Sibley, my formerly feral cat, has now learned how to play interactively with me instead of running away when I flick the snakey toy at him. He comes when he sees me playing with one of his brothers and seems to enjoy it. One more little victory!
Showing posts with label kitties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kitties. Show all posts
17 October 2010
26 June 2010
Sibley Update
25 December 2009
R I P Loki
I can't tell you how much I hate writing another post like this, but there isn't any home improvement going on lately to keep me occupied.
Loki, as I wrote previously, was in the habit of taking summer-long "vacations" away from home and yard and living in the next block somewhere. He may have snuck home for food after dark, but I didn't see him this year until just a week before Thanksgiving. He was skinny, going blind, and had no teeth. His fur looked good, though, so he was eating somewhere.
I think he contracted kidney disease over the summer, like several other of my cats had when they got older.
I knew it was just a matter of time before I would be digging another grave. I hoped he would make it until Spring when the ground is soft, but he died this morning just before 4:00 a.m. while I was petting him.
Loki, as I wrote previously, was in the habit of taking summer-long "vacations" away from home and yard and living in the next block somewhere. He may have snuck home for food after dark, but I didn't see him this year until just a week before Thanksgiving. He was skinny, going blind, and had no teeth. His fur looked good, though, so he was eating somewhere.
I think he contracted kidney disease over the summer, like several other of my cats had when they got older.
I knew it was just a matter of time before I would be digging another grave. I hoped he would make it until Spring when the ground is soft, but he died this morning just before 4:00 a.m. while I was petting him.
Fuzzy pic of Loki and his brother Tigger when they were kittens.
Loki
1 Oct 1996 - 25 Dec 2009
29 November 2009
RIP Lexington
2008-29 November 2009
Lexy died in his doctor's arms today. He had an internal injury that the doctor couldn't find. Goodbye my curious sweet-natured little boy. I'll miss your funny loud purr every night.
28 November 2009
Followup on the Pit Bull Attack
Lexington is staying at the vet all weekend because he is not doing as well as the vet would like. Dr wants to make sure he is eating well and the shunt is draining and Lexy is getting fluids, etc before he sends him home. That is fine with me. They can care for him much better than I can. Poor little guy.
I went out this morning to take pictures of the fence damage and have come to the conclusion that stupid dog got in my yard and broke the fence trying to get at Lexy (probably after chasing the other cats around first--they were all pretty panicked and ran inside when I was running out) I couldn't hear anything until the growling because I had the door shut.
I went out this morning to take pictures of the fence damage and have come to the conclusion that stupid dog got in my yard and broke the fence trying to get at Lexy (probably after chasing the other cats around first--they were all pretty panicked and ran inside when I was running out) I couldn't hear anything until the growling because I had the door shut.
The screws are only in about 1/2 inch, but it takes a lot of force to do this amount of damage. The attack happened right beside that bush on the terrace. Lexy was undoubtedly outside the fence in front of deranged neighbor's house on the left and tried to get home when he heard the ruckus. I will give these pictures to the Sheriff when he gets here on Monday.
Stupid Neighbors, Stupid Dog
My cats go outside. Only when I am home and they are called in when it gets dark or is raining. They usually stay inside the fence, but like all cats and children, explore the neighbor's yards cautiously while making their rounds. Lexy likes to sit just outside the driveway gate where he can pop back in through the pickets when he wants to. I think it's cruel to make them stay inside when they don't want to and they are usually pretty good with coming when I call. I have some cats that don't want to go out. That's ok too. I also have one who lives outside most of the time because he pees on all vertical surfaces.
My entire yard has either a 6' board or 4' picket fence to keep out the dogs and children, but if one of them is determined they could still breach the perimeter. Some of the houses on my block have college students who never come outside, so the cats feel safe to explore their yards. Several yards have dogs. Several have kids. I have not had any problems with dogs or kids for a long time.
