Cat Chronicles

Bad Day at Round Rock

2011-07-13T19:50:00.002-05:00

Yes, the vet gave me a discount for two cats, but...o.m.g...That's one reason I don't have a dog, too.

I took Santino (8#) in because he had a suspicious area on his foot, an area which he would not stop licking. I suspected ringworm since Nate had had it when here, and I wind up with a couple of patches of it myself.

No ringworm..probably. But a little bump (we hope insect bite) and the entire area licked raw. You see him with his new hat, and I have told him it's his crown...but, he is not very happy.
I take the think off for eating and drinking, and this incredible gentle cat allows me to put it right back on him again!

Issey 10#, who was scared out of his wits at the Vet....meek as a lamb....turned into a dragon from hell at home. I have scratches to prove that this cat will NOT be approached with even a tiny pill. I couldn't get a single Flagyl down him, and today I picked up a probiotic paste. The vet confirmed that the little feces tracks were Issey's. He has a bacterial overgrowth. I also have to change his food...The brand is immaterial (which I don't believe) but the main ingredients need to be other than what he has been eating. Since everyone's favorite is chicken....I have to buy lamb or fish, for example.
(Rudy has vomited a whole lot less since I stopped feeding Fancy Feast)

Since I am also dealing with my own health issues, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.

We're Still Here

2011-07-10T13:40:00.004-05:00

Well, of course we are! Where else would we be?

I have not discovered who is using the carpeting for toilet paper, but I suspect Sophie. She is so clean and I seldom see her cleaning herself. I think she wipes her entire body on the
carpet!

Rudy, however, is the likely cuprit for leaving small bits of
drool and tiny butt wipes on the bedspreads. I found tell-tale Rudy hair by these spots. It's to the vet for him, though I don't have much trust there. The last time I was there, he told me that he (the vet) had been in the hospital. This wasn't too startling because I had asked him, somewhat alarmed, whether he was alright.

What WAS odd though is that he told me his face and neck had broken out in massive, pus filled pimples and his girl-friend had been good enough to squeeze them. I was kind of grossed out and wondered about his ability to care for my cats. The vision of a doc having his girlfriend squeezing his pimples is too much-- even for me.

Santino continues to insist on daily brushing, and this seems to be agreeing with him. He is absolutely beautiful!

What's different here is that the old configurations of cats has broken up. Although Rudy is still not "glued" to another cat, he is hanging out with either Santino (his favorite) or Sophie. I am finding Santino with Sophie almost as often as he is glued to Issey.

As for me, I am rethinking this cat blog. I never intended it to be only about my own cats. I just can't get other contributors. I'm not tired of my cats, but I AM a bit tired of keeping up this blog. I will probably be doing some combining of blogs.

Thinking about "Off My Mind" as a title. :-)

My Dirty Boys

2011-06-27T17:07:00.003-05:00

Sophie, the feral cat, comes out smelling like a rose. She just never makes messes beyond an occasional tuft of fur left on the carpeting, and even that...I suspect....was pulled out by one of the boys.

No, I don't prefer girls over boys...at least not when it comes to cats. And, in all fairness, I admit the boys may have charmed me into feeding them "improperly". Not that I know what "properly" would be.

Don't get me wrong. Part of me loves thinking of them like little kids who need constant clean-up, but, things are to the point of my having some difficulty handling it gracefully. Is there such a thing as a coach for crazy cat ladies? I WANT THE SHIT ON THE FURNITURE AND FLOORS TO STOP!!!

At least 3 days out of 7 Issey has poop on his tail, something which I discover by odor or, much worse, by seeing the trail from his wiping it on walls, chairs, and...of course, me. Yesterday when he jumped into my lap it wasn't poop, but a ball of urine soaked litter. What on earth is he doing in the litter box???

Rudy continue his vomiting. I am constantly cleaning carpets. I have tried him on various foods and all I have learned is that he can't tolerate anything too "pure". However, he also doesn't tolerate Fancy Feast. But none of this is consistently true. Occasionally, with nothing being different, he'll go a week without throwing up. I am now finding bits of vomit on bedspreads and pillows and I am constantly doing laundry. It's gotten worse.

Santino, an incredibly well behaved, trouble-free kitty, is also having a few issues . Dingleberries. Butt wiping. Again, I'm constantly cleaning and doing laundry. I need to figure out what is going on here!!!

Cat Whisperer?

2011-06-22T11:10:00.009-05:00

Daughter refers to 10 yr. old Nate as "The Cat Whisperer", so I was curious about how it was going to go with me three princes and one princess who are not accustomed to smallish visitors.

Rudy was very interested initially, but quickly got bored with having to share attention. To my surprise, my most outgoing kitty hung back. (Rudy has changed. He was still asleep at 11 this morning, oblivious to my voice.)

Issey thought it great fun, but I think it was all too much for him as he lost food from both ends. He did keep coming out for more and there was no way for me to keep Nate and him apart. Even a quiet 10-year old's energy is a better match for a young dog than a cat, though, I think.

Santino hid under my bed the first two days, and then came out for tummy rubs. Oh, they liked Nate, but it was too much of a good thing. I thought it was a really good thing that we were out of the house so much. Sophie only came out when everyone was in bed.:-) She seems very happy now, allowing me to come closer to her than ever....as if to demonstrate how she feels about ME. :-)

Getting Cuter!

2011-06-08T17:44:00.007-05:00

My blogs are neglected, but definitely not my cats!:-) If anything, they are cuter than ever! It must be the expensive food I am feeding them! Today's bill came to $80 with coupons, and that won't last a month, nor did it include treats.

So, about getting cuter.....I have lost 12#. No one notices. But back to my cute cats...just look how Santino and Issey forsake empty beds, preferring to curl up tightly together. And, what a nice color contrast they make!

The Red Prince is once again posing for the camera, and there has only been one vomiting incident in two weeks, which does wonders for the house.:-)

As I shower him with attention, he has stopped growling on general principles, and last night, interpreted Issey's actions as invitation to play rather than "pestering".

Rudy has never been a particularly funny cat, but he made me laugh out loud today. I had lain down for a nap, with a light blanket covering me. Too warm, I left my bare toes uncovered.

On the verge of falling asleep, I felt Issey between my lower legs. Oh good...I thought....he avoided pouncing on my chest first. And then, a short time later, I awoke to having my toes very gently nibbled on. It felt loving, it was so gentle.....not, mind you, that I particularly liked it. It was sweet, though. Eyes still closed, I reached down and patted Issey's head....only it wasn't. It was Rudy!

Stil Busy

2011-05-25T19:29:00.004-05:00

Check out Santino's arms around Issey! They are so cute squeezed into the same doughnut bed. :-)
Rudy is the dark lump in the back. He loves to settle in wedged between pillows. He has not cuddled with anyone since Blu, and then Miki, died. Cats are individuals and no more replaceable than people are. Rudy loved Blu and Miki.

After a good nap, it's back to work for the studio assistant, Issey. Here he has talked Santino into helping. I picked up Santino and placed him in the chair, petted him and told him he was a good boy. He stayed! This does not work with Issey who is much too much into being "studio assistant"!

Allergies?

2011-05-16T18:13:00.013-05:00

Santino just keeps getting more and more handsome! My chocolate prince!

Issey's eyes are so runny....Think I will take him back to the vet, not that anything ever comes from any of our visits there. The diagnosis dujour are "stomatitis" or "allergies".

Rudy had all but his "fangs" removed for stomatitis, so no more mouth infections. But, he still still has allergies...That's why he throws up.

I wonder whether the vets realize that these are my children and I want answers.

But, I shouldn't whine. Santino and Sophie are trouble-free kids.

Asleep on the Job

2011-05-13T19:31:00.002-05:00

Oh, how I love those times that I can talk my studio assistants into going to sleep on the job!

Santino has always been amenable to staying in the chair while I am busy at my work table, even when he was a kitten. Issey, however, much prefers being ON the table, paws busy. He likes strings of beads, anything that can be rolled on the floor, as well as things which clink or tinkle....and I can count on him to walk over and on what can be. I keep single beads, feathers, and jingle bells out of sight and reach. Paper or fibers with which I am working are a bit dicey as they are completely irresistible and quickly ruined.

I LOVE nap time, especially when they choose to nap right next to me.

This & That

2011-05-06T16:39:00.004-05:00

This is a 16x20 commemorative collage of Sammy, a beautiful Balinese boy. Issey had kind of a "fit" while I was working on this piece.... as if he knew it was about another cat. I wished that I had brought him up better!:-) I don't know that it would have been possible to teach him to stay off my work table, but I wish I had tried. I am that obnoxious cat mom who thinks everything he does is cute. How can I expect him to know that ruining the expensive art paper I'm using is NOT cute? Oh..yes...I know where I went wrong.

My friend, Doreen, knowing how much I like both monkeys and cats, sent me this picture. The kitty looks like he is barely tolerating the hugging, but I've seen that same look on my cats faces! The monkey is in love, however.

Busy Cats

2011-04-28T11:03:00.007-05:00

Both Santino and Rudy are mesmerized by their own mirror image. I'm usually talking to them about how pretty they are, but this time remembered to grab the camera. Can you tell how many cats are in the photo?

Cats on the Couch

2011-04-25T11:17:00.004-05:00

How often is "often enough" to make notes on daily life? There cannot be a concrete answer to that. I think that being present for one's life means paying constant attention, something which I find rather difficult. The camera forces me to focus...haha, in more ways than one. Think about it...How much do you really SEE? How much control do you have over your focus?

Of course, my thoughts don't have much to do with this blog.....I'm just a crazy cat lady and love looking at my cats. It's just that I see things in my photos to which I gave no attention whatsoever before. One of these observations is "OMG, that couch is RED! Who would have the guts (or be crazy enough) to buy a RED couch?

All Is Well

2011-04-21T18:14:00.002-05:00

I never tire of watching the sweetness that is two cats curled up together.

Rudy allows both Issey and Santino to groom him a bit, but he will not lie down next to them. Sophie is happy to accommodate any of the princes, but my two Virginia cats prefer each other. Sometimes, I get the feeling that a "programming" took place, and it was close to same for both. From the day Issey came to us, he and Santino knew each other. Of course, they probably believe the other looks "right", unlike the red cat and the black and white one. :-)

Instinctual Behavior

2011-04-16T16:19:00.003-05:00

I think if a big cat watched a domestic one shove a mouse effigy under the refrigerator, he would not understand that "hunt" has taken on different meaning. I wonder about the whole thing myself....After all, the refrigerator, being very heavy, never moves....and the mouse never runs back out. My cats are ever hopeful, though, watching the fridge as if it were a T.V.

My Feline Toddler

2011-04-13T19:38:00.004-05:00

I discovered Issey in the guest bath where he had pulled down the shower curtain. (It was his second time to do this.) He looked rather pleased with himself, though he cowered in the corner as I began picking up the mess.

It's been a rough week. I put that in the past tense, feeling hopeful that his week of making trouble is over. Today he did finally allow me to get some good work done on a collage. After half a dozen jumps onto my art table and being placed in an adjacent chair, he stayed there and watched me work.

