#TakeYourCatToWork on #TakeYourDogToWork Day

Today is take your dog to work day, but I say we don't let that get us kitties down.  As you know, I am lucky enough to be able to bring my foster kittens in to work on occasion to help socialize them. I know it is a huge benefit to them, and it improves their self confidence and allows them to adjust to new situations easier when they do it when they are so young.  I wasn't able to bring my current set in as they are a little young and litter box habits aren't to be trusted yet

I know most cat people aren't able to bring their cats to work, but we are not alone, most dog people aren't either.  But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate in spirit..

And know, if you have a young cat or kitten, the more you take them out of the house when they are young, the easier it will be on them when they are older. Introduce them to as many new experiences as possible. Repeat a few of them from time to time too so they are familiar with them. Take your kitties to a friend's house if they are accepting of your kitty, take them to the local pet store. I once took Jack to a local ice cream shop for ice cream; I will admit he made quite an impression on the folks there.

I often see people decry it as abuse when you travel with your cat, I say it is only stressful on the cat when they are not used to it. Make it a positive experience, be loving and full of praise, and you too can have a kitty you can take down to the local ice cream shop.

or that will hide in your inbox

the last photo shoot

Vote for Fleurp 
(as I write this, she is oh so close to getting into the top 15.. I'm amazed, you guys are wonderful!!)

Trying to get a good shot of Simon (look at Henry in the back)

LOVE his pixelated shoulder - Schu shows up for his picture

Schu struggles, he's just not a tree dweller

Watch out Schu, Dorian is coming

Schu says NO! My photo shoot and activates POD (paw of doom)

He makes that basket look good

Now he thinks it is time for his close up

Yup, handsome boy

Henry thinks he is handsome too

as does everyone else

Schu gives up his basket

Henry thinks he makes the basket look better

Dorian is back

Watch out Simon, Dorian thinks it is his turn

Oh Dorian, the camera just loves you

*sigh* such cuteness

Dorian wonders where the basket went

Schuster found it

While Henry plays

And Schu washes his belly.. I just love watching him groom..

Henry is going to get that ball

almost.. got.. it..

Dorian thinks we should end the photos with him

I had been emailing the shelter about them, and was basically told that I could bring them any time.  I was torn because I have so enjoyed having them.  All too often kittens spent more time playing at this point then wanting to get cuddles and kisses and up till Friday night these guys preferred kisses.  Friday night they played hard, and Saturday morning when I went to feed them they were all play and wrestle..   I guessed it was time.  I tried calling the shelter and couldn't get anyone to confirm it would be OK to bring them in so I winged it and brought them in.  I figured if they couldn't take them I'd just take them back.

Well the decided to keep them,  Even had the vet on duty who could neuter them and take a look at Simon's ear.  So they'll probably be up for adoption the beginning of the week.  They did amazing at the shelter while I was there.  Often kittens will cower in the back of the carrier (PTU) trying to figure out what is going on, all five of them were up in front of their respective carriers, relaxed and enjoying the newness of it all.  They are such awesome kitties.  I know I had something to do with it, but sometimes I can't take much credit at all.  I am pretty sure this one was almost all them.  I kept them alive.  Taught the younger ones that people were so worth getting to know, and they took that ball and ran with it into the end zone and all the way to the home.  I so hope whomever adopts stops by and says hi.



Come back Monday to see what is next...Cause there is almost always a next..

Before and After

Vote for Fleurp

These two epitomize the before and after.. This post seemed only fitting as their goodbye

Thankful Tuesday??

I know the standard is Thankful Thursday but when I find myself swearing because life isn't going according to the "Plan of Connie", I try to remind myself to step back and see the big picture.

I called the shelter yesterday to mention what was going on with Simon and Schuster.  Since both have been coughing.  Since they were diagnosed  and treated for lung worm a few weeks ago, I thought it might be a good idea to get them checked out prior to going in for surgery.  I wouldn't want them to have to go in and not be able to have it done.  Since the whole gang wasn't due to go in for another week I thought they might want to see if this was an issue now and treat it prior to "nip tuck" day.  Also Simon has an issue all of his own.  On Friday night I found that his left hear was caked. I thought it was food, but upon closer examination it was puss that had dried.  I cleaned up his ear real good, got as good of a look as I could and didn't see anything.  The "lets not get paranoid" part of my brain hoped it was just a one time occurrence.   It cleaned up just fine and it did not look read or inflamed.  The next morning it was still mostly clean.  But by Saturday night it was all goopy again.  So I cleaned it again, same story Sunday.  So Monday I called and told them what was going on.  The woman I talked to said I should bring Simon in to be looked at.

Well I brought them both hoping to get them both looked at.  Well another woman who saw me this morning simply cleaned Simon's ear (I so could have done that) and told me that the vet would look at it and the coughing when they came in to be neutered.

which of course got me fuming.  I mean seriously, they need some assistance NOW gosh darn it.  So what if they are happy, and eating, and active, and their poop is fine and they have good manners and look great.  So what if they aren't wheezing or coughing right now for you to see.. *stomp stomp stomp*

Fine whatever *grump grump grump*  make me drive all the way in there and send me home with NOTHING *stew stew stew*

*remembers the bunny in pen that was rescued from neglect*  The poor bunny (a rather large almost small cat sized bunny) had just finished being worked on.  It had cataracts and the fur had been removed from around it's eyes and a great deal of it's head because of it and it's back legs. The skin that I could see was all red and inflamed.

