It finally quit raining ash, and the smoke cleared up, so a couple of days ago the Can Opener finally let me go out again and lay in a sun puddle on the doorstep in the center of her flowers. It felt so good- my own purrsonal heating pad without that annoying cord.
But a few hours after my belly-obsessed Can Opener called me in, I started scratching and pulling at my belly, and she kept trying to get me to stop, but of course, I didn’t, because DUH! I’m a CAT. I do what I want.
She was busy (what else is new)- so it took her a while to actually sit down for a few minutes and look at my belly. When she saw I had pulled some fur out, she had a catniption fit and the next thing I knew, she reached inside the kitty kit -(her evil bag of tricks she keeps all my meds and brushes in)- and out came a bottle, and she picked me up and sprayed my belly 4 times with that vile thing!
Before the spray…..
Today! After 3 sprays twice a day since Saturday.
She had called the vet, who told her to put a cone on me- lucky for me she hasn’t been able to get one yet- but she’s still looking. Meanwhile, she’s been watching me like a paranoid hawk, and on the few occasions I’d start to pull at my fur again, she’d shake the treat bag- and my head (of course), immediately popped up and I forgot what I was doing!! 😹
You know, I hate to admit it, but now I don’t mind that spray- I just sit now and let her spray me. I’m not going to tell her, but it makes the irritation go away instantly!! Don’t tell her I said that, though- I kind of have a good thing going here… If I just pretend to start chewing at myself, out come the treats!! 😻
She’s been licking at her belly so much she has pulled off her some of her fur! The Can Opener called the vet, and they said for her to buy a cone to put on her! She has a vet appointment on the 26th – but she just had her checkup a month ago!
We both have a brand new Seresto collar, and there aren’t any fleas- we think maybe since she likes to lay outside on the porch in the evenings that maybe an ant or bee stung her or something- (it didn’t start until the day before yesterday when ash and smoke from the nearby wildfire finally cleared up and we got to go out again). And Mom’s been spraying this stuff on her (Vetericyn Plus Feline Wound and Skin Care (spray)- and already it’s looking better- and she’s pretty much stopped chewing at herself now.
But hey, Sushi- look on the bright side…. that cone could really come in handy at feeding time!!😹
See? You’ll be able to scoop more food faster!
Well, I see you licked off your sense of humor, too-
We’ve been trying for the last several days to get the Can Opener to type for us but that hasn’t worked out very well. There have been a few times she sat down and started a post for us, but then something happened and she didn’t get back to it. And sometimes she tried to get back to it but started hurting in her back and knee and couldn’t concentrate, so our draft folder is full of unfinished ideas we gave her.
We’re changing her schedule (she’s objecting)- because she just can’t seem to keep things on her previous schedule before our Backup Can Opener went to heaven. But we have the same schedule, so that means we have to retrain her! Meanwhile….
I help Mom keep Sushi groomed…
That is until she calls me “Tuna Breath!”
This morning it’s beautiful and sunny and after eating and grooming Sushi for Mom, I went outside to lay in my favorite sun puddle while the Can Opener made her coffee and started her morning routine…
Oh yes- this is my HAPPY PLACE!
Then Sushi decided she wasn’t ready for the Can Opener to do her usual brushing, so instead of settling in on Mom’s lap while she has her coffee, Sushi decided to snuggle into her soft, furry bed instead-
She was all settled in and cozy and then…
In walked “Mr.Smokey”- intent on stealing our Can Opener’s heart (and food)-
He was getting all nice and cozy…
And then he looked up and saw Sushi in her bed and growled and flew out the door and down the street!!! 😹
Maybe the Can Opener should take Sushi off her diet- he looked at her (and her “What are you doing here?” look, and decided it was time to move on! Apparently he isn’t used to being confronted by a cat twice his size! 😹
I love to hunt! There’s nothing I love better than going down to the stream to fish, and to see what the other animals and ducks are doing- I watch after the little baby ducklings too when their Mamas aren’t looking…it’s just the right thing to do.
Unfortunately, Mama ducks often don’t see things my way and they come charging at me all defensive and angry. Geez. I think they might need some counseling.
