His happy spot

When there's no remote control to lay on, Huggy Bear likes to sleep on Mom's iPad. 

Knock knock...

This stinker was knocking on the office window this afternoon. Mom and Dad were watching TV and heard noise and this little woodpecker was tapping on the screen, then later on the window itself. It looks like one of us will need to be transferred from squirrel watching duty to woodpecker patrol.

Mom and Dad got back in town from Christmas travel late last night and we were so happy to have them back. Our neighbor was checking on us, and she's very nice, but we've been a challenge for her lately. I've started hissing at her and Josie stalks her. Maggie hides, which doesn't help since her needs anti-nausea meds while Mom and Dad are away due to her anxiety.

What we think happened is that Dad accidentally set off the panic alarm on the home security system when he held the remote in his hand. The corner of the car key pressed against the button. It is so loud when the alarm sounds and it's traumatized Maggie the most. Right before the alarm sounds it beeps and we think Maggie has learned to hide when she hears the beep. This is also the beep that happens when the neighbor comes in just before entering her code to disarm things. So Maggie hides. Our neighbor even hung out watching TV and enjoying a beer hoping Mags would come out but no luck. 

Maggie has snuggled with Mom from the second she came in. She loves Mom so much. 

[Hopefully Dad's fixed the alarm remote issue by flipping the remote on the key ring. Unfortunately Christmas night somehow a motion sensor went off -- probably one of us hitting the Christmas tree near the sensor. Fortunately our cat-sitter's daughter and her boyfriend were at the house and are both police officers. They swept the house and endured it was just us. But that stupid alarm was loud again. That should be the last false alarm for a while.]

Perfect napping spot

Mom turned on the little space heater and Maggie wasted no time finding a cozy spot right in front of the path of the heat. It's no fireplace, but it's a good second. 

Lazy Sunday

We took the"extra" hour from Daylight Saving Time to lay around with Mom and Dad and enjoy a lazy Sunday. The weather was perfect to have the window open and Josie snuggled up against Dad for some quality time. 

I've been in the sink a lot recently and had developed some knots on my belly. I was super patient as Mom and Dad sheared them off my belly. It feels so much better. I also allowed Mom to clean my ears. Even though I seemed annoyed by having a Q-tip in my ear, I was also purring the whole time.

Maggie has been doing well since her most recent belly issues. We think it is stress colitis and Mom is looking at a diffuser to help with anxiety when Mom and Dad are away. Hopefully that will work.

Huggy Bear got to have some sour cream and queso today. Mom and Dad shared some of their Mexican, but not the spicy stuff.

Tuckered out

Poor little Maggie had to go to the vet today. She's been sick again, vomiting and diarrhea, like back in the summer. She was by the house alarm when it accidentally went off and she's been dealing with stress colitis since. She's gone from 7.4 pounds to 5.8. So she got subcutaneous fluids and an antibiotic. Her disposition has been like normal, full of pep and love. This treatment worked last time, so here's hoping it works again. She seems better already.

Snuggling with Mom

Mom and Dad were out of town this weekend doing a bike ride with the MS Society (Bike MS Breakaway to the Beach). They got back Monday around noon, and the ac was acting up, so Mom was stuck at home today waiting on the repairman. That means that I got to do a lot of this:



It is very important when your people come home to snuggle up with them and make sure they don't go anywhere again soon.

Guilt trip

Dad was trying to trim Huggy Bear's "thumb" claw because it was getting really long, and it was hard to get to, and Dad trimmed it shorter than he meant to. Mom and Dad feel terrible. It didn't bleed, but they know what it's like when you trim your own nails too short. So he's going to get a little extra spoiled the next few days. 

Happy birthday to Josie and Huggy Bear

So, I'm a bad brother and missed my usual birthday post for Josie and Huggy Bear. They turned 13 on September 15. Tonight they are both on Mom and Dad's bed while the sheets are in the dryer. Of course the best time to lay on the bed is when there are no sheets. Not only does it make for a bad picture but it also puts our cat hair on the actual mattress and not the sheets. But it's not often that they are both in the same picture so this is the picture for the post. 

