A Catster Mommy has Journeyed

I'm very sad and sorry to tell you that our pals in Australia had their Mommy journey to the bridge this past weekend.

Utu and his siblings (Ra, Blackie, Foxey, Schooby, Marmelade, Smokey, Alexander, Molly) are good friends, and we are purring for them tonight.

We just mailed a Schooby cat angel from The Cat in the Clover to their Mommy last week. She never got to see it.

Please send purrs to the family. For those on Facebook, here is their Mommy's page.

Teenager!

One thousand eight one cats are having birthdays on Catster today! I don't know how many of them are becoming teenagers, but I am!

I've been give some very royal treatment around here since the vet found that lump in my belly. Of course, I've always been the diva of the house, but I'm back to getting my meals served in the guest room, and also spending my evenings sleeping on the guest bed.

I find it more relaxing to eat with some privacy, and I haven't had any flojectiles since that vet visit. I'm also getting a daily treat of Nutri Cal. My servant puts some on her finger, and I lick it off. It is a gel type sticky substance that is full of vitamins and calories to help me maintain my svelte figure. Being a teenager takes a little extra work, but I know I'm worth it!

Thank you to all my friends who have dropped off some beautiful gifts to decorate my page - I'm going to enjoy a few cupcakes today, and maybe even a nibble on a ladybug or bluebird!

Have a fun weekend!

Six Years and Blood Results

First, let me say happy anniversary to the Samoa Detective Agency. We became an agency six years ago today - wowza, what a long time it has been tracking down the ARGs! Thank you to everyone who used to be so active in the group, and a big thank you to those who still enjoy playing over in the group's forum. You rock!

The vet called me yesterday to tell me that my blood work was perfect. My kidney, liver, and thyroid numbers were all good. I am not anemic, and I was not dehydrated when I saw her. So, those are all good things!

We asked her several questions including whether the tumor could possibly be a hairball. She said based on the hard feel of the tumor, she was 95% sure it wasn't a hairball.

She and Mawmee discussed the ultrasound option. A specialist comes to their office to do the ultrasounds. Basically, the information we would get would be the exact location of the tumor and possibly what kind of tumor it is, however, the only way they would know for sure the type is to do a needle aspiration and biopsy the fluid.

I really don't want to undergo surgery at my age, and because that decision has been made, there doesn't appear to be any good reason for getting the ultrasound. It would not change the surgery decision, and Mawmee said she would rather spend the money for medication or other things I might need in the future. While money is not the sole reason we are not doing the ultrasound, it has to be factored into the decision. The ultrasound plus biopsy would be around $850.

Thank you for the continued purrs, and thank you for understanding and accepting our family's decision. The decision Mawmee and Daddy have made is based on what would be best for me. Unfortunately, we've been down this old age road before, and we've learned quite a bit from dealing with Spunky's chemo, Calvin's illness, and Violet's kidney failure. I'm just thankful that all my other organs are working good. Keep on purring for me!

Purrs Needed Please

The past two mornings, I have gotten sick very soon after eating. Mawmee has been concerned because the past month or so, I eat my meals like I haven't eaten in months. She noticed I look skinnier too, so off to the vet I went.

She was right - I have lost some weight. The vet lady and Mawmee discussed my issues, and Mawmee said she felt like I was exhibiting some of the same things that Calvin and Violet did - the constant hunger and weight loss.

The vet lady said my blood work last year showed good kidney, liver, and thyroid function, but that it sounded like possible thyroid problems. She wanted to be optimistic, but then she felt my tummy. She thought she felt something not right, so I went to the back for x-rays and blood work.

My blood work will be back tomorrow, but the x-rays showed bad news. There appears to be a mass in my abdomen. It was difficult exactly tell because my intestines looked a little strange. She wasn't sure if I had a lot of poopie in there, but it is possible they weren't in the right location because of the location of this mass.

An ultrasound might give a better indication of what it is, but considering that surgery is not going to be an option, we decided against the ultrasound.

If the blood work doesn't indicate any other problems, I might start on a low dose of prednisone to help shrink the mass.

I'm going to be 13 in nine days. I want to be around a lot longer, but we'll take one day at a time and see how I do. If you have some spare purrs laying around, I'd appreciate your sending some my way.

I'll let you know what I hear on the blood work tomorrow.

Five Things I Like About Spring Tag Game

I've been tagged by my friends Jasper and Paris to play the latest diary game.

Name Five Things I Like About Spring

1. Sunshine coming in through the windows (although it seems to happen year round in Arizona!)

2. Getting to go outside in my stroller.

3. Watching the birds and bunnies in our backyard.

4. Seeing all the pretty blooms on our bushes and cactus.

5. Catnaps - they're good any season!

Since a lot of cats have already been tagged, feel free to play along in your diary!

