move stresses

Okay, so I'm moved in.

Boyfriend/fiance was really great in helping me move furniture last weekend. Got leather furniture for the living room, a rustic huge desk that's subbing as a table in the kitchen until the other table arrives. Rustic bedroom set in my room is awesome.

Cats are polar opposites to the move. Magnum (furr monster) was pretty laid back, jumping in cabinets and closets pretty quickly. Once the mattress got set in, he took over. He loves going outside and rolling on the concrete patio. The fluff ball Adira was traumatized beyond belief. She spent our waking time wedged between the hot water heater and wall or the pillow pile and the wall. When my mom was here to let the cable man in, she ran and hid. I couldn't find her and was convinced that she had run out and was lost before she magically reappeared. Hopefully she'll get there.

But now that my cable's fixed, any my Airport's setup correctly, life feels a lot more normal.

Lent?

I should just say that I was abstaining from blogging for Lent.

But that would mean that I'm a practicing Catholic.

I've been super busy. I signed the papers for a house, and literally picked the keys up today! So I'll be spending the next week moving in. I'll be breaking in the washer and drier before anything in the kitchen.

The best part is that there's a fireplace, with charming brick work around it. And it might get cold enough this weekend that I might actually use it.

I love how big the kitchen is. Complete with an empty corner for a small table. But I'll put in a butcher block cabinet thing instead to have more working surfaces.

The bedroom furniture is being delivered tomorrow thanks to my awesome dad going over to accept it. The mattress won't get in place until Friday, but hey, small steps.

Not sure when the cats will move in (take over). Furr monster (Magnum) will be easier to move, since he's had lots of recent vet visits due to his illness. So to de-stress him, I took him for non-vet car rides (pick up prescriptions, go see my sister, whatever). The fluff monster will be difficult to get to the final destination, but she'll be running the place soon enough. There's lots of closets they'll love to climb up in, and these nooks and shelves they'll love to take over.

Yes, the furr monster has cancer. And the vet thinks it's spread to the liver too. So I've been very torn about what to do with the poor fellow. The two biopsies couldn't produce anything useful for a real diagnosis. I have the ultrasound images, and left with letting things go or putting him through major surgery.

sick furr

My orange tabby is still sick.

For the last five weeks. And three trips to the vet for $100/each still haven't figured it out. The cheap tests didn't show anything, the medications aren't helping, so we're upgrading to the more expensive tests.

The maddening part is that he acts fine. He still purring, snuggling, showing up at dinner time (still not eating people food), and still beating up the neurotic fluffball).

So Friday, he's getting an ultrasound. For $350, there had better be some answers.

Christmas mixing

So boyfriend/fiance's dad showed up last night for Christmas. He'll be here past Christmas. So far, he's gotten to see the various typical birds, coyotes, a javelina, and a bobcat. So he's gotten lots of wildlife footage to take back with him. But sadly, he missed the javelina party that my boyfriend photographed (will post pictures soon).

So today we braved some of the shopping today with his dad to get presents for Christmas. Tomorrow we're going to see boyfriend's cousin since she came for the holiday season so his dad can see that side of the family. Hopefully we'll remember all the gifts I have for such people.

Then we had a mediocre sushi lunch at the favorite sushi place in town. They had gotten a favorable review in Friday's entertainment section, and of course, it was mediocre. But for his dad, it was still very good. I guess I'm now spoiled with excellent sushi.

The funny thing is that my calico is so traumatized by this extra person in the house that she's been under the bed until everyone's asleep at night. The orange monster has been more apparent, and I gave the magic brush to boyfriend's dad. Now I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a midnight visitor tonight.

sheer torture

I will need to get a picture of this and turn it into an LOL cat or something. The light right now is not that great - maybe tomorrow.

With the nice temperatures when I get home, I've been sitting outside with the cats while I drink some vodka. (And I finally remembered the laptop with the WiFi today.)

First of all, these two "masters of the urban jungle" are scared to death to be outside. The first sudden sound and they run for the door. Which makes it easy to round up the cats when it's time to go inside.

Second, these birds are not scared of the cats. There's this one bird that takes delight in being on the ground a few feet away from the cats. This lures them into getting into stalking mode. Just as they quietly begin to sneak up on this bird, it flies up and out of their reach. The pitiful look on the fluff monster was priceless.

Third, the fluff monster can eat the brush with no problem. The furr monster takes one bite and starts puking a few minutes later.

Fourth, the sunsets are beautiful here on the patio.

for multiple cat households...

I was talking to boyfriend last night when one of the kitties interjected with his own comment.

"Was that Adira?"

"No, silly. That was Magnum. He's a guy and has a deeper sounding voice. Adira's a girly-girl and sounds like it."

"Uh, okay." imagining his eyes rolling.

But in my bouts of insomia, I couldn't help but wonder if it is all in my head. I can tell which one of my fluff and furr is making noise without seeing him/her. But I know my folks can't - or just don't care. I've had the luxury of having the furr monster for about five years before acquiring the fluff ball. So to me it's second nature separating furr meow from fluff meow.

Can other cat owners figure out which cat is which by it's meow? Can others near to you do the same?

taking over

It's been a few months of living in a much bigger home with strange people and a very big dog (big for them anyway). So, how are they doing anyway?
This is their favorite place to hang out. I was outside taking a picture of his latest bobcat. The reason they like it is because my folks feed the birds outside this glass door. So they get in plenty of bird watching. Originally, if they were spotted in this area, they'd run for the safety under my bed, but are now comfortable enough to stay.

