Fishgirl Speaks: Cats

Slipperiest Cat Evar

Allie has had a touchy tummy for a long time, but has been mostly stable. When our store recently stopped carrying the kitties' food, the new stuff seemed to trigger a longer bout of upset stomach, so we took her into the vet. After the usual round of bloodwork, she was sent home with special food and two medications.

The universe finds funny ways to balance things out. To wit: Darla, although sweet, is probably the least cuddly of the brood and likes to hide in weird places. Surprisingly, it was easy to give Darla her liquid medication during her recent recovery. Allie, on the other hand, is the front line greeter when people come over and will curl up with just about anybody. Giving her medication, however, is a whole other ball game.

Several years ago during another bad tummy episode, she was sent home with some pills. I couldn't do it. Jack and I couldn't do it. I called the vet, took her in, and it took three vet techs to pill her.

Three.

Professionals.

So they made a note in her file, and dutifully sent us home with liquids this time. I tried her last night when she was mellow, but she just squirmed right out of it. Then I asked Charles to scruff her and suddenly she sprouted 7 extra limbs, pushing and twisting and heaven help you if you should catch a talon. After several rounds of where's-my-mouth, she eventually submitted long enough for me to squirt the rest in.

This cat has some serious kung fu that I will be studying closely.
For the next two weeks.
Twice a day.

July 29, 2009 in Cats | Permalink | Comments (3)

House Husband and Cat Wrangler

I think Charles is feeling the effects of being cooped up with five cats every day. Witness this conversation.

July 09, 2009 in Cats | Permalink | Comments (1)

Little Miss Tough Girl

Oh, Darla.

Sunday, while I was trying to sleep, there was a great clattering in the kitchen. I squeezed my eyes and ears shut, and got the report from Charles later. Darla had slipped behind the stove again, but got caught and freaked out. Despite the human's best effort, the cat freed herself. About four days later, I caught sight of her back left foot and noticed that it wasn't quite right. She wasn't favoring it, or licking it, or taking much notice of it, other than shaking it once or twice, but it looked like the toes weren't coming together right, and a claw was sticking out too far.

I took her in to the doc on Friday, and they found her toe to be luxated. It's like a dislocation, but more specific, I guess. On a human, they would pull the finger back into place and splint it. With a cat, they can't really splint it, or guarantee that once back in place, it would stay. We were told that amputation of part of the toe was a possibility, and that's what they ended up having to do this morning, We brought her home around 2:30, and, per the instructions, got a private room ready for her to recuperate overnight (the Room of Requirement, natch).

If you've ever picked up your anipal from the doc post-surgery, you know they can be very groggy and wobbly, and generally amusing and sad all at the same time.

Groggy, my ass.

I opened the carrier and Darla bolted under the armoir. Then Charles opened the door to come in, and quick as lightning, a blur of tortoise shell and bright pink bandage when flying out. We did our best to corral her, and maybe herd her back into the Room of. Naturally, the other cats came out to help. Eventually, she went for her favorite and most private hiding place behind the speaker on top of the kitchen cabinets.

Girl, did no one tell you had a toe removed this morning?

We'll see about getting her pain and antibiotic meds into her. Oy.

June 13, 2009 in Cats | Permalink | Comments (2)

Upholstery on the Cheap

One of the aforementioned projects was recovering the sofa. This sofa is about 15 years old...with cats, if you know what I mean. I put the ol' blinders on whenever anyone came over, and I'm pretty sure they did too. It's not easy to replace something of that magnitude, let alone blocking the underlying gravity well long enough to do so. If you haven't been on the sofa, come over and you'll feel what I'm talking about.

In any case, I couldn't very well wear blinders with my wedding attire, nor expect others to do the same at the house reception, so something needed to be done. For about $75 with shipping, I purchased 25 yards of unbleached, 100% cotton and proceeded to stitch it on to the sofa - a semi-permanent slipcover, if you will. Here are pics of the project, complete with supervisors. You'll note that they are in every single shot. That's about how the project went.

Hey look, a human! Thanks, Cyd.

Everyone's taking a break.

Composite of the finished sofa.

The end!

May 17, 2009 in Cats, House | Permalink | Comments (2)

Underfoot

Here are some pics of the new studio floor. It's a solid, carbonized, stranded, woven bamboo with beveled edges. That makes three styles of bamboo we have. Ask me about bamboo floor. Anytime. Really.

And here's a pic of Benny the Fang, outdoor helper extraordinaire, taking a break on the hot tub. This pic was on the camera between flooring shots, so I have to assume he was a big help to Charles.

And, most recently, here we have the plush, new lawn:

And of course, the helper, enjoying the fruits of Charles' labor.

Looks nice to me too, Benny. But we have to stay off of it for awhile so it can take root.