tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72075680227794140062024-02-06T23:48:14.429-08:00Feline CornerBy adopting a shelter cat you save one life.
By choosing to spay or neuter, you save hundreds of lives.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-11687306225150551552012-06-21T11:04:00.000-07:002012-06-21T11:04:13.523-07:00Cat brushing<br />
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<a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Gabriel/PA250008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Gabriel/PA250008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Everyone who owns a long haired cat knows that brushing is important.
Not only does regular brushing keep the hair beautiful, it also prevents the
fur from matting and the cat ingesting some of the hair while grooming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Unfortunately, some cats don’t like being brushed. Or as Diane Q. put it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #006600; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The groomer just left after an hour
or wrestling, growling, snipping and brushing”</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">No, some cats don’t like the brush and use everything they have to fight
being groomed.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Gabriel isn’t one of those cats. Quite the reverse actually. When he
sees the brush he rolls on his back in a gesture of ... take me, I’m yours.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Brushing him is as easy as pie. I can get to his chest, his belly and
his “armpits” without any problems.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The trouble starts when I proceed to Gabriel’s back and sides. As soon
as I’ve scooped him up and put him on his feet, he flops down and rolls over
for some more belly brushing. It usually takes a couple of tries to get him on
his feet and have him remain in that position.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Smart as he is, he soon catches on that standing on all fours does not
mean the end of brushing, but rather a continuation. And then Gabriel is all
for it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">He enjoys having his cheeks brushed, he loves having his head seen to
and he adores the brush gliding over his back and sides.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">He gets a little nervous when I get to his pantaloons, turning this and
that way to see what I’m doing back there but settles after a firm “Gabriel,
stand still”.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">For a finale his tail, by which time he’s flat on his back again, hoping
for some more chest and belly brushing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-36204610024040426172012-04-19T19:21:00.001-07:002012-04-19T19:21:58.041-07:00Toronto Cat Rescue - Bowl-a-ton<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURXh4XP1ySqeZVULsQUWh8EJfyZ-aSFcma2z4iah1p0XBBCvDiMeTTgGA2rqRpUKdClH9QaUvkVxskP5ekwh7nYX2dMkUb8LcnBg1Dhou8lSv_RaE1DJRQsmbslZiuS5zkPrRHCkZETCZ/s1600/Bowl-a-ton+May+26,+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURXh4XP1ySqeZVULsQUWh8EJfyZ-aSFcma2z4iah1p0XBBCvDiMeTTgGA2rqRpUKdClH9QaUvkVxskP5ekwh7nYX2dMkUb8LcnBg1Dhou8lSv_RaE1DJRQsmbslZiuS5zkPrRHCkZETCZ/s320/Bowl-a-ton+May+26,+2012.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Eight years ago, the
Toronto Cat Rescue (TCR) hosted its first Bowl-a-ton to raise money for the
city’s abandoned cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few people
showed up, all of them having done their very best to get some donations here
and there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Over the years the event
became more popular and grew in size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cat lovers from all over the city put their best “paw” forward to raise
money and did so very successfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thousands of dollars came pouring in, providing much needed food and
money for vet bills.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The Toronto Cat Rescue
is an organization with a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rather than being a shelter for cats, TCR comprises of a number of
private homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No cat is turned down, no
cat is put down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They receive love and
attention while prospective adoption homes are carefully examined.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">On Saturday, May 26<sup>th</sup>
it will be that time again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After weeks
of active fundraising, cat lovers will troop to Playtime bowling alley to hand
over what they collected, bowl and exchange stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No need to wonder what they will be talking
about … cats, cats and more cats.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I never grow tired of
telling folks about how I adopted Chanel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was scared of going to a cat shelter, seeing so many cats who needed a
home and only be able to help one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
would I choose?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">As it turned out my
choice was easy … I went for the scruffiest kitten in the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one who had the least change of being
adopted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, twelve years later,
Chanel has grown into a beautiful cat, with a unique personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Chanel/Untitled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Chanel/Untitled1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span> </span> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Chanel/P8050027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Chanel/P8050027.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I can only hope that
more people will adopt shelter cats and give the pet a loving home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime, I hope that our upcoming
Bowl-a-ton will be as successful as it was last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">If you can spare a few
dollars, please contact me at <a href="mailto:conny.manero@gmail.com">conny.manero@gmail.com</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donations over $20 receive a tax receipt upon
request.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I will donate … will you?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In the meantime, if you’re
thinking of adopting but are not quite sure, the following might help you in
your decision:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">A cat's cry for help.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Please
don't turn your back on me</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Look into
my eyes</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">How can
you walk away?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">And not
listen to my cries</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">This
shelter is noisy and crowded</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">So far
away from home</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Doesn't
anybody want me?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I'm
scared and all alone</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Locked in
a cage, I'm waiting</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Will
someone come in time?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Please,
please help me!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Or a
needle might end this life of mine</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">So many
kittens, so many cats</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">All
waiting for someone to say</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">"Come
here cute pussycat."</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I want to
take you away</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">But will
that pussycat be loved?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Or suffer
a fate worse than death</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Will it
beg for mercy?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">With his
last dying breath</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">It
doesn't have to be that way</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">It's all
up to you</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">There can
be an end to this suffering</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Depending
on what you do</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Be
responsible, and care</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Spay or
neuter your pet</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Sooner
rather than later</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Make an
appointment with the vet!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-24207370521998264732012-03-05T08:53:00.000-08:002012-03-05T08:53:59.860-08:00At times my bedroom sees more traffic than Grand Central Station<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Mickey/Mickey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Mickey/Mickey1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Imagine if you will four
cats.</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Mickey, Charlotte and Gabriel get
along with each other, but Chanel gets bullied by Gabriel.</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">So, to prevent a fight I came up with the
plan of separating them.</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Some nights
Chanel gets to sleep with me, other nights Gabriel gets to share my bed.</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">When I’m ready to turn in I close my
door.</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">And that’s when it starts …</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">No sooner am I in bed or
there is scratching at the door. I know
that scratch, only one cat scratches … Mickey.
So I get up and let him in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Within minutes I will
hear a throaty meow. I know that meow,
only Charlotte sounds like an old coffee grinder. So once again I get up and let her in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">It’s not long before
Mickey decides he wants to go out. I try
to make him change his mind by calling him to bed or tempting him with a nice
soft basket. Sometimes it works,
sometimes it doesn’t. So I have to get
up again to let Mick out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">While I’m up I turn to
Charlotte … “Do you want to go out too?”
Charlotte isn’t moving, she seems quite happy where she is at the
time. Of course, that doesn’t last
long. Sooner or later she decides she
wants a change of scenery. So, up again
to now let Charlotte out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">When I hear Mickey scratching
and Charlotte meowing again I decide to ignore them. If I let them in I’ll only have to get up
again to let them out. “No Mickey,” I
call, “go to sleep.” My call gets
answered by more scratching and meowing, but I stand (or rather lie) firm, I’m
not letting them in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">That’s when Gabriel
raises his head with a face like “Can’t you hear there’s someone at the
door?” Now I have to content with a cat
looking at me, waiting to answer his friends’ call.
I’m not falling for it, he can look at me until the cows come home, I’m
in bed and I’m staying put.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">That is until Gabriel
keeps looking at me, now adding a soft “Meeeee” to get his message across. “Oh all right, I’ll let them in,” I tell
him. “But they better go to sleep or ….” Or what?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">In the wee hours of the
morning I wake up from a pitiful cry.
Now Gabriel wants to go out. <br />
“Gabriel, no, come back to bed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">“Mee.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">“No, come, go back to
sleep.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">“Mee eee”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">If I ignore his meow (or
what has to pass for one) it just gets longer and more urgent. Like an opera singer launching into an area
of Tosca. “Meeeee eeeee eeeee”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Oh for goodness sake
okay, I’m coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I wonder what Mickey,
Charlotte and Gabriel are saying when they get together. She falls for it every time?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">On the nights that I let
Chanel sleep with me, that’s no picnic either.
She curls up with me and doesn’t ask to be let out, but she keeps me
awake in other ways … first purring and then snoring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Jeez but that cat can
snore. At times I’ve asked her if she
can turn the volume down a bit, which results in a sound an octave higher than
before. Not to mention that she likes to
lie close to me, ticking my face with her whiskers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Now that I’m up everyone
is sound asleep. Nobody wants to go out,
nobody wants to come in. Nobody purrs,
nobody snores. For some reason I feel
like playing music … really loud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-45658244974215290692012-02-21T19:18:00.000-08:002012-02-21T19:19:08.633-08:00Cat language<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZNQoNWuA8BxduJ2NP3SaNbnueSYiqg9iTbyM8byXyuxEEPU_jF2ihUhDV_sUsbzMl-JChFM3AhCZhWAYsex5MvYRIuWTtqtPkn3tPiBRtqR3X85uJSrjWq-pJd4fllc04lGiiE2qGiuq/s1600/Chanel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZNQoNWuA8BxduJ2NP3SaNbnueSYiqg9iTbyM8byXyuxEEPU_jF2ihUhDV_sUsbzMl-JChFM3AhCZhWAYsex5MvYRIuWTtqtPkn3tPiBRtqR3X85uJSrjWq-pJd4fllc04lGiiE2qGiuq/s1600/Chanel.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Does your cat meow? Mine don’t.
None of them. They each produce a
sound that is supposed to pass for a meow, but doesn’t even come close.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">We’ll start with the
youngest, Gabriel. Not only was he not
paying attention when his mother gave him speech lessons, he wasn’t even in the
room. When he opens his cute little
mouth he says “mee”. Sometimes it’s short,
sometimes he stretches out the “meeeeeee” like he’s singing a song. <br />
It sounds so sad, so utterly pitiful.
Whether he’s crying for food, to get a head rub or to be let into the
bathroom, his mournful plea cannot be ignored.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Next up, Mickey, another
one who never learned how to speak cat language properly. He doesn’t even try. When Mickey tries to say something he doesn’t
get any further than “Eh” or “Ei”. It’s
quite cute, but completely useless. Not
that he’s much of a talker to begin with, he only makes an effort when he wants
to play with his laser light. Once play
is over, that’s it for the talking.<br />
He might make an effort to get into the bathroom, but Mick prefers to scratch
the door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Then there’s
Charlotte. Charlotte has a deep, raspy
voice, making her meow sounds like “meih”.
