I better update my diary . . .

. . . since I'm a DDP today! How exciting! Thank you, HQ & Diary Gal.

Thanks, everyone, for all your purrs for Hamlet. He doesn't seem to have suffered any ill effects from eating the onion dip last week. It's almost time for his annual exam, so Momma will mention it to his vet.

The vet is also going to have another look at Hamlet's bald spots. Hamlet's been licking his feet and his wrists and his tummy. They're not sure if it's caused by stress or allergies. Momma didn't like the potential side-effects of the first medication the vet wanted to try, so they tried him on an antihistamine for a couple of weeks. It may have helped a little, but it didn't solve the problem. We're hoping it can be resolved without any risky medication.

Thanks for reading my diary and for sharing this exciting day with me. I hope all of my friends have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Purrs please

If you get a chance, could you please say a purr for my brother Hamlet? He was naughty tonight and helped himself to a taste of the onion dip while Momma and Not-the-Momma were watching the big game. Momma has been checking out all the vet websites and is pretty sure that he didn't eat enough to cause any harm, but we'd appreciate some purrs just in case.

She'll be keeping a close eye on him the next few days. Please purr that he'll be OK. Thanks.

Thank You & Merry Christmas

Many thanks to all of our friends who have shown us so much kindness and love at this difficult time. We'd like to thank everyone personally, but Momma just doesn't have the energy needed. She hasn't even started sending thank you notes to the humans who reached out to her when Grandpa died, so she knows she won't have the energy to thank all of our cat friends for their expressions of sympathy or holiday wishes. We hope you'll accept this diary entry as our thanks. It may be less personal, but it is no less sincere. Thank you.

Sad day

It's been 4 years since I made my journey to the Bridge. This year is especially bad for Momma because Grandpa, her father, made his own crossing on Thursday night. Grandpa had lived a full life. He was 86 years old and a WWII veteran. Just over 2 years ago, he was diagnosed with dementia. He began having a series of small strokes that took a little more of him away each time. In the end, his crossing was a blessing for him.

The hardest part for Momma and Not-the-Momma is dealing with the relatives. They have been fighting for years, but are trying to hold to a temporary truce until after the funeral. It hasn't been easy, especially when one of them made a callous remark about Bob who passed away earlier this year - on Grandpa's birthday.

Please keep Momma & Not-the-Momma in your prayers. Momma has a bracelet inscribed with the Serenity Prayer: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." She knows she cannot change her relatives and their behaviors, but she can, with God's help, change her reactions to them.

Finally, in memory of Grandpa whose middle name was Francis, I'll end with the Prayer of Saint Francis. You may know St. Francis as the patron saint of animals, and though Grandpa was NOT what you'd call an animal lover *grins* - he did live his life by St. Francis' example.

The Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Unburied Treasure

Momma's not happy. Some little pirate is not burying his "treasure." What's worse, someone keeps making logs on the floor. The first time it happened, Momma thought it was because the box wasn't clean enough, but it happened again right after she had washed the box and replaced the litter. Then she noticed Hamlet straining in the box, so she thought it might be him, but she gave everyone pumpkin in wet food for a few days and he made logs in the box. Still, someone made logs on the floor last night. And if that's not enough, someone keeps piddling in the mostly empty dirty box. Momma had set it aside to dry so she could scrape the litter that was stuck in the corners.

All signs point to Jack as the culprit, but Momma can't figure out why he is doing this and he's not talking.

Update on Leo

Thanks for all of the purrs for Leo. He had his teeth cleaned Wednesday and didn't need to have any extracted!

The vet also removed a lump on his shoulder at the same time, and Momma's coworker is still waiting for the biopsy results. The vet said it might have been an infected gland. Poor Leo has a big incision wound but he's been a real trooper through the whole ordeal.

If you could, please join me in one more purr that his biopsy results will bring good news. Thanks again. Catsters are the best!!!

Purr request

Momma wants me to ask all of my friends to purr for her coworker's cat, Leo. Leo is 13 years old and is having his teeth cleaned tomorrow. He's never been under anesthesia before, so his Mom is naturally nervous. If you could spare a purr for Leo's health and safety, we'd really appreciate it.

Embarrassing cat health question

Momma noticed something odd and embarrassing about someone in the family this morning. I'm not naming names, but someone's, ahem, anus seems to be sticking out more than usual. Momma looked online and it doesn't look anything like a prolapsed rectum or inflamed anal sac. It's doesn't really look like anything is wrong with it - it's just sticking out. No other symptoms that Momma is aware of (no scooting or straining that she's seen).

Any ideas on what it could be? She'll try calling the vet later, but wants some ideas in case he doesn't get right back to her.

Thanks.

***UPDATE: Everything looked normal when Momma got home from work, but someone is still mad at Momma for looking under her tail. Thanks, everyone, for the reassurance.

Momma had fun explaining to her boss why she was late for work this morning! MOL.

Christopher is Cat of the Day!!!

I'm so excited!! My sweet little guardee Christopher is Cat of the Day! What a wonderful surprise! He's such a great little guy from a great loving family. Please drop by his page and wish him the best on his special day.

http://www.catster.com/cats/717775


P.S. Hamlet would like me to remind you to vote in the World's Coolest Cat contest before voting closes tomorrow.

http://www.catster.com/show10/vote_pet.php?i=769875

Thanks and a favor

Thanks to everyone who helped purr for Arnold P. His pathology report was good - it looks like this vet got all of those nasty tumor cells off our dear friend. Poor Arn is still in pain and probably will be for a while, so purrs for a speedy recovery would be appreciated.


Momma entered Hamlet in the World's Coolest Cat contest. She'd appreciate it if you would vote for him.
http://www.catster.com/show10/vote_pet.php?i=769875