Not What I Expected Today!

SKEETER:

THE MORNING: Well, I knew I hadda go back to the V-E-T again this morning. The Big Thing tole me that it was just so they could look for bad stuff in my blood again. But I really really dint wanna go. I mean 3 out of 5 days? C'mon, thats just horrible! An I'm gettin medikashuns squirted down my throat twicet a day annyway! How much must a kitty put up with?

So after I got my breakfast, I ran unner the guest beds way inna corner. The Big Thing tricked me Friday with a trail of treats, but I wasnt falling fer that THIS time. I ignored them! It WASNT easy, but I did. Well, I shoulda jus eaten the treats and got grabbed...

TBT laid onna bed (I could hear the thing squeek), but I dint know what he was gonna do. Yer not gonna beleef this, but he reached around the back of the bed an grabbed me by my back haunch an pulled me out. I figured, yeah right, ya cant lift me wif yer arm all upside down an bent. MOL!

Geez Beins are STRONG! He hadda grunt while he did it, but he lifted me right up in the air! At least he said (afterwards) that it hurt... Boo-hoo; I wasnt too happy myself. YOU try gettin lifted by the hip an see how it feels!

Then I get the medikashun squirted down my throat (and NO treats after) and shoved at the PTU. I was NOT goin in this time! I spread my legs out all ways. I got 4 legs an he only got 2 hands. He said "Skeeter, we're gonna be late"! Hey, not my problem. Efen better, if we are late, mebbe he cant take me there!

Then he said, c'mon, Skeeter, I jus wanna have the Vet take yer leg bandage off". That confoosed me fer a few laps and he was able to get me inna PTU. Ya know what? Nefer trust Beins what are usally honest; they make very good liars. He pologised fer that, and said, yeah, they were gonna take some blood, but we'll come right back home... That IS what he said the day before, so when I got to thinkin on it, I decided it wasnt too bad (bein already trapped in the PTU).

So we arrive at the vet (I'm just gonna write "vet", nasty as the werd is, cause Im seeing this guy a lot an I hafta get used ta the werd)! So I'm stuck in the PTU with no control ofer what happens, the vet comes out an says "I was thinking, we should put him on fluids again today and see what changes there were over the weekend before we do the blood tests again". Oh my sweet Bast, NO! An I hear TBT say, well, if that will help figure out the problem, OK...

GASP! What started as getting the leg bandage off, what became them stealin my blood again has suddenly become stayin all day sedated in the PTU with a tube stuck in my leg. Would someone please jus throw me unner a car fer Bast's sakes? I cant take this annymore!

Before they took me away, TBT pushed a finger inta the PTU ta rub my head a little. I preciated that, but I shoulda bit his finger. Hard! At least his eyes were leaky. I did fart though...

THE BIG THING: I need to mention that the cats get to type their own posts, but they don't actually get sent until I review them and very occasionally add comments like these. I am writing the following part...

THE AFTERNOON: The vet had some bad news. Skeeter's blood counts at the start of the day were the same as the start on Friday. Meaning that after only 3 days, they had returned to his initial condition in spite of the IV procedure. As he has been on antibiotics 4 full days, it appears that an infection is not the problem. The vet told me that Skeeter appears to have partial failure of both kidneys, though I need to continue to give him the antibiotics "in case".

The vet says I need to have Skeeter in for another IV treatment/blood test tomorrow and then again in 2 weeks to see if the reduced kidney function is stable or getting worse. If his kidney function is deteriorating, there isn't much to be done. I would be able to reduce the blood toxicity levels by daily stabbings with some fluids.

I think that, if it comes to that, I would prefer not stab my dear friend every day all the remaining days of his life just to keep him around a few more months. Skeeter is the dearest cat I have ever had, but that would be too selfish (my opinion only).

Skeeter turns 16 on Friday. There is a time to begin to let go... I recognize that Skeeter has already begun that process. He has lost the discipline of the litterbox, he stares vacantly into empty spaces for hours when he is awake, and sleeps 20 hours a day. His increasing blood toxicity is taking his mind. LC says she actually had to "help-type" most of what he "wrote" above cause she couldn't make sense of much of what he was typing. He is leaving us whether I try to prevent it or not.

I will help him to post whenever he feels up to talking about stuff, but I don't think that will be very often. Expect to see LC and Ayla doing most of the posts. They will mention any good or bad daily things about him. Any detailed medical type stuff, I will mention that myself.

I apologize that we aren't visitin our friends' blogs much lately. LC is mostly stayin near Skeeter when he seems passive (safe to be near), Ayla is a bit upset and uncertain what is going on, and I keep dripping tears on the keyboard... I need some time alone. I feel like I'm in limbo. I think I will sit down and write "Skeeter, A Life"... I have a lot of pictures and memories to go on.

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My Dear Friends...

SKEETER: Thank you all for the many good wishes for my health. I am stunned and humbled by so many kitties sending me their best purrs and purrayers. I nefer dreamed I would receive such an outpouring of good will and hopes!

I have had a long and healthy life. The only time I efer needed medikashun was when another kitty in the house had a problem I could catch. Many ofer kitties have not been so lucky as I.

I will turn 16 inna few days. That's a good long time fer a kittie! So many of us nefer reach that age; I consider mysef fery fortunate. I have had more time on the lap of my Bein than most an that has been wunnerful. I have had a good happy life.

I was surprised and quiet when The Big Thing explained to me that I had a serious health problem. I just dont HAVE health problems. But I guess they catch up on you. I/we won't know until Monday perzactly what the problem is, an mebbe it will be a problem I can get over. I will hope for that.

