We are leaving Catster

Dear friends,

We will be deleting our family's accounts on Catster.com at the end of May. This decision has been a long time in the making, but has been prompted by the recent changes and the very recent acquisition of Catster by Say:Media.

Catster and Dogster are no longer nice places to play for our family, so we have moved over to Cathugger.com. We are going to recreate the restaurant group over there, too.

We love each and every one of you, and hope to continue to chat with you either on Cathugger or at our family's blog at http://pdxpride.blogspot.com

Love,

Tabby and family.

We ARE staying on Catster

We have decided to stay on Catster/Dogster, but ONLY for the restaurant group, Pen Paws, and a couple others. We're going to not use our diaries, just post everything on our family's cat blog instead of on our Catster pages.

Love,

Tabby and family.

Therapy Visit to H. and Mommy's grandparents' house on- 6/20/10

Yay, we got to go visiting again last week!!! :) >^..^< I sooo missed seeing all my friends! We took the bus & MAX light rail there, but Mommy said we were going to get to ride with Grandpa for going home. I love my grandpa! He always wears a special shirt when he comes to visit so that our fur doesn't get snagged in it, which means that he can hold us and pet us more.


We had some extra time downtown Portland, so we stopped at a store. Mommy bought some cute Hello Kitty pajamas that were on sale, pink leopard-patterned ones!


At H., I hopped out of the stroller and walked to the office door, then turned around and lay down to wait for Mommy to finish signing us in. That's become my new habit now! A couple of the residents stopped to pet me, and the receptionist walked over to pick me up and hold me. *Purrrrrrs* Then she let me in the door, and Mommy followed with the stroller. I walked in and said hi to S., then we got our list. Mommy showed S. the pajamas, and S. took them to show a couple other people, who all thought they were cute too.


I strolled into the elevator this time. On the way to the elevator, we saw R. and another lady. The other lady was afraid of cats! The receptionist took my leash while Mommy was showing R. the pictures of the new kittens, and I wanted to go into a room with lots of boxes on shelves. The receptionist said it was called a mailroom and the boxes were people's mailboxes. They looked like good sleeping spots to me!


We only had time for a short visit, because we were going over to Mommy's grandparents' house afterward to visit for a while. It was her uncle's birthday on the 15th, so we were going to go see him and them. I got to see three friends at H., though, and visit with one other new friend there! The new friend, I., loved seeing me, and talked with us about her experiences growing up on a farm. She had pet pigs and pet calves, along with the other animals!


It took a while for Grandpa to come pick us up, and I got bored waiting. R. came by just before Grandpa came, while we were still in the lobby, and was surprised we were still sitting there. Traffic was terrible, so it took about twice as long as Grandpa had thought it would to come get us. I knew we'd had a short visit and not seen everyone that I normally see, so I tried to go back inside when we went to get in the car. Mommy and Grandpa said we were leaving, so I turned my back to them and sat down facing the door to H. until they got the stroller folded and in the car. Yes, I was pouting!


I was fine once we got going, though. I love riding in cars! Not buses so much, because some of the bus noises scare me, but I love cars! I usually sit on Mommy's lap in the passenger seat and watch through the side window. If I'm really tired, like I was on Friday, I lay down on a lap and rest. Traffic was bad on the way back, too, so we sat a while. At one point, we were sitting and there were people with signs on the side of the road. Grandpa said they were asking for money. They were looking at the people in the cars because they were bored, too, and then one of them saw me. Grandpa's window was down, and they were on that side, so the man called to me! I flicked my ears, but I was so tired that I just stayed put. The man asked Grandpa and Mommy a couple of questions about me, and the lady thought it was cool that I was riding in a car so calmly. Then it was time for our car to move again.


When we were almost to my great-grandparents' house, I suddenly perked up and looked around, sitting straight up in Mommy's lap. What did I smell? Was that a creek? Wait a minute, why was the water on both sides of the road? Grandpa told me that we were crossing over the creek. I sniffed toward one side of it, then the other. Nice!


