You shake you head, and suddenly the sunlight is now moonlight, and it’s rain, rain, and more rain (well, it feels like a lot to us even if its only one day.)
Jolie Peeking
It has been a while since the house was painted, and quite honestly, we are still in shock. But we’re trying to get back to normal – or at least what passes for normal at the DogDaz Zoo.
Mini Evil Eye
We don’t think that Mini Cooper is ever going to be quite the same. She is getting pretty bossy! Maybe she always was, but it is getting worse with a capital – B. She keeps grabbing Bearnard’s tail, and the other morning she actually hissed at me during breakfast. We’re beginning to wonder who is really in charge around here (though we always knew the answer).
Since we last caught you up, Mom closed the pool becuase of all the falling leaves.We’re not sure why she thinks that is necessary, but apparently swimming is now cancelled until spring. Not that we ever went in that big blue body of water, it was tooo cold!
And then there’s the rain.
Beary hiding behind Jolie at the door in the rain
We do not want to go outside to do our business when it’s raining. Mom even comes out with us, trying to convince us that everything will be okay. But we are not falling for it. We won’t even step over the doorjam.
Mom tried to help. Unfortunately, she accidently sent Beary flying into the grass with a BANG!, And now even Bearnard has decided that going outside is simply not worth the risk.
We have our standards, you know.
Meanwhile, PoleCat, our stuffed cat that looks suspiciously like a pole, has really started to get on my nerves. Mom keeps finding PoleCat lying on the floor – or even worse, under the coffee table.We’re pretty sure someone is kicking her off the couch, but no one is talking.
PoleCat on the floor
I’m keeping a close eye on her.
Jo & Bear & PC
The mornings are getting darker when we start our day, and now the nights are dark too when we go for our last outing.
Which brings us to the really important questions:
Does this mean we will need sweaters soon?
I certainly hope not.
Although… Mom does think we look pretty cute in sweaters.
So, we may have to start planning our winter wardrobe.
Until next time, stay dry, stay warm, and remember:
The house has been extra quiet today. Jolie, Bearnard, and their beloved stuffy, PoleCat, have a whole lot of waiting for Mom to feel better. 🐾 Mom got a new left hip on Tuesday.
PoleCat, a stuffy who looks like a cat on a pole body, has been guarding carefully. The couch patrol has been constant, and every little sound gets hopeful ears perked up. Dogs may not understand everything, but they always seem to know when someone they love needs extra comfort.
Mini Cooper, the cat, has decided she is better than an ice pack, and is directly providing support on Mom’s lap.
For now, the mission is simple: stay close, keep watch, and be ready with cuddles when Mom needs them most. ❤️
August came and went. Mom says we slept through August. It seems like we are always napping somewhere. There is a fight for the bed at the top of the stairs. Usually Mini wins, since no one wants to cross a cat. How was your summer?
For Mom it has been endless repairs and replacements since the lightening surge. The stove finally got repaired on Friday, so Mom can start making us chicken again. The fixer guy said he never saw a surge not only take out the electric panel but also the thermostat. Another TV died yesterday (so that brings it to 3 out of 4 that needed to be replaced). Mom said she didn’t realize that the surge could have such a delayed result and take out an HDMI port a month later, but now we know. We keep hearing her say ‘if the thunder don’t get you the lightening will.’
We are just going to hunker down here at the DogDaz Zoo and hope for a calm hurricane season. Wake us up when it is over! – Jolie, Bearnard, Mini Cooper (& Stella)
Stella turns 14 on Labor Day. We can’t believe how well she is doing considering she has GI Lymphoma. It is now almost 2 years since her diagnosis and she is still enjoying her life thanks to lots of love and modern medicine. Happy Birthday, Big Girl!
It has been 2 years this June since Louise left us.
And this Friday will be 1 year since Mr. Handsome, aka Charles, left us.
Grief is subjective. We all process loss differently. Having lost so many fur companions over the years, I guess I found my way to deal with the hole they all left in my heart. Don’t think that it is easy just because I can move forward. Look at the Angels Page and you will meet them all. I like to remember all the personalities of my cats, dogs, and guinea pigs. Each one was unique. Some were very serious (Louise, for sure), some had awesome senses of humor (Squash and Kitty), and others were cuddle bugs (Muffy). I feel blessed to have shared moments with these creatures. They are my heart. They heal me in a way that nothing else does. And, when it was their time to walk over the rainbow bridge, whether it was only a few years on the planet or many, I tried to provide them with the most compassionate and humane care possible. Those tough decisions were some of the hardest I ever had to make. I remember them all and can tell you stories about each one. They will always be burned on the memory of my total recall. When my brain no longer functions as it should, I hope I still remember the animals (sorry human family).
