Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Bed Wars

Ellen's dog, Stubby, passed away this week.  He was quite a dog and led a good life of 14 years. 

Since I have a dog, Maggie, Ellen decided to give all of Stubby's things to me.  This included 2 dog beds.

Thunder discovered the dog beds, first.  He sniffed it, thought it was interesting and tested it out.
He liked it.  I took the picture, and he got up to talk to me.  Immediately, Maggie decided the bed was hers.


Nothing like taking something away from the cat.  Fortunately, there were 2 beds, and it wasn't long before this happened.
That is now their favorite way of napping.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Oh How I Worry

Oh How I Worry

Remember last week when I wrote about how I found the blood on Thunder's chin?  Well, I have been keeping an eye on his health.  He threw up a few days later.  It was a bad one--I don't know if it was connected--or it was that tiny little hairball that finally came out.  I worried a lot that day.

After that, he seemed normal.  Having Maggie in lockdown for a few days when I wasn't home seemed to help.

The last couple days. he has seemed quiet, and I started worrying, again.  We missed a few play sessions, and he just wasn't purring enough.  Today, he mostly slept.  He has been eating plenty, but I missed the playing.

At 4:00, I couldn't take it anymore.  I picked him up and carried him to his tower--but he didn't want that.  He left, but instead of going back to his warm bed, he sat under a chair.  I started trying to get him to play.  It took a bit, but then, he became himself, again.  We had a wonderful play session.  We played for an hour.

Ellen suggested it was the weird weather.  It was 60, yesterday and 30 today.  In the past, he seems to be affected by temperature swings.  We even had a rare winter thunderstorm last night.  (That means much dog barking.)

I managed to worry myself sick.  Now he appears normal, again.  I was ready to take him to the vet...

Monday, January 15, 2018

Crisis in Our World

The other night, I came home and Thunder was acting odd.  Instead of our normal greeting routine, he was acting like something was bothering him--as if he just threw up a hairball.  He wanted me to console him.  It was a little dark in the dining room, so it took me a few minutes to figure out the problem.  I saw something on his chin.  I quickly turned on the light and saw a drop of blood!

Panic time!  I asked him if he could eat.  He immediately walked over to one of the Temptations I have "hidden" on an upturned coffee cup and ate it.  Then he went to the next one.  That was a good sign.  I couldn't get a real good look at it, though. 

I got him some canned food and gave it to him.  He tried to take a bite and pulled away a little--then took the bite.  He did that several times.  I then knew the blood had to have come from his mouth.  This went on, but since he ate a lot, I felt a little better.

After he ate, I put him in front of me and looked at his mouth.  He didn't like that and struggled a little.  I still saw enough to know that whatever it was, it wasn't something obvious.  I noticed a bunch of the cat obstacles I had set up for him were scattered.  Most particularly, the 2x4 jump was knocked down.  I then formed my suspicions--it was Maggie, aka Dumb Dog.

I think that she must have been on a barking rampage and scattered things. Thunder bolted, and hurt himself somehow when he did.  Often he runs up the circular metal stairs--and sometimes he will slip if he goes too fast.  I don't think Maggie did anything to him, but his panic did.

I hope that all he did was bite his lip or tongue.

I took him up to bed, and he immediately went to eat some of the dry food I have set up for him in my bedroom.  Then he drank.  He did both of these things tentatively.  When he was done, he came to visit me, and I could see that the water washed all the blood off his chin--proving to me the injury was in his mouth.

The next day, there was no more blood and he ate a lot--and with confidence.  Unfortunately, whenever Maggie barked, he would go in hiding and not come out for a long time.  And Maggie barked a lot.  She always does.  Every time she hears a noise outside or sees a deer in the yard. 

We didn't do any playing or cuddling.  I barely got to pet him all day.  When I left in the evening to see Kevin, I put Maggie in lockdown in her room.  She could bark all she liked from there, but maybe Thunder wouldn't be so scared when she did.

When I got home, he was much more confident, but he still didn't want to play.  We just went up to bed and cuddled and cuddled. 

Maggie might be going in lockdown for a while when I'm not home.  I hope they can work things out.  I think he needs to chase her around to reassert his dominance,  She just makes us crazy...

Monday, January 8, 2018

Thunder and Static Electricity


Poor Thunder is really suffering from static electricity.  We have always had this problem in the winter, but the latest cold spell has made it worse than ever.  When I pet him, his fur just crackles.  He looks a mess.  I won't embarrass him and show any pictures of him with a static attack.  Poor guy.

The worst part is when he touches me with his nose, or I kiss him on his head and touch his ear by accident.  We get shocked and both jump back.  Most cats don't seem to care if they get shocks, but Thunder does.  He is very sensitive.

Short of getting a humidifier, I do whatever I can to keep moisture in the air.  My plants are watered so much, I can't believe I haven't killed them.  (That wouldn't be such a bad thing.  After 30-40 years of looking at the same plants, I wouldn't miss them.)  I was dishes (by hand) nearly every day, and I let my showers really steam up the place.  It will get better.  In the meantime, I have to kiss Thunder with care.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Thunder’s Schedule



Thunder’s Schedule

When I retired, I was looking forward to spending all my time at home with Thunder.  I learned that I can, as long as I follow his schedule.

In the morning, he likes his breakfast--which I have to give him numerous times.  After breakfast, he will let me spend some time with him.  Sometimes he wants to play a game, but often, he just sits on his pedestal and wants me to pet him and adore him.

About a half hour after I wake up, he has a big drink and then is ready for his morning nap.  I think he got accustomed to this routine because I would go to work or the barn and leave him alone.  During his morning nap, I can get chores done (no vacuuming,) pay bills and any other quiet things.  When the weather's nice, it is a perfect time to work in the yard.

He starts to wake up around 11:00 AM.  That is usually when I want to take a break, but he won’t let me.  He will continually call me to him.  He wants to play, eat lunch and generally socialize with me.  I must pet and adore him--a lot.  I get hungry and want to eat lunch, myself, but he will interrupt me many times.  When he meows, I just can’t resist him.  He has the prettiest voice.

After I finish my lunch, Maggie and I like to go for our walk.  We can’t go until he settles down for his early afternoon nap.  Whenever I try to tell him we are leaving, he starts to do something adorable, and I can’t break away from him.  Maggie gets more and more impatient, but Thunder rules our house.

Then, very suddenly, he will curl up and take a nap.  We head out on our walk.  Sometimes, when we get back, he is still napping and I busy myself with other things.   Mid afternoon, he decides it is playtime.  Thunder prefers interactive play, the best.  He adds in a lot of running and goofing around in the way cats do.  Sometimes he likes to explore, and sometimes he just wants me to follow him around and pet him.  

At this time, I might try to watch a DVD, and we play during the show.  After about 45 minutes, he either takes a nap with me or leaves.  It will be time for his mid afternoon nap.

He usually has another very brisk play time around 4:00 or 5:00, too.  If I spent the evening with him, he will play more around 9:00 and then at any time, he will be happy to go to bed.  If I go out in the evening, he will save his playtime for when I come; home.  Typically, I am sleepy and want to go to bed, but that won’t happen until he has had enough time to run around and eat his late night snack.  He has another big drink, and then I know he is ready for cuddle time.

He sleeps with me until the wee hours of the morning--then he leaves, and I don’t know what he does--but he is always waiting for his breakfast.  Then the whole routine starts, again.