"Tales From The Pets"

still updating!

2011-12-11T00:28:00.000-05:00

Have not been the best at getting my pet story blog updated in such a long time.

Recently have had the initiative to redesign my blog - which is a challenge, trust me, considering I have about next-to-no computer programming experience. Quite often I see blogs online and wonder "How can I make my blog look that good?!" The answer is that I will probably never be able to, but I am trying (and wanting) to make it be the best that it can be in my own opinion with my own self-discovering-learning talents.

So much to get caught up on regarding the pets in my household, but I am planning on doing so in the next few days.

coming soon - more changes!

2011-05-18T12:59:00.000-04:00

I will have more changes coming. In addition to cosmetic changes with color schemes and background photo(s) there will be a new name change on the blog itself! While there are more cats in the household than there were when I first started blogging there are new faces as well - a fish, a dog and a pet rat! Still considering new names for my blog. Hope to decide on something soon!!

~"PTAWS"

Yes - I am alive!

2011-03-03T19:40:00.000-05:00

Hello folks! It's been such a long time, I'm not sure anyone's noticed I haven't posted in forever!

Lots of changes have been going on in my life. Lots of changes. Both personally and pet-wise. About the only thing that hasn't changed has been my job! Over the next several days I hope to get back into a regular habit of blogging. I have lots of pet stories to share, including tales of some new pets that have come into my household since I last posted.

Stay tuned!

catching up on blogging

2009-10-11T20:50:00.002-04:00

I've been side-tracked as of late getting things written in my blog. I was sick with a cold.... My grandmother died... I've been given a promotion with more responsibilities at my full-time job... And I've been occupied using my computer for various activities including movie burning to DVD, music and video editing, and other things.

I hope with the new start of the week tomorrow that I can get back on track and regularly make entries into my blog(s).

"Pet Tails": handling the new automated litter box

2009-07-12T10:53:00.008-04:00

Certainly the biggest problem any cat owner ever has to put up with is the litter box. Between small boxes, large boxes, covered boxes, ones with high backs, and even ones with sifting bottoms for easier removal of waste clumps. Then of course there's a multitude of clumping litters from many different manufacturers, as well as the alternative of non-clumping litter. And if you have more than one cat, you may opt to have more than one litter box established.

When I adopted my first two cats, I just had one litter box set up. Non-clumping litter, and after a few days I'd dump the contents out, wash out the box, clean it out and refill with new clean litter. After the 3rd cat, I still maintained just one box. But when I adopted my 4th cat, I decided it was certainly time to get a 2nd litter box. No need to make 4 cats share the one same box! Plus, it would mean having to clean that one box much more sooner than previously thought. So since my 4th cat came into the household, there's been two litter boxes, non-scoopable litter, cleaned usually more than once a week. However, I was always curious and intrigued by....

The automatic litter box. Apparently this contraption would automatically run a scoop through the litter, pushing out the waste into a recepticle bin for easy removal. No more having to manually scoop through a litter box once, twice, three or more times in a single day. But how well could something like this really work? Is it worth the price of purchase? How truly effective would this thing be? For one thing keeping me from purchasing one was the price. They appeared to be basically $100 or so in price.

A week ago I finally splurged and bought my cats an automated litter box. However, buying one was an adventure of itself. Normally most of my shopping is done at my local Super Wal-Mart. Why? Because its basically one of the few options of where to do things in this town. For normal household stuff there's the Wal-Mart, a K-Mart, and a few smaller odds and ends shops. Electronics? Wal-Mart, the K-store again, and a few overly priced local shops. Grocery shopping? Wal-Mart again, as well as a few local grocery stores across town but I have had my own personal issues at shopping at each of them. Anyway, I think that's enough name-dropping of where I shop. The point being, I've seen the litter boxes in at the store where I normally go. But for nearly 2 or 3 days straight when I went in there....there were none of these to be found on the shelf. Almost all the time there'd be at least one or two on the shelf. But none? Are people really buying these things out? Sure, the most expensive item in the pet section of course! (Haha). Finally the last day I checked I couldn't wait. I didn't want to keep going in after this litter box only to find them sold out. Either it was get the box....or get yet another bag of unscoopable litter for their normal boxes. So....I made the decision to lower myself to sub-standard standards and I went to the store that began with the letter K. Normally I do not go shopping at that store for ... a variety of reasons, to say the least. The same as most people in my town do as well. Sure enough, there on the shelf, was an automatic cat litter box. Looked a small bit different than the one I remembered from the shelfs at Wal-Mart in the past, but it was basically the same thing. However the price was a shocker. At Wal-Mart it was about $89.00 while here at "the K" it was priced at $98.00. Nearly a $10 difference? Maybe I could wait till they got more in stock at the other store. But standing there thinking I realized I had no idea when they might get more in. Ask the employees there and they'd say the same thing. "We don't know." So I made the conscious (unconscious?) decision to get the more expensive box at the other store.

Basically this is how the thing operates. Set it up, with litter poured in to a certain level, and the plastic waste recepticles fit into their compartments at one end. Plug the machine into an outlet and turn it on and wait for a cat to use it. Once a cat does their business and leaves the litter box, motion sensors trigger and 10 minutes later it goes into action. A motor causes a rake sorta pieces to slowly begin to glide across the top of the litter surface catching ahold of large clumps of waste. At the other end of the box it scoops them up a slight incline, props open the waste recepticle plastic bins, deposits the waste, and then slowly returns back across the litter nearly smoothing out the surface. The compartment door closes so the waste bin is not exposed. And then it goes back into waiting. For the next kitty to come do its business.

One downfall of the whole thing is the noise that results from the motor causing it to do what it does. Its not pin-drop quiet, but its not really overly loud either. I only hear it occassionally because my apartment is not terribly big, and the bathroom is not far off from my living room. However, it is more audible to my cats because they clearly have better hearing than I do as a human. Much more so at first, but still happening now, is when the litter box does its action that some of my cats sit up and pay attention, looking in the direction of the bathroom and even one of them may walk over to the bathroom door to investigate. Even though Whiskers already knows what the sound is from.

