Video Time: Talking Cats?

Maybe...

Maybe not...

You decide:

Video Time: Cats & Treadmill-2

Here's another one.

Video Time: Cats & Treadmill-1

I found a few cat & treadmill videos recently. At the risk of being labeled that "Crazy Cat Guy", I'll share another one next Wednesday:

More than a Cat

Friday afternoon, my wife and I made the decision to end the suffering of one of our family members, a cat named Puddy.

It was one of the most difficult things we have had to do. We adopted him 7 1/2 years ago and he was loved by nearly everyone whom he met. Even those who were not "cat people", due to his loving nature and dog-like behavior.

The pictures I assembled represent a few glimpses from his early life through this past Thursday.







The Cat that acted like a Dog:

I always though that Puddy must have had some abandonment issues when he was young because he was less independent than most cats I had been around. Kathy was sharing with me Friday night how she remembered how when I would come home, Puddy would come to the door or come find me as if he was waiting for me to return.

A few years ago, on the 4th of July we were doing some outside work in the yard and had the cats out with us, when I think I recall, a neighbor brought him back to us and he was limping, not putting any weight on his right front paw.

He continued to walk with a limp for several years and earned the occasional nickname of Pimp Kitty!

Puddy was befriended by nearly everyone in the family and friends. He was such a gentle soul, loved being around people and would climb up in your lap just to have human contact. Because of his limp and his friendly nature everyone would ask how Puddy was and he was at times the most popular member of the family!

Sure, he did some of the typical cat things too, like chase a red laser light with fierce determination. And a couple years ago when we adopted another cat from the shelter, we saw how he would sometimes be the aggressor in their playful chasing each other through the house and wrestling.

But with people, he was always a gentle, kind soul who wanted to be where the action was.

In the evening, Kathy and I would often watch television in our bedroom which was the one room he was not allowed in. Instead he would lie on the threshold, mostly in the hallway with his head and front paws in our room.

He even put up with some innocent abuse from a young boy who was carrying him around the house and got him too close to the fireplace one winter. It wasn't until later that I noticed some singed fur that I realized what had happened.

This past year however, things began to change. We noticed that Puddy was not the fat cat anymore. He was losing weight. In March we took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and thyroid problems. He was given thyroid medicine which was a soft, chewy tablet that was almost like a treat for him twice a day.

One evening this summer we noticed that his breathing was really labored and I grew concerned about what we were going to do when he could no longer go outside because of the cold weather.

Occasionally I would even talk about him on my Twitter account, including posting some of the pictures you see here. I took him for car rides a few times and pretended that he was the one driving.




The End.

It was Thursday, just a few days ago when I noticed he was panting to breath. I learned Friday at the vet that cats, unlike dogs do not normally pant.

Thursday night was the season premier of Grey's Anatomy, a favorite show of ours, and we decided to bring Puddy into the bedroom with us, which he is normally not allowed to be in.

The show was about dealing with death of a friend and loved one and the grieving processes that different people go through. Looking back on it now, I see how this was a preparation for Friday and this weekend.

That night, Puddy did not want to eat his medicine, and I realized that he was not eating much at all the last several days. Part of my night time routine was to give him a 1/2 can of canned cat food and he was not eating it this week.

Friday Kathy left for work before me and got home before me too. When she returned home that day, she knew that this was the end. She saw Puddy laboring to breath, never complaining, continuing to be loving, wanting to be around people but barely able to survive.

At 2:30 Friday she called me to tell me she had an appointment with the vet at 4:15 and as we talked, we knew in our hearts that this was most likely going to be the last trip to the vet for Puddy.

I finished my work project and headed home, where I found Kathy and Puddy. He lifted his head to see me and then I picked him up and held him as he rested in my arms. I knew what we had to do unless the doctor could tell us he would get better, but we knew we could not prolong our cats life for our own sake.



You never realize how attached you are to your pets until you go through what we just have.

Along with my friends and family that we have talked to in person or over the phone, I also want to thank some of my Twitter friends, some of whom I have never met face to face yet who expressed their condolences.

