WTF?!

Goodness, I seem to get everything. I went to the vet about 2 weeks ago to get a tooth removed and my ears treated (as y'all know). Well, it looks like I may have caught ringworm while Mom had me in her office. (Mom works at animal shelter)

She's still in denial slightly, but also trying not to make it a big deal, cos she doesn't want me getting stressed about it.

At the moment, I've got an e-collar on to prevent me licking off the cream she has to put on the spot. (to the left of my right ear.)

It's a little flaky now and doesn't seem to be bothering me overly much, though Mom's noticed some scratching, so she may keep the e-collar on.

I looked mighty pathetic skulking around the apartment not knowing what she put on me. Right now, I'm in the bathroom with the door shut and lights off to give me some alone time since I'm TOTALLY stressed.

Cross your paws, that this won't last long!

Getting Older sucks

Mom took me to the vet on Friday for my yearly physical. She was very happy that I gained a pound and now weigh almost 12lbs! The vet, who Mom works with, was not surprised that I only eat Meow Mix. She said it's like eating McDonalds every day. But, she agreed with Mom, that if that's all I'll eat, it's better that than nothing. Though, Mom MAY try to mix in some more nutritional food into my McDonalds so that I get some vitamins. (She's wary about fussing with my food, since I'm finally eating normally)

Everything else is pretty much the same. Runny eyes, wheezy nose, waxy ears, itchy tail, and unfortunately gum disease. It looks like I'll have to have another tooth taken out. Given all the symptoms, the vet thinks I have an overactive immune system. And while, she recommended chlortrimeton, and Mom doesn't mind pilling me, I get so scared that it's almost not worth the daily meds. (I become withdrawn and severely unhappy.) The vet may give me a depo shot while I'm sedated, but that's only temporary. (She's also going to flush out my ears, YAY!... I treat ear washes the same way I treat pilling... unhappily)

But, otherwise all is well. (I mean nothing is different from the year before, so I'm used to all my issues and have learned to deal.) Everyone at Mom's work kept saying how beautiful I was. Mom was very proud.

Bruce wasn't thrilled with me when I came back from the vet. All hissy. Mom yelled at him. It'll probably be another week before he'll let me near him, but for right now, I'm sitting on the back of the sofa while he's napping, so this will do for now.

Mom's VERY proud of how far Ii've come since I came here 18 months ago. In fact the other day I gave her my first official headbutt! I usually make the movement for a headbutt, but end up about 3 inches away. But this time, I gave her a nudge to let her know I wanted some petting. She was deliriously happy.

2009

It all remains the same. Which makes me happy.

Mom got a new couch today. She likes her new couch. What she likes especially about her new couch is that the back of it does not smell like pee.

While she was moving it out of the apartment (Bruce and I stayed in the bedroom), she noticed that not only did some of the back have residue (despite numerous cleanings, she caught on late that the litterbox needed to be moved), it apparently also was on the underside of the couch. ICK.

This normally would worry her, EXCEPT, she has come up with a new plan for my litter habits. Put litterbox in large dog crate. I spray the inside of the dog crate (which smells) and everything stays contained and away from furniture and floor. (Put a wee pad in there and it's even easier to clean!)

Even still she scrubbed the heck out of the floors before the new couch arrived.

For about a week I was in love with a new food mom bought. Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness. She did a dance of joy. She might have done it too soon. I'm being picky again. But she has yet to try the seafood versions, so there's a possibility that she can do the dance of joy again.

I seem to be a bit stuffier than normal today. I looked a little pathetic while I was sleeping. So, mom decided to catch me and give me a chlortrimeton. I got tuna flakes after. But have been hiding out in the bedroom ever since. It does tend to make me sleepy, so it's nice and dark in the bedroom, so maybe i'm not really hiding out.

I am due for a vet visit. Which mom dreads taking me to. It's such an ordeal for both of us. My breath is pretty stinky. So, she's pretty sure I'm due for a cleaning.

Bruce and I are Bruce and I. Brothers to the end.

2009

It all remains the same. Which makes me happy.

Mom got a new couch today. She likes her new couch. What she likes especially about her new couch is that the back of it does not smell like pee.

While she was moving it out of the apartment (Bruce and I stayed in the bedroom), she noticed that not only did some of the back have residue (despite numerous cleanings, she caught on late that the litterbox needed to be moved), it apparently also was on the underside of the couch. ICK.

This normally would worry her, EXCEPT, she has come up with a new plan for my litter habits. Put litterbox in large dog crate. I spray the inside of the dog crate (which smells) and everything stays contained and away from furniture and floor. (Put a wee pad in there and it's even easier to clean!)

Even still she scrubbed the heck out of the floors before the new couch arrived.

