Nine Lives Gone

She...
ruled my life,
filled my heart,
now haunts my soul.

I knew she would go sometime
But, not so soon.

Nineteen years, six months
was not enough for me.

She's run out of her ninth life.
Why couldn't there be ten?

She loved playing with that feather boa.
Pink feathers everywhere.
I wish I still had it.

I miss her.

Rare Breed of Cat

Shall I adopt this very rare breed of cat? I have heard that rabbits can be house trained, but I dont know if that means they can use a litter box. But, then I know there might be a problem with it dispersing baskets.

I came across this spoofed picture yesterday.
couldn't resist using it. I sent it around to friends and family like I did that picture of the obese shelter cat. Again some took me seriously. A few really thought that this was a rabbit, and some thought it was a cat. Or maybe everyone is trying to humor me? Maybe they think I've gone off my rocker? (Well, I have.)

Maybe I can send it over to Desiree's garden for it's regular feedings? Heh Heh Heh

Though it may have more carnivorous appetite, considering it's stripes.

Sacred Feeder Dish

Yesterday Kats and I went to the big pet food store. It's huge. They have dog training classes there right in the middle of the store. There must have been 20 or 30 dogs. It was mayhem. We had to pass through them all to get to the Cat aisles.

We had decided to get Jeffery the one kind of cat food that we knew he loved to eat. It's shredded. It has turkey, gravy and cheese in it.

Then we met a lady who works there and I told her the situation. She told me to feed him dried kitten food because it was high in calories, and he could gain weight. We bought a small bag because I wasn't even sure that he would eat it.

When Keli was here he wasn't interested in dry food hardly at all. Used to take a bite or two and leave. But, I was desperate. so we bought it.

When we got home, I looked around for the plastic cat feeder. You put the food into this large container and it comes out a hole in the bottom into a plastic bowl. Keli had it for years.

When Keli died I took all her stuff and put it away because every time I looked at it, I cried. So then I found the dry food feeder and I cried while I put the kitten food in it, and set it down.

Suddenly Jeffery was there gobbling down the food. He kept going back to it all night. So, it looks like he might start eating again. We just didn't have the right menu!

Lonesome Kitty

I keep thinking that if Jeffery has a little competition for food, and have a buddy, he would be happier. I was gone all day yesterday to Stanford U med cntr and he was very clingy when I got home.

I am still fresh with grief and it breaks through at the most inconvenient times, while driving for example, in the middle of a good TV show, while reading an absorbing book. while brushing my teeth.

I hadn't been able to watch TV at first, or read or anything. So making myself do these things, I thought, would help me get through it. But, last night I was howling like a banshee, I cried so hard.

Funny, it didn't scare Jeffery, but made him crawl up closer to my face, as if my armpit wasn't close enough!

Note: This picture was taken several months ago.

No Fat Cats for Me!

No other cat could replace Keli. But, I have decided to look for another cat for Jeffery's sake. Jeffery is mourning her. He is already skin and bones since I got him last summer, but now he is barely eating a thing, only weighs 10 lbs, meows all the time, follows me around the house, wanders back and forth looking in closets and hiding places. Even though he laid down with her those few hours after and seemingly knew she was dead, I don't know if he realized she wasn't coming back.

I think if ever I am meant to get another cat, just for me, it will happen, but not right now. Even finding a cat for Jeffery I am not just picking the first one I see.

I had sent a picture of a shelter cat as actually as a joke asking friend's and family opinion on if I should adopt him. (see below) I couldn't possibly get a cat that huge and bulding at the seams. He would swallow Jeffery in one bite. And a long hair is out of the question. They take so much care, and I am often not home, going to doctors and such. I think that is also one reason Jeffery is so lonesome.

I would never get a humongous cat like that, especially with all the fur. Not only would Jefferey NOT like a cat 3 times his size, but Kats would leave me because of the cat hair we would be swimming in. I wasn't serious about sending this picture out to friends. But so many took me seriously! I just have to clarify here. It's just when I went to the shelter's website and saw that this cat had not been adopted in years, I could see why!

As for the shelters around here, I don't know if it is California law or not, but all of them test for Leukemia and something else, I can't remember at the moment. They spay and neuter, and give them all their shots. Then of course, I would get to pay for all that as part of the adoption fee. Fortunately as a Senior I would get a discount.

