September 28, 2008

Easy Like Sunday - Powder

Mommy wants to thank everyone for the ideas, suggestions and for the warm wishes for our tiny girl to "get the funk outta her face."
DKM left a comment that got my Mommy to thinking. DKM said "It could just be the change in the earth's rotation and the shifting to fall that could be affecting her. Cats are more sensitive to the seasons than we are. Or it could be that the time of year reminds her of something that happened long ago and she is still impacted by it. I know that Sophia will hide in my closest anytime someone BBQs near my condo. Not sure why, but the smell of the BBQ sends her hiding."

Powder enjoying some dinner yesterday.

Little Miss Powder has led a very easy life for the most part. She was rescued from a barn, along with Puff, when they were kittens. The rescue happened in May. In late September Powder went in for her spay. They lived in a very small town in SW Kansas and the VET was what you might call a "country VET." He was way more comfortable with cows and horses than he was with felines. Her spay scar is 3 inches long (that's a BIG scar for a spay), and she was so stressed by being kept in a kennel for the better part of a day that she had scratched and hit her head upside the kennel bars to the point of being bloodied on her face and front paws. It was not a very pleasant experience for her (not to mention the huge freak-out Mommy had when she came to pick Powder up). Powder's spay recovery took place for DAYS in Mommy's closet. She'd only come out to eat and use the box. Thinking back, Mommy thinks that this qualifies as a trauma in Powders life and perhaps every fall Powder remembers what an awful time it was for her. As we said in yesterday's post, we have tried everything; medications, Feliway, Rescue Remedy and on and on and on. This year we are just being loving and supportive and hoping she'll come out of this funk as soon as she can. Mommy checks on her frequently and Powder will voluntarily come out from under the bed for a few moments of snuggles and affection, then she leaps out of Mommy's arms and heads under the bed again.

Thanks for jogging Mommy's memory DKM, if nothing else, we can trace Powder's Autumn Funk back to a very short, but very bad time in her little kitty life.

41 comments:

Mark's Mews (Marley, Lori, Loki, and Binq) said...

We get a little weerd around Noo Yeers Day...Winter is not our favrit time

TabbyNormal said...

Oh yes, I agree. It was a terrible time for me too, although my confinement was not as rough as Powder's. Before I was fixed I was a little bit growly at the vet's, but now I am a REAL MONSTER when I go there.

Please feel better soon!!

Purrs,
Abby Normal

Forever Foster said...

Powder sounds like a sensitive little soul. We are sure she picks up on the love and affection you have for her, and that this will help her through her funk. It must be hard for you to see her feeling off kilter. We're sending purrs to you and Powder.

-Fui, Suey and Evie.

Poppy Q said...

Poor sweet Powder. I has never heard of an autumn funk like that. I hopes though that it doesn't last long, and she is lucky to live with you all - cause you is all so understanding.

Smooches.

Anonymous said...

Wowsies, that is clever of DKM to think that :)
It very much sounds like it could be it!
What an awful experience for her, poor girlz!
Ohh I want to stick my paws in that cute yawn!~ can i can i?

V-V

Ana said...

Yes, this really might be a reason. Every year the fall season starts with its special smells and Powder remembers those hard days. It's so nice you are giving her all the love she needs...

mister jeter harris, hizself said...

wid powder'z funk ... an mickey'z lost meow ... dis izza disturbin time fer us.
powder will get owt frum under da bed ... and mi brudder will find hiz voice.
i'm sure uv dat.
luv--jh

Daisy said...

I do not blame Powder for being a little sad during this time because it sounds like it was a very traumatic experience for her!

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

That is very intersting about Powder's funk. Do you think that is the same sort of funk that our PooPoo is experiencing? Also interesting is that both Powder and PooPoo are calico/tortie cats. Our vet says that calicos always have some behavioral issues.......
--JB

Kaz's Cats said...

Big kitty hugs to Powder - that sounds like a horrible experience.

Purrs

Gypsy & Tasha

Shaggy and Scout said...

We wish we could come cuddle with you Powder sweetie.

The Island Cats said...

We send Powder comforting thoughts to help her through this traumatic time...

Wally, Ernie & Zoey

Honey P. Sunshine said...

noze kisses powder

Diamond Emerald-Eyes said...

I find it amusing that Humans think they are superior to us because they say we don't remember things for any length of time. Actually we remember much better than they do. Most humans can't remember what they had dinner two or three days ago, but I can remember things I've eaten from years ago (and it if wasn't pleasant, I won't eat it again!)

I hope Puff get's through her Fall Funk soon. I will send supportive purrs her way.

Anonymous said...

Poor little Powder. Maybe it has nothing to do with a trauma and has more to do with not enough Temptations. Of, course, that would be traumatic enough.