Anyhow, we're all doing well. We are fortunate to be in our teens and healthy like we are. These two are so sweet. I'm fortunate that they came into my life. They really taught me how to be a cat. It sounds funny, but they taught me how to cuddle and eat treats. I'm a much better cat because of them.

Now it's time for some stinky goodness... 

Rare sight

All four of us in bed with Mom and Dad to watch Orphan Black. This never happens.

Too real, too sad

Ellie, Allie and Raz's dad Bill passed away this week. I've had cat friends pass, and I expect that, even though I'm not happy about it. It's part of life. But when our people leave us it really hits home. Please snuggle up and purr with your people today, and keep Sharon in your thoughts.

http://friendsfurevercatblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-very-sad-friday.html?m=1

We're in trouble

Maggie and I are in the proverbial dog house after playing hide and seek this week.

It started with me on Tuesday. We had a plumber fixing the commode in the hallway and I didn't care for his shop vac so I went somewhere I've never been before -- under Mom and Dad's bed. Mom looked all over the house calling for me and shaking treats but I didn't (couldn't) come out from under the bed. Mom didn't even think I could get under the bed. Huggy Bear is the only one who ever goes under there, and he had to low crawl to do it. Dad actually came home from work in the middle of the day to help look. Mom had to flip up the mattress so I could get out because I eventually to panic. 

Then on Friday another service guy came by, this time to fix a fuse on our AC. Mom and Dad were packing to go out of town and Maggie disappeared. Mom and Dad turned the house upside down trying to find her. She's always the first one to come out when the treats are offered but there was no sign of her with treats or wet food. Mom and Dad were even looking in places they knew she couldn't be (like the freezer and the car) but no sign of her. After two-and-a-half hours of looking Maggie showed up upstairs on a new scratcher that Mom had covered with catnip. We have no idea where she was, but thankfully she's OK. Her hiding delayed Mom and Dad's trip by a few hours, but Dad suggested maybe there was a reason they weren't supposed to be on the road until later. 

We never hide, so it is nuts that two of us would "disappear" in one week. Mom and Dad really hope this is out of our systems because they can't take much more. Mom almost had a panic attack, and that's just not cool. 

Window cat

It's pretty much unheard of to have open window time in Columbia, SC in August so you know I'm going to take advantage of it while I can. It actually feels like a fall evening tonight. Football is in the air! This time next week I'll be pulling for The Big Orange Volunteers of Tennessee against Georgia Tech. Summer went so fast, but this is my time off year. 

Sweet Maggie

Maggie is so sweet. She snuggled right up against Dad while sitting in bed watching a little TV. She's feeling so much better with no puking and holding at a steady weight, and is behaving like again. 

On the other hand I gave Mom quite a scare last weekend. I got ahold of some ribbon and almost choked. Mom spend a good 15 minutes clearing it from my mouth. They were getting ready for a party and I'm sneaky. Fortunately Mom realized what was going on just before getting into the shower or who knows what might have happened. But I'm OK, so don't stress over me. 

I have taken a brief vacation and have started sleeping in the other sink. Sometimes you need a change of scenery... 

Maggie is sick again

Poor little Maggie has been having some tummy issues again, throwing up and diarrhea. Mom took her back to the vet today. They put her back on antibiotics and want to do an ultrasound (they didn't have the equipment so they had to refer us to another office). They want to rule out a blockage or The C Word. The vet kept calling her old, which I take offense at because she's three years younger than I am. Please keep her in your thoughts and purrs.

We were interviewed!

We were interviewed by the Funny Farmer Felines recently, and the interview was published last Friday! I was very flattered to be chosen to be interviewed. If you want to read more about us, the article is here. Thanks Mousebreath and the Funny Farmer Felines for featuring us!

