Food, Glorious Food!

 Spyro:  Mom is finally going to get back to blogging.  You know what prodded her to blog again?  Her cousin talked her into joining Facebook and that reminded her of blogging.  We all miss Brody very much, but he left behind some awesome food.

Karen Jo:  I bought Brody Elegant Medleys, Mornings, Delights and broth to tempt his appetite and it worked.  He ate right up until the day he left for the Rainbow Bridge.

Spyro:  Mom gave us some of this special food along with our regular Stinky Goodness.  It was delish.  We all had some, even Oja, who isn't supposed to eat anything but pate style Stinky Goodness.

Oja: That's because any canned food with gravy or lots of liquid gives me the runs.  Mom figured a little bit every other day wouldn't hurt me.  That was cool.  The really good food lasted longer that way.  Speaking of food, where's dinner?

Karen Jo:  It's not quite time for dinner yet.  You'll get it as soon as I finish this post.

Rocio: We have been up to all sorts of mischief.  Mom had this throw and a pillow on top of the table.  I pulled it off and made my own Mancat Cave.  I pulled off all her papers, too.  You should have seen her scrambling around trying to pick them all up again.  Hahaha!

 Bambino:  I enjoyed the special food, too, but what I like best is treats.  Mom is supposed to put my treats in that crystal bowl, so where are they?

Karen Jo:  You've had treats at least five times today.

 Horus:  I prefer the dry food to either canned food or treats.  I did enjoy the broth, though.  Spyro is on the other side of this box and I'm going to surprise him.

 Julius:  This is where I get my treats.  You can see Mom in the mirror again.  I have been letting Mom pet me while I eat my treats.  Three strokes is my limit, though.

 Cissy: Here I am in my cave.  I am getting bolder, though.  Mom bought a new cube and I went into the living room and got into it, until Oja came and chased me out, so she could get in it.  She sure is a bossy Alpha.

Tabitha:  I am growing.  Mom says I'm twice as big now as when I first came.  Mom has treats and I want some.

100% Again

Bambino:  Good news, everyone!  I'm 100% well again!  The Prince of Pounce is back!  Unfortunately, I pounced Oja and it had been so long since I pounced her that she hissed at me.

Karen Jo:  Oja wasn't very happy about it, but I was.  I got an email from Dropcam requesting a post and to send them a link to the post.  I did one for them, but now I got another request for a post with a link in it.  So here it is.  They were interested in my cats' quirks.

Bambino:  I demand petting at 0-dark-thirty after Mom gets back from the big white litter box.  I taste every food bowl until I find one I like.  After I am done eating, I dig at the place mat, trying to bury any leftovers.  I give Oja gentle head butts and rub up against her.  I am the only cat she allows to do this.

Spyro:  I love getting way up high.  I also get up on the valence above the curtains in the living room and I get up on top of doors.  I try to get outside when Mom opens the door.  When Mom sits at the kitchen table and tries to read the newspaper, I sit on the paper and demand to be petted.  While she is petting me, I snuggle my head into her armpit, then bite her.  You should hear her yell!

Oja: This is the first picture Mom ever took of me I have a short curly tail.  When I am happy, I curl it up like a chow dog.

Rocio:  Or a pig.

Oja:  ::WHAP!::  I am also the grumpy cat of the family.  It takes me weeks or months . . .

Rocio: Or years . . .

Oja: to make friends with another cat.  I did make an exception in Julius' case and accepted him right away.

Rocio:  I am the only cat who likes to sleep like this.  I like to tease Oja and make her yell, which is probably why she never made friends with me.

Horus:  Like Spyro, I like to get up high.  Here I am up on top of the filing cabinet.  I also get up on top of the valence in the living room and up on top of doors.  I also like to try to escape when Mom opens the door.  Sometimes Spyro and I work together.  One of us distracts Mom and the other one runs out.  As she makes a grab for the escaping cat, the other one runs out.  We only want to go out and scratch our backs on the concrete and chew on the grass, but Mom always walks around behind us until she can grab us and take us back inside.  I like to threaten Rocio and make him yell.  Oja is my friend and I don't like the way Rocio makes her yell.
                                      
Julius:  I am the newest one here.  I have only been living here for a couple of weeks.  My quirk is that I'm afraid of the Lady.  This is as close as I will let her get to me, unless she is giving out treats.  Then I will get close enough to her for her to touch me.  I even let her pet me a little until the treats run out.  Then I run away again.

