Shady-dude, a life of leisure

Dear Diary (and fellow Catsters)

Well, after thorough review I've decided that Catster is pretty cool. As a mature cat of 15 years I didn't want to just jump in without a thorough review. (I did that once as a kitten and ended up in a tub full of water - NOT my idea of fun.) So I let my sister Sydney-pup try out Dogster for a while first. I figured she could give the whole thing a trial, work out the bumps, and then I'd decide if it was cool or not.

But then... I realized that she was getting all the attention... all the mail... all the love... NO FAIR! So now here I am!! Honing in on the attention.

This morning I decided to wake my mom up by pouncing on her. So what if she was sleeping? I, King Seamus, decreed that it was time to PLAY!! So I kept pouncing on her legs, and her belly, and her arms. If she moved at all then I pounced more. She was groaning about being tired and it being early, but I don't know why she was worried... I can nap all morning (and all afternoon), so I'll get my beauty rest. Not to worry. Then Sydney-pup wanted to get in on the game... when I play on the bed she stands on her back legs to watch, and whines 'cause she can't be part of the game. (I'm allowed on the bed, she isn't - nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah!) Once I was sure mom was awake then I curled up on her tummy purring and went to sleep. Wasn't that sweet of me?

Well, I guess it is time for my next nap.
Purrrrrrrrrrr,
- Seamus

A normal day and then... My first rosette

Today started like the past few. I was alseep, happy, then it was 5AM so I started trying to wake mom up. That is my current game. I start by nudging mom while purring (and I'm amazingly strong - I can actually move her whole body). She'll usually pet me and try to get me to go back to sleep, but I'm not that easy. If she doesn't wake up, then I crawl over her head (he he he) onto her nightstand. Once there I act like I'm about to fall over while trying to walk around her stuff. DUH - I'm a cat, I'm not going to fall. But she usually falls for it and trys to pick me up and cuddle with me. If she still is trying to sleep then I start throwing things (one of my patented tricks). But now I have stinky-Sydney-pup who remarkably helps. I throw things off the nightstand, and Sydney picks them up and tries to chew on them... she isn't REALLY chewing on them, she just fakes to try and wake mom up. So we tag-team for a while. This usually keeps her up for 45 minutes or so, and by then I know she's almost ready to get up.

So today started pretty much normal. After the whole wake-up-mommy routine, then she leaves with stinky-Sydney-pup for a while, and I sit at the front door and meow my complaints the WHOLE time she's gone (which annoys dad, and wakes him up a bit - BONUS). Eventually they come back, I demand my treats, and then we get on with our day. Mom showers and I sit like the king that I am on the bathroom counter, waiting for her to get out of the shower and adore me some more.

But then... a very special kitty Klemy (who has an especially awesome name) and is a really KOOL KAT, gave me my first rosette! Which, of course, just reinforces my cat knowledge that I'm su-purrrr.

Thanks Klemy, and I've reminded mommy to buy a extra special box of Q-tips.

PURRRRRRRR! - Seamus

My Christmas Photo Shoot

Well, today mom came home from work with Sydney-pup, who was gone all day so I got some really serious napping done today. What a relief. Anyway, the next thing I know Sydney has a new photo going up on the fridge. WHAT ABOUT ME????

I gave up on being subtle. So mom finally got a clue, and took the red and white fuzzy thing off Sydney-pup and put it on me. I purrrrrrrrrrrred and purrrrrrrrrrred to let her know she finally got it right. Then I laid on the bed while she took a bunch of pictures of me. I told her that she had to make that my new primary photo, and so it is. Me and my handsome Christmas hat.

Meowy Christmas!
- Seamus

Meowy Christmas

Cat's Christmas Prayer

Whoever made the stars that shine,
Whoever made green trees of pine,
Whoever dreamed up fish and mice,
Or sun and rain and snow and ice,
Must have the power in His paws
To help when there's a worthy cause.
Whoever gave the birds a nest
Will grant this humblcat's request.

For needy felines everywhere,
I meow my little Christmas prayer.
Please heal the sick
And cheer the sad,
Forgive the naughty,
and excuse the bad.

One more simple thing I ask:
A pool of sunlight in which to bask,
Plus a plate of food,
A safe, warm house,
A loving lap, a catnip mouse.
Freedom from fleas, furballs, and mats,
And homes for all the homeless cats.

from A Cat's Christmas by Stefanie Samek

Cat Haikus

Mom's been away from the computer for a looong time... so I had a little time brush up on my literary talents. (OK, I didn't write them - they're borrowed!) Enjoy the cat haikus

Am I in your way?
You seem to have it backward:
This pillow's taken.

The food in my bowl
Is old, and more to the point
Contains no tuna.

So you want to play.
Will I claw at dancing string?
Your ankle's closer.

Tiny can, dumped in
Plastic bowl. Presentation,
One star; service: none.

Your mouth is moving;
Up and down, emitting noise.
I've lost all interest.

