Last year - this time today

Last year this time today, my cat of 8 years Hemingway was put down (or euthanised) because he had advanced lung cancer. People have asked me what it was like for me, to watch him and be with him when he died and I can assure you it was the most graceful and dignified course of action.

 It was very sad, very heart wrenching but there was an immense beauty. My vet was incredible and I stroked him and talked to him throughout. He knew and I knew that he was loved and treasured and I think he knew that my decision was out of love.

It was honestly very special, I was filled with gratitude and I am very grateful that I was with him. My views on this will never change, I promised to love him every single day until the day he died. And I did. I did not want him to die alone. For me, it was hard, I cried and sobbed and couldn't really control my grief, he knew he was loved and valued.

If you love your pet and have no choice other to do this, being with your pet the moment of his/her passing is an incredible gift for both of you. It is an act of certainty but also an act of grace.

There is  a guideline for this course of action: If there comes a time when you know that I am suffering please euthanise me. I trust that you will always make the right decision for me for I am the blood of your heart. Be with me - I want you to be my last vision.

There are still days when I accidentally call my now a year and a half cat Khaya, Hemingway and there are still many times that I compare Khaya's actions and behaviours to Hemmy's.

Khaya is a complete softie, he loves hugs and affection, he is truly an incredible little soul and he brings me great pleasure and joy. I promised myself my next cat would be nothing like Hemingway, so I could remember him fondly - but I do miss his crazy feral ways.

Somewhere (I hope) I will see him again.

Vale Hemingway, you are missed.

Tips to keep pets healthy and happy

Khaya is no longer a kitten, he is now 1 year and 3 months old.

I haven't written much on this blog, been busy concentrating on my business but thought I would give you some things I have learnt from my pets.

To keep a budgie happy and healthy - you can tell by the sounds that they make. If it is a whistling singing, chirpy sound, then that is a good sign:

Vary budgie food, I add milletts and budgie treats to her actual bowl of food to give her variety. She has a shell thing to chew on, to keep her beak healthy and it comes with vitamins.

Use the lice spray once a week on her (40 cm away) and on the cage. Their seeds attract lice.

Empty bowl of food everyday, they crack the seeds and leave what looks like a bowl full of food, but it is often just empty shells.

Budgies are desert birds and retain their water, change the bowl every day.

And clean cage once a week, the seed thing again, attracts lice and mice and germs.

Cat: How you can tell whether it is well and happy, no abrasions or wounds on skin, no dirt on skin/fur, they purr when they are comfortable and are not begging for food.

I do the same thing with Khaya, I vary his food. I try out different types of biscuits and wet food. He mainly gets dry biscuits apparently this helps with teeth maintenance.

I change his water once a day and provide him with cat grass. I also try to find food with vegetables, just to keep him healthy.

Clean cat litter once a week. Obviously by this I mean change completely, I clean cat litter all the time, but once a week, like with all my other pets, I clean tank, cage, cat litter etc

Khaya has a flea collar, he gets bathed every few weeks and because he has long hair he gets brushed and I use dry shampoo on him once a week. He doesn't mind.

And I play with him everyday, cats need the attention.

And the 3 fish, I clean out 25% of their tank a week, clean the tank's glass every few days, feed them twice a day, add plants so they can eat and it gives them variety.

I keep them happy by cleaning their tank, keeping the water clear (I use special salt and cleaning agents from Japan for this).

It sounds like a lot of work, but it isn't. They all get fed the same time every morning. Everything gets cleaned and cleared once a week. They all get attention every day of some kind.

I talk to the budgie and let her out when I can - the cat has tried to eat her. And Khaya the cat rules the house and gets away with every thing. The fish are the hardest, I am slowly learning how to keep them healthy and happy without over doing it.

Tell me your tips to have healthy and happy pets?

Kitten ...

I lost Hemingway on the 29 July after 8 years. He had advanced lung cancer and I was devastated to have him put down.

After all the vet bills, and seeing him slowly get thinner and thinner, I knew it was the right thing for him, but it didn't hurt any less and I still feel the loss of him every day. I got him when he was a tiny, feral baby and I loved him and all his crazy ways.

Vale Hemingway.

I got a 6 month old kitten 4 days later and my gosh, I have suddenly become a kitten trainer for my vampire kitten.

I had to force a collar with 2 bells and a tag on him, because he is going to be an outdoor cat and I have to make sure both he and the possums/ducks/ bush mice and sewer rats are all safe.

Then I decided to walk him around with a cat harness which he hates, hates, hates! That seems to be the only way because he is a bit wild and vampirish and  I think I have to be a bit protective.

He leaps and bites so I have to use a spray bottle on him. I only have to raise the spray bottle at him and he runs away, so that works! He hates the word no, every time I say the word no, his eyes go bright green and his ears go flat.

I do believe that it is not only about feeding a kitten, it is about raising a kitten.

Vampire and I bonded straight away but because he got abandoned and then rescued, he went a bit wild and unsettled and I am responsible for raising him, loving him and making him feel safe.

How do you raise your kitten?

Second visit to the vet ...

I went to Animals Doctors again to have my cat checked. I hate it when Hemingway is sick and strange and I had no idea what was wrong with him.

Now he is back on antibiotics and I have to rub paste on his upper lip.

After his visit to the vet; he has disappeared probably because after his ordeal at the vet; he has to recover.

Animal Doctors ...

This vet gets my highest recommendation.

I've had Hemingway for 8 years and it is like living with a wild tiger. He hates vets, hates them. He has embarassed me by hanging on to people's necks and hissing, scratching, hiding behind computers and he has managed to get thrown out of 1 vet and removed from vet care when I paid for him to stay there while I went away for a few days.

Not Animal Doctors. This vet has such a gentle way with animals and lets Hemingway take his time with him. Of course, I hardly ever take Hemmy to the vet, not for his yearly injections (I know, I feel awful) and not for anything unless I am convinced I have no choice.

I have an appointment on Monday so will have to lock the cat flap and shove Hemmy into his cat box. The cat box is out and open so Hemmy knows something is up and hopefully will not go as deranged and psycho like every other time; when I put him in it.

I think for me, having a good vet, is just as important as having a great doctor, endocrinologist and who ever else medically I need. I love people who love their jobs, who have a passion about their work and who have such a way with animals (or humans for that matter).

I am so glad that I went and got kicked out of quite a few vets (Hemmy attacked a vet and hung onto his neck, refused to get out of a box at another one, went psycho at another one and attacked two men at a grooming parlour) until I found the right one.

If you live in Sydney; take your pet/s to someone who not only has a great way with animals but also is amazing to the owners.

Pet friendly accommodation in Sydney ...

Want to take your pets ( I am assuming dogs) on holiday with you?

Have a look at these wonderful and pet friendly stays for you and your pets.

Farewell Toby, a complete Wonderdog

Dr Katrina Warren's 14 year old chocolate collie Toby died on Tuesday I think and he was quite a dog.



When I moved to Sydney I watched Dr Katrina and Dr Harry give vet advice to people on their programmes and Toby was always there, an absolute favourite pet and an intelligent dog.


I think with anyone who loses a pet; there is a great sense of loss. You build such a bond with your pet, especially over many years and Toby was so active on TV, in a book and a companion by Dr Katrina Warren's side.


RIP to a wonderful dog. I heard someone on Twitter console someone who lost a pet saying they leave footprints on your heart and I believe this is completely true.