Her cry reminds me of a shy old sheep. Charlotte knows how to purr though, something
Gabriel nor Mickey have quite mastered.
Oh they purr, but very, very softly.
Charlotte on the other hand has quite an engine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Last but not least,
Chanel. Chanel is the talker of the
family. She has a whole repertoire of sounds but a proper “meow” isn’t one of
them. Whenever we talk to her, she
politely answers, ranging from “mei”, “meei”, “eeeeh” to “mooow”. Most comical is when she says “now”. When we ask her “When do you want your food?”
she replies with “now”. When asked again
“Do you want your food now?” she’ll confirm that she wants it now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">As for purring … nobody
purrs like Chanel. Whoever she curls up
with in bed can forget about sleeping.
She purr so enthusiastically that she sounds like a low flying
helicopter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Cat language … not the
easiest language to understand, yet Gabriel, Mickey, Charlotte and Chanel seem
to have no problem understanding me.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-12854055947015724682012-02-16T23:24:00.000-08:002012-02-16T23:24:35.149-08:00A visitor from Rainbow Bridge<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">This goes out to Glory,
in memory of <a href="http://glory-garden.blogspot.com/2012/02/zebrina-gone-but-not-forgotten.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GlorysGarden+%28Glory%27s+Garden%29%20%20%20" target="_blank">Zebrina</a>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-2tGp48aJDL85W7I9qSkEmkgBiZWQ4p7B2nB5a-4Wb-dyEUBEcboyHQut5PuoWhIz99ZL4OaWCQRqp6xnZ9oJaGWsZ8nIYK_wTg9ayiHhoOVwwxyFQPkUnObMyWkapXT_9JiYI5q9bqb/s1600/zebrina.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-2tGp48aJDL85W7I9qSkEmkgBiZWQ4p7B2nB5a-4Wb-dyEUBEcboyHQut5PuoWhIz99ZL4OaWCQRqp6xnZ9oJaGWsZ8nIYK_wTg9ayiHhoOVwwxyFQPkUnObMyWkapXT_9JiYI5q9bqb/s1600/zebrina.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Zebrina</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Owners of beloved pets,
believe that when the pet passes away he moves to Rainbow Bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some question the truth in that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there a heaven for pets?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Linda put it … “What kind of a place would
heaven be without pets?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Some claim that, after
their pet passed away, they felt, heard or even seen the animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far fetched?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wishful thinking?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me put in
my two cents (100% true).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In September 2006, Kitty
died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few months weeks I went to visit
my parents in Belgium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My folks had no
pets at the time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In the second week of my
visit, my mom had given me a particular hard time and I felt rather low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d looked forward to this visit, I had flown
thousands of miles, and now everything went horribly wrong.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">That night when I was in
bed I couldn’t sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tossed and
turned and finally settled on my right side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just started to drift off when I felt “something” jump on the
bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was instantly wide awake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The something approached
me from the left side of the bed, walked over to me and nestled behind my
knees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t see a thing, the room
was too dark, but I knew it was Kitty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whenever he slept with me, he always curled up in the crook of my knees.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Kitty/28-05-06_2212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Kitty/28-05-06_2212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Kitty with Strike</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Having had other ghostly
experiences, which scared the pants off me, this encounter didn’t scare me at
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt the weight and the warmth of
Kitty, but no fear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The next day I couldn’t
wait to tell Dieter about my visitor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
call had to wait though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a six hour
time difference, 10:00 a.m. in Belgium meant that it was only 4:00 a.m. in
Canada and I doubted Dieter would appreciate being woken up at that time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I patiently waited a few
hours until I was sure Dieter would be up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As soon as I told him about my experience of the night before, he said “Funny
you should say that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw Kitty by the
door of my room last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only saw
him out of the corner of my eye, but I swear he was there.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I didn’t doubt it for a
moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-9283666206548722542012-02-16T16:15:00.000-08:002012-02-16T16:15:57.698-08:00What’s for dinner?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFT9J36PZp9CM-yj87hXgaaAS6KuiJdUb0u72l9YqeTPxaRoClG3CVuxZsLedvkU9Ezml6wVtDFEUQ8NFcmR8xY4_ciu-GjU-zmIugLwcX59PbL6x_045KBke9yBTfeB0AvuUG3hztU5-/s1600/Cat+eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFT9J36PZp9CM-yj87hXgaaAS6KuiJdUb0u72l9YqeTPxaRoClG3CVuxZsLedvkU9Ezml6wVtDFEUQ8NFcmR8xY4_ciu-GjU-zmIugLwcX59PbL6x_045KBke9yBTfeB0AvuUG3hztU5-/s320/Cat+eating.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">On the menu tonight is chicken in broth, with pumpkin and wild rice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Yesterday was mixed seafood in broth, with peas and wild rice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">For tomorrow, salmon and chicken, with carrots and wild rice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Sounds good he.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that what I’m eating?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, the cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently switched them from regular cat food to holistic food and they love it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">All except Chanel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chanel still prefers Fancy Feast above all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking of dinner, I think Mickey has an alarm clock in his stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One moment he will be sleeping peacefully, but when 6:45 p.m. comes around he wakes up to find me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dinner time!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">While I scoop the food out of the containers, he’s either on the floor waiting patiently, sits on the table anxious for the plate to appear, or with me on the kitchen counter keeping an eye on things.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Once the plate is on the cat table, he’s the first one there and starts munching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Charlotte occasionally makes an appearance, but more of than not, I have to go and find her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Charlotte, foodie time!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
She will come and either jump on the cat table, or wait for me to pick her up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">As for Gabriel, I have to wake him up, or pick him up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally he will jump on the cat table, but most of the time he will fail miserably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will sit on the floor, calculating his jump … one… two … three … no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
A little later he will try again … I think I can, I think I can … no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Maybe third time lucky … I think I can I can … I think I can … I’m kidding myself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s when I pick him up and just put him on the cat table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember the movie “White men can’t jump”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, apparently neither can some cats.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">This attempting to jump reminds me of a scene of the TV series “227”, where Mary said “Conceive it, believe it, achieve it” and Lester replied “Can’t get it, regret it, forget it”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That line was written for Gabriel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">And Chanel you might wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chanel eats alone, on top of the fridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a bully like Gabriel around I have to feed her separately.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">While the cat family is eating, all has to stay dead quiet in the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The slightest noise and Charlotte and Gabriel will go running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">And Mickey … no not Mickey, WWIII can start for all he cares, he’s not moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I can just picture that cat during WWII … “Mickey, came down to the shelter, bombs are falling!”<br />
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Okay, it's past 7:00 p.m. … time for dinner.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-80957404636377819372012-02-15T21:00:00.000-08:002012-02-15T21:00:15.652-08:00Every action has a reaction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Mickey/1117091205-02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Mickey/1117091205-02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s hard being a cat sometimes, especially if you share a house with other cats.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though there are three perfectly good baskets around, whenever there’s a box available Chanel, Mickey, Charlotte and Gabriel will take turns curling up in it. But sometimes one of them overstays his welcome. In that case patience goes out the window and it’s time for a little action.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Chanel/CouldIcurlupinthisbox.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Chanel/CouldIcurlupinthisbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">While Gabriel was sleeping in a cardboard box today, Mickey did just that. He positioned himself close to where Gabriel and looked at him. Make that, stared at him. He stared and stared and just when I thought he was about to give up, he stared some more.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Gabriel wasn’t bothered. Mickey could stare all he wanted, Gabe wasn’t moving. So what did Mickey do … he bit Gabriel’s leg. He lowered his head, nuzzled his nose into Gabriel’s long hair, but instead of grooming him, he took a bite.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">As planned, this action had a reaction. Unfortunately Mickey hadn’t thought this one through though. Yes, Gabriel vacated the box, but Mickey couldn’t immediately take possession of it. First he had to deal with a mouthful of hair. That comes of it when you bite a longhaired cat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Do Mickey and Gabriel fight? Neih, they’re the best of friends, always have been.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Gabriel/PB190049-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Gabriel/PB190049-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FmZlEXOneH8MCmfEXwfssggxBEzn1ferRa9jORIMaUjZmpsu_Im-db7CheGyDzYfH9rlWvu8LYdjGCUA0GsmrQ-KomRzicT1yYcSQdTt4lwcnrFYHw3Wi4YZ6MHNCPy0DpNtJa2UpWwA/s1600/Gabriel+and+Mickey+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FmZlEXOneH8MCmfEXwfssggxBEzn1ferRa9jORIMaUjZmpsu_Im-db7CheGyDzYfH9rlWvu8LYdjGCUA0GsmrQ-KomRzicT1yYcSQdTt4lwcnrFYHw3Wi4YZ6MHNCPy0DpNtJa2UpWwA/s320/Gabriel+and+Mickey+1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In general it wasn’t Mickey’s day today. This morning I couldn’t find him. I wasn’t really worried because I had seen him some five minutes before, so I figured he was probably sleeping somewhere.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">While waiting for Mick to resurface I decided to make the beds. I started with Dieter’s bed, grabbed hold of the duvet and flung it on the floor. There Mickey was, with some dumb look on his face like “What the hell happened?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Did he get up? If you think he did, you don’t know Mickey very well. He put his head down and went right back to sleep. Okay, I would come back later. Much later.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I moved on to my bed. Once again I grabbed the duvet and threw it off the bed. I heard a “clonk”. That was strange, duvets go down softly, they don’t go clonk. This time I had interrupted Charlotte’s sleep. She slunk from under the duvet (that was now in a heap on the floor) clearly not impressed. She gave me a look that said “What’d do that for?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKePAQqJMKNaHNW8xvsjXLY0kvoaxt7TJ5FXUMJOsv-lUvOQ3X7rw0zC8D4RtVFDa_1fH6Kn4X80KHHXr-9S04njbLY-2y0jJaaf4K0QH6c73tQaJ2_mXQ7Wn8k9wilHucWnzbJCYT0ft/s1600/Charlotte+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKePAQqJMKNaHNW8xvsjXLY0kvoaxt7TJ5FXUMJOsv-lUvOQ3X7rw0zC8D4RtVFDa_1fH6Kn4X80KHHXr-9S04njbLY-2y0jJaaf4K0QH6c73tQaJ2_mXQ7Wn8k9wilHucWnzbJCYT0ft/s320/Charlotte+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">This was clearly a no win situation for me. So I left the beds alone and went to do the dishes instead. Much safer for everyone.