The dog wags his tail,
Seeking approval. See mine?
Different message.

My brain: walnut-sized.
Yours: largest among primates.
Yet, who leaves for work?

Most problems can be
Ignored. The more difficult
Ones can be slept through.

My affection is
Conditional. Don't stand up,
It's your lap I love.

Cats can't steal the breath
Of children. But if my tail's
Pulled again, I'll learn.

I don't mind being
Teased, any more than you mind
A skin graft or two.

So you call this thing
Your "cat carrier." I call
These my "blades of death."

Toy mice, dancing yarn
Meowing sounds. I'm convinced:
You're an idiot.

I'm mad and I'm NOT talking

So... mom found it yesterday. I knew she would eventually, but I was hoping for a little more time. More time for my work to sink in. More time for that D-O-G to get the unmistakable yet unspoken message.

You see, that stinky pup Sydney made me very mad. No one knows how or why except me and her, and I'm NOT talking. It happened while our human's were away. But I was calm. I restrained myself. I did not bite her, or scratch her, or chase her. I waited.

I waited until she was sleeping.

And then I went to her big basket-o-toys. Where she keeps her beloved squeaky-balls. The toys she loves above all others. And took my revenge. I was cautious. Not a single toy was moved or out of place. I aimed carefully... and piddled all over every single one of her toys. HA! THAT ought to get her attention.

But... NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! She didn't care. She had other toys stashed under the sofa. And then... uh-oh. Mom is doing that *sniff* *sniff* *sniff* thing. She's following her nose just like dumb Sydney-dog... right to... the basket. DARN! She's taking it up to the laundry room. My entire plan is in shambles.

Oh well... she may wash everything clean, but I have an unlimited supply of ammunition. If that dog sets so much as one toe out of line... there's going to be another soaking! Until then I'm hiding under the bed until Mom calms down.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

Can you recommend a good lawyer?

So, if you read my last entry you know that I had to discipline our dog Sydney. Well, mom cleaned everything up so I tried again. But... it BACKFIRED!!!!

Last night when mom got home she found a new puddle and was VERY angry with me. She put my nose in the puddle, and very loudly said NO! NO! NO! Then she took my food and water and litter box all up to her bathroom... and put me inside... and CLOSED THE DOOR!!!!

I was a very sad little kitty. I meowed and complained but for the first time ever she didn't give in. :-( Then I thought I heard the car leave... she left me in there all alone. Without even the dog to pick on!!! Eventually I heard the car come back and she finally came up to see me. I was so desperate for attention that I even let her trim all my toenails without complaining.

I was hoping it was all over. But no - the torture continues!

This morning she left, and I figured I was in the clear. But... apparently my dad is in on the conspriacy too! Just before he left for work he locked me back in that dumb bathroom. I don't care that I have my food and water and a bed and a sunny window and my litter box. I KNOW I'm in jail - you can't fool me.

Mommy said something about "re-education" and learning to consistently use my litter box. I guess she didn't understand that I was punishing her and Sydney-dog. The worst part is that I heard I'm sentenced to this treatment for a whole month. Can you believe it???

I'd like to appeal this harsh ruling, but need to find myself a good lawyer first.
Anyone have any recommendations?

My trip to the vet

I went for my regular checkup with the vet last night. Now that I'm a little older (but certainly not old!!!) the vet likes to see me every 6 months. As expected he said I am extremely handsome, so I let him do his checkup without any fuss. (Gotta reward the people when they are smart like that, right?)

But mom told him something about my eyes... she said my pupils don't react to light, they just stay pretty big all the time. The vet turned off all the lights in the room, then shined this really bright light right in my eyes... and kept looking and looking.

He said he saw the same thing mom mentioned (even with the really bright light my pupils stayed kinda big). The good news is that he said in general my eyes look good, and mom assured him that I can see just fine. But he said that sometimes if a kitty's pupils dilate like mine that it means we have high blood pressure, which in cats is never stand-alone. It might mean a thyroid problem, or kidney issues, or even a heart problem. Then again, maybe I'm just a little older and it is no big deal.

But the vet-man said to rule out the big-three he needed to do bloodwork. So they poked me with ANOTHER needle (I'm tolerant, but really!) and stole some of my blood. They're going to do a workup on my blood and give mom a call with the results on Monday.

So everyone, please paw-ray fur me that everything is fine. If my bloodwork is normal, since I'm otherwise an outstanding specimen of the feline species, then he thinks there's nothing to worry about. But until then mom will worry plenty. You know how mommies are.... worrying even if you don't need it. Then again, maybe this will get me more treats and lap time... if that's the case then I'll play it up. MOL!

For now though, I have a very important nap that I need to attend to!

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

CHOMP! ZOOM! SMASH!

That crazy pup Sydney drives me crazy sometimes!!! But rest assured kitty-friends, I get her back.

Just the other day Sydney was lying quietly on her side asleep. Mom was sitting on the bedroom floor next to the d-o-g and was petting me with her other hand. But I wanted mom's undivided attention. So...

