Wondering

It's Walkin' and Readin' Wednesday!

Except, I've barely walked in the neighborhood due to extreme cold and inches of snow.

I've been listening to audiobooks during the holiday break, but I'll post about that later.

Here are some sillies that reflect my mood about January so far:

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Our condolences to The Cat On My Head for the loss of Sawyer:

Please visit here to leave loving words.

Furred for Cold

It's PO'Monday, and 17 December, 2017:

Pretty good snowfall the day before, yet Celestial Pommy simply carries on as usual.

This last shot shows his thick winter coat.

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While it's pouring rain today...

It's PO'Monday!

Images from 3 December, 2016.

We look so dry!

It's been cloudy, grey, and wet, hence our posts yesterday and today.

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January, 2015

It's PO'Monday!

January 2015 was a very cold, very snowy time.

Always anxious about our 'O' Cats, we'd provided them with an insulated shelter full of straw AND a heaty pad, plenty of fresh water, and lots of kibble, because wet food froze very quickly; too rapid for Sweetie and Celestial Paddy to get their fill of it.

Paddy, despite the challenges, still gave me plenty of lovin'!

The Hubby had created a wind-break out of plexiglas, for The Cat Hotel.

Always hugging my Pommy!

I didn't shovel the driveway or sidewalks; I just shoveled walking paths for The 'O' Cats.
My priorities were purrfect. *wink*

Cold

Temperatures are about 20 degrees F below average, and we've had a couple of significant snow storms.  This morning, I put out kibble only for The PO'M and Sweetie, because wet food would freeze solid before they could finish their meal.

Sweetie: "How is your kibble this morning?"
Paddy: "Quite delicious, Moma brought us a fresh batch!"

This bowl was used by my family since I was a little girl.
Now, it's The 'O' Cats's warm weather water bowl.
I don't remember where I put their winter bowl, but I'll find it!
And don't worry, I put out fresh...and liquid...water after this photo was taken!

Finally...Friday!

Chucky and I were wearing matching bandages on Wednesday; his for the sore spot on his tail, and me due to an accidental meeting of my finger with a sharp-edged aluminum foil food lid.

I am much better today, and The Hubby removed Chuck's tail wrapping last night.  The red rash at the bloodletting spot was still there, however after four days of being smeared with first-aid cream and then made impenetrable to licks and bites, we felt it was time to let it breathe in the fresh air.  After a short time, Chucky appeared to ignore the spot, so hopefully it will remain okay and heal up on it's own.  We have a veterinarian appointment next week, in case it really needs more care.

These bandages were purchased at Ikea, and they worked nicely for me.  I'm sure Chuck has a completely different opinion.  I was weirdly giddy to be sharing fashion details with my cat!

Sad day for my co-worker; his dog of fifteen years succumbed to illness yesterday.   And it's rather cold and rainy, and my week of work after vacation has taken a lot of out of me.  Bring on the weekend!  Have fun, my friends!

Locked Out!

Patty, surveying his snowy domain

It was a brisk 19 degrees F this morning.  Patty was waiting by the front door, to escort me 'round back to the feeding station.  Sweetie arrived from out of The Cat Hotel, and they both got lots of pets and lovin' before settling down to eat.  The ice on the water bucket was only 1/2 inch thick.

When done collecting old bowls and empty water jug, I walked back up front, up the steps, and...the front door was LOCKED!  I tried again, but nope.  Of course I did not have my house keys on me; I never do when The Hubby is inside, and I'm just going out for The 'O' Cats. I do not lock the door behind me, either.

I knocked on the door, hard.  I knocked on the window too.  I stood and waited.  No sound of someone running to the front door!  I leaned on the door bell.  A brief wait again, and then The Hubby unlocked and opened the door for me.

He said...this is the funny part...ha ha ha (dripping with sarcasm), "why are the cats acting so weird?" "Gosh, dear, maybe all of the banging and bell ringing as I was LOCKED OUT freaked them out! Um, why did you lock the door?"  He thought I was inside, and he assumed that he'd mistakenly left the door unlocked when he went out to put the garbage out for collection day.

But I was outside, in the cold, and what is a person to think when the only other person in the house locks the door on them?  It's obvious that the kitties weren't the only ones with weird behavior!

Wet and Rainy

The 'O' Cats's Frozen Waterbowl

Chucky's under there!

Visited with family on Thanksgiving Thursday, and stayed away from the crowds on Friday.  The photos below are from my neighborhood walk, when it was misty and chilly.  But the colors of everything seemed so alive!

As much as I prefer Spring, Summer and Autumn, there is no denying that cold and dreary can bring out beauty too!  And the tree dogs were barking and carrying on, and they made me laugh and laugh; such big woofies, trying to show me that they were toughguys.  They are too adorable!

Who Is It?

Looks like some kitty has decided to hide,
between the sweaters on the chair...

...but that kitty did NOT pull their tail in!
Around here, both cats have black tails,
so who is it....?

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It's Angel!
Stay nice and toasty curled up under
the sweaters, Angel...it's freezing cold outside.

A Wooly Problem

Ick!

