I guess I don't bounce back like I used to

I'm still getting so tired after doing the simplest of tasks.  Even taking a shower and getting dressed makes me feel as if I am in need of a good nights' sleep, starting before noon.  Nagging cough hasn't quite gone away.

In better news, Isis has settled right in. She makes the boy's lives a bit more.. umm active, they being the dignified 3 yr olds. She trills at them, rolls over, and tries to get them to interact. And when they ignore her overtures, she waits, and then elegantly drapes herself on their back as they walk by. She's a black cat, so she goes with all varieties of cats. :D

Loki is getting mellow in his old age

I had to move, lift, throw away some things in my office, and then vacuumed the floor, including taking the head off the vacuum and getting all the fur and smut off the cables, wires, and even the vents on the computer.

What does Loki do? Follows the vacuum head all over the room, even when I have it powered up. He the complained/meowed at me, looking around, all but saying "Put my stuff back.", which I did.

The second I sat down, Drax and Groo went dashing out of the room. Loki jumped up on the footstool demanding treats.

Yes, I am ruled by cats.

An addendum: I already hurt like hell from yesterdays' activities, so figured moving my chair, putting footstool on the sofa, lifting padded cat box to the top of the tower, and putting cat pad (formerly my seat cushion) in order to clean out my office of cat fur, dust and the stuff you get from regular foot traffic off the floor, wouldn't make me feel any worse.

Booked Trance for an ultrasound

Wing was on pins and needles the night before. Still was when he took her in at her 11am appointment.

Results: She's free of any other growths/tumors.  Wing pretty much sagged with relief, and said "YES!"  Now, she will go in for scans every 3 to 6 months. IOWs, as soon as her fur grows back, it had to get shaved again

I don't know if I can go through this again

Trance and Loki both had lumps removed a week ago Saturday. Samples were sent off to pathology.

Trance has hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a cancer that arises from malignant blood vessel cells and is an uncommon cancer in cats. It is a very aggressive cancer that spreads (metastasis) early and is associated with a poor prognosis. The underlying cause of HSA is unknown. Vet said it was just bad luck, because it's usually in dogs, not cats. And if it is in cats it usually in light furred outdoor cats, and Trance is a dark furred indoor cat.

I haven't been able to completely stop crying. First it was Ziggy, then Keito, and now Trance? Three different types of cancer, each of them 'bad luck'? I feel as if my heart is being crushed.

To whatever asshat who either forgot to bring their cat inside,

or just decided roaming around at night was a good idea... 

I would like to thank you for Trance's "I WANT TO KILL YOU!" screams and yowl in the middle of the night, as she followed your cat from office window, to the front bay windows, until it left our yard, only to enter my neighbors yard outside her field of vision.

You are the type of cat owner that makes responsible pet owners pissed off. Our only 'free range' cat is a 15 yr old who likes to bake on the bricks in the fenced in back yard, and has one area he uses for his bodily functions.  But he is not allowed to roam free, night or day. If he really wants out at night, we have an enclosure that is attached to the sliding glass doors.

The other three cats are *never* allowed to go outside, free range. It's the enclosure, with a chair, two hammocks, a box , and a few pingpong and golf balls to play with, a panoramic view of birds of all kinds local for entertainment.

But there are, and have been, at least 7 cats that roam around. One, I caught and rehomed as the poor mite had been abandoned when the humans moved house. That leaves 6.  I'm fairly sure that two of them, (one of which I had photographed her in our Jacaranda tree some years ago), has passed, leaving the 4 regular roamers.

Milo (the only one to have a collar with a name tag, who is the "Groo-bear look-alike"), the Ragdoll (why someone would let a pedigree cat roam is beyond me), the white cat with flame point tail and ears, and the ginger and white striped cat.

These are the cats whose owner's thumb their noses at local laws and regulations concerning cats. You are the kind that make things more difficult for those of us who obey laws, and do all the right things.  I don't blame the cats for doing what cats are genetically geared to do. I do blame the humans who are supposed to be  their caretakers.

Summer has returned, with a vengeance

Last month we had cool and cold weather. Then a day of warmish weather, then cold again.  Now we have 39 to 41c  (102 to 106f)days, and 26c (77f) nights.  The wall our bed is against is hot to the touch.  Guess it's a good thing I have to pile pillows so I am in a reclining position. They at least insulate me from the wall.

We have kept the a.c. on, set to 25c (75f) at night.

It's been so hot, that our solar water heater needed to be bled, because it was gushing water from the relief valve.  Wing managed to, under the instructions of Solarhart, to do the job. He was told if it happens again, give them a call. Luckily it's under warranty.

Trance went after Groo-bear again. She really didn't get a good grip on him, and he fought back!  He is no longer the scrawny scared kitten.