The week has included his finding and unwrapping my cough drops , ruining three collage starts, and requiring me to make a second 56 mile round trip to the art store for more paper. It isn't that I wasn't paying attention. He is FAST and he loves all art materials. I have had regrets about removing the French doors of my studio, but I know that locking him out of where I work would cause bigger problems.

I thought about his diet, but there were no changes there, and I contemplated a vet visit to see if there was a physical reason for his behavior....when....this morning, I got my sweet kitty back. He snuggled in my lap and purred and purred.....and then allowed me to work! We are back to normal.

The Kids

2011-04-07T12:35:00.007-05:00

Nothing has changed here that much. Rudy still throws up. Issey still decides where he wants to sit, and never mind who might have been there first. Santino has become very sociable, flirting with anyone who happens to come over. He and Issey kind of fawned over the Cat Nanny when she came over to collect her well earned pay check...my reaction a combination of delight and a shred of jealousy. And Sophie....she's just happy to be here. So am I.

Visit to the Vet

2011-03-29T17:53:00.004-05:00

I've been thinking that maybe "Tiny Tim", the name bestowed on Issey by his former Mom, was a good fit after all. He looks tall, but very thin...like a runway model, which, of course, is exactly like he is supposed to look. But, he and the rest of the kids all look like they have lost weight, I worried.

Well, Issey and I have just returned from the vet and my "tiny" kitty weighed in a a little over 10 pounds!!! Another lesson in perception! :-)

I've put off this vet visit. On the last visit, I was thoroughly scared by the dire diagnosis of stomatitis, and though after a round of antibiotics all symptoms disappeared, I was a bit leery of what other bad (though false) news I would get. But, Issey's eye seemed worse, maybe because the cat nanny had not cleaned it daily, and it was time to have it looked at.

First, I asked about Issey's gums......PERFECT, I was told. Soooo, no stomatitis?, I said gently. hoping to put him on notice about issuing a dire warning about the eye. Manipulative, aren't I?
Maybe.

The runny eye is either due to allergies or herpes.....but, he added, since herpes was highly contagious and the other cats showed no symptoms it could not be that. However, IF it were that, a steroid injection for allergies, would make herpes worse. He decided on a small dosage of steroids, saying that if there's a big improvement, it is definitely allergies and when the shot wears off, I can treat it with pediatric something-or-another. Yes, I forgot! I forgot because I think it's kind of neurotic to pill a cat who is feeling fine. I also forgot what we do if it's herpes, because...I've decided...it ISN'T. Mekuna metata.

Big Cats, Little Cats

2011-03-28T15:32:00.007-05:00

One lion rests in the shade while her sister takes a long drink from a small stream. A few minutes later, they were nose to nose and then rolled over onto their tummies.

Having witnessed my tiny kitties do the same.....well, except the stream part....I thought of them and missed them terribly.

Meanwhile, at home:

Big Cats, Little Cats

2011-03-27T20:40:00.009-05:00

I missed my kitties terribly on this trip......much, much more than I ever remember having missed them before. I virtually ached for them. But, no....that did not keep me from appreciating the kitties I was SEEING! Cheetahs, lions...even a leopard in a tree.....all were magnificent! I watched and marveled at the similarity of movement, of behavior, except, of course....my teeny, tiny kitties here don't know anything about killing to eat.
When I arrived home, Rudy was all over me, but tiny Santino and Issey played hard to get. It took a few hours before they forgave me for leaving......in spite of the fact that they had the best cat nanny there could be! She even left me an illustrated journal.....oh, but that was for ME, wasn't it? :-)

(to be continued)

Good Bye, Kitties!

2011-03-10T11:43:00.011-06:00

Rudy, Sophie, Santino, and Issey shown
posing, sleeping, hanging out, milling about, on bird watch, and on bug patrol...

I am leaving the kids with an excellent nanny, and I am sure they will get lots of attention and love. I am leaving behind detailed instructions and mountains of food and litter.

These pictures come with me to Tanzania!

Rudy's Photoshoot

2011-03-07T20:26:00.003-06:00

Rudy used to pose whenever he saw the camera come out, but it's been more than a year since this has happened. Therefore, I was delighted to see Rudy, the model, once again.

He always does the choosing of where to pose and I just have to make the best of it....at least when it comes to lighting. But, he patiently sits while I crawl around to find the best angle. I hope the others are paying attention!

Never Tire, Always Admire

2011-03-05T14:49:00.005-06:00

I never tire of looking at my cats, but I do get a bit tired of the same photos. You, too?

Finally, though, you see Santino more fully in a rare pose, and though the flash caused shadows, it didn't hit his eyes directly.

Santino LOVES being brushed, but not his belly or his tail which are more sensitive. He, like my other cats, has a very distinctive tail, ending in a fuzzy "brush".
Sophie has a squirrel tail, Rudy's is severely kinked, and Issey's is very long and thin.:-)

Issey's Photoshoot

2011-02-24T09:26:00.007-06:00

I said to Issey, "You are a gorgeous cat. Let's show the world!"
Issey, "No!"

"Issey, look at me!"
"I wonder why you got chairs this color. This is not my best color."

"Issey, I think we've got it! I'd like more shots, but thank you for this one."
"la la la la la la la la"

Never Alone

2011-02-20T10:55:00.008-06:00

Sophie is an "equal opportunity" cat. She shares equally happily with Santino or Issey and would do the same with Rudy if he allowed it.

It's not that he doesn't love them. It's much more like a child who loves his sibs but of which there are way too many taking his mom's attention. He is very jealous of me.

This morning I was awakened by Rudy slipping under the covers. I had just fallen back asleep when Issey followed Rudy. (Issey never misses a thing, and seems to get pleasure from "messing" with him.) I waited for loud screeching from Rudy, but instead was blessed on this my birthday morning with slobbery kisses on my feet from Rudy, and loud purrs much higher up from Issey. Gratitude washed over me. I'm never alone.
(Not that this makes any sense to me, as I love being alone.)

Love The One You're With

2011-02-17T14:35:00.008-06:00

A prerequisite of loving someone, I think, is full acceptance of who they are regardless of whether it makes sense to us or whether we approve. We don't have to necessarily like what IS, but we do have to accept it. This is what my kitties have taught me!

Every day Issey licks my silk flowers. WHY?, I ask, and then quickly stop myself. I realize that I don't even mean 'why'...What I really mean is 'How icky! Stop it, already!" LOL What pleasure he gets from this is beyond me. I only hope he isn't doing himself any harm.

I get no cooperation with picture taking. As a matter of fact, Issey's expression here says it all. Yes, he is staying put as instructed but that's all. Ditto Rudy below.

I would swear to Sophie crossing
her eyes for the camera. (Ok....
her eyes ARE crossed a little, anyway.)

Yes, I can photograph them when they are napping....but, only if I do it quickly. Then again, if I had wanted photographic models I should have stayed with Siamese. They can't get enough of being center front. My Balinese sweeties, however, give me endless amounts of lap-sitting and purring.

Love the one you're with...and then life is truly wonderful!

Wild Stuff

2011-02-09T14:11:00.005-06:00

"Wild Stuff" is what I call this shot of Rudy.
I'm happy to get my camera back after having it serviced and cleaned. Now I can't get near Sophie with it, as she has to get used to it all over again.....not that she is doing anything different worth photographing. Neither are the boys.

Issey was blessed with a sweet, innocent face. It isn't exactly as if he ISN"T so....but, it's just that he is always curious and always, well, busy. He is the first kitty I've had who believes my bulletin board and my art table are there just for his entertainment. :-) And, that goes for everything in the house. There isn't anything which does NOT interest him! Most of all, it's FOOD. He LOVES food.
(Well, me, too....but, my excuse is prednisone.)

The Nanny

2011-01-30T13:54:00.004-06:00

Austin is a special place....oh, for many reasons, of course, but the once I'm thinking of is the great number of people with advanced degrees who are working as house cleaners, waiters and waitresses, astrologers, and nannies. (It always amazes me when I meet people in well positions who would never, by any stretch of the imagination, be the brightest crayon in the box.)

Well, you'd think that it would not require a whole lot of intelligence to be a cat sitter, wouldn't you? Even with cats as smart as mine, it shouldn't be a problem....should it?

The problem was my logic. I thought that someone who had raised her children to responsible adulthood, who had herself had pets all her life, and who was, in fact, a professional pet sitter who also held a responsible day job would be smart enough to be left with responsibility for my cats and home. It works until there is an emergency. Because of the incompetency of my cat/house sitter, my week away last year was a week from hell.

And, so it came to pass that I had to find someone else. I can't say that I've done this any better....references are not truthful!....but, I've done it differently. Rather than thinking about this person as a "cat sitter", I am thinking of her, and calling her, A Cat Nanny. (And, by extension, she is also my home's Nanny!). I am hoping by doing so I have impressed on the person her responsibility for the emotional and physical welfare of my fur children when I go to Africa for two weeks.

I interviewed several people and, as much as I hated my indecision, I just didn't feel like I could say "yes" of them. They were all likable people, but something was "lacking".

And, then someone responded whose response sounded sane and friendly...not too short and not too long, no extraneous information. Consistent.

I had her come here to interview and my 3 boys approved. Issey curled up in her lap, Rudy kissed the back of her neck, and Santino wove in and out of her legs. I watched her melt . She does not have an advanced degree like some of the other applicants, but I'll think she'll work out. :-) After all, it's the boys who really hired her.

The Fashion Model

2011-01-19T12:36:00.003-06:00

Well, you've got to admit Issey has potential!

This was his first gig as a fashion model and although I might have hoped for a more graceful pose, I thought that not mauling the merchandise was pretty great.

Both Rudy and Santino on whom I tried the scarf walked off the photo shoot in a huff.

Crazy Cat Lady Here!

2011-01-18T12:45:00.005-06:00

I walked into the guest bathroom, and there, on the floor was my stainless steel shower curtain rod and also a wadded up heap of shower curtain, rings, and liner. My first thoughts went to having to iron the linen/cotton curtain (Damn, I hate wrinkles only a little more than I do ironing!..) ....My second thought was wondering WHO was responsible for this? Curtains don't just fall.

Then I saw the the responsible party serenely looking up at me from between the downed curtain and the clear plastic liner. There wasn't the slightest trace of guilt! Only, and I don't think I imagined it, satisfaction and delight. And, I thought he looked adorable!!! I am most definitely a full-fledged Crazy Cat Lady.

I hung up all of it without ironing. The wrinkles will have to either fall out or stay there. I did not examine it for claw marks because I don't want to know.

Change

2011-01-06T14:44:00.004-06:00

I'm back to using the flash again, having had too few successful shots without...mostly due to the much darker house in the winter. I also have to admit that there's just so many ways one can photo lazy cats sleeping! :-) My kitty blog suffers. I need a new baby!

Change is good....or, rather, it is growth producing, offering, as it does, more opportunities for learning.
It's amazing to me how much we...and this includes the cats....fight adjusting to change.

I got an unexpected room mate on the second of this month, a friend who said she needed a place to stay for a couple of weeks. I like her very much. The cats like her very much.

But, I like my home all to myself a lot more....mostly, I think, because I can't be positive how long her stay will actually last. Silly....the anxieties we feel over the "what if". The cats are drawing their own boundaries, and this is what I find the most interesting.

