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Hi granna2!  Thanks so much for this!  Can you believe it, I'm ALMOST speechless!  This is a very kind thing.  I thought I'd try a little last night so I posted, but I can't say when the next time'll be.  I'm trying to take it one day at a time.  I hope no one minds, but I DO feel that this site is a community.  Even though I'm fairly new here, it's my community and since I can't get out(I'm in a wheelchair and mostly in bed), my only community!  I have gotten to know a few of you and am a pretty good judge of character, I can proudly say that I consider quite a few of you my friends! So here I am dumping my stuff.  My cat died this past tuesday evening.  He was a sweet a loveable cat who loved to give me kisses, and I will miss him so much!  Thank god I have 2 more, but one of them is sick and the other started having seizures.  We think that because our hardwood floors were done improperly, that might be the cause.  The landlord did something to cause the varnish to start flaking off and I believe our pets have gotten these flakes into their coats, and then while groomong themselves, ingested the flakes. This weekend we're going to try to get as much of the flakes off the floors and then with a couple of really hard bristled, long handled brooms, get any loose stuff up as well.  That doesn't get it all off, unfortunately.  Does anyone know or know somebody who can tell us how to get this layer up?  We need to do this a room at a time, and we have to lock our cats up in a well ventilated room, or if we can find someone to take our cats for a few days, I'm sure that's even better.  At any rate, I need some ideas from you guys.  I may only post for this, I'm not sure.  Like I said, I'm taking it one day at a time, but I will respond to any ideas or suggestions.  Any one know someone who is knowledgeable on hardwood floors and lives in chicago?  If so, get them online to this site(sorry BC).

I also want to say thanks to Anna!  You're a good friend!  I'd love to hear from my other "co-posters", as well.  This is is very out of character for me, but any encouraging words or thoughts will be greatly appreciated! I may or may not respond, but I can assure you that it will be greatly appreciated, as I will be checking in.  Thanks!

chicagosinger

CS, I'm so sorry you lost your precious furbaby.  I know that broke your heart.  I have missed your posts and wondered where you were, hoping nothing was wrong. 

Last week, we kept our daughter's 14 year old chihuahua while she and the grandkids spent the week at the beach.  The dog is so tiny and has been feeble for several years.  She was fine for 6 days, then suddenly Thursday night, she seemed to have a seizure of some sort and died in our arms a few minutes later.  We were just devastated. 

Have you contacted the landlord to see if they can look at it and maybe sand it or seal it?  Maybe they could determine what it is that is flaking; polyurethane, varnish, stain, wax, etc.  The only other thing I can think of is to take some of the flakes to a store like Lowe's or Home Depot and see if they can recommend something.  I know there are liquid floor strippers available, even for hardwoods, but I don't really know much about them.  There are also machines you can rent to sand or strip floors.

I'm sorry your other cats are sick, too.  If the flakes are causing their illness it could also be dangerous to humans, especially to a small child or baby that crawls and plays on the floor.  I will keep you and your cats in my prayers.  

Hi everyone! I feel so selfish AC, when I read about the little dog, dying in your arms.  I'm so sorry that happened, but I hope you know that the little one had the comfort in dying in someone's arms who loved her.  I can assure you that it was a great comfort to her.  It must have been horrible telling her family, but again, they left her with you because they trusted you to love her as well as take care of her.  You went above and beyond the call of duty, as only someone who has a big heart is capable of!  Thanks so much for the kind words from all of you, and the advice.  All of you are right, I should contact the landlord.  Mittens,  I will definately look into buying that non-toxic floor stripper and then have the landlord pay the cost.

The oldest cat, kit, who started to have seizures, had a grand mal this morning. He hasn't had a grand mal since the first one he had. The little man was really thrown for a loop with this one.  It's horrible to watch an animal who can't help himself go through something like that.  You know they can't speak to you or understand what you say, but you know it's got to be terrifying for them.  All we can do is be there to let them know we're there, we love them,protect them from getting hurt, and comfort them as they come out of it.  Kit and I have always been close, but since he started having seizures, we've gotten really close.  To have him look up at you with such love in their eyes, is worth everything!

You guys are all good friends, I not only lucked out by joining this site, but I've got some great friends out of the deal as well.  God truly has blessed me by putting you all in my life!  Thank you again, it's been a great comfort to me reading these posts!  My husband, too enjoyed reading them, and commented on what nice people were at this site.  I also found out today that we can pick buster's remains at the end of this week!  So we're very happy about that. So, thanks again yours kindeness will always be remembered!

chicagosinger

Hi everyone.  I also have had so many problems not only posting but I can not seem to log in it does not recognise my password.  With luck this will go through.
CS I am so sorry to hear about your kitty.  There is a product that I have heard about on WGN radio.  There is a guy that does a show on Saturday morning it is a "fix it show"  the product is a water based finish for hard wood floors.  He also mentions a "non-toxic" stripper for flooring and other woodwork.  I would try checking the WGN web site and look under the "Mr Fix it show"  The guys name is Lou Manfredini.  I think that is how the last name is spelled.
You can also contact the University of Illinois they have a poison control for animals.  It might be worth a try.
I will send a prayer and  wishes to St. Francis maybe that will help, he is the patron saint of animals isn't he?  Well it can't hurt.
you can try to contact me   nikkipals (and it is) sbcglobal.net
I hope that will go through I know thst may get flagged but I hope you get it.

Hi all, granna2 we miss you!!!!

chicagosinger