerel
sat : turkey
tomorrow sunday should be tinned yellowfin tuna then.

They both enjoy a small amount of grated `emmental President' on their plate as well, now and again..

The meat or fish being served with a bit of pureed veggies, sometimes accompanied with a bit of brown rice or brown pasta--which freddy seems very fond of, the whole lot being seasoned with a small amount of `Natex reduced salt savoury spread' (same as Marmite except there is no added salt in it)n a hazelnut-size of unsalted butter (yarkk I can't even stand the sight or smell of that slimey thing hang on pass me da bucket..)or a bit of sunflower oil.
Et voila !! Menu A La Carte s'il vous plait!
Nothing's too good for my dinausors.
Raspuput however still thinks fresh homemade food is beneath him for some reason.
He's being a miserable gitt n if he carries on down that slippery slop I might have to put him back on his crappy pouches. I'd rather not.
I still give them--much less now though, a few jameswellbeloved kibblets, 'seems to cheer him up a bit n keeps him just about not too dissatisfied with his lot, judging by the look on that cheeky pussyface of his.
I suspect he frowns upon any source of carbs n that may be why he is so reluctant to finish his plate... well that should be quickly sorted then.

feeding fresh meat, fish and eggs..

...to my tomcats is now what I would opt for, for as long as I can just about afford it. Inspired By Louise's (my friend from Dublin) experience, recipes and guidance, plus everything I already know about commercial petfood, there is no way I could carry on stuffing their potty bellies with yet more ready-made crap and still have a clear conscience.
My conscience is quite tainted enough as it is for having to provide them with aaarrrgghh..meat!!--since I'm (almost) vegetarian for ethical reasons ( I still have fish sometimes, shame on me) However, as their mom, I have a duty to feed my carnivorous monsterzz the proper and only way for them to stay healthy and thrive. There's no going away from it. I have one problem with it all though : would a cat, even starving or afflicted with a compulsively voracious insatiable appetite(i-e, bulimic), left to his own devices in the wild eat a cow or a sheep, I don't think so. In fact, the rascals would only go for rodents, insects and little birds. yet, I can't find any of those juicy preys in pouches, never mind in kibblets. It's not like there is any shortage of rats and mice out there for example. Just go to any reputable restaurant's back kitchen where all the slimey gorged bins are, neatly hidden from public view. I know, cuzz I once had a boyfriend, a few years ago whilst living in London, who worked in one of those classy restaurants--as the manager. Indeed he knew all the gory n disgusting stuff that took place in there.. He actually vowed never to eat in any restaurant, no matter how posh, ever again..! By then I knew way too much to try and convince him otherwise, nor would it have crossed me mind.
Anyroad..I was going off on a tangent just then, er.. rright, of course the rats would have to be thoroughly disinfected from the plague aaaiiiee before my dinausors get their paws on these. I do feel sorry for the rats though; I like rats, and mice too, very much so. But what can I do. This is Nature for ya. Both ruthless and motherly. And at the end of the day, these savage beastliezz of mines have to be fed their half-a-ton of meatloaf a day, no matter what. Lest we forget, starving cats have been found to eat their (dead) `owners'(oouughh i hate this word, nobody should `own' any living sentient creature). Now the question remains, in me tortured head that is : was the `owner' dead because the cats decided they hadn't had enough appetising flesh for dinner, or was it really to do with a so-called `natural/accidental death due to old age/stroke/cardiac arrest etc', as the media/papers would have you to believe..? Rather, could it be that the poxy cats actually slaughtered the poor bugger/wench, so frustrated n pissed off were they by not being fed proper meat, eh?

In memory of Tigre...

...I dedicate this post to a sweet little cat's tale and his adoptive Mum Louise, from Dublin, who has kindly agreed to Tigre's story being retranscribed here. We are both hoping that this will help and inspire other cat carers in providing a more gentle and natural palliative (potentially/temporarily healing) treatment for their cancer-diagnosed pet, thus at the very least allowing their furry sprog a few more precious months or years without unnecessary suffering for the cat--goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway as there are some people who may want to prolong their animal's life at all costs mainly because they are not emotionally ready to let go and this regardless of the pet enduring unbearable pain and discomfort. This isn't what I or Louise would advocate, I'd like to make that quite clear from the start : the cat's quality of life is paramount here.