Happy spring . . . . .

Be Kind!

Be Kind . . . . two powerful words. The Diary Gal has been kind to me this month by picking me three times! Thank you Diary Gal, and thanks to my friends for your kindness in helping me celebrate those honors.

Be Kind is also the message behind the Ben's Bells Project. Ben was a little boy that went to heaven eleven years ago today. His Mommy decided to repay all the kindness that was shown to her when he passed away.

So, she created little bells with cute ceramic flowers, balls, butterflies, and hearts on them. And she hung them around the town on the anniversary of his passing with a note that says:

You have found a Ben's Bell. Take it home, hang it in your yard, and remember to spread kindness throughout our world.

Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations ~ Paramahansa Yogananda

Every year, more and more Ben's Bells are made and sent all over the country to spread kindness.

A year ago, Mawmee and Daddy had stopped at a place to get something to drink. Daddy went inside and Mawmee stayed in the car. She looked out the window on the driver's side and saw a little bell hanging in the tree. She had just read a story in the newspaper about Ben's Bells. She got so excited because she thought maybe it was one of the special kindness bells!

And guess what? It was a Ben's Bell! What made it even more special is the fact that it was found on the anniversary of Autumn's journey to the bridge. Autumn wrote about it last year in her diary. You can see pictures in Autumn's diary. Our special Ben's Bell has been hanging in our backyard for an entire year.

And today, more bells will be out in the trees for other people to find . . . . to help spread kindness!

Have a wonderful Easter weekend, and remember to be kind . . . . .

Kitty is Home!

I just got word that Kitty and Miracle are home and are doing good! Luckily, the total vet bill was under our donation/auction totals! So, the leftover money will go toward the care of these two sweet kitties.

I suggested to Blizzard's Daddy that maybe the money could be set aside and used to neuter Miracle when he gets old enough! We all know the importance of spaying and neutering your cats. We are lucky that Kitty survived this pregnancy (she is around 10 years old).

As cats, we always need to stress the importance of being spayed and neutered. It keeps us healthy, we live longer lives, and it reduces the chance of mammary cancers.

Thanks again to everycat who helped with this effort! Continue to purr for Kitty's quick recovery and for Miracle to grow up healthy!

Kitty is in Recovery!

Kitty is in the recovery room! Luckily, she didn't have any more kittens in her tummy, but she did have some placenta that needed to be removed. The vet also spayed her and removed a couple of small cysts.

Now, we need to purr that her recovery is quick, and that she continues to nurse Miracle, her sweet kitten.

Thank you for all your purrs - we're thankful that she didn't have any more kittens inside!

Diary Pick and Kitty Update!

Well, I'm glad the Diary Gal was on the ball and read the P.S. in my last diary entry. I'm sure that is what got me picked today! Thank you to all my friends who have made this day extra special.

What will make the day perfect is when we get good news about Kitty and her surgery. She went to the vet this morning, with little kitten, Miracle, in tow. He is spending the day at the vet's office too, because he will need to nurse.

Kitty's surgery is scheduled for later today. She will be spending the night at the vet's office. Luckily, she got to the vet's office before all the snow started coming down.

Blizzard the Catfather reports that it is blizzard conditions - MOL! They have about five inches of snow so far.

Let's hope that the surgery is successful and isn't too complicated requiring all our collected funds. I'm hoping there will be some left over to help with the care of Kitty and Miracle!

Thank you for purring and helping out Kitty. I know she feels the love from all of us!

Kitty's Surgery Scheduled!

You are probably getting updates from Blizzard the Catfather, but I thought I'd also let you know the latest with Kitty.

Her tummy surgery is scheduled for Monday at 8:30 a.m. So, we all need to keep her in our purrs. Her kitten has been named Miracle which is a purrfect name for a kitty who was the only one to survive. Miracle will also be going to the vet's office on Monday so that Kitty can continue nursing him.

Thank you again to everyone who was so generous with their donations. We have raised enough money to cover Kitty's surgery (hopefully with no complications during the surgery). The money was wired to Blizzard's Daddy yesterday so that he will be able to pay the vet.

Unfortunately the vet's office refused to take a credit card over the phone, wouldn't allow us to wire the money directly to their bank, and wouldn't allow a check to be sent from us either. So, please keep these things in mind should you ever want to help out someone who doesn't live in your area. It takes some time and coordination to make it all happen! We're just happy that we got it all together in time to help out Kitty!

Keep her, baby kitten Miracle, and Blizzard's family in your purrs this weekend and especially on Monday! We'll keep you updated on her condition!

In other news, I stunk up the house with a smelly poopie this morning. I'm allowed because I'm the Diva of the house. Have a great weekend!