Leo and I are FAMOUS!

Guess what? Last night Kitty Pryde, Indy, and Harrison's Mommy found one of our photos floating around the internet and being shared all over the world! Leo and I are FAMOUS! Check it out! That's us! And the caption is better than any Mommy ever came up with :)

Lucy and Leo Spread LOLZ Across the Internet!


love,
Lucy

Thank Catness for Friends!

Oh my cat, today is my special day! Thank you for thinking of me and sending me pmails and rosettes! When Mommy woke up this morning, she saw a bunch of emails from Catster. She wondered what in the world was going on?

Well HELLO Mommy! It's my Gotcha Day! And not just ANY Gotcha Day, it's the 10 year anniversary of the day Mommy and I found each other at the Arizona Humane Society! It's the day that Mommy was in Phoenix near the Humane Society where she adopted Sophie and she decided to run in and take a peek to see if the right (gray, male! MOL!) kitty was waiting for her! She had been *kind of* looking for a few weeks to add a new family member. It's the day I reached out from my cage and tapped her/smacked her on the shoulder and meowed, "Take me home! Take me hooooome!" It's the day that I got rid of my stupid name (Rachel- no offense to any Rachels out there, the name just didn't suit me!) and became my rightful kitty-named-self- Lucy!

It's the day that I met my beloved soul doggie Sophie! It's the day that I saw my beloved Sally's big white paws under the door (we didn't actually meet for two weeks!). It's the day that I got to first groom my mommy's hair and snuggle on her head!

Today is the anniversary of a very, very special day!

And 10 years later? My beloved Sophie and Sally are watching over me from the bridge :( I am no longer the baby (of course, Mommy says I will always be her baby girl!), I am the big sister! I have two stinker brothers. Last night Charlie brought me a toy and dropped it in front of me. When I looked at the toy, that turkey GROWLED at me, grabbed the toy, and ran away! Oh brother! And now he's officially a Dreamboat?! Puh-leaze, Samoa!

I have super comfy kitty beds and my very favorite cat tree! I have tons of mousie (although Mommy can't find any more of my favorite mousies at the store! When I cry for one, she has to move furniture and large appliances to try to locate them! MOL!). I have Mommy that loves me with all heart. I have super awesome kitty friends!

I have a great life. Thank you for being a part of it!

love,
Lucy

Hello from LaLa Land

After a super long day, I'm home! And I'm super stoned!

Last night Mommy wouldn't give me any dinner, I was so confused. This morning she woke up really early, loaded me in the carrier, and drove me to the v-e-t for a dental. Bummer!

Last week I had bloodwork to check my levels before anesthesia for my dental. I am sad to report that my thyroid levels, which have been trending towards hyperthyroidism for the last 3 years, finally crossed the threshold into the "gray" area for hyperthyroidism. My T4 went from 2.0 last April to 2.5 last week. Now I'm going to have to get my blood checked every 2-3 months to keep an eye on my thyroid.

All my other levels were normal but the v-e-t was worried about my thyroid and it's impact on other areas of my health. She wanted to check my blood pressure this morning before my dental to make sure it was safe for anesthesia. When I got to the vet's office, my blood pressure was 201! That's TOO high, under 160 is normal. On the other hand, I was starving and had just ridden in the car and arrived at the v-e-t's office- obviously I was stressed!

Mommy had to leave me at the vet's office. They put me in a peaceful, quiet kitty room to calm down for a few hours and then they re-tested my blood pressure. 126 which meant that I was okay for the dental. (Mommy edit- so sad that a trip to the vet is so stressful on her little body that it sent her blood pressure through the roof :(

I had my dental. Severe plaque, even though I'd just had a dental a year and a half ago. And guess what? Two of my teeth, the smallest teeth in my mouth, fell out sometime between my last dental and this one! No fractures or anything, they just FELL OUT! I guess I really am an Olde Furt.

There were no extractions needed (my teeth saved Mommy a bunch of money by just falling out on their own!) and I don't have to take any medication. I did get a Convenia shot because I am allergic to Clavamox and had a very scary allergic reaction after my last dental. My teeth are clean and shiny.

When Mommy came to pick me up, I was purring and bonking her and kneading like crazy. I was so happy to see her (and SUPER stoned from the anesthesia). When I got home, I ran through the house like a crazy cat, pacing and being goofy. I just want to EAT but Mommy says I have to drink a little water and keep it down before I can have any food. She's STARVING me!


love,
Lucy

P.S. I have an Ugg boot on my left leg. It's very fashionable and all the rage this season!

