Eep!

I'm sorry. I forgot to acknowledge Diamond's sixth birthday this year (the 28th) because my father died wednesday before last and my mind has been on other things.

In other news, Diamond's been quite adorable lately. Photos to follow in the next update.

Finally, a Photopost!

I haven't posted any images of Diamond lately because I had forgotten my photobucket password and couldn't get into the account for months, and worst of all, they have some new policy where you only have so many tries, which was crushing my attempts.

So anyway, finally, the photos will come back.

This one needs a bit of explanation. There's a large fishtank at The Bookie, and the fish always come to you because they think you're going to feed them... even if you're a cat! So here's Diamond, surrounded by hungry fish. ;)


From what I understand, the Bookie is going to be housed inside the CUB eventually, so this tranquil scene will be no more. *sighest...*

I RULE.

July 26th, 2006. Oh, and I am TEH ROCK for socializing kittens. All of the kittens, and the mother, are now all safely ensconced at the Humane Society, awaiting their appointment with the Vet tomorrow, and the director says they're all ready to be adopted out, behaviorally speaking. I tell you, I have a magic touch. X-D

Kittens Doing Well.
July 20th, 2006.

Hi! I don't have homes for the kittens yet, but they're doing fairly well. One is actually with me, hidden in a cardboard box in the basket while Diamond rides on the floor of the scooter under my legs for shade. I had brought said kitten to Ric-O-Shay, but it turned out the person was only interested in female kittens. *sigh* We're taking the bus home in order to keep cool. I need to find a way to get them FIV tested. (I used to be able to edit the dates I wanted a given post to appear in, I don't know what's gone wrong.)

KITTENS!

July 17, 2006

There was a mother cat and four feral kittens on the side of one of our apartment units, so I dutifully called Animal Control, who came the next day, and we trapped them. Unfortunately it is kitten season, and the first kitten we caught that the AC Officer brought to the shelter was said to be too wild, and that we were to release them all. I talked her into releasing them into my custody, and they are all now safely ensconced in my bathroom while they learn to adjust to humans. It turns out the mother is actually completely people friendly and comes to me for cuddles every time I join them. Two of the kittens have begun to accept cuddles, and the other two are slowly losing their shyness. They've been with me one week as of yesterday, and they're all gray tabbies. Two kittens are long-haired, and two are short-haired like the mother. Eeek! I've gone from one cat to six! It's work but it's fun work!!

Diamond's Reaction to all this.

You know, I totally forgot to write about how Diamond was taking all of that. Diamond was totally loving it! I was really shocked and pleased that he wasn't showing any agression or jealousy towards the other cats, but all he wanted to do was smell and meet them and hopefully play with them. He even tolerated bieng locked in the bedroom for his safety on days when I'd leave the bathroom door open to encourage Mamma and the kittens to explore. (Only one kitten ever did, though.)

MammaKitten (as I called her) wasn't having it about meeting Diamond, though. She hissed the two times that she met Diamond. Once, she escaped from the bathroom and ran under a small table I've got, where Diamond was already sitting, and sat down. She turned when Diamond said hello, hissed angrilly, and ran back to the safety of the bathroom. (Everyone else had a good laugh.)

The second time a few days later, we had to take everything off of the floor of the bathroom and clean everything because although they're all quite good about using the litterbox, they kick sand everywhere. I loaded everyone into Diamond's adult-cat carrier and set them in the hall, and MammaKitten and at least one kitten hissed at Diamond when he came tearing over to investigate.

So introductions didn't go so well. And the kittens had some pretty severe ear mite infections as it turned out, so Diamond's going to have to be checked at his next Vet appointment, *sarcasm* which I'm sure he'll love. ;)

So all in all, I'm terribly proud of Diamond. One of the kittens was decidedly unafraid of him, and I'm sure that totally helped in that lil guy's socialization process.

I'm crossing my fingers now that they'll all pass their FIV/FIL tests... I'm so worried that they'll have to be euthanized even after all the hard work. If everything turns out okay, I'll be sure to link their PetFinder.com profiles up here!

Genius Cat!

I love my cat. He's getting so smart. :) Really, he's probably not any smarter than he's always been, but my ability to tap into it has improved and he's really rising to the challenge. Apparently he loves challenges! Early last month I started watching a show on Animal Planet which only plays very early in the morning, called Barking Mad. It's a British show that features a pet -- two pets per episode -- that has some kind of emotional or behavioral problem. They bring in experts, find the source of the problem, and then re-train both the human and the pet to modify the animal's frustrating behavior.

