Lamont And Tanner Update

Lamont is doing well.  He's getting tired of eating the soft food.  He's never been a fan of Friskies wet food.  He likes his Whiska's dry.  I can start him on the dry food after this weekend.  His gums were still a bit red when he went for his checkup.  He's also tired of being cooped up in the back room.

Tanner is doing better now too.  His skin is finally healing up so his new medication is working.  Comfortis rocks!  It's more expensive but when you figure in the flea treatments, the prednisone he had to take to get better, it works out to be a little cheaper with the Comfortis.

Cherry's skin is getting bad again so she will have to go back on antibiotics.  I will phone her doctor tomorrow and order meds to pick up this weekend.  It seems like we have to go to the vet every weekend.  I know everyone who works there better than my neighbors where I live.    Oh well.....I have to take Tanner in this weekend to have the techs give him his Comfortis again.  That's the other drawback.  The Comfortis is like a antacid tablet....it's huge.

I still have my cold but I think it's worse because of all the pollen that's blowing here and there.  I do have allergies and need to refill my flonase.  Maybe I can separate out the allergies if I start using the nose spray again.

Yesterday and part of today we had no phones or Internet connection.  I called Comcast and they brought us a new modem/router combination.  The tech replaced boosters and some cable connections to boost the signal. Before he came we couldn't get a wifi connection in the bedroom (three quarters of the length of our house) and our phone was dropping calls.  That should be great until about next year and then they'll have to do it again.  We've had it done at least three times out of four years with Comcast.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Cats, Birds And Bugs

Here we are in May and I've had the flu and a strong cold during this flu season.  I just came down with the cold two days ago.  I haven't been well since I caught that horrid flu.  This is what we can expect after having the four-in-one flu shot for seniors?

Lamont had to go to his doctor's office and do an overnight stay to have four teeth removed.  Every time he ate he would scream.  He's on antibiotics now and is doing well.  He goes in for a recheck tomorrow.
Lamont and Tanner are back in the kitty room.  It's been easier to medicate both of them in a smaller room.  Tanner's skin condition is clearing up.  After we get a handle on both of these boys and their conditions they're going out into the main part of the house again.

The birds are starting to show up for Spring.  I have seen, in the past week alone, Bullock's Orioles, American Goldfinches, Black-Headed Grosbeaks, Red- Winged Blackbirds, White Crowned Sparrows,Cowbirds,Steller's Jays and Towhees.  No Western Tanagers yet though.  If this year is anything like last year the Grosbeaks, Goldfinches and Red-Winged Blackbirds will stay for the summer.  I haven't seen our Northern Flicker this year.  By now they are usually drilling away at our metal stove pipe on the roof of the house to ward off any other males in the area.
I still have to order that suction cup clear acrylic bird feeder for the window so the cats can be amazed and amused.

Well....... I'm going to get comfy and warm and try healing this pain-in-the-rear cold bug.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

The News Isn't Good

Sadly, I think Amos will be going away this weekend.  We took him to the vet last weekend and found he has a bad back and hips.  He is unable to walk so the doctor prescribed a steroid to take down the inflammation and provide him with less pain.  He is still unable to walk and now is having difficulties eliminating.  I wish there was a way to get him walking again.  I hate the thought of putting a cat down for a bad back.  He also isn't as old as my cats have been when we had to put them down.  I'm having a problem rationalizing this one.  I know it's a quality of life thing but I can't help thinking he might walk again with some sort of home therapy (exercise).

Cherry has her skin infection again so she's back on her meds.  Sugar has worms now so we need a drontal for her.  Look out St Francis 24 Hour Animal Hospital, we're coming soon!

As soon as I learn more I'll blog about it.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

He'ssssssssssss Back

Damian appeared again.  I was kind of right. He has a new picture now.  I'm a bit concerned though.  He has two shaved spots on his front legs now.  I believe he has had a surgery.  Maybe he had a dental procedure?  It couldn't have been anything too serious because he was only off the radar for one day.

See the difference?  He looks like he's wearing super plush boots now.  His hair looks like it was brushed too.  They're still watching him closely because he is not in the little playroom with the other FIV+ cats. He's in a cage, in what they call meow manor.  I'm thinking he will probably go back to be with the other FIV+ kitties when he's completely recovered.  He seems to get along with them fairly well....in fact he even frequently slept with one of the cats.

