Sad about Catster/Dogster

Sad. Very, very sad. Even though we're not on Dogster and Catster anymore, and haven't been for 3 years, the friendships forged there will last a lifetime. We met most of our FB friends there, many while running "Skylar's Restaurant". We've all shared the joys & sorrows, been there for each other during every trial possible when caring for lives of beings so dependent on us, and rejoiced in adoptions. Thankful for communities where these friendships will continue to thrive. For those on Catster & Dogster, please save your pages as soon as possible.

Spooky 2's diary from Catster

Spooky writes:

First of all, Mommy can't believe she forgot my Bridge anniversary on the 6th!  It's ok, Mommy, I forgive you.

As our family moves from Catster to Cathugger, we are each publishing our previous diary entries here so that we will still have them and others can read them if they like.  These entries are mostly previous to the creation of "Furry Tails of the PDX pride", and are from earliest to latest, organized by cat.

The new house!

December 30th 2009 2:58 am

Fun!!! I got to be on harness for the first time, and ride in a car! Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy were so proud of me and impressed with my car-riding skills. I sat on Foster Mommy's lap the whole way to the new house and purred!

I didn't know what a fireplace or a fire was before I came here. I've only tried to climb the screen once, and that was when there wasn't anything inside. I talk to Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy about the fire, and am mesmerized by the whole thing.

I love the wide open spaces and dash from room to room. Foster Mommy throws my jingle balls down the long hallway, and I run after them happily.

They adopted me!!!

January 14th 2010 1:32 am

I'm at my new forever home! No, I didn't go somewhere else. I got to stay right here with my foster family, who are now my REAL family! Mommy and Daddy had a serious talk tonight, and they told me that my new last name is the same as theirs now. Yay!

Happy snuggles,

Spooky T.

CH? What's that?

February 4th 2010 1:27 am

Mommy and Daddy both have been trying to figure out why I fall and why I'm so floppy. Today, Mommy did an internet search and they have been talking about something called CH. It doesn't sound scary. It's just letters, so why does it bother them so much?

CH, cerebellar hypoplasia, would explain my falling and flopping. We put a question up in the "Answers" part on here, but that was before Mommy noticed my almost-imperceptible head bobbing, which is the only thing missing from a "correct" CH diagnosis, according to what she's been reading.

Luckily, my family loves me ANYWAY, and told me that I'm theirs and that they will never leave me like my first family did. Yay!

-- Spooky, one happy, floppy kitten.

I love music! Music means snuggles!

March 11th 2010 1:50 am

Guess what?! Music playing on the computer means that Mommy has a snuggle lap for me! Tonight I was flopped on the floor of the dining room after eating, when all of a sudden I heard a song coming from the computer in the kitty tree room. I knew Mommy was in there, so I went running at top speed, came around the corner, skidded to a halt in front of the computer chair, and jumped up in her lap! Snuggles, loves, and singing, all equal a happy ME!!!!!! And a happy MOMMY!!!!!!

Oh, and a jealous Carbon kitty who spat at me as I raced by and then he went and hid under the bed, MOL. I was too focused on getting my snuggles that I didn't chase him this time.

What happened?

June 6th 2010 6:26 am

Yesterday afternoon, I was curled up in the dining room in my favorite spot, when all of a sudden I felt weird. Something was happening, and not a good something! Mommy was sleeping, and Daddy was taking a shower, so I ran to Daddy since he was closest. I skidded to a halt in the hallway just as he came out of the shower, meowed my concern long and loud, then flopped over and started drooling, dripping a small puddle onto my paws and the floor. Daddy cleaned me and it up, then set me on the couch so I could snuggle with him and Skylar.

Then, it happened again! My eyes went wide and unseeing, my body went rigid, and I started drooling heavily again! After it was done, I meowed a complaint and my confusion.

Daddy called for Mommy, who woke up and came out. They both petted me while they tried to decide what to do. Daddy called our friend Kellee, who's a vet tech, but she couldn't come until the next day.

About an hour later, I had another seizure. This time, I was sitting on Mommy's lap when it started. I looked helplessly at her, then lifted my tail and peed. I couldn't help it! Then the wide-eyed seizure, then drooling again, and my confused meowing. Mommy and Daddy tried to get me to relax afterwards, petting me to calm me down again. That helped a little, and I took a bit of a nap for a couple hours.

While I was asleep, Mommy searched online for vets that were open on a Saturday evening. Of course, many were not. She found one that was, and called them. It was a 24-hour place, so when I woke up (and had another seizure) she and Daddy packed me into a carrier and drove to the hospital.

The people were so kind! I had a seizure again as my purrents were filling out the paperwork, and the people immediately took me back and put me on a big table in the open room. I looked at them and meowed, and one of them went to ask my purrents if they could give me something to help calm me down. Of course, Daddy said yes, so they gave me Valium.

The vet came out to discuss options with my purrents. She said that I probably had sustained brain damage from the seizures, and there was a poor prognosis if I survived. The vet wanted to keep me in for 24 hours at least, give me i.v.'s and do bloodwork. Even then, it would be the same prognosis: not likely to survive, or very brain-damaged if I did survive. Mommy & Daddy said their goodbyes, and Mommy stayed with me and petted my head and cheek as the shot was given. :'( The hospital needs to hold my body until Monday so that the state can release it (standard procedure for anyone who comes in with seizures), so my purrents will bury my body then. My new profile picture is my picture superimposed on the bag that the vet did for my purrents to take home, containing a bit of my fur and the heart from my catheter wrap.

:'(

Mommy & Daddy loved you, Mr. Spooky kitten! R.I.P. July 2009 -- June 6, 2010

My burial

June 8th 2010 2:15 am

Daddy brought my body home from the vet's yesterday. He put it on a blanket on the living room floor so my aunties and uncles could all say their goodbyes. Tabby, Little Bit, and Skylar came over, looked at my body, sniffed it from head to tail, then touched noses with each other, conferring with each other. Rori hid, because she mourns in a different way and never has needed to see the body to know. Carbon had been having fun with a catnip toy, so he wasn't keen on going to see what was on the blanket. He was more interested in the box that Daddy had brought home. But Daddy said he couldn't jump in the box, and wanted him to look at the blanket. He didn't quite know why. Mommy picked him up and placed him nose-to-nose with my body. He was kind of afraid of me while I was alive, because he doesn't consider kittens to be cats until they are at least a year old, for some reason. But he sniffed because he was that close, then realized what he was sniffing. He looked at Tabby, who was right beside him, touched noses with her, then looked at Mommy and Daddy and walked away to the other end of the house.

After everyone had sniffed and said their goodbyes, conferring with the others about it, and even Starla had come to say her goodbyes (Mommy brought her out to see and sniff), Daddy carried my body out to the backyard. He and Mommy buried my body in a corner of the yard, at a spot where you can see and hear the geese in the marsh next door. I loved to see and hear the geese, and even got to see one fly one day when I had gone out on leash to the back deck!

Shadow's diary from Catster

Shadow writes:

As our family moves from Catster to Cathugger, we are each publishing our previous diary entries here so that we will still have them and others can read them if they like.  These entries are mostly previous to the creation of "Furry Tails of the PDX pride", and are from earliest to latest, organized by cat.

Watch out for flying cats!

April 25th 2007 4:43 pm

The she in the green house saw me out on the porch and fed me a little bit ago. I got the shock of my life! I knew there were others like me in the house, because they sometimes come to the door to check me out and I can smell them (and their used litter). One of them has even come out the door once and started to eat my food. This time, a huge cat (I think it was the same one who ate my food) flew at me from inside while I was eating!!!!!!!!! I ran one way, it ran the other, and started eating grass. Outside is supposed to be my domain, not that cat's! The she picked up the offending cat and put it inside, then told me it was safe to come back to eat again. She tried to pet me, but I only let her stroke me once.

A few minutes later, I saw two other cats coming towards me and the porch. I thought they were going to eat my food, so I ran a little ways away and watched them intently. I saw the he watching from the door. After they were gone, I came back and finished.

I AM eartipped!

May 4th 2007 6:07 pm

The she in the green house just got confirmation from the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon that I am eartipped according to state guidelines! Yay! That means that I have been spayed, and had all my first shots. My she is so happy for me! :)

Thanks, Catster!

May 8th 2007 1:20 pm

Wow, I'm one of the picks for Diary of the Day! Thank you! My she got me a new food bowl, white with multi-colored paw prints on it, that I absolutely love, but the best thing in the world is having a porch to stay at and people to care about me. :) *purrs*

Tagged!

May 23rd 2007 7:08 pm

1. I am eartipped on my right ear.
2. I live under the porch.
3. I always think the he is out to get me when he comes to put the trash outside.
4. I meow at the door and paw the door for food.
5. I'm friends with most of the other neighborhood cats.
6. No one knows where I came from.
7. I wander the neighborhood.

The rules: Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Tagged cats:
Paddy
Moose
Elliot J. Somers
Tangie
Mario
Kotek
Merlin 

Getting used to my humans

May 25th 2007 12:40 am

I'm getting used to my new human family! I love them now! Erin comes out and takes pictures of me, and I love posing for pictures as long as she doesn't have the thing right up to her eyes so she looks like a scary monster (I think the camera up to her eyes turns her into one). Daddy is funny when he sees me through the door/window he taps on it until I look up and waves at me with a goofy grin on his face, and he talks to me constantly when he's outside taking out the trash (doesn't want me to run from the trash monster). Mommy always calls for me when she puts the food out. They're great.

In the house? Maybe later?

June 7th 2007 12:05 am

When Daddy went to work this evening, I was outside by the front porch to say goodbye to him. I always know when he's leaving or coming back from work, and drop by to say hi. :) He waved and talked to me, but I was on my way to the back porch to be fed. Mommy was there, but I beat her to it, and was meowing at the door. I didn't run when she opened it like I usually do, but stared into the space, trying to figure out if I was brave enough to venture in. I walked around a little bit, trying to decide, then put one paw over the frame. Nope, didn't want to go in today. Mommy, this is what I want! (pawed the food bowl) She bent down to try to coax me over, but I stood my ground this time. Suddenly, my eyes got wild again for a minute, and Mommy turned around to see Skylar crouched right behind her, not wanting to come out this time (no food in the dish for him to guard from me, I guess), just watching me and checking me out. She closed the door to get the food scoop, and opened it with Carbon looking out the door at me! Carbon doesn't want to come out and play, because he's as scared of outside as I am of inside, but we had fun communicating in our non-sound little way, sniffing and body language. Then the big outside tom who's my best friend came, and I greeted him happily, rubbing along him because he's my bestie, and we ate together.

Two paws inside!

June 19th 2007 12:41 am

Two days late writing this entry because Mommy hasn't had time to be meowed to until now.

I went two paws inside! :) Houses are scary, but I think it'll be ok. The cat who flew at me before, Skylar, was coming to see me as I was thinking about coming inside, so Erin put him into another room and closed the door. I looked around, just to make sure he was gone, then cautiously put one paw over the doorframe. I looked up at Erin to see if this was ok to do, then put my other front paw inside. Uh oh! Black and white cat alert! I thought it was Skylar, and ran back outside, but my nose told me it was another cat who just looked like Skylar. I haven't officially met this other cat, so I was being safe and ran. Erin told Mommy and Daddy, and they all are so proud of me for adventuring in!

A close call!!!

February 11th 2008 11:37 pm

Spongebob and I had a close call on Friday! Karen was just leaving the house, and we were across the street. Of course, we came running to say hi, and I rolled over on the street because I was so happy! :) We got to the other side of the street after greeting her, then realized she wasn't following. A truck was a couple houses away, but Spongebob knew he had time to get back across before it got there. I didn't look (! I usually always look!), just followed along behind Spongebob, and Karen shouted and waved. Luckily, the lady driving the truck was paying attention and slowed down, but it was too close and shook up all involved. Karen made sure to call Scott and watched while he put food out and we went and ate. Karen called us goofs for almost getting hit! I'm so glad she was there to protect us! *shudders*

A shaken up
Shadow Kitty

Interlopers!