However, the automatic litter box has not always been well-received by all my cats. Prior to the box, Sylvester would be one to always go into the bathroom if I was ever in there for anything. He'd really love to go jump in the bathtub, walk around, lay down and be his silly ol' self. No? He barely will go any further than the door. Yes, he will eventually wander in. But he keeps his eyes on the litter box machine as though it were something waiting to explode. I really don't know how often he's gone in it, and that's been a concern. Without going into detail on anything, I've found a few surprises lately - elsewhere in the apartment...that have been of concern to me. While I do have the 5 cats, and unless I see someone do something in the act of doing so, I can't always blame just one of them. So when one of them gets sassed, normally they all do. If I find chewed up parts of my houseplants on the floor, then they all get looked at with a skeptical eye. While I don't know which one of them has done what they've done lately, I kinda suspect it's Sylvester. Simply for the observation that he does NOT like the new automatic litter box. At all. I can't even pick him up, walk into the bathroom and set him down in the thing without his claws coming out and arms going stiff as he braces himself against me. Which usually has led to some scrapes and cuts. If you have a pet cat, eventually it happens.

So what am I to do? I have a source where I regularly turn to for pet-advice, and he/she gave me some wormer mediciation to give the cats. Since one of them may have a problem, then they all get treated. And since I don't know how much I can rely on Sylvester to use an automatic litter box that seems to scare the crap out of him .... (trust me, that's funnier than you know for me to say that) ... I might have to have a 2nd litter box set up again. This one just being a regular litter box with regular litter in it. If he won't use the automatic one, then I have to have one up for him to actually use.

Overall, it is a product that I would recommend cat owners to get. While it's not "100 percent perfect" it is a good invention, does its job and does it well. Perhaps it would work more efficiently in a single cat (maybe 2) household. With my 5, there's a lot more waste to go around. But it is an investment. Even at my local Wal-Mart it was about $90. Depending on the model you find, it may come with 8-10 or 12 waste recepticles. Depending on the litter you get, that could be another $6-10 for one container of cat litter. There is an option for battery power on the litter box, but if you can plug it into a wall outlet you're clearly better off. Who has money to keep buying D-cell batteries, and like 6 or 8 of them to fit in this box?! Yikes! Cleaning and maintenance on the box is relatively simple. Mine came with a little tiny brush to use to wipe down parts inside the box that may get covered with litter; the rake guide-rail, the rake spokes themselves, etc. For the waste bins, it depends on how many cats you have and how often you need to remove a full box and put in a fresh new one. With my 5? And just having this one box like it? I've been having to change out them on a rate of about one every other day. So the intial set of bins that the machine came with should last me about 2 weeks - for another week, in otherwords. The box itself has two parts - the top frame with the rake and bin-holder, and the underside that actually holds the litter. Meaning, you can unsnap the top from the bottom, so you only have to wash out the bottom tray of the whole thing. Which you should probably clean out like once a week at least. Considering not all liquid waste may remain at the top of the litter pile and may cover the bottom.

I've gotten used to the machine, but my cats are still adjusting. While some of them have no problem going in there to do their business, Sylvester is still adjusting to it. Whether or not he'll ever get used to it, I don't know. I'd hope to someday get a 2nd one of these bad boy machines, but where I find the room for a 2nd one I don't know yet. It is a good machine that does its function. So if you're looking to purchase one of the automated litter boxes....

My cats give it a 4-out-of-5 cat rating.

Porkey Tabby Athena Whiskers Sylvester

(note: specific automatic cat litter boxes may differ from the picture featured. Different manufacturers make different models. Mine most closely resembles the photo featured.)
(photo credit: http://www.automaticlitterboxes.net/images/littermaid-lm700-automatic-litterbox.jpg)

"Pet Tails": automated kitty litter box

2009-06-26T22:58:00.002-04:00

Next Friday, I am investing in the following. I'm very curious to see how they take to this....

"Pet Tails": a change in vets?

2009-05-24T10:11:00.002-04:00

Ever since I moved from down south upstate to where I live now, my cats and other pets have mostly all gone to the same location for veterinary services. With the exception of pet rats that I took to a different vet in an adjacent town, they all (speaking basically of my cats) went to a local vet right in my same town. For different purposes, I do not wish to share the name of this vet but people that personally know me can figure it out.

Over time I've been less than pleased with the service I've gotten. Initially from their first visit, you'd think they'd get updated on any and all shots they should get. As well as any procedures or tests that may be necessary. However, by the 2nd or 3rd visits some of the cats would have they'd be suddenly offering me a shot or a test on something that is recommended. And when I say 2nd and 3rd visits, I'm talking about their yearly examinations - so this would be like the 2nd or 3rd year after we'd have been living back in this area. If my cat needed a shot or test done for something, why not bring it up at that visit?!

I'm not someone who's made out of money. Most people that I know in this area are not either. So when I've gone to my appointments for my cats, either on the phone in advance or upon signing in with the receptionist at the actual visit I have inquired as to how much the whole visit might cost. Ya know, so I would make sure to have enough cash or money in my checking account to cover things. Let's say they would quote me in either case that "it'll be $40." By the time the visit is over with and I am paying for the exam and everything....it often in almost ever case has ended up coming out to like $60 or something. I'm of course using examples of $40 and $60 here, but readers should get the gist of what I'm saying. What I am quoted and what I receive are not ever the same thing.

Things there that any of my cats have needed have also seemed a bit overpriced. At times I've had to get cat toothpaste, medicine, and other assortments of goodies. So not every visit have I even left with the stuff I've either needed or have wanted to purchase.

The attending veterinarian has been hit-and-miss. At times I have gotten a really wonderful man who has seemed attentive and helpful and informative and sincere about the work he's done. At other times I have gotten a woman who seems a bit aloof at times, merely asking questions to pretend to be caring and then glazing over any response I've given. This is not a sexist remark by any means, this is simply the difference in attitude and conduct on behalf of these two associates at the same vet office. The front desk receptionists have also seemed a bit odd at times. More attentive to some customers than to others, more friendly to some people than others. Hello! I'm bringing in my cat(s) to get checked out and to get their shots. I'm no more better or worse than the next person who may have a dog! I'm a customer, all customers are equal, we all love our pets, and whether you know us or not don't treat us like a number. Maybe if I walked in there with a dog I'd get more respect from these people. And yes, that is a judgmental statement.

The last visit was one of the most aggervating. I went in for a 3rd check up on my cat Athena for a mouth issue she's had that has persisted for a while now. I arrived at the vet at just about 9:03am or so for an appointment that was scheduled for 9:00am that morning. Ok, so I was like 3 minutes late. But it was early in the morning, was on a Friday, and there were no other cars in the parking lot or customers waiting in the reception area. So I wasn't holding anything up. No one at the front desk. I could hear voices out back and people were chit chatting about who knows what. So I now people were there working but where were they?! If there was a bell or something to ring, I would have done so. If I had my cell phone with me I would have called right into the vet office I was standing in in hopes of someone either answering the phone or coming out to the front desk so that they would be aware of my presence. I stood there waiting for nearly 10+ minutes before they got done goofing around (?) and someone came out to where I was. No explanation, no "sorry for keeping you waiting", nothing. Not so much as a single word on apologizing. Nothing. I was given the look and attitude of "yes, can I help you?" The same thing when I was in the exam room with Athena and the lady acted as though the world was good. I legitimately brought up my gripe about being kept waiting and all I got in return was some lame excuse that they were doing business stuff out back. Not really because the few bits and pieces that I heard when I was waiting was not of professional conducting business issues. I even think I heard someone talk about cake at one point. Still, I didnt get a sincere apology or anything. That left me feeling like I was just another number, just another person coming into the office to give my money and then leave. I care about my pets and their condition and how they're doing.