Two other things they do is "no kill", as long as the animal is healthy. They can do that because they have foster programs. People can volunteer to foster a cat, or several until they are adopted by someone. That way a long term cat doesn't get psychotic being locked in a cage all the time. Also, if I adopt an old cat, then I get a big discount.

Adopting Jeffery last summer, I got him for nothing. Part was the regular discount for my being a senior, part was for him being a senior (he's 15 or more) part was that he was already there 6 weeks.

They had a glut of animals because of all the forest fires we had. Animals who didn't have any collars and tags or chips and their owners never called, were put up for adoption. Jeffery was a fire rescue cat. He still has a bit of asthma. The other part of my getting him for free is that there is a benefactor who donates money to certain kitty owners. She had her eye on me, and also on Jeffery, because he was being considered for euthanasia, so she covered the difference. She is called the Kitty Angel.

One of the problems that I see with the no kill policy is that the longer the cat is there the fatter they get from inactivity, so I don't think they are very healthy if they weigh so heavy. And, since I have Jeffery on high calorie diet, I can just see the problems I would have feeding one a low cal diet and him a high one! No fat cats for me, even though I'm a fat cat!

Things that go bump in the night

I couldn't sleep last night. Yesterday, I had a doctor appointment and afterward I wandered (in my car) just kind of spaced out, and not knowing, or caring where I was going.

Several times I decided on a different destination then ended up at the SPCA to look at cats. Did I think I would find a living Keli there? They had about 8 cats for adoption. All very huge cats at least 25 lbs each. They were big! And of course, I couldn't bring myself to even connect with any of them. I felt numb, and they had no appeal for me. There is a second kind of shelter in my county (no kill) and I went there too. Even though they had a beautiful Calico I couldn't bring myself to bring her home. either. So it wasn't just fat cats that turned me off.

My main purpose in this is not to replace Keli, but to find a kitty that Jeffery can have as a companion. He is pretty miserable without Keli. I've got to find one soon. Even if I don't bond with it, the importance will be for Jeffery's sake. He is down to eating less than half his normal portion of food. He yowls and meows at me whenever I come home. He follows me from room to room. He wants to lay down as close to me as he can, and put his face right next to mine. He needs a friend!

I felt Keli's presence last night. There is a space above my bed beneath the lamp where she used to warm herself. Last night I felt her jump down from that space and land on my shoulder (ever so lightly) as she used to do. Can a cat be a ghostly spirit? I must believe so or I must believe I am delusional. Insane maybe, but not delusion. I choose to believe it was Keli

So many things

Keli truly had quite a personality and character unlike any other pet I have ever had.

She was my best friend for nearly twenty years.There are so many things I enjoyed about her, like how she would come and balance herself on the edge of the bathtub and drink the hot water while I was in it, even just 2 weeks ago!

I think she truly had a great sense of herself.

She was such a comfort to me so many times when I was sick.

The 15 year old kitty I adopted last summer, the "fire cat" (I call him that because he was rescued from a local forest fire) Jeffery, was to be her companion while I was away at doctor appointments. She was getting lonesome while I was gone and gave me the yowling and biting treatment for leaving her. So, Jeffery was a good diversion for her and she stopped a lot of that behavior after he came along.

Last August she was so sick, I almost lost her then, but was able to nurse her back to health. But this time I couldn't help her enough. Last week I had surgery and it kept me from giving her the personal attention she needed and she faded quickly. I was very tempted to shave her belly and put a whole bunch of fentanyl patches on her, but she was in so much pain I would not have been able to shave her without major clawing and biting. Besides, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

I called around to find the cheapest vet. fifty five dollars to walk in the door to have the cat "looked at", a thousand dollars or more to have her treated (long story there) and no guarantee she would survive the treatment at her age, and $300 to have her euthanized, cremated and disposed. More if I wanted to take her ashes home in a box. I would have wanted that.

I went to the vet to at least get an opinion, and explained my finances and my plan to do the fenanyl. He explained all the if's and's and but's about why it might not work and could cause her more suffering and hurt her more. He also explained the treatments that would be needed with her being hospitalized for them all.

One thing I appreciated, he handled her tenderly as if he loved her as much as I do. There was no grabbing her by the scruff and manhandling her the way I have seen some Vets do. I cried as I explained the finances and I struggled with putting charges on my credit card How could I pay it off? Well, I could and I would even if it too a long time. It would be worth it to me to have Keli be well. He explained there was no guarantee that she would survive the treatments.

