Two on Tuesday

Me and my shadow!

Smokey was able to go out, strictly supervised of course, for a few minutes last weekend.  The weather was beautiful, and I wanted to use the light to get some photos of him.  He was more interested in eating the grass, but that's ok too.  I know he had a great time!

Mancats are Clean Cats

Captured this video the other morning...Tanner was washing Devon's head...such sweet boys.  When I watched later, I realized that I also caught Smokey in the chair washing.  Mancats are certainly clean!

Tanner Update

Many of you already know that Tanner has a heart condition called HCM.  When he was at the vet school last June, it was determined that he is at an increased risk for blood clots.  Therefore we decided to try him on an aspirin therapy, for prevention.  We tried taking 1/4 of an 81 mg pill every three days...Tanner could not tolerate this medication.  Severe vomiting occured each time we tried to start.  We tried about three times, in case there was something else going on with his stomach at the time.  Each trial produced the same results. 

 After speaking with his cardiologists and his regular vet, we have decided to try him on Plavix.  This drug is relatively expensive, but I hope he can tolerate it.  He will take 1/4 of a pill each day.  I have a months worth at the house, and we will be starting tonight. 

I would like to ask for some purrs that he can tolerate this drug, as there aren't any other options for prevention for him.

On another note, he has lost almost a pound of weight!  We are very excited about this, and continue to work on his diet for more loss.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

 Window views with Smokey, Devon, Tanner, Cousin Pirate and Cousin Sophie!

These photos were all from a few years ago...just felt like remembering my boy Mojo today.  He loved to go outside, but could go very little due to his allergies issues.  During his last couple of weeks of life, we were having some really good days, health wise for him and weather, so we let him enjoy the fresh air and the outdoors.  (Supervised of course)  This is the look of pure bliss on his face!

Trio on Tuesday

Devon, along with Cousins Pirate and Sophie, enjoy some window whiffies!  It's turning a bit cooler now, but we like to sit in the windows on the weekends...

Dona Nobis Pacem

Peace in our household looks like this...

• Mom watching 'fun' tv with us because there is nothing else on to take her attention.
• No squealing or staring contest
• Everyone getting all the canned food they want because we are all sharing nicely
• Wishing all the creatures of the world had things as good as we did, warm house, full bellies, soft bed, and most of all love

Here's to peace throughout the world...

~Four Crazy Cats

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from the Four Crazy Cats!

 Devon has dressed up like a bat...

 Tanner is a frog...

Smokey is going as a black cat this year!

Are you dressing up?  Do you get many trick or treaters at your house?  We hate the ringy bell, so mom keeps the light off and doesn't hand out candy.

Happy Gotcha Day Devon

Devon, it was 10 years ago today that you came to live with us.  It was an exciting time, having a new kitten in the house.  We all loved your crazy antics and playful attitude toward life, all, except Smokey that is.  He was not too thrilled with a new little brother.  It was hard for me in that first week to know what to do.  I wanted to snuggle you to pieces, but didn't want to upset Smokey.  I actually debated about whether to keep you...

 I am so glad that I made the choice to stick it out and make it work.  You still love Smokey, and he is better about hanging with you.  We have figured out how to share lap time and the bed and all is still right in the world. 

10 things I love about you on your 10th Gotcha Day

10) You are still as crazy as ever
9) You love to push the envelope on rule breaking
8)  Watching tv with you at night, with you on a pillow touching me with your paws
7) Your loud purr when you are excited about something
6) The crazy way you try to jump, but don't actually get your legs off the ground
5) The friendship between you and Tanner
4) The crazy poses you get into when sleeping
3) The 'dead kitten' pose and whimper if no one notices, or comments
2) Your predictable routines throughout the day

 and the number one reason is...

1) you are mine!!

Happy Gotcha Day to my crazy middle boy!!

Terror on Tuesday

Mom and Auntie and their dad visited Salem, Massachusetts while on vacation.  The flats were excited and made an appearance...

This village is very popular during Halloween time and it was crazy busy.  Mom loved all the decorations and came away with a few new black cat displays for her collection.

