Other Things Happening Here

So, during the time while Annie was ill, we also had other occurrences of illnesses with Obi, G.T., and Jenny. With G.T., his allergies are continually getting worse, and although he gets a serum shot every 10 days, he now also needs a depomedrol shot on a monthly basis because he scratches under his right eye and makes it all yucky and bloody. And, if he goes too long without the depomedrol shot, then he makes his forepaws bloody as well. So, he is going back into the Dermatology vets on August 15 and will get another test done where they shave his side and poke him with a bunch of different allergens to see which he reacts to. And then he will get a new serum. His last test was in 2005, so it is possible that he has become allergic to additional items. Especially since this is Texas, and allergies are very nasty here for not only humans, but animals as well. Since G.T.'s last depomedrol shot was on July 5, he can't be seen for 6 weeks. He'll be a bloody mess by then!

Also, Obi has had bloody urine, and has been on antibiotics twice now. He has no stones, and the culture shows no bacteria, so it is likely that he has an inflammation that is causing this problem. He is taking a 5mg prednisolone in the morning and the evening, and Clavamox. Remember that Obi had the perineal urethrostomy which is where they cut out the super thin area of his urethra and reattach it, sort of like making him more unisex. This also causes some leaking after he urinates. Not his fault, and it's a few dribbles across the floor. He doesn't even know that he is doing it. 

Oh, and he is also now on Prozac. I was getting tired of cleaning up his out-of-litter box experiences from all over the house! It isn't as if there aren't enough litter boxes for him to go in. We have 17, yes 17 each litter boxes in this house! Granted, only 4 of them are the scoopable type. The others are clay litter. A little bowl full of clay litter dumped onto a spread of newspapers. And when it is used, the whole mess is dumped and a new set of newspapers and clay litter is spread in the pan. This started years ago. Oh, it was Jenny who hated clumping litter! And once cats get used to a certain way of having their litter boxes, they don't want it any different!!!!

So, with Obi being on the Prozac, he is a bit lethargic. But I'm not having to clean up messes from all over the house! He is doing much better, and is on a minimal dosage of Prozac. Yes, Obi gets a wee bit too stressed with 7 other cats around here. After all, he is an orange cat. So, we will see if the Prozac will help him calm down and use the litterboxes appropriately. Oh, and he also gets 1/4 tsp. Metamucil daily to firm him up.

And yesterday Jenny had surgery to remove a tumor from her neck. It is likely a sebaceous cyst or something like that, but it was big, and it was leaking, and her fur was matting to it. So, the v-e-t removed it and sent it off for a histopathology report. And her blood work was doing fairly well. Her thyroid levels are a bit high, but she doesn't always drink up her tuna juice every morning with her methimedazole in it. And I definitely can't give Jenny pills. And her kidney levels are about the same.

So, that is what has been happening around here. Yes, although we were only reporting on Annie's teeth problems, and then her cancer, there were other issues here at Forty Paws. Yes indeed. As our profile says, Maw and Paw spend tons of money on us to keep us healthy! Yes sir-ree!

Luf, Us

Yes, It's Still Hot Here

Yup, it's still hot here. Today it is supposed to be 104F, tomorrow 105F and Monday, 106F. That sux. The heat index is supposed to be around 110F because of the high humidity. That sux.

Jenny is taking her thyroid pills very well in Pill Pockets. Yay!!! This is great news. And she needs them twice a day. Not once a day. Nope. Twice a day. So this is very good news that the pills don't taste and are very tiny.

We think we have a raccoon coming to our outside food bowl at night. In the mornings, the water dish that holds the food bowl (away from the ants) is grungy with food particles, and the food bowl is kinda swiped up with dirty water bits. We know that a possum isn't doing that, so we're figuring on a raccoon.

That's all for now.

Luf, Us

More on Jenny's V-E-T Visit

Jenny is mostly still feral. She was captured at about 3 or 4 months old when she lived in a feral colony, and has never gotten used to being handled. Hence, the difficulty with catching her for V-E-T visits. That's why she's only been maybe 5 times to the V-E-T in the 14 years she has been here.

One time Maw brought home ringworm on the clothes she was wearing when she was cleaning cages for the humane group she worked with and didn't know that she had it on her. Hence, several poodins in this house caught ringworm, including Jenny. Maw managed to put cream on Jenny one time. That was it. Jenny self-cured over about 6 months. Jenny has never been treated for any type of illness (thank goodness) since she has lived here.

We know that the methimazole doesn't taste and is extremely small, so we are hoping that we can get Jenny to take it in treats. We hope. The V-E-T did offer to make the transdermal cream, but we wouldn't be able to put that on her so that won't work.

In udder noos, we haf da noo motor that arrived yestday for owr udder fountain, so now weze hast 2 fountains agin. Yeah!