But I've talked ta The Big Thing about this. If it is The Kidney Thing and I gotta get stabbed with fluids efry day and eat some horrible sawdust stuff fer dinner, I don't want ta stay. My good tastey Breakfast an Dinner means too much ta me, an I will NOT be stabbed efry day.

But hey, maybe there will be good news on Monday, right?

Thank you all, my friends, fer carin about me...

Skeeter

I Think Skeeter Is In Trubble!

LC: Skeeter an Ayla hadda go ta the V-E-T yesserday morning. Ayla got "micro-chipt" an is on some anniebiotics fer some oozy stuff.

I'm worried about Skeeter, though. He got brought in cause he's not usin the litterboxes annymore much. Sometimes he does, but he usally just seems ta ferget what theyre for, ya know? Its as if he thinks he is outside an annywhere is OK.

He is also fergettin that me an Ayla are his fambly. Weds night, he suddenly attacked me. Not like wrasslin, but like I was a invader. The Big Thing hadda pull him offa me an I was real scared. Then he immediately chased Ayla in the house! The Big Thing hadda close him inna room by hisself all the rest of the night.

So Ayla says the V-E-T looked him all ofer an said he dint look good, then took him into anofer room. She could hear him howlin and moanin. Apparently, the V-E-T took somma his blood an somma his pee, an mebbe other stuff. Skeeter is gettin anniebiotics too.

That afternoon, the V-E-T called The Big Thing an said Skeeter hadda be brought in first thing this mornin!

Skeeter was terrible upset ta see the PTU again this morning! TBT hadda struggle ta get him init.. Skeeter hadda stay at the V-E-T all day! When he came back, he hadda cloth on one leg, the ofer was shaved some, an he was woozy and scared...

THE BIG THING: First, about Ayla. She seems to have a slight infection that may or may not relate to her botched spay operation. It does not seem serious. At the moment, anyway!

Second, the vet called yesterday and said that Skeeter either has a serious infection or his kidneys are failing, an they needed to put him on an IV drip today to help figure it out. The IV drip will allow them to measure how well his kidneys are functioning. He is on antibiotics in case it is "just" an infection.

When I picked Skeeter up this afternoon, the vet advised me that I need to bring Skeeter back in on Monday morning for further blood tests to see if some measurements have improved. Sadly, he advised me that Skeeter's "numbers" (I assume something like uric acid ppm or dead white blood cells - I didn't ask for the details) started at 6.9, should have gone down to 2.0 and was only down to 3.9. The preliminary assumption is that one or both of Skeeter's kidneys are failing.

He was concerned enough that he made sure to say that if Skeeter's behavior or condition changes suddenly during non-office-hours this weekend to bring him to the emergency clinic immediately. The followup blood test to be done Monday morning should provide a more definite diagnosis.

Monday will bring good news or bad. I must wait. But it is going to be a long weekend for all of us here...

I'm Fiesty!

AYLA: I wrassle with Skeeter an he is real big an strong! The Big Thing has a hard time gettin pistures of it cause we move so fast an he is kinna slow wif the flashie box. But he got one so I wanned ta post it.

I'm smaller, so I get ta have the on-yer-back defensive advantage (Skeeter is good about that). Notice how that keeps his back paws onna floor while I can use mine fer bunny kicks! I wasn't doing that jus then, but I did ofer times.

An I get ta use my claws cause he says he is tough an mancatly.

Afterward, we go sniffin the floor ta count furs lost in the wrasllin. If I get annywhere near as many of his as he does mine, I win. That means he has ta let me have the dinnerbowl wif da mos food init!

We aktally end up wif the same amount of food as usaal, but it means he can't push his head inna my bowl an just lick up the gravy or sauce like he likes ta do.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Ayla, Innocent Kitty, Bag Lady

AYLA:

I did a BAD THING! I tore the drapery sheers... I was jus clawin aroun at somethin, ya know? I didnt know they would break!

[Ayla, you were pulling on them with your claws to SEE if they would break.]

Well, um, I didnt EXPECT them ta break. An when they ripped, I saw I could hop in an outta the sheers. I like bein on the windowsill when those sheers are all closed tight.

[Ayla, they were left open at the center so that you could get on the windowsill whenever you wanted]

OK. OK, whadda ya want, that I admit I just wanted ta see them rip?

[Yes]

Then Im gonna go sit unner the bed!

[OK, then you wont see the pictures of you playing in the bag]

You haf pictures of me in the bag? Cool!

[And I won't let you show them if you hide under the bed]

ARGH! Um, OK... I wanna see the pictures of me playin inna bag! I hop ina box sometimes, but I LOVE bags.

Hey, Im a "bag lady". I haf so much fun wif this sturdy bag. I look inta it and butt-wiggle and pound in. Then I go out an stomp it flat. That makes it more of a challenge! Then I shove my noseie in the opening an push my way back in! It helps that there are toys inna bag!

I love stickin my head jus a little way out. See da pictures...




















I push the bag all ofer the Lifing Room! Not the empty charcoal baggie, though. The Big Thing dint think I could fit inta that, but I did. It took some pushin, but I got in. I wish I hadnt! I didnt suffer a whole aktual baff, but I got forcibully brushed fer an hour. AND wiped wif wet dishtowels fer as long.

That was "not good".

[Ayla, if you had licked all that charcoal dust off yourself, you would have gotten sick, if not poisoned]

Well, Im supposed ta lick myself clean. Its what we DO! I LIKE lickin myself clean!





[Its my job to protect you from things you don't understand that are bad for you. What if you had rolled in antifreeze?]

Whats that?

[Poison to kitties. Worse than eating chocolate]

Oh. Well how am I spossed ta know that?

[You aren't. That's why I am here. To protect you when I can and to get you to a friendly kitty doctor when I miss something]

Um, can we change the subject? Whats fer dinner?

