In Memorium: Mac, Dusty, Jazpurr, Chuck, and George, and Tuna

Over the past few months several of our furiends have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We wanted to take a moment to honor them.

Dusty, Jazpurr, and Mac lived in Tennessee. They were brothers from different mothers. Dusty was a handsome gray mancat. He crossed the Bridge last fall. Jazpurr was a good looking white & gray mancat. He predeceased Dusty. Unfortunately we don't know when Jazpurr crossed over. Mac, their ginger tabby brother, crossed the Bridge yesterday. His mom said his health was failing when Dusty crossed. Dusty, Jazpurr and Mac had long, lives. All lived well into their late teens. Mom got to meet their purrents when they visited Louisville.

 Mac, Jazpurr, & Dust LaBresh

Two of our friends who live in North Carolina crossed the Bridge within a couple of weeks of each other. They were also brothers from different mothers. Their mom used to live in Louisville. George was the color of smoke. Not exactly black but not exactly gray. He was found as a kitten in the parking lot of the apartment building where Aunty Krista was living. Mom remembers George as a little kitten. Chuck was an orange and white tabby. He was also a found kitten. Aunty Krista had moved into a house by then (still in Louisville) and Chuck's mom would come through the yard with her kittens in tow. It's been so long ago that mom doesn't remember if the other kittens were caught and re-homed. George was 21 years old. Chuck was 19. They leave behind their brother Fritz.-

Chuck and George Biggs

Lastly, you may have heard of The Amazing Acro-Cats (with The Rock Cats) and maybe your purrents had an opportunity to see them perform. Mom was fortunate enough to have seen them twice. After a battle with an aggressive form of cancer, Tuna crossed the Bridge last week. She was their star performer and leader of The Rock Cats. She would ring a desk bell and perform other tricks (along with other cats, rats, a chicken and a groundhog). Tuna was also leader of The Rock Cats band and played cowbell.

Tuna Martin

Fly free sweethearts. We know you all were loved and will be remember by those who knew you.

Purrs,

Clarissa

Woe is me: A post from Princess Daisy Thistlechaser

Oh woe is me, kitties!!! Over the past two weeks I have been poked, prodded, had my teeth stolen, and poked and prodded some more. Settle in and I will tell you my tale of woe. You see, it started with me losing weight. At my prime I weighed about 9 lbs. Mom also noticed that my breath was horrible. She took me to my regular vet. That was about two weeks before Christmas. I was weighed and was down to about 6.5 lbs.  The vet said I was dehydrated too, and that my gums were inflamed. I was given fluids and a B-12 shot. This was one a Monday evening.

I had a more extensive appointment with a different vet at a different clinic on the Thursday of that same week. I had a more thorough exam. The vet agreed that I was underweight. She tried to look in my mouth and I screamed at her. I didn't mean too. It's just that my mouth was really hurting. The technician took me into a different room where they stole some blood and took pictures of my mouth. The vet who examined me wanted the pictures to show to another vet who does the dental surgeries. I was given more fluids and an extended-release shot for pain control.

My lab work came back on that Saturday (December 17). There was nothing unusual there. The dental vet had looked at the pictures of my mouth and said that some of my teeth needed to be removed. She said there was a possibility that all of my teeth would have to go, but she couldn't determine that until she actually got into my mouth. My dental surgery was scheduled for January 3. Mom would drop me off at the office on the evening of January 2.

I had two more visits at my regular vet's office for fluids and B-12 shots. One was on the Friday before Christmas and the other was on the Friday before New Year's.

My dental surgery didn't start until the afternoon of Jan. 3. I did fine, but because it was so late in the day it was decided that I would stay overnight. When the vet spoke with my mom, she told her that I had all of my teeth removed except for my two bottom fangs. Some of the teeth broke off and the vet had to cut the roots out. So I also had stitches in my mouth!!!! Let me tell you kitties, stitches in your mouth sucks!!! I had more fluids and was given a warm blanket and I slept.

Mom picked me up after she got of work the next day. I meowed all the way home! She made a place for me in the spare room, but I hated it. She thought it would be good for me to have a place to stay where the other cats wouldn't bother me. I was so miserable being by myself that I convinced mom to let me out the next day.

I had a follow-up visit at the clinic on Saturday. I had lost weight and now weigh just under 6 lbs. The vet looked in my mouth and said everything was healing nicely. She even found a little food stuck under my upper lip. She rinsed that out for me. I was given more fluids, another B-12 shot, another shot of the long lasting pain meds, and 1/4 of an appetite stimulant tablet. The vet told mom to make sure I stayed on the antibiotic. I perked up quite a bit and yesterday I was more social. I've been grooming, drinking water on my own, and I'm more interested in food.

I'm not out of the woods yet though. The struggle is to get some weight back on. I don't like canned food, so that makes it harder for me to eat. My mouth hurt so much for so long that I'm a little put off by food. But I'm trying to eat so I will feel better.

And now a brief update on mom. Katie Isabella wanted to know how mom was doing since her surgery. Mom is healing up nicely. She had a brief setback by going back to work too soon. She ended up with an infection in one of the incisions. She ended up on another round of Clyndimicin and a round of Bactrim. She had to take both for two weeks. She also rolled over in bed and caught her bad arm beneath herself. She pulled out some of her stitches!!! She left a trail of blood drops from her bed to the bathroom sink! That happened the night that she felt so bad (before she went back to the doctor).

Mom's incisions look so much better now. She is doing a little more with her right hand, and she even did a little knitting over the weekend. She still can't lift much. The doctor said it will be 3-6 months before she has full strength back.