The possible damage from when Terry's dog attacked her, could have had something to do with all this, and if that was the case, the damage wouldn't be reparable. He kindly waived the higher charges and provided euthanasia while I held her. It was 88 dollars and he did not charge the 55 for the intake exam.

I cannot even go into the details of what that was like to look at her then in those last moments. Maybe some other time.

One word of advice: NEVER take a sick animal to the vet by yourself!

Driving home hysterical is challenging, to say the least. At least I got to bring her home with me, though I couldn't bear to look at her or touch her or I would have gone off the road.

The vet gave me that price with the understanding that he is "looking the other way" to my not having her body disposed of legally. You cannot bury a pet in the ground in city limits or maybe it's county limits, I forget)

I brought her in, wrapped in her blankey and laid her on the bed. Next thing you know Jeffery was up there sitting beside her. It totally flabbergasted me. It's not like they were the best of friends, more like roomates, okay they kept each other company, but he was more grumpy than she and often greeted her with hisses if they met in the doorway. So, for him to sit beside her closely like that.... sitting shiva. maybe he cared for her more than I knew. Grumpy old man.

I waited quite a while to see if he would get down but he didn't, so I got on the bed, which I had intended to do in the first place, and I just held her and petted her while he stayed beside us. Then I laid her back down and called my housekeeper and asked her to call her father in law who sometimes does gardening for me. They came over right away and she translated while I explained how I wanted the grave to be dug and where. Before they left she took the trash out for me.

I stood in the doorway and a neighbor cat from two blocks over came up to the door. Esther picked it up and put it in my arms. Cinnamon let me hold her like a baby and purred. It's the oddest thing. I haven't seen Cinnamon in about a year. Her and Keli used to hang out in the garden together. They were real girlfriends. Kitty telepathy? Was Cinnamon over to pay her respects? It was so odd.

I had texted both Kats and Xavier and asked them to come be with me. Xavier was in conference all day and never saw my message til the next morning. Yes, even game companies have real business to take care of... who woulda thunk it?

Kats couldn't get off from work until after 7:30pm and had to drive from Palo Alto to Sunnyvale to get home, then over 17 to get here. He probably wouldn't have been able to show up til 9 or so.

I got crazy.

I knew if he came that late he would have to turn around immediately in order to get back home to sleep and get up at 430 the next morning to go to work, and I remembered that he had not slept well the two nights before. He's no spring chicken anymore, and I worry about him.

I took Keli, still wrapped in the blanket and drove with the intent of beating him home. By about Aptos, he called to tell me he was on his way. I told him No, that I was coming. He argued with me but I was like a maniac. NO NO NO, I kept telling him.

He firmly told me to go back home and he would be there soon. and hung up. Kept calling him back over and over til he answered (sounds so childish now) and insisted that I would meet him at the summit. By this time knew that I had my mind made up. We both arrived in the parking lot at the same exact moment. We spent some time together. He petted her and comforted me, which, selfishly, was what I needed the most. Not just so he could say goodbye to Keli.

It is a good thing after all, that we met where we did. His car was overheating and smelled like the engine had blown. At least he could coast it down the hill to get back home. (next day he took it for repairs)

I headed home. this time I was able to pet her all the way without driving off the road, or feeling like I wanted to drive off the road. At home, I wrapped her in plain cotton flannel, torn from a sheet, and used plastic grocery bags and put her in the freezer until we can actually bury her Saturday. My son is coming up then. He was just age 11 when she was born.

I am totally ashamed of myself, but I can't seem to help it. When my parents died I did not have this much grief. When members of the group die, I have a lot of grieving.

But this is tearing me up pretty bad. I physically feel like I have been beat up. Everything hurts from head to toe, I feel like I am walking through wet cement, that is, when I can get myself up an moving. I feel like I am carrying a huge rock on my head it hurts so much. Not a headache, just pain. Don't know how to describe it.

Everywhere I look I am reminded of her, and just want to curl up and die with grief.

Thank heavens Desiree came over the next day when I told her not to. I asked her to take my rocking chair out of the living room and put it in the garage. That was where Keli spent most of her time these last few months. On the rocking chair, with the heating pad, the foam pad, the sheepskin and the blankey. Queen of the house, with her little pink step stool so she could climb up there. I grabbed the stool and put it away in the back room only to regret it later as I found it and crumbled like a deck of cards last night. I cannot comprehend that I am actually going through all this emotion. Like I said, I am ashamed of myself. It was my cat, not my family member.