But some of my buddies do a different type of hunting – (I guess because they don’t have a stream close by or lots of wild ducks and other animals hanging around). But that doesn’t stop them from hunting- it just seriously narrows their options.
Unfortunately, they get caught too-
Hmmm… Those little round things must be pretty tasty to go to all that trouble!
Something tells me someone chased him down to take those sausages back…
Well, I wouldn’t eat that stuff – but at least they caught it!
You make me feel safe, Mom. You were always my favorite!
The Can Opener is my favorite human.
I love our human. At first I was upset and didn’t want to share her with Sushi. But Sushi was so relieved and happy when she joined our family, that I started to warm up to her a little. She wasn’t trying to steal my Can Opener’s affection, she just needed to feel secure and loved. She had been ignored and neglected for a long time by her previous “owner” and her feelings were hurt. But soon after coming here, she started to feel calmer and she loves our human. So do I.
When the Backup Can Opener was still here, he used to complain because both Sushi and I followed Mom everywhere, and we love to play with her and settle in on her lap every chance we get – and he could never understand why we didn’t treat him the same way – (even though we loved him too).
Let’s play a little longer, Mom- Sushi won’t mind!
There were some basic differences, though. While we loved him too, we just felt more special with the Can Opener. After all, she always talks softly to us, and she grooms us, and gives us back scratches, and treats – and plays with us- and she was always the one who fed us and took us to the vet. He would pet us sometimes, but not really interact with us. So, of course, we bonded more with our Can Opener.
Mom says this is something that a lot of cat “parents” experience. She understands us kitties a lot more than he did- because he didn’t have kitties growing up, so he didn’t really understand us. And he tried to relate to us the same way he used to relate to his dogs.
That doesn’t work for cats. So, we looked up this video to help humans understand that we cats – well, we’re not dogs. So in case some of you humans wonder why your cats seem to have a favorite person (and it’s not you)- this may help you understand us felines a little better. We always love all the humans in our house- but some humans are a little irritating (noisy)- or, they don’t respect our need for peace when we want to be left alone…
Or some may even remind us of someone who hurt us or was mean to us before. Nothing personal, but memories are memories, after all. And even humans have automatic responses to unpleasant memories.
So grab some popcorn and watch and learn why some kitties respond the way they do.
A couple of mornings ago, The Can Opener sat down in the living room rug to play with Twilight – (Twilight loves to hide under big pieces of paper and attack the toys the human teases her with)- and when she was done playing, she went outside while the Can Opener made a fresh cup of coffee, then sat down and put me on her lap to brush me.
It was heavenly. I was purring as she brushed me, talked to me and rubbed my ears – then I smelled something that alerted me (and the human) that something wasn’t right- we both looked up and there was THAT!
A strange cat had just cruised right in the backdoor and helped himself to Twilight’s paper roll and started making himself right at home!
Hey- word on the street is, You’ve got great cat food here. How about a sample? And thanks for the toys!
I think I scared Mom when I reacted to him, because I made my hot displeasure known- not only because an intruder had invaded my castle, but because on account of that THING, Mom picked me up and moved me off her lap to go deal with him! NOT FAIR.
He looked at me as if to say, “deal with it, sweetheart- I’m not going anywhere.”
Mom went to him to chase him out of the house, and noticed he didn’t have a collar on- and he came right to her immediately, plopped down at her feet and rolled over, wanting to be petted. She realized then, that this was clearly not a feral cat- they will always run away and definitely don’t want to be handled by a stranger.
He also is very healthy- but, she noticed a wound under his “armpit”- a small wound, but it was definitely open. As if someone (or something) had sliced him – (about a 1/2 inch long). He also was covered with burs (meaning he most likely had been hanging out on the bikepath / stream behind our house). He was starving – and it was really hot outside (100 degrees). He seemed relieved to find a cool spot and a dish of cool water.
She said she knows the neighbors and their pets around here – but he doesn’t belong to any of them – but a lot of people have moved out (or been evicted)- recently – and since he doesn’t behave like a feral cat, and is begging for love (as well as food) everytime he comes around, she says she thinks someone moved out and left him behind.
