Do you have animal companions who make you feel better?

secretgalaxy · Aug 26, 2015, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogiesmash

Use litter box, avoid plants and tables. Don't scratch sofa or bed.

Litter box comes naturally thankfully. I used a spray bottle for the first year of my cat's life to send the message that I don't want him on certain areas of the house, like the tables and plants. It worked well, but for the first 6 months I had to have a bottle with me at all times. I used the command "off" and sprayed him a couple of times (with water). As a teen, he would try to get up there at night, but then he just settled down and decided to follow the rules. He is seven now and is most of the time a dream, haha.

A scratching post will help with deterring the cat away from scratching other things. Just put cat nip on it and that should do the trick!

cakeladie · Aug 26, 2015, 07:06 PM

We had 1 cat Sunny who is 14 that we rescued when he was 5 weeks old and we have an English bull dog named Sammy who is 7 years old.

Just recently my husband and son were doing yard work at this lady's house and they found a kitten that was sick. So they they brought this dirty eye crusted scrap to me. You would not believe the fleas on this little guy. It was a Sunday so I has to wait till the next day to take him to the vet. In the mean time I gave him a bath and picked fleas off him and washes his eyes. Both eyes were infected and he weighed only 13 oz's.

Now several weeks later he follow's my husband in the morning and my big constructions husband comes home he sits down and plays with him.

Has I write this the kitten is sitting on my chest sleeping

My other cat Sunny always knows when I am not feeling well because he will come and sit on my lap all night or right next to me but he always keeps a paw on my leg.

Animals are the best

neverending · Aug 27, 2015, 01:02 PM

I m new here but have been reading for awhile. I have 2 cats which are ESU animals. I live in housing by myself which only allows one animal but because they are ESU fair housing allows both.

I have read articles and comments about service animals and the general public seems to be very harsh in their attitude about ESU animals.

Yes there are people who abuse the privilege as are there people who abuse disability which I am also on, but these cats are one of the ways to help keep me calmer and out of the hospital.

Melan.cholia · Aug 28, 2015, 03:14 AM

Do you have animal companions who make you feel better?

I miss her so much... this was my best friend. I let her outside stupidly because I was in a medicated fog and was just too tired to go after her. The next day, my sister had a wedding party and everything was too noisy so she ran away. Then I was too medicated to look for her.

Ugh.

Aug 28, 2015, 04:41 AM

Animals are just fantastic, but I think we also need to be aware of the huge problem with animals, neglect and mental illness. I see over and over again people claiming mental illness for hoarding or neglect and it is just not fair. Not fair to those with mental illness that do the right thing and sure as hell not fair for the animals.

I personally do not understand how a cat can be a support animal? I've had cats, no support there. Cuddles do not = support animal. Support animals get you up and out of the house, help you with daily life... cats do not. Please explain????

Can I claim my goat as a support animal? She gives waaaay better cuddles and licks tears and actually wants to be with me and near me... unlike many cats.

boogiesmash · Aug 28, 2015, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supanova

Animals are just fantastic, but I think we also need to be aware of the huge problem with animals, neglect and mental illness. I see over and over again people claiming mental illness for hoarding or neglect and it is just not fair. Not fair to those with mental illness that do the right thing and sure as hell not fair for the animals.

I personally do not understand how a cat can be a support animal? I've had cats, no support there. Cuddles do not = support animal. Support animals get you up and out of the house, help you with daily life... cats do not. Please explain????

Can I claim my goat as a support animal? She gives waaaay better cuddles and licks tears and actually wants to be with me and near me... unlike many cats.

So no on the cat?

Melan.cholia · 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supanova

Animals are just fantastic, but I think we also need to be aware of the huge problem with animals, neglect and mental illness. I see over and over again people claiming mental illness for hoarding or neglect and it is just not fair. Not fair to those with mental illness that do the right thing and sure as hell not fair for the animals.

I personally do not understand how a cat can be a support animal? I've had cats, no support there. Cuddles do not = support animal. Support animals get you up and out of the house, help you with daily life... cats do not. Please explain????