I'm not the only one who's felt like this as one day at my full-time job I overheard someone in the break room talking about being displeased with their service and attitude as well.

My new dilemma is this. The man at the office that I referred to earlier who seemed polite and genuine has since left the particular office, and has since started his own vet office here in the same town. I've been thinking of switching all of my cats to go see him. My only concern is how much different would things be. How would his price for service(s) compare.... How easy would it be to simply start taking them to him and not from their current vet.... Is it possible for me to inquire about getting copies of the medical history report (?!) from my current vet on all my cats to take with me to this new vet so that he can be updated on their past history and now what they'd need now, if anything, and what they'd need in the future.

If anyone reading this has gone to either vet in my local area, what do you think? Does anyone have any opinions or suggestions? Comments? Your own experiences on things? I'd like to hear from anyone.

have I been fooled by "the network"?

2009-04-25T19:20:00.002-04:00

Last weekend I noticed a mysterious email in my Yahoo! email inbox from something called the DogTime Blog Network. I have never heard of this 'group,' nor was I positive at first that this was anything legit. I did some research online to see if there were any mainstream media articles - or ANY legitimate sourced articles - written about this Network to verify whether or not the email I had received was junk mail. Spam, in other words.

After a day of taking time to think about this, I decided that perhaps it was legit and replied to the email I was sent with the information they were requesting in return. What were they asking for? The URL of my PET BLOG, as well as the RSS feed. Quite honestly? Not positive about this "RSS feed" thing because my blogging knowledge is only what I have learned on my own. I've tried blogging on MySpace before. I have 2 blogs on Blogger.com - one being my PET BLOG. But I'm ALLLLLLLWAYS thinking of how to increase readership of my blogs. I've tried to do a contest recently where the deadline for entries/guesses is next Friday evening and as of this very moment (7pm, 4/25/09) I've only had 3 entries in the contest to win a mystery DVD. The DVD of my favorite all-time movie, actually. When I've done or said something negatively toward someone has been the only time I've known of several people to have read my blog.

Needless to say when I got this email from DogTime Blog Network I was curious what they could do, how it would increase my blog traffic and get my blog out there to attract more people reading it. After all...the purpose of writing a blog - well, one of them anyway - is to attract as many viewers as the writer can get. So what difference has it done for my PET BLOG?

Zero. After responding to the email from DogTime Blog Network I have not heard at all back from them. No response, no messages, nothing. I received their email invitation to join their "network" and I replied with the URL/RSS feed information I thought they were looking for and I have not heard back from them.

What am I to think at this point?

It is curious that I replied to them with the two non-sensitive bits of information and have not heard back from them. Maybe if they read this online they can respond back to me and tell me exactly what's going on. When I'll be joining 'the network'. What exactly joining them is going to do for me and my blog.

Until then I will be left guessing whether or not I've been had....

By the Network.

"Pet Tails": Sylvester the Cat speaks

2009-04-03T09:18:00.000-04:00

"Pet Tails": five's company

2009-02-13T16:06:00.002-05:00

Because I live alone my cats are thus only used to me being around. Rarely do they get the chance to meet new people with the only occurances being the occasional visitor, trips to the vet, and the annual trip to the animal shelter during the holiday season for pet pictures with Santa. For the most part they're semi-familiar with my family. They've never gotten used to the idea of visiting the veterinarian about once a year each as they just get clueless when they're put in the cat carrier and taken out the door to go 'somewhere.'

When my cats meet people, how they deal with company and deal with meeting people is a good barometer. Good way to measure hwo well they are developing in social circumstances (i.e. company over) or allowing them to determine how good or bad a person stopping by is. They haven't really quite gone fully for any of my ex's, with the exception of only Susan that they sorta took to. But even then they had me fooled because Susan turned out to be ... a .... well.....since I try to keep this blog written family-friendly, I can't say what. One of my ex's they really did not like at all, Beth. During the relationship Beth was over a few times, obviously, and one day it really stood to tell everything. Me and the cats were outside on a nice summer afternoon enjoying the outdoors. Beth stopped by to visit and stay a bit of time. At one point I picked up Sylvester and held him while I approached Beth so that he could get familiar with her, allow her to pet him and so they could just get to know each other. There was simply something about Beth that he could sense, that I was unaware of, and he didn't like her. (Smart kitty.) She never really got her hand near him to pat his head before he freaked out in my arms. He didnt want to be held at that moment and he wanted down. Right then and now. For as old of a cat that he was at the time he was very energetic - and still is to this day - and he knew how to put up a fight. Squirmed, kick, fought, and brought out the claws as I held him. Within a few seconds he managed to get out of my grasp but not before lashing out with his claws which partly managed to scratch at my face and even cut inside my mouth. By the time his feet his the ground and he dashed off like lightning my mouth was full of blood.

I say this will all sincerity and love for my cats, but they can be quite often two-faced phonies when it comes to company. As it is when I am home alone with them they act one way but different toward visitors who stop by. Friendly, outgoing, socialable, anti-social, distant, visible, hiding, whatever the case is.... what they act like when other people are here is almost the opposite of what it's like when I am home alone with them. The biggest example has got to be Sylvester. Active, energetic, socialable, curious, boastful, and just really all over the place making his presence known. But that's when its just me here. When visitors are here, you almost wouldn't know that I had him. Hiding off in the other room. Rarely making an appearance. If I ever physically drag him out of the bedroom so that others can see him and show him attention, he's at a discomfort in my arms, and squirms until I let him down so that he can go run off and hide again.

The other weekend on Super Bowl weekend, I had some of the family over. My mom, stepdad, sister, brother-in-law, and two little nieces over for pizza, soda, snacks and watching part of the game if anyone wanted to on my HDTV. It was interesting beforehand to predict their behavior, curious while company was here, and the change back to normal after everyone left. A few of the cats, mainly Whiskers and Porkey made appearances and came out and wandered around everyone's feet. I think in hopes that someone would drop a piece of pizza down to their level. Athena was resting in the bedroom, but understandably so because she was still quite sick and not feeling well. Tabby came out maybe once, but otherwise was prefering to be in the bedroom or bathroom where it was less crowded. Sylvester, was.... well, hiding as only he typically does. As soon as people left, it was quite once again here. Slowly one by one the cats began venturing out into the living room. Looking around. Sniffing around. Taking in all the smells and scents of those who were here.

