Monday, May 30, 2011

Heat Wave!

Yoko curled up with her tail for warmth.

Hope everyone had a relaxing weekend.  Mom worked all but Sunday and spent that getting some plants for her garden and containers.  She has to get out early to work int he yard or it gets too hot.

We are having a late spring heat wave here in the upper 80's and low 90's all week long.  The older cats are cool and comfy in the house with the air conditioning on.  A tad bit cooler than they would like but Mom has to be comfy too!


Ivy snoozing in the sun.

The white cats have a screen porch to lounge on and the building is built into the hillside which keeps it cool on hot days.  They were all sleeping in their favorite spots on the porch as hot as it was.  They get a good breeze most days and we have fans going for them. 

How are you coping with the heat?  We hope it is not going to a a scorcher summer like last year!  Stay cool!


Two Spot on the cat tree.



Snowball squished in the cat tree tube.


Handsome Al after a sip of water.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Garden Thursday

Georgie hosting today.

Georgie here today to host the garden tour.  It has been very hot but the beans have been working on our garden and getting it all spruced up for the season.


Peonies

We still have lots of spring flowers blooming in our garden plus all our veggies.  Pop has been planting our tomatoes, adding dirt to our potatoes and we have already eaten (well the beans, not us) some broccoli.


Late blooming azaleas.

Rose

Another peony

Mountain laurel

Pop's potatoes finally sprouting!

For more garden tours, please visit Jonsie and the Society of Feline Gardeners.

The beans will be working this holiday weekend but we are planning to catch up on our R&R.  What are your plans for the weekend? Wishing all our fellow Americans a safe, fun Memorial Day Weekend!  See ya next week.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Whitester Mancat Monday


Mom got out our favorite toy over the weekend - the laser dot.  Whoo hoo!  Us whistesters just love to chase this all over our screen porch.











All wore out now...gotta rest up for the next session!  We want to wish our dear ML a very Happy Birthday and a belated one to Auntie Deb.


Senior cat Chica is doing well on once a week fluids.  All is back to normal more or less for her.  Thanks for all your concern.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Meet Thomas on Friend Friday

Wooly posing for Peel at the vet.

This was our post when Blogger went AWOL those two days last week.  It showed up in our drafts this week so we figured we would go ahead and post it.

Thomas (formerly known as Wooly) is the office cat at a vet I lived near and has quite a story to tell.  Sorry the pics are blurry - a friend took them with her cell phone for me.  Let's get to his story.....


It was late winter of 2005 and I kept noticing drops of blood here and there in the snow out near the feral cat shelter.  I was worried one of mine has gotten into fight and needed medical help.  All of mine were accounted for but still the drops of blood kept appearing in the snow. 


Finally I saw the injured cat - a large gray  long haired Main Coon like cat was walking slowly through the yard, dragging his left front paw.  The blood was coming from cuts on the top part of his paw which was now face down and making contact with the ground as he walked.  He couldn't seem to lift it.  I called to him but he stayed his distance.  I put food out and set a humane trap to see if I could entice him in and take him to the vet.  I would find the trap set but no cat inside. He kept coming by for food but because of his paw, he was not able to go in the trap without setting it before he was all the way in.  I didn't see him every day but when I did his paw looked the same.


Seeing him suffering like this was very upsetting..  I contacted the neighbors.  No one knew who he was or where he came from.  I began to call him Wooly because of his massive thick  fur. Another neighbor joined me in trying to capture him but he disappeared before we were able to get him safely to a vet.  We looked for him, left food out but no sign of Wooly.  Peel and I were saddened to think  some wild animal or dog must have gotten him in his weakened condition.

Late winter turned to spring and Peel phoned me,excitedly, to tell me to come with her to the vet who had his office in our neighborhood  one street over. We walked in and who do we see but Wooly, alive and well and with his damaged front leg removed!  It seems that he moved on to another street and someone was able to make friends with him enough to catch him.  Once at the vet, he was examined and tested for the viruses.  His test came back positive for Feline Leukemia. The rescuer told the vet John to put him down, not wanting to take on a sickly cat, I guess.