Can I claim my goat as a support animal? She gives waaaay better cuddles and licks tears and actually wants to be with me and near me... unlike many cats.

It's kind of difficult to explain the emotional bond between a person and an animal. Once I was having a panic attack, clutching a wall and crying and my usually skittish cat came up to me and leapt up to rub the top of her head against my hand. It was very uncharacteristic of her, so I believe that it was a response to my emotions. I was then able to calm down and I found it kind of touching.

So, lots of animals can provide emotional support which is helpful. ...but I mean, again, hard to explain since it's an individual and emotional experience.

**Also, animals can tell when you don't like them and they react to that. Your goat can probably tell that you like him/her and the kitties can probably tell that you're not a fan. That's why they respond to you differently.

secretgalaxy · Aug 28, 2015, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supanova

Animals are just fantastic, but I think we also need to be aware of the huge problem with animals, neglect and mental illness. I see over and over again people claiming mental illness for hoarding or neglect and it is just not fair. Not fair to those with mental illness that do the right thing and sure as hell not fair for the animals.

I personally do not understand how a cat can be a support animal? I've had cats, no support there. Cuddles do not = support animal. Support animals get you up and out of the house, help you with daily life... cats do not. Please explain????

Can I claim my goat as a support animal? She gives waaaay better cuddles and licks tears and actually wants to be with me and near me... unlike many cats.

Yes, You can claim your goat as a support animal if you are disabled and a pdoc believes it is necessary. You have to have a note from a pdoc for either a service animal or a emotional Support animal.

Everyone is different on which animal they connect with. I have heard of birds being support animals as well. I knew someone with Schizophrenia who had a bird that would start flying around the room when she had hallucinations to distract her and would cuddle under her neck when she was emotional.

My cat will cuddle with me on a bad day, and make me focus on him. He made sure both hands were petting him and will keep pursuing me if I stopped before he thought I was ready. All my animals do something to keep my mind busy on bad days.

My friend's cat (he has PTSD and severe anxiety) walks on a leash with him around the neighborhood.

It doesn't matter what kind of animal it is, it matters the connection between the animal and owner.

BastetsMuse · Aug 28, 2015, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edgar's Mom

How about you? I'd love to hear about your fur babies:-) or feathered babies? Or scales or whatever?

We have four fur babies. I have a five year old Boston Terrier named Leo who is a total goof and who loves to cuddle. Sofie is a seven year old daschund (sp) who is my special love; she sits on my shoulder when I'm eating (she's a mini) and begs for bites. We also have two cats - Butthead is a silver tabby, and Mycroft is a Siamese. They both talk to us a lot.

My whole life I've been "animal poor...." I had dobermans for twenty years but downsized dogs when I went from living in a house to an apartment (after my last dobe died, of course).

I don't know what life would be like without pets, and hope to never find out.

neverending · Aug 28, 2015, 09:23 AM

My cats have two different personalities and serve 2 different purposes, howeverthey are very ssensitive to my moods, especially my anxiety and insomnia. They are also one step to help keep me out of the hospital.

To have a support animal you have to have a disability and a doctor's letter. By his prescription for it his liscense can be on the line if it is frivolous. Many different animals can be support animals. They are not service animals and generally not trained.

I also got mine certified but certification is meaningless without the disability and in my case the pdocs letter.

neverending · Aug 28, 2015, 09:29 AM

I said my case pdocs because of the psych disability. Am on disability for both physical and psych reasons.

Aug 28, 2015, 02:51 PM

a budgie (who is just annoying and a puppy dog- which i barely see (she's my sister's).

i'd love something nice of my own.. a ***** cat, or a dog, or a fluffy rabbit.. something i can interact with more

actually it's sort of on my bucket list to own a cat. they are so cute

Edgar's Mom · Aug 28, 2015, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BastetsMuse

I had dobermans for twenty years but downsized dogs when I went from living in a house to an apartment (after my last dobe died, of course).

Dobermans have a very special place in my heart. I had a lovely female, Greta, who was the love of my life. She was so gentle and so sweet. We adored one another and she was my heart.

