Viosna reactivation

As many probably noticed, for the last year there were no new posts on our cattery site. Sometimes there were photos on Viosnas’ facebook to let you know that we are still “alive”. The whole situation was dictated mainly by my health. There is a disease that affects many veterinarians, and in the time of covid, more and more people regardless of their profession.

At the beginning of February, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, which made my daily life difficult. I had to quit my job for a while to reduce my exhaustion and stress levels. As my life is not only about veterinary medicine, a decision was also made about a “technical break” in our cattery. By the way, it also gave our cats a chance for a longer rest and recovery. Although we were still thinking about the last mating with Elmirka, who turned 8 in June, but finally we gave it up anyway.

In April, I returned to work in the clinic, but I decided to let go of all additional topics that could have been a source of unnecessary stress, by the end of the year. I didn’t want to worry about the fact that I should write so many posts about everything that is happening, and I do not have the strength or motivation for it. Not only the cattery side was in the shadows, my Cat Vet project also stopped for that time.

Depression among veterinarians is a huge problem. It might seem that the profession is pleasant and satisfying, and sometimes it is. However, it also comes with a lot of stress, responsibility and social pressure. However, this is a topic for a separate post.

The disease itself is often underestimated and treated by some as an excuse for laziness. In practice, depression depends on many factors, but it is a result of hormonal disorders (e.g. as a result of long-term effects of stress hormones, such as cortisol), affecting the secretion of mediators of the nervous system. Long-term inflammation that may affect the above-mentioned things also plays a role. Depressien may have hereditary basics in about 30-37%.

At the beginning of my illness, it took me a while to convince people around me, that my illness was not a convenient excuse for laziness. People suffering from depression often hear to “think positive”, “go for a run or exercise because it produces endorphins”, “stop complaining because life is beautiful”, or that “they have no reason to be sad” and to “eat chocolate, so they will be happier”. Well, disease is not cured with chocolate, no matter how tasty it is. My favorite comparison on this topic it’s like telling a diabetic not to eat cookies and he will not have diabetes. It would also be a topic for a separate post.

But let’s go back to what brings you to this page, which is the Thai Cattery Viosna…

The past year was a period of inactivity on the website, but it does not mean that nothing happened in the cattery itself. In the next posts, I will try to describe in more details, what has changed and what has not. For now I will write in general what you can expect in those post coming.

At the beginning of the year 2021, a kitten came to stay with us temporarily. Her name is Adele and I managed to recover her from meningitis in November 2020 and pneumonia in January 2021. She used to look like a little furry misery.  

After her illness, she unfortunately has some cognitive disorders that make it difficult to find her a new home. As a result, she still lives with us. But I really wish she had someone who would love only her and spend with her more time than we can while taking care of 6 other cats and kangaroo and working both on full time.

In February, we had a diarrhea episode in the cattery, which was the final push for my visit to a psychiatrist. Fortunately, the cat’s problem was dealt with relatively quickly and without complications. The little ones that were with us at the time, went home a bit late, but healthy.

The decision was made that Joey would stay with us permanently. Specially for him, we replaced the fence with high panels and sowed special grass in a part of the garden so that he would have his own “pasture”. Thus, one of the cat’s rooms practically became a kangaroo place. Cats are not very happy about that – especially Helen, who loves to bask on that radiator. Joey has become an adult kangaroo, but contrary to my fears, we have no problems with him and there are no attempts to dominate. Thanks to this, he kept his testicles, because we had castration planned in case of need. So you can expect that soon Joey will also have his profile in the “Other Household Pets” section.

In June, Elma took a well-deserved retirement. On the one hand, we were sad about it, because she is our most titled girl and probably if it were not for the covid and canceled shows, she would have reached even higher. On the other hand, she has earned her peace and rest from breeding. Retirement is good for her – she gained a bit of weight, without estrus hormonal swings sometimes she behaves like a small kitten again.

We had Blue for a little while longer in the cattery, daughter of Elma and Codt, to stay with us in teh cattery. She is the most talkative cat we ever had. She retrieves toys more often than Cody and you can do literally anything with her. And it’s pretty 🙂

The 2021 health checkup came out fine. In the first half of the year, Dziabąg had a nephrological consultation in Warsaw due to the progressive atrophy of one kidney. Fortunately, both then and in subsequent blood tests, the parameters are normal.

For the breeding break, Cody feels very well with his temporary hormonal blockage. Helenka doesn’t complain about that either.

At the end of the year, Whisper, who turned 12 in April, began to have her first joint problems. Fortunately, it responds nicely to anti-degenerative medications.

Last year’s blood tests came great and showed no major problems, so I hope that we are starting the next year in good shape and with a good perspective.