Blasted Hormones

I find it absolutely incredible how hormones can hijack ones body to where you don't have any control of your emotions and physical well being. It's recommended by health gooroos that we should stress ourselves out by watching what we eat, because we are what we eat right? Let's not forget to get plenty of exercise while we're at it, but for what cause, so the hormone factor can continue to keep us hostage?

Think about it, when we are young, innocent and on top of the world, the alien called hormones creep into our body and start to consume it. It's really quite powerful. It changes the way we look and feel for the majority of our adult life, not necessarily for the better. I could go into all the gory details but you get what I'm saying.

So the other day, I had to take the husbands cat to the vet. She has been dropping hair by the handfuls. Every time she gets up from where she's been sleeping, a huge clump of hair is left behind. The husband was growing concerned and asked me to take her to the vet. I thought I'd be smart and look up her symptoms on the computer. I wanted to consult my good friend Google first.  Google is full of knowledge and  has the best advice, why wouldn't I start with my best friend?

Google was so smart on the subject of hair loss in cats, that she gave me tons of reasons why this could be happening. As it turned out, the one thing they all had in common was to consult your veterinarian before seeking treatment, after all  you want to know what you are treating. Isn't Google amazing with all her great advice?

I had no choice, I can't continue to have cat hair all over the house and the husband really wanted to know what was wrong with his precious kitty. Yeah, precious has always been cranky and moody and not something I wanted to put into a crate.

She wasn't happy in the least and made sure I was aware of it. She growled in her threatening tone all the way to the clinic as well as in the waiting room. After we were put in the examination room, I took my chances and offered some comfort by petting her. To my surprise she accepted the gesture. OK so I shouldn't be too surprised. Every once in a while, when it suits her needs, she will allow me the privilege of petting her. I guess this was a good time.

Shortly after she was beginning to relax, Mr. Vet walked in. He took her out of the crate by the scruff of the neck then started to rub his hands over the area where she is losing hair. I think he was looking for mites or fleas, which she has neither. The husbands precious kitty did not like Mr. Vet manhandling her so she started in with the growling. Mr.Vet continued to rub his hands on her while giving me a diagnosis of hormone imbalance. He told me It's common in cats her age. The husband also wanted me to ask Mr. Vet about her sagging stomach. I think he was concerned she might have a tumor.

Mr. Vet rolled the cat over to examine her stomach. At this point, Rosie is fit to be tied and her growling is getting louder. He said the sagging skin is nothing to worry about, it's also common for female cats her age. He chuckled and mentioned he had a calico cat who's tummy would sway back and forth every time she walked. Rosie's growling didn't let up. He rolled her back to her side and said, "A little grumpy aren't you?"

A little grumpy!  How dare he insult her like that. He just diagnosed her with a hormone imbalance while rubbing his hands all over her. Then at the same time, making light of her sagging stomach. I suddenly felt a sense of camaraderie and warmth of understanding for the cat I never really bonded with.

It all became very clear to me, I completely misjudged the cats behavior. The whole time she was out of sorts and acting like a witchy feline, it was the hormones taking control of her little kitty body.

Of course she was grumpy and cranky, of course she didn't want a man touching her, of course she had a sagging stomach. Poor Rosie. All I wanted to do was get the heck out of the office with my new best friend, sit on the couch together chowing chocolate and, of course, her prescription for hormone therapy.