Purrsday Night - Black Cats are Coool

There’s some background music for this week’s cat post. It’s “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat”

OK, the song is about jazz-playing “cats” and not actual feline cats, but it’s fun and catchy. Jazz cats can be swingin’, but of course, real feline cats should never EVER be swingin’, not literally anyway. Jax (above) is all about being a cool cat, and he’s pretty sure that everybody wants to be like him. yes, he DOES have the biggest teeth on the block, possibly even the neighborhood. He's not mean, though... he's just cooool.

I found this really cute pic of a baby panther (born in in the Miskolc Zoo, Hungary) over on Seattle P.I. (AP Photo/MTI, Janos Vajda), and I wouldn’t doubt that Jax looked like that as a kitten. We don’t know, because he adopted us when he was already 7 years old.

I also want to remember our black cat, Duncan, who died one year ago (April 12) from heart disease at age 11. We think about him and miss him every day. He was extremely loving when it came to both people and other cats, and very silly and funny too. His eyes were big and round, and his purr would fill the room. We loved that little sweetie pie of a kitty.


Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at M-Cats Club - Cats - Catblogging - Music - Austin -

A hard Winter

Finally starting to come back on grid after Duncan's passing. Friday (and Thursday night, of course) I spent crying most of the time. It just wouldn't stop for long. That's my M.O. though -- hold back and keep a stiff upper lip until, at some point, something opens up the floodgates. The transition I am needing to make here is that the 11 years of memories of this little person (and it IS a person to me) need to begin to overpower the memory of the last half-hour spent with him.

I know that everything dies, everyone dies, but I am not so good at being physically close to the end process. I do not want to retain the memory of watching that part, even though I know it is natural and necessary. For the past 5 months, our little guy has been terminally ill, this we knew. We were occasionally given some false hope of his condition improving or stabilizing a bit through medications... barely a glimmer of hope... but basically for the last 5 months -- every morning, noon and night, I'd wonder if there would be one more day for him.

To add to this, another of our cats was seriously ill during this period, near death twice in fact, but I'm happy to report that he has seen some improvement and we are very happy with his progress (He can't be cured but right now he's not dying and his condition is being somewhat managed). However, it was just another thing in the pile-on of stressors: thousands of dollars to pay in real estate taxes, thousands of dollars in cat medical bills, thousands of dollars to Uncle Sam, MY medical bills, thousands for home repair, and half my customers not being able to pay me (or just forgetting!!), and generally being spread waaaay too thin trying to keep up with work responsibilities, working 7 days a week every week, medication schedules, and constant worry. One of my "people" doctors, when I told her about my stress and anxiety and how I had this really sick cat and not getting much sleep, etc., here's what she said: "Just stick him out in the garage or outside. It's only a cat." It's only a cat. Yeah. I guess having a stone for a heart would probably solve all my problems. Stop worrying = stop caring. It would probably work.

I suppose that I really do have one less worry... well, two, if you count his medical bills... but I still don't feel relieved or comforted. I don't believe that loved ones go to "heaven" to look down on us or wait for us. They are just simply gone. Gone except for the memories we have. That's how they live on. That's the "spirit" of the dead... it's what's conjured up in our minds and hearts when we think of the person, see their photo, look at their art or writings, or just read what someone has written about them in a blog post. I'm hoping that soon I can push that half-hour out of the way and look back on the rest of the 11 years that we had. That's when the healing will start. Love hurts. Always has and always will.

Catblogging - Duncan, in memoriam

Duncan was 11 years old. I got him as a kitten from the no-kill shelter where I worked once a week. He came there with his mom and litter-mates from the pound, and he was the last holdout for getting adopted. He still would have been my first pick. He was so loving, and I never heard a cat purr so loud. His purr was legendary. You could hear it from the next room.

I brought him home to be a buddy for Henry, and it worked out perfectly. Those two have been inseparable ever since. Duncan was a very silly cat. He'd meow loudly during the night, but he wasn't crying, I believe he was singing. Either singing or running through the house acting like a nut. He would land on the bed at all hours of the night and announce his presence with a loud MEOW followed by licking your face. He was impossibly cute and lovable... and silly.

His heart always seem to beat loud and hard against your legs when he'd sit on your lap. I always mentioned it to the various vets, but none ever found anything wrong with him. He was healthy, if a bit overweight, and that was Duncan. I didn't know that he had a heart condition until this past November when he almost died from congestive heart failure. I was completely surprised! I had no idea that he had a heart condition, but I have learned many things since that day, and one of the things I learned about his condition was that very often the first symptom of it is sudden death. I happened to be there when he had that first attack, so I was able to rush him to the vet and postpone the inevitable. It was inevitable because not only did he have the chronic heart condition (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), he also had failing kidneys. Treating the heart and kidneys require sometimes opposite treatments, so we were never able to stabilize his condition. He died at the vet today, April 12. He got very stressed on the trip there, and was unconscious when he arrived. They could not revive him, but then there was no saving him in any case. He was too sick.

