It is our Aunt Barbara's Birthday today

Happy Birthday from all of us! 

Life is mostly good in La Casa de Los Gatos

Well, at least we have our moments.

PS. This was taken several days ago - before Solitary Confinement. Gandalf and Whitey are both still in Mom's office and doing well. Mom will be busy this weekend bringing more stuff over from the old house tomorrow. We are having company Saturday afternoon through Monday, friends of our Nana and Grampy, so we will not be blogging much this weekend.

Mom says to say Thanks to everybuddy for putting up with her venting yesterday. She is very tired and very stressed with all that's been going on here at La Casa de Los Gatos lately. We appreciate you all very much.

Flashback Finally Friday

Mom Barb here. Before today's post, a Gandalf Update... and a Whitey Update... and a I'm So Stressed Out About This Update:

Last night I let Gandalf out of the office after supper because he had not marked or peed outside of the litter box at all the entire 4 days he was in there. Not 5 minutes after letting Gandalf out, Whitey sprayed the patio door right in front of me. Whitey is now in Confinement, too. I also popped a Prozac down his throat. Thankfully, it went right down.

Gandalf and Whitey were both put into my office and I cleaned it all up. Remember when Whitey LOVED Gandalf and would.not.stop.grooming him? Well, much to my utter shock Whitey started doing that screaming, hissing, threatening thing at Gandalf. It's not the first time, but it still shocked me.

And then?... Not 10 minutes later, Gandalf was using Whitey's back for a pillow while they both sawed logs. It truly boggles my mind.

Honestly, all this is walking on my last nerve. Now I can't be sure it was Gandalf doing all the marking. One great thing about blogging is you've blogged it and you can go back and look up stuff. I know the marking started not long after I brought Whitey home, which was August 9th, 2009. I had recently stopped letting Gandalf and Grayson out around July 2nd, 2009 after my parents flew up north - which was right after Gandalf was diagnosed with FLUTD, June 29th, 2009. Talk about the perfect storm?! I had always thought the marking was Gandalf's crystals until I also saw him mark a chair. Vertical spraying, not the squatting he would do when the crystals had him blocked up and he was straining to empty his bladder.

Someone has offered several times to take Whitey. She specializes in cats with behavioral issues and/or special needs. She works with her local shelter. She is a semi-regular commenter who adores him. I have heart-wrenching feelings about saying goodbye to Whitey - immediately followed by I really just don't see how I can continue living this way. Of course, the few times she and I corresponded, I was not aware that Whitey might mark, so she may or may not be interested anymore.

Sorry for venting so much, but I'm so stressed out about this. I know many of you have been through something similar. All I know is that I need to get my life back to normal. Please do not misunderstand... I do not for one single second regret rescuing Whitey... he's an absolute LOVE... but I do wish I had only my 2 Gray Boys again. It was absolutely perfect. I sorely miss that. I also know that Grayson misses Gandalf and the relationship they had together before Whitey.

::sigh::

And now, back to our regular scheduled post...

Finally Friday with Whitey

the "Formerly Not Exactly Feral But Outside", but now I’m Inside, Smilin’ Edition!

Yesterday Daisy’s post told us all about a Smile Contest which Mom initially did not think we would enter. Then something awesome happened…

Mom emailed the above photo to enter me in the Smile2 Contest!

Then Mom decided to try an animated photo, too!

I am a very good boy. I am using my litter box. I am purring and talking. My eye already looks better - no more goopies - and the swelling has already gone down quite a bit. Did you notice that I have blue eyes? I cannot see very well with my blue eyes, but they sure are pretty, aren't they? Although some white cats with blue eyes are deaf, I am not. If I hear a sudden noise, I jump and turn around to see. Of course, I am also not completely white!

I follow Mom and sit on her desk and purr at her while she works. Mostly, I am working very hard to get better. Mom is very surprised that I haven’t shown the slightest interest in going Outside. Been there, done that, Mom! I have a home and people to take care of me now!

So, I do not mind if my photo does not win the contest, because I know I am already a winner! Thank you to everybuddy for purring and praying for me! It’s working real good!

Pinkus Interruptus

Did you ever hear of knocking, Mom?

Where's that Whitey?

Whitey iz on mai patio, soakin' up sunshines. On mai bloo cushion. Iz gud. Iz really, really gud.

Got cake?

Just when I finally get a screened patio again, I get thrown in Kitty Jail. At least I'm getting some one-on-one Mom Time. And some nip and good scritches.

We've had a few questions on when the marking started. We do not remember exactly but it was not very long after Mom stopped letting us go Outside last July. Our neighborhood got some big dogs that the new neighbors allowed to roam free and there were a few Tom Cats that kept coming into our yard. Mom says it was no longer safe to let us be Outside, even though we were always supervised. That was also about the time we got Whitey.

We just moved to the Swamp. Even though we are in a very quiet, very low traffic area (only 3 houses), there are about 8 stray/feral cats - a few of them big Tom Cats that roam around - so Mom does not feel safe in letting us Outside here, either. That is why she screened in the patio for us.

