Cat boner-farts
May 21, 2012 9:20 PM   Subscribe

Double-cat-penis-question: About 2 weeks ago my 6-9 month old neutered male cat started humping his favorite stuffed turtle. Now he's humping everything but sometimes farting too and having, um, anal squeezing. Is there a medical issue? Should I have him double-checked for neuterage? This gets a little gross.

Required cat pic here, with his friends.

I am fairly certain they cut out his testicles when I paid them to. After all, he came back with his balls shaved and super glue on them. But they did forget to clip his nails, which I had paid for. Maybe they forgot to clip his nuts?

The internet seems to say that male cats humping things is normal(ish), and just a sign of affection. He loves his stuffed turtle friend and roughhouses with him, carries him around, and about 2 weeks ago I found him humping him. I pulled him off just to see what was up, and dang, there it was.

I'm cool with him humping stuff, as long as it's not me and it's not because he actually has testicles. Is there an easy way to check? Should I be able to feel them? Should I go back to the vet for that?

But then a few days ago he was making an awful racket chasing things around my room so I shut him out of my room. He pretty much made a huge mess in the rest of the house, tossing little things (CDs, power adapters, small objects of other sorts) around. And when I came out in the morning, he was humping my shoes!

I put him on my bed on his back and took a shower, made breakfast, and came back and he was STILL on his back on my bed with his little cat wiener poking out. 30 minutes later!

I've been paying more attention to him since this. He keeps doing this thing where he squats really close to the floor on top of an object then farts. Then just keeps sitting there looking weird. I pick him up and every time he has a massive boner.

Here's where it gets really gross.

Half of the time I pick him up his anus looks like it's straining hard. I'm not going to describe it in detail, but it looks like he's pushing hard, and there's a clear odorless fluid on it. Sometimes he leaves a little drop of this on the floor.

I cleaned all of the litter boxes. There are 5. I have two cats, and they both use the outdoors a lot for their business. But I should be able to tell if he uses one inside.

He's a really sweet cat and usually sleeps on my chest or my legs most nights. I'd prefer if he didn't drool-fart on my bed.

What the heck is going on? Should I take him to the vet for the weird squatting/boner-fart/anus issue?
posted by MonsieurBon to Pets & Animals (153 answers total) 69 users marked this as a favorite

 
Best answer: He might need his anal gland expressed.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:38 PM on May 21, 2012 [3 favorites]


I'm so sorry about his farting/anal squeezing/humping, but I have to say that this is the funniest AskMe I've ever read.

Seriously though, he's cute and looks like a character. I've never seen my neutered cat's boner or the butt juice, but he's long-haired and I think it'd be hidden by fur. His butthole is not something I look at often so I don't know what to say about that. I will say that he definitely humps his kitty stuffed animal. I've walked in on him mid-stride many times and he keeps at it. He drags her around the place and probably has a grand time while I'm away. I'm going to say the humping is not uncommon, but the farting/anal leakage is baffling.
posted by Sal and Richard at 9:38 PM on May 21, 2012 [15 favorites]


Best answer: My (fixed) male cat started humping things when he was about 9 months old (we adopted him at 6). In fact, on a regular basis, he humps my feet (only mine, not my husband's; I'm special) through my blankets at night, until I kick him off the bed (gently), and then he goes in the corner to lick his boner.

Cats are weird.

Are you sure he's actually farting--like, you smell it? Because, uh, maybe he's just ejaculating. Here's a video of some tigers having sex to see if regular male cat humpy squats are the "farting" you're talking about. I'm linking to tigers because something creeps me out about people who film their house cats doing it. You might take him to the vet and have them check out the butt juice stuff to make sure it's not the anal glands and mention the humping. I've heard that male cats can get humpier if they have urinary tract issues, but mine always checks out fine on that front and just likes to masturbate, I guess. Whatever, so do people, I'm not going to judge.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:48 PM on May 21, 2012 [7 favorites]


I asked a similar question a few years back. My cat started humping and kneading an kneading and humping a couple of years after I got him (so then2+ years after he was neutered). The consensus was that it's fine and he does still do it, though I've redirected him to a fuzzy stick thing. Which is kind of sad, I wish he'd bring a nice furry turtle home.

Anyway, I think that part is normal. So too is probably the squatting. The farting/juice though, that's a new one.
posted by marylynn at 10:04 PM on May 21, 2012


Best answer: The humping and farting may be completely unrelated. If the farting/juice has a smell to it, then he may need his anal glands expressed. Some cats just need that done on a regular basis It's pretty easy, they can do it at the vet in about five minutes. You can ask the vet to show you how to do it at home, though if you can put aside the squeamishness you're stronger than me.

Running around and knocking shit over sounds pretty typical for a cat his age, look forward to another year or more of that. Do you have any other kitties? I got my first kitty when she was about that age and she was a holy terror. I got another one her age about a month later and having a playmate really dialed down her destructiveness and insistence on waking me up at night (though by no means eliminated it).
posted by Anonymous at 10:10 PM on May 21, 2012


Here's a video of some tigers having sex

Those are not tigers...
posted by arnicae at 10:20 PM on May 21, 2012 [7 favorites]


Yeah, sorry, I realized that after linking. There are a gazillion videos of various species of cats mating on youtube, including the aforementioned tigers and the aforedepicted mountain lions or whatever. Choose your poison. Point is, male cat will squat against the female/ground/hump object and look kind of like he's laying a crap if you squint right.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:23 PM on May 21, 2012 [1 favorite]


Best answer: You want to make sure he’s not having urinary issues, he seems a little young for that, but I’m not an expert.
posted by bongo_x at 10:39 PM on May 21, 2012


Best answer: Pretty sure kitties have two anal glands, one on each side of the anus. Could be he's got one that is uncomfortably full, and in straining to clear it he is wringing out the other one, and farting too. There videos online demonstrating how to drain cats' glands, or you might feel better if your vet does it/shows you how.

Agreed with others on the humping though - our guy is in his teens and still does it despite having been neutered in 1998.
posted by Lou Stuells at 11:02 PM on May 21, 2012


Best answer: Call your vet!

Also - pics are awesome!

That said, yeah, I have a cute story about this, too.

When my adored neutered male silver tabby was about 5 or 6 years old, we got him a plush toy. He carried it from room to room, would drop it at our feet, etc. Within a month, he started humping it. And leave, uh, a deposit.

I'd launder the plush toy as necessary.