October 28th 2008 1:00 pm

I thought these new ones would be gone soon, so I didn't think much of sharing the porch with them. But now it seems they're here for good! They eat from MY food bowl, drink from MY water bowl, and barge in when it's MY turn to be on the porch! Mommy lets them inside and pets them, so I guess they're ok, but they can be annoying. She calls the little ones Baby Chiba, Fluffy Girl, and Smokey, and the mama one Mama Chiba. I tolerate them, but I also have to show them who's boss. I've hissed, swatted, told them off, but still they keep coming back! I don't mind when the other ferals eat there, hey, we all have to have a food source, but these other ones have another home. Why do they need to eat here?

The white stuff is here again!

December 14th 2008 8:16 pm

Oh no! When I woke up this morning, the cold white stuff was coming down from the sky! I have to jump through it or plow through it, because it's up to my tummy. I came and ate this afternoon, but the snow had almost completely covered the food bowl. NOT HAPPY!!! When the lady opened the door and called to me, I actually came in to the kitchen a little ways, then saw Tabby and headed back out. She put Tabby in another room, then opened the door again. I came in about a foot, but didn't feel comfortable staying inside. At least I was warmer for about two minutes while I stood there, though! She put food in a protected area of the porch, on the bottom of a shelf that's under the kitchen window, so we'll have food still during this storm.

We now have a blogspot!

January 29th 2009 6:21 pm

We now have an actual blog! You can read it here. Of course, we're still going to be updating our Catster diaries as well.

Not seen

March 3rd 2009 1:06 pm

The people in the green house haven't seen me for over a week. I may be coming when they're not looking, but they usually see me out and about. SpongeBob's been around, but not me.

I'm here

March 4th 2009 7:04 pm

Mommy saw me this afternoon. I'm doing fine, just very hungry. She thinks I may have been hiding from all the construction people.

Breakthrough!!!

September 29th 2009 2:49 am

Yesterday I had a great idea! The other people who feed me and take care of me haven't been around as much, so when I went over to the green house for my usual meal I stared at the lady for a while without eating. She figured I wanted some water, so she came out with the mug to fill the bowl. Nope, that's not what I wanted, but I head-butted the mug to tell her that I appreciated the thought. She asked me what I wanted, and I rubbed up against the porch step then stared right at her. Finally, she got the idea!

I let her put her hand up to me, and then sniffed it and arched my back a little. She put her hand on my soft fur and petted me ever so gently. We were both shy about me being petted, but she was gentle and I turned around and around to be petted on both sides and my back. I even let her pet all the way from the back of my ears to the tip of my tail!

Then, finally, after about 5 minutes of me allowing her to pet, she said she had to go back inside. I didn't want her to stop petting me, so I followed her up the porch. She pet me one last time, and then went back inside. I stared at the door, wanting her to come back out again.

Later on, when I went back for my next meal, the man was there watching me from the door. I looked at him, then looked around for the lady. He said she had gone someplace else, but she'd be back later. Maybe today she'll be there and pet me some more?

Not quite sure what's going on....

December 29th 2009 12:11 am

I'm not quite sure what's going on. The people in the green house haven't been around as much as usual. A few days ago, they were trying to get me to eat out of this big green box, so I did. Not too bad, same food. Then today, as I was letting the lady pet me and was purring for her, she took the back of my neck and lifted me up, then tried to put me in the green box! I realized I was inside it when I was halfway in, stretched out my legs, and the lady was caught off-guard. She didn't close the door quickly enough, and I scratched her on the way out. I didn't mean to scratch, and I was very gentle, but I did leave marks. I just was so scared, and ran toward the back fence.

The lady said she was sorry and said she'd be back to pet me again in a few days. I love her, and love her petting me, but I wasn't at all sure what was going on today!

Spongebob (my friend cat who lives across the street from the green house) said the people in the green house may be moving. He went inside their house today, and called for their kitties to come out, but there were no other kitties inside anymore! The lady said they had all moved to their new house! She told Sponge that they want me to move with them. Maybe that's why she wanted me in that box?

Not going anywhere

January 14th 2010 1:42 am

The people in the green house haven't been around in a while. They don't come home anymore. Spongebob's dad, George, said they left a note with him that they really wanted to have me come live with them, but they would have to trap me to do that. They asked him to help them trap me. He hasn't called them back about it.

The lady who types my diary for me is the lady from the green house. I'll let her tell what's going to happen next.

Karen here:
We're going to let Shadow stay with Sponge & George, because she's happy there and she and Sponge are best buds. George will feed her and take care of her the best he can, and hopefully she'll learn to trust him more. Scott's going to go over and talk with him one of these next weeks and explain what techniques we were using to get her to trust us more, and so hopefully those will work for him as well.

It breaks my heart to give her up, just as it breaks my heart to give up the rest of the Trailer Kitties, but it's best for them to stay where they are. We'll never forget you!!!

Love,

Mommy/the lady who lived in the green house. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Lydia's diary from Catster

Lydia writes:

As our family moves from Catster to Cathugger, we are each publishing our previous diary entries here so that we will still have them and others can read them if they like.  These entries are mostly previous to the creation of "Furry Tails of the PDX pride", and are from earliest to latest, organized by cat.

I miss my snuggle buddy!!!

October 9th 2006 10:14 pm

My snuggle buddy (aka Scott) has been gone for two days now. Karen says he's on a trip to Idaho and will be coming back tomorrow. I'm going to ignore him when he comes back, to show him how mad I am that he's not here.
I had a substitute snuggle buddy this morning: Karen's head. I slept on her pillow curled around her head purring. Tabby was curled behind her knees, but I didn't want her there, so I told her to go away. I was too sleepy to put up much of a fight, though, so I went back to my pillow and ignored her.

Playing

October 14th 2006 11:10 pm

I decided to play with Tabby this morning. I usually stay away from her, since she's a little kitten (well, she used to be, so I treat her that way still). I wanted to play today, so I ran into the bedroom and hopped on the middle of the bed, then went to the side and chirped at her from the edge for a few minutes. She looked up, wondering what I was going to do, then I leaped down on her and let her chase me into the kitchen. I got bored, and swatted her, but it was fun until then. Sometimes I wish I could play more, but I'm too proper to do that a lot. The others play rough-and-tumble, and I want to keep my fur clean.

Gramma and Grampa came today, and I played with Gramma's shoelaces. They're fun to play with, and she didn't even notice right away! When she noticed, she took them away, but it was fun for a little bit, anyway. Scott and Karen like when I play, and encourage me to have fun. Scott played tails with me a lot this evening. That's the best game ever! Tabby played tails with Skylar's tail, and everyone was laughing because it was so fun. After Gramma and Grampa left, I moped around the house and snuggled with Karen. I like Grampa, and miss him when he leaves.

String

October 24th 2006 11:13 pm

Mom was playing with string today, and she wouldn't let me play. Bummers! :P She's making fleece blankets, and sewing them with string, so I jumped on the table to get closer to the string. She knew what I was going for, though, so I just lay down on the blanket. I got bored with that after a while, and sat on her pattern so she had to pay attention to me! The blanket was cozy.

Birthday notes

October 26th 2006 1:21 pm

We got our present: a "Crazy Circle". I love watching the little ones make fools of themselves trying to chase the ball around. I like the noise it makes, but haven't tried it yet. Even though it's my brother's and my present, we're letting Tabby and Carbon play with it most, because it's fun to watch them being silly. Skylar's tried it once, but mostly watched. There's pics of it on the others' pages, just not on mine because I was sitting on my basket watching, and that's too far away for a good pic.

Mom didn't change the kitty box on time today, so I was naughty and peed on the towels to show her it needed changing. She rubbed my nose in it! I'm mad now, but at least the box got changed.

Mom's sick

November 16th 2006 4:57 pm

Dad went away to that Idaho place again last Friday. Mom says he'll be back next Sunday. Gramma came for a long visit this time. She's one of my favorite people. I snuggled with her and gave her licks while she slept all the nights she was here. Mom got sick the last night Gramma was here, REALLY sick. We've all been very worried about her and snuggled with her on the couch when she's lying down. She's up right now, so we're doing our own things, but I'm waiting for her to lie down again so I can make her feel better.

Happy

November 25th 2006 8:23 pm

Dad and Mom are both back home. Mom came back smelling like turkey, but she didn't bring us any. Dad got us a big bag of food today, though, and my bro thinks it's all his.

Snow and Gramma

November 27th 2006 11:08 pm

It snowed today, and we got door time. Skylar and I wanted to go play in it, but it was just a bit too cold, so Mom wouldn't let us out. Gramma's here for two days, so I spent most of the day snuggled with her.

Snuggles for everyone

December 15th 2006 12:09 am

Mom's been really stressed lately, so I've been constantly snuggling on her lap to try and help her feel better. Today she was lying on the couch and I snuggled on her side. Yesterday, Jenelle and Tristan came over with a new person, and I knew the new person would be kind, so I went over to her and meowed. She didn't know what I was saying, so Mom had to translate. I wanted to sit on her lap, and she let me, so I snuggled with her. I was right: she is kind. I guess she lives with Jenelle and Tristan now and is Tristan's new babysitter.

Thank you, Secret Santa!

December 18th 2006 2:16 pm

A box came for Tabby and me today from our Secret Santas, from the same family. Dad put it right up by me, because it was my gift (well, both of ours, but he wanted me to know it was mine, too). Mom opened it for us, because it was taped. I got a kitty teaser and a white yarn puffy! I picked the yarn puffy out of the box myself, and Mom got a pic of me doing that! I love the kitty teaser (strings, meow!). We got a bag of Temptations treats each, and other fun toys, and a stocking each, but I was most interested in the two I picked out. Thank you, thank you, Secret Santa! *sleeping now, tired out from playing*

Summer was my Secret Kitty!

December 18th 2006 11:48 pm

Summer got my name for the Secret Kitty, and her brother and Tabby got each other's names!
I drew Toffy's name, but I don't think he's gotten his gift yet. I hope he likes it when he opens it!

Merry Christmas!

December 27th 2006 8:43 pm

Dad was very sick on Christmas. Not a nice gift to have! He's feeling better now, since we've all been snuggling with him to help him get better. Mom's feeling sick now, but not as sick as Dad was.
Dad felt better yesterday, and went out and got us our Christmas present. It's a new kitty house! I tried it out, sitting on the top nest, and then curling up for about five minutes in the bottom hollow. It's got two "rooms" besides the nest on top.

Tristan's in the hospital!

January 27th 2007 4:37 pm

Our little 4-year-old human friend is in the hospital! Please purrrray for him. Updates are in the forums under "Get Well Soon" and on Cadillac and Boots' pages in their diaries.

Uff! Medicine!

March 28th 2007 6:21 pm

I had to go to the vet today. I've been really hurting for a few weeks, but I've tried not to let on that I hurt, because I didn't want to worry anyone. Dad figured it out, though, and Mom took me in today. My right hind leg/foot hurts, and twitches unexpectedly. I was calm during my vet visit, even when they took my temperature (I didn't flinch at all!). Mom left me there for a couple hours while they tried to run tests and feel my leg to see what was wrong. They tried to take x-rays, but it was hurting so much that I protested. Didn't scratch, just told them in my no-nonsense way that it hurt too much. Mom came and got me, and gave me icky medicine for the pain and Clavamox for infection (my teeth are really bad, too). When Mom and Dad can afford it, they will take me in again for x-rays and a dental cleaning under anesthesia.