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-37387555356498565792012-02-09T23:16:00.000-08:002012-02-09T23:16:02.074-08:00Accidental or deliberate?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUKhZ-8667dIx8Mn3UUARMuvxi1WhEHB3OBXAH1gL2zLU8eJMHckr6t5GQKtUlWeMN5bjCrojUTC00oUldIJyhiScmiRDC0eByhSL3ZFqzfg4uGaCIMkqvwU9TxiU1QoV24QffRmx2zfS/s1600/1231091530-00.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUKhZ-8667dIx8Mn3UUARMuvxi1WhEHB3OBXAH1gL2zLU8eJMHckr6t5GQKtUlWeMN5bjCrojUTC00oUldIJyhiScmiRDC0eByhSL3ZFqzfg4uGaCIMkqvwU9TxiU1QoV24QffRmx2zfS/s320/1231091530-00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Last night Gabriel joined me in bed, as he does every night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As usual he wanted to have his head rubbed, his belly tickled and his head rubbed some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Usually he sleeps late (as I do) and we get up together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not this morning though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up from a scratching on the door, followed by “Meow, meow”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">“Ssst,” I shushed sleepy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">This didn’t work, Gabriel cried and kept on crying, he pleas getting louder and louder.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">“Gabriel,” I said, “come back to bed and go to sleep.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In reply he scratched the door some more and let out another couple of “meows”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">“Gaaaaaabriel,” I groaned, “pleeeeease! It’s too early, come back to bed.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Gabriel wouldn’t hear of it and meowed more insistent than before.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">“GABRIEL!” I yelled, now fully awake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What is it with you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s too early."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
“Meow” he said in response.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I could have just gotten up and let him out of my bedroom, but it’s was so warm in bed and I wasn’t quite ready to leave, even if it was only for a few seconds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">To my relief Gabriel left his spot by the door and jumped on my bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t curl up though, he stepped on the bed’s headboard and sat there.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I turned over, snuggled under the covers and was just about to doze off when something hard landed right snack on my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A stone duck was the culprit, knocked down courtesy of Gabriel he couldn’t keep his paws to himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knocked that duck down to get back at me for not letting him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Accidental or deliberate?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing is for sure, when he start meowing tomorrow, I’ll open the door, who knows what else he has in mind.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">From there on my day didn’t exactly get better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">While I was working on the computer later on, I suddenly heard a “tonk”, followed by “splat, splat, splat”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still trying to figure out what the strange noise was when I noticed something moving on Dieter’s nigh stand, where he keeps a fish tank.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">On the night stand was a tiny fish, flipping and flapping like crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately rushed to the rescue, but picking up a tiny, slippery fish proved more difficult than I expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a couple of futile attempts I resorted to wiping the fish with one hand into my other hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much like one would brush crumbs off a table.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73UbJGi4NNXf6Af2aOLSRFtklti5xSDoBL2IFIKtaw14zWNf75SkbQIzm5ZXu3Wf6_muPrlDcTdnsUqU-W3fL0chc_LseYm10Yn9v2JWtPKNb3Col-_VCotIs3Ux886clKIczIYr5qORO/s1600/guppy-blue-tail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73UbJGi4NNXf6Af2aOLSRFtklti5xSDoBL2IFIKtaw14zWNf75SkbQIzm5ZXu3Wf6_muPrlDcTdnsUqU-W3fL0chc_LseYm10Yn9v2JWtPKNb3Col-_VCotIs3Ux886clKIczIYr5qORO/s320/guppy-blue-tail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I worked and once I had the fish I deposited him back into the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh my heart, my poor heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I managed to stay calm during a crisis, once it was over I nearly went horizontal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I had to tell someone, I had to share this near horrible experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I called the owner of the fish, Dieter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what did he do when I told him the horrible tale?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not what I expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t shocked, he wasn’t worried, he wasn’t even sympathetic, he … burst out laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thought the whole thing too funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even posted it on Facebook!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">First a cat, then a fish … maybe I should stick to a bird or something.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUKhZ-8667dIx8Mn3UUARMuvxi1WhEHB3OBXAH1gL2zLU8eJMHckr6t5GQKtUlWeMN5bjCrojUTC00oUldIJyhiScmiRDC0eByhSL3ZFqzfg4uGaCIMkqvwU9TxiU1QoV24QffRmx2zfS/s1600/1231091530-00.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRFaJ0cqiyTdEvIg3fNindhDvp2N78TYizaMfik29-B6WBGYmqPrF3VA83kePkc9boz4MGFOUjDFcjZX3MkPJJ450UKO7d1EQ867XVvPotlS0ptJia6N-tz8umn36fNrYK0fIRo8gih1K/s1600/PC060011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-74804254607312940742012-01-26T15:37:00.000-08:002012-01-26T15:37:03.553-08:00That’s my basket!!!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Mickey/Mickey3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Mickey/Mickey3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-3rQHUeypXwk0xGSCOSWxPiKs4EY_r5Wd-tQgxb3US4PZVT1US3K2vjJGYYmOWZ6pLJYQXc82PhXKcU74S_6puCjJcyQj0RfsrhSELyoFdhdoVmPX_UzcpSV_PnSWGjZIFZiM0FDUXVp/s1600/Yes+I+can.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">A cat needs a place of his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A place to sleep, nap or just chill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But who knew that, with multiple baskets around, a cat actually knows which basket is his?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Mickey, Charlotte and Gabriel do. They each have their own basket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big enough to stretch out in, soft enough to ensure sweet dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I say “their own basket” I mean just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Mickey’s basket sits in an armchair and none of the others dare to go near it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Charlotte’s basket is positioned on top of the wall unit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She likes higher ground.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Gabriel’s basket rests at the foot-end of my bed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">For the longest time everything went fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They each had their own sleeping place and everyone was happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until the other day …</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Gabriel curled up in the basket on top of the wall unit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Charlotte caught sight of him it was clear she did not like what she saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She furiously hissed at him, hit him over the head a couple of times and said something in cat language I didn’t understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gabriel did and slunk out of the basket, clearly with a guilty conscious.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Before you start feeling sorry for poor Gabriel, he wasn’t quite so “poor” later that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mickey curled up Gabriel’s basket on my bed, and Gabriel didn’t like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t like that at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">He sneaked up on Mickey and in no uncertain terms let him know “That's my basket!!!”<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span></span>There was spitting and hissing and some quite colorful language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As if that wasn’t enough, Gabriel started hitting Mickey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mickey hit back and for a few seconds I had two prize ring fighters on my bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end Mickey vacated the basket, which Gabriel promptly took possession of.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">To sum it up … Gabriel isn’t welcome in Charlotte’s basket, Mickey isn’t tolerated in Gabriel’s basket, and none of them have even tried to jump in Mickey’s basket.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">And Chanel, the fourth cat, you might wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chanel doesn’t like baskets, she prefers boxes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Whether it's the lid of a jigsaw puzzle box, a shoebox or any other type of box, if it's make out of cardboard Chanel will try to get into it. Even if doesn't quite fit.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-3rQHUeypXwk0xGSCOSWxPiKs4EY_r5Wd-tQgxb3US4PZVT1US3K2vjJGYYmOWZ6pLJYQXc82PhXKcU74S_6puCjJcyQj0RfsrhSELyoFdhdoVmPX_UzcpSV_PnSWGjZIFZiM0FDUXVp/s1600/Yes+I+can.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-3rQHUeypXwk0xGSCOSWxPiKs4EY_r5Wd-tQgxb3US4PZVT1US3K2vjJGYYmOWZ6pLJYQXc82PhXKcU74S_6puCjJcyQj0RfsrhSELyoFdhdoVmPX_UzcpSV_PnSWGjZIFZiM0FDUXVp/s320/Yes+I+can.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-74206428063951427542012-01-18T15:32:00.000-08:002012-01-18T15:32:52.487-08:00Cats on crack<div class="navbar section" id="navbar"><div class="widget Navbar" id="Navbar1"> </div></div><div class="body-fauxcolumns"> <div class="fauxcolumn-outer body-fauxcolumn-outer"> <div class="cap-top"> </div><div class="fauxborder-left"> <div class="fauxcolumn-inner"> </div></div><div class="cap-bottom"> </div></div></div><div class="content"> <div class="content-fauxcolumns"> <div class="fauxcolumn-outer content-fauxcolumn-outer"> <div class="cap-top"> </div><div class="fauxborder-left"> <div class="fauxcolumn-inner"> </div></div><div class="cap-bottom"> </div></div></div><div class="content-outer"> <div class="content-cap-top cap-top"> </div><div class="fauxborder-left content-fauxborder-left"> <div class="content-inner"> <header> <div class="date-outer"> <div class="header-cap-top cap-top"> </div><br />
<div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry"><div class="widget Gadget" id="Gadget3"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgHzl608fovM-qspaapPo2VQS9cdrqQuKWwyvL6INjo4YTZiwQa0Ng0UwpQSIJjUnhd3aUfdpe1ElO01s2ipXLi9WTQHH44AAYyClGWnuSpELBwqeNnyuWMeqRxXjv0zWzdixkY36jNkN/s1600/Charlotte+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgHzl608fovM-qspaapPo2VQS9cdrqQuKWwyvL6INjo4YTZiwQa0Ng0UwpQSIJjUnhd3aUfdpe1ElO01s2ipXLi9WTQHH44AAYyClGWnuSpELBwqeNnyuWMeqRxXjv0zWzdixkY36jNkN/s320/Charlotte+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Charlotte waiting to get her ball back</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Whenever a new toy comes into the house, it’s always a bit of a crapshoot whether or not the cats will like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether they will play with the toy or be more interested in the box it came in.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Since “meeting” Sandi, the guesswork has been taken out of cat toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every toy is a hit, thanks to Sandi’s not so secret ingredient … catnip.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Yesterday the latest shipment of toys arrived and it immediately had the attention of Chanel, Charlotte, Mickey and Gabriel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrapped in plastic and stuffed in a bubble envelop, they knew this package was for them and gathered around.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Tree balls and a gingerbread man came out of the envelop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chanel claimed the gingerbread man for herself, leaving Charlotte, Mickey and Gabriel to divide the three balls among themselves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">All of them had a ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They held the toy between their paws, rubbed their cheeks against it and bit the toy until it was sopping wet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They rolled around with it, threw it in the air and caught it, and rolled around some more.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Twenty four hours later, the gingerbread man is still around, but two out of the three balls are AWOL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>No playing today, the Manero lot is too tired to lift a paw.