The boys are all over her.....They greet her when she comes in, they follow her around, they sit in her lap....ah....sometimes, I actually feel a little bit jealous! But, they do NOT want her to shut the doors to the bathroom or bedroom that she is using. It's ok with them for her to be IN those rooms, but it's not ok to shut them out. Oh, the screaming and carrying on there was until I figured out the issue!

Worse yet for the guest is that they claim the guest bed as theirs. They crawl under the covers and protest if she moves her body. During the day, they mostly sleep on top of the bed, claiming both the guest bed AND mine. (Rudy was so upset the first two days that he vomited all over)
They also have begun getting on the kitchen counters and into the kitchen sink...new behavior.

Yes, it's kinda fun, but they want everything back to the way it was. I think I do too. I don't much like discovering how set in my ways I am.

Catnip Capers

2010-12-25T17:34:00.004-06:00

I made sure to have good food on hand, but daughters got the kitties real presents! Their favorites are a little furry thing which makes mouse noises when batted around and a fur mouse which opens for stuffing with fresh catnip. Issey loved the latter.

Drunk with catnip, he fell into the washing machine full clothing in soapy water when I opened the lid to put something else in. So, for Christmas I got to see a flying soapy cat! :-) I think he blames the mouse as he hasn't gone near it since.

Wishing everyone laughter and joy!
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/ZoNpVPbgPCOQJlfC3tqu

Issey In Charge

2010-12-24T18:17:00.004-06:00

My cats let me know what they want in no uncertain terms. Yes, always. I may be slow in "getting it", and even after I do, I try to hold fast to what I want. After all, aren't I the Alpha Human?

It appears that I'm not. In this regard, my relationship with my cats is similar to what it was with all the men with whom I ever lived. They told me what they wanted, and I did it so they'd be happy and I then I could do what I wanted. Unless I make them happy first, it's one continuous pester! (I think I need a therapist, only they are such bad examples themselves that I can't put my faith in them. It's kind of like saying "I want my MOTHER!", knowing full well that she would be totally vexed and perplexed. )

Issey now lets me sleep. No more waking me early in the morning. No more not allowing me to take a nap of reasonable length. Thanks to advice from Virginia, I feed him more. He is getting fat, he farts more, but oh, is he happy. Peace. We have peace.
Who would ever believe this sweet baby (look at his paws) is in charge of one human and 3 cats? And, none of us mind? His purr could melt a heart made of ice.

Poop Trails

2010-12-22T19:10:00.002-06:00

Chem trails above, poop trails below! Fortunately, the latter, though gross, do not happen frequently.

But, what is a clean, indoor cat to do? Would I really want them to lick their butts and then come kiss me? I think not. I don't like the entire business. If it's not the bedroom carpet, it's my bed, and I'd rather spot clean the carpeting than watch king sized quilts or sheets.

It's only been 7 years that I have begun keeping my cats strictly indoors, though back in the days that they (not my present feline family!) were allowed to venture out....they always came in to use the litter box! My point is that who knows why this is something new for me.....What does it mean? Who is the culprit? Can I do something to make it stop?

What Happened?

2010-12-03T19:29:00.010-06:00

I see Sophie looking particularly cute, so I grab the camera while talking to her softly. Issey appears out of nowhere, asking me if I don't think he is cute, too. But, that's only the beginning.....

He hops on Sophie's back and bathes her for a short while.
Sophie never protests, choosing to leave instead. Prince of the high perch, Issey, surveys his kingdom.

I've got a problem here. Issey is so cute, and so sweet that I cannot get mad at him....ever. But, now he won't let me sleep, not in the morning and not in the afternoon. Even though there's dry food available always and I don't feed wet in the morning, he wakes me. He wants me up and he wants me to put out FRESH dried food. In the afternoon he wakes me to give him dinner. Trying to break him of this habit, I have tried not feeding him immediately after my waking, but I can't tolerate the loud yowling for long. He can go on like that (loud Siamese howling) for an hour easily.

What happened to my being Queen?

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

2010-11-28T15:11:00.002-06:00

The kids love to nap together, spreading out across the king size bed. Even with the blinds closed, the room is heated by the sun. Everyone sleeps much closer together at night.

There's always a lot of jostling for position, mostly caused by Rudy and Issey, the usual trouble-makers. Rudy can't get close enough to me, but sends out a loud growl if anyone comes within a couple of feet of him. Issey loves to wind up Rudy! I don't think it's about being jealous of me....He just enjoys getting a rise out of Rudy....as if Rudy were his squeaky toy. I no longer intervene, and now it ends a bit sooner. Both Santino and Sophie leave quietly if they don't like what is going on. :-) (I suffer in silence.)

Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T12:54:00.006-06:00

I have many things for which to be grateful, but today I want express special gratitude for the companionship, affection, and giggles my cats provide me.

Santino and Issey sleep and play together. Both of them excel at bedmaking, often surprising me by wrapping themselves up in the sheets.

Rudy loves to watch me brush my teeth, and is always waiting IN the shower. His idea of fun is to watch the shower head, see the first few drops forming and run out of the stall before getting wet. I cooperate by turning the shower knob on very slowly. :-)

They play games of various complexity, and I love it when their games involve me! And, by the way, I am grateful for the time I have to fully appreciate my kitties.

Slow Learner

2010-11-09T12:50:00.002-06:00

Of course I would not be referring to my cats!

I once had a friend...a rocket scientist....exclaim that he would have a problem with having cats smarter than him. I bit my tongue to keep from saying the obvious "I can't speak for all breeds, but don't ever get a Siamese, an Abyssinian, or a Balinese!"

Though I have no need to be smarter than my cats, I would...at least...like to be AS smart as.:-)
After all, there are FOUR of them...though I don't know how Sophie would come out intelligence wise.

Last night I had fed the kitties their we food dinner, ending in a little cooked chicken for dessert.
Stuffed to the gills (I assumed) they had retreated for naps while I prepared my own dinner. The coast was clear when I left one of the cooked pork chops out to cool before placing it in the refrigerator. A few minutes later I came back into the kitchen....and that's when I discovered I really am on the slow side. :-)

Issey had the hot porkchop on the floor and was gingerly gnawing on it. Duh....We have done this before! Issey considers ALL food prey. Hahah...he was probably only attempting to save me from getting fatter!

Santino

2010-11-06T19:16:00.006-05:00

Caught exiting the pot and pan cabinet in the kitchen. Issey is still inside, no doubt looking for food and wondering why there's nothing IN the pots!
Santino is a laid back happy kitty....

There are very few things that Santino insists on:

*To get on the dining table when there are guests.
*To be given Pitr-Pats on demand.
*To be given a little bite of everything that Issey has, even of things which Santino does not like.
*To be brushed on demand. He wants the RIGHT to eat it....which he does not.
To have his daily fill of sisal.

My Four Kids

2010-10-28T10:51:00.007-05:00

Sophie loves to lie on the living room floor, always in exactly the same spot.

Sometimes they are cooperative and sometimes not so much....just like humans! Rudy is jealous of Issey so I did not expect to see the two very close, but neither would even look at me when I called to them. It's this kind of behavior which prompts people to believe that cats are independent. I think of it more in terms of "free" or "healthy"....even as "having inner lives".

I looked at Issey and Santino together and said "awwwww". It will take Santino some time to learn that I no longer use the flash and it's safe for him to open his eyes.

Life Goes On

2010-10-21T15:04:00.015-05:00

Two dishes of food, usually turkey or chicken in one, and beef, deer, or tuna in the other. They are soooooo happy! Rudy is the only one who would prefer to be alone when he eats, but since he is overweight, I am not inclined to oblige him.

Doesn't Issey look sweet? I love his folded paws.

Issey now weighs a little over 8 pounds. He still looks like he is all legs and people still refer to him as skinny. He is anything but skinny, but they don't have the opportunity to caress his solid silken body.

I have begun trying my shooting without flash. In this case, I got the image to be light enough by "pushing" it in my photo editing program...the simple one, not Photoshop which I keep avoiding as being too complicated.

Sometimes all the kitties, including Sophie, and I are in bed together. This morning I woke up with all of them, Sophie quite close. She even walked over me.:-)

Napping

2010-09-30T15:35:00.002-05:00

We do a lot of napping here! As a matter of fact, I think we have napping perfected. We can do it in the sun, in the shade, alone or together. We can do it sprawled out on the floor, or cramped in small spaces. Best of all, is napping under the covers, curled up with Mommy.

Letter to Virginia

2010-09-22T13:21:00.002-05:00

Dear Mommy Viginia,

Thank you for leting me go with my texas Mommy to my new hoom. Everythin is gud.
I have 2 cats to play and sleep with. Thats reely enuff for anybudy. Why do you hav so many ? The thurd cat heer is ok but he want to b in charge and thats not right. My Mommy luvs me best, and I now how things need to work.

Sofee and Santeeno are no trubbel. Espeshally sofee hoo does wat I want. Santeeno is nice. lets me eet his food. But mabe you cud talk to Mommy? She is suppost to giv me a bite of her food. Last nite she forgot. I wus gud. No pester while she aet. I see she lef meet chop on kitchun counter. Me not go on counter. But how els get poke chop? Goes on counter, yes. OOO, so gud, so gud. Me purr, purr, purr. Me happy, Cut up with teef. Me big. Get my own snak.
Me feel gud. Purr.

Mommy com in kitchun. and mommy luk not like mommy. Hoo is dis? Mommy maik loud noise say noooooooo, noooooo, noooooo. Wats you meen noooooooo? Me get my snak. You leev for me, big boy. Mommy cut off were I chuud and gav to Rudee and Santeeno. Say go way to me. Y say that? Me no go way, me want moor treet. Mommy luv me but say nooo. Y she not let me get treet? Y she luk funnee, not like my mommy? I wurred. She not like big boy get own treet? I lef her alone an she turn into Mommy agin cuddl, kiss, purr.

Yoor big boy,
Issey

A Cat, a Pig, or a Dog?

2010-09-16T10:15:00.003-05:00

Here you see Issey getting ready to take a nap, after having given up on my lap. This is his and Santino's favorite chair, which anyone can tell by the layer of white hair on it. Since I wind up working standing up, anyway, the chair belongs to the cats.

But, what I really wanted to write about is Issey's piggishness. He eats at lightning speed! He inhales the other cats' and his own food, and begs for more. Is the only solution to feed him in a separate room? I think that change would upset all four kitties. And, add more work for me.

What follows stinks.

Such a little creature, not yet a full-grown cat, passes large volumes of gas! It seems like a dumb reason to take him to the vet....but, could there be something physical which is resulting in his eating habits?

(Rudy, who has always swallowed his food whole, also has digestive issues. And, yes, I buy kibble for "sensitive stomachs"....but no digestive system is built for processing unchewed foods.)

So Beautiful To Me, Can't You See?

2010-09-12T10:18:00.006-05:00

This is a popular sleeping place when I'm on the computer. Issey starts out on my lap, but I can't stay still enough to suit him. It's really nice to always have a kitty next to me!

Look at that beautiful wedge! I've never seen a better profile.:-)

I don't really have green cats. I just wasn't paying attention to the lighting. Though Santino and Issey never quite manage to arrange themselves as bookends the way litter mates do, they come close. These two are more alike in personality than they are different.