When its just me here, the cats are all over the apartment. In every room, laying on the couch, on the bed, anywhere they darn well want to be. I think they do so when they know they have me outnumbered and they're in charge. But as soon as someone else is here, or once it gets so that they're at a disadvantage, they're all too willing to go hide where people can't see them.

"Pet Tails": random cat-ness

2009-01-13T23:41:00.008-05:00

a difficult choice

2009-01-08T23:38:00.003-05:00

While I was at the vet this past week with my cat Athena, I sat in the waiting area and overheard something that made me start thinking quite a bit.

All I know is what I heard the receptionist say to the person on the phone, so I have no specifics or idea what the exact situation is. ALL I can go on is what I heard the lady in the office said. I am sure there is more to the story, but... I have no idea what it is.

The person calling initially sounded perhaps as though they were needing to bring in one of their pets. No idea whether it was a dog or a cat or some other animal. But when the receptionist asked if that was the case, apparently she was corrected. The caller was apparently interested in having the animal put to sleep. A sad situation, but someting that is not without question as an animal's health can be in jeopardy. Who knows what reason the caller has for needing to bring in their pet. But the part that got my mind racing is the apparent wish by the caller to simply drop off the animal at the vet to be taken care of. No idea if there would be plans to pick up the remains afterward, or simply pay to have it done and allow the vet to dispose (bury) the remains.

Which made me wonder..... being there for a pet if you're having it put to sleep. I've had countless numbers of pet mice and rats that I've had to have put to sleep by someone I know who works at a local animal shelter that I am very good friends with. And each and every time I've had it done - yes, even the mice - I've been there to comfort the critter as it's put under and finally put to an eternal sleep. I will say that EVERY time it's been done has been because of health reasons - 99% of the time it being because of a tumor growth. When I was younger - maybe 3 or 4 - I had a pet cat that apparently got sick and had to be put to sleep. I barely remember this or knowing what was going on. I do know that I missed the cat and it's lead to one of the most amazing occurances ever in my life that one of my cats that I have now, Whiskers, I do believe is the re-incarnation of... well, Whiskers. My old cat was named Whiskers, and one of my current cats is named Whiskers. (The new one - as I like to call him "Whiskers 2.0" sometimes - was named by shelter staff before I actually adopted him.)

At first I wanted to be angry at the caller I was overhearing for simply dropping off their pet and not being there for the pet as it is euthanized. But after some thought as the day went on, I could not jump to that conclusion not knowing the situation. Perhaps they were simply careless and had no interest in 'being there' for a pet that is supposedly a family member. Perhaps it is an animal with no known health issues and they are having it put to sleep because it is no longer wanted. (Not without question that it has happened before that people do this to an otherwise healthy pet but because its not wanted by anyone). Or perhaps the animal is truly sick and they felt that it would be incredibly hard on them while the animal is euthanized. That I would not blame someone on as having a loved one - whether it be a pet or a human (!) - is incredibly hard. Though it would not be a human relative that is put to sleep by euthanization, but I hope people know what I mean when I say that. I mean when a family member is terminally ill and they are basically dying before your eyes. Yes, it has happened to me before and it IS difficult.

If you had a pet (cat, dog, rabbit, etc) that you needed to have put to sleep for whatever reason...would you choose to be there at the vet while it's put to sleep? Or would you go the route of the caller that I overheard who would prefer to have the procedure done while not observing or being present at the time? (Negate the reason for having the animal put to sleep; illness, injury, old age, no health issues but simply unwanted, etc).

(feel free to also participate in my blog poll back on the main page)

"Pet Tails": twice daily

2009-01-08T22:28:00.003-05:00

Back when Whiskers had his minor surgery a few months back, I thought the .... uh, fun.... of giving him his butt baths for a week or so twice daily could not be topped. What could possibly be more fun to do than that? I think I may have found it.

Athena, for a while, has had a situation involving her mouth. Irritiation or something involving her teeth and gums has been giving her problems for well over a year now. I can't recall off the top of my head what her previous weight was, but this past fall her weight according to the vet visit was in at about 8.5 pounds. (I'm guessing that this is down from the past.) She's had visible signs of discomfort, but yet she's still been able to eat well and seems like a happy cat. Last month at her checkup she got put on some prescription for an anti-biotic that I had to pick up at the local pharmacy. (Which was unusual.) For about three weeks I had to give her a small dose of a liquid medicine every other day. All this hoping to avoid having to go the extreme route of getting some of her teeth pulled.

This past Monday was her 1-month re-check after that visit and the initial set of antibiotics. Some improvement, but also yet not enough. Bottom line: she's going back on the antibiotic for another month (with the possibility of another month of refill beyond that). And...further at-home treatment I have to give her. Part of it involving making sure to wash the outside corners of her mouth with slight soap and water to clean off the irritation. Then apply a special bit of ointment that I had to purchase there at the vet's office. That's all and fine. But the kicker? Instruction of brushing her teeth.

Have you ever tried to brush a cat's teeth??? Brushing a dog's teeth wouldn't be too hard as dogs tend to be more easy going to whatever is happening to them. But cats? Cats DO NOT like change or new things. They hate water, and they certainly hate someone trying to make them do something they don't care for. One of those things is teeth brushing. I've only had to do it once before for one of my other cats in the past, but this is always a challenging thing. Let me say that if you ever have to do this, by all means go the route of getting the small rubberized finger brush that you can use by putting on the end of your finger. The fun I've had the past 2 days? Trying to use an unused toothbrush I had to apply the specially-made feline toothpaste - seafood flavored! - and then trying to do a multitude of things at once: hold down Athena with one arm, open up her mouth with that same hand, and use the other hand to operate the brush to try to brush the teeth and gums on either side of her mouth. Can I say.... nearly impossible?! I suppose it could be more difficult. At least it's not Sylvester that's having to have this done. If it was him then I'd REALLY be having enjoyment doing this. (Of course I say that sarcastically.)

I have no idea how long I am to do the brushing, but maybe until her re-check up the first week in February. So at least for the time being, I get to: apply ointment to the corners of her mouth after washing it twice daily.... brush her teeth using seafood-flavored cat toothpaste twice daily.... and then after my next payday tomorrow and I get the prescrip from the pharmacy I get to every other day give her a small dose of medicine.

