Harrison the Water Baby

Harrison is a wacky baby and LOVES the water.  We started him with the sink, and he would just let the water run over his back while he tried to figure out where it was going.  He didn't mind being wet in the least.  Next, I filled the sink and put some toys in it...he would fetch them out with his front feet.  Another time, he was in the sink with all four feet!  Auntie and I decided to take it to the next level...

The bathtub!  Auntie put a couple of inches of water in the tub and we put Harrison in there.  At first, he was a bit unsure but quickly warmed up to the idea... 

Oliver didn't know what to make of his baby in the water! 

Bringing out some toys helped him play...we need things that float, though! 

Having a good time in the tub...he stayed in there for 15-20 minutes until we got him out. 

Blogger doesn't want to add the videos to this page, so I will put links to the YouTube videos...Sorry about that!

 Harrison playing with toys

We had some Q-tips, bottle lids, a ping pong ball and some other balls with bells.  He liked the Q-tips the best.

Harrison getting back in the Tub

We wondered if he would get back in if we sat him on the edge, or if he would be done.  He slid back in and kept playing!

Harrison watching the water drain

We finally had to end the fun...where is the water going Harrison?

Next time, I think we will make the water a bit deeper and see if he will swim.  He is a funny boy!

Tanner Tuesday

Tanner reminded me that it has been too long since his last post, so here goes...

Tanner is doing great!  His weight has come back on since he started the thyroid pills.  He weighs 14lbs 8oz now.  This is a good size for him.

His fur has all grown back in from his treatments.

He went back in recently for bloodwork recheck and everything is stable.  His thyroid is back in the normal range, and his kidneys remained stable with the new meds.

Tanner still loves to play with a string in the evenings, although he and Oliver find it more difficult to play with the speedy kittens around.  

Life continues to be good for Tanner and we want to keep it that way for as long as possible!  Thanks to everyone for all your purrs and good thoughts for my Tanner Man.

Mancat Monday - Black Cat Rescue

The mancats have been in support of a rescue group called Black Cat Rescue for many years now.  We have them listed in our ResQ Walk App and closely follow their adoptions and fundraisers.  Not long ago, a post came through facebook showing an Etsy Shop that made bowties, and some of the products supported the BCR.  Of course, I went shopping!  The tie we chose came in last week, and the boys have tried to show their support by wearing it.  They were not thrilled!

Get ready for a chuckle as the boys model this new tie for you!

Flynn wasn't too upset, but was ready to take it off!

Harrison started out rather curious...

Then I jingled the keys to see if he would look at me!  Mistake!  Look at those eyes!

Harrison settling down a bit after the key fiasco!

Oliver was not happy at all about being caught and subjected to this strange torture device!

Note: Each boy wore the collar for less than a minute, so no long-term harm was done :)  I can see though that Oliver and Harrison are going to look very similar when they get to be the same size...I am in trouble!

Mancat Monday - Flynn

This week will feature Flynn.  He is such a sweet boy and tends to step aside when his more rambunctious brother Harrison wants something.  It is important to find ways to give him special time and attention.

Flynn is a big helper...here he is watching as I work on his scrapbook.  Make sure I choose only good photos! 

He enjoys time with Tanner.  Look how big he is getting!  He weighs 7 lbs 8 oz already, which is a good two pounds heavier than Harrison!

He loves to vacuum!  He will follow you around and get right in front of it...He doesn't even mind if the wand attachments "gets" his tail!

After working on his scrapbook, he crammed himself in this small box and took a nap!  It won't be much longer before he doesn't fit.

I finally moved him to a more comfortable spot where he could stretch out!  He worked hard this weekend and deserved his nap. That sun streak accentuates his length.

Well, that is sweet Flynn's weekend in a nutshell.  He is a quiet boy that just loves attention, but will not always seek it out.  He wants you to acknowledge him.  He reminds me of Smokey in a lot of ways.  He is my sensitive boy.

Black Cat Appreciation Day

I have always loved black cats, but it wasn't until I adopted my first one that I was totally smitten!  Smokey came to me after the kitten I had originally adopted died the day she came to my house.  She had a bad reaction to her vaccine...it was very tragic and sad.  I searched the newspaper for a kitten and ended up with Smokey.  This was the best thing that could have happened to me!

Smokey was such a silly boy and I loved snuggling with him.  He shared my pillow at night and was such a love bug.  He has been gone for almost two years and I still miss my gorgeous goose!

Smokey was 5 when Devon came along.  They tolerated each other, to say the least, as Devon was always trying to be just like his big brother!

Devon and Smokey just hanging out.  Devon died in 2012 at the age of 11.  He was a nut and always doing something crazy!

Devon sent Oliver to us in 2013 and once again Smokey had a pesky little brother.

