My writing prowess... acknowledged!

Usually Sydney gets all the glamour. I prefer to live a somewhat more understated life, as suits my higher position in life. After all, I'm the senior fur in the family (being 17 has its privileges!), and I'm a cat. 'Nuff said.

But today I found out that my writing prowess has finally been acknowledged, and I'm a Daily Diary pick. I have to admit, I wasn't looking for notoriety, but it feels pretty darned good to be recognized like this.

What an amazingly wonderful week our family is having!! My furless baby brother Colin is recovering well from his surgery, I got great news from the vet, Sydney was a diary pick yesterday, and now I'm a diary pick today. Mom was feeling pretty sad before because Friday is the last day of her maternity leave and she has to go back to work next week, but now she's thinking maybe things will be OK.

A big thanks to HQ for helping to make this great week even better. And for showing the wisdom to recognize what an amazing writer I am!

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

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Good News!

Well, I had to go to the vet last week. I wasn't very happy about it, especially when he clipped my toenails AND stole some of my blood. And I'd lost a pound so the vet was worried that my thyroid was going bad. Mom was really worried, but we had to wait until the results came in from my blood work.

Then today... the doctor called mom with... GOOD NEWS!!! My BUN is down from 43 to 41. My creatinine is down from 3.4 to 2.5, and my T4 is 3.6 which is in the normal range. WOO HOO!!!! Normally once you've been diagnosed with CRF your test results keep getting worse, not better! Mom doesn't know how or why this happened, but she sure is happy!

So, to all of you out there with CRF... please know that things are never hopeless. And sometimes you get a nice surprise and have a chance to pause and celebrate.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

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Can you believe...

So 5 weeks ago mom disappeared, then came back without her big roudn belly. Instead she had this little creature (less than 7 pounds). He can be OK sometimes, but is often very loud... especially at night when I like to sleep. So I've taken to sleeping downstairs at night to get some peace. But I digress.

On Friday of Memorial Day weekend mom went to get the mail, and heard some teeny (but very loud and insistent) meowing. Mom looked around but didn't see anything or anyone. She kept looking, following the sound... and found... a teeny kitten... crying and crying... in the SEWER. :-( Mom felt really bad for the kitty, who was acting super-hungry, so mom got some of my kibbles (HUMPH!) and threw them down. I would have been upset, but I know what it is like to be a tiny hungry kitten, so I cut mom some slack.

She kept hoping that the momma cat would come back for the kitten, but no luck. In the meantime mom and dad would throw down some food and/or water for the kitty from time to time, but couldn't get down to it because the sewer grates are too heavy and it was too far down. Well, last Tuesday mom couldn't take it any more. She called animal control thinking they could come out and get the kitty.

WHAT A JOKE.

The guy from animal control came out, asked where the kitten was, then looked in the sewer. He told mom (about 5 times) that feral cats live in the sewers - DUH! Mom knows that, which is why she waited days before calling animal control. Then the guy (UGH) said mom shouldn't worry because if it rained the kitten would just "wash out" at the end. Can you believe that?!?! HISSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! Mom nearly kicked the guy in the shins, and if I had been there I would have given him a serious swat. They guy did look around, and didn't see the kitten, but mom doesn't think he tried very hard. In the end he said he would arrange some boards that he found in the sewer so the kitten could climb out. Mom hoped that would work, but thought the kitten seemed a little young to make it on its own.

On Wednesday mom went to get in her car and... heard... MEW! MEOW! MEEEEOOOOWWW! Yep, SewerKitty again. Mom's last thread of patience with the morons from animal control evaporated. She went to look, and there was they teeny kitty. Cowering in the corner of the sewer. Again. It was time to take control of the situation.

Mom got a 6-foot piece of wire shelving that used to be in the guest room closet and stuck it in the sewer. Then she got some pieces of ham... and reached her arm waaaay down into the sewer... and put pieces of ham to try and get the kitty to climb up the shelving. And... IT WORKED!!!! The kitty got within arm's reach, and mom grabbed it by the scruff and put it into our carrier. The kitten didn't seem the least bit upset, but it was very teeny (maybe six weeks old), skin-and-bones, very VERY dirty.

Mom brought the carrier into our garage, then gave the kitty food, water, a mini litter box, and a small towel. SewerKitty now does nothing but purr every time she sees mom. Mom contacted a local rescue organization, and they're going to come and take SewerKitty later this week and find her a home. Mom wishes she could do more... like fostering the kitty long-term (or keeping it!) but with my CRF and a newborn baby at home she just doesn't think she can do it.

In the meantime mom is making sure that the kitty has plenty of food, a clean litter box, fresh water, and some sunshine and love every day. Today mom gave the kitty one of Sydney's toys (a small squeaky goose) to curl up with... the goose is bigger than the kitty, but SewerKitty seemed to like her new snuggly pal.

