In the Wheelbarrow

I love this wheelbarrow that the family has padded and set up for cats. We even have a step stool to get up here. And the best thing is the sunlight which shines in and makes us feel all cozy. Most of the time, I like sleeping here more than in the house (cause this is more like a den than a garage and is well insulated and cozy and it is never used for cars anyway). Now that I am having to swallow pills when I am in the house, I find being out here with Dandelion EXTRA enjoyable these days.

Useful Winter Tool

Myst spends more and more time on the monitor. Terry already wonders what to do when the day comes that she has to get a flat panel. She is thinking of getting him a heated bed because she loves his company up there.

I get my stitches/staples out on Friday and I will start my new cat food diet that Dandelion can share with me, the vet said. She will make a gradual change over for us. I hope I like this new food. I hope Dandelion does and I also hope I can still have a moist treat once in a while.

ALL I NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED FROM MY CAT (AND THEN SOME)

Before I found out how sick I was, I promised to review a book. Terry says being sick can be a good time to read cause humans are supposed to stay still while recovering and books help them do so.

This book is titled "ALL I NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED FROM MY CAT (AND THEN SOME)" by Suzy Becker.

Personally, I think humans need to learn more from cats. We are always trying to train them. The advice in this book is very good. One page says to "Be a Good Listener," something I work hard at making sure my pets understand. They still need practice.

Another page advises us to know all of the sunny places. I take this very seriously. Thank goodness winter around here is a time when the sun seems to shine in the windows more.

And my humans have not yet learned to "wash behind your ears" inspite of my trying to show them every day.

This entire book was cute, funny and sweet.

I'm Back!

I would like to thank Myst for filling in for me here. He spends so much time on top of the monitor that he knows what to do.

My thanks also to everyone for your support. Terry said it was a great comfort to have ideas and suggestions and to know everyone was thinking of or praying for me. You are all the best

My humans never knew I was sick except that I seemed more affectionate. It's hard to convey aches and pains sometimes. I am getting a little more energy every day though the parents may have to take me to the vets for pills because I am becoming more stubborn about taking them. Terry says the vet is only 2 miles away and twice a day trips would not be so bad.

I hope to regain my energy though I am still walking slowly due to this scar and staples. Here's a picture Terry took of me a few minutes ago. She says its a good thing I had a little extra weight to lose.

Waiting for Another Cricket

There have been two crickets in this bathtub of late and I figure it would be good to hang out here a lot incase another one shows up.

Muddy is getting much better and the parents are getting better at giving him pills although he is hiding more. Unlike me, he can not get into really small places. I love to watch all the goings on here twice a day. -- Myst

Progress Report

Myst writing here. This is a picture of Muddy and me just before he got sick. He started to enjoy drinking out of the sink but he has no patience to wait for it to fill like I do.

He is eating well which makes everyone happy since he will have to go on his special diet food after he recovers more.

The cheese was a curious thing to him and he licked it though the pills were wrapped in it. It's a great idea but he still has a fit with the pills. I know how he feels. Muddy is getting stronger and protesting more. I like the smell of that cheese! -- Myst

Sleeping Muddy

Myst here again. We want to thank all of you who have offered very excellent advice. We are going to wrap the pills in cheese now as Daisy suggested and we never knew why Muddy was hoarse, just had nightmares of his fussing too much, but glad to know it was only the breathing tube thanks to Tun Tun. You are all the best in the whole world. I do not know what we would do without you.

This has also been traumatic for my humans though Muddy seems to be getting more energetic and healthier every day. He does like to sleep just about anywhere these days, even right in the middle of the floor. He is eating again (when he refused at the vet's).

His tummy and part of his arm here were shaved for the surgery and you can see his bare arm a little bit in this photo.

Happy Thanksgiving

(This is me, Myst, with a cricket I found today in the bathtub.)

Muddy continues to recover but he sounds different and meows hoarsely. He also moves very slowly. We know he is still healing from surgery because he can not jump up on things so well. He tried to climb the cat pole and fell. Fortunately it was only falling a little but our pet humans were so alarmed that they will not let him near the cat pole without their supervision, now.

Dandelion seems to have accepted Muddy, though we are not absolutely sure about that so we still keep an eye out. Muddy is still taking appetite enhancers as the vet wanted. We do see him eating a couple of times a day, which is good. We just hope he is eating enough.

Muddy does not take his pills without hissing and growling. He takes 8 pills a day, still. It is a big job for our humans to do. They hope Muddy will not hold this against them in the future. So far, so good.

Our humans changed their plans and stayed in town, but had a good Thanksgiving with Muddy back among us and hopefully getting better.

--Myst

Back Home Again

Still me, Myst, here. Muddy is back. He was not eating at the vet, but as soon as he got his bearings at home, he went to his food dish and ate! It was a good sign. He is not so lethargic, either, but is walking around meowing for a brushing and wanting attention. He has to take 8 pills a day, one is an appetite enhancer that is making him anxious, but it helps him to want to eat. He has a 6-inch line of stitches on his tummy but he seems to be getting to the litter box ok and was able to jump on the bed after several tries. I feel a little less sad cause he purrs when my humans pet him.

Here is a picture that Terry just now took of him. While Dandelion and I sniff him a lot, nobody has been too aggressive towards him though Dandelion is not completely sure so the parents supervise their visits for now and do not leave them alone yet.

They cancelled their Thanksgiving trip out of town and will be staying around here. Yay, cause I hate when they leave. I follow Terry around all day long and I get too lonely when she is not here, so lonely that I don't eat, either.

