Thursday, April 30, 2009

A Bedtime Story

They all walk all over/try to sleep on their human - except for Cloud, actually - who weighs about as much as a dandelion seed, and would be welcome on any body part at any time... No, instead, it's the dense, solid, heavy ones who try to nap out on Mom. Angel is the only one who does it right - he comes aboard and instantly relaxes, bonelessly spreading his weight in a completely painless manner. Petunnia and Lucy both love to sit right on my chest/neck - seriously interfering with breathing, but who cares about that? AreToo isn't too bad, because after he walks (!) on me he usually settles off to one side, using me as his pillow. Buddy paces up and down and never settles, while Cyrrie simply stands, shifting his - not so much weight as density - from one foot to another, leaving bruises. He was at it the other night, and I was trying oh-so-politely to fend him off, but, to his credit (I suppose), he kept coming back. So, sleepy/dreamy/exhausted, I began to plan my next blog post - all about how Cyrrie just doesn't get it, can't get it right, etc. I fended him off again, and continued to contemplate the differences between his approach and Angel's, when Angel showed up instead. I knew it by the way he instantly sprawlled all soft and warm across my knees. But when I reached down to pet him, I felt the special Cyrrie softness instead, and when I peeked near-sightedly, there was the little grey and white guy, showing me he could learn a thing or two, if only to thwart me blogging about him...

Thank You, ThePoliticalCat

For the warm words and oh-so-sweet images, which are so very comforting. Of all things, tonight I got into a conversation with an adjunct, who told me all about losing her beloved cat last year. I just couldn't tell her how very near my "been there/done that" was, although of course I truly sympathized. Coming home tonight I felt again how still off balance we still all are as I counted noses...

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

I Brought Banshee's Ashes Home Tonight

This is the 4th time. Before this, they came in card board boxes. This time the plasticish box was in a more elegant grey shopping-type bag with a soft handle... Weird, a bit, yes? Banshee is now with God, of course, and the others of our little clan, but her ashes are under my bed. Which is not weird at all, is it??

Monday, April 27, 2009

Back

Last week was really rough, with long exhausting work days on top of everything else...
PoliticalCat -
That you for the lol - I did! and what a sweet little calico, too. Also thank you for the description of Madu sleeping in the sun - so sweet. And in exchange for Madu, here is the Cloudling:
Yesterday Morning
Cloud was all alone on the dining room table, pretty much in the exact middle and definitely in the middle of a lovely ray of sunshine... She was so content she didn't even mind me washing her eyes. Her sun-warmed fur was soft and sweet to breathe and iridescent glittery. Even her happy little drools sparkled like diamonds...
And, for extra credit, I give you Petunnia:
Also Yesterday
Not quite sure why, but Petunnia hasn't spent much time on the table lately (mourning Banshee, perhaps, on some level?) - instead she is spending a lot of time in the garden window, not often looking out, but sprawling elegantly, looking like a little queen on an airy throne. (I even gave her her FancyFeast there last night.)

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Trying To Do A Little Regular Blogging

Earlier today I tried to get Cloud to enjoy the garden window - outside there were xillions of birds (well, lots, anyway) and at least one squirrel. But Cloud wasn't happy. Did she feel vulnerable in the g window? Had she been trapped there before by no-gud-boyz?? Even though I had her back, she chose to depart, and went into the bedroom - where I raised the blind and opened the window for her. Not as good a view, but better than nothing...

Thank You, Michael

I just found your card as I went through a pile of mail that I had been tossing onto the table - the card was lovely, the thoughts were sweet and comforting, and the 'toons made me smile...

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

A Bit More

I know you all will indulge me as long as I need to do this -

Sunday night - what a pang as I got out only 7 saucers for their FancyFeasting...

And today I realized I hadn't gone through my parting routine at all this week - "Be good, be sweet, behave! You be good, and I'll be back (insh'allah). Be sweet to each other, and, remember, Banshee is Boss!" 'Toonya is Boss, now, but I don't think she's ready quite yet, either.