And of course we are grateful for the past several years that we had our Puddy who was much more than a cat.

The Cat Harness

Tuesday evening we bought a cat harness for our snarly cat that loves to be outside, but doesn't know boundaries. Click here for THAT story.

Last summer he would wander away and cross a very busy street and once he was gone for 3 days.

This year we decided to try a method of allowing him out, but keeping him on our property.

It looks like this will work as the following pictures show from yesterday, except the last picture which shows my hand after fighting with the snarly cat to get the harness on.

Pets, People and Snarling

This week my wife and I did something a little crazy. We tried to put a harness on one of our cats.

Because this cat is sort of snarly, we practiced on the other cat, who didn't like it but he puts up with a lot.

By the way, Napoleon is the name of the snarly cat. Puddy is the other cat. Puddy limps, so we call him Pimp Kitty sometimes. He also is very dog-like in that he wants to be around you all the time and will put up with nearly anything. He is also a "fraidy cat".

Napoleon is the opposite. Classic cat behavior. Thinks he is boss. Pretends like anything you want him to do is ridiculous. Even being fed. And he has a snarly attitude at times. Right now the snarly cat wants to be outside. Problem is he knows no boundaries. Last summer he would travel across a busy road and end up about 6 blocks away. This guy has no claws too.

So, we'd been talking about how to let snarly cat outdoors and yet keep him around. Thus a cat harness.

After getting it on the critter along with a leash, we took the snarly one outside. That part he liked. Coming inside he didn't.

So do you drag the cat? or pick him up while he tries to bite and maim you?

I picked him up since I am bigger than him and can control him, unlike my wife who is afraid of him.

What about you? Are you more doglike or catlike? Do you get snarly? What's the best way to handle you when you are? (Drag or pick up)?

I'll try the harness thing again this weekend when I'm doing yard work and report back.

Tonights Video: Yummy

When you are tired of turkey....

Playing with Spiders & Cats

I'm on my way to a class reunion. While I'm there you can check out tonight's video, and a link to the spider on your screen program you can run on your computer:

Part 2 of the Cat vs. the Church

If you haven't read the first part, click here first.

So, as I was having my bagel and coffee at the Firefly this morning, I explained my Moral Dilemma to the oh-so-wise-and-sarcastic Paul, who co-owns the coffee shop with his wife Cindi. Paul also is a Chaplin at Parkview and always has an interesting view on matters big and small. This time we talked about if the cat would be tasty if he didn't make it, and in the meantime, I decide to go to church and check on limpy cat later.

By 11 am my trailer was empty, so I decided to take a break and check on the cat.

Got home and the cat was not around. Apparently he was outside somewhere. So I waited inside and soon heard a squirrel chattering away. They do that when there is a cat nearby.

I went out, found the limpy cat and brought him in and observed. He cleaned himself, used his bad leg to scratch, didn't wince or make any noises, so it appeared his leg wasn't broken. Still when he walked, he continued to limp and not put full pressure on it.

I headed back to the church where my wife was and told her what I observed and she said she found a bunch of fur by the front door this morning so perhaps he was in a fight.

The end of this story (for now), white cat is now limpy cat and next time he comes in, I'll check him over again, but looks like he's gonna make it, and the church work is done too.

The Moral Dilemma

7:30 this morning, I get ready to pull out of the garage and notice one of our two cats is limping.

He spent the night on top of my car, his usual place to sleep overnight, so he must have gotten up there himself.

Upon closer examination, I see he is not using his right rear leg. And he is snarlier than usual too.

So do I take him to the vet, or wait.

First a bit of background as to why I'm even leaving the house on a Saturday at 7:30am.

Our church and school is having a move-in day to get several truckloads of stuff back in the class room after a remodeling project, and I'm on one of the teams to unload one of the trailers.

So, how do I make sure the cat is okay (considering the vet is only open until noon) and fulfill my obligation to the church?

Answer? Go get coffee and think it over. The answer comes later.

Would YOU do This?

Think of 50 people that you know.

Got it?