At my great-grandparents', we weren't sure that I could go in right away so Mommy and I went out to the backyard first while Grandpa asked if it was ok to bring me in. There were some lovely flowers, but I stuck my nose right in them and then sneezed! Some blue jays were taunting me, so I was very glad to go in the house rather than be outside. Not nice, birdies, when I can't chase you!


I walked up the steps into the house, then stopped to sniff. A carpet! Purrring, kneading the plush carpet with my paws/claws, total luxury! We used to have carpet at our old house, but it was torn up. Besides, it wasn't like this: thick, nice-smelling, great on the paws! I tipped over and rolled on my back on the carpet.


I walked all the way in to the living room and met my great-grandma and great-grandpa, then Mommy took my leash off so I could explore without it following me around the house. I investigated the hallway and two of the rooms, then went back to the living room to get more pets from Great-grandma. Great-grandpa was in a huge chair that made funny sounds when it moved, because it was all electric, so it took me a while to go over on my own to him. I finally did, though, and he petted me and told me what a good kitty I was. They both did. I love them, too! Then my great-uncle and Grandpa came in from the yard and I went right over to Great-uncle to be petted. He sat down on the couch, so I hopped up there too. I thought, since I'm allowed on the couch at home, that I would be allowed on the couch there, too. Nope, I wasn't, but I was allowed to sit on Great-uncle's lap. I really, really wanted on the white couch, though, so he had to keep putting me back on his lap. After a couple times of that, I cooperated.


After a while, I hopped down again and went to get pets from everyone else. Uncle D. decided to sit down on the floor so that he could pet me better, and I loved that! He did, too! Everyone loved my visit. :) >^..^

Therapy visit from two weeks ago

A couple weeks ago, Mommy said we were going to a different place to visit. I wasn't too sure about that, because I love my friends at H., but Mommy said we were going to the new place AND to H., just on different weeks. That's fine with me!

I didn't really want to leave the house (but I never want to leave anywhere: home, H., Mommy's work, etc.) so that wasn't a real surprise. The surprise was that it took a lot longer to get to the new place than it does to get to H. It's in a different town than we live in, and a different one than H. is in, too! We had to take three buses to get there. The cars downtown scared me, so I curled up in my stroller while Mommy petted me. Then a nice lady came to sit by us, so I poked my head out and said hi to her, while she petted me and talked to me.

The lady we were going to visit, E., had been told we were coming but had never met us before. Her granddaughter had contacted us to ask if we could visit E. What a nice person, to do that for her grandmother! E.'s son made the arrangements with the facility, then told us their schedule.

After we got off the last bus, Mommy said we had to walk a long way on a road. Wait a minute; don't most roads have sidewalks? This one didn't! It was sunny and shady at the same time, and smelled funny. I sat up straight in the stroller with my nose high in the air, looking around then looking up at Mommy, then looking around and sniffing deeply again. Mommy said we were in something called a "forest" or "woods". I know what wood is, that's what goes in the fireplace and what the bookshelf is made out of. So this is where it comes from? I wanted to get out and explore, but I couldn't because we were walking along a "highway". Why is it called "high" when it's on the ground? It must be a back road, because there were almost no cars. No, Mommy said it really is a highway, but there was construction so it wasn't as busy. There were bike lanes, so it was pretty safe for us to stroll, but not for me to get out and explore.

We crossed to the other side and went down a ramp, and finally I was let out to explore. Dirt, barkdust, and all kinds of smells! Woweeee!!!!!!! Oh, do I REALLY have to go down the sidewalk??? Can't I PLEASE stay here in the dirt for a minute more? Mommy wiped off my paws with a cleaning wipe and put me back into the stroller, leaving the mesh open so I could ride and see everything more clearly.

The lady at the front desk was so excited to see me! She has cats at home, and knew just how to scritch my back. I even rolled over to let her pet my tummy. She thought we were there to meet the person who coordinates the therapy dog visits, but then was just as happy that we had been contacted to visit E. Turns out the person in charge of visits is allergic to cats, so we can't visit everyone at that facility, but we saw a few people in the halls as we walked. That was just fine with everyone!