The Most Wonderful Thing Happened Today! Guaranteed to make- You Smile!

Hi Friends!

Merry Christmas Eve! First off, I apologize that we haven't been on Catster much for the past two weeks. My Mommy got very sick, ended up having to go to the hospital ER, and has been busy trying to get healthy. She's feeling much better and we are all thrilled to share a special story with you (FB friends will be familiar with this one!)

The weekend before Thanksgiving, someone dumped a little black and white kitten, about 10 months old, in our neighborhood. Mommy got home from work and this kitten ran up to her and jumped into her arms. He was so sweet! Poor little guy, he kept trying to follow people home, he just wanted to be inside with a forever family.

Because of my health issues and Leo's neurological issues, we can't be vaccinated. Unfortunately, this means that Mommy can't bring any kitties into our house, not even to foster. But Mommy was broken hearted about the little kitten (Mommy started calling him Cow Kitten because of his markings) who just wanted to be inside. So she did something about it!

Mommy contacted the woman who helped rescue Mama Lucy and her newborns two years ago. That woman (who is an ANGEL) found a rescue organization willing to get him vet care, foster him, and find him a forever home. Mommy crated Cow Kitten two and a half weeks ago and took him to his foster home.

Cow Kitten, renamed Carson, was neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped! In the meantime, neighbors told Mommy about another dumped kitten, a 5 month Russian Blue-looking girl that Mommy started calling Gray Girl. The rescue took in Gray Girl (now known as Evita!) and she was spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped, too!

Thurday evening, the rescue lady let Mommy know that Carson is now available for adoption at a local PetSmart. Evita is still in foster care, waiting for one more vaccination before she goes up for adoption.

This morning Mommy got up and drove to PetSmart to see Carson. She spent time playing with him and cuddling with him and loving on him. There were some people interested in him but Mommy and the Rescue Lady didn't have great impressions of any of them. But then it happened.....

An older couple came in and the Rescue Lady KNEW them! They were awesome and obviously huge cat lovers! Their 18 year old cat passed away about a month ago and they were ready to adopt. And they choose to adopt Carson AND a 6 month old gray and white boy named Benson!

Carson went to his forever home! He has a mommy, a daddy, and a brother named Benson! And my Mommy was so lucky that she was there to meet them and see Carson go home! Mommy was so happy she cried! From the streets to an awesome forever family in less than a month! Hooray!

It was the best Christmas present EVER!

Carson and Benson were adopted!

love,
Lucy

Thanks, Friends!

I'm a Daily Diary Pick- sweet! Thanks to the Diary Robot for randomly selecting me and thanks to my friends for celebrating my random selection! Mommy didn't even tell me I was a DDP until tonight because she didn't know it until she was at work, in a boring meeting, checking email on her phone. MOL!

I'm good. After my v-e-t appointment last week, my regular vet called Mommy to talk about me. Because I have been struggling with my anal glands and constipation for a long time, we have started a new treatment. I am now taking Miralax twice a day and it really seems to be helping! Also, the laser therapy I had on my bottom helped, too, and my bottom doesn't seem to bother me like it usually does after my, um, expression.

The other thing my vet talked to Mommy about is my thyroid. My last blood test was in April 2011 and my next one will be in a couple of weeks, prior to my 12/26 dental. My thyroid levels are in the normal range but it's been consistently trending upwards for the last few years. It is now getting close to hyperthyroid levels so Mommy and the vet are keeping an extra close eye on me.

My vet thinks that I am very likely to become hyperthyroid sooner than later. That stinks. My Mommy has a thyroid disorder, too (hers is a cycling thyroid- hypo to hyper, goes back and forth), so she wants to be on top of my thyroid to make sure that I am feeling okay. We'll know more in a couple of weeks with my next million dollar blood test, right before my billion dollar dental. MOL!

love,
Lucy

Vet Visit and Fancy Cat Laser Treatment

My dear friend Colette Sidonie-Samantha is having surgery early next week due to concerns about possible cancer. We are sending lots of purrs that surgery is quick and gets rid of anything that could be making Colette sick. Colette's mommy first realized something was wrong when she felt that Colette had an enlarged nipple. Colette's vet was very concerned because this is almost always a sign of cancer.