Amos is out and about again today and found one of the catnip toys.  He almost rubbed all the hair off his face trying to get all the goodness out of the toy.  He seems to be very happy in the main part of the house.  Fina has a cardboard box that I cut a hole in so she could have a hideaway.  Unfortunately for Amos, he found the box and tried to get in.  Fina set the records straight immediately!  I have never heard her hiss quite so loudly.  He backed out without hesitation and moved on to find a very entertaining small tennis ball to bat around.  I think Fina is still guarding her clubhouse and that incident was about 3 1/2 hours ago. (She may be small but she's mighty!)

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

All White Cats Look Alike?

I went to the Humane Society on Saturday to see Damien.  I asked to be able to pet him.  I wanted to call his name and see if he would remember me.  The door was opened and he and a Snowshoe kitty were right there.  I called him "Damien" and he didn't seem to care about a name but wanted lots of pets.  I was told by the volunteer that he was brought in by Animal Control with another cat.  The owner surrendered him and the other cat because he ( the white one) needed his eye operated on.  They said he didn't have a microchip when he was admitted to the Humane Society.  My son's cat had a microchip.  Conclusion.....This must not be Damien.  But...even up close he looks exactly like him.  I'm not believing that there are two cats that look that much alike! If you have been around many cats you probably know also that they all have a different look.  They are like snowflakes...all different in some way.

The trip to the Humane Society did make me feel a bit better though.  Even though I couldn't possibly take him home because of the FIV+, at least there's a possibility that he isn't Damien.  Maybe Damien has a good home and is blooming where he's planted.  That thought makes me feel very at peace with life again.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Damien Update



Damien, in mid-yawn, looks longingly out the door of the cattery.  Here's the big finish...............

Today a volunteer came in and visited with the cats for a few minutes.  Damien, taking full advantage of the situation, hopped on her lap and got all the attention.

So that's the update on Damien for the day.

P.S.  I learned by search engine that FIV is curable now!!!!!

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

I Do Not Have Cat Hair In My Eye!

On Friday I had to rush over to my eye doctor's office.  It seems I (according to the doctor) had something in my eye and it swelled up and turned super red.  Oh ya,  It also hurt like crazy.  He said it was probably a cat hair that came out after it caused the angry eye. I maintain the position that I think I would have felt it if I had a cat hair in my eye.  I can sure tell if I get an eyelash in one of my eyes.  I still think it was an eye infection.  I shouldn't say WAS because I'm still having pain from it as well as swelling.  I'm hoping tomorrow it will stop hurting.

I went into the Humane Society's web cam tonight to check on Damien.  He's  hiding in one of the cubes they have on the floor of the cattery. I'm happy he is sleeping soundly and not bullying any of the other cats into a fighting frenzy.  The Humane Society must have had a lot of people through there today. All the cats seem to be out cold.

All is well here at our house.  The cats are fine and the dogs are fine as well.  The bird watching isn't as exciting right now because it's been raining for a few days.  Paddy and Homer are doing their favorite rainy weather sport.  They wait until Fina gets up and then chase her until she goes back to bed again.  Poor Fina!

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Damien: The Bully Needs A Home

Damien is still in the same area with other cats.  The Humane Society Has a web cam so I can watch him.
http://www.ipetcompanion.net/client/oregon-humane-society
He's the only all white cat in the room.  Tonight I watched him try to irritate a black and white cat so he could start a fight.  Luckily the other cat walked away.

I can only hope that he finds a loving home with good people who will care for him until he's ready for that rainbow bridge. He hasn't had the best life so far.  He was brought from Tennessee to Oregon by a women with two kids who was fleeing a bad marriage. She hooked up with my son on the Internet and moved in......... cat, kids and all her worldly posessions. (all that could fit into a car, that is)  She wasn't here long and moved out one day while my son was at work........kids and all her worldly posessions.  Notice anything missing from that last list?  Yep.....the cat got left behind.  He lived with my son for 7 years (he was a kitten when he arrived here). 
He is very loving and doesn't mind a bath.  He plays fetch with some of his toys.  He's a bit of a pig when it comes to the food bowl however.  He has had a weight problem in the past.  He's currently 15.5 pounds so he gainned some of his weight back again.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

The Saga Of Damien

I usually keep an eye on the local Humane Society's website.  A few months ago my son took his cat to the humane society because he no longer wanted to care for him.  The Humane society was told that he could not be an outdoor cat because he bullies other animals and gets torn up in the process.  They didn't bother to tell the people who took him home any of this and now (I think) he's back in the Humane Society's care with chunks out of him.