Oh. And Mom says to tell you that we are using Feliway diffusers and Nature's Miracle.

But what is that she keeps popping down my throat before she gives my Temptations? ::sigh::

Office Duty

Gandalf: Help! As of about 3:00 this morning, I have been locked up in Mom's office and I am Not Allowed out into the rest of the house. That means right now I am mostly is doing this, or I am on the window sill looking out the window or I am caterwauling "Let me out!".

Mom Barb here. Gandalf's marking has gotten worse since we moved to the Swamp so I have no other choice than to confine him to one room until he stops spraying. From all I've read, this could takes months. Or forever.

The surfaces in the office are mostly hard - no carpet or upholstered furniture. If he does spray, it will be much easier to clean. I will be taking the books out of the bookcase, just in case. I don't know quite how to protect my computer, so right now I am hoping he leaves it alone.

He's already done stuff out of boredom and frustration that I could never have imagined... for instance, he hit the switch on my iPhone which was sitting on my desk and turned off the ringer. I actually saw him do it and heard it buzz. He's a handful right now and walking on my last nerve, let me tell ya!

He took the Prozac for me in Pill Pockets for exactly 4 days and then quit. Last night I finally decided I was going to get that pill into him even if he scratched my arms off. Surprisingly, it went pretty well and no scratches. Yet.

What concerns me now is that I may be on the phone with a customer when he decides to whine about getting out of the office. Gandalf has always been very vocal. That won't help me look very professional with my customers, now will it? I will have a spray water bottle at the ready! Actually, an air freshener spray is much more effective on my cats. They hate the noise and flee like flies when they hear it, so I have that, too!

This had better work, because I really don't know what else I can do. All your purrs and prayers will be appreciated!

Loon-y tunes with Gracie

Yeah. We know it's Mancat Monday. We are all mortified that Gracie Girl got the blog today.

Srsly.

PS. Click HERE if you can not see the embedded video.

PSS. We just realized that a bunch of posts from Whitey and Gracie's blog showed up in your reader yesterday. Mom imported them all into this blog but didn't realize that an old date would be picked up in the feeds. Oops. Sorry! We'll all be posting from THIS blog from here on out. Gracie is just going to have to get over not having a pink blog. :0)

Snoozie Sunday at the movies with Gracie

PS. Please click HERE if you can not see movie

Sweet Smoochies Saturday

Gracie: BrOTHER Whitey, you are not so tough! See? I am already winning you over!

Whitey: Watch it girly girl. Mai iz big, fierce mancat! Mai can take you with one paw behind mai back.

Gracie: Oh, yeah? Take that! *nose smoochie*

Whitey: Hey. Iz No Fair!

Gracie: Purrrrssss...

Crystals Schmystals

Mom found crystals in my urine again today. I could have told her that! She could actually see and feel them. And she said, "Oh, no! My poor baby!"

Tell me about it.

We were trying the Purina Friskie's Special Diet for Urinary Tract Health for about a month now. It is about $1 per can cheaper than the Hill's Prescription Diet c/d that we have to get from our Vets, Dr. Dave and Dr. Tad. $1 per can is a lot! But it's nothing saved if it doesn't actually work, is it? And unfortunately, it did not work. Rats.

So Mom will be going to pick up some C/D this afternoon and I'll be having that for supper and maybe forever.

Whitey Meez-isms, the Movie

So. Dis iz the same photo as yesterday except iz without any photoshoppin'. Mai used the Poster Edges Filter on yesterday's version and dat helped hide mai slightly red eye lids on mai booboo eye. Well, not TOO gud, but some. Sometimes it gets red like dat. Mai do not know why. Anyway, mai friend Huffle requested a video of mai "Mom Meez" dat I always do when mai Mom says " Whitey?" and "Whitey, who's Momma's sweet boy?" and den mai yawn and give her a little meez. Dis movie iz of mai meez. Wasn't dat luckily dat Mom also did the video at the same time she took the photos? Iz gud.

Dis one's fer you, Huffle!

Oh, did you hear Whitey purring when Mom scritched my neck? Whitey likes dat. And yes, mai IZ Momma's sweet boy! Srsly.

PS. Pleez click HERE if you can not see the embedded video

PSS. Hi, Cory! xo

Whitey-isms

Whenever Mom talks to me mai always duz the same thing...

Yaaaaawwwnnnn!

And then mai give her a little meez. Mai guess Mom just haz dat effect on me.

Wordless Wednesday

Thank Goodness for Cushions n' Cats n' you!

Aaaaahhh... Life is good!

On behalf of every un-neutered cat and dog we want to say great big Thank You's to everybuddy who voted for Gracie and donated to our charity, Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International. You all helped get more pets spayed or neutered! Every $1 donation you made will go directly to spaying and neutering pets, and that is a real good thing!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Dreaming of my Pink Palace

The Pink Palace mansion in Memphis, TN is made of Georgian Pink Marble!