E. was absolutely THRILLED to have a cat come see her! We stayed for about 45 minutes, although I wanted to walk down the hallway to explore the next couple rooms. I kept looking out the door and tugging on my leash. Hey, it was a new place and I wanted to see who else was there! E. was very nice, and I could tell she was a kitty person right from the start. She wanted to hold me, and I curled up on her lap for a few minutes while she petted me and talked to me. I looked right up at her, listening to everything she was saying. After a couple minutes, I jumped down again and explored her room with Mommy at the other end of the leash. Then, it was back to going between E., Mommy, and looking out the door while E. and Mommy talked.

All of a sudden, there was a beeeeep! I didn't like it, and tried hiding under a chair. Mommy said our goodbyes (for me as well, since I was scared of that beep) and we left the room. The beep was some kind of signal to the nurses, and was coming from a room farther down the hallway. We got away from it fast, then found a nice lady in a wheelchair in the hallway. She and two other ladies (the others worked there in various jobs) wanted a demonstration of me walking on my leash, and I happily obliged by jumping out of the stroller and promptly walking into the tub room! It was interesting, but I wasn't allowed to be in there so I got turned around towards the hallway again. One of the ladies joked that she could give me a bath if I wanted! Um...no thanks, Mommy gives me those.

We made our way back out to the reception area, where I was mobbed again by five people and a little girl. It was kind of overwhelming, but I did great with it. They wanted me to walk on my leash, come over to them, roll over for tummy rubs, and ask for pets: all my favorite things! :) >^..^<

Then, back through the forest, stopping at a store to get some icewater. I didn't drink any, but Mommy put some on my ears and the back of my neck to cool me down. That helped a lot. It was supposed to have been in the mid-70's, but had gotten almost to 80. On our future visits this summer, like the one tomorrow, I will have my cooling collar.

We're going to alternate weeks visiting E. and going to H. This week it's H., next week we will see E. again.

Last Friday's visit

I have been pretty quiet at home, with the occasional chase up and down the hallway with my foster sister Little Bit. So when I got to H., I wanted to WALK!!! I hopped out of the stroller as Mommy was signing us in and getting her nametag, and took off towards the door to the office! One of the residents was coming back from lunch and saw me, so she went right up to the desk and said, "There's a cat by itself over there! It's not supposed to be there!" Mommy told her that I was with her and that it was alright.

I waited until Mommy had signed in, but she was taking a little too long getting her nametag so I meowed at her to hurry up! C'mon, Mommy, we've got work to do! >^..^<

She FINALLY got done at the desk and let me in to the office. I went right up to see all my friends there while she put her stuff down and got our visiting list. Then, off we went, with me walking. I even walked up to the elevator! I wouldn't cross that space that goes down forever, though. That was way to scary for me! Mommy lifted me over it, and I was just fine standing in the elevator while it moved. Then, there was that scary space again, so I got lifted over it again. I gave it the evil eye just in case, though!

As usual, as soon as we stepped out of the elevator we were "on". Chairs turned, walkers moved, and people were calling for me. I love it! I walked right up to the first person and rubbed up against her, then Mommy lifted me up onto her lap for some petting. We went to the tv/sitting room and I sat with three more people there. One lady clicks her tongue when she's petting me, which confuses me a little because that sound is what Mommy and Daddy use when I've been bad or when they want me to change what I'm doing. But this lady just makes the sound all the time. I'm getting used to it, though. Mommy keeps reassuring me that I'm being good after the lady holds and pets me.

C. was in bed when we got to her room. She's usually up and about in her chair, so that was unusual for me, and her bed was lower than it used to be. I was able to walk right up to her bed and sniff the top of it from my height! I got up with her and she was so happy to pet me! I settled down for a bit, then walked around being petted. After a while, I decided I wanted to sniff her face and touch noses with her. She wasn't so sure about that, and looked at Mommy to ask what was going on. Mommy told her that I was just wanting to say hi, so C. looked at me again and I leaned closer to sniff and touched noses with her! She laughed and smiled at that! I love her laugh! I always try to make her laugh when I visit her. :)

One of the ladies was getting a massage when we visited, so she was too relaxed to visit with me. She was almost asleep, she was so relaxed! Mommy talked with the massage therapist for a while, but then I was getting too restless so we walked to the next room. That was more of a human visit than a kitty visit.