I heard a commotion outside this afternoon--sounded like cats growling--which I hear a lot because some of my cats are grouchy and like to chase each other around outside--but different somehow. I saw past the driveway gate a ball of yellow and black fur rolling around on the terrace. As I ran toward it I saw that there was a yellow dog fighting one of my black cats. I opened the gate and saw that there was a fence picket laying on the sidewalk so I picked that up and began whacking the dog's butt with it. It finally let go and I saw that it was a pit bull. I chased it to the corner as my cat limped back through the fence. When I got to the corner there was a girl with a leash, who I have seen walking this dog--always on a leash. She was alarmed that I was carrying a picket and I yelled that her dog had just attacked my cat--I'm not getting close to either of them at this point. I wanted to see where the dog went. The girl was getting belligerent as I explained that her dog had badly injured my cat and I was trying to see where she lived. She was not saying she was sorry this happened at ANY point during this confrontation. She was acting like her letting the dog run around outside without a leash was my fault.
Gotta love those stupid pit bull owners. It's never their fault when one of their uncontrollable dogs attacks a pet or a person.
As I was hurrying home to see how badly injured my cat was another cretinous neighbor--the one who gives me the bird every time he sees me and never fails to have a string of cursing ready to throw my way (because I told him when he stopped swearing at me I would start listening to him)--had the nerve to say. "See what happens when you don't keep your *&*&*## cats in your yard" I told him to shut up and kept walking and he kept flinging invectives at me so I stopped and yelled as loud as I could "I LOVE you Zeke and want to have your baby!" His look was priceless and he muttered that I was too stupid for him. I continued to say "But I LOVE you, Zeke" until I was in my own yard.* That's my new tactic for dealing with him. My way of swearing.
Lexy was badly injured and was having trouble walking so I took him into the house and got him in a box with towels and made a vet appointment. They graciously made room for me so I rushed him over. He was covered with dog spit, poor little guy. He crawled into my lap while I was driving.
His exam showed several puncture wounds and a massive rip of his lower belly that fortunately was just through the skin and fat--not touching organs or muscle. His fat tummy was an asset!
The vet called me after surgery and said Lexy was still touch and go but he would check on him later. I had an appointment to keep with a part-time job I have so I went after I got the report. There was nothing on my answering machine when I got home, so I'll assume everything is good for picking him up tomorrow.
I called the police to make a report and they referred me to Animal Control. Of course, their office was closed, so I called the Sheriff. A nice officer took my report and said that he couldn't get out to visit the dog's home until after the weekend, so one good thing is that they will worry all weekend what is going to happen to them. He will call me before he goes there to get an update on my cat.
When I came back from the vet's I noticed that the fence section with the missing picket was torn loose from the posts at both ends. This section had just been repaired 2 months ago, so it was secure. It looks like the stupid dog dragged my cat through the fence as he was trying to get away or something. It's not that easy to rip both sides of a fence loose and take a picket off without a lot of force. I will have to take pictures and repair this before the officer can get out here because a broken fence is an invitation in this neighborhood--especially with irresponsible pet owners around.
Oh, and my unemployment ran out two weeks ago and I have not been informed about any extensions. But I fought off a pit bull today.
*If you have ever looked at http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ this guy would fit right in. A cadaverously skinny redneck with an Ernhardt hat and shirt and a scuzzy gray ponytail who smokes and drags an oxygen canister around and is lately driving an electric cart. (Not) married to a fat bleached blonde with her own multiple ailments and a foul mouth to match his. I have known this couple for over 15 years and they have always been on some kind of medical assistance and banned from driving. No visible sign of income, and signs plastered all over their doors about their own dangerous dog, and Don't knock on the door, etc. A lovely couple who I am waiting to hear have died, but they never do, though they have come close a few times.
My entire yard has either a 6' board or 4' picket fence to keep out the dogs and children, but if one of them is determined they could still breach the perimeter. Some of the houses on my block have college students who never come outside, so the cats feel safe to explore their yards. Several yards have dogs. Several have kids. I have not had any problems with dogs or kids for a long time.
