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...

Adoption

I have adopted a 15 year old neutered male, Russian blue tuxedo cat. He is as tall as Abe Lincoln! Seriously! 36 inches from tip of nose to tip of tail.

Kept he and Keli separated for four days, letting them sleep on each other's blankets and changing them around. Letting him into her room while she went into his.

The first time they met, she had gone outside for her daily 15 ft constitutional, and had come back to the screen door where he had been waiting to meet her. They went nose to nose while I sweet talked to them. and eye balled each other and then both turned away peacefully.

A couple times he, Jeffrey, has been up on the bed with me, when she has arrived. She has taken to sitting up on top of the bookcase headboard and looking down upon us while laying on my favorite sweater. Oh the sacrifices I make for her.

Fire Cat

So much has been going on lately. E went a way and left me by myself for almost a week. Of course, she left me my crunchy food, and my automatic waterer. And she arranged for Esther to come see me everyday. But, she doesn't realize how disrupted she makes my life when she goes off like that!

I need to be allowed to go outside and sniff my plants and see who has been visiting the garden. You know, like Miss Cinnamon, and Ronnie, for example. Cinny has a certain fragrance that I recognise..as entirely her own and she rolls around in my dirt all the time. If I don't get out there and roll in the same dirt, Cinnamon will think she owns my dirt! I will not tolerate that!

And Ronnie, though he is a fixed boy, he does have a strong smell about him, and he rubs up against my bushes and especially the corner of my house and door. I know he is just saying hello and wants me to come outside. But, how can I do that when the doors are closed?

If E were here to respond to my beck and command she would open the door and let me out to sniff around, roll in my dirt and have a bite of grass or catnip! I was really miffed at her for going off and leaving me.

So, when she got home, I let her have it. I yowled at her all night long and didn't let her sleep for the next whole week. Ha Ha! That will teach her! Once she learned her lesson and was sufficiently obedient to me, I let off from waking her. After all, I need to get my beauty sleep too.

She got so concerned about my yowling she thought there was something wrong with me and made an appointment to take me to the vet. It was the hottest day of the year. Thank heavens she put ice packs on top of my travel cage and another one underneath my blanket, because even with the air conditioning on in the car, it was quite warm. Though I like the heat better than hoomans do.

As we left the house and drove away, suddenly I saw a huge plume of smoke arising on the horizon. I nudged E to take a look as she was driving. Even though she puts my cage in the car, sometimes I ride beside her. Any time I want to go into my cage, I can, because she leaves the door open for me. E looked up and saw the huge plume of smoke. It looked like a nuclear bomb had exploded!

I realized that the fire was very close to the edge of town by the airport and the hospital. I told E that we couldn't possibly drive to the vets office on our usual route of Hiway 1. I was right about that as they had to close that hiway. So, she decided to take the back road out of town, Freedom Blvd. But as we drove that way, all the traffic that was being diverted from Hiway 1 was beginning to slow us down. E turned around and we went back home. Thank Heavens!

Presently there are other fires all around us, and the smoke makes the sky look dirty. We cannot see the sun. And no matter how much I beg to go outside, E seldom gives in. I sneak out behind her when she takes out the garbage. But, my catnip is covered with Ash. I think Ronny and Cinnamon are not allowed outside now, too. I cannot smell them on my dirt or on the corner of my house or on the bushes.

I am very glad that I live in town and not out in the areas where the fires are. So many cats and dogs got rescued that the animal shelters are full up now. Big dogs that ran away from the fires got lost and picked up by the rescuers. If they had ID tags, Tattoos or Microchip ID, then they were eventually re-united with their people.

Cats are more likely to hide than to run, they say, so firefighters rescued some who were badly burned. Local Veterinarians took them into their hospitals to treat them and heal them. If they had no ID, they were put to sleep. How SAD!!!

With all the fires burning week after week, I often wonder what is happening to my distant kinfolk. Out here where I live there are many Mountain Lions, and I don't mean just in remote regions. With all the fires, where are they? Mountain Lions can, and do run away from fires. They don't hide like domesticated cats do. Where can they run to now? So many many acres of forest are burning! Will they soon be moving into hooman inhabited areas? Will the hoomans be scared of them? Chances are the big cats are scared too, and nervous. That is sure to cause trouble if they show up on some hoomans doorstep. I'm afraid my dear cousins whose lives have been saved by the fires will die at the hands of a gun.

