What's Wrong Whiskers?

The What's Wrong with Whiskers is a story created by the KMAC Kids 2002-2003 as funded by a grant from the California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education, and disease prevention programs. KMAC stands for: Kids Making A Connection, Health & the Environment. KMAC activities were originally supported by an NIEHS grant in K-12 environmental health science education, "Toxrap" Network. You can learn more about NIEHS educational grant programs at the NIEHS K-12 Teacher Enhancement and Development, Environmental Health Sciences K-12 Education Grants materials, and the NIEHS K-12 Initiatives websites.

What's Wrong Whiskers?

The tiny black and white kitten cried in the velvet night. She missed her mama and her brothers and sisters. The stars shone bright and the breeze played a gentle lullaby, but still she cried.

When the sun peeked up above it's watery nest, Grandma Jean and Aunt Julie heard her call. They searched and searched. The day passed...

When the sun rested and dusk gave way to darkness, Grandma Jean and Aunt Julie lit the way to the ivy-hiding place. First they spied the shimmering green eyes and then the wispy gold and white whiskers.

They worked hard to coax the kitten from her secret place, but at last here she was in the warm friendly kitchen. The refrigerator purred. A perfect place to hide.

When Aunt Julie went home and Grandma Jean and Whiskers were alone, they played.

Whiskers knew she loved Grandma Jean. She loved her voice and her laughter and her kindness, and she could tell Grandma Jean loved her back. They were pals! The best of pals!

Sometimes Grandma Jean would let Whiskers wear her necklaces and play dress-up.

Whiskers made Grandma Jean smile, even when her day had been long or her heart felt sad.

Sometimes Whiskers would spring up to the second floor window. Grandma Jean would find her sweet kitty settled on the soft quilt on the big old bed.

One dark night when the wind from the sea blew the branches against the house, Whiskers heard a commotion! She looked out of the window and saw two robbers breaking into Grandma Jean's car.

Whiskers pounced on Grandma Jean and woke her up. Grandma Jean called the police and the sneak thieves were caught and taken away. Whiskers was the hero of the neighborhood!

When Grandma Jean and Whiskers moved to Chico, Whiskers liked to sit on the porch of her very own little white house and gaze at the birds in the trees.

Whiskers was always ready to help Grandma Jean in the garden.

Most days Whiskers watched the ants as they marched along the path.

One day in the spring, Grandma Jean noticed that something was wrong with Whiskers. "What's Wrong Whiskers?"

Whiskers was sick for a few days, but then she felt better. Grandma Jean felt better too.

But over the next few months Whiskers got sick again and again, always at the same time each month, always for a few days at a time.

Could it be that Whiskers was nibbling plants like Lilies or Oleander or Rhododendrons or Azaleas? Many plants are poisonous to cats!

What about antifreeze or oil or gasoline from the car? All of these are deadly you see!

Did the cleaning products Grandma Jean used make Whiskers feel puny? Or what about the ant and spider spray the man used each month?

Could Whiskers have licked the dryer sheets in the laundry or dabbled in the potpourri oil? Did she nibble on the chocolate in the pantry or snack on the bait for the snails?

Perhaps she played with the mothballs from the back of the closet. Did she take medicine each month?

Whiskers, sweet Whiskers, what can it be? There are so many hazards for you.

Grandma Jean held Whiskers for a long time and promised to find the cause, so together these pals could enjoy their days and be health and happy and strong.

Now their tale is told and our hopes are high that other animal pals will feel the love that these two did share and provide a safe place for all...

All cats and dogs and kids...and goldfish...and canaries...and hamsters and guinea pigs...and horsed and ... all living things!

And what about Whiskers?

The KMAC Kids hypothesized that Whiskers was being exposed to something in her home or yard environment. They sleuthed for clues to solve the mystery of her illness. Although Whiskers may have been exposed to many hazards that could be harmful, her symptoms were cyclic (that means that she was sick at the same time each month). Because Whiskers did not take monthly medications nor did she have cyclic exposures to the other hazards in her environment, the KMAC Kids' investigation led them to conclude that the monthly yard and garden treatment for ants and spiders may have caused her ill health. Whiskers' exposure to the chemicals applied each month may have caused more health problems because she was an older cat. She may also have ingested more chemicals from the spray because she not only licked and cleaned herself, but she also cleaned Tiggy, the other kitty that lived with Grandma Jean.

The KMAC Kids remind us all that kids and cats have many things in common...Be cautious with the chemicals that you use in your home and garden!

Other KMAC stories featured by NIEHS:

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