When he started performing this little trick for guests... we eventually took the toy away. In short order he had a female kitten enter the household, and they fell in love (because cats multiple in your house like tribbles, or have you not yet been warned?) so his emotional needs did not suffer in between.

Prior to that, I saw him with an erection from time to time, but did not think too much about it.

------

The anal gland thing has me worried, because I've had tons of cats and never had that issue. Call your vet. Otherwise, standard behavior, FWIW.

Cats are weird.
posted by jbenben at 11:02 PM on May 21, 2012


Response by poster: Yeah, he was neutered about 2-3 months ago, and this behavior just started recently.

So it sounds like I may need to express his anal glands. And maybe just let him... finish?

He doesn't really seem in distress and he's been eating and drinking.

So I put him in the back yard (he loves it out there, really) and went to the gym. Before I left he was humping a pile of dirt. When I returned 90 minutes later he was still humping the pile of dirt.

I watched some of those videos but never really caught the fart-al moment. I wasn't too interested in pursuing that investigation much further.

schroedinger: yeah I have another cat but not another kitten. Here they are enjoying one of their calmer moments together. Most of the time he seems happy enough to be snuggling with me to not make too much of a ruckus at night any more.

Lou Stuells: Good point that it might be just one of the glands. Cuz now his butt smells really gross (like fish guts) and has some icky stuff on it, but he's still straining. Although a friend's cat was always ass-juicing on everyone and it smelled nothing like that. But I imagine diet plays a big part in that.
posted by MonsieurBon at 11:07 PM on May 21, 2012


Good point that it might be just one of the glands. Cuz now his butt smells really gross (like fish guts) and has some icky stuff on it, but he's still straining.

Definitely vet time. Sounds like anal glands to me, I had cats who had this only with the added bonus of dragging their butts around the house. Blocked anal glands get infected, the fish guts smell is a really worrisome indicator that might be the case.
posted by Anonymous at 11:12 PM on May 21, 2012


Response by poster: Well, I expressed them! I watched a couple videos and whatever comes out in the demonstration on a healthy cat is what was all over his butt to begin with before I started.

I won't go into too much detail but what I squeezed out missed my face by only a few inches. There was LOTS of squirting. I think I got it all. Jeez. Ugh. Jeez.

What came out is also relatively normal according to the Cat-ernets.

He seems not too happy with me but less "weird" now.

I just hope I don't have to do that too often.

Thanks Ask.Metafilter! You're the best when it comes to cat butt/juice/penis issues!
posted by MonsieurBon at 11:34 PM on May 21, 2012 [88 favorites]


Swollen anal glands make the butt itch. We could always tell when one of our cats was in distress because she started scootching around on the carpet which, with the leakage, was very gross. I can't help but wonder if the humping behaviour was his way of scratching the itch.

The frantic level of enthusiasm and duration makes me think this wasn't entirely for pleasure. Real cat sex is usually fairly brief. I'd watch for him doing it again. In the initial stages, anal swelling is not as visible and may not smell as much.
posted by bonehead at 6:42 AM on May 22, 2012


If the glands keep getting blocked and smelly you might need a trip to the vet with him.

If it makes you feel better I've had in my long pet owning life a neutered female dog that humped on one particular stuffed toy, a male and female cat, both neutered) that humped things (I think the female cat may have taught the male) a female parakeet/budgie that like to hump it's perch with worrying regularity and a male fighter fish that kept trying to seduce/fight a plastic plant in his tank.

Also that photo with your cat and his toys is too too cute.
posted by wwax at 8:45 AM on May 22, 2012


Response by poster: He is still straining this morning and I can't extract anything from his glands. His lower abdomen feels hard. I am taking him to the vet right now.
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:14 AM on May 22, 2012


Best answer: Straining + hard abdomen could mean urinary issue, which in cats is a vet-now emergency. You are right to take him in, I hope it's okay.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:28 AM on May 22, 2012


Aw what a pretty kitty. I'll keep a thought for him at the vet.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:36 AM on May 22, 2012


I hope your handsome kitty is okay.
posted by jeather at 9:48 AM on May 22, 2012


Meta.

Also MonsieurBon, I hope he's okay.
posted by zarq at 9:57 AM on May 22, 2012


Best answer: Thanks folks. I took him in immediately and they said he has a blocked urethra. They're going to catheterize his bladder and keep him for two days. They said they'll cut off his penis if this happens again. THAT'LL TEACH HIM!

Thankfully it wasn't too advanced so he hadn't yet developed a heart arrhythmia from a potassium imbalance from renal failure. Whew.

It'll probably cost $900+.

I don't know why he wasn't complaining more! My ex's cat had this problem and he was whining up a storm and licking his penis a lot.

Could be that my little kitty was found under the hood of a car, having ridden to work IN the engine compartment of the car. So maybe he learned not to make too much noise so as not to get eaten/caught? But I guess he whines a great deal when he wants something. Cats. Weirdos.

At any rate, here's another adorable picture of him. He has no tail. Well, he has three tiny little crooked taily-bits in a zig-zag formation. I think he's half rabbit.
posted by MonsieurBon at 10:01 AM on May 22, 2012 [15 favorites]


He is very cute. And so glad to hear you got him to the vet to catch a real problem in time!

Also, the number of times I've seen people here say that a cat's anal glands might need to be expressed seems infinite, but you are the only person I've heard actually did it themselves! (in addition to the humping, my cat also needed his done a lot when I first got him, but a change in diet stopped it so that's something to consider because ass juice is GROSS).
posted by marylynn at 10:09 AM on May 22, 2012


Excellent job on catching this quickly and getting him to the vet!
posted by OsoMeaty at 10:10 AM on May 22, 2012


I just came in to say that your cat is adorable, this thread is hilarious, and I am glad you found the issue. Hope he is OK. My male cat had frequent UTI issues, and a change in diet (from dry to wet food) finally resolved it.
posted by Joh at 10:19 AM on May 22, 2012 [1 favorite]


FWIW, in case it does become necessary, we had a cat who had to have a penectomy (due to recurring urethral blockages). Having it done was a huge improvement — he lived another dozen years or so, happy and healthy, without another blockage.
posted by Lexica at 10:19 AM on May 22, 2012


A lot of cats just have this thing where they try to hide their symptoms when they're sick. They kind of just have two settings with respect to veterinary stuff: "fine" and "ZOMG."
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:20 AM on May 22, 2012 [5 favorites]


You get the Vigilant Cat Owner award! Glad he's in good hands.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:40 AM on May 22, 2012 [2 favorites]


Your vet may have mentioned this: sometimes manx cats, by virtue of their tail-lessness, have limited or altered nerve functioning in the anal region. My parents had one who did not always finish using the litter box before exiting, apparently because she couldn't really feel what was going on back there. So his lack of tail may have contributed to the entire weird experience.
posted by hydropsyche at 10:41 AM on May 22, 2012 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: He's out of surgery and drained and chillaxing.

