Tag, I'm it

Hello, everyone. My good friend, Sir Ed the Rotund tagged me for a meme so I thought I would check in to the blogosphere.

1. Where were you 10 years ago?
I was a young 3 year old kitty. I lived with Mum and Dad and my brother Jiggsy Doodle and Tilly in a different apartment. We would watch the birdies and squirrels from the deck and race down the hallway all night.

2. Where were you 1 year ago?
We were still mourning the sudden death of my brother. I was getting used to living with just Tilly (the Orange One).

3. 5 Snacks you enjoy?
I like ham, Temptations, tomato sauce, milk/ice cream lappies and NIP!

4. 5 Songs I know all the words to?
Hmmmn, tough one. Mum and Dad often sing songs to me. They usually make them up as they go along, so the words change. I like " I am the model of a very large tigger cat" and " Tigg of the day, where will it nap?" You get the idea...

5. 5 Thing if I were a millionaire?
Lots to charity-probably Best Friends or other no-kill shelters and for bean charities like the Salvation Army.
Pay off Mum's medical bills!
Buy Dad the kicka** Altima coupe of his dreams!
Take Grandma on a trip.
Help Dad's Mum and Dad with their bills and stuff.

6. 5 Bad Habits?
I shed LOTS! I tend to flop over from ennui and hunger in the most inconvenient spots.

7. 5 Thing I like doing
Eat. Sleep. Root around in the cabinets. Sit on Mum's implanted defibrillator and play the piano. Sit on Dad's back when he's sleeping and play the cello.

8. 5 Things I would never wear again.
I don't wear clothes. I'm a nudist. However I admire the fashion sense of my feline friends.

9. 5 Favorite toys?
Feather toy, nip in various forms, the cord to the blinds in the bedroom. I don't understand catnip bubbles or the Red Dot. I am old and a bit dim.

I enjoyed doing this meme and hope everyone is well. I tag any kitty who hasn't played yet.

Love to all,

Toby

Toes Tuesday Lots of my kitty and bean friends have been asking about me. As you can see, I'm doing well!

Auld Lang Syne

Hello, everyone!
The Mum here. Over the past several months, I have been overwhelmed by the the kitties and beans who blog. I could spend hours each day(and sometimes have!) reading about the adventures of my contacts. I have made many friends and have become deeply concerned about the welfare of folks I may never meet outside the Web.

For us, it has been a bit of a difficult year - my continuing health issues and the loss of two beloved kitties, Tilly and Jiggsy. I started blogging because I thought it would be fun - it is! but along with that, is the dawning realization that I don't have the talent for it. I am continuely impressed by the blog content out there - The Calico Girls and their exquisite website, The Meezers and weekly reports, the catcams at IFOC and so many more.

I have decided to stop blogging. I love the cat blogosphere and will pop in to visit frequently, but Toby and I are old and dull. We're at the point where we'd rather sit in a quiet corner with a drink than burn up the dance floor.

We cherish you all and wish everyone a healthy, prosperous new year filled with cuddles and skritches.

Love to all from the Mom, Dad and Toby, too.

Just out of curiousity- how many beans have changed or amended holiday decorations based upon their cat's (pets') activities? Please let us know. My beans seem to think they are the only ones.
Thanks,
Toby

Sleepy-time kitty

Toby here. I was very tired Saturday and taking a nap when Mum and Dad covered me up to make certain I was snuggy. I didn't seem to mind a bit.

Then Mum saw this picture on the Calico Girls blog. It looks like Mittens and I have been sleeping in the same bed. (Ssssh, don't tell anyone but I think Mittens is a very nice kitty. I wish she would come and visit me!)

It was very sad to hear about Laurence Simon's kitty Piper going to the Bridge. We hope she meets our Tilly and Jiggsy there, and of course Edloe from her own family. We enjoyed checking the Simon catcams and finding Piper sleeping on her favorite chair.
We know from reading their blog that the Simons love their kitties very much. We have found their high-tech catblogging fascinating.


Even though she was gone by the time we discovered her, Edloe has always been one of our favorite Web kitties.

Dad is a big Star Wars fan and this picture of Edloe from the Simon's archives is one of his all-time favorite photos.

Hello, everyone.

Toby here. I was worried about my beans for a while after Tilly went to the Bridge. Neither cried much, but both were unusually quiet for a few days. I made sure that I was available 24 hours a day for cuddle duty. I'm glad I was able to say good bye and resolve any differences we had. It was time.