 The flats thought they were dress as witches to see what would happen...luckily no one was burned at the stake this day!  (Historical note: no one was burned in Salem, they were all hanged or pressed to death.  The burnings took place in Europe)

 Auntie, Flat Cousin Pirate, Aunties Dad and a real Pirate pose for pictures...Cousin Pirate loved that this Pirate had a peg leg too!

 This house was all decked out for the holiday...biggify to see better details.

Are your homes and towns getting ready for Halloween?

Tock Tober

 Devon shows off his dancing tocks!

 Tanner is not going to be out done, also gives us dancing tocks!

Does this window make my tocks look big?

Wordless Wednesday

Mancat Monday

Mancats enjoyed window whiffies this weekend!  The weather has cooled off and the humidity is very low, so we took advantage of nice weather.  Not to worry, Smokey took a couple of antihistamines and did just fine.  His allergens are very low this time of year. 

We hope you all were able to get some fresh air this weekend too!

Noteworthy Archive Award

We were given the Noteworthy Archive Blog award by Chancy the Gardener.  Thank you!!

This is a wonderful reminder that many blogs have jewels of information tucked away in their archive vault.  I know I have enjoyed reading the archives of several bloggers...it's great to learn more about them and see what kind of adventures they have been on.  So, next time you visit a new or favorite blog, check out their archives...you never know what you may find.

Wordless Wednesday

Two Helpers Tuesday

We decorated for Halloween the other week, and many noticed the Halloween tree in an earlier post.  More pictures of it to come.  The boys were big helpers as always and we couldn't have done it without them!

 Smokey letting us know that there are things in this box that need to come out still...Thanks Smokey!

Devon is sorting the tissue paper, making sure nothing was left unwrapped...Thanks Devon!!

How have you helped your beans lately?

Visitor in the Garden

We interupt our regularly scheduled gardening blog to ask you all to send purrs to our friend Derry at Fuzzy Tails.  He is spending the day at the vet and would appreciate calming and healing purrs sent his way.

Now back to the regular program...

::meowwww::

Today we bring you a visitor in the garden.

This little fella has been visiting our yard all summer.  He loves the sunflower seeds we have out for the birds, and can just about clean out the feeders each night.  Auntie is calling him a pig, but we believe he is a raccoon!

Have you had any special visitors to your garden this year?

For more fabulous gardens check out the Society of Feline Gardeners at Master Jonesie's place.

Wordless Wednesday

Mancat Monday

Tanner demonstrates how sturdy the Chalet is...he loves to lay on top of it...great view from up here.  This is perfect for snoopervising and bopping brothers when they walk by.

Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet

 Petfinder.com has designated the week of September 17-25 as “Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week,”  a week to spotlight those pets that’re most often overlooked in shelters. When we fostered we were given many black kittens, and typically they took longer to adopt out that other colors did.  This is an unfortunate delima for these sweet babies, as anyone who has adopted a black cat will attest that they are the best!

To be quite honest, I'm not sure who these kittens are anymore...but look at those sweet faces!

This is Cole and Caleb...brothers.  They were adopted separately and into loving homes.  They were super sweet bottle raised kittens that we had.  One thing I remember about these boys, is that they liked their bottles really warm...if it was the least bit chilled, or room temperature even, they would not drink it!

This is Velcro...he is another bottle raised boy we had...and just as sweet as he could be.  He had an identical brother named, Xavier, and they were well bonded, and needed to be adopted together.  This created more problems because now we needed someone to take TWO black cats!  It took these boys almost a year to find their forever home...they were lucky to be a group where time wasn't a factor.  Not all black cats have this luxury.

Here's another shot of Velcro...he would nurse on your fingers! 

I have found a group in Boston Massachusets that understands the plight of the black cat, and have founded Black Cat Rescue.  It is important to get the word out about these remarkable animals, so consider going black the next time you adopt.  Here are some more reasons why...

10.You'll save $$ on their Halloween costumes.
9. You can always find them in the snow.
8. Holding a black cat is very slimming.
7. Black cats will match any decor.
6. A lint brush isn't required for a black-tie affair.
5. When you love a black cat, luck is on your side.
4. Black cats are like onyx, a beautiful gem.
3. Hey, they don't care what color you are!
2. Love knows no color.

And the number one reason to adopt a black cat...

1. They are the least likely to be adopted.