Cat Saturday

See?  Watching Zoe clean herself is more exciting that watching this season of the Bachelorette.

For my boring life in pictures, my IG profile is open.

Merlin

Name one of the most comforting sounds you can think of.  I have a few, but a cat's purr is definitely high on the list.  There's just something snuggly about a little purry kitty, in a little ball in your lap, like there's nowhere else he or she would rather be than to chill with you.  Zoe's a big purring machine.  Bosco was when he was just a kitten, but as he aged, I thought he lost his ability to purr. Turns out it's there, it's just infrequent, and usually only comes out when Chris is the one scratchin' him.  On the way home from work, the DJ on the radio played a sound, followed by a commercial break and his promise of letting the audience know what the sound was.  I thought it resembled a cat, but wasn't 100% sure.  Turns out yes, it was a cat.  Not a lion. Not a tiger.  Not a cheetah.  But a housecat.  Merlin, to be exact.  Apparently most domestic house cats purr at a decibel of about 25.  Merlin caps out at a whopping 100 decibels.  His owner is attempting to get him into the Guiness Book of World Records.  Every time I hear him peak out at 100dB, I giggle:

And, truth be told, as cute as a short video is, I'm sorta glad my Zoe is probably more in the "normal" dB range.  Happy Monday!

sick kitty

My little Zoe is having a rough few days.  She's been throwing up since last Thursday, and her appetite has been down (normally she's such a little oinker I'm afraid Bosco won't get his fair share).  After watching her go through that the entire weekend and cleaning up way more than a fair share of cat barf, Chris took her to the vet yesterday.  Of course, prior to that I attempted to get my answers via Dr. Google (read: very bad, very, very bad idea).  I was worried sick, and was a teary-eyed pathetic MESS Sunday night and all Monday.  The vet didn't want to jump to any conclusions until she ran some tests so on Monday they took blood and did a full work up.  In addition she declared that Zoe had a substantial heart murmur (a 3-4 on their scale of 6, and 6 being the most worrisome), and a low-grade fever.  Fortunately, the blood work came back clear, but there was still no determination as to what was causing her to be so sick, so an x-ray was booked to see if there was a blockage. She went back today for an x-ray; there was a small spot where the vet thought there could be a blockage, but it wasn't something she wanted to 'open her up for'.  She was given an enema which didn't really result in a large anything, and she was given an anti-puke pill which she promptly puked up.  The vet left instructions to continue force-feeding her the anti-hairball paste (which, up til now, she liked and readily took, but now, apparently loathes), and advised they'd like to have her back in again today for another x-ray to see if the blockage moved.

I'm so completely worried sick about her I don't even know what to do with myself.

Last night when I got home from work I was sure to get as much snuggle time in.  Her ears and face were burning hot so I assume her fever is still present.  Fortunately, it seems the anti-puke pill gave her belly some relief because there was only 1 barf incident, and into the evening, she finally started to show signs of turning around.  Maybe the fever broke.  She has still been drinking, thankfully (always has been a 'water' cat), and she's been taking a little bit of food and treats.  I felt better leaving her to go to work today than I did the past two days.  I'm hopeful that today's x-rays will show that the area of potential blockage has started to move... and will keep the blog posted.  If all my readers could keep my little Zo' in your thoughts and prayers, we'd both appreciate it.  She's my constant little companion, and she's only 6 years old.  I'm hoping, and praying, for many, many more years of snuggles and purrs with her....

This is not a Dr. Seuss rhyme...

...but....

I awoke to a freaking MOUSE IN MY HOUSE! 

Fear not, he was not attempting to plot. 

Dead was he, and white-faced, was ME!

I nearly passed out.  I frantically called out to a slumbering Chris, "UM, there appears to be what looks like a real dead mouse in the hallway".  To which, he sleepily replied, "Huh, that's not possible"..and then the surprise, "Oh my God it IS (no sh!t, Sherlock!)".

I remember hearing Zoe crying out for us earlier in the morning, long before the alarm.  She usually waits til the alarm goes off, and then she walks all over me to ensure I'm getting up.  Perhaps she was squealing in delight at her kill?  Bosco looked unusually tired this morning - barely opening an eyelid as he remained drowsily perched on top of the couch. Perhaps he'd had a busy night last night.  Regardless of how the kill went down, at least Chris was there to dispose of the...carcass.  He'd dropped it actually, and it made a big thud.  How quick does riggor kick in, anyway? (*shudders*).  This is our first issue with a rodent.  Does it mean that there's a nest of little furry creatures in our mattress?  In the dust bunny haven under the bed?  Perhaps in the sty that we call a bedroom closet?  I'm sickened at the thought, but, at least I do have a few 'guards' on hand to take care of business, as it were. 

I guess you know what I'LL be doing this weekend.  Full on clean up in the Master...complete with closet dump.  If it's not been worn in a year, "hopeful" or not, she goes to the red bin.  Pray that I don't find fecal matter or 'nests', would you, please?

Sweet merciful baby Jeeeeeeeeeebus!

Saturday funny

Santa Paws

To help you all get into the Christmas spirit:



The other night as I was halfway between sleep and consciousness I heard a small rustling, something drop, and then roll to the floor. I left the bed, walked into the living room, and saw Zoe rolling one of my ornaments on the floor, like a ball. Fortunately it was a plastic ornament so no damage was done (after 4 years with cats at Christmas time you learn (the hard way) to ensure the un-breakables are secured on the bottom branches). From time to time, though our tree mostly remains looking untouched, we come home to find a rather large gaping hole in the branches where one of them have tried to (well, likely succeeded) perch inside the tree. Good thing they're cute.