Some this and that tidbits for your Friday:
It’s official – Olivia is a love bug. She loves on Mom half the morning and most of the afternoons, now, after a few years of completely ignoring everyone, having preferred to spy on sisters and brother Quint while taking notes. Mom says Olivia knows all the drawers and cabinets in the house that hold cat combs and brushes and if everything goes to plan, Olivia will learn to fetch them all, begin to brush herself, and may open a grooming salon sometime in the future.
Shiny Olivia – © Colehauscats.com
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At Miss Newton’s yearly vet appointment a few weeks back, sadly, she was diagnosed with stage three kidney disease and high blood pressure. She’s on daily bp medication now (that she accepts like a champ!) and has finally, successfully, transitioned over to wet food (she’s a picky eater). She goes back soon for her third bp check to see if the medication is the correct dosage for her or whether adjustments need to be made. Like her sister Sunny, who also is in stage three chronic kidney disease (CKD), you’d never know to look at either of them or watch them race around the house.
Miss Newton takes a nap – © Colehauscats.com
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For over a week, our area was blanketed in smoke from the wildfires up in Canada and though we kept our windows shut, we could still smell the smoke. The air is clear now, thanks to a bit of rain we had last Sunday (after a record-setting, 56-day rainless streak), but Sunny seems to have been affected by the smoke and now has a scratchy meow. We’re keeping an eye on her and will be making her another vet appointment soon. Her yearly checkup in early July came back in stellar form – everything is stable with no negative change to her CKD.
Happy Sunny is happy – © Colehauscats.com
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Yes, super floofy Pia got a haircut, courtesy of Mom and three days of working on it. Many thanks to our vets at Feline Medical Clinic for helping us understand better how to use a hand-held trimmer which, frankly, we sucked at using previously.
Understandably, Pia is now a bit camera shy, not really knowing what to think of half her fur missing but clearly loving the cooler feel with the added bonus of being to find… um, nether bits that need extra attention.
She’s also hoping her sweet prince Dexter, from Cherry City Kitties, understands and sends him her constant love over the miles they are apart, despite that love not having as much fur attached.
DeFloofed Pia – © Colehauscats.com
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And to round out news on all the Colehaus ginger girls, Zuzu needed a vet checkup a couple of weeks ago to investigate a skin irritation thing affecting a portion of her back and her ears. Her culture test results came back negative for anything horrible and in the meantime, she’s on Clavamox and ear drops, both of which have helped.
Zuzu takes in the sun – © Colehauscats.com
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While the ginger girls were hogging all the fun, and vet bill dollars, Ruby decided to eat a spider or something (Mom’s working theory) and a day later, completely and utterly stopped eating and started barfing. Three days later, Mom was force feeding her with a feeding syringe. The next day, Ruby saw the vet who prescribed fluids, an anti-nausea shot, and an appetite stimulant cut into 1/8th piece slivers of which she required just one before she picked up right where she left off – eating wonderfully again. Many, many thank yous again to our vets who squeezed Ruby in on their busiest day of the week.
Ruby – © Colehauscats.com
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With much glee, Mom announces her latest breakthrough: She got a full-body pet of visiting feral Mac (also known as Pretty Boy Mac, or PBM) the other morning when she put the food bowls in the feeding stations. And he didn’t complain, back away, or take off. He also has the softest, kitten-like mews. So much for that tough guy reputation!
Feral Mac – © Colehauscats.com
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The raccoon babies have all gained a significant amount of weight and so, with a touch of sadness, we’ve stopped intentionally feeding them to allow them to learn how to become raccoons. We spent the last three weeks slowly weaning them off the cat kibble leftover from the day feeding and this week, Patches’ and her family have been off on their own. We pull our feeding bowls at five p.m. sharp, keeping an eye out for any wandering cat who might turn up late (who we hand-feed when possible), and make sure not a morsel is left to attract the raccoons.
Patches’ babies, 2017 © Colehauscats.com
Our kindly neighbor behind us set a couple of ears of corn out for the raccoons the other evening, which appeared to be much enjoyed. Other neighbors around us most definitely DO NOT LIKE the raccoons – some are scared half to death of the things, so we’ll hope the little pudgy bandits learn the greenspace behind our development is a much safer place to stay.