I saw on the news where they rescued some Condors. Those are the biggest most frightening birds to me! But, they are a disappearing species, so some wildlife specialists somehow were able to capture 8 of those condors. But, like I said, what about my kinfolk???

Disaster Preparedness for Pets by Elizabeth

I've thought about this for the last week or so, whether or not I should make this posting. But, finally came to the decision to do so, as it weighs heavy on my heart.

I'm sure I don't have to remind anyone how precious our pets are to us.

I am enamored of my ancient 18 year old kitty, too. She sits at my elbow right now forcing me to type one handed. I'm sure we have many in the group who are owned by their dogs, I mean, who are dog owners. (hope to see some soon).

When a friend recently mentioned about going to the Rescue Shelter, it nudged me to go there too. Not because I need a new kitty, or want one in paticular, but because it has become apparent that Keli needs one. As much as she might dislike an interloper, she is lonely when I am gone, and even when I am here, .she would rather have feline company to help her harangue me. (she tells me so).

So the other day, I went to the shelter. But, instead of coming home with a new pet, I came home with an aching heart. Right now the shelters are overflowing with animals rescued from the fires. Bunnies and Chickens, and goats, and dogs and cats. You name it. The news had been presenting a lot about people evacuating their horses and livestock. But, I hadn't thought that people's pets wouldn't be safe. My cat would go into my car before my purse or family photos or my grandmother's antique vase. I would carry her in my arms (in cage) if I couldn't get away by car.

Of course if an owner isn't home when the fire starts and his dogs are outside on his property, there isn't much he can do to save his dogs (or cats). In the rural areas where these big fires are decimating the forest and brush, people's pets do not necessarily live indoors. The shelter had gone into the fire areas with their trucks and rescued as many pets as they could. Many were injured by fire. All were nervous and traumatized. Too many have gone unclaimed by their owners now that the fires in my immediate vicinity area are out. I couldn't bring myself to adopt a kitty who would not get my full attention for healing. It wouldn't be fair to Keli, It wouldn't be fair to the fire cat.

All this being said, I just had such an epiphany about it. We make preparations for disaster (don't we?) We put away food, water, medicine and blankets for those times when flood, fire, earthquake, etc. occur. We make plans for where the family will go if we can't be in our homes. But, when we are making all those plans, do we include our animals? Not me. the thought hadn't crossed my mind.

When I put aside canned goods and emergency lights and bandages in the garage, I didn't put away any cat food. In case of a true disaster, my cat will be one of those ending up in the shelters, and because of her advanced age, euthanized, as it is the young ones who get adopted when their owners cannot be found. I learned that when I went to the shelter to find an older cat to be companion to mine. No older ones available.

My cat doesn't wear a collar with an ID tag. She doesn't have a computer chip. That will change this week. I don't expect the fires to embark upon my own neighborhood. It was the other side of Watsonville that was so closely involved in the fire last week. I'm surrounded by strawberry fields where I live. Only smoke will bother me. But, I do live in a flood plain. It hasn't flooded in years, but it's best to be prepared.

Just putting my thoughts on all this out here. Have you thought about your own disaster preparedness? What plans have you made for your pets? Who will take care of them if you are not able to? How will they be kept safe? How will you prove they are yours if they have no ID on them?

Stifles?

Keli is an 18 year old neutered calico female. Up until about age seven there has always been at least one other cat in her life. Then a period of years went by as a single cat. She has been both an outdoor (occasionally) and indoor cat. Presently, she will step outside the door to sniff the live catnip, lay in the sun a few moments and come back in. She has no interest in balls, stuffed animals or other self play toys as she once did, and has little interactive play with any feather or long snake-like (her favorite) toys, except for laying on her side and batting at them a couple times, then she ignores them.

She still likes to be picked up and cuddled like a baby. She seems happiest with this.

