Mr. Peeps meowed at the back door yesterday afternoon- too weak to push through the kitty door.
Chris let him out. He sat on the porch for awhile then headed off. Chris had to go back to work....Mr. Peeps did not come home last night.
I have checked his spots around the house...and under the porches...down by the river...he has taken himself somewhere else.
In the past two weeks he has continued to weaken and not eat much and I knew his time was near this past week.
I have to admit that I feel very bad about not being with him...but I can assure you that he would not have wanted to be kept indoors and he was most content doing his own thing...it was probably best I was not there to bother his death process.
He will be greatly missed as he was a very friendly, loving kitty, who always wanted to be near you on his terms. His most amazing feat was his ability to jump from a sitting position directly in front of you, to your chest and then to your shoulders without ever once scratching you. He also loved to sleep on top of you, your highest spot was his perch.
Mr. Peeps was picked - scratch that - he picked us up at the local pound. He had been living there for well over 6 months. He had been left abandoned (along with another cat who I believe had been adopted) in an apartment. He came home with us back in 2005 and he was never happier than when we moved to the country house (aside from the ride there) where he could hunt and stay outside until he wanted to come in.
it was lovingly picked up off the sidewalk in downtown Lakeport, CA by Auri's Daddy & her Ukki.
It was in nice shape, a bit broke down, and an alarming maroon color but did not (unlike the commercial) stink.
When I was living alone and Rain had to be left home alone for LONG periods of time she lovingly chewed this chair to shreds-well the arms at any rate. I love this chair - I don't know why....
It now lives in the upstairs bedroom and the dogs all take turns sleeping in it-no one chews on it anymore....
until the little evil ones arrived.
OMG!!!
They are systematically de-stuffing this poor chair. They proudly carry around big chunks of cotton stuffing and growl at each other.
Everyday I wake up to a huge mess of stuffing and four happy little sleeping kittens piled next to or on top of me.
They look at me and yawn in their cute little kitten way so I can not be mad.
I got a 2% raise in pay but.. I got a 16% increase in medical cost. I bought some new boots I bought some new music I got a cute little point & click Canon for my birthday I got re-involved & I turned 37
at 8 weeks old the Thank You's are all eating a raw diet of ground fish, chicken & vegetables (hissy fit from Feed This, Inc,) mixed with water and rice cereal on occasion. They also get some yogurt here and there still. Today was the last day they got any kitten milk re-placer. By next week they will be on full raw without any problems. Asante already loves the quail ;)
They are all good about using the kitty litter box now.
We started sleeping upstairs again finally.....I missed my bed so much, the downstairs bed has nothing over my lovely FloBed!!! The first few nights I took the kitty box upstairs (it's two flights) and of course worried they would fall through the railing when playing. Turns out they have a healthy fear of the edge so all has been well. This week, no kitty box upstairs. When they wake up in the morning/day/night- so do I, and we all go downstairs for a box visit- it's working great.
The play skills they have are awesome- they run, jump, leap, roll, tumble, carry, and climb with ease. They can really follow an object well now and one of the most fun games they play is king of the scratching post...it's second only to "try and get me out of the kleenex box" - so far Merci is the queen of the kleenex box.
Bramble sleeps with them all and she eats with them too-she has really taken to playing with them nicely.
he is a HUGE kisser, they all do this but Kiitos gets right in there and really loves me up.
Today they went outside...Kittos stayed right around my lap for a long time while he watched his big brothers tear it up, Merci stayed right with Kiitos in my lap- they know it's safe there.
The baby Thank You's are 1 month old and doing just awesome.
Asante is a hound for food. He has shared some cooked pork chop with me and he loves the baby food meats. Last night I was able to get him to lick out of a dish!!!
Merci gave it the ol' college try last night and she did a good job licking baby food meat off of my finger.
Takk & Kiitos still wish that disgusting smelly food finger would get the heck out of their face!
By this weekend I will be starting Asante on his forever diet - B.A.R.F
And in other news - AKA "the best news ever" - ALL four of them are successfully using the kitty box as of today.