Hating my foot

April 19th 2007 2:30 am

I'm off my meds now, and still able to jump up into bed with Mom and Dad. Our friend Erin moved in with us, and I've been sitting with her sometimes, too. She took new pictures and video for our pages. Sometimes I need help to get up into the chair with Mom or Erin, but they help me without hurting me. Today, I sat with Mom while she was playing computer games, and figured out a way to sit where my foot was out straight and propped up on the computer keyboard shelf of the desk so it was stabilized. It'll be about two weeks before I can get into the vet for my dental and x-rays (doing all of it at the same time so I only need to be anesthetized once). It was going to be sooner, but Mom has to go to the dentist and have a root canal done, so that takes the money. She wishes it were the other way around and I could go in first, but Dad says no. Since Mom and I have both been hurting, we've been snuggling together. One day, she was sleeping and woke up to me climbing under the covers with her and curling up against the small of her back. Comfort to both of us. :) *purrs*

Tagged!

May 23rd 2007 6:55 pm

1. I hate being picked up or held.
2. My littermate Skylar and I have been together since we were born.
3. My favorite human is Dad.
4. I LOVE to snuggle!
5. Tabby chases me a lot.
6. I have my own sewing basket to rest on.
7. My favorite place to be petted and scratched is between my shoulderblades.

The rules: Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Tagged cats:
Orbis
Justin
Stinky Sargent
Fawn
Bear
Nefertiti
Ellie 

Funny snuggles!

August 31st 2007 11:18 pm

I usually snuggle under the covers with Mom and Dad, and purr and purr, falling asleep with my chin on a wrist or an arm. But today when they were napping, I first fell asleep with Dad under the blanket, snuggled against his arm, then woke up and went over to Mom and put my neck and head under her chin and fell asleep with my ear around her nose. I woke up, and she was breathing right into it! :)

Whaddaya mean it's my birthday?

October 26th 2007 5:06 am

*yawn* I'm going to go snuggle with Dad in a few minutes, but just thought I'd write a bit first. Skylar and I are 8 years young this morning; and, as usual, he made a big deal about it already, even though it's still really early. He came out and got pets and kisses from Mom. I got a few pets too, but preferred to sleep through it all. I get pampered every day, why should today be any different? Mom's taking us to the groomer's this weekend to get our fur done as our birthday present.

I hurt

December 6th 2007 11:06 pm

I went to see Dr. Bob (our vet) yesterday, and stayed there for almost the whole day. I was very groggy after they gave me my shot, and I don't remember a lot. When I woke up, my mouth felt funny but better, and I knew I would be better. Dr. Bob told Mom I have acute stomatitis, which means that I have chronic gum disease, probably a condition I'll have the rest of my life now. My teeth are very healthy, but my gums are very inflamed (looks like masses rather than tissue). I'm on steroid antibiotics now, going in for my first shot treatment for them in two weeks. I'm on pain medicine now, and supposed to be on Clavamox but the vet tech forgot so I get that starting tomorrow.

Mom's very sad and feels guilty for not taking me in earlier, but I headbutted her hand last night to tell her it was not her fault. She says hopefully I'll learn to be better about taking my medicine, and that she hopes I'll respond well to treatment.

I scared Mom and Dad!

January 17th 2008 12:35 pm

Mom took me into the vet this morning, because I had tarry poop and wasn't eating much or drinking much! I did have my steroid shot for my gums a couple weeks ago, and they are doing a little better, but then on Friday this other happened. I didn't have any energy either, and Mom could see I was very, very dehydrated!

Dr. Bob took blood samples, and my blood was almost as dark as my fur! VERY dehydrated! They gave me sub-q fluids and medicine for home for the next few days, and Mom got me canned food to get my weight up and get me eating again.

The original blood test for Felv/Fiv was negative, the only good thing about the visit. The other sample's being sent out and Mom will get a call when they get the results back.

Results of my blood test

January 18th 2008 5:35 pm

Mom got a call from the vet today, with the blood test results. I have a VERY high white blood count, off the charts as far as the vet's concerned! That means I either am having a very bad reaction to my mouth infection, or it may be the big C. I go in for another blood test on Monday morning to see if the white cell count is better, then we'll go from there.

I'm eating my special canned food really well, and tried to eat dry food but couldn't chew it. I love my canned food, though! My eyes, though still sunken, are brighter and I'm moving around a little bit better.

Doing a lot better!

January 24th 2008 6:15 pm

I've had to go into the vet's a bit more, for fluids and for more blood tests. The latest blood test (two days ago) came back with VERY GOOD RESULTS!!!!! My white blood cell count is almost back to normal! I'm not dehydrated anymore, my coat has returned to normal (actually better than normal, because of the oils from the canned food), and I've been eating and playing a lot.

The vet says I have to have at least four teeth pulled (back molars), because my infection was caused by my body rejecting my teeth! So, Mom and Dad are getting the estimates and deciding when to have that done for me.

Toothless me!

April 29th 2008 6:20 pm

My teeth are gone! I still have my canines (Mom's dad says it should be "felines", hahahahaha), but my other teeth are no more. Now my gums and mouth should be healthy, as should I overall, because they're not there anymore to reject!

It was raining today, but I missed most of it. It was dry on the stroll to the vet's, then I was inside all day. I was in the rain on the stroll back home, though, but Mom did her best with a cover over the stroller so not much rain made it in to me. Now, I'm home, a bit groggy still, in my spot on the top of the kitty tree, lady of the house once again.

I have medicine to take for a few days, and different food to eat (though I was so hungry when I got home that I started eating the crunchies right away, before Mom fixed my plate up). I know it's all for good, though, and I'm sure I'll feel back to normal, or better than normal, soon.

Mom and I had to laugh when we were going to go home from the vet's. There was a new vet tech there, who didn't know me, and she asked if I had a carrier. Rose said, "She has a STROLLER!!!" with a huge smile on her face. The new lady carried me out, and I hopped right in (of course), to her surprise! She said, "She knows where she's supposed to be!" Mom said, "Yep, and she loves her stroller."

Well, off to hide from Mom, medicine time!

Love,

Lady Lydia of the near-toothless mouth.

Mom's got a kitty job!

May 31st 2008 10:12 pm

Mom started her new job today, and she gets to hang out with cats and dogs three days a week! She came home smelling like dogs today, but they all smelled friendly. Of course, I had to check her hands and clothes to make sure. She is now working as a demo lady for a pet food, and goes to three different Petcos to tell people about the food. I'm not sure if the Catster HQ will let me say which food, so if you want to know you can p-mail me. I pawmise I won't give you the whole spiel, though!

Along with the money she gets for working, she also got a "sign-on bonus" of a whole bag of cat food, plus coupons for every month she works for them. We love it, because it's one of our favorite foods anyway! We're so happy that Mom's doing something she loves, with a company she loves and we love too!

Along with the normal brochures and cat food bags on the table, she gets to bring along pictures of us to share. Today she brought a picture of Tabby, but the frame broke because she accidentally dropped it showing it to someone. Now, she's got a sturdy red frame with fishies and "MEOW" on it, which is purrfect for a picture of Carbon! Eventually, she'll have pictures of all of us on the table with her at work, so she'll feel like we're there even though she can't take us to work with her.

I'm dying :'(

October 11th 2008 12:31 pm

I was throwing up a lot yesterday and this morning, and have lost a lot of weight, so Mom and Dad took me to the doctor today. I have a mass about the size of an egg between my liver and my stomach, and have lost over 2.5 lbs. The doctor gave me an antibiotic, fluids, and took bloodwork samples.

Mom and Dad were crying buckets, and decided to wait until we get the results of the bloodwork back. When I got home, I was up on the couch and let my bladder go, having no control over it right then. Dad put me on the floor, and I just lay there. Mom put a special blanket down for me, and I walked over to it to lay on it, and she wrapped me in my yellow blankie. That's where I am right now, and Mom took a picture (it's my main pic now).

When the bloodwork results come in, Mom and Dad will decide exactly what to do. They want to be sure it's not anything else, but right now it's 99% certain it's cancer. They don't want me to suffer anymore, so they'll make the tough decision, but they want to have the results back before they say for sure.

The other kitties know, and they've been coming to check on me, especially my brother and Rori. My brother even snuggled with me and groomed me.

Update: 3:00 pm Saturday

October 11th 2008 3:03 pm

I threw up again, not as much as before, but it still racked my body. I fell over twice, and had to have Mom help me to stay upright so I wouldn't choke on my vomit. I lay down again afterward, and Mom lay down right by me so I could be petted and have a hand to rest my chin on.

Now, Carbon's curled up where Mom was, resting by me so I won't be alone. I'm resting, not sleeping, just taking it easy. I don't have much energy at all. 

Update: 10:30 pm Saturday

October 11th 2008 10:51 pm

Mom made fish, but I wasn't even interested in the smell enough to lift my head. She put a small bite by me, but I didn't lick it. She also put some water there, and I sniffed it, but didn't drink any. Rori came over and sniffed me, then tentatively reached out a paw for the fish. I let her take it. She tipped the water over drinking it, so Mom put a new pee pad down. When she lifted me onto it, I lay down, but my front legs were too weak to put them in the right spots. Mom straightened them out for me, and I lifted my head and looked at her, meowed once, then put my head down again.

Carbon and Rori have each been spending time by me, letting me know they love me. I had to pee, so I meowed loudly to let Mom and Dad know beforehand. I don't have the energy to clean up after myself, let alone go to the box.

Mom made some very watery canned food, put it in a bowl, and tried feeding me with a syringe. I got about 1/2 ml in my mouth, and swallowed. That was in three tries, but at least it was something. Mom and Dad's friend Kellee, a vet tech, talked to them on the phone and said to try that, so we tried. Kellee's going to come tomorrow (out of town today) and see me, see if there's anything she can do to make me more comfortable until Monday.

Skylar kept on stealing the watery food out of the bowl when Mom was trying to feed me!

Update: 8:00 am Sunday

October 12th 2008 8:22 am

I made it through the night, and am awake, moving my head around. I tried to switch how I was lying (currently on my tummy with my paws under me), and rolled over, but got back to my current position. When Dad left this morning to deliver firewood, I looked at him. He woke Mom up so she can watch over me. Tabby and Rori came and said hi to me. They don't know what's going on, but they're concerned. Skylar knows, of course; brothers always know.

Update: 9:00 am Sunday

October 12th 2008 9:05 am

Mom went to try to syringe-feed me watery canned food, and I wanted to get up. She watched me walk, and I went in to the bathroom and peed in the litter box! I collapsed on the floor afterwards, but that made her happy that I accomplished that. She picked me up and brought me back to my spot, fed me one syringe full of food, and now I'm curled up resting again. I cleaned myself sometime during the night, because I don't have vomit on me anymore.

Update: 3:30 pm Sunday

October 12th 2008 3:27 pm

Thank you, everyone, for your kind p-mails, rosettes, and gifts. We appreciate and love every one of you!

I gave myself a bath for my face and ears, with Mom and Dad supervising to be sure that I wouldn't fall over. I've been resting, mostly. Skylar's been sitting with Dad, comforting him, since I can't sit on his lap right now.

Update: 3:45 pm Sunday

October 12th 2008 3:57 pm

Mom put the watery food by me, and I got up and walked over to where Dad was on the couch. I hopped up by him and lay down to snuggle, but then felt that I had to go pee. I meowed to let them know, and Mom picked me up and put me on the pee pad. I went pee as soon as she put me there, kind of flopping a little (no bladder control again). Then Mom fed me almost a syringe full, getting most of it in my mouth with two tries. Very weak, no attempt to clean the food that missed off my fur.

Update: 5:30 pm Sunday

October 12th 2008 6:08 pm

My friend Kellee, a vet tech, is over with us now. She has been out of the state for a week, or she would've come by sooner. She checked how I was doing, and agreed with Mom and Dad. She said that, if nothing comes up in the bloodwork, that she can be the one to "put me to sleep" at her clinic and take care of all arrangements. They all cried buckets at that.