I walked quietly and slowly over to Sydney, who was still sleeping. I sniffed her tail. Mom thought it was "cute" that I was being so nice, and doggy was sleeping so peacefully. But her hand was still on Sydney's side. So I very calmly put my head down and BIT HER TAIL REAL HARD!

Unfortunately I didn't get the reaction I wanted. Sydney jumped up, yelped, and ran out of the room real fast and nearly ran me over in the process. So I went to jump up on the bed (my safe spot), but mom's head somehow got in the way. So instead of jumping onto the bed I jumped full-force into her face. *SMASH*

I fell back to the ground, Sydney was in the doorway looking back trying to figure out what happened and why her tail hurt, and mom was holding her face groaning and saying something about a fat lip.

So... the moral of the story is... even if the dog drives you crazy, do NOT bite their tails unless you have a good SAFE and fool-proof escape route planned. If you don't plan your exit well the result will not be what you were expecting.

Purrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

Vet Update

Well, my bloodwork came back.
=> Good news: CBC was completely normal
=> Not so good news: my BUN and Creatinine levels were slightly elevated

Basically this means that my kidneys are not filtering out all the stuff they're supposed to. This could mean that I have a kidney problem, or could just be the fact that I'm somewhat more senior. (Do not say "old" - I run the house, chase the dog, demand attention, and play daily. Just 'cause I'll be 16 in the spring does not make me old, I'm just well seasoned!)

The vet didn't seem alarmed, but suggested a urinalysis to ensure we understand what's going on with my kidneys. So... Mom took a urine sample in to the vet on Tuesday, and we should have results on Thursday. (Don't ask about how she got it - it involved scrubbing a litter box, little black pellets, pouring my piddle into a little plastic cup, refrigeration, and an early-AM trip to the vet. Geeze - you'd think I was a high-profile baseball player from all the production about a little visit to the litter box!!! MOL)

In the meantime she's ordered a new lower-protein food for me, which the vet said would be better for me in general since I'm a senior indoor cat. The new food should arrive next week, and then I'll decide if I'm willing to eat it or not. (That's a kitty prerogative, and mom just needs to hope I' not feeling picky!) Since mom has me on an extra-high protein diet now she's hoping that switching foods may be enough to clear up my readings and get me back in the "normal" range.

Dad is confident that I'm fine, 'cause I eat and drink and play just like I always have. But mom is a worrier so she's doing her thing. Me? I think I'll just find that dog's tail again... then wait until she's napping... then... CHOMP! (evil kitty-grin)

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

That's right... I'm Diary of the Day!

It happened to Sydney a long time ago, before I decided to join Catster. (I didn't want to jump right in like the d-o-g... I'd rather check things out first, THEN decide to join. Crazy impetuous pup!) Anyway, with all mom's worry about me and the litter box and my kidneys and everything else I'm just so very thrilled that Catster selected me from all the kitties and made me DIARY OF THE DAY today!

I wonder if this is Catster's way of rewarding me for chomping Sydney's tail? If so I think I'm going to have to come up with some more creative ways to "play" with the dog. Maybe that will help me to become Catster of the day... what do you think?

I'm going to think real hard about my plan of action... right after I take my morning nap...

Thanks Catster!
Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

Tag - I'm it!

So my furrriend Vinnie The Chin tagged me. I'll tell you 7 interesting tidbits about myself, then I'm heading out to tag 7 of my purrrrrrfect pals so they can play too! Here goes:

1. I was born feral, but now I'm a big (tough tomcat) mushball and I like it that way!
2. When mom cooks fish I sit in her chair at the dining room table and wait for dinner to be served. (Yes, I have a photo to prove it!)
3. I lost a toe in a Thanksgiving poodle accident 2 years ago. (I thought I was safe hiding under the bed, but got chased - in my own house - by a friend's miniature poodle and snagged my nail. It wouldn't heal so the vet had to do surgery and remove the toe.)
4. I demand attention in the mornings - that's when I purr and nudge to wake mom up.
5. I used to have a sister Salina-cat, and we would sleep and play together every day. We all still miss the Beanie Girl.
6. I like to torment Sydney-pup. Some of my favorite games include Guard-the-toy (where I stand over the toy she's playing with, and make her wait to get it back) and Steal-the-bed where I take my little 10-pound body and curl up in the middle of her giant pillow and make her sleep on the cold hard floor.
7. My favorite place to get pets is under my chin, but I only let mom and grandpa do it - if dad tries I get real mad at him.

All right - that's 7! Now... off to tag my friends!
Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

Results from the Vet

Mom got a call from the vet last night with my urinalysis results. She was pretty upset initially, but after talking with dad and grandpa she is feeling a little better about things today. Here's the scoop:

While my results weren't perfect, they weren't awful either. My urine was dilute (too watery) which means my kidneys aren't working as well as they should. Our vet diagnosed me as having "early chronic renal failure" and recommended that mom change my diet to a food that is lower in protein, sodium and phosphorous.