Super Sunday

 Bambino:  I have some great news: I'm well!

Karen Jo:  I'd say 99% well.

Bambino:  Why only 99%?

Karen Jo:  The Prince of Pounce isn't back yet, but I'm sure he will be.

Bambino:  I got a little better every day and the night before last I played with Mom's shoe laces and the sleeve of her pajamas.  Today I rassled with Julius and napped with him.  I can do my mighty leaps again and I eat up all my treats and food.  Yesterday, even the kitten food disappeared.  I say I'm all well.

Karen Jo:  You are certainly well enough not to have to go back to the vet tomorrow.

Bambino: YAY!  I want to thank everyone for purring for me.  It worked!

 Spyro:  It is Sunday and most of us are taking our Easy.  I'm in the blue bed by the heat vent, keeping warm.

 Oja:  I'm up on the tall scratcher, catching some rays.  Mean Mom says she isn't going to take any more pictures of me.

Karen Jo:  That's not what I said.  I said I wasn't going to take any more pictures of you in your cushioned chair under the kitchen table or in your chair in the computer room.  It's too dark and the pictures don't come out well.  I am going to concentrate on getting the camera out when I see you out, so there will be new pictures of you.

Oja:  Oh, that's ok then.

 Rocio:  I'm up on the big pillow in a great big sun puddle.  It's so bright I have to cover my eyes to nap.  Mom says that I've been a bad boy.  I've been annoying Oja again, once in the computer room and once in the kitchen.  She is such a lay-about that I've just been trying to get her up for some exercise, but she doesn't like it one bit.

 Horus:  The trouble with sun puddles is that they move.  When I started my nap I was right in the middle of the bigger one.  At least my tail is getting some rays.

Julius:  I'm glad that Bambino is well again.  I missed playing with him.  I'm getting my rays up on the table.  I still won't let the Lady get close to me with the clicky box.  I did let her pet me while she was giving out treats, but I run from her the rest of the time.

Fantastic Friday

 Bambino:  I feel a little better every day.  I am eating like I used to and drinking and using the litter box and doing the little things I used to, except play.  That may be coming.  Mom saw me running twice today.

Karen Jo:  The blood test showed just what I expected it to.  Bambino is definitely FeLV+.  I found out something I didn't know before.  Sometimes the virus causes FeLV+ kitties to develop a low grade fever with no other cause.  When the fever breaks they are back to normal.  I am encouraged to know this.  Bambino has been eating like he can't get enough again.  There is never any Stinky Goodness left, except the kitten food.  No cat seems to really like that stuff, though some of it disappears.  If Bambino isn't back to normal by Monday, he has to go back to the vet.  At the rate he is improving, I have hopes that he won't have to make that trip.  Thanks for all the purrs and good wishes.  With all that going for him, he should be well soon.

 I'm up on the couch with the Halloween bear.  Mom hasn't cleaned up since the last time the blurpy was here.  Horus and I both escaped the other day.  The fun thing is that Mom always goes after Horus first because he is harder to catch and I never leave the yard, but he does.  That means that I get to stay outside longer.  I don't like the cold white stuff on the ground, though it isn't everywhere and I can find some grass to munch.

 Oja:  Here I am in the cushioned chair again.  Mom is complaining that every time she gets out the clicky box, I am under here where it's really hard to get a good picture of me.  She should get out the clicky box when I'm out.  I don't know what's up with Bambino.  Mom was lying on the bed, watching TV and Bambino was lying on her, getting petted.  I came up close to get some petting, too, and Bambino whapped me.  He has never done that before.

 Rocio:  I understand now why this is Horus' favorite spot.  It's really comfy.  I have gotten fed up with Horus trying to intimidate me.  This time I growled and charged Horus.  That'll teach him.

 Horus:  Julius was playing with this stuffie a little while ago.  I'm trying to see what the attraction is.  Or maybe I'm looking for stray treats.  The blurp tosses them all around.

