If he feels adjusted and is otherwise friendly, doesn't glare or run from you or stare angrily at you when you come home (all signs that a cat is angry with living adjustments and feels passive-aggressive), then it could be a medical problem. Considering his age, it's probably not kidney failure. Keeping him in at night is good. I'd suggest taking him to the vet to rule out physical discomfort. You're doing everything else right, I think.

Depends on what pump you're talking about, and what stone, but all the Airstones I've seen seem to work the same way. You should have a small air pump (they're usually blue, and come with the airstone), the stone itself, and a long bit of clear tubing. One end of the tube goes on the pump and the other end goes on the nozzle of the airstone. The pump, being plugged in, pushes air through the tube and into the airstone, where it comes out the porous stone and oxygenates the tank.
Considering that this pump is plugged into electricity, I would think it's a horrible idea to put it into the water. I hope you weren't thinking about doing that...?

Greetings Desperate Petfreak:

I am pleased with your choice in serpents--snakes can be excellent and calming animals, as I'm sure you know. I have a huge weakness for them. The large constrictors can be a handful, especially Rock Pythons, which are known to become aggressive when they're large--but small snakes, such as Corn Snakes, Rat snakes and Smooth Greensnakes are very even-tempered.

You have done your research and I commend you. Well done. There is, however a very difficult problem... overcoming your dad's fears. Snakes and spiders seem to be the worst for some reason.
It is NOT genetic for a human to be afraid of these animals, though there is a predisposition toward some animals more than others.
Tests in monkeys have proven that lab monkeys, who had never seen a snake, had no fear of them. When they were shown a video of wild monkeys showing fear of snakes, they THEN developed a fear of snakes.
Oddly enough, in the same study, when the lab-monkeys were shown a video that was edited so it looked like the wild ones were afraid of flowers, they did not develop a fear of flowers. It seems as though there are certain things that can become all-consuming fears, but if they are never triggered, they will never be a phobia.

You know as well as I do that your dad has nothing to fear from a grass snake. They can't even eat a good-sized mouse!
It's very difficult to overcome a phobia, but the subject must be willing to do it otherwise the fears will persist. It doesn't sound like your dad wants anything to do with snakes.

The best thing you can do is see exactly where the boundaries are. If he won't allow it in a public room (such as the living room), will he allow it in your room, in a closet or behind a wall where he doesn't have to see it? If he won't allow it in the house, do you live in a warm enough climate that you can keep it in the garage? In the worst case scenario, he might be completely horrified just by the thought of a snake. Can you take him to a pet store or enlist the help of a teacher, to show him firsthand that snakes are docile and peaceful? Coming from an adult, the information might be easier for him to handle. Try to work him over slowly, but be patient. It might be his worst fear come to life.

I love snakes myself, and am glad to see that you haven't given in to the very popular fear of them. Good luck. You might have to wait until you move out, but it's worth it.

I, too, have heard this. It's very possible that animals, which obviously have innate senses of direction and time, could align themselves to a certain direction any time they wished. Whether they do this upon their death is something I'm not sure about. I have read literature of various Native American tribes, such as the Seminole, who say that animals die facing east so that when the sun rises, they will be facing the dawn--and their new lives.
Many things die during the night because it is a natural time for temperature and biorhythms to slow, so as their bodies relax for sleep, they just let go their hold on life. I suppose it's possible animals could sleep facing east so the first rays of the sun wake them and let them know when dawn has come; time to wake and find food.
I do believe animals know when they are dying (among other things--they know much more than we give them credit for), and there could be something here that humans who are attuned to the earth would notice.
In any case, spiritually speaking, it is a peaceful omen to die facing east, receptive to the new "dawn" of the next life for that soul.

Try looking at www.behindthename.com ... Names of gods and goddesses are always good for animals.

It's all right to bathe her, so long as you're very gentle, of course. Get some water that's warm, but not hot, at least two buckets full, and just pour it gently over her back on the driveway or somewhere. Then use a light shampoo on her fur and wash her like you'd wash your own hair. It usually helps to have a couple people do this together so you can hold her.
Once she's all soapy and smelling girly, get another bucket and rinse her off. Make sure you've got all the soap off. Dry her with a towel and she will smell nice and feel better as well.

Something is keeping Henry agitated, because three weeks usually is enough time for a cat to get used to the smells and rhythms of his new home. As someone said down there, knowing the background of Henry would probably help you determine if he's afraid if something in particular.
As for right now, I suggest you spend time just sitting in the room where he's hiding, and talking softly to him. He needs to get used to the sound of your voice and the sensation of you being near. Bring him tempting foods like a bit of cheese or ham or something, so he associates you with good things. Even if he won't take it from your hand, the smell will tell him it's good.
It seems you know that it's not normal for a cat to be on high alert all the time--it will wear down his health just as it would do to a human. If you have screened windows, maybe leaving them open where he can smell the outside will make him feel more soothed. Set up a place where he can hide and feel safe--if that's under your bed, then let him hide there whenever he wants. Some cats are just painfully shy, and I think it could take as long as half a year for him to realize you mean him no harm.
Send him nice thoughts, and always be peaceful when dealing with him, because cats are very sensitive to moods. If you're agitated at his fear, he will know, and it might just make it worse.
An outside cat is not used to walking under ceilings and having spaces around them during the day--they usually curl up and sleep--he could be a very nocturnal cat who is upset at the daytime activity. If you can keep him calm during the day, or safely in a bedroom where nothing will scare him, he might realize that the day won't kill him.
Most of all, be patient with him, because it's hard to adjust to a home where you feel unwelcome (for whatever reason). When we got a second cat, our first was very hostile. She had not been raised with other cats and didn't understand cat etiquette or the smells that other cats have. It took her a very long time to stop hissing and smacking him, but now they cohabitate rather well (two years later).

Try Clover.. I would have suggested Hazel, if you hadn't put restrictions on it.
There's also Holly, Dandelion, Fiver, Hrair and many other names which I pulled from the splendid book Watership Down (which is about rabbits and communists..).

You aren't allowed to have one because they are exotic and illegal.

you only THINK you want a dog until you actually have one. What did that rabbit ever do to you to make you hate it? Go to your local library and check out Watership Down and make your grandmother read it to you. Or, for the attention-span deprived, lucky you, they made an animated film version which most Blockbusters have right on the shelf.
TAKE CARE OF THE RABBIT, WHICH IS A QUIET, SOFT, NOT-VERY-MESSY ANIMAL. STOP TYPING IN ALL CAPS BEFORE SOMEONE "CAPS" YOU. THEN QUIT YOUR WHINING AND YOU'LL GET A DOG.

People have been coming to me for advice so long, I might as well do this all in one spot. I watch a lot of unfathomable Japanese TV and drink a lot of coffee. I'm a freshly-hatched Illustration major, formerly trapped & dying in the American South, now busily teaching phrases to all of Nagoya Japan. I'm always on the lookout for more video games and sushi.
I have lots of interesting pets. Wanna see my beetle?

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