Fun Time

First of all I want to thank Zoolatry for sending me this really neat award. I love it.

You won't believe it, but after all that great advice on cameras, Mom went and bought another cheap point-and-shoot and here is the first picture from it.

Karen Jo: I was tired of being without a camera. This is just a stopgap while I do some research and find out what camera is really best for me. At least I can take pictures again.

I think Mom has given up on trying to sneak healthy stuff into my food. I have just been getting my yummy Stinky Goodness and sardines and treats from what she is eating.

Karen Jo: I didn't give up, Herman. I have been sneaking The Missing Link into your Stinky Goodness since Monday night. I think you must like it, because you hardly leave any Stinky Goodness to get dry any more.

I've been getting healthy stuff since Monday? Wow! Who knew that healthy stuff could make Stinky Goodness taste even better? Tonight was steak night and Mom gave me little bites until I didn't want any more.

When Mom was out buying her new camera, she bought me some new toys, too. She found a Cat Dancer and a Pawbreaker. I like both of them. I actually reached up for the Cat Dancer for a while and I chased the Pawbreaker all over the living room. A Pawbreaker is a ball made out of compressed catnip. I can lick it and chew on it, as well as chase it. I have licked it a little, but mostly I like to chase it and smell it.

Karen Jo: I am going to keep an eye on it. If it gets to be small, I will take it away and get you a new one. I don't want any choking problems. I was glad to see you so active with the Cat Dancer. It's a shame it didn't last long. Do you just not have much stamina?

I don't know. I just know that I love to play for a few minutes, then I lose interest.

I have come to love being brushed so much that I roll over on my back and let Mom brush my tummy, even between my back legs. She even gets a couple of strokes in on my butt, but I don't allow more than a couple. I come right up to her whenever she picks up the brush.

Karen Jo: I think that between the brushing and The Missing Link, your fur is beginning to look better. It still sticks out in every direction, but I think I detect just a hint of a shine in your coat. The curly look is going away, too. The fur on your back no longer falls into waves after I brush it. I think you are beginning to get a little bit healthier, Herman.

That's cool. I am all for being healthy, as long as my food tastes really good and doesn't upset my tummy.

Award

I got this really great award from Puddin a while ago. Mom took forever to find time to blog about it. The rules have changed a little bit from when Mom got it, but she likes the original wording of the rules, so she is going to use that, but change the number of blogs that you have to pass it on to. Here are the rules:

"When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she is. Choose a minimum of 10 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including have no idea who you are because you don’t have 10 friends. Show the 10 random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Weblog.” Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. List at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on! "

It's not going to be easy to find ten things that we haven't already told you about me, but here goes:

1. I am really a very affectionate cat, but it has to be on my terms. If I come to Mom for petting, that's great. If she comes to me, I put the bitey on her.

2. I like scrambled eggs.

3. I like sharp cheddar.

4. I have two white stripes on my chin, going from the corners of the white triangle on my face.

5. I don't like roast beef, but I love steak.

6. I actually watch the TV screen sometimes when I'm lying on the bed with Mom.

7. I like mayonnaise. I even tried to lick it off the bread when Mom was making a sandwich.

8. I would never make it into the Naughty Kitty's Club. Mom left the Temptations out all night where I could get to them and I never touched them.

9. I finally connected scratching on my platform with getting a Temptation, so now I lead Mom to my platform when I want to scratch to make sure she sees me.

10. I dislike being picked up.

Now for the ten blogs to pass this award on to:

Friends Furever

Parker

The Monkeys

Cory

Cheysuli and Gemini

Max the Psychokitty

Daisy the Curly Cat and Harley

Brandi

Pierro

Tyler

Award

My lazy Mom is finally getting around to posting about my second award, which Cat of Nine Tales gave me a long time ago.  Thank you so much.  This award was started by The Scholastic Scribe to celebrate their two hundredth post two years ago.  To read more about the award go here.  Here are the rules for this award:

1. Each Superior Scribbler (SS) must pass the Award on to 5 deserving blogger friends

2. Each SS must link the author and name of the blog from whom he/she received the award.

3. Each SS must display the award on his/her blog and link to the post which explains the award.

4. Each SS is asked to visit the post which explains the award and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List (I just made a comment - I couldn't figure out how to add to the Mr. Linky list.)