I heard a commotion outside this afternoon--sounded like cats growling--which I hear a lot because some of my cats are grouchy and like to chase each other around outside--but different somehow. I saw past the driveway gate a ball of yellow and black fur rolling around on the terrace. As I ran toward it I saw that there was a yellow dog fighting one of my black cats. I opened the gate and saw that there was a fence picket laying on the sidewalk so I picked that up and began whacking the dog's butt with it. It finally let go and I saw that it was a pit bull. I chased it to the corner as my cat limped back through the fence. When I got to the corner there was a girl with a leash, who I have seen walking this dog--always on a leash. She was alarmed that I was carrying a picket and I yelled that her dog had just attacked my cat--I'm not getting close to either of them at this point. I wanted to see where the dog went. The girl was getting belligerent as I explained that her dog had badly injured my cat and I was trying to see where she lived. She was not saying she was sorry this happened at ANY point during this confrontation. She was acting like her letting the dog run around outside without a leash was my fault.
Gotta love those stupid pit bull owners. It's never their fault when one of their uncontrollable dogs attacks a pet or a person.
As I was hurrying home to see how badly injured my cat was another cretinous neighbor--the one who gives me the bird every time he sees me and never fails to have a string of cursing ready to throw my way (because I told him when he stopped swearing at me I would start listening to him)--had the nerve to say. "See what happens when you don't keep your *&*&*## cats in your yard" I told him to shut up and kept walking and he kept flinging invectives at me so I stopped and yelled as loud as I could "I LOVE you Zeke and want to have your baby!" His look was priceless and he muttered that I was too stupid for him. I continued to say "But I LOVE you, Zeke" until I was in my own yard.* That's my new tactic for dealing with him. My way of swearing.
Lexy was badly injured and was having trouble walking so I took him into the house and got him in a box with towels and made a vet appointment. They graciously made room for me so I rushed him over. He was covered with dog spit, poor little guy. He crawled into my lap while I was driving.
His exam showed several puncture wounds and a massive rip of his lower belly that fortunately was just through the skin and fat--not touching organs or muscle. His fat tummy was an asset!
The vet called me after surgery and said Lexy was still touch and go but he would check on him later. I had an appointment to keep with a part-time job I have so I went after I got the report. There was nothing on my answering machine when I got home, so I'll assume everything is good for picking him up tomorrow.
I called the police to make a report and they referred me to Animal Control. Of course, their office was closed, so I called the Sheriff. A nice officer took my report and said that he couldn't get out to visit the dog's home until after the weekend, so one good thing is that they will worry all weekend what is going to happen to them. He will call me before he goes there to get an update on my cat.
When I came back from the vet's I noticed that the fence section with the missing picket was torn loose from the posts at both ends. This section had just been repaired 2 months ago, so it was secure. It looks like the stupid dog dragged my cat through the fence as he was trying to get away or something. It's not that easy to rip both sides of a fence loose and take a picket off without a lot of force. I will have to take pictures and repair this before the officer can get out here because a broken fence is an invitation in this neighborhood--especially with irresponsible pet owners around.
Oh, and my unemployment ran out two weeks ago and I have not been informed about any extensions. But I fought off a pit bull today.
*If you have ever looked at http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ this guy would fit right in. A cadaverously skinny redneck with an Ernhardt hat and shirt and a scuzzy gray ponytail who smokes and drags an oxygen canister around and is lately driving an electric cart. (Not) married to a fat bleached blonde with her own multiple ailments and a foul mouth to match his. I have known this couple for over 15 years and they have always been on some kind of medical assistance and banned from driving. No visible sign of income, and signs plastered all over their doors about their own dangerous dog, and Don't knock on the door, etc. A lovely couple who I am waiting to hear have died, but they never do, though they have come close a few times.
21 November 2009
The Cat Came Back!
Loki came back tonight!
I had written him off last week as deceased over the summer. He has been taking summer vacations from home for the past 4 or so years and showing up again when it gets cold, but this year he was late, so I figured he was dead. He's back, but very bony and he has lost all his teeth. He is, after all, 13 years old, but very independent.
He is destined to be an inside cat now that I see his condition is deteriorating, even though it will be a battle with the other cats, as it always is. That is why he runs away. He is basically timid and the other cats intimidate him and chase him, so he runs to the next block where there must be some source of shelter for him (even though I provide warmth and shelter right here) and sneaks back for food. As there are many animals eating my outside cat food I was not aware he was also eating it.