Kats said "Are you going to react like this when I die?" His Japanese-ness just wonders how I could feel this way. I told him I would be worse. He was surprised. Oh how I wish I were Japanese right now. And could be all Zen and free from the angst.

Mensa and the High IQ Society Cat

Keli went to a Mensa meeting with me once when I lived in Indiana.

She liked to sit on my shoulder, while I walked around and visited with people. She would let them pet her, or she would sniff at them, but never would she jump down. But early on in the meeting, I was reminded that some people were allergic to cats, so I took her back out to my van to wait for me. Other people could walk out to the parking lot and she wouldn't bother to look up or out from where ever she was located in the van. But, as soon as I walked out the front door and headed for the parking lot, there she was, pacing back and forth across the dash. How did she know it was me?

She loved traveling.

Morning Has Broken

There is no morning without sleep
I am in mourning

Am I one of those "crazy cat ladies" you always hear about? I never knew it would hurt so much.

Cat Funeral Plans

Keli was born alive with me as mid-wife. She and I have been bonded ever since. She never slept or fed with the other kittens, always being on her own schedule and left her siblings when she was old enough to be with me, follow me everywhere.

She had a way of understanding when I've been ill, and offered so much comfort to me over the years. She was 19 1/2 years old. I think that's about 96 in people years. I have had many cats in my life, but not one like her.

It is inexplicable to me how much more bereft I am than I thought was possible. It's physical as well as emotional. I feel like I have been hit by a truck.

Kats and Xavier will be here this weekend. Her grave has been dug (very deep) by Miguel, Esther's father in law, and she will be put to rest beside my back door on Sunday.

I intend to put her favorite plant over her. Cat Mint instead of Cat Nip. Though she liked both, she preferred the first.

Soulmate

Keli was my soulmate. I think she knew me better than family or friends. I think she loved me better, without judging.

I am faced with the odd realization that I am grieving more for Keli than for either of my parents.

Where Keli was concerned, I would do anything for her, and I often did.

If only I had paid more attention to the symptoms, I feel like she might still be here.

Physically, my body is reacting to all this. I feel like I have been hit by a truck. I took sleeping pill last night so I wouldn't stay awake. My body needs rest.

Today, Desiree offered to come over, but I told her no... maybe later. But, she came anyways. Took me to pharmacy to pic up my meds, then out to lunch. I never would have made it if I were driving.

No energy. exhausted. I hope I revive from this soon.

Hail to the Queen

Keli died today.

History of Beau, one of my old room mates

History of Beau:

An elderly couple named Gen and Jim (my person's parent's) were missing having a kitty since their beloved "Happy Cat" passed away at the age of 24. They swore they would never get another as it would break their hearts, but they couldn't live up to it. So, one day Jim answered an ad in the paper. The ad said the seven year old cat needed a man to bond with. The owner brought his cat over for Jim and Gen to see. The kitty took one look at Jim and it was love at first sight.

Fred told them the kitty was named Beau, and inherited his aristocratic bearing from a long line of pedigreed Abbysinians. Fred had picked him out from the litter the day he was born. As it turned out Beau, was not considered to be "show" quality. His markings were not perfect and being knock kneed was not considered acceptable. Just the same, Beau grew up loved and spoiled by the young man. One day a lady came into their lives and Beau learned to like her, but really, he was a one man cat. Then, the lady kept being sick and didn't know why until the doctors told her she was allergic to cats. That was when Beau came to live with Jim and Gen.

Jim was delighted that Beau grew attached to him, and they became very good buddies. Gen and Jim nicknamed him Inspector.

Lap Sit

Jeffery He and Keli are not so comfy cozy. Like any too old folks, they are curmudgeonly, and therefore it has been an uphill battle.

At first I let them stay apart as much as they wanted, but then I realized everytime they met nose to nose in a doorway it was spitting time.

Keli has no claws but a vicious bite. Jeffery has claws but because he's missing that front tooth his bite is worthless. So they are about evenly matched. Just the same I didn't want to keep having the door wars, so I kept arranging for them to be in closer and closer proximity of each other. Now, at least they can eat from separate bowls spaced four inches apart. And they can tolerate eating together that way in peace.

I wish they could curl up all cuddly, but the best I will get is close proximity on the bed. One at my feet, the other at my side.