I lost her to Osteosarcoma at the age of 7 and it broke my heart. I went into a near catatonic depression (I had just lost my Dad before that and was off meds because of pancreatitis). Everyone who met this dog fell in love with her. I couldn't look at a Dobe for a few years without breaking down sobbing.

I thought about getting another one but the longevity was an issue. I know that many breeders are working on that now, and if there ever comes a point in time where they have a normal lifespan I would get another one in a heartbeat.

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FacingUp · Aug 28, 2015, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edgar's Mom

We have three dogs (was 4).

We lost our little 13 y/o blind Boston Terrier Winston just a couple of months ago. He was a character and loved by everyone who met him. He was a gregarious and silly guy, but he was brave as a lion and had a huge heart. He was also very sensitive. He was our daughter's dog and he watched her grow up while she watched him grow old.

Our oldest boy Fred (sheep/husky) will be 14 in November. He's my hubby's dog and follows him everywhere. He's lovely.

Our next oldest is my little princess Sophie, an 8 y/o Boston Terrier. She sleeps inside my hoody in the winter and is so sweet. She was the baby and Mommy's only dog until..... Edgar the usurper.

We didn't want her to be alone when Fred dies so we brought Edgar home almost two years ago. He is a Bull Terrier and a holy terror and I love him a ridiculous amount.

When I say holy terror I mean I have had dogs all my life, lots of different breeds, know a little about training and I have never met another dog like him. He literally crashed through a wall and busted up the drywall on the bottom half chasing his ball.

He has bonded with me very strongly (bullies are very obsessive) and my husband calls him my 65 lb black and white tumour. At night watching TV I have both him and Sophie cuddling parallel to one another on my lap.

I crave this cuddle time with them every day and I feel like they help me feel better. My kids are grown and these are my surrogates. I love them all to pieces.

We also have a cranky 9 year old cat who bites at random times and who is head over heels with my hubby. She drools on him.

She despises Edgar and rarely comes near me because he is usually attached to me in some way.

My hubby has a couple of pet snakes Jimmy and Arthur, and my horse Charley completes our family.

We are animal poor. All of our money is spent on basics for us and the rest goes to them. We are very tied down and don't go very many places but I wouldn't have it any other way. They enrich my life.

How about you? I'd love to hear about your fur babies:-) or feathered babies? Or scales or whatever?

I have 2 Great Pyrenees dogs, 2 grey Tabbies cats and a Tortoiseshell cat. I love them dearly. Some days my pets are one of the few reasons I stay in the fight. I thank God for them all.

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Edgar's Mom · Aug 29, 2015, 03:50 AM

I'm loving the posts :-)

Aug 29, 2015, 04:37 AM

Two Maine Coon cats adopted from a shelter. They are fluffy, huge and so affectionate. They have the personality of a calm dog. When I am depressed they won't leave my side. Well, they sleep with me at night, regardless, but are very attentive if I'm down.

Interestingly, they can tell when I'm manic and/or psychotic...even if I'm not outwardly "freaking out"...they generally follow me from room to room but not if I'm manic/psychotic. I've never mistreated them...they just sense when I'm

lol

Aug 29, 2015, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainyday107

Two Maine Coon cats adopted from a shelter. They are fluffy, huge and so affectionate. They have the personality of a calm dog. When I am depressed they won't leave my side. Well, they sleep with me at night, regardless, but are very attentive if I'm down.

Interestingly, they can tell when I'm manic and/or psychotic...even if I'm not outwardly "freaking out"...they generally follow me from room to room but not if I'm manic/psychotic. I've never mistreated them...they just sense when I'm

lol

those kitties sound lovely.

exactly why i want one- i love cats

cakeladie · Aug 29, 2015, 05:49 AM

Ok I told you guys about my 2 cats and 1 dog. I love them to death but tonight lord have mercy they think it's party time. It's hot and when the lights went out the cats thought party time. I finely put the kitten in his kennel with food and water and. Litter box. and the older cat who is 14 tried to break him out.

I finely gave in and let him out now it's 3:47 am (California time) and they now want to sleep and they want to sleep on me. I have tried moving them and they give me the evil eye and climb right back on my lap. When do I get to sleep.

Lord have mercy.

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