Wooly chillin' on the floor at the vet with his lion cut!

Of course Dr John couldn't euthanize him. Instead he set Wooly up for surgery and removed the left front leg at the shoulder.  Dr. John explained that the tendons had been severed making the leg useless. Wooly probably got it caught in a wildlife trap since we lived in a heavily wooded area in the mountains.


The office staff renamed him Thomas and decided to keep him as the official greeter. Thomas has been living the good life and serving his post at the vet's now for several years. Thomas also has a buddy to live with - a sweet tabby named Jonah who has Feline Leukemia too. His owner wanted to euthanize him after he tested positive so the vet took him on as another office cat.  They are living the good life now!


If a vet is willing to keep and care for two Feline Leukemia positive cats, it shows that they do have a chance at a good life with proper care.  I know some of you have already taken in FeLV cats and know how special they are.  Think it over seriously before giving up on a cat with FeLV!

UPDATE ON CHICA
Our sweet elderly Chica is doing much better with fluids more often.  She is back to her normal self and will be getting fluids once a week for the time being.  She is eating normally and getting around just fine.  Thank you all for your purrs and prayers for her.  Her official 20th birthday is coming up next month so we will have to have a super celebration for her.

Do stop by for more animal posts at Camera Critters.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Thankful Tuesday

Chica sleeping.
 
Chica ate some of her breakfast Monday morning before we went to the vet's for more fluids.  She has eaten a little of her food plate every few hours since and seems much more comfortable.  We would like to thank all of your for your purrs and prayers for her these past few days.  We hope she has made it past this crisis and continues to stabilize.  It does help to know that you all care and are there for us.



Mom was pooped too so took a nap with six of us piled on the bed with her.  Front to back is Tabitha, Joey, Ivy under the red blankie, Darby and Minnie at the end of the bed.  Off by herself is our dear tortie princess Chica resting comfortably after fluids.  Woody joined the pile later but scooted off when the flashy box came out.

Ivy snuggled under.


Mom will be by to visit and thank you all in the next few days.  Don't you just love the mismatched fleece Mom has on the bed?  The Tweety bird one scares some of the cats.  Woody kept pouncing on the big yellow spots!  Have you got any funny or colorful covers for your furniture?

Sunday, May 15, 2011

We Need Advice about Fluids and CRF!



Chica ia looking pretty good, walking around and getting up on the chair or bed herself but still not eating on her own.  She is just eating a few squirts of the watery food every few hours. She passed another clump of furball yesterday but is getting dehydrated again.  I am giving her water and electrolytes but may take her in to get sub c fluids today but...

When the ER vet gave her fluids on Thursday she was vomiting and moaning and looked very uncomfrotable after for a few hours - usually she perks up and is better.  When I got to my vet they tried to take blood to do bloodwork but her veins collapsed and they got nothing.  Without knowing what is going on, I am hestistant to give her fluids if they are going to make her sicker like last time.  I looked up online and the websites for CRF say that vomiting after fluids was a sign of the wrong fluids used. She may need added minerals like calcium or potassium.

I don't know what to do?  Has anyone had this  happen to them?  I just worry I will make her feel worse and at her age hate to do that to her.  Monday I will check in with her regular vet - should I wait until Monday on the fluids?  Thanks for all your support and help.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Hail Storm and Chica Still Needs Purrs

Chica surveying the storm mess.


Chica helping Mom make the bed before she got sick.


Keep those purrs coming...Chica passed a small hair ball last night but we think more is still in there as she still won't eat.  I am feeding her a mixture of baby food, psyllium, slippery elm and then giving her Laxatone!  Something will come out.  The vet does not feel this is at all the last stages of CRF - just a case of dehydration and a hairball issue. Chica is up and walking around, sitting with me and checking out the window scenes.

Potato plants with hail.

We had a wild night last night to boot - pea sized hail and strong storms!!!!  Here are pics of our veggie garden with the hail in it.  It was very scary and lasted for 15 minutes or more coming in waves.  The kitties all hid under the beds, sofa or sat next to me.

Hail in lettuce bed.



Hail on Mom's new car!