They both know what they want, want it now, and insist on getting it. Santino is mellow, but as a kitten, was a lot like Issey is now. ON me! Crying for treats. ON me. In my face. :-) Crying for treats. Now the only think Santino insists on is a daily brushing. He will wail until he gets it.

All Happy Here

2010-09-04T18:28:00.011-05:00

I'm happy to say that Rudy has his mojo back! He likes to hang out with me, and he has become affectionate and well behaved. Today, for the first time in many months, he posed for me...as he used to do....when he saw the camera come out. He has lost a bit of weight but he looks good.

Issey now has a belly. It's not a happy thing because he loves food as much as life itself. He quickly inhales Santino's while Santino just watches. (Totally relaxed, Santino KNOWS there will be enough food for him.) Next, he gobbles up his own, begs for more... and though it breaks my heart, I don't give it to him. Finally, he comes and attempts to snatch my food, regardless of what it is.

Issey sleeps either with Santino or Sophie. They are both happy to have him.

When Santino saw the camera, he turned his back on me. There isn't enough light for me to forego the flash.

A few days ago I walked into the studio so quietly that Sophie didn't hear me coming. She didn't have time to retreat by the time she saw me. Withing inches...careful to not look at her....I walked right by her. It's as if something clicked in her head. She now allows me much, much closer.

Doing What They Like Best

2010-08-27T18:37:00.003-05:00

Well, it's another day that I can't make up the bed! They look much too cute, too comfy for me to disturb them. I think they count on this!

I'm much happier NOT thinking about manipulation, so I tell myself "not to go there". Anything negative which I can't or won't do anything about just isn't worth thinking about.

Issey finds my studio to be much more interesting than his toy-box. (It's a GOOD toy box, with toys rotated so there will always be something 'new')

It seems to be a "mouth thing". He is either loudly letting me know what's on his mind (not enough food), or using his mouth as a vacuum cleaner! He forages for food, yes, but he also loves my art supplies. Tiny silk flowers, jewelry chains, stickers, brushes, pens, even bits of paper he redistributes all over the house after getting them down off my work table or removing them off my bulletin board. It is beginning to annoy me, but then I remind myself that he is going to be all grown soon enough! In a few days he will be 10 months old, and every day I have had him I've thought how incredibly cute and how incredibly smart he is. :-) It's not that I don't think as highly of my other kitties....It's just that he does "cute" so well, and is constantly with me.

A Typical Afternoon

2010-08-20T17:19:00.012-05:00

Issey loves to take afternoon naps on this chair in the living room. When I came in with the camera he awakened, first looking at me and then across the room where Sophie lay napping.

Sophie's sleep doesn't last long, but she doesn't seem to mind! She is always ready to play.

While in the bedroom, Rudy and Santino are resting

Issey Obnoxious?

2010-08-12T16:24:00.006-05:00

Santino quietly playing by himself is a rare sight. It's a good thing that my camera was nearby, because...as is usually the case....he was not alone more than a few seconds. :-)

Sometimes, I think, it's a toss-up between whether Issey is a wonderful playmate or a pain in the neck for Santino....at least right now which must be Issey's adolescence. (I, of course, consider him my baby. I try very hard to not overdo this so his sibs won't resent him as happened with baby Blue) I admit that I think of Issey as being a bit obnoxious these days.

Santino makes for a sweet, patient older "brother". He does extract his daily treats as well as a long brushing session from me, though, which I see as being well balanced. He knows how to take care of his own needs. :-)

Funny Baby

2010-08-11T21:47:00.012-05:00

Mom says I am a funny boy. She is crazy for me! I am crazy for her! I am always the first to greet her when she opens her eyes in the morning.

Ooooh, this rug feels so good! It's my favorite!

I've got the longest tail of anybody!!! But I can't believe she took a picture of my butt!

MOM! Please clean my butt!

I Dream of Sophie

2010-08-09T18:57:00.003-05:00

Sophie likes to hang out "under cover" when I'm up and moving around.....just in case I decide to grab her and do terrible things to her. I believe she knows better, but can't help herself. Kitty post-traumatic stress disorder.

Occasionally I think about how Sophie would feel in my arms. She wouldn't be smooth and solid like Issey, and she wouldn't be heavy and lumpy like Rudy. Fluffy like Santino perhaps, but heavier, but would her hair be silky? It's impossible to tell how much kitty is underneath the hair.

I may actually KNOW. Sophie sidled up to me until she was pressed flat against my body. I slowly reached out and touched her lightly. She purred, and I dared a couple of strokes. She was smaller that Rudy, larger than Santino, and her hair was coarse. She smelled wonderful. And then I woke up. I was smiling. :-)

Cats In Contemplation

2010-08-05T18:48:00.008-05:00

Cats are usually active or they are sleeping.....or, at least I thought so until I started paying more attention. Cats also contemplate, sometimes even appearing to meditate. On occasion of the latter, they cannot be raised out of their trance by voice alone.

If for any reason you just can't stand it when thus ignored, then chicken works in this house. Except for Sophie. All I need to do to rouse her is to walk over to her. ( sigh) I have found her sleeping against my bed pillow, which I took to mean that she really would like being close to me.

Issey's Favorite Things

2010-07-25T18:03:00.017-05:00

Actually, Issey's most favorite thing to do may be eating. His appetite is so good that I worry a bit over his keeping his runway model figure. It's interesting that both Issey and Santino who are the thinnest eat a good twice (if not more) than heftig Rudy and Sophie do.

Me bite you! Argggghhhhhhhh! The silk plant has limited appeal as it doesn't bite back.

Me bite you! Argggghhhhhhhh!

Me bite you! Argggghhhhhhhh!

Stretching is the BEST!

Stretching is the BEST!

In Servitude

2010-07-22T17:24:00.006-05:00

This morning I came into the kitchen followed by Issey singing at the top of his voice. "Ah, are we practicing our beautiful voice this morning?" I asked as I put fresh crunchies into the kitty dishes. I petted him over and over and over, but he did not stop "singing".

Santino came in and joined in. The duet was not as pleasurable....or, maybe I, still without my coffee, was simply getting irritated. And, then I got it!

They were insisting on wet food! I have been putting down a dish of wet food when toothless Rudy gets up. This morning, Issey spearheaded the change. No waiting on Rudy. (Sure enough, Rudy appeared when I was opening the can.)

I think the test of a cat's intelligence is how well he can train Mom to serve him amicably, quickly, and completely to his satisfaction.

Rudy trained me to give him water the way HE wanted a drink years ago. It didn't take long before I came to dislike what I had previously considered cute.

I solved the issue by buying a cat fountain and thereafter playing dumb when he would ask me to turn on the faucet.

But, I wasn't vigilant enough. The Red Prince wins. I have been showering him with loving attention since I came back from California, found him in pain, and most especially after his dental surgery. My return to servitude to his highness came about so naturally that I was not aware of it until I saw this photo I had taken!

How Smart Are They REALLY?

2010-07-20T20:38:00.004-05:00

Only a couple of days ago I was telling a friend how extraordinarily smart my cats are, especially Issey whose bloodlines, I was certain, should have been passed on, and, perhaps, a terrible injustice, if not crime, had been committed by having had him neutered.

I still remember how my children never failed to prove me wrong after I had bragged on them! I am also aware of how I have been punished by the Universe when I have bragged about myself! Apparently, things work the same way with fur kids.

Today I came home in a rental car. I entered the house through the garage and cried out "Hi, kids!" the way I always do. Rudy backed off a few feet, but Issey and Santino bolted in the opposite direction. Even when I opened their food cans, I had to coax them out. Did I smell like the tow truck in which I had ridden?.....picked up bad juju from the body shop or the rental car place? No......They didn't recognize the car and weren't about to be tricked by some stranger pretending to be ME!

And, of course, we all know how smart I am attempting to figure out what cats think!

Imagining Things?

2010-07-18T13:42:00.005-05:00

My two Balinese say "Oh, wow, wow, wow!" very clearly when I give them chicken. Oh...not just any kind of chicken, of course! Here is the recipe:

1 oven cooking bag (which you will put in a bakng dish
1 whole Organic baking chicken...4#- 5#
1 large beet, cut in halves
coarse salt, black pepper, and Herb Provance mixed spices

Remove all the icky parts...giblets, fat...and throw away
Rinse chicken under cold water and dry with paper towels
Place in cooking bag
Rub liberally with all the spices
Add the washed beet halves
Close bag and bake at 400 degrees.....Wait an hour and a half and it's done!

The cats will be going crazy from the aroma! See if you can get them to do any work before dinner.....while the chicken cools. (I have not yet succeeded with this. ) The beet and your favorite parts of the chicken are for you.....The rest is for the cats.

Wait until cool enough, but still warm.....Hand down only one piece to each and you will hear a very clearly said "Oh wow, wow, wow!" It may, of course, be only a Balinese trait!

This is Rudy's "The Look". It works! I put a portion of wet food in his own dish and deliver it to him on his high perch where he can eat it in peace.

My FaceBook friends did not see "The Look" at all in the same way! Does he really not look depressed?

Subtle Changes

2010-07-14T21:35:00.009-05:00

This black chair in my studio is always occupied and I happily give up the chair if this will keep them traipsing through the stuff on my work table. Issey has a bead fetish. He wants them ALL. He has learned that he is not to touch the strings of beads, so he sneaks them. He's got them off the table and on the floor by the time I notice. And, I know how spoiled he is when I catch myself thinking "Oh, he is SO cute!"

Sometimes changes in cats (and people, too, I think) are so subtle that one can't be certain......But, now I know that Santino was upset about Miki. He is now back to the Santino of old. He is the most affectionate kitty I have ever had. And...lucky me...He loves to be held. He is the only one who does. I hold him with one hand, snuggled to my chest, while I stroke him with my other hand. Bliss! He also lays himself over my shoulder like a baby. More bliss! And, then there are the head butts and nose kisses! I am very lucky.

Sophie has lost a bit of weight, although it doesn't show in this pose. Come to think of it, maybe it's only her winter coat she has lost.

The best sculptor couldn't do any better!

Rudy is coming along, but he is not the same kitty. The changes are subtle. Perhaps, it's too soon after his surgery....yes, only the 4 incisors are left.....to have his joy back.

Nora, the Pianist

2010-07-11T11:25:00.002-05:00

I try to not be arrogant about the intelligence of my cats. But, let's face it, they ARE exceptionally bright. At the vet's office they cannot fathom that mine are so good at reading body language that there's simply NOTHING I can get past them. Obviously, they have never encountered animals as intelligent as mine.

This morning I discovered that I have been holding them back by not providing them with a piano. Just look at what they could do if they weren't so deprived!

This is Nora who, with her 6 siblings, lives in Lithuania and who, thanks to her artist parents, has become a concert pianist. (Nora swats her siblings off the piano, claiming it as her own.) In fact, her dad wrote a concerto just for her, and now she is more famous than he is.

See this most amazing video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeoT66v4EHg

P.S. After thinking about it, I've decided to not buy a piano.

