Too Much, Too Soon

Once again I find myself making excuses for not posting anything new to this blog for awhile, but as you read this you will understand why.  Losing our dear BooBoo was devastating, but somewhat expected since she was a twenty year old cat.  Saturday, less than two months after losing BooBoo, we lost our dear Zeus who was only thirteen.

As is my tradition, I want to focus on and remember Zeus for all the joy he brought into our lives before I talk about how we came to lose him.  He came into our lives unexpectedly as is often the case with Crazy Cat People.  We had lost our dear Snuggles on Memorial Day in 2001 and I was under strict orders (snort) that we would not be getting another cat for awhile. 

 Well, Michael was out of town and my daughter Hayley and I were having a Saturday outing in honor of her 15^th birthday.  Our first stop was Petsmart to buy cat food and of course it was kitten adoption day.  Hayley, who was allergic to cats and lived with her Dad, fell in love with a small white and orange kitten.  She immediately set in begging for me to adopt it and for a while, at least while we had lunch at the local Macaroni Grill, I resisted her pleas.  Finally, I agreed that we would return to adopt the kitten with two conditions: one, that it was still there, and two, if her Dad would agree to have the kitten stay with them while Michael and I were out of town. So, we went back to Petsmart and……the kitten had been adopted. So, I should have been off the hook but Hayley came upon another orange kitten that needed a home.  He was a bit older than the other tiny ball of fur, but was engaging and affectionate so he became our cat.

Zeus was always a sweet cat, but more than that, he was like a reincarnation of our Snuggles and our love for him was immediate and complete.  He was always a bit on the bazaar side, racking up any number of nick names as the years went by. 

His first was Bump nose.  Evidently he, the most uncoordinated cat we had ever seen, had run smack into the wall had a huge bump on his nose.  Shortly after that he developed a fungal infection between his toes earning him the name Grizzle foot. As the years went by, our bond with him became very strong, especially mine for he loved his Mom in a special way. Most of our cats tend to be more drawn to Michael because he has a far calmer demeanor, but Zeus, was always a Mama’s Boy.

Zeus was unfortunately was never a particularly healthy cat. Beyond being accident prone, he developed severe allergies at a young age and had terrible problems with his teeth and gums. For years, we managed his health problems one way or the other, loving him all the more.

Our move to Texas in 2009 proved to be less than optimal for Zeus. The allergies which had plagued him so in Virginia were much, much worse in Texas.  That alone would have been bad enough for the little guy, but he was also experiencing severe discomfort from his bad teeth and gums.  After numerous treatment attempts to make him more comfortable including monthly antibiotic and steroid shots, he developed tumors at the injection site and we had to have them removed.  At that point one of our vets suggested we simply remove his teeth, so that’s exactly what we did in February 2013.  I know that seems a bit extreme, but after that surgery he gained weight and was not in pain.

Zeus had more than his share of issues, but he was happiest when he was cuddling up to me which was any time I was sitting or reclining anywhere.  The fact that he always had a runny nose and sometimes stepped in poo in the liter box earned him the nick names Mr. Boogies and Poopie Toes.  But I loved him so I didn’t mind constantly wiping his little pink nose or sticking him in the bathroom sink to wash his paws.

I think that the number of compromising conditions finally got the best of my little man and his decline was far too fast and death came far too soon. I knew he was dying, but I still wanted to believe we could perhaps have a little miracle so I could cherish him just a bit longer.  That was not to be and when I kissed his sweet head and put him in his bed Saturday night; I somehow knew that he would be gone by morning.  I awoke during the night feeling quite ill and decided that I would not go check on him and when morning came, I was hesitant to leave the bedroom because I knew in my heart what I would find.

He was still in his bed and he was gone from us.  Today, I felt his absence profoundly.  There was no cat trying to sit in my lap while I read the paper; no nose to wipe, just a silent emptiness in the room which leaves me feeling incomplete.  Zeus was my little guy and I will mourn him deeply until I too take my last breath.

