Things you've done to help your furry friends

[Steve Evil]

I noticed in the cat pictures thread the other day that someone had built a ramp for their cat to enable them to get up onto the bed, so what else have you folks done for your pets?

Ours is getting on a bit and starting to suffer from Arthritis, so I've taken a saw to our side-gate, hacking away one of the struts at the bottom, so he's got a little gap he can wriggle under rather than having to leap up and over it.

He's also a complete pain to have inside the house at night as he won't settle and constantly wakes us up, so he goes out at night and I've installed a cat-flap into the shed door, so he can go and sit in there on his bed to get some kip.

[Le TVR]

I honestly don't know where to start....

Dogs:
The kennel is carpeted.
With individual mattresses on raised pallets for beds
And a ceiling fan for hot days
A paddling pool just outside for very hot days

need I say more?

[boobles]

Our Retriever has back & fourth to the vets since he was born & last year had an op to remove a tumour (thankfully benign)
He has cost us a fortune & several days of work. Is he worth it, ofcourse he is, he's our boy & we wouldn't change him for anything.


He also has approx 100 teddy bears in his collection & is seriously spoilt rotten.

[Steve Evil]

Le TVR said:

I honestly don't know where to start....

Dogs:
The kennel is carpeted.
With individual mattresses on raised pallets for beds
And a ceiling fan for hot days
A paddling pool just outside for very hot days

need I say more?

That is one pampered pooch. Our cat used to get a lion-cut when the weather was hot like this, however the vets are advising against it due to his age, he's not used to being so warm so is constantly flaking out on the floor to cool down.

[Stu R]

I'm sat at my desk, doing my work and perusing PH, while sitting on a bloody awful solid plastic box. My cat stole the office chair when I got up to get a coffee, and I know fine well if I shift him, he'll wake up and get shouty (he's more than a little bit vocal, even when happy). Christ, I sound like a crazy cat obsessed middle aged woman, I best give him a dig or something to restore my manliness.

[bexVN]

Stu R said:

I'm sat at my desk, doing my work and perusing PH, while sitting on a bloody awful solid plastic box. My cat stole the office chair when I got up to get a coffee, and I know fine well if I shift him, he'll wake up and get shouty (he's more than a little bit vocal, even when happy). Christ, I sound like a crazy cat obsessed middle aged woman, I best give him a dig or something to restore my manliness.

this is a familiar scenario in our home as well.

We cut a hole in our fence at the bottom of the garden so the cats had an easier access to the fields beyond. Most of what I have done is only what any good pet owner (ie most on here!) would do though ie provide a good safe home and veterinary care when needed.

[Mrs Grumpy]

Pretty much changed my whole life as Taffy cannot be touched/looked after by anyone but me. That means I can't go away on holiday unless he comes and I can't stay out overnight. Not been abroad for years and have bought a motorhome so he can come away with us.

Doing a degree in Canine Behaviour and Training so I can understand and help him more. I used to think I knew a thing or two about dogs til he found me...

[parakitaMol.]

How miniature Dachshunds get onto the bed

[Spitfire2]

I built a ramp to allow my arthritic (rescue) cat to get onto the bed in the spare room ..... oh yeah ... that's me

Cats really need to be able to get up high - I'm considering making something to allow her to get a bit higher still - but as she's a bit wobbly on her feet probably won't in case she falls off.

[1598]

My first house had a Porch & Front doors that were not suitable for catflaps. So I had one put in a side window and built a little ladder for my old girl to walk up onto the windowsill. Inside the house I placed a small table under the window so she could jump down in two small leaps rather than one big one.

[Lippitt]

Mrs Grumpy said:

Pretty much changed my whole life as Taffy cannot be touched/looked after by anyone but me. That means I can't go away on holiday unless he comes and I can't stay out overnight. Not been abroad for years and have bought a motorhome so he can come away with us.

Doing a degree in Canine Behaviour and Training so I can understand and help him more. I used to think I knew a thing or two about dogs til he found me...

Have you shared his story before on here Mrs Grumpy? I would love to hear more about him, if you wouldn't mind.

[lenats31]

Just the basics! We got our cat 3½ years ago, and bought a lot of toys among others. She completely ignored the whole lot of it, except her bowls and a blanket. OH YEAH, there is one more thing. She was an indoor cat for 6 years prior to coming to us. We got a cat gate and let her out. I guess that replaced the joy of toys. Not sure how it is going to be with the kitten.

Lena

[dmulally]

Rommel's digs.

[Steve Evil]

dmulally said:

Rommel's digs.

Does he have a particular favourite radio station?

[dmulally]

Steve Evil said:

Does he have a particular favourite radio station?

Classical. No barking dogs or sirens on lame ads.

[celticpilgrim]

When Bobo, our GSD was getting older, he couldn't last all night without needing the loo, so I'd let him out about midnight, then i'd be up again at 04:00 to take him around the block again, then I'd get back into bed for 90 mins.

Also the usual stuff, like not putting them in kennels, so that takes up most of my leave, and also spoiling them rotten - a rasher of bacon whenever Bacon butties are on the go, too many things to mention!!

[torqueofthedevil]

Paid £120 for a rat to have a lump removed.

[Civpilot]

My old cat in her later years developed quite a few ailments that needed quite a bit of medication to control. As quality of life was not affected (she still used to lounge about all the time... no change there) it was a no brainer to pay for this.... and it was a bloody HUGE amount of money each and every month.
All the normal bills and spending were re-arranged accordingly to ensure there was no issues. It became the most important bill to pay.

She was quite a lady though with the biggest personality and even the vet loved seeing her, so much so that when she finally died (combination of very old age and her issues all rearing up at once) even the vet cried quite openly about it and tore up the bill for her final care (she had been with him for two days as he fought to stabilise her... eventually her heart just gave out while she was asleep). When they bought her out to us even he had a quick cuddle before we took her home to rest.

(I've got tears in my eyes just writing that... off to do man things...)