I am very well aware she has arthritic changes in her sacro-illac joints and spine near the tail, which were diagnosed last year. the vet ordered pain medicine for her which makes her foam at the mouth, and she will fight to the death not to take in any way. He had also ordered prednisone and aspirin

sclerosis of spine narrowing the bridge L-Sacral. degenerative disease in the elbows. (hips and stifles were ok.) Stifles? she has small left kidney.

Dowager on a Downer

Wednesday, February 27, 2008


It's kinda odd how, when my human is sick, I get to feeling down and out myself. Even though she went out and bought me a turkey and cooked it up and shredded it into bite size pieces, I find that my mind is on other things. I do love the turkey. Don't get me wrong. It's just that when I'm feeling so low, it is just and effort to get off my rocking chair and head over to the food dish to eat. I do eat plenty and nibble on it all day. My human is quite satisfied with my appetite. It's just that when my bones hurt, I get to yowling a lot, and she gets annoyed and shuts the door on me.

Now how is that gonna make me feel good? Where is my self esteem going? I am the Queen of my home, and she seems to forget it. I am so disappointed that I don't even bother to bite her anymore. I just purr like crazy the next morning when she picks me up and holds my like a baby. Her baby, and I don't mind. Though undignified for a Queen.

I guess I should appreciate the things that I got. Like the fresh water bowl sitting beneath the distilled water container. She didn't realize that I would be interested in it. She just put it there to catch the drips. But, I love it! The distilled water is so pure and delicious. I have never touched the faucet water bowl since the new one appeared. It is an effort to drink from it, though worth it. I have to stand on my hind legs (so unlady-like) and dip my face into the bowl. I cannot get my paw in there to lick the water off my paw as I would prefer. But, like I said. It's worth it.

Well, maybe I will feel better tomorrow. In the meantime, I think I will go take a long nap.

Scare

It's been a while since I have blooged. Okay, blogged.

I guess I am in the doghouse now.

Yesterday, my hooman (hoowoman in this case) couldn't find me. She and her friend looked all over the house for me. Since the door had been open earlier they thought maybe I had gone outside. I do that occasionally. I like to lay in the sun on the sidewalk out front of the door. One of my favorite spots.

But I wasn't there.

She called my name over and over. What a racket she made! She crawled on her hands and knees and shined a flashlight under the beds. She yowled and Meowed really loud. She sounded just like me. But, she couldn't find me.

She got pretty frantic, and went to her computer and quickly made a lost cat sign. She ran off forty of them and distributed through the neighborhood, out there in the cold and wind. It's a shame she went through all that trouble, especially since she has a virus, right now.

By the time she got to my friend, Cinnamon's house, she was pretty exhausted. Good thing Cinny's hoowoman was home to convince her to come back here.

I can't really say where I was.

But, that red headed skinny witch who lives with Miki and Mini walked right into our house while my hoowoman was away looking for me, and when she came home there was Red coming out our door.

So now, the door is ALWAYS locked and I can only look outside through the screen, or the window, if I can actually climb up there. It's located a lot higher than it used to be. I have been clinging to my person like a shadow ever since. Instead of ignoring her and sleeping out in the other room where that very nice heating pad keeps the bed warm, I have spent the last two days at her elbow. She is really insecure, you know. I wouldn't want to feel like I had anything to do with her having a heart attack or anything like that!

Demanding Calico

Yowling Cat!

Food was not enough!

Didn't you like the vitamin syrup I put in it?

Come up on the bed and let me pet you!

She walks away!!!

I guess I will have to get up, and see what you want.

Written by Elizabeth

Traveling Nightmare

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We were driving in a car and it broke down. With no cell phone and being out in the middle of nowhere that we knew, we got out of the car and started walking. I really wasn't comfortable with Elizabeth carrying me, so I wriggled out of her arms, and landed nicely on a soft patch of well mown lawn. She, of course, was worried and tried to catch me. But, you know, she's not as fast as she used to be, and I am still faster than her, even at my advanced age. Though I am only 18 in people years, that makes me about 126 in dog years. I don't know how to count that in cat years. Anybody know?

Anyhow, I knew which way we were going and because it was a warm sunny day with just a little bit of sweet breeze, I kept ahead of Elizabeth until she realized that I was leading her home, so she stopped trying to catch me, and she could tell, I was not going anywhere except on the sidewalk.