I am a Georgia Girl and I love Pink, so you know this is my dream home!

About the Original Painting "The Pink Palace" by Joyce Girgenti

About the Mansion

Photo Hunt: Broken

This is my very 1st Photo Hunt!

This is my special leg, which was BROKEN when I was a few weeks old. I can not bend it, but it has not BROKEN my spirit or slowed me down. I just have to do things a bit differently!

And my heart would be BROKEN if I neglected to wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mai hope she says YES! Haiku iz not s'pose ta rhyme, but cheez and pleez just go so gud together!

Whitey and mai BrOTHERs and sister want to wish everybuddy a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Where's that Whitey? - The Weird and Wacky White Winter Edition

 

Weather dude says iz going to SNOW here today. Here. In south Georgia. The south Georgia dat iz almost north Florida. Florida iz sub-tropical. Snow iz not tropical. What iz up with dat?

Photograph by Sandra Donlon. This interested third party was observing the "interactions" of two polar bears near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.

Fashion Friday

Fail.

My XXS dresses do not fit me anymore. Mom says I have tripled in size since I first arrived! Is that a lot?

Instead of a lovely black lace dress with a pink slip, I now have a top that is too tight and itchy!

Dang. It even has p'sketti straps and a pink flower! It makes me a little bit sad.

Wait. You do not s'pose I have one of those Super Model eating disorders I heard about, do you? Come to think of it, when I seafood,  I DO eat it!

Oh Noes!

Vote for Gracie and Save Pet's Lives

When you donate and vote, you'll help my charity, Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, get more pets spayed or neutered! Every $1 donation you make goes directly to spaying and neutering pets—and gives ME another vote in this contest. 

The 16th annual Spay Day will be Feb. 23, 2010. 

Spay Day is The Humane Society of the United States' and Humane Society International's annual event to inspire people to save animals' lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats. Spay Day officially takes place on the last Tuesday of February—but events will be running all through the month.

You can also help by entering the Photo Contest yourself!

ENTER THE SPAY DAY ONLINE PET PHOTO CONTEST!

To support Spay Day, The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International host the Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest, presented by VISA and Zazzle—a great opportunity to celebrate our pets, raise funds for spaying and neutering, and win great prizes! 

Entering the contest is easy and free—simply upload a digital photo of your pet and tell us a little about him or her. You can also enter as a memorial tribute to a pet who is no longer with us. Ready to get started? 

Of course, I am not yet old enough to get my Lady Gardenectomy, but as soon as I am, I will! It's a Real Good Thing!

Don't let me stop you

Her function is to sit and be admired.-Georgia Strickland Gates, quoted in A Garden of Cats

You may begin now.

Where's that Whitey?

Iz very chilly at the Swamp. So mai went here when mai wuz sleepurring. Mai hope these dudes are not mai new bothers, too. Mai has enough BrOTHERs and sisters. Srsly.

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Hawaii

Photograph by Brooks Walker


Two carved wooden images, called ki'i , overlook Keone'ele Cove in Hawaii's Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. These statues and dozens of others stand sentry over the Hale o Keawe temple, a sacred place where the bones of 23 Hawaiian chiefs once rested.

I can has Furniture?!

This is awesome! If only it were Pink!

What the?

The many talents of Gracie

And I do not think that have BEGUN to scratch the surface of my potential, either!

PS. It is pouring down rain at the Swamp. Uncle Daddy just went to get some sand bags because they are predicting flooding here. Please purr really hard that we do not flood! The power of the Purr is not to be underestimated and we sure can use some today! Thank you, very much! Pink purrs to you, too!

Finally Friday

Mom took me to the Swamp with her yesterday since Gracie and I got along fairly well during our first meeting and she thought I might like to christen the newly screened patio when Uncle Daddy and Mom finished it.

And guess what? It ROCKS! I can not wait for Gandalf and Whitey to come see it!

Construction Cat

Exploring their brand new universe becomes the utmost priority to growing kittens.-Karen Anderson, Just Cats

How do you like my condo? It is really a ladder, but it works for me! I climb the steps to the very top and snoopervise from my Observation Deck. Even the loud banging and electric saws do not scare me. I am BraveCat. I am Construction Cat. Hear me Rahr!

Where's that Whitey?

Life iz gud.

Mr. Mellow meets Miss Thing

You are not so "All That", little girl.

Today I had to go in for my annual. Dr. Tad says I look great and my weight is exactly the same as last year. Even my teeths were good. Hooray!

Mom brought me to her office at the Swamp where I will soon be living. I got to see my new screened porch that is almost done. I really miss being Outside and smelling all those good Outside smells.

And I met Gracie. There have been a few hisses, but I am not askeered of her kitteny kyootness.

BRING IT, little girl!

Who doesn't love baby seals?

I just love my baby seal! See that stick? It has a bazillion tiny teeth marks in it. I think I might love the stick almost as much as the nip-filled baby seal!

Actually, I do not think I have found any toy yet that I do not love!