When we went to see if M. was in her room, she wasn't. We visited some more people, then saw M. being wheeled back to her room by the massage therapist. She said that was fine if we came too, so we followed along behind. By this time, I'd walked around the whole floor and I was ready to stroll again. I lay down on M.'s bed, taking a break from everything for a while. I wasn't quite napping, but almost, just relaxing. M., the massage therapist, and Mommy talked about cats, visiting, and memories. When Mommy gets a car, she's going to ask the massage therapist for recommendations for additional places to visit! That would be so much fun to go to more places, too! We already are going to go visit an individual at another place on Thursday.

Our last visit of the day was to a lady who was really missing her own kitty. She has been at H. for a little less than two weeks, and hasn't been able to see her own cat. She's got a neighbor looking in on her cat and playing with her every day, but that's not the same as being there. I visited with her roommate first, who's a dog person but loved me. Well, everyone loves me, so why not? Then, Mommy picked me up and set me on the cat lady's bed. I immediately purred my best purr and went up to be petted. I investigated toes and the table, then settled down with my chin resting on the lady's ankle and one of my paws wrapped around her foot, with my body against her leg. I knew she needed some kitty loving! While she and Mommy talked, I purred and kneaded. At one point, Mommy wanted to pet me but I meowed softly to tell her that I was working and not to bother me! She and the lady laughed a little at that, and agreed with me. They both said I was doing an excellent job, and to keep it up.

Yesterday's visit

(written yesterday)

No noisy kids on public transporation this time, thank goodness! All in all, it was a pretty calm day.

This morning, I played chase and pounce with Rori, Little Bit, and Spooky. We'd gotten a new catnip toy from one of our Catster friends, so we were all on catnip highs! Racing from one end of the hallway to the other, around the living room, and back! Mommy wanted to sleep in a few minutes more, but I pounced on her to make sure she was up. Scared Starla half to death, because she was snuggling with her, but I jumped down and ran around some more instead of chasing Starla.

At H., we found out that two of my friends I regularly visit had died. One died last week, but the other died just yesterday morning. Rest in peace, R.G. and K.D.

I was tired from my fun morning, so I spent most of the time visiting laying down, either in my stroller or in people's laps. Everyone was very glad to see me, and commented on how pretty I am. I was so glad to see my friends, too! S. wondered if I would react to the rooms that had been occupied, and I did sniff them, but then walked by. I was much more interested in the living people who needed me now.

The last room I visited is home to a new friend, E. She thought I might not like her, but I settled right down on her bed and didn't want to leave. I sat on her lap, snuggled with her, kneaded the bedspread, and almost took a little nap! When one of the nurses, J., whom I love, cam in to see me and talk with E., I hid behind E.'s back so that J. wouldn't try to get me to move away from E.! When Mommy called me, I came and then let J. pet me, but I wanted to stay with E.

We had to leave after a while, though, so I had to get back into the stroller. On the way down in the elevator, a man who was visiting his mom saw the stroller, then did a triple-take! He was about to say, "That's one hairy baby!" Then he almost collapsed in giggles against the side of the elevator, because he realized what he was seeing! When we got out of the elevator, he hurried over to the reception desk and told the receptionist, still giggling and leaning against the desk for support!

I went to class with Mommy and helped her teach by walking on the tables and lying down on books. Well, I thought it was helping, anyway! Then her dad picked us up and I got to see all sorts of interesting things on the way home in his car, including geese flying when we got into the driveway at home. Boy, are those birds LOUD!

Last Friday's visit

There are such highs and lows in this job! I'm sorry this note is a few days late, but I've been thinking about how to write down the emotional rollercoaster that was our last visit.