One of Patches’ babies, 2017 – © Colehauscats.com
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We’ll be off next Monday while helping Dad celebrate his special day and hoping to catch a safe glimpse of the solar eclipse. We’re not in the total darkness zone but should experience a decent amount of dimness for a few minutes after 10:15 a.m., despite the clouds that will probably park themselves overhead.
See you next Wednesday. Have a great weekend!
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Previously on Colehaus Cats:
2016 – No post
2015 – Ruby Tuesday
2014 – Stories with Maxx
2013 – No post
2012 – No post
Wow, that’s a lot of vet stuff! But everyone seems to be in a good place now; that’s great! Pia probably really enjoys less floof, and great Mac shot! I’ll be watching the eclipse too; we’re supposed to get about 80%, but what fun.
glad over all that everyone is doing pretty well! Great updates! I am in Michigan like Eastside Cats, if I don’t get those glasses, I won’t be watching anything lol
BUNCH of Vet stuff. And I hope everyone stays in top shape and frisky playfulness. We have 30 seconds of totality. If it’s not cloudy it will be very nice.
the raccoons in this area tend to have rabies fairly often so they aren’t welcome. Must be just here.
Glad everyone is feeling better now!
I love your ginger girls – they are gorgeous and have beautiful personalities too! Poor Ruby … after watching Bear de-leg spiders, I’m terrified and always on edge that he’ll mess with the wrong spider. I’m glad she’s feeling better. Ellie is a love bug too … those blackies sure know how to work it 🙂
Wow, there has been a lot going on over at your place! I’m glad everyone is doing better now who wasn’t, and great news about Mac!
Miss Newton and Sunny
Oh I hear you about the kidney stuff. Mine is progressing slowly so far and I am on Subqs every other day which I do not like…they don’t hurt but I don’t like being confined/held down while they are going in
hugs madi your bffff
POTP to all the Colehaus fursibs that need some medical attention – hope everyone gets better soon !
You sure have been to the vets often lately. I am dealing with the same thing with Phoebe and she is getting tough to get to eat anything and so thin. I will add your furbabies to my prayer list. XO
Mom says to thank you for the update. Sounds like your crew has been visiting the doctor’s house quite a bit lately. Mom said Steinbeck is due for his check-up and booster shots soon. I have spent enough time at the doctor’s house lately so I don’t want to go there again. I got over my upper respiratory infection rather quickly and am back to eating, playing, sleeping, and purring. Take care of ourselves!!! Oh, Pia, Steinbeck says if you need some extra fluff, he will send you some. 🙂
Giant purrs from Hemingway………..with Steinbeck reading over my shoulder
That’s a lot going on. We hope everyone stays in as healthy a shape as possible. Happy Caturday!
Zuzu made us smile with her ginger fur and we are so pleased that she is such a good Mom to Viola.
Wow, that’s a lot of vet visits. We’re sorry to hear about Miss Newton’s CKD diagnosis, but glad she takes her BP medicine so well. Our Zoe is the same way (and also has CKD). We hope everyone keeps on doing as good as can be. Big purrs and prayers.
56 rainless days? Wow! We haven’t gone 5 rainless days in almost 2 months. THat is amazing for US in Summer.
We are conflicted about racoons. We like them purrsonaly and think they are sort of catish. But they also like the corn and tomatoes and are real thieves.
We are very glad to hear that everyone is feeling better!
Have a wonderful weekend…
Noodle and crew
Do not worry Pia my love, I still have the little heart of your furs that you sent me! You have all my loves always! Your D.
All things considered, it sounds like things are going pretty well for your crew. Hopefully Miss Newton is responding well to her new meds. Raccoons are very adaptable. I’m sure they’ll quickly learn where the safe locations are, and who isn’t so diligent about taking in the cat kibble!
There has been a lot going on for you! I am glad Ruby is feeling better again after eating the spider.
We’re purring for those of you who need it and rejoicing with those who are doing good!
Cute raccoons, we hope they start loving the wild more than the people places!