The vet remarked on the grittiness and dirtiness of his penis. I explained how he was humping a mound of dirt for at least 90 minutes and then it made a lot more sense. She thinks he might have been doing that to try and scratch the irritation.

She said they usually see a lot of cases all at once, and then nothing for weeks.

On preview: The vets who've seen him say because he isn't an actual tailless breed, but rather some sort of congenital defect, that he likely has properly functioning nerves down there. Something about how if there's even one vertebra beyond the butt, then the nerves are properly formed, I think.
posted by MonsieurBon at 10:46 AM on May 22, 2012


WHEW. thanks to all the kitty gods that you were so vigilant & determined! really appreciate that you kept everyone updated, because I was holding my breath. and the pics! such an adorable little guy (& the older kitty is no slouch, either)!
posted by batmonkey at 10:51 AM on May 22, 2012 [1 favorite]


Best answer: FWIW, in case it does become necessary, we had a cat who had to have a penectomy (due to recurring urethral blockages). Having it done was a huge improvement — he lived another dozen years or so, happy and healthy, without another blockage.

Mine did too, and it's only been three years, but he's doing great. AskMe does Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease well, and there are a lot of useful links and comments associated with that tag. Hints for food and watering that help prevent blockages from recurring.
posted by gladly at 11:13 AM on May 22, 2012


Best answer: Oh, poor kitty! I'm glad he came through the surgery okay.

I know someone who had to have their cat's penis cut off because of urethral problems, and he was fine for many happy years afterwards. Just to provide happy anecdata.
posted by rmd1023 at 11:13 AM on May 22, 2012


Oh yay! I'm glad he's okay. Hopefully he'll be back to happily humping things in no time. Or not, as the case may be!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:17 AM on May 22, 2012


Best answer: Another person with a cat with a penectomy. It's been about eight years, and he is a thriving, happy cat. He had always been on the "metrosexual" side of cats, so... yea. Maybe I should stop projecting human stereotypes on my pets, before I am the weirdo in the thread...
posted by kellyblah at 11:24 AM on May 22, 2012 [1 favorite]


You are an awesome owner, my friend, and a brave one.
posted by catlet at 12:54 PM on May 22, 2012


So glad to hear that your kitty is on the mend.

You are awesome!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:07 PM on May 22, 2012


Best answer: FYI, our vet told us to avoid tuna in one of our male cats, who has a tendency toward UTI's. So ask about that. We get Max cat (which is funny cuz his name is Max) or similar at Petco (cheaper than the vet-sold stuff and the ingredients seemed better to us but YMMV).

Just ask about the tuna, these cats had operations and after they cut out tuna and any tuna-dry or wet food, went away. I can't believe how much cat pee I wiped up and cleaned off of rugs, beds, my sinks, tub, etc. and now all he does is occasionally miss the box and pee on the tile floor. Which is such a huge relief for all of us.

Hope kitteh heals fast and only hugs the stuffed animals from now on, poor thing.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 3:48 PM on May 22, 2012


Response by poster: Thanks for all the kind wishes everyone!

His name is Gasket, by the way. But he has a lot of nicknames, the latest of which is Doctor Squeenie Poepeenis.

Here he is in his micro-chip reading feeding box. This keeps the other cat out cuz she's a hungry hungry hippo.
posted by MonsieurBon at 5:01 PM on May 22, 2012 [44 favorites]


!!! MICRO-CHIP READING FEEDING BOX??

that's awesome. also, clever.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:19 PM on May 22, 2012 [6 favorites]


Wait is that RFID reading? Or just the smart "if a cat is wearing this collar let it in" cat door?
posted by mrzarquon at 6:28 PM on May 22, 2012


Response by poster: It reads the microchip and only lets in approved cats.
posted by MonsieurBon at 7:18 PM on May 22, 2012 [2 favorites]


Gasket is adorable. I hope he is doing well. I had an old gray cat that had to have the penectomy - he had 4 or 5 blockages at that point. He had 14 very happy years after that with no other urinary tract problems.

The microchip feeding box is brilliant! I wonder if my cat is smart enough to use it.
posted by oneear at 7:48 PM on May 22, 2012


That's amazing, we have the exact same thing (except we installed it on the end of an upside down Sterilite container, rather than the side of a right-side-up one). Here's our installation, complete with interior feasting feline and mopey dieting feline on top of the box.
posted by arnicae at 8:06 PM on May 22, 2012 [5 favorites]


I’ve had a couple of dozen cats in my time and never heard of or dealt with the anal problem, but have had a few with urinary tract problems. I’m surprised at the number of mentions the other way.
posted by bongo_x at 8:57 PM on May 22, 2012


I LOVE the microchip feeding boxes! I'm a vet, and I'm going to show these to clients who have problems feeding their cats seperately. Also, that may come in handy if Gasket has to go onto special food for urinary problems.

Best of luck, hope Gasket is home soon!
posted by peanut butter milkshake at 5:17 AM on May 23, 2012 [3 favorites]


Response by poster: oneear: it took about 4-6 weeks to teach him how to use it. First I put his food in the box and would put him in the box with the top open. Once he tolerated that, I started putting the top on after I put him in. He figured out the door pretty quickly, but only to exit. The click of the entrance side solenoid freaked him out.

Eventually I could get him to enter if he'd walk up to the door and activate it, then I'd push the door open for him. Sometimes I'd just let it swing so he could see how it worked. After about 2 weeks at that stage he finally started pushing it open himself.
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:08 AM on May 23, 2012


My vet suggested adding a little fiber powder to our cat's food to help make sure that she expressed her anal glands in the litter box.

We also did the RFID thing (with a cheap IKEA cabinet) but Betty was always too afraid to use it, sadly.
posted by mingshan at 12:39 PM on May 23, 2012


Response by poster: Ugh. Well he's doing better but isn't peeing on his own. They keep having to drain him with a needle in the bladder because they don't want to mess up his urethra any more. They're gonna keep giving him fluids and pressing on his bladder to try and make him pee, but they said it might be so inflamed that he's afraid or unable to go normally. So they're going to keep him for another day.