In one episode, they showcased a dalmation that was completely deaf. The owners weren't aware he was deaf, so he was sent in for vet tests that pinpointed the problem, and he was indeed deaf. Actually, I could tell from his bosy language that the dog was just as frustrated with the human owners as they were with him. and then they brought in a dog trainer to train the owners to teach the dog obedience lessons via sign language. The dog responded immediately, and he became much more relaxed, happy, and confident with the hand signals than without them, and of course the humans became the same because of his change in behavior.

I'm always on the lookout for new hand signals to train Diamond, so I was delighted to watch. I wish they'd provided more information to where I could learn more hand signals, because they only showed two or three, one of which (palm up for "sit,") I already knew.

In any event, they showed "thumbs up," as a way to say "Good job, now you get a treat!" and I began working on that one with Diamond that very morning.

Today, six weeks later, Diamond's showed me several times that he knows "Thumbs up!" perfectly. :)

I was sitting on the couch, and for some reason I got it into my head to show him numbers with my fingers. I went to show him "One," with my thumb, forgetting all about thumbs up which I hadn't done in a couple of weeks, and he immediately perked up, his ears pricked, and he looked at my empty hands, then looked around the room for his treat can, confused. I laughed my fool head off and snatched up the can, then gave him another thumbs up, by which time he had scampered up to me and had sat politely, waiting, and I gave him a treat.

Next we're going to work on "Come here!" Which is a large circular backwards waving of the hand towards myself. I think this one may be trickier.

I love my cat. :)

An upcoming visit to the Vet

Diamond's going to be a VERY unhappy fuzzy butt in the beginning of March. I've got two of his vaccinations scheduled, PLUS, I'm having a microchip installed in him. Luckily for him, most likely there will probably only be two injections, as the first two will probably be combined. (I hope.) Still, it's going to be a noisy day at the clinic. *Giggle* At my clinic, the microchip ONLY costs $30!! That's SO awesome!!!!

For those of you who own pets.. you know what the microchip is, right? (I still meet people who don't know about it.) They inject this very small microchip in your cat or dog's shoulder, and from then on, vet clinics and pet shelters can scan the animal, and if your beloved pet ever gets lost, the chip tells them the animal's owner's address!! SWEET!! In some cases, they also tattoo the inside of the animal's ear so pet rescuers will know to scan for the chip. I'm gonna tease the hell out of Diamond if he has to get a tat. Haaa! I just about did backflips (Yes, I can actually backflip...) when I found out it was so cheap at Diamond's clinic. {{{{{Hugs Diamond's Vet Clinic}}}}}

Also, I've bit the bullet and checked with a local nursing home about having Diamond make regular "pet therapy session" visits with their clients. I'm one of those people who gets kind of wierded out at nursing homes... but when I took Diamond to see a particular client last year at the request of my previous physician, Diamond LOVED it, and ever since has taken to flirting madly with elderly people who walk up to him. When they walk away, he turns around, looks at me with pouting eyes, and chuffs. *Headstearinghandles* Gee, THANKS! So I couldn't take the pouting anymore and talked to a particular home's activities director a couple of weeks ago.

Merry Christmas


Everybody.

Diamond: "Can I go now?? PLEASE!?"

Yes, he really IS snow-white.

Here are a couple of adorable photos from a couple of years ago, of Diamond playing in the snow with a couple of little girls. I'll include full-shots as soon as I can remember how to resize photos, and get permission from their mother. ;-)

POOF!!! I've got THICK fur!!


Where's a BIGGER hill, ladies!?

Christmas Wrapping

Here are some adorable shots from last year of Diamond helping me wrap the Christmas gifts. ;-D

My Kindom for Thumbs!




Too... many... friends...


Zzzz...


(Please Note: Diamond was NEVER left unattended with the scissors in the photographs.)

APPLECUP, 2005

Some Diamond-as-Butch shots for luck. :-D






I cannot tell you how much I love how tolerant Diamond is of bieng photographed while dressed up. I wouldn't say that he's tolerant of bieng DRESSED, though. ;)

Having the SPACE NEEDLE painted in Cougar Colors and flying the WSU flag was a LOVELY birthday present. :D

KITTENS OF THE CORN...




HAPPY HALLOWEEN, KITTIES!!! MWAHAHAHAAAAAAAA! ;-D

Whatever do you mean, I'm driving my cat batty? ;-)

Last year it occurred to me that it would be hilarious and fun to install one of those mechanical flying bats and let Diamond react as he wished. He's been a pound and a half over his optimum weight -- which REALLY adds up on a feline, particularly if you want them to live long, happy lives -- and I felt the excersize would be very good for him.



I had a very tall friend help me install it, and we turned it on while Diamond was eating. Eventually Diamond meandered into the hallway and spotted the flying bat.

