Alasandra, The Cats & Dogs

Socks Saturday

2013-10-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

Since I have gotten sick I have turned into a BAD CAT, I gets places I do not belong. I got up here and then couldn't get down without breaking something. Luckily Mommy came moved the stuff in my way so nothing got broke and I could get down.

The price I had to pay was modeling for her pictures. But Yikes I got the red eye and we couldn't get it out.

So Mommy turned me BLUE.

Then Black & White.

I prefer being in my natural state. ~Socks reporting for ATCAD

Farewell Nikita

2013-10-25T16:24:00.002-05:00

Graphic by Zoolatry

Another friend has gone to The Rainbow Bridge. Sadly we say farewell to The Opinionated Pussycat Nikita.

Bye Bye Benny

2013-10-25T12:27:00.001-05:00

Graphic by Zoolatry

Sadly our friend Benny lost his battle with cancer. He was a true inspiration to us and we will always cherish our memories of him. We know his Mom and Lily will miss him, our hearts go out to them and the rest of his family at this heartbreaking loss.

~Scylla, Socks, Fenris, Tuiren & Mom Alasandra

Fenris Friday

2013-10-25T01:00:00.000-05:00

Wanna play ball with me?

We had a very nice Sunday, Eldest Boy, his girl and their doggies Mister Who and Chloe came to visit. Sorry Mom failed to get pictures. We had a wonderful time running around, playing chase and just visiting with each other. I hopes they come visit again soon.

Mom insisted on a modeling session so I am obliging her.

She says I has lovely Fall colors in my coat.

She tells jokes to get me to laugh. You wanna hear a dirty joke?................................ A white horse fell in a mud puddle BOL BOL.

OK, it really wasn't that funny. This is my serious look.

And yes I can touch my nose while rubbing my tummy. Humans ask the oddest questions. ~Fenris reporting for ATCAD

Thursday in The Garden

2013-10-24T01:00:00.000-05:00

The Pineapple Sage is looking gorgeous.

Zinnias are looking nice.

The Hummingbirds were swarming our Pineapple Sage, this is one of their favorite flowers.

And our cacti are blooming.

Now we are headed to The Society of Feline Gardeners to make our report. ~Socks and Scylla reporting for ATCAD

Cat Burglar

2013-10-23T01:00:00.000-05:00

I am pilfering the dog food, it sure does taste better then the y/d diet. Rats Mommy caught me.

She keeps taking the good tasting food away and replacing it with the y/d. How dense is she I do not like y/d. ~Socks reporting for ATCAD

Tuiren Tuesday

2013-10-22T01:00:00.000-05:00

When it's cold out I stay inside where it is nice and warm. I do not like cold weather. Mommy says for such an intrepid explorer and escape artist I sure do like my creature comforts. ~Tuiren reporting for ATCAD

Crossed Paws & Purrs Needed for GJ

2013-10-21T15:54:00.002-05:00

Graphic by Zoolatry

Our dear friend Ginger Jasper has been feeling poorly. GJ is loved by many of us in the CB and we our purring our hearts out that he gets better. Please join us with healing and comforting purrs for Ginger Jasper.

Mancat Monday

2013-10-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

I love boxes.

Samantha would you like to come sit in the box with me? ~Socks reporting for ATCAD

Scylla Sunday

2013-10-20T01:00:00.000-05:00

Me and Socks are enjoying the backyard. Socks spends a lot of time sniffing out the yard.

I prefer the roof of the Jungle Gym, no doggie smells up here.

You can see a lot from up here.

Mommy is sitting on the porch.

Socks is walking in the yard.

I decided to come sit by Mommy.

I am not amused that SHE let the doggies come sit on the porch with us.

She does know they can get up here right?

And guess what from here I can spy on Daddy.

He is putting the tag on the truck. He was not amused we were spying on him.

Mommy was reading.

Socks decided to come sit on the porch with everyone else. ~Scylla reporting for ATCAD

RIP Pip

2013-10-19T12:17:00.000-05:00

Pip has gone to the Rainbow Bridge. We will miss him very much. We treasure the time we had with him and are honored that we had the chance to be part of his bucket tour. If anyone would like to use the graphic we made feel free to do so.

~Socks, Scylla, Fenris, Tuiren & Mom Alasandra

Saturday Sharing ~ Thanks Ellie & Star

2013-10-19T01:00:00.000-05:00

The lovely ladycat Ellie from Friends FurEver gave me the Opposites Attract Award. Thanks you so much Ellie. This is such a pretty award. I loves having it for my very own. I also received this award from Star who blogs at Life with Ragdolls. Thanks you Star.

This award was designed by Nerissa in celebration of his 200th post. In accepting this award, you need to follow only three rules.

