Mommy is Relieved!

Frankie went to the vet last week for his annual wellness and teeth cleaning--Mommy tells them to do everything while he's under anesthesia because he isn't pleasant enough to do it while he's concious. mol The vet called her to ask if Frankie is an indoor cat?

We are all indoor cats. The vet went on to explain that Frankie tested weak FIV positive! Mommy immediately became very concerned, and scheduled my wellness ASAP, since he and I share everything. I hate going to the vet, but I was a very good kitty the entire time they poked, prodded, weighed and vampired me.

Mommy held me while we waited for the FIV results to come back. It seemed like forever before the vet came back in to tell us that my results were NEGATIVE! Mommy was so relieved her face got all wet and she hugged me tight!

This means that Frankie tested false positive. The vet theorizes that his renal problems may have caused him to throw some anti-bodies that tested viral positive. Frankie's health issues are being managed, and I AM 100% healthy.

Mommy asked him if I was too fat? The doc said that I AM PERFECT at 8.5 pounds--exactly the right feel of ribs when he feels for them! I am s-0-0 glad that there is no diet in my near future--I love my kibbly noches so much!

I love clean litter night!

Sunday is my favorite night of the week. Mommy changes out the litter in the boxes. I mean; she does a great job of scooping all week, but nothing compares to stepping on virgin cat litter to do one's business!

Actually, Frankie always wants to be the FIRST to christen the fresh litter. That's why I guard one box in particular. That way I get my own box to taint.

Mama and The Kitten

Daddy went on the airplane yesterday, so I snuggled with Mama last night. She hugged me before she left for work, and I let her 'cause she needed it. When she got home she told me about THE KITTEN.

Kitten? Oh no, not in MY house! Mama, you promised that Elvis was the last one! Did you bring it home? Whew--you had my eyes flashing and my nostrils flaring for a minute! Okay, you can tell me about it. What Mama told me (more or less):

Mama was in a meeting when someone came in and said, "There's a kitten under a car in the parking lot! Come and rescue it!". When Daddy left yesterday, Mama promised him (like last time) that no more fur babies would come into the house while he was gone. All ready the Universe was testing her resolve--and he hadn't been gone 48 hours!

At first she resisted, but then she couldn't concentrate. So, she decided to just "take a look". "It won't come out." she was told. Mama walked out into the lot. The kitten immediately popped out from under the car and asked "Mew?". Mama smiled and the kitten ran back under the car and climbed up in the undercarriage.

Mama stopped smiling. She got a big piece of poster board and a red marker. She wrote in BIG letters:
DEAR CAR OWNER--
THERE IS A KITTEN HIDING IN YOUR ENGINE COMPARTMENT. POP YOUR HOOD AND CHASE IT OUT BEFORE STARTING YOUR CAR. THERE ARE CHILDREN ON THE PLAYGROUND. PLEASE DO NOT TRAUMATIZE THEM FOR LIFE BY SHREDDING A KITTEN BEFORE THEIR EYES. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, COME TO THE OFFICE. THANK YOU!

Mama put the message on the windshield. Twenty minutes later a rather concerned and flustered young woman appeared in the office, clutching the sign. The receptionist got Mama. Mama got a broom and headed for the parking lot with the car owner and the receptionist trailing behind her.
By the time she reached the car, the merry band had increased by several people wondering where Mama was going with a broom over her shoulder.

Mama helped the driver find her hood release under the dashboard inside of the car. Mama opened the hood and was greeted by a full blown HISS. Wondering if a cobra had somehow gotten into the engine compartment, Mama peered down into the tangle of metal and rubber. An EXTREMELY unhappy kitten bared it's saber teeth and flattened it's ears. Raising one paw, claws fully extended, the message was clear; "BRING IT ON--I DARE YOU!"

The merry band moved back and exhaled, "Ohhhhh..." in unison. Mama gently inserted the broom into the tangle of metal and rubber and tapped the kitten's paw. The now either terrified or enraged (depending upon your point of view) juvenile feline slashed at the bristles with both clawed front paws.

Timing it perfectly, Mama lifted the broom, with kitten fully attached; claws stuck in the bristles, from the engine compartment. The merry band scattered AS IF she had lifted a COBRA out of the car.
Mama quickly strode over to the wooden privacy fence between the school and the neighboring houses carrying the now yowling kitten still on the broom. The kitten was quickly figuring out how to get it's claws untangled.

With an amazing burst of strength and agility, the kitten leaped from the broom, scaled the fence and disappeared over the top. Mama smiled. Given the physical circumstances, she knew that the kitten had gone the only place it could've come from and survived. Home.

