Jim - I would say that yes, almost all of them did. The ones that didn't have spindly canes and no buds yet. BUT - the ones that did have some canes broken are blooming very nicely now - it's just that they could have had even more blooms. Abe Darby has about 25 buds and 2 bloomso open. So I am getting buds/blooms. It's just frustrating when the canes break off at the base and I'm holding this long cane with about 5 buds on it. I have so much to learn still. :) Yeah Seil - I think that is the culprit. Live and learn and learn some more. LOL Carol

Those wasps are *nasty*! If she got stung, it's no wonder she had an allergic reaction. Yipes! There are stages to allergic reactions. Some get hives then graduate to all over itching like your girl. Others just swell up. Some got into anaphylactic shock and just stop breathing and die. I would continue giving benadryl for a couple of days just to make sure she is over the reaction. Usually a steroid shot stops the problem but if the venom is still in her she could react to it again once the drugs wear off. Glad you were with her and sought vet help. Usually just benadryl isn't enough for severe reactions- they need steroids at first too. We have those wasps here too. Yuck.

When I lived in New Orleans we use to help people all of the time. Go to any community garden. Explain your situation to some of the gardeners I'm sure some one will provide you with seeds cuttings etc. Or just join a garden and in a few months you will have enough food to give away.

I just had to respond since Ive been enduring this sort of thing for... gulp...ten years. So maybe Ill just start off by saying -it wouldnt hurt to just start putting out feelers for someone with whom you can rehome the younger kitty,while shes still young. Dont feel you have to give her away to the first taker or anything like that - but if you come across someone you like and trust who could take her and make the situation better for all three of you - well, that could be the best thing. While I like what Anzz wrote and would certainly try it out, I have to say I regret not rehoming my aggressor early on- I just kept thinking it would work out but it never did- and I really was and still am fond of the little devil and really really wanted it to work. So now Im kinda stuck because people generlaly dont want old cats over 10 and with health issues (yeah I did ask around recently). I now have screen doors up in my house and keep them separate on a permanent basis - they'll sniff each other butts as they are switching places throught the day but thats about it for contact. Since my older boy ( the one getting picked on) now has some health issues that are exacerbated by stress (eg the presence of the other cat) I do regret not being able to give him a better more peaceful home. He kinda has his own space in the basement which helps - hes so relaxed and king of the castle down there. Its like night and day. If I didnt have that kind of space to give him, I would be up a creek. BTW, what you are seeing is aggressive behavior on the part of your young cat. Cat aggression can be subtle and we humans can easily miss it or mistake it for playing. It can take the form of stalking, staring, poking with a paw, guarding the litter box (or food dish or any resource like a favorite chair or your lap). She's not a "bad" cat, she's just doing what nature intended - Ive heard two females are like two males - ie more likely to not get along than 1 male + 1 female. Pam Johnson writes a lot about inter-cat conflict - even as a long time cat staff person, I learned a few things. Bradshaw's Cat Sense is good too. Finally, some good science based info on cat behavior.