› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Question about Pets
- This topic has 18 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 6 months ago by
Carole K.
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- November 2, 2014 at 3:20 am
I'm hesitant to post this question because: 1) it seems so inconsequential, and 2) I feel rather idiotic, but it's a genuine issue and I'm at wit's end. My dad is Stage IV with several large tumors on his right leg that cause him a good amount of neuropathic pain, especially at night. He, who was never a cat guy, was adopted a couple years ago by an abandoned cat which simply adores him, to the point that if Dad goes outside, the cat sits at the door and yowls.
The problem is that the cat, Sidney, likes to lay on Dad in his recliner. This isn't as much of a problem during the day, but Dad has taken to sleeping in his recliner at night because the pain is more bothersome when he's lying in bed. Of course Sidney now also wants to sleep there with him and wakes him up during the night when he moves and touches Dad's leg.
I've slept in Dad's bed the last couple nights and locked Sidney in there with me, but he yowls and bangs on the door to wake the dead. We've tried to come up with other solutions, but Dad won't go for anything like a squirt gun or sonic deterrent — he just says, "No, leave the poor little guy alone."
Has anyone else had to deal with an overloving pet? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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- November 2, 2014 at 9:58 am
Hi Just me,
I don't think there's much you can do. Your Dad is the cats Dad and he wants to be near him. He knows what's going on believe me and he wants to comfort him. I know it's annoying . Can you put a chair next to the recliner where he will feel he is close to him. You can make it comfy by putting pillows on the chair. Just ake it level with your Dad. Maybe if he puts his hand on him it will work. Animals can sense when things are going on. I had an accident many years agoa nd was bed ridden for quite some time. My cat would not leave my side. The dog slept right next to the bed and the cat slept by my head. It drove my husband crazy. lol. I wish he had loved me as much.. lol. I know it's difficult. Hope you can find a solution.
Big hugs
Love and Light
Carole K.
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- November 2, 2014 at 9:58 am
Hi Just me,
I don't think there's much you can do. Your Dad is the cats Dad and he wants to be near him. He knows what's going on believe me and he wants to comfort him. I know it's annoying . Can you put a chair next to the recliner where he will feel he is close to him. You can make it comfy by putting pillows on the chair. Just ake it level with your Dad. Maybe if he puts his hand on him it will work. Animals can sense when things are going on. I had an accident many years agoa nd was bed ridden for quite some time. My cat would not leave my side. The dog slept right next to the bed and the cat slept by my head. It drove my husband crazy. lol. I wish he had loved me as much.. lol. I know it's difficult. Hope you can find a solution.
Big hugs
Love and Light
Carole K.
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- November 2, 2014 at 11:30 pm
I fully agree with Carole. Pets, and most specially cats, are very intuitve and sensitive. When my husband was diagnosed with another type of cancer, our cat went completely odd in his behaviours. I guess now, he felt very confused and overwhelmed. The interesting thing is that the cat changed his behaviour just before the diagnosis. He felt something was not OK.
Pets can be a great company and they help with reducing the patients stress level. I wonder if finding creative solutiong with your dad will help. I would sugget not to keep thisnlovely cat away from your dad.
best wishes
m
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- November 2, 2014 at 11:30 pm
I fully agree with Carole. Pets, and most specially cats, are very intuitve and sensitive. When my husband was diagnosed with another type of cancer, our cat went completely odd in his behaviours. I guess now, he felt very confused and overwhelmed. The interesting thing is that the cat changed his behaviour just before the diagnosis. He felt something was not OK.
Pets can be a great company and they help with reducing the patients stress level. I wonder if finding creative solutiong with your dad will help. I would sugget not to keep thisnlovely cat away from your dad.
best wishes
m
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- November 2, 2014 at 11:30 pm
I fully agree with Carole. Pets, and most specially cats, are very intuitve and sensitive. When my husband was diagnosed with another type of cancer, our cat went completely odd in his behaviours. I guess now, he felt very confused and overwhelmed. The interesting thing is that the cat changed his behaviour just before the diagnosis. He felt something was not OK.
Pets can be a great company and they help with reducing the patients stress level. I wonder if finding creative solutiong with your dad will help. I would sugget not to keep thisnlovely cat away from your dad.
best wishes
m
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- November 4, 2014 at 7:33 am
Carole, your advice was stellar — the chair for Sidney worked great last night!