He suggested Science Diet K/D but mom doesn't like their food (primary ingredients are brewers rice and corn gluten meal). Plus she doesn't trust Science Diet anymore since one of their foods was included in the recall earlier this year. So she found another food (Healthwise Indoor Cat Chicken & Rice) that meets the vet's recommendations but has better ingredients (primary ingredients are chicken meal, ground brown rice and chicken). Plus it is made by the same company that makes my current food and she hopes I'll agree to eat it. (She'd better keep her fingers crossed though, 'cause I can be REALLY picky sometimes!)

Mom talked the foods over with the vet, and he thought that the food she recommended sounded all right. And in general I'm in great health (heart, fur, skin, hydration, etc.) so the vet seemed pretty OK with things. Our plan now is for mom to switch my food, then I have to go in for another checkup in 3 months. The vet is hoping that my blood and urine values will stabilize, which is the best he told mom to hope for (improved numbers would be nice, but are extremely unlikely). If my numbers stay the same then we'll just continue along with diet as my only restriction.

So while the news wasn't perfect this is the best not-perfect news we could hope for. I don't need medication, the vet doesn't need to do any more tests, and there's no invasive procedures necessary. Which is good 'cause I might object!!! And who knows... I might actually like the new food even better!

In the meantime mom is keeping an eagle-eye on me to watch for any changes in behavior, activity level, interest in food... heck, if I twitch my whiskers too often I think she might rush me in to the vet! He told her to keep an eye on me, but really... I don't think he meant it LITERALLY!!!! She worries so much, but I'm just a senior cat, chillin and relaxing... top of the household food chain... business as usual!

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus
>^..^

I HIT THE JACKPOT!

Mom hasn't been giving me treats for the past few days, which I have to tell you is really horribly unfair. I didn't do anything wrong, I've been extra nice and snuggly and purr-y. But still no treats. Then last night when she and Sydney-pup came back from their run she grabbed my treat-jar. WOO HOO! I ran-ran-ran over to the sofa, tail in the air, to get my pets and treats.

Mom put the treats down... one of my usual treats and a couple of a new type. Hmmm... *sniff* *sniff*... *crunch* *crunch*... hey - these are pretty tasty! Later that night she gave me more treats... one of my usual and a few of the new yummy treats. *crunch* *crunch* *crunch* Yep - I think I like these new treats. As a matter of fact... I LOVE them. One of them tried to roll between the sofa cushions and I dug-dug-dug with my little nose to get it out. You can't waste treats like this - they're too precious!!

Then dad came home... mom apparently told him about my new treats, and he must have heard that I was treat-deprived and felt guilty 'cause he gave me a few of the new treats too. What a great night!!!!

Then I hit the jackpot! You won't believe this... truly... but I went to my food bowl... and the WHOLE THING WAS FILLED WITH MY NEW TREATS!!!! MANNA FROM HEAVEN!!! I chomp-crunched for a while, then curled up for a nap. And when I woke up I went over to my bowl... and it wasn't a dream. It was really and truly still filled with treats.

I'm one happy little cat! PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRS!!
- Seamus

*****************
SHHHH - don't tell Seamus but the "treats" are actually his new low-sodium low-phosphorous, low-protein food to help treat his CRF. I offered it to him as a "treat" because he usually refuses to eat new kibble. Guess my sneaky little trick worked. :-)
- Seamus' Mom
*****************

My New Trick

So... every morning mom gets up and takes Sydney-pup outside. Without me. So I sit by the front door or in the front window, and meow and howl and complain until they get back. Then I run over to the closet and demand treats as compensation for leaving me home.

But then I got smart. I get to mom before the process begins. While she's still sleepy and not quite in control. And Sydney is still snoozing on her bed. As soon as mom's alarm goes off (or shortly before) I now plant myself on her chest or legs, or I curl up around her head. And I get really comfy. And start purring. In her sleep-dazed state mom tends to hit the snooze and pet me instead of getting up. Maybe she fools herself a bit and pretends that she's just going to snooze for a moment... MOL! I continue to use my kitty super-powers, purring and being nice and warm and cozy... and it has been working! A few times now mom has turned off the alarm and slept in with me, instead of leaving me and taking silly Sydney-pup outside. WOO HOO!

I don't have her completely trained yet, 'cause most of the time she still gets up and goes out for her "walk" with Sydney. But I'm continuing to work with her. Rewarding her for staying in bed under the covers by purring and giving her head butts. I just have to be careful that she doesn't get too used to the sleeping in idea... I still want my breakfast on time! One of those fine lines you have to walk when training your hoomans.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

Morning calisthenics

I'm not the young kitten I once was, so I decided that I needed to start a routine of morning calisthenics. And since everyone else was gluttonous this past weekend I thought today would be the perfect day to start.