I'd almost feel jealous, but I was once exactly like that kitty... lost, alone, starving... and that's when mom found me. I can't stay upset with mom for helping another kitty in trouble... even though it means I have to share her with another small creature. Thankfully mom has enough love for all of us! :-)

In the meantime I hope all my pals will send some PoTP to help SewerKitty find a loving fur-ever home real soon!

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus
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Glad it is 2009

Boy, am I EVER glad 2008 is over! That's just not the type of year a kitty ever wants to even think about again. You think I'm kidding?

- I turned 16
- Mom stepped on my tail, and now it is an inch shorter
- Mom stepped on my foot and I lost my toenail
- My toenail grew back all icky and fell off again
- Mom and dad left me for days, then came back for a night, then LEFT AGAIN

The last one was the final straw. They took the stinky dog with them and left me alone on Christmas day, and didn't come back for three days. I don't care that they had a lady stop in on me, and feed me, and clean my litter box, and pet me. I was ALONE. That was bad enough, but then they finally came home... and LEFT AGAIN the next day! No, I am not kidding.

They took the dog, and left again. When the dog got home I could smell other dogs on her so I know she was at camp, but still... they left me TWICE.

So now it is finally 2009, and I'm demanding a much better year.

Wishing you all a 2009 that is filled with anything better than my 2008!

Purrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

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Captain Bad... That's Me!

This morning I tried snuggling with mom, and I tried nudging her, but nothing worked. So I gave up.

I went downstairs, climbed onto the dining room table (a BIG no-no) and found... a cellophane bag full of holistic treats. They were intended for Sydney - a gift from Sadie Boo, Sophie Bean, Klemy and Kira - but I just didn't care. I'd eaten all of my midnight meal and I was H-U-N-G-R-Y!

I knocked the bag to the floor and the next thing I know Sydney is there next to me. She NEVER comes downstairs without mom, but somehow there she was, invading. But I decided to forgive her because she started crunching the treats (which were too big for me to eat). When she ate them lots of crumbs broke off and I started eating those. Immediately. As fast as I possibly could. I was starving, after all, and they were REALLY yummy!

The next thing I know mom was down in the middle of us, trying (unsuccessfully) to nudge Sydney and me away from the food. Mom eventually gave up on trying to get us to stop eating and instead cleaned up the few remaining crumbs and put the rest of the treats in a sealed jar in a cabinet.

It was short-lived, but MAN were those some seriously yummy treats. Thanks to the whole SB Gang for an amazingly delicious morning!! Now mom is calling us the dynamic duo... Captain Bad and Miss Naughty. I think that has a Marvel-Comics style ring to it... don't you?

Purrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

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Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

I just want to remind you what a good kitty I've been. I really truly have not been naughty this year. You can't count the numerous times I've peed on Sydney's bed, or the times that I've walked up to her and stolen her toys or bit her. That's not naughty because I was just disciplining her. She's horribly spoiled, and SOMEONE has to lay down the law.

Plus I've had a difficult year. Between my tail injuries and my poor toenail it has been really rough. I'm a tough guy, so I survived it all with flying colors but really... you should take pity on me. (And maybe give mommy smaller feet for Christmas... that would be nice.)

Just remember all the times I've taken a nap curled up around mom's head, and my new tradition of "elevensies" with daddy (where I come and sit in his lap and purr). And how nice I've been about having my tail and toe soaked over and over and over. Most kitties would NEVER tolerate that, so you see... I've really been very very good.

You agree with me, don't you????

Purrrrrrrrrrrs, from a very good kitty boy,
- Seamus

Mending Tootsies

Well, I've decided to put up with this whole crazy foot-soaking thing. Mostly because I know mom isn't going to take no for an answer. AND... when she's soaking my foot she doesn't pay any attention to Sydney and that is just driving the dog CRAZY! (purrrrrrrrrrrrrrs)

Plus, I hate to admit it, but the soaking makes me feel better. And when she's done with the soaking mom takes a big fluffy towel and drys my foot including between my toes. I like that so much I stretch my toes waaaay out so she can really get in there!

But I don't like the pills. Mom keeps sneaking up from behind me and the next thing I know there's fingers in my mouth shoving a pill way back in my throat. I try to spit it out but sometimes it is already down before I realize what happened. The indignity!!! But yesterday I showed her. Mom tried to give me the pill. And I pretended it was down. She even waited for a minute to make sure I didn't spit it out. But then... after she left... PA-TOOIE! I spit that nasty pill out. Unfortunately it fell in the middle of the living room floor so when mom got home for lunch she saw it right away and zip-quick mom jammed that dumb pill down my throat again. *sigh*

Guess I'll have to come up with another creative idea for tomorrow. Until then I'm feeling great and am back to playing with my catnip mousie every night and jumping around without hesitation so mom knows I'm gonna be just fine.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrs,

Seamus
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Cat-astrophe Update

Well, I had to go to the dumb vet yesterday 'cause clumsy mom stepped on my foot. When mom came to get me (after locking me in the bathroom ALL DAY - HUMPH!) I peeked at her from behind the shower curtain b/c I was busy playing in the tub. I don't know why she was so surprised... did she really think I would just nap all day when there was a fun tub to hang out in??? DUH!