I have had to keep a close eye on them even though they were using the box the past 4-5 days as they would 'forget' and just find a spot when they were playing. But as of today I feel very comfortable with them using the box without my direction. They all four nursed this afternoon then played and then each took themselves to the kitty box and went.
They -nurse without any effort -walk -are starting to run/walk -ears open and mostly upright -eyes fully open -middle teeth cut through (between canines) -canine buds starting to poke through -tails swishing -play with each other, biting, kicking, and bear hugs galore -hissing at things that they don't recognize
and today-I'm not kidding you....after only 2 times in the kitty litter box, they ALL are digging holes and peeing!!!!!
They are growing up so fast!!!!
Kiitos stopped his antibiotics yesterday after 10 days...and if you were wondering....I didn't put the others on antibiotics- they are all doing really, really well. They will get their 2nd round of worm medicine on the 17th- then no more meds!
I have been feeding them:
Just Born kitten milk re-placer powder Water A splash of Pedialyte Slippery Elm powder Goat milk yogurt 1 tiny jar of 1st foods meats (finely ground meat & water) Pinch of Vitamin B12/Folic & Baby rice cereal
They are still nursing-it's a thicker mix now though. Asante has been supplementing his nursing with licks of baby food off of my finger, Merci tried it, didn't like it and Takk & Kiitos would run away if they could....
it all started yesterday...his appetite dropped off and continued to wane until he had none.
by the time we got home around 230am he refused any food and was hot. Within an hour he was showing more signs of illness.
I took his temperature - it was 102.5F - high for his age (should be 96-100F) - he had thick, sticky saliva and was just too weak to do anything.
I started him on antibiotics and tried to get a tiny bit of Pedialyte into him- no go.
By 5am I was convinced his time was very near. He could not lift/hold his head up, his breathing was forced, his lips were blue and his feet were cold.
I diluted a drop of Rescue Remedy in some cool Pedialyte and put a drop in his mouth.
He was resting with me, away from everyone else in a warm spot in the bed. I told him I was sorry and just re-assured him it was ok. I turned him from side to side every 30 minutes or so to help with his breathing- he rested quietly, too weak to cry much. I would rub down his little nose to the top of his head and he would purr, we did this until I fell asleep.
I tried to sleep...hoping the antibiotics would give him a kick start back. At the next scheduled feeding he still wasn't able to nurse well, however he rooted and tried to nurse my finger- the fluid was just too much for him.
I took a tiny dropper and put some warm Pedialyte with a few drops of milk - he took about three (very small dropper) full droppers. Then refused anymore, pushing away and crying loudly. He is going to the bathroom ok and had been eating fine, if not possibly too much (which can be a problem).
This could be many things...but whatever it is, he's fighting it.
I gave him a second dose of antibiotics this afternoon and managed to give him 1ml of subcutaneous fluids -that was hard to do!!! He has nursed and taken Pedialyte milk 3 times today....it's 10pm and I'm here to say that Kiitos is a strong little boy- He pulled up from deaths door at 3am to crawling and nursing and over-all a bit better by 10.
...I'm exhausted to be honest...and it's time to feed and poo everyone again.
My mom gets off of work in the early am, after the stores open up...I'm (hopefully) sleeping and 20 minutes from town, so----
A quick call to mommy late last night - "Mom, some jerk dumped 4 kittens in a garbage can, they are about a day old....can you do me a solid and pick up some things for me in the morning and bring them by the house?"
Mom - "sure, what?"
me - KMR, new bottles (the Nutkins bottle nipples are too big an opening) and a heating pad."
mom- "ok, I'll see you when I get off of work - I hope they do ok..."
I get off of work at 2am, head home, feed the four some kitty milk, Pedialyte and a bit of karo syrup, mixed with colostrum- all eat well and pee (with stimulation) and then curl up in the nest I made in a re-usable grocery bag, two hot water bottles and my jacket.
Their squeaking draws everyone into the kitchen- Marlee is sniffing and sniffing-Rain just wonders if there will be food involved and Cali is guarding Big Kitty.