I've been staying off Facebook, as it's just not good for my mental health.  Just too many instances of "Not my circus, not my monkeys". And it's sad because it's just a few people fucking it up.  I am under enough stress in my life. I really don't need any more.

Ah, the joy of headache free, clear vision

No more eyestrain, too. Also, no more either tilting my head or closing one eye when editing photographs, or watching a movie with one eye closed.

The 'kittens' can no longer really be called kittens. Drax is pretty close to the size of Loki already. Groo-Bear is still a bit flighty, but he has been actually coming into my office, beg for petting, or brushing or some treats. Drax sneaks into the bedroom every night for cuddles and scritches before I go to sleep. And even after I'm asleep. Wing has told me he sees Drax dashing back in. If only we could trust Trance.

Ah, the joy of headache free, clear vision

No more eyestrain, too. Also, no more either tilting my head or closing one eye when editing photographs, or watching a movie with one eye closed.

The 'kittens' can no longer really be called kittens. Drax is pretty close to the size of Loki already. Groo-Bear is still a bit flighty, but he has been actually coming into my office, beg for petting, or brushing or some treats. Drax sneaks into the bedroom every night for cuddles and scritches before I go to sleep. And even after I'm asleep. Wing has told me he sees Drax dashing back in. If only we could trust Trance.

Yesterday, I cleaned out "Ziggy's Corner".

I had been putting it off because it felt like I was erasing her. But Ziggy can never be erased, or forgotten.

I moved some of her things, and got into the corner behind the footstool. And in the corner I found at least 20 small batteries. AAs, AAAs, single use, rechargeable.
The little wench had been hoarding them! I laughed through the tears as I cleared out her 'treasure trove'.
Now we know why she was always with her butt in the air, on the edge of the footstool, rummaging around in the corner.
What I didn't realize how much having just that much of her history with us cleared away would hurt today.  Finding her toys, some with her fur and scent still on them.
I miss her... and I miss Keito. But I didn't know I'd miss them this much.  Maybe it's because losing two in a month to the day was a bit to take.

Vet report on Keito

Vet report on Keito - the vet was very pleased at Keito's recovery. Not only has the surgical site healed perfectly, our moggie has put on some weight. He should be seeing how much he's been catching up on missed meals.

Regarding the diagnosis of lymphoma: There are three treatments.

We could just treat the symptoms, which would suppress them a while, and it will come raging back in 3 to 6 months.

Another option: there is a treatment for small cell lymphoma. It does work, but it's toxic. Keito doesn't have small cell lymphoma. So gave that one the flick.

Third option: It's the most used one. It has a 25% chance of cure (wishful thinking) and a 75% chance of a 1 to 3 (or longer)  year remission. The protocol is given by weight, so his low weight isn't an issue. AND because the lymphoma was caught early, gives him a damned good chance of remission. We have chosen option three. The vet said I have reasonable expectations. Sure, a cure would be great, but that is a slim chance. He said remission is very likely.

Also discussed Ziggy and her coughing. We were given the name of an OTC cough remedy that would work to break up the mucus. It's not a cure, but it will help her breathing. As long as she eats, does other cat things, and her gums are pink and her ears are pink and warm, she will stay with us.

Ziggy Update (and other sundries)

Ziggy seems to be holding her own.  Instead of feeding her twice a day, been giving her small meals throughout the day.  Still pinning hopes on the CBD oil arriving soon enough to be of use to her. I gave her a catnip leaf, and she enjoyed it. Got her to eat a bit more, and she's resting comfortably now on two heated wheat bags.

Keito:  he's had his course of antibiotics.  His eating is still hit and miss, meaning sometimes we have to follow him and put the dish of food in front of him to make him eat.  Have scheduled an appointment for him to have a glucose curve test, 7am tomorrow morning.

I know pets are ephemeral, and live faster than we humans, but having two ill, one with a terminal illness, at the same time, is breaking my heart.   I feel so helpless.

I've been getting intermittent shooting pains down the back of my thigh. Seeing as I had a spinal fusion, it's not sciatica.  Could be that I missed a few doses of my dystonia meds, and stress has been on the high side the past few weeks.  *sigh* 

I declare Monday "The Menagerie Day"

With the help of Alan, the cats' food and water dishes have been scrubbed and refilled. Their sandboxes cleaned and refilled.

I went outside, took down, scrubbed and refilled the hummingbird feeders.  I had a chorus of Wattlebirds, and at least two varieties of honey-eaters while I worked.  When I was finished I counted 5 adult (young and resident) Red Wattlebirds, and I heard the unmistakable sound coming from the Jacaranda tree of a young fledgling Red Wattlebird begging to be fed.

Up before the dawn again

Sometimes, I just can't get the right leg comfortable enough to sleep well through the night.  Was up at 4:43 am (checked my watch, so know the time is right).  Let Keito and Loki into the back yard to 'dig holes in the sand'.  Checked on Ziggy, as she and Trance had another dust up yesterday.  Once again, Trance was on the losing end of things.  Ziggy is ok, though.