And breakfast - typically, on work days, I take coffee into the dining room and listen to the radio while reading yesterday's newspaper. Usually I'd have at least 3 girls - Banshee, Petunnia and Cloud - all lounging elegantly and companionably on their blankies and making me welcome as an honorary table-top dweller.... For whatever reason, at the moment the table-top is deserted.

Last but not least, thank you so much, PoliticalCat - I've read every one of your comments even if I haven't been able to respond to each. Your wise and loving thoughts do my heart much good! Love to the little 4feetz, everywhere!!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Update

Human is doing ok - mostly - went to work today - a long day - but got through it. Grandhuman asked how the babes are coping, and it's hard to tell - they're uneasy - they know something is wrong - but hopefully no one will react the way the "real" Lizzy did when we lost out beloved Tigger (Lizzy ate herself into diabetes!). Cyrrie is so far the most anxious, pummelling his human girl (as opposed to kneading) plus extreme gobbling of her various digits... But they're all very cuddly, both needing cuddles and knowing that the human needs cuddling, too.... Love to all our reading/commenting humans and their sweet sweet cats and "kittens"!

Best Banshee Picture Ever


Sunday, April 19, 2009

Hyacinths

PoliticalCat - I thought of you just now when I went out into the mild rain and cut some lovely, fragrant hyacinths - not exactly memorial quality, but comforting all the same...

Some More Banshee Blogging

It comforts me to talk / write about her... Clearly this had been coming on for sometime - it turns out she'd lost a pound or so over the last year or so. But she'd had a blood work-up with in the last 4 or 5 months, and was good at that time. Last Sunday she was poaching Buddy's FF, and Monday and Tuesday she was doing a good job on her crunchies (I know because she had a habit of sitting patiently in front of a mostly full bowl of crunchies, waiting for a top-up before seriously chowing down). And yet by Saturday she was totally weakened, and the doctor noticed that her eyes / ears / gums were yellow, a very bad sign. Her blood tests showed liver disfunction, and the x-rays showed that her liver had shrunk. Also that one kidney was much larger than the other, and that her lungs were showing signs of calcification (from the asthma). When we first got there, she was still sitting up, but very soon she was laying flat against the table, and she hardly raised her head after that. It was weird tonight - putting out only 7 saucers of FF... (She was so pretty - the doctor and the technicians kept talking about it...)

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Heartbroken

Banshee is gone. In the early part of the week she seemed just fine - going up and down the attic stairs and jumping up into the garden window to birdwatch... Wednesday night, however, she did not eat her FancyFeast. I was worried but not panicked. When I got home from work on Thursday she seemed very subdued and on Friday I called the vet and made an appointment for Saturday morning. She had been moving around some, even down to the basement and back, but this morning she seemed very bad - not coming our from under the dinng room table until I picked her up and put her in the carrier. They took x-rays and did blood work, but, really, as we waited - about 2 and a helf hours - I could see her going down before my eyes. The prognosis was very bad, and I was sure she was ready for it to be over, even though she purred for me the whole time. She was purring when she died. (While we waited, I told her how cool it was that people far away knew and cared about her.) She lived with me for 14 years, and was at least 15 if not older. I miss her so much.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Asking For Prayers, Etc., Blogging

I'm very worried about Banshee, and have an appt tomorrow for 11:30 am est - I'll post again after that... Love to everyone from 922's and human.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Advice Requested

It's 'Toonya - she has a small bald spot on her chin - acne related, I believe - but not inflamed or infected as far as I can tell... So, should I rush her to the vetz? Or wait a bit?? Lately I've been inclined to the "wait a bit" strategy - but not for economic reasons.... Any experience out there w/ kitteh acne? Since she is totally reluctant to my closely inspecting the actual problem.... Helpz!