Anyway, here comes Tigre's story, written by Louise :

" Tigre was brought to be euthanased as he had suspected cancer of the mouth. He had not undergone biopsy or full oral cavity exam prior to that, he had simply gone off his food and was quite malnourished. Aside from that he was in good spirits and appeared to be doing well. Having discussed the situation with the vet (and previous owner) it was decided that we could undertake the commitment to take him home and give him as much quality time as we could. I would not be the type of person to keep an animal alive if it was suffering but at the same point we did not think it appropriate to play God when we did not know how much more Tigre could get from life. Having worked with the DSPCA and Blue Cross I have seen far too many unnecessary euthanasias.

We took Tigre home with us and booked him in for a biopsy with the wonderful Carey and Keane in Kilmainham. They decided to remove entire tumour while he was under to save a second op, and he came around well. We had him on painkillers afterwards and he underwent a course of liquid antibiotics (Betamox) in case of infection. We put him onto alfalfa 30c in order to stimulate his appetite and he began eating properly within 1-2 days of the op. His diet was as follows:


· Grilled trout

· Chicken “stew” made with grilled, shredded chicken, chicken stock from carcass and pureed veg – it is important not to give them onions

· Chopped raw steak

· Chopped kidneys (gross but he loved them!!) and they are a wonderful source of iron for a recovering animal

· Filtered water

· Essiac (5-10ml per day)

· Whiskas “oh so meaty” pouches as an occasional treat


People have different opinions on the Essiac tea but we believe it to be beneficial as a general immune support. It’s main ingredients – sheep sorrel leaves and burdock root have been thought (but not proved) to be effective in helping the body fight cancer. It is quite expensive, around €40 per bottle. There is a cheaper alternative where you can buy the dried form and dilute at home but care must be taken not to use metal/stainless steel containers and only pure water so to be honest it’s as easy to spend a little extra on the “ready” form. Any good health food store will stock this. As a support for cancer sufferers, it is given on a daily basis but it can also be used in healthy animals to boost immune system if given for one or two three week periods a year.

One thing I found with Tigre and it may or may not have been related to his disease was that he preferred to eat little and often. I could feed him up to 6 times a day and he would eat small amounts each time.

He thrived for a few months and seemed quite happy. He ruled the house and had his favourite sun spots on various windowsills etc as well as sleeping on my pillow at night. A little extra care had to be taken to help him groom himself but I think the daily brushing sessions were therapeutic and he really enjoyed them.

After a few months the cancer returned. We turned to homeopathy because we did not want to put him through more surgery. There is a very good veterinary homeopath in Finglas called JJ Fox so we took him there. He prescribed stem cells (RNA/DNA) to be given on a daily basis. We also used Mercurius Corrosivus 200c for ulceration. Later we used Hydrastis in tincture form to alleviate pressure pain from ulcers. We also used Nitric Acid in 1M to treat the carcinoma.

Amazingly, one evening, I was preparing his food in the kitchen and the tumour appeared to have shrunk in size quite significantly. He continued to do well for a few months. He had the occasional set back with inflammation where we were required to treat with flagyl but aside from that he was fine and continued to do well. When he had his setbacks he would sleep for up to 20 hours a day and then after a few days come out of them and eat like a horse to compensate. There were a few times we thought it might be kinder to have him put to sleep but then he would always bounce back as if to say “hey I know what you’re planning!”

Shortly before Christmas, the cancer returned and I think at that stage we knew the end was near. We did the best we could for him, ensuring that he was still eating, and was on prescriptive pain meds. The homeopathic treatment protocol that seemed to work so well the first time had no effect any more. I don’t understand the way it works. It’s so hard to match the energy of the disease with the potencies, but it definitely allowed us to buy him precious time.

In mid January, we came home after being out for an hour and he appeared to be lifeless in his little armchair. I picked him up and it seemed he had had some form of stroke. I made sure to give him another dose of painkillers (metacalm), and we administered Phosphorous and Arsenicum which are meant to alleviate fear of death. He slipped in and out of consciousness for an hour or two so I wrapped him in his blanket and placed him between us on the bed where he passed away early the next morning.

I will be honest and say it was a horrendous experience and one that we had fooled ourselves into thinking we would never have to go through but I would do it all again if it meant giving an animal an extra few months. Life is precious! I believe that without the essiac and homeopathy he probably would have died 8-10 months sooner…it’s hard to say, but we both feel that it really did help him to fight.

Anyway hope this wasn’t too long. Please God you will never have to use the advice here, but at least it may be of some help.