5. Each SS must post these rules on his/her blog.


I would like to pass this award along to:

Angel and Kirby

Everycat

Mark's Mews 

Tiger Lily's Pad

Cat with a Garden 

New Sleepy Spot

I found a new place to nap.  There is a really comfy rug in the kitchen by the washing machine and dryer.  I like to nap there while Mom is doing her boring blogging.  Her room is really crowded and there isn't room for me to watch her blog except in the rocking chair and I don't like it.  The funny thing is that Mom couldn't find me for the longest time and kept wondering where I was.

Karen Jo: It's dark in the kitchen and I supposed that you would be in the living room where the light is.  It makes sense that you would want to nap where it's dark.  I am really glad that you have white feet, so I can see you in the hall with the lights off.

I am, too.  At least you don't kick me any more.  White stuff fell out of the sky again and Mom put on those big clompy boots.  This time I wasn't scared of them because Mom has gotten a lot more careful about where she puts her huge feet.

Karen Jo:  It just took me a little time to adjust my walking to being aware that there is a kitty in the house and I need to look to see if he is right in front of me.  I am glad that you aren't afraid of my boots any more.  In fact, you don't seem to be afraid of anything any more.  Does that mean that you are totally settled in now?

Yeah.  I feel comfortable and safe here now, so I don't have to be afraid of anything at all.  I even talk back to the ravens that you keep giving my food to.

Karen Jo:  I only give them what you don't eat.  If you let your Stinky Goodness get all dried up, then I will give it to the ravens.  They will eat it, along with the bits of sardine that you leave behind.

I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I guess it's better than throwing it away.

Karen Jo: Thank you to everyone who gave me advice about what to look for in a camera and which cameras you like.  I will do some research and try to get a new camera soon.

Mancat Monday

Karen Jo:  No picture today as I think the camera is officially dead.  Herman was looking cute, so I got the camera, but he charged in to play with it, so I turned it off.  It refused to turn back on, even with fresh out of the package batteries.  Anyone have any suggestions for a camera for a person who isn't very good with cameras?

Mom got me a new toy tonight.  It's a ball that flashes when it rolls.  I like it a lot.  I chased it under both sofas and Mom got it back out for me.  Then we played with one of my little plastic balls for a while.  I really confused Mom a little while ago.  I went to her room and then ran down the hall like I do when I want her to play with me.  Then I ran to the wall under the window in the living room and started really sniffing it.  When I finished that, I jumped up on the window sill and looked out the window very intently.  Mom couldn't see anything out there.

Karen Jo:  I was surprised that you jumped up on the window sill.  It's only 4 1/2 inches wide.  I wish I knew what was so interesting out there.

Mom gave me turkey today instead of a sardine.  I didn't eat much of it.

Karen Jo: I thought you might like a change.  You have only been eating about half of your sardine.  I'll give you a sardine again tomorrow.  We need to find something to talk about other than food.

Why?  Food is my favorite subject.

Camera Problems

Karen Jo:  I am afraid that my little point and shoot camera is dying.  I have been using rechargeable batteries in it, but the last time I recharged the batteries and put them in the camera, I only got one photo before the camera refused to turn on any more.  I charge up four batteries at a time, so I put the other two batteries in and the camera wouldn't turn on.  I blamed the batteries and got some regular camera batteries and got one photo with the first two and nothing at all with the second two.  I bought some more regular camera batteries tonight and the camera is working, but just barely.  On a more fun note, Herman has discovered the camera strap and getting pictures of him is getting more difficult.

I am feeling really good now and have been eating like I am starving.  I ate a whole can of Stinky Goodness before Mom left for work.

Karen Jo:  Your Missing Link came in today, but I am not going to start adding it to your food until next week.  I am thinking of adding an eighth of a teaspoon to a can of Stinky Goodness to begin with and see how that works.  I don't want any more tummy upsets.  I can see that I still have a lot to learn about taking good care of you.

Ha!  We'll see what happens.  So far I have detected any healthy stuff you wanted to put in my Stinky Goodness and refused to eat any of it.

