Two on Tuesday

Last Saturday we woke to this....SNOW!!  We live in the South and don't get snow too often.  The day before it had been in the 60's...so nothing was going to stick.

 It snowed all day but did not amount to anything on the ground...but it was pretty to watch!

 Smokey and Tanner sat in the breakfast nook and watched the snow some...they also showed each other some brotherly love...

Tanner tried to wash Smokey's head, but Smokey wasn't too sure about that.  Smokey has always been more on the 'giving' end of the head wash than the 'receiving' end.

Do you like to wash another cat in your household or do you prefer to be washed?

Mancats are Bossy

 Now, I'll admit this photo doesn't look like Smokey is being bossy, but trust me...he is! 

Smokey gets some special treatment because 1) he is getting old, and 2) he needs to gain weight.  We have special food for him in his cage upstairs all the time, so he always has food available.  He hangs out downstairs a lot and doesn't always want to walk upstairs to eat.  I can't say that I blame him there!  So this has led us to keeping a bowl of his special food in the den.  It is typically on the bookshelves so the cats can't get to it.  Sitting on this table will cause the bowl to appear in front of you.  So this is Smokey bossing us to put the bowl down!  He will sit and stare at you until you do it too...he is very persistant!  He also wants to make sure his cup of water is full, free of 'noodles' and fresh.  He is spoiled rotten, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

 

 

Health Update: We did a recheck on our blood work the other week, and his kidney values have crept up slightly again.  His BUN is at 38 and his Creatinine is 2.1.

Wordy Wednesday

You may need to biggify to see more clearly...

This is Devon's urn.  I found the pieces on Etsy and they are simply perfect for my boy.  Devon loved butter, so a butter dish as a final resting place is just too much...he would have loved this.  The dish is hand-painted and unique.  It is blue, which is his color, and has peacock feathers painted on it, which was one of his favorite toys.  The tag hanging from the top has a crown on it, with his name.  On the back is his birth date and death date.  I found this tag by simply searching for 'Crown' and 'pet'...it came up with his name on it (spelled correctly too), so I had to get it because it was perfect. 

Here are a few pictures of sweet Devon enjoying his favorite things...

Butter, of course!

 A toy that I brought from Japan...he would talk to it when it flew by...

 Catnip!

 A good roll on the patio...

Boxes!

Toysday Tuesday

Today, Tanner will show off his favorite toy...

 Sitting politely by my favorite stick, asking nicely to play...

 The toy has long been ripped off this string, but I like the string the best without the dangling toy attached...

Here I demonstrate the complicated move called 'pulling the snake's head off'! 

Thanks for the great play time...what are your favorite toys?

Mancats Share

Smokey and Tanner enjoyed a plate of tuna and juice this weekend...they did a good job sharing on the small plate!

Almost Wordless

Can you guess who's stocking is who's?

 Number 1

 Number 2

Number 3

Two on Tuesday

Today for Two on Tuesday we have two photos each of two cats and two topics to cover :)

 Cousin Sophie and Tanner laying in Aunties bed...we have seen a shift in which cats are hanging out together since Devon's passing.  Cousin Sophie took things the hardest, as Devon was her best friend.  She has finally gotten back into running around the house like a mad woman!  I'm glad to see Tanner trying to fill the hole that Devon left for Sophie.

Smokey and Cousin Pirate in my bed...yes, that is where Smokey sleeps at night, and I have but the tiniest bit of pillow for myself :)  Pirate is a bit crazy...he acts like he is afraid of me, and will run when I walk near him...but I find him in my room a lot during the day.  So strange. 

Smokey update:  Yesterday's visit went very well.  The vet was pleased with how he looked.  We have our game plan for the year and we are to return in one year. 

Mancat Monday

Smokey doesn't know it yet, but he'll be a victim of the snag and stuff later this afternoon!  He has his annual visit to the vet school dermatology department today at 2pm.  He is looking very nice and his allergens seems to be pretty well under control these days.  This appointment helps us make a game plan for dealing with his allergies for the rest of the year...such things like when should we move to every 10 days on the shots, instead of every 2 weeks? 

I have my notes and paperwork ready to discuss his history with the new vet student and our favorite Dr Murphy!  She is the best dermatology vet we know and did miracles with Mojo when he was seeing her.  We are so thankful to have met her!

Mancat Monday

The mancats enjoyed some time outside last weekend...the weather was in the low 70's and wonderful!

 Smokey is wondering why Auntie is dressing like him these days...

Inspecting her work...did she get all the weeds?  Now is a good time to pull them because they are the only green things in the yard!  A mancats work is never done!

Mancat Monday

Smokey has taken over this nest on the couch...it's a super soft down throw and he loves it!

 Most of the time he just sleeps in it, but it is a good spot for washing too...

 A mancat must keep certain areas clean if they want to impress the ladies...careful not to wash those legs too much, or your wash the hair right off...Smokey has regrown all of his leg hair, and most of his belly hair!

 Realizes he was being watched!  Mancats do not get a lot of privacy at our house...

Another nap is in order now...what a wonderful nest!