When we were on the MAX light rail train, a whole class of middle schoolers got on. I'd been almost snoozing in my stroller as Mommy talked with her seatmate, but I quickly woke up as a boy bumped into the side of the stroller. His teacher told him to watch out, and after that he didn't bump into me anymore, but I remained afraid that he would and was ready to hiss and/or growl if he did that again. He and another boy were swinging around right in front of me using the handholds!

We got off a few stops later, and I was soooo glad! My fur immediately went back down to normal. Mommy petted me and helped calm me down for a few moments before we strolled through the park. Let me tell you, I was QUITE ready to be in the building! We got our list and I said hi to S. & R. I kind of wanted to just stay with them my whole visit, but they said that I had to go up and visit with my other friends too. So I let Mommy carry me out of the room and wheel me into the elevator to go see the other people.

Once we got to our floor, I was content visiting, and actually quite happy to see my friends there. I'd calmed down from the traumatic start to the day, and asked my friends for pets, headbutting them as well. Some of my friends were waiting in the lobby area on their floor, so I visited with them first, and met a new staff member (or at least new to me). Then, we went to the first room, where someone had human visitors already! I love when that happens, because it means more pets for me! One of the visitors was sitting on the edge of the high bed, and I sat on the floor under her feet and looked right up at her, trying to figure out what she was doing there. Was I supposed to ask her to pet me? Try to jump way up into her lap? Jump on the bed? Wait to be lifted up? Mommy picked me up and put me on the lady's lap, and then I made myself quite at home there, curling up and being petted. The lady was thrilled that there was a visiting therapy cat who came to see her relative! The man in the chair smiled the whole time, watching his smaller visitor and his human visitors interact. I sat with him, too, and sniffed the brace on his knee.

Then, I could hear people in the lobby area clamoring for me again, so I dragged Mommy off to visit them! Everyone laughed at that. I said hi to four more people, including one who wanted to follow me instead of have us follow him to a chair. We finally got him to sit down, then rolled the stroller over so he could pet me once I'd hopped back in. I also met a stuffed animal doggie that a lady was showing to another friend of hers. They wondered if maybe I'd think it was real, but I sniffed it, looked at it funny, and promptly ignored it. Everyone had a good laugh over that, too!

I peeked around the corner of the next room, wanting to visit the person there, but was told that she was sleeping. Nope! She was awake, and moved her hands when she heard, so we went in. I met her lavendar kitty neck pillow, and curled up with it! Mommy was amazed by that. E. loved seeing me and petting me, and will be looking forward to our next visit.

The next two people didn't remember me, but I remembered them. I wanted to climb into their laps, but consented to being on their beds instead. Not remembering me happens a lot with my friends here. I don't mind at all, because I know that I visit with them, whether or not they remember later on that I was there. Some of my best friends were sleeping, and I hated to pass their rooms, so I kept sticking my nose in at the door and then not budging until Mommy picked me up to move me on to the next room.

We visited with B., who had been doing visual acuity cards with a therapist right before we walked in. They were just finishing up, so we were waved inside. B. petted me and talked with us while I rolled over and over for tummy rubs and jowl rubs. B. cannot see well, so sometimes she didn't know which end I had facing her, but then she would feel either my whiskers or my tail and be able to tell. She was gentle petting me.

One of the ladies we visited is only going to be there a short time and then will go back home. She has a cat at home waiting for her, so we heard all about her. She also has friends who are looking to adopt cats, and took Mommy's phone number to give to them so that maybe our foster cat Little Bit can find a home with one of the lady's friends. Something may or may not come of that, but at least a lead is out there.

After two hours of visiting, I was definitely ready to go, and telling Mommy I was ready, but we couldn't go without saying hi to M. She's one of my two favorite friends there. I growled when Mommy picked me up to be petted by M., but was fine being set on the bed for pets. I was just too tired to be held and wanted to curl up and enjoy my last friend of the day. M. was having an excellent day, we thought, able to remember that she had talked with us and almost able to remember my name. She also remembered that we had heard her favorite cat story, involving a kitty she grew up with, so she and Mommy partially retold it to each other and had fun with that. She read Mommy's nametag and called her by name, which she'd never done before! But then, she told us that her mother was coming and bringing her cat next time. She looked so happy that we might get to meet this kitty from the story, but we knew that was never going to happen because her mother and the cat have both long since passed. The topic of conversation moved once again to me, and then we said our goodbyes.