I was able to hop up in Dad's lap again and snuggled with him and with Mom petting me for about an hour. Then, I jumped down and went into the bathroom, didn't try for the box, didn't need to go pee, just wanted to be in there on the cool linoleum floor. Mom picked me up and brought me back out, under vociferous protests from me. Once she put me on the pee pads, I stayed there, and am there now, resting.

Update: 7:15 pm Sunday

October 12th 2008 7:14 pm

Mom gave me 3 ml of the watery food, in two syringes. I took most of the first syringe without spilling it.

Update: 11:30 pm Sunday

October 12th 2008 11:32 pm

Mom just syringe-fed me 4.5 ml. She had to force some of it a little, but I'm not too upset with her. She gave me a blankie again to curl up in.

Update: 12:15 am Monday

October 13th 2008 12:14 am

My brother just came over, sniffed my head, walked around the house, came back and sniffed my head and licked me again. Mom and Dad worry how he's going to react. Already he's acting a bit lost.

Update: 7:00 am Monday

October 13th 2008 7:03 am

Mom syringe-fed me 3 ml in one syringe. Rori came over and sniffed my tail, and I looked at her. Last night, Sara sat within two inches, nose to nose with me. It looked to Mom like we were having a heart-to-heart talk.

I'm curled on top of my blankie now. I gathered it together, making a little nest out of it, and slept that way in the night.

Thanks for all the purrs, rosettes, and stars. We really apuuurrrrrciate it!

Update: 10:30 am Monday

October 13th 2008 10:41 am

Mom syringe-fed me 3 ml of watery food. She had to put Skylar and Sara into the bedroom, because they were trying to get to the bowl. She's been giving the bowl to the others after she's done feeding me my portion. She gives me what's in the syringe, but always offers me the bowl, too, even though she and I both know that I won't eat from it. Rori ate a little from the bowl while Mom was feeding me, then sniffed the syringe. She also hopped up to the sink when Mom was cleaning the syringe after feeding me, then sniffed it once it was clean. She's trying to figure out what's going on, but doesn't get it.

Goodbye, my friends! I love you all! >^..^

October 13th 2008 1:58 pm

Mom just heard from my doctor, with the bloodwork results. It's definitely cancer, my results are all over the place: protein at 1.6, red blood cell count at 8%. Doctor Conradi says she can't believe I'm still breathing, that I made it through the weekend!

We've made my appointment for 3:00 pm today, just a little over an hour from now. We're going to my vet for it. Mom's taking me, and Dad's going to meet us there. They're going to bring my body back and bury me in the backyard. Mom wants to plant flowers there, because I love flowers so much.

Love,

Lydia.

Death and Burial

October 13th 2008 6:24 pm

Lydia, sweet one, your death day was beautiful: bright sunshine, not too cold. We told everyone to go say goodbye to you, and they all, one at a time, went over near you. I carried you out to the truck wrapped up in a blankie, and you looked around and meowed. Little Smokey kitten from two doors down heard you, and he and Mommy Chiba came running to see. They watched the truck drive away from the house. You lay down on my lap, very interested in what was out the window. You meowed and peed on me because you had no bladder control, but we understood. Your dad and I petted you as we drove to the vet. At one point, you hopped up and looked out the window, fascinated at the cars in the parking lot we went by.

When we got to the vet, we took you inside. There was another cat there, waiting to get a checkup, with two little girls. They thought you were so beautiful, and we told them it was your last day. You meowed at the cat and at one of the resident kitties and looked around. Your dad started crying and had to sit down. I held you and cried.

We went into the room, and I set you down on the table. You immediately hopped down to the floor and lay in the corner. Your dad and I petted you, and told you we loved you, and how much we would miss you. You got up and walked around, while we cried and petted you. You meowed a few times, especially when you heard the other cats meowing. We picked you up to see if you wanted to be on our laps, but you wanted down so we let you be there. We kept on telling you how we loved you and we didn't want you to suffer anymore. I know you understood.

The doctor came in and took you into another room. She gave you sleepy medicine, and then the shot. You went peacefully, just as we had hoped you would. She made a pawprint in clay for us, and brought it and your body into the room where we were. I burst out crying again when I saw your body, and couldn't even look at the pawprint. She put your body, wrapped in the blankie, on my lap, and I just held it, warm but so still. We sat there for a few minutes, then picked up your body and went back home.

When we got home, we unwrapped your body, placed it and the blankie on the floor, and brought the other cats, one by one, to it so they could sniff and know what had happened. Rori wouldn't come, so we moved your body over to her. She sniffed, and then walked away, then came back and sniffed again. I got scissors and cut a little bit of your fur to keep.

Your dad dug a hole in the backyard, and I brought your body out there. Little Smokey kitten, Baby Chiba kitten, little fluffy girl kitten, and Mommy Chiba were out there watching, and Mommy Chiba sniffed your body. The kittens were too interested in playing with the dirt to realize what was going on. Your dad curled your body up in the hole like you were snoozing, and we each shoveled dirt on top. We put the old dishwasher on top of the dirt so that Seven doggie next door wouldn't come over and dig it up.

Your brother is very sad, too, and he's snuggling with us. He didn't want to eat any of my fish sandwich. He misses you. Tabby's very subdued, too.

We love you and miss you very, very much, sweetie. You are forever in our hearts. Thank you for the love, memories, and snuggles of the past three years. It is almost three years to the day since I adopted you, sweetheart. Too short, but it was time, and you are at peace now.

Love,

Mom Karen and Dad Scott. 

Thank you everyone

October 18th 2008 11:59 pm

Mom's not able right now to send out thank yous individually, maybe after a while. But she has read all your rosette notes, gift notes, p-mails, forum posts, etc.

From Mom:
Thank you so much, from all of our family. It helps, knowing that you care and that you cared for Lydia, even though you never met her "in the fur". Eventually, I'll post a couple things that people have sent to me that are especially meaningful, but I can't do that right now. Just thank you to everyone, and know that your caring and friendship eases this burden of grief.

Thanks,

Karen (Lydia's mom).

Happy birthday, sweetie

October 26th 2008 1:24 am

Today would be your ninth birthday. Skylar is celebrating by snuggling in my lap, acting like you used to. He, your dad, and I are still grieving. In some ways, I wish you'd made it the almost two weeks to today, but we knew it was time to let you go. Today I will bake the clay pawprint the vet made on your last day.

Happy birthday

October 26th 2009 12:44 am

Thinking of you on your birthday, sweetie. Thank you for sharing your life with us and accepting the move, our home, and our love. Thank you for the three years we had with you, and for being the best "big kitty" ever! You trained Rori well, and she has taken over where you left off, growing into her role this past year and guarding the household & caring for everyone just as you did.

Your brother's celebrating his 10th birthday with snuggles on Daddy's lap, in the spot that he knows you used to occupy. He took it over when you left for the Bridge. His new companion, Starla, used to live outside and you met her a few times through the door. She's a lot like you in personality, though submissive instead of alpha. She's a total snuggler, just like you were once you knew someone.

Miss you, love!

-- Mom. 

Skylar's diary from Catster

Skylar writes:

As our family moves from Catster to Cathugger, we are each publishing our previous diary entries here so that we will still have them and others can read them if they like.  These entries are mostly previous to the creation of "Furry Tails of the PDX pride", and are from earliest to latest, organized by cat.

Mad

October 11th 2006 1:42 pm

I don't know what's wrong with my humans lately. They are mad at me all the time for some reason, and I can't figure out why. I want to play with Scott, so I curl up when he leaves the couch so that he can play with me when he comes back, but he yells at me and claps loud above my ears. Scott sure spends a lot of time on the couch, and when he gets up he can't walk right. I heard them talking, and saying something about knee surgery and physical therapy, but that makes no sense to me at all. I try to be supportive because he seems sleepy a lot, so I sit on his chest or in the window. I've jumped down onto him a few times yesterday and today, but I just get yelled at again and spanked. I try to tell Karen that I'm just trying to play with Scott, and that I'm sorry for whatever it is I did, but I don't think she understands. I think I'll go lie on the bed and keep out of their way. Maybe Tabby will come over and snuggle with me and clean my ears. She's good at that.

Calm

October 12th 2006 4:19 pm

I got to snuggle with Scott today. He's not mad anymore, so I've forgiven him. He told me not to stand on his chest anymore, so I'm lying down on it being petted and purring.

Contest

October 15th 2006 7:13 pm

Please vote for me. http://www.catster.com/show06/vote_pet.php?i=398277

Cheese!

October 24th 2006 11:10 pm

Dad gave us cheese today, while Mom was sleeping. We each got a little chunk. Yum! Gramma was here for the weekend, and I slept on her feet each night. She called Mom tonight, and I hopped up on the couch when I heard her voice. Mom had grilled cheese sandwiches tonight, and Dad dropped a big piece of cheese on the floor. Guess who got to it first?! :) No one else even had a chance.

Happy Birthday to Me (and Sis)

October 26th 2006 1:16 pm

We got our present! It's a "Crazy Circle", and I want the ball OUT! Carbon and Tabby have been playing with it the most, even though it's Sis and my present, but that's ok. Our turns will come. It's just fun watching them right now, and Sis and I are staring at them trying to get the ball out. We watched them for two hours straight already! There are pics up on their pages of them playing with it. When it's our turn, Mom'll take pics of us playing with it, too. You can see me watching in one of the pics, and that one's on my page.

Gramma's visit

November 16th 2006 5:03 pm

Gramma came again for a long visit. Dad's gone to Idaho again for a while. I love having Gramma visit, because we get yummies! She got Chinese food this time, and Jenelle and Tristan came over for dinner. I got up in the window and made my way to right behind Tristan's head and waited for my opportunity to snag some food, but Mom saw me and picked me off the couch. I tried again a few more times, but she saw me each time. Later on, Gramma said the "T" word (TUNA!) and I got all excited, but we didn't get any. Since Gramma had said it, though, Mom had to give us a treat, so we got some orange chicken. Lydia didn't want hers, so I got to eat it instead. I think Tabby got Carbon's 'cause he just plays with it and licks it. The only human food he likes is cereal. Weird cat! Mom's been sick for a couple days, and so I've been better at not begging so much for food because I don't want to wake her up when she needs her sleep. It's hard to wait until she's awake, though. She thanked me and carried me around when she got up this last time, because I've been so good about it.

Torturing Mom

November 19th 2006 6:27 pm

Mom's feeling a lot better now, so I'm back to driving her nuts. This morning, I kept uncovering her when she wanted to sleep. She even had to put the sheet up over her head so I couldn't get to her! I just wanted to play! *whines* Then, I kept racing around the house and pawing her lap when she was sitting at the computer. I wanted to play and no one else wanted to play at all, so I was just bored! Dad's coming home tomorrow, and then things will be a lot more fun. I've missed him.

Big food!

November 25th 2006 8:16 pm

Dad and Mom went to Fred Meyer's today and got a lot of groceries. Dad got me this HUGE bag of food! It won't even fit in the cupboard, it's so big! I'm trying to be patient and wait until it's opened, but I wander in and rub my head against it.

My new outfit

November 27th 2006 11:06 pm

It snowed today, for the first time this season, so Mom has decided it's time for our winter clothes. She went to our store (the pet store) and got me a Santa Claws outfit, and Tabby a red sweater. I didn't mind her putting my Santa outfit on, but the velcro scratched me a little. She apologized for that, though, and gave me cuddles. I do look handsome in it, but she'd better not try putting a hat on me.

We had door time during the snow, and I wanted to go outside and play in it. I loved to play in the snow when I was an outdoors cat.

Oh, and Mom opened the big food and we got some of it.

I got my Secret Santa Kitty gift!

December 12th 2006 3:25 pm

Thank you, Secret Santa Kitty!!! My gifts are wonderful! Wow, all the way from Britian, too. I guarded them when they came, and then let Tabby and Carbon play with them a little bit, too. Lydia watched. Tabby also loved the wrapping paper, but she started eating it so it had to go away. Pics will be up as soon as Dad hooks up the regular computer again. The pink ball is a definite hit, and Tabby carries the feather mouse around everywhere while I stalk it and try to get it away from her. The cat grass is going to be yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chase got his gift!