Poo.
posted by MonsieurBon at 2:13 PM on May 23, 2012


oneear: it took about 4-6 weeks to teach him how to use it. First I put his food in the box and would put him in the box with the top open. Once he tolerated that, I started putting the top on after I put him in. He figured out the door pretty quickly, but only to exit. The click of the entrance side solenoid freaked him out.

Eventually I could get him to enter if he'd walk up to the door and activate it, then I'd push the door open for him. Sometimes I'd just let it swing so he could see how it worked. After about 2 weeks at that stage he finally started pushing it open himself.


My experience is pretty similar but accelerated - I put treats in the box (smelly fish and Greenies) and then used a cat toy to get them used to going in and out. I say them because when it was open there was no way of keeping Cat #2 out. Once Cat #1 was used to using the box, I removed his other food and only fed him in there. (Cat #2 got separate food elsewhere) I introduced the door first only on exit and would hold it an inch open and then let him get used to pushing with his nose to get out. Once he started doing that, I then left the door closed and would help him in but not out. I think it took less than a week all told but it could be related to the fact that I have two hungry hungry hippos who are extremely food motivated.

The only lessons learned are: Cat #2 would lie in wait then squeeze in while Cat #1 was leaving so now the box is up 20 inches and has a step to prevent, erm, cat burglers. Also you need to clean the inside of the door every 2 months or so, it gets grimy with nose residue otherwise. I use some sort of pet friendly non-smelly stuff that won't irritate Cat #1's schnozzle.

Cat #1 is happy as a clam, and occasionally hangs out in there if he wants a break from Cat #2. Total time to create the thing was less than an hour, total purchase cost was <$50 (compared to the $200-ish premade ones you can buy online.
posted by arnicae at 4:00 PM on May 23, 2012


PS Hope your cat is feeling better soon...
posted by arnicae at 4:00 PM on May 23, 2012


Oh, poor little guy. Heal, you little meowing fucker, heal!
posted by rmd1023 at 7:46 PM on May 23, 2012 [5 favorites]


How is he feeling this morning??
posted by jenny76 at 7:50 AM on May 24, 2012


Response by poster: The vet just called. He's still not peeing more than a squirt on his own. They have to squeeze his bladder out, and it's still pretty bloody. But at least they don't have to drain it with a needle any more.

They suggested I come in and visit him this afternoon and we can see how he's doing then.

I'm gonna take him his favorite turtle and have some good ol' fashioned play time. (YouTube video)

When I had him neutered at this vet he came home smelling like 10 kinds of perfume. So I am sure he's getting some love there.
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:17 AM on May 24, 2012 [8 favorites]


Thanks so much for the update! Let us know how the visit went?
posted by likeso at 4:11 PM on May 24, 2012


(and that turtle matches his eyes. made for each other, those two.)
posted by likeso at 4:14 PM on May 24, 2012


I am fascinated by the "language" you are speaking for the turtle to the cat. I am only able to get a little bit of baby talk out. Yours has cadence and repeats phrases at the appropriate time. Good luck with the little fella.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 5:00 PM on May 24, 2012


Poor kitty. I hope he's doing better.
posted by Medieval Maven at 6:24 PM on May 24, 2012


Response by poster: Went to the vet and spent some time hanging out with him. I left his turtle there with him. He was pretty high on Valium, but not totally out of it. We got some good snuggle time.

He wasn't peeing at all, so they said they were going to try to poke another catheter in him, but not permanently. Just sort of, erm, pipe cleaner-ing it out, and with no anesthesia.

They can't keep him over the weekend, so if this goes on I have to find somewhere else to take him.

While I was back home, calling around to find the best price on cat penis removal, the vet called and said the catheter poking seemed to help a bit. But we'll see how it is tomorrow. :(
posted by MonsieurBon at 6:58 PM on May 24, 2012


We're cheering for his recovery!
posted by rmd1023 at 7:41 PM on May 24, 2012


I appreciate the updates. And the turtle attack voice.

Sending happy thoughts...
posted by vegartanipla at 8:35 PM on May 24, 2012


The video was awesome.

Fingers crossed for Gasket!
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 8:55 PM on May 24, 2012


Aw, your little buddy is lucky to have you.
posted by Medieval Maven at 5:13 AM on May 25, 2012


Good wishes to you and the kitty! That turtle is adorable.
posted by nicebookrack at 6:19 AM on May 25, 2012


Every pet should have an owner like you (and a turtle friend). Hope Gasket is on the mend!
posted by peppermind at 6:27 AM on May 25, 2012 [1 favorite]


Okay, I had watched the turtle attack video yesterday without sound and it was cute... and now I just saw it with sound and I am quite literally laughing out loud. That's a chatty damned turtle.
posted by rmd1023 at 6:36 AM on May 25, 2012 [1 favorite]


(same here, rnd1023! :)

I know it's early where you are MonsieurBon, but just checking in for any new updates on Gasket.
posted by likeso at 7:00 AM on May 25, 2012


Response by poster: He's not doing better. I'm picking him up this afternoon to bring him home and see if he does better at home. If not, he's going to the emergency 24/7 hospital that can recatheterize him for the weekend and then do the surgery on Monday or Tuesday if it comes to that.
posted by MonsieurBon at 10:38 AM on May 25, 2012


Aw shit. Okay, stepping up the vibes. And hugs to you.
posted by likeso at 11:52 AM on May 25, 2012


Hang on there, Doctor Squeenie! We're all pulling for you.
posted by infinitywaltz at 12:01 PM on May 25, 2012 [1 favorite]


Sending you guys happy kitty thoughts <3
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:01 PM on May 25, 2012


Very much hoping things improve. Thanks for the continued updates; Gasket and his turtle are both total charmers.
posted by LobsterMitten at 1:26 PM on May 25, 2012


Lots of kitty-healing thoughts headed his way. We're all pulling for him!
posted by batmonkey at 1:31 PM on May 25, 2012


Oh, poor kitty. I hope he does better at home. I'm over here cheering for his quick recovery.
posted by rmd1023 at 6:51 PM on May 25, 2012


Response by poster: I've got him home. The vet gave me her home and mobile phone numbers and knocked 40% off the bill as a "cute cat discount" which brought me to tears. How embarrassing.

She's going to come over tomorrow morning to check on him and squeeze his bladder. I guess she'll figure out if I need to take him to the emergency vet.

He is reaaaaally high.