Fun, fun, fun. I doubt anyone is envious of me for this.

It is obviously costing me money for each vet visit and medicine and product I am needing to give her, but... maybe its a futher sign of what kind of responsible pet owner I am by doing whatever it is I need to do to take care of my cat(s) and make sure that they're well cared for by getting the needed treatment.

"Pet Tails": when the cats visited Santa

2009-01-01T11:38:00.016-05:00

A little late posting these, but these were the cats visiting Santa Claus back on December 5th...

Whiskers

Tabby

Porkey

Sylvester

"Pet Tails": a book with answers?

2008-12-28T10:10:00.010-05:00

One of the neatest things I got this year for Christmas, or possibly in some time, was a book called "What is my cat thinking? - The essential guide to understanding pet behavior". (It was written by someone named Gwen Bailey). My mom got me this book knowing that it would suit me well and interest me - and it has.

Going through the book I've found a LOT of similarities between things that were explained or described in the book that I could relate very well with my own cats. If for nothing else other than things that I've come to know of my cats and learn about them...and then to read in a book that perhaps its true.

One portion explained that cats will go where they find great food. A photograph was included of a cat eating out of a dish and practically had its face burried deep in the bowl! How much is that like my own cats? Very much so! When it comes to food, my cats certainly have their favorites. They've had the same brand of dry cat food for several years, but whenever I've tried to feed them something differently - either because they ran out of the regular stuff and the store didn't have any more of it, or perhaps I was given some by the animal shelter after an excess of donations - they would kinda, sorta eat the 'other stuff' but they wouldn't be gourging themselves crazy on it. Full dishes would not only last all day but may still be partially full by the next morning. As soon as I got some of their regular stuff, however, they'd dig themselves right into it and eat like there was no tomorrow. They DO know when their dishes get empty. They DO know that I know where I keep the food. They DO know that if they harass me early in the morning while I am still in bed that I will know what they want. And...don't even get me started on the ham issue!

The greeting topic is also something I related with. Often I will come home and as soon as I step through the door I'll either get cats looking my way or some times even have them attack me at the doorway as a sort of welcoming party. But one of the more unique aspects is the greeting they will give visitors. Sylvester, the more socialable of my cats when it's just me at home, will typically run and hide and only check someone out from a far distance. Athena, who used to be quite shy, will now make herself known and will look for attention. Tabby will come out and see who's here so that a visitor will know she's there, before wandering off to find a quiet place to sleep. Whiskers will come check out a visitor to meet them, but prefers to do what Tabby does afterward and will go off to sleep himself. The cat with the least amount of energy these days, Porkey, seems to find a renewed source of enthusiasm and will be out looking for attention and affection with Athena as though it's a contest. The photos of cats interacting with each other in different social situations were also familiar looking - the "I'll get you" behavior as two cats tussle around on the floor, the single paw batting as a sign that one cat wants another to "go away", and the curious nose-to-nose sniffing greeting to see if they are knowing of another cat - were all exhibits of things my own cats do.

The territory section was quite unique to read. My cats each tend to have their own "spots" within the apartment itself. Athena tends to enjoy one particular end of the couch, as well as the pillow area on the bed. Sylvester likes to lay on top of the cat stand when it's open, as well as an overturned cat carrier I keep in the bathroom for just such a purpose; complete with a blanket for comfort. Porkey enjoys the couch as well as the lower level platform of the jungle gym, and also near the foot end of the bed. Tabby really enjoys the top level of the jungle gym (when Sylvester is not there), and any other place where I may be. Whiskers has a fascination for sleeping on the toilet seat as he finds the soft blue seat to be .... comfy? The cats aren't quite "territorial" persay about one of the other cats being in their 'zone' but I do have a feeling that they are disappointed and perhaps aggervated when they find another one in their spot.

My cats are now indoors cats but they have been outside before. All except for Athena, that is. One page I found in the book showed how one owner was allowing its cat to get outside on a harness. Been there, done that, tried that, failed at that. At my previous residence I attempted one time to get my cats to enjoy being on a harness while allow them the ability to actually get outside. Of course that presented many a challenge. Most of the time instead of walking around they opted to almost slink around on their stomachs as though they were crawling. They wanted to go in one direction, while perhaps I wanted to go in another. They had no interest in going back inside at any point, so when it came time for that I had to literally pick them up to take them in. Which eventually is what led to the end of the whole cat-on-a-leash experiment. One cat....whose name shall go unknown except to say that his name begins with the letter "P"...decided that he wanted to run off in a different direction and didn't enjoy the tight line of the leash I was controling him on. What happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object? The object wins out. In this case, the force of Porkey... I mean...that unnamed cat...was stronger than the leash-to-strap clip. Snap, break, I'm free! I had to chase him down to get him to go back inside but that was the last I ever attempted to use a leash for them knowing that eventually it would not hold.

The book explained that when cats sit in the window looking outside they are remembering what it is like to be outside. That when they see a bird outside they will sometimes chatter their teeth. Living in town we no longer see many birds where we live, but I always enjoyed it when we lived in the country that sitting in the window Sylvester would often chirping-like sounds in the form of soft meows as though he were talking back to the birds. I could always tell that he wishes he were outside hoping to go hunt them down.

One photo page that I disagreed with in the book which, not at fault of the author by any means, but toward the owner in the photograph. It displayed three photos: one of the woman encouraging the cat to get up on the counter, holding a dish in view of the cat, and then finally allowing the cat to eat the food out of the dish. What part of that bothers me? That the owner was encouraging the cat to get up on the counter. Hey, to each their own and owners can raise their pets/cats differently. But I am not sure that I know of anyone who would appreciate their cat being up on the counter. Do I want my cats walking around on the counter where during the day otherwise I prepare my own food? No! Luckily my cats have never had that tendency and it's certainly not something I encourage.

Litter boxes near food dishes? Uh, no. Like many owners, I do not keep my litter boxes for my cats in the vicinity of their food and water dishes. Like people....would you want to prepare your food for a meal on a counter right next to the toilet? That's why civilization has created the idea of the "kitchen" and "bathroom" as separate rooms. In some cases this can't be helped, such as at an animal shelter where the litter box and food/water dishes are within the confines of the cage. But when the cat is at home and you put its food dish very close to the litter box where it does it's business....that obviously is going to create a confusing situation. As much as I can, I try to have my own cats' facilities located on opposite ends of the room as much as possible.

