Mazy cat is starting to get a bit wobbly with her back legs. I noticed it a little last year when it first got cold, and in fact remember mentioning it to the vet, but I don't remember her saying anything useful.
Last Sunday it was chilly but sunny and Mazy cat spent the whole day on the porch. I was so happy for her to be able to spend the whole day out there (when it's hot I have to bring her in by midday) I didn't even think about it being chilly.
She stiffened right up, that night and the next day she was really stiff and reluctant to move much at all.
I got the self warming beds out, and she's using them and doing much better but I still have some concerns.
My biggest worry is Queen Eva has been playing really rough with her, well they've always played that way, after all Queen Eva learned how to play from Mazy cat and Mazy cat was a rough player. But now she can't hold herself against Queen Eva and Queen Eva is rolling her. It's really started to worry me, especially as I've noticed Mazy cat hesitating and not jumping down from someplace, or not coming up the stairs, if she sees Queen Eva lurking. So I know Queen Eva must be hurting her.
Mazy cat still initiates Games with Queen Eva though.
Mazy cat is doing better now with the warming beds to keep her warm during naps, but I've been calling Queen Eva away when I see her stalking Mazy cat or barring the way for Mazy cat to get down or come up the stairs.
Now I've started talking to Queen Eva and telling her she needs to be more gentle with Mazy cat. I talk to her about it when she comes under the covers for her early morning cuddle after the alarm goes off, and at night when she comes under the covers for her bed time cuddle.
I told her about how when Ootay got old and fragile how gentle Tolly was with her, pretending to pounce on her but never even touching her, just landing over her. Then he would wrap his arms around her and bring her down, on top of himself. Of course Tolly was almost twice Ootay's size, and Queen Eva is much smaller than Mazy cat, but I wanted to give her an idea of what I meant. I pictured it in my mind as I was telling her about it.
I tell her it's okay to keep playing with Mazy cat but she needs to be careful and stop rolling Mazy cat because it hurts her. I tell Queen Eva she can pounce, but be gentle and just hop over her instead of knocking her down.
And incredibly, I just saw Queen Eva do exactly that. Mazy cat did a side stepping come-and-get-me prance, and Queen Eva threw her self at Mazy cat, but at the last minute, as Mazy cat ducked, Queen Eva's body kind of slid over Mazy cat's ducked head, instead of knocking her over in a roll! Maybe it was a fluke. Or maybe she really does understand and is going to try to be more gentle. I praised her highly for it.