After all these years, I know enough to NOT go into the street, or run underneath some stranger' front porch. Besides I am tired of following her all over the house, it was great to have her following me for a change. Though, I try like crazy to get her to follow me at home. I cut her off when she goes the wrong direction, for example, when I am trying to aim her for the kitchen so she can feed me, or aim her to the heater so she can turn it on, or lead her to the bathroom to turn on the fresh water. Who wants that old water in the bowl? Not me! Well, the problem is that she is too dumb. No offense, she can't help it her mind doesn't focus well. If she would pay attention she would definitely know where I am leading her to. Sometimes she does focus and she can read my mind perfectly.

Anyhow, back to my story: We were walking along and it was a long way from home, about seven miles. Now, she's no young chicken, but I am lot's older than her, so naturally, guess who starts to give out first. Dang it! Me! Well, at least she could figure that out when I sat down and let her catch up to me. So, she picked me up in her arms (just like a human baby) and carried me the rest of the way! I love it when she hold me like that. Helps me feel like a little baby kitty again. I purr and rub my head against her shoulder to let her know how much I appreciate it. Only thing is her arm gets tired and then she has to put me down.

But, she didn't do that in the dream. She kept carrying me until she woke up.

Oh, I didn't tell you? Yes, that was last night's dream. I often invade her dreams so we can share them.
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Woman Viciously Attacked, she says

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I really got annoyed with my person last night. First, she didn't give me fresh water, just that old stale stuff from yesterday. Then, I really wanted canned food. I like the dry food, but my tummy wanted the soft stuff, and no matter how much I MEOWED and YOWLED, she just pretended she didn't know what I was talking about. THAT is no way to treat the Dowager Queen! If I had any other servants besides her, I would be able to get my point across more quickly. As it was, I was quite disappointed. She tries, but she is an idiot. How many times do I have to say, "fresh water" before she gets the hint. I have repeated it and repeated it over and over again, and she just turns a deaf ear! Then, she is pouty when she picks me up and I don't want to be held. If she can't do what I want, why should I be nice to her?

To make matters worse, she went to bed without turning the heater on. Really, it has been much colder lately. Even just the other night it was less than freezing. She went outside and covered up her precious lemon tree with a blanket. But, would she turn the heat on for me? Okay so it wasn't freezing in the house. But, just leaving the electric blanket on all day for me to lie on is not enough. One really needs various sources of heat to be pleased, you know.

Examples of heat that I enjoy:

Direct Sunshine while walking the garden.
Indirect Sunshine while sitting in the doorway.
Indirect Sunshine from behind the screen door.
Indirect Sunchine while lying on the sun warmed carpet.
Direct Sunchine while rolling in mother earth.
Direct Sunxhine while relaxing on the sidewalk.

Electric blanket heat while lying upon it.
Electric banklet heat while lying beneath it.

Electric heater heat while backed up to it.
ELectric heater heat while nose to nose with it.

Gas wall heater heat while stretched out with belly exposed.

So, do you see what I am getting at?

My needs are not being met!

She kept on calling me to come up on her bed. Does she think I am a fool? She didn't have the electrick heater on in her room. She didn't have her electric blanket turned on, and she wants me to lie down BESIDE her while she pokes around on her laptop. It might be tolerable if I could sit on her sternum. At least her breath would heat my nose a littel bit. But, no. She just doesn't get it. Silly woman!!!

Well, then, the last straw, the thing that just plain sent me over the edge, was the litter box. It is kept out in the garage. A decent place to keep it. At least I can have my privacy out there. Even though the garage is not heated (except when the drying machine is running), I can take my time scraping at the litter and turning around as much as I want without someone being nearby and bothering me.

I do have to admit that my person had a great idea when she put the long piece of carpet down in the garage. It leads directly from the door to my litter box. The pads of my paws do not ever have to come into contact with that cold cement floor. So, I cannot complain there.

