Need Advice: Dad and Dog About This Page:

[Eeyore Tattoo]

I also think a visit to the shelter or breed rsecue is a great idea.
Sorry for the loss of Stella

[JoanneS]

No luck on our first trip out. Just big dogs and about a zillion cats. Now, Dad is thinking about a cat again. And, as we feared, Dad missed his medication yesterday. His excuse was that he took his medication after he fed Stella in the morning and without her to feed, he didn't remember the pills. Now I'll be calling him every morning as a reminder. One more thing to add to the morning routine.

[Her Dotness]

I'm sure you didn't mean "his excuse" the way it might be interpreted.

Older people often find that they need to establish routines so that they remember to take medication regularly as their memory becomes less reliable. That your dad linked feeding Stella and taking his medication probably gave him a sometimes needed reminder: "Dog demanding food. Time to take medicine."

That seems to me to have been a very smart alert device and yet another reason why your dad will miss Stella. Calling every day to remind him is a wonderful thing for you to do, but an alarm clock with a distinctive sound set for the time when he needs to take daily meds may help him feel more independent until another pet can be found.

[Pax]

You know, that would be a valuable service for someone to offer: automated TXT messages to remind folks to take their medicines.

[Thomhazel]

This might be a mad suggestion but have you thought about a cat instead. They are good company but much more independant,

[mommapants]

A little late but I got an older beagle from a resuce. She is only 18 pounds and very sweet and lays around alot.

I agree that a shelter is the best place or resuce group and an older dog would be less active. After that It really should be which dog bonds with your Dad.

Good luck.

[JoanneS]

Originally Posted by Thomhazel

This might be a mad suggestion but have you thought about a cat instead. They are good company but much more independant,

My DSis brought him an adult cat that belonged to a man that passed away suddenly. She says that the cat is very sweet and comes when called, plays fetch, and likes to be on someone's lap. He got the cat about a week ago and so far, if the cat isn't eating or using the litterbox, he's hiding under a chair in the living room. Not the best company, so far. We're hoping that after a little while, he'll get used to his new environment and visit with Dad. Originally, Dad didn't want a cat, but he felt bad when he heard the cat would be going to a shelter if he didn't take it.

[Grandmasam]

Give the cat time, but dn't be surprised if it doesn't work out. I took in an older cat when her owner died, and she never did adapt. Pixies for your dad and the cat - may they become friends and have many years of companionship.

[Teresa]

Originally Posted by Grandmasam

Give the cat time, but dn't be surprised if it doesn't work out. I took in an older cat when her owner died, and she never did adapt. Pixies for your dad and the cat - may they become friends and have many years of companionship.

Oh, her cat adapted. He rules the house. He refuses to eat "kibble" and will only eat wet food. He has her trained to feed him two times a day. He demands to be fed!

I'd be concerned that your dad has a cat he didn't want and only took out of pity. If that cat is now not using the litter box and isn't eating, there is something wrong. Maybe it's only missing it's old owner, but maybe it has a physical illness. Has the cat been to the vet for a full work-up? The vet could also help with ideas on making sure it uses the litter box and eats. My biggest concern is that I've found in dozens of years of having cats that if you've got one who isn't using the litter box, it will be very hard to get it to use one. Is the box where the cat can get to it easily? Is it the same kind of box with the same type litter it's used to? Does it offer privacy? IF all of those things are a yes, and there is no physical reason for the cat to be not using the box, it may be very hard to get it to stop peeing in the house.
Make sure someone is cleaning it up daily and is using some sort of odor killer like Nature's Miracle.
Good luck to your dad and his new "pet".

[JoanneS]

Originally Posted by Teresa

Oh, her cat adapted. He rules the house. He refuses to eat "kibble" and will only eat wet food. He has her trained to feed him two times a day. He demands to be fed!

I'd be concerned that your dad has a cat he didn't want and only took out of pity. If that cat is now not using the litter box and isn't eating, there is something wrong. Maybe it's only missing it's old owner, but maybe it has a physical illness. Has the cat been to the vet for a full work-up? The vet could also help with ideas on making sure it uses the litter box and eats. My biggest concern is that I've found in dozens of years of having cats that if you've got one who isn't using the litter box, it will be very hard to get it to use one. Is the box where the cat can get to it easily? Is it the same kind of box with the same type litter it's used to? Does it offer privacy? IF all of those things are a yes, and there is no physical reason for the cat to be not using the box, it may be very hard to get it to stop peeing in the house.
Make sure someone is cleaning it up daily and is using some sort of odor killer like Nature's Miracle.
Good luck to your dad and his new "pet".

I think I worded my reply wrong. The cat only comes out to eat and use the litter box. And, yes, the cat has been to the vet and Dad has it's records. I think the biggest problem is that my Dad had NEVER had a cat before and doesn't know what to expect from it. He's always taken in rescues, always dogs, and he's always bonded very quickly with them. Yes, I wish my DSis hadn't brought the cat to him, but now that it's there, my Dad really wants it to work out. On the plus side, it hasn't clawed anything or gone to the bathroom anywhere but the litter box.

[Eeyore Tattoo]

I think once the cat gets use to its new surroundings it Will be fine.. Cats can take days to weeks to come around..
Good Luck

[Grandmasam]

Originally Posted by Teresa

Oh, her cat adapted. He rules the house. He refuses to eat "kibble" and will only eat wet food. He has her trained to feed him two times a day. He demands to be fed!

How quickly they forget! The cat in question was Teresa's step-mom's mother's cat. When Grandma died it was determined that the cat had FIV, so it couldn't go into a house with healthy animals in case it bit one. I took her. She was so traumatized by the death and the three moves to get to my house, complicated by her FIV, that she refused to eat or socialize. That's when I learned about Feline Emotional Disorders and Feline Anorexia - NEVER a good combination!

Joanne - if the cat is eating and using the litter pan, he should eventually make the adjustment. But if your dad is not a cat person, it may not be what HE needs. Good luck!

[coffeechef]

get him some kibbles that your Dad can hand feed to the cat. don't put any food in the bowl. Then a way to the cats heart is thru his stomach. He may take a few days to get used to your Dad and Cats love to be around people who are not cat people lol
I hope it works out for the both of them

[Pax]

Alternately, get your dad a laser pointer. Because the other way to a cat's heart is inviting it to play. You can't, mustn't force the issue ... but sometimes, an invitation t play can dispel a cat's fears and anxieties long enough for it to realise "hey, this place isn't so bad after all" ...

[mommapants]

Take heart - pets (well animals in general) have an amazing ablitlity to adapt. Way better than humas do. I think once the cat realizes he is safe and has food, water, shelter and no one is going to hurt him, he will come around.