1) Thank the blogger who gave you the Opposites Attract Award and link back to their blog: Thank you Ellie and Star it was so sweet of both of you to think of me.

2) Post the award on your blog. Done

3) Pass the award along to at least one other blogger. More than one would be better but if you can only come up with one, that’s okay too. The Opposites Attract Award is all about opposites, so boys have to give the award to girls and girls have to give it to boys. If you pass the award on to a multi-cat/animal household, you must name the recipient. And, of course, you can pass it on to other four-leggers, such as dogs, bunnies, guinea pigs and ferrets.

Well I am going to give it to....................................................

My fiancee Samantha from Life from a Cat's Perspective
Scarlett from The Adventures of Scarlett and Melly
Toot from The Misadventures of Me.

Life with Ragdolls also gave the award to Scylla , she asked me to pass along her thanks and she is giving the award to........................

Ginger Jasper

~Socks reporting for ATCAD

Fenris Friday

2013-10-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

Mommy thinks me and Socks are silly. See first Socks pees in the yard.

Then I go find where he peed and pee in the exact same spot.

Mommy doesn't seem to understand how impawtant this is.

I guesses it is cause she is a girl.

Tuiren seems to agree with Mommy that we are silly boys. ~Fenris reporting for ATCAD

Tuiren bids Maverick Adieu

2013-10-17T09:16:00.003-05:00

Graphic by Zoolatry

Tuiren's boyfriend Maverick has gone to the Rainbow Bridge. Please visit his family at Life from a Cat's Perspective.

Thursday in the Garden

2013-10-17T01:00:00.000-05:00

Mommy trimmed up the Red Hibiscus to keep it from falling over. She made an arrangement with the branches for our table. She is also multi tasking because they are rooting too.

The Plumeria is still blooming and smells divine.

Our Confederate Rose is gorgeous it must be 8 feet tall.

Mommy trimmed up the vines down at the Hummingbird Cottage.

The Candycorn Cuphea.

Our Salvia.

This is a wildflower that we likes we left it alone because it has interesting flowers and attracts bees.

Socks & Scylla reporting to The Society of Feline Gardeners for ATCAD.

Words on Wednesday ~ How Y/D Works and Other Facts About Hyperthyroidism

2013-10-16T01:00:00.000-05:00

Some of my friends have asked about my y/d diet so I thoughts I would try to explain. At this time only ONE company makes y/d food and that is Hills Science Diet. I will not touch the dry but will eat the canned. But I do get tired of eating the same thing every day.

The y/d controls my thyroid by restricting my iodine intake. IMPORTANT
Because iodine intake from other food sources -- treats, another pet's food, etc. -- can compromise the effectiveness of low-iodine nutrition, it's critical that you follow your veterinarian's feeding instructions carefully and feed only y/d.

So no I can't have anything but my y/d food.

There are other treatments for hyperthyroidism. First I want to tell you the sings of hyperthyroidism because it is increasingly common in older cats.

Weight loss
Usually a good or increased appetite (polyphagia)
Increased thirst (polydipsia)
Increased activity, restlessness or irritability
An increased heart rate (tachycardia)
A poor and unkempt hair coat

Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism has important consequences on the heart, causing increased heart rate but also changes in the muscular wall of the heart that will eventually cause heart failure if untreated.. My dear friend Abby had heart complications due to hyperthyroidism and has gone to the rainbow bridge.

Treatment options

The most commonly used and effective anti-thyroid drugs belong to a group known as thioamides. When I was first diagnosed I took methimazole and it worked great. Alas I stopped eating and they discovered my bone marrow was suppressed. This is a VERY RARE side effect. I can no longer take the medicine. I wants to try to explain they don't know that the medicine caused the bone marrow suppression, because the biopsy of the the bone marrow showed I has Feline Lekumia. But I was very ill so they don't want to risk me taking the medicine again.

Surgical thyroidectomy- they don't do this anymore.

-

Radioactive iodine therapy - I might have this. It would be $1,200 and I would have to go to Louisianan to have it done @ LSU. I would be in isolation and away from Mom & Dad.

The radioactive iodine is administered as a single injection, usually simply given under the skin. The iodine is taken up by the active (abnormal) thyroid tissue, but not by any other tissues, resulting in a selective local accumulation of radioactive material in the abnormal tissues. The radiation destroys the affected abnormal thyroid tissue, but does not damage surrounding tissues or the parathyroid glands.

There are no significant side-effects with this treatment, but because cats are temporarily radioactive they have to be kept hospitalised for a short period after treatment as a precaution. Unfortunately, because this treatment requires handling of radioactive drugs it is also only available at certain centres.