Rudy

2010-07-10T17:30:00.003-05:00

Though Rudy is looking a bit pensive here but he is doing great. He had his dental yesterday and gave up more of his teeth. He must have lost a few on his own because his dental chart now shows only the incisors remaining. I will check when his mouth is no longer sore.

I took in a growling kitty early yesterday morning. Had "words" with the dental tech who insisted the dental could not, and would not be done without a rabies shot. (Just because Rudy was growling, I'll bet!:-) I told him I would take Rudy back to our former vet, but first I wanted to speak to Dr. Whitehill (our present vet, and the tech's boss). For 15 minutes I stroked growling Rudy while I was kept waiting. Through the small window in the door to the hospital, I could see and hear Dr. Whitehill in conversation with another vet. The tech never asked him.....but came back to tell me "fine....Dr. W. said we'll do it.". I do NOT like lying.

What an arrogant young man! It was later in the day when I picked Rudy up and saw Dr. W. that I found out that it's this particular vet tech that administers the anesthesia! Dr. W. said he would have been fired if he did not excel at anesthesia. At t least I understood that the tech was scared! I mean what kind of a crazy person while petting her 10#plus growling, hissing cat says....oh, he won't bite!? Still, I would not want to deal with this tech if Rudy DID bite! I mean, I wanted to bite him myself....Rudy might do it FOR me.

Rudy was visibly happy to see me! He rubbed against the front of the carrier, and kissed my hands. He has not uttered one single growl!!! No, not even when Issey attempted to shove him from the food dish. Not when Santino smelled his butt. Poor Rudy! He was in pain much too long.

I was instructed to feed 1/4 of his usual amount of water and wet food last night, but Rudy made a b-line for the dry food immediately and started inhaling it. I grabbed it from him and barely managed to put wet food down when that was gone! I looked on in amazement and did not have the heart to take it away. Instead of eating 1/4, he ate 4 times his normal amount. He kept it all down, and slept better than a baby.

This morning, it took me 2 hours to convince him that I had no evil intent....Yes, he reads my body language! TWO full hours! Wrestling him into position, took 30 seconds, and squirting the pain medication into his mouth 3 seconds...if that long. The second dose tonight will be harder.

Missing Cats

2010-07-08T14:41:00.006-05:00

Thank God, it's only photos which are mising and not cats!

This is Santino's relative (same fathers, Santino Sr.), Velcro. He was one of the candidates to come live with us, but he wasn't all that crazy about me. I would also have had some difficulty lugging his 10# plus sweetness through airports.

I have many photos of Virginia and Paul's fabulous cats to share, only I can't find them! When I worked with them in creating the cat scrapbook, I apparently allowed the files to go under something other than "photos". I'm sure I will locate them, yet!
I pray I might learn patience from Sophie...the most patient kitty I have ever known. She is not, however, quite as patient with Issey as she was with Santino when he was little. Still, she is very sweet and very kind. I think Issey may be a bit naughtier than Santino ever was.:-) and as a full grown cat now, Sophie may not be as easily amused by kitten antics.

Let Sleeping Cats Lie

2010-07-04T17:04:00.010-05:00

They sleep and sleep and sleep. And then, sometimes, I wish they did! But, I am only joking because I find everything my cats do fascinating. And, THAT is what makes me a crazy cat lady, not the (measly small) number of cats I have.

In order to choose a mix of beads to create a custom necklace, I needed to lay them out. No sooner had I done that, when Issey appeared to critique the project. I think he's taking his name a little bit too seriously.

He was intent on one particular string of small blue beads, and no matter how I mixed it up in the bunch of others, and no matter how many strands that I did not intend to use and shoved near him, he searched and found his favorite once again. He finally picked it up and ran away with it. Unfortunately, he has hidden it! Do you think he is telling me those small blue beads don't belong in the necklace?

Poopy Incident

2010-07-03T19:29:00.005-05:00

Issey had a weird adventure today, and, I guess, so did I. He hopped up on my computer table and as stroked him my hand hit a damp spot on his tail. I grabbed a paper towel and wiped...feces. None of it on his actual behind.

And, then I saw it. The top of his head was smeared with it. I did a quick towel wipe and then rushed into the bathroom with him. There was no time to wait for the slowest faucet in the world outside of Peru to deliver warm water. He was struggling, and unlike other cats, he has a tiny, delicate scruff, very short hair....nothing much to hold onto.

First, I leave him for a week, then I take him to the vet for neutering, and now I do THIS to him. I used what was closest, the soap I use to wash my face. Holding Issey with one hand, soaping and wiping with a washcloth (mine, of course) in the other hand, I used my elbow to keep Santino and Rudy away. They were protesting loudly what I was doing to Santino.....or, perhaps, they were cheering, not sure. I did not have a container nearby or I could have used that to rinse his head. I stuck poor Issey's head under the faucet and managed to give him a fair rinse. Used my face towel to dry for a few seconds, and then he was gone. He sat under the bench in my bedroom looking stunned. He made no attempt to shake the water off....nothing. I felt terrible.

But, he did not hold a grudge. An hour later, he had forgiven me. Of course, I would love to know how this happened...Then again, I'm almost afraid to.
I have cleaned up enough poop in my life that it does not gag me, but I do have full respect for the bacteria it harbors.

Rudy is feeling better, but is avoiding chewing and not wanting the other kitties to come very close. I am hoping he will be sufficiently infection free to do the dental this coming week.

Lying Cat- Mom

2010-06-29T09:56:00.003-05:00

Everything is back to normal....more or less. I lied this morning.

I took Issey in for his neutering appointment, and when the vet tech said he needed a rabies shot, I said...oh, I did not bring it (proof of vaccination)......but would. I was not about to let them give little Issey a rabies shot!

A few words later....remembering I had a rabies tag which belongs to another kitty who wound up not coming with me to TX....I said I had his rabies tag in the car, thinking that showing it would be the end of the matter. "Oh, great! The vet's phone number is on the tag and we can just call her for the paper!" she chirped.

And, this is why one should never lie. Even if one occasionally practices situational ethics, like saving an indoor, sweet kitten from a rabies shot, there is no such thing as "just one white lie". Lies always lead to others. Now I have to do a stall because today I am dealing with the head vet, the owner of the vet practice. My guess is that he would be all about upholding Texas law, if not income of his business.....and, I will be lying again when I do a stall. I am embarrassed to find myself in this situation. Like how old am I, anyway......13?

What comes next, the flaky blond routine? Or the old confused woman routine?

I'll come clean, but to my regular vet who knows me, but who is on vacation this week. Just look at my sweet baby Issey.......It's bad enough that I have to do this neuter procedure.

Rudy has not growled once since I took Issey, his tension target, to the vet. This afternoon, I am having him checked out. I think his gums are hurting...even though he is eating normally. If he is o.k. physically, I'll get more kitty pheromones.

All Is Well

2010-06-26T20:27:00.009-05:00

My grand-cats, Princess and Buster.....13 yrs old by my calculations, 16 by their Mama's.:-) I have known them since they were fuzzy babies. Both have been wonderful companions to my grandson; Princess adores him. Buster is a little on the grumpy side.

Princess got me to feed her OFTEN. She is bones and fur. I'm afraid I told her Mama that part of being "present" is paying close attention and giving needed care to all living beings, beginning with your own.

It wasn't that she wasn't being fed at all. However, she is alarmingly thin.

I took this photo of Buster last year right before Nate's birthday party. People who claim that cats don't show expression have never actually looked at a cat.

When I returned home, everything was normal. The only kitty who is very dependent is Rudy, but he's been nice to his companions. Perhaps, chilling out in my bedroom made him appreciate them again....Or, perhaps, he thought it his job to keep everyone in line in my absence. Issey grew..........................TALLER, that is. Cat-sitter said she had worried that he was not getting enough food. (He eats as much as the other 3 combined!) This, of course, made me flash back to
my concern over grand kitty Princess.:-)

Trouble in Paradise

2010-06-20T14:50:00.003-05:00

AC fan motor went out. Cat sitter freaked over cats in 95 degree heat. She could not reach me because, I learned, my cell phone does not let me know of messages left! I need a smarter phone, I guess. Luckily, she called nearby daughter who got an AC repairman out on a Saturday night. It's now 80 with the smaller temporary fan motor....certainly a good temp for my fur kids if not their sitter.

Worse.....she said....is that Rudy has gone kind of berserk, showing extreme jealousy....attacking Santino and Issey. This jealousy was already building a couple of weeks before my trip, but I had it under control by giving him more attention which had calmed him back to his normal self.

I asked the sitter to isolate him to my bedroom, so he could take comfort in my bed and my personal things in the adjoining bathroom. She is to feed him separately in the room, and allow the other 3 the run of the house and the 2nd litter box. I am hoping Rudy won't destroy my bedroom!

THIS I did not expect. I guess I have been lucky (I guess the sitter has been lucky) to not have any problems at all EVER. Five more days........It will either all be alright or burn down...So I might as well dance.:-)

Bye-Bye, Babies

2010-06-16T15:51:00.003-05:00

I am leaving Issey for the first time tomorrow morning....and oh, how I hate that. But the trip to visit family and grandcats was made prior to this adoption.

Life is full of twists and turns, some sad and others joyful. I like to focus on the good and that is Issey. I've had the house/cat sitter come twice to spend some time with the kitties. I told her I'm a new mother. This isn't the first time she's had to deal with my new motherhood.:-) I'm glad that they kitties have each other!

You might enjoy the following facts, though some may be questionable. Most authorities, for example, agree that a cat's normal temperature is 101, not 102.

CatStuff: Cat Facts and Trivia

www.stumbleupon.com

Spoil Them!

2010-06-14T14:47:00.010-05:00

I'd like to tell you he is in meditation, but would you believe me?

Gentle, fuzzy Santino

Issey, 7 months old, but very wise!

I love this shot because it shows the red of Rudy's front (His tummy is even redder) against his beautifully ticked darker body.

Okey...the photos are just for fun and do not illustrate child...or in this case, cat rearing. Many years ago, we went to quite a few potlucks in our somewhat "hippy" community. I made that assessment by the strange non-meat concoctions as well as the style of hair and dress. I observed what I thought was over permissive child rearing. Besides having rather large children glued to exposed breasts, children were screeching and weaving through the seated adults as they were eating. I was astonished that there was a lot of back-talking and kicking the adults in the shins going on as well.

I had always thought that children had to be taught manners or they would grow into terribly self-centered, obnoxious adults.

Fast forward. I can't speak for all of these children, but I the ones I kept track of, turned into very nice and thoughtful adults!

I have softened over the years, but I still continued to have some opinions about the necessity of setting limits with cats.

Fast forward again! When I visited Virginia and Paul's peaceful 20 cats I think I remarked on how smoothly everything went. Virginia said that she gave them whatever they wanted!
BINGO! Beings whose needs are not only understood, but MET, have no reason to be other than calm.

I realize my parallels are not foolproof, but I maybe all little beings SHOULD be spoiled!

My Wonderful Family

2010-06-12T20:18:00.010-05:00

Issey is a short haired Balinese.
But, if a Balinese is a short haired Siamese...a point which I have always argued as I find their personalities to be different.....then doesn't it follow logically that Issey is a Siamese? :-)

Issey is just as sweet as his appearance.

Issey is so beautiful!