News of Muddy

Muddy's triaditis is a fatal illness eventually, but we are still wanting to try and save him. He is not eating at the vet's, not since he went in on Sunday. He has been lethargic though today, he was grouchy which we all take as a good sign since he is that way normally with vets and it shows that he has some energy.

The vet thinks he needs to come home and we do too. Perhaps the familiar environment will induce him to eat again and give him a will to live. Besides, a cage is no fun.

He has to take 4 kinds of pills a day, some twice a day. The biggest challenge will be if he can keep them down and if they help in time. This disease does not always respond and the vet is not making any promises.

My humans are retaking a pill-giving lesson (they took one with me before) at the vet's this afternoon before they bring Muddy home.

Then again, Muddy is so sick that he might never get his appetite back and the pills might not help enough. Saturday will be a big decision day, maybe. We are still holding out hope that we can extend his life 1 - 5 years, but he may be suffering too much for that. We never knew he was in pain. This disease often has no outward symptoms until it is well-progressed though Terry is searching for any clues she might have missed.

Thank you for your comments and thoughts in our behalf. Your support has been wonderful.

-- Myst & Terry & Everyone

Muddy

Hi, this is Myst. Muddy is still at the vet's. He is recovering from surgery, still in pain (but he is getting pain killers as the vet recommends) and not moving much or walking around much at all. My owners are doing all they can and the vet is watching him closely. We are trying to be optimistic and we think he will recover. It's just going slowly because he had inflammation in many places. We appreciate all of your comments and thoughts. Thank you all for caring so much.

Muddy Has a Chronic Disease

Hi, this is Myst. Our human pet, Terry, rushed Muddy to the vet today when he threw up again. Muddy had knotted intestines, an inflamed liver and pancreas. As it turned out, he has a form of hepatitus called Triaditis. There is no cure, but we are doing what we can and trust he will recover enough to be with us again for a long time, still. Everyone is praying for him. He has to stay at the vet's for now then his future depends on if he can handle the medicine he will have to take for the rest of his life.

Not Feeling Well Today

I have an upset tummy. I threw up yesterday and I threw up the day before. Otherwise, I seem fine and like to run around and play. My pet humans are keeping a close eye on me and will take me to the vet if my tummy is still upset today. They know that I eat everything on the floor anyway, though Terry wonders what I got into this time.

Anywhere can be Comfortable

A cat can be comfortable anywhere. It's just a matter of getting into the right position.

And, if you are sleepy enough, your humans can wheel you around and laugh, point clicking boxes at you and show you off to friends and you do not even care.

Sunlight

Sunlight is good. Some cats like to find cool places to sleep, but all year around, I always want the warmest.

Dandelion's Present

Dandelion has decided that this present is okay and he will be glad to keep it. I like it too, though I wish it were easier to stand on.

Mine! Mine! Mine!

This is MY twist tie! You can not have it. No other cat can have it. Everybody, STAY AWAY FROM MY TOY!

Good View

Dandelion is looking out of a window. The view is so good right now.

Sunning

Yes, another picture of us. A cat can't get enough sun any time of year, but especially in winter and fall.

Waiting

I am resting and Myst is waiting for me to make a move then POUNCE! He has decided to wait me out so he has parked himself right below me. What he doesn't realize is that I am going to sleep and he is stuck there, waiting on the cold drafty floor. Hahahahahah!

The Most Fun Thing to Watch

Leaves are much fun to watch this time of year. We have these big oak trees outside of this door and the squirrels are even more fun to watch. Then again, our humans are the most fun of all. You never know what cute antics they will perform for our entertainment.

Thanks, Karen Jo for Myst's Limerick

Myst is famous, too. Here's his limerick from Karen Jo. Thank-you, Karen. You truly know Myst. That was beautiful and Terry was amazed at how well you understand Myst and us.

Right now, I am about to switch to writing my blog, and Myst is chasing the cursor! This guy never gives me any peace. I think I had better stop and go paw him a little and teach him some humility. (I wish I could sit on that monitor, but I am too heavy and it shakes with me up there - darn!)

Going for the Sunlight

Hey Myst, are we watching birds today? Dogs? Leaves? Humans? Each other? Actually, I am just here for the sunlight. One great thing about this house - in the winter, more sun seems to come in the door and windows. Perfect!

Damp is Not So Bad

The sprinkler in the yard came on and the newspaper got wet. My humans set it out to dry and it became a nice place to sit a while. So what if it is wet and so what if Terry is looking at me like I am crazy? I looked carefully and I managed to sit on a dry section.

Sleeping with Ulterior Motives

Some accuse us of sleeping pretty, thus making us irresistable to humans who then becoming willing slaves. I will not deny this fact.

Trying to Be Alert to Everything

Half the fun of being at the door (for me) is watching humans step over me, but sometimes flocks of birds land in the yard. Still, the humans inside are interesting, too. Trying to sit to get the best view of everything is not easy, but this is what I managed.

World's Most Expensive Domestic Cat

This is the world's most expensive, for sale, domesticated cat. Wow! He's pretty. I wonder if he likes to chase ice, too.

http://eachurl.com/A

This is a Fun Kitchen Floor

Here I am with a piece of ice. My pets have an ice crusher in the refrigerator door. I come running whenever they use it because a piece of ice always falls out of it and onto the floor and I can bat it around like crazy! Even if a piece of ice does not fall right away, I stare at them until they make sure one does. Ice crushers are LOTS of fun!