False hope

When I came home from my folks' place last evening, TiGrr still seemed improved, but just around bedtime, he suddenly began to cry out loud, tried to stand from my lap, and fell over repeatedly. He fell off the bed in his attempt to move away, so I picked him up and took him to his favorite spot in front of the radiator in the bathroom, where, in less than one minute, he ceased to breathe.

We are still processing this.

Signs of improvement

TiGrr is breathing through his nose, again, and able to drink water directly from his bowl again. With his kitty flu, he was unable to do either for two and a half days. I'd been giving him water via an oral syringe, just to make sure he didn't get too dehydrated, and had left a steamy bathroom for him to use as a sauna. It seems to have worked.

Now, I only have to worry about secondary illnesses, bacteria, and such. But he's showing signs of being the scrapper I always saw in him, so maybe I'll be able to relax in a few days. But I'm still not taking any pix of him, since he doesn't have the apparent dignity he has worked so hard to develop these last few years, and I won't insult my sweet boy by showing his snot-caked face... I'll just mention it, instead. ;-)

A little worried about a little beastie

Actually, it's not just a little worry. TiGrr has influenza. He sneezed pretty much constantly the night before last, and now is suffering from congested sinuses, so he's breathing out of his mouth. He's not getting any food, and I'm giving him water/broth through an oral syringe.

He was a relatively healthy eleven-year-old before he was hit with this, so there seems to be less concern than if he were older, or had a history of other problems, but then, flu is highly contagious and we have two other kittehs in the house, both of whom have weight issues...

Still. A few prayers from believers might help Mr. Grr. they couldn't hurt.

Friday Catblog: Dedicated To the One-Eyed Love

Each night before you go to sleep, my baby...


Whisper a little purr for me my baby.

Mr. Grr is only going to tolerate the flashy thing a very short while longer.


There are more animals to visit via Modulator's Friday Ark #213, and, on Sunday evening, at the CotC, this weekend to be hosted by Life From a Cat’s Perspective.

Friday Catblog: TiGrr says it's bed time

It's not quite Friday, yet – still a little over an hour to go – but Mr. Grr seems to think I shouldn't wait up for the new day.

After all, it is my anatomy which provides his with the soft, squishy bed he desires.

And so to bed.


If' you're up late (or looking in, in the morning) and one lonely little pic of Mr. Grr doesn't satisfy your need to see lots of beasties, be sure to stop by Modulator's Friday Ark #203, and, on Sunday evening, swing over to catch the CotC, this weekend to be hosted at Mind of Mog.

Catblog Friday: The Fourth of July!

Mr Grr is getting his colors ready for Independence Day.



He wants to remind everybody to have a happy holiday, and


Make it safe, so he can rest comfortably in that knowledge.

Happy Independence Day to every citizen (and those who will be) of the United States of America! And may all others know the same (obviously feline-based) spirit of freedom, soon!

For more creatures of Liberty, etc., be sure to visit Modulator's Friday Ark # 198, and, on Sunday evening, swing by the CotC, this week to be hosted by the incomparable House Panthers.

Friday Catblog: two attached meat loaves*

It's been a while since I've come in to find TiGrr and Peanut all chummy. Usually Peanut gets pushy and TiGrr leaves after only a few seconds, accompanied by hisses and swats from both sides of the argument.

But last night, there they were, for hours on end, close as anything.

TiGrr even groomed her, and there was no biting or hissing on the part of either of them.



They stayed this way until well after I turned off the light and drifted off into slumber. Then they got up, tap-danced and performed gymnastic routines on top of me. Apparently, snoring is some kind of rhythmic music, of a sort they can't resist (a la the pied piper of Hamelin).


If you seek the call of other lovely beasties, don't forget to visit Modulator's Friday Ark #191, and, on Sunday, stop by the CotC, this week to be hosted at Artsy Catsy.



*for those who are too young or have a good excuse otherwise for not knowing, the "meat loaves" reference comes from B. Kliban's early 1970s cartoon providing the definition of a cat, in which it is explained that a cat is, among other things, "often mistaken for a meatloaf."