December 18th 2006 11:38 pm

My little buddy Chase got his Secret Kitty gift from me, and has got pics up on his page! It's so cute! I'm glad he loves his crinkle sack. :)

My gifts were from The Drifter. Thanks so much! 

Catnip Christmas!

December 27th 2006 8:38 pm

Mom hid the catnip from Carbon's stocking because she's going to give it to the shelter cats later. Somebody figured out where it was and tried to get to it. It was (and is) on top of the fridge, and whoever it is knocked down the cookbooks and a few papers. *wicked kitty grin* She still doesn't know for sure who it was!
Dad got us a new kitty condo. I like curling up in the bottom hollow and being cute. Today I was being very wild, one of my crazy days, but I took a two-hour nap in the hollow.

Snow walk!!!!!!!

January 16th 2007 8:55 pm

When Mom and Dad came home this morning from a friend's house (they had D-O-G smells on them!), Mom hooked Tabby and me into our harnesses for a walk. I hadn't been out in the snow at all last year, but before that I was an outside cat, so I was very excited. I just lay on the couch and let Mom buckle me into my harness, then watched her chase dingbat Tabby around to get her into hers so we could go. Even then, I wasn't sure Mom really was going to allow me out, until she picked me up and deposited me on the front porch!

I immediately started making little paw prints in the snow, Mom thought it was so cute! Then, I jumped off the porch and started exploring. Mom was holding dingbat's leash, and she wouldn't get off the porch and follow me, so I was stuck between the porch and the corner of the house. Lots of good smells there, though, and you can bet I explored every single one of them! Tabby was whining to go inside (her first time being out in the white stuff), so Mom let her in, and then I decided I was cold, too, and hopped on the porch and stared at the door, so Mom let me in. I got a nice towel dry and my harness off, and curled up very content on the couch in a little curly ball.

Tristan's in the hospital!

January 27th 2007 4:36 pm

Our little 4-year-old human friend is in the hospital! Please purrrray for him. Updates are in the forums under "Get Well Soon" and on Cadillac and Boots' pages in their diaries.

Decorating the restaurant!!!

February 1st 2007 11:46 am

Wow, when I started my restaurant, I had no idea it was going to be this huge of a success! We've already catered two parties, and now have three rooms plus the kitchen and the litter room. My whole family and I are getting ready for next week's painting/decorating party, a lot of work, but everyfurry's going to help out. Each room will be a different color, and the furniture will be painted. I've chosen the biggest cat tree I can find for the playroom, and it is HUGE! Also, Autumn requested hammocks, so there's one for the playroom and one for the Fireplace Room. If anyfurry (kitty or doggy) wants to join in the fun, the address is http://www.catster.com/group/grp_page.php?g=5310 or click here.

I'm just so excited about the success of the place that I'm running around like crazy!!! MEOWROWR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darn outside cat!

March 14th 2007 7:30 pm

There's three outside cats that have been eating MY FOOD! Well, the food that Mom feeds us out of our bag, anyway. She's been scooping it out for kitties outside, too. Today when she opened the door to feed the little black kitty, I walked right outside and started eating the food she put on the back porch. Well, it came out of MY FOOD BAG, so it's got to be mine. The little black kitty got scared, and I growled at it to make sure it knew who was boss in the house, then Mom picked me right up and put me into the house again and shut the door, and said "Naughty Skylar". Then she had the nerve to watch out the window and talk to the black kitty when it came back, and let it eat the rest of the food outside.

Flights to Freedom!

April 25th 2007 4:37 pm

I got out twice today! Mom was feeding THAT CAT, whom she's named Shadow, on the back porch, and I wanted OUT! I tried sneaking behind her, but she knew I was there. I fooled her and jumped up on the sink counter and took a flying leap over her head (she was bent down by the other kitty) to the porch. Shadow went one way, I went the other, and stopped at the edge of the steps to munch on grass. Mom came and got me, put me in the house, and convinced Shadow to come back up to eat.

Then, Dad went out the front door to check the mail, and I followed. I ran as fast as I could out to the grass, sat down, and continued munching. Dad got me and put me back in the house.

Just now, I put both paws up by the doorknob on the back door, trying to get out. How do humans turn the knob, anyway?

Lots going on!

May 2nd 2007 2:22 am

Thank you, Catster, for choosing me as one of the daily diary picks!

Let's see...hmm...busy the last few days!

1. Ashley Jay & Teal'c's wedding: My restaurant was the site for the bachelor party, and we also catered the wedding. My family, Aldo, and Sweet Secret served the buffet at the wedding reception.

2. Contest: My restaurant is giving away rosettes and stars to cookin' kitties. Sign up at the group forum. Open to doggies as well.

3. Detective agency: Keep those anonymous rosettes coming! Carbon was busted as the Butterfly Kitty, heeeheeeeeheeeee!

4. Cinco de Mayo celebration: Potluck at the restaurant on the 5th.

5. Shadow: Mom, Dad, and Erin have been feeding Shadow still. *sighs* I had to go out to defend my food again. One day, Tabby and I both accompanied Erin outside on our leads for a while and had fun playing with Shadow and the other outside kitty.

Food snatcher, ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May 2nd 2007 12:25 pm
Hahahahahahaha, I ran away with Erin's macaroni & cheese today! She made a mac & cheese tv dinner in the microwave, so of course I bugged her until I got some noodles. Then, when she was done, she set the tray down on the floor so I could lick it. I grabbed it in my mouth and ran under the bed with it. Erin had to crawl under the bed to get it when I was done eating! :)

Tagged!

May 22nd 2007 1:10 am

1. I love FOOD!
2. My littermate Lydia and I have been together since we were born.
3. My favorite human is Erin Dublin, Mom and Dad's friend who's living with us.
4. I hate my fur being brushed.
5. I throw up a lot.
6. I love lying in the middle of the living room floor.
7. I steal people FOOD.

The rules: Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Tagged cats:
Simba
Orangey Orange Kitty Cat-Met
Julie
Khofu
Freckles
The Billybobs
Antigone 

Horrific Day!!!

May 26th 2007 6:05 pm

Tabby's given her cold to me! I have sneezes now, too. Mom took Tabby and me to the V-E-T this morning. We rode in the big green carrier, on the bus. I'd never been on a bus before, and I got really scared. I was panting, drooling, and yelling my part-siamese head off! MREEOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!! I threw up in the carrier when we finally got off the bus.

Then, we went into the V-E-T, and she checked us over. I've lost so much weight, they are really worried about me, and Mom had them give me sub-Q fluids to rehydrate me. Tabby and I both got meds for our colds, then the V-E-T took me into the back room and did a "senior exam" on me: urinalysis, blood tests, etc. I was very good throughout everything, but I was thinking "What?!? You're calling me OLD? I'm only 7, gee whiz!"

Mom called a cab for us to go back home in; she wasn't about to have a screamer on the bus the whole way again. I was good until I was almost home, then I pooped in the carrier two blocks from the house. I was MAD/SCARED at the whole thing!

I've got hyperthyroidism!

May 29th 2007 10:46 am

The vet just called Mom with my test results from Saturday, and I have hyperthyroidism! Explains why I have been dehydrated and losing so much weight. Mom cried a bit when she got off the phone. The only known treatment is to have radioactive iodine, which would cost a little over $1000. The other thing that could happen is that I can be on medication for the rest of my life, which would be about $35 a month plus bloodwork every 6 months. Mom and Dad are trying to decide what to do, but it looks like probably medication because of the costs. We would like to hear other kitties' experiences, please!

Hahahahaha she can't trick ME!

June 1st 2007 10:26 pm

*sings* I'm too smart for Mommy; I'm too smart for Mommy!

Mom picked up my hyper-T meds at the human pharmacy (boy, did they ever have fun with that!) and tried to give it to me a few minutes ago. She tried to disguise the half-pill by putting it in a piece of cheese dog, but i ate around it and licked the pill clean! She picked me up, took me over to a chair, and slid it in around my teeth like she used to do for Auntie Trixie, but I spit it out as soon as I got down! She finally caught me again (I thought I had it made and had escaped to the top of the couch, but she pulled me and my claws off there) and held me until I swallowed it. I held the thing on the tip of my tongue for the longest time, but finally I had to swallow and the nasty thing went down.

Ok, here's the pharmacy story! *nasty, evil laugh*

Mom had to pick up her medicine at Wal-Mart today, so when the vet called to ask which pharmacy she would like the prescription called in to (and human pharmacy at that), she said the same one. Hers was done first, then they called her up to the counter and she had to fill out the thing to enroll me in their system. Skylar, cat, age: 7, birthday: 10/26/99, sex: male. Then, when the scrip was ready, they called "Skylar" (although they spelled it with an e instead of an a because it was a call-in). She had to sign as "guardian" for it! Everyone got a laugh out of the whole thing!!! :) ;)

New addition to my family!!! :) :) :)

July 20th 2007 11:33 pm

I adopted a new mommy! She's living with my two humans, and I've decided she's my mommy instead of my adopted mom. :) Her name's Erin. I try to say her name, and I hope she can understand me meowing it to her. :) I LOVE her, and follow her everywhere! I talk to her from the moment she wakes up, follow her around the whole house. I even jumped in the shower with her once! I climb up the ladder to her bunkbed and snuggle with her, purring. My new mommy is 12 weeks 3 days pregnant, and I love to sit on her tummy right above the baby and purrrrrrrrrrr. While she's gone during the day, I make a nest out of her pink hoodie and curl myself up in it. I've trained her from the day from the day she moved in to feed me her food, and most of the time feed me FIRST. I'll even eat from the palm of her hand. She gives me CHICKEN! When I know she's cooking chicken or anything else I like in the microwave, I jump up on the counter and watch it go around and around. She gives me my own plate of food, especially Mexican shredded cheese. I once licked ice cream out of her mouth, my favorite: strawberry! Mommy Erin's favorite, too. Before she goes to sleep, I mark my territory by rubbing her wrist with my jaw. She makes kissy noises at me, and I come running. I hug her, putting my paws around her shoulders and my face in hers. When I can get to her, I wake her in the morning by putting my face into hers and purring. :) The reason I can't always get to Mommy Erin is because Dad works nights, so Mommy closes her door so that she and the unborn baby don't wake up when he comes home. Dad and my other Mom let Mommy sleep and try not to wake her up when her door's closed. But that means I can't go in and snuggle with her!

Dad thinks I'm only sucking up to her when I want food, but my other mom and my new mommy know better! They know I'm showing I care for my mommy. :) The one who I was calling my mom, Karen, Dad's girlfriend, she knows how I feel about Mommy Erin and she's fine with it. I LOVE my Mommy Erin!!! :) :) :)

I love my new vet!

July 25th 2007 12:32 pm

Mom and I took my stroller and me to the vet today! We went through the park, and I got to see squirrels, kids, humans, crows, trees, and smell all the wonderful outdoor smells. I sat straight up in the stroller and loved every minute of it! Not the loud traffic, though. I meowed at that in protest.

Once we got to the vet's, I was the most well-behaved gentleman. I meowed when we first got there, but then settled right down and not a peep. When we got into the exam room, I even let the nurse take my temperature without ANY protest!!! I did give a growl or two when they took my blood for the hyper-T panel, though. Mom could hear me from where she was sitting! We won't find out results for a couple days, but we'll keep everyone updated. In the meantime, the doc said I was doing well on my meds (which I'm taking without complaint, just clenching my jaw but nothing more).

I have a favorite chair now at the vet's, too. Mom got a pic of me relaxing on it with her camera phone. :) *purrs*

Blood work results

July 27th 2007 8:44 pm

Mom got the blood work results back yesterday from the vet, and my thyroid levels are still high (6.4) but no other systems have been impacted. The vet's increasing my medicine dose to one pill morning and evening (instead of half a pill each time), and a full panel recheck in a month. So, so far so good.