---

Adira enjoys taking a stretch on the kitchen table. So far, she hasn't been caught by anyone but me. My folks won't be thrilled the day they catch her. At least she didn't go after the flowers in the vase.

---

They normally like to sleep on the bed, or in on the cat bed that's by the window. But when I was looking for the fluffball, I found her quite happy taking over the empty storage container under my bed.

happy cats

I was gone for a week before my boyfriend brought me back to where I'm staying with my kitties. The first night there, Magnum refused to let me get a moments rest by howling constantly. He mellowed the second night, and Adira made her fluffy self known with snuggles and cuddles from both of us.

Then we up and left again a couple days later. But boyfriend dropped me off after a couple of days. When boyfriend did so, the munchkin/nephew/toddler terror was there. So I started to unpack to start laundry.

Much to my surprise, I saw the furr monster first. Adira followed shortly afterwards. Normally they stay under the bed cowering in terror from the kid.

They came in the kitchen when I was having lunch. And after the toddler terror left, they settled on my bed for naps in the sun.

As it should be.

Taking over

Kitties are slowly making themselves at home. It'll be a week tomorrow late afternoon.

Adira's been munching on the grass stuff under the fake cactus we have in the living room. Then going into my room and puking it up. Thanks goodness for the spot carpet shampooer. The cactus was moved into the garage until we can get rid of the grass stuff.

Both got a nice bit of bird watching in the living room this afternoon. Magnum even made his bird sounds. But they only do that when it's just me around.

Magnum follows me around. He's such a momma's boy.

Adira is still cautious and flees when she knows she's being watched.

At least they stopped fighting all night long. Or I'm getting better at sleeping through it.

moving distress

Saturday was probably the most distressing day for the fluff and furr. All but two of their sleeping spots were loaded in the truck and sent up to Fountain Hills.

One sleeping spot is the coffee table will be loaded in the truck and taken to Fountain Hills Saturday with the kitties. The second one is the bed, which we'll come back for next Monday.

In the past, Adira got to rest her fluffy little head on my second pillow. I don't sleep on the second pillow, so it's all for her to shed all over. Magnum then would sleep by where you'd put the feet would go if you were sleeping on the second pillow.

When I came home yesterday, Adira was in the laundry basket. I found Magnum on her pillow.

Every time I woke up last night, it alternated between Magnum and Adira on the second pillow. I think they'll fight all week over it.

Don't worry, most of your sleeping spots, and more will be waiting for you in Fountain Hills on Saturday.

wake up call

There's nothing cooler than opening my eyes first thing in the morning and seeing nothing but a little kitty face.

Adira's such a sweetie when she wants to be.

Stupid alpha

I went through this when both the fluff and furr were at the vet for the pre-op check. Magnum was very hostile afterwards, constantly growling and snarling at Adira. I did "Psst!" until my throat was sore, and after a few days he gave up on it.

Fluff and furr have recovered from their declaw. They still shake their front paws and lick a lot. But they don't act like they're in pain. They're back to using their old litterbox.

But Magnum again picked up the bad habit of growling and snarling at Adira whenever she came in sight. No wonder the poor thing keeps to the bedroom for the most part.

Adira's now exhibiting "beta" behavior now to try and get the stupid Magnum from growling and snarling.

Stupid cat - you're alpha. Don't rub it in when she's accepting you being the boss.

Must be a characteristic of orange stripey cats.

no hard feelings?

I'm surprised at how my cats aren't mad at me for putting them through the declaw.

Magnum was actually kneading with his front paws while I was brushing him last night. Probably a good sign he's not hurting.

Adira actually is more affectionate. What was a nightime routine of trying to pet the cat while she wandered around the bed kneading the topsheet has changed to a long session of petting followed by her sleeping against my arm, upper body on my chest.

Some things don't change - she's still a princess.

Magnum, however still was growling and hissing at Adira when she joined us in the living room. Wasn't as bad this morning, so I hope he'll get over it eventually.

welcome home

I was not very happy with my cats when I got home Sunday.

I drove through three thunderstorms, and had a couple bags of groceries in my hands when I opened the door.

First was the smell. Was it coming from their newspaper litterboxes?

Nope. They decided they didn't like the recycled newspaper litterboxes and had used the living room as their litterbox.

Swell.

First put the peripherable foods away. Then cleaned the carpets. Need to borrow the hand shampooer my parents have next weekend.

Put away the rest of the groceries. Settled down with a beer (yeah Bard's Tale). Then went and got the rest of the stuff from the car like the laundry I did and the empty boxes I had unpacked. Go into the closet in the bedroom to put the clothes away.

Notice a damp feeling on the floor. Oh no, they didn't.

Yup, cat pee in the bedroom closet.

Lucky my closet is mostly empty at this point, so I blot the carpet, and note to shampoo the closet next weekend. In the meanwhile, the door is closed.

My cats are spoiled with their automatic litterbox. I have literally seen them pee, get out, wait ten minutes for the cycle to clean the box, then re-enter and crap in the box.

So I empty their newspaper litterboxes, replace with new newspaper pellets, put newspaper in the living room, and hoped for the best last night before going to bed. Ditto this morning before leaving.

I'm going to try and leave early today since I put in for the time Friday and didn't get to leave early after all. They don't use the box that much during the day since that interferes with sleep.

It's going to be a long week.