Cheers

Louise"




Prior to this, another e-mail from Louise :

"Hi

It was squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity (under the tongue to be specific) so the biggest battle we had to fight was keeping him nourished. We did use a certain amount of conventional treatment initially (he had the tumour removed) and also at the end (he was on pain medication) but for the most part we focused on homeopathic treatment and diet (no cat food was allowed pass our door!) I will write out our protocol later and send to you tomorrow. It’s always nice to see people who do not rely solely on conventional med (especially with veterinary medicine where often euthanasia is the only option presented to owners)

Louise"



and another e-mail prior to this one from Louise:


"Hi

It has been a while (he passed away in January) so I will need to check with my partner this evening re the different potencies we used. A few of the remedies stick out in my mind such as alfalfa for stimulating his appetite, Mercurius Corrosivus for ulceration and also potentised stem cells which we obtained from a homeopathic vet in Finglas. I will get back to you tomorrow with more specific information and potencies. When we rescued him he was middle-late stage but I would love to be of help to other cats who may fall victim to this horrible disease in the future

Many thanks

Louise"


Dear Louise, thank you so much for the effort and contribution you have put into the writing of Tigre's story, from me and on behalf of all who may find your experience helpful and enlightening.
I myself have learned a lot from this, especially in regard to diet issues, which definitely play a much bigger part in cats' future as well as present state of health than i had previously appreciated.
Today, I have found and inserted yet another (disturbing)video about commercial petfood so that more pet carers can be better informed..

It wasn't swine flu actually...

...just my margarine that was going a bit mouldy on the edges--I obviously hadn't noticed until this morning as a dodgy mold stench was flying up my delicate nostrils whilst opening its container. That's basically what disagreed with that long-suffering stomach of mine. never mind...

As for pets catching swine flu from humans, according to what i read in my google search it is officially `unlikely'. Well that's a relief, as if we didn't have enough to worry about already.

could this be swine flu ?

I have been feeling pretty much under the weather since yesterday with nauseas, da trotts, a total lack of appetite and worst of all a very sore tummy for no cause that I could think of. The symptoms have started quite suddenly yesterday in the early afternoon. I really thought I was going to get sick so, here's what I've done to save the day--same as I always do whenever I'm being plagued with a gastro-enteritis virus :

Infused peppermint with fresh ginger + honey/sugar+ apple cider vinegar--I suppose any good quality vinegar would do, surely. This concoction stops the nauseas fairly quickly.
I later took Arsenic Album 30c, then Lycopodium 30c, then Sulfur 30c in the evening. I have had a far much more bearable day as a result. Still not much of an appetite though, and the nauseas have more or less re-appeared so I'll have to go through the whole process again tonight. If it wasn't for these `life-saving' homeopathic remedies though, I would definitely panick a bit. I can't stand feeling sick, one of the most debilitating n horrendous experiences to endure as far as I'm concerned, along with spiders, dentist's surgeries and childbirth--which thanksfully I'll never subject meself to as I ain't a compulsive masochist ta very much . I may be judged as a wimp here, even by me perhaps...(?) well, lemme be a wimp then, my prerogative innit.

Whenever my dinausors have diarrhoea, which hardly ever happens these days, I give them
Arsenic Album 30c too, along with Lycopodium 30c . Lycopodium would be given as the sole remedy if this is just a case of colitis. In this situation, I would also feed the greedy piglet(s) wih fresh (boiled) chicken + a bit of white rice (tiny bits of baby carrots for good digestion) and also a few grains of `ProPlan Delicate' because these are the only dry food to my knowledge that can quickly put a stop to the cat's trotts-not that I would normally be a big fan of this brand, cuzz I'm not actually. Unless it's a case of upset tummy that is.

Also, kittycattus stands a much better chance in view of a quicker recovery if his drinking water has been either previously boiled (then cooled obviously) or has been substituted for mineral spring water.
Personally, I always boil their water the night before, as i do not trust tapwater n for good reasons too. If not, they get the volvic one. That way, if they ever get sick I know for sure the water is not the culprit.

I also gave Lycopodium to Frederick at a time when he was a bit anaemic--took me ages to realise that he actually had fleas-- with (but not at once) Ferrum Metallicum 30c. From my readings research, I have learned that Lycopodium will help n fix the iron (from ferrum metallicum n other dietary sources)

I am wondering still...did I catch a mini-version of poxy swine flu? moi !?? This is unthinkable.... if so, could my sprogs catch it from me ?
I'll have to undertake a bit of google search for that one n will let you know.

subsequent complications from cat flu

The medical complications I have encountered once my cats were first treated with antibiotics were both major eye infections.

Freddy, my orange beast, had chlamydia on the left eye mostly. It was quite runny/teary n red: I first gave him Pulsatilla 30c for suppuration, which stopped the watering whilst treating the inflammation within 24 hrs, then proceeded with Euphrasia 30c for 2 more consecutive days et voila. Within 72 hours, the infection was just... gone. Never came back since then.