A single injection of radioactive iodine is curative in around 95 per cent of all hyperthyroid cats, but following treatment occasional blood tests are recommended to ensure normal thyroid hormone levels are being maintained.

The treatment option we are using right now is Dietary treatment and is relatively NEW. The plan is to keep me on the y/d diet until I am off the steroid I am taking. Once I am off it we will evaluate how well the y/d diet is controlling my hyperthyroidism and decide if I want to pursue the radioactive iodine therapy or stick with the y/d diet.

Hopes I wasn't too boring. Socks reporting for ATCAD

Tuiren Tuesday

2013-10-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

I got out Saturday morning and didn't come back till after lunch. Mommy was very cross with me.

I was following a smell.

These rat terriers live next door, I went played with them one day when Mommy was gone. She didn't know until the nice man that lives there tattled on me. He feeds me too, so I guess it is OK he told Mommy.

I love my home and I would never stay gone very long.

I don't know why Mommy gets so cross about me going adventuring. ~Tuiren, reporting for ATCAD

PeeS: I have heard rumors about a hot wire being installed to keep me in, do you have any idea what the humans are talking about?

Mancat Monday

2013-10-14T01:00:00.000-05:00

When Mommy takes me outside I hides from her. Behind the septic system is a good hiding place. Daddy built this nice cedar planter to cover the pump up.

The Jungle Gym isn't really a good hiding spot but I likes to sit up here because I can see far off.

I am on the second floor, Tui comes sits up here by me sometimes.

Right now Tuiren is hiding under the Jungle Gym. I asked her to come out and play with me, but she was taking a nap.

See how Mommy put flowers in the planter. You would never guess the septic thing is here would you?

Nothing is really blooming right now.

Mommy and Fenris are playing ball.

I likes to watch him run.

No FENRIS, I do not want to play fetch with you.

I had to come in for a minute so Mommy could do some stuffs. Fenris is waiting for me to come back out.

This is another good hiding spot. I am sitting under the board Mommy is sitting on. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, yep right on time Mommy has panicked cause she can find me and is running all over the yard calling my name.

Rats, Fenris told her where I am at. Tuiren is right he is a BIG TATTLETALE!

Back in the Jungle Gym I go I am going to watch some Dog TV, they are almost as entertaining as birds. ~Socks, reporting for ATCAD

Scylla Sunday

2013-10-13T01:00:00.000-05:00

We really like our new toys. Socks just loves the Feather Butt Mouse.

Mommy and Socks say I do not play with the toy correctly. I tries to get the stick Mommy is holding instead of the mouse.

I thinks I can play with it however I wants.

I also like to play with Mommy's camera case.

Socks sat still and let Mommy take a good picture of him with the jingle ball.

He likes the rattle mouse too.

We played and played with our new toys.

Mommy took lots of pictures.

It was a really good day.

I hopes we have lots more good days.

Socks 2013

Scylla reporting for ATCAD

Thanks Speedy

2013-10-12T01:00:00.000-05:00

We were given the Team member leadership award by Speedy the cheeky house bunny so with this award I have to thank and link back to those that gave it to me,and then give it to 14 other bloggers.

Speedy, thanks you very much, we really appreciates you thinking of us.

Now to choose 14 other bloggers to pass it on to. We are going to pass it on to the first 14 pet bloggers who leave a comment on this post.

Fenris Friday

2013-10-11T01:00:00.000-05:00

I have been playing ball with Mommy. I am all worn out.

I am relaxing and enjoying Cat TV. Socks is very entertaining. He climbs up on the roof of the jungle gym and plays with leaves. Sometimes he climbs up in the Sycamore Tree.

Sometimes he strolls out in the yard. Sometimes he hides from Mommy and I have to go find him for her. We are playing hide-n-seek. I sits down when I find him. ~Fenris, reporting for ATCAD

Thursday in the Garden

2013-10-10T01:00:00.000-05:00

Blast it where did Mommy hide the catnip? Oh, I guess you are here for the garden tour. I'll be right with you.

Remember the container that looked sick. Well Mommy finally gave up on saving it and she redid it. It looks much better now with the red mums in it.

She got most of the dead grass out and the remaining grass looks a lot better.

This is the other container, we don't know why it did so much better then the puny one. It still looks purrty so Mommy left it alone.

Mommy plans to leave these containers out over the winter and see how they do.

Now I am off to make my report to Jonesie and The Society of Feline Gardeners. I thinks they will be pleased.

