Beau’s preferred pose
a refinement
Alert refinement!
Or perhaps you’d prefer me like this?
Phooey–I’m fed up with all this posing…
I‘m trying to be brave (I am head cat), but I’m in pain and it seems just resting and being sensible isn’t working. You know that lady who came here a couple of times and worked magic on me? Perhaps she’d be willing to come back and work magic on me again?”We took the hint, and Sandrine drove over the Black Mountains from Carcassonne.
Anything’s better than that twenty minute roller coaster ride to the vet clinic. Hateful, he cries–cruel. How can we know where you are taking us and what will happen when we get there?Sandrine spent 30 minutes gently manipulating Beau on the dining room table. He was remarkably compliant– knowing and trusting her.
Later he walks into the kitchen at a steady pace, a hint of a limp, but not complaining.
He asks to go out the back door.
Duty calls–the Evening Check on the Perimeters.
Friend or foe? You never know what you might find…
“Vive les osteos!” says Beau, big eyes clear of the tension of pain–for the moment.All down to the nice lady from Carcassonne, prepared to take the trip over the mountain, in the broiling heat. The pharmacy in Lautrec ordered his homeopathic arnica medication, so we’ll see.
Back on the job with Ben as assistant–Beau though, grabs the spotlight!
Robin Ellis 
I agree totally about using an osteopath on your cat. I’ve been seeing an osteopath myself for 24 years. He retires next week and im really upset because he’s become more than a therapist but a friend as well.
I use a lot of homeopathy not only my current cat but both dogs I’ve had along with my ducks and hens. I’ve also take my dogs to see an osteopath as well.
Hope Beau is on the mend and feeling more comfortable. Best wishes from Blighty xx
I wish there coud be a cat ostheopath coming home here in Italy as well, my Carmilla, just like Beau and like us, is getting older and a soft manipulation could do well… If ever possible. The only time we tried a friendly visit from her vet at home, the irreproacheable silky black lady she is at the clinic (behaving as bravely as a heroine since she was two months old and stayed in my hand) turned out to be one of the Erinyes … and my blood flowed 🙂
I’m currently seeing an osteopath for a frozen shoulder. I hope my treatment is as successful as Beau’s. If not I’ll be needing this lady’s number. !! Beautiful photographs.
I just love to read the thoughts of another “cat person” and I really wish that once in awhile they (our beautiful furry babies) would actually answer us with words, not just those precious eyes and purrs,💕🐈⬛ – (but we know what they are telling us!)
Beau and company certainly live their best lives with you–lucky cats & lucky Robin and Meredith! I loved reading this entry and seeing all the photos of a very handsome Beau. Thank you!
Do hope that Beau makes a speedy recovery with all that kindness and attention!
We all love our pets. I remember when the great Barbaro was hurt the whole world was praying for him. His owner said when he died. “Grief is the price we pay for Love”
Robin and Meredith and Beau, See today’s NYT article on “Medical Science Has Much to Learn From Cats” by James Gorman. Ellen
Sent from Mail for Windows
Will take a look, Thanks!
Greetings, Robin. Glad to hear you’re open to alternative treatments. My last dog, a senior husky mix and rescue, had been beaten to within an inch of his life by his former bastard. His neck and spine were out of whack, and he was in pain, so I took him for acupuncture treatments. Later he developed vestibular syndrome, with episodes that mimic stroke, but generally last only a week or so. I took him to an osteopath who helped him with his balance. And I used meditation, as I’m a spiritual person, to cure myself of rheumatoid arthritis after a six month attack in 2010. Love your cat stories. After a lifetime of being a dog person, I’m now officially a crazy cat lady (four). Cheers.
So glad Beau has some relief from pain. As someone once said “getting older is not for the faint of heart!!!
Bette Davis said, “Getting old isn’t for sissies!” The older I am the more often I think of her and that line.
Robin, if I may, I just loved the writing: it read like a prose poem. Is Sandrine bth a vet and osteopath (for people), or a vet who includes osteopathy? Surely, a cat’s structure is different from people’s? She has to know how to calm and handle a cat.
What an enchanting story. It brought to mind a quote from the American writer Mark Twain (ne Samuel Clemens) who was a devoted cat lover:
“A home without a cat — and a well-fed, well-petted and properly revered cat — may be a perfect home, perhaps, but how can it prove title?”
-Mark Twain
Hi Robin, These are wonderful photos of Beau. He’s so lucky that you and Meredith are his caretakers and that you found Sandrine. All of our cats have been strays. We found them or they found us. Walt was the one kitty that fit in the palm of my hand. He was the last of a litter that had to be extricated from the walls of a neighbor’s apartment. They rescued the litter, but the mother kept returning because she knew there was one more left. She carried him out and placed him on the doormat. We peaked out just in time and scooped him up. He was nursed back to health and as we had two or three other cats (so long ago I can’t remember) we thought we couldn’t possibly have one more. We took him to place where you leave your poor pet for the day to be adopted. We tried to distract ourselves for a few hours, but I was a wreck fearful someone had chosen him. We rushed back to pick him up, but needn’t have worried. He was so scrawny compared to the other cats and his fur had barely grown in on his leg where he’d had a blood transfusion. All’s well that ends well and Walt lived a life of great adventure. I think there was one month when we didn’t have any kitties and then word got out and we have a full house again. With fond memories of our visit, feeding madeleines to the birds and keeping company with cats and cows.Sarah
p.s. The church concert looked like it was a grand success!
Hi Sarah.
Good to hear about Walt and your change of mind. Cats’ mothers’ instincts for protection and survival of their brood are astounding.
Strangely and rather wonderfully, Meredith and I were looking at a 2012 google photo album and there was Robert and me outside the cafe where we did the first interview!
Take good care over there.
Robin
Jumping onto Sarah’s with some pictures from our very happy visit. xo Robert
Hi Robert!
Just told Sarah about M & me looking at a photo of you and me after the first interview in 2012. Where did you send the photos?
Take care
Robin
He really is beautiful and no doubt, forever grateful for Meredith finding him, such knowing creatures! 🤗🙂
I read your article about Beau. I hope he is doing better. I feel for him. My baby girl Callie is I think in the early stages of arthritis. I am going to take her to vet to see what can be done. I enjoy the photos of your “FUR BABIES”. Corriene
Aww, love to hear your cat stories! So glad Beau is feeling better!!
One wonderful natural joint supplement that has helped all our aging cats has been Dasuquin. You’ve probably heard of people on Cosequin (same thing); my sister’s horse was even on it and it did wonders! It’s a natural supplement that has 2 main ingredients…as I understand it, one builds up good tissue, the other breaks down the bad stuff. Over the years, nearly all our cats have been on it: Tara, when she had trouble jumping up at 16, Sassy, around 18, and now our big boys at 16. Anyway, you open the capsule & sprinkle the powder into their food. There are no side effects, so once they need it, we just keep them on it. My vet introduced us to it years ago, but now I’ve seen it on Amazon and Chewy. (There are cheap knock-offs, but I’ve read that the ingredients aren’t as fine.) Get the real stuff: Dasuquin for cats, made by Nutramax. They make a dog version, too. (No, I’m not a spokesman!! But it has helped our kitties so much over the years!) Hugs to you both & the kitties! -Dianne & Gene
Thanks, Dianne. Meredith here–just ordered the Dasuquin–though what I found was Cosequin for cats. Hope it works. Beau still walks
with some obvious discomfort.
PS: Beau looks like he’s related to our Scamper!
Sweet Kitty!