Advice for getting a new kitten...

[johnpalmer]

... don't do it while feeling crappy, when you are assuming that you just strained your neck doing exercises, when, in fact, you may have a (relatively mild) case of viral meningitis[1].

But I do have a lovely new black kitten, sleek and pantherish, and a bit shy, about four months old. I wanted a kitten so Leo would have a playmate he wouldn't drive crazy, and besides, I've seen stuff saying kittens are easier to integrate than grown cats.

Her name at the shelter was Kate, which I might keep; "little kitty-Kate" flows nicely. But I'm waiting for her personality to tell me more. Alas, she's in seclusion for now (which is proper - at least a day of contact with a door between them is good advice, everyone agrees). But I wish I had more energy for playing with each kitty for a while, and didn't have such a rough time laying down in the seclusion room with its hard wooden floor and lack of pillows. (Getting down to kitten-level helps keep them from being too nervous about us big two-legged people.)

And I'm really nervous about the live introduction if I'm not energetic enough to chase them around the house. But we'll see... it'll work out, somehow.

Updated:
Kittens introduced. They seem to be a bit standoffish to me right now, but they seem to be getting along fine with each other. It's almost like they're saying "Hey, mack, what do you think we need *you* for? We've got a *cat* to play with!"




[1] Viral meningitis symptoms are headache (check) stiff neck (check - remember, thinking I'd strained it doing exercises?), fever (check - though relatively low), and fatigue (whoo, boy). Without confusion, photophobia, rash, etc., it's probably viral (it's like the flu; rest and wait) versus bacterial (GET THEE TO A DOCTOR). Don't worry I have some people checking on me for walking down the river and trying to drink the water, because mosquitoes may bite - er, I have people checking on me to make sure I'm coherent, just in case. But whatever it is, it seems to be passing, slowly, so it's probably not serious.

Comments

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

If you had a stiff neck from meningitis or encephalitis, it would come on pretty quickly, and you'd know you were seriously ill. Your fever wouldn't be "mild", it would be incapacitating. You'd probably be vomiting as well.

Never read internet advice about symptoms when you're sick... you'll wind up with a virulent case of cyberchondria :-)

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

You know, I understand geek answer syndrome, and I know that it's often a sign of caring. I also know I don't have to justify my own judgment to anyone.

But I went from "neck seems a bit stiff - weird that only 25 of each neck exercise did that!" to waking up with a neck I was unwilling to move - so I didn't test range of motion - and a nasty headache, and a fever, and feeling that if things got worse, I wouldn't, e.g., be able to drive myself to the ER if necessary. I knew I was seriously ill.

Had I not read up on potential illness on the internet, I'd have gone to the ER and wasted time and resources that might have been better spent on someone else, to say nothing of probably being in agony. Instead, I could determine that the immediate danger was minimal, and try to rehydrate and go back to sleep, after making sure someone would check on me in case my symptoms worsened.

I do appreciate your caring, you are a good person whose friendship I value.