Okay. This applies to three of them. Or Maybe You? From my email:

6% of Americans are interested in being able to rent a pet while on vacation, according to TripAdvisor.

The Truth About our Pets

As a former dog owner and current cat owner, okay 2 cats, I've always had my suspicions that my animals had the intelligence but lacked the language skills, (and thumbs) to be our equals....

But what if that wasn't so....

Fur balls

I grew up with a dog that did not shed since I was mildly allergic.
That was in 1970.

Since 1983, I've had both cats and dogs and these days prefer cats as pets because you don't have to walk them. Cleaning out a litter box is better than walking around with a plastic bag, well you know the routine.

We have two with very different personalities. I stumbled across this video this week:

Tech Vacation Day

Saturday, I took a vacation from the Internet and Computer. Also didn't watch any news shows on TV.

For some of you this would be no big deal. For those of us that are doing "something" on line daily, it was more of a challenge.

So, what did I do instead? Taxes, Vacuum, Clean out Litter Boxes.

Which is more fun? Duh.

However, I challenge you to pick a day and leave the computer off, if you are like me and usually on it 7 days a week.

Dogs vs. cats

In my email today was this list:

2007 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

1 Labrador Retriever

2 Yorkshire Terrier

3 German Shepherd Dog

4 Golden Retriever

5 Beagle

6 Boxer

7 Dachshund

8 Poodle

9 Shih Tzu

10 Bulldog

Source: American Kennel Club

I used to own a number 7, and I can't say #9 in church.

And now I prefer cats as personal pets.

Excerpts from a Dog's diary:

8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!

9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!

9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!

10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!

11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!

12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!

1:00 PM - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!

1:30 PM - ooooooo. bath. bummer.

4:00 PM - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!

5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!

5:30 PM - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Excerpts from a Cat's diary

DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre
little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh
meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only
thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and
the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the
occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat
another house plant.

DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by
weaving around their feet while they were walking
almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the
stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these
vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit
on their favorite chair...must try this on their bed.

DAY 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the
headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I
am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their
hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a
good little cat I was...Hmmm. Not working according to
plan.

DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are.
For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture.
This time however it included a burning foamy chemical
called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a
liquid? My only consolation is the piece of thumb
still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their
accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the
event. However, I could hear the noise. More
importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to
MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and
how to use it to my advantage.

DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are
flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely
released and seems more than happy to return. He is
obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has
got to be an informant, and speaks with them
regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due
to his current placement in the metal room his safety
is assured. But I can wait; it is only a matter of
time......

Cats, Coffee and Choice

Cats: Nearly a week ago we had a grumpy neighbor visit us complaining about our cat Napoleon. Nappy is the white cat of ours that has grown accustomed to outside living. Problem is that he apparently doesn't know his boundaries and has been bothering this neighbor and getting into his stuff. So we decided to confine the cat to the inside of our house. And we did from Tuesday until last night. We took extra precautions so he would not run out when the garage door was open and it worked. Until last night. He got out. For about 3 hours and then we found him sitting on the front porch swing and brought him back inside. The training continues....

Coffee: Never drank the stuff except for the caffeine until I met Kathy 7+ years ago. Since then I have had my share of espresso drinks and overpriced mocha beverages. Here is Fort Wayne there are a number of coffee shops that offer free wi-fi which makes it an alternative to my desk and office. And there is also...

Choice: Yesterday, while hanging out with a group of friends at one of my favorite coffee shops, the topic of choice came up. What became an interesting dialog/debate/argument with a philosophy professor only became so because of the word usage. Words such as "choice" and "free will" were being debated, as Steve had this occasional puzzled look on his face. In the meantime, I understood where he was coming from and his perspective which was filled with both "absolutes", and "exceptions to the rule". Having read and studied various aspects of neurology, sociology, and psychology, has provided me with an interesting mix of perspectives and insights. My basic argument is that we make choices constantly, based on the world we are exposed to. The "free will" is only free to choose that which it knows about.

And the more I know, I realize how much I do not know!