DUN DUN DUN!!! He stared just long enough to detect something large MOVING in the air in his home and jetted straight at us. Unused to the bat's pattern and not yet realizing it'd have a predictable path, he followed the bat's circular flight path directly beneath it, occasionally springing up in the air but missing it wildly. (Thank goodness for that. I don't know what I would have done with a cat hanging for dear life on a flying bat...) He even dug his back claws into the nap of the carpet to get good traction so that he could keep up.



I think he followed the bat deparately for a good ten - twelve minutes, until his little lungs gave up and he had to stop, he head pointed straight up and spinning in time on his fully outstretched neck as he panted in exhaustion. My friends and I were equally exhausted from laughing ourselves into fits. ;-D He had run so much, so fast and so hard, that his back claws had actually dug a faint path in the nap of the carpet.

It took him a few days, but eventually he figured out that he could perch precariously on top of the easy chair and SWAT!!! the bat as it flew by. I took that opportunity to get some hilarious though usually blurred shots of his antics, which you now get to enjoy here. :)

Genius cat, straaaange cat.

I just walked in on the wierdest thing.

So first I feel I need to explain the back story about Diamond's favorite collar and lead set:

About four or five months ago(?) H. and I were at this Moscow pet store called Pets Are People Too finishing up our purchases. This was back when we were still transporting the scooter in her van, so I was in the scooter and Diamond was in the basket. We were all up at the front register, but I had Diamond pointed away from the counter... I know I wasn't first in line but I can't remember why I wasn't pointed forward now.

Regardless, I happened to have him pointed towards this display of new collars and leashes that were all "glam" styled, stuff I'd expect Paris Hilton to have on her chihuahua. They were all in black, baby pink, or the exact shade of Diamond's blue eyes. Some had crystals hanging from them, and some had dyed... I can't remember if it was faux fur or feathers on them.

Anyway, I turn around from talking to H, and Diamond has just spotted this leash made of this sparkly blue metalic thread (in the exact color of his own eyes) and covered in these mini blue sequins. He leans forward out of the scooter, Snuuuuuuuugles it, and then lays his head backwards towards us and cocks his head and looks at me with this expression that's about TEN TIMES more pathetic than this:

WANT!

And about three times as pathetic as that face Puss in Boots makes in Shrek.

H. and I stop our conversation and go "Awwwwwwww!" at him in unison as our brains melt, and I reach over and take a leash and lead in his colors. Diamond watches all this very carefully. He looked very concerned when I handed them to the cashier, you should have seen the look of relief on his face when the cashier handed them back with the reciept... LOL.

You would think the following would be unrelated, but I assure you, its not. At least I don't think it is. So Diamond sees me put bracelets on, either using my fingers, or my fingers and my teeth, all of the time, particularly because I make a lot of beaded bracelets and other jewelry.

So anyway. Last night, Diamond wanted to wear his "special collar," so I put it on. After we got home from hanging out with H. and her husband M. I took it off so he wouldn't be itchy at night.

So before I came here in my office to post, I walked in on the wierdest thing.

Diamond was holding his collar over the wrist of his paw, with one end in his teeth, trying to flip the collar onto his neck.

*Eyetwitch twitch twitch twitch.*

I pick up the collar and ask him, "You want me to put it on?"
"Mrrr!!"
"Well allrighty then!" *Placing him on the chair so he's high enough for me, puts on collar*
*Snuuuuuuuggle!*

Okay, so explain that.

Pet Emergency Preparedness.

The Red Cross sells a Pet First Aid Kit in their web store or at your local Red Cross office, so I've marked it down in my planner to buy one of those soon. You may not know it, but you can also purchase pet insurance, and that's on my list, too. First however, in October I'm going to have Diamond microchipped. (Boy is he going to be mad about THAT shot.) I found out in April that it only costs $25 at my vet clinic, and after everything I've seen this month, I'm getting it done.

I really, REALLY don't know what I'd do if I lost Diamond. Last week I read this blog post from Interdictor's accounts on Live Journal where one of the guys got his cat rescued and brought back to him, and in it he calls his cat, "My little man." It just about broke my heart because that's what I call Diamond, too.

I also need to drop by one of the local Fire Department and buy one of those shiny silver and red stickers you can put on your windows that reads "I have ___ cats in this home that need to be rescued in case of a fire!" as soon as I have the money. (Yes, of course they have one for dogs, too.) Not that Diamond's EVER home alone since he goes wherever I go, but I'd rather not risk it.

Surprises!

I have strange friends. Then again, I do basically live out in the country. Today an old acquaintance came by and showed me her 7 week-old baby bunnies. They were all in a kennel with their mother, so we let Diamond meet them...

"What kind of cats are you!?"


This is "Gonzo."



Almost as teeny as a coffee coaster!

Update on the Stray.