I am really glad that he survived his November attack, so that we could appreciate his situation, and try to enjoy every minute with him, giving him extra TLC. We are those people who think that these furkids ARE our kids, we don't have any offspring, so it is something that really hurts. I don't feel like it is my fault though. Everyone has assured me that this condition is genetic, and it's very hard to detect. We did everything that we could for him.

I've posted some of my favorite pictures of him below. They have been featured on this blog going back to 2005. He was well-loved for his whole life.

(Above - Duncan is the one facing us)

To pull up the most recent posts on Duncan, click here or on the "Duncan" label at the bottom. Older posts that won't be found that way are listed here (they all are set to open in a new window):
Office Space
Most Favored Seat
Still Cute with bad habits
Cute with bad habits
We belong together
Love me no matter what
Kitty cat troll booth
Peek-a-bamboo
Love/hate relationship
Cats write a letter
Duncan and new drinking songs
Duncan gets a clean bill of health
Two cats too cozy
Friday furball


Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Books 4 Isreal - Cats - Catblogging -

Catblogging - Duncan sees a Specialist

...and right now he is the "specialest" cat.Duncan had a fairly rough week, and so did his human mom's credit card. Last time he went to the vet to have his lungs "tapped" they told us that most of the fluid was in the heart and would have to wait for a specialist to help him out, so he's been having a rough time for awhile, waiting for his appointment. He finally got to see the cardiologist on Monday, who removed 180 ml of fluid from his heart -- and that wasn't even all of it! He is breathing a lot better now (although he has been very tired, and no wonder), but none of us like all these meds. He was already getting 2 shots of lasix a day plus 2 ear gels. Now he's getting that, plus 3 nitroglycerin ear cream smears and more pills! They also determined that he also has chronic kidney disease, which needs treatments that are in direct conflict with his congestive heart failure.

Sweetness times two. I wonder if Henry senses that his little buddy hasn't been feeling 100%?




Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Bad Kitty Cats - Cats - Catblogging -

Catblogging - Duncan's haircut

We like to call it a "reverse vertical mohawk". Actually Duncan has the same haircut on the other side. They do this at the vet when they take fluids from his lungs, so he is getting used to being shaved regularly. He's not even embarrassed about it anymore, and he knows that we think he's adorable no matter what kind of haircut he has.

Looks like he's playing Superman without a cape (deriving his powers from catnip), but he's just lounging in the tub. Who doesn't enjoy that once in a while? Cats just prefer doing it without the water. EDIT: Monday morning. Duncan thanks Sonnybob for the cape. Of course he will look good in it. He looks good in everything!

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Pet's Garden Blog - Cats - Catblogging

Catblogging - Duncan and his really big brother

Duncan and Henry -- bestest buddies! Henry loves Duncan because he makes a good snuggly pillow, and because Henry gets to snag leftovers from Duncan. We switched him to canned food (and he needs "hungry pills" to eat it since he is feeling poorly) a few months ago... and I understand that canned food is supposed to be better for kitties in general. So while Duncan tries to improve his appetite, Henry is more than happy to help clean the plate. In the above picture, it looks like Henry has grown into a big furry balloon.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Carnival of the Cats Home on Sunday - Cats - Catblogging

Catblogging - Black Beauties

Duncan is watching you out there in blogworld. Helllloooooo!!!

Jax won't let you forget that he has the biggest teeth on the block. He nibbled on his human mom's head this week, just being affectionate. Another reminder about the big teeth.

Jax wonders if there's more to life than sleeping, stretching, sunning, and playing with toys. Then he goes back to sleep.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Scribblings - Cats - Catblogging -

Catblogging - Duncan and Alex back to the vet

Another afternoon at the vet for the two sick boys. I haven't put up a progress report for awhile, mainly because there hasn't been any progress to speak of. Duncan below (our heart patient), for the 3rd time in 3 months, needed fluid drained from his lung with a syringe of some kind. Thankfully they do that procedure out of my sight. It's been done on alternating sides each time, so he has some good-sized shaved patches on both of his sides (and now I know that there's no chance that the hair will ever get to grow back). The arrow is pointing to his bare patch that was newly re-shaved today. We call it his "expensive haircut". Duncan is hanging in there, getting 2 shots of lasix, 2 swabbings with ear gel, and a pill to perk up his appetite, every day. He's a sweet kitty getting the shots, but hates the rest of it!