As for Rasputin, he has had recurrent episodes of keratitis in the right eye--the top corner of the white (of the eye) was red-pink-ish n seemingly`lacerated', it did look sore n it was obvious that the little bugger wan't feeling too bright with it. I first gave him Hypericum 30c to relieve the pain (I myself use this remedy to alleviate my monthliezz' cramps, I highly recommend this remedy as an excellent pain-killer!!), then Fluoricum Acidum 30c to repair the eye tissue, then Argentum Nitricum 30c, especially appropriate for eye probs. Euphrasia, one of the very best eyes' remedies works almost as well I found in this case. The infection hasn't returned for at least a year now.

Fred also kept on having a runny-ish nose--ongoing cold, the one n only remedy that finished it off was Sulfur Iodatum 30c.

to treat cat flu naturally...

....is actually a piece of cake, erm. .
With homeopathy that is, and once you have all the information at hand with preferably as excellent homeopathy books as possible such as : Homeopathy For a Healthier cat by Mark Elliott & Tony Pinkus; this is a fairly thin book that is only covering not too complicated ailments and diseases but definitely worth keeping as it prescribes the most important as well as most potent n essential remedies.
There is also Cats Homeopathic Remedies by George Macleod, worth having too for reference but still, my least favourite as the author often makes no mention of the obvious and more powerful remedies that are more readily available out there.
Funny enough, the book I have been most relying on for the furry sprogs, apart from the first one mentioned, has been the Dictionary of Homeopathy 2000 by Dr Jacques Boulet (french book, not sure if it has been translated or ever been sold in the UK) written essentially for humans.
And yet, it shouldn't be that strange; it just means that many ailments afflicting the human-chimp species also happen to twart other furrier animals, makes sense to me. We're not that different from the non-human race especially not in regard to mammals. Lest one forgets, we are animal mammals too, albeit the most vicious ones roaming the earth... But that's just my personal opinion. Some might disagree of course...am I bothered... Anyway, the aforementioned book in question has never ever let me down, not once. The remedies it offers, despite being addressed to homo-sapiens first n foremost, have always worked very efficaciously indeed on these hairy dinausors of mines.
It's also especially important to remember that homeopathic remedies have to be administered about 20mns after a meal, preferably. Food can contaminate the potency of any homeopathic substance/tablet/granule so it is crucial that the poxy cat receives the treatment well away from his/her meals (same as for humans) The only tricky bit, for beginners, is to open the monster's mouth ideally without being bitten or scratched in the process (still, these are after all the usual, occupational hazards one may expect when living alongside a ferocious little beast of the sort, nothing to be alarmed about then) n ensure the granule(s) is properly swallowed as opposed to being spit out (often behind your back since the creatures in question can be pretty crafty as we well know..)
In case the granule is indeed being spit out, one has to bin it and start again with a new one.

That was just a brief introduction n now comes the cake. Ya can have it n eat it.

To treat Cat Flu :

First sneezes :

0)Aconitum 30c {+ mix L-lysine pure powder capsule 250mg (half a capsule)per cattus with soft food at each meal for one week max--stops strain of Herpes virus from developing any further, and yes it really does work.}
Aconitum sometimes aborts the flu altogether if you're just in time but sometimes the virus may already have well and truly settled, therefore if the above hasn't worked within half an hour and if the sproglet is still sneezing and getting hot or way too warm with the nose hot/dry or quite warm n humid...:

1)Ferrum Phosphoricum 30c for moderate fever to high--prevents infections n complications to start with

2)Belladonna 30c, every 2 hrs until the cat's fever cools down--1 to 2 granules at
once depending on the severity, same goes for all of the other remedies.
Gelsemium 30c is also effective against high fever especially if there is
prostration in the cat's posture.
Sambucus Nigra 30c : combats both Herpes n Calici viruses n various strains of
calici, anti-fever, anti-inflammatory (excellent results indeed)

3)Hepar Sulfur 15 c --sinusitis / runny nose

If the virus is advanced enough as to incur a sore throat + coughing,
Mercurius Cyanatus 30c, along with (but not at once, at least half-an-hour after or before) Causticum 30c if feliscattus has lost his meow box.

For bronchitis/pulmonary tissues probs : Antimonium Tartaricum 30c alongside but not at once, Verbascum 30c (expectorant, tried it myself, excellent result)

Inflamed larynx / sinus : Phosphorous 30c--especially important when some blood is sneezed out.

