The pet situation is fast turning into a nightmare
Remember that time when we thought we lost Pepper because she was gone for two nights? That was a little over three months ago. Pepper never went away like that again and we were happy. Just a week ago, Alex commented on how Pepper has gained a lot of weight after the noticeable weight loss following the arrival of Astro. I felt that all my efforts — bringing her into the bedroom to finish her food and water sans interruptions from Astro — were finally paying off.
So, when Pepper refused to eat her dinner tonight — grilled fish — I felt a little anxious. She had been spending a lot of time under Speedy’s desk which is practically Astro-proof because of a chair that Astro can never squeeze himself through. Pepper was there almost all day today and that was where she crawled back to after turning her back on her grilled fish. I took pity on her and brought her into the bedroom and placed her on the bed where Alex was reading a book. I was answering e-mails and had my back to them. I didn’t even turn around when Alex said, rather irritably, that Pepper had gone crazy. A couple of minutes later, I turned around and Pepper was writhing and panting.
Okay, this part is a little hazy to me. I knew I was screaming and I tried to wake up Sam who had fallen asleep almost as soon as she got home after last night’s sewing machine episode. I took a blanket from the closet and Jen, the house helper, climbed on the bed to lift Pepper and place her on the blanket-lined basket that I was holding (we stole Astro’s bed in a fit of panic). We brought Pepper out of the bedroom.
Ten minutes later, she gave birth to two five kittens — one was stillborn and still wrapped in a sac (what do you call the sac?); the other ones looked pretty okay. All this time, Speedy had Astro on a leash.
The pet dilemma deepens. How do we keep Astro away from Pepper and the kitten? What do we do with another kitten? It’s not like we — the house helper and I mostly — don’t have to deal all day with Astro’s poop and pee, and play referee between dog and cats.
And it all had to happen on final exams week.
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11.39 p.m.
Okay, I take back the nightmare part. It’s a dream. Sort of. I’ve always wanted a ginger-colored cat. Two of the kittens are the color of fresh ginger. Beautiful. 
Hope they all live.
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February 27th, 11.42 a.m.
One kitten died about an hour ago — the one with beautiful black/gray tiger stripes.
A third of what’s been written about me is true, a third is half-true and the rest consists of drug-induced hallucinations. I suppose I’d better let me, rather than them, tell you 
11 responses to "The pet situation is fast turning into a nightmare"
Get a crate for Astro. Limit his access to certain rooms of the house. He has a lot of energy to spend (and being a puppy, he will get into everything) and if not controlled could be destructive/lethal (esp. for the kittens). Astro might also think the kittens are toys. Playpens to contain him in just a certain part of your house will also help, otherwise, crate is your option. Astro’s arrival should not mean total disruption of the cats’ peaceful (& the human’s) existence. The humans should just device ways on how to make them live together peacefully . Pits could be wonderful and very sweet dogs if disciplined/raised well.
Not sure if we have pet supplies stores there now but maybe, Speedy can just come up with something. Check out these websites for gates/playpens:
http://www.petsuppliesdelivered.com (this is where we get most of our pet stuff–a lot cheaper)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com
I think that’s called the gestational sac? Anyway, congratulations on having kittens! I was reading your entry and I was hoping Pepper isn’t sick then I got to the “labor” part and I was just relieved. Now, you have your hands really full! Goddluck!
Get a crate, i can’t say it enough times. Besides you being able to control Astro’s behavior, where he poops, where he eats, when he poops and when he eats, you’ll also be giving him a safe “den” to retreat to. Make it comfortable with lots of dog toys and food so he’ll like being there. Take him out for exercise, and playtime etc, but until he can follow commands like “leave it”, “off”, or “come” and other basics like that, then he should spend limited time out of the crate. Max of 6 hours at a time.
While in the crate, he also gets to familiarize himself with the smell of the other pets so he doesn’t go all hyped up on them when he sees them out of the crate.
Make sure the crate is not too big so he can pee or poop on one end and sleep in the other. If he pees, you want him to be uncomfortable in it that he’ll hold it until its time to go outside.
Re the cats: that must have been a a sight!
Congratulations on the kitties
Nix the playpen idea. most of the dogs I’ve taken care off turned the playpens I bought them into their climbing jungle gym. Better go with the crate. It’s more versatile and you can use it whether you’re taking astro out in the car or leaving him at home. You can also get Pepper her own crate as she’s going to want a private place where she can nurse and where her kittens can wander around safely while their eyes develop. You can put Pepper’s crate on higher ground too to keep Astro from reaching ‘em.
Good luck with your new additions!
looks like the crate gets the vote. =)
I third on the crate idea! That’s definitely a good way to keep Astro in check and controlled! It will also help you with housebreaking him as dogs are less likely to pee/poo in their sleeping area (unless they got bad case of the runs like my dog did once when he was a puppy). Put him in his crate when he gets too out of hand and also when he has to sleep at night.
We checked out some crates in Greenhills last weekend. Couldn’t find a size that will accommodate Astro for more than a couple of weeks (my, how fast he grows!). Will have to try more pet shops. It’s been raining on and off for about a week now and Astro refuses to go to the garden to do his thing so the “accidents” inside the house are multiplying.
Better, I guess, to get yourself an industrial crate.
And the sac… it’s an amniotic sac, I guess.
This makes me kinda miss the puppy dalmatian we once had. Poor puppy died of some liver disease it got from another dog.
Connie, there is no better crate than Vari Kennel, buy the largest size, it will fit for Astro. Available on major petshops. And like the rest of the commentors and as I have shared before, it will be best to have crate/playpen/walking/garage/garden routines.
Let Astro see the kittens while he’s on leash. When he get used to the sight of those wiggly kitties, I think he’ll realize they are harmful for him and for your family that he intends to protect. Let him smell them too. Astro is still a puppy, this is the best time for all things temperament.
If you feed him inside a crate/playpen/cage, having him relax for like an hour inside it will oblige his system to make poopoo and peepee the moment you take him outside, in this case put him directly in the garden.
When I read “Pepper has gained a lot of weight after the noticeable weight loss” I knew right there and then she was pregnant. Hindi naman si Astro ang tatay nun no? Bata pa siya eh
Para na kayong me pet shop na, Connie. Di ko kakayanin yan.
Cats are usually lazy and would not exercise by themselves. They love to cat nap all day long. You need to set up a playtime and a play area. Keep Strings, ball, catnip items, or simple home made items that your cat will love. See that the items kept are without any sharp edges which might hurt your pet. This will help it get into a good habit of keeping itself occupied while you are busy with something else.
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