Chucky loves to carry my wooly socks around the house.  Now that the temperatures have fallen some, I actually wear them.  Imagine my surprise when I stepped in...something...but the wooly soaked it all up!

Gross, right?

No worries, Chucky...I've got seven more pairs of woolies for your enjoyment, while this pair is in the laundry!

"Don't mess with MY woolies, woman!"

This morning...

Chucky in his cup beddy

 

Angel, soaking up some sunshine

...how I left Chuck and Angel as I headed off to work.

Don't let the sunshine fool you; it was only 19 degrees F!

The ice on the 'O' Cats water bucket was an inch thick!

Intruder Alert!

Was a bitterly cold weekend.  I've been worried about Patty O'Malley and Sweetie braving the elements, but The Cat Hotel must be keeping them warm.

Dinnertime!

However, I caught a whiff of something else in the cold air...cat urine! Some male cat has been peeing on various items on the deck, marking them to say, "I was here!"  Whenever this has happened in the past, I spritz white vinegar (straight) or baking soda (mixed with water), to eliminate the smell. If any urine smell gets on me or my long winter coat, it drives Angel and Chuck crazy, and it's not easy to eliminate.

Frozen spritz

I found one spot on Mama's House, and I give it a good dose of baking soda...and it all promptly froze.  This mancat also sprayed the water bucket, so I have washed it down as best I can.  With temperatures climbing in the next few days, I am hoping for a chance to hose things down even more.

And what about this cat?  I haven't seen him, and am really surprised that Patty O'Malley hasn't chased him away from his territory.  This mancat doesn't know who he's dealing with!  I'll pull out my traps and do a TNR on him before he knows what hit him!

Bubba

Patty O'Malley aka Bubba

My friendly feral, round-mound-o'-love just isn't worried about the coming snow and cold!  He just wants belly rubs, face rubs, fur pulls and general worship.  He looks like a Bubba...

Wary Sweetie (see her front paw up?)

Patty has chased her into The Cat Hotel
See her tail?

Patty says, "You only need photos of me!"

Both Sweetie and Patty greet me when I walk up, but Sweetie always hangs back.  Patty will first block my attempts at petting her, then he steps in front of my camera so I can only get the briefest of shots, then he runs her off!  Thank goodness she doesn't hold his bad behavior against me, but she is so wary.  Surprisingly, when I put out food one bowl at a time, she tucks right into the first bowl down, and he has to wait for the second!  I guess they have worked out a system together.  I treasure the rare moments when I have Sweetie alone, and we have a purring, rubbing, lovin' session!

Experiment Results

Nope, a bottle of salt water left in the feral cats's water bucket did NOT keep it from freezing.  In fact, I think it froze even faster!

The Hubby wants to try multiple salt water-filled bottles, but I'm done with this experiment.  We are fortunate to have warmer temperatures for awhile, and the water bucket will stay unfrozen all on it's own.  I feel really badly for the folks who've gotten hammered by the big snowfall, and yet we are experiencing sunshine and little precipitation.  So, my anxiety about The 'O' Cats is on a low boil for now.

Patty O'Malley wants petting!

Blurry Sweetie, enjoying her food

Patty and Sweetie are so much more active when there is no cold wind blowing and there is no ice or snow under their paws.  I love to sit on the deck, petting Patty with one hand, and Sweetie with the other!  That is, until Patty realizes he does not have my full attention, and he chases Sweetie away. That's when I stand up and walk away, in an attempt to show Patty that there is enough of me to go around, but he hasn't figured it out yet. Fortunately, Sweetie does not hold this behavior against me; she always comes back to me the next time I'm outside.

Mancat Monday

Look at those gorgeous green eyes!

It is so very cold outside, hence my weird-looking hoodie.  This time of January is traditionally the coldest of the year, and also when my fret-o-meter pegs off the chart due to my concern for Patty and Sweetie, as they live in a box on our deck.  The water bucket freezes quickly, and wet food is a distant dream.  I sat and tried to think up some way to get them inside, if they won't come up the stairway to the second floor.  I envision an old RV sitting in the backyard, or a new heavily insulated shed, with electricity and running water!  Or even some sort of hallway, leading the cats into some other part of the house on the first floor, without the inside heat being sucked out.  Dreaming, dreaming...

But...Patty takes the weather in stride, and even Sweetie ventures out for a scritch and a bite to eat. And don't mind my outfit; just a way to stay outside as long as possible with The 'O' Cats without freezing my tookas off! Fashion goes out the window when a) it's really cold, and b) lovin' on some kitties.  Although I look pretty scary in that thing; the neighbors may be wondering...

Ahhh...then Brrrr!!!

Patty and Sweetie, snacking on Saturday

Saturday was a rare treat!  Warm temps in January!  Maybe too warm, because Patty O'Malley was scratching and scratching, so I dosed him with flea-die-flea stuff.

Then, the cold front moved in on Sunday.  First we had freezing rain and ice, then the wind blew and the snow fell.  The temperatures plummeted too.

The above photo was taken while on my way to work this morning.  The high today was 18F.  

BRRRRRRR!!!!!

P.S. Please take a moment and leave a comment at 15 and Meowing; Stinky left this earth while her people loved on her this morning.