Thankfully my cats no longer have a nice wooden frame of a window to scratch at, but they still do enjoy scratching the end edges of the couch. I suppose its fine ... for now... as the couch in the apartment isn't in the best of shape in the first place. But should I be able to buy a new couch or better condition one in the future - or perhaps even a recliner? I hope they stop feeling the need to scratch up our furniture we have. I understand the need for scratching, but....do they realize that instead of scratching at my couch they can scratch as a nice, catnip-scented cardboard scratcher located in the bathroom? Hey, that's much funner!

One of the more disturbing photos in the book was what....well, quite honestly it appeared to be two cats humping. Mating. Having sex. Whatever. It was in the section of the book on 'courtship' ... It was included with a section of text about the male cat withdrawing and causing a discomfort to the female cat after the act....

Cats can be trained to learn about being rewarded for behavior for something. The most recent example of this that I could think of was after Whiskers' butt surgery a few months back. Part of the treatment at home came with doing the twice-daily butt baths and the twice-daily antibiotic. At first he had no idea what to think about the butt baths. But he came to not mind them because he learned that after the butt bath, I'd sit him down on top of the toilet seat cover and then give him some treats. (Unknowingly of course that contained within the treats was the pill he was supposed to be taking.)

Probably the most entertaining portion of the book concerned "staring". Too many things I could get into about my own cats and this, so I'll just reference the passage straight from the book:

"Even cats that know their owners well don't appreciate being stared at. Although they get used to our eye contact when they live with us, a full-on stare can make them feel uneasy, and they will usually turn their faces away to relieve the tension. Another way to make themselves feel better is to close their eyes. If they feel uncomfortable but not threatened enough to run away, closing their eyes lets them think that 'if I can't see you, you can't see me.'" (page 87)

Check it out:
"What Is My Cat Thinking?" by Gwen Bailey
(note: all the cat pictures featured in this blog are of my own cats)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

2008-12-25T07:26:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

"Pet Tails": the cats elf'd...again...and again

2008-12-15T21:45:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

"Pet Tails": my cat's "elf'd"

2008-12-15T10:15:00.000-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

"Pet Tails": back on top

2008-11-24T22:12:00.005-05:00

Each year I look forward to my cats' respective vet visits with curiousity. Many times it's good news, other times its interesting results, other times its uncertainty. Typically they haven't had any bad news given unless its been on an emergency visit that is not their regularly scheduled annual visit. The best example of that would have been Whiskers' emergency vet visit several weeks back with his 'rear end' problem. The two cats whose visits are typically going to be the most interesting, are that of my two 'big boys'. Porkey and Whiskers. If for nothing else than the past few years since I've had them both to see which cat registers as heavier according to the scale.

For the most part, Porkey has always been my biggest cat by far. Outweighing Tabby, Athena, Sylvester and even Whiskers since I've had him. However, since last year the tables were turned when Whiskers weighed in as the larger cat. For nearly the past 12 months its been casual and light-hearted teasing given to Whiskers for being the more rotound kitty of the bunch. This year, however, I was interested to see how things would turn out. While Whiskers has been his typical self in terms of eating and activity rate, Porkey has become a bit more...."less active." Perhaps its for no other reason except that he's entering his old-age and just isn't naturally going to be as active. Nonetheless, I've noticed for a while that he's the least active of all the cats. Since he's been eating as much as ever, I was surely guessing that come his vet visit his weight might be even more than the previous year's visit. Would he topple Whiskers and regain his crown as the largest cat of the household? This past Friday was his vet visit.

Porkey is by far the easiest of the bunch to get into a cat carrier. While the other four stay away from any carriers, especially when the door is opened, but Porkey is the one without fear who will crawl right into one if left adjar and make himself as comfortable as can be. At the vet, he was just as easy to get him to exit the carrier for his visit. Porkey doesn't mind the vet visit itself, but while he doesn't have a problem with the veterinarian checking him out....he's like a hyperactive child who just won't sit still. As the vet lady attempted to check his vitals and do the other checks that they do regularly, Porkey kept squirming and wiggling his way toward the side of the table. In my direction. As though by reaching me that I was going to save him. (Wait a minute, Porkey, weren't you the one with high excitement about going into the vet in the first place? You did crawl into the pet carrier back at the apartment!)

His visit was as typical as it could be. Generally good health, the need for food like tartar-control cat treats, and he got his shots (rabies vaccine). But the interesting highlight of the visit came at the end. He needed to be weighed. So the vet technician put him on the table scale in the room and recorded down the weight that was displayed.

Previously his weight has hovered around 15.5-16.5 pounds, with his visit last year being just over 15.1 pounds. This year? He gained weight since last year's visit. More specificially, about 2 full pounds. That's right....

Porkey weighs 17.5 pounds. Unofficially, according to the vet's record of the weight from the scale's display, he weighs 17.5 pounds. As much of a shock that is of itself, it's just as surprising that he's gained 2 pounds since the previous year. Although, when I look back on the past 12 months, it's not ... too surprising. Granted, he eats as much as he normally does. But his activity level has decreased quite a bit and his range of exercise is deciding to go from laying on the bed in the bedroom to laying on the couch in the living room. Thus he has to move.

As far as a diet for him, there's not much I can do. All five cats have dishes down for them and I can't very well keep one cat separate from feeding while the others do. While I am gone during the day, there's no one home to keep them separate. So the food dishes are open to eating by any and all of the cats and they'll - including Porkey - will eat at their will when I am gone. The vet brought up the issue of limiting the amount of food I put in the dishes. Which makes sense, but then again... during the day...when I am not home....who's to say that Porkey won't eat his share and another cat's "share" in a day? I can't very well take him outside for a walk because I DO live in-town, downtown in my city. And we don't exactly have any cat treadmills to use for him. I really only have options including encouraging him to be more physically active and to try to limit the amount of eating that I can logically control of him when I am home.

So while Porkey had a long run as being the largest cat of the household, but lost his title to Whiskers last year, his reign as runner-up has only lasted a year. As Porkey is now back on top of the list as the largest cat of the household.

I just wonder if I should feel bad about going to McDonald's for my lunch immediately after we left the vet on Friday. :-)

"Pet Tails": 10 bucks a pound for medical care

2008-10-08T22:38:00.003-04:00

I could have titled this entry something about "Whiskers's trip to the vet" but I wanted to go for a more enticing and mysterious subject title.

A few weeks ago I was ready to leave for work on a Monday morning when suddenly I noticed something odd on the floor. Bending down to pick it up I realized it was something that was better suited for the litter box. However was was making me curious wasn't the fact that it was a piece of poo, but that it appeared to have part of a worm woven into it. .... One of my cats has WORMS?! Oh good grief! With five cats... how am I to know whom has them??