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- November 4, 2014 at 7:33 am
Carole, your advice was stellar — the chair for Sidney worked great last night!
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- November 4, 2014 at 7:33 am
Carole, your advice was stellar — the chair for Sidney worked great last night!
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- November 2, 2014 at 9:58 am
Hi Just me,
I don't think there's much you can do. Your Dad is the cats Dad and he wants to be near him. He knows what's going on believe me and he wants to comfort him. I know it's annoying . Can you put a chair next to the recliner where he will feel he is close to him. You can make it comfy by putting pillows on the chair. Just ake it level with your Dad. Maybe if he puts his hand on him it will work. Animals can sense when things are going on. I had an accident many years agoa nd was bed ridden for quite some time. My cat would not leave my side. The dog slept right next to the bed and the cat slept by my head. It drove my husband crazy. lol. I wish he had loved me as much.. lol. I know it's difficult. Hope you can find a solution.
Big hugs
Love and Light
Carole K.
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- November 3, 2014 at 3:16 am
Thanks to you both for your replies. Things definitely have changed in the cat's life since Dad also lost his little Bichon Frise, who was the cat's best buddy, the day before we got Dad's Stage IV results. So, besides there having been a lot of stress for us over the past couple months, it's been stressful for Sidney as well.
It's not that Dad and I want to keep him away per se; it's just that when he steps on or paws his tumors, two of which are ulcerated and oozy, it causes him a lot of pain, which wakes him up at night and doesn't make for a good night's sleep.
Carole, I will try your idea of putting a chair with Sidney's little bed on it right next to Dad. We put his bed on the couch last week, but he doesn't want to be there, so maybe being closer would help.
I guess there's no easy answer, but I agree that having the cat, especially after losing the dog, is good for Dad overall.
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- November 8, 2014 at 11:29 pm
And the cat is also griveing the loss of his friend. When I lost onr of my cats, the other one stayed on the sofa for months. Animals are amazing creatures They feel and love deeply. Big hugs to you and dad Please keep us posted
Love and Light
Carole K
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- November 8, 2014 at 11:29 pm
And the cat is also griveing the loss of his friend. When I lost onr of my cats, the other one stayed on the sofa for months. Animals are amazing creatures They feel and love deeply. Big hugs to you and dad Please keep us posted
Love and Light
Carole K
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- November 8, 2014 at 11:29 pm
And the cat is also griveing the loss of his friend. When I lost onr of my cats, the other one stayed on the sofa for months. Animals are amazing creatures They feel and love deeply. Big hugs to you and dad Please keep us posted
Love and Light
Carole K
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- November 3, 2014 at 3:16 am
Thanks to you both for your replies. Things definitely have changed in the cat's life since Dad also lost his little Bichon Frise, who was the cat's best buddy, the day before we got Dad's Stage IV results. So, besides there having been a lot of stress for us over the past couple months, it's been stressful for Sidney as well.
It's not that Dad and I want to keep him away per se; it's just that when he steps on or paws his tumors, two of which are ulcerated and oozy, it causes him a lot of pain, which wakes him up at night and doesn't make for a good night's sleep.
Carole, I will try your idea of putting a chair with Sidney's little bed on it right next to Dad. We put his bed on the couch last week, but he doesn't want to be there, so maybe being closer would help.
I guess there's no easy answer, but I agree that having the cat, especially after losing the dog, is good for Dad overall.
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- November 3, 2014 at 3:16 am
Thanks to you both for your replies. Things definitely have changed in the cat's life since Dad also lost his little Bichon Frise, who was the cat's best buddy, the day before we got Dad's Stage IV results. So, besides there having been a lot of stress for us over the past couple months, it's been stressful for Sidney as well.
It's not that Dad and I want to keep him away per se; it's just that when he steps on or paws his tumors, two of which are ulcerated and oozy, it causes him a lot of pain, which wakes him up at night and doesn't make for a good night's sleep.
Carole, I will try your idea of putting a chair with Sidney's little bed on it right next to Dad. We put his bed on the couch last week, but he doesn't want to be there, so maybe being closer would help.
I guess there's no easy answer, but I agree that having the cat, especially after losing the dog, is good for Dad overall.
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