Goodbye to a Dear Friend

I have not written in a long time.... so much going on at work and have been busy with my Etsy shop.

The last kitty I wrote about was my fat Siamese Kafka. Sadly, Kafka became ill a few months ago and lost a ton of weight. The vet said kidney failure and put him on some meds and subq fluids. This is Kafka getting his IV. He would sit in the bay window and be so patient while he got his fluids. He never fought me or struggled, he knew it was helping him. He was doing good, but one day I noticed he was jaundiced and took him right to the vet, and the vet said "I think it's time." So I had to say goodbye to my boy, such a sweet boy. I think he was only about 4 years old. Now he has joined Domino, Prudence, Timmy, Boo Boo, and company at the Rainbow Bridge. I will see you again someday, Kafka.

Comfy Kitties

When we woke up this morning, it was 1 degree outside, so Autumn and Kafka decided to stay in bed all day. I love how Autumn crosses her paws. She has always done this. Kafka, on the other hand, is too fat to cross his paws. Sorry, Kafka, it's true.

One Happy Boy

And this is what Kafka looks like today. He loves to take up as much space as possible, and at this rate, I'll have to get a bigger bed soon.

Welcome 2010!

Resolution No. XX: Blog more often!!

Happy New Year all, I have not posted in ages. I guess the loss of Domino took the wind out of my sails. But you haven't met my newest addition, Kafka, so here he is. This was taken the day I adopted him, back in October, just a few days after adopting TC. It seems they always come in pairs for some reason. Kafka was about 8 months old at the time and had been living in the streets of Washington, PA.



Kafka is a gorgeous blue point Siamese mix. He loves belly rubs and adores head-butting, which he does with great gusto. He also loves to eat, as he has put on about six pounds since moving in with us. TC is his best playmate; they are wrestling all the time. Kafka's favorite spot is the loveseat in the living room, which he stretches out to take up the whole thing.

R.I.P. Domino

Exactly three weeks to the day after I adopted TC, my beloved Domino passed away from acute kidney failure. He was 9 years old.

If you've been a follower of my blog, you know that Dommie had suffered from kidney disease about four years ago and had recovered after alternative therapy with apple cider vinegar. According to the vet, he would not have made it then, so the vinegar bought us a few more years with Dommie.

It is hard to find a photo of Domino without Peek-A-Boo. The two were inseparable. Peekie didn't have a chance to say goodbye to Dommie, as when David and I rushed him to the vet that morning, I had no idea he would not be coming home. Peekie spent two solid weeks hiding behind a pillow on the bed in the guest room and would not come out. Yes, animals do grieve. She has now returned to sleeping on top of me at night as she used to do, with Dommie under the covers in my arms. Peekie seems to want a lot more lovins than she used to, and that is understandable.

Domino was my Little Kittles, the baby abandoned at four weeks old who I bottle fed and who suckled on my arm all his life. It's funny that TC is also a suckler, also a mama's boy, and also a tuxedo kitty, and he came into my life three weeks before Dommie exited. You have to wonder.

Tomcat Cruise

I could not resist this little face when I went to PetsMart in Uniontown on August 1. I am a total sucker for tuxedo cats. The Animal Friends of Barbour County, WV, were there with about 30 kittens, and I fell in love with this little guy. He was about 12 weeks old at that time, and according to Dr. Duel, he's going to be huge (look at those feet!).

I call him Tomcat Cruise, or TC for short. Like Domino, he must have been taken from his mama too soon, because every time I give him some lovins or pet him, he immediately curls up in a ball and starts suckling on his own belly! He will sometimes do this for up t0 20 minutes, and it's loud enough to disturb my sleep, all the while purring like a locomotive and doing his pushy-paws.

TC loves little furry mousie toys, and he loves to pounce on his brothers and sisters with all four feet. They are generally not amused, but I must give Reese (the house thug) credit, he has not attacked the little one. I think he realizes he's just a baby. Maybe Reese has a heart after all.

Little TC is very attached to me and follows me everywhere. When I try to leave the house, he runs into the mudroom with me and I have to put down all my stuff, pick him up, and put him back in the house. Then he cries. If I pat my thighs, he will jump up on me (in hindsight, probably not a good idea for him to learn that since he will probably weigh over 15 pounds). He sleeps at my feet, all stretched out to his full length.

He is a very lovable addition to our family.

Domino and Peek-A-Boo

I have never seen two cats more in tune to one another than Domino and Peek-A-Boo. You can always find them together, snuggled up somewhere. At night, Domino sleeps under the covers with Mama, his head on her shoulder, and Peekie sleeps on top of Mama to be near her man.

Domino and Peek-A-Boo are both 9 years old, and they came to live with me within a few months of each other.

Aren't they the cutest couple?