For Sandy

Lucy sez Hi, and Luv! (Other 922's, 2)
Posted by Picasa

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter, All

Human was sickly yesterday, but is much improved today - everyone, I hope this was a beautiful day, a healthful, healing and loving day for you... 922's send their mega-purrs! Blessings!

Friday, April 10, 2009

AreToo!

Posted by Picasa

Angel!

Posted by Picasa

Breathing Fresh Air

And bird and squirrel watching...!
Posted by Picasa

Smart Squirrel

Eats bird food rather than tortilla chips...
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Unusual But Strangely Satisfying

(And I do know I'm not supposed to take sides.) OK, so just now I heard bad language and so jumped up to see what's was going down - in the kitchen I saw Angel dart from the basement stairs followed by Cloud! I lost track as she pursued him into the dining room, but I was all like, You go, girl! It' s about time that rascal was put into his place (although - please don't tell Cloud - his human girl still totally loves him). (Same h-girl totally loves the Cloudling, as well...)

"Kitten" Blogging

Set no 2, in this case:
I
Last night we had FF, which we typically do twice a week, on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. And the next morning without fail everyone is running around looking for more FancyFeast, while the human explains in vain that it isn't "time". So this morning was no different, expect for AreToo following as the human topped up the crunchies bowls - he carefully examined each and every bowl, because you just never know when one might magically transform into... Flaked Fish and Shrimp, for example. It didn't happen this morning, but really, you never know...
II
As part of her daily routine, the human also replaced the water in the kitchen "untippable" bowl. Soon thereafter Angel was merrily splashing - no, make that SPLASHING! and washing his paw (drinking?) between SPLASHES! It's genetic, it runs in the family, what can I say...?

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Banshee The Impossible To Photograph

Posted by Picasa

Sleepy-Face

Posted by Picasa

Still No Comments Coming To Email

WTH? (What the heck, just in case you weren't sure...)

Monday, April 06, 2009

Wet Paws (Or Why We Keep A Water Bowl In The Bathtub)

I had Angel on my lap this morning, ungunking his gorgeous eyes, when I noticed that his front paws were damp, way damp, in fact. Oh, Angel, I sighed, just can't stay out of the water bowls, can you. A little while later I was at the sink in the bathroom when Angel rocketed in, smashed his way past the shower curtin, landed in the bathtub and caused a huge plasticky clatter, followed by a trickling sound... Angel rocketed back out but stopped in the hallway to wash his now wet back feet. He gave me a look like, What?

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Hunkering Down

Storm predicted, and we're starting to hear something - rain? - ice? against our windows... On a more positive note, FancyFeast has happened and the garbage is out!

Friday, April 03, 2009

Rare Pic Of Banshee The Beautiful

(Althought it may be Pod-Banshee...) Also first time the human has seen her in the garden window!
Posted by Picasa

She Can't Has Cheezburger

(Can she??)
I came home late last night and Cloud met me at the top of the stairs - her eyes got way wide and her little nose expanded noticeably - sniff, sniff? Cheezburger? She had cheezburger and didn't save us any?? (Hint to cheezburger-eating humans - wash hands before leaving restaurant...)

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Lover Boy

Cyrrie has gotten to be very affectionate of late - little Cyrano! Who was such a suspicious kitten - sleeping with one eye open and stiffing (literally) his human whenever she tried to hold or pet him... (Unless food was involved.) (Food!) Lately he's given up the paw-in-the-face-pay-attention-to-me in favor of a very hard head butt to my mouse arm when I'm at the computer. This morning he did something completely new - he walked up and down on me, purring loudly and seriously irritating Lucy who was sleeping on my shoulder. Cyrrie is small but dense, and I was anxious for him to settle, but he would not be hurried. Lucy left, and I'm sure I'll have bruises. Finally he curled up on my knees - Angel's spot - and purred louder than ever. (I remember when you had to hold his throat to know if he was purring.)