Jeffery asks to go out in the evenings for short periods of time. A pain in the butt... "Let me out... let me in, etc." Sometimes I don't hear him asking to come back in. Interestingly, Keli will come to where I am located and drive me nuts with her meowing until I follow her to the front door so I can open it for Jeffery.

So, I think she likes him well enough. I have only recently gotten them to tolerate having me pet both of them at the same time. I suppose in a few years, they might lapsit with me together. Huh?

EM

Instant Karma

As you well know, I am a Feline (witha capital F) who appreciates Music. (witha capital M)

So, today, miss elizabeth, (no caps here, I'm MAD at her!) she was nursing her wounds and working on the 'puter. She started up some musica, and she knows better than to play stuff I don't like. But, it's been a while since she played the Beatles. (not the bugs out in the yard) but the ones who the young kids today know nothing about. Poor Saps!

Anyhoo, I had to put the lyrics here. I don't think I can have copies to play here but I will look on Youtube. Stinkin' Michael Jackson bought all the rights to all the Beatles songs from what my Big Boy, X says, so maybe it wont be there.

But, you know, sometimes the words have meaning beyond the meanings. So, here they are, wit my comments.

Instant Karma's gonna get you

(self explanatory)

Gonna knock you right on the head

(in other words pay attention)

You better get yourself together

(you got it, Right?)

Pretty soon you're gonna be dead

(Yeah, if you don't watch out, so Live Right)

What in the world you thinking of

(probably nothin' huh, Blankface! yeh you)

Laughing in the face of love

(ultimate Love, GodLove, Beyond Compassion Love)

What on earth you tryin' to do?

(not a rhetorical question)

It's up to you, yeah you

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna look you right in the face
Better get yourself together darlin'
Join the human race
How in the world you gonna see
Laughin' at fools like me

(keep yer heart open, Dude and Dudette)

Who in the hell d'you think you are?

(hell, huh? Hmmm)


A super star??

(we are ALL stars. Get it?),

Well, right you are

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on

(if we don't hide our light)

Ev'ryone come on

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you off your feet
Better recognize your brothers

(see the light everywhere)

Ev'ryone you meet

(yep, even the derelicts)

Why in the world are we here?
Surely not to live in pain and fear

(yes, it exists, but how do you handle it?)

Why on earth are you there?

(stuck in your own self-ness)

When you're ev'rywhere

(you are he, she, it, them, too)

Come and get your share

(can you see it?),

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
Come on and on and on on on
Yeah yeah, alright, uh huh, ah

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
On and on and on on and on

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun

.

Traveling with Music

.
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I remember traveling in Elizabeth's old Ford Taurus station wagon across the country when she was returning to California back in 1995. She had been so homesick for the place, and drove like a maniac. She made the trip in record time.

I had never been there, as I was born in Indiana and didn't realize the necessity of going to California. I am not a nervous cat. I love riding in the car, as did my mother. Her name was Gypsy and she was pure black. How she gave birth to a calico like me, is a mystery of nature. So, anyway,I sat in the back of the station wagon, on top of all the tightly packed boxes and preferred whichever side of the car had the most sunlight. I LOVE the warmt yuo know!

They Many cars passed us by with their passengers, usually children, excitedly pointing, smiling and waving.had never seen a cat riding in a car, I guess. I never waved back, of course, or paid any attention to them at all. I didn't want their drivers to be distracted by my beauty. After all I am an unusually attractive Calico. Just go look at my photos and you will agree. I am sure.

My fur is just the right length, and my colors are brilliant. Plus, my markings are decidedly unique. I even have a heart shaped one! I truly wear my heart on my sleeve!

Varsha and Storm traveled with us. I so enjoyed listing to Varsha's singing that I left my perch in the back of the car to come up to the front and lay down on her lap, well, beside her, that is. Varsha is Miss E's niece, but I always think of her as my Auntie, so that would make Storm, my cousin. He is Miss E's Grand Nephew. Storm is all grown up now, but he was just a little boy when we were traveling across the country. I let him pet me. He was very good at it.
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One Sick Cat

Keli is so sick she just lies in her box on her blanket and heating pad she can barely walk, eat, or go to do her potty. She cannot relax if I hold her, but holds herself stiffly, and wont lift her chin if I rub under there. I am very worried about her.

Chickens in the Crock Pot

Elizabeth Writes:

Spent the day roasting two chickens in the crock pot.