You Might Be a Crazy Cat Person If

Michael and I never considered ourselves Crazy Cat People until the number of cats in our family exceeded six.  I no longer believe the number of cats you share your home with is the only factor to be considered.  Certainly, folks who have as many or more than we do probably qualify, but we think that some of the following things and certainly a combination of them earns you a place in the Crazy Cat Person Hall of Fame.

Your cats have middle names.

Your cats have their own sound tracks.

When you do the math you realize that you could send a child or two to college on what you spend on your cats.

Your Vet’s number is on speed dial.

There is no limit to the number of cans of cat food you will open to find something to suit them all.

All of your plans including vacations and dinner out are impacted by the needs of your cats.

You have a sacred grove dedicated to them on your property.

Your cats have their own Facebook page or website.

You share food with them, off the same utensils.

You deliberate longer over naming new cats than some people do over naming their children.

They have more toys than the average first Grandchild.

You have set up a memorial area for those that have passed away.

You have more litter pans in the house than you have toilets.

You spend enough on air fresheners that you should own stock in Glade and Airwick.

You pause your favorite TV shows to watch whatever ridiculous activity they are involved in.

You feel guilty if you eat dinner before they do and still share yours with them even when you don’t.

You find yourself looking for somewhere else to sit when a cat is in your favorite chair.

You happily spend a couple of hours every day cleaning up after them.

You have cat hair tumbleweeds rolling around your house during warm weather, even though you vacuum every day.

People stare when you wear dark clothing, lint rollers can only help so much.

You own several silly t-shirts and a nightshirt or two featuring cats wearing ridiculous outfits.

No matter what you are doing, you get up every five minutes to let a cat in or out.

You suffer from leg cramps because there are so many cats in your bed that you can’t straighten your legs.

You spend too much time accounting for them all each night before you retire and search frantically for any unaccounted for.

You step in cat yak with your bare feet at least twice a week.

You have turned on the shower just so a cat could play in the water, and then dried them off afterward.

You added a special cabinet just to store cat food and have a junk drawer devoted to combs, brushes, nail clippers, meds, Petromalt……

There is not a single place in your house that is off limits, including the dining room table.

You feed some of your cats on the kitchen counter.

Your cats have holiday collars, you have the pictures to prove it!

You own a Crazy Cat Lady coffee mug and are proud of it.

Everytime a stray cat turns up in your neighborhood someone brings it to you to see if it is “one of yours” and if it isn’t it usually will be.

You carry cat treats with you “just in case.”

You find yourself singing silly made up songs to your cats.

You have a grown child who is horribly allergic to cats and you tell them to load up on drugs before they visit.

You have a pet cemetery in your back yard, with monuments.

You start a blog proudly proclaiming yourself a Crazy Cat Person.

 

 

A Time for Everything

BooBoo was not supposed to be our cat.  She came to visit one day in July 1994 because Michael’s parents were in the midst of unpacking from an international move and they were afraid she would get lost in the packing materials.  Michael’s brother Christopher had found her when he was out walking his dog in the woods near Fort Bragg, NC and simply could not find it in his heart to just leave the poor, starving, flea infested kitten to die.

God bless her, she was not a particularly cute kitten but had loads of energy and she soon took her place in Michael’s heart and became a play mate to our one year old Sprout, thus giving him someone to roughhouse with and giving the older cats Skates and Snuggles a break. BooBoo was a Tortoiseshell, but we simply called her our Mildew cat, describing her as the color one would get if they put a whole bunch of different colored cats in a bag and shook it up then BooBoo was what you would end up with. 

Early on during her “visit” I witnessed Michael interacting with her and realized that she was no longer a visitor so I too gave in and allowed myself to also fall under her spell.  As she grew we realized that she was going to be a long hair cat and soon became the beautiful creature with the human-like face that always caught the eye of anyone lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her. 