Friday Catblog: Bedtime reading

Mr. Grr was ready for bed. He's pretty much always ready for bed. Or floor. Or wherever the sleep mood strikes. Usually, it's within a tail's reach of my nose.

He often likes it when I read to him. Even the clues to my crossword puzzles can serve as a bedtime story, for him.

Illustration from John Martin's Big Book, pub. 1927

Sometimes, though, either the material or the timing is not to his liking.

Just lemme sleep, Ma.

Don't forget to check on other sleepy (and non-sleepy) beasties, at Modulator's Friday Ark #190, and, on Sunday, the CotC will be held at Bad Kitty Cats. Don't miss them. They won't put you to sleep unless you really want them to.

Friday Catblog: TiGrr plays Garbo

Mr. Grr has decided he is tired and


vants to be alohnnnn.

It's very difficult to oblige him

when he's always this cute.

For more cute, cuddly, and other animals, be sure to drop by Modulator's Friday Ark #186, and, come Sunday evening, swing by the CotC, this weekend to be hosted at the M-Cats Club.

And, since I haven't mentioned it in a long while, be sure to check out the lolcats at I Can Has Cheesburger? and stop in at the LOLCat Bible project (it's almost time for Sunday School, after all).

Friday Catblog: Ti Grr, debater extraordinaire

Mr. Grr has killed his first straw man.



He's discovered that, unfortunately, straw isn't exactly edible for kittehs.



Oh, well. Some of us feel that way about politics, too.


For more fine beasties, be sure to visit Modulator's Friday Ark #183, and, on Sunday, stop by the CotC, to be hosted this weekend by Chey, at Chey's Place.

Friday Catblog: Hail, Conquering Hero!

Ti Grr looks a little more smug and self-satisfied than usual, doesn't he?


That's because he has taken down the Great Dread Mauge (pronounced MEOW-gee), with one swell foop!


Well done, Mr. Grr! See if the Mauge has any treats in its pockets!

And the rest of you should check to see what other critters are out there on the internets, especially via Modulator's Friday Ark #180, and at the CotC, this Sunday to be hosted by Momma Grace and Company.

Friday Catblog: the perfect cuddle

TiGrr spend a lot of time examining the lap, in order to find the perfect cuddle spot.


Eventually, though, he settles in and takes care of his grooming needs.


He doesn't worry, even when he has to share the cuddly lap with Maus,
because Mr. Grr has the spot closest to the petting hand.


Need to see more beasties? Be sure to visit Modulator's Friday Ark #176, and, on Sunday evening, stop by the CotC, this week to be hosted by When Cats Attack!

Dogblog: Poor hapless Clyde!

When the cats come over to stay at Grammaw and Grampaw's, poor Clyde becomes the target for mischief.

I thinks we can whups him, don'choo, Mr. Grr?


Are you guys up to something?


I taked him down all by myselfs.

(Actually, Clyde and the kittehs have a sort of detente. As long as he doesn't eat all their really good expensive kibble, they leave him alone. But if there's a precipitous drop in the food supply, all bets are off . . .)



Don't forget to visit other critters of all sorts, especially good doggies and swell kittehs, at Modulator's Friday Ark.

Friday Catblog: How to spend a day at Grammaw's

Mr. Grr and Miss Nut spend about half an hour sharing the responsibility of killing my toes, the little toy mousies, and a little partial booklet of postcard stubs, of no real value (any more, now that they've discovered it), then the rest of the day is for relaxing.

I squish your head, when I finish this nap.

Maus, on the other hand, demands constant attention.

Who is more important -- me, or AoSHQ?

With teeth and claws and the ability to pee on this keyboard if she's annoyed, Maus wins. Sorry, Ace.

For other critters, be sure to visit Modulator's Friday Ark #172, and, on Sunday, stop by the Carnival of the Cats, this weekend to be hosted by Cat Blogosphere.