I melt when I see how happy Santino and Issey are together.

Rudy looks evil in this shot, doesn't he? He IS incorrigible, but not evil.

Rudy and Sophie contemplating their navels? Look how small Sophie's ears are! I consider large "fly-away ears normal.:-) Though, just like people, some cats make it challenging to love them much, I LOVE my fur children!

A Matter of Viewpoint

2010-06-08T14:46:00.003-05:00

After going through totally normal kitten naughties, Santino has grown to a perfectly behaved young adult.

He no longer steals food off the plate from which I am eating, doesn't get on the kitchen counters, doesn't knock anything off my studio work table, and doesn't scratch the furniture. Actually, he is quite amazingly good!

And, he NEVER gets on the dining table!!!! Except this one time. One could view this as a lapse in manners. However, there is another explanation. The sugar bowl which caught his attention has never had sugar in it, let alone make an appearance on the table! Santino is actually helping me by telling me that things are out of order!

You can laugh if you want to, but how do you know my viewpoint isn't the right one? Even a half-way observant cat will show concern over things being out of order.

A Mutual Bath

2010-06-04T12:38:00.009-05:00

Issey is a good bit more assertive than Santino. He controls who is doing the bathing and for how long, but it's somewhere close to equal.

Issey has a very expressive face. (Be sure to click the photo to see it larger.) What do you suppose he is thinking???

Time to settle in for a nap...The Balinese have taken Sophie's favorite perch.

Precocious Issey

2010-06-01T13:59:00.003-05:00

I have trouble believing that Issey is only 5 months old. He is incredibly smart and mature. I keep looking at those cute light gray balls of his and wondering..........

Therefore perhaps you will understand how it is that I had a mini freak-out last night. I was dozing....not quite asleep....when I was startled by an unfamiliar sound. It was Sophie, quiet Sophie who only mutters and trills to her toys. Issey had mounted her. Before I remembered that she is spayed, I had let out a scream and that was that.

Since I had been half asleep....perhaps, even all the way asleep....I don't know whether it was only a simple mugging. :-) I can just imagine Issey laughing at me!

Just the same, as soon as Issey's shot records arrive, I am making an appointment for neutering!

Joy of Kittenhood

2010-05-31T09:23:00.004-05:00

This morning when I awakened, only Santino was in bed. I stroked him gently in greeting, then...looking around the room....asked out loud, "And where is little Issey?"

At the same moment I saw Issey running toward me and heard him loudly purring. And, there he was....all over me....expressing his happiness at seeing me at last! Kittens express such joy!

Issey, like all kittens, is on the clumsy side. He smacks into walls, falls off things he tries to climb....And, when I say "Oh, Issey, please be careful. Are you o.k.?" the loud, loud purring starts and whatever just happened is forgotten. (While I try not to worry about it.)

I was still in the magic of this kitten, when I heard a loud crash a few feet away. I have too many tasseled thing around the house......why did I not think to kitten-proof it better? Did Santino not do any of these things? I don't think he did!

Next, Issey jumped up on my studio wall....a perfectly aimed leap, for he smoothly grabbed the pushpin he had aimed for, and ran off with it.....with me right behind him. OMG! I can't outrun a kitten! I stopped, sat on the floor and called him. He brought me the pushpin. Sweet, sweet baby! He is so much fun!

Our Family

2010-05-29T18:11:00.007-05:00

It's a good thing that Santino is such a sweet kitty, because Issey looks up to him. Of course, then there are the things that Santino would never do....things like get on the kitchen counter or the dining table. Issey also figured out curtain climbing all by himself. He is a smart boy. Oh, how I love having him! I especially love how he flops over onto his back, presenting his belly for rubbing.

Everyone who has seen him asks about his being so thin.....and, of course I tell them he looks exactly how he should look.....Perception is a funny thing....He has never looked thin to me....I assume, because I have seen enough Oriental breeds. I so hope I can keep him lithe and sleek! He has a voracious appetite.

Rudy always arranges himself in a perfect setting and patiently waits until I have finished.....Yes, I tell him "Good job!" and he knows he is done sitting for his portrait. Rudy is having a hard time. Miki used to groom him. Now everyone steers clear of him because they can't understand his muttering and growling.

Santino hanging out with Sophie. Sophie has relaxed. Perhaps, she thought I brought Issey home as a replacement for her? I have promised her that she can stay with me forever.

Out-takes

2010-05-25T19:24:00.012-05:00

Let's play werewolves, o.k.?

I so don't stick my tongue out!

Now what is there to do?

This is so in my way!

Yes, things are really are weird here.

Bed-Making 101

2010-05-22T14:00:00.004-05:00

I almost said that Issey failed, but that would have been incorrect. All good teachers know what mothers seem to have a harder time grasping: that students will only learn what they want to learn. The teacher's job is to motivate the student.

Santino is so good that he can approach the bed running and in one swift movement dive under the covers which hang down halfway on the side of the bed. Yes, one fluid motion puts him a good 3 feet away from the edge under the covers! There is no way I could have taught him that as I haven't a clue how he achieves this. But, I did provide the original motivation of a wiggling toe or a furry mouse....even Rudy, sometimes.

The other evening Issey watched this and attempted to follow.....unsuccessfully.

So today when I saw Santino and Issey playing on the bed, I thought it might be a good time to start Bed-making 101. But, as I said earlier.....mothers can be on the slow side.

Santino knew right away what game we were playing, but Issey was having no part of it. Duh! They already HAD a game going and I was interfering!

I failed Training Cats 101. :-)

The Boys

2010-05-21T13:39:00.011-05:00

Take a close look at this first photo. Issey/Santino look glued together. :-)

Issey likes to sit in the sun behind the blinds. In this photo, he has just come back....looking zoned out from the heat.

All the cats like this fake fur afghan, but Santino and Issey most of all.

As yummy as an icecream cone...

Rudy, the photogenic kitty.

Adorable! So sweet!

2010-05-17T11:01:00.004-05:00

Do I say this about all my kittens? I believe Issey is the smartest and cutest EVER! This opinion doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the others.....I just know that kittenhood is fleeting, and I don't want to miss a moment of it! Every kitten murmur, every prancing side step, even every naughtiness....Issey loves silk plants...(and I put them away one by one, reluctantly, as even this is cute.)

Issey prefers Santino's company to mine....for which I do not blame him. I like Santino's company, too.:-) Sophie has engaged Issey in play, but he is so very taken by Santino that everyone else comes in second. I guess Santino does look like "family"!

All is Well!

2010-05-13T20:22:00.005-05:00

Santino is well! Issey has adjusted! And, I am much relieved and that lovely feeling of "all is well with the world" is returning.

My Fur Kids

2010-05-11T17:33:00.007-05:00

Santino went to the vet yesterday, but nothing.....He received fluids and an anti-nausea injection. He is definitely better, asked for treats and ate them, is moving around....but not much. As the day is ending, he is beginning to look scraggly again. I will give him more Pedialite, but I can't get enough down him, I think, to make a whole lot of difference.

I may need to take him back in tomorrow. If it weren't for my recent experience with Miki, I don't think I would be as worried.

In the meanwhile, everything is going well with acclimating Issey. He takes his place as "one of the boys". So cute! Sophie is disgruntled. She is hanging out all by herself. Santino is still sounding the 3:30 AM alarm, but doesn't keep it up for so long that I can't go back to sleep. He is happy to eat dinner whenever, though.

A Baby in the House

2010-05-09T17:40:00.014-05:00

Oh, what a night it was. I heard vomiting....gushy vomiting....over and over. It was 12:30 AM, and I'd been asleep only an hour. I am NOT hearing this....I'll clean it up in the morning. Note to self: Watch where you step. (Santino had thrown up before we went to bed, but I could see him and Issey in bed, so I knew it was probably Rudy.)

Issey sounded the wake-up call promptly at 3:30 (His body clock has not made the hour adjustment for Texas. He was accustomed to Virginia getting up at 4:30 and that meant breakfast!) This cruel new Mommy said "Issey, it's too early!" and went back to sleep.....for a long time.

When I opened my eyes it was light. I stepped gingerly to the bathroom. I hate the feeling of vomit squishing between my bare toes. A happy surprise! It was a dream, because all I found was one single long, hair "ball". Rudy must have groomed Santino a lot while I was away.

My relief quickly changed to alarm as I realized that Santino was sick. I reminded myself to not assume the worst....After all, I had survived raising 4 children, and all had survived my raising them! I took his temperature: 102.4, within the high range of 'normal'....and reminded myself that a loose stool is not necessarily 'diarrhea' when it isn't urgent or frequent. However, he isn't eating or drinking....We're o.k. for today, but tomorrow I will take him to the vet tomorrow, Monday. My guess is that Issey's food upset his tummy, or he is stressed from having a new baby in the house.

Last night no one would eat the new food, but they had eaten some when I first brought it home. I was so excited about having located a store that sells it, I opened a can immediately. (Izzy ate with gusto...once....and then didn't want it again, perhaps, because it was cold from being in the refrigerator. Then again he didn't want any from the fresh can this morning, either.

In the meanwhile....though Izzy doesn't necessarily like how his castle is being run, I being a slow learner, he is good with his fellow princes.:-)

So Many Beautiful Cats!

2010-05-08T16:56:00.017-05:00

I had intended to take photos of individual kitties, but Virginia and Paul's kids are seldom alone...and, alas, they do not pose for the camera....not that I could keep my mind on photography.

Staying with Virginia and Paul and feline family was even better than expected. Even though they were constantly doing something for the cats, they did it patiently, lovingly. Everything proceeded smoothly. Balinese seem to do an excellent job at training their staff. They even had me happily cleaning a few boxes....though I admit, I kept getting distracted.

If you wonder why there are so many cats of various ages, it's because Virginia has trouble parting with them.

From an adopter's viewpoint, I can't imagine a better environment for early upbringing......if you don't mind "spoiled". :-)

These are not kitties who would come to a new household delighted and grateful. Their royal crowns may not immediately be visible to you, and they may or may not be patient in training you, but it's easier if you get it quickly.:-)

Cats are not for people who mind being controlled by fur children! Being soft, gentle and yielding is a requirement, I believe.

Issey Miyake

2010-05-07T18:28:00.008-05:00

Today I found a local source for Issey's favorite food "Instinct" chicken by Nature's Way. He was delighted, but then after some hearty eating left it in favor of dry! He did take his first long nap since arriving here after......look. Sophie is still holding out, but allowed him to sleep this close. Perhaps because he knows she is a mama cat, Issey is particularly taken by her.

Issey and Rudy played within the first hour or so of our arrival here. Santino continued to object until yesterday when allowed some rough-housing. Oh, he isn't crazy about being climbed, but he tolerates it. I am loving it! Even being tired from not getting enough sleep, I am grateful to have my four. It doesn't keep me from missing Miki, but it puts my attention on life, not death....and that's a good thing. I do not understand people who insist on a "proper" mourning period. Joy does not negate sorrow. It stands beside it, and gradually wins center stage.

Issey has been everywhere in this house, except under the beds or any of the other furniture. He seems to prefer the little TV room.....oh, and the dining table chairs for sharpening his claws. I could swear the others are watching in amusement as I remove him and take him to the scratching post.