BooBoo was a feral cat, the first of many that we have shared our home with, and for the first several years she was rarely seen by any adult who did not live in our house.  BooBoo loved kids though and our daughters Lindsey and Hayley were nine and seven in the summer of 94 so she really became their cat. She loved nothing better than hanging out with them and their friends.

To say she was special somehow does not seem adequate; she was beyond special to us and to her feline brothers and sisters. Even though she was the youngest of three, in 2001 she assumed the position of Alpha Cat when our dear Snuggles passed away on Memorial Day.  She took her position very seriously and she ruled the house with an iron paw.

As the years passed, she became less and less fearful of people and would spend time with visitors, first family members and friends who visited often, and by the time we moved to Texas in 2005, she was openly engaging with anyone who entered our home.

I cannot begin to express how much joy she brought into our lives, how much laughter and how much amazement at how smart and intuitive she was.  She was a beauty in appearance and in spirit and her passing leaves a void that may always remain. We loved her and she us, not just a pet or even a family member, she was a part of us and her spirit will always be with us.

“As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

Saying Goodbye

Chances are if you are reading this blog that you are also a cat lover, and maybe even a closet crazy cat person as well.  Most if not all of us have experienced the decline and ultimate death of a much loved cat and even though we know when we open our homes and hearts to these wonderful creatures that they have a shorter life expectancy than we do, the reality of their deaths is hard to accept. Michael and I have watched our nearly 20 year old cat BooBoo rapidly decline the past several weeks. Last night I felt the need to have the dreaded and avoided conversation with Michael who when it comes to these sad times, doesn’t want to talk about it let alone actually do it.  Fortunately, our sweet old gal is a bit better today so despite the rock in the pit of my stomach, I accept that we probably have at least a few more days to cherish her physical presence in our home.  I say physical presence because she will, like her brothers Snuggles and Sprout, and sister Skates, always hold a place in our hearts and certainly be remembered for all of the joy she brought into our lives through good times and bad.

I have to confess that perhaps it would be easier if she would just slip away in her sleep saving us the heart breaking drive to our Vets office, but like Snuggles, I suspect she will hang on as long as she can because she knows just how hard it is going to be for us.  Yes, THEY KNOW! I once asked our Vet in Virginia how to tell if it was time to help them pass on to which he replied that we would in fact just know.  He was so right in that statement because in both cases, I could tell that they wanted the peace that death would provide and so we, as a last act of love and devotion, gave them that peace. Boo Boo’s current condition has brought back to me the heart breaking feeling of losing Sprout in 2005, Snuggles in 2001, and Skates in 1999.  But it has also brought back all the wonderful memories of how much we enjoyed their silly cat antics, how much we loved them, and how much they loved us in return. We can’t stop time, we can’t prevent their passing, but we can cherish them every day, and I think that is all they ever wanted.

 

 

It Clings like Saran Wrap

I have never understood it when people say that cats are aloof.  I guess maybe they have never actually owned a cat or only ever shared their home with a cat who was an independent spirit. Since we have quite a few cats, I can accurately state that no two of them actually have the same personality. Not all cats are lap cats, but those who are often sometimes become almost overwhelming. I say this as I am actually typing this with a cat (Zeus) laying half in my lap and half on the laptop.  I adore Zeus and by all accounts he feels the same way about me, but sometimes he actually becomes oppressive in his affection.  No matter what I am trying to do, if I am sitting or reclining Zeus is all over me, often doing the cat dance many refer to as making muffins. No matter how many times I detach him and put him on the floor he immediately reappears. 

As much as I am overwhelmed by Zeus, Michael “enjoys” the lion’s share of attention from the cats.  Ghost, Sunny, Aphrodite, Jack, Hades, and sometimes even Athena covet Michael’s lap. Lately our little black female feral Hades has been driving him crazy.  She has only recently become trusting enough to venture onto his lap and it is as if she is making up for lost time. She wants to be in his lap all the time and actually gets angry when she is not allowed.   Michael is a writer so he simply can’t work with her sitting on the keyboard of his laptop. She actually sits on the end table and slashes at his hand when he tries to use the mouse to show her displeasure at his lap being occupied by his laptop or, heaven forbid, one of the other cats. Once she is on his lap if he so much as moves a leg or scratches she gets off in a huff glaring at him and growling. My stance on this is that he has created a monster and that some boundary setting is in order. But then like I said before Zeus is in my lap right now. 