[Friskies Mariner's Catch. One of your favorites]

Yippee! Now?

[Now]

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An Awardie!

SKEETER: I am honored to have been given this award by Angus Mhor. Angus is a hunter-in-training who has admired my own hunting skills. Being admired fer my huntin skills brings a tear and some pleasure to my old eyes. There are few things in life better than passin down knoledge ta the next generation an gettin aknoledged fer it!

Here is the award, and its a great pleasure fer me ta post it on the sidebar. Thank you so very much Angus!

There are so many kitties whos bloggies "make my day" that it is hard ta choose. I usually pass these things along ta my best friends. But I think I will look a bit further out ta bloggies that are sometimes unusually innerestin that I haven't mentioned much before...

So I think I will pass it along ta:
TT at The Misadventures of Me
Goldie and Shade at Sumac Stories, and
Simply Siamese It means a lot ta Ayla that there is a Meezer site, an what makes her happy makes me happy. I love Ayla lots efen if she keeps pouncin me an tryin ta sleep against me. Its jus that she squirms so much...

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Sunday Cat Food Review

Friskies - Beef and Gravy

Top 2 Ingedients: Meat ByProducts/Beef
Toothiness: Chunks
Yum: 3 Paws
Oils: None - 2 Paws
Premixed: No mixing required - 4 Paws
Sauce: Gravy
Smell: Good - 3 Paws
Total Paws Up: 3 Paws

Quotes: "Well, cow doesn't smell all that strong, but tastes good"

We're askin ya ta vote of these reviews from now on. We want the opinions of ofer kitties too. If ya haf had this stuff, did ya like it? Why yes or why no?

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I am SO THRILLED!

AYLA: I got ta nap on The Big Thing's lap WITH Skeeter! Skeeter normally doesnt let me sleep up against him. But I saw Skeeter nappin on The Big Thing's lap. So I jumped on TBT's shoulder and climbed carefefully down his front til I found a spot right next ta Skeeter. An he DINT whap me. He awoked an looked ofer at me, but dint complain and went back ta sleepin. So there I was on The Big Thing's lap AN with Skeeter. I admire Skeeter LOTS! We stayed like that fer a whole HOUR!

An when Skeeter finally got up, I took over the whole lap fer a long time. It was great. I guess that was my birfday present from Skeeter.

I gotta birfday kindness from LC too. That was a surprise. I was playing wif a squiggle, and she joined me. I mean, we tossed it around and to each ofer back and forth fer a few minutes! That was cool. The Big Thing tells me that Skeeter an LC are so used ta each other only, it is takin them a whiles to accept me. But they finally are, I think.

I was really worried these first 5 moonths, cause they didnt like me sometimes. But it is looking better. They is a lot nicer ta me lately. I thought only The Big Thing liked me, but he isnt a cat and I wanted cat-friends too. But he is real cool too. I like him. But I want Skeeter and LC ta like me too.

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I also wanna mention that I like Willie's Place a lot. Willie is a new friend what came to my birfday party. He is a cool 4 month old kittie boy. An since I is now a whole 1 year old, Skeeter an LC say I can choose when ta give out awards (with a little advice from them). So I is givin out my 1st efer award ta Willie:



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Weird Odd Stuff

Skeeter:

1. We hadda wasp nest in the noospaper box fer weeks. The Big Thing was trying tas let it be, but the nest finally got mashed by noospaper. So sorry little nice waspie.

2. Speaking of waspies, a big nasty hornet got in the house. Ayla dint know about them. So when we saw her tryin ta catch it, we all yelt at her and chased her inna bedroom. The Big Thing got it outside. Apparently flyswatters can guide buggies to doors instead of smashin them. It must be a bit tricksey though, The Big Thing was sweatin afterwards. He doesn't like hornets much.

3. We got fallen tree stuff all over the back yard. A terrble storm blew them down. We were lucky though, some people had broken trees on their houses. For our part, the fallen branches were innerestin ta sniff. The ground was all wet though, an we dint like that.

4. Ayla is very destructive. She ripped the curtain sheers. She will be postin on that herself soon. The Big Thing is debating horizontel venetian blinds vs vertical thingies.

5. We are all thrilled ta have our scoopable litterboxes back an have been usin them all enthusiastical.

Birdie Inna House!

SKEETER: Well, along with the lizard and the vole, we hadda birdie in the house. I brought it in an then let it go ta play wif it better. I may be getting slower these days, but I can still jump suddenly when its IMPORTANT! It couldn’t fly good annymore, but it ran around some. I let LC deliver the "coup de' ville", since she doesn't get ta play wif birdies very much. Ayla watched all wide-eyed!

The Big Thing gets a little conflicted wif this sorta stuff, but he allus comes down on our side. He says we ARE cats an this is natural stuff fer us ta do and “quite frankly I like cats more than birds and voles an lizards” he says.

Here is the birdie when it stopped playin wif us. The Big Thing can't remember to set the camera to "action shots", so the camera always waits a few seconds afore takin the picture and we was all gone from where he was pointin by then. Ya shouldda seen it - 19 (bad) pictures of the house with none of us in them. MOL!

So he got this one crummy picture of the birdie... But might as well use it anyway - proof of the event and all that. Because of the lack of good pictures, I wasnt efen going ta mention it, but TBT said, "Well, with the vole and the lizard, you guys got a 'Triple Crown' this month". Too bad I didnt find any bunnies in the yard this Spring. It woulda mada a Quatrpl, um Quordipip, um 'Fourth Crown'!

I'd like ta get one of them bright yellow birdies, but they is either smart or lucky!

Birday Party Highlights!

