I'm sad to report that our co-sleeping days are now over and I'm missing her terribly, we're also dropping the breast feeds to two a day and its like the end of an era.
Chloe fell off my bed this morning. She also choked on an ivy leaf yesterday and couldn't breathe. I hope Babies are like cats and have lots of lives. NOTE TO SELF: NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF HER.
Firstly, if the experts, The UKRCC and TBRCC, agree with me, then forgive me but it is their professional opinion and expertise that I will take on board, not amateur cat lovers although I completely understand what some of you are saying and why you are saying it.
Secondly, we're not talking about moggies, we're talking about ragdolls, I seriously suggest you research the breed before telling me that emotional neglect doesn't count. It REALLY does, these are cats that behave like dogs. They come to the loo with me, breeders don't like to sell them in singles to people who work, its unfair on the breed because they are so needy, thats why we have two. But really, I don't expect you to take my word for anything I say about the breed. After all, you haven't so far, but do the research, join some Ragdoll Communities and ask their opinions. You'll find out very quickly that I'm right. Trust me.
Thirdly, yes, all babies are needy. Chloe is extremely so. Again, I can't expect you to just take my word for it and nore should I be in the position where I feel that I have to prove it but anyway I refer you to http://www.hitched.co.uk/sbforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=870349&SearchTerms=charlie a post I made on a message board a couople of weeks ago which gives you some idea of how difficult chloe is. Perhaps also read the replies, just so you can see that this is not the usual baby kind of needy. Families with dogs don't always have babies like Chloe, and I'm afraid lots of poor old dogs do get rehomed for exactly the same reasons.
Jade - I've had cats all my life so I know how much Chloe will love them. What do you think I should do, ignore them for a few years until Chloe is interested enough not to hurt them (at the moment she pulls out their fur)? I don't think so. But hey, thanks for your well thought out and not at all emotionally blackmailing reply. It was so helpful.
Tina - This is hard because you are one person whose opinion I do care about and I appreciate the time you've taken and put into your replies. BUT - I am a also a life long cat owner, I have had cats since I was born until I was 25 and then again from 29 onwards. I have experience of cats, I know happy cats, I know bored cats, I know sad cats, I know indifferent cats. I know independent cats, I know dependent cats. I don't claim to be the expert you are but I AM an experienced cat owner.
Moving house is not an option for us as we are tied in our mortgage although you have to believe me, Graham and I are desperate to move for our own benefit let alone the cats! We live in an area where The Cats Protection League will not rehome cats because of all the strays, and air rifle shootings. Its not safe. I have always said if we lived somewhere else we would let them out BUT I refer you to http://www.fanciers.com/breed-faqs/ragdoll-faq.html and in particular
"Because Ragdolls lack the instinct to defend themselves when attacked, they must be kept as indoor pets only. "
I also think you are incorrect fundamentally about the cats not suffering. THey are. They are very unhappy babies, visitors to our house have commented on the change in them. Which is what really made us think that perhaps this isn't the right home for them any more. Now, I know that my cats I had as a child would have coped fine with this situation. And in fact they did. But A) they could go outside to escape and B) they had completely different personalities to Ragdolls. Seriously. Read up on the breed. Its not coincidence that they have only been desperate to get out until Chloe was born.
Oh and I do appreciate what you say about territory Tina. Its something I've thought about too.
Anyway, I can't go on any more although I could.
Thanks for your replies but I didn't post to say I was considering it, I posted to say we had made up our mind, I am grateful that the people we know in "real life" and the professionals understand and believe that what we are doing is right. And this is because they KNOW Mena and Casper or they have had the full story, which bear in mind, none of you have. You had the abbreviated version.
I'm disabling comments, not because I just want the final say, but because this already difficult enough and its not really helping.
I do appreciate everything thats been said though. I really do.
Chloe is 6 months old! Can you believe it! We've started weaning and its not been at all successful. She seems to be enjoying the tastes of everything but explosively vomits as soon as she tries to swallow. I'm going to call the health visitors today. I wouldn't be so concerned if she hadn't stopped gaining weight... the HV's said that was because she needed solids but if she can't swallow them how is she going gain weight!
In other news the In Laws drive me absolutely batty. I mean really mad. I have REALLY huge issues with them. We had a lunch on sunday which was awful. Chloe was agitated and upset but my MIL was right up in her face all the time. I don't know how I didn't snap at her. They also kept saying "she's changed SO much, well we haven't seen her for 3 weeks". So bloody what? Three weeks is far too often as far as I'm concerned. urgh. At 6 months old they are already wanting to know when chloe will be allowed to stay with them for her summer holiday. NEVER. OVER MY DEAD BODY. etc. sigh.
In other news. I'm a massive fat biffa still, I look pregnant in most of my clothes still. This is not good.
Anyway, here is chloe aged 6 months enjoying playing with her food.
I miss the days where my friends list was full of posts. I also wish I had time to post more. Things are tough at the moment. Chloe is beautiful but we appear to be going through a difficult patch with her at the moment. I'm soooo tired.
tired
okay
mellow