Lily and Only in their screen porch after the hail storm.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Tortie Friday - Purrs Please

UPDATE
Chica has stopped vomiting and is drinking water on her own but has not eaten. Her vet does not want her to go without eating as it can cause liver issues so we are feeding her broth and baby food with slippery elm in it every couple of hours to help glide things thru. Thank you for all your purrs!



We had a post for Friends Friday but Blogger ate it and we don't feel like writing it again!!!

We could use purrs for our 20 year old Chica who has CRF - she crashed yesterday and I had to go get sub cutaneous fluids  ASAP at a nearby vet.  I can do it but not alone and hubby was at work.  She continued to vomit all night when she would try to use the litter box so I suspect she was constipated too.

Chica in her PTU

Got in to see our vet this morning and she said along with constipation, Chica may have a furball that needs to come out.  She has stopped vomiting and is resting comfortably.  I fed her watery baby food in a syringe and got some furball goo in her too.  Both stayed down.

I need to keep feeding her food, water and furball goo over the weekend and check in with our vet on Monday.  Keep those purrs coming!!!!!  Thanks!!!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The Winner on Tabby Tuesday

Yoko on right sharing her new nip toy with Joey.

Thank you all for stopping by to wish me a happy 18th Gotcha Day. I had a great time at the party!!!!  Monday was a day of rest for me but now I am up and at  'em again, playing with my new toys!

Using Random.org, Mom picked a winner for the Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul grand prize ....and the winner is Hannah  and Lucy.  Since they live overseas, they generously offered to give the prize to Marg of Marg's Pets.  Congrats to Marg.  You will be getting your cat food, gift certificate and book in the mail soon.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Happy Mother's Day and Yoko's 18th Gotcha Day!

Yoko inspecting her Gotcha Day goodies.


Oh Mom...do I havta wear this silly hat?

I'm outta here!

It is hard to believe 18 years ago on this very weekend ( May 8) Mom and Pop took me as a tiny kitten home from the Naples Florida animal shelter.  I was supposed to be a woofie puppy but they did not have any that day so I was the lucky one to get picked.  Well, Pop picked me and couldn't put me down.


Me looking our our lanai.


Me on Pop's lap - he is the bestest!

We lived in Florida for a few years before we all moved to North Carolina.  It was just me and my grumpy older sister Chica then.  She is still my grumpy older sister all these years later. She will be 20 next month.  We had a big house and screened porch all to ourselves.  Chica was kinda mean to me so I was real good at finding safe hidy spots!


Chica picking on me again!


Can you find me?


I am having a quieter celebration this year but it will go on all weekend and you are all invited. We have treats, toys, nip and of course cake.



We are a big fan of the Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul dry cat food and will be giving away a prize package sponsored by them.  Just let me know in your comment if you want in on the give-away.  We'll  Be giving away   three sample bags of the adult cat dry  formula; a $30 gift card to PetFoodAuthority.com and a copy of the Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul book.  Some lucky cat could buy a lot of catnip with that!



And of course this being Mother's Day on Sunday, we wish all mothers in all species a very lovely Mother's Day. We are joining Misty Dawn for Camera Critters - please do stop by.  Thanks for stopping by our celebration!











Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Happy Cinco de Mayo and Garden Thursday

Chica celebrating!

We will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo today with lots of hat dances, margaritas and even a pinata or two!  Hope you all have a fun day.


Our organic garden is coming along.  Pop planted some fingerling potatoes this week.  Our tomatoes are getting big in their pots but it is too early to put them out yet.  Lots of flowers blooming - yellow and purple irises, and pink rhododendrons!  Enjoy the garden pics and do stop by Jonsie's Society of Feline Gardeners for more cat gardens.

Rhododendron












Fingerling potatoes
 We would like you to please help find a home for a very sweet loving calico cat named Daphne who is FIV positive.  Chrystal's private shelter is not able to keep her in the long term and is asking all of us to help out.  If you have not seen her post , please visit Daily Dose of Dogs for more info on Daphne.

Sweet Daphne needs a home.

Last but not least our own Yoko is celebrating her 18th Gotcha Day all weekend Saturday and Sunday.  Please do stop by to join in on the party!

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