However, as I was saying, the thing that took me over the edge was the problem with access to the litter box. She closes off that door to the garage so that the cold air wont come into the house, and so she can be stingy and leave the heat off. Then, she forgets that the door is closed. I don't know how many times I went to her and meowed and led her toward the garage door, but she never followed me all the way. Actually I think she just happened to be behind me on those occasions as she ended up getting herself some tea (really smells interesting) or to take her pills or whatever.

I was really getting quite frustrated and she knows I will hold it until the cows come home. But, there is a limit to what a Dowager Queen can put up with.

I climbed up on that bed and sat beside her while she petted me. She didn't have a clue what I was up to (heh heh) and she kept doing her computer thing while I was purring up a storm and getting lots of petting. But, you know as well as I do that I had a mission to get that garage door opened! So, at just the exact right moment as she held down the cursor with her right and had pulled her hand away from petting me, I struck like a COBRA!

Yes, I got her a good one.

Oh, did I tell you she had also been ignoring me while talking on the phone at that time too. I am sure that her daughter knew exactly what had happened, because Elizabeth only yells out those fancy four lettered words when I can make an incision on her forearm.

It's much better place to attack than the hand, you get more meat to dig into. The hand has a tendency to withdraw quicker and the target is not as easily affected.

Still with such precision and expertise as I could muster, I still didn't manage to jump away quick enough. You think I would learn by now, after all. But, really, I still have a tendency to believe that she will turn to me and say, "I'm sorry, your majesty, I wasn't paying proper attention! What is your wish? I will fulfill it now."

So, of course, she did NOT do that. Instead she grabbed me by the scruff (where is the cruelty to animals society when you need them?) while she continued to yell those obscenities.

How dare she speak to me like that?!!!

I really had to laugh at her just then, because she wears an earphone when she is talking on the telephone. So what happened was, the phone fell off the bed onto the floor separating itself from the earphone plug. But. while it was falling it yanked her head to the side and popped the earphone right out of her ear.

That was my chance to get away, as she reached for her popped ear with one hand and the falling phone with the other.

Triumph!!! I got away.

But, just to make sure that she understood how rotten I think she is, I yowled a long string of obscenities at her from the other room. And I kept it up for some time. Well, until she shouted at me to SHUT UP!

Yes, she can be quite childish at times.

I sat meatloaf style as close to the pilot light of the gas wall heater as I could while waiting to see what would happen next. It wasn't long before she had retrieved her phone, hooked up the earphone again, finished her conversation with her daughter and then headed for the bathroom to wash her wounds (it would be so much more efficient if she washed with her tongue!) and then she put some gooey Neosporin on her incision. She claims it is three inches long. It is NOT! It is only about 2 and a half inches long. I would have had a lot more satisfaction if it had been three inches long!

Well, to make a long story short. She did eventually head to the kitchen where I headed her off and directed her clumsy feet toward the garage door. In the meantime, I am sending her the psychic message (if only her brain would open to receive it I would never have to go through all this drama!) and she actually got it. So, she opened the garage door and propped it open with the heavy litter container.

Finally!!!

What I cannot figure out, after all this, is why she was disappointed that I didn't go right out and use the litter box immediately. She waited around for a while as if she wanted to shut the door again. But, I was not going to fall for that, as then I would have to wake her in the early hours and go through the same thing again. No, I wanted that door open, and I wanted it to stay open all night long.
So, she finally went off to bed leaving the garage door open. I let her cuddle me for a while. After all, she does need to feel wanted and loved. I do love her, I just can't let her feel like I love her more than she loves me. Otherwise it becomes a lovefest contest and that can be so exhausting, purring and being petted all the time. A cat needs her down time, too! It's only natural. Just look at my ancestry, or my big country cousins, and you will understand. All cats are not cuddly all the time.

Just to make sure she got the message, I soon moved away to her feet, then when the wall heater came on (because the cold air was coming in from the garage) I went to sleep beside it's soothing warmth. After all, my bones are not as springy as they once were.

At my age, a cat has got to do what a cat has got to do.

Birthday Cat

Keli just had her fourteenth birthday. What is that in people years? 98, I think. Took her to the Vet for a check up as she has been acting so different lately. Maybe she is just mad at me for all the June visitors, then going away, then coming back and going away again.

But, she has been hauling off and smacking me right in the face a lot lately, and biting just a little bit too hard, then she runs like the dickens cause she knows that she is not being nice!!!