Julius:  Mom was a little slow with the clicky box.  When she started trying to take my picture, I was up on the pillow with Spyro.  I cuddle with Spyro lots.  Mom keeps trying to get a picture of my snuggling Spyro in the blue cat bed, but she has to get too close to get a good picture and I always run away.  The only time I come near her is when she is giving out treats or if she is lying in bed with other cats around.  Then I will lie next to her feet.

More Good News

Karen Jo:  Just a short post today.  I have been really busy and I'm very tired.  Thank you all for all your purrs and good wishes.  They are working.

Bambino:  I am feeling even better today, though I am still not 100% myself yet.  I forgot to say yesterday that I haven't lost any weight.  I jumped up on Mom's chest before dawn and wanted a long petting session.  Mom said that it was great that she had her lover boy back.  I stayed on Mom until she got up in the morning.  I started eating some of the regular Stinky Goodness both for breakfast and dinner.  I also ate  some of the really good food.  I wanted my treats today, too.  I ate them all up several times, but left them a couple of times.  I am not really playing again yet, but I did chase Julius down the hall early this evening.  Tomorrow I should get my test results and Mom decides whether I have to go back to the vet.  If I improve again tomorrow as much as I have improved today, I might not have to go back.  I didn't hide from the blurpy girl today and even took some treats from her.  I am taking more of an interest in what's going on around me and even outside.  I think I will be all well soon.  Thanks for purring for me.

Good News at the Vet

 Bambino:  Man, what a morning I had!  First the blurp came over and I didn't feel like dealing with her.  Luckily, whenever she comes over Mom puts our ham-micks on her bed and won't let the blurp come into her room, so I just sacked out in a ham-mick until the blurp's grownup came over.  Then Mom picked me up and put me into a PTU.  Off we went to the vet with me complaining all the way.  After we were put in a little room, Mom opened the PTU and I got out to explore for a little, but I didn't get much looking around done when a lady came in, picked me up, put me on a table on a comfy mat and started poking and prodding me and holding a round thing to my chest.  Then she stuck something where it didn't belong.  Thankfully she left after that and I went to hide behind Mom.  Then another lady came in and felt me all over and held a round thing to my chest and talked to Mom.  Then she took me into another room and stabbed me several times and pilled me and put something on my hind leg.  Finally she put me back in my PTU and we went home.  When I got there, my fur on my back was all wet and I couldn't shake that thing off my leg.  After a bit, Mom took the thing off my leg and gave me some really yummy food and I ate most of it.  I would have eaten all of it, but Julius kept sticking his nose in.  It turns out he's not all that afraid of Mom when food is involved.  A little while later I felt hungry again and ate a few bites of dry food.  There was an intruder kitty in our yard and I jumped up on the table to watch out the window with the rest of the mancats.  It's the first time I have been really interested in something in days.  Right now I am in the playpen catching some rays.

Karen Jo:  The good news from the vet is that there is no indication that Bambino's FeLV has become active.  The bad news is that we don't know what's wrong with him.  His temperature is slightly elevated, but that's not unusual for him.  Just going to the vet can do that to him.  He might have an upper respiratory infection, but there aren't enough indications of that to put him on an antibiotic yet.  He might just be feeling under the weather for some reason.  He got a shot with B-complex and B-12, subQ fluids (in case he got dehydrated) and some blood taken for a new FeLV test. He also got an appetite stimulant and I got some more to give to him later.  He could be back to normal in 24 hours or so, or he might not be.  I'm supposed to watch him for signs of an URI, like sneezing or discharge from his nose.  The test results will be back Thursday and will tell us for sure if he really is FeLV+.  If he's not back to normal by then, I am to take him back in.  Keep your paws crossed.  Thank you so much for all the purrs pouring in.  I am sure that they are helping him and I know they are helping me.

Spyro:  I just love making Mom get down on the floor to take my photo.  The blurp was handing out treats like crazy and I was the only cat brave enough to get close enough to her to eat them.

Oja:  I feel discriminated against.  Mom manages to get clear pictures of all the cats, except me.  She took two shots of me and this one was the less blurry so she used it.  I haven't been sleeping with Mom lately and she wants to know why.  I'm not telling, but it might have something to do with a certain orange kitten.

Rocio:  I grabbed Horus' favorite spot today.  Just look at the great sun puddle up here!  There was an intruder kitty in our back yard a few minutes ago and I'm still watching for her.  I know it's a her because Mom knows the cat.  She lives up the street from us.