First, we almos fergot ta post the birthday pictures from Zoolatry! We loved them... So here they are:





Mr. Tigger and Samantha helped wif the first hour. They posted about the party on Cat Blogoshere. Lots a kitties visited after that.

Max came “fer a few minutes” but stayed hours!

Pearl, Bert and Jake came by and we all (cept for Ayla) had Niptinis and shrimps. Max ate a lot of shrimp!

We were surprised when Stifler came by. We thought he was lost, but also concerned fer his safety among so many kitties. We kep him protected an gave him a small box wif a dry towel ta sit on (cause he is hafin some problems). The box was marked in big letters "NOT FOOD" and "FRIEND"!

When The Meezers an Billy showed up, things got busy. Billy eats annything, and of course Meezers run aroun a lot.

We hadda nother round of Niptinis (exept Ayla and Billy and Stifler) and started ta have fun. Bags were pounced into, boxes jumped inna an outta of, and toys were exercised. After all that Nip an Shrimp, there were some barassin farts anna little FRAP time.

Sammy and Miles said that Billy eats his own weight in food efry week. We were all amazed, but Ayla thought that seemed noral. Well, she eats a lot too.

Max says his Woman is threatenin ta duct-tape him ta the new Breeze litterbox until he uses it. We think Max got joined to the Man-Cat Club. An we all thought about kitties that haf gone ofer the Bridge lately. That was sad.

Then we all had a fierce toy-playin time. The Big Thing dumped our WHOLE toy box onna floor and we all went crazy ofer them fer awhile! He did a GREAT job of tossin them aroun. Inta bags, inna boxes. On tables and chairs. We were all running around crazy!

We tried ta calm down a while by talking ta each other, but Skeeter went an dropped a live vole into the room! It got real active fer awhile! We batted it back and forth ta each ofer and played wif it lots. But it finally stopped playing back wif us, so The Big Thing put it in the kitchen “in case anyykitty wanted it”. We noticed it was gone later, but don’t know who ate it. We are guessin Billy.

Then we hadda nother round of Niptinis (cept fer Ayla an Billy – Stifler had left). The Big Thing tossed shrimps and ham bits ta efrykitty. We nommed seriously fer a while! We had some fun discussin nekked Beins fer a while…

Ghost & Jade showed up, so we all talked ta them fer a while. Jus between us, it was nice seeing Ghost seemin happy again. We are glad Jade is aroun. We were also surprised ta learn that Max is only turnin 7 on Friday. He is so wise and attitudanal, that we thought he was at least 10!

LC had said that Ayla couldn’t haf her 1st Niptini til midnite when she really turned 1, but she relented around 10 pm. Ayla had her first then and thought it was “GREAT”. Then she got a little funny. Oh, not like she stuck her head up inna lampshade or tole embarrasin stories, but she said the toy mousies were movin on their own and she chased them around real strong. So we all did an she liked that! We also played “jumpin in an out of bags an boxes” jus cause we all like that annyway!

We loved talkin to our new friend Willie. We dint know who he was, but that’s what parties are for. He was so cool that we added him ta our blogfeed right fast! Wow, he is only 4 moonths old!

Zippy/Sadie/Speedy arrived an China Cat & Willow, too. That was great an efrykitty did lots of talkin wif them. They all do cool stuff an we likes their blogies.

It was great when Cheysuli arrived. It makes a party when a Presidential candidate shows up! An she is allus so innerestin. She goes efrywhere, so she had lotsa cool stuff ta mention ta alla us.

At midnight, efrykitty celebrated my 1st birfday an that was REAL ecxitin. I was the whole center of attention and that was both weerd an thrillin! Birfdays are great!

We finally ended the night wif a round of Niptinis “fer the road” and I got to join in that fer the first time. I’m sure glad I’m 1 now! I dont know why the "road" needed Niptinis, but if that made the road safe an friendly, that's a good thing! Roads can be dangerus...

It wound down after that. Well, all parties hafta end sometime. But LC an I thank efrykitty who attended out party or send “happy birfday” comments ta us. It was all SO GREAT!

The house was pretty much a wreck afterwards! The Big Thing said he dint mind and had expekted that, and just went about returnin books ta shelves, cleanin the litterboxes, washing foodbowls, and collectin boxes and bags. We helped by collectin all the toys back inna toybox an making sure all the Niptinis were lapped up.

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My Birfday

Ayla: I had such a great birfday today! My first Birfday! I gots real chickie fer breakfast (away from Skeeter and LC who would try ta take it from me).

The Big Thing played "tossin mousies" a lot this morning until I was worn out. It was GREAT! He tossed them inta bags, inta boxes, around corners, onta tables. He brought out fevers ta play wif, and we played wif squiggles the LONGEST time... But I finally hadda nap. He picked me up an settled me on his lap. I dont normally do the lap thing, but he scritched me until I fell asleep purrin. He says I stayed all asleep fer ofer a hour!

Then we went outside and he stayed near me. I liked that. I tried ta fine a mousie, but none were out. So I did a little tree climbin. Not high (which makes him nervous), jus a little up-an-down. After that, I went up an sat on the deck an he stayed there wif me wif a little scritchin. I liked that too.

When I came inside I went FRAP like crazy fer 2 WHOLE hours (an no Nip involved). I just ran around like I was nutso the whole time, beat up efry toy in the whole house, crashed inta Skeeter, LC, an The Big Thing a few times, jumped over them (well not OVER The Big Thing). I was jus THAT happy ta be 1 year old! I knocked stuff over all over the house, but he dint complain at all. He said it was "my day" an I could run aroun all I liked.

I got a shrimpsie (from The Big Thing's own food bowl!) an some beef and some treats fer dinner (away from Skeeter and LC cause they woulda ate them). I efen sniffed his wine glass, but it smelled bad.

