Cat Rap...er, Wrap

There is no way I'd stand for this. This poor kitty must be high on catnip or something. (Oh, sorry 'bout that ad...I guess it has to be there.)

Update

Hey, there. I'm back.

As you can see, when I'm awake and feeling good, I usually keep a close eye on all that's going on in the world around my house. All sorts of critters show up outside my window, like sandhill cranes, squirrels, anoles, and golfers.

Treater and Dr. Heather spent a long time talking about me yesterday. Dr. Heather (she's Dr. Steve's wife) said my thyroid numbers are still bad, but they're lots better than they were one month and two months ago. I have to have more of that lab work in one more month. If they're not good, I'll have to have another I-131 treatment.

Some of my other results weren't so good, either, but others were excellent. I don't like one of the two new foods that Dr. Steve wants me to eat, so Dr. Heather said not to worry about it for now. Whew. That's good. I was afraid Treater and Napper would start cramming it down my throat like that ginormous pill they make me take every night!

I have good days and bad days. Yesterday was a horrible day. Today is much better. So far. Except for Treater laughing at me and teasing me.

Yeah, I was sleeping soundly.

Yeah, sleep does ugly things to one's hair fur.

Yeah, I was sleeping on my side.

Yeah, the right side of my face is flat. (For you people who get confused like Treater, the right side of my face is on your left.)

Please don't laugh at me.

Pssst...Orion, did you recognize the blankie you sent me? I still sleep on it every single day. :)

Catching up

The last time I wrote, I mentioned that I had a heart problem. My heart still hurts from missing Tiggie, but my inside heart is better. My health problems were more than just that.

Treater noticed that I was tired a lot more than usual, and she also thought I looked as if I had lost a little weight. I'm not a very big kitty anyway. At my, er, um, plumpest, I weighed 7.5 pounds. I'm just a little gal. Well, she called the V.E.T. and dragged me in there. They weighed me and poked me and stuck me and did some pretty disagreeable things to me! I was not a happy camper!

This was about three or four months ago. The blood tests showed some scary-high numbers, so Dr. Steve sent me to the Big City Hospital. Treater was amazed - she said she never realized there were V.E.T. Specialists at those hospitals. I saw a cardiologist and an internist when I was there. It turned out that my primary condition was hyperthyroidism. Yeah, I dunno what that is, either, but it's what made me tired and skinny. They also found my enlarged heart, but the cardiologist suspected it was a side-effect from the thyroid disorder.

(Yeah, there are some big words here. Treater is peeking over my shoulder helping me with the spelling.)

Anyway, the treatment sounded scary, but it wasn't so bad...except that I had to stay in the hospital for a few days. They gave me something called an I-131 treatment and turned me into a radioactive cat! Napper teased me...he said he knew the things I left in my litter box were radioactive...for a while, they really were! Life seemed no different to me once I got home, but Treater and Napper had to avoid me for a couple of weeks and every time they did anything for me, they pulled on gloves. I tell you what...my litter box leavings must be valuable. They wouldn't throw them away; instead, they saved them in a special box. Now, even I wouldn't want that box after a few days.

Anyway, like I said the last time I wrote, they made me start taking pills three times a day for my heart. After a month, I only had to take two a day. That's no fun. I also had to go back for more poking and other disagreeable stuff. Dr. Steve and Dr. M (my internist) weren't happy with the results, so they told me I had to go back again in one more month. Well, that was yesterday.

More poking and pushing and sticking and all those disagreeable things. This is getting old. On the good side, I gained four more ounces, so I've gained about half a pound since my treatment. Treater is supposed to talk to Dr. Steve today about "my labs." (I didn't know I had a lab!)

Dr. M said that 5% of the felines who have the I-131 treatment have to have a second treatment. I hope I'm not one, but it's not looking great. We'll know later today. Treater said my medical treatments this year already cost more than hers and Napper's combined. Hey, I'm worth it, right?

So, that's why I haven't blogged much lately. I've just been too tired. I still sleep a lot, but I'm feeling a bit better.

