Post 1352: “Get this show on the road!”

Dougy and I wore off a little of his energy with a brisk game of wand toy, then he wandered off to get a bite to eat. Now it’s Andy’s turn.

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Andy stopped by to give me a message.

“Get this show on the road!”

He stopped by the recliner to watch kitty videos. I mean, the laptop was out and surely it was so he could watch birds and squirrels!

I wasn’t planning of putting of a kitty video, but, well, cats rule the roost here, so…! Andy “scooched” over to the far arm, perhaps to get that “distant, looking out the window” perspective. The laptop screen is a window, eh?!

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That didn’t last long. He moved over to the seat.

Big fat juicy pigeons! Andy love, love, loves this video! MROW!

Post 1299: On the passing of my sister’s cat, Sox…

I read the sad news this morning. My sister, Kathy, had to make a decision about her tuxedo kitty, Sox, yesterday. He had a cancerous tumor on a front paw. She wrote:

I did have to have Sox euthanized today. It was so hard to do, but Kitty Boy was miserable and so sad to watch. It took me until 3:30 this afternoon to finally let him go.

The Dr. said he most likely had a stroke, perhaps caused by the cancer moving to his brain. It’s going to take a long time to get over his death. Molly was so sweet.

She laid on top of me and put her paw and head on my hand. She knew something wasn’t right.

Sox in his prime.

My sister “inherited” Sox as a kitten when her grandchildren got him from one of my sister’s neighbors, but were unable to keep him. Like me, she wasn’t a cat person till she got one. We always had dogs when we were little, then no pets till we were older and closer to retirement or retired. Sox was her first kitty.

Sox was an only kitty most of his life. Then my sister had to move. The first day she moved into her new home, she let Sox out to do kitty business, as was their habit from their old home.

That was the last time she saw him for 10 months, a story that I documented here as encouragement to others who lost their kitties. My sister never gave up, and she finally located poor Sox in a shelter!

Molly Moon looks like a sweetheart to me, and my sister says she is a sweet-dispositioned kitty, too.

When Sox disappeared, my sister eventually adopted Molly Moon, who was a bit older than Sox, but is a tuxedo kitty, too.

When Sox returned home, he no longer was the only kitty, and it made adjustment necessary. Molly and Sox eventually became friends and shared my sister without hassles. (Molly, of course, was the top kitty in the home since Sox hadn’t been home to defend his “title” during his absence.)

My sister told me about the tumor and what she had to deal with some time ago, but one hopes against hope for a happy outcome. I didn’t mention it here though anyone who’s followed this blog for any length of time knows the story of Sox and how he was lost then came home.

That story was the “happily ever after” part. Today’s news is the blunt, sad reality. Anyone with kitties, dogs, any creature in their lives knows the joys and laughter they bring, yet always has that other reality at the back of their thoughts: The joy inevitably is followed by the sad reality that those beloved pets are mortal.

Poor Sox. I’ve shed tears for you today. Kathy, I know that you did what was best for Sox, no matter how sad and difficult the task was for you. Hugs and love, sis.

RIP, Sox the tuxedo kitty. Thank you for the joy you brought into my sister’s life.

Post 1248: Dougy tells me…!

When Dougy wants to play, you better be ready! If I’m updating this blog or eating breakfast or headed downtown, it makes no difference to Dougy: “I WANT TO PLAY!!!”

Mostly, I cave in. That’s why he’s such a spoiled brat!

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Dougy pestered me to play wand toy with him.

Oh oh! Dougy gives me the “Stink Eye Of I Am Mad Because You Didn’t Stop Everything And Play With Me When I Was In The Mood” look.

“Aw! Come on, Dougy! I’m sorry!” Dougy continues to pout.

Hmmm. I think I got through to Dougy! He’s looking the wand toy over!

Maybe not.

Oh dear! I guess he told me!

Not to worry. As soon as I finished photographing this, Dougy and I had a fun play session! He doesn’t hold grudges!

Post 1002: slowly establishing routines…

Andy and Dougy slept (and crept) nearby all night last night, but I still got a good night’s rest. Good thing, too, because I had dialysis at 6:15 AM.

Dialysis went without a hitch for a change. I got the full four hour treatment, something that has been rare lately. I am impressed with the local dialysis unit for working up a solution the first time I went there and successfully applying it this time. Instead of lots of warning alarms for the session, I had smooth (quiet) sailing.

Speaking of the local dialysis unit, not only are the recliners comfortable and heated, the nurses give you a cup of ice to deal with thirst or being warm (I have no idea which) and headphones to watch the television without disturbing your fellow patients.

Oh! And everyone has a small locker to keep one’s “blankie” in. Mine is a particularly nice one sent me by Liz of maggie0019 when I was in the care center in Denver. It arrived around the same time as the basket of citrus from Chris of contrafactual. They were the first bloggers to contact me, and their support through my ordeal was well appreciated many times over!