28 October 2009
A Pissed-Off Pussy
Poor little Bertie! On Saturday morning I noticed that his right ear was all swollen like a balloon. Of course I couldn't get to the vet until Monday, so I took him in and the diagnosis was hematoma caused by ear mites. Somehow the mites made his ear fill up with blood.
I had to leave him to have an operation the next day to drain the pocket and quilt his ear back together. That's right. Quilt his ear back together. He ended up staying two nights and I just went and got him. He is having quite a problem navigating. He wants to travel close to the walls and objects instead of just going down the middle and keeps bumping into things. I think they fastened the cone too narrow and want to widen it out a bit so he can eat and see and not be all squished in there, but he won't let me do it right now. It's held together with duct tape, so will be quite the project.
I have a couple kitties traumatized under the bed right now because they saw this monster in their kitchen. Sibley is acting quite courageous and stalking Bertie to get a good sniff. Three of the kitties have not seen him yet, so there will be more drama later. I took the hood off one of the litter boxes so he can use it, but that may prove to be the most attractive box in the house. (Not in the pretty sense.)
I have to take him back in two weeks to get the stitches out and he has to wear the collar the whole time. We'll see. His poor little ear is covered by pink sutures.
01 September 2009
More "Projects"
Take a look at the neat Eastlake-Style Gentleman's Chair I picked up Sunday at Allegan for $30.
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Here it is after removing 72 staples and foam and the blanket cover. I found a layer of Depression Green under the white and the glass feet are really chipped and ground down, so this poor little stool has seen a lot of rough use.
I had a nice closeup of one of the claw feet but Purrcey got in the way.
After I had bought this and taken it back to the truck I found another one for $30 that was in better shape. Oh well! Will post progress reports.
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Lexington says "I'm a Gentleman".
I'm thinking that this is quite late in the Eastlake period as the decoration looks more modern than on the other chairs I have. It's missing casters on the feet and needs better upholstery, but it is in good shape and just has one repair that I can see.
I also picked up this piano stool for $35. It needs some tlc and somebody removed the wooden seat when they "upholstered" it, so I will probably make a leather padded seat for it.
Here it is after removing 72 staples and foam and the blanket cover. I found a layer of Depression Green under the white and the glass feet are really chipped and ground down, so this poor little stool has seen a lot of rough use.
I had a nice closeup of one of the claw feet but Purrcey got in the way.
After I had bought this and taken it back to the truck I found another one for $30 that was in better shape. Oh well! Will post progress reports.
10 June 2009
Sibley Update
I thought you might like to see photos of Sibley the Feral Cat's progress towards becoming a Tame Cat.
Here he is getting petted while I am sitting in my computer chair. This is now a nightly routine for him.
Here he is getting petted while I am sitting in my computer chair. This is now a nightly routine for him.
He really is enjoying this! If I stop he stands up and taps me on the arm for more. I still don't dare pick him up, however.
He will lay on the floor and watch me at the computer.
He also wants to be petted when I am eating at the table in the kitchen. It seems whenever I am in a chair he is not afraid. The only place he doesn't want my attention is in the bathroom--which is the place all the other cats seem to think is where I am doing nothing and should be petting them.
This is Bertie and Sibley enjoying some catnip sleeping pads on the bathtub in the dining room. (Don't we all have bathtubs in the dining room beside antique stoves and half-refinished Victorian sideboards?)
He is progressing daily and knows his name and will perk up when he knows I am talking to him, but still will not come when called. He hangs around when the other kitties are getting treats, but is still somewhat afraid of having treats tossed to him and a little slow on the whole treat thing, so doesn't get too many when greedy Tommy is around.
Right now he is sleeping in a chair in the room with me, but still aware of every noise I make so I don't sneak up on him and kill him.
08 February 2009
Kissed By A Feral Cat
This is Sibley.