Obviously, if the virus is way too advanced (i-e not caught in time/symptoms not being recognised for what they were early on enough) and if kittycattus is not recuperating --or showing signs thereof , within 3 days, destination VET prontissimo, schnell, molto rapidamente, quick n fast as very young n ederly pussies can actually die from this, no joke.

Sometimes there are complications that are even more likely to unfold if the poxy cat has been previously/recently treated with antibiotics, such as : chlamydia or /and keratitis, both infections I have had to cure with homeopathy after I had both my bairns injected with veterinary antibiotics, subsequently to them having caught the flu for the very first time. (I knew nothing about homeopathy for cats back then.)

And that will be my next post for tomorrow then, I'm a bit knackered eh....

My baby boys

Rasputin and Fwedwick-da-first my`first-born' dark-red tabby are indeed my furry bairns in every sense. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them including selling me body parts (hopefully i'll never have to aiiiiee..!) in order to keep da lill buggers well fed .

Rasputin has a squint n it will make him look like a freaky gargoyle under certain light angles eh eh... His eyes seem to converge quite noticeably n mostly when he gets confused or excited, so the squint is not necessarily n always apparent. There's sumfink quite charismatic about that squint of his actually...it vaguely reminds me of The Exorcist. That cat is probably posessed in any case. Puput's absolutely bonkers and has quite a few `manias' of his own.
My poor old Fred who's usually so sweet and laid-back, albeit slightly grumpy, at times gets bullied by the little thug.
Rounded Freddy is just like a cuddly teddy bear, although he's not that keen on cuddles and would rather play-fight with me / attack me feet or more to the point, would rather slaughter da flesh of my hands for his own entertainment--and mine.

Basically I'm happily stuck with 2 mad brats for cats (some would say da mommy is just as deranged if not more so.). I picked them both from The Protection League Refuge in Edinburgh : Freddy was 8 at the time and 2 yrs and a half later, I got little Rasputin who was only 1 and a half back then. Fred was lonely and apathetic before Putput arrived on the scene, now he's far much more lively and generally looking happier (and that bit more `slender'-ish too). It's not exactly tender love aver after between them 2, but they just about get on and are both reassured to have oneanother for company especially when I'm out and about.

natural toothpaste for cats

I have recently `invented' a natural toothpaste for my poxy cats : a mixture of fresh liquefied strawberries with twice as much apple puree--strawberries may be slightly too acidic(although I do me best to get them the ripest n sweetest ones) for their liking, as well as for their teeth so i think tis best not to overdo it there perhaps.. These ingredients are safe for the monsters to swallow in any case n also have renown beneficial properties for teeth cleansing.
`Fragaria', latin name for strawberry is actually used in homeopathy as an anti-plaque remedy.
Need I say, I use homeopathy for any ailment, small and big, my furry dinausors (n meself) may suffer from, including cat flu (originally caused by the vaccine itself!--confirmed by the vet as it happens--n I'm gad to say their immune system has got a lot stronger and they consequently no longer get cat flu nor are they subjected to those dreadful booster-vaccines anymore, incidentally..), keratitis, stomatitis, kidney irregularities, cold, diarrhoea/upset tummy, emotional `disorders' etc. The sproglets are in excellent health and have not visited the veterinary surgery for nearly 3 long years !!
I was very sceptical about homeopathy to start with, but at the time it was worth trying ...the results were much quicker than what I had hitherto anticipated and never failed to delight me, far surpassed my lukewarm expectations even! I find that most homeopathic remedies are at their most potent in 30c--but then again it pretty much depends on what is afflicting the cat; if it's about kidney stuff sometimes it works better in 6c or 9c (i-e Nat Mur, amongst others)
Obviously, whenever kidney problems occur this is a sure sign that something's wrong with the food I serve them, hence a change of diet automatically follows. It never ceases to amaze and disgust me, the crap petfood manufacturers are allowed to sell out there... even those who claim their food are `entirely natural'/`holistic'/`premium' most of the time (albeit not always I'll concede) are just telling fibbs; the `nutritional' content in there is just as shitty n low quality as the rest! Example, `Denes' and `Burns' and Science Dodgy-Plan, to name but just a few--tried them all--which made my orange tabby quite unwell for a while)
I've never had any prob from the james wellbeloved brand however (let's hope it stays that way)except for recurrent bouts of constipation for which I have found the perfect n most simple solution anyroad : by just adding, in small-ish proportions, freshly cooked (pureed even) veggies to their meal, such as calliflower, broccolis, carrots, green beans and brussel sprouts (Rasputin absolutely adores these for some reason, n no it doesn't make him fart at all strangely enough).