Well,I 'm the only cat now and I have to say I'm kinda enjoying all the attention. I've made a special effort to be more sociable and even playful and I've been richly rewarded. I'm especially enjoying the feather toy Mum bought me. I understand what all the fuss was about now. Playing is OK, but I still prefer to stretch out on Mum's lap, purring and cutting off circulation to her legs.


I have challenged Kukka Maria for a photo of her famed multiple nipples and am thinking of other challenges. Stop by the Meezers to read Miles' spritely " Hammy Smells".

Mum says she just got the best Christmas present possible- her youngest nephew is home safely in the US from serving in Kosovo. He arrived late last night in Bangor, Maine and was able to call his parents when he landed. You may not know this , but all military planes landing at Bangor are greeted by folks who come from far and wide to welcome them home. The soldiers are applauded (loudly), given cell phones to call family and friends and given snacks. When the people found out he was from Maine originally, they all cheered him. Mum and Dad want to thank all the good folks in the Bangor area who welcome our soldiers home. Thanks, everyone!


Mum has put me back on an all- crunchy diet. I think it's just as well. The Stinky Goodness loses its specialness when I can have it all the time.

I hear that Cousin Molly has been knocking over plants from the living room again. Yet she she still gets Temptations! THIS IS NOT FAIR! Mum has shown absolutely no inclination to open the lovely tin she bought in Canada, but apparently Molly has been has been getting so-called holidat treats since Thursday! I'm very distressed by this.

I smell meatloaf cooking. I better go assist with the dishing up.

Headbonks and purrs to all!
Toby

P.S. While on my recent trip to Canada, we discovered Temptations gift tins! I don't know if they are available here in the States, but I thought I'd give everyone a heads-up.

Hello, everyone.

Kate the Mum here.
First, we have been ABSOLUTELY overwhelmed by the comfort given to us by the cat blogosphere. It's amazing. I can't imagine that many people showing up at my funeral, except possibly a few creditors making sure I haven't faked it and run away to the South of France. (She's not only merely dead, she's really most sincerely dead.) The Dad and I have spent the past few days remembering our girl, and while we've been sad there's been a lot of laughter as well. Thank you for sharing with us.
The next thing is, we're no longer a mob, strictly speaking. With the forbearance of our kind readers, we will maintain the name. I suspect it won't be too long before there are additions to the family.
Lastly, I have a proposal. Personal experience and creditable reports tell me that kitties LOVE Christmas trees as perches. I suggest that December 17 be used by our gang of bloggers to post photos of kitties in trees. In the spirit of friendship and tolerance that should mark the season, it should be ecumenical. If your kitty nibbles the menorah or sharpens her claws on the Yule log, POST A PHOTO! If your kitty likes to dress up( or at least tolerates being dressed up) POST A PHOTO! See Kukka-Maria and Miles for ideas. The general theme should be 'Holiday Wilfullness'
Toby will post soon. He thinks he's fading rapidly from the new stringent reducing schedule.
Take care and blessings to all.

Tilly (1989-2006)

The Dad here. First, we'd like to thank all those who sent kind wishes, thoughts and prayers to us for Tilly's passing over the Bridge. Special thanks to the Meezers, who posted a tribute to Tilly on their blog, and to Fat Eric for memorializing Tilly on the Rainbow Gingers page. Tilly is now with Jiggsy and all the other kitties who went before. We'll see her again someday.

The loss of Tilly has made us sad. But it was not unexpected. Tilly initially did well with her thyroid medication but soon took a turn for the worse. On Thanksgiving morning, she was on her blanket, breathing somewhat heavily but not in any obvious discomfort. Just as he did before Jiggsy passed away, Toby went over to her, sniffed her, then gently licked her head. The Mum and I went into the bedroom to discuss our options when we took her to the vet. When we came out, she was gone.

Tilly was the Dad's first companion when he left home and lived on his own for the first time. Tilly and her Dad lived in a small second-floor apartment in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. It was kind of a dumpy place but wonderful in so many ways. Even on the hottest summer days, a cool breeze from the ocean rustled the curtains.

"You don't have to spay an indoor cat"

Every day when Dad came home from work, Tilly would be watching from the window. Then she would run to the door to greet Dad at the top of the stairs. The first thing would be to play "Tall Tilly." This was a game where Dad picked Tilly up and carried her around the house so she could touch all the things that were interesting but were too high up for her to reach -- such as the light cords.