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVOr7LteRVcB1Z3d9qF955aohyLlFBV8GcskiWxmoo-q-Oc7UHCvDPSZ5XVHF4xVDfnnjJCgfxlT_Fpjm-jjCY_5ZfcRCAuH2caG32KB37T9Gzc-p3wN5ywc6qIRINA8v3Vw1bWdGpnG-/s1600/Gabriel+Jan+15%252C+2012+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVOr7LteRVcB1Z3d9qF955aohyLlFBV8GcskiWxmoo-q-Oc7UHCvDPSZ5XVHF4xVDfnnjJCgfxlT_Fpjm-jjCY_5ZfcRCAuH2caG32KB37T9Gzc-p3wN5ywc6qIRINA8v3Vw1bWdGpnG-/s320/Gabriel+Jan+15%252C+2012+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9SsvbElzDaCQbra_p3i-wdxo9ephapvVfdWlj1D37zQBaT7IW1x12mcxNinOCCic_0HhLFoWKbO1QVql4aXWCkIKscttc_fQKyvaANuT-EDzei5LDgVqAgS_0t6qlGC1I8OIEM2RN4QH/s1600/Mickey+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9SsvbElzDaCQbra_p3i-wdxo9ephapvVfdWlj1D37zQBaT7IW1x12mcxNinOCCic_0HhLFoWKbO1QVql4aXWCkIKscttc_fQKyvaANuT-EDzei5LDgVqAgS_0t6qlGC1I8OIEM2RN4QH/s320/Mickey+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl6q9O3FiosPK-vDnEd5N9PoicEBSlD6TsdFLLMtsb402z5v0f-t85DnB-JPkLNMH6RKgl-Of1hfQVd1pKLXK1DCd9JF8bRu7pNQvXnpJCdsMBcUxz0NHJdzxlQnatXZp8icQTva2Kok_/s1600/Chanel+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl6q9O3FiosPK-vDnEd5N9PoicEBSlD6TsdFLLMtsb402z5v0f-t85DnB-JPkLNMH6RKgl-Of1hfQVd1pKLXK1DCd9JF8bRu7pNQvXnpJCdsMBcUxz0NHJdzxlQnatXZp8icQTva2Kok_/s320/Chanel+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCFZ_aJtaNsL0Q7oLOdUlKPL43BXn9RsEYDPP87_qmExM0U5MQk5ks0ZqrWSYa33QnIlilCIPbRvdgGs-EPR2PUP_lXJMJWQ0FzHqPHm2h_L7kUZDFTWWlBA6ccRFoNOoErmWZm4O6T3q/s1600/PC130188-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCFZ_aJtaNsL0Q7oLOdUlKPL43BXn9RsEYDPP87_qmExM0U5MQk5ks0ZqrWSYa33QnIlilCIPbRvdgGs-EPR2PUP_lXJMJWQ0FzHqPHm2h_L7kUZDFTWWlBA6ccRFoNOoErmWZm4O6T3q/s1600/PC130188-1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y27fZHPvdlBZkgvbme6vE_0bSEpbK85NdYrQhnkgohG5E66-r1CsucT0gBz59DdMHvfpKbjHF3eppNuuLIjJvKA6qBP-LiAEO0lgoPllrwFuWVWqTTTsLv0q0rZD9ZweFY8LeWGmwo7e/s1600/Mickey+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span></span></div><span class="widget-item-control"><span class="item-control blog-admin"></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></header><div class="main-outer"><div class="fauxborder-left main-fauxborder-left"><div class="region-inner main-inner"><div class="columns fauxcolumns"><div class="columns-inner"><div class="column-right-outer"><div class="column-right-inner"><aside><div class="sidebar section" id="sidebar-right-1"><div class="footer-outer"><div class="widget-content"><div class="follow-by-email-inner"><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow"><table><tbody>
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Today is the day for finding files. This morning I found a file while looking for another, this afternoon I found another.<br />
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"The cat who danced with a roadrunner" comes from Diane Quinn, who tells us one of the adventures she had with her cat Zorro. To read more of Diane, please visit <a href="http://www.helium.com/users/212149/show_articles">http://www.helium.com/users/212149/show_articles</a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkHocg0LAocD_63wPJM5vuk-HOXhmc4b2ByQaHzgOgwYC-qKmiSsYNNRKl87FmqBnmHO7a6ZZRAxb5vw-c8sGey7f0Np91co-_xFr76VSQrsw4FEwmJ6VK8QN9mOTBC08_1iYojR-bJme/s1600/Zorro.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkHocg0LAocD_63wPJM5vuk-HOXhmc4b2ByQaHzgOgwYC-qKmiSsYNNRKl87FmqBnmHO7a6ZZRAxb5vw-c8sGey7f0Np91co-_xFr76VSQrsw4FEwmJ6VK8QN9mOTBC08_1iYojR-bJme/s320/Zorro.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Our Ragdoll breed cat, Zorro, is just the sweetest, laid-back guy you would ever want to snuggle with on your bed or have sandpaper lick your hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typical of the breed, he loves his people family more than his Fancy Feast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Well, okay, at least I believe we come in a very close second.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much has been written about this breed, that when we adopted him at one-year of age, he seemed to lack many typical cat traits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many cats do you know that come and greet you at the door?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, how many cats do you know that will follow you around the house—all the time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps I named him wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of Zorro, he should have been called, “The Shadow.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">About a year after we adopted him, we moved to a location on a hill above a desert golf course with a patio looking over the 9<sup>th</sup> tee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew that an assortment of wildlife passed by every day, but we were not prepared for the antics of the roadrunner we named, Rocky, who visited us daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We had only been moved in for about a week, when I met Rocky for the first time one morning as he pecked a greeting on one of our French doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was fascinated with this primitive, even scary looking, huge bird fearlessly making himself known. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I went over to the door to get a closer look at him, he gave me the once-over, just as I was doing the same to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he didn’t run away, I called:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Zorro, come!” hoping he would come join me at the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must have been the tone of my voice, perhaps tinged with excitement that brought Zorro zooming to a stop beside me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this time, Rocky had lost interest in me, and he had jumped on top of our patio table, and was scanning the horizon for movement that might translate into his breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zorro could see him, but he had not yet seen Zorro. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My big guy was mesmerized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His smoky gray, elegant tail was waving furiously as he paced in front of the French doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, Rocky went on to the serious business of lizard hunting. I felt disappointed because I really wanted to see what Rocky’s reaction would be to Zorro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As luck would have it, I did not have to wait long to find out. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The next morning, there Rocky was again, pecking at the French doors, intense dark eyes trying to see in through the glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again I called, “Zorro, come!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time Zorro ran so fast, he overran and actually slid into the glass door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, they were face-to-face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a stare-down of epic proportions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see the curiosity mixing with the caution in their eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a smart guy, and unsure of the situation, Zorro sat down to take a load off his paws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave me a look that said, “What IS that thing?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though Zorro was a house cat, he still had the same instincts that every cat before him for a thousand years understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was just not sure what to do about them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Rocky cocked his head one more time and jumped on top of the table that had become his command post. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A ground bird, I learned that roadrunners often seek height in order to see movement at a distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When nothing appeared to be moving, off he went.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This same pattern went on for a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zorro was not quite sure how to react; and Rocky tried to look menacing enough so we wouldn’t venture outside and chase him away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then one day something changed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">On this day when Rocky appeared, and when I called, “Zorro, come!” he not only ran over to the window, but threw himself against the glass and began to pound on the glass with his paws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rocky reciprocated by jumping back at Zorro on the other side of the glass. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was watching a boxing match! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had their own rhythm going and, if music had been playing, it would have been, “Flight of the Bumble Bees,” so comical was their dance.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Eventually, Rocky tired of banging against the glass, and got back to business on top of our table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat there for the longest time that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered if he was posturing as any conquering predator would after battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Self-satisfied, he proudly perched on his table surveying his territory.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What did my handsome guy, Zorro, do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He came over to mommy, of course, for lots of praise and head rubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had little idea what had just transpired, but he did know that he had protected his turf too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thank goodness</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">, I thought to myself, knowing they would never meet without glass between them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the truth was that Rocky was larger than Zorro, and a very aggressive bird that would not only have scared Zorro to death, but was capable of seriously hurting him with those sharp claws and deadly beak. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These primitive birds survive in the harshest climate in North America, and for a good reason.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But, Zorro didn’t have to know the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just needed to know that mommy was proud of him, as she reached in the cupboard for his favorite treat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Good boy,” I murmured, stroking his head in the way he preferred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Good boy.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-56530657967528640902011-11-23T09:00:00.000-08:002011-11-23T09:00:57.538-08:00Trissy's Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While looking for a file (see latest entry in "Undert the Toronto Sun" blog for more details) I came across another file.</div>I have no idea who sent this story to me (must have been a while ago), but if you recognize this as your story I will edit this entry and mention your name. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnG_MArWJ70zOqt9zHUlNutD1DPqK_YhIY7vES9hxL8KnlXCm9sEiwJQYd73AaSLQalwXAkITJe0jK19HbM1cIbis_E1SMfjIM1ZHPk4NeM8poZZHKtjMsMgdL6-6OddFVTp23QILICjW/s320/Trissy.jpg" width="320" /></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">One evening, I was working after hours receptionist duty, at a university veterinary teaching hospital. An owner came to pick up her ten-month-old Maine Coon cat. I did not know anything about the breed, and I could not understand the reason she was so proud of him. OK, he was a Premier Grand Champion show cat. He was nice looking, but he seemed to be just a cat. Then he looked out of his carrier, and I fell into the most beautiful green eyes I had ever seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Several years later, I was in the check out line at a local garden store. I mentioned I had recently adopted a parakeet. The clerk asked if I wanted to adopt a cat, too. I checked with my roommates, and since we already had two cats and a dog, the response was, “Sure! What’s one more?” So I arranged to meet the clerk, and the cat, the next day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I arrived at the garden store, the clerk opened the carrier, and out strolled a big, long-haired cat, with a very long, fluffy tail. He looked around, and was very nonchalant, while rubbing and purring. I stroked his head, but that was all. I had been around many cats in my life, but not one that big, and I found him intimidating. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">We put him in my carrier, and I headed over to the veterinary teaching hospital to have him checked out. Again, he strolled out of the carrier, looked around and started purring. People began picking him up, and he loved it. It was while I was there, I recognized the same big, beautiful green eyes I had fallen in love with, several years before!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">He was the same cat! His former owner, for whatever reason I never did learn, had given him to the garden store clerk. He had some type of problem at her house, and she had been keeping him in a barn. He was thin, had some mats, ear mites and smelled like a barn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">We went home and I put him in my bedroom. He was not in the least bit shy, and soon put me at ease. I was not working the next three days, so I closed the bedroom door and we were able to spend the time alone, getting to know each other and bonding. He decided his place was on my pillow. This big sweetheart, with the loud purr and gentle ways, seemed to be happy with his new living situation. He groomed himself, with my help, until we had the mats and barn smell eliminated. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I had medicine to treat his ear mites. It was in a small squeeze bottle and easy to use. He, however, did not like it. One morning, he was sleeping beside me on the pillow, and I thought if I could sneak the medicine into his ear while he was asleep, it would be much easier. I had the bottle poised, squeezed it once and realized I needed to give it another squeeze to get the right dosage. I made the mistake of relaxing my thumb and finger, and the bottle made a loud, moist, sucking sound, right in his ear! He jumped straight in the air, came down and looked at me as if I had shot him. Much to my dismay, he never slept on my pillow again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Now, Trissy was a big, tall, aristocratic looking cat. The name he came with, Johnny, did not seem to fit him at all. I found my book of names and began searching for something I deemed more suitable. I came across Tristan. It seemed to fit. My book said it meant young prince, plus I had always liked Tristan in the James Herriot books. However, he soon became known as Trissy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I was curious about the Maine Coon breed and wanted to learn more. I looked up Maine Coon cat breeders at work, took the list home, and began calling. The first breeder I spoke with, became very interested when I told her where I lived and that the cat was called Johnny, when I first brought him home. She asked for his description, then told me she wanted to make a phone call and get back to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">About a half hour later, she called. She was the breeder of this cat! She had sold him to a show home, as a kitten, and he was not to have been sold or given away. If his new owner could not keep him, he was to have gone back to her, the breeder. She was not happy. My first thought was, do I have to give him up? But, no, thank goodness, I could keep him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Due to this phone call, I was the recipient of his registration papers and the name of the veterinarian with his medical records. I was able to look up the record of his exam at the veterinary school, and learned of his family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. His grandfather had died of this disease, at age eleven.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Luckily, I had an “in” to get an appointment with the cardiologist, without waiting the normal several months. She checked him out with blood work, radio-graphs, ECG, and cardiac ultrasound. He had only mild thickening of the wall of his left ventricle. She suggested I have him checked every six months, until we knew if this was progressing. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Trissy loved going to work with me, for his check ups. He would ride in the passenger side seat of the pick-up truck like a little dog, his head poked up through the top flap of his soft sided carrier. When we arrived, he could hardly wait to get out and start socializing. I made him wear a little collar, with a small snap and a long pale blue ribbon, so I could catch and retrieve him, if he became frightened.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">He, however, seemed to be afraid of nothing. He would lounge on the desk, standing up to greet clients, as they arrived. At times he would curled up on one of the desk chairs, and sleep peacefully. If I happened to be across the room, Trissy would sometimes look over at me with a great big old kitty grin on his face, as if to say, “Look how everyone is petting me!” And everyone did pay attention to and love him, including the clients. The hospital administrator made the joking comment one day, it was fine that Trissy worked with me, as long as he did not have to pay him, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">One evening at home, I noticed Trissy having difficulty urinating. He would try to go often, but would be unsuccessful. I called the intensive care unit at the veterinary teaching hospital, and spoke with one of the emergency students. We were soon on our way, to have him examined by the resident on call. She diagnosed a urinary blockage, and admitted him to ICU. He needed a urinary catheter. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Since the resident was a friend of mine, I was allowed to stay and be with them during his catheterization. I had not previously realized how difficult it was to place a urinary catheter in a male, or neutered male cat. They struggled for the longest time, getting the catheter started, but then running into the crystals causing the urinary blockage. Thank goodness, Trissy was under sedation and completely out. But being his mom, I was concerned. . . no. . . I was just plain scared, for my boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The resident, even though she was now an ophthalmology resident, had previously worked in an emergency clinic. It was spring, so the student was nearly ready to graduate and begin working. Trissy was in good hands, I had no doubt of that. However, I felt such a sense of relief when the catheter was finally in place, and he was placed in a cage to rest, I nearly cried. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I was able to have long visits, during Trissy’s five day stay in ICU. I was allowed to sit by his cage, with the door open. There, I would rest an arm beside him, and he would lean his head on me, while draping one of his legs over my hand. At other times, he would be on one of the exam tables, so I could cradle him in my arms, and we could touch heads. We would spend several hours a night, being close, comforting each other and cuddling. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The ICU students said he was very quiet, until I came through the door. Then they would hear him start talking. Once they told me they were concerned, because at times he would lie in his cage with his lips slightly parted, as if he might be mouth breathing. I reassured them it was a normal behavior for him, and he was smiling at them, as he often smiled at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">While in ICU, being rather spoiled, Trissy would only eat if he could lick the soft food from my finger. I also, had to dip my finger in his water, so he could lick the drops. I suppose it was the mom taste, or perhaps the closeness. Even after I brought his sport water bottle from home, he would only drink if I was present. I would hold the bottle and he would lick drops. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">At home, if he drank from a bowl, he had to dig beside it, before drinking. Then he would lean way across, no matter what size the bowl. I am sure the water on the far side, was much better. At other times, he would drink by licking water drops from one of his big furry front paws. Many times, I found him with his “hand” in my water glass, helping himself to a drink. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Several months after he came home, I became ill. We had a very small bathroom, and the corner of the sink was so close to the stool, I had to almost turn sideways to get through. One evening, while I was on the stool, vomiting, I felt this big furry paw on my forehead. Trissy was on the corner of the sink with a very concerned look on his face. He was reaching over, touching my forehead, as if he were trying to hold my hair out of the way. It was his turn to care for and comfort me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">This gentle, loving boy became, not only my cat and companion, he became my </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">best friend and life partner. He became the light of my life, and I finally understood the reason his owner, when he was a kitten, was so proud of him!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-74788440660134588322011-10-26T13:13:00.000-07:002011-10-26T13:13:40.492-07:00How to get a treat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Charlotte/P6050004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Charlotte/P6050004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It’s a good thing we don’t live in Buckingham Palace or the White House, because having five cats to keep track of would be a nightmare for mom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Take today for instance …<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today was the day the smoke and fire alarm would be tested in the condo building where we live. Sure enough, around 2:00 p.m. there was a knock on the door and the superintendent announced that someone would be coming to the unit in a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The knock on the door was enough to have Mickey, Charlotte and Gabriel running for cover. Not Charlie, he’s relaxed about anything and everything and not me, (Chanel), because I happen to be under Dieter’s bed already.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don’t know how the smoke and fire alarm was tested, but everything seemed to be in order and shortly afterward the front door closed. That was when mom started her headcount.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She found Mickey, Gabriel, Charlie and me, but where was Charlotte?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She looked in all the usual places: under her bed, behind the cabinet, behind the love seat, but apparently she found nothing because I heard her stomping around the place. She had another look under the bed, checked the linen closet, even opened some kitchen cabinet doors (heaven knows why she did that), but still Charlotte was not to be found.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So she switched to plan B. “Charlotte, where are you?” she called. “Charlotte! Charlotte!” … no answer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Okay then, over to plan C. Mom got the treats out of the kitchen cabinet and rattled with the packet. It’s a plan that never fails. Within seconds Charlotte had materialized, along with the rest of the pack. Yes, me included. We just can’t resist a few treats.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">So all was well that ended well. The smoke and fire alarm worked and thanks to Charlotte we all got a few treats. Is she a clever kitty or what?</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-75390664193010411662011-10-25T10:36:00.000-07:002011-10-25T10:40:00.859-07:00Not the brightest bulb in the box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Gabriel/P2100011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Gabriel/P2100011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">If you have cats, you know what wonderful companions they are. Some cats are among other things, resourceful (they can hunt of they have to); funny (have you seen the amount of cat videos on YouTube?); and smart (just try taking out four treats and only giving three). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">And then, then there’s Gabriel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Ever since he arrived here as a kitten, I knew there was something odd about him. Oh he’s cute alright, but he’s definitely not the brightest bulb in the box. At first everybody excused his lack of smarts due to the fact that he was a baby, but now he’s just over three years old and … well, not much has changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I saw him do something yesterday that made me shake my head in wonder. He lay stretched out in the loveseat having a wash. It started out alright, he groomed his chest, he groomed his belly and paws and then … then he started washing his face, and that’s where it all went wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">He licked his left paw until sufficiently wet and then groomed his face with his right paw. He did this again and again. Then he licked his right paw and groomed his face with his left. It was just the strangest and funniest thing I’ve ever seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">He of course didn’t have a clue. He just kept on licking one paw and wiping his face with the other. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">But it didn’t end there.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Later that day mom and Dieter played a game of ping pong with us. They would throw a ping pong ball and the cats would chase after it. By the cats I mean, Mickey, Charlotte and Charlie. They went in pursuit, I just watched.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Gabriel was there too, but he didn’t get the game. He would see the ball go by, but he didn’t chase it. Not even when it hit him in head. That’s right, the ball bounced and bounced and landed right smack between his ears. And what did Gabriel do? … nothing. He looked at the ball, shook himself and walked away. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;">Being mentored by Mickey sure hasn't done Gabriel any good. Maybe I should take over. Neih, every house needs a comedy act.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-1953740850364905492011-10-18T18:34:00.000-07:002011-10-18T18:34:18.904-07:00Another one bites the dust<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgEvmDyrPslSm7DCJMYWPrxHkKly6iAz21rnF4cnKUYL_shc2HOvqagyA9jXhFQMPu1OzBofavxss-fQziJrmPcqKA7nKtbC_mw4J9T-akmYlwqYLDRewQ02Bx7AQPy4HbQpojZ8_n135/s1600/cat+and+marshmellows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgEvmDyrPslSm7DCJMYWPrxHkKly6iAz21rnF4cnKUYL_shc2HOvqagyA9jXhFQMPu1OzBofavxss-fQziJrmPcqKA7nKtbC_mw4J9T-akmYlwqYLDRewQ02Bx7AQPy4HbQpojZ8_n135/s1600/cat+and+marshmellows.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s been said that shards bring good luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that case, there must be a lot of good luck going around in this house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plates, bowls, cups, ornaments and even lampshades that have met their end due to human or feline clumsiness are too many to mention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just say that this house has quite a few partial dinner and coffee services.