He is a feral cat. I trapped him on the back porch last Spring, got him neutered, and then, not wanting to release him back outside to fend for himself, released him into my house. These pictures were taken several months after. He hides most of the time I am around--most lately under my bed, and when I enter a room I see a fluffy yellow tail leaving it. Sometimes he will lay on the floor in the kitchen with the other cats when I am at the kitchen table quietly reading late at night. I turn and speak to him and use his name so he will feel included. As soon as I get up he is gone. He has learned to play with cat toys, batting them down the stairs and in the bathtub, and he and the other cats play chase up and down the stairs and down the hall. He has always been a gentleman and uses the cat box and has no problem finding the food and water, as you can see by his picture.
I have not touched him since soon after he came here, when he used to cower in a cat house and I would touch his nose. When cornered he has said terrible things to me and rushed past to escape the horrible things I am going to do to him. All my other cats love him and get along just fine. I pet them in his presence to show him that I am not going to kill him. He has entered my bedroom, sitting just inside the door, to watch me as I am sleeping. I wake up and say Hi to him. He snuggles on top of my clothes on the vanity stool, and lately he has been sleeping on my bed when I am actually IN IT! Last week I woke to see him on the other pillow--just 12 inches away, and he didn't run.
This morning I woke up and, as is their custom, the other cats came and stood on me and started purring and getting their morning pets. I had one in each armpit and two on my chest, several on my feet, and one on the other pillow, and Sibley was on the far side of the bed. (A double, so I can reach both sides.) I pet Spot and got him all purry and happy and he went over and started washing Sibley's head and ears. Spot is my best ear washer. I reached over and pet Spot and started petting Sibley. He didn't object, and soon he was actually PURRING. This is the first sound he has made other than a hiss. Soon he was rolling over on his back, stretching out his feet, and giving my hand little kitty kisses. He didn't want me to stop. He found out that hands are good. I withdrew my hand to pet the other cats and then resumed petting Sibley several times. Each time, he kissed my hand and rolled over so I could scratch his chest. He was making little purry whimpery noises and then he rolled off the bed!
I dozed off and he was back when I woke up. I pet him again and got up. I haven't seen him the rest of the day.
W00t!! Progress!
05 January 2009
24 April 2008
Breaking Buds
It's hard to believe that only 5 days ago I had buds instead of flowers. This is how the tulip tree looks tonight.
I had to take the picture because we have had wind all day and bad weather predicted--even snow for Monday--and the petals are already starting to fall.
The above is a black currant bush. You can't believe how wonderful my yard smells right now. This thing is powerful. Everyone should have one--not to mention all the black currants! (That I can't figure out what to do with.)
Beezer
I had to take the picture because we have had wind all day and bad weather predicted--even snow for Monday--and the petals are already starting to fall.
Here are the buds on the wisteria.
Here are various other things that weren't blooming Saturday. The bleeding heart wasn't even up yet!
Here are various other things that weren't blooming Saturday. The bleeding heart wasn't even up yet!
The above is a black currant bush. You can't believe how wonderful my yard smells right now. This thing is powerful. Everyone should have one--not to mention all the black currants! (That I can't figure out what to do with.)
Beezer
The following owie shot is for Greg. I "broke the skin" on my thumb restacking some boards that blew down. It's not as dramatic without the dripping blood, but you can see the scar on my wrist where they repaired the triple break from a wallyball mishap. (Oh--and my toes.)
20 April 2008
Yard Work with Cats
Being a beautiful day, I decided to get a little done outside, even though my old winter bones don't want to move much. I did a lot of simple things like setting up the patio table and chairs,
hauling the hoses out of the basement and hooking them up, and washing the mold (!) off the bulkhead doors preparatory to another coat of paint.
In all these endeavors I was "helped"by at least three cats at a time, and up to five at one point, when I happened to wander out into the yard to pick up a fallen branch. This was extremely fascinating to the in-all-winter group and they jumped and bit at it until it was broken into small enough pieces to satisfy them.
If we don't get a late freeze the Magnolia Soulangiana will be beautiful. (Tulip Tree to those not into botanical nomenclature)
One of the Forsythia is in bloom--the other is a poor performer, but it is useful as a scene-blocker, so it stays in the corner.
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