Later, I hopped up on TBG's lap and fell asleep. He was watchin a TV show about cats but I was SO tired I couldnt even watch wif him. LC watched in tentently though. There were SO MANY kitties on it that she couldnt look away much. She says Beins know a lotta stuff about us an how we came ta live wif them.

An he says that tonite I can spend as much time as I want unner the covers an he will stroke me til I fall asleep all warm an cozy.

Wow, Birfdays are SO great!

An LC an I want to thank the Kitties (an 1 hamster) who atended our party: Mr Tigger an Samantha, Max The Psychokitty, Pearl/Bert/Jake, Stifler, Sammy/Miles/Billy, Ghost&Jade, Zippy/Sadie/Speedy, Willie, China Cat&Willow, and Cheysuli. We hope we dint miss mentionin annykitty!

You all made our party SO WUNNERFUL! We had a fablous time cause of ya all coming here. It was about our bes day EFER!

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Birfday Party Day!

LC and Ayla: HURRAY! Our mutual birfday party is tonite from 8 pm (EDT) to about midnite. Mine (LC) was aktally Saturday; I turned 15! Mine (Ayla) is tomorow, so I is gonna try ta stay up til 12:01 so it happens durin the party. I turn 1 tomorow. I is SO THRILLED! I can finally haf a Niptini... LC caught me rubbin my cheeks onna Nip stem that was left onna table yesserday an she took it away from me. She is very specific about me waitin ta be 1 before I haf anny. I gotted a leaf a few weeks ago and got in trubble fer it. (sigh)

LC and Ayla: We are gettin the house ready fer the party!

The Big Thing has used the sucky machine on the Kittie Condo so it is real clean. An notice that he has added a sisal rope scratchin board to it! Feel free ta use it...



We haf boxes spread around fer jumpin in an outta.








There are bags for pouncing inta.











We'll have all kinna good foods available.











And some good Stinkey Goodness...














There will be lotsa litterboxes (an the Breeze one iffen ya wanna try it).








All of our toys will be available!


















An the waterbed ta nap on...













The long hallway will be available fer "Thunderin Herd of Elephants" (an see the pillow at the end?).


















There is a convenient chair fer watchin the fishies...







Skeeter says he is gonna TRY an bring in a couple live mousies ta play wif, but of course that isnt garranteed.

The Big Thing will, of course, mostly be involved keepin the food comin, the Niptini bowls filled, and the litterboxes clean.

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Sunday Cat Food Review

Friskies - Chicken in Gravy Filets

Top 2 Ingedients: Chicken/Liver
Toothiness: Bits
Yum : 3 Paws
Oils: Some - 3 Paws
Premixed: Ready out of the can - 3 Paws
Sauce: Gravy
Smell: Good chickie smell - 3 Paws
Total Paws Up: 3 Paws
Quotes: "OK stuff! Hard to ruin chickie. Chickie is good. Gravy is good"

My Birfday, and Kali

LC:

I had such a great birfday! I is 15 today! It started inna mornin when The Big Thing spent all his wakin-up time stritchin ME. Then I gotta special breakfast of REAL chickie and I protected it efen when Skeeter tried to nose in.

Then I got ta go outside ANNYTIME I wanned all day! The Big Thing efen went out wif me and talked ta me while we wandered around annywhere I wanned ta go. He did leave me alone when I found a good mousie hole, cause he isnt good at bein quiet. An I caught a mousie! The Big Thing came ofer an tole me what a great huntress I was! I purred ofer that!

Inside, he played wand toys wif me. I don't play wif toys much annymore, but I like the ones he makes move aroun. He dragged them alla round the house until I was tired. That was GREAT! He does some a those things efrey day, but not alla them, so it was special.

An when I layed down fer a nap, Skeeter came ofer and groomed me like ferefer! That was real good too. I efen let Ayla come an sniff me all ofer while I fell asleeped.

Fer dinner, I got special! A fresh cut-up shrimpsie, some ham, and some Nip! I efen protected it from Skeeter nosin in then too an that wa a bit hard. I let him haf some after I was full cause he was so good at groomin. But ONLY cause I was full.

Later, I got stritched inta kittie heaven by The Big Thing while I was layin on the ottoman and then he took the cover offa the little fishie tank an let me drink some a the water. (I didnt bother the fishies, though I mighta got away wif it today)

When The Big Thing goes ta bed, I usually sit jus outta reach but he says he will sit up a while and scritch me.

Is that cool or what? I usually haf some sticky seeds on my furs cause I go inta the deepest wild parts of the yard, and he is so good at gettin them out. I may jus pass out.

I think this was the bes Birfday efer! An he dint use the flashy camera once...

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On a sadder subject, Kali has gone ofer The Bridge today. I writed a litle poem.

"I feel the need to go.
I do not want to,
But I am tired and
I need a new start.

Over The Bridge.

I do not wish to leave you.
I wish I could stay
With you forever
And ever.

But I can’t manage it.

You will be in my thoughts
Forever every day.
As I will be
In yours.

Always in your thoughts.

You released me when
Release was right.
Do not grieve the decision
That is the burden of Beings.

I am grateful.

You knew the time
Was today
And I trust you
As always…

Forever."

Farewell Storm

Furry fighter... Lifted to The Bridge by the giant Bastet, the kitty Valkery.

"When you are weary and feeling tired.
When life’s too hard to bear…
Know that you have friends
Who are by your side.

When the struggle to live another day
Becomes too much,
Know that there are those of us
Who are there with you.

On this final day we all
Surround you in spirit.
Purring, grooming, licking fur
Knowing soon that you will leave.

When life is hard, and
Peace just cant be found.
There’s a Bridge over the darkened waters
That’s a Promise to us all..

A Place that is the Promise
Of a never-ending life
Full of health and peaceful pleasure
Without pain or fear or strife."


Pace, Storm...

7 Useful Things We Do.

We gotted tagged by The Zoo for "The 7 Useful Things Ya Do" meme a coupla weeks ago. We pologize fer just doin it now...

1. Skeeter and Ayla keep The Big Thing awake while he is watchin TV by sittin on his lap.

2. LC guards the back yard from invadin kitties.

3. We all keep the house from smellin by eatin all the food in our bowls very fast.

4. Ayla also help house smell by coverin up Skeeter's pee and poop when he doesnt. Which is most times.

5. Ayla helps keep The Big Thing's heart beat strong by climbin trees real high an makin him nervous.

6. We all keep The Big Thing from tossin aroun too much asleep by sittin on the blankies on all sides of him at night.

7. We help The Big Thing keep the kitchen floor clean by eatin annything that he drops. If it is meat. An we shove annything that falls what aint meat unner the stove.

Meezer Colors Day

AYLA: Today is the day for Meezers to "post your meezer picture wearing, sitting, sleeping, eating, or whatever with your favorite color(s) that shows off your eyes and fur. And, if you have your own personal flag or coat of arms, take a picture of that with you in front".

Well, I dont wear capes or outfits or hats, so I am posting 2 pictures that show off my furs best.

Me sleepin on my Gizzy Quilt! Skeeter and LC had their own of opposites to THEIR colors, so when I arrived here, The Big Thing got me my own. We figured that blue would show off my preciously lovely tan and seal color furs (an match my blue eyes).

Me sleepin on my favorite bedroom spot. Do my furs show up well against reds/greens or what? BTW, that towel isittin on 2 big folded up comforters onna bed-high box. It is SUPER comfy. I say that Skeeter an LC dont sleep onnit cause it makes their furs look ugly. They say NOT, but their jus mbarased ta admit it.

Birfday Party!

LC: It turns out that me and Ayla have birfdays only 3 days apart. I dont really like the little "Oh I'm A Princess and Too Cute Fer Werds" twerp, but I haf ta do the mature thing. So we will be celebratin our birfdays at the same time ta keep The Big Thing happy (which keeps US happy wif treats and outdoor times an toys).

An it is Ayla's 1st birfday, (what is a very big deal) an my 15th (which is cool, but maybe not the biggest deal). It means somethin ta me annyway!

So we is gonna celebrate our mutual birfdays wif a party at our house on June 16 Monday evening. Y'all will get here by teleportin through a Chatzy site right inta our livin room. The Big Thing knows I'm a little annoyed ta share the birfday, so he is gonna bring out all the best Nip leafs (straight or as Niptinis), shrimps, ham, bags and boxes, treats, alla our toys, an some games. He is efen getin a cat door inna piece of plywood to put in the deck door so we can all go in and out as we please. He says that's our birfday present. Cool!

There will be more details a few days before the party, but I wanted ta alert ya to the plans so ya can put it onna calender. Jus draw a big Happy Face wif "LC" under it (an "ayla" if ya must).

15, wow! I'm the oldest cat TBT has efer had (ceptin Skeeter). An Im darn sure happy ta reach 15... I betcha I can still dance the night away and do "thunderin herd of elephants"!

An think of this; Ayla turns 1 yea old, so she gets ta have Niptinis fer the first time. Mebbe she will haf too many and do some memorabley stoopid! (I can only hope).

So plan on comin... Details inna few days..

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Sunday Cat Food Review

Fancy Feast Medley Chicken Egg Souffle

Top 2 ingredients: Poultry Broth/Chicken
Toothiness: Hash
Yum: 2 Paws
Oils: None - 2 Paws
Premixed: Some mixing required - 3 Paws
Sauce: Egg?
Smell: OK - 2 Paws
Total Paws Up: 2 Paws

Quotes: "Our least favorite Fancy Feast; seemed odd"

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Squillions Pictures and a New Meme!

AYLA: Skeeter and LC haf had their own little ceramic squillions what looks like them forever. I got mine like months ago and The Big Thing keeps not showin it. So I bit him (after dinner; I'm not stoopid).

So he agreed ta let me post the new picture wif all 3...

He made it a little fancy. He may be all slow an all, but he's OK when we get him focussed on somethin.

I'm the one in the middle of course...

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The ofer thing is that we made a new meme. It was originally questions we asked of DaisyMae Maus.

You have been tagged with a meme that Skeeter, LC, and Ayla made up:

Fill in the blanks…

1. “……” makes me hiss!

2. “......” and “…...” are my least favorite things ta do.

3. I would rather “…...” than get a treat.

4. Nip leafs are good but “…...” is better.

5. Looking at the TV is “…..”. unless I'm “…...” then its “…...”!

Pass it on…

We are tagging Perfectly Parker, Angus Mohr, Max The Psychokitty, The Cat Realm, and Adan and Lego

We Found A Lizard (In The House)

Ayla: I'm the one who found it, so I get ta write about it! We were all jus enjoyin the nice weather, so the deck door was left open. We'd all been goin in an out most of the day. The Big Thing was readin his noospaper. Suddenly, I started runnin all around the big easy chair!

Well, I do that sometimes when playin wif my mousie toys, but not so frenetikally, so he paid attention. What ta his wonderin eyes did appear but a little lizard! He expected mebbe it was the mousie what I brought in an released the day or two before, but he sure was surprised ta see the lizard I found.

The Big Thing knew there was a lizard in the yard; he seen it onna garden wall a few times. It musta followed a bugg inta the house or smelled our stinkey goodness. We dont know what lizards eat, but we're pretty sure it usually isnt cat food.