I have not introduced the kittens to the cats- I want to keep them separate for awhile to help insure their health, as well as our kitties.
They wake me up around 8am (again) and they nurse the bottle well, two took some encouragement but soon, the ears were twitching and some serious nursing was going on- all peed again and back to bed we went-with a nice new heating pad and warm water bottle.
This afternoon, I wake up with screaming kittens, poop everywhere and sunshine. Each kitten gets a thorough scrubbing and a full belly - Asante didn't eat as well, and had hiccups....he did pee and poo though, so maybe he just has an upset tummy. All are sleeping in the basket that Bramble no longer needs- tonight will be a long night...work begins at 4pm
So far they are eating, pooping machines- If things keep going this way we may be ok. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and...thanking someone that it's my Friday- then 3 days off- because I'm getting no sleep!!!
Kitten #2 = Kiitos Dark Black & White tabby - Male
Kitten #3 = Asante Black w/White stripe on belly - Male
Kitten #4 = Merci Very light Grey & White stripped - Female
All names mean THANK YOU in different languages
ps-sex is approximate :)
All four, less than three (3) day old kittens, came to be with us around 10pm September 17th while I was working.
They were found by a co-worker (whom I've never met before tonight) in a neighboring town. She went out to put her garbage out for garbage day. When she lifted the lid to her can she found someone had dumped all four kittens in her garbage can!!!!
She drove them the 30 minutes south to me at work where I have been bringing up their temperature with warm water bottles and a fuzzy jacket. They were all very cold when I took them over. It's 3 hours later....they are warm and all 4 have nursed some Pedialyte & kitten milk. I hope it is enough, soon enough....
Only time will tell.
Welcome to the herd you four.
A great big THANK YOU to the creep who dumped these babies. I guess you weren't counting on people who cared....
She is 4 months old now. Has her new canine teeth but is still teething.
She also has a swollen lymph node on the left side (neck) and itchy ears.
After I wrangled her and wrapped her in a towel... I took a look - she has Chiggers!!! - this is something we have dealt with in the other cats in the past. We haven't seen it in the past year, but maybe this year they are out and about again.
Temperature: 101.2 / 9.6.08.1520 = normal = good news
Bramble has been going on evening adventures with the other cats so who knows what else she'll bring home!!!
I hope this is all we are dealing with....
On top of More Mr. Peeps latest lab results... we could all due with NO MORE pet issues!!! for awhile at least....
I took him to the vet because he has a tooth that has heavy tartar build up...I thought this may be why he was not eating as well the past few weeks. He is always sleeping and he has been slowing loosing weight....
We have started subcutaneous fluids at home, once a day he is giving 150ml, they are absorbed within an hour or two so he really does need the extra fluids. He takes this treatment really well considering. Today we did the treatment in the backyard where he was enjoying the warm sunshine after a very cool, overcast morning.
His health is overall really good in outward appearances. The vet thought he was only around 10yrs old, when in fact he is around 15-17years old.
I am slowly trying to figure out a diet that is low in protein but mostly low in phosphorus. His appetite is quite low...
He is currently eating his normal foods, just less and I have added canned pumpkin with salmon oil and 3 drops of Zeolites
My job is to make his trip out as comfortable as possible.
Baby Bramble is pushing eight weeks old now...just barely old enough to wean from mom. In the meantime Chris and I have been playing parents, well the other cats and dogs are helping a lot too.
So the story starts back about three weeks ago, shortly after Bramble came to live with us. I go to the river with Chris' niece and take the dogs and carry Bramble down. The river is shallow and barely flowing everyone is having fun. Bramble is playing along the shore in an open space when all of a sudden a tiny rock is tossed down river....Cali and Rain race after it.
This triggers Bramble's "freak out' mode and she flees in the most open direction she can....straight out into the river! As the river deepens around her, reaches her tummy, then finally under her chin...she freezes in mid-motion, one front foot hovering over the water, the other three firmly planted. She quietly waits in this position to be rescued. So, she has all four feet good and wet, her belly is wet and her chin has some water on it, but she is safe-phew!
