The Hubby's Cat Clean Up Hack

Cable TV, Auto Insurance, etc.

The Hubby saves those pretend credit cards that come in the mail, to pick up both liquid and solid 'cat output'.  The cards are made of heavy or coated paper, and they scoop up stuff really well.  One simply tosses it away with the rest of the vile stuff that you've cleaned up.  Old playing cards are another excellent cat-clean up device.

Example: I found a dried up…shall we call it...forward expulsion by Angel.  Using a fake credit card as a scraper, the clean-up only took minutes.  This was on hardwood floor, in the closet of Angel's Upstairs Apartment. 

Sometimes, with liquid, using paper towels or newspaper (The Hubby's favorite go-to!) just smears stuff around because it's not absorbent.  Using a fake credit card kind of like a shovel, you push the yuck onto your clean-up paper, add some quick swipes with a cat-friendly cleaner; we use baking soda and water in a spray bottle, with a paper towel or cloth, and you've made fast work of the mess.  It works on carpet too!

As a bonus, it's a recycling thing; reusing/repurposing to save the environment.  Have spared you all any images of the stuff that we've used this hack for, but you ALL know what that looks like, thank-you-very-much.  It's junk mail, turned into gunk mail.

Sweetie and The Sweater

https://youtu.be/nK-ZDeRX-XI

https://youtu.be/gtWEtt3tXbQ

Yesterday, while enjoying the lovely summer day, Sweetie came along to sit with me.  I petted her, and rubbed her silky ears.  She quickly discovered my cast-off sweater, and seemed to really enjoy it!  Her long claws could have made mincemeat of it, but surprisingly no holes were found.  For the enjoyment she seemed to receive, it would have been worth a ripped-up sweater just to witness it!  I have a stack of sweatshirts, sweaters, and fleecy tops that I will now 'drop' on the deck, for her future use.  I will NOT put fabric inside The Cat Hotel, since in the winter, any moisture can freeze, and it's a huge danger for outside cats.  Straw is the only way to go when it's cold, but until then, she'll get my sweater treatment.

For my friends in the UK, Americans say 'sweater', The British say 'jumper'.

Do Cats Eat Quinoa?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Chili Bruce on left, Manny leaving the scene to the right

Chili Bruce: "It looks like kibble!"

Yes, yes they DO eat quinoa!

Not much, but they gave it a try.

Now you know!

(The quinoa was on a plate, which Manny pawed off the counter.

Lucky for us, quinoa doesn't cost much, so no harm done.)

Disclaimer: No cats were harmed in the making of this blog post!

😸

Sat-O'Day

"Let's get this weekend started!"

Pet Photo Fails and Friendly Fill-Ins

Photo Fails, hosted by Cuddlywumps Cat Chronicles

Taken a year ago, when Phoebe's Traveling Shades arrived at Eastside Cats!

Um...that's not where you wear sunglasses, Angel!
And, you aren't even in focus!

Chucky thought the sunglasses were from the devil...
Look at his eyes!
"Mama!  Get these things AWAY from me!"

LOL!  The PO'M wasn't having any of it,
but he gamely allowed The Hubby to try...
*No animals were harmed in the making of these photos*

And, 15 And Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs host Friendly Fill-Ins:

1. I deserve a gold star for remaining silent about the bathroom disaster we have today.
2. Right now, I am loving the idea of THE WEEKEND.
3. The best advice I’ve ever been given is to 'do what's best for yourself'.
4. If I had to choose a new first name, it would be Rosie.

Thankful Thursday: My Library

Thankfully, the following books are here, ordered through my local library:

Bono: The Amazing Story of a Rescue Cat Who Inspired a Community

by Helen Brown 

Paperback, 288 pages

Published May 29th 2018 by Citadel Press

ISBN 0806538457 (ISBN13: 9780806538457)

Able Seacat Simon: The True Story of a Very Special Cat

by Lynne Barrett-Lee

SBN: 9781471158919

Pub Date: 3rd November 2016 by Simon & Schuster Ltd

Paperback, 208 pages

Mark Twain for Cat Lovers: True and Imaginary Adventures with Feline Friends

by Mark Dawidziak (Editor)

Hardcover, 208 pages

Published September 15th 2016 by Lyons Press

Call of the Cats: What I Learned about Life and Love from a Feral Colony

by Andrew Bloomfield

Paperback, 237 pages

Published November 8th 2016 by New World Library 

These books are from all over the State of Michigan, and I am thankful that they've designed an ordering system where I am able to have them delivered to my hometown library.  SCORE!

The trick is to find time to sit down and READ!  It's summertime; there are art fairs, and garden walks, and farmer's markets, and plant exchanges, plus visits to local parks and beaches.   

And you know what?  Cat library books have fascinating smells, that Manny and Chili Bruce find very interesting to sniff!

Let's Hop!

Wordless Wednesday

Dem CB Eyes!

Shambles

Chili Bruce loves the window so much!

Both Chili Bruce and Manny in the window.
You may notice that the 'curtain' is chopped up.
That's because Da Boyz ripped it in multiple places,
so I snipped off the ragged, torn edges.

Watching the butterflies, squirrels, birds!

The upstairs bathroom...
...um, I mean the upstairs
hole in the floor!

While having the plumber replace our water pipes, the downstairs bathroom lost it's shower, and became the new 'tool shed', and a construction zone.  In addition, Manny and Chili Bruce enjoy Bird TV from the window, tearing up the curtain, leaving pawprints all over the sink and toilet lid, and stare down the now exposed shower drain in wonder.  The sink and toilet remain in working order.

Yesterday, the upstairs claw-foot tub was rolled away, as well as the toilet, and the floor ripped open.  Water was disconnected too.  This is a complete cat-free zone; Angel is safely secure in her apartment.

I now have no shower or bathtub, and can only use Chili Bruce's downstairs 'playroom' for my ablutions.  The Hubby claims a nearby park has showers for boaters, so we can rinse off there if need be.  He is convinced that things will be in shambles for a good week, maybe two weeks.  His job is to replace the floor upstairs, which includes removing 100 years of layers and old wood, putting in a new subfloor, and then vinyl.

Sometimes, change is good...and sometimes, it's a real mess until it isn't again.  Wish us well during this household upheaval!

Happy Birthday, EP from 15 And Meowing!

Ellen is the kindest cat mama on the planet, and today is her birthday!  Over time, she's gifted Eastside Cats with multiple items, including handmade catnip mats, crocheted toys of all kinds of designs, and even shared medicinal supplies.  She helps me as a blogger too, and I want to thank her for her support, and wish her the happiest of days!  But darn her really tough jigsaw puzzles...grrr...

15 and Meowing

Images of her toys found this morning strewn about our house:

There are fish-shaped toys and lozenge ones too, only I couldn't find them!  Probably under the furniture, and stuck in corners that only cats can traverse...and are covered in dust and cat fur...

🎂😸🎈🎉

Thankful Thursday Continued to Friday!

Yesterday's post showed Sweetie with spiderwebs all over her head!

And this morning, she had them on her again!  The Hubby thinks it's from our hosta plants, which both Sweetie and The PO'M sleep under to enjoy the broad leaf shade, and the cool ground.  I am thankful for her ability to make us laugh and grin, while really not trying to do it!

Sweetie has spiderwebs on her head again today!

 Also, I'm thankful this morning for The PO'M forgiving me for the kick I gave him last night, as I carried the filled dinner bowls out to the Feeding Station.  He zigzagged in front of my feet, and I didn't notice fast enough to avoid clobbering him with the top of my foot as I strided up the driveway.

Poor PO'M hid under the car, and when I reached out to offer my apologies, and to see if I'd hurt the cat, he tucked his tail under, and bolted into the neighbor's garden to disappear.  Quite honestly, my heart broke, and when he wouldn't come out to me, I was devastated.  The Hubby assured me that Paddy would come back, but I was upset and wouldn't believe him.

Maybe 1/2 hour later, The PO'M was at the Feeding Station, looking for food.  Rushing back outside...but slowed carefully when near the cats...,I gave Paddy his bowl. 

He ate.  He allowed petting.  My heartache eased.

The PO'M loves me again!

This morning, before the climb into The Cat Car for my morning commute, I de-webbed Sweetie and grabbed The PO'M to kiss and make up even more.  He allowed it, while clawing at my phone. 

I am thankful that all is right in my world again.

And no, The PO'M didn't appear to have any physical injuries from being booted.  It's happened before, and no doubt will again.  Why do cats do that, anyhow?  He was straight in front of me, as if he is the drum major to our cat parade, then he turned 90 degrees on a dime, so his body was across my line of direction!  *shrug*

Thankful Thursday: Sweetie...

 ...gives us the giggles!

"Ya know, Sweetie...ya got a little sumfing on your head..."

Yes, cats are amazing creatures; so lithe and sleek!

So otherworldly gorgeous, and fast as lightning!

So...downright hilarious!

I know that every cat lover is thankful for the belly laughs, giggles, snickers, and guffaws that our furry friends allow us to share...as long as we don't let them see us laughing!

In addition, thank you all for your well-wishes
for Angel's birthday! 
She was pampered, petted, and treated to some special kibble!

Give thanks every Thursday!

Happy 14th Birthday, Angel!

Birthday

Songwriters: John Lennon and Paul McCartney

You say it's your birthday

It's my birthday too, yeah

They say it's your birthday

We're gonna have a good time

I'm glad it's your birthday

Happy birthday to you

Yes we're going to a party party

Yes we're going to a party party

Yes we're going to a party party

I would like you to dance, birthday

Take a cha-cha-cha-chance, birthday

I would like you to dance, birthday

Dance

I would like you to dance, birthday

Take a cha-cha-cha-chance, birthday

I would like you to dance, birthday

Dance

You say it's your birthday

Well it's my birthday too, yeah

You say it's your birthday

We're gonna have a good time

I'm glad it's your birthday

Happy birthday to you!

Happy, happy Birthday, dear sweet Angel!

We miss your twin brofur Chuck, and this is your first solo birthday.

The Hubby and I love you to bits, and we hug and smooch you whenever we can!

Your fur is bunny rabbit soft, and 

we are thankful that you are in our lives.

😻😹💖🎂💖😹😻

Farewell, Gracie

Another of our dear friends has crossed The Rainbow Bridge.  

Gracie, from Brian's Home Blog flew away to be with her Alex.

Please visit them, and share a few words of comfort.

Farewell, Sunny

Angel Sunny, now at The Rainbow Bridge.

Colehaus Cats lost Sunny recently.  

Please stop on over at their blog or FB page, and let her humans know that you care.

Blog The Change For Animals: End Declawing

Blog the Change for Animals (#BtC4A) is a quarterly opportunity for bloggers to post about an animal-related cause that is near and dear to that blogger’s heart.

Onychectomy or phalangectomy is the excision of toe bone, meaning amputation of the ends of cat's paw bones, to completely remove the claw.  The result is a cat who walks on the stubs of the missing bone, often causing pain, litter box issues, and aggression such as biting.  At this point, 22 countries have outlawed this procedure, and the Canadian province of Nova Scotia has recently made it illegal, as well as Denver, Colorado.  West Hollywood, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Burbank, Santa Monica, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, and Culver City in California made it illegal several years ago.

So, why does one side fight so hard against declawing, while on the other side thousands of cats every day continue to undergo this mutilation?  The history of declawing is vague; I find information that dog fighters would have a cat declawed to use it as bait for training, or how declawing developed in the 1970's as more cats became 'inside-only'.  But just because it once was considered 'normal', has been proven to be harmful and even dangerous for the cat.

From Wikipedia:

Ethical viewpoints on declawing in the US

Declawing is widely practiced but ethically controversial within the American veterinary community. Some American and Canadian veterinarians endorse the procedure, while some have criticized and refused to perform it. Two animal protection organizations in the US, the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, discourage the procedure. The Humane Society of the United States has supported legislation banning or restricting declawing. Multiple surveys and polls taken from 2011 reveal that the majority of United States cat owners are against declawing, believing the practice to be cruel. These surveys also suggest that the U.S. public believes that the majority of veterinarians who perform declawings only do so because it is a lucrative practice.

Opposition to attempts to ban or restrict declawing has come from veterinary trade organizations, such as the California Veterinary Medical Association. On the other hand, the American Veterinary Medical Association states that declawing "should be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when its clawing presents a zoonotic risk for its owner(s)."  Surveys suggest that 95% of declaw surgeries are done to protect furniture.

Bold not in the original text; I added it.

So, where do we go from here?

Other than convincing our politicians to move to change ordinances and laws, each one of us can make a difference, and I don't mean by just donating money.  YOU can talk to your family members, friends, ladies in your book club, the guy behind you in the check out line. 

SPEAK UP! 

If you hear that someone has a cat, or considering getting a kitten, gently bring up the topic of declawing.  If they are against it, they'll let you know!  If they don't know, or believe it to be an okay procedure, tell them that science says the cat is irreparably harmed, and most likely will have aggression problems, pain problems, arthritis and a reduced sense of goodwill toward humans.  Go to the FAQs page at The Paw Project and have a 30 second speech on the benefits of a cat with claws.

We won't win everyone over, but for every win, there is a cat that lives it's life as a whole feline. 

Eastside Cats Goes To The Dogs

Folks, a couple of weird things happened at the office.

First, a coworker called me to ask if I knew how long a dog could have kennel cough.  Well, golly...I dunno, I have cats!  So, I questioned my dog friends via FB, and they said that kennel cough can last for weeks, and may turn into something worse.  Most suggested a second opinion.  When I relayed that info to him via email, he sent back to me that his dog has now been officially diagnosed with bronchitis, and they are treating it properly.

Bummer!  I feel sorry for this family, as this is their first dog.  They went on vacation, kenneling the dog, and now this!  Coworker promised to keep me informed on how his pup is doing.  I did NOT remind him that I suggested he'd adopt a couple of cats, when he first discussed getting a pet. 😸

Second, just after the kennel cough incident, one of our upper management people stopped me in the hallway, asking if I knew a good dog veterinarian in the area!  Nonplussed, I said that I didn't know, but would ask around.

I sent an office wide email, and got almost a dozen responses!  I dutifully turned the info over, and she said her daughter was adopting a new puppy and appreciated the recommendations.  As much as I tried to convince her to adopt a cat instead 😸, I was promised photos of puppy soon.

Being an executive administrative assistant, I'm in the office to ASSIST.  Usually, it's to set up a meeting, cater a customer lunch,  update spreadsheets or handouts, make sure badges work, yadda yadda yadda.  However, it's nice to know that folks think I can answer any question, and I usually can...because I've got connections! 😸

Since I've yet to receive images of these two dogs, I thought I'd show you another coworker's German Shepherds, who just happened to turn a year old.  And this coworker will tell you that I put in a lot of effort to convince her that she'd really enjoy CATS instead! 😸

Macey, left and Maverick, right
8 weeks old

Macey, left and Maverick, right
I year old!

This And That

Saw this license plate on my way to work today.
'Gato' means 'cat' in several languages,
but I cannot figure out what Rowgato means?

The PO'M has begun to bite my phone!
I mean, I take photos of him constantly...but I've been doing that for
over four years now!
He will also chew on my earbud wires.
Paddy, my sweetheart...what gives?

And...

Last night, Angel and I had a quiet moment together.  Both The Hubby and I are not 100% convinced that she's okay in her lonely upstairs apartment, so we each visit with her as often as time allows.  For me, sometimes this is only when I'm dressing for work in the morning, or getting ready for bed in the evening.  Yet yesterday, she purred and we held paws, and all was right with the world in that moment.

https://youtu.be/5BDk7Z4jag4

Thankful Thursday: Don't Leave Me!

"How To Keep Your Human At Home"
by Paddy O'Malley

It's simple!
Just lay on the driveway behind her car!
She cannot go anywhere until you move,
so just roll around looking cute and cuddly.

Voila!
Your human is forced to remain home; no
gadabouting all over town.
What is a 'job' anyhow...and who needs it!

💕😻💕

Dear Paddy, love of my life...I would be so happy to stay home 24/7/365 to tend to your wants and needs, and pat your tummy and let you eat my ears and earrings!  But, I married for love, not money, so off I go to work for The Man, and put a few coins in the bank account for cats and humans to have food and a roof over their heads.  So very thankful that you stopped by on that cold winter's day, and decided to hang around.  You mean the world to me, big boy!

Snuggles!

💕😻💕

Wally Wednesday

I am so lucky to have visited The Island Cats! 

We live on different sides of Detroit; we are northeast of the city, and Island Cats are south.  I visited with Wally, Ernie and Zoey (so much FUN!), but I refrained from playing too much of the photographer as I was their guest.  The lady with the yellow hair, Sue, and I ate at Bobcat Bonnie's in Wyandotte...yum!  We then headed over to see if Chip and Slim, The Garden Center Cats, would come out and visit us at her husband's place of business.

Wally is not on the counter.
He says that I'm hallucinating!

Imagine my surprise, Scarlet lives there too!  I said hello; she simply eyeballed me the whole time.

My photo doesn't show her luscious red tail!
Sorry Trout Talkin' Tabbies!

Chip was first to leave his napping spot in the shelving, and he enjoy his snacks!  He allowed me to get within a few feet of him, then he'd decided that I was close enough.

Chip says, 'Whoa!  I'm just about ready to run away!'

Slim was much more shy, however he graced us with his presence, and look, his ears aren't even airplaning!

Slim made sure the straw bale was between us!

As you know, I too have 'feral' cats: The PO'M and Sweetie, called The 'O' Cats.  Although they respond to me and The Hubby, they really don't do well with other people.  Same with Chip and Slim; they know their regular folks, and just try to ignore the rest of us as we make kissy sounds and click away on our phones!

What a delight to visit with all of Sue and The Island Cat's Dad!  Thank you both again!  You know what?!?...I too want to be an Island Cat! 

Garden Party

Garden Party

by Ricky Nelson
Released in 1972

Went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
No one recognized me, I didn't look the same

But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself

People came from miles around, everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
And over in the corner, much to my surprise
Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes wearing his disguise

But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself

Played them all the old songs, thought that's why they came
No one heard the music, we didn't look the same
I said hello to "Mary Lou", she belongs to me
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave

But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself

Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped Johnny B. Goode
Playing guitar like a-ringin' a bell and lookin' like he should
If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lotta luck
But if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck

And it's all right now, learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself

Two metal garden cats
Purchased at a local art fair
"Ya can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself!"

Book Review: Homer's Odyssey

Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life

with a Blind Wonder Cat

Author: Gwen Cooper

Release Date: August 25, 2009

Penguin Random House Audio

Narrated by Renée Raudman

How many times have I read and reread this remarkable story?  At least a handful of times...maybe even a dozen!  It doesn't get old, and the emotions are as fresh as the first time.

This occasion, however, I listened to the audiobook, and was surprised by a long conversation at the end, between Gwen and her husband.  Obviously recorded before Homer passed in 2013, the engaging way the two of them banter about Homer, and their other two cats at the time, Scarlet and Vashti, is wonderfully intimate and delightful. 

I consider "Homer's Odyssey" a MUST READ book for anyone, least of all for cat-lovers and dog-lovers (yes, there are dog's too!).  Home's tale takes us from Florida to New York, through unemployment and marriage, to the events on 9/11/01 and beyond the normal bonds of friendship, love, and pet-ownership (if there is really such a thing!). 

Gwen Cooper has recently issued new stories, available only online.  Although I've purchased a subscription, I haven't yet read any, so I will report on them in a future post.

The Cat Car is Unofficial

In September, 2017, I was excited to add a cat car magnet to The Cat Car.

I posted about it here: The Cat Car Is Official.  Caren and Cody from Cat Chat warned me about becoming a bit too eccentric, with stickers and magnets all over my ride!  The Hubby too, was unhappy with one magnet, because he drives my car around once in awhile.  However, I put my foot down...I wanted cat stuff on The Cat Car!

Meow magnet, purchased while at Mall of America
in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2017.

Then, in November, 2017, I added two more really cool cat car magnets!  I posted about them here: Cat Are Aliens.

Each found online!

As time has marched on, having stuff plastered all over the car has lost its appeal.  Other drivers do weird things around crazy cat lady autos; they tailgate too close, they cut in front too fast, and there have been more obnoxious acts by fellow drivers than previously!  When The Hubby recently removed the magnets to give The Cat Car a wash, I asked him to bring the magnets inside to attach to the refrigerator.  My little old Honda is now bare, and she's going to stay that way.

Yep, Caren and Cody...you were right!

The PO'M keeps an eye on The Cat Car with
constant driveway patrols, magnets or no

Manny, overseeing the
refrigerator magnet display

The PO'M Eats My Earring!

You are too silly, Paddy O'Malley!

Well, that's a bit of a stretch...the big guy attempted to eat my earring!  How I snapped this photo, I'll never know, because the tugging on my pierced earlobe was NOT fun.  Goes to show the lengths that The PO'M will go to, if he feels that I'm not giving him my full attention.

Toesie Tuesday

Sweetie is beautiful!

Chillaxin'

Due to the extra-warm temperatures in Michigan, I have spent a fair amount of time inside the house, next to the window air-conditioner, but also outside on the back deck, in the cool shade.  Sweetie and I had a long one-on-one fest, while The PO'M was snoozing in the garden somewhere.  Usually, if I show up in the backyard, Paddy appears quickly, but this time he stayed wherever he was, and Sweetie received 100% of my attention. 

I hadn't noticed before that her paw pads are pink on one foot, and black on another!  She has fearsome claws, which one would expect from an outside cat.  In addition to modeling for me, she head-bunted my sides and back as I sat, and allowed me to brush her, and to pet her tummy while she stood on her feet.  I know this quiet time together was very special for me, and I hope it was for her too.