News!

August 31st 2007 12:15 pm

Mommy Erin and I each had doctor's appointments today at the same time.

First, mine:

I had a blood panel recheck for my hyper-T. It was done by a vet tech this time, but I loved her as much as Dr. Bob, so that was fine with me. We'll know the results in a few days. I hated the stroller ride there, and back, and meowed at all the traffic again, and at everyone we passed. The park is the highlight of the trip, though. I was petted by all the kids who were playing there, and purred and purred my contentment to each of them!

Now, Mommy Erin's:

*drumroll please* She's having a BOY!!! 18 weeks along, and doing fine, very healthy (both her and baby). She and her boyfriend Brad (the baby's father) dropped by after the appointment to tell the news to Mom and me, and we're sooooooo excited for them! They haven't decided on a name yet, but we'll let everyone know when they do choose. He's due to be born on February 6th. You can see the latest pregnancy picture as the last picture in my photo book.

*purrs*
A very happy

Skylar.

New tag game!

October 21st 2007 6:25 pm

Thanks, Bear and Grey for tagging me!

Here are the rules. When you are tagged pick ten cats and write something nice about them and the cat that tagged you. Then tag those ten cats you picked and send them an email letting them know they were tagged.

1. Aldo: one of the Master Bakers at my restaurant. He and his sister Tess (apprentice chef at the restaurant) are two of my besties ever!

2. Bluie: always puts that extra special touch on events, no matter what! Also expert decorator!

3. Rocky Ann: one of our family's first Catster friends, and a fellow Hello Kitty friend/super stroller.

4. Edward: another first friend on Catster, and another crazy kitty pal! We love her and the character she was named after!

5. Bear: of course, the greatest fellow Feline Flyer, and one of my absolute besties! (And the one who sent me the tag!)

6. Smudge: my friend from the other side of the pond, who keeps me on my toes with her good humor (or is it humour?).

7. Autumn: another awesome cook, and best friend to my Auntie Trixie.

8. Bruce: my brofur Carbon's buddy!

9. Nurven: my Norwegian pal!

10. Sin: a true friend and fellow detective.

Birthday morning hugs and pets! :)

October 26th 2007 5:03 am

I woke up very early this morning, and Mom was still up. 4:00 in the morning! I hopped up in the chair, sat right against her, and started in purring. *rrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrr* I know it's MY BIRTHDAY today!!! I got loves, hugs, and pets for about a half hour, so much so that I shed all over the chair, but Mom and I didn't care. :) Kisses on my ears, too, and ear rubs that I absolutely love! I'm going now to make sure Mom gets some sleep, because I watch over her closely. I chose her and adopted her, so it's my responsibility to make sure she stays healthy.

Jarek is born!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 13th 2008 4:57 pm

Mommy Erin's baby, Jarek Lachey Jeseritz, joined the world yesterday at 1:51 pm. He is 6 lbs, 9.6 oz, 20 inches long. Lots of blonde hair, just like his parents, and blue eyes. Mom: Erin Theresa Dublin, Dad: Bradley Jeseritz. Picture at the end of my photo album and as Rori's first picture.

Mommy Erin is Mom and Dad's friend who lived with us for most of last year. I adopted her as my second mom, and Rori is her kitten (but Rori still lives with us).

Announcements, announcements, announcements!!!

July 8th 2008 4:06 pm

Mom and Dad are officially engaged!!!! They got engaged on July 5th. They will be getting married by the end of this year, probably the last weekend in August!!!

Happy purrs,

Skylar.

I'm happy Mom and Dad are so happy!

July 8th 2008 9:01 pm

Definitely makes me happy to see them so happy!!! I've been purring, sitting on Mom and Dad all the time, purring in their faces, rubbing up against them, snuggling with them more, more, more!!!

Today, Mom got little guest books where the guests can write messages to Mom and Dad, and I went right over, hopped up onto the couch, and drooled on a corner of the box! Mom laughed and made sure they weren't where I could get them, but she could tell I was happy, happy, happy!

I is a CELEBRITEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

July 27th 2008 7:26 pm

The picture site Global Warming Hates Kittens has chosen me as spokescat for yesterday! Me, Mr. Cool in front of my a/c, linked to a news article on the worst summer heat in Europe! Thank you, thank you, thank you! *bows in front of my adoring crowd*

My sister's dying :'(

October 11th 2008 12:34 pm

My sister's dying. She's got a mass between her stomach and her liver. She had bloodwork done today, and we're waiting on the results, but it's 99% certain she has cancer.

See her diary for more information.

I sat with her and groomed her when she came back today, helping her know that I care. She, Mom, Dad, and I snuggled and Mom and Dad petted us and cried. She and I meowed softly, and I purred.

Lydia's gone

October 13th 2008 7:24 pm

I'm snuggling with Dad right now, to comfort him and for him to comfort me. Mom snuggled with us for a long while too. I'm missing my sister already. When Mom and Dad brought her body back from the vet's today, Dad picked me up and set me down by it. I sniffed, then lowered my head and rubbed against Dad, then against Mom, then made a circle around Dad, finally sitting in the middle of the floor. It's always been the two of us; what'll I do now? I didn't even want to eat any of the fast food hamburger or fish sandwich Mom and Dad were eating, too sad.

*sad cries*

Skylar.

Grieving

October 14th 2008 9:09 pm

I stuck to Dad like glue last night, all night long. Slept by his side, or on him, the whole night. Followed him around this morning until he went to deliver firewood. He woke Mom up so that she could sit with me when he left, so I would have someone there. Rori's been cleaning my ears for me, and snuggling hard with me.

I ate, drank, and used the box regularly, so it's "just" that I miss my sister. I even let Mom know when it was time for my medicine, but not as insistently as usual. I haven't been talking at all.

Last night, I wondered where she was, and I went over to the door looking for her. Not there. Looked on top of the clean laundry. Not there. Stuck my head in the kitty carrier. Not there. Looked at Mom and Dad, and they picked me up and cuddled me, telling me she was gone, and that they loved and missed her too. They told me they love me so much, and they know I'm sad and miss her.

A very sad

Skylar.

Sad Happy Birthday to me!

October 26th 2008 1:19 am

It's my ninth birthday today! Happy birthday to me! I wish my sister were here to share it with me. I miss her so much. I've not been the same goofy me since she died. I cling to Dad and Mom, preferring Dad if he's around, sitting on Mom's lap if he's not there. I just got up from a two-hour nap, something that used to be very uncommon for me. I haven't talked once in the last two weeks, except to purr a little. Rori keeps coming to check on me, and Tabby snuggled with me yesterday, burying her nose in my fur. I'm eating fine, drinking fine, and using the box. I even showed interest when one of the outside cats came in for a bit, watching her and walking past her. But I'm very subdued.

We're writing hubs!

November 12th 2008 7:02 pm

Mom is letting us occasionally write articles on her hubpages account. Our articles are getting read internet-wide! I wrote one on planning a pet-friendly Christmas 

I went on vacation!

November 12th 2008 7:10 pm

Last week, I got to go with Mom and Dad to the beach! They packed the kitty travel bag, put my harness and leash on, and carried me out to the truck. I snuggled, purred, and slept on the way down there. We stopped at Gramma's house, and I got lots of pets and cuddles from my human cousins. Storm even dressed me up in a doll bonnet! Hey, what do you expect from a little girl. Lucky I love her. :) Then, off we went again. When we got to the beach, Dad drove the truck down onto the sand and opened the window a crack so I could smell the nice salt air. I stood on his lap and looked out the window at the waves and sand. They stopped the car and took me out to feel the sand on my paws, but it was too windy and rainy for me, so I told them in no uncertain terms I wanted back in where it was warm and dry. Once in again, I stood at the window watching everything.

When it was time to leave, I snuggled up again between Mom and Dad and fell asleep purring.

It was medicine time on the way down, and I wasn't sure that they had remembered to bring it since we weren't home. I got kind of worried, and looked at them funny. Mom reassured me, and pulled out the bottle of pills. I took my meds, and then purred at the top of my lungs, headbutting both Mom and Dad and giving them jowl rubs! I was soooo happy they remembered!

Trouble pooping!

November 16th 2008 7:01 am

I'm having a lot of trouble pooping. Actually, I can't go at all. I've been trying and trying, but nothing is coming out. I tried pooping in the box, on the living room floor, on the kitchen floor, even on Mom! Mom and Dad both looked up information on the web, and saw an article on PetPlace about Dulcolax being prescribed sometimes for constipation. Mom gave me a 5mg tablet (the size it said in the article was ok for cats) about 15 minutes ago, and so we'll see if it works. I really, really, REALLY hope it will!

Went to the vet

November 17th 2008 10:51 pm

I went to the vet today, and had a urinalysis done, plus got fluids. I've not been eating or drinking at all today. I'm still not pooping, but I've got a runny butt, so at least something's working back there. Waiting to see what the results will be. I want to snuggle with Dad, but he won't let me on his lap with my runny butt. Not fun! :(

Back to normal again!

November 20th 2008 6:46 pm

Whew! Thankfully, I'm back to normal again! My urine results were normal, and I'm eating and drinking on my own again. Mom and Dad have seen me use the box, even.

A very happy, cuddly, purry

Skylar.

Woweeeee!

November 22nd 2008 12:14 am

Wow, thank you Catster HQ!!! I'm Diary of the Day today!!!!!!!!! Mom's going to give me lots and lots of snuggles and loves today (not like she doesn't anyway). So glad I'm feeling better so I can enjoy my special day!

A very happy

Skylar

Meowy Catmas!

December 27th 2008 6:44 am

It was a very strange Christmas this year! We've had snow for over two weeks, so Mom and Dad didn't go anywhere for Christmas. They barely could get out of the driveway!

The day before Christmas, we got a present! Rori and I knew right away it was for kitties, and sniffed and rubbed up against it. Mom had ordered it online, shopping the new Catster Marketplace, since she couldn't go regular kitty-toy shopping (and wanted to get us something extremely fun and special this year!).

So, when Mom got up, she opened it for us and handed the paper-wrapped package to us, after taking off the pretty ribbon and pin. Rori and Carbon drooled all over it, and Carbon swatted a little at Mom when she took it back to unwrap it all the way.

It is a catnip-filled fortune cookie and tea bag from Jake and Micah's store! We all have played with them, and have taken them from each other, fought over them, drooled on them, licked them, and bunny-kicked them. I even licked the cookie while Mom held it in front of me, then rubbed my head against it!

In other mews, I went to the vet's on Christmas to get fluids. I've not been drinking water, so they sent home an I.V. bag for me and showed Mom and Dad how to give it to me. I'm doing so much better now, and I get all excited when I see the bag because I know it helps even though the needle poke hurts. We're going to see about putting me on kitty Prozac too.

MY friend came inside!

January 2nd 2009 9:20 pm

Lately, Rori's friends have been coming inside. Well, they're all of our friends, but they're closer to her age than to mine, so I consider them more her friends. I go and sniff them, but then continue with my own business rather than follow them around like everyone else.

But tonight, we had MY friend as a visitor! That's right, the big (even bigger than Carbon or me!) tom cat goof named SpongeBob came in to visit us! I go onto the porch to say hi to him all the time when he comes over for snacks, but this time he came in the front door when Mom came home! He saw Mom come, and ran over, waited for her to open the door, and walked right in for a visit! I jumped off the couch and ran over to say hi, sniffed and rubbed against him, then went back to the couch so he could visit with the others. When he ate a snack from our food bowl, I went back over to observe so that he wouldn't eat all of our food, and to say hi again to him.

He stayed in for about 5 minutes, then meowed his large, deep meow so Mom would know to put him outside again. Sure enough, we could hear his people calling for him from their house across the street, so it was time for him to go home.