At 5:00AM I woke up and stretched well. Morning stretching is very important for overall physical fitness. I then proceeded to jump over to the bed to get my blood pumping. At that point I was warmed up so I started my sprints. Back and forth across the bed. After a few rounds of sprints I then went on to my high-level cardio workout which involved sprinting across the bed, leaping up, then pushing off mom's rump to catapult myself across the bed where I nimbly landed on top of daddy.

I'm also doubling as Sydney-pup's exercise instructor. When I get up and start my routine she does her workout of running in circles around the bed, following my path.

Mom and dad grumbled something about "ungodly hour" and "sleep" but I figured they just weren't aware of my exercise program. I'm sure they'll adjust to my new schedule soon....

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs
Seamus
>^..^

Remembering When: The Day I Flew

I was reading Sophie Bean's diary and her recent attempt at flying reminded me of the day I tried to fly. This was about 5 years ago, but mom remembers it like it was yesterday! Here's what happened....
==========

Mom and dad had bought some new furniture... including a new giant bed (which I now sleep under and love). On the day the furniture was being delivered Daddy was supposed to stop home to let the movers in, and to take care of me and my sister Salina-cat. Well, daddy is always late. ALWAYS. So instead of getting home and putting us safely away in the bathroom like mommy TOLD him to, he got home right as the moving guys were pulling up to the house. And he didn't make us safe. BAAAAD DADDY!!!!

So these strangers were coming in the house. With giant scary things. Salina ran and hid behind the curtains, but I wanted to be more safe than that! I did my usual: run upstairs and hide... but one of the strangers had beat me to it! He was already in the bedroom... walking out toward me! So I tried to run into the guest room... but the door was closed! And there was another stranger coming up the stairs.

I had nowhere to go, and I was desperate.

Dad was downstairs and says he watched the whole thing like it was in slow-mo... there I was... leaning waaay over the ledge between the bars of the railing... obviously terrified but with nowhere to go... and then... SWOOSH - FLYING CAT! Thankfully I landed on the carpeting to cushion my landing, and then I went and hid safely between the piano and the wall until the nightmare was over. (And yes, dad checked on me... and I was completely unharmed. I just used up another one of my 9 lives that day!)

Daddy was so relieved. He told the moving guys (who were amazed at my incredible flying technique) that if I'd been hurt he was going to crawl into the back of their truck to escape, 'cause mom would have killed him.

And that, dear friends, was my experience as a flying cat!

Me-ouch!

So Sunday was a pretty normal day. I woke up, demanded breakfast, was fed, and had my morning nap on the sofa. Mom got home from the gym, ate lunch, adored me for a while, then took Sydney-pup out for a walk so I could get a restful afternoon nap.

Then later in the afternoon daddy got home from a work pawty. There was a lot of chaos as Sydney ran around wagging and barking and making sure we all knew daddy was home. I don't understand why she can't just calmly walk over and wait for attention like I do, but that's just not her way. Dogs! They're SO over the top. Gush-gush-gush. Wag-wag-wag. No dignity at all!

Eventually mom and dad decided they were going grocery shopping. Mom went to get her purse and jacket, Sydney ran around like a fool hoping that she was going with them, dad went to get his keys, and I turned to head back to the sofa for a quick evening nap. And then... ME-OUCH! Daddy didn't notice me and he STEPPED ON ME. This wasn't a tiny sock-footed oops. This was a toe-crunching, hard-bottomed shoe smashing my little tootsie!!!

I yowled, then ran/limped for the sofa. My darling mommy ran over to me and told daddy to keep the dog back (Sydney was trying, of course, to get in the middle of all the chaos). She picked me up, but then got really dumb and tried to touch my toes. DUH! I don't like her messing with my feet much under normal circumstances, and right then I was hurting. I growled, but also snuggled into her shoulder hoping she could make the pain go away.

She put me down and I limped over to sit under the dining room table, then daddy let the stupid dog go and she came wagging and panting over to me. I ran/limped for the stairs, and mommy finally yelled at daddy to HOLD THE DOG. She followed me upstairs, and I managed to jump up on the bed where she was petting and consoling me. Only then did she tell daddy that he and the wag-machine could come up.

I laid down among the pillows, and mom and dad were hovering over me, talking all nice and telling me what a good boy I am (of course!). And daddy kept apologizing. Mom was giving me all my favorite pets, but occasionally she would try to touch my toes so I'd growl to warn her that they still hurt. They weren't even sure which foot daddy stepped on... it happened so fast he just didn't see. She was so worried, thinking that I might have a broken leg or toe, and they were talking about taking me to the vet. UGH - talk about adding insult to injury... literally!!

But mom kept hoping that it was just a bad bruise, and I'd be OK. So they decided they'd go to the grocery store, and if I didn't come downstairs to greet them when they got home then it would be vet-time for me. Did they not realize that I was sitting RIGHT THERE and could hear them???

Well, believe me - when I heard the car pull into the driveway I made my way downstairs, and was waiting at the front door for them when they came in! PHEW - vet visit narrowly averted! And just to make sure that they didn't have second thoughts I even let them each touch my back legs and toes to confirm that I was A-OK.