Luf, Us

Jenny's V-E-T Visit

Jenny's V-E-T visit was interesting. The V-E-T was trying to give her minimal amounts of anesthesia to knock her under since Jenny is 14 now, but Jenny is kinda strong and was very resistant to going under. Finally she went under and they did there work, and then they were pulling her blood but she woke up immediately after the gas was turned off, so they didn't really get enough so they just ran thyroid and kidney level tests. She does have a hyperthyroid so she needs the pills, which would explain her weight loss over the last couple of years. We'll have to see if she will take the pills in treats. Let's hope she does!

Luf, Us

Tabby Tuesday

Here is a loverly pichur of Jenny at ChrissyMouse time. Yes, we caught her yestday with a few bites and bruises. She did NOT want to be caught. Luckily, Paw had the day off and helped Maw capture the poor Jenny. Poor ol' Jenny was not happy and was not at all enthusiastic about being left at the V-E-T overnight. And, her teeth reeeeely didn't need to be cleaned, but Maw said she wouldn't be able to capture Jenny again for a few more yeers, so the doc better kleen those toofies while she had the chance. And poor ol' Jenny has lost 3 lbs. of weight since she was at the other V-E-T several years back and that has Maw a bit concerned. So Jenny will get a full bloodcount done to see if anything is abnormal or if she has just lost weight because of her age. And, the V-E-T will also trim poor ol' Jenny's toenails while she is knocked out because those only get trimmed once every three or four yeers also.


Luf, Us

Gatsbi's 9th Purrfday!!

Today is Gatsbi's 9th Purrfday!!! Happy Purrfday to Gatsbi!!! (Pee Ess: She's a girl...)



In udder noos, Jenny did not make it to the V-E-T yesterday. She wasn't sleeping in the bedroom windowsill, but was out in the living area. No way to catch her in the living area. So, Gatsbi went in and had her vaccinations done and came back home because her teeth were just done last fall. So, we'll try for Jenny next Monday/Tuesday! And if we can't catch Jenny next Monday, then we'll take Dorf in for his vaccinations. He doesn't have any teeth...

Luf, Us

WomanCat Monday

Annie decided to overturn the box of PVC elbows that Maw makes Ham-Micks from at 6:30am this morning. It was very noisy. Luckily, everyone was already awake.



Jenny is scheduled for a V-E-T visit this afternoon. Hopefully, Maw can nab her and take her in. Maw is afraid that her teef might be bothering her some because she is losing weight and has become very vocal over the last year. Jenny is mostly still feral, and it is difficult to catch her. So Jenny will stay overnight at the clinic and get her teef done tomorrow. Jenny is 13-years-old and has only seen a V-E-T a few times because she is so difficult to catch. Jenny never gets any take-home medicine because she can't be medicated at home.

Luf, Us

Tattle-tail Tuesday

Luf, Us

Formerly Feral Friday

Jenny is our only truly former feral and since she's still partially feral, she's not truly a former feral. Whatever...



Luf, Us

Wordless Wednesday

Awards and a Limerick for Jenny

China Cat bestowed this wunnerful award on us!!!

This award was created by Colin and the rule for this award is that you link back to Colin as the point of origin of the award. He said "An Award for you All. Please take this award with my gratitude, feel free to pass it on to other Global Bloggers."

Kodak, Perf, and Winton bestowed this award on us and we are furry honored too!

Karen Jo over at Kitty Limericks wrote a wonderful limerick for Jenny today. Go check it out!

Luf, Us

Formerly Feral Friday

Jenny is still mostly feral although she has lived with us for 13 years now. She wasn't trapped until she was between 3-4 months of age. She is extremely skittish still and can't be picked up. We have never pilled her. She has only been to the vet a handful of times. (Thank goodness she is a very healthy cat.)

One time years ago before Davy was killed, Maw and Paw went to England to see Paw's family. Jenny had gone out the night before and didn't want to come in the next morning. Maw and Paw had to leave for the airport, so Maw told the petsitter that Jenny was out and that she would probably come in if the petsitter opened the patio door and then hid in the hallway until Jenny was well inside. Well, Jenny didn't come in for that whole week. The petsitter tried everything to get Jenny to come in, but she refused. So Jenny stayed outside and ate her meals outside and waited until Maw & Paw came home before she came inside.

Luf, Us

Wordless Wednesday

Almost Formerly Feral Friday

Here's Jenny, relaxing after eating her morning stinky goodness. Jenny was an honest to goodness feral who was trapped when she was between 3 and 4 months of age. She lived with a colony of cats under an old woman's house next to a Taco Bell and the old woman fed them, but they also ate from the Taco Bell dumpster. When the old woman passed away, a rescue group began trapping the cats and moved them or found them homes. Jenny is still extremely skittish and we really can't do anything with her, so she just exists here. She's always been really healthy which is a good thing for her, since she would never let us medicate her. She's only been to the vet maybe 3 or 4 times in her 13 years of living here because it's very hard to catch her.