For about a week I was in love with a new food mom bought. Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness. She did a dance of joy. She might have done it too soon. I'm being picky again. But she has yet to try the seafood versions, so there's a possibility that she can do the dance of joy again.

I seem to be a bit stuffier than normal today. I looked a little pathetic while I was sleeping. So, mom decided to catch me and give me a chlortrimeton. I got tuna flakes after. But have been hiding out in the bedroom ever since. It does tend to make me sleepy, so it's nice and dark in the bedroom, so maybe i'm not really hiding out.

I am due for a vet visit. Which mom dreads taking me to. It's such an ordeal for both of us. My breath is pretty stinky. So, she's pretty sure I'm due for a cleaning.

Bruce and I are Bruce and I. Brothers to the end.

When in Doubt... Whine

No more hissing out of me. Mom learned her lesson. Despite my itchy ears and bad teeth, I'm happier when Mom doesn't fuss with me. She's decided that if I can live with my itchy ears (which the vet said is just wax build up (which may have something to do with a small ear canal) then so can she. I get extra head scratches now to help when they're particularly itchy.

I do need a claw clipping. And Mom will prolly catch me one of these days and give me one. (She's pretty quick at it, so it shouldn't traumatize me too much.)

I'm still spraying the litter box. But at least the spray is somewhat contained. (Mom bought a mat for the bottom of the litterbox that is very large and very waterproof.) It's the one thing about me tho, that she wishes she could change.

I'im still a picky eater. Every month or so I change my mind about my favorite food. I know it annoys Mom, but I can't help it. Change is the spice of life, right?

My favorite part of the day is nighttime. Mom's figured out a favorite scratching spot on my back leg. All she has to do is give me a couple of scritches and I flip onto my back for an all out belly rub. You would think that if I let her do that, I'd be much more calm around her. You'd be wrong. I'm still training her about what I like and don't like. Maybe in the next year she'll help me find out how to make me comfortable enough to sit on her lap. Small steps.

In the meantime, my favorite activity is whining. I mew and mew and mew. Sometimes Mom ignores me (that's what the experts say). But sometimes she calls out to let me know that she's in the next room. Then I come over and ask for head scratches. (She can't resist my pleading look)

Otherwise, everything is going well. Bruce is Bruce. Mom is mom and everyone has their routine. As far as I can tell, this isn't a bad place to rest my head.

Well. Here's a little update on me, in case anyone was wondering.

Right now, I've had a little setback and am scared of Mom. She caught me last week to give me my teeth rinsing (which I hate). Afterwards, she decided to hold me a bit longer, hoping to get me used to being held. (I. Do. NOT. Like. Being. Held.) And the turkey she gave me didn't help. (Even though I ate it.) I've been hiding under the bed if I think she's going to pick me up. In fact, I hissed at her the other day when she went to clip my nails. (I never hiss) So, Mom's a little sad right now. But, she's been playing with me with the cat dancer and I get turkey every so often when I'm good. So, she's pretty sure, she can get me back on track.

Mom is considering prozac or something to calm me, since the Feliway doesn't really work. But, that's just something she's considering. She thinks it might also help my litterbox habits.

As for the Littermaid tent, this did not work. Because although it SAID it was waterproof, when Mom went to clean it she saw that my pee had seeped through to the floor! Ooooh, she was MAD at Littermaid. Now, we have a big ole rubbermaid container that Mom taped plastic sheeting on to make the sides higher and that's been working better than anything else she's tried.

I still have very itchy ears. Mom's convinced I have some kind of allergy to household dust or something, since when I came home from the vet I seemed great. (They cleaned my ears) and about 2 weeks later they went all itchy again. The vet recommended giving me some allergy meds. Chlortrimeton. Mom's trying to find one that doesn't have a sugar coating since she's worried it'll make me sick.

Bruce and I get along great. No matter how I feel about Mom, Bruce is always Bruce, even when he's not in the mood to play.

And that, as they say is that.

Banner Year

2008 is my year, I can feel it.

At the end of 2007 I had dental surgery to extract a bad tooth and have my gums medicated (REALLY BAD gingivitis). I came home all sleepy and Bruce was not happy to see me at all. But, gosh I loved Mom when I came home, I was all lovey and sweet. Then I started feeling better.

I'm still sweet, but not as lovey. Back to my old self I say. But Mom's caught a glimpse of me as a lap cat and isn't willing to find a way to bring me back around.

Bruce still hasn't quite adjusted to me being healthy. (Though this could be cos the Feliway diffuser ran out a few weeks ago. Mom bought a refill the other day.)

Anyway. Now that my teeth are fixed, we're working on my other issues.

#1 was the fact that I spray my litterbox. And by spray, I don't mean a dainty little spritz to ensure everyone knew it was mine. The cardboard box Mom had was looking (and smelling) a bit rank, so she knew she had to come up with a better method than cardboard barriers and Wee Wee PAds.