But keep in mind, kitty-pals... watch out for men wearing dress shoes.
They're DANGEROUS!!!

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrs
- Seamus
>^..^

Me-ouchier!

Mom came home from lunch today and since the weather was nice she took me and Sydney outside. She finished her lunch and we all went to go inside. Sydney went first, then me, then mom was coming in behind me. I was just inside the door, but had not yet moved on into the house... when... she stepped on the fur of my tail! I felt it pull a little so I jumped up onto the chair.

Mom saw a clump of fur by her foot (she hadn't felt it at all, so she knew she must have just stepped on my fur a bit) so she came over to console me. Then she saw... blood!

She tried to touch my tail, but I yowled. So we went upstairs to the bathroom and she tried to be my vet. I wouldn't let her touch or look at my tail, so she wrapped me in a blanket and then poured a little styptic powder on my tail to stop the bleeding. Then she wrapped it with vet tape to keep me from licking the powder.

Mom was still worried, and it was time to leave to go back to work, but thought she should probably call the vet, just to be sure. Since there was blood she thought there might be a tiny little spot where she pulled the hair off, and I might need antibiotics. She first went to pick up the clump of fur... and... saw that she had pulled the end of my tail right off!!! Panic set in - maybe she saw it wrong. How could this have happened?!?! NOOOOO!!!

Mommy speed-dialed the vet, they said to bring me right in, and off we went. At first the vet recommended amputating part of my tail. They said that there is a risk of infection to the spinal cord. But since I have CRF, and am 16, there are higher risks. The other option was to treat it medically - pain meds and antibiotics while it heals, with frequent follow-up visits. Mommy went out and called daddy to talk about it.

You see, with my kidneys not being healthy this surgery is a major risk. It could cause my CRF to go from stable to really bad, and that would be fatal for sure. Heck - for a 16-year-old cat any surgery would be considered high risk. And mommy is most concerned about my quality of life... she doesn't want to send me in for surgery if it isn't really necessary.

So, after a long talk with daddy and the vet, they decided to try the "medical" route along with frequent checkups. So long as my tail is healing well then we'll keep that up and hope for the best. If there's any sign of infection then I'll be going in for surgery. Mommy agonized over it, but in the end decided that this was the best option for me.

So for now I'm home, mommy's home (she took the afternoon off from work for me), I got an extra meal this afternoon, took a little bath (had to wash off the yucky vet smell), and now I'm napping on the sofa. I know mommy feels awful - she keeps crying - but I tried to let her know that I understand it was just an accident.

So... if everyone can please say a few paw-rayers for me that would be really great. I need to heal well, and have no infections so I can avoid the surgery.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
Seamus

So far, so good...

After my tail trauma yesterday I'm feeling pretty good. OK - I'm on some pretty hefty pain medication, but the vet said that side effects could include me being extra sleepy and possibly losing my appetite.

I decided that I had to prove her wrong, so I've been extra hungry. And mommy feels so awful she will give me pretty much whatever I want! So I keep getting lots of small yummy meals of my canned food. Plus lots and lots of extra pets! When mom came back from her walk with Sydney this morning she even laid down with me for 5 minutes and just held me.

Oh - and I'm completely ignoring the stupid green thing on my tail that mom is calling a "ban-duhj". I don't know what it is, but it keeps following me around so I refuse to give it any attention. I won't look at it, I won't sniff it, nothing. So there!

I also had to take a pill this morning, which wasn't as fun. I spit it out the first two times, but eventually mommy won out and I ate it. But all in all, I'm feeling pretty good and I attribute it to all my wonderful pals who are sending me the POTP (Power Of The Paw). Your pawsitive thoughts are definitely helping!

Also, while I was in the vet stole some of my blood. They're testing again to see how my kidneys are doing, since it has been 5 months since my last test. I need paw-rayers for that too, 'cause I need to make sure my BUN and Creatinine don't go up since those are indicative of my kidney function.

Our next vet visit is tomorrow afternoon. They'll change my bandage and check on the progress of my tail. Until then, my dear pals, I think it is time for another nap before mom comes home to check on me at lunchtime.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus

>^..^

The tale of the tail continues...

I went in to the vet yesterday for a checkup on my tail. After my great news on Friday I was looking forward to getting the bandage blob off my tail for good. We arrived at the vet's office and the tech took me down to remove my old bandage.

While I was downstairs the vet stopped in to say "hi" to mom. This was a new vet, someone we had never seen before. You see, I go to an office with many vets, but always see the same man. We'll call him Vet#1. He's very good, and understands all my history and my kidney issues, and mom has always felt very confident in him. But last week since my tail was an emergency we just saw whoever was available... we'll call her Vet#2. Today we were seeing Vet#3. (Yes, this is confusing!)

Anyway, Vet#3 said she was going down to check on my bandage and tail, and mom got to wait. And wait. And wait. Since it was taking so long mom decided that maybe they were re-bandaging my tail. Which she thought was OK - better to play it safe, right? But when Vet#3 came back up she said... "I think we should be scheduling surgery."