Annyway, lizards arent built fer runnin on smooth wood floors. Skeeter later said it reminded him of the time LC tried ta run across the icy pond. He laffed when he mentioned that, though he politely covered his mouf wif a paw to try ta hide that.

So I chased the lizard around. Well, not "chased" ezactly; it dint move fast enough ta "chase". I followed it around an sniffed it. I batted it a few times, too. It was SO COOL ta have somethin that moved on its own (that mousie was too fast an gotted away from me).

It tried ta hide.













I kept pushing it ta make it move.











Skeeter checked it out, but wasnt all that innerested. LC checked it out too, but not when The Big Thing could get her picture (The lizard had a real talent fer bein hidden by us cats when TBT had the camera ready).

I sniffed it a few times when it stayed still. I wanna sniff aroun outside ta find where they live.

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Thursday Thirteen - Vole Inna House

AYLA:

1. If the deck door is open (like in good weather), ya can get one inna house. Ya nefer get one (or birdie or froggie) inna house if the door is closed an The Big Thing gets a chance ta see whats in yer mouf!

2. If ya carry it in an run behind the chair, through the kitchen, and down the hallway, The Big Thing won’t see ya until it is TOO LATE! He can’t get up outta chair as fast as ya can trot inta any room ya choose.

3. The computer room is the most cluttery room, and is funnest to chase the vole in. There are more things onna floor inna computer room than anny ofer room.

4. They run when ya drop them from yer mouf. That’s when the fun begins.

5. They skweek when they run, which seems “anti-anti-predatorial” (whew), so that proofs they LIKE getting chased. I know summa ya are saying “but they don’t want ta get caught”. Well, Im saying the skweekin is proof they DO. Jus sayin…

6. They run straight ta walls. This is a sign of smarts. If they is against a wall, one less side ta get pounced from! Sadly, this is their ONLY sign of smarts

7. They run in straight lines until they meet a barriar! Vole rule#1, run. Vole rule #2, change directions only iffen ya haf to.

8. They reverse and retrace they path when confronted in front. Iffen yta work it right, ya can keep a vole/mousie runnin back an forth on the same path howefer long ya like. It gets boring after a wile, though. Change the wall they run along sometimes. An mebbe push somethin in their path; they hate that! Runnin aroun somethin disturbs their desire ta run in straight lines.

9. Did I mention they Skweek (a LOT)? That helps LOTS! One has ta wonder how dumb they are ta make noises when they are tryin ta escape.

10. When runnin, they change directions at 90 degrees. Ive nefer saw one run in jerky randum patterns.

11. If they run at a box, they will keep runnin along the outside edge of the box fer a long time. This can be quite amusin ta watch fer a while. An if they start ta wander away? Jus bat ‘em back ta the box.

12. If they run inta a corner, they will stop and hide there. If ya lose the vole, check room corners!

13. If they get inta a really, Really, REALLY clutterred closet (like all fulla pillows and stuff) ya will NEFER find them. Best ta go out an find anofer one! The Big Thing will figure out where the body is a few days after it dies… Efen better, sometimes it is inna place where ya can find the dead vole afore The Big Thing does and eat it. Then upchuck it onna bed or somthin. If he gets annoyed, just claim it was a hairball problem.

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PeaceBlog 2008

Peace Blog 2008. A day like any other day. Not!

We say: Do a peaceful act to a neighbor kitty ya dont like. Invite a neighbor kitty ya do know fer a few Nip leafs. Sit down an purr wif that kitty fer a day.

An you Beins, try ta unnerstand what someone what very different from you is thinking. Wear their shoe a day ta unnerstand their problems. It aint easy!

Fer some Beins, well they dont eat efry day. Ofers get sick an get no help. Some are treated like dirt and pained like no Bein or kitty oughtta.

Today issa day ta think of those harmded by violence an fear an terribul stuff. Stop the violence an terrer!

Say wif us: "I will not support violence an terrer today, tomorow, or the next day. I will not support painful frightening actions by my inactions, I will not cause other Beins to fear me, an I will help ofer Beins not ta live in fear".

Then say that again tomorow! And the next days over and over again. Until it becomes a habit.

Efry change starts wif one Bein sayin out loud "this is wrong"...

Skeeter, LC, and Ayla

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Breeze Liiterbox Report #5 - Final

DAY #9 SUNDAY - I am ending the experiment at this point. The Breeze pellets are as clean as the day I poured them into the pan.

I regret this. I really hoped that a better litterbox system was available. I tried to encourage LC and Ayla to use the new arrangement. Unfortunately, they did not accept it. Skeeter never remotely considered it. I would have continued it longer, but when LC poops and pees on the basement floor and “somekitty” is pooping and peeing on the plastic mat near the litterboxes rather than use a new litterbox, AND a kitty peed on the carpet, that’s the end. She is the cleanest of cats and will beg to get outside if her litterbox is even moderately “used” (and I don’t notice).

Among Skeeter, LC, and Ayla? No paws up on the Breeze Litter System…

Now, let me say that I think most of the problem is Skeeter’s and LC’s age. They will be 16 and 15 within a month. They changed from clay litter to scoopable litter years ago without any difficulty, but that is probably because they detected little change in the “texture” of their litterbox material. The Breeze Litterbox System represented a major change to them and they are much older now. I suspect they couldn’t adjust to the larger size of the Breeze pellets (about like a ½” long pencil eraser).

I can understand that. When I set up the new litterbox and “seeded” it with a fresh poop, I tried to cover it up (to make it look “natural”), but it just “won’t”. I tried using the scoop at first and then by hand and I couldn’t make the Breeze pellets stick and cover. Oh, I could have grabbed a handful of the pellets and piled them on top of the poop, but that’s not how cats do it, and that would have been a false test. Poop just wants to stay on top of the pellets.

