Sunday Night Musings

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Deb / Being Aunt Debbie

It’s been a very wet and rainy day today…and noisy. Thunder had the cats under the bed all day. At dinner time things had settled down a bit so they’re a little happier but it’s still wet outside and Jack keeps whining at me like it’s my fault.

Sammy hasn’t been around in over a week. Last weekend I bought him a (15-25 lb) doghouse so that he has a shelter when it rains. He doesn’t even know he has a place to sleep! I paid $60 for it so he’d better get his butt “home.” I just can’t imagine him getting better food somewhere else, even if he has a home. I feed him well. I’ve put Frontline on him because he was covered with ticks and that stuff is expensive! Now the doghouse. I do hope nothing has happened to him.

The past few nights we’ve had some visitors. One night Jack came running in the cat door as if something was after him. His tail was all puffed up and he hid between Dad’s chair and the end table. He looked scared to death. I knew something was up so I went to investigate. There were 2 beautiful red foxes just outside the catio. Of course, I didn’t bring my phone out with me so I didn’t get a close-up photo. I did eventually get some video and a few photos but I hope to do better soon. Here’s the video; I hope it works. I’ve made my Facebook post public so you could all see it if you’d like.

In case you can’t make out the convo, the poor little guy is favoring his upper right leg or paw. I just love the wildlife here. In fact, I love animals more than I like most people, but that’s a post for another day.

Have a great week, peeps!

Aunt Debbie

Wet Noodle, Wild Cat

Posted on April 10, 2019 by Deb / Being Aunt Debbie

It’s been a rough day. Not for me, but for Alice and Jack. I took them in for their routine vaccinations and they were NOT happy. They were upset with me first thing because I wouldn’t give them have any dry food, as I normally do each morning. Every time I walked toward their food area, they dashed ahead of me, thinking I was finally going to give them food. Shame on me.

Alice fought like the devil when it was time to get into the carrier and Jack didn’t like the idea but he’s been back and forth to the vet so many times since the week before Christmas that I think he knew there was no point putting up a fight.

Once in the carrier, Alice cried, scratched, and stuck her little legs out between the bars of the door, reaching…reaching. I felt so bad. I knew she was going to be ok but can you imagine the stress and anxiety a cat must feel when they’re shoved in a ‘cage’ and put into a car for transport? They have no clue what’s going on or what’s going to happen. I often wonder if my surviving kitties remember how Fuzzy, Korn, and Smokie one by one went for a ride and never returned. The others had a view of the burial in the garden from the catio but did they understand? Are they afraid every time they go for a ride? I shudder at the thoughts that must go through their minds. (Of course, I shudder at my own thoughts half the time.)

Alice cried all the way to the vet, which was about 30 miles away. Jack never made a sound. He’s used to this. For the entire drive, I hoped neither one of them would throw up or relieve themselves in the carriers. I brought extra bedding just in case. Thankfully, not feeding them before we left worked as I had hoped. Neither one threw up and unbelievably they didn’t have any other accidents either!

Dr. Missy, our very caring and gentle veterinarian, looked over both Alice and Jack. Jack still has some rattly sounds in his lungs, which is why he’s still on his steroids. Alice passed her ‘once over’ with flying colors. Dr. Missy even complimented her on her shiny and luxurious coat! I brush them all every day so I’m glad it’s showing.

They got their vaccinations and before Dr. Missy left, I asked for advice on how to get an elder cat with a tendency to rip people to shreds into a carrier. Poor Kitty needs her vaccinations, too but thanks to our previous vet, it’s next to impossible to get her into a carrier. Dr. Missy gave me some good suggestions. She said a little gabapentin might help to relieve some stress and anxiety. I happen to be on gabapentin and she told me I could give about 100mg in food an hour or so before getting her into the carrier. I don’t know if it will work, but I can sure give it a shot. The other tip was to set the carrier on its end, grab the cat by the scruff of the neck and back her into the carrier, butt first and quickly. That’s when Dad popped off a funny! He said, “That’ll be like sticking a wet noodle up a wild cat’s ass.” I thought I was going to wet myself!

On the way home, Alice never made a peep. She waited until we pulled up in front of the house and then she started to cry. I don’t know how she knew but she knew. I never saw Jack or Alice for about 3 hours after we got home. They came out to eat their dinner and then Jack went back into hiding. Alice is on my bed, sleeping so hard right now. She’s snoring and even had a nightmare. Poor baby!

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Image Copyright Being Aunt Debbie

I have two more cats needing vaccinations. Kitty and Honey. Honey weighs a whopping 20 lbs. now – she won’t be easy to carry! And Kitty? Well, we’ll see. Hopefully, I can get her in the carrier. You know…. wet noodle, wild cat.