It appears as though she came by last night and ate! I checked the bowl at 9 a.m. (I had forgotten that I had planned to add egg last night) and it was empty. There weren't any crumbs lying around and there were no birds nearby, so it appeared she got to it before they did.

I've decided to call her Mika. :)

WANT!!!

And its customizable, too! I bet even Coriolis could love this!

Vaccuumable Cats!

As promised, here are some photos of Diamond willingly bieng vaccuumed. :-D Yep, sorry it is so image heavy, but there are not to be missed.

Here was our first attempt on the 14th...

He was a bit restless and playful after his teenaged human playmate had come by for a visit and jumped down and ran away after I got just this one shot.

Oh, yeah! That's the spot!

And now you know why I only have to wash him once a year...

Ahhhhh...

He looks like he's enjoying himself just too much... ;-D

A little down and to the right, please...

LOL! Looks at his fur!

ARRRRRR!

Avast! Today be Talk Like a Pirate Day! Fortunately for you rabble, cats don't talk (for the most part, that is...), so there'll be none of that swill in this here journal. ;-)

Mmmmmornin'. *Bleary-eyed look.*

Apparently it is that time of year again: stray cats. Diamond woke me up about 45 minutes ago HOWLING at the time of his lungs. I wandered into the dining room and he chatted with me from the dining room windowsill, but it was clear there wasn't anything out there at the moment, so I got comfortable and waited.

Sure enough, after several moments he went en pointe and chattered softly at an unseen visitor. I didn't get a photo because I want her to hang around us and get comfortable, and I can't do that by spooking her with flashing lights. I slowly walked up to the window and there she was: a small cat, female by her build, and partly Siamese by her markings. Actually, if there's such a thing as a mocha calico, that's what she'd be. So I jiggled the doorknob to see if she'd run to the door to get in out of the cold, or run for cover. She startled, so I left off on opening the door. She's feral, or is becoming feral.

She finally got spooked by who knows what, and ran away, causing Diamond to howl some more briefly, then settle down on the windowsill to wait for her return. I went into the kitchen and then to the small closet and got her a bowl of food, then put it outside, giving the bowl a little shake to make the yummy food rattle. I'm kind of a snob about Diamond: I don't buy food that comes in supermarkets any more because I want Diamond to be extremely healthy and live as long as he can. I admit it; I'm selfish. At least she'll be getting some good grubbins if she comes back tonight! ;-) Hopefully she does come back and eat, because the crows and magpies in the area have figured me out from previous stray cats and watch my doorstep for cat food, which they will steal in the morning.

Diamond actually met this cat a few nights ago as I was coming home around 11pm. She didn't really run away from us, she came towards us, scoped us out, but then kept going, even though I was tossing her treats. This is a good sign, I'm certain she'll be back. Tomorrow night I'll put out some food with some egg stirred in. The next night, tuna oil.

During the day (since it already IS tomorrow LOL) I'll call Feral Cats Solutions and ask them to bring a cage out here so we can get her checked out.

For the time bieng, Diamond has a new crush. ;-)

The Cat Condo!

As promised, here's a photo of Diamond's new cat condo.


LOL, Condo, not tree. I had actually forgotten how big it was while I was paying it off. I wish I had had a video camera to capture his reaction, it was so precious it was almost... human. We got the condo into my bedroom, and then stomped on the floor to get him to come over. He saunters in, and he does this double take where he actually slows down and backs up half a step -- on four legs -- while his neck cranes to check it out. He didn't poof up in fear, he was just genuinly surprised. Then he got this look of genuine delight just before we picked him up and put him on the top.

He totally loves it. He's comfortable on all three levels (which is good because he's a LONG cat!) and he even knows to sharpen his imaginary claws on the slanted stabilizing boards and not other nearby furniture. :)

Brevity

Diamond: "You know what mom?"
Me: "What hon?"
Diamond: "America could use a good laugh right about now."
Me: "Yes, yes it could."
Diamond: "Break out that one picture."
Me: "You got it sweety."

Diamond, imitating an old, old man, apparently a Cougar fan:

Hurricane Katrina and Animals

The past seven or eight days have been, of course, a nightmare because of events down on the Gulf Coast.

I've been intentionally avoiding anything having to do with animals that don't involve my own cat, because if I focus on helping the local Red Cross I feel empowered, but if I think about those sweet, innocent animals, cats, dogs, whatever, I know I'll collapse into a blubbering mess. For me its just like if you took 10,000 newborn babies and filled the maternity ward where their incubators were with water and threatened to drown them. They're INNOCENTS. They can't help themselves or others, and it just breaks, I mean BREAKS my heart.

So here's a secure link for you:
Help pets Hurt by Katrina. Please donate to the Humane Society of the United States Disaster Rescue Teams today.

PLEASE HELP THEM.