Old clay or new scoopable litter sticks to poop. Breeze pellets don’t. That’s about the best I can describe it. The covering instinct seems to be thwarted. An analogy might be that Skeeter and LC enjoy doing their business outdoors in the woods where there are plenty of loose leaves and soft soil to cover up afterwards. But I also have garden pathways of pea gravel and I have never observed or discovered evidence later that Skeeter or LC have ever pooped there (I wouldn't know about peeing). They just don’t like the pea gravel. Same with the Breeze clay pellets…

Now Ayla is a different situation. She has experience with several different litterbox systems. She was originally trained to use human toilets, used newspaper pellets, and scoopable litter. If it had been just her, she might well have adapted to the Breeze Litter System. I expect that successful adapter kitties are young and have no older cats around. Her natural preference seems to be scoopable litter when available. And since Skeeter and LC HAD to have the scoopable stuff, she was not likely to try the Breeze pellets. Had she been an “only” cat, it might have worked out better…

Still, I have to state the final results. MY CATS refused to use the Breeze Litterbox System (except one initial pee). The odor of uncovered pee may have made them unwilling to use it again. They do not seem to have liked the texture of the pellets or the size (from their scale, like a box full of chopped up closet pole pieces).

So, it isn’t for us. It might be for others. But I think it is one of those “good ideas that don’t work”. I like the concept, I like the design, I appreciate the attempt. It just didn’t work for us.

I understand that other kitties have been invited to try the Breeze Litterbox System. I would like to hear your conclusions. I would be delighted to hear all experiences. It would be interesting to hear negative experiences, but also positive experiences.

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Breeze Litterbox Report #4

Things are not going well...

DAY #7 FRIDAY – DAY

Basement – With the basement litterboxes returned to “clean scoopable” condition, they were both used immediately! LC peed and pooped, Ayla peed and pooped. Even Skeeter pooped in one, and he doesn’t like going into the basement much.

Upstairs – The Breeze Litterbox was not used. The “used” scoopable litterbox was not used. The pattern-marked surface was undisturbed. Skeeter did pee on the plastic mat next to them. I heard the noise while blog-hopping and looked over at the litterbox.

DAY #7 FRIDAY – NIGHT

Basement – All the cats peed and pooped in the scoopable litterboxes there. I’m getting tired of getting up in the middle of the night to clean them. LC and Ayla will find a spot to use in a “used” box, but Skeeter will just use a “close” spot if I don’t clean the boxes.

Upstairs – No use of the Breeze litterbox or the “used” box and quite frankly, I can’t stand it anymore. The upstairs litterboxes are in the computer room! The unused Breeze litterbox and the “used” scoopable litterbox are going back to the basement.

DAY #8 SATURDAY – DAY

Basement – The Breeze litterbox was unused. Somekitty peed in the “used” scoopable litterbox but it was mixed with previous use and I can’t tell by who. I’ll guess LC. There was another basement floor poop which I think is also LC (it is kind of between her’s and Skeeter’s usual).

Upstairs – Another “mostly outside day”. So, little inside use. A Skeeter pee, an Ayla pee and poop. Ayla doesn’t seem to like doing her business outside much. Skeeter and LC do.

DAY #8 SATURDAY – NIGHT

Basement – The Breeze litterbox was not used. The “used” scoopable litterbox was not used.

Upstairs – The litterboxes were filled to capacity. I had to clean them before I went to bed, in the middle of the night, and as soon as I got up in the morning. At least there were no accidents on the plastic mat.

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Breeze Litterbox Report #3

DAY #5 WEDNESDAY– DAY

[Per guidelines from Ms Maureen, I am leaving the old one in place uncleaned. Whether this will encourage use of the Breeze litterbox, or just more “misses”, or exclusive use of the upstairs litterboxes, I do not know.]

Basement – The Breeze litterbox was not used. Ayla peed in the scoopable litterbox once.

Upstairs – Skeeter peed twice and pooped once, Ayla pooped once. And LC peed and pooped once each

DAY #5 WEDNESDAY – NIGHT

Basement – The Breeze litterbox was not used. The scoopable one sits “used” (per guidelines) and does not seem to have been used overnight.

Upstairs – Skeeter pooped once and peed twice. Ayla pooped once and peed twice. LC peed once and pooped on the plactic mat. 2 litterboxes are not enough for 3 cats overnight. Unless I get up in the middle of the night and clean them. Well I often wake up at night, so…

DAY #6 THURSDAY – DAY

Basement – The Breeze litterbox was not used. I think there is a new LC poop in the scoopable litterbox, but it is hard to tell. Ayla digs around a lot, so things shift positions.

Upstairs – Those 2 litterboxes are getting a real workoput. I have to clean then 3 times a day now.

DAY #6 THURSDAY – NIGHT

Basement – Neither litterbox is being used at all. I scratched a pattern on the scoopable clay last evening and it wasn’t disturbed this morning. Ayla doesn’t like to even enter the basement and she liked to play down there before. I assume it is due to the uncleaned “used” scoopable litterbox next to the unused clean Breeze Litterbox there. I moved the Breeze Litterbox away, closer to the basement door. No use.

Upstairs – LC, Skeeter, and Ayla are using the upstairs litterboxes exclusively. I got up in the middle of the night to clean them. 3 cats make a lot of poop and pee in only 2 upstairs boxes! Even then, there was an LC poop on the plastic mat next to the left side litterbox. It was interesting to see Ayla kicking litter out of the box and then covering LC’s poop with it. Ayla is quite a clean kitty!

I think I will have to clean the upstairs litterboxes 4 times a day. And maybe move the Breeze litterbox upstairs to see if that changes things…

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