Hello Hope you dont think this is off topic or trivial. Cant help noticing how many cats are the profile photos in many of the threads. I’m desperately missing having a cat in the house since our last one was ‘put to sleep’ after I got diagnosed this year.
The point is - how helpful have you found having a pet around, especially cats (sorry - bit biased !!) - dogs must be great as need walking and can fetch for you etc etc and must be very helpful when trying to get fit and recover at end of treatment.
Stroking a cat is said to lower blood pressure , what else can they do for us ? I’ve found simply remembering what mine felt like, draped round my nick, (edit - or NECK even !!!) laying on both of us - couch potatoing in front of TV - not favouring one or the other, calmed me at bad moments this year. Would love another one but we want to travel next year. Have to admit , caring for incontinent cat I wasnt as careful as should have been with copious amounts of industrial type of sanitiser i was spraying on the floor and bedding, that was the only different thing about my lifestyle , predx - could I have caused the cancer ? I try not to go there but …
Hi Kirsty,
If you want to travel next year, but still want a cat, why not foster one!
I have often seen adverts for people to foster a cat for a few months or more!
Sandra xxx
Hi Kirsty
I foster kittens for Cats Protection, been doing it for around 7 years. When I was dx 4 years ago I was caring for a litter of 4. During the 3 weeks waiting for my op, I don’t know how I would have coped if it hadn’t been for looking after them. Even on my worst days they made me laugh!
Had to have a break from it after op and during chemo but as soon as I was strong enough(those litter trays are pretty heavy!) I was straight back into it. They’ve kept me going through all the rough times we all have. So I’d say give it a try, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
PS I also have 2 cats of my own. Tabitha is 16 and Tom is almost 18 months.
I’ve 2 cats (from the local animal shelter) and even on my bad days they raise a smile for me. Any animal is hard work but the rewards for me are all worth it.
My cat sat on my bed all through my bad days of chemo, not very hygienic I know, but the best tonic I could have had!
I’m convinced he was sensitive to when I was in pain.
Animals are wonderful therapy and they make you drag yourself ou of bed to feed them!!
Hope all is well for you.
Kirsty so pleased you started this thread as I too have been in a cat less home since my 2 dept for the cat heaven at ripe old ages.I have missed them so much. I have some apprehensiveness about getting another cat as although my 2 did not scratch me am a bit afraid of this happening on my ‘affected arm’. Meanwhile next doors cat comes round to see me, but in this cold weather he has not been venturing out.So miss a cat to stroke. Love Jackie
Hi,
I also have 2 cats, and they are wonderful to have around, particularly at this time. I live on my own, and being off work I think I would have gone stir crazy without their company. It is also true that they give you a reason to get out of bed, even if it is because they want feeding and won’t leave you alone until you do.
They seem to have a heightened sensitivity to emotion, and at the moment there is always one or the other about keeping an eye on me. Plus it gives me someone to talk to who won’t complain about my whinging.
I now have 3 cats. Two rescues and one stray and I wouldn’t be without them!
The stray is on my bed every night and the other two take it in turns to guard the landing and sleep on my OH’s bed! (He snores, hence separate bedrooms!).
I had hoped that our cat would be good company for me during my recovery but I’ve been a bit disappointed. After she’s had her breakfast she goes to sleep for the whole day, until she gets peckish around 5pm. She’s always been very lazy but now she’s 16 1/2 years old she mostly just sleeps and eats. But she has been a comfort when I couldn’t sleep at night, she’d hear me fidgeting around and come up to bed for a cuddle.
Sarah x
I have a resuce cat about 12 years old. She follows me everywhere and whilst I was off work due to chemo and radiotherapy she was an almost constant companion apart from her sleeps. Wouldn’t be without her…
Oh Wow !! never had so many responses -Cats rule again ! will post more later, but thank you very much for your replies. Lets keep it going. Cat stories are therapy in themselves.
We have 4 cats and wouldn’t be without them. Willow & Badger were rescue cats (Badger was 6 weeks when he came to us). Pita was a stray who came to stay 6 years ago after we took pity on him and last year we took on Tizzy as a 10 week old from a work colleague.
These are the only tiny feet we’ll ever hear but sometimes it’s more like a herd of elephants We love them all dearly and it’s just amazing how relaxing it can be when one of them decides you’re worthy to be sat on and asks for fuss
My two rescue cats were great company during the dark chemo days. They would both spend the day with me (mostly in bed) or bring me a present, usually a mouse first thing in the morning!!
I can’t say just how much our lovely half Cornish rex cat has helped me through everything. He belonged to our neighbour but was a little neglected and poorly and came to visit us frequently. I sorted out his fleas and tapeworm and got him back to health. The month before I was diagnosed my neighbour who is a good friend to me asked if we’d like to officially adopt him which we did.
My husband called him my intensive care nurse during my chemo. I was very ill during chemo and spent a lot of time in bed. He sat with me and only left my side if someone else came to visit me. As soon as they’d gone he returned. My husband thinks he is like an angel that came at the right time.
I’ve never spent so much time on my own and quite frankly think I would have gone mad (or more mad) if I didn’t have him. The only thing is he does expect a lot of attention now! He’s sitting on the desk next to me as I type!
I have my grumpy old man, Tigger, a ginger and white neutered tom. Lovely cat, sleeps on my bed and keeps my feet warm. Shouts a lot and tells fibs, pretending he hasn’t been fed!
My user name is after two sisters, Chocolate and Muffin, who I got nearly six years ago on the day I had to tell my kids, then 6 and 8, and 16 and 18, that their dad had killed himself. That was the worst day of my life, miles worse than getting my cancer diagnosis. Those kittens were a TOTAL LIFESAVER, and I don’t know how we could have got through it without them. When things got tough, we could watch the kittens and give our brains a moment’s rest to laugh at something so vital and carefree. Sadly both of them are now gone - one from picking a fight with a car a couple of years ago and the other one went out one day last summer and just didn’t come back, I reckon a fox got her as she was microchipped. So I just have my grumpy old man now and I love him. He’s a real hard cat though - my daughter has a labrador and the stupid dog is scared of the cat and won’t go in the same room as him without being dragged!
Like so many of you i would not be without my beautiful cat who I have had through 2 lots of treatment and is is one of the loves of my life (OH take note!) I am convinced she knows when I’m feeling down, and although she is not actually much of a “lap” cat, its then that she appears for a cuddle.
My cats were fantastic when I went thru treatment. They seen to know somethings wrong and would cuddle up with me in bed. They were the same through my divorce! Maybe its just that i feed them!
We love them all dearly and it’s just amazing how relaxing it can be when one of them decides you’re worthy to be sat on and asks for fuss 