He's been dribbling out a little bit, lying on his back. So I've been cleaning him off with paper towels and weighing them. Since I know their dry weight I can approximate how much he has peed since 1g=1ml (ish).

He doesn't look too happy and keeps having bladder spasms that make him pretty mad. But he is high enough to find the ceiling really entertaining. And he's peeing, if only about 10ml per hour. But given that they were drawing 35-40ml to drain his bladder when it was full, I think 10ml is nothing to, uh, pee at.

I've never been so excited to get peed on.

This has definitely been a week of firsts.

Thanks so much for all the support. :D
posted by MonsieurBon at 7:27 PM on May 25, 2012 [14 favorites]


Response by poster: Make that 23ml/h!
posted by MonsieurBon at 8:06 PM on May 25, 2012 [7 favorites]


That's nothing, I pee way more than 23ml/h. Seriously, though, that is excellent news. Hope-a-dope is sending good wishes.
posted by infinitywaltz at 8:12 PM on May 25, 2012 [1 favorite]


I'm favouriting cat pee!

Thanks for the update, I thought of him a few times today.
posted by peagood at 9:19 PM on May 25, 2012


Yup, favoriting cat pee - twice!
Sounds to me like Gasket deservedly got both the cute cat and the cute cat person discount. ;)

Great vet. And making a house call on a Saturday - fantastic. Keep us posted - we'll keep sending healing vibes.
posted by likeso at 2:56 AM on May 26, 2012


Hoping kitteh has a better day. <3
posted by Medieval Maven at 7:45 AM on May 26, 2012


Jag the rentakitty (who could easily be Gasket's surly older brother) and I are sending happy thoughts.
posted by peppermind at 7:58 AM on May 26, 2012


Response by poster: The awesome vet stopped by just now.

I'd been tracking Gasket's water intake, but since he started using the litter box I couldn't come up with a good way to track output accurately. The "small clump" as a unit is quite variable and Google doesn't provide easy conversions from clumps to ml.

She said his bladder is the size of a small egg now, whereas when I brought him in earlier this week it was the size of a large orange.

She was happy with his intake and output, but since this requires super-close monitoring and he's really not happy being locked in his room all day, she suggested taking him to the emergency vet just so they can put a softer catheter in and keep a closer eye on him 24/7.

She's also concerned that he could re-block and it'd be hard for me to notice unless I was weighing all his clumps and watching him all the time.

Also, he totally recognized her and hissed at her when she came in. "YOU AGAIN!!!"
posted by MonsieurBon at 10:18 AM on May 26, 2012 [7 favorites]


I hope he's now ensconced at the e-vet and enjoying the delights of softer catheter!

What a great kitty guardian you are!
posted by batmonkey at 10:20 AM on May 26, 2012


Checking in for the latest kitteh update - hope things are progressing and no reblockage?
posted by likeso at 7:50 AM on May 27, 2012


I love how everyone is like, HEY DUDE, HOW'S THE CAT? this place is great.

I hope he's doing better. MeFi <3's Gasket.
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:15 AM on May 27, 2012 [2 favorites]


It's HEY DUDE, HOW'S THE CAT? with bonus "HEY, HOW'S YOUR CAT'S PENIS DOING? IS IT PEEING OR WILL THEY CUT IT OFF?"

Apparently, nothing brings the community together like cat penis.
posted by rmd1023 at 8:35 AM on May 27, 2012 [7 favorites]


Response by poster: Yes, I believe it was Rilke who wrote, "The cat penis ties us together like birds caught in a rosebush, its spines holding our fluttering hearts close in a brief but fiery moment of understanding." (translated by Dr. Squeenie "Gasket" Poepeenis)

The vet just called. They catheterized him last night, and will probably keep it in for a few more days. Hopefully all the "grit" will get out. They're still apparently waiting for some special bladder relaxer drug that we'd been giving him all week to kick in, though.

They told me he's "not happy being hospitalized," which I kind of didn't want to hear. But he did put up a huge fight and peed all over when I was trying to get him in the carrier.

They also said I could come visit him, but since it's an emergency vet it's more like "would you like to come sit in the waiting room for 3-4 hours, surrounded by barking dogs and crying people?"
posted by MonsieurBon at 11:10 AM on May 27, 2012 [8 favorites]


I'm so sorry you and he are going through this. Hoping for relaxed bladder tissues.
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:17 PM on May 27, 2012


Response by poster: Kitteh grooming turtle on Friday.
posted by MonsieurBon at 2:28 PM on May 27, 2012 [14 favorites]


Feel better, turtle-kitty!
posted by nicebookrack at 4:34 PM on May 27, 2012


Ohh, I hope your kitty improves! My friend's cat just got out of the vet for urethral blockage. She's getting him a drinking fountain to encourage him to drink more water.
posted by Anonymous at 5:36 PM on May 27, 2012


wishing you and Gasket all the very best. So sorry you're both going through this.
posted by LetticeLeaf at 6:35 AM on May 28, 2012


This thread has been bookmarked in my toolbar, you know - to make constantly checking for Gasket updates more convenient. I'm really pulling for you guys! (No pun intended.)
posted by peagood at 7:27 PM on May 28, 2012


How's Gasket doing today, MonsieurBon? Is he continuing to get better or will he have to have the surgery?
posted by likeso at 2:52 AM on May 29, 2012


Response by poster: Ahoy!

The boy is home and doing well. This picture, though blurry, is a good depiction of his drugged-up state, I think.

He loves his turtle so much that on the way home from the vet he groomed it so much that one whole side of the turtle was moist and some of the stitching was coming out!

He is super snuggly, as usual.

Now I just have to figure out how to feed him wet food regularly. That stuff is really gross.
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:40 AM on May 29, 2012 [6 favorites]


Yay, Gasket! I hope he heals well & thoroughly and the wet food challenge is easier than it seems.

The water fountains do work really, really well, too.
posted by batmonkey at 10:35 AM on May 29, 2012


Yay, Gasket! Glad to hear he's doing well. :)
posted by jenny76 at 10:47 AM on May 29, 2012


YAY STONER CAT!

And, I have to say, Gasket's relationship with the turtle is complicated. The wild sex, the arguments that turn violent, the drugged-up adoration to excess...
posted by rmd1023 at 11:27 AM on May 29, 2012 [5 favorites]


Response by poster: Yes! Interspecies romance has always been a difficult thing since animals communicate so differently from each other. It's like the "Love Languages" of nature. Turtle wants to feel connected by doing things together, while Gasket just wants to talk about his day.