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Today is a pleasant spring day in Western Nebraska. I have doors open for the fresh air and to let the kitties get noses full of exciting outside scents. Dougy especially likes to sniff around and would follow his nose to Fargo if I didn’t stop him at the door.

Andy didn’t get his medicine when I was gone. I talked with his veterinarian yesterday about that. I will make an appointment to get his blood pressure checked now that I know my dialysis schedule (6:30 AM, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). He seems normal, like humans with high blood pressure can seem, but we need to verify one way or the other if he needs to have the medication still.

As for Dougy, his eyes got “goopy” again while I was gone because he wasn’t getting a dietary supplement that helps Persian cats with that issue. I bought more of it while at the veterinarian’s yesterday. You can manually remove “eye snot” (as one Persian cat breeder on YouTube calls it), though I prefer to use the supplement that stops the condition in the first place. Nothing’s too good for my kitties!

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Post 991: “A Cat’s Tail…”

I thought this video was deleted or missing from my YouTube playlist or I would have posted it again with the message from Smilla and Luke, children of my friend Nicole. They were the inspiration for the video, which features the late Louie the ginger cat.

As you now know, this is a children’s story, but there is a serious message for all people: “Be a good kitty!”

I have no doubt that Luke and Smilla are well-behaved and respectful children after watching this video…. LOL!

Post 988: a cozy January 2nd morning…

It’s a “do nothing” day here at the Black Kitty Corral, and Andy and Dougy are setting a blistering pace of “nothing doing”.

Dougy’s scouting the bird feeder from this chair by the window….

$And Andy's in the bathroom sink enjoying a lkittle skritching from me. Hence \, why they are called "Purr-sian" cats$

And Andy’s in the bathroom sink enjoying a little skritching from me.
Hence, why they are called “Purr-sian” cats

Post 986: Happy New Year!

It’s a chilly 22°F (-2°C) this New Years Eve afternoon. I have no intention of going outside except to get the mail, and then it will be as quick a maneuver as I can make it. I am cold-blooded.

The kitties are resting nearby. Andy’s on the computer and Dougy’s at my feet. My boys like to keep me close when it’s time for kitty food!

Andy poses nicely for this profile shot.

Post 973: birds on the feeder…!

The boys discovered they can watch birds from the cat tree just as easily as in the window, and the birds stick around longer. Of course, the birds don’t have a big kitty a foot or less away like they do when the boys window sit!

Cat tree observation post.

I was able to distract Dougy long enough for a rare head on shot. He gave me half a second before he went back to bird watching. He has his priorities.

“Hey! I’m busy! Take your photo and leave me alone!”
OK, Dougy. Just this once.

Po\st 939: pretty active for a Caturday…!

Most of the day, it was “Snooze City”. Mid-afternoon, however, Dougy in particular got a dose of adrenaline.

My little lion awakens!

“What to do? What to do?”
Dougy wanders over to his personal mess to see what he can do.

Oopsy daisy! Up on the recliner! Perhaps to recline?

Dougy’s going to snooze on the recliner, I bet! There he goes now!

A little grooming instead, then…

Up and over!
Dougy heads back to where he started from!

No! Now he’s back at the ottoman!
He saw me put my feet on it, and had to come back over to scratch on it to let me know it was his!

[Note: Yes, this is Dougy! You can see the boys’ Birman father’s markings in the shot above. Especially when the boys’ hair is short, this pattern is obvious in certain lights. In other lights, they still look black.]

Andy can’t believe his brother is so active this afternoon.

Andy’s choice is to rest on his favorite end table, the one where he can see Dougy at all times!

Post 936: the “sheepies” are shorn….!

Dougy was grumpy because he was unhappy about being in the carrier. Andy always is a little grumpy, “because”! The main thing, Athena their groomer said they were basically good boys while there, and she once again gave them really good cuts, no matter what their moods.

Dougy snoops at my dirty breakfast dishes. Hey, it that a fantastic tail or what?!

Dougy snoops at my dirty breakfast dishes.
Hey, is that a fantastic tail or what?!

Andy chose his favorite perch on my PC to fluff his tail and take care of kitty grooming needs.
He has a fantastic tail, too!

Athena and I decided next time, in January, we will try something different. Instead of a teddy bear cut, she will trim under their arms, on their chests and abdomens, and (most importantly) under and behind the tails.

I’ve had them trimmed in teddy bear cuts till now mostly to control matting and poop on tail feather issues. Letting their hair grow out except as noted above should let their full beauty bloom, and, if Athena and I figure it right, matting won’t become an issue.

The boys are smoke Persian cats. When they have longer hair, I’ll post photos so you can see how beautiful such cats can be! Andy and Dougy are cute now, but they will be spectacular in full form. Take my word for it.