Compared to Santino as a kitten, Issey is a wild kid! Amazingly, there are a couple of things broken that survived even little monkey Rudy. I'm going to be more careful.

Santino and Issey's Family

2010-05-06T13:43:00.008-05:00

Twice a day..breakfast and dinner...this is the scene at Virginia and Paul's house. Actually, the house belongs to the kitties, with Virginia and Paul their devoted servants. Many cat owners say this about their cats, but I have never seen it be more true than in this household! Every cat is treated as an individual, fed the food of his/her preference in the spot of preference!

Some of the kitties like to eat on the table in the sun room, some under the coffee table in the living room, some in the upstairs bedroom...even under the bed....and, as you can see, the rest eat in the kitchen.

I sat on the floor and happily watched. When Virginia said that Santino already was spoiled when he came to me, I assumed she was joking. After all, when there are twenty some cats, how spoiled can any single one of them be?

I couldn't have been more mistaken! These cats get spoiled! I feel a little bit sorry for Santino and Issey. :-)

A New Baby Adoption

2010-05-05T19:50:00.013-05:00

My visit with Virginia and Paul and all the cats and kittens was wonderful! They are kind and gentle and completely devoted to their 20 cats who run the household. Their home is kitty heaven!

Even with this many cats, every one of them has the run of the house, and twice a day is served their preferred wet food. Virginia counts heads as the cats dine off their paper plates (placed down in the locations of their preferences....a couple of them being served under Virginia and Paul's bed) to make certain that everyone is eating. They call each one by his or her name; each one is an individual. I consider myself extremely lucky to now have two fur children from them.

I was amazed and delighted!

I always thought that my fur kids had the best home imaginable, and now I know that isn't true. Cats enjoy the company of others, and in a large family there is always someone to play, bathe, nuzzle or curl up with. No wonder my cats are happier than ever....I did not have enough of them!:-)

Making a decision as to who would go home with me was much more difficult than I anticipated. I wanted several!!!! And, several liked me....But, finally, 10 minutes before the required vet visit to get the necessary rabies injection and travel certificate I chose Santino's half brother who was absolutely gorgeous, and weighing in at over 9 pounds. That night we shut him in my bedroom so we wouldn't have to hunt before the early morning flight.....when "Tiny Tim" pushed his way in, and came into my arms. He had been my first choice all along, but he was too busy with his large family to pay me much attention. Now, however, he was curled up in my arms!

Virginia kindly told me she would part with him...He had been sleeping under the covers with her.... I could have kissed her! Tiny Tim traveled under the other kitty's paperwork. The airlines barely looked at it, and at the cat, not at all.

But, let me show you my new baby!!!! He is courageous.....and although incredibly cute, he is more elegant than his baby name of Tiny Tim. I'd had no intention of renaming him, but here he seemed to need a more "important" name. He is Issey Miyake, for the fashion designer. I will probably call him "Issey"

In flight....He was incredibly good in his carrier. When we arrived home, he said "Fine. Where are the guys to play with?" The guys weren't so certain, but it took Rudy only half an hour before he was racing through the house with the baby close behind!

Precious!

Cats And Fashion

2010-04-28T16:59:00.007-05:00

An artist friend, Susan Jones of Austin, created this silk wedding dress for her 6 ft. tall red-haired daughter....in spite of the fact that daughter and fiance' were flying to Las Vegas... alone....to be married in the Elvis Presley Chapel.

This dress had been in the making for 3 weeks, and the creator who allowed me and a friend to see it before it flew to Vegas in a special trunk. Are you wondering what took so long? What you see as red, gradually getting lighter as your eye travels up the dress, was airbrushed! For this, an airbrush and compressor had to be purchased as well as special airbrush textile paints. The airbrushing was done on the finished dress! (THAT alone would have made me crazy!)

The back of the dress is embellished with handmade flowers and the train consists of layers and layers of silk and tulle......and, guess what?

There are three cats in Susan's household......and I heard myself saying "In my next life, I want to come back as one of your cats." I saw the cats having a wonderful time, while Susan kept up a conversation with them. That was enough to impress me, but then I saw this:

This is "Brownie", who..I was told...was a very rare exotic breed :-), a cute name I unfortunately forgot.
The other kitty is Zipie. (The third cat was a little shyer)

And, what did this cat mom say when she saw two kitties playing in the train of the dress?

She said...in a soft, sweet and melodic voice: "They love the sound the layers make when they jump on the dress." Now....Brownie, don't do that.....Zippie, please get off that." And, she smiled a big beautiful smile...and, I would swear, so did the cats!

Changes

2010-04-27T19:51:00.003-05:00

Blogger has changed their format just in the last few hours. Now I am allowed to download photos only from a website or from Picasa! And, all I want to do is download them from my picture file without fist transferring them to Picasa, I am going to step away from this and try again tomorrow. Maybe it's just a bad dream.

I'm flying up to DC Sunday to get a kitty!!!!! What an adventure!:-)

I really am looking forward to meeting Virginia and Paul

and the 21 cats and kittens. I hope they,

the cats, not Virginia and Paul, will all pile into bed with me!!

Sweet Pictures of Sweet Kitties

2010-04-24T10:16:00.002-05:00

Oh, Rudy is around....but apparently in no mood for looking sweet and cute. He knew Miki his entire life, and he is the most affected of the kitties.

I am looking forward to having one of Santino's relatives join us soon!!! Because of the kindness of Virginia, Santino's breeder, and also my family and friends who have assured me that my cats will be taken care of if I should predecease them, I am receiving this wonderful gift of another fur child!!!! I am SO excited!!!!

Recovering

2010-04-20T19:18:00.001-05:00

We are recovering from the loss of Miki. Gradually, but. because I'm paying attention, Santino and Rudy are growing less needy, seeking out each other instead of solely me. Rudy is visibly more relaxed, and Santino no longer begs for treats constantly.:-)

Unfortunately, even after a year, I do not know Sophie well enough to notice if she is affected at all. Everyone is back to eating a lot and Rudy has gained weight. I guess him to be between 9 and a half and 10 #, fat for an Abyssinian. He needs to run around a bit more! Santino, I'm guessing is between 8 and 8 1/2....probably just right. Prince Fuzzy is shedding terribly with the warmer weather. I could easily clone several more from all the tufts of fluff everywhere...oh, and how I wish I COULD! I am hoping to get a relative! Three cats is not enough!!!! I promised myself all the animals I wanted during the time I knew that Jack was dying....and, to my surprise, I find that I am also wanting to live in a clean house, do a lot of art, and not trip over litter boxes! But, FOUR is perfect!!! I would add a dog if there were a man here.:-)

I miss Miki terribly. He bossed me more than any of the others. And, he pressed his body against mine every night when we went to sleep. In the mornings I had Miki kissing me on one side and Santino on the other. I catch myself looking for him....and then I remind myself how troubled he was since Zippy died.....and I hope that there really is a Rainbow Bridge and that he is happy.

I long for the day I see Rudy snuggled up with one of his "sibs". He did occasionally lie down next to Miki. Both Sophie and Santino would be happy to have him.

What, Me Worry?

2010-04-14T20:01:00.000-05:00

Santino seems to be doing great, going about his normal routine. He even made me laugh last night with his playing.

Today he tucked himself in next to Sophie.:-)
(Yes, his head is down, but only because he anticipates the flash!)

Rudy, who has been extremely agitated, seems to be back to normal...or close to it. More than missing Miki, I think they take their cues from me...and I take that responsibility seriously. The lighter my spirit, the happier they are.

And, I am so hoping that Miki is with his beloved Zippy as he is in this 3 and a half year old photo. No space was too small for the two of them together.

Mikimoto, July 14, 2002-April 12, 2010

2010-04-12T15:19:00.003-05:00

Bags of fluids, 3 different antibiotics, wrapping in wet towels...nothing would keep Miki's fever down, and except very occasionally, he even refused Gerbers's chicken and his favorite tuna juice. The vet could do not more for him, and I could not allow him to suffer any longer. This morning, before his fatal injection, his temp was up to 105.

Miki was never my cat, but did his best to make do with me after his beloved Zippy died. I say "made do" only because from that day on, he cried almost every night, the only exceptions being when he fell asleep cuddled tight against the warmth of my body. When Zippy died, Miki also stopped his routine of bringing me a mouse which he would fetch over and over. He seldom played, and most often looked depressed. As crazy as this may sound, I think he lost interest in living.

There will be an autopsy. Perhaps he can help other kitties this way. He was a wonderful cat, very loving....He and Santino were always on my bed to wake me every morning. The house is so quiet. Not because Miki was noisy, but because his sibs know....They have known all along.

Emotional Whiplash

2010-04-11T20:19:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know this isn't about me. But, just the same, this is very hard, and it's been going on 11 days now. Miki is down again. His temp measured 104.5 when he lurched away from me, so I don't know whether it would have registered even higher. This is in spite of the medication I have faithfully given him as instructed.

I've spoken to the vet twice today....He was the one on call. Wet him down, he said....which I did, and do. But, it's all feeling like it's not working, and I am only making him more miserable. I try hard to not think those thoughts, but they are coming just the same.

Unlike any of my previous cats whom I helped across the Rainbow Bridge, Miki shows no sign of distress. He is perfectly still, breathing evenly. There doesn't seem to be any pain anywhere. If he makes it through the night, I will not hospitalize him again. No more. It's quiet and peaceful here, and he is where he loves to be.

Miki

2010-04-09T18:15:00.000-05:00

Miki is home and awfully glad to be here. The vet called this morning to say that Miki's temp. was only slightly elevated and that he had his head in the food bowl chowing down!

We are cautiously optimistic. I need to give him antibiotics twice a day for two weeks!, which means after the first pilling, I will need to isolate him to a small room...I weighing bathroom against my pristine, cat-freoffice.Oh, he isn't going to be happy about this, and neither will the others. I think the guest bathroom is IT! At least I stand a chance catching him in there.

So beautiful in this photo, he is scraggly now. He has tiny bits of litter "glued" to his butt. Santino says "EUW!", but everyone is happy to see him, nevertheless.

Miki

2010-04-07T20:48:00.000-05:00

Miki is in the hospital. His white blood cells (neutrophils, specifically) and temperature were up. This afternoon his temperature had spiked to 105, but they got it down to normal by 4:30. He is on IV fluids and antibiotics.

Hopefully, he will respond to this type of antibiotic....If not, it is likely to be FIP.

From what I read, the Coronavirus can lie idle in the cat's body for several years before mutating. But, all I know for certain, Miki's condition is very serious, and FIP is an ugly fatal disease. After looking it up, I understand why the vet suspects it. Miki's symptoms fit the criteria.

The house is incredibly quiet. I don't even see the cats. We are all affected.

Update

2010-04-04T21:35:00.001-05:00

Miki doesn't seem to be in any discomfort, though he has not eaten or taken in any water since last night. He has even refused tuna juice, his absolute favorite thing. He has not moved from the extra kitty bed I keep underneath my bed. Sophie is sitting nearby. Rudy and Santino are arguing. I am numb....well, almost.

If the vet had even an idea about what to look for...other than what he already checked for...I would have pursued more tests. I do appreciate that he was honest with me. Not only do I trust this vet, but Miki was also seen by the senior vet at the clinic.