A happy

Skylar.

Very, very sad

January 5th 2009 4:46 pm

Sara Kitty left us today. I knew she was going to, and am very sad. I didn't even go smell the body, because I didn't have to. I knew she was gone. I knew where she was going when Mom and Dad took her out to the truck, and I knew she wasn't coming back. After the others had sniffed her body, and Dad went outside to bury it, I got down off the couch and walked slowly to the bed to lie down.

Yay for fluids!!!

January 12th 2009 1:38 pm

I had a couple days where it was very hard for me to go poop again. Mom and Dad are worried about me. They've been giving me fluids every day since my last vet appointment, and it's REALLY helping, but I'm not drinking much on my own or even eating much on my own. My poops are as small as Rori's!

Dad went to pick up my new fluids bag from the vet's today. I got soooo excited when he came home with the bag, because I knew what was in there! I started actually racing around Dad, and hopped up on his lap the minute he sat down! He said he had to hook it up first (the tube to the bag), so I got down again and raced around him some more, then back up into his lap, purring the whole time. Mom put the new needle in and poked me, and then it was done in a few more seconds!

I love my fluids!

Keeping Mom's head warm

January 24th 2009 8:58 pm

Mom finally let us into the bedroom again! Rori's been secluded in there after her spay surgery, but she's out for the most part now. Yay!

Last night, I went into the bedroom to sleep. Mom was already asleep, so I picked a spot and curled up. When Dad came home, he woke Mom up very quietly and told her not to startle me. I was curled up around her head on the pillow! I slept that way until she got up this morning! She says she slept so well, she didn't even want to get up. She had very pleasant dreams, too.

Purrs,

Skylar.

We now have a blogspot!

January 29th 2009 6:21 pm

We now have an actual blog! You can read it here. Of course, we're still going to be updating our Catster diaries as well.

Mommy Erin came to visit!

February 5th 2009 1:05 am

Mommy Erin came to visit for a little while tonight! I was so excited to see her that I sat up very straight on Dad's lap when she came in the door! She sat on the couch and picked me up to sit on her lap. I purred so loud, and she snuggled me. She was quite shocked to see how skinny I was, compared with the last time she saw me. She cried when Mom and Dad told her that I've been failing since my sis died last October. I'm still eating and drinking, but I'm losing weight and have to have fluids at least twice a week. The vet can't find anything wrong.

My new main picture is Mommy Erin and me. She kept hugging me and snuggling me, telling me how much she missed me. I've missed her too. She's going to move back closer to Mom and Dad, so we'll get to see her more often.

Cat fight!

February 11th 2009 8:48 pm

Everyone's ok now, but see Rori's diary for details.

DAD, I want to SNUGGLE!

February 22nd 2009 3:06 am

Yesterday, I really, REALLY wanted to snuggle with Dad! I hopped up on the couch, got right in his face, and screamed at him to tell him I was there. I then hopped onto his side, hopped down, then back up, making sure he knew I was really there with him. Then I lay down on his side just like my sis Lydia used to and took a nap with him.

Mom and Dad are trying to decide if my increased snuggling is a sign that I'm feeling worse. I'm starting to act the same way my sis did before we knew she was dying. They know I probably won't last out the year, but I'm still able to get around the house and do my normal routine (eating, drinking, litter box, up on the bed and on the couch). I have fluids almost every day now, and love getting them still. So, all in all, I'm doing ok for my 9 years!

TREATS!

February 24th 2009 8:34 am

Skylar here. Mom's typing this for me, because I'm busy getting TREATS! Mom refilled the treat ball, and the others each got a turn. When they all decided they were done, I nosed it and a treat came out. So I've been nosing it and pawing it, getting all MY TREATS. Yummy!

Saturday Sit-Down Dinner

February 28th 2009 5:03 pm

We're starting a Saturday sit-down dinner! Social "hour", with dinner by our chefs. Rotating menu. It's drop-in, service when you get here and are seated, so come anytime from 4:30 pm Catster to 7:00 pm Catster.

We're going to host it the first few times, to get it going, then ask for volunteers if anyone wants to make up a menu, serve, etc. It will be open to anyone, as all of the restaurant events are.

Come by the Chef Skylar's Restaurant group to join in the fun!

Mean Mommy Erin!

March 19th 2009 8:57 pm

*stares out the screen door as the car leaves*

Mommy Erin is soooo mean! She came with a cat carrier and took Smokey away instead of me! She cuddled me and said hi to me, then put Smokey in the carrier, petted me, and left! I watched her go, then watched the place she had been until Mom shut the door.

Mean Mommy Erin to take Smokey instead of me! Except I would really miss Mom and Dad if I left here. I'm going to ignore Mom until it's time for her to sleep, but I'll go snuggle with Dad for a bit.

P.S. I'm feeling sooo much better now that Starla has come to live with us! My depression is totally gone, and I'm eating and drinking more. I'm still having some trouble pooping sometimes, and still taking fluids, but doing better than I was.

Playing tails with Starla

March 26th 2009 10:31 pm

*giggles so much that he almost falls over* Just go read Starla's entry! She played with me! :) :) :) :) :)

A very happy,

Skylar.

April Fools from the vet?

April 1st 2009 2:33 am

Skylar: Whattaya mean, no medicine? I have to have my medicine! *follows Mommy around*

Mommy: I'm sorry, buddy. The vet gave us the wrong thing!

Skylar: You're not April Foolin' me, are you?

Mommy: Nope, I wish I was. See, your label says it should be methimazole, but the bottle label says it's fluoxetine and it's definitely not shaped like your regular stuff.

Skylar: But I want my medicine!

Mommy: *pets Skylar and tries to reassure him* I'm sorry. It will have to wait until after 11:00 am. I'll call the vet right away when they open.

Skylar: After my 8:00 medicine time? I don't get my 8 am medicine either? *looks very, very sad*

Mommy: I'm so sorry, hun.

Skylar: *goes to sulk by the food bowl where Rori is eating* They better have the right stuff at 11 am. *goes to stick his nose in the bag where the other bottle is*

Medicated at last!

April 1st 2009 1:06 pm

Mommy just came back with the CORRECT medication! Someone new at the vet's office had put the other stuff in the wrong cupboard. All taken care of now, and I have my meds. :)

Preparing for the inevitable :(

April 13th 2009 11:22 am

Mom and Dad have been watching me really closely since I begged Dad to adopt Starla. From what they've seen, they think I'm preparing the household for my death. They saw this with Lydia when she passed, too.

1. I told Dad to adopt Starla.
2. I've taken myself out of the daily household activities and am spending my days snuggling with Dad or on the bed sleeping.
3. I am not vocal at all, even in situations when I would shout (think Siamese!), but now I don't even make any sound.
4. I am teaching Starla how to snuggle and observing her interactions with Mom and Dad, so basically teaching her to fulfill my role in the household.
5. All the other cats come check up on me throughout the day, and Rori monitors my every move, even walking with me wherever I go.
6. My body processes are slowing down. I'm not taking in much of what I'm eating, and my poops are kitten-sized. I'm rapidly losing weight. I fall over sometimes when I walk. Some days, I can't jump up to the couch and wait until Dad or Mom picks me up to set me on the couch.

Mom and Dad think I have 2-3 months left. All tests come back normal; we think it's "just" old age and the pain of not having my sister around.

OMC, we won!

June 16th 2009 12:28 am

Our family won the overnight stay for one cat at the Pet Smart Hotel! The one that's the prize from Skeezix's/Catster's/The Cat's Meow contest for the travel series!

Now, to decide who gets to use it. What, Mom, you say we might all get a vacation stay? But there's only one free one. *looks confused* Oh, you'd pay for the rest of us? You have to talk with Dad first? Ok!

Mom says she and Dad might go to the beach overnight sometime and have us stay at the pet hotel.

My Fourth of July road trip!

July 9th 2009 12:09 am

On the 4th, I went to see Grandma & Grandpa! My cousins were there, and I had a great time with them. Mom, Dad, and Mommy Erin went to the beach, but it was too hot to take me all the way. I didn't mind at all, because then I got to spend time with the fam. :)

If you want to see pictures of me with my cousins, and of the beach, you can go here.

Happy birthday to meeeeee!!!!

October 26th 2009 12:22 am

It's my birthday today! :) I'm celebrating by snuggling on top of my best friend in the house: Starla. She's kind of glaring at me, but allowing me to sit on her, MOL!

Sorry I haven't written in my diary, but being an uncle to 6 foster kittens plus Little Bit took all my energy this summer! They loved to play tails with me, climb on me and over me, jump at me, ambush me, and snuggle with me! Playing and snuggling with the very young ones has kept me semi-healthy and very happy. :)

Sis, I love you and wish you were still here to celebrate our birthday. Miss you, Lydia!

Thankful for Silliness on Thursday

November 12th 2009 5:54 am

Silly, silly day! First, I didn't get my medicine on time. Mommy and Daddy said that Dr. Bob didn't want me to have it! I kept begging for it, but I didn't get it. Then, finally, I got it when I was supposed to get my next dose. They completely skipped one of my doses!

Then, while I was begging for part of Daddy's hamburger, he was teasing me! See the picture of me with the straw wrapper on my head? Daddy said that being silly helped relieve some of the stress of my blood work results from Tuesday's vet appointment.

I have anemia (17% red blood cell count) and my creatinine levels are elevated considerably. Dr. Bob told my purrents that this may be caused by too much methimazole in my system (my medicine for hyperthyroidism), but that it doesn't usually present in that way. It also may be a sign that the hyper-T was masking kidney disease.

Mommy and Daddy are both very sad about that, even though they knew that there might be something majorly wrong (which is why they took me in to the vet in the first place). The first course of action is to decrease my meds to twice a day, which is why they wouldn't let me have one of my doses today. They're hoping that it will do the trick and help everything within a week. If not, then it's more serious than just a response to my meds.

I go back in for retesting of my blood in two weeks, regardless of if I'm feeling better by then. If it is kidney disease, I won't be doing better by then and my creatinine levels will still be elevated, Dr. Bob says. Mommy and Daddy are praying that it's not kidney disease, because if it is then they say that it will be time for me to join my sister at the Bridge, because they wouldn't want me to suffer more (and for it to show up it would need to have been diseased for some time already).

So that's why we're having a silly time right now. It's so stressful around here, we need the laughter and smiles!

Doing a lot better!

December 2nd 2009 11:54 am

My purrents took me in so the vampires could take more of my blood this morning. Dr. Bob said that my red blood levels are soooo much better (26% now) and so it was just that my medicine was too high. We still don't know about my kidneys, but the anemia was the main thing that was worrisome to Dr. Bob. So we're so glad that it's much better!

Mommy's uncle sent home some turkey for me on Thanksgiving, and I smelled it the second my purrents got home! I followed the bag into the kitchen and yowled for it until Mommy put it on a special plate for me. I shared with the others in the house too, of course. Yum!

Our new house!

December 30th 2009 2:43 am

Moving again? Okay by me! I was totally unconcerned with the moving process. When it was time for us kitties to move, our purrents put my harness on and carried me out to our friends' Expedition that they let us borrow.

They had to stop at the store to get new litter boxes and some food for us, so Tabby and I waited in the driver's seat until Daddy came back. Then I sat on Daddy's lap the whole time while he drove.

Once we got there, Starla and I shared a room and the others shared another room. Tabby and Starla still need to be separated, so they figured that was best for us. Once we were all allowed out, I saw my chair had arrived so I hopped up into it and settled right down.

As long as I have my chair, I'm fine! Spooky and Starla like it, too. :)

Not feeling well

June 20th 2010 1:45 am

Mom & Dad took me in to the vet on Friday. It was time for my routine doctor appointment and bloodwork, but they were worried as well because I've not been grooming myself. I keep my face, paws, and chest clean and smooth, but the rest of my fur is matted. Mom plucks my "feathers" (fur that has come out but is still stuck in the rest of my coat) every day, and picks apart my mats. Sometimes I let her; sometimes I yowl until she stops. They were also worried because I've lost a little over a pound since Thanksgiving!