Alex, also, is hanging in there -- but not really doing very well. He has IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and his main ailment is what they call malabsorption. Basically it means that he's losing weight in spite of eating plenty, it just doesn't stick to his bones. So he is starting to remind us of bones. Poor baby. He's becoming a frail little old man-cat (of 16). He's getting some meds daily and weekly: pred, pepcid and B-12, but they aren't helping him as much as I would like. Both of these guys have ailments that aren't curable, so we are just trying to make them as comfortable as possible.


Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Pet's Garden Blog - Cats - Catblogging -

Catblogging Snooze News

Naps are hard to get around the Oasis here. for the humans anyway. Everytime you think you'll grab some quick zzzs on the couch, before you know it you are covered in cats. Mr. B has no trouble snoozing even with Duncan's tail wrapped around his head, but I usually spend my potential nap-time petting everybody while they nap. Here is a close-up of that really cute yawn that Henry was caught right in the middle of.


Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at This Blog Is Full of Crap - Cats - Catblogging -

Catblogging - Firecat

Who needs a fire when you have a nice warm kitty cat? As much as Duncan enjoyed curling up with these logs, he'd rather we burned them so he could sit nearby, watch and get warm. If you and your cat don't don't have a fire to watch, you might try these cat "reality TV" videos with a nod to niCk for the link.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Mind of Mog - Cats - Catblogging -

Catblogging - Alex is Sweet 16!

Just turned 16 this week, still looking good for the camera, and he knows it! Alex could eat a whole birthday cake and not gain an ounce... but he can't eat cake, in fact, can't eat very many things without getting sick since he has IBD. He does have plenty of time to go through his various birthday cards and fan letters. Mostly he doesn't read them, he'd rather tear them up.

I think Duncan sent him one of those cards! He really loves his adopted brother. All the other cats are concentrating on the sound of little cans being opened (you can see Henry's tail there. He's got the jump on everybody when it comes to little cans). Now that's true brotherly love.


Health notes on the sick boys: Alex had some bloodwork and it looks like B-12 shots are going to be beneficial to him (cobalamin deficient), and he's about ready for another depo (steroid) shot to help with his belly. Duncan is getting a little checkup late Friday afternoon. He's been feeling a little poorly, not eating very well and breathing hard. I will keep you posted! EDIT Friday evening: Duncan had about 3 ounces of fluid drained from his lung. It wasn't collapsed yet like it did the previous time. He is feeling better tonight after the procedure.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at enrevanche - Cats - Catblogging -

Catblogging - A few of his favorites things

Jax is oblivious to the fact that there's a HUGE cat on that Meowy Christmas poster behind him. It's like... a 50 foot cat! But who cares when you are surrounded by a few catnip-scented toys? Looks like he's getting very friendly with that little mouse.

On closer examination, it looks like Jax has the longest pinkest tongue you ever saw on a cat, except maybe the one on that poster. His claws are ready should anyone try to escape!
Hmmmm. A little further investigation reveals that the pink stuff belongs completely to that poor mouse... which has since suffered the embarrassing demise of being knocked under the dresser, where it became engulfed by a dust bunny, and since it was half-torn-up already it was put into the trash. Don't worry Jax. You will never lack for toys.

Update on the sick boys: Duncan is holding steady, nothing to report on him this week. Alex is going to the vet on Friday to get tested to see if B-12 might be beneficial for his IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease). I've heard some tales that it's been helpful for some of the poor little guys who just keep losing weight. He may be lining up with Duncan here for shots pretty soon. Would anyone out there like a shot? Go to the back of the line.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Pet's Garden Blog - Cats - Catblogging -

Catblogging - Hot News and Toasty Weather

You would think it's been bitter cold here they way these cats have been seeking warmth. Jax above spent his first 7 years as an outdoor alley cat, so he very much appreciates being indoors and under the covers even when it's 60 out like today (tomorrow it will be 70)

But the cool evenings have been a good excuse for using the fireplaces, and Henry, senior citizen of 15 that he is, loves to see how close he can get to the fire without getting curly whiskers. And speaking of geriatric cats, check out this article on cats getting Alzheimer's:

(HealthDay News) -- Cats can develop a feline form of Alzheimer's disease, say U.K. and U.S. researchers who identified a protein that can build up in brain nerve cells and cause mental deterioration.
[...]
"Recent studies suggest that 28 percent of pet cats aged 11-14 years develop at least one old-age related behavior problem, and this increases to more than 50 percent for cats over the age of 15," Gunn-Moore said.

Good diet, mental stimulation and companionship can reduce the risk of dementia in cats, the researchers said.