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tonight it was a soup plate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One moment it was used to serve me my dinner, the next it was on the floor in several pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Mickey was the culprit and shortly after breaking the plate, he set a new world record in the 50 meter sprint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a bow from an arrow, in a blur of black fur, he shot out of the kitchen and under mom’s bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I went to have a look, I found him crouched in a corner, eyes as big as saucers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t know why he was so scared, it’s not like he was going to be yelled at or punished in any way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he broke a plate, so what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not the first one he broke and my guess is, it won’t be his last.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course, like I said, it’s not always us cats who break things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom and Dieter have broken their share of items too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom’s most memorable breaking accident happened a few years ago and involved a navy blue candle in a glass bowl.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The candle had been burning all evening and when bed time came around, mom blew out the candle and picked up the bowl to put it away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, she wanted to put it away, but the bowl never made it that far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly after mom picked up the bowl, the hot glass burned her fingers and she let go of the bloody thing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">You cannot imagine the mess ... glass and blue wax everywhere!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the wall unit, on the floor, on the carpet ... words cannot describe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dieter actually took a picture of it at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Was the mess cleaned up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the wax had grown hard, it was easy to lift it off the hard surfaces and most of the carpet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To clean up the remainder, the wax was covered with brown paper and ironed with a warm iron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wax was absorbed in the brown paper and so not a trace of wax was left.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m throwing this in just in case one of you ever spills wax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC88xAlXRbztg2QX8Av8fMH1lo120MNW0VSig0tcjU4V46-s3Ox3f8MzCgPeQ7QMfLVhc7cn3twXP-Aeho164Ul-yZlABDuCY_FvPWXwyaz3evXBiwGsW-VRk27Us6xB91n6o3FJKCR6pv/s1600/Kitty+enclosure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC88xAlXRbztg2QX8Av8fMH1lo120MNW0VSig0tcjU4V46-s3Ox3f8MzCgPeQ7QMfLVhc7cn3twXP-Aeho164Ul-yZlABDuCY_FvPWXwyaz3evXBiwGsW-VRk27Us6xB91n6o3FJKCR6pv/s320/Kitty+enclosure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">There are people who have difficulties making up their minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Animals are no different, some also have a little trouble deciding what they want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mickey is a fine example of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Before his adoption, Mickey’s previous owner (Mom’s father), had stated that Mick was a cat who needed a doorman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, no kidding, I’ve seen Mickey at work and he is indeed a handful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">For starters, he cannot stand closed doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Mom or Dieter go into a room and close the door, he will position himself in front of it and start complaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result of his whining is usually that the door is opened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It doesn’t take long though before he whines again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that he’s been let in, he wants to go out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After he’s been let out, he sits by the door and cries again for entrance or scratched the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again it opens, Mickey slips in and a short while later it opens again and Mickey slips out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The same applies for when Mickey wants to go on the balcony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he’s inside, he wants to go outside; when he’s outside he wants to come inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In, out, in, out ... can’t he make up his mind?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t be alarmed when I say that Mickey goes out on the balcony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no danger, as we cats have a kitty run on the balcony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See picture above.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">This talk about going inside and outside actually reminds me of someone ... Debbie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t have a problem as such as to whether she wanted to be inside or out, as she had a problem with a door itself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Debbie was a weasel and tiny as she was, she had a bit of an attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, if someone opened a door for her so she could slip through, she remained in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door would be opened wider, but still Debbie didn’t move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would merely look up and wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only after the door was opened wider still, enough to give access for a fully grown German Sheppard, would madam make her entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t I say she had an attitude?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Debbie passed away a number of years ago, but we remember her very fondly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was good fun to play with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever she was awake, which wasn’t often as weasels sleep on average 18 hours a day, we would chase her around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t feel sorry for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the time she would turn the table on us and we would have to run not to have our tails nipped by her sharp teeth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I remember one time when Charlotte was running after Debbie, chasing her into one of the bedrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moments later Charlotte came sprinting back, with Debbie in hot pursuit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one fluid motion Charlotte jumped onto the sofa and from there onto the dining room table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Debbie thought she could do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She launched herself onto the sofa and took a leap of faith to the dining room table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, Debbie’s ambition was writing checks her little legs couldn’t cash and she plummeted to the floor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">She was okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave herself a little shake and walked away, but she never attempted such a jump again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Such a character she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who knew her, still miss her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Debbie/Debbie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Debbie/Debbie1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For those interested in the kitty run, please visit <a href="http://hsus.petfulfillment.com/">http://hsus.petfulfillment.com</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-87636623066152986132011-09-16T21:46:00.000-07:002011-09-16T21:46:20.882-07:00Can cats tell time?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkett36LLYZLkfazgxFwXJXnRcl_aNii0yQvCGPVtdP5UgQjaMA1XXmUg7OilP2Phbb9tC6YXujwVBfrz3HPfQCAO4yCpSdZh1PoXQ0OMNEMU6AwXE-hJvRTPK5tBskyS8QMhjlTIjjd-3/s1600/alarm+clock+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkett36LLYZLkfazgxFwXJXnRcl_aNii0yQvCGPVtdP5UgQjaMA1XXmUg7OilP2Phbb9tC6YXujwVBfrz3HPfQCAO4yCpSdZh1PoXQ0OMNEMU6AwXE-hJvRTPK5tBskyS8QMhjlTIjjd-3/s1600/alarm+clock+cat.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The other day I saw a sticker that said, “Dogs come when called, cats take a message”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span></span>Yes, cats are smart, but just exactly how smart are they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very smart, let me assure you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Mom and Dieter set an alarm clock every night, to wake them up in the morning, but this is completely unnecessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After years of watching the comings and goings in this house, I know that Dieter has to get up at 6:00 a.m. and he really doesn’t need an alarm to wake him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s got me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every morning, around the time that he has to start his day, I start singing to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Sometimes that's enough to wake him, sometimes </span>my voice brings little or no reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grunts, but he doesn’t move and keeps his eyes tight shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I don’t give up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If singing to him doesn’t help, I switch to plan B ... trampling all over him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walk up his legs, across his back, even over his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result ... more grunting and on occasion irritated “Cha-nel!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No movement though, so now it time for the heavy artillery.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I position myself next to his head, stick me cold wet nose in his ear and go “Krrr, krrr, krrr.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That does it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rises and mumbling makes his way to the bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mission accomplished.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking of which, years ago I had a brother called Floppy who had a wake-up call technique of his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would position himself on top of mom and start with “Krrr, krrr, krrr”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she ignored him he would ever so softly touch her nose with one of his front paws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that didn’t work he would lick her nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that still didn’t have the required result he would, as a last resort, lean over and bite her nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would bring on an irritated “Aaaauw!”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bad news ... her nose would be sore; the good news ... she would be awake.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Floppy performed this ritual every day, but on the sixth day the result was quite different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom would get upset and tell Floppy to leave her alone, that it was weekend and that she wanted to sleep in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, all she had to do was say so.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">From then on, every Friday night, mom would say to Floppy “Flop, don’t wake me tomorrow hu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow is Saturday and the day after it’s Sunday and I don’t have to get up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Floppy understood and slept in too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">So if you’re ever wondering if we cats can tell time or understand you ... you bet we can, we’re smarter than you think.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-63493629644381211452011-09-13T20:15:00.000-07:002011-09-13T20:17:32.316-07:00Another one bites the dust<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">One of cats just broke a lamp. I can’t say for sure who it was, but I have the strongest suspicious that it was Gabriel. Don’t they say that criminals return to the scene of the crime?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8XGY3Lcan0-W_pdfNNfGBJ3c3AcwARuBOzh_tObtoO4vXEBfhMdt_ZsC_3YyK5pmtknau4NpVw2iea3c1tajKDmUeHP6Bza2hSuvLf_64nLnxkxOTwQ2S20b2XuBw-zdkHIPX2X3sMpC/s1600/Gabriel+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8XGY3Lcan0-W_pdfNNfGBJ3c3AcwARuBOzh_tObtoO4vXEBfhMdt_ZsC_3YyK5pmtknau4NpVw2iea3c1tajKDmUeHP6Bza2hSuvLf_64nLnxkxOTwQ2S20b2XuBw-zdkHIPX2X3sMpC/s320/Gabriel+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Fortunately, neither mom nor Dieter were upset about the damage. They even thought they had to take a picture of the culprit and moments later they were laughing. If I could I would have laughed too. I mean, look at Gabriel and Mickey’s eyes ... are they cats or light beacons?