In memory of: 2024 Noel (cat), 2023 Charles (dog), 2022 Louise (dog), Sofie (dog), Nine (cat), 2012 Constance Kitty (cat), The Muffin Man (Muffy) (cat), 2010 Cuddles (cat), Georgia (guinea pig), Zachary (cat). Squash E. Bear (dog), 2009 Mr, Moto (guinea pig), S’more (guinea pig), Checkers (guinea pig), 2007 Gertrude (cat), Nikki (dog), 2003 Alice (cat), 2002 Sam (guinea pig), 1994 Rosie (cat), 1991 Baby Doll (cat), 1990 Wussy (cat), Eddie II (cat), Benny (dog), 1978 Barney (cat), Louis Pierre Andrea the 14th of Edgewood Lipton (dog), 1974 Eddie (cat), 1961 Fraya (dog).
Back in March we realized that Stella wasn’t eating well, was getting skinny, vomiting often, and having bathroom issues. This was a major worry so we took her to the vet (which she hates). Dr. Sims took X-rays and determined that poor little Stella, who is down to 7 lbs, has Feline Lymphoma.
There are several types of lymphoma in cats: Mediastinal, in the chest, Renal, in the kidneys, Multicentric, in multiple lymph nodes, Extranodal, in the lymph nodes and other organs, and Gastrointestinal (GI). Stell has the GI kind. It is the most common form and includes the stomach, liver, and intestines. Then there are 2 types of GI lymphoma: small-cell and large-cell. We believe that Stella has small-cell lymphoma. We have chosen not to do a biopsy or anything invasive to confirm. Small cell GI lymphoma can be treated at home with medications and monitoring. The great news is that many cats can survive for 2 to 4 years after being diagnosed with small-cell lymphoma as long as they get treatment.
Stella is on 2 different meds every day and doing well (though still skinny). She will be 13 years old in September.
Here’s to several more trips around the sun for her. Cancer Sucks!
How incredibly lucky we are to spend our life with Mini Cooper. She is such a precocious playful bundle of fluff. Over her 10 years, she has had some really wonderful adventures, especially with her best buddy, Mr. Nine. Mini has become the only cat in the general population with the dogs, Jolie and Bearnard, since Queen Noel, the Christmas cat, passed over in January. As you know Stella, the lone cat, has her own room, but Mini and Stella ‘play’ and hiss at each other through the door occasionally.
Mini Cooper stay as kittenish as you always are. We love you.
Stella is going to be 13 in September. She is a wonderful cat (as long as she isn’t with other cats). She likes the dogs when they come to visit and Bearnard and her seem to have a thing going on lately.
Sadly, we just found out that Stella has Feline lymphoma. It is affecting her gut. The feline lymphatic system is a complex network of components that transport all those life-sustaining substances throughout a cat’s body and help prevent the circulation of harmful agents. Among these components are the spleen, bone marrow, and what veterinarians call “gut-associated” lymphoid tissue, which lines the surfaces of various areas of a cat’s body and prevents its exposure to infectious agents. It mostly shows up in cats around 10-12 years old.
Dr. Sims, Stella’s Vet, said a definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy of the intestinal tract. We are not going to put little Stella through that at her age and weight (7 lbs). We are treating her at home with a steroid (prednisolone) and another drug to assist with peristalsis. The x-ray shows that she has considerable thickening of the intestinal tract. We are hoping with the medication and our love and care she could continue on for many months.
Stella does not know that she has cancer and it does not appear to hurt her much (if you don’t touch her belly).
Lymphoma is the most common cancer in cats. You can learn more about it here. Hug your furbabies a little closer tonight. They are such a gift, each and every one of them.
Several months ago I took a dog travel crate out of the attic to take Noel to the vet. I like to use the dog crates, even though I have smaller cat crates for each of the cats (in case we ever have to evacuate), just to give them room. Anyway, the minute I got home with Noel from the vet, Jolie, who loves crates, was not happy that a cat was using her crate and she decided that this crate should stay in the living room all the time so she can keep an eye on it. So it has.
However, when Jolie was getting ready to go in the crate the other day she found a surprise. Mini Cooper, the cat dog, had taken it for her own. Slowly, Jolie backed up and went to sleep on the cat bed.
Yes, now the cat sleeps in the dog crate and the dog sleeps in the cat bed (sort of).
Jolie Peeking
Mini Evil Eye
Beary hiding behind Jolie at the door in the rain
PoleCat on the floor
Jo & Bear & PC
Cool curtain shadow rings on Bearnard