Such a bittersweet day, but truly such is life for all of us.

Exciting therapy visit!

(from Friday)

Lovely day; bright and sunny and kinda warm!  It's the first time I didn't need my jacket since last fall!  There are all kinds of smells in the air from the plants blooming, and birds singing and flying.  We walked through the park on the way to H. and people were sitting on the benches enjoying the sun.  I got petted by one of Mommy's friends who asks for money in the park.  He was a customer when she worked at a grocery store around there, so now she talks with him for a bit when she sees him in the park.

At H., we knew something was different the moment we got to the parking lot.  There was a big trailer building there, that Mommy says is a health cliinic on wheels.  She thought maybe the people at H. were getting their blood pressure checked and things like that.  We went inside the regular building, and there was a health fair going on!  Tables were set up along the sides of the lobby and the hallways, and people were at the displays talking.  R. said we could sign in and go see the tables before our visit.  We got Mommy's nametag and signed me in (I have my own sign-in sheet with my name on it), put our bags (my carrier and Mommy's bag) in the office, and went back out into the hallway.  I wanted to go back into the office because I didn't know what was going on in the hallway.  I wasn't scared, just a bit startled, so Mommy picked me up and held me.  We stood for a few minutes, looking and listening to everything going on, so that I could get used to the disruption of my regular routine.

Some of my friends came walking by us and greeted me, so I felt better about what was going on.  After a few minutes, I wanted back in the stroller again, so Mommy let me sit in it.  Then we started going around to the tables so Mommy could see what there was to see.

The first table we stopped at didn't have anything on it, but it had two ladies sitting at either end of it.  They had papers, and were there to talk about what was on their paper, but didn't have a formal display.  One of the ladies petted me, then kind of laughed.  She told us, "I was going to make a joke about the cat when I saw you over there, but then I thought better of it and figured that she must be here for a purpose."  Mommy said yes, then explained about my therapy work.  She and I answered a lot of questions from that lady, demonstrating how I ask for petting by putting my paw up, and demonstrating how I am so calm with everything that goes on around me.  While we were talking, residents walked by and stopped to greet me by name and pet me.

As we made our way down the hallway, we saw two ladies at another table with a display waving to us and calling us over to their table.  Puzzled, Mommy wheeled me over.  It turns out they were from DoveLewis Animal Hospital, and had a booth about their planned giving/legacy fund (designating their nonprofit in a will).  DoveLewis also has an animal-assisted therapy program, and Oddard the dog (who visits the weeks we don't) is part of their program.  The ladies had just been talking about therapy animals, and were wondering if there were ever cat teams.  They had just decided that cats wouldn't do well in this situations, then we appeared!  So, of course, we answered a lot of questions from them and I got lots of petting from them too!  Mommy explained that originally we'd wanted to go through their group, and had trained using the Delta Society manual (the same one they use), but that I didn't qualify for the DoveLewis program.  So that's why my certification is going to be through the therapy animal program at SARA instead.  They thought that was wonderful that there was some place I could get certified, because they know how important my work is and could see that I am well-qualified for it.  Afterwards, they told the assistant wellness director that they loved talking with us and meeting me, and were so glad that there was a therapy cat who visited there!

We talked with a couple other people and looked at quilts, therapeutic gardening programs, medical alert systems, and chocolates (looked, not tasted, as chocolate is toxic for me and the ones offered as samples had peanuts, which Mommy is allergic to).  Then we went up to visit with my friends.

I was in a semi-silly mood, because of all the excitement.  I didn't want to sit on laps, but loved being on everyone's beds kneading their blankets.  There was a new nurse on the floor, and one of the other nurses introduced me to her, then told us that one of the people I used to visit with, who had gone back to her real home (she was recuperating at H. under doctor's orders instead of as a resident), had absolutely loved visiting with me.  Mommy smiled and nodded, and the nurse looked a little surprised that we remembered exactly who that was!  We remember all of our friends there.