A Weird Dream, An Asthmatic Cat & A Lost Clock

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Deb / Being Aunt Debbie

Tuesday started out with me waking from a weird dream about my purse and car being full of medications and getting a ticket for not having those medications in bottles. Where does shit like that come from?? It left me wondering if there were any laws that restrict a person from carrying medications without proper labeling and if there were limits on how many could be carried without that labeling. It’s not like I take that many prescription medications. THREE. TRES. 3. That’s it. The rest are vitamins, supplements, and over the counter medications like pain rubs and Mucinex. Sometimes my dreams leave me scratching my head.

First thing as I came out of my bedroom this morning, Dad asked me where the wall clock was that we purchased a few weeks ago. He had been complaining about the clock in the living room losing time and that we needed to replace it. So, we bought a new one. Last week, I ran across the clock when I cleaned and organized the shelves in the living room. I took the clock out of the box and I swear, I stuck it somewhere handy. Where? I haven’t the foggiest clue. In my defense, if Dad would have replaced the old one with the new one, I wouldn’t be wracking my brain trying to find that damn clock now!! It is literally driving me insane! I looked for hours this morning, in every nook and cranny I could think of. I’m beginning to think one of the cats hid it. (Not really, but it’s not my fault. Someone else must’ve done something with it.)

Jack had a recheck appointment with the veterinarian this afternoon. He had a serious lung infection, perhaps caused by allergies originally, BUT now the consensus is that Jack may have asthma. I’ve never had a cat with asthma. I never thought a cat could even have asthma! Poor Jack will stay on his steroid pill for a couple more months, just a couple times a week, and we will revisit the issue in March. Perhaps he can eventually get off the medication and we’ll just keep some on hand just in case of an asthmatic episode. Poor Jack was exhausted when we got home. He started out on the desk in front of the computer draped over my arm but now has relocated to the bed.

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Image Copyright Being Aunt Debbie

He was a bit stinky when we got home. Poor little guy pooped and puked all over his carrier on the drive to the vet’s office. Dr. Missy said he just released all of his demons.

We hadn’t been home more than 10 minutes when Dad asked me if I ever figured out what I did with that blasted clock and, up until then I had forgotten all about it. I’ve been wracking my brain ever since. Ugh.

Jack’s Pack

Posted on January 22, 2019 by Deb / Being Aunt Debbie

Just a few days ago, just for fun, I launched a new Facebook page in honor of my furbabies. I thought why the heck not? Some friends and relatives have told me they enjoy reading about my cats and love seeing photos. Maybe they’re just being nice! Ha! Doesn’t matter… I’m having fun doing it and I’m always looking for ways to be creative. Besides, cat pages are all the rage on facebook!

If you’re interested, and it’s ok if you’re not, you’re welcome to check out “Jack’s Pack” at https://www.facebook.com/jackspackoftrouble and let me know what you think. I hope you like it and if you have any suggestions, I’m always open.

Oh, and if you haven’t checked out Being Aunt Debbie on Facebook, please do! I’d love to connect with you!

Thanks bunches,

Seriously?

Posted on January 19, 2019 by Deb / Being Aunt Debbie

“Your love of cats explains your taste in music.”

“Cats are stupid and so are people who like them.”

“Cat people are ridiculous.”

“Don’t you have any other interests besides cats?”

“Why do you have cats?”

“You must be a liberal if you’re a cat person.”

~~~

Seriously? What the hell does having cats have to do with my taste in music or that I have liberal views? Those are just a few of the remarks people have made about my love of cats.

Everyone has their own set of likes and dislikes, hobbies, and interests. I have a great love for animals, but cats are my favorite. I also like ferrets, rats, Guinea pigs, birds, and squirrels. My hobbies are crocheting and jewelry making. I love bird watching and photography. I used to make soaps and other bath & body products. I used to create web pages. I used to be a cross-country backpacker. I have some medical training. I love all things Celtic and I am drawn to castles. I love to research and learn anything that tickles my fancy.

You see, I have many interests other than cats.

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My cats are my furry children. They are part of my family. If you prefer dogs over cats, you most likely feel the same about your dogs. They are your family.

Why must people make mean and rude remarks about someone else’s likes and dislikes? Are they so small-minded they don’t understand that their love for anime might seem stupid to someone else? Their love of video games might seem exceptionally ridiculous to others. If they’re into comic books and superheroes, they might seem childish to others. Everyone is different. It would be nice if others would shut their pie holes regarding what someone else likes or what someone else does in their own home or on their own free time. They can think whatever they want, but being rude to someone is unacceptable.

Am I a “crazy cat lady”? Maybe, but loving cats is no different than loving dogs. I found some “cat people” memes you might enjoy. There may be a sliver of truth in some of them!