Tilly was a girl kitty but Dad thought that, since she was going to be an indoor kitty, she would not have to be spayed. Smart Dad, saving that big vet bill -- WRONG! One day, when Tilly was becoming a young lady cat, she began to yowl. Brrrrup! Brrrrup! Brrrr-OW! Then we had a whole chorus of boy kitties in the yard serenading Tilly. She was very impressed and wanted very, very much to go outside and thank each of them personally.

The next day, Dad made an appointment with the vet.

Frozen chicken bowling ball

Tilly was a very smart, inquisitive kitty who loved to play. Her favorite games were fetching the milk jug twisty-tie and playing "I see Tilly." In this game, Dad would go down the hall to the bathroom. Dad would stick his head out the door, look down the hall and say, "I see Tilly!" Tilly would run down the hall and leap around the corner at Dad. After a few figure-eights around Dad's legs as he shouted "Yay, Tilly!" she would run back down the hall to do it all again.

Being curious sometimes got Tilly into sticky situations. One day, Dad was defrosting a frozen chicken on the kitchen counter. The chicken was still in its plastic grocery bag. While Dad was in the living room watching television, Tilly got up on the counter to investigate. Somehow, she got her head through the loops of the grocery bag and panicked, jumping down from the counter and pulling the frozen chicken after her with a crash. She ran down the hall with the frozen chicken trundling after her. Dad got up not knowing what all the racket was about but sure it involved Tilly. He was ready to hand out some harsh discipline until Tilly came running into the living room with the chicken close at her heels. Then Dad could not stop laughing.

Tilly was a wonderful companion for 17 years. Dad and Mum loved her very much and we miss her terribly. Again, thank you all for your support and prayers.

Hello, everyone.

The Mum here. We want to tell everyone that Tilly crossed the Rainbow Bridge at around 11AM Thanksgiving Day. As far as we can tell, it was painless and she knew it was her time. We'll be writing within a few days about her, but for now we are just quietly coping.

Hello, everyone!


I know it's been a while since we've posted, but it seems like when Mum has time, we don't and when Toby or I have time, Mum doesn't. We've been furry busy here with doctors' appointments ( bean and VET) and the usual daily grind of chores, naps, and eating.

I am still not entirely well. Mum needs to talk to the Evil Doctor as she hasn't received test results yet. It's the funniest thing- every morning, before she feeds the Other One and myself, she gives me a delicious treat. She prepares it carefully by hand, putting in a special white filling. Sometimes I don't eat the filling on the first try, so I GET ANOTHER TREAT!
I've got her well-trained, don't you think? heehee.

The beans (mostly the Mum) were hoping to move. She found a nice apartment, but they decided it was too expensive, so we are staying put for now. Mum will wait till after the holidays to look more.

Mum is taking Grandma to Canada next week. They are looking forward to buying tea and English chocolates as well doing some sightseeing. Molly will be staying at the kitty jail. She isn't happy about that. Mum will help Grandma catch Molly, put her in the PTU and take her. (note from Mum: "Oh, boy.")

Toby sometimes stares at the kitchen cabinets, but hasn't caught anything. Mum and I play with the catnip bubbles nearly every day and she gives me treats often. Yesterday Dad was on the radio talking about the election. Finally, he can relax a little. It's hard work being an editor.

I was playing the cello Wednesday, so now we have a nice southwest wind to make it a bit warmer here. It's sunny and windy, though. Mum says this Indian summer can stay all winter.

Purrs and headbutts to all,

Tilly

***********WARNING - CUTE ALERT - WARNING*********


Tilly here. I want to thank all the kitties who sent me hints on how to help with the computer. With just a little practice, I've become adept at adding interesting punctuation, closing windows and shedding hair into previously inaccessible places.

These are our new cousins. They are named Stan and M.J. Mum tried to smuggle one home from her brother's house, but she was caught. Thank goodness! They look WAY too cute. Mum said they jumped up onto her lap and climbed all over her, purring. After eating they collapsed into this little heap and fell asleep.

Now I know how Fat Eric feels about the Intruder Kitties...

A mild disagreement

Tilly here. I was trying to get Mum to pay attention to me today. But apparently, she prefers the computer to ME! So I told her what I thought of that!

Here's a little video of the incident:

Why do beans prefer things to kitties? I'll never understand.