Horus:  Rocio and I traded spots today.  It's comfy up here and I got some sun on me, too.  I have been grabbing Mom's lap a lot lately.  She pets me and tells me how hard it is to type with me in her lap.  Too bad.

Julius:  The Lady caught me by surprise.  She was facing the other way, then she suddenly turned around and took my photo before I could run.  See my cool stripes?  Mom says I look a bit like a Rex cat she saw at a cat show once.  Mom kept trying to shoo me away from Bambino's really good food, but I kept sneaking back.  Bambino let me have some and he let me have his leftovers when he was done.  He didn't leave me much.

Friendly Friday

Spyro:  Mom didn't take any photos of us today because she was "busy" again.  First the tiny two-legger came over, then she left with her friend and didn't get home until nearly dark.  Our photos are half reruns and half unused pictures.  I am up on our fairly new scratcher busy scratching for treats.  One good thing about Mom being gone is that when she got home she had half a shopping bag full of treats.  Yay!  You'll never guess what Mom has for breakfast half the time.  Crunchies!  I love them.

Karen Jo:  It's Grapenuts, Spyro, and I'm amazed that you like them better dry than when I put the milk on them.

Spyro:  You don't use real milk and I don't really like it.

Karen Jo:  It's almond milk and it's good for me.

 Oja:  I am in the safe room by the heat vent.  It's toasty warm back here, which is nice because it's been cold outside.  I know because sometimes I greet Mom at the door and the cold air comes in.  I think I have mentioned that all the food in the kitchen is mine and I choose who I will share it with.  Last night at dinner and this morning at breakfast, I decided that Julius could share the canned food.  While he was eating breakfast, I sniffed his tail from the tip to his rump and gave him my seal of approval.  He is now officially no longer an orange threat.

Karen Jo:  This is amazing.  Oja has never warmed up to a new cat this fast.  It look her a couple of weeks after she came out of the safe room to make friends with Herman and Spyro.  It took months for her to make friends with Bambino.  She did make friends with Horus fairly quickly, but it was still a matter of weeks.  Rocio has been here a year and she still doesn't like him.  Julius has only been here nine days.

Oja:  You know what Mom has for breakfast some mornings?  Solid milk.  I love it and make her share.

Karen Jo:  It's called yogurt, Oja, and you are welcome to share.

 Rocio:  I am mostly in the blue cat bed by the heat vent in the living room.  It's nice and warm here, too.  I also like to play with the toggle and string from Mom's coat that you see hanging over my head.  I wish Oja would make friends with me.  At least Spyro, Bambino and Julius like me.  And Mom, of course.  When she has yummy meat or fish for dinner I stare at her until she gives me some.  I only want a bite or two and Mom always gives me what I want.  I love to lie on Mom's legs when she goes to bed.  It's comfy and warm.

 Bambino:  I'm up on the couch watching Julius play.  That boy loves all the toys and wants to play all the time he's awake.  Sometimes he curls up with me and we groom each other.  I am glad Mom got so many treats.  We were nearly out and I scratch for them a lot.

 Horus:  There is nothing better than my favorite pillow in a sun puddle for a nap.  The tiny two-legger wore me out with Da Bird this morning.  Mom got a new bird for it and it was more exciting than usual.  The tiny two-legger even petted me.  She has learned how to do it right and it feels good.  Rocio upset Oja again this morning and I had to chase him down the hall.  That boy will never learn that he can't make friends with Oja.  She has to make friends with him.

Julius:  I still won't let Mom get too close to me with the clicky box.  Oja lets me eat in the kitchen with the big kitties now.  Yay!

Karen Jo:  But your kitten food is in the safe room.

Julius:  Let Rocio eat it.  I like the big kitty food better.  Oja doesn't hiss at me any more.  She really sniffed my tail this morning, all over.  I think she might even like me now.  You will never guess where I slept for the first part of the night last night.  The Lady went to bed and Spyro followed her and she was petting him, so I jumped up on the big bed.  The Lady ignored me and just kept petting Spyro, so I snuggled up to her leg and went to sleep.  It's very comfy and warm up there.  I think I might try it again.