Yeah, I am sure I will warm up to wet food. But for now he's getting special urinary dry food soaked in a lot of water, since he seems to like that too.

The problem is that I travel a lot. I have an auto-feeder for the other cat, and a motion-activated webcam that e-mails me pictures of her eating at feeding time, although I also get pictures of her with her whole damn arm up the feeding chute, knocking out one piece of kibble at a time.

So this just means that I'll need my cat-sitter to be a little more attentive to Gasket's food needs. I was going to get an auto-feeder for him too, and could probably rig up an auto-water-dispenser that adds water to the dispensed dry food at the correct time.

It's either that or set up some sort of meat-squirting minifridge attached to the side of the feeding box.
posted by MonsieurBon at 11:44 AM on May 29, 2012 [6 favorites]


YAY you guys! Now we'll just hope for your bank account's speedy recovery.

For a while, I fed Freshpet to my pets, which is significantly less disgusting than canned stuff. They didn't hate it, and didn't love it, so I stopped making the trek to PetSmart to get it - but maybe it will work for Gasket?
posted by peagood at 11:44 AM on May 29, 2012


Best answer: There are auto feeders for wet food, too...maybe one will suit Gasket's needs?
posted by batmonkey at 11:49 AM on May 29, 2012


WHOOP! Great news! So glad!

(And... I really need to know if the turtle has a name, beyond The Turtle?)
posted by likeso at 11:57 AM on May 29, 2012


Best answer: I made kitty frozen dinners for my cat when I was traveling. Mix up wet food or dry food + water and freeze in individual portion containers. Have sitter feed kitty and leave a frozen dinner for kitty. Frozen dinner thaws in time for next meal. Would have to go in your RFID feeding box. . .Dude, you have some cool gadgets for your pets.

Glad to hear kitty is getting better! The thing I learned about wet food when my cat was sick (liver failure, feeding tube for about a month) was the stinkier the better. Unfortunately. And slightly warmed as that increased the "delicious" aromas.

Keep up the great kitteh care!
posted by rachums at 12:04 PM on May 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


When ours was recovering from surgery, and very very high, and hence did not give a CRAP about water, we added a couple tablespoons of water to the wet food to make a slurry which he could drink.

Gross, but hydrating!
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:41 PM on May 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


Hooray for cat homecoming! Seconding that wet food is a good way to go and worth the gross factor. We went to feeding our boy 4 small wet food meals a day, because he wouldn't get through a whole can in one serving and then it would just fester. More feedings minimizes the gross leftovers, ensures that the cat gets more watery goodness, and more closely approximates the free-feeding many-small-meals experience.

And the water fountain works well too, if you don't already have one.
posted by LobsterMitten at 1:42 PM on May 29, 2012


Response by poster: likeso: Turkey the Turtle is his name.

Medieval Maven: Thanks for the tip! I tried that and he is into it! Then I totally overdid it by drowning his food in water. Doh.

Yeah both cats really like meats and cat foods warmed up. As such the imaginary plan for the meat-squirting minifridge involves a nichrome wire-wrapped nozzle that heats the meat as it extrudes through said nozzle.

I have a fountain but it takes serious work to keep it clean and not buzzing. I moved it to the bathroom so I can just wash it in the tub easily, and fill it easily as well. I think the muckitude of the fountain is a function of the extreme fuzziness of the other cat.
posted by MonsieurBon at 5:27 PM on May 29, 2012


Response by poster: Dude, sweet. I had hoped something like that would be possible but lacked the necessary aquarium knowledge to make that happen.

Also, aquarium filters have been easier to find than cat fountain filters.

So the cats drink from the water pouring over the edge of the filter/pump?

I will have to make one of these. Thank you!
posted by MonsieurBon at 8:53 PM on May 29, 2012


Response by poster: Dammit dammit. I think he's blocked again. :(((((((( He's squatting all over the place and getting only a drip out.

They wouldn't show me how to find his bladder at the vet because they said they didn't want me expressing it myself, but are there any good resources for at least feeling how big it is?
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:33 PM on May 29, 2012


Response by poster: Orrrr maybe he's not? I give up. These cat things need transparent skin and organs so I can tell what's going on.

He just peed all the heck all over the floor, but that was preceded and followed by many completely fruitless and incredibly painful-looking attempts.

He just sits there in the litter box and then lurches violently to the side, his head resting against the wall, and then gets out, covers the single droplet, and then licks himself. And then does that again, over and over.
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:45 PM on May 29, 2012


Best answer: Oh good he peed all over again.

And tuna juice is his liquid of choice it seems. The special urinary prescription food mixed with water just doesn't appeal to him, but OMNOMTUNAJUICE! Salt-free, of course.
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:55 PM on May 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


No matter what happens, MonsieurBon, please know that you are doing so much good for that little kitty and that it would be a beautiful thing if even 25% of cat guardians were as committed as you!
posted by batmonkey at 7:37 AM on May 30, 2012 [2 favorites]


Well, at least he's peeing. Out of his penis, even.
posted by rmd1023 at 4:23 PM on May 30, 2012 [3 favorites]


Oh good he peed all over again.

Amazing how having a pet can change one's perspective, isn't it?

Absolutely no sarcasm implied. Speaking from experience, here: "Yay, urine!"
posted by Lexica at 4:41 PM on May 30, 2012 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: That super-duper DIY water fountain is the best! I haven't seen the kitties drinking from it yet, but they seem interested!

Thanks for the all support folks.

I still feel kind of like a jerk for expressing his glands when he had a bladder the size of an orange. "HEY LITTLE BUDDY, YOU IN PAIN? LEMME JUST SQUEEZE YOUR A$$ A LITTLE!"

He's been peeing up a storm, and in the correct places to do such things.

There's no way I can mark all the "best answers" here, so I've tried to mark those that have useful information to others. That may mean un-marking some that were emotionally helpful. :)

Gasket has been his usual silly self. We've been wrasslin' and snugglin'. I will put some more pictures up soon!
posted by MonsieurBon at 1:23 PM on June 1, 2012 [13 favorites]


I have been checking back every day and am very glad to hear that Gasket's doing better!
posted by infinitywaltz at 2:02 PM on June 1, 2012


HURRAH! Thanks for keeping us updated - really very kind of you!
posted by batmonkey at 8:17 PM on June 1, 2012


Response by poster: Gasket has been missing for almost 4 days now. :(

I am going to use this guide to look for him.

He's chipped and collared.