I thought maybe she is in arthritic pain and when I pet her and she is purring and suddenly bites me that it was because I was hurting her. But, Vet thoroughly examined her and said for her age, she has no severe signs of arthritis. Obviously because she is so old, she is not leaping any fences and no longer jumps up on the table or dresser. Her heart is strong and has no arrythmias, her eyes are good, etc etc. Vet didn't think anything wrong, except maybe she needs a companion, a pet, a kitty for herself. If so, it will have to be as old as her and a hundred times more mellow, to be able to put up with her crotchetiness.

Lonesome Calico

Keli is sitting on my lap while I attempt to type.

She is SO pissed off at me being gone so much of the time. She is like an angry, lonesome wife. (Or girlfriend hmm, Sounds familiar, huh?)

I have tried several times to set her on the bookcase adjacent to my left shoulder, but she won't have it! She MUST sit on me. (Keep me in my place, I guess.)

She growls at me if I try to pet her, even spit and snapped at me like a little Tigress, when I got up to get a pillow to put on my lap to keep her from slipping between my legs.

And yet, she is head butting my wrists for affection. I tried to take her in the car with me earlier today to run errands, but she wouldn't go with me, then.

I think I will take a hint from her and drop a class or two.

Quake Hummingbird Cat

Date: Wednesday, August 12, 1998 9:36 PM

Earthquake today!

Shook me awake and sent Kelly flying across the room.

According to reports, it was felt all the way from SF to King City (90 mi S). Epicenter was in San Juan Bautista (near Hollister) Damage to highway 101 has been repaired already.

I went and got Xavier to come over and help me move furniture into safer positions in my room. There were 60 aftershocks according to the news. I haven't felt them, Kelly seems okay. I don’t see her being nervous or doing anything differently

But, I wonder if she was a bird in a past life. This afternoon, she was sitting out front in the garden. I saw a Hummingbird flit by to feed on the fuschia. Then, it turned around heading back across the garden to where Kelly sat.

It hung in the air about 18 inches above her and chirped at her as though to have a conversation. Kelly listened respectfully, as though the bird was not a tempting morsel, but an old friend.

I was entranced! Wish I had that on video!

Maybe, that is the strange behaviour that animals are supposed to exhibit surrounding earthquakes?

Maybe that hummingbird was saying, “Hey, did you feel that earthquake today?”

Exciting day! Maybe ot nearly as exciting as tornadoes in Indiana. There's always plenty of warning ahead of time to build up the adrenaline. With earthquakes, it just happens quickly, and it's over. But I guess that's the price I have to pay to live here.

Sunday,

Shelby hasn't been particularly conciliatory to anyone who visits here until this eve when my friend Dar came over and sat on the lounge chair with her. She let him pet her and sweet talk to her without flapping her tail in the process

My niece came over later with her 3 little ones, ages 9 mo, 2 yrs and 3 yrs. I was worried. But the cats seemed to be very interested in the kids, especially Sky. Tonight the two boys are sleeping on the mattress and Shelby is curled up between them.

Sky has discovered my LR closet and somehow gets on to the highest shelf and watches us all from this secret spot. We were all worried that he had somehow gotten out and went to search for him. After about 20 minutes I saw Keli head toward the closet and growl.

As soon as I saw him I asked him what he was doing up there and he leaped down. Keli thought he was rude and walked away ignoring him.

Sky Shel and Boo chased little plastic wiffle balls aroubd all night as the little boys threw them in all directions.

I finally got tired of all the excitement and hid the balls, but one. My grand nephew threw that one high into the air and it landed inside the 20 gallon dry fish tank. Sheby went after it. She was very persistent in trying to get to it. She could see it through the glass but since various other things were piled in there she had to poke and dig for it. After a while about half and hour I got it out for her and she chased it again

Sky and Shel still wont go into their cages. Maybe they are enjoying their freedom too much.

Getting Ready to Move

Saturday

Getting ready to move, Xavier put his single bed mattress in the dining area/study, standing upright against the wall. Shelby took one look, climbed up and perched on top, so she could have perfect viewing of her bird friends.