Anyway, I was eased into my carrier and whisked away to the vet. There they shaved my toe (yes, it is naked now), and soaked it (yes, I objected). They even took off an old scab from where the toenail fell off a few weeks back. The vet said that my toe looked pretty good but was swollen so he couldn't tell what damage there might be (if any). But he said that since I was eating and relaxed and otherwise acting pretty normal he thinks I should be just fine. The vet gave me an injection of antibiotics and now we're back to daily antibiotic pills and... daily soakings!

Yes, I have to get wet every day. Again. Multiple times a day.

When it was just the tip of my tail getting soaked that was kinda OK... mom would pet me and I could nap through most of it. But now... it is my TOE! Mom is still trying to figure out how to do this so I'm comfy and can nap through it, but I promise all my kitty pals that I will NOT put up with this one nicely. Especially since while mom was trying to soak my tail Sydney-pup kept sticking her nose in my face.

So that's my toenail tale. I'm feeling pretty frisky, still jumping onto and off of furniture like I own the house (which I do, of course!), and hopping around the house in my usual fashion demanding food and attention at every turn. Yet in spite of all this I think the soakings and pills are going to continue until next week when I have my follow-up visit. *HUMPH*

Until then, fellow felines, stay safe and guard your tootsies!

Purrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

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MeOUCH... AGAIN

I'm mad at mom. I mean really... can't she watch where she puts her giant feet?!?!?

About 2 weeks ago one of my toenails fell off. It was really long and thick, and had split the last time the vet trimmed it, and mom was getting ready to take me in to the vet so I decided to make it go away. When mom left for her morning walk with the dog I had my big horny-toenail, and when she got back it was (POOF) magically gone.

She was monitoring my toe, and while it seemed a bit sensitive everything looked OK so I got to skip the vet visit. Until now.

This morning mom was making my breakfast. She usually keeps a pretty close eye on me since I stay very close while my food is getting prepared. I was on her left, next to her left foot, but I guess she didn't notice when I moved behind her and to her right. She stepped back kinda fast and... CRUNCH-MEOWR-HISSSS!!!!!!!!

I ran as fast as I could to my little perch where I eat my meals, and mom ran behind me as fast as she could. I was so mad I hissed at her and laid my ears flat. Can you believe she STEPPED on me? AGAIN??? Then stupid Sydney-pup tried to sniff at me so I hissed at her too. I had decided I was mad at the world.

Mom took Sydney upstairs and locked her in the bathroom with daddy who was showering, then came back to check on me. I was hiding behind the dining room curtains. Mom came close and this time I let her, and she saw that my back foot was bleeding... with a quarter-sized puddle of blood under it. Mom nearly started sobbing she felt so bad, but all I really cared about is that my foot hurt.

Mom got my big hard-sided crate, and put a fresh towel in it, then gently got me inside. She went to call the vet but the line was busy. In the meantime I'd had a few minutes to myself, and decided I didn't want to be in the cage anymore. I started to complain (MEOW! MEOW! MEOW!) so mom came downstairs and opened the door. She seemed very relieved that I put weight on my foot, and that there were no bloody footprints... I was trying to prove that it wasn't really that bad. Mom put my food down and I even ate right away so she'd know I was feeling OK.

But nooooo... she locked me in the bathroom so I wouldn't run around too much while she was at work AND I have to go to the vet. pouting

Mom is taking time off from work this afternoon to get me to the vet, who thankfully had one appointment open today. Hopefully they'll just clean it up, tell me that everything is fine, and maybe give me some antibiotics to make sure I'm clean and clear. But really... I think mom should have to install lights and a siren (like school buses have) so she goes BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP before backing up or changing direction.

Kitties... beware... mommies with big feet are clumsy and dangerous. I'll keep you all posted on the outcome of my appointment today. Wish me luck!

Pouting Purrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

I was featured on the Cat Chat blog!!!!

So I guess mom wrote in to this lady Tracie Hotchner, who does a radio show called "Cat Chat Radio". Mom listens mostly in the mornings, but catches up when she can. Tracie advises all her listeners to get their feline friends "off the kitty crack" - that's what she calls dry food - and switch to canned food.

Well, mom had luckily already switched me over when I was diagnosed with CRF, but wanted to let Tracie know that I was a kitty-crack-recovery success story... and... guess what?!?! That nice lady put mom's letter on her blog. WOW!!!

You can read it here:
http://traciehotchner.com/blog/?p=61

How about that - I'm famous now too! Who says Sydney-pup has to get all the limelight. Not me!

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs
From Seamus McCatnip, the now-famous cat!

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