I cruised the neighborhood this morning looking for his body in the gutters and didn't turn up anything.

My other cat has disappeared for days before, but I guess the first time is always scary. I hope if someone else is feeding him they know about his "special condition."

I hope he comes home.
posted by MonsieurBon at 6:24 PM on June 25, 2012 [1 favorite]


Sorry to hear that, Mr. B. :( I've used that guide to look for my cat before. It's very helpful (check the neighbor's garages! That's where mine turned up--twice!)
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 6:57 PM on June 25, 2012


Oh no! I was just thinking of Gasket because of the Meta thread. I'll hope for the best - in our neighbourhoood, cats that go missing tend to have gotten shut in garages and sheds or under porches. Warm wishes for a safe return and a healthy Gasket...
posted by peagood at 7:31 PM on June 25, 2012


Oh no; hoping you find him safe and sound.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:47 PM on June 25, 2012


Yikes! I hope he's okay and comes back soon.
posted by rmd1023 at 7:52 PM on June 25, 2012


:-(
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 10:24 PM on June 25, 2012


Come home, Gasket! Come home!
posted by subbes at 7:56 PM on June 26, 2012


Any news on Gasket??
posted by likeso at 4:30 AM on June 27, 2012


Response by poster: I've just been out looking for him at night. I've followed several websites' suggestions about how to find a lost cat. I got cussed out by a meth-head neighbor for "waking up the damn neighborhood with your flashlight." Of course his house had every light on at 2am and loud music blaring and I am sure him bellowing his complaints that "m-fers always testing me" was way more disturbing than my searching.

I've put up posters at intersections that I know folks in our neighborhood walk or bike through. I need to put a few more in plastic protector sheets and hit the local dog park and a few more intersections.

Today I'm hoping to talk to neighbors. Hopefully some of them will let me search their yards.

I have an infrared wildlife camera out on our farm so I'll probably bring it to town and might try to lock it to a wheel of my car and park that around my neighborhood at night.

I suspect he somehow got out the front door and got freaked out by the traffic and ran to someone else's yard and is hiding there. I may put some "items" from the litter box out in the corners of the front yard in case maybe he could smell it. I put his food and water out in front of the house, as well as one of his stuffed animals.

Or maybe one of our local coyotes ate him. But I haven't seen any coyote scat in the back yard since last summer.
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:21 AM on June 27, 2012


Oh, MonsieurBon. I wish I was close enough to help form a posse. Can only send vibes and hope he finds his way home to you.

(Did you call and alert your vet, so the chip gets flagged? Just in case Gasket has charmed his way into an unsuspecting human's home. New cat discovered to be longlost pet on first vet visit - it's happened in my circle of friends.)
posted by likeso at 11:25 AM on June 27, 2012


Response by poster: Jamaro - Yeah! I have a Gmaps printout of the neighborhood and have highlighted "target zones" for posters and flyers, and have marked where I put things up.

The internet warned me that it's a federal offense to put things in mailboxes, so I guess I'll slip them in doors?

I know I am super-late doing this but today I hope to go to most direct neighbors' houses and search their back yards. That's just a hard to thing to do and ask for.
posted by MonsieurBon at 12:07 PM on June 28, 2012


Any word?
posted by timsneezed at 4:03 PM on June 29, 2012


C'mon Gasket, you crazy cat! Your owner misses you and the turtle needs someone to play with!
posted by peppermind at 3:16 PM on June 30, 2012


Response by poster: peppermind - snif. Yeah. I put his favorite squeaky lamb toy out on the front porch to attract him.

Something is eating the food in the bowl I put out in the driveway, but I reckon it's probably crows. I brought the game camera back from the farm so I can get pictures of whatever is eating it.

I knocked on all 50 doors on our block, and left flyers at every one.

I also got a text from someone who thinks he may have seen him several blocks from here. It's a bike/walk corridor that I had targeted with flyers. So I'll be checking that area and putting up a higher density of flyers until I can knock on more doors over there tomorrow afternoon.

Also I got ahold of a thermal imaging camera to sweep the neighborhood at night without needing to shine a flashlight everywhere.
posted by MonsieurBon at 7:22 PM on July 1, 2012


C'mon, Gasket! Come home! Turtle and MeFi are worried!
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 9:51 PM on July 2, 2012


Regarding animal shelters: check all shelters in a reasonable radius and also private rescues. See A) if they have him but also B) how long the hold time is before the animal becomes theirs. Then call or visit every (hold time days). I know he's chipped and shelters/rescues do know to scan, but sometimes a particular scanner won't be working or won't pick up Z brand of chips.

Also, he doesn't have a notch on an ear, right? Cause shelters at least in the South use that as code for "has at some point been feral, trapped, and spayed/neutered" and usually just re-release into known colony sites.
posted by vegartanipla at 4:33 PM on July 4, 2012


Oh no, poor kitty! Come home, Gasket!

Call your vets to tell them Gasket is missing and ask if you can put up a flier with a picture in their waiting rooms. Animal-loving people with nothing else to do while they wait will stare at the flier and maybe remember him.

Also, a friend-of-a-friend had success putting a baby monitor on the porch with the cat food, so she heard her cat meowing at night when she was asleep. Put it out with the food and something that smells like you.

Good luck!
posted by nicebookrack at 9:53 AM on July 5, 2012


When one of my cats got out, the best thing we did was to talk to neighbors- they kept an eye out, and the occasional update we'd get from someone who saw her was reassuring- even if she wasn't coming home, she was ok.

This was for an indoor-only cat, but the advice I got that worked was "build a cat trap". Luckily, I was able to do this with a cat door- I made it one way by rubberbanding a ruler to it. I left smelly cat food in the kitchen, and the next morning Freyja woke us up meowing in the kitchen, happy to be home. If you want to go this route, I've been told that local feral cat spay/neuter organizations may loan you traps for this sort of thing. They're very good at catching cats.

Or, maybe this is related to warmer weather? When I've had outdoor cats, they were much more likely to stay out overnight when it was hot- I think they'd go out to the woods where it was cooler. And if he was out during fireworks- it might take a day or so to calm down and leave his haven.
posted by Secretariat at 11:37 AM on July 5, 2012


Oh, no. I'm so sorry. I hope he's come back by now, or does so very soon :(

Our hearts are with you & Gasket, MonsieurBon.
posted by batmonkey at 8:19 PM on July 11, 2012


Every time this comes up top in RA, I keep hoping it's MonsieurBon telling us Gasket's come home.
posted by likeso at 8:30 PM on July 11, 2012 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: veg: the nearest shelters have 3-day turn-over and having to watch their intake video every day is heartbreaking and unbearable and filled with cute widdle kittens that are gonna get gassed. I try to watch it every day but it's quite hard. His ear is not nicked. His chip reads well enough from his feeding box from a foot away.