~Scylla reporting for ATCAD

Please Purr for Brian

2013-10-09T14:16:00.001-05:00

Please purr for Brian, he has an UTI and doesn't feel good. Thank mew, ~Scylla

Meowing about Rescue Watch

2013-10-09T01:00:00.000-05:00

A buddy of ours, OK we don't really know him purrsonally but Scylla eats the catfood he represents. I used to eat it too, but now that I am on a y/d diet I can't but I sure wish I could cause they had some yummy flavors. Anyway Morris is on a mission and we wanted to help him out by telling YOU about it. ~Socks

9LIVES^® CAT FOOD LAUNCHES MORRIS’ RESCUE WATCH, BENEFITING ASPCA^® AND LOCAL SHELTERS

Morris the Cat and 9Lives^® Cat Food Ask Fans to

Feed Cats in Need by Watching and Submitting Funny Cat Videos

SAN FRANCISCO — (September 30, 2013) — Before he had a loving home, a comfy bed, and a slew of squeaky toys, Morris the Cat was adopted from a shelter. Now, the most famous cat-celebrity in the world, Morris the Cat of 9Lives^® cat food, is giving back. 9Lives Morris’ Rescue Watch^SM is a campaign to generate food donations for local shelter cats by encouraging cat lovers to do what they love and already do anyway– watch cat videos! Anyone can participate by simply watching 9Lives Morris’ Rescue Watch videos on MorrisRescueWatch.com. For every view 9Lives^® cat food will donate one meal to a shelter, up to 1 million meals! Additionally, now through October 18, 2013, Morris is encouraging fans to submit their own fun cat videos to MorrisRescueWatch.com for a chance to be one of three winners to each receive a year’s supply* of 9Lives^® cat food and a $3,000 donation to a shelter of their choice.

“It’s time to put the hours we spend watching cat videos to good use!” said Morris the Cat. “Whether you’re watching one of the videos or sending me a video of your own kitty on camera, each view will help care for a cat in need.”

LIGHTS, CAMERA, CUE THE CATS!

Morris and 9Lives^® brand cat food are proud to support the ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) to help cats most in need. With the ASPCA’s help, the 9Lives^® cat food donation of up to 1 million meals will go to shelters where they can do the most good.

“9Lives Morris’ Rescue Watch is a fun, easy, and interactive way for cat lovers to help feed and care for cats in need across the country,” said Carrie Schliemann, Director of Cat Food Marketing at Del Monte Foods. “With the increased popularity of watching and sharing funny cat videos, we know fans will help make a big impact on the lives of shelter cats. We’re thrilled to partner with the ASPCA in a continued effort to ensure that every cat lives well.”

MORRIS ON A MISSION

Throughout the years, Morris has made it his mission to help cats live well. In 2006 and 2007, Morris led Morris’ Million Cat Rescue adoption campaign and traveled the country to raise awareness and facilitate more than 1 million cat adoptions.

Morris and 9Lives^® are proud to support the ASPCA^®. Founded in 1866, the ASPCA is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals. Like the ASPCA, 9Lives^® believes that all cats deserve to live well, and living well starts with eating well. 9Lives^® cat food offers great taste and nutrition to help keep cats happy and healthy.

To support 9Lives Morris’ Rescue Watch by watching a funny video or submitting your own video, visit MorrisRescueWatch.com. For additional information on 9Lives^® cat food, visit 9Lives.com.

*A year’s supply calculated as 15 bags of 13lb cat food to be awarded in the form of one (1) Visa^® gift card; approximate retail value: $142.50 USD.

PurrS: we are working on a video to submit but our camera person doesn't seem to be cooperating with us. We hopes our friends have better luck with their peeps.

Tuiren Tuesday

2013-10-08T01:00:00.000-05:00

I have been a very bad doggie. I dug under the fence and went AWOL, Mommy was very annoyed with me. I don't understand it as soon as I tracked down the scent I was following I came right back so why am I a BAD DOG?

And Fenny is a traitor, I love my brother dearly but he ratted me out to Mom. He barked his SOMETHING WRONG MOM, I NEED YOUR INPUT, bark and she looked up from her weeding and saw me on the wrong side of the fence. Then I didn't come when she called and that made me an even BADDER DOG.

And to top it off when I was following the scent I fell in the pond. I hate getting wet. See it looked like solid ground but it wasn't it was just lily pads on top of the pond growing real close together and er in I fell. Now I know why the Mom stopped chasing me, for a two legged critter she is kinda smart sometimes, at least about not falling into water by accident. Can you believe sometimes she gets in water on purpose. Last week when we went walking on the beach her and Fenris ran through the sprinklers. BOL his hair frizzed up around his ears. Mommy caused him to have a bad hair day in public.

Mommy says I am in the dog house. I thought I was on the porch but Fen says that means I am in trouble and I better stay on the porch.

Tuiren, reporting for ATCAD