I consulted a friend that I have who works at an animal shelter in the area and she said that if I came in then she could give me enough doses of a liquid medicine they have that I can give to my cats. No charge, and it'd be enough to give all five of my cats a dose - since there's no way to know who has the worm, they'd ALL have to get some.

So I got the medicine the next morning on Tuesday, came home and gave them all a small dose. I figured that would be the end of things and that whomever was the culprit would be cured and there would be no further developments. How wrong I was!

That evening when I returned home from work I noticed that Whiskers was a bit more standoff-ish than what I would expect from any of my pets. He wasn't very socialable, didn't want much attention, and seemed to prefer being off to himself. I just figured it was a case of him being 'attitude' and being upset at me having given him the stuff. The next morning on Wednesday morning it was the same thing from him. However, I began to observe something else. An odor. An aroma. It wasn't the stink of a litter box, and it wasn't the odor of the garbage in the waste basket gone bad. I even smelled the odor after I took a shower that morning, so it clearly was not me. What was that smell?!

That night I got back from work and came in the door. Instead of being greeted by some or all of the cats, some of them were crowding around me looking for food or attention of some sort. But Whiskers? He was standing over by the door to the bedroom. He was keeping his distance and it was beginning to make me worry that something wasn't quite right. As I approached him, he did a turn-around and walked back into the bedroom, and then right into the bathroom. Now, THIS was getting really odd. I went into the bathroom to see what was wrong with him.

Whiskers wanted to sit or lay down on the bath mat on the floor and just remain still and not move. It wasn't until he rolled on his side that I saw a bit of blood under his tail. Further inspection led me to discover that he was bleeding from some sort of wound or something, and there was even a bit of oozy discharge. This was REALLY making me freak out at this point. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY CAT?!?! It was so late at night that I couldn't do anything about it then, so he'd have to wait until the morning before I could call the local vet.

Unfortunately it caused me to want to isolate him so he wouldn't have any more complications, so I had to lock him in the bathroom with his own litter box and food. Not wanting him to be in the dark all night, I even left the bathroom light on. So for the rest of the night I worried and worried about my cat, and also was bothered by the sound of the bathroom fan that I could clearly hear going. That and the subtle light peeking out from the frame of the bathroom door that was closed.

The next morning I got him into the vet. The vet tech determined in a prelim examination that he may have had a bite wound or something of some sort that was needing to be cleaned out. So they were going to keep him overnight for further treatment and I could pick him up most likely the next morning. So I went home wondering who could have bit Whiskers in the ass to cause such a wound. The only cat I could suspect was Sylvester. Since he's the one most likely to cause havoc and create chaos.

However the next day at the vet told a different story. After shaving down his bottom, examing and treating him further, I was told that it was an abscess that ruptured. It actually ruptured in 3 places, but that it had been draining well. His at-home treatment would include being given an antibiotic pill twice daily, as well as a butt-bath in epson salt-water twice daily. I would have to do this for a week until his check-up a week later.

Oh joy! Imagine the fun that we had for 7 straight days, 2 times a day... dragging Whiskers into the bathroom where I sat flat on the floor on my butt, and basically held him sitting down in a wash pan that was filled a few inches with warm water mixed with epson salt.

All in all his butt began to heal as the days progressed. To this very day it's basically healed all over where the incisions or openings were and his butt looks like ... well, his butt should. He's back to his normal self and is back hanging around me all the time, picking fights with the other cats, and being his normal "Whisker-self".

So what's with the 10-bucks-a-pound medical care statement about? The initial visit and treatment, plus the cost from the check-up a week later totaled just over $160. Whiskers, according to that same visit, was weighed in at just over 16 pounds. (I think it was like 16.3 or 16.4 that he weighed-in at). So since then it's been a subtle joke that in order to take Whiskers to the vet to get his butt taken care of.... it figured out to just about $10 bucks a pound. 16 pound cat, $160? $10-a-pound!

"Pet Tails": 5-in-1 photos

2008-09-28T18:03:00.006-04:00

When I very first got my cats I initially started with the original two - Porkey and Tabby. I thought it was neat if I was to ever get the both of them in one photo. Then when I got Athena, I thought it was unique to get all three in a single shot. Three became four when I got Whiskers? One night, at around 1am actually, I managed to capture a photo of all four.

But when Sylvester joined the household.... I thought that getting all five cats in one photograph was going to be IMPOSSIBLE. How in the world would I be able to keep all five of these cats, with all their unique personalities each, to keep them situated in one spot long enough to take a photo? Not just that, but a place where they'd be clustered together to fit within the camera frame and be visible enough? How could I get all five in a photo long enough to have the camera ready to take the picture? If it was going to take a miracle, I was needing one. For nearly the past 3 years that I've had Sylvester, not once have all five been in such a situation where this would have been possible.

Until now.

Within the past 2 weeks I've been able to take two photos separately of the five of them positioned in such a place that I've been able to get to the camera and back and ready to take a photo without them being disturbed.

"Pet Tails": modeling for the new camera

2008-07-06T10:43:00.006-04:00

I recently got a new digital camera as a bit of a late birthday present from my mom. So of course I had to test it out with a few unlucky subjects who were not too willing to pose or probably understand what was going on.

"Pet Tails": Sylvester at the vet

2008-06-06T09:18:00.003-04:00

One of the highlights each and every year with my cats is when they go for their annual visits to the vet. It's not as much interesting to have them get the annual exams - as I can look at them every day and tell if they're healthy or not - but the fun resides more in how the particular kitty handles going in the carrier, being put in the car, driven through town and then taken into this strange building they see generally once a year that is somewhat noisy at times with loud barks of dogs and faint meows from fellow cats being dragged in by their owners.

In late May, it was Sylvester's turn. Of any of the cats to go to the vet at some point this year, he would be the most interesting I was sure of before that day. To know Sylvester is to know one heck of a crazy cat. One minute being lazy and sleeping around, the next having a bite to eat, then running over to tackle Whiskers or fight with Tabby, then sitting next to them on the couch as though he's buddies with everyone, and certainly going through his sporadic spurts of unbelievable energy running from room to room to room and around again. The things he gets into, the mischief he causes, and the scenarios I swear that he convinces the other cats to get into. If he ain't the problem, then he's gotta be the instigator.

So the morning of the vet visit I get the pet carrier that is his (yes I have 5 carriers - 1 for each cat) and get a small blanket put into it. He really had no clue what was going on until I turned to face him and gave him that subtle look of ... "come here buddy..." If there is one thing the cats hate as much as when I have given them a bath in the past its getting them into the carriers to go to the vet. (Although Porkey will often walk into a carrier just to lay down and sleep if I happen to leave it sitting somewhere with the door open. Hmmmm....)