Nicebookrack: I put my game camera out and found out it's just one other cat who is eating the food I've been leaving out. Not Gasket. :(

I've handed out about 100 fliers, posted about 50 on poles, talked to dozens of neighbors, and spent many evenings cruising the neighborhood finding every other cat but him.

Secretariat: Gasket was comfortable outdoors, and had been going out on his own for months. This is why I suspect either coyotes or adoption against his will. But the cat trap is a good idea. I considered attached his microchip-filtered feeding box to the underside of my pickup truck, with a ramp going up to the door, and leaving that in various spots around the neighborhood. But I'm worried that if it did catch him it would totally freak him out. I guess that might be worth it.

I have had about 5 calls from people who think they've found him. 1 had seen him listed on the county shelter's "lost cats" board, where I posted him, and saw a grey cat in his yard. But it turned out not to be him. 3 others were people who SWORE it was him, except well, the cats they were talking about were black and had tails, but DEFINITELY GASKET. Yeaaah. :(

I got a text from someone that they saw him, and told me exactly where. I went there and met a nice elderly gentleman who had a grey cat that looked like Gasket, but with a tail. :( The man, Michael, was interesting and he brought me inside and we had a great chat about cats, community service, and religion. He and his wife take in strays and also volunteer at soup kitchens and mental health intake facilities. They're going to keep an eye out. He gave me a button that says "Love changes everything."

Then I got a call and a text last week. The picture looked exactly like him, and it was taken a few blocks from my house. But canvassing those neighbors revealed that one neighbor had a small grey cat with no tail, and had for years. I made a point to swing by that area most evenings, and sure enough it was another small grey cat with no tail, but not Gasket.

So at least people ARE looking for him. Enough to turn in their neighbors, at least.
posted by MonsieurBon at 5:10 PM on July 16, 2012 [3 favorites]


Oh, Gasket. Please come home. :(
posted by subbes at 6:06 PM on July 16, 2012


Has there been any news? Sorry if this reminder is just stirring up bad feelings. I'm worried about this kitty I've never met.
posted by subbes at 6:27 AM on August 1, 2012 [5 favorites]


Thinking of you and Gasket...
posted by arnicae at 4:53 PM on August 1, 2012


Also thinking of you and Gasket.
posted by nickyskye at 7:24 PM on August 1, 2012


Sending love and good thoughts. Come home, Gasket, come home!!
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 7:26 PM on August 1, 2012


Response by poster: I'm still getting about a call per week. Someone found a grey cat with a long crooked tail. Not Gasket.

I am seriously considering one of those services that sends a postcard with a picture to 500, 1000, or 1500 addresses surrounding you. They're expensive, but I already dropped a ton of cashish on this cat, so what the hey.

Also, sounds like Tina was found! Yay for other cats getting home.

Hopefully Gasket is just on a long spirit quest. It's gonna be embarrassing if his spirit animal turns out to be something other than a turtle.

Here's a video of me singing to Gasket several months ago. I apologize for... well, for how I sound like a falsetto half-turkey, half-monkey, 3/4 man-bear-pig crazy cat man. What can I say? I like to make up songs as I'm singing them.

I really recommend you watch it with subtitles turned on. Oh, and in HD.
posted by MonsieurBon at 3:31 PM on August 2, 2012 [6 favorites]


Little mutton-headed kitty meow meow meow meow meow..

come home gasket!
posted by arnicae at 8:42 PM on August 3, 2012


Y'know, things like this are why I keep having daydreams about how, the next time the cats need to go in to the vet, I'm gonna get each of them ear tattoos. One ear will say "SCAN ME" and the other will say "I'M CHIPPED".

Darnit, Gasket, come home!
posted by Lexica at 8:53 PM on August 3, 2012


Worried about Gasket, who left in such distress and pain. Has there been any word at all?
posted by nickyskye at 3:36 PM on August 8, 2012 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: No word from the little G-kins.

Some lady who found a cat who looks nothing like him but has a split tail keeps contacting me that she thinks she found my cat. I keep telling her it's not him and then she tells me she's gonna take this cat to the pound. Then a week goes by and she contacts me again like she doesn't remember seeing the missing ad a week ago and talking to me.

There is the very strong smell of death and decay in a very specific area of my garden. It only pops up when it's really hot out, and I'm having a helluva time locating the source of the smell exactly. I've been scraping through the overgrown garden with a pitchfork. There have been a couple scares because we marked the garden beds with orange flagging tape, the same color as Gasket's collar.

Although last night when I was out for a bike ride to clear my head and ended up just obsessing about poor widdle Gasket, I decided that the reason he left is because he hated his special urinary food so much and that someone else must have started feeding him nicer food. But then that would mean that he might re-block under their watch. Ugh!

I also fear that he's dead because I hear phantom meowing and hear a cat quite clearly using the magnetically-actuated cat door and jumping down from the window, when my other cat is already in bed with me or clearly visible outside. I don't really believe in ghosts but it's freaking me out.
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:57 AM on August 13, 2012


I'm so sorry this is being so difficult. I am thinking good thoughts for you and His Gasketness who is hopefully living the life of luxury somewhere safe.
posted by rmd1023 at 10:29 AM on August 13, 2012 [3 favorites]


I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I hope Gasket comes home.
posted by DWRoelands at 12:06 PM on August 13, 2012


What they said. Sorry.
posted by subbes at 4:29 PM on August 17, 2012


I'm so sorry about Gasket.
posted by nicebookrack at 12:57 PM on August 26, 2012


I'm sorry to hear this, MonsieurBon.
posted by Neneh at 4:50 PM on August 28, 2012


I just happened upon your bittersweet tale about Gasket. I just wanted you to know that your kitty-parent awesomeness is much admired and I am heartbroken for your worries about your furry friend. Wishing you well, MonsieurBon. Thank you for sharing with us.
posted by spagepage at 8:55 PM on January 16, 2013 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: No, no news. Thanks for all the support, though.

I still have signs up for him everywhere.

I makes me very happy that pics of him are still getting favorited every other day here.
posted by MonsieurBon at 7:32 PM on February 15, 2013


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