Some parents we are...there is a theme here.
So, along comes the afternoon the other day...all of us are in the garden, dogs, cats, and all- doing some sitting around and watering. Bramble is playing, hunting, and otherwise annoying everything, and I mean everything that moves....when along comes a bumble bee
I'm watering at this point, Chris is watching Bramble chase the bee, she does a fantastical back flip jump and lands on her side near the edge of the pond....gets up, shakes off and WOW! there's that bee!!! She leaps straight away at the buzzing thing...right into the pond!
She sinks...Chris takes off running, she surfaces fighting and scrambling, arms flailing around, just as Chris is reaching the pond, she pulls herself out the other side. She is soaked, for reals soaked. She is so heavy with water she can only slowly waddle away from the evil pit of darkness.
I catch up with her under the truck - She comes to me and I dry her off with a towel where she just laid there and was in bliss to be held and dried about the body. She promptly fell asleep under the garden chair- exhausted!
Chris says "well, at least we know she can get out on her own." Then we all had a huge laugh as this is the stuff cartoons are made of...
She is currently hassling Cali for a sleeping spot very near her tail- you know in case it moves again. Cali is the only one who will put up with her long enough for her to calm to sleep.
And of course the cutest video ever... Bramble as a turtle
The dry lightning fires that began on June 20th are slowly coming under control in Mendocino County.
Reports from: June 23, 2008 5:30 pm Mendicino Unit: Approx. 131 fires have been reported, buring more than 8,900 acres. Incident Command Team #4 has been assigned to this complex. The Orr Fire is 200 acres and has evacuations of the Orr Springs Resort and 50 homes in the area, the Navarro Fire is 1,400 acres and 5% contained, the Cherry fire is 50 acres and 50% contained, the Foster Fire is 50 acres and 50% contained, the Table Mtn. Fire is 1,000 acres and 5% contained, the Mallo Pass Fire is 800 acres, and the Juan Creek fires (2) are at 100 acres each. There are 8 additional fires at 30 acres each. The Mendocino Fire Information Number is (707) 972-3846.
To: July 3, 2008, 11:00 am Mendocino Lightning Complex Incident Information: Last Updated:
Date/Time Started: June 20, 2008, 6:00 pm Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit County: Mendocino County Location: Throughout Mendocino County Acres Burned: 37,970 Containment: 40% contained Structures Threatened: 680 residence, 1 commerical Structures Destroyed: 2 residence Injuries: 15 Evacuations:
Evacuation “Warnings” remain in effect for:
• Community of Rockport • Montgomery Woods/ Orr Springs Road to Running Springs Road • Red Mountain Road - From the intersection of Red Mountain Road and Bell Springs Road to 13600 Red Mountain Road. Bell Springs Road – From Hwy 101 to the intersection of Red Mountain Road. and Bell Springs Road. • The Community of Cummings • Town of Leggett • De Haven Creek and Howard Creek drainage, North of Westport.
Evacuation Centers: (Placed on Standby)
Fort Bragg Fort Bragg High School, 300 Dana Street, Fort Bragg. Phone number: 707-813-0345.
Willits Willits High School 299 North Main Street, Willits Phone number: 707-486-8674.
Mendocino Animal Care Shelter, Ukiah 707-272-4337 Cause: Lightning Cooperating Agencies: CAL FIRE, Marin County, CDCR, CHP, CCC, Mendocino County Sherif, all local government FPD in Mendocino County, and State OES, BLM, BIA, NWS, private timber companies and consulting foresters/representatives. Total Fire Personnel: 1,661 (994 CAL FIRE) Fire crews: 33 Engines: 137 Helicopters 15 Dozers: 50 Water tenders: 60 Costs to date: $13.6 million Conditions:
The Mendocino Lightning Complex currently consists of 123 fires burning in Mendocino County. There are currently 40 active fires.
GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping operations are being conducted throughout Mendocino County. Residents may see low flying rotary aircraft for the purposes of mapping fire perimeters.
Fixed wing and rotary aircraft continue to operate on the fires.
The Governor has declared Mendocino County a State of Emergency due to redwood timber loss and significant threat to life, residential, commercial and resource loss.
Road Closure: There is the possibility of temporary road restrictions during planned fire operations in the Red Mountain Road, Bell Springs Road, and Blue Rock area, approximately eight miles north of Laytonville.
CAL FIRE Incident Command Team #4 is assigned to this incident.
Phone Numbers:
707-467-6426 (Mendocino Lightning Series Fire Information)
Breaking news By ROB BURGESS The Daily Journal Article Last Updated: 06/22/2008 07:51:03 PM PDT
Fires still burn across the county
As it rose over the eastern hills Sunday, the rising sun revealed the day-old haze covering the Ukiah Valley still held a tight grip over the county, as firefighters worked frantically to get a handle on the hundreds of fires raging across Northern California.
As Sunday evening progressed Cal Fire spokeswoman Tracy Boudreaux said they were still fighting some 90 fires in Mendocino County with some 60 of them unstaffed as yet.
The fires had by Sunday evening consumed some 3,800 acres.
Mandatory evacuations were issued in the areas of Running Springs Road, Flynn Creek and the Cherry Creek subdivision along Highway 162 in the north county.
Orr Fire, directly above Orr Hot Springs
"The smoke coming from these fires can be seen as far as Sonoma County," stated Tracy Boudreaux, Cal Fire information officer, in a release issued late Saturday night. "Firefighters continue to battle fires with the greatest threat to homes and property. Cal Fire has recieved well over 100 reports of fires in Mendocino County from lightning that occured over the past 24 hours. These fires are mostly in remote areas of the county with very little threat to communities. Homeowners who feel an immediate threat to their safety should use their best judgement and not wait to be told to evacuate."
For the rest of the article click www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_9665579 The Associated Press contributed to this story. Rob Burgess can be reached at udjrb@pacific.net.
Yesterday morning my brother calls my cell phone leaving me a message that he had parked for lunch with his crew. They hadn't planned on stopping at the spot they ended up but as luck would have it they did.
Tucked away in the roadside blackberry bushes was one tiny, hungry, scared, flea and tick ridden, screaming black kitten.
He digs around in the bushes and gets the little thing, giving 'it' some fluids and waiting for me to call him back.
I wake up for work to two messages from him. The second says..."you really need to call me. We moved up the road a bit with our work and found the momma cat dead in the roadway-she's been here awhile."
I didn't even finish listening to the message. I called him and we arranged for him to bring what he determined to be a little girl by work while I rushed to the store for kitten milk replacer.
She spent all night being mauled at work by everyone and ate, endured a gentle flea bath and played until she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer.
Baby Bramble is doing well. Eats 4 times a day and despite a bit of dehydration and what appears to be a slight bow legged deformation of her rear legs, probably due to poor nutrition during pregnancy and since, she seems strong, healthy and full of piss and vinegar as my Grandma used to say.
She goes everywhere with us so far. She likes the car-it bounces her to sleep in her basket. The dogs are suspicious and curious- the kitties are keeping distance which is good until we make sure she is not sick with a cold or the likes.
Four years ago my brother brought home a tiny gray kitten who had a wound on her back and had been living out of a dumpster at a local restaurant near his house.
Douina was found (by my brother) scrounging food from dumpsters behind a local eatery.
Douina will let you pet her only if you tell her "Douina, I'm going to pet you" - and then she will only put up with it for a few seconds. With that said you can go nowhere without her being there-
Occasionally she gets *lost* and will cry out until you tell her where you are and she comes running!
Douina & Rain today....
Special thanks goes to my good, dear friend Bev - the talk and the input on which way to turn - thanks & To my man - thank you for sitting with us until the end.
Big Butt Kate - AKA 'Fat Bottom Girl'
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Big Butt Kate - AKA 'Fat Bottom Girl', originally uploaded by Hotash.
Ok
Did anyone tell you about the day we met Mr. Peeps?
Well Kate reminded me of that...