Our four are ages 10, 11, 15 and 16. Duncan below thinks that people shouldn't worry so much about cats acting nutty. He and all the boys had a nice bit o' the 'nip today, followed by some really nutty behavior.

And in further cat and catnip-related news, check out this story:

Police Apologize to Man Suspected of Carrying 5 Pounds of Marijuana in His Car After Determining It to Be 100% Catnip

Jan 3, 2007 -- Two Los Angeles police officers, coming out of a convenience store, observed a suspicious looking bag in the back seat of a car. When the owner of the car returned, the man was asked to open the car and "step aside." The two officers then searched the car and analyzed the content of the bag. After realizing it was catnip, the officers chuckled, apologized and let the man go.

It turns out that the owner of the car is none other than Adrian Martinez, founder of DogCatRadio.com, a radio station that caters to pet lovers. He had just received the catnip earlier that day to be featured on an upcoming broadcast.

"My first thought was to run," says Martinez, jokingly. "We get a lot of products from companies and I carry anything from pet food to catnip in my car, however, I don't think I will be traveling with catnip anytime soon."

And on that nightcap for a slow cat-news day, Jax begins to zone out.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Leslie's Omnibus - Cats - Catblogging

Friday Cat - The People's King

Here's Alex, the little King. He's not the King of the Cats anymore. They have figured out that he's half their size now (or less in some cases), and even though they're too nice to beat him up, they have no problem holding him back with one paw (even Duncan did that!). If cats could snicker...

Alex is still King of the Human Population, where the size of the cat doesn't matter as much, and attitude is more important. Alex got a depo (steroid) injection last week for his tummy, and is getting prednisone pills along with it, so he is also reigning King of the Steroids. He is sleeping a little better (thanks to the drugs). That tummy of his tends to keep him up all night, and if Alex is up... everybody is up.

Duncan update: he got an increase in his meds, and I am managing to pill him once a day for his decreased appetite, so he has been pretty stable. No news on him this week, just hanging in there. Everybody else seems fit as a fiddle... whatever that means.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Watermark on Sunday - Cats - Catblogging -

Friday Cats and Mistletoe

I always get a kick out of that little cartoon (above), and if you are checking out at the supermarket (and who isn't doing that a lot these days?) look for the Weekly World News. Sorry for this small thumbnail, it's all I could find on their website, but the picture is hilarious: "World's Fattest Cat Saves Christmas".

We've needed a little cheering up over at the Texas Oasis. Duncan is seeing a lot of the vet these days, at least once a week, which he really hates. Today he got an X-ray to check for fluid buildup in the lungs, and there was some but we are going to hope the medication helps it. He has been pretty tired and not eating as much as we'd like. We have pills to help his appetite, but there's that four-letter-word: P-I-L-L. Even the vet had a terrible time getting a pill in him. Almost too stressful to be worth it. Poor little sweetie... this is his mellow, "I love you but I want to sleep" look, and he's got the perfect sunspot there too.


Henry is still jealous about not getting as much canned food as his sick bros, but he's been snuggling up with Duncan a lot. Henry knows his little buddy needs some extra care.


Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at IMAO - Cats - Catblogging -

Friday Cats - lining up for the vet

Almost the whole gang went to the vet Thursday! 3 cat carriers, kind of a crazy way to do things, for sure. Jax is fine and just needed vaccinations.

Alex needed a checkup. He is recovered from the overdosing but still has major tummy troubles. He's still losing weight, is down to 6.5 lbs. and holding him is like hugging a little bone. Poor little guy. There he is, right in the middle of the stack.

Duncan needed a checkup, some more blood work, and another x-ray after his lung collapsed last week. The lung is functioning again now which is good, but he gave us a scare last Saturday late. He started walking funny like his back legs weren't working, and we were warned that something like that might mean a blood clot so we rushed him to the emergency vet. It turned out alright though, he started walking normally right away, but we were braced for the worst (and still are).

We've had beautiful weather all week, near 80 degrees, so everybody got to enjoy some open window time. Here's Duncan cozying up to Henry, and you can see the big patch that they shaved last week.



Henry has been acting a little pouty and maybe even grumpy, because he's feeling slighted. He knows that Alex and Duncan are getting canned food, and they have to eat it alone... mostly because Henry would just scarf it all down! And he's already what you might call "robust", maybe "hefty", OK, he's fat. He doesn't have a waistline, but he has a pretty face.


Here's Jax soaking up some sunshine and fresh air. We need a wider ledge, it's obvious.

And here's Duncan again, trying to look artistic in his photo.


Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at House of Chaos, and we can sure relate to that "house of chaos" thing here - Cats - Catblogging