My friend M., who now has a room of her own, was using the bathroom when we got to her room.  She was the last one we visited for the day, but we didn't want to pass her by, so we waited outside in the hallway until she was out.  She was so glad to see me as usual, and even remembered that it had been a long time since I'd been there!  I was so happy to see her, too!  She was standing up, using her walker, and I walked around it and her the whole time until she got over to her chair.  Instead of sitting in the chair, she offered it to me, so I hopped up there so she could pet me better.  She talked to me and I listened, then she talked with Mommy, too.  I got down off the chair and went around M.'s feet and walker some more, so she bent down with one hand still on the walker to pet me.  I hopped up on my hind feet so that she could pet the top of my head!  They both were sooooo proud of me for doing that, so that M. could pet me more easily!  I did that a few times, alternating with going around feet and walker, then hopped onto the chair again.  I wanted to get up on the little tray table, so M. picked up her lipstick container from there so I wouldn't knock it down.  I sniffed a stuffed kangaroo puppet that was new since the last time I was there, then headed toward a flower.  Mommy scooped me up and held me, since she didn't want me eating the flower!  M. and she laughed at that, and I wasn't really bummed because I was getting cuddled and petted.

New friends while visiting!

Such a bright, beautiful day today! It was still cold enough that I had a fleece blankie in my stroller, but not so cold that I had to have a jacket. There are so many things to sniff and look at now that spring is coming: cherry trees, magnolia trees, rhododendrons, trailing flowers, people and dogs out and about.

H. was a busy place today, because there was a formal party for all the residents. The party wasn't until after our visit, so we had plenty of time before our friends had to get dressed up, but the decorating started early. I sniffed decorations while Mommy put our things in the office (my carrier and her book bag), then we went to see who we could find. On the way, I visited with one of the ladies in the office, and with the receptionist.

There are more people on the floor! Lots of new faces, hands, and laps! I met a little human boy, his mom, and his grandma. The grandma is living there, and the rest of the family came to visit her. The mom pointed me out to the boy: "See the kitty?" Mommy told them all they could pet me, and they all three had the biggest smiles! The grandma had heard about me, but not met me yet, so she was overjoyed to actually meet me! Then I created a traffic jam in the hallway by the elevator, because more people wanted to visit with me, and one of the ladies' security alarms made the elevator alarm sound. That was soooo loud, but I was ok with it. I basically ignored it, which made Mommy proud.

I saw all my regulars, except for one of the ladies whose name starts with P. had died. We are sad about that, but happy that she isn't suffering anymore. I guess that's what happens when you work where I do. There was another room that didn't have anyone in it, but the bedding was being changed, so that means that there will probably be new friends there again next time I visit.

I got to visit with C. twice. She got a new wheelchair, so now her legs are raised up more and she has more of a lap for me! I settled right down on her lap this time, and she was so incredibly happy! She had a huge smile, twinkles in her eyes, and petted me as she watched everyone going by to see if they saw that she had a cat on her lap! A couple people stopped and mentioned that I was on her lap, and her smile got wider and wider! :) Of course, I just settled in more and purrrrrrrred away! Then, after she went to her room to lie down for a while, we were making our rounds and stopped to see her roommate. After her roommate visited with me, I got to visit with C. again on her bed. I lay down alongside her, and she petted me, smiling.

I wanted to play with G. today! I love her bed, and she gets quite a kick out of that. As she was petting me, I reached out and tagged her hand (without claws, just batting it)! Then, I reached out again and touched her finger with my paw. She picked my paw up and moved it a little, then went back to petting me, laughing. We did that game a couple more times, then I rolled over for tummy rubs on her bed while she made jokes about the bed being too big for me. I thought it was just the right size!

M. was getting a little mixed up with her chronology today. She told me that her cat, the one she always tells me about, had been lost but had just come back home. Other than that, she was making sense. She's in her mid-80's, and doing really well for her age! Mommy told her that, and she smiled and said it was because she knew her limits and knew when to ask for help. We believe that! We love visiting with her, and she loves me.