Friday Catblog: Sunshine, SuperGrr

Mr. Grr knows the best thing about being a black cat is, when it's cold outside, all he has to do is sit in a nice, sunny spot, and he's hot, hot hot!


Am I not the most handsome beast you have seen all day?


I am so charming, I must taste me...


This is simply ecstasy. And so beautiful.


You agree with me. I insist.

There may be other lovely beasties for you to see, so be sure to visit Modulator's Friday Ark #171, and, on Sunday evening, stop by the Carnival of the Cats, to be hosted this week by TBIFOC.

Friday Catblog: Night Watch (but not Rembrandt's)

TiGrr has decided he has to protect me from the other kitties in the house, lately. He's been sitting on my chest while I watch television, and making sure that nobody else comes near enough to obstruct my view as effectively as he does. That leaves Maus at the foot of the bed, killing whatever small objects she can tear into.
This time, it was a rabbit fur pompon, and my toes beneath the down comforter.


Protect your toes and pompons! Check out other beasties, at Modulator's Friday Ark #167, and, on Sunday evening, stop in at the CotC, this weekend to be hosted by somebody or other -- they'll announce it soon, I expect, and I'll do my darnedest to link it on time.

Update: CotC will be at This, That & The Other Thing. I can't wait!

Friday Catblog: we're still having trouble focusing

TiGrr is not fond of being uprooted, even for short periods of time. Last week, he had been dragged from his own house to Grammaw's house, which, of course, meant putting him into his harness and stuffing him into the car to get him the whole two blocks from my house to the old fogies'. He gave me a pretty good set of scratches, in rebellion.

Of course, this past Monday, he had to go home again.

In the intervening week, Mr. Grr became rather spoiled -- 24-hour human company, big comfy rocking chair in the sun, all the amenities a cat could ask for. He doesn't get that, to the same degree, at my house. So, he's once again unhappy with the move, and pretending he's been abused, neglected, and whatever else he thinks he can get away with.

But he lost his focus last night,


and came to cuddle with me.

Still, he made it clear not everything was exactly hunky-dory.

bleagh!

I wonder if they make cat-tongue depressors?


Looking for more cuddly beasties, and other critters? Be sure to check out the Modulator's Friday Ark #164, and, on Sunday, don't miss the Carnival of the Cats, to be hosted this weekend at Justin's Random Thoughts.

Friday Catblog: the trouble with a mail-order bride

TiGrr ordered himself a grrlkitty for his pride. He got Maus.



The only real trouble with that is, she arrived with no emotional investment in his pride...

Not ten minutes after getting out of the box, she was ducking out on TiGrr...



The fowl pun too much for you? Go on over to Modulator, where Friday Ark #160 has begun boarding already. And, on Sunday, be sure to ship on over to COTC, this time to be hosted by Momma Grace & Company.

Friday Catblog: science class -- types of energy

Mr Grr has become a solar cell. He demonstrates

Potential energy.

Peanut does the same.


Maus notices there is not much sun at her window, so she stores little, and goes from

Potential

to
Kinetic energy. (Please note she is attacking a Crookes radiometer, which, like a cat, also converts solar energy to power. And they both spin nicely when they're set right.)

Looking for alternative sources of fur? Be sure to visit Modulator's Friday Ark #159, and, on Sunday evening, stop by the COTC, to be hosted this week by StrangeRanger.

Friday Catblog: Foreign relations

Maus has been blaming me for her discomfort after the surgery, and now, for bringing two big scary kittehs into the space she thought she only had to share with a big dog and the grandpeople.

It's taken her some time, and an amazing amount of tact for somebody of her age and upbringing, but Maus has finally managed to arrange a detente (that's foreign for "puffy blanket and pillow") between herself and TiGrr.



Now, if we could only persuade Peanut to come out of hiding and stop hissing and growling...



You can find other beasties not hiding, at Modulator's Friday Ark #154, and, on Sunday evening or shortly thereafter, please stop by the CotC, to be hosted by TBIFOC (its original host and manager).