Braver and Braver

 Spyro:  Mom is being just a little bit mean with her picture taking today.  She was gone most of the day and was hours late  in giving us our fresh water and dry food.  So, of course we were hungry.  We get the same boring dry food everyday, but Julius got a brand new bag of something we never had before, so we are checking it out.  It smells delicious.

Rocio:  Nom, nom, nom.

 Horus:  I want to try the new food, too, but the new scratcher has fresh catnip on it, so I'm torn.

Rocio:  Nom, nom, nom.

 Horus:  This catnip smells wonderful.

Bambio:  I wanna get some nip, too.

 Oja:  Silly mancats.  All the really good food is in the kitchen and it's mine. Hahaha!

Julius:  Where is everycat?  I'm in the living room all alone.  I am getting braver about the Lady. I let her get a little closer to me to take my picture.  Last night she was giving out treats and I actually sniffed her fingers.  You know what happened next?  She petted me and I liked it.  Spyro scratched for treats before breakfast and I let her pet me again.  This afternoon I wouldn't let her pet me, but I walked up and sniffed her shoe.  I ran when she reached down for me, though.  No way am I letting her pick me up.  I'm not sure those mancats know what they are talking about when they tell me Oja is harmless.  I walked toward her down the hall this morning and she not only hissed at me, she charged me.  I ran like the wind and she couldn't catch me.

Bambino:  She didn't hurt you or even try to smack you, did she?

Julius:  No, she just charged.  That was scary enough.

Bambino:  I still say she won't hurt you.  She's all noise and bluff.

Julius:  We'll see.  Thanks for playing with me in this net thing.  That was fun.

Bambino:  That's a playpen.  My foster Mom kept me in one when I was littler than you.  I like rasslin', too.

Julius:  No one can keep me in it.  I can jump in and out all by myself.

Settling In

 Spyro:  Today was a fun day.  Most of us were avoiding the camera in one way or another.  I was lounging under the coffee table in the living room and made Mom lie down on the floor to take my picture.  Making Mom get down on the floor is always amusing, especially watching her get up again.  Julius has turned out to be quite a little buddy.  He's already playing chase and snuggling with us mancats.

 Oja:  I don't think he's so great.  I spend a lot of time in this chair in the kitchen, where he can't sneak up on me.  I have gotten mostly over my snit and have stopped hissing and growling at the mancats.  I still hiss at Julius, though, especially when he shows an interest in my food.

 Rocio:  I was missing Austin today.  That blue collar was his and I dug it out of the drawer where Mom was keeping it, so she let me have it.  I have mostly ignored it for months, but I got it today and carried it around with me most of the day.  I guess it's having another orange cat in the house that made me think of him.

 Bambino:  I turned my face away just as Mom took my picture.  I have been having bunches of fun with Julius.  He chased me down the hall this afternoon and snuggled with me this evening just before dinner.  We even groomed each other a little.

 Horus:  I jumped just as Mom took my picture.  I like the new little dude.  He chased me down the hall, too.  We snuggled together on the couch for a little while this afternoon.

Karen Jo:  I am so happy to see Julius napping out in the open with another cat.  I think it means he is less afraid of me.  Until this afternoon, he always napped in a hidey-hole.

Julius:  I ducked my head just as the Lady took my picture.  This is as close as I will let her get to me before I run.  The other boys say I am being silly; the Lady is my Mom now and will always take care of me.  I think I trust her a little bit more now, but I won't let her touch me.  She gave me some more of those really tasty crunchies, which the others tell me are called treats.  I even figured out how to get her to give me some.  I just scratch on one of the cardboard things and I get treats.  Awesome!  I wanna eat in the kitchen with the big kitties, but that mean gray one with the curly tail hisses at me.

Rocio:  That's Oja.  Don't mind her.  She won't hurt you.  She just doesn't like newcomers.  I've been here for a year and she still hisses at me sometimes.

Bambino:  That's right.  She's harmless, just noisy and grumpy.  It was months before I managed to make friends with her.  Just remember not to pounce her and you will be fine.

Julius:  That's easy.  I don't pounce anycat.  I just half-pounce when I want to play.  Does Oja play?

Bambino:  Not much and only with Spyro and Horus and me.

Julius:  That's too bad.  I love to play.