Zero waste flea treatment

Filed in Blog, Videos by on September 25, 2009 17 Comments
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Mrs Green and Pussus Green

Mrs Green and Pussus Green

Poor old Pussus Green; she’s had a bit of a time of it lately with her health.

She had ticks in the summer, fleas, as you know, a month ago and this week has been at death’s door.

She sits in doorways between two rooms. Part of her is of this world and another part has moved on; sitting in the doorways is so symbolic.
There has been a lot of cuddling and tears as we’ve been convinced she isn’t going to last another 24 hours. We’ve been spending quality time with her and I’ve been thinking about my cats and all the things they have taught me and shared with me over the years.

The most wonderful thing about animals is the unconditional love we can share with them. They ask for little in return for a whole lot of loving. They take little except your heart which they carry with them and likewise, you carry them in your heart too.

I’ve been spending time with her on my chest feeling her purr while she rises and falls as I breathe. And I give thanks for all that we have shared.

Pussus Green was always the mischievous one. She was the one with a permanent grin on her face, the one who would look at you slyly and the one with an opinion on how to do anything.

She would jump out at you, especially if you had bare toes. She would allow you to tickle her belly, then grab you with all four paws and nibble your hand. She would skid around on the wooden floor on a carrier bag (see, they do have uses!) and would race up and down the stairs chasing ping pong balls.

As a kitten she used to take apart the Christmas tree and would spend time in a box desperately trying to beat sleep whilst hanging over the edge intent not to miss anything. She would sit on the edge of the bath while I was in there trying to pull out the plug.

She was the one who dragged home a rabbit and pulled it through the bathroom window before depositing it at my feet one morning.

Well, those days are rapidly coming to an end. We’re lucky if she can make it through the front door now and every morning when we go to see her, it’s a blessing to find her still alive.

However, she is not too old or decrepit to teach me just one more thing.

The other day she was following me around while I was doing the vacuuming. She knows that regular vacuuming is essential to keep fleas out of the home, but I hadn’t thought of saving all those plastic bottles and medication packs of flea treatments out of the landfill in this way before.

Please enjoy her finale, smile with her and keep her in your thoughts; we’ve just called the vet to come around and put her to sleep – it’s the kindest thing now …

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g0dxO7LLj8

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About the Author ()

I am a long time supporter of the Green and Sustainable lifestyle. After being caught in the Boscastle floods in 2004, our family begun a journey to respect and promote the importance of Earth's fragile ecosystem, that focussed on reducing waste. Inspired by the beauty and resourcefulness of this wonderful planet, I have published numerous magazine articles on green issues and the author of four books.

Comments (17)

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  1. John Costigane says:

    Hi Mrs Green,

    Sorry to see you preparing for the last part of your pet cat’s life. As part of the family, there was plenty of relevant coverage with the Zero Waste approach to raising pets. Plenty of posts from others show their broad appeal.

    I remember the late Anna’s love of animals, mainly cats, some dogs and garden birds. Some always have pets.

  2. Poppy says:

    Huge hugs Mrs G and family {{{{{{}}}}}}

    A very hard time for all of you and one of the hardest lessons for LMG, but in the way of children, one soon learnt and moved on from. Take care all xx

  3. Sarah says:

    big hugs to you all.

  4. Cate says:

    I’m sorry–losing a pet is so hard. We also lost a kitty this week–we unexpectedly had to put one of our beloved cats to sleep on Sunday, and it was one of the hardest things we’ve ever done. Good luck to you and your family.

  5. Alea says:

    I am so sorry! Our animals are a big part of our life, so I know how difficult this is for you. You all, especially little Miss Green, are in my thoughts and prayers!

  6. Sending you lots of love and hugs. I dread the day when we have to make similar decisions. The only thing we can all do is enjoy the memories of the part our pets played in our lives. As you say, animals can teach us so many things. Lots of love, K x

  7. sandy says:

    really sorry for you all and lots of hugs. as a family we have lost loads of pets over the years and it sitll dosen’t get any easier.
    lots of love and hugs
    xx

  8. Greenlady says:

    I am so sorry for you all 🙁 the second set of friends this week who have had to go down this road. It’s never an easy decision to end a pet’s life, no matter how much its the *right* and humane thing to do. Hugs and love to you all and keep those happy memories of your beloved cat to the fore.

  9. Charity says:

    I’m so sorry. I still miss my poor Eddiecat, who was hit by a car a couple of years ago.

  10. Layla says:

    So sorry to hear about your cat – hope she has fun in kitty heaven, catching fluffy mice from one cloud to the next!

  11. Nick Palmer says:

    This has brought back us losing our dog last month. She had a heart problem and we’d been watching her weight for months. When the vet told us that, pending one final scan, we should take her home and let her have as many food treats as she wanted we broke up cos we knew.

    I planted three blueberry bushes on her grave this morning. Every day we find ourselves still saving the corners of our toast for her until we remember…

  12. I’m so sorry, that’s so sad for you all. I have a puppy who is only nine months old but already the thought that one day, allbeit in a decade, we will have to say goodbye to her upsets me enormously. It sounds like you found great joy in each other and you will always have your memories. Take care x

  13. indiebird says:

    Ah Mrs Green and the rest of the family at Chez Green, so, so sorry to read this. We don’t have pets now but this does bring back a lot of memories of pet passings when I was a child. Just as keeping pets teaches you a lot about life, when you do finally have to say goodbye, it teaches you a lot about death too. I hope you are all bearing up ok and are thinking about all the Happy Times that you all shared together. I still think now of our beloved dogs and cats that I shared so many good times with. Big hugs to you allxxxxxxxx

  14. Sooz says:

    I’m so sorry about your cat…she looks like she was a great character and has shared some lovely moments with you 🙂 xxx

  15. Deb from Boston says:

    So sorry to read this news. I can empathize as we recently had our cat die – a truely patient cat who put up with an awful lot from our two small ones carrying, swinging around and fought over for attention.

  16. Mrs Green says:

    Thank you everyone 🙂 We miss our dear friend at the most unexpected of times – when making Sunday lunch I was expecting to see her guarding the oven. When watching the sunset, she used to be at my feet and the house seems very quiet; she had quite a way with words until the last few days!

    Still, time is a healer and I’m blessed to be surrounded by good friends with comforting words and thoughts. So many people have gone through similar, so we are united in the grieving process. Animals ask for so little and give so much; humans could learn a lot from that.

    Today I spent a Good Gifts voucher I was given for my Birthday – this gift seemed very appropriate:
    http://www.goodgiftsshop.org/productinfo.aspx?tier1=Gifts&tier2=The%20Purrfect%20Gift&location=&occasion=&orderby=&catref=5026

  17. Condo Blues says:

    I’m so sorry! You’re all in my thoughts.

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