Karen Jo: I hope I can get some more fatty acids into you somehow.  It's not just your fur that can be affected.  If you don't get enough fatty acids it can affect your eyes and gums, too.  You want to be healthy, don't you?

I guess so, but mostly I just want my tasty Stinky Goodness.

A Little Scare

Mom didn't take any new pictures of me, so here is one that she took a while ago and didn't use.  I caused Mom a bit of concern Thursday and Friday.  Thursday morning I had bad diarrhea and she chased me around with wet paper towels.  I hated that.

Karen Jo:  You had poop all over your bottom and I had to clean it off.  I could tell how much you hated it, but you were pretty good about letting me clean you off, even though it took three tries.  You did threaten to bite me the third time, but you didn't.

I went and hid for a couple of hours after than and didn't eat much all day.

Karen Jo:  You didn't even want to share me steak, which is highly unusual.

I told Mom I wanted my breakfast early Friday morning, but then I didn't eat it.  I only ate half my sardine later and when Mom came in to make her lunch, I barfed.

Karen Jo:  I am so glad that you always barf on the plastic mats I put under your food dishes.  It makes it really easy to clean it up.  I got worried that you weren't eating much at all and didn't want to play, though you did come over for your brushing.  You had me worried and while I was at work, I made arrangements to have you go to the v-e-t, if you weren't feeling better by Saturday morning.

I am all better now.  I met Mom at the door when she got home from work and really talked to her about how hungry I was.  I hadn't eaten my stinky goodness, but Mom got me some fresh and I ate it all up and wanted some more.  By now I have eaten almost all of that and told Mom that I want some more before bedtime. After I ate, I tore around the house like my tail was on fire and wanted to play and play.

Karen Jo:  I am really glad that you are all better now.  I wonder if that Newman's Own food I gave you on Wednesday upset your tummy.  Something sure did and that was the only new thing that you ate recently.  You will be glad to hear that you don't have to go the the v-e-t after all.

Yay!

Thursday Thoughts

The salt and pepper shakers that Mom won in Fiona's auction arrived yesterday.  Mom loves them.  She let me sniff them and I really checked them out.  Then I knocked them over and rolled them around on the carpet a little.

Mom brushes me all over every day, but I don't like her brushing my legs.  My mats are tiny ones just below my elbows on my forelegs, in the short fur.  Mom has tried brushing them, but I pull my legs away from her.  She did get one mat cut out yesterday and will try for the other one tomorrow.  Mom can't figure out how I got mats in my short fur.  My tummy is now touchable, at least down to the white spot between my back legs.  If Mom goes into the white area, I put the bitey on her.  I used to put the bitey on her if she touched my tummy at all, but now I enjoy having it petted a little.

Mom tried out some Newman's Own Turkey and Vegetables on me and I ate it all up.

Karen Jo:  I just hope it doesn't turn out like the Meow Mix singles.  You loved those the first time I bought them, then refused to eat any of it the second time I bought them.

Mom and I played ball a lot today.  We had a lot of fun, both before and after she went to work. When I tried to cuddle with her last night, she started making weird noises and I went back to the big room for a while.

Karen Jo:  I had an allergy attack, Herman.  The weird noises were sneezing.  The (bad word omitted) juniper trees have decided that it's spring already.  That's why I didn't blog last night.  It's hard to type and sneeze at the same time.  Luckily my allergy medicine quieted it down some and you came back to sleep with me,

Tummy Tuesday

I finally let Mom get the tummy shot she wanted.  How's that for floof?  You can see my PTU in the background.  Mom puts a treat or two in it every morning, but I don't trust it.  I always keep one back foot outside, so Mom can't close the door on me.  I finally forgave Mom last night when it was time for bed.  I jumped in bed with her for snuggle time.  She got home really late tonight and I was all excited that she was home.  I did try to pull a fast one on her, though.  She gave me my stinky goodness and I sniffed it and backed away from it, then started up a very pitiful meowing about how I wanted something different.  Unfortunately, Mom didn't fall for it.  She told me that I could eat it or not eat it, but that I was all I was getting.  I ate it about ten minutes later.

I really wanted to play with Mom tonight.  I kept racing up and down the hall until she finally joined me for playtime.  She said something dumb about having to get out of her work clothes first.  We played with a ball and my mouse wand and the feather wand and then the red bug.  I got a couple of treats and lots of petting.  Mom found small pair of scissors with blunt tips, so she is going to try to get my little mats off my elbows tomorrow.  Ha!  Good luck with that!  I don't like her messing with the fur on my legs.

Mancat Monday

Mom was trying to get a picture of my floofy tummy, but I decided that I was very interested in the camera, so she got my face instead.  Mom has started giving me smaller portions of stinky goodness and sometimes I eat it all up.  She has started just giving me more when I ask for it, instead of putting out more when I finish what is in my dish. This seems to be working better.  Daisy suggested that I may not get really hungry because there is food out all the time and I can always nibble.  This is exactly what I do.  I rarely eat much at any one time, but I eat very often.  Mom is feeding me this way because this is the way my foster Mom told her to feed me.  Mom isn't sure if this is the best way to feed me, but it has been working so far.  I have gained a bit of weight, which is a good thing for a cat with FeLV.

Karen Jo:  I will start looking for healthier food for Herman soon, but the only healthy-type food I have found in town is Newman's Own and I haven't read the label yet.  I did order Herman some The Missing Link powder to put on his food to add some vitamins and fatty acids.  I tried to order the ingredients for Dr. Pritchard's Healthy Powder, but when I tried to order the brewer's yeast for cats a warning came up that this cannot be shipped to New Mexico.  I will try to find the other ingredients a bit later.  I want to make Herman some of the mackerel loaf, as that sounds really good for him.

I wouldn't play with Mom today.  She put on her work uniform and I think I recognized it.  I didn't want her to go back to work.  I wouldn't even play with her when she got home, though I did let her pet me some.  I just wanted my dinner.  I ate up the stinky goodness she gave me, then meowed for some more about an hour later.  She gave it to me and I ate some of it.  Other than wanting to be fed, I have been mostly ignoring her.  I guess I feel a bit sulky about being left alone again while she goes to work.  I really got used to having her around all the time.

Karen Jo:  I'm sorry, Herman, but I have to go to work.  You will get used to the routine again.  I hope you won't stay sulky long.  I miss playing with you.

Keeping Mom Guessing

Mom finally got the picture of my buffet uploaded.  From left to right I have Friskies Seafood Sensations, stinky goodness, Purina crunchies and Purina Kitten Chow (for the extra protein).  Mostly I eat the Friskies and the stinky goodness, but lately I have only been eating about half of the stinky goodness that she gives me.  I am not going hungry.  I have been eating more of the dry food and Mom gives me a sardine every morning and bites of what she eats.  Yesterday a got a couple of bites of fish and several bites of steak.  Today I got another bite of fish, which I didn't like so much because it was leftovers and some nice pork roast, which I ate all up.  We will see what happens tomorrow when Mom goes back to work and I go back to only getting fed twice a day.  I am getting a little fat and sassy.  I love to lead Mom to my food dishes and meow and meow at her.  Sometimes I get something really good.  Most of the time I just get told that I have already been fed and I should just eat what I have.  I love my drinking fountain.  I have been drinking and peeing lots, which makes Mom happy, because that will help keep me well.

Today I actually asked to play with Da Bird by pawing it off the couch.  We had lots of fun.  I didn't play with my other toys much today and didn't even want to chase my ball.  I mostly wanted to play with Mom's hand and get lots of petting.  I have mostly learned to keep my claws in when I play with Mom's hand.  Today I even made biscuits on her hand without using my claws.  That made Mom laugh.  I let Mom brush me with my new brush lots today and lots of fur came out.  I still have tiny mats at my elbows on both forepaws.  The brush doesn't do anything to them because the fur is so short there.  Mom is scared to try cutting them off because I move so much when she touches my legs. We played a little game where she petted my forelegs and I mostly let her. Maybe I will stop jerking my front legs away when she touches them and she can cut out my little mats.

I jumped up on the couch beside Mom for some petting today, but I still don't want to sit in her lap.  That's OK with Mom.  She was told that I wasn't a lap cat before she adopted me.  I am a snuggle cat, though.  When she wakes up in the morning, I am always snuggled up right beside her.  That's if I'm not standing on her stomach asking her if it's time for breakfast yet.  The best thing of all is that Mom never gets mad at me.  Oh, she's told me to get down off the kitchen counter or to get my nose out of her dinner, but she never yells. I only stick my nose in her dinner when she eats in front of the TV.  I have learned not to jump up on the table, but when she's not eating at the table, anything goes, right?