Taking Care Of Mom

We wanted to check in with our friends and let you all know that we are doing fine. Mom had carpal tunnel surgery and ulner release surgery on Wednesday. She is doing well. Her right arm was in a sling when she arrived home on Wednesday afternoon. It was numb from her shoulder to her fingertips from a nerve block. She said it was carrying a useless weight. We are going to share some photos. The first two are fine. There is nothing gross to see.

This is mom's bandaged arm on Thursday morning. She had a soft cast. Mom said her pain was minimal, but she slept a lot that day.

The next picture was taken Thursday night. You all can see what good nurses we are. That's Batman at the top, then Sable, and Puff in her lap. Fiona is laying to the side. Johnny is at the bottom. They weren't going to let her go anywhere.

Mom was allowed to unwrap her arm today and see what damage was done. If you don't want to see her incisions you might want to leave now.
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This is mom's palm and wrist. She was happy to see that the surgeon didn't cut into her tattoo.

And this is her inner arm:

And her outer arm. This one surprised her the most!

One of her Facebook friends said that was HARDCORE.

Honestly, she says it looks worse than it feels. That's good because it looks awful!!!

She is going to try to go back to work on Tuesday. She won't be able to lift anything, but she thinks she'll be able to drive if she wears her brace.

We hope all of you are in better shape than mom!!!

Purrs,
Clarissa

A Song for our Friends

The Kissymouse Song

Cat treats roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose.

Yuletide carols being yowled by the canines,

and cats dressed up like Eskimos.

Every fur knows that music and some mousie toes help to make the season bright.

Tiny kittens with their eyes all a-glow

will find it hard to sleep tonight.

They know that Santa Claws is one his way,

and he has lots or toys and catnip on his sleigh!

And every meowmie's cat is going to smile

When they learn that reindeer really know how to fly.

And so I'm offering this glad refrain,

For cats from one to ninety-two.

Although it's been said many times, many ways

Merry Kissymouse to you!

Kitten Cuteness Alert

Mom has been busy and that has kept us from the blog. I'm not going to promise that I'll post more often, because as sure I do, we will disappear again! But I do have some wonderful news for you.

Way back in late spring/early summer, a little black cat started showing up in our auntie's backyard. She had 4 kittens in tow with her a few times. Eventually those babies were caught and they found forever homes. Auntie Jen tried to trap Babymama, but she was good at avoiding the trap and it wasn't long before she was pregnant again.

Babymama, now called Khaleesi, eventually brought her five babies around. Two of the babies were solid black, just like her. Three babies were tabby patterned like their daddy. Auntie Jen was able to trap Khaleesi this time, and she had her spayed. The vet said she was in good health. Since she still had her babies out there, Auntie Jen let her go back out.

About three weeks ago Auntie Jen had a streak of good luck. In one afternoon she was able to trap the five kittens and re-trap Khaleesi. The babies were wild, as was Khaleesi. The babies all checked out healthy, which was wonderful news. Two of the tabby babies went to a foster home together. Another lady who works with ferals took the other tabby kitten. She was going to work with him and try to socialize him so that he can find a forever home. Auntie Jen is keeping the black girl kitten. That left the black boy kitten needing a home.

Mom got in touch with Nancy and Tom, her friends that took in Poe last year. They said they would love to take this kitten. Poe needed a younger playmate because the two older cats weren't interested. So last Thursday mom packed up the kitten and drove to Charlotte, NC. She met Nancy and Tom there and baby kitten was off to his forever home.

The kitten, now name Smudge, is settling in to his new home. Nancy said at first Smudge was afraid of Poe, but now they are playing with each other. Poe has taught him to jump onto the counter where the treats are kept! Smudge isn't sleeping in the bed with her yet, but she said that is just a matter of time.

We are so happy Smudge is adjusting. He is a cutie pie as you can tell from his pictures.

Bobby Update

We have some good news to share with you. Bobby may have a forever home!  A friend of mom's friend is going to keep both Bobby and his sister at his house for the time being. Once mom's friend has the room finished in her house for Paisley, she will be take her. It sounds like Bobby will be staying with the new foster permanently.

Also, the former foster had been letting both kittens outside!!!! That is awful for so many reasons. One, they are babies (four months old). Two, the former foster lives a block from a very busy road. Three, Paisley has tested FelLuk positive (we don't know about Bobby). We could go on, but you get the idea. Mom's friend let him have it when she picked up the kittens. Grrrrr.

Urgent: Kitten in Need of Foster or Permanent Home

We are trying to help find a permanent home for a possibly Feline Leukemia Positive kitten. Details are below.

1. Kitten is male. Neutered, up to date on shots.

2. Kitten is approximately 4 months old and is very affectionate.

3. Kitten's sister has tested positive for Feline Leukemia. Kitten will be tested soon.

4. Kitten's foster parent is leaving town in October and must find either a foster or permanent home for kitten.

Our aunt has asked us to spread the word about Bobby, this adorable male kitten. He is in desperate need of a forever home, but a foster home would do for now. Since his status regarding Feline Leukemia is unknown, it would probably be best if he went to a single home where he is a single cat, or in a home with other FeLuk kitties. Mom feels bad because she can't take him.

Our aunt said both kittens are very playful and don't act like they are sick. And it is quite possible that they will test negative when the checked again. The girl kitten already has a home lined up.

If you can help, or know anyone who can, you can contact us via email:  rissakitty2000 @ gmail dot com.  We wrote it out that way so those pesky spambots can't send us junk mail. Also, please share this information.  Transportation can be arranged.

We forgot to mention that Bobby is located in Louisville, KY!

Pictures of Bobby: