Thankful Thursday: Sunshine

Taken this morning at 8 am

So very thankful for the rays of sunshine that graced us today.  It was only 9 degrees F, but having the light makes one think of warmer days ahead.  And, of course, seeing The PO'M's and Sweetie's dancing pawprints in the snow, tells me that they are weathering the Winter weather...and that's something to be thankful for too. 💗

Let's Hop!

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Twin-esday

On weekends and some evenings, I am able to lay on the futon, throw a lap blanket across, Manny and Chili Bruce slip into the hollow between my legs, and drift off to snoozeland.  I have an audiobook playing on my earbuds, and try to stay as long as possible...hours even!

I cherish these times, and have my camera at hand to catch the cuteness of our twin brofurs, especially after I slowly pull my legs out from under the blanket, so they stay cuddled up together...and I can empty my bladder.  The struggle is real! 😹

World Spay Day 2019

From Wikipedia: "The event first started as Spay Day USA, an annual event created by the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) in 1995, to promote spays and neuters across the country to help eliminate the problem of homeless pets. After the DDAL's merger with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in 2006, the tradition continued under the auspices of the HSUS as World Spay Day."

Used with permission by FatCatArt

Around the time that we adopted Angel and Chuck, a co-worker of nube had five cats; one male, four females.  He thought he'd be thrifty, and only had his male cat neutered.  Then, one day, he found out that his cats had gotten out, via a pushed-open window screen.  ALL FOUR FEMALES GOT PREGNANT from that afternoon romp, so he may have saved money on neutering and spaying costs, but he was up to his armpits in kittens a few months later!

SPAY AND NEUTER!

I know that I'm singing to the choir, but each of us can be an responsible cat ambassador.  There are more options available now than ever before, and even if you choose NOT to use a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, you can work a payment plan with your veterinarian.

-and-

IF YOU FEED THEM, FIX THEM!

That's the TNR mantra.

If I can trap cats, then anyone can, since I am a nervous nelly who is afraid to hurt anybody or anything.  With a bit of research, time management, and a humane trap...which you can borrow...you can prevent feral cats from reproducing, and therefore saving their lives, and those of the not-to-be kittens.

Taken from the interwebs

Spotlight on Sweetie

Sweetie appeared in our yard in the Autumn of 2009.  I fret at not making life cushier for her, and when the frigid Winter winds blow, I simply want to wrap her in my arms to protect her!  This Saturday, I spent lots of time on the deck, petting her, scritching her chin, and letting her know that I love her...then followed it up with an extra helping of kibble, which is her favorite snack.  I am planning a vet visit for her when the temps are higher, so that the trapping, and going by car, and into and out of offices won't be too stressful for her.  Figuring that she's about 12 years old now.  She's a tough ladycat, but she's our Sweetie!

***

Angel Split left for The Rainbow Bridge
Please visit Marg's Animals Blog.

My cousin TH's cat Wheezy lost her battle with kidney disease.
R.I.P. Angel Wheezy

Photo Fails! The PO'M

Oops!

Blurry!

Where's his head?!?

Click here to join!

Yo, S'up?

Kitchen door watching...

At the front door...
Who is watching whom?

Neither Paddy O'Malley, nor either of Da Boyz, seem overly perturbed about seeing each other through the glass.  After all, each cat can smell the others on my clothes, and they see our daily interactions.  I don't want to rub any cat's presence into the face of another, obviously, yet we have three cat families.  They all just have to know about each other, and live with it. 

Farewell, Wally

Angel Wally
***

Please visit The Island Cats during this very sad time.

I've turned off comments for today.

😿

Happy To See Sly!

I try to walk the neighborhood each evening, yet it's been difficult with the amount of snow and ice that we've accumulated recently.  Yesterday, however, I got out there, even walking in the street part of the time to avoid slipping, and image my delight and joy to see Sly!  I was so excited, that my photo is not level, but his glorious fur and green eyes are looking fantastic.  He's a floof-monster!

***

Please sends purrs to Wally at The Island Cats.  The lady with the yellow hair is very, very worried.

😿🙀😿

Blame It On The Hubby

Da Boyz really tore this kibble package up!

The Hubby said that the kibble bag would be fine on top of the refrigerator. "What's the worst they could do to it?"  Ah HA!  

Top Of The Fridge Double Trouble!

"Whut?!?"
"We are innocent!"

Thankful Thursday: My Heart Cats

Happy Valentine's Day!

😽💕💞💕😻

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Ross and Demelza

Introducing Ross and Demelza, the furrpeople who live with my cousins in Georgia.

Ross and Demelza were adopted from the Hall County Animal Shelter in July, 2018 and are nine months old.  They are named after the lead characters on the BBC/Masterpiece Theatre show "Poldark," based on a series of novels by Winston Graham.

Double tuxie love!  So cute!

Demelza on left, Ross is right

Office helpers Ross, left, and Demelza right

Boxed Ross

Demelza, looking cute!

Ross, keeping watch!

Explorer Demelza
All photos used with permission

Thank you, K&M, for sharing your cuties with us!

Those white paws just slay me...

💕💞💕

Sad Cat Stories Wreck My Day

Image from the interwebs

I listen to NPR (National Public Radio) often, especially the "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me!" show.  When I stumbled upon "NPR Driveway Moments Cat Tales", hosted by Scott Simon, on my local library's audiobook list, I was prepared to be entertained to the max, as usually happens with anything NPR.

Instead, it was a collection of reporters and hosts, talking about their cat, or a family cat, or some story that included a cat, and in my opinion, too many were about dead cats.  One was about a cat-eating owl, for goodness sakes!  Whoever produced or edited this thing just grabbed 'cat stuff', without regard for listeners WHO ACTUALLY LIKE CATS!  It's a 2-hour audiofile, and I almost turned it off after the first 30 minutes.  I stuck with it though, believing that NPR couldn't...nay, wouldn't...let me down...and yet, by the end, it had barely redeemed itself.

Sure, there were a few good items, such as Mr. Kitty's discussion on whether cats belong indoors only, or a Maine cat resort.  "Cat Named Hamish" actually had me laughing out loud, much to the amusement (or terror!) of nearby motorists on my commute home.  Yet, the damage was done.

And I find this is a problem with collections of cat stories.  I've picked up books which are compilations of writers or poets, and the same thing happens; dead or dying cat stories just wring my heart too hard, and I'm no good for any of the more pleasing stories further along.  Yes, our feline friends leave us, or have accidents.  Sure, that's true.  But do I have to listen or read about such horrifying things, for entertainment?!?  NOPE!

A book written about the author's life with a cat, who eventually dies...I can handle that!  There is a flow, and a purpose to that story.  But to slap together 'cat' stories, poems, or reports, just because they are about cats, is no good to me.  That stuff just wrecks my day.

Here are the details, should you be interested:

NPR Driveway Moments Cat Tales: Radio Stories That Won't Let You Go
Audio CD – Audiobook, CD, Unabridged
by NPR (Author), Scott Simon (Performer)
Series: NPR Driveway Moments
Publisher: HighBridge Audio; Unabridged,Original radio broadcast; 2 hours edition (September 18, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611748763
ISBN-13: 978-1611748765

Picatso

My sister found this image in the newspaper,
and she thought of me!
I wonder why?!?

😹😸😹

Battery Cat

The Hubby replaced the batteries in an old flashlight (or torch, as they say in the UK), and look what we found!

Yep, the non-working batteries had a super cool kitty design on them!  My photo didn't turn out well, so I searched the interwebs...

Pretty cool artwork!
Image from the internet and used for my amusement only

Love the lightning bolt tail
Images nabbed from the internet and used for my amusement only

I do not recall seeing Eveready batteries with a cat on them before, but these are just a few of the images found during my search.  Cool, huh?

Thankful Thursday: The Cat Crew

Sensational Sassy!

Mango The Magnificent!

Resplendent Rusty!

Skittles The Sweet!
***
All images provided by P&M and used with permission

I am so very thankful for dear friends P&M in Florida, who share photos of their Cat Crew!  Actually, we trade images via text and email; their Cat Crew photos, and our Eastside Cats shots.  Don't these cuties make you SQUEE with delight?!?  They've got a whole ginger vibe going, right?

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Book Review: Strays

Image from the interwebs

Strays: A Lost Cat, a Homeless Man, and Their Journey Across America
by Britt Collins
Hardcover, 272 pages
Published July 18th 2017 by Atria Books
ISBN 1501122592 (ISBN13: 9781501122590)

Synopsis:
Homeless, alcoholic, and depressed, Michael King discovers an injured but friendly cat while in Portland, Oregon.  After finding no 'lost cat' flyers, Mike and his friends venture around the Western United States as drifters and panhandlers, with the cat Tabor riding on Mike's shoulder.  When visiting his foster father in Montana, the veterinarian discovers that Tabor HAS a family, back in Portland, via microchip.  After almost two years of being soul-mates, Mike struggles to do the right thing.

Opinion:
This story is not only about Mike and Tabor, it's about Ron Buss, who lost his beloved cat Mata Hari, and how he fought the deep pain of that void.  Both men fight prejudice, depression, the loss of love, and the struggle to define themselves in an overwhelming world.  Mata/Tabor bridges that gap, and it's a powerful story.

Recommendation:
Without a doubt, I recommend this book to all!  There are a few HBO words, so perhaps it's not for young children.  The author weaves together the separate stories of Mike and Russ between chapters, and we, as readers, live the reality of both men as the book progresses.  And you'll fall in love with the cat!

***

Bag It

Manny chose to sleep with his backend inside the paper bag, with his front half on the soft beddy!
💕He's so cute 💕

And The Winner Is...

The Eastside Cats 2019 Super Bowl Squares

Paddy O'Malley: "I'm the CHAMPION!...wait, what did I win?"
Cat Mama: "Glory!"
Paddy O'Malley: "Harumph!  I think some snacks should be involved!"
Cat Mama: "We'll see what we can do, Your Majesty!"

Every year, I pull together 'betting squares' to the Super Bowl football game, whether I actually watch it or not.  If we were really betting hard, cold cash, each person would put in $10 or $20 a square, then whomever's square had the score for the end of each quarter would win 25% of the pot.  It's just a tidbit of fun, especially if the game proves to be boring.  Last night, I only watched intermittently, relying on The Hubby to keep me updated.  I think he was a bit miffed that he didn't 'win', but at least he scored one quarter!  Although an unpopular choice, the team I wanted to win did so, so there's that frisson of positiveness to enjoy.

Book Review: Making Rounds With Oscar

Image grabbed from the interwebs

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat
by David Dosa, M.D.
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published October 1st 2009
ISBN 1401323235 (ISBN13: 9781401323233)
Edition Language: English

Synopsis: Dr. David Dosa doesn't believe at first that one of the cats at Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island, has the ability to predict when an Alzheimer's patient is near death.  Yet, as he witnesses the cat's behavior, and listens to the words of family members who sat with loved ones as they passed, each with a story about how Oscar stayed with them, Dr. Dosa realizes there is a remarkable story unfolding.

Opinion:  Dr. Dosa begins his book by openly recognizing his own arrogance, and how easily he dismisses reports about Oscar's ability to predict death in the Alzheimer's unit.  As the facts mount, he learns to open his mind to the non-scientific actions of a ordinary housecat.  In addition, this book brings to light the toll of this disease on the people who have it, their families who have lost their friend, parent, or sibling as their mind and emotions made radical changes, and the hard-working nursing and medical staffs who care for the patients.  Dr. Dosa closes the book with a few guidelines that could help family members, facing a future with Alzheimer's.

Recommendation: This is a good book!  Although it seems quite dark and sad, it's really not.  It is about love, hope, and understanding.  Any negativity is directed at the medical system that doesn't seem to support or resolve the heavy burden this disease creates for patients and their families.  The fact that Oscar appears to sense when humans are close to drawing their last breath, is treated with sober discussion...and enough of a touch of mystery to make the reader close the book and ponder.

If I Had A Hammer

Ice and frost on The 'O' Cats water bucket

If I Had a Hammer

Written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays in 1949

🎵If I had a hammer

I'd hammer in the morning

I'd hammer in the evening

All over this land

I'd hammer out danger

I'd hammer out a warning

I'd hammer out love between

My brothers and my sisters

All over this land, uh

If I had a bell

I'd ring it in the morning

I'd ring it in the evening

All over this land

I'd ring out danger

I'd ring out a warning

I'd ring out love between

My brothers and my sisters

All over this land, oh

If I had a song

I'd sing it in the morning

I'd sing it in the evening

All over this land

I'd sing out danger

I'd song of out a warning

I'd sing out love between

My brothers and my sisters

All over this land, oh

Well, I've got a hammer

And I've got a bell

And I've got a song to sing

All over this land

It's the hammer of justice

It's the bell of freedom

It's a song about love between

My brothers and my sisters

All over this land

It's a hammer of justice

It's a bell of freedom

It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters

All over this land🎵

Hammer used to break ice, with photobomb by Chili Bruce

OOPS!
The Hubby got a bit carried away with the hammer!
Thankfully, we have a back-up water bucket.
No kitties were harmed in the production of this post,
and only one human was made to feel a bit too rambunctious!