Back to her fighting weight

Well Maggie had us scared for a little while. We're still being cautious, but she's doing so much better. She lost a lot of weight last month, getting down to 4.8 pounds. She was so skinny, and had us all so concerned. Mom got her to the vet, and fortunately her organs were OK, but her white blood cell count was high. The vet suspected an infection in her gut and she was put on an oral antibiotic (liquid) and prescription food. Dad weighed her tonight and she is holding at 7.4 pounds, which is where she should be. This makes us all so happy. We're sticking with the prescription food, but will probably mix it with another just to stretch it some. But we all like it (of course we like there's expensive stuff) and it is settling well on our systems.

Thanks again for all the well wishes while Maggie recovered. Y'all are the best!

Big week

We have had a big week at the McKitten-Cat house! Monday we had our first true dog encounter. One of our oldest cat blogging friends was in town (Ginger's mom Rita -- one of our very first visitors) and she visited with her friend Jennifer and her 12-week-old puppy Sally. Sally pretty much stayed in the kitchen, but that didn't stop Josie from walking through and testing her perimeter. I stayed upstairs in the bathroom sink. Maggie and Huggy Bear stayed in the next room. But Josie proved once again that she was the protector of the home. 

At one point Sally was coming back on from going out to tinkle (dogs don't get to use the bathroom in the house like we do) and Josie was at the door. Dad expected Josie to head back upstairs but Josie stood her ground. Sally wound around Rita's legs with the leash and Dad had to come remove Josie before she got too defensive. 

Once dinner (steak) came off the grill Josie and Maggie were at one entrance to the kitchen, HB was at the other, plotting their strategy to get past Sally and reach the steak. That's when we all got sequestered into the big bathroom for the rest of Sally's visit.

---

In other news, Maggie has had two vet visits. She is on an antibiotic and prescription food. Her blood work was good, except for her white blood cell count. They suspect she has an infection in her belly. She was such a perfect little baby at the vet's office, and everyone praised her (clearly she didn't bite them on the butt like she does me). The last two days she has been more energetic and acting more like herself, so we think she must be on the mend. But a little purr or two wouldn't hurt. 

Sick Maggie

Maggie had to go see the vet today. She's been losing weight, having litter box issues, and throwing up her food. Luckily, all of her blood work (liver, kidneys, sugar, etc) came normal except for high white blood cell counts. So she has an infection somewhere, most likely GI. So she got an antibiotic shot, prescription GI food, and a probiotic. Fingers crossed this takes care of the problem. In 12 years, this is the first time she's gone to the vet for an illness.

Maggie's weight is up

Dad needs to weigh Maggie again tonight, but the last time he weighed her she was back up over six pounds. Maggie has been enjoying the Iams kitten pate (and do am I when she turns away) and I think this had been helping. I think she gets anxious when Mom and Dad are out of town, and when her weight dipped it was right after they had been away for two long weekend in a row. At her lowest she weighed in at 4.8 pounds, and while she's not exactly bulked up, she's looking better and more active again. Hopefully this was a fluke. Thanks for all the concern and purrs.

Happy birthday Maggie

Happy birthday to my snuggly sister Maggie! You are the little sister I never knew I needed until you joined our family. I can't believe it has been 12 years already, especially since you still act like a kitten.

(Also happy birthday to Mom, who happens to share her birthday with Maggie!) 

Stinky Goodness

Maggie has lost some weight recently, and it has Mom and Dad concerned so they've been trying different wet foods to try to bulk her up. She's just too skinny and you can feel her ribs and spine when you pick her up. On the bright side it also means that I get to share her wet food with her. Tonight we tried Purina Beyond grain free chicken and sweet potato recipe, and a new brand to us I and Love and You chicken me out recipe (grain and gluten free). Chicken me out was our favorite. Hopefully Mom and Dad can find one that'll put some meat back on Maggie (she weighed in at 5.6 pounds last night). 