As my mommy was reading this about Colette, she got a sick feeling in her tummy. She is worried about Colette and, as usual, worried about me. I have an enlarged nipple but Mommy didn't realize it was a big deal (very un-Mommy-like) and had never brought it up to the vet!

Want to know what happens next?! I'm sure it's no surprise that I ended up in the v-e-t's office today to have MY nipple looked at! Dang! Luckily, the vet wasn't concerned about mine, just wants to keep an eye on it for any changes. Mommy is comfortable with that as I've had it for maybe ever, she can't even remember when she first noticed it.

But since I was at the v-e-t, they decided to, um, express, my anal glands. This always hurts me and makes me reluctant to use the litter box. Mommy asked if there is anything that can be done for pain management and the vet was going to prescribe something but then Mommy got worried since I have had allergic reactions to medications.

That's when the v-e-t came up with her bright idea- they used a special laser for laser therapy on my bottom after the expression. The vet says it feels warm and good and can help ease tissue inflammation. Mommy said okay, let's try it! Well, when they put that laser on my bottom, I gave them a meep and a look that said, "What the heck are you doing back there!" But then I realized that it felt good! We are hoping that this helps me, we'll see what happens.

Now on to icky news- I need a dental. And you will not believe the initial price the vet tech quoted us for a routine dental. $952 for a routine dental. Can you believe it? And this was with a discount and without the cost of an exam (since I got one today). Isn't that totally freaking outrageous?! Mommy actually told them that was crazy. Totally crazy.

Anyways, after eliminating some un-needed things from their list, the price is a little better but still ridiculous. Mommy thinks our vets office is WAY overpriced but she goes because she loves our vet and our vet is good to us. But the prices are outrageous, absolutely outrageous. Mommy is going to talk to our vet and see if my expensive, yearly blood tests can be done as pre-anesthesia testing which will also save some money since we would be spending it anyways.

And then she thanked the universe that Charlie and Leo are covered with health insurance!


love,
Lucy

P.S. Sending BIG purrs to Colette and her mommy!

Retaliation

Charlie's always bugging me. He chases me, he tries to cape me, and he sometimes even nips at me! This makes me MAD. I grumble and growl if he even looks at me and if he gets too close, I smacky paw him.

Overall, with Charlie, I am NOISY! Grumbling, growling, hissing. Well, Mommy is home with us this morning because somecats (brothercats of course) chewed on the waterline to the ice maker and now we have water all over our kitchen! So Mommy is home, waiting for the plumber to fix this brothercat issue.

Charlie was chasing me and I was grumbling and running. I dodged through the leopard tunnel and then ran up the stairs. That stinker followed me and almost caped me on the landing. I darted up the stairs, grumbling, and Charlie followed me!

All Mom could here was kitty paws on the hardwood floor and me grumbling and growling. Then she saw me dart back down the stairs to the landing. Suddenly I turned back towards the upstairs, crouching in a predatory stance. Then I darted up the stairs and caped Charlie! Oh my cat, he certainly was surprised!

I then ran down the stairs and hid. I wasn't sure what that stinker would do after getting a taste of his own medicine! MOL! Retaliation! Take that, stinky little brother!

love,
Lucy

A Beloved Angel and Special Purrs

There are so many special kitties on Catster. One of our first angel friends was Beloved Angel Amelia, who provided love and support to our family when Sally crossed the bridge (and her Mommy sent our Mommy the most beautiful rainbow necklace she'd made in honor of Sally). Amelia's mommy is a very special person, so kind and thoughtful and an amazing animal advocate.

Last week, a photo was posted on Facebook of an 18 year old orange kitty who had been left at a no kill shelter. Imagine our surprise when reading through the photo thread to see that Beloved Angel Amelia's mommy had immediately pledged to rescue this baby!

And she did- she drove hours to adopt this kitty and bring her straight to the vet. Tests were done and it looked like this kitty, named Annabella, was in good health for an 18 year old kitty. But she did have a mass on the side of her face.

While waiting for biopsy results, Annabella has quickly stolen her new mommy's heart as well as the Catster and Facebook communities. Annabella's new Mommy has been sleeping on the floor in the bathroom to stay close to her gorgeous orangie and Annabella, freshly shaved with a lion cut, is styling in her sweaters.

Sadly, the biopsy results came back today. Annabella has an aggressive form of cancer. A new Purr group has been set up tonight to show support, love, and prayers for Annabella and her mommy. Let's Pray for Annabella

We love you, Annabella, Martha, Amelia, and family!

love,
Lucy