Daddy is going back to the Middle East

There are no jobs here in the US in Daddy's field, so when the military asked him to go back to the Middle East and keep the power on for the troops, he agreed. Mommy and the rest of us are praying that he goes to Iraq--it's a lot safer than Afghanistan. If he goes to Afghanistan he will have to wear arctic wear clothes--it gets that cold there during the winter. I wish that Daddy didn't have to go away again!

Whatever happened to sunshine?

There has been water falling from the sky for a week! Will my paws ever dry? Even my kitty patio is damp! I long for the sun warm my fur and brighten the world outside my window perch.

On a happy note, Mommy opened up a brand new bag of kibble yesterday. If I had the facial muscles to smile, I would be emulating the Cheshire Cat--grinning ear to ear! Kibble is SO yummy when it is very fresh--I can tell the difference from the top and bottom of the bag any day! Frankie and I have been munching away, emptying our bowls quickly.

Mommy is thankful when Frankie bellies up to his bowl, since his health sometimes chases his appetite away. She warns me about eating too much--she doesn't want seven pounds of cat in a six pound cat body! mol Gracie is constantly on a diet, and Mis-Tac has always been "just right". We all eat an Indoor Light formula, so I don't know how Grace ended up being so fat!

In Mommy's words, Grace gets her "rations" twice a day, and "swallows them before she can possibly taste the food". Poor Grace! If only she would come out of the 'puter room and play, she would burn more calories and be able to eat more. I'm sorry that I intimidated her to the point of making her a recluse. Every time I try to apologize to her, she hisses in my face and slides under the futon. I would try to follow her 'cept for her loud growling. She doesn't want to talk to me. We used to be friends.

I wonder if she misses the sun shining in her window? She must miss her birds. She lays on her perch and watches them in the feeder when the weather is nice. I'll bet she's napping a lot while the sky is gray. I know that I am.

Note to Self: Never Act Sick Unless It's True!

For the past week Mama has been worried that I seemed "lethargic". The rescue shelter where Daddy volunteers had a real bad corona virus go through, and all of the kitties had to be euthanized. It was like, a mutant strain--and even cats that had their vaccinations got sick. So, Mama was freaking out and worrying that he brought it home to us on his clothes.

So, last night she was on the telephone. I love to eavesdrop on her conversations, so I perked up my ears to listen. OMG--she was talking to the VET'S OFFICE!!! She was telling the tech the whole story, and said "I WANT TO BRING GOLDIE IN TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE SHE HASN'T BEEN HERSELF." Hell0--I don't think so!

I immediately perked up and loved all over her. I ate every morsel of kibble in my bowl. I pretended to ADORE being groomed. When Mama brought out the peacock feather I chased that sucker at warp speed, moving my paws so fast they were a blur and throwing in a few crazy flips just for good measure. Awhile later Daddy (bless him) remarked how I seemed to have recovered, and he couldn't see spending $100 if I wasn't really sick.

Oh happy day! This morning Mama cancelled the appointment! She said that they'd bring me in if I demonstrated any signs of illness. What a wake up call! You can bet that I'll be the healthiest acting tiny tiger that ever strutted her stuff! Geez--all I had was the summer doldrums, and it nearly caused me to have stuff shoved up my butt and my body violated in all sorts of ways!

Some thoughts pertaining to personality. . .

My Daddy maintains that I am "a very polite puddins," I have often wondered what he means by this. So, when he and Momma talk about me, I prick up my ears and listen. Momma becomes very soft and sentimental when she talks about me. She says that I am her snuggle muffin, and that she loves me lots and lots. Daddy says that I never just demand something--the way that Frankie does---or jump on him if he is eating something. Instead, he says that I sit quietly and wait to be offered a bite. Also, I always ask him if I may jump up on his chest and snuggle for awhile. I sit quietly, then place one paw on his arm and inquire, "Mewlp?" If he invites me up, I am very gentle; settling down with my buddha contentment look on my face and my intense soft purr rumbling deep inside of me.

My favorite time is when Momma goes to bed. She snuggles under the covers then makes a little nest in the covers next to her. I am waiting to hear the words, "Goldie--I make your little bed, snuggle muffin." I know at that moment that she will give me her undivided attention. I curl up in my little bad, and she rubs under my chin the way I like, then runs her hand down my body and tail. I lay over on my side and she gives me slow, wonderful tummy rubs--the tip of my tail just quivers with contentment at that point.
I turn and rub my face against hers and lick the end of her nose. I know that she loves me very much, perhaps even more than the other kitty-kids. My Momma and I are devoted to one another!