Thank goodness for Littermate's Litterbox tent. It's waterproof and fully encloses the litterbox (but without making it claustrophobic). Now, when I spray the box it doesn't end up on the floor and Mom can clean it easily and not have to worry about left over odors.

She also bought a recycling bin with high sides to use as my other litterbox, and that's working pretty well also.

So, even though, Mom hoped to stop my spraying, she's at least happy that she doesn't have to worry about ruining the floor or smelling up the apartment. Whew. (She was getting mighty frustrated... not at me mind you, but just about what to do about me!)

#2) My eating habits. I'm a picky eater. Always have been. And I'm skinny. And Mom is still determined to pack a few pounds on me. So, she's working on transitioning me to a better diet than Friskies tuna or fish-based foods. (She doesn't like me only eating fish, cos of mercury).

She started mixing my store-bought food with homemade chicken and mashed potatoes. Alls I can say is YUM. I've been on it a few days and every meal time I lick my plate clean.

Even better... Bruce doesn't like homemade chicken, so the big ole fatty won't eat my food. And Mom can make sure that he's sticking to his diet.

#3) Now if we can just figure out if I'm allergic to the air. I'm pretty itchy and tend to pull a tuft of hair every once in awhile. Mom's not sure if it's behavioral or medical, so if the new diet and Feliway don't stop it, she might have to take me back to the vet.

Right now, I'm not in any pain or real discomfort, so if I can avoid the vet we'll all be happy.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I Make Mom Proud

Today was a BIG day for me.

First Mom bought me some new food to try. She says it's only temporary until she can transition me onto better food, but that's fine by me, cos this stuff is TASTY. I ate 1 whole can today.

But, she's even prouder that I let her clip my nails. Well, she kind of forced me to clip my nails. Which I don't particularly like, but I dislike even more feeling trapped. And she caught me in a towel and I couldn't really do anything except stay wrapped up in her lap while she clipped them. But, she says she's even extra proud of me because I stayed in her lap when she was done. She doesn't know that it's cos I felt all nice and cozy in the towel with her petting my head, I couldn't help but relax and enjoy it.

Bruce even told me Mom was good at cuddling. When I was wrapped up he gave me a sniff and a lick and tried to tell me not to worry, but I was still a little anxious.

Mom's all into cuddling, so she's glad that she could have a small cuddling moment with me and hopes that I'll voluntarily cuddle every once in a while from now on. We'll see. I tend to forget these kind of things. But I suppose it won't be so bad if she reminds me.

Plus, if I get a treat after I won't complain!

What does Kepperdoo mean?

Mom keeps calling me Kepperdoo... she's weird

Anyhoo... Mom's a bit frustrated with my eating habits. I tend to graze during the day, which makes it hard for her to see how much I eat, especially since it's definitely possible that Bruce is stealing my food. She asked some people for advice and right now she's been spiking my food with tuna water. All I can say is YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Mom says tuna is bad for me and she doesn't even want to give me the tuna water, but she'll try it for awhile and try to wean off the tuna juice so that I'm just eating regular food. I hope it takes a long time!

Bruce has been ... well... indifferent to me.

Sometimes he'll sleep on me or lick me or let me sit next to him. Other times he'll swat at me. No claws, but still! I just want some attention. I guess he really is the King. Just as well, cos I don't wanna be.

I've been living here now for over 2 months and actually as far as things go, it hasn't been too bad. Especially since the last time i lived anywhere else other than the Katz House, I got some serious beatings! Mean old cats with jealousy issues.

Hopefully, the next time I write I'll be a bit heftier and maybe I'll be able to tell you that I let Mom pick me up. (Don't tell her, that this is not very likely, since I HATE being picked up... Mom knows but I don't think she'll stop trying to show me how great cuddling can be.)

Two Week Anniversary

I've been here two weeks. Can't really believe that! Bruce is still pretty much ignoring me. It hurts my feelings, but we're going to be friends one way or another, I just have to figure out how.

I'm now allowed to roam the apt. I like to investigate certain things, but sometimes I just like to hide under the bed and take a quiet nap. Sometimes when she comes home she'll come and find me to tell me its time for dinner. She also gives me the attention that Bruce doesn't. Right now I'm sitting next to her on the couch.

Sometimes she'll come over to kiss me, but gosh, that just scares the devil out of me. I'm much happier with getting my head scratches and belly rubs.

She also thinks I should eat some more cos she thinks I'm skinny. But Bruce is a big boy so she may be overestimating what my weight should be.

Either way, now that i've been here two weeks i can say that I like having a nice, clean, safe place to live with my own people. Now, I just need another cat friend to snuggle with.