Someone asked the other day if Jenny has a tabby tail. Yes, she has a tabby tail, and a tabby spot on the back of one of her hind legs, and then the tabby bit on top of her head. Then the rest is all white.

She likes to play with Smokey, although she screams like she is being tortured when he chases her. She has always been very close to Bow, since Bow was the only other poodin here when she came to live with us.

Wordless Wednesday

200th Post, Smokey Sunday and Udder News

Today is our 200th Post!!! Wowee kazowee!

So here is Smokey, looking in at Paw taking his picture through the cat flap. You'll notice that Smokey's right eye is kinda cross-eyed. That is from the feline herpes virus that he contracted as a wee baby. Jenny is watching (scairt) from the background, and if you click to biggify, you'll notice lots of litter pails under the tree. Those contain compost waiting to be spread and tilled into the bedding areas that Maw is redoing. They are on their sides so that the rain doesn't collect in them....





Dorf Update: Dorfie is doing much better today. He is getting grumpy about being trussed up like a Christmas Goose. He is escaping from his convalescing room when he can, and meowing in protest about all the indignities that he is suffering. He is still eating his a/d from a spoon, and his strawberry yogurt. But is getting tired of that routine as well. Now he gets up and walks away when he is full.

We still have a couple of memes to do, and will eventually get around to them when things slow down a bit.

Luf, Us

Seven Random Facts About Me (Jenny)

Yuki & Kimiko tagged me, Jenny, to play the Seven Random Facts meme. Here are the rules. Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1) I am truly a formerly feral poodin. I wasn't trapped until I was between 3-4 months of age. I have never really learned that it's ok to trust beans, so I'm pretty much terrified of everything. I lived in a cat colony under an old lady's house next to a Taco Bell. I still get cravings for taco meat.

2) Because I'm scared of everything, I've only been to the vet maybe 4 times. Maw & Paw always say it's a good thing that I don't get sick because they would never be able to treat me. I did catch ringworm one time when Maw brought it home from the Luv-a-Pet center when she volunteered with the Humane Society. But it just had to go away on its own because Maw couldn't treat me.

3) I love to sit on the top step of stepladders. I let my legs hang over the edge.

4) I am called "Velcro Toes" because my claws are so long that they stick to the carpet as I walk.

5) I let Smokey chase me and I scream like I'm being tortured. That's fun.

6) I love tuna and tuna juice.

7) Bow is my best poodin friend. We've been together for a very long time.

My tagees: Any poodin who hasn't played yet.

Luf, Jenny

Jenny's 13th Purrfday!!

It's Jenny's 13th Purrfday!!! Please join us in wishing her a Happy Purrfday!!!

Happy Purrfday to you

Happy Purrfday to you

Happy Purrfday Dear Jenny

Happy Purrfday to you!!!

Jenny's Aristocat Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Exalted Highness Duchess Jenny the Fiendish of Throcking in the Hole Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Tee hee. Dey did it agin. Me loves to hide in hidey holes. Just like dey gave Obi the Bumhampton name, dey gave me a furry good name. Gotta luv this fing. It has ESP or sumting.

Jenny, The Formerly Feral Feral

Hi Efurryone!!! I am Jenny. I been here wid my Maw fer almost 13 years now. Maw didn't know nuthin' bout Ferals wen she picked me out from a group of rescued kits at a furry nice lady's home. The furry nice lady and her hubby trapped me and about 30 udder cats and kits from under an ol' lady's house 'cause the ol' lady passed over da bridge and we wuz fending for ourselves out of the Taco Bell dumpster next door. (I still like Taco Bell meat!!!) Anyway, I was trapped at several months old and I was already fairly feral. So, Maw being an unaware bean, thought I wuz the perfect friend for the ol' Fart Bow and brought me home. Me and Bow is bestest furriends. He de only poodie dat I let sniff me or sleep close to me.

Maw and Paw say dat "I exist". I live in the howse with all the udder poodies here, I eat and sleep here. Sumtimes I cum out from hiding and meow at Maw so she will talk to me. Den we carry on a long conversation.

Me: Mew

Maw: What Jenny?

Me: Mewp

Maw: Do you want something Jenny?

Me: Meow Mew

Maw: Yes Jenny.

Me: Mew Meow

Maw: Do you want to play?

Me: Mewp

Maw: Can I pet you Jenny?

Me: Meowp!!

Den I leave.

If Maw or Paw walk into the room wen I is chewing on stinky goodness, I run. So dey walk on eggshells around me, or so dey say. Not knowing wat eggshells are, I dunt know.

I dunt haf to go to da V-E-T much cuz dey caint catch me. I only been maybe 4 times in my whole life!!! I is furry lucky.

Bye bye.