Poopy Foot

 As most of you know, not long after moving here we adopted a new kitty as a companion for our cat Suzie. Wibbles (aka Wibs, Wibble Woo, Willblemeister, Bunny Cat..etc) has CH (Cerebellar Hypoplasia) which causes his motor skills to be, well, not so hot.  Wibbles is a great cat and we couldn’t have asked for a better companion for Suzie and ourselves. He is affectionate, loving and so much fun to have around. He may be small but his personality is huge! While most CH cats require no special care, there are things you must be aware of if you choose to bring a CH cat into your life. One of these things is “Poopy Foot”.  Because of their lack of coordination, CH cats may at times step in their litter box business. Wibbles is generally very good and this has only happened a couple of times since we got him, but last night was one of those nights.  So at midnight I was up, cleaning his foot and moping floors. Not the best bedtime activity, but one that is sometimes a reality of pet ownership.

I bring this up because I want to people to understand the importance of knowing what you are getting into when you get a pet. Any pet, with or without special needs. Mr. Grey Cat and myself knew this is one of the many possible issues we would potentially face when we got Wibbles. Before we made the decision to bring him into our lives we researched his condition so that we would have a realistic understanding of the pros and cons of having a CH cat. As a result we decided that we were prepared to deal with what may arise because of it. Too many people get a pet; be it a cat, dog, rabbit, hamster, fish, lizard, bird or anything, without fully understanding the responsibilities involved. Sadly this often results in abandonment or euthanasia, simply because someone was smitten by a cute face and didn’t realize how much work keeping a pet can be. Many people think of pets as disposable, something that is acquired on a whim and gotten rid of because they don’t fit with their lifestyle. It can be guaranteed that at some point that cute face will likely break something, have an accident or get ill. It can also be guaranteed that it will likely be at the most inconvenient time for you. When you get a pet, you become responsible for a living, breathing animal that has needs and wants. In short a LIFE. Just like having a child you must be prepared for the good and the bad. If you can not commit to caring for their needs 100% then don't get one. Pets will give you unconditional love and in return they ask for very little, just your love, understanding and patience. And maybe a treat or two.

Having pets has been one of greatest joys of my life. I would not trade the experiences I have had over the years with my many different pets, good or bad, for anything.

Remember: Pets are for LIFE.