Help!

Again, I am falling behind in my posting.  Victor was back at the vet this week.  He (of all things) has an infected tail.  Whether it started with a flea bite or a cat bite, who knows.  He's on liquid antibiotics and a topical as well.
He doesn't seem to mind the liquid but when I spray his tail with the topical he has a royal hissy fit.  Well...I guess I should know his boundaries by now, right?  Rule number one:  The vicious feral cat will not be touched in any way by human hands.
It seems that Sugar has the same problem and is tearing her hair out in clumps.  So.......tomorrow is vet day for a follow up on Victor and a new appointment for Sugar.  It never ends!  This is a slow path to being homeless.
If we don't find an extra income soon we will be out in the street.
If anyone wishes to contribute I have a Paypal account (Under the name Muttzncatz).  Contact me for instructions.  What am I saying?  I can't even get anyone to sign up to follow my ramblings.  I know somewhere out there is a person or two who would love to help with our vet bills.
Cherry just had surgery for a kidney stone.  That was around $900.00 with all the ex-rays and overnight stays.  Now she is on a special prescription food for the rest of her life.
Just the pet medicines alone that we get every month is enough to keep us broke.  Victor is on a special liquid for his blood disorder and will be for the rest of his life.  Amos is on an antibiotic because of the growth in his nose.  He also takes an appetite stimulant and an immune support pill each day.  Fina takes a special medicine to keep her from getting an upper respiratory infection due to her having only one nostril.  Tanner now has Hypo Thyroid and will be on a daily pill.  Homer has a constant problem with worms and has to be de-wormed about every other month.  He also takes a Calming liquid to keep him from spraying.  The flea treatments each month are almost $200.00.  The dogs are on heartworm meds each month.  I may have left off something, but I tried to give you a picture of what it's like.  Our credit card is nearing extinction.
Well that's about it for tonight's rant

Good Night From Muttzncat's Place

Where Has The Time Gone?

OK, so it took me over a month to get back to my blog.  I apologize.  You'll understand when I tell you some of the things I have been dealing with.

First, Victor is still doing well.  We have him on a very expensive medication but he only takes it twice a week and he is doing very well.  Amos is starting to have more discharge from his nose again. I think we need to change his antibiotics.  I'm going to paint the walls in that room this weekend If all goes well.  Cat snot does not go well on stark white walls.

Cherry became sick and we took her to the vet.  She just had surgery for a Kidney stone.  Her re-check will be this Friday of this week.  She is healing nicely and not even bothering her stitches.  She is however, on special foods now.

Tanner had to go to the vet also.  He wasn't eating well and looked sick. This is the King of feral cats.  He has been inside our house for about three years now and we still can't touch him.  We trapped him and took him to see Dr. Stanhope at St Francis.  He had a bad upper respiratory infection so we gave him a 14 day shot since pills were out of the question.  He also had a yeast infection in one of his ears.  We left there with ear drops to put in his ears every day.  The doseage was twice a day but we were doing well to get one dose a day in those ears.  The ear infection is cleared up and the rug is much cleaner now than it was before his infection.  Everytime we trapped him and squeezed the ear drops in his ears he peed on the carpet.  He had to go back after two weeks for another 14 day shot. His infection was better but not gone.  After 28 days of the antibiotic shots he still has the upper respiratory infection so now the doctor wants us to give him Clavamox pills twice a day.  OOOOKKKKKK.  The first try with the pills I put one in a lump of cream cheese and offered it to him.  Nope!  Next try was a cheese slice wrapped around the pill.  Not on your life!  Liverworst...no way!  That night we trapped him to give him his ear drops and eye meds, which had been added the last visit, and I took the pill pusher and popped it into his mouth.  Done!  Ha!  He had the most surprised look on his face as he peed in the chair.

Since Christmas We have spent over $2,500.00 on Vet bills.  I need a guardian angel to find me a unlimited supply of money to get out of debt.  Please everyone...pray for a miracle for me.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Victor Is Well

Victor improved even more this week.  When we go next Thursday night, if he stays stable in his weight and his cell counts are good we don't have to go back for awhile.  No more tube feeding this week.  This has been the hard part for Victor.  He's feral and he must not be touched for any reason. 