Keli and Jeffery drove me nuts with their awareness of the delicious smells! But once the meat was cooked, and I offered it to them, they snubbed the morsels!

Errgh!!!

Her Bed

This is Jeffery when he first came to live with us. Keli had just discovered he was on "her" bed.

Even though he had been in the house and kept in another room for days enough for her to get used to him and they'd already met face to face, I think she wasn't expecting him to be on "her" bed.

I know she looks like she is about to attack, but all she did was sneak up behind him and sniff before they both scared each other right off the bed.

Nine Lives?

It's been a very trying time lately.

You know how bitchy I get. How much annoyed I was with my dear hooman. Biting her and all that. I really was cranky, but I was so lonely when she wasn't at home. I cried a lot when I was here by myself. And I missed my old buddies, Beau and BooBoo. I hadn't realized how much until lately. I think it was because Elizabeth has had to spend a lot more time away at doctor appointments and such.

Then she went away for that whole week and it nearly sent me off my rocker. After that, I didn't let her forget about it. I yowled at her day and night just to prove to her how much it hurt me to be left alone like that. It doesn't matter that Esther and Liz came to visit me everyday. They are nice enough people. But, just don't understand me. And I just didn't get enough loving.

So, Elizabeth really had to make it up to me, you know? And we had all those forest fires and I had to stay inside all the time and not get to my favorite plants, or in the sunshine or underneath the sprinkler. Sure, she gave me the dried catnip, but you know it's not the same.

Also, because of the fires, we heard about the pets that were found, some of them in serious condition, that the local animal shelters were rescuing. Some were able to be returned to their homes, but some were not. The young ones were placed up for adoption. The older ones.... well nobody wants an older cat!

It was about this time that Elizabeth figured out that part of my loneliness might be alleviated if I had a friend. I mean I do have a friend. Cinnamon comes over once in a while and hangs out in my yard. I always smell her scent when I go out. And sometimes we hang out together in the yard, too. But, like I said, I couldn't go outside because of the fires... well the toxicity of the smoke and ashes everywhere, that is.

Anyhow, so Elizabeth decided to find me a friend who could keep me company. She remembered how much more I liked having a male companion, so that was her first criteria. Then, of course, I ain't interested in having no kitten!!! They are too active and would drive me nuts!

So Good Old E went to the shelter and looked at a ton of cats. I could smell them on her when she came home. I didn't like any of them! I didn't realize it at that time, but she was intuitive enough to know that. So she put in a request to the shelter for an older male, not just a couple years old, but OLDER, like me.
I am going to have my 19th birthday on the 29th of this month.

The shelter said they didn't have any older cats, they had all been euthanized. I hope they never do that to me!

But, then one of the volunteers remembered one kitty way up there in Scotts Valley shelter, who might be the one. But, we had to wait a whole weekend before we heard from her if that kitty was not euthanised. What an ugly word!!!

So, a few more days went by and Elizabeth thought, well that was it. Too late for that poor boy. But, then the hooman, Tara was her name, called a few more days later. What took her so long? And the message was that he was alive and they would hold them if she was interested. That was another Friday later, and she asked if they would wait until Monday. But, no, he was scheduled to be E*^@^!% on that day. So, Miss EBlest got in the car and drove over there, even though she was sick and after an interminable wait. more waiting.... Why was that day like glue in January? it was in the nineties for heaven's sake!

She got to view "Charley" in his cage. He had to be there alone, not because he was mean or anything, but because he was such a big cat, there wasn't any room for any others. It's not that he is big, like in fat. It's just that he is very long! Alligator long.

Then, she had to meet him in the guest room, and get acquainted. He was not all that interested in her. He knew the shelter volunteer and was more familiar with her. But, eventually he paid her the honor of his manners and let her pet him on her lap.

Fortunately there are Benefactors who help out financially to adopt a pet from that shelter, and all of the expenses were covered including a free vet visit. Now, the trick to that was that the vet visit had to be done within 72 hours! But, Eblest is no dummy. She got on her cell phone as she was driving away with my new future companion, and called the one closest to our home, found out she had just enough time to get there before they closed and got squeezed in for the appointment. It was a disappointment appointment as all they did was squezze his belly and generally pet him. The vet did a surprising thing. He took a rag and jammed it into that poor cats ears and twisted out some of the dirt, when Ebest asked if they could be cleaned. Then, to add insult to injury, they gave her a bill of $85!!! She had to remind them of the papers she gave them that said it was a free check up. Well, she won't go there again!