Food on Friday

No picture today because the camera batteries died when Mom was trying to upload the picture of my buffet.  I am doing a good job of keeping Mom guessing about what I like to eat.  She tried some of the Meow Mix singles on me and the first time I ate them right up.  The next time I ate about half of them and let the rest dry up.  Today I just licked up the gravy of the first half of the package and let the rest dry up.  Mom gave me the second half just a little while ago and I let go with a kitty cuss word that she hadn't heard before.  It's a good think that I have my crunchy food to fall back on.  I also absolutely refuse to eat anything with cod liver oil on it, too.

Karen Jo:  You are being unpredictable, all right.  I won't buy any more Meow Mix for you.  Better not let Max know that you are turning up your nose at stinky goodness with shrimp in it.  I will find a way to get more fatty acids in you yet.  I'm off to order some supplements for you.

Mom got me a new brush that gets more fur out.  I don't like it as much as the old brush because it pulls just a little bit.  At least she let me put the bitey on it after she finished.

Karen Jo: I have to keep you brushed to keep you from getting mats again.  You are getting little mats on your forelegs and I hope that this brush will let me get them out without cutting them out.  You won't let me really brush your legs, though.

I don't want my legs brushed.  It feels weird.  I made my new red ball with the jingle in it disappear yesterday.  Mom can't find it anywhere.

Karen Jo:  I have no idea what you did with it.  I have looked under everything in the house and it's too big to be under the stove or fridge or dishwasher.  At least I found five of your little plastic balls while I was looking.

I love watching Mom crawl around looking for my balls.  It's fun.  I like to watch her do her exercises, too.  I tried jumping on her while she was doing them, but she moves around too much for me to stay.

Karen Jo: You may turn into a lap cat yet.  You keep experimenting with getting up on top of me while I am in bed, too.  Mostly it's just early in the morning to see if I will get up and get you breakfast, though.  It's OK if you don't turn into a lap cat.  I love the way you snuggle up to me to sleep at night.

I gave Da Bird a good workout today.  Now I can't understand why I was ever afraid of it.

Improving

Mom has been trying and trying to get a picture of me up on my platform and she finally got one. I nap up here an lot and watch the birdies and meow at them. I also get treats when I have been up here, but I'm not sure why.

Karen Jo: I give you a treat or two when you scratch on your platform instead of on the furniture, but I'm not sure that you have ever made the connection.

Mom's ribs aren't very hurty any more and I get lots more play time. I seem to be feeling better myself lately. I went tearing around the house like my tail was on fire this evening and I haven't ever really done that before. Oh, I tear down the hall full speed when I want Mom to play with me, but tonight I was going in and out of rooms and all around the living room. Mom has been trying to get some fatty acids down me, but I have been outwitting her. First she found some fish oil with flax and borage and put it on my stinky goodness. I wouldn't even taste it. Then she put some cod liver oil on my stinky goodness and I wouldn't touch it the first time, but I did eat it when she put it on my dinner. The part I like best is now I get a sardine every morning for second breakfast. Mom thinks my fur looks a tiny bit better.

Karen Jo: I am finally getting smart and will look for cat-specific fatty acids online and order him some. Thanks to Daisy I have some names to look for. Hopefully, I can get Herman's dry fur problem under control before the lack of enough fatty acids in his diet affects the rest of his health. I feel bad that I didn't realize what the problem was earlier, but I have never lived with a cat with long fur before and I didn't know that his fur was sticking out because it was too dry.

I am going to miss Mom when she goes back to work next week. I like being fed four times a day and playing with her whenever I want and and napping with her in the afternoon, though she has pretty much stopped doing that. Mom did something weird to the couch where I like to scratch it, but I still scratch there, though it feels different.

Karen Jo: I got an idea and duct-taped the left-over ramp from your platform to the end of the couch where you scratch. It's a perfect fit. It looks a bit weird, but it will prevent any more damage to the couch and it looks better than the stuffing coming out of the slashes in the couch.