Food Fetishes

Anyone who has ever shared their home with a cat has experienced finicky-ness.  Cats just like humans have their favorite dishes and in our house that usually means something expensive that comes in a small can.  Keeping in mind that we are feeding ten cats, we try to not indulge this more than once a day.  Hermes prefers Fancy Feast dry food to any canned varieties, and all but a couple of our cats hate Nine Lives Super Supper which Michael refers to as consisting of “anuses and bone ash.” 

Boo Boo who at 19 ½ is alarmingly skinny, begs for food anytime she isn’t sleeping making us wonder where it all goes. The other food peculiarity is that none of our cats like any canned food that is shredded or has morsals.   They will only lick the gravy off and leave all of the solid pieces behind.  While I try to never buy any of these, my old tired eyes sometimes misread the label or we get them in a case that has other types of food as well.  One solution that often works is pureeing them in my bullet blender into a uniform cat soup.  Reading over this I once again see why I truly am a Crazy Cat Person.

Yesterday, we made our quarterly expedition to the Commissary (I am a retired Army Officer) and we were pleased to find Nine Lives Tuna on the shelf.  Those who have cats that ravenously devour this food know how hard it is to find.  I immediately and greedily added every can on the shelf into my cart!

I also, on a whim, picked up a container of fresh chicken livers and added it to the cart.  After returning home and putting away the perishables, I decided to cut some up for Boo Boo.  She immediately dove in, loudly smacking the whole time and ate every bit.  SCORE!  These disgusting things were only $1.49 a pint and she alone loves them. Hey, they are 100% natural and cheap, how can this be happening? 

Who Needs An Exterminator?

Texas is the land of many, many pests.  Since moving here in 2009, I have grown accustomed to seeing six and eight legged vermin in my house, especially during the warmer months which admittedly can be most of the year.  Fortunately, here in Texas Hill Country we do not get Cockroaches which I would never get used to.  Anyone who owns a cat knows how much fun they have on a good ole bug-hunt. What I never realized is how they also appear to feel responsible for protecting their human companions from the more dangerous intruders.

Back in 2009 while I was busy unpacking from a cross-country move, I noticed that Hermes had positioned himself in one of the guestrooms and refused to leave. Every time I went in to grab another box, he would be sitting there staring at the ceiling at what appeared to be absolutely nothing. After a couple of days of this I noticed movement in the ceiling air conditioning duct and sure enough a centipede was hanging out of the duct wiggling like crazy.  I was stunned at how big this sucker was (at least 8 inches long) and how hideous.  I managed to eventually saturate it with the only spray item available, which was salon quality hairspray, and it crawled off to never be seen again.  Hermes couldn’t get to it, but he certainly maintained a vigil to make sure that if it came down from the ceiling, it was his to battle. Even our elderly cat Boo Boo engaged in a fierce battle with a centipede last year.  Michael noticed her flying across the room beating something savagely and stepped in to finish the job with a fireplace poker lest she get stung.

Interestingly, our female cats appear to be far more aggressive hunters and we have often seen one of the males simply watch a scorpion meander by without even appearing interested. Scorpions are fairly fragile and while their sting is painful, they are easily killed by cats.  Yes, we have had a couple of cats who have been stung, before they realized what they were dealing with.  As predators, they respect their foes and learn quickly that one or two quick baps with a furry paw is all it takes to disable a scorpion.

We are fortunate that we seldom actually see live scorpions and usually find only dismembered remnants of the foul creatures.  We appreciate the efforts of our feline defenders and both praise and treats always follow in thanks for their contribution.