This cat I believe to be the cat we took to the Humane Society a few months ago.  If it is him, this is the third time he has been stitched up from being outside.  They have him listed as FIV positive now.  He wasn't FIV positive when my son had him. I should have just taken him home with me instead of letting him go to the Humane Society in the first place. This is so upsetting to me.  I can't let my other cats get FIV too or I would go get him tomorrow.



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

The Christmas Squeeze

Since I overloaded everyone with all the pictures yesterday.....a non pictured entry will be a shock to the system.  Sorry.  The presents are wrapped and are hidden in the computer room, safely away from the claw-footed furballs with destruction on their minds.  I still have to get stocking stuffers and the 3M double sided tape to hang the stockings.  That will be on Friday when we go grocery shopping.  Tomorrow I have to make the corn pudding.  I'm splitting the recipe and freezing half of it for another meal.  There will only be four of us for Christmas eve dinner so a whole recipe is just too much. The recipe for corn pudding is on one of my posts in this blog.  Oh, here it is....
http://muttzncatzs-place.blogspot.com/2011/11/vet-update.html

Is anyone else's Christmas card list getting smaller?  It seems like every year you send out cards and only get about two-thirds the amount back.  I usually send out around twenty cards.  So far this year I have gotten nine cards.  There's always the one or two that you didn't expect to get a card from too.  You grab a card, write a greeting on it and hurry to put it in the mail so it will get there by Christmas (like you planned to send them one).

The cats are beginning to look at the tree like it is something they need to climb.  I caught Tanner sitting on the table under the tree staring up into the center of it.  I immediately squirted him with water and told him NO!  He's so hefty...I'm not sure he could actually get his rear end off the table and into the tree.  Although, I will say, he has lost some tonnage in the last year.  I'm going to take new pictures of the cats and post them on the blog sometime after the first of the year (as requested by Nancy).


Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Beautiful Christmas Tree

We bought a tree today and a wreath.  It's a nice little 5 foot Grand fir. (there's at least a foot of trunk so it's still about a four foot tree.)  The cats have been circling it cautiously like they expect it to move suddenly.  After we placed the tree on our little round two foot tall table Homer has spent most of his time underneath it.  His tail is hanging out from under the table cloth on one side..... but he is convinced that we can't see him.  Anyway I have my work cut out for me for a couple of days now.  I'm going to add a couple of picks to the wreath, hang it on the gate, then put the lights and ornaments on the tree.  When I get the tree decorated I'll take a picture and post it.

We also took back two jackets for the girls.  Cherry and Sugar did not fit into a size SM/MED.  I had to go back and get a MED/LG.  Chunky little monkeys!  These are for their Christmas presents so we have to have jackets that fit. 

I still have to get a stocking stuffer gift for my husband.  Our rule for that is...it should to be under twenty dollars.  I'm going to have to be super creative in order to come up with something this year.  He's so hard to buy for.
Usually if I buy it for him he won't use, eat or play with whatever it is.  It sits in a drawer forever.  I personally think he just doesn't like me.  No...I'm not kidding.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Nooks Rule!

Yea, I have my camera!  It's wonderful.  I think I could photograph a pimple on a bugs butt if I wanted to. However there probably isn't a market for such a subject.  It gets sooooo up close, it's amazing.  In the next few weeks the cats will be blinded by the flashes and running into the furniture and each other.

So what is everyone wanting for Christmas?  I want a couple of books for my Nook e-reader.  I love my Nook.  It's so light it doesn't hurt my hands like a book (even paperback) does.  I can even get on the net with it and it's only the first generation one.  I want one of the Nook Tablets next.  That's my dream e-reader now.  The books don't cost as much for the e-reader either.  Most of my books are between $5.00 and $12.99.  The $12.99 is for the mainstream novels that have just been released.  My favorite book of the year I think was "The Help".  It made me laugh, cry and cheer.  It was a wonderful book. I bought the movie  this week and watched it too.  The book was just a little bit better because some of the stuff was left out of the movie and only implied.  Another pretty good book was "Heaven Is Real".  It's a real account of a child that goes to Heaven.  It was impressive the way it was written.