I finally have a handle on the flea problems in the house.  I can't find any evidence of fleas now.  This has been an intense time of cleaning and treating the cats about every three weeks with Frontline Plus.  For a long time I didn't have to treat the cats in the back room.  They never came into contact with the dogs who are bringing in the fleas from going outside to potty. When I moved the cats around a couple of times they took fleas back into that room and started an infestation.  I used equal parts of salt and baking soda sprinkling it everywhere and then vacuuming it up after a few hours (over night). The way it works, as I understand it..... is that one of the ingredients burns the fleas and the other dries them out.   It really works. 

I filed our taxes and they have already been accepted. (e-filed)  With our refund I intend on replacing a sliding glass door in our dining room, replacing our dishwasher and unclogging our guest bathroom's bathtub.  At one time I had a third cat box in that room.  I was cleaning the floor underneath the box so I balanced it on the side of the tub.  OOPS!  The box fell into the bathtub and before I could rescue the box the drain was filled with cat litter!  Now....anyone with an indoor cat knows what cat litter becomes when it gets wet.  OMG...it's cement!  There was an ad that I saw on television that a drain service was offering to unclog any drain for $99.00.  Welllll.......They are going to have their hands full with this one.  If I feel ambitious I'm going to rent a heavy duty rug cleaner and do our carpets too.

I called my old vet to see if they still had Amos's feline immune support pills in stock.  They said they did and that we could pick them up but had to be there before 3:00 PM.  I asked why and was told that they don't have much business on Wednesdays.  It looks like their business practices are finally catching up with them.  I tried to tell the owner and the business manager about some of the things they needed to improve on and they didn't listen.  I would try calling all day and would get their answering machine.  I tried to call and get an appointment for an emergency and was told there were no appointments left and to go to an emergency vet.  This was a vet I went to for years.  I did a web page for them (between 7 and 10 pages) and was told I would get money off of my visits.  That never happened.  Anyway.... I sent my husband to pick up the pills on his way home since he works about a quarter mile from there.  Guess what?  They were closed when he got there at 2:35 PM.  To be expected.  I do not wish this vet any harm.  My hope is that he will get a clue and shape up because he is a very nice person.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Victor Grows Stronger

Victor is doing weekly visits to the vet.  We went this evening and his numbers are coming up and he is holding his weight.  I had to order some special medicine for his gums so we don't have to use a steroid anymore.  It comes from a compounder and will be a liquid.  I was asked to choose either beef, chicken or tuna flavor.  I, of course, chose tuna which is a darn site better than the peanut butter flavored doxycycline he has been taking. I am reducing his tube feedings to only one time a day.  Next week he will be tested again and hopefully he will still be on the upswing with his numbers and his weight. 

It's getting cold here again.  It's going to be around 28 degrees by morning.
We get nice weather and then we have to change over from the cold to the wet.  That's when we sometimes get the snow.

I'm starting our taxes tomorrow.  I think I have all the papers I need to put it all together.  We paid enough medical this year for a deduction.  That should help.  Sadly we will have enough each year because of the health insurance costs and the high deductibles.  I need to get healthier and not have to go to the doctor as much.  I'm looking for a Malibu Pilates chair with the DVDs.  I can't afford to buy it from the source so I'm looking on Craigs list and eBay.  The cheapest one I can find is around $150.00. I'll keep looking.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Thank God I Don't Have to Diaper him Too

Today has been easier with Victor.  He's eating and drinking a bit but not enough so I'm still tube feeding him and giving him Sub cue fluids. If I go slow enough with the tube feeding he doesn't get fidgety.  I'm feeding him more often but not as much at a time.  I figure that if I let him set the pace of the feeding we'll get it done easier.  It just seems like I'm stuffing something down his throat every few seconds.  I know that's not true but I feel sorry for him being "seriously" feral and all. *Snicker*  He hasn't hissed at me since we brought him home the other day.  He is actually liking hugs now.  I think if we can pull him out of this, he might be a pretty good domesticated kitty (but we won't tell him he's domesticated, right?)

I got my Knit Kit in the mail today.  I ordered it just before Christmas and I LOVE IT!  This is the best all-in-one tool a knitter can own.  I purchased one of the new hot pink ones that has the needle gauge on it.  For those of you that don't know anything about them.... it contains

1.  a row counter
2.  a tape measure
3   a crochet hook (double ended)
4.  a thread cutter
5.  a needle gauge
6.  a pair of scissors
7.  a pair of point protectors
8.  a few stitch markers
9.  a large tapestry needle

It's all in one small container and ready to hit the road with you.  If you want more information go to: http://www.theknitkit.com/. I'm making another dog sweater for Sugar so I can try out some of the features it has.  I love new toys!


Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Muttzncatz's Place Update

I caught a picture today of Tanner as he was napping in a basket by the front door.

He has been extremely elusive.  You can't even make eye contact with him and he's gone.  I shudder to think if I should ever have to give him any serious medicines...who would win that round?  For as chunky as he is he moves with lightning speed.

Fina was just getting ready for an afternoon nap when I clicked this picture.

At least her eyes aren't glowing like her picture on the left of the page.

Victor is fighting me on his feedings.  I have gone through two large towels so far and there will be at least two more by the end of the day.  That is a messy job.  Feeding a cat that doesn't want to hold still is not my idea of fun.  He is sneaky about it too.  He shrinks into the towel instead of trying jump forward out of the hold.  I have tried every wrap I can think of on him and he still escapes before I'm done feeding.  I end up wearing almost as much as he has eaten.  I will say that giving him his pill is a breeze.  Since he doesn't have teeth in most of his mouth he can't bite me.

Maybe it will be easier tomorrow.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

The Victor Returns Home

Victor is home and with his best buddy, Lamont.  He rubbed on Lamont as soon as he got out of his carrier and then ran to the water and had a good drink.  Mind you....in the hospital he didn't eat or drink anything.  I went in to tube feed him and he fought me the whole way.  After we were done he jumped down and went to the dry food and chowed.  The doctor wants him to have a whole can of Science Diet ad everyday for at least a week.  He's going to be soooo mad at me when that week is over!  Oh well...like I said yesterday....that's what we do here.  Here's the little Prince after he chowed on the dry food.

He's got that one eyed squint that says,"LEAVE ME ALONE".  He's probably more mad about me disturbing him from his cuddling with Lamont to feed him.  Now it will take a while before Lamont comes back to lay with him again.
My favorite Tech at the 24 hour hospital said that he didn't sleep while he was there.  That was, I'm guessing, a trust thing.  To one who thinks he's still very feral....all those strangers picking him up and accosting him every so often had to be stressful.

Here's a picture of Ed and his girl Sugar with her navy blue dress on.  This was taken yesterday.  The girls usually wear the same type of clothes each day.

So, all is well at Muttzncatz's Place tonight.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Rats! Victor Is Still Hospitalized

Victor is still in the hospital.  I'm going to call his doctor in a few minutes and see what he thinks about his condition.  He is still not eating or drinking on his own.  That has me concerned.  I don't want to bring him home and force feed him if he wants to just give up because of an undiscovered problem.  If the doctor feels this is normal for his condition then we will keep on treating him. 

Here's a picture that I found on facebook.  It proves even a rat needs someone to love.

I thought this picture was so cute I had to show you.  NO, this is NOT a part of the Muttzncatz's Place family.  Although I did have a rat we rescued from outside our home one time.  She was a feeder rat so I'm guessing that a neighbor had her to feed their snake.  She must have gotten away and made it to our house.  We went to the local pet store and bought her a cage and all the trimmings as well as a tiny carrier to transport her to and from the doctor. Minnie only lasted a couple of years because she had an upper respiratory infection that I believe she got when she was outside in the cold March air.  The sad part of the story was that she had a friend that escaped with her but he was found dead on the pathway to the next door neighbors house.

Cherry wanted her picture re-taken so everyone wouldn't think she only owned one outfit so here's our little fashion bug....

This is a cute little dress.  Sugar has one in navy blue with anchors on it.
Sugar isn't fond of dressing every single morning but she'll be happy when Summer comes and she can go nude again.

I just spoke with Victor's doctor and he says that the blood disease he has created the problem and he is progressing very well and should recover soon.It was a bacterial infection in his blood.  He's coming home tomorrow with a list of instructions and medications.  that's always such a joyful time....giving a semi-feral cat subcue fluids and medications not to mention tube feeding him.
My arms will look like chopped meat when I'm done.  oh well....that's what we do in this house.

Remember to keep those resolutions!


Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Now You See Him...Now You Don't

Victor came home for a day but wasn't eating so we took him back to the hospital before his system could go down again.  He is in good hands there and I know they will do everything possible to help him to get well.  I'm thinking that he will be there for another day or two but he should be back to his old hissy self when he returns home again.  When we picked him up at the hospital he didn't hiss at us but the techs said he was hissing at them. That's a good sign since he fancies himself to be absolutely 100% feral still.  After I pet him he hisses at me but totally enjoys the attention while he's getting it.

The girls always get so excited about splitting a container of wet food each night for dinner.

If you will notice...this time my husbands tongue is out.  I'm truly thinking there is something going on here.  First Fina then Ed.  I just can't get any respect!

I should put away more snow people tomorrow.  It's super crowded in here.  It's starting to close in on me.  Today Ed took the outside Christmas lights down.....now it's my turn to put all the inside stuff away.

I have to wonder what's in store for all of us this year.  I'm hoping this will be a better year for everyone.  I don't want to get into prophecy here but it's scary to think about what's coming and when it could get here.

Smile at everyone you see!

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Victor is in the Hospital

Our little Victor has been in the hospital since yesterday night.  Awhile (two weeks) back he had to have a shot for his gums that get inflamed constantly because his system has turned on the enamel on his teeth.  We had all but maybe two to four teeth removed but he still gets the inflammation.  That means that every six weeks or so he needs an anti-inflammatory shot.  He use to yowl and run away from his food when it started to hurt him.  This time he didn't...he just quit eating only I didn't know that.  By the time I realized he wasn't eating he had lost a substantial amount of weight.  He got his shot and started eating until he caught an upper respiratory infection and stopped eating again.  This one I figured out immediately but his system was already compromised from not eating for so long the first time.  Off we went to the 24 hour animal hospital.  He is slowly mending and should be able to go home tomorrow.  Lamont, being his best buddy, has been miserable without him.  Every time I go into their room he looks at me like, where's my Victor?  I told him to pray hard that Victor gets well because the first night we didn't know if he would even make it.  He must have prayed because the doctor (who was surprised at the partial recovery) said Victor is doing much better.

Fina is blissfully happy since Christmas eve.  She is wearing her bling for all to see.  I held her up to the mirror so she could appreciate her necklace.  It sparkles with all the crystals that are in it.

The next shot is Fina in mid lick..............

It looks like she is sticking her tongue out at me.  Who knows...maybe she is?

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place 

Little Tree Many Ornaments

The tree is done.  Here it is.......

To the left under the tree there is a white splotch.  It's kind of hard to see but on the top of the tree there is a snowman and he's holding a snowflake that splotch under the tree......that's Fina making herself comfy and waiting for Santa to bring her bling and lots of happy grass.  If I lifted the table cloth up you would see three other kids...Paddy, Tanner and Homer.  Tomorrow or the next day I'll try to get a better picture of the area.

Victor went to St Francis 24 hour vet hospital yesterday for his anti- inflammatory shot.  So far he still won't eat.  He's the one with almost all of his teeth extracted because he was allergic to his own enamel. His gums get swollen and red still so we have to get him a shot about every six to eight weeks.

Now I have to hang the stockings on the mantle after I put Sugar's name on one.  That's all I'm going to do this year.  It's a snowman year...very few, if any, Santas were brought out.  I still have to put out my air-blown snowman in the yard.  After I get home from the dentist ( A fitting for my bridge) on Saturday I'll do that.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Love Is A Many Furred Thing

Just a quick note.  Here's a picture of the two lover boys in their bed.  Lamont and Victor could not exist without each other.

I was going to take Lamont to the Humane Society but Victor would probably die without him so I'm just going to have to keep him on the anti-spray meds until it breaks his habit. 

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

I'm Here...Minus One Tooth

We went to the dentist today and the painful tooth is finally gone for good. One more visit to take care of my three tiny cavities and I'm done.  I have to wonder how long it will be before I take them out and soak them at night.  Getting old is such a pain.

Victor (who we took in, in his 10 or so years of life) went to the vet yesterday for his shot for his inflamed gums.  He was allergic to the enamel on his teeth so we had them extracted.  He still gets swollen and red about every month to month and a half. It's a good thing there is no such thing as a tooth fairy for cats or we would be broke!

Tomorrow we are going to go to KMart to exchange my husband's socks we bought last weekend.  He wanted crew socks and got ones with the heels in them. That concludes his clothes shopping for Winter.  I usually call it his school clothes shopping trip. ( 'cause it bugs him)

My son just bought a new motorcycle.  I even like the looks of this one. My husband was dreaming about it and from what I could understand he rode it most of the night.  He wants a bike super bad but I think he's too old to handle one.  He's use to driving a semi and makes wide turns and rides the center line most of the time so........I don't think so!