Oh, yeah. I got new food yesterday, too. Dr. Steve said I need special food for my kidneys. Gee. This is making me sound like an old cat. I'm not...I'm still a youthful-looking lady. Hmmm, but I do have a birthday in a couple of months.

Twelve's not old! Is it?

Treater said we'll post an update later when we know something. She said she'll do it for me if I'm sleeping. Right now, I need a nap.

I am sad

Please pardon my long absence from my blog. This has been an unusally eventful summer around here. It's a long story, and I may tell all about it later. Right now, my heart hurts.


My heart has been sick lately. The V.E.T. did not like the way my heart sounded, so he sent me and Treater to a cat-cardiologist. They took pictures of my heart (among other things!!!) and put me on special medicine. He said my heart was huge. I thought a big heart was good, but not in this case. He also said there was a lot of fluid around my heart. I had to take three pills a day! I went back last week for more pictures of my heart and the V.E.T. was very surprised and said my heart almost looks normal! Now I just take two pills a day.


I felt better...for a short time. Now my heart hurts again.


My very bestest cyber-friend...my inspiration for this blog...has been very sick, too. Tiggie FOC (that means Faithful Orange Cat) had some surgery a couple of weeks ago, but it did not help him get better. Blondie and Bernie had to make a hard choice yesterday, and they helped Tiggie cross the Bridge. Now Tiggie feels better, and is romping with his old friends, Mac and Tidbit, and a lot of other friends, too.

Treater and Napper went to visit Blondie and Bernie and Tiggie and Hart a couple of months ago. Treater took this picture of Tiggie for me (beautiful, isn't he?). He didn't feel very good here.

It's a sad day when a cat leaves his people. Please purray for his family...they are sad.

So am I.

Quick! Hide the cheese!

I was awakened from my morning snooze by the sound of music playing and Treater laughing. I stretched and yawned and ambled over to see what was happening.

Oh, no. I think we'd better hide the cheese. This cannot happen!

So not nice!

Treater was doing something in the kitchen today...don't know what she was doing, but all of a sudden, something came flying across the room and landed on the floor.

It smelled so good!

I sniffed and sniffed and got closer...oh, I was getting so excited, and then...



...she snatched it away. Dadgummit. She called it a chicken bone. Yum. I like chicken. Not sure what the bone part is all about.

That wasn't very nice of her to take it away like that.

Twins!

Those big, big birds that live nearby have been in hiding for a few days. I thought they flew away.

Yesterday, I found out why they were hiding.





We spotted them out for a walk with their new twin chicks. One is easy to see, trailing just behind the parent on the right. The other one is at the front leg of the parent on the left.

I can't decide if they're cute or if they look appetizing or if they look like my next toy.

Pssssssst....

Pssssst....

Hey, Treater! You forgot another Very Important Day.

Yesterday was my birthday. Yeah. Remember that? I cannot believe that you just up-and-up, out-and-out...forgot!!!

Sheesh. It's not everyday a beautiful gal like me turns ELEVEN!

Ten Commandments

Hey, it's me again! Please don't totally give up on me. Whenever Treater has time, she does try to take dictation.

Today, she told me that she got something on her Book-in-Her-Face site that is worth sharing. Yeah, whatever that is. Anyway, I think all our people should read this.

A Pet's Ten Commandments

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters.

~Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!

Another month...year...day...whatever

Yawn.

I know that I'm a bit late with this (but it's not my fault!): Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday season. Now on to things that really matter.


It's cold here. Really cold. I live in Florida...the Sunshine State. That is supposed to mean warmth. Well, it's not warm here. Not right now.



It's been so cold that we have had thick frost covering the fairway behind us every morning. Over the weekend, white icy stuff fell from the sky! My people kept calling it "snow."

I'm glad I'm an indoor cat.

Other than that, there isn't much to tell.

Eat. Sleep. Sleep. Poo. Sleep. Sleep. Eat. Sleep. Sleep. Pee. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep...

Now, I think I'll roll over again and take another nap.