Harrison and Flynn joined the family in June and they have been wonderful additions!  They fit right in with the household and are such sweet boys.

Oliver has decided they are not so bad and enjoys hanging out with his younger brothers.

I love all my black cats, past, present and future!  They deserve a loving home as much as any other cat, and should not be treated differently simply because they are black.  Here's to the fabulous house panthers in my life!

Mancat Monday

This week we will focus on the special bond between mancats.  Harrison started feeling puny on Wednesday of last week.  He would vomit after eating and just sat around not wanting to play.  We knew he didn't feel well if he wouldn't play!

Harrison tucked himself under this blanket on the couch and slept one evening.

Flynn didn't know what to make of his brother not playing.  You could tell he was lonely and worried.  He stuck close to brother when he could and offered support to him.

Harrison went to the vet on Friday and was given some fluids, an anti-nausea injection, and some anti-diarrhea medicine.  He definitely felt better by the time we got home!  He actually ate pretty well that night but still rested.  The next day, we had to start his medicine at home...he was not impressed!  He doesn't fight or anything, but the liquid is quite bitter tasting to him.  He gets his medicine twice a day until Friday morning!

Thankfully, on Saturday morning, he was feeling much better and asking for more and more food.  Here he is chowing down on a plate of Trout and Pasta.

YouTube link here

Oliver was so happy that he was feeling better.  He gave him a nice long bath while he slept!

Flynn came over and snuggled with him some more too.  They are all good friends and it was touching to see how they cared for Harrison when he was sick.

Wacky Wednesday

Today's Wacky post will once again feature Harrison.  He is a goof ball and full of energy!  On this particular evening, Auntie brought a cat scratcher out of her closet for the boys to play with.  It normally stays put up because Tanner likes to eat the carpet at night!  Well, there is a metal chain hanging from the loop that drove Harrison crazy.  There used to be a toy attached to the chain, but it is long gone!

Here it is on YouTube.

Mancat Monday

Thanks to everyone for purring for the mancats-in-training.  They went last Thursday for their big day!  Warning: Girl cats should not scroll all the way to the bottom :)

These boys are so great...I opened the carrier at the house and they both jumped right in!  They traveled every day with their foster mom to and from work, so they don't mind getting in the carrier.  I used the larger carrier so they would have more room.  I also packed a second one in the car, in case they didn't want to ride home together after their procedure.  Sometimes sedation makes you a bit angry :)  These boys were great though and rode home together without problems! 

The vet had collars with their names on them so they could tell them apart.  These collars were made of paper and were huge!  The technician was going to cut off the excess in the back.  She said some dogs require two of these collars!  I can't imagine something that large.

Harrison just hanging out.  The boys were scheduled to get their neuters and their microchips.

When they got home we realized they had gone a bit wild with the shaving!  This is poor Harrison :)

Flynn's was worse though!  He walks around with his tail in the air too, so it looks like he has a monkey butt!  We are hoping this grows in quickly!

They did great though and slept hard that evening and night.  By the next day they were playing like normal again.  They were given 5 days of pain meds, but of course did not need that much.  I gave them two doses each and called it good.  

These boys are now finished with their routine vet care until next July!

Wacky Wednesday

Today's wacky post will feature Oliver and his mini-me Harrison.  Don't worry, you will still be able to see Flynn as well, but he is looking at the others thinking, Why are you doing that?

Oliver and Harrison LOVE the water.  They don't mind being wet, and enjoy drinking from and playing with the sink faucet.  They will both get in the shower at times too.

This is Harrison in the sink.  He cannot figure out where the water goes!  I can't figure out how my sink is constantly marked with water drops!  

YouTube link

Oliver has always had a drinking problem :)  Here is a cute sneeze after snorting some up his nose.

YouTube Link

Here is another one of Oliver drinking.  Harrison is trying to figure out what he is doing.  Flynn makes an appearance in this one near the end.

YouTube link

Another video of Harrison playing in the sink...this is a several times a day event!

YouTube link

Mancat Monday

The mancats-in-training will be going this week to take another important step in growing up...they will be neutered on Thursday!

They are not worried in the least and are just enjoying their carefree days! 

Harrison and Flynn enjoy hanging out with Tanner.  They are getting so big!  They were at the vet last week for their final shots and the vet thinks they are closer to 18 weeks for Flynn and 16 weeks for Harrison. 

Flynn is a big boy and weighs almost 7 pounds!  Harrison is a wee thing and is still in the 4-pound range, but close to 5.

Here is a shot of all 7!  Catnip brings the family together.

Flynn and Tanner...they both love their catnip treats.  Harrison still isn't sure what to do with it.

Here is a quick video showing the after effects of the catnip.  Flynn is high as a kite and Harrison still has his piece :)

Here is the YouTube link.