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Now For The Dog Days Of Summer.......

Thank God the fourth of July is over.  We did well though.  Everything turned out pretty well and we only had one glitch.......The Turkey had to go from the BBQ to the oven to get done in time.  I understand the Vancouver, Washington fireworks display was nothing to shout about this year.  I was told they were low to the ground and only 25 minutes instead of the old 45 minutes.  Nothing stays the same I guess.

I'm working outside when I can ...weeding the flower beds. This is a bit of a sore spot for me since we pay extra in our rent so they do our yard work.  We live in a mobile home park and we are in a section that is supposed to have yard  maintenance included. Watering, weed control, edging, trimming are all included.  Ya, right!  I have worked harder in this space than in my old one where I was responsible for all the yard work.  The only thing the park does is mow the very front lawn because it shows from the street.  After I'm done with the weeding then I have to start the trimming of the trees and bushes. Is it any wonder that I like Winter better than Summer?

I'm still looking for a watercolor class to attend.  I did find my last teachers phone number though.  I'm going to call her this week and see if I could maybe go to another one of her classes somewhere else.  I need some inspiration.  If I could go out and take pictures of flowers and birds.....I would possibly become inspired.

We are having a very cool Summer so far.  I do understand that we will be in the oven soon. 

On the kitty scene.........I now have Moosey, Victor, Lamont and Homer in the back room (Due to spraying issues).  Victor has to be watched very carefully because he has pain shots for his inflamed gums about every 6 weeks.  (He was allergic to the enamel on his teeth and had to have them pulled). When
he hisses it sounds reeeeeeally wet.  He hisses every chance he gets because he's still very feral. At least HE thinks he's still feral.  He loves to be petted behind the ears and under the chin but then suddenly realizes he's being handled by a human and hisses and trys to look almost vicious.

In the main part of the house we have Fina, Hunter, Paddy and Tanner.  Tanner is trying so hard to make up to Hunter but the best he gets is a whomp on the top of his head.  Since we did a major shift in the fur people that live in each part of the house things have not been boring.  Lamont is lamenting, Victor is glued to Lamont (no change there), Moosey attacks Homer relentlessly, Tanner keeps getting beat up by Hunter, Paddy is afraid Hunter will eat all his food and Fina is attacking Hunter Paddy and Tanner.  Ahhhh, life is good....well, maybe not good, but interesting.

Good night from Muttzncatz Place

Another Day In Muttzncatzville

The vet was uneventful.  Cherry could not produce a urine sample so we went there for nothing.  Now I have to try and get it myself this weekend.  I'm waiting for an estimate from one of the doctors for the surgery she needs.  While I was there I picked up the meds I needed and a round of flea medication for all the cats and the dog.  That means this weekend we will be chasing the feral ones all over the house to apply the flea dose on their necks.  I'm referring to Tanner, Homer and Victor.  Cherry is starting to help with trapping process.  She herds them into our bathroom so they can't get away.  I think she missed her calling.  She might have been good on a farm.

Tomorrow the repair person from Sears is coming to fix our dishwasher.  I'm always concerned that whoever they send might be allergic to animals.  It's pointless to tell the appointment taker to send someone who has no allergies.  People are getting so uncaring and cold it scares me.  Customer service isn't a concern for a business either.  When they make an appointment with you to show up between 1:00 and 5:00 PM.......I think that's rude.  In this age of cell phones and all the ways of communicating with one another....They can't make an appointment for a set time and then call if they are going to be late?  Almost everyone has a cell phone.... why are they tying up our time for FOUR HOURS?  Better to inconvenience the customer than the repair person!  Now that's customer service.

I think I'm losing my faith in mankind.  You have to guard everything you own....including your name.  Thieves will break into your car just for a GPS charging cord.  If you leave an aluminum ladder outside too long...it's gone. 
Metal is a precious commodity these days. One of our neighbors got their car stolen and found it a day or two later with all four rims gone.  Nothing else was taken from the vehicle. You have to look over your shoulder no matter where you are and don't trust anyone. Sad, isn't it?

Tomorrow is another day...maybe it will be a better one.
Goodnight from Muttzncatz's Place