WHAT????

In spite of me not having an infection she still wanted to move forward with the surgery. Vet#3 said that since there was no blood flow the tip of my tail would just dry up, and maybe... FALL OFF. This is not AT ALL what Vet#2 said... Vet#2 said that if we didn't run into any infection that the damaged part of my tail would dry up, but that was it. No mention of ongoing risk of infection, possible gangrene, and body parts falling off. And on Friday Vet#2 said that my tail was doing really well, and that I had feeling all the way to the tip of my tail... now suddenly there was no blood flow and it is (and I quote) "necrotic tissue".

Mommy feels very upset and confused... if surgery were the only option why didn't they say that from the start instead of me going through a week of pills and medicine and everything else? Why did no one mention these risks before? Mom's been very upset to say the least, and has asked for my regular vets to be involved in the conversation. So Vet#3 is going to talk to Vet#1 and Vet#2 to do a group consultation.

We're waiting for a call this afternoon. If they still recommend surgery mom says I'm going to go in for a second opinion with a different vet practice, because for the first time she doesn't feel like she can entirely trust my doctors. With my bad kidneys, and my excellent recovery otherwise she just doesn't understand why amputation is being considered as the only option.

Personally I don't really care - I'm happy, eating, purring, and being my usual adorable self. Last night and this morning I was especially happy. You see, for the past week mom has been making me sleep in THE DOG'S CRATE. I don't care that I had a litter box, and food, and water, and an fluffy bed. I was in a DOG cage. That's just not right (and I showed my displeasure by sitting in my clean litter box for much of the night, just to make mom and dad feel guilty.) But last night she let me stay free to roam the house. I hopped on top of my bed/house and curled up, purring, and went to sleep a happy cat. And this morning I woke mommy up with purrs and nudges to let her know she made the right decision.

Anyway, since we've had this potential setback Mommy is a total wreck, and it looks like I'm going to need continued POTP to avoid surgery. I just hope that Vet#3 is very very wrong, and I get to keep my tail.

Purrrrrrrrrrrs
Seamus

>^..^<

.

The tale of the tail continues... *twitch-twitch*

Tonight I have an appointment with my regular vet to check (yet again) on how my tail is doing. I keep trying to tell everyone I feel great, but no one is listening to me. hissss

Mom says if the vet is still pushing for a tail amputation she's going to get another opinion from a different vet. She just can't see doing surgery on me when I seem to be so happy and healthy. Considering the risk factors (my age and my CRF) mom thinks surgery should be the last option we consider, not the first!

I did give mom and dad a serious scare last night though... a little after 10:00 I got a twitch in my head. Mommy was in the kitchen, and daddy told her to come into the living room quietly, RIGHT NOW. When mom got there I was laying on the couch, and my head kept twitching. Over and over. Mommy zoomed over and began petting me and talking to me, and daddy said he was worried that I might be getting ready to have a seizure. They kept watching, but my condition didn't change - I laid there, relaxed like the King of Siam, but my little head kept twitch-twitch-twitching. I was otherwise relaxed, and over the course of the 90 minutes that mom observed my twitchies I took a little nap, walked around, ate a snack, and even took a bath. But mom and dad were totally freaked out anyway.

Mom kept watching me really closely the whole time - I seriously think she may have stopped blinking. And she was actually counting how much time elapsed between my twitches. Meanwhile daddy was online researching everything from feline epilepsy to CRF symptoms... AND stuff about tail injuries! This went on for over an hour - my twitching, mommy watching and daddy researching. Mommy noted that my twitches were in my head/neck only, and that it was all coming from one side of my head. She also observed that this is the side where I have a yucky-ear (I get a lot of wax buildup, and mommy has to clean them every week). Daddy read that sometimes cats with CRF get head twitches if their electrolyte balance is off, or if their kidneys are not working. Mom then started pinching my neck and messing with my mouth to check if I was dehydrated... which I wasn't, but as usual she wouldn't listen to me!

Eventually it got late, and I seemed pretty much OK (aside from the occasional twitch) so we all went to bed. I got my choice of spots on the bed, so I sprawled out right in the middle with my catnip mousie (a gift from my dear friend Willie www.dogster.com/dogs/98637). Mom and dad were petting and adoring me, which they really should do EVERY night, and eventually we all fell asleep.

This morning my twitchies were all gone, but mom says she's going to tell the vet about them anyway. HUMPH! So pals... if you have a moment today please say a few pawrayers for me. I need the PoTP 'cause I really want to keep my whole tail, and hope that last night was just an icky-ear issue and nothing more serious.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
- Seamus McTwitchy

>^..^<


.

The tale of the tail... happy endings

PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

We got home from the vet just a little while back, and I GET TO KEEP MY TAIL!

Yes, that's right... we saw the vet (our usual guy), and he took off all my bandages... and my tail is looking great! There's no sign of infection, I'm healing extremely well, and he said (direct quote) "If this were my cat I wouldn't be considering surgery."