So being that she saw a wound on him and that he was covered with burs all over the place, she put a blanket in the carpet and got the kitty kit out, and decided to try and clean his wound and remove the burs and see if she could help him. Thanks a lot, Mom. Wait til I tell Twilight!
He actually seemed to welcome the attention-Burrs removed, (with only growling, no resistance)- Neosporin applied, burshed, ears and eyes cleaned, and even allowed Advantage to be applied!ShA
After all she did to take care of him she started looking to find an owner- no one seems to know anything about him. But he won’t stay away. When she put him outside after tending to his needs, he growled- and turned around before she could shut the door and came back in! He refuses to leave!
And (of course) the Critters (and everyone else) love him.
So the Can Opener is planning to take him to the vet as soon as she can to get him checked and see if he has a chip so If he’s lost, he can be returned to his owners. And if not, she wants to get him fixed – (but he doesn’t look broken to us). Our fear is that after all that, she may find out he’s not chipped and keep him! But, the Critters’ parents just may adopt him- because he’s “SOOOOOO CUTE AND LOVEABLE!- AND, He’s a Russian Blue!”
Oh yay.
Until then, it looks like we’re stuck with “Mr. Smokey!” *tail flap*
I found a purrfect spot under the lilac tree! I think I’ll stay here (until it gets too hot)…
Hot again today- But I got a spot…
Yesterday it was hot enough to melt the mailbox. I tried to go out and lay on the front doorstep in the evening like I normally do, but it was too hot. I turned right around and collapsed onto the cool floor inside, while the Can Opener reminded me, “I told you sweetie it was going to feel like an oven! Come back to the couch!”
The next thing I knew, I was being hoisted up and placed on the couch on my favorite soft blankie. She handed me my silvervine and a treat, and I could feel the air conditioning and fell asleep right away.
Today she suggested that I go out early (right after she watered the garden)- so I did, because for once, it wasn’t cold in the morning. But then, I noticed a nice grassy spot I hadn’t noticed before. Right under the lilac tree. I claimed it before Twilight could!
Oh yes. Nice and cool and shady. Soft grass and the occaisonal butterfly comes along to say hello.
But now, she says I have to come in. I’ve been out here since 9:00 this morning (loving it)- but now it’s 3 in the afternoon and things are getting hotter. Back to the couch!
The Can Opener told me this morning that I’m the cutest tortie in the world- and you know? I think she has a point! She especially loves my green eyes and my white paws- (she has a thing for paws)- but she also loves what she calls my “cattitude!”
I’m glad she likes cattitude, because I’m loaded with it! I also love these other kitties who think just like I do- with CATTITUDE!
“Trust the science!” 😹
I keep trying this on the human- but she’s too fast for me!
She’s trying to get me to do this too….
Just try it, human. My claws are sharpened and ready. (And that size wouldn’t fit me anyway).
The Can Opener got her coffee anyway today. We told her she wasn’t allowed to have coffee until she typed for us this morning. It was a great plan we had, actually. I was going to sit in front of the Keuring and refuse to move to let her put her mug there. And Sushi was going to block the path to it, because she wasn’t able to jump up on the beverage station and block it, so we figured, “Hey- She’s never climed a mountain before, so you block the path, Sushi….”
It was actually a great plan. But Sushi didn’t get close enough to the beverage station, so Mom walked around her. And I forgot one minor detail that prevented my successfully stopping her.
She can pick me up. That figures. So she got her coffee, then got to work, without even having time for her morning devotional or workout. There goes my playtime.
Not many people realize that cats need mental stimulation. We like to have challenges- and puzzles- they keep us happily occupied and ease boredom. People hate to be bored, but not many people realize their pets don’t like it anymore than they do.
Boredom leads to depression and feelings of lonliness in people and animals. What do cats do when they get bored and have to find ways to entertain themselves?
Here are a few examples;
We look for experiments to perform. Results may vary.
We may even get bored enough to try to help with laundry. The other pets in the house just may need a good washing.
We may also try to lift the spirits (and bodies) of the smaller pets in the house.
If you’re not good at interior decorating, we may volunteer to help change things up a bit.
Why, we may even help you “put away” the groceries!
How to Train your Humans 