Well, EVERYONE loves me, and I love EVERYONE! :) >^..^<

A., another new person, had family visiting as well. Her niece and nephews were there. As soon as I came close enough so they could see who/what I was, one of the men said, "Is that a therapy cat?" Mommy was happy that he could tell that right away! They all petted me and talked to me, and I did some of my tricks for them. The lady (the niece) asked for the name of somewhere to get a cat certified for therapy work, because she has a cat at home who she says would be perfect for this kind of work too! Yay, another working feline! I'm proud to have inspired another probable cat team. :)

Another lady had her granddaughter visiting, but I walked right in anyway. They said it was just fine, and the lady patted her bed, so I got up there and charmed them completely. Her neighbor in the next room was in her wheelchair in the hallway waiting for me when I got back out there, and didn't want to hold me but wanted to ask a million questions about me, my training, and my harness. At this point, I was out of the stroller walking on my leash. I wear my harness all the time, with Mommy holding my leash, for safety reasons. Sometimes I walk, sometimes stroll, and sometimes Mommy carries me. It all depends on how long we're there and how many people we visit. I love to both walk and stroll, but sometimes I get too tired to walk around.

One of the last people we visited was Mr. G. He had some papers he was working on, but he quickly put them aside when we walked in. He loves cats and had quite a few growing up and as an adult. I sat on his lap and he petted me. He said one of the saddest things, but also one of the happiest, that we have ever heard. He said, "I'd forgotten how soft their fur is." Imagine forgetting what kitty fur feels like! I'm so glad that he can remember, at least for a few minutes, while he pets me!

Yay! Visiting again!

Today we got to go visit at H. again! We haven't been for about a month, because of my being a brat to Starla (Hey, Mommy, you weren't supposed to type THAT!!!) and because of getting settled in our new house. It was a beautiful day, but a cold wind. I had my brown jacket and a fleece blankie, though, so I was ok.

We got there, went in to see the wellness directors first, but they weren't in their office. I really wanted to see them! I looked and sniffed around for them, but they weren't there. Why not? Where did they go? Mommy said we should just go up and visit with my friends, but these are my friends too and I wanted to visit with them first, so I growled low when Mommy said that and picked me up. Just then, one of the ladies came around the corner and greeted us, so I was soooo happy!!!

All three of us went up to visit with my friends. I must've visited 80% of the floor! Of course, everyone loved me. How could they not? They missed me as much as I missed them, for the ones who remembered seeing me. A lot of our people are Alzheimer's patients, so they don't always remember seeing me. Mommy told me that a lot of the people we visit are as old in human years as my "auntie" Sara Kitty was. Wow! She was 19! My human visiting friends are doing really well for being 19 kitty years old.

I love G.'s bed. It's just the right softness to knead on and lay down on, and roll over for tummy rubs. :) M. sang a song to me! It's called "Babyface", and she sang it to me while stroking my face with her fingers. I purred and purred, and pushed my nose into her hand.

After our visit, we went back to the little office and my other friend was there. S. and Mommy told her how I'd growled because they weren't there when we got there, and she laughed at that and petted me. Mommy told them about my new "nephew" Spooky, who's a floppy kitty. Mommy and Daddy say he has something called C.H. (cerebellar hypoplasia). Mommy was telling the ladies that we're training him to be a therapy cat as well. He and I won't be visiting together though, because I want to have all the petting and attention to myself and it wouldn't be fair to ask me to share it. Or for him to have to share either. He won't start his official training for a while, though, because he's not been around wheelchairs or walkers yet. S. and R. liked the idea of another visiting cat, though, so that's very cool!

Then Mommy and I went shopping and then to her class. I got canned food to eat there! Daddy came to pick us up, but I didn't want to leave (of course) so I told him that in no uncertain terms. He said I had to go back home. He held me while Mommy packed up the rest of the canned food (I wanted to eat it all instead of take it home), then I got to look at the cars going by while we drove. Did you know that cars come from behind you and go in front of you?