When Keli saw this, since she has no claws, she was very frustrated and tried to leap up directly to the top.

Shelby wasn't the slightest disturbed. Keli gave up in disgust and went to pout on my bed. Shelby couldn't figure out how to climb off the mattress though and came down face forward, which was very awkward for her. She realized we were laughing at her "gracefulness" and she made it a point to climb down backward from that point on.

Keli and Shelby occasionally will come face to face with one another in a doorway and neither one will back down so they can pass by. So they stare at each other, hurl a few hissing insults at one another and pretend to attack. There's a lot of paw slapping on the floor about 3 inches from each other. Shelby never extends her claws in these episodes. She could take one serious clawed strike at Keli and that would be the end of it. Since Keli is so insistent on establishing her superior position as the alpha cat, I frequently remove her to my room so everyone can co-exist in peace.

Skylar has let me pet him often and rubs against my legs when I'm seated. Then I pet him a while. He rolls onto his back like a kitten to have his belly tickled, but it must be done just so, otherwise, he hits me with his paws and we play. I don't want to encourage rough play until we are all bonded better so I just rub under his chin and he turns into contentment... the dead cat look.

Sylar shares his window occasionally with Shelby and Boo. He does most of his pacing on the sill in the evenings when he presumes creatures of the night are out there. At these times he would rather have the window to himself as he seems to feel he is on guard.

Keli sneaked up behind him and when he turned around to come back she met him halfway. They faced off, stared each other down, gave polite growls, but neither would give their ground. So they laid there nearly nose to nose in a staring contest softly whining at each other.

Suddenly Keli squinted her eyes and Skylar bounded off the window ledge as tho he'd ben struck by lightning.

I wonder what she said to him.

Not too long after, Keli was bored with the ownership of the window and climbed down. By this time Skylar was on the massage table giving Shelby a bath... washing her face.

Cat Babysits other Cats

Friday,
Skylar, Buddha and Shelby, all peaceably stayed together overnite in the LR, Kitchen, dining area. Keli slept with me in the bedroom, of course.

I put small paper cups on shelf with water in them so that Shelby would leave the birds alone. If she gets near the birds, she would have to bump into the cups which would tip over and she would get the water shock treatment that most cats hate. How many times can that happen before the cat decides to leave the birds alone?

In the morning several cups were on the floor and Shelby was lying cosily on a chair nearby, licking her wet fur, and carefully birdwatching.

Skylar shows no interest in birds except yesterday when I was cleaning cages and one flew out right beneath his nose. Sky would have flown right after the bird if he could have. But by this time all four cats were on bird alert.

Thank heavens, birdie was easy to catch... for me, that is.

Arrival of the Standish Cats

Skylar and Shelby Standish have arrived in their cages this evening. Their people are going away and we will be caring for them. They came out to play immediately, as they have been over to visit before. But, their cages were left open just in case they wanted to go back into them and rest on their own blankets.

Magickal Practice

I recently spoke at the Science Fiction Convention (Adams Mark Hotel) over fourth of July weekend. First, I led a group meditation. Then, a panel on developing psychic abilities, and another on the Goddess (pagan perspectives).

Two more for which i was recruited to participate spur of the moment were "Ghosts" and "Crystal Energy". I'm not a supporter of crystals, and if I am asked to do a presentation on the subject next year, I would love to have a knowledgeable geologist at my side to discuss the science and realities of rocks and their "energies".

I do believe that certain stones do have a measurable electrical field, Magnets for example? Crystals were used in the 1930's for radio transmission. But, I also believe that a lot of magickal practices I do are based on simple psychology as well as self affirmations and effective fantasy put to good use.

I like rocks and have a large collection

Gypsy with a Corset

My Mama, Gypsy, told us to be good little kittens and wait for her. It was hard to be good with her gone. The last time she came back and smelled so funny. And now, Mama had to go to the vet again coz she is bleeding from her incision.

She has been chewing on her stitches. She says she can't help it. Mama is still letting us kittens nurse on her. But we think it might hurt now, even though we try to be careful. Now she is bleeding and we are worried about our Mama, Gypsy. When she came back, the vet had put a taped on "corset" around her belly.