Fed them all around 5:30.  Keito got his insulin on time.  Ziggy, from having to groom self after the fight with Trance, hurked up her food. Of course ON the sofa. (Preen OxyAction to the rescue)  There was a HUGE clump of fur.  After I cleaned it all up, she demanded to be fed again.  Tossed some things into the washer, and they are currently hanging out on the line.

Knee feels a bit thick and stiff this morning, but there was no sciatic pain.. at first.  But when it showed up, it did so with a vengeance. Immediately did the routine Matt gave me. First five.. gritting teeth. Second set, not so bad. By the time I had finished the 3rd set of five, the pain was manageable. Have taken pain meds, and the anti-inflammatory.

One really doesn't appreciate the absence of pain, until it hammering away at you.

That's one

Today, renewal of Ziggy's pet insurance policy arrived.  Soon now, Keito, Loki and Trance's will arrive.   It's worth it.

Such a useful item

I got an o2 Hurricane canless air system because the cost of canned hair, with 3 desktops was very expensive. Especially if you have to do sustained blasts with it.  Have to admit after a few months of cleaning keyboards, desktops, my Skyrim dragon statue, it has more than paid for itself.

It's just a bonus that it works great on removing dust motes and cat fur from lens filters and from the front elements. Don't have to brush or use a cloth.

The last few days have been interesting with the purr kids.  We have installed 'knife proof/cat proof' screen doors in place of the hollow wooden ones.  There have been very umm 'vocal' arguments between Ziggy and Trance with each on one side of the door.  The good news is that since Ziggy knows Trance can't just attack her, she doesn't back down... and she can outshout Trance.  And afterward, Trance heads to her private sulking corner. :)

Groceries ordered, will arrive tomorrow before noon. Now, I just have to figure out what to cook for dinner tonight. :)

Cat Conversations

They get to live

For now.

I went into my office area, and could hear the steady growling of an pissed off cat. Ziggy. Loki was about 3ft away from her, and she was letting out a steady stream of growling (and for such a tiny cat she sounds very fierce. had deep guttural growl).

Shooed Loki away and spotted Trance's collar on the floor, by the looks of it, torn off of her. In the short space of Wing feeding Ziggy and his ducking it to take a shower, Trance went after Ziggy and Ziggy handed her her ass.. again.

The "they get to live".... I spotted two of my external hds knocked to the floor, the small USB fan I keep going behind the computer to prevent overheating (not that it's really a problem, but why take chances) broken, and cords unplugged.

Took about 2 hours to get everything set up to test. Other than the fan frame needing to be glued together, all seems to be in good working order.

Ziggy finally let me check her out (she was a bit umm smelly as Trance had, shall we say, bladder control issues when she decided to take Ziggy on again.) Ziggy is cleaned and groomed, and I checked her for wounds. Nada.

Now, I have to find Trance and do the same. I'm betting she is sporting some new scratches again.

To those who say "Never try to out-stubborn a cat"

You have never seen me do exactly that. 

Ziggy has habit of licking a spot on a foot until it's lost the fur (stress thing like a human biting fingernails).  She has learned that I will make her stop whether she wants to or not.

Next thing; get her to stop ‘power rubbing’ her chin raw.

Now that Trance has been here for a few months

And is no longer hiding, it's time for her to learn the hierarchy.  She has been stalking and attempting to bully Ziggy.  Ziggy is the 'diva' here, and Trance has to learn it.

Whenever Trance stalks or harasses Ziggy, she gets a squirt of water from a spray bottle. All three of us have one close at hand. Ziggy will be allowed to growl, and if Trance doesn't retreat, squirt.  

Bengals are intelligent, and I'm sure Trance will get the message/training quick enough. But this doesn't mean we will allow Ziggy to harass Trance.  Should Ziggy start being the bully, a different chastisement (noise and voice). Again, Bengals are intelligent (for the most part) and I'm sure she will get it through her noggin. :)

Good Morning 4am

Once again, I am up early because of feline behavior.

I heard this low, not quite silent growling, and felt something slowly climb over me, and settle down where one pillow overhung another. The growl got a bit louder.  I reached out, and felt a small muscular body, grabbed it and held it close. Flicked on the light, and it turned out to be Ziggy.  Her growling grew in volume and I looked around, and there was Trance, slowly slinking towards her.

Since Ziggy was under an 'overhang' of pillow, hiding her from sight, and kept my arm wrapped around her. She quieted a bit. I got up and shooed Trance away. 

Tried to go back to sleep, but even though both Loki and Trance weren't in the room, Ziggy kept intermittently growling. So, I tucked a blanket up over her, and then she started purring and dozing off.

 

Guess she knows who can keep her protected.