Wordless Wednesday

Mancat Monday

The mancats are probably glad that I am back at work today...their sleep and routines were interrupted for two weeks!  By the end of last week, I was getting some dirty looks from the boys :)

 Tanner enjoyed extra time looking at the windows at all the birds that were flying around...I laughed when I saw the way he was sitting in the chair!  Silly boy...

This is one of the birds that visited the house...he's a hawk.  He did not get lunch that day from the feeders, but he scared everyone away for a while...

The mancats were glad to be inside when he was around...he might would carry someone off!  Mancats like birds but not vicious ones!

More Christmas

It's been two weeks since Devon left us, and we are creating a new normal at home.  Tanner and Smokey have been super snuggly lately and seem to follow me around more than normal.  It is nice to have them around.  Christmas was a nice break, as Auntie and I went to our parents for a couple of days, and then they came to our house for a couple of days.  We enjoyed our time together...The boys have had some special treats as well...let's take a look...

Tanner enjoyed a plate of Christmas sardines...Smokey came over later and had some too, but he seems to be more of a tuna fan...I'll try to keep that in mind for next year :)

Smokey has loved the down throws on the couch...he has a nice warm nest and spends his day snuggled down in it...

Here is the tree in the living room...and yes, I should have taken the clothes racks down first!  Smokey is laying on the back of the chair...do you see him?

This is the tree in the study, which is at the front of the house...

The black tree is in the dining room, and here you can see it and the tree in the living room...

This is Devon's new ornament this year.  We picked it up at the beach this year.  It was chosen because first of all it was blue, which is Devon's color, and secondly because Devon loves fish :)

This one is a bit harder to see, but it is our family ornament this year...it is a snowwoman, holding three snow babies (they are in the colors of my boys) and then dangling from it are rings in colors of all 4 of my boys.

This is Tanner's new ornament because he still has a major sweet tooth and it was green!

Smokey got a new goose ornament...would have been more perfect if it had been purple...

I got several of these festive ornaments because they are easy to just poke into the tree, and also because they are in the colors of my boys...red, purple, green, and blue.

 

Well, there you have it...life is continuing and we are moving along with it.  Very thankful for pictures and that I have another week off work next week to spend with my boys.  I'm sure they will be ready for me to go back to work on the 7th! 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone this year.  Hold tight to those you love and cherish every moment!  We look forward to making more memories in the New Year.

Devon - Results

Well, it has been almost a week since Devon's sudden passing and we are getting some answers.  The preliminary results of his necropsy have come back and he had a very rare (in cats) cancer called hemangiosarcoma.  He had tumors on his liver and spleen and they are what ruptured and caused the acute bleeding.  Devon never thought he was a cat, so this is probably a fitting disease for him, since it is so uncommon in cats!

Things I am thankful for with his sudden passing:

1) That I was home when the cries came from him
2) That he didn't suffer for long
3) That I have this blog, and have therefore taken more pictures than I normally would have of all my boys
4) For the support that I have received from friends around the world
5) That I learned when brother Mojo was diagnosed, to cherish every moment because one day you'll miss it

Devon was a special and unique boy.  He didn't believe he was a cat.  He loved to help in the kitchen and lick the butter.  We have not had a proper piece of toast all week!  He wasn't a snuggler, but he was always close by on the couch, or in whatever room you were hanging out in.  He loved to watch tv and seemed to enjoy the time together...he would purr and touch you with a paw.  He had a wild streak about him and a zest for life.  He had the most expressive face.  He would puff his tail out for no real reason and just walk around like that...I think he liked to 'spook' himself!  He would lay in the floor and whimper if you didn't speak to him.  He loved the be told he was beautiful and petite...you could just see his face beaming with pride :)  He was the craziest of all my boys, and I will miss his antics...he kept me on my toes, always wondering what he would do next.  There was never a dull moment with Devon. 

Thanks for the lovely graphic...not sure who made it...

Secret Santa Paws

Our Secret Santa package arrived last Wednesday, and we opened it right away!  We were excited to find out that it came from the Random Felines!

Devon and Sophie checking out the box to make sure all the gifts had been taken out...we don't want to miss one!

Sophie gets in the box for a closer look...

Tanner reads the card to everyone...

The boys ended up with lots of wonderful gifts...a Kong kickeroo, some mice, a compressed catnip ball, TWO new cubes, some truffles for mom, and the best of all was the catnip bubbles!

We have never seen bubbles and were all fascinated by them...Smokey, Tanner and Devon all watching the bubbles...

Tanner coming up for a closer inspection.  We have played with the bubbles every day since we got them...

Thank you to the Random Felines for the lovely package...we are thankful we chose to open the package right away and not wait like we normally do. 

We also want to thank everyone who came by to leave a kind word about Devon...we are still in shock, and waiting for the report to maybe know what happened.

RIP Sweet Devon

Still trying to understand what has happened to Devon, but my sweet boy passed over the Rainbow Bridge this morning around 7:30.  We had gone to the vet school emergency at 6am, and they worked on him, but could not figure out what was wrong...he is getting a necropsy, that will maybe shed some light on what happened.  He is at the bridge with brother Mojo and many other wonderful kitties and woofies.  RIP Devon...you can dance all you want now!

Two on Tuesday

Spending time outside in December is a nice treat...no allergens for Smokey to worry about!  Devon (left) and Smokey discuss the plan for the outing.

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