Canis

We have 3 dogs, Pixie (8 months old), Mandi (9 years old) and Candi (17 years old). We have made the tough decision and have decided to do what is right and end Candi's suffering...tough thing to do, but we know it's for the best.

My question is whether or not to bring Mandi with us to the vet. If Candi so much as goes for a haircut without Mandi, Mandi will search and search the house upside down for her. She gets very distressed and upset when she can't find her charge. She has been Candi's eyes and ears for a few years now, and since she had puppies of her own 6 years ago, she has treated Candi as though she were one of her puppies.

Pixie doesn't really seem to notice Candi too much and she is too excitable, we have already decided to leave her at home.

Do you think it would be better to bring Mandi to the vet with us so that she knows that Candi has passed on?

I am 18 weeks pregnant and I know my emotions are all over the place but I've noticed a few times now that I will start crying while I am asleep. I will be having a sad dream and I will feel myself starting to cry. I feel myself starting to wake up and I can feel my breath hitching like you do after having a good hard cry. When I wake up I have tears in my eyes and I just start bawling.

I know that I'm crying because of the dreams I have been having, but I was just wondering if anyone knows if crying in your sleep means anything. I've tried looking it up but I can't find anything relating crying while sleeping and pregnancy, so I don't know if it's related or not.

Nobody seems to be able to help me...I'm asking this question here for the second time to see if anyone can new can help or if any of the old answerers came up with new ideas.

My cat...is big...17lbs over 3 ft long...big bobcat paws...LOOONG tail. He's very pretty tho. I got him when he was 14OZ, 5 weeks old, and him mom had already been dead for 2 weeks. He was malnourished (sucking on dry kitten food) dehydrated, dirty, and I'm one of those people who has to take animals like that home. He was sweet, gentle as a lamb, wouldn't bite or unsheathe his claws when you were playing with him, and all he wanted to do was sit in your arms. We moved and he was still fine sweet and kind...until i got him FIXED.

He is a completely indoor only cat. He has Inflammatory bowel disease which is well under control now (special food and no treats of any kind). The only other pet I have is an Iguana which does not spend any time with the cat, the cat does love to sit and watch him with avid interest tho.

I'm typing all of this so you can have his information and background, before i ask my question, so you can make a very informed answer, since this is almost the end of it. I may have to put him to sleep if we can't stop this behaviour. I don't want to...he's my baby but...I have to think about the safety of myself, my visitors, and my future family.

He bites...doesn't scratch but he bites. For no apparent reason whatsoever. Nothing outside upsets him, no noises, no anything, he could be sleeping and all of a sudden he wants a taste of mom so he runs over jumps up and latches on to my arm. He does it in my sleep. He bites me on the arms mostly, sometimes my legs (not often). The only indicator I have of the first strike is the pure evil in his eyes. No growling, his ears are up, his tail is loose and not twitching. After i get him off of me..then he shows the distinctive signs of aggression. He doesn't growl tho...I heard him growl once at a dog and then he was fine...tried to play with it. But then he tries repeatedly to try to bite me. Like he's mad I grabbed him mid air and put him on the floor.

My sister and her boyfriend live with me and my fiance. The cat bites the girls and not the guys.

Here are the things we have tried. They are all listed in order. We tried each method for approximately 3 weeks before giving up and going on to the next one. Some seem pretty mean...we are willing to do almost anything (we won't beat him tho) to fix this problem.

NO! Hssss, redirection, Blowing on his face, Spraying him with water, tapping his nose, tugging his whiskers, shoving fingers in his mouth, pinching his lips, putting him in the bathroom for 10 min timeout for biting, tapping his forehead, scruffing, slamming (scruffing him before he bites or during his leap to bite and pushing him to the floor, not in a hurtful manner), smacking his bottom....I've given up right now and basically just dump a bottle of water on him so he has to go dry off before he bites me again. When I scruff him I put my hand under his bottom so he doesn't get hurt.

I love my cat to death....please help....

If you need more info just ask...I don't know if I got everything. Its a long question as it is.

Thanks

I got my cat when he was just a tiny 14oz ball of hair. I always did like to take home the saddest looking critters I could find. Anyway...he was the sweetest, kindest, cutest little thing...now...he's big. 17 lbs and not overweight, over 3 feet long (4 if he's reaching up) and he BITES...HARD. He doesn't usually break the skin but he jumps up and clamps on and slowly increases the pressure until you get him off....its not as easy as saying no or taking your arm out of his mouth...I hate to say it but you have to hurt him to get him off! I don't want to have to hurt him...I love my cat I really do, he's my baby. We have tried everything from gentle rebuffs to poking your fingers around in his mouth...pulling his whiskers, pinching his lips, scruffing...you name it we've tried each method for at least 3 weeks before giving up. If you punish him he comes right back at you! Doesn't matter if he's soaked with water or all puffy from a scruffing...he attacks again! and again...and again...this is getting frustrating...it's to the point where we will soon have to put him down for this behaviour...he's big enough to seriously maim a child. You don't even have to look at him to evoke this behaviour...I've never heard of anything like this before and nobody has been able to help me, not even animal behaviourists. Any help would be appreciated...keep in mind I do say that you have to hurt him to get him off....but its not like we beat him, I mean I do after all pick him up and apologize and cuddle him and everything after I've had to pinch him or anything...and we don't hit him...so don't go thinking I abuse my animals...i have a hard time not just letting him hang on until he decides to let go but I can't do that...thanks....