Rest in Peace, Shaggy

One of our oldest and dearest cat friends passed away yesterday. Shaggy followed our blog even before he had his own. It amazes my that we've been in contact for close to 12 years. Our family is just so saddened by his passing. I'll miss his adventures of sunning in the yard and reading with his mom. But he is with his brother Scooby now. Scout, give your mom lots of love from us. 

http://littlecf.blogspot.com/2017/05/shaggy-2000-2017.html?m=1

Rest in Peace Cheysuli

Just too much loss this month ... our hearts are breaking for Cheysuli and her family. May has been a tough month. I know that death is the inevitable end result of life, but that doesn't mean I have to be OK with it. And at 15, Chey still seems young to me -- I mean, that's my age and I don't think I'm old yet. Chey's news reports were a highlight for me among the cat blogs. She will be missed dearly.

Wait, wishing

Josie will stand vigil by the gap at the bottom on the garage door just waiting for a lizard to try to sneak in. Nothing gets past her. 

Purring for Shaggy

Our old friend Shaggy is having a tough time right now. Please purr for him so he can bounce back!

Rest in Peace, Flynn

Our old friend Flynn passed over the Bridge on May 1. I'm just now getting a chance to post about it. He and his brother Eric were old friends, and gingers like me, so I always felt a connection to them and enjoyed watching their adventures. It was so fun to see them exploring their farm and hunting field mice. They would sometimes wear a camera that would photograph their trips around the fields, too, and I thought that was so neat. Flynn had been having health issues for a while, and even though he's re-united with his brother, I'm sad for his parents, and selfishly sad for myself because I'll miss him. Rest in Peace, old friend.

When on chair just won't do...

Dad was going through some old pictures and found this one of me from 2014. We have a new table there now with different chairs.


There's just something about finding a nice secluded spot to enjoy the sun. I may have to do more of this today.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Today is my 15th birthday! I plan on spending it napping in the sink, then later napping on Mom and Dad's bed, and maybe later napping in the closet. I'll get stinky goodness birthday cake tomorrow and I'll post pictures of the celebration (because celebrating my birthday is much better than thinking about taxes).

All four of us snuggling with Dad

They said it would never happen -- all four of us snuggling with Dad. Usually Josie would hiss at Maggie or HB and run off downstairs to her couch (yes, it's her couch). But recently we've all been cohabitating around the bed more, but I'm not saying it too loud because I don't want to jinx it. 

Dad's two girls

There's been more peace between the girl cats recently. Sometimes it requires a leg wall from Dad, sometimes they can be almost touching without any hissing or Josie just running off. It's a nice new thing. The other night all four of us were in bed with Mom and Dad. We even let Mom get photographic proof, which I'll try to post soon. I hope this new trend continues.

The girls together

Wow! Josie and Maggie are both snuggling up with Dad, even if they aren't actually snuggling together. Normally Josie hisses at Maggie if she's even close so this is serious progress. (In her defense, Josie hisses because Maggie pounces her a lot.) 

Josie's castle

Yes, we still have our Christmas castle cat scratcher out, but mainly because Josie loves it so much. 

Sharing the couch

Josie and Huggy Bear shared the couch watching Runaway Jury on DVD tonight since our cable is out.

Almost snuggling

This might be as close as we get to snuggling. In general none of us snuggle together (although we do snuggle up to Mom and Dad). But you can see I've got my paw on Maggie to let her know that I do care (or I'm just pestering her while she tries to sleep -- you be the judge). 

Laptop cat

Since Mom and Dad were using the laptop and not allowing Maggie to sit on it she did the next best thing and slept on the laptop bag. 

Reindeer pillow

Maggie has discovered the reindeer pillow that Dad picked up at Target after Christmas. She has been sleeping on it the past few days. Dad liked the pillow and thought the geeky reindeer with a snowflake tattoo was funny. While he hasn't decided where to put the pillow, Maggie is making it easy to keep it on the couch for right now.

The cat cave

Mom and Dad got is this cat cave cat bed about a month ago. It went largely ignored until today when Dad walked by and saw that Josie was sleeping in it. I'm glad that someone has found it and is finally enjoying it. But I still prefer sleeping in a box.

Too much cute

This cute girl is directly responsible for Dad's current lack of productivity.