So, she brings him in the house and hides him away in the other bedroom for a few days. I am no dummy! I knew there was a guy in there from the get go. We sniffed each other through the door. I could hear him crying at night. He's been through HELL, surviving the fires!

So, then finally one day, about a week later we were introduced. It went well. I was outside hanging out and came back to the screen door and there he was. We nosed each other through the screen and that was it.

We are not the best of friends but we do get along. We changed his name to Jeffery, but now it seems he likes to be called Jet Lee much better.

The problem is that there must have been a virulent bug that he picked up on the way here, because in a couple of days I got very very sick. I lost a lot of weight right away. My behind was so swollen, it hurt soooo bad, and I couldn't even clean myself. Ebest was very worried. I got to the point where I didn't worry about anything. I just felt so sick, I could barely walk at all, I kept stepping on my pouch. I had to be lifted from the bed to the floor.

Jeffery didn't feel very good either. As I mentioned before he is not at all fat. Being a long fellow, 37 inches from nose tip to tail tip, he is skinny as a rail. Like he was Abe Lincoln or something. His fur didn't look all that good, and I know his hind legs and lumbar spine hurt him a LOT. Whenever Miss E would pet him there he would whimper, or flinch.

So, as sick as I was, E put me in the guest room, set up litter box and food for me. She put boxes next to the bed all piled up to make a staircase. That's much better, My Dear! And I got to rest inside my little blue tent with a heating pad over the whole bed. I do admit I made a mess from my not being able to wash myself. I had some discharge. So E got out the scissors and cut off all the fur from back there and washed me clean to make it easier on me. It sure helped and I didn't stink so bad. But, like I said, I couldn't bath myself, and my fur got so ratty. I have never looked worse in my life.

Miss E came into see me quite often to pet me and love me, and encouraged me to eat a bite at a time. I never knew she could be so patient with me. But, she tells me there was a time when I was a kitten when I had pneumonia or something and she nursed me then, too. Can you imagine me in a bathroom with a vaporizer going, she and I curled up in a blanket? Those were the days, huh? I don't remember! Good thing too. Being this sick I don't want to remember, either.

Then, the day came when I all but gave up the ghost. I thought, "I'll never make it to my 19th birthday." But, really, I was so sick I didn't care. I guess I scared the hell out of my Eblesst, because she tells me she took look in my eyes and I wasn't in there. She held me close and looked again.... Nobody Home. She just cried and cried like I haven't heard her cry in years. I could do nothing. I couldn't console her. I couldn't do anything but stay how I was. And truly, I'm not sure I was inside myself or not.

After she had called around to all the vets to find out how much it would cost to treat me.... about 450 to 800 dollars she despaired. That's her whole months income. How would she afford it? She could put it on her credit card and then pay double as the interest climbs. She called her son and he helped her to make some decisions. Even putting me to sleep and disposing of my body costs quite a bit of money. Can you believe it?

So, the decision was to dig a hole in the backyard. A deep one... just in case... only just in case, you see. That way I could still be here in my own yard, and not at some gas chamber to be "You than I zd" Okay so they give you a shot. Same thing to me. In strangers hands, in a strange place, stressed out. Let me die in peace please. Leave me alone!

So, that was the first decision.

Second decision was for her to treat me with all the herbal and nutritional know how she has (pllus one little hooman prescription that is good for cats, too, that has been prescribed for one of her conditions)

The next day, I was shining out of my eyes. Not well, of course, but at least "somebody's home".

It has taken me a couple weeks of treatment to get to the point now where I might be back up to my normal weight. I am no longer huddling in the hospital room, and most definitely feeling fine enough to give E a well deserved bite. Well, okay, I mean a threat of a bite. I am nibbling fiercely now, to get her to do what I want. And I do have to say she obeys much quicker now. Being sick has it's advantages. Eh?

Well, anyways, Jet Lee is doing much better too. Putting a little meat on his bones, which don't hurt him so much anymore. She can pet him without his cringing, and he fully has taken over on getting attention. But, now he knows I am well enough and I am in charge, so even though he likes to curl up on the bed with Miss E, all I got to do is look at him and he will leave. But, we do enjoy dining together.

Oh my... I just felt a little earthquake. I think I will go investigate and see what's going on.

Later, Alligator...