Bed-Making 101

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

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!

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!

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

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

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!

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.