The whole way from walking out the apartment door, out to the car, and then the whole drive into the vet office....non-stop meowing. "Help me, help me, help me!" I am sure he's screaming. Even in the vet office as we waited for our turn, he was still talking. Which was interesting as we were the only ones in that morning and no other animals were waiting for their turn. And he was talking! If there were any other people waiting with their pets, he'd be more quiet. But when it's only him, yap yap yap yap!

Watching him as the veterinarian checked him out was one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen. The vet guy wanted to do all the things that are normally done, and Sylvester was not wanting to sit still. If he was forced to sit still, he had the look of "oh boy, geez, this is embarassing!" The look he had on his face as he was being examined and given his shots was just hilarious and priceless. Often I had to literally either turn around or cover my mouth to keep from laughing so hard.

After he was given the green light of health and we left, he was nearly as vocal on the way home. He probably thought we were going to visit another vet person or something. He really didn't seem to catch on where we were going or ending up until I opened the apartment door, set the carrier down on the floor and opened the door for him to come out. The magical transformation then took place.

He goes from being the seemingly helpless, vulnerable and victimized cat being taken to the vet for a *routine exam* to walking out of the carrier into the apartment among the other cats to walking with a strut. Walking with pride. Walking with his nose held up and not talking at all. As if to say "Yep, I'm back. I'm strong, I'm healthy. I'm better than the rest of ya cats. I'm awesome.

And I didn't cry at all."

this is my dream

2008-04-23T09:11:00.004-04:00

This is a news story I came upon that I have taken to heart. It's what I would love to do in my life, what I can only hope to accomplish. So many unwanted cats around that no one is interested in because of age, illness, or disability. Ones that can not be adopted out at a shelter, or they wouldn't be simply because people would not be interested in a cat like that.

People spend so much time looking for "perfection" that they lose the sight and the desire to save a life. Everything and everyone in the world deserves the chance to live a happy life, even those that are considered "imperfect."

I would love to open a facility like this in my local area, but the chances of doing so are slim. It takes money to open such a place. It takes a physical location (facility and space) to open such a place. And then it would take constant financial support to keep the facility going. I am working 2 jobs as it is just to keep the life that I have. So the chances of this ever happening for me are slim.

But its a dream I hold onto.

~Jason

Tabby’s Place: Where Unwanted Cats are Most Loved
By Joey Wahler
April 23, 2008
RINGOES, N.J. -- It’s where cats’ apparently hopeless endings on death row become hopeful futures in a feline paradise.

At Tabby’s Place, 99-percent of the cats are rescued from being put to sleep at other shelters. The facility provides a rare combination of adoption center, medical facility and Hospice for terminal cats, all manned by volunteers.

“We certainly have, for the most part, the most unwanted cats,” said Jonathan Rosenberg, founder of Tabby’s Place. “In the sense that they were pretty much all on the euthanasia list at shelters. Which is about as hopeless as it gets.”

In its five years of existence, Tabby’s Place has adopted about 450 cats, many aging, sick, diseased or handicapped. Those unclaimed live full, happy lives here, despite their shortcomings. We met a very spry 19-year-old, named Hillary, who jumped from an office desk to the floor and back, more closely resembling a far younger cat.

A cutie named Bellis, born with non-functional eyes, was nonetheless cuddling with a volunteer. No cats are more unwanted, yet none are more loved than at Tabby’s Place. The facility is spacious, immaculate, and cat-friendly throughout.

“When you come in and look, everything looks really nice,” Rosenberg said during our recent tour. “You see almost all the cats, there’s nothing hidden or nasty. And where the cats live, a lot of specialized materials and ventilation, to minimize diseases and smells.

“I mean, if you go back in those rooms, they almost never smell despite being filled with cats.”
If this sounds like a special cat shelter, well it is -- sort of. Actually, though, it’s called a cat sanctuary.

“Well, the purpose of calling it a sanctuary is that we figured this is a place of refuge for cats,” Rosenberg said. “So we don’t turn cats away due to age, or almost any disease. And if a cat doesn’t get adopted, they can spend their life here.”

Tabby’s Place is a cat palace. Rather than cages, suites are the norm, viewable through glass in the lobby. Instead of mere index cards listing each cats’ name, as at most shelters, cards with color photos of each cat identify those in a particular suite.

The suites have plenty of cat furniture for lounging, featuring high points for climbing, cubby holes for hiding, and blankets for warming.

A long hallway has a line of suites on one side and a row of corresponding, enclosed outdoor patios across the hall, one patio across from each suite. Cats can go back and forth at their discretion, traveling through a tube that extends across the top of the hallway, connecting each suite to its patio.

“The tubes are clear, so we can see what’s going on in them,” Rosenberg said, as a cat lounged inside one such tube, preferring to be neither indoors nor out, but somewhere in between. “And they also have an access door because some cats like to hide in there, especially come pill time,” Rosenberg joked.

During our visit, several cats were relaxing outdoors, enjoying a sunny, mild day on the patios. Among them was Dusty, whose gray fur was largely shaven off when his cancer recently returned.

The patios are enclosed by transparent Plexiglass, providing cats both security and a scenic view of a spacious rear yard, part of which houses a cat cemetery.

Rosenberg and his wife, Sharon, founded this facility with their own money, honoring their late cat, Tabby. He died of cancer at age 15 in 1999. Grants have since helped, but now most funding here comes from donations.

Tabby’s death caused Rosenberg to examine his life and priorities, he says. He pictured himself on his death bed, imagining what he’d want to do in life that he hadn’t already.

“I thought, you know, if I don’t do something for unwanted cats, I would really feel sorry lying there on my deathbed,” he said. “So I did this in Tabby’s honor.”

Tabby’s Place is typically maxed out at 100 cats. As Rosenberg moves from room to room, he calls out the names of various cats, amazingly appearing to know each one’s name off-hand.

The only cats not accepted here are those that are FIV positive, have feline leukemia, or are uncontrollably aggressive. Some take medication to control their behavior, such as one that’s on -- believe it or not -- Proxac.

An expansion is planned, including a new building. That’s further proof that Tabby’s Place is doing its job of honoring its namesake.

“Someone said they could picture Tabby up in heaven, looking down, saying, ‘That’s my people. I’m proud of them,’ ” Rosenberg said. “And I can see that.”

(story courtesy http://zootoo.com/)

(Visit Tabby's Place online at http://tabbysplace.org/)

want a reason to adopt an animal?

2008-04-13T19:08:00.002-04:00

You make a friend for life by saving a life.