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTVYj1rQjb1fpiXJEHUxBE4AP-A9PEYD4EHsuCpkgEAXqArcm_bDerKYSZ6RBjaXQw4XF_vJcoMVfULFFPR-if0oopWQOlQTof-XpMSbK4iCXfoeIW-Ui7SjmLUiTFKO5Anfk4j2Iw768/s1600/Gabriel+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTVYj1rQjb1fpiXJEHUxBE4AP-A9PEYD4EHsuCpkgEAXqArcm_bDerKYSZ6RBjaXQw4XF_vJcoMVfULFFPR-if0oopWQOlQTof-XpMSbK4iCXfoeIW-Ui7SjmLUiTFKO5Anfk4j2Iw768/s320/Gabriel+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">How many things have been broken here I can’t even recall. Lamps, vases, bowls, ornaments ... sooner or later they all bite the dust.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Then again, maybe this is a good thing. Don’t they say that shards bring luck? Mom, be sure to play the Lotto tomorrow.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Seriously though, mom had two identical lampshades on that cabinet and now there’s only one. How much longer will that one live? Your guess is as good as mine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">One thing is for sure, now Gabriel can stretch out to his heart's content. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-30548090071184652282011-09-03T09:56:00.000-07:002011-09-03T09:58:19.603-07:00Getting groomed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Gabriel/Photo-0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Gabriel/Photo-0016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Gabriel/1231091530-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">While Gabriel relaxes from his little adventure, let me give you a little update.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In my previous post I mentioned that Gabriel had matted hair on his chest and that he was going to the vet. Well, not really the vet, the groomer, but he is located in the vet's office.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">That visit happened this morning. First order of business was getting Gabriel in a cat carrier. It’s a good thing mom has two carriers, because the first one was too small (or Gabriel too big).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Off they went in a cab and some 45 minutes later they were back. They following is what I overheard mom telling Dieter.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Gabriel complained about this kind of treatment all the way to the vet’s office. He made himself heard on the way to the elevators; he babbled non-stop in the car; and he continued his protest in the vet’s office. There were a few dogs in the vet's office and they instantly stopped barking when they heard Gabriel's litany.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Since he had an appointment he didn’t have to wait. Mom explained what needed to be done and one of the technicians whisked him away.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Ten minutes later the technician was back, informing mom that Gabriel’s nails were very long and if she could trim them. The okay was given. As long as he was there, might as well make the most of it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">When Gabriel was delivered back to the reception area, the technician informed mom that Gabriel had been as good as gold. Apparently the technician’s helper had scooped him up in her arms and from there on Gabriel didn’t care what happened to him. He didn’t bit or scratch, he didn’t even complain, he just lay back and let the knots be shaved from his fur.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">When Gabe was home again, he got some treats. Well, we all got some, but I think he got a few extra. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The cost of this little adventure ... $16,61.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-34345905336048359792011-08-28T11:27:00.000-07:002011-08-28T11:27:50.427-07:00A bad hair day<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEoDvM3Gr8KO1AkavtQU1jxjPXSFEee0xs41n3H5rruBlREhXqFHkDs97uP-y_34wpS4nhwOevE_IMFbDeMVzbmT55UMwpfkk7vC9jEghepzSIuVy1WzeTSYqUaHIEeh7kA0OmfRg981E/s1600/Gabriel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEoDvM3Gr8KO1AkavtQU1jxjPXSFEee0xs41n3H5rruBlREhXqFHkDs97uP-y_34wpS4nhwOevE_IMFbDeMVzbmT55UMwpfkk7vC9jEghepzSIuVy1WzeTSYqUaHIEeh7kA0OmfRg981E/s320/Gabriel+1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">As you can see Gabriel is in a bad mood. From what I hear he's going to the vet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to worry, his not sick or injured, he’s going to the vet because of his hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a bit matted.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Mom tried to shave him herself, but that didn’t work at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning was actually the second time she attempted to do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first time she tried to do so in the kitchen and all was fine until she switched on the shaver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gabriel got a fright, ran like the wind and went into hiding.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Mom proceeded to consult some of her cat friends, who all told her the same thing: take the cat in the bathroom, have someone hold him by the scruff of his neck and then quickly do the shaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah right.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Like I said, this morning mom gave it another shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took Gabriel in the bathroom and Dieter went along to hold him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seconds after I heard the shaver being switched on WWIII broke out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Gabriel left the bathroom first (in a bit of a hurry I might add), followed by mom and Dieter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They agreed right there and then that taking Gabriel to the vet might be a better idea.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though I have no personal experience in this matter, I do know that the pros have a way of handling pets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do this sort of thing every day, so they know what they’re doing, and this in turn puts us pets more at ease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">It makes sense I suppose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Humans go to the baker for bread; consult a plumber for a leaky pipe; and go to a stylist when they need a haircut; so why where it comes to pet care do they think themselves qualified to handle the job themselves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-58055369576550154392011-08-27T19:02:00.000-07:002011-08-27T19:02:13.265-07:00Hurricane Irene<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDI858QbnFg4iZ2d6qol0IJKSLDu7x-h8skY8aX7g5J6JmquLmmx_c5U6owaGHA9yXk39Lot6gBUtpHn5uFjYsqYRfOcTO2cFSpgCQ1lO5r6W-83BrG0GlYNceIIorJ2ADLCWpyQ_O_1W/s1600/Irene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDI858QbnFg4iZ2d6qol0IJKSLDu7x-h8skY8aX7g5J6JmquLmmx_c5U6owaGHA9yXk39Lot6gBUtpHn5uFjYsqYRfOcTO2cFSpgCQ1lO5r6W-83BrG0GlYNceIIorJ2ADLCWpyQ_O_1W/s320/Irene.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">From what I hear hurricane Irene is passing along the east coast of the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just saw mom reading a report that 380,000 people in New York have left their homes to seek safety in shelters or move to homes of family and friends.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I image that people in North Caroline, Virginia and other states have done the same, left their homes to seek shelter elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While a hurricane of that magnitude is certainly frightening, I wonder how many people gave any thought to their pets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did they take their cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters and other animals with them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The news reports about people who lost their lives and material damages, but seldom or never is any attention given to animals who died in natural, or man-made disasters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not only thinking of cats, dogs and other pets, but also about cows, horses, pigs, chickens and other livestock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">When hurricane Irene has come and gone, and we mourn those who lost their lives, let’s take a moment to remember out furry friends too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-38965871373709029372011-08-15T10:32:00.000-07:002011-08-15T10:32:49.749-07:00The importance of an up-to-date passport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPF3A5irq1hWfMJhzvktzESp3L5Yx1Sk7g9Ano1WeeXK09AkIc8w6p-bZLQ_7lWtLjLjYfQLJgkKZYW9CBFaX_L_sA4_BYsSXOq5jZLK9Wg0aAIVYrQWvdV4R0qWwCXCQUTK3ZXqnSRRJY/s1600/Passport+kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPF3A5irq1hWfMJhzvktzESp3L5Yx1Sk7g9Ano1WeeXK09AkIc8w6p-bZLQ_7lWtLjLjYfQLJgkKZYW9CBFaX_L_sA4_BYsSXOq5jZLK9Wg0aAIVYrQWvdV4R0qWwCXCQUTK3ZXqnSRRJY/s320/Passport+kitty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Oh mother, now what did you do! It has come to my attention that you didn't renew your passport on time. Now you're stuck in Belgium and we have to wait another two or three days for your return. That's humans for you, careless and irresponsible. But speaking of passports ... mom once ... well, I'll let her tell you the story herself.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-------</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I never gave my passport photo much thought. I figured if I could recognize myself, then others would too. Then I attended a lecture on the importance of using current identification, and saw passport photos in a whole different light.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The speaker at this lecture was Phillip, a jovial, middle aged man, born and bred in St. Louis, Missouri. As a financial consultant, overseeing several accountants, he has traveled the world and has learned from his mistakes. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I can't stress the importance of up-to-date identification enough," he informed us. "Never mind if you don't look beautiful or even remotely attractive in your passport picture. Look at your passport, or other identification picture, and ask yourself, am I recognizable in my photo?" He then proceeded to tell everyone why this is so important.</div><div class="googleArticleAd" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="adSpacer"> </div></div><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Phillip related his experience during a visit to Israel fifteen years ago and his audience hung onto his every word.</div><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"If I had known then what I know now, I never would have traveled with an outdated passport photo," he started. "I had no trouble leaving for Tel-Aviv from St. Louis, and was treated with professional courtesy by my business associates, but returning to the States proved to be a nightmare."</div><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He recounted that the trouble started at Ben Gurion airport when he handed his passport to the customs officer for inspection. The male officer took one look at his photo, then he carefully looked at Phillip, and his brown withered face morphed into a mask of hostility. </div><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"What is this?" he barked.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"My passport," Phillip had replied politely.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Your passport?" the customs officer had said in a mixture of disbelief and contempt. "You want me to believe that this is you? This is not your passport. Look at this man. This man looks nothing like you."</div><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Phillip smiled at first because the customs officer had a point. In the passport picture he was a few years younger and sporting an afro, while his hair at the time of the Israel visit was shorter, and due to the lack of a hair dryer, teasing comb and lacquer, considerably less voluminous.</div><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He was taken aside and led to a tiny windowless room. After a while five men walked in, four surrounded him with guns, while the fifth one starting firing questions at him in a language he didn't understand. When Phillip said that he didn't understand them, the leader of the group turned to English and instructed for him to remove his clothing. Phillip thought this rather odd, but complied.</div><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When ordered, at gunpoint, to remove his underwear too, he was not so compliant. More so, he was now severely ticked off and at a point where he didn't care anymore what happened to him.</div><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"No !@#$ way," he swore. "There is no !@#$ way I'm taking this off. You can !@#$ shoot me if you want, but I'm not taking this off. I don't know you well enough for that."</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Much to his surprise, within minutes he was let go.</div><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">From what he was told his attitude and bad language had saved him. Apparently, only real Americans can swear with such gusto.</div><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Needless to say, as soon as he arrived home he had his passport picture updated.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-84143176329873768272011-08-14T13:50:00.000-07:002011-08-14T13:51:45.625-07:00How to safely travel with a catAfter a week in Belgium, mom is coming home tomorrow. I'm purring in anticipation. Dieter took good care of us cats, but the place wasn't the same without her.<br />
The last time mom went to Belgium was for the funeral of her mother and she came home with a cat ... Mickey.<br />
