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

Back From The Dead

Just a super quick note to say I'm back.  I had one of my horrid Fibromyalgia flares and just didn't do much of anything.  I will try to catch you up on everything that has gone on since my last post.
 
Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

This site is amazing...Check this out: 
http://sherian.oneminute.track.clicksure.com/

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 

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

Snowman Convention

Here are the pictures I promised earlier.

The last picture is of Homer.  He didn't quite make it under the tree before he fell asleep.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

It's so close to Christmas now I can almost smell it.  I guess we can forget about having a white Christmas this year.  We're having one of the driest Decembers on record since (I think they said)1878.  The weatherman said tonight that January through March would be colder and wetter than normal.  Well....I can always hope for the white stuff.  I'm getting out the hot chocolate just in case.

Tomorrow we're heading out to K-Mart to look for stocking stuffers for each other.  I'm not real pleased with what they carry at our local Fred Meyer (Kroger) store.  There's nothing worse than getting travel size crap in your stocking that you'll never use.  I have all the cats and dogs stocking stuffers.  I need to pick up double sided 3M stickers for the hooks to hang them on the mantel.  I've now reached that time of the holidays that I want it to be over.  I think you get so buried in details that you stop appreciating the magic and reason for the season.

On my walk with Sugar this morning We did a walk around our neighbors house because she is in South Africa until March.  I thought I heard someone trying to get in there last night.  I was looking at her doors and windows and didn't see a big lump of higher grass covered dirt.  Down I went.  Now I'm extremely sore on my left side.  With Fibromyalgia once you have pain your nerves keep it going.  I'm going to take a pain pill tonight and should be OK in the morning.

So what kind of traditions do you observe on Christmas?

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

The State Of Affairs

Today was blood pressure check at the doctor's office.  I finally have that fire put out.  My blood pressure is now in the safe range again.  I can't imagine where the stress could be coming from to cause the high blood pressure.  Hmmmm.............let me think.  Could it be a husband who has PTSD (uncontrolled)?  Could it be the geriatric feline ward we're running here?  Could it be that I can't sleep at night?  It could be worse though.....I could have gone in the direction of a straight jacket in a rubber room.  Count the blessings you have and don't dwell on the horrors that make up the rest of your life.

I'm still decking the halls here.  My snowmen are put out. (some of them)  If I put all of them out it would look trashy.  The lighted garland is around the computer room double doors, bows and all.  Again...when I'm done I'll takepictures and post it.  Tomorrow I put the wreath up on the gate and the lights on the tree. I need to put out my air-blown snowman next to the house too.

Finally the landscapers are removing the leaves.  We had about six inches worth of oak leaves all around our home.  We went out and raked and carried most of them to the curb a week ago so their job was an easy one.  I hope they didn't hurt themselves! What I wouldn't give to be an attorney.  Since we pay extra for the landscaping I would sue their little rumps off.

Moosey was sick this morning.  I worry about him since we have determined that he probably has cancer.  His health is declining and I can't help but wondering how much longer he has.  He can't afford to throw up.  He's so skinny already. I'll have to watch him closely in the next few days.  I know he will be having good days and bad.  I only hope the bad ones aren't too bad.  I won't let him suffer.

I need some time to unwind..be back soon

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

A Timeout for Fina

One day closer to Christmas and we are getting our tree tomorrow.  After discovering that our artificial tree is in a corner behind the 5 foot Santa Claus that I vowed to not bring out this year...we're getting a fresh cut tree.  I also want to get a wreath to put on the gate.  The tree is not going to be our usual 6 footer but about a four foot so it's easy to decorate.  I don't want to go up and down the ladder a million times this year just to get the limbs in and then the lights evenly placed.

My husband's son came over today to bring us a Christmas card.  While he was here Fina hopped up on the dining table and began to clean herself.  I, politely putting her on the floor, scolded her for taking a bath where we eat.  This is what she did after my short lecture.

This must be her way of taking a timeout.  Who says they don't understand what you're saying?  I told her she had better be good because Santa wouldn't leave her any happy grass or anything with bling if she was a bad kitty. I have all of the kids stuff bought already.  I need one more stocking since we have a new child (Sugar).

I don't know how cold it is where you are but it's chilly here.  It never got above 34 degrees F today.  Now it's misting out there. So near yet so far....I want snow!!!!

Better get on with the decorating.....

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

Borrrring!

Sounds like a boring weekend to me.  We have to take back a wrist cuff blood pressure monitor we bought a month or so ago.  My doctor had me bring it in and we checked it with her arm cuff...not even close.  I don't want a false sense of security so it needs to go back.  We purchased it at Walmart in Vancouver, Washington.  That's a little bit of a drive.  Well, so is the one on 82nd in Portland too I guess.

We have our weekly grocery shopping to do at Fred Meyer after we square away our business at Walmart.  I'm trying to stock up on kitty stocking gifts for Christmas.  That means anything that is shiny and rolls qualifies.  While I was at Petco this week I bought a clip-on bow with rhinestones for Fina (the queen of bling)  She had a rhinestone heart but it kept falling off her collar and getting sucked up in the vacuum cleaner.  I recycled it so many times that most of the rhinestones were gone when I finally threw it away.
I have to start stocking up for our Christmas meal too.  I wonder how long Parsnips will last?  We have a Prime rib in the freezer for the occasion but I need Pineapple chunks and marshmallows for the Watergate salad, rolls, parsnips and a dessert.  I know...I'll make cream puffs for dessert.  That sounds so good.  I still might make the Carrot Pudding...that is a tradition in our family.

Good Night From Muttzncatz's Place