Ally Cat Updates

[Medusa]

All the finger pointing at her being a fraud was starting to leave a really bad taste in my mouth for PT

I think she wasn't being called a fraud; I think most of us agree that her choice of words was unfortunate. Nancy's provided a wonderful service to a lot of PTers.

[Kirsten]

On reading the pet of the day article by Julie, it sounds as though Ally was a completely different cat back then, i certainly could not believe she was writing about the same cat,so maybe introducing connor did have an effect, but you would not think it would be so drastic would you?

Well, yes, but I also found some posts by her saying that Ally was acting aggressive; obviously she bit Julie several times, and in one post, in which she reported that Ally bit her mother-in-law, she considered putting Ally to sleep. She was worried about Cali, too, with a cat like that around. But I'm not sure if all this happened after Connor moved in; maybe Ally was really happier as a single cat...

Kirsten

[ChrisH]

In regard to when Ally began biting, this is a post from 18th of August 2004

Thank's everyone for their concern, PM's etc - it really means a lot to me!!

I have a doctor's appointment later this morning, so I'll let you know how that goes. Just some background:

- Ally HAS bitten me before - and BADLY. The first time I posted about it was in response to Lisa's thread when Mr Magoo bit her so badly.
- She only started to bite me after Connor came into the house - of course he has now been here for 10 months, so I was hoping she would have settled down a bit by now.
- when she does bite it is totally RANDOM - this one happened whilst I was dishing up supper in the kitchen, the one before was whilst we were relaxing watching TV - one minute she is normal then she goes crazy! I can't connect it to any particular event, and I do avoid excessive excitement / aggressive play with her
-my tetnus is up to date - I checked when I started helping with trapping for the shelter, and I'm still covered from my last jab
- we OFTEN have visitors in the house - very often with several young noisy children, so I can't really see a connection with visitors resulting in her getting upset. She has always had people in and out of the house. My In-Laws are quiet, and my MIL spoils Ally quite a bit - they have "naptime"every day, as my MIL loves Ally to bits, having met her when she was a kitten, so I can't imagine their being here would cause this.
- the vet prescribed an anti-anxiety medication for Ally, but she is the worst cat in the world to pill. The stress level was higher after a couple of days on the meds, as Ally would freak out every time I took a step towards her, thinking another pill was coming, so that just made matters worse.
- I would gladly pay for a cat therapist, but we don't have any on the island
- the vet has suggested hormone injections - but I can't find much info on the web, and I don't know when the long-term side effects are

Another frustration is that all the books I have talk about agression, and the web sites too, but they describe the problem without offering any suggestions as to how to resolve it.

I think that, as some of you have said, the BIG hurt is at an emotional level - Ally is so close to my heart, and I am devastated when she does this! It also erodes the trust I have with her, so for weeks after I will be mentally checking where she is, to make sure I don't turn my back on her.

This morning she is once again as sweet as sugar! I'll let you know how the Doctor goes!

Thanks again to everyone for caring - it really makes this easier to deal with.

I've found a whole lot of posts about Ally, from before Connor arrived and after, and I have to say that I believe something, or rather a series of things/events happened to make Ally the way she is today.

I will try to sort them into links, beginning with the earliest, and post so you can make up your own mind.

[ChrisH]

She hasn't always been bad for sure.

July 10th 2003 Ally the Hunter
Aug 10th 2003 Ally helping Meowmie
August 30th 2003 Settling in slowly - but does not like kids
September 9th 2003 Finally - pics of Ally in the new house
October 14th 2003 Look how she has grown!
October 18th 2003 Ally in the kitchen

[carole]

Nice to read some more positive threads about Ally, but it is confusing, i wonder what has made this kitty like she is,something really bad must have happened to her you would think,anyhow after reading those it does sound like there is some hope for Ally, she is so pretty, she is marked very similar to little Zara whom i had spayed and sadly got killed a week later.

Sending good vibes from my sweet kitties to dear Ally,hoping with all my heart that Ally learns to love and be loved .

[shais_mom]

I'm glad that someone was able to find positive past posts on Ally, I honestly do not remember her being a 'nice' cat.
People can say I wouldn't do this and I wouldn't do that, but until I walk in somone else's shoes, I really don't know what I would do. Jenn has put up with far more than I ever would have. I would hope that a person wouldn't have put her to sleep upon a communication either. But the simple fact is - she isn't in YOUR home or MY home. She is in Jenn's home and causing quite the ruckus apparently. Jenn and the safety (physical) of her animals is at stake.
until you experience a reading yourself with your own animals - you can't appreciate it.
She told me things I was amazed with and when I had a follow up and Angus came in I was floored. She didn't know that I knew Anna.
It just seemed as tho people were pointing fingers at someone who can't defend herself on this board. Nancy has helped thousands of people believe what you will.
That said I still stand by my opinion that she should have never been subjected to this being flown here to begin with. With her issues she has I'm sure the plane trip was pure torture for her.
Jenn has way more patience than I do b/c I wouldn't have tolerated it this long.

[ChrisH]

People can say I wouldn't do this and I wouldn't do that, but until I walk in somone else's shoes, I really don't know what I would do. Jenn has put up with far more than I ever would have. I would hope that a person wouldn't have put her to sleep upon a communication either. But the simple fact is - she isn't in YOUR home or MY home. She is in Jenn's home and causing quite the ruckus apparently. Jenn and the safety (physical) of her animals is at stake.

That said I still stand by my opinion that she should have never been subjected to this being flown here to begin with. With her issues she has I'm sure the plane trip was pure torture for her.
Jenn has way more patience than I do b/c I wouldn't have tolerated it this long.

I totally agree with all you the above. I just want to say there is/was no criticism intended in my posting of those old threads. I fully support any decision that Jenn may make, she is an angel in doing all she has done for Ally.

Until you experience a reading yourself with your own animals - you can't appreciate it.
She told me things I was amazed with and when I had a follow up and Angus came in I was floored. She didn't know that I knew Anna.
It just seemed as tho people were pointing fingers at someone who can't defend herself on this board. Nancy has helped thousands of people believe what you will.

No criticism intended for Nancy either, as you say I haven't had a reading done on any of my pets and I have read the threads posted where she has been spot on and helped enormously. All I will say is that no-one is infallible and in this instance I think she is wrong about Ally being born 'bad'.

[ChrisH]

The first bite.
Connor - Day 2
They did seem to eventually get along, sort of, for a while anyway.
Together
This morning-new pics
Then this
Ally is hurt
Back to a kind of harmony.
Pics and Videos
The pictures have been removed but a positive report on how they were getting along.
Update - Ally and Connor

[Killearn Kitties]

Well, yes, but I also found some posts by her saying that Ally was acting aggressive; obviously she bit Julie several times, and in one post, in which she reported that Ally bit her mother-in-law, she considered putting Ally to sleep. She was worried about Cali, too, with a cat like that around. But I'm not sure if all this happened after Connor moved in; maybe Ally was really happier as a single cat...

Yes Kirsten, all those things happened after Julie introduced Connor to the household. I remember her thinking, early on, that Connor's deafness was part of the problem; he could not hear Ally growling and back off.

If Julie had concerns about Ally prior to Connor's arrival, I don't think she voiced them. Really though, I think everything was fine before Connor arrived.