In the following, mom tells the story of how Mickey come to us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Mickey/Photo-0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/lcat2004/Mickey/Photo-0011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstrPkW0wmssSedWYXOEH687vu09OjqJPw3a_OUTFT-VPu6hqq0Nb3xvJYuIP4gifEKjOuxJ5r5_718nLE3cNyO0fm6YShw8E3XLGyZ82jledwpfkFo_m20gqyDiUkKsola4Rnn_rrVKdZ/s1600/IMG-20110721-00067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>When my mother died and my father applied to go into a nursing home, a new home had to be found for Mickey, their ten month old cat. It was not easy. If Mickey had been a kitten he might have had a chance, but as a fully grown cat, nobody was willing to give him a new home.<br />
<br />
Taking my parent's beloved cat to a shelter was, as far as I was concerned, not an option. There was only thing left to do; I decided to take him back with me to Canada.<br />
<br />
My research brought a few surprises.<br />
I started off by phoning KLM and asking them a few questions:<br />
Would I be able to keep Mickey with me in the plane or would he be traveling in the cargo space?<br />
What sort of carrier was required?<br />
If Mickey traveled in the cargo space, would there be heating and was there some kind of supervision?<br />
<br />
The representative asked me some questions:<br />
How heavy was Mickey?<br />
In what sort of carrier would he be traveling?<br />
<br />
Mickey, I told her, was about five pounds and had a spacious hard plastic carrier. This qualified him to travel in the cargo space.<br />
In the cargo space there would be suitable air pressure, heating and some supervision. One of the flight attendants would check up on the animals during flight.<br />
<br />
The only time an animal qualifies to travel with the other passengers is when the animal is less than 2.5 pounds and travels in a soft carrier. In Mickey's case this would not be a good idea. He would be much more comfortable in his spacious carrier, where he could stretch out and sleep in peace and quiet.<br />
<br />
One last question was if Mickey would need any sedatives on the day of the journey. "No," I was told, "sedatives do more harm than good with a cat. Dogs need sedatives when traveling, but cats can handle a plane journey very well."<br />
<br />
To be on the safe side I decided to get a second opinion and phoned a veterinarian. She told me exactly the same thing as the KLM representative. Mickey did not need any medication.<br />
<br />
Next I checked his passport. To my relief I saw entries required by law- inoculations and a Rabies shot.<br />
<br />
On the day of the journey I placed some food, a bottle of water, and two plastic containers in his carrier and we were all set to go. I was in for a bit of an adventure. Lugging around the airport with a suitcase (on wheels), a heavy bag, and a cat carrier was not exactly a walk in the park.<br />
<br />
Still, at Schiphol, Amsterdam's airport, I found a trolley where I could load my suitcase, bag and carrier and this set of wheels made the walking and standing in line at the luggage check-in a lot more comfortable.<br />
<br />
Once my suitcases were off my hands it was time to send Mickey on his merry way. For this I had to be at another counter where a KLM representative took Mickey's details and prepared the carrier with safety handling instructions.<br />
"Not to worry," she told me. "Mickey will be well looked after." And, he must have been, because when we landed at Pearson's airport in Toronto, Mickey appeared completely relaxed. I, on the other hand, was not quite so relaxed. <br />
<br />
Once again I was lugging around a suitcase, a bag and a heavy cat carrier, but without a helpful trolley. Suitcase trolleys were available, but required $1 for use. I didn't have $1. I had plenty of Euros, but no Canadian dollars.<br />
<br />
Hot and sweaty I went through passport control and was then asked to present Mickey at "Live Animal Control" for inspection. Lucky this didn't take long and required no effort. <br />
Mickey was healthy and alert and with his passport in order, he was let into the country with no problems.<br />
Mickey was, at last, on his way to his new home.<br />
<br />
More of mom's articles can be found at <a href="http://www.helium.com/users/edit_show_articles/380634">http://www.helium.com/users/edit_show_articles/380634</a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-41771656356442813392011-08-12T11:27:00.000-07:002011-08-12T11:27:01.613-07:00Adopt from a shelter or a breeder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20KxSBidbDwoXsLL7TlQvBE2uVetAbUlSJQlLy0s95BcYUwx_ao7o0SrzPqSDWcukf1Ekp4MFbF-AQI8e-z1R3YMu-FACHFv2i4Zrq4WhB8RXbfFqO2ALy1ZDLoObRg6li5v9JZCokuMT/s1600/Cat+in+cage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20KxSBidbDwoXsLL7TlQvBE2uVetAbUlSJQlLy0s95BcYUwx_ao7o0SrzPqSDWcukf1Ekp4MFbF-AQI8e-z1R3YMu-FACHFv2i4Zrq4WhB8RXbfFqO2ALy1ZDLoObRg6li5v9JZCokuMT/s1600/Cat+in+cage.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yesterday we talked about toys, today we're gonna take on a more serious subject. The subject of adopting from a shelter or a breeder. Since I was a shelter cat once, I feel I should bring the problem of over populated shelters to your attention. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When considering adopting a shelter pet or a purebred pet, you might want to ask yourself how far you are willing to open your wallet. Do you want to spend $500 to $1,500 for a purebred animal? Or, $0 to $120 for a shelter pet?</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It sounds good, doesn't it, saving all that money? And, it gets even better.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An added bonus when adopting from a shelter is that the fee includes spaying/neutering; and most times, required vaccinations are also current. When buying a pet from a breeder, this is not the case.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With a global problem of overpopulation of <a class="sumLink" href="http://pet-ownership.helium.com/topic/8065-cats-and-dogs">cats and dogs</a>, spaying/neutering is not only the right thing to do, but the responsible thing to do. Shelters know this and have introduced the free spaying/neutering program.</span></div><div class="googleArticleAd" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="adSpacer"> </div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Knowing that so many homeless pets need a loving home, does it really make sense to fork out hundreds of dollars on a purebred pet? Have you ever visited a shelter or looked at pictures of shelter pets on-line? Does your heart not bleed just a little bit seeing the miserable faces of so many <a class="sumLink" href="http://pet-ownership.helium.com/topic/8065-cats-and-dogs">cats and dogs</a>? Can you look into their sad green or brown eyes and turn away?</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What makes a purebred animal so much better than these cats and dogs? Both are fury, with a head, a body, four legs and a tail. Both will be your faithful, loving friend for years to come.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If a kitten or a puppy does not appeal to you, there are plenty of adult pets eager for your company. Some of these older cats and dogs were birthday or Christmas presents, only to be cast aside when they grew out of their cute stage. They were banned to a life outside, exposed to the elements, with minimal food and water. They were yelled at, kicked at and had to endure a variety of other abuse and neglect. Where is the love they once received when they were kittens and puppies?</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can change their lives. You can give them what they had to do without for so long and crave the most - love and attention.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By adopting a pet from a shelter you do more than gaining a friend, you save a life. Now, wouldn't that make you feel good? In the eyes of Fluffy or Fido you would be a hero. And don't think they don't know it, they do and they will be ever so grateful.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now as for purebred animals, it is true that they come with a pedigree which is probably longer than yours. But do those papers make any difference to you? Do Fluffy or Fido's parents and grandparents really matter? If you were considering a racehorse I would say okay,' the <a class="sumLink" href="http://family.helium.com/topic/3408-family-tree">family tree</a> is important; but we are talking about a cat or a dog, a rabbit or a hamster!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look into your heart.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look into your soul.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look into your wallet.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What do you see?</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When adopting a purebred animal you will see a lot less in your wallet. And perhaps at night you might see a shelter animal invade your dreams and ask, "Why didn't you adopt me?"</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207568022779414006.post-65963617109359739552011-08-11T11:11:00.000-07:002011-08-11T11:11:03.942-07:00Cat Toys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4U1lcXtBIghJXUKHv-Y6N0Bm6ie2RFk7LHqe15xUAHC3uBXIVdU4LwU0Zkq-dr2bsDL-V_czf_4rNj8jpvqG2epT0dmfCn7BN54swiWlfDbfCZY-W3S_rgyKpaHntv7I_owGCUVLKn66/s1600/Cat+with+toy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4U1lcXtBIghJXUKHv-Y6N0Bm6ie2RFk7LHqe15xUAHC3uBXIVdU4LwU0Zkq-dr2bsDL-V_czf_4rNj8jpvqG2epT0dmfCn7BN54swiWlfDbfCZY-W3S_rgyKpaHntv7I_owGCUVLKn66/s1600/Cat+with+toy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm feeling a little bored, so perhaps this is a good time to talk about cat toys. <span>Cat toys serve more than one purpose. Not only are they entertainment for your cat, they keep kitty mentally stimulated and provide exercise.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Popular Cat Toys</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>What do cats like to play with? Just about anything and everything. Anything that can move is a potential cat toy. Like people, no two cats are the same; but fake mice and balls are the two most popular cat toys. Some cats like toys stuffed with a little catnip, others are completely indifferent to the herb.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Cats are not the most active creatures and have to be encouraged to play. Not only is playing a much needed distraction, playtime benefits the cat's health. The physical activity of running and jumping gets the heart rate going, the blood pumping and is exercise for the muscles. Playtime is also a vital part of relationship building. While cat toys are great, your cat will most appreciate you taking part in the game too.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Cat Toys That Challenge Your Pet</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Cats are clever and need to be mentally stimulated. Some popular cat toys are:</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>* Rump and Roll</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>* Crackling Hide and Seek Sack</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>* Leopards Den Kitty Cat Teaser</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>* Laser Mouse and of course the</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>* Cat Tree</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>The Laser Mouse in particular will provide hours of fun. Cats are predators and even the most docile cat feels the need to hunt. Trying to catch the red dot of the Laser Mouse presents the perfect opportunity. Whether directed to the floor or a wall, a cat will chase this dot and never grow bored of this game. A clever pet owner will allow kitty to catch the dot, and praise her for its accomplishment.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>For those who don't have a lot of money to spend, Wal-Mart and on-line pet stores always have discount cat toys. An excess of a certain brand of toy, a new shipment, or a special promotion usually is the cause for discounted items. Interacting with members of a cat forum can also be a great way to pick-up on special offers and ideas.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>One has to be aware of dangers in discounted pet toys though. You may question why the price of a cat toy seems low. Are the eyes, nose, whiskers or feathers on the toy secured, or can kitty bite them off? You don't want these small items ending up in your cat's throat. No matter the price, choosing quality items is always preferable.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Handy pet owners with a <a href="http://yarn-needle-crafts.helium.com/topic/4469-sewing-machines"><span style="color: blue;">sewing machine</span></a> can make their own creations. Whether it's a mouse or a bird or even a simple pillow, if stuffed with a little catnip it's sure to have you cat's attention.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>With a little ingenuity, you can even make a cat tree yourself. All it takes is a few pieces of left-over carpet, some wood, and if you lack the expertise, a conversation with a knowledgeable handyman at your local hardware store.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Not willing to spend any money? The packaging of your new lamp or new pair of shoes will fascinate your kitty. They can hide in them, push them around, and after playtime curl up in them. Some form of paper is probably the cheapest of all cat toy possibilities. Whether it's a brown paper bag or a scrunched up newspaper, for you it is a cast off, but for your cat it is a toy.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Cats are quickly bored and more than one item should be available to them. Another good idea is to rotate their toys. When they appear to become bored with a toy, put it away for awhile and then re-introduce it at a later time.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Keep in mind that your love and attention is the most valuable and the best cat toy of them all.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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