Obviously, after having read my thread, you all can see that I don't go out of my way to protect Creamsicle. I'll admit I was sick to my stomach when she fell this last time because she fell quite a distance and she hit hard. I was here to see it but what about when I'm not? She loves everyone and she's deaf besides so to isolate her in any way is out of the question and, like Lizzie, I can't see padding furniture, etc. Her CH is mild in comparison to when I first rescued her and most people don't even know that she has CH until they try to pick her up or unless they see her endlessly walking in circles. When I first took her in, I considered building ramps for her so that she could get up on the sofa or look out the window w/out my help but as she improved, I realized that she wouldn't need those things.
I think CH cats are rather like toddlers; they're made of rubber and cement. They're tough. I do cat proof the house because of a cat's curious nature and their inability to resist string, tassels, ribbons, etc. and I would never allow Cgirl or any of my cats to come into harm's way. I guess maybe it depends on the severity of the CH and the personality of the cat. If I try to restrict Creamsicle in any way, she'll become more stressed and her CH will become more pronounced.
I'm protective but not over protective. I sometimes feel bad as it is about keeping them indoors so to restrict a CH cat or any cat for that matter doesn't seem fair to me. I was concerned that Cgirl would never be independent and that I would need to hand feed her and put her in the litterbox each time because when she first came to me, her CH was that bad. Well, my prayers for her independence and happiness have been answered and I won't stifle that in any way. If she gets banged up, she'll hopefully learn from experience.
I forgot to answer Lizzie's question about how easily Cgirl goes into panic mode: if I accidentally step on her paw, she'll panic and hide from me. The first time I did that she hadn't been admitted into my house yet because I was waiting for her test results, so she lived in the garage. She ran under my car and stayed there for hours. If I'd get close, she'd run to the other side. I ended up sleeping in the garage that night because I felt so bad and I had to wait for her to come to me, which she eventually did, but her CH was awful! She naturally loves everyone, doesn't seem to fear strangers at all, but if she thinks you're headed in her direction w/medicine, the CH kicks in full bore. I dread the day that I may have to administer subQ's to her if she should ever develop CRF as a couple other of my cats have. Good grief.
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