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

That could be it fur sure! Poor Powder, what an awful egzperiens fur yoo. Mom beleeves dat teenage boys on bi-sick-als grabed Zippy by da tail and dragged her around and dat is how her tail and front paws got hurted. How does she know? Cuz Zippy is happy to ask anyone not on a bike fur pets, she'll go to little kids and grown beans on bikes but she hisses and backs away from teenage boys (not gerls) on bikes. Who sez we don't amember stuff.

Sunny's Mommy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sunny's Mommy said...

Poor Powder :( I hope her funk doesn't last as long this year.

Alexi said...

Cissy and I hope that Powder's funk is not long lasting. We'll keep y'all in our prayers and puurrrrr for y'all. Cissy thanks you for come by our bloggie.

Forty Paws said...

Bless her heart. No wonder she goes into a funk. It sounds like it was very traumatic for her to have her surgery. We're sending her purrs, ok?

Luf, Us

Christine and FAZ said...

Poor little powder kitty, that does sound like trauma to me. FAZ

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Oh poor Powder. That is just too bad.

Tesla and Hansel said...

we fink yoor way of bein supportive sounds da best. Acaz, dere iz nuffin wrong wif her. We dun fink she shuld be on medi-cins acaz, she no sick. If she just needs tim unner da bed, den, she just needs sum tims. An yoo are doin in best we finks. :)

Mickey's Musings said...

Purrs Powder. I guess if hiding for a bit makes you feel OK and safe,so be it. You have a very caring Mom & Dad :) You will be fine !!
Purrs Mickey

Cats~Goats~Quotes said...

We hope Powders' funk will not last long this year.What a beautiful, sensitive girl she is.
Sending her many Purrrrs...
~ Miss Emily

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

That sounds like a horrible time at the V E T. It could be the same as when Humans smell a certain smell, it brings back distant memories. The autumn smells could be doing the same for Powder.

Lux said...

What an awful time for Powder (when she was spayed). I hope she starts feeling more lively very soon ...

Tommy and Teaghan said...

Just like owr Meowmie gets a craving to go away dis time of year to Rooba where she used to go efurry year we know dat a certain time of year and da smells an da light reminds us of events good or bad.
Since Powder recuperated for a week maybe she finks she needs to do it efurry year. It's kinda like a sabbatical for her to heal again.

Tiki, Kirby, and StanLee said...

Poor Powder. Purrrrrrrrrrrrs.

(angel) Grrreta and Fam said...

Kitties are very resiliant, but it makes a lot of sense that something so traumatic could affect future behavior. It's great that DKM might have solved the mystery. We're sending lots of comforting purrs.

Anonymous said...

We are sayin' prayers for sweet Powder.

Very truly yours,
The Whiskers and Purrs Gang

Sweet Purrfections said...

Poor Powder. I hope you are out of your funk soon!

Sabrina, Sam and Simon said...

Awwww Parker, we feel so bad for Powder ... we are sad. We know our Momma and Daddy get the blues during the winter time, so it isn't just kitties. It has to be something to do with weather or seasons or something like that. Please tell her we hope she comes out of her funk really, really soon.
Purrs and headbutts to all of you,
Sabrina, Sam and Simon

Team Tabby said...

Poor Powder, we hope you feel better soon. You have very supportive beans, that love you.

Mom says thanks for the birthday wishes last week.

Mindy & Moe

Wendy Hoke said...

I go wild during the summer solstice. I stay out all night hunting. Makes my pet human really mad. Then when the days get shorter, I come back in.

It sounds like a seasonal thing with Powder.

Luv,
Skittles, The Huntress
ps she sure is cute!

The Furry Bambinos said...

Poor Lady Powder. We will keep her in our purrs, and hope that she comes out of her Autumn funk soon.

Padre, Panda Bear, and Meerkat

Chesney Cats said...

We sure hope Powder is feeling more like herself soon.

Hugs & Purrs,
Sammy, Festus & Emma

Kate (Pablo's mum) said...

What an intriguing phenomenon! I guess all you can do is exactly what you're doing: offering love and support. I hope that all of our purrs will help too,

Samantha & Mom said...

Poor Powder! We hope she feels better soon! At least now you have an idea of where the funk came from! Purrrrs and hugs to Powder!
Your FL furiernds,

Motor Home Cats said...

We hope that Powder is feeling like herself soon. We will be purring for her.

Tiki, Tavi, Cody, Camie and Miss Jade

Mr. Echo said...

Oh Miss Powder, I am so sorry yoo feels like hiding. I wonders how we kood help yoo remembur this time of yeer as a plessint one. I send yoo lovey hedbutts...

Echo