OK FINE.. in comparison with what they were just looking at a kitten with a little goop in it's ears and a slight cough.. I get it.  I don't have to like it, but I get it.  I over react, I know I do.  but I've seen too much not to take things seriously.  Doesn't mean THEY have to take them that seriously just because I want them to. (even if that isn't according to the "Plan of Connie" - OK fine, truth be told, it might even be especially because it isn't)

So Simon's ear continues to be an issue.  At least I'm assuming it is going to be tonight.  The cough is still going to be there... but they are plump and happy and sweet and adorable.  And the sun is shining, and it is nice and warm and not overly oppressively muggy.  We have had electricity all week, and I have the ability to care for kittens that need help.. and I even have canned food to feed them..

*big deep breath*

this isn't anything to swear about..

So tell me, what do you have to be thankful for today?  Please share, I could use happy thoughts.

Headed to the vet

Well that hitch I mentioned yesterday was that Simon and Schuster are heading to the vet today.  And no, not for that all important next step visit, but because we have some minor health concerns going on.  Both Simon and Schu have been coughing lately.  Nothing major, it hasn't slowed them down in the least but it is a little disconcerting considering there was a stool sample with lung worm in it.  They were panacured (aka dewormed with the dewormer that kills everything) for almost two weeks (it was recommended for seven days but their stools were still a little loose so I kept going for a few more days)

So I had been watching that and late Friday Simon had something goopy on his left ear.  Considering the state of Schu, I just assumed it was food or something else, but when I actually was mentally paying attention (and not just absently minded picking at his ear) I noticed it was dried up stuff that came OUT of his ear.. Turns out he has something causing some sort of pussy discharge.  It doesn't smell hardly at all.  I cleaned it out and flushed it out and Saturday night it was back.  Sunday night it was back again.. it was there in the AM as well, just not all that much, apparently it takes a while to build up and out of the ear.  So they are at the vet today for a good once over to make sure they are going to be healthy enough things to come.  If not they'll probably be here a while.

I'm OK with that.  New guidelines are to neuter and adopt at two pounds.  Used to be 2.5.  I think some important socialization is done during that half pound (not that Simon isn't already almost three)  I know they are so much 'kittenier" at two pounds and thus more likely to be adopted because they are cute and small.. but again, I'm OK with someone wanting them because they are awesome, not because they are 'baby kittens', especially since "kitten" fades..

but we'll see.  The vet might find something in Simon's ear and pull it right out (I wouldn't be surprised if there was a mouse tail in there) and all is right with the world.  Aggie is barreling in on 2lbs and is probably there now..  Decisions will be made once my "book ends" are home..

Schu, whatcha doin?? ~Simon

Washing my foot.. 

Did I do a good job getting clean?

and if not, does this window make me look cleaner??
(Schu is about to be photobombed by Simon)

I think purple makes me look good..
(I love his little crossed paws)

In case you hadn't noticed, Schuster officially has an "eating disorder".  I'm none too worried as Twee had the exact same "disorder" as a kitten and she eats just fine now and keeps her self very clean.  I'm guessing the ticks he had as a kitten put him behind a little developmentally.  I also find it VERY interesting that Schu does not like to climb up on things.  He's only on the windowsill because we put him on the couch.  When I first go in the room I'm usually mobbed by kittens and I sit down to give them all kisses and attention, but while everyone else climbs up on the couch Schu just sits on the floor and screams at me.  After they are fed they all come back up on the couch for more kisses, and Schu (well mostly he still eats, he's a slow eater) will sit on the floor and wait for one of us to pick him up

One Drown Mouse

The kittens de-tailed this mouse last week.  Apparently now it needed to be baptized?? drown?? it wanted to go swimming??

I understand that people theorize that cats put their favorite toys in places of importance.  Food bowls and water bowls are places of importance, but it does render the toy pretty unappetizing after that.. I mean who wants to play with a wet toy.  I'm sure this mouse made its way into the food bowl prior to ending up soaked.. I'm just glad it didn't end up in the litter box (and if it did, don't tell me)

They were full of it this weekend..

Which is always fun.  But there was a little hitch in our giddy-up.  More on that tomorrow.

Bored

I'm bored ~Henry

Me too ~Simon

Even the really awesome basket is borring

And this toy.. booorrrrrringggg

What's so boring about this? ~Dorian

Give us something new or I'm going to bite your toes! ~Agatha

ooooh, what's this??

Smells interesting

It's kinda fun to stand on too

Hey, what's this?

Hey, where did it go??

What the??

Hey! It's over here!!

Oh this is cool to scratch on too!!

Really? Let us try!

While they are off trying to figure out who gets to try next, I'll sneak over and check it out

BALL!

Hey, how did it get over there??

I'll bat it back for you!

Hold on, comin through

Cause I need to bat it over here now.. 

Back, back I say!!

OK, this is fun

weeeee

They are so silly! ~Dorian

That wore me out, guess it is nap time

Finally, my turn.. 

A toy that outlasts kittens! :)

Actually the toy was more of a "lets see who can stop the ball first"  My husband and I spent more time batting the ball then they did. They would sit there and try to "catch" it. I put the jingly balls in there to garner more interest.  Simon just thought those had to go and tried to dig them out (easy enough to do as they are smaller then the track) then he tried to dig the bigger ball out and that didn't work.

I also have to say I am pretty proud of that shot of Agatha..   Why you ask? well because she is absolutely driven to bite my nose.  When ever I am in the room she is on my chest trying to get to it.  If I'm standing up, she's weaving in and out of my feet trying to get my attention.  Which is why there are so darn few photos of her despite her amazingly large personality.  She's about half a pound less the Simon but she easily beats him up because she just won't stop.  Since she won't stop trying to bite my nose and fingers, I am working with her to understand that human skin is much more delicate then kitten fur and if she needs to bite me, she needs to do it delicately.  I THINK I'm making progress.  She's just so darn cute and sweet and innocent you can't help but feel bad when you yell at her for making your nose bleed..