As you can see, I'm feeling much better. Thank you for all the kind wishes and purrayers.

Love to all,

Tilly

Tummy Tuesday? You want Tummy Tuesday? Alright, then here's your Tummy Tuesday!
I think it's more like 'Wide Wednesday' myself...

Hello, everyone!

Toby here. It's a chilly, grey day here today and I wanted to go nap on the bed, but I realized I had photos to post, so ... if Blogger lets me, I will!
I think Blogger must be run by woofies as there are so many kitties who complain about it...

Anyhow, here are two photos of my cousins, Kainui and Huna. The first picture is Kainui and while he hides in the closet, he is the alpha cat. Mum and Aunt Mary think this is funny since he's a laid back kitty. He generally lets Huna crawl all over him, bite him playfully and then when Kainui gets fed up, he just sits on Huna! This doesn't sound bad, but he's a little pork chop and most of his weight is towards the rear.

The second photo is the new family member, Huna. He was a very sick little boy when Auntie adopted him. She's a very good nurse and kitty mom, so now he's pretty much all better. He may have URI tendencies, but we can handle THAT. He came all the way from Missouri and Auntie had to pick him up in New York.

It was hard getting him to sit still for pictures. He's a lively, curious boy. His vet seems to think he's part Snowshoe. What do you think?


So those are my new cousins. I like them as long as they don't visit and try to eat my food.
All this typing has made me hungry so I'm off for a little schmeck and then a nice long nap.
Sweet dreams, everyone!

You will have to scroll way down to see the photos!
Toby

Good morning, beans and kitties!


Inky here. Mum says she's too busy to post right now and Toby and Tilly are busy sleeping, so Mum asked me to fill in.

First off, both Mum and Tilly are feeling better. Tilly is taking thyroid medicine twice daily and it 's helping LOTS. Her fur looks better already and she's starting to fill out a bit. She's getting spoiled, though, - she gets fed whenever she wants and she's milking THAT for all it's worth. She even gets Temptations on demand! Sheesh!

Toby isn't thrilled by this, so he nudges in and helps himself. Sometimes this is allowed by the beans and sometimes not. Don't worry- he's not exactly wasting away from malnutrition himself! Mum has been heard muttering things like 'sumo' and 'Fat Eric' under her breath.

Mum's medicine is a bit trickier to manage. Dad says it's easier to get her to take it ( he wraps it in a piece of lobster) but the amounts are still being adjusted. So Mum is feeling better, but she's getting used to the new stuff. She now takes double the Lasix she used to and her favorite letter of the alphabet is the 16th.

Last weekend Mum went to visit her friend, our Aunt Mary. Auntie just got a new kitty. That's right, Cousin Kainui has a little brother named Huna ! Blogger is not letting us upload photos of him and Mum is very upset. We'll have to wait until Dad can maybe figure it out...

Yesterday the beans went to the mountains. They drove up to New Hampshire and crossed over to Vermont and then drove south to home. They said the foliage was a little past peak and felt that this year was not a great foliage year. They said it was very advanced, that the trees usually don't look so bare this early. It was very wintry-looking and cold, but still beautiful. Mum is happy- as long as she gets to the mountains at least once a year, she can make it another year, she says.

That's about it. Mum says her brother has 2 new kitties, so she will have to visit on the way to visit Grandma. Molly was very nasty and bit Grandma again! Mum is furious and Grandma is upset, too. We all wish Molly was a nicer kitty. She takes tortitude too far.

Mum says she will get Dad to work with Blogger to load photos. She promised Aunt Mary she'd blog about those boys, and the beans took photos in the country they want to share.

We're glad CalicoMom is getting better and we are all praying for the Meezer's Mum and Brandi's Mum to get good jobs soon.

Stiff whiskers and sunny napping spots to all!

Your correspondent, Inky

Good morning, everyone!

Kate here. Well, I'm blushing. Ken makes me sound like a brave little trooper (think Shirley Temple) when in fact I'm ill-tempered, lazy and ironic (think Bette Davis). The CHF is more of a nuisance than anything else; I just need to be more active and less partial to potato chips!
I want to thank everyone for their prayers, good wishes and good vibes. Thank you!

Now, since this is supposed to be about the kitties and not us beans, a feline update. Tilly seems better already. YAY! Her fur doesn't seem as ratty looking and her energy is better. Thanks everyone!

