My First Badge of Courage

Dear Diary,

I am so proud! Meowmy isn't happy with me, but I am so proud! I got my first Badge of Courage this past Sunday! As you may already know from my profile, I love the great outdoors. Meowmy wishes I would stay inside, but if she doesn't let me out, I cry like a pathetic cat. In the past 5 years—since I was adopted into my fur-ever family, I have periodically come home with a few scratches on my nose or some matted fur, but those things have always healed and gone away. Now I have my first permanent Badge of Courage! I got a tattered ear in a fight on Sunday! Boy did I tell that other cat off! I am so proud!

Sincerely,
Antoine

Daily Cat Diary

Dear Diary,

Once again, I am so proud! Not only do I have a Badge of Courage, but my diary was one of the Daily Cat Diary Picks on September 8th! Thank you Catsters, and thank you Zack for my beautiful blue ribbon!

Sincerely,
Antoine

My Motto

Dear Diary,

Why make something easy, when you can make it difficult? That is my motto!

Whenever I want to go into the playroom, and meowmy gets up to let me in, I always run to the OTHER door first!

Why make something easy, when you can make it difficult?

Sincerely,
Antoine

I’ve been tagged!

I’ve been tagged by Copy! (I was also tagged by my brofur, Figaro, a while back.)

Here are the rules:
Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write in their own diary about the seven random facts and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your diary!

1. I am named after Antoine de Saint-Exupéry—the author of “Le Petit Prince.”

2. I love being outdoors! When I’m outside, I am so happy that I gallop like a horse in the backyard! Hence the nickname “The Horse!”

3. When meowmy first saw me, I was a starving adolescent. I used to chase Dusty away to get her food. Then meowmy rescued me!

4. I love my home, and I try to get along with my family. When I’m indoors, I am nice to my brofurs and sisfurs. But when I’m outdoors, I can be a holy terror to the neighborhood cats!

5. I love to roll in the dirt! I like to be as dirty as possible! About the only time I get really clean is when it rains for days and days!

6. I prefer to use the outdoor bathrooms. Besides, Belle doesn’t like it when I use the indoor bathrooms. On days when the weather is so horrible that I can’t go outside, Meowmy puts Belle upstairs, so I can use the litter boxes in peace.

7. I love my grandpaw! When meowmy’s daddy comes over, I am so happy that I do flip-flops at grandpaw’s feet! Grandpaw has to be very careful around me, because I might trip him!

I tag the following cats:
Felix Mendelssohn
Frederic Chopin
Skully
Teddy
Griffin
Little Guy
Zelda Mateusse

Good News From the Vet!

Dear Diary,

We are so relieved! We got good news from the vet today!

The story started 2 1/2 weeks ago—when meowmy noticed I was limping. She kept me indoors for the next 3 days to let my leg heal. Well, it wasn’t getting better, and I was just lying around listless, so meowmy took me to the vet. I had a bad abscess on my leg, a high fever, and (gulp) I was anemic. Dr. Jackson put a couple drainage tubes in my leg, and she kept me overnight on IV fluids and antibiotics. The next day I went home with a big blue collar around my neck. (See my CatsterPlus Photo Book for pix.) With a course of antibiotics and care from my meowmy, my leg is almost healed now. But we have been worried about the cause of my (gulp) anemia. We are so relieved that I tested negative for Feline Leukemia, Feline Aids and Feline Infectious Anemia! We are still waiting for some blood-test results, but so far things are looking good! L'Chaim!

Sincerely,
Antoine

Blood Test Followup

Dear Diary,

The vet called yesterday with my CBC (Complete Blood Count) results. My numbers are normal! The anemia was temporarily caused by the leg infection, and it's now cured! Yippee! That means I can go outside again! Hallelujah! Life is good!

Sincerely,
Antoine

Hannah the Hen Has a Home!

Dear Diary,

Our dear friend, Hannah, has a new home.

Hannah, a sleek & beautiful hen, came into our lives eight days ago, when she mysteriously fell into our backyard. At first, I was interested in her. But since I decided to leave her alone, I got to go outside on my normal schedule. Hannah lived on the back patio, but she kept looking into the house as if she wanted to be inside. At night and when she got spooked, she sought refuge in a tree. Hannah was sweet natured and quite tame. She must have belonged to someone. But who?

As meowmy cared for Hannah this past week, it became apparent that she felt lonely and vulnerable in the yard by herself. So meowmy found Hannah a new home with a friend who raises chickens. Now she will be protected and live with lots of other hens. We will miss Hannah and the arcadian temper she brought into our lives. We wish Hannah well in her new home.

Sincerely,
Antoine

Hannah Banana

Dear Diary,

Last week, meowmy saw the colleague who took our feathered-friend, Hannah, under her wing (so to speak!). Hannah the Hen, who is now fondly called Hannah Banana, is doing very well in her new home. Hannah spent the first 5 days at her new home in a cage within the chicken compound. Two aggressive hens tried to peck her through the cage, but Hannah stood up to them. When Hannah was finally let out of the cage, the aggressive hens again tried to peck her, but she continued to stand up for herself. Eventually everyone left each other alone, and nobody got hurt. Hannah is now completely assimilated into her new chicken family! Hurrah for Hannah!

Sincerely,
Antoine

I've been Tagged!

I’ve been tagged by my orangie pal Pumpkin Puss to play this fun game.

1. What is your favorite Olympic sport?
Gymnastics. I like to watch the humans contort and stretch themselves into positions that only kitties should be able to do!

2. Which do you prefer—summer or winter?
Definitely winter. Summer in Los Angeles is too hot! It makes me tired. But winter is pretty nice, except when it rains.

3. What is the quirkiest thing you do?
Sometimes I do the “gopher trick,” where I sit up on my hind legs & meow pathetically, because I want some action NOW!

4. Do you have a crush on any other kitties?
Definitely not! I remain aloof and in charge. However, when I come in from the outdoors, Belle usually checks me over, and sometimes she nuzzles me. I let her do it.

5. What is your favorite rosie or zealie, and why?
I like the rainbow stars the best. They are colorful and pretty, and I love that they last forever on my page. I like to revisit the kitties who gave them to me.

Now I tag:
Arwen
Foxie
Lalo
Rusty

The Miracle of Life Giveth and Taketh Away

Dear Diary,

Meowmy is furry sad right now. First of all, two of our kitty-friends went to the Rainbow Bridge this week—my sisfur Clara's boyfuriend, Fuzz, and Annabella, a rescue furbling of Russel.

But now the sadness has hit here at home. I was diagnosed today with Feline AIDS. You see, I love the outdoors—that's where I came from, and that's where my heart is. Well, sometime in the past year, I must have been bitten by an infected kitty. So now I have FIV. Fortunately, I am still otherwise healthy, so I might be around for quite awhile yet. Please don't cry Meowmy.

Purrs,
Antoine