Monday morning:
Miki is better this morning!!! Twice he drank water, and came to breakfast when I called! I am hopeful and grateful to have reason to be. I will call the vet to see if there is more that we can do for Miki.

Kitty Love. Kitty Joy

2010-04-03T19:14:00.003-05:00

The love my cats show for each other and for me brings joy to my heart!

When Sophie and Santino snuggle together, they look so blissed out ....It's as if they adore how the other feels and smells. (I, too, like to burrow my face into Santino's silken fluff....but, I don't think he smells so good:-) Hmm...maybe I should buy some dry shampoo?

Miki who appeared to have completely recovered from the dental surgery, took a sudden turn for the worse a few days ago. In two weeks he had lost an entire pound...some of this water weight, of course. I've had him to the Vet both Thursday, and again today because he had not responded to the fluids and antibiotic he was given. This time he received more fluids and an injection of a short acting steroid. He went straight to the food bowl when he came home and he has been visible...not hiding...ever since.

In the past, I remember my cats hissing at anyone I brought back from the vet...but not anymore! Both times I brought Miki home, Santino and Rudy were happy to see him. Miki got a bath from both his brothers at once.:-)

Oh, and Rudy sits on my lap and my shoulder. Santino has brought peace, love and joy. And, though Sophie is usually in the background, she is a sweet, happy, and playful kitty. This is where my focus is now, not on the "what if's" regarding Miki.

(Blood work showed evidence of an infection, but his mouth looked good. I hate the idea of exploratory testing for a cat! Vet did say he has no idea what he would be looking for, and we've already done TWO blood panels. Sometimes I really hate being the sole decision maker here.)

Kitty Condo Maintenance

2010-03-28T13:27:00.002-05:00

Every time I think I'm clever, I fall to earth and discover that it's a "NOT".:-) When I saw all those lovely large carpet remnants in my garage, I immediately thought the perfect use would be to have my tattered cat condos recovered. How hard could that be? And, it was bound to be much less expensive than buying new ones.

It isn't like the cats were complaining about them. No, the cats were pleased to have FOUR of them....not all equal in providing perfect perches, but, nevertheless, FOUR. Even my furry royalty knows that this is royal treatment, and showed their appreciation by constant use.

It was only I who was unhappy with these tattered structures.....not nearly so much their appearance but the fact that their shredding left a constant mess. The continuous filament nylon carpet....very difficult to pull up a "thread", let alone have the whole thing unravel....would be perfect....so I thought.

I used Craigslist which in the past has brought me some odd characters, but always gotten the job done for a reasonable price. I advertised for an experienced carpet layer/ upholsterer yesterday, and within two hours had someone here working in the garage on the first condo. Several hours of pissing and moaning later, he said it was taking too long and he had to leave. He had one finished. Badly finished....though I didn't notice just how badly until after I'd paid him and he was long gone.

Today I decided to make one more attempt, and now there is another man in my garage, repairing the first condo and recovering a second......or so I hope. But, I swear, after this I quit, and will never try this again.

If I can't afford to buy new ones, I will just live with nasty tattered ones! The cats don't care.

P.S. It is now many hours later. The kitty condo business has been a real pain in the neck, but it has turned out o.k. Two condos covered with new carpet, and another one repaired and looking good. Total cost: $125 and lots of aggravation, both of which I will forgot by tomorrow. It would have cost $360 to replace all three. Ah....the things I do to save money, just so I can keep buying art supplies! :-)

May need a chiropractor. Kitties rode the condos to and from the garage. It was just too cute for me to make them get off.

PPS I required two visits to the chiropractor, but I am fine now and the kitty furniture looks great! They passed the catscans, too.

A Better Day

2010-03-25T20:48:00.000-05:00

This morning Santino jumped up on the vanity while I was trying to make my hair behave. As we played "kissy-face", I absent mindedly brushed him with my hairbrush. He liked it! He does not like his kitty brush, but mine is a different story!

He did not seem to mind being called pretty.:-) I just can't help myself.:-) My brush is now full of white fluff, and because the bristles are rubber tipped, it's difficult to clean....Note to self: buy new hairbrush.

What a difference a day makes. Miki is much more himself today. When I opened the cabinet above my computer desk, he was promptly in it. And, for the first time in a week, he had an appetite. This mom is happy!

Who's The Baby?

2010-03-24T14:05:00.002-05:00

Miki, from the time he came to live with me, was Zippy's baby. Though a neutered male, Zippy just loved babies, even sitting with a litter of opossums born under our deck, and he was very happy to get his own kitten.

Miki has been "lost" since Zippy died,....but, to some extent has adopted me as his "mommy". He clings. Rudy has always been independent, but when baby Santino joined us, Rudy made it very clear that HE really was the baby.:-) It wasn't even so much a matter of jealousy...at least not overtly so. He has never shoved his brothers aside, and mostly does his "baby stuff" when no one is watching.

Santino, the real baby of the family, is doing great, on the other hand.:-)

Miki takes over my lap every time I'm seated. For the first time in the five years he has been with me, Rudy, too, has become a lap sitter. And one evening I had all three on my lap!!! That's at least a combined weight of 26 pounds! How could heaven be so uncomfortable?

But I veered way off here. Even making allowances for Miki being Siamese, I cannot tell how he is doing. He bypasses wet food and eats a few bits of the dry. He mopes, but then he has been mopey for a long time. When Rudy had 6 extractions last year, he bounced back immediately. Miki is not a happy camper.

Body Language Expert

2010-03-19T10:35:00.001-05:00

It was still dark when the alarm went off. Confused, I tried remembering what time my flight was....and where was I going? This is my association with waking up in the dark to the shrill sound of the alarm.

A shiver of excitement, coupled with a shred of anxiety, ran through my body before I remembered that I had to get Miki to the vet for his dental work. I had allowed myself only 15 minutes before we had to leave. I prize sleep above grooming and make-up. I now realize that I prize it even above making sure my brain is engaged before taking action.

I walked toward Miki, making contact but just barely. He KNEW. I flashed back to the time my husband had insisted that the cats could "read his mind". Yes, Jack, you were right! They are experts at body language.

First, I tried treats. This was tricky as I couldn't actually let Miki eat them before anesthesia. He came and just as quickly ran off again. I called the vet and reported the state of affairs here. This was a bit embarrassing as I had begged them to take Miki before anyone else so he would not have to endure the stress of waiting.

I had put the dry food dishes away and knew he must be hungry. I served breakfast....v e r y casually, and he came...but one look at me sent him scurrying off. I gave up. Made coffee and toast. Fired up the computer.

Much to my surprise, Mike came, hopped on my desk, and lowered his head to eat from my plate. His concentration was on the cottage cheese, and I was able to grab him. He yelled loudly for the entire 15 minute drive.

*******

It's now much later, and I just brought Miki home. He had 6 extractions. With Stomatitis...having lost Zippy to this illness...I know that we may be in for some rough and expensive times.

I love my vet. He answers all my questions...in this case they were about the commoness of Stomatitis, which then led into a discussion about the genetic pool in full-bred kitties. Even though they aren't inbred in the way we usually think of the word, they, in fact, are. I asked him whether marriages should be interracial, then, and he said "absolutely". (Being 100% Northern European and gluten intolerant, I should have had children with a Chinese!!!:-)

Mystery of the Vanishing Mice

2010-03-16T19:26:00.007-05:00

Twenty years of mice....

all vanished!

Have you noticed how we just have to make up an explanation when items disappear?

In every house on the planet, something always vanishes into thin air. Most commonly, it is socks and cooking spices...or maybe postage stamps. My guess is every household has their own "specialties".

Feng Shui practitioners explain this phenomenon by saying that some houses have "holes"...Some houses, like mine, are even built on top of these "holes". Even some of my walls have these portals to another reality. So now you know where your missing things go, though I have had no success in going there myself. I figured that would be a good place to look for everything that I have been missing.

I didn't even think about calling the Feng Shui master, a friend of a friend, to hunt for the mice. I always assumed the mice were under the furniture, like the couch which weighs a ton, for example. My pets have always taken delight in shoving them under things where they can fish for them with their paws, but which are too close to the ground to allow more than a mouse or a paw. "Tough!" I would say, but then eventually relent and bring home another mouse or two.

Then we had a big to-do here. We had the carpeting replaced....and so it came to pass that I discovered that the mice had, indeed, vanished! We only have three small closets which are not carpeted, and therefore untouched by the carpet layers. So I went on a mouse hunt, and though my yield was only five mice, I am pleased. The rest are either all under the refrigerator or living happily, free from cats, in a different reality.

Getting My Attention

2010-03-12T20:12:00.000-06:00

Perhaps it's a Siamese trait, but Miki's ability to communicate with me is amazing. I'm not so swift in "getting it" very quickly, unfortunately.

For the past week, Miki has been very consistent about being in my face. At first I thought he wanted more affection.....His voice was sweetly modulated in a "talkative" tone, but that wasn't it. It was his behavior... His clinginess, his sitting in front of the computer screen and staring at me. He had dragon breath, but not consistently. I had tried to look in his mouth, but he clamped it tightly shut and turned his head away. Should have been my clue.

I've been unusually busy, and I caught myself feeling some annoyance with him. His pestering felt an awful lot like that of a toddler....I want, I want, I want......

Finally, I got it! Cats must think we humans are so stupid. This morning, he blocked my computer screen, opened his mouth, and blew his dragon breath into my face. I picked up the phone and called the vet.

Leaving the house in shambles from the mess from carpet installation yesterday, we were at the vet an hour later. He protested all the way. Good, I thought....not TOO sick. The diagnosis is stomatitis. How come we never heard of this until a few years ago? Cats never had their teeth cleaned....and they were never allergic to their own bacteria. Miki is only 7, and has had the best of care.

He got a steroid shot, and I'll have his annual teeth cleaning done next week. If any teeth are bad, we will remove them. Unfortunately, Miki is too smart to allow me to give him any meds more than once. All my cats are smarter and faster than I.

More Kitties Sleeping

2010-03-06T15:30:00.001-06:00

Virginia Torsch, my Santino's first Mom, sent me this photo at my request. Without fail, every time I see Santino duplicated many times over, I go crazy with envy and ask Virginia if I can move in with her and her husband. (She ignores me.:-) but, many people do.)

The only reason I have only one Balinese is that I was unable to find one. When I went to find a Siamese in 1990, I got Zippy who did not look like any Siamese I'd ever seen. Much later I learned that he fit the description given for a Balinese. He was, by far, the smartest, wisest, and most loving creature I had ever met! I promised myself that there would ONLY be Balinese kitties in my life. Each time I had an "opening" for an addition, I searched and searched. in vain. I took in, one at a time, two Siamese, one Abyssinian, and one stray. (It's a lot like getting married to Mr. "Good-Enough", actually.) Then I found poor sick Blue who only lived for two years. So, Virginia, I am so very happy with Santino and if I can find some Youth Serum, I want several more! (I do think about their future should I die first.)

By the way, Virginia says that this is HER side of the bed all the cats have chosen. I think it speaks well of her.:-) Oh, and I think you chose the color of your bed cover very well. You were much more practical than I, though.