Waterfront Walk, Part II | Main | Doing it Right
October 18, 2007
You Is Who You Is
I took Irving to the vet about a week ago, partly because he is nearing his 9th birthday and partly because, well, I will spare you the details, but he was acting weird. Or weirder than he usually acts. For those of you familiar with the DSM-IV, think a strange form of pica...and some other stuff. He didn't appear to be in pain but I was still concerned, so into the carrier he went.
We are so used to taking Irving to the vet only to discover some obscure issue, which is why I was totally taken aback by the doctor and tech, who this time listened to my explanation, poked at our orange boy, and then scratched their heads. They couldn't find one reason why he was acting the way he was other than that he was simply being odd.* Uncle Irving being odd. Now that is news.
Before I left, I asked the vet if this was just the way things were going to be- that Irving would continue to be a worried strange fruit for the rest of his life. She said, "Probably, yes." Some cats are just weird and there's nothing much that we can do about it. As long as he isn't hurting, we should just let him be content in his weirdness. I guess that I should be thankful that he doesn't have to attend middle and high school, that I won't have to chant in my head, "Well, he'll come into his own in college." He also doesn't have to see a psychiatrist every time he needs a Prozac refill, which is great because he's the only one in this household [who requires medical attention] that is uninsured.
*No, Irving does not have feline anemia and his kidneys are fine. Those were the two things that I was worried about in the fist place. The vet seemed to think that the issues were behavioral- simply that he was acting out his anxieties.
Posted by callalillie at October 18, 2007 7:06 PM | Feline Musings
Orange cats tend to be weird, no? Our guy, Tucker, is as weird as they come. I tend to still freak out no matter what, however. He does something and I worry. IT's the way of the Orange cat.
Posted by: mihow at October 17, 2007 8:18 PM
Posted by: john brandt at October 17, 2007 10:29 PM
fortunately for him, that hat was only a five second experience :)
Posted by: corie at October 18, 2007 7:07 AM
Maybe it's specific to all tabbies, not just orange ones? My tabby cat, Thurston, is an obsessive belly-licker and he's very sensitive - not to mention attached to me like you wouldn't believe.
Posted by: Janine at October 18, 2007 10:03 AM
I've actually begun to worry if it has something to do with my mothering. Irving is most relaxed when he is sitting on my chest with his face smushed into my neck. This was his favorite thing to do when he was a kitten...but back then he was about 5lbs. He's now 15!
Posted by: corie at October 18, 2007 10:10 AM
Dub is the first orange cat I've ever had, and as delightful as he is, he is definitely, definitely the most high-strung cat I've ever known. And he's definitely weird.
It's funny you mention the mothering thing, because while I have had some mama's boys before, Dub is also the BIGGEST mama's boy ever. And yes, I do totally coddle him which probably makes things worse, but I can't help it.
I think the orange ones are just special in more ways than one. :)
Posted by: jenblossom at October 18, 2007 11:28 AM
Excellent Photo of Irving.
Posted by: Tiya at October 18, 2007 3:05 PM
Oybean makes for a very suave cat in a hat. My own tabby is a dilute orange, a color I've seen described as "apricot" or "buff". Ergo, he's a dilute form of crazy, plagued by mild Woody Allenesque neurotic ailments ever since he was a kitten. Which, of course, makes him all the more lovable.
Posted by: Jen at October 18, 2007 5:16 PM
if you didnt check your comments on your last post,
www.icanhascheezburger.com
its gold. hahah.
Posted by: seton at October 18, 2007 5:29 PM
Orange Cats Are Weird, Chapter 237: Dub scaled the back of the desk chair and is at this moment straddling it while rubbing his face all over the top left corner of it, stopping only to lick and bite it. His nose is bright red and he is making what can only be described as wookiee noises.
You are not alone.
Posted by: jenblossom at October 18, 2007 7:05 PM
Yeah, my cats act strange too. The youngest--a runt--is by far the weirdest. Which is why we named him Janus. I normally don't refer people to cute cat videos but you remind me so much of my own little feline world (3 cats; we're both writers living in a 2bedroom on Atlantic Ave) so what the hell. Classic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmwqpHsMExg
Posted by: Jessie at October 21, 2007 1:17 PM