WOO HOO!!!!!!

So now I don't have a bandage any more, although half my tail was shaved so it looks a little funny. Mommy has a special solution that she'll mix with warm water to give the tip of my tail a bath twice a day to help it heal, and we have another follow up visit in 2 weeks. After that so long as everything still looks OK then I don't have to go back any more.

I'm pretty happy about that, but mommy is so relieved I swear I think I heard her purring!

Oh - the vet gave me a complete checkup too after hearing about my twitchies last night. He has no idea what caused it, 'cause he said I'm in excellent health. My blood pressure was fine, eyes looked good, lungs and heart sounded good... he even took my temperature (the INDIGNITY)... and everything came back completely normal. So for now everyone is just going to hope this was a one-time oddity and we won't see it again.

Thanks so much to all my wonderful pals for your PoTP pawrayers - they worked!!!

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrs!
>^..^<

.

Enough with the vet visits already!

So last Thursday I was peacefully napping when mom got home from work. She came over and petted me (as she should). And then... SWOOP-PLOP-ZIP... I was in my carrier again. ?!?!?!?! The next thing I know we're back at the vet's office. Again.

Enough is enough, so I decided I had to make it clear to mom that I was NOT happy about these outings. Once we were in the room she unzipped my carrier, and went to pet me... and I turned my back on her. I don't have to punish her like this often, but when I do I know she understands my displeasure.

Then the vet-guy came in. I usually just let him admire me for a few minutes, he pokes me with the needle, then we're done. But this time... HE PINCHED MY TAIL. Yes, you read that correctly. He pinched me! At first he was just inspecting the part of my tail that I can't feel anymore, but then I got a pinch on my tail. I didn't move, but hissed (without looking at him 'cause I was still mad) and he stopped pinching.

As mad as I was, mommy was super happy. You see, when the vet finished pinching me he gave us good news. My tail is healing very well, and I don't have to go back for any more visits. Mom is going to continue soaking my tail twice a day, and eventually... get this... the dead tip will FALL OFF - probably within the next week or two. It sounds a little gruesome, but it is all completely dead anyway, kinda like a fingernail. Anyway, after the dead part falls off mom will soak my tail for another week or two, just to be sure, then we're done!

I want to say thanks again to all of my wonderful friends. Thanks to your pawrayers and pawsitive thinking my tail was saved. It'll be a littler shorter, but still all mine.

Purrrrrrrrs
- Seamus
>^..^<

.

The Tail Fairy?

So as you all know I had a bit of a tail incident back in May. Mom stepped on my tail, and... well... let's not relive that. Suffice to say it was not a good day for any of us. But mom worked with the vets and prevailed in her refusal to let them operate on me and chop off my tail.

Since then I've been doing well. Mom soaks the (dried up) tip of my tail twice a day, and a MONTH AGO the vet assured her that the tip of my tail would dry up and fall off in "a week or two". That was over a month ago. My tail sure dried up - it is a nice pokey tool that I use to get mom's attention! What kitty wouldn't love to have an extra pointy end? But it wasn't showing any signs of falling off. Ever.

So... last night after mom cleaned my ears (ICK) she left and went to the gym. I pouted for a while but by the time she got home I forgave her. Eventually daddy (finally!) got home from work, and we all settled down. Sydney was on her bed, mom was on the sofa, and dad was in his big chair. They put in a movie when... mom looked over... to where I was on the sofa... and... the dried up tip of my tail had fallen off!!!! There it was, just sitting on the cushion next to mom!!!

At first she thought she was seeing things (she kept hoping every day this would happen) but when she checked my tail she saw it was for real! She picked up the dried up piece of my tail and examined it, then daddy wanted to see it. Daddy was squeamish though, and wouldn't touch it - he made mom put it in a small bowl so he could look without touching it. Mom picked me up and hugged me and gave me chin rubbies and I purrred and purrrrrred. I didn't know why I was getting so much extra attention, but I surely didn't mind. I guess mom was relieved that I was going to be OK and she could stop worrying about having to do a $1,800 surgery that might cause my kidneys to fail.

So now I have to continue tail-soakings for another week or so, then I'm in the clear. All done. For good. What I want to know is... is there a Tail Fairy? I've heard of a Tooth Fairy, who brings gifts to children when their teeth fall out. Is a little fairy going to visit me bearing gifts since my tail fell off??

(And for the record, I don't think it is funny that daddy tells me "You're not a Shrimp Cocktail... you're just a Shrimp Tail." Not funny at all. Mom should stop laughing at his mean jokes if she knows what's good for her.)

Purrrrrrrrrrrs from Seamus
(the kitty with the slightly shorter tail)

>^..^<

.

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!

>^..^<

.

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

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

>^..^<


.

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
>^..^<

.

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

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

>^..^<


.

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

>^..^<

.

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
>^..^<

.

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

>^..^<

.

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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