So, off we went. I complained when it took longer than usual to get there, but then my purrents reminded me that we live farther away than we used to. That made sense, so I settled down again. I like to sit on Dad's lap while he's driving, and watch the cars go by out the window.

There was a new doctor at the clinic on Friday, a relief doctor, because the others were gone for the day. As usual, when I got there I wanted down and pulled at my leash to go back into the back (treatment) room to say hi to everyone! Nope, Dad wouldn't loosen the leash and let me run back. Bummers! My sis used to do the same thing. Mom & Dad are glad that I like my doctors and staff so much that I immediately want to greet them! Believe me, I wouldn't run away, I would just run TO someone to be greeted!

The vet tech took me into the back to weigh me, then brought me back out and talked with Mom & Dad after she stuck that thermometer in me. :P After she went into the back, I stood on the exam table and looked at the door for a few minutes, then YOWLED! Ok, so where's the doctor? I'm ready, so come in! Everyone laughed at that, then Mom put me on the floor and I went to sniff both doors and then yowled again at the back.

FINALLY, the doctor came! Should it really take her 10 minutes to get done with the doggie patient and come look at me? She talked with my purrents, consulted my chart, then took me into the back to have the vampires take some of my blood. They also took my urine. Hey, you could have just given me a box instead of poking me! Mom & Dad could tell exactly when they were poking me, because I think they could hear me down the street. There's something to be said about being half-Siamese! ;)

We got the results back on Friday evening: possible kidney disease. It's what my purrents were afraid of, especially considering that my kidney levels were elevated back in November. I'm anemic, both my BUN and creatinine levels are elevated, I'm dehydrated, and I've lost that pound. My thyroid levels are also low, but that's kind of a separate issue.

So, on to the next steps. First off, I'm only going to get one pill a day, to even out my thyroid levels. I've been looking at Mom funny when she doesn't give me my evening meds but takes hers, although I give up after a few minutes so she knows it's more from habit than anything else. I still get my morning meds.

Then, I will be getting my own special food! The doctor recommended giving me yummy canned food! I don't even have to share with anyone else, so I'll get fed in a separate room. Yay!

My blood & urine will have to be rechecked again sometime, but I don't mind that. I may have to go back to getting sub-Q fluids, but that's not a big deal either.

Properly managed, which is a see-saw because it can change from day to day, I may have another year or three. But it's different for every cat, so we'll just take each day as it comes and be grateful for every minute. 

Weird question....

June 23rd 2010 6:09 pm

Mom talked with my regular doctor today, and we have a strange question! Including the vet, who doesn't know the answer to this either!

Has anyone ever had their thyroid levels continue to go low? I had mine checked back in November, after 4 years with hyper-T my meds were decreased from four to three, then two pills a day. Redid tests, and it was normal again. Now, after my vet appointment last week, my thyroid levels are low again, so we're trying half a pill per day.

The vet has no clue why I'm suddenly "getting better", or at least my thyroid levels are! My creatinine & BUN are slightly elevated, just out of the normal range, not as bad as we'd originally thought (we got the exact numbers this time). That part's to be expected, and I'm still going to have my yummy canned food and my sub-Q fluids to try to keep my kidneys semi-under control. But we're (and the vet is) absolutely clueless as to why my thyroid levels are normalizing!!!

Any advice/help/experience would be appreciated!

-- Skylar.

Fading

July 17th 2010 11:20 pm

Tonight, I let Mom "speak" with me, commune with my inner self. I don't know how humans explain it, but it's how we cats talk with each other. Mom can do it, and Dad can, too, but not often, just under the right circumstances. Everything has to be calm.

I'm aching. All my joints are hurting. Mom says it's something called arthritis. It hurts to move, hurts to lie down. My vision is a bit blurry, too, and Dad had to clean my eye twice today because of mucous. That's from a "kitty cold", mostly.

I'm hungry a lot. I get my wet food twice a day, but I used to "graze" instead, eating small bites throughout the day. It's tough to get used to eating only twice, so I'm hungry during the middle of the day and let my parents know it. When it's food time, I run down the hallway to Tabby & Carbon's room (aka the spare room), starting up my yowl as soon as I hit the doorway, and stand on my plate so that Mom has to move me to put my food on it. Then, I eat my fill and curl up on the chair in that room, yowling once to let everyone know I'm done for the moment. Then, Mom lets everyone else in to get a treat of what I've left on the plate.

I seldom snuggle with my parents anymore, but did this evening with Mom, to let her know what's going on with me. I was shaky as I stood on her, looking her in the eyes. Then, with effort, I lay down, wanting my chin scritched while she went over my body to "see" how I was doing. I'm still not putting on any weight, and my fur's still matting. She brushes me with the slicker brush, and that gets a major part of the mats, but not everything and I hate being brushed. My bones are rubbing my skin in some places, like my shoulders and my heels. Massages aren't really helping.

My favorite places are the bathtub and the kitty tent. I've given up sleeping in my recliner, preferring to curl up in one of my two chosen places instead. Dad has to lift me out of the bathtub when he comes home from work, or else I'd stay in there until he turned the water on for his shower. I get out when it's Mom's turn for a shower, though, for some reason. I'm using the box normally, and drinking water normally.

I told Mom tonight that I'm not quite ready to leave even though I'm hurting and confused, and she said that all I have to do is tell them when I can't stand it anymore and they'll release me. My kitty nieces and nephew aren't ready yet, so I'm going to stay around until they can handle the transition. I can tell Mom and Dad will never be quite ready to let me go, but they will do what's best for me. Rori knows what's going on, knows I'm close to leaving, and has been watching from a distance rather than her usual headbutting-following-me-around behavior. Death always troubles her, and she hides from it and then picks up the pieces. That's why my sister chose her to be Big Kitty of the Household. She came and sat with us on the couch tonight as I was talking with Mom, just sat, watching and listening, then walked over and rubbed against me telling me that she understands. Then she let Mom pet her, too.

We don't know how long it's going to be. No one ever knows.

Mom says that she talked with the vet about a week and a half ago, when she ordered my fluids (which I've been taking every two days). Dr. Bob now thinks I may have cancer, since my behavior's changed so abruptly. Nothing in my behavior seems to correlate with kidneys or hyper-T, in fact some of it counterindicates. So cancer is their next guess. If it is, then it's in a place where it's not showing up yet and not a mass, maybe in the bone marrow. That's what Dr. Bob said, and Mom and Dad think that's most likely, too. That's what they've been thinking for a while, and sensing from me as well.

We just don't know anything for sure, but who ever does? 

Going to the Bridge this week or next. :'(

July 19th 2010 6:10 pm

Hi friends,

I'm going to be making my journey to the Bridge sometime either this week or next. I've been vomiting tar-like liquid, plus my other symptoms (see my diary entry from a couple days ago). Not good, so Mom and Dad talked with Dr. Bob today and he confirmed that it's my time to leave. My purrents are scheduling it so that Dad has the day off from work and so that my other mommy, Mommy Erin, can be with me as well when I make my final journey. We will let you all know when we schedule it.

Sad purrs,

Skylar.

It will be Friday

July 20th 2010 5:56 pm

I'm in the bedroom, resting on the bed with Rori and Starla, so I'll let Mom type this. My appointment's set for Friday morning at 9:40 am. Everyone at the vet's is sad, too, because I'm a favorite patient there. None of their other client families have cats who come in on leash and are well-behaved in the waiting room like I am! Imagine that!

Dad can't get the day off, but he has the morning off at least. Mommy Erin is trying to get a sitter for JJ so that she can be there, too, to say goodbye to me.

Thanks, everyone, for your prayers, purrs, rosettes, treats, special gifts, p-mails, notes, etc. Hugs to everyone from all of us!!!

Sad purrs,

Skylar.

Journey to the Rainbow Bridge

July 23rd 2010 6:38 pm

This morning, I woke up on the bed curled up with Dad, Mom, and Starla. Rori was at the foot of the bed, too. I woke Mom and Dad up when the alarm went off, and Mom fed me TUNA! She and Dad got ready, while I lay by the water bowls in the dining room, exchanging sniffs with Carbon, Tabby, and Little Bit.

Then, Dad went out to the truck, and I got up to follow him. Mom said to wait, so I lay back down while she put my harness and leash on. She went to wash her hands, because I had jumped in the tub while she was getting ready so I had water all over my tummy. I got up to follow her, but Carbon bit my leash and pinned me! I lay down under the table instead, then Little Bit pinned me by my leash, too!

Mom picked me up, petted everyone, and we went out the door. When we got in the truck, I walked over to sit on Dad's lap so I could look out the window, like I usually do. They said we were going to pick up Mommy Erin. Why? I looked right at them when they said Mommy Erin's name, knowing who she was (which I sometimes forgot, but I was forgetting a lot of things recently).

When Mommy Erin got in the truck, Mom sat in the back so I could sit with Erin, but I kept switching between her and Dad. Then, we turned onto the street where my doctor is, and I knew that's where we were going! I went over to sit in Erin's lap, looking out the window, until we got there, then I looked straight through the windshield at the doctor's office!

We all got out of the car, and I wanted to walk. Nope, Mom insisted on carrying me. In we went, straight into a room. We were only there a few minutes before they switched rooms on us because another patient was coming in who needed an isolation room. No one minded, because no one cared which room we were in. The vet tech came in with paperwork, which Mom signed, and Mom and Mommy Erin took pictures of me. Finally they put me down so I could rest! I lay on the floor, purring. I knew somehow, the doctor was going to do something for my pain and make me feel better. The doctor always helps me; I love my Dr. Bob and Dr. C.!

Dr. C. came in, and she DID give me something for my pain! She gave me a shot that made me VERY sleepy! I didn't want to go to sleep, but Mom and Mommy Erin said it was ok. Dad was sitting in the chair, and he said it was ok to go to sleep, too. Mom and Erin petted me until I fell asleep, then Dad came over and petted me, saying his goodbyes to me, and kissed me. He went out of the room, but at that point I wasn't in a position to follow him.

Mommy Erin picked me up, and my tongue stuck out of my mouth! I wiggled it, but I was too sleepy to put it back in! Dr. C. said that might happen, and it was normal for sedated cats. What Mom and Erin didn't expect, though, was to hear me PURRRRRRR!!!!! I was soooo sleepy, but I wasn't in pain anymore, and I was happy, they were holding me and petting me, and I was comfortable, more comfortable than I've been in years!

Dr. C. came in and made pawprints for Mom and Mommy Erin. She shaved parts of my fur off my leg and over my heart, and gave the fur to them as well. Then, she tried to give me the other shot. She couldn't find my blood vessel in my rear leg! She said I have "old man veins"! Hmm...I don't think that was meant as a compliment! She used a vein in my front leg, which she could see after shaving some more of my thick fur, but not all the shot would go in. Enough of it went, though.

My heartbeat slowed, breathing slowed, then everything stopped.

I was floating, looking down on everyone as my body was wrapped in blue surgical sheeting and given to Mom. Mom and Dad drove Mommy Erin home, then drove home and let the other cats sniff my body. Dad brought Starla out of the bedroom to sniff, too. Then they buried my body in the backyard right next to Spooky's body.

I floated higher, then saw my sister Lydia coming toward me! Lydi! We greeted each other, purring together. Then, I saw both our little Spooky and our foster Spooky/Nyx, Sara Kitty, Squishy, and all the other angels waiting for me. All my angel Catster friends were there, too, gathered underneath Calvin's sign!

I asked if I could visit my family from time to time, and everyone said I could. I know they are really going to miss me, and I'm going to miss them, but I know they did the best thing for me. They took all my pain away, and that's the best gift anyone can give. I love you!