Toby is morphing into a raccoon. I swear he's getting bigger daily. He spends his time sleeping at the back of our closet. He comes out to eat( of course) to use the litterbox and to socialize in the evening. Ken informs me that Toby ignored him totally when I was in the hospital.


It's a beautiful cool fall day here in New England. We'll post again later this weekend.

Take care.

Many thanks. More prayers needed.

Ken the Dad here. Thank you to all who are praying for Tilly and sending her your best wishes. But sadly, we are in need of more prayers here at the Tower Hill Mob -- this time for Mom Kate.

Kate has been fighting heart disease since she was a child. She has a genetic condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that causes the walls of her heart to thicken and stiffen. She had open-heart surgery in 1988 and is on her third pacemaker. But the unavoidable fact is that Kate's heart doesn't pump very well, leaving her feeling constantly run down and tired.

She has managed the disease well and does not let it define her life. But sometimes, it catches up with her. This past week has been one of those times.

Along with the cardiomyopathy, Kate has in the past year developed atrial fibrillation, an irregular beating of the upper chambers of the heart. Millions of people with AF live perfectly normal lives. But with Kate's already weakened heart, it is a double blow.

Her doctors had been talking about transplantation. But recent tests gave good news -- that is still an option for years away, if ever.

The problem now is congestive heart failure -- a buildup of fluids in the lungs and body due to the heart's inefficient pumping. The symptoms are swelling of the legs, coughing, weakness and difficulty breathing.

I'm telling you all more than you probably care to know or than Kate would like -- she doesn't make her illness an issue. But Tuesday night we had the worst scare in the 15 years we've been married.

Kate could not stop coughing as she tried to go to bed. Sitting up was no help either. Those moments when she did stop coughing, she sounded as though she were trying to breathe through a straw slumping the last bits of drink from a cup.

We went to the emergency room Wednesday and Kate was admitted. The doctors will try to get rid of the excess fluid by increasing her dose of diuretics. She will be fine and may be released today (Thursday). But it has been a frightening and difficult time for us here, first with Tilly, then with Kate.

We appreciate all the friendship and prayers our fellow cat lovers have offered. Kate gets the greatest pleasure following the stories and antics of her furry friends. She finds the concern you all show for each other very uplifting.

I do as well. Tilly was my cat before Kate and I were married. Some day, I will tell you all the best Tilly stories from years gone by, including such follies as "You Don't Have to Spay an Indoor Cat" and the classic "Frozen Chicken Bowling Ball."

Thank you for all your concern for our little Tillycat. Please keep Kate in your thoughts as well.

Thank you again,

Ken

Hello, everyone!

Kate here. The vet called today to say that Tilly has thyroid disease. This is the best possible outcome we could expect for now. Tomorrow I will get her new medicine and renew the ecstasy of cat-pilling. After 3 weeks, she gets another test and we go from there. There is a 10% chance the med won't help, but we're thinking positive.

Tilly had been using the cat carrier as a hidey hole, but after the visit, she won't go near it!
Toby is fine. Numb as a hake, but fine. He sleeps on the bed and is very disgruntled when we want to come to bed- typical cat behavior. I end up with aches and pains from being contorted, but the cat sleeps well with plenty of space.

I wasn't able to blog earlier as the server was down. Grrrr!
Thanks again to all my hundreds (it seems) of friends who are concerned about one little Tilly cat.

Take care and good night.

Hello, everyone.

Kate, the Mum here. As some of you know, our girl Tilly has not been well for about a month now. She is 17 years old and is suffering from the frailties of old age. Tonight, we took her to the vet, expecting that she would be going to the Bridge. After talking with the vet, we are going to have some bloodwork done to determine what is going on. We may still have difficult choices ahead of us, but for now we still have our gorgeous ginger girl. We should know the results soon and will certainly keep our friends in the blogosphere updated.

Over the past few days, we have received an outpouring of love and support from people we have never met. I think this is remarkable and I want to thank everyone. It's amazing what wonderful folks cat people are!

Toby, of course, is completely oblivious. He is well and looks more and more like a raccoon as the winter approaches. After his mat adventures of a while back, he loves being brushed and has (somewhat) replaced Jiggsy in his Dad's affections.

We send our good wishes and prayers to our friends Brandi and the Calico Girls and a special cuddle to those handsome Meezers, Sammy and Miles.

Thank you, friends,

Kate, Ken, Tilly and Toby
aka The Tower Hill Mob