I'm going to take care of decorating the house this weekend or die trying!  It's just that I keep thinking you only have about three weeks and you will be putting it away again.  Ugh!  I don't find that thought to empowering in any way.

The cats are being pretty good about not investigating the snowmen that I have already put out.  Most of them would be shattered if they hit the floor.  I picked up about twenty new snowmen on a Freecycle list.  For those of you that don't know what that is...it's a e-mail list of things, that people want to get rid of but are still in good shape and usable.  It's a Yahoo group and is limited to an area where you live.

Time to slip into my night-night clothes, grab my nook and hit the sheets.

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

Getting To Know Sugar

I'm so glad our mini heatwave is finally over. I hate 90 degree weather. Now maybe I can get back to work in the yard.  I have so much trimming to get done. According to the weatherman on our local channel we may have rain on Saturday.


I can hardly wait until Sugar gets used to the sounds here in our home. I get to sleep about 2:30 AM and she wakes me at about 8:30 AM.  Maybe I could crate her with a radio and a warm blanket and she wouldn't hear our neighbors or the cats in the other part of the house.  Our next door neighbor decided to take a phone call on her deck this morning and Sugar had a fit.  Then in the next hour Fina decided to throw herself at the bedroom door until I got up.  These guys (cats) all have their own way of handling situations.  Fina was attempting to get me up to feed everyone.  She won.......again!

This morning I went out on the South side of the house to water our tomato plant and there was a baby raccoon climbing up the tree extremely close to where I stood. he settled on a branch that he considered high enough to be safe from the human and began talking to me.  After he finished his speech I went to get the hose and turn on the water.  When I returned to the top of the stairs again he was gone.

Today was chase the Tanner day.  It was flea meds time for the poor child.  He's getting better about leaving a stream of pee as we chase him though. He ran into the vacuum box that I fell on the other night.  It was easy to reach in and rub the treatment on the back of his neck.  He's always the last one to get his flea treatment only because of the degree of difficulty.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

Sugar Has Come Home

Sugar came home with us today after the meet and greet at the Oregon Humane Society.  When She and Cherry met each other it was basically a no big deal thing.  When we got Sugar home however, Cherry decided that Sugar didn't have any business being in her home.  Cherry did the occasional growl of authority and then ignored her.  I figure it this way...they haven't torn each other apart yet so I think they'll eventually get along after a few days of being together.

We have to take her to our vet this week some time for the free checkup.  She sounds congested so I'm a bit concerned about that but maybe it's just one of the things typical to the breeds she is mixed with.

In the evenings I come in to the computer room/library and knit, crochet, cross stitch, paint, play games on the Internet (Pogo) or read.  I fixed a box with a pillow in it for Sugar since Cherry has one.  Cherry jumped in her box and Sugar ran to the other box and jumped in like she knew it was hers.  She must be fairly intelligent.  She certainly seems at home here.

The cats took Sugar in stride.  The only one who had his tail in a knot was Tanner.  He looks like someone put him in a dryer for a fluff dry every time he comes face-to-face with Sugar.  When Fina came to investigate the new kid on the block she jumped in front of Sugar like she wanted to scare her.  It worked.  Sugar now gives Fina a very wide berth.  It's hard to comprehend because Fina is so small and looks frail but she IS the queen of the place and must be obeyed!

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

DO-NOT-TRUST-MUTTZNCATZ'S-PLACE-SUPERBOWL-PICKS!

The Kitties blew it!  They all had a good time having treats and catnip though.  Midgey swung at any cats that got too close to her, (Nasty drunk)
while Homer, Paddy and Lamont flew around the house like they were Tarzan.
Ming ate his catnip and went to bed in his basket. Fina, Victor and Tanner slept through the whole thing in their various favorite spots.  When they woke up they were covered with a fine coating of catnip which made them very popular with the other cats.  The cats in the back room (Hunter and Moosey) had catnip and slept soundly all evening.

Today was a sunny and crisp day in Portland.  That meant that the South side of the house was littered with lumps of fur in squares of sunlight a good portion of the day. You didn't need a sundial to know what time it was....you just had to watch the cats moving slowly from East to West in the living room following the shafts of sunlight.

Well....maybe next Superbowl the cats will do better on their predictions?

Goodnight from Muttzncatz's Place