All the experts tell you that you should brush your animals' teeth. Luckily, Walter likes the taste of the toothpaste, and he's not too finicky about letting me touch his face.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Missing in Action
I've been taking guitar lessons. I played 30 years ago, but I forgot all the notes and chords, so I've had to re-learn everything. I figure it will help exercise my brain. The calluses are building up on the fingers of my left hand, and little by little, I'm making progress.
When I was practicing, I dropped my guitar pick, and the cats pounced on it and then started playing hockey with it. I cannot find it. I hope that's not an indication that the cats can't stand it when I'm playing guitar....
I've been taking guitar lessons. I played 30 years ago, but I forgot all the notes and chords, so I've had to re-learn everything. I figure it will help exercise my brain. The calluses are building up on the fingers of my left hand, and little by little, I'm making progress.
When I was practicing, I dropped my guitar pick, and the cats pounced on it and then started playing hockey with it. I cannot find it. I hope that's not an indication that the cats can't stand it when I'm playing guitar....
Walter made himself right at home on the sofa next to Wayne. Lately, I've been saying it's a good thing I didn't actually get an Irish Wolfhound. Walter looks like a miniature Irish Wolfhound, and at only 44 pounds, he's almost too big for the sofa when we're both sitting on it with him in the middle.
Brave
James Bond, Jr., is the name I gave one of the "feral" backyard cats - he's a black and white tuxedo cat. Previously, there was the original James Bond tuxedo cat, but when we caught him in the Have-a-Heart trap to have him neutered and vaccinated, we found out he had FIV and had to be put down.
When I call him, I always use his full name: "James Bond, Jr.!" I can only imagine what my neighbors think. He is friendly, and he lets you pet him, but he freaks out when you pick him up. Whenever I call him, he shows up, and I think he likes me.
I saw the funniest thing - but there are lots of "funniest thing" moments when you have animals. James Bond, Jr. was sitting on the chaise lounge on the patio, and Walter was in the backyard about ten feet away. James Bond, Jr. jumped off the chaise lounge and charged Walter. Walter ran for his life! James Bond, Jr. chased Walter around the boat, and as Walter was going around the boat, James Bond, Jr. bolted up the oak tree. It was a beautiful strategy. It made me laugh out loud.
If you look closely at the picture, you can see Walter at the base of the tree to the left. James Bond, Jr. is to the right of the "v" of the tree.
James Bond, Jr., is the name I gave one of the "feral" backyard cats - he's a black and white tuxedo cat. Previously, there was the original James Bond tuxedo cat, but when we caught him in the Have-a-Heart trap to have him neutered and vaccinated, we found out he had FIV and had to be put down.
When I call him, I always use his full name: "James Bond, Jr.!" I can only imagine what my neighbors think. He is friendly, and he lets you pet him, but he freaks out when you pick him up. Whenever I call him, he shows up, and I think he likes me.
If you look closely at the picture, you can see Walter at the base of the tree to the left. James Bond, Jr. is to the right of the "v" of the tree.
Minty Walter
I have some "strawberry pots" on my backyard patio, and I've planted mint in them. There are little pockets on the sides of the pots, and the plants come out of those pockets as well as out of the top of the pot. I love mint, so I'm growing several different kinds.
The other day, Walter was running in circles around the mint pots, and because he was touching the mint leaves as he was running around the pots, the mint plants were releasing their scent into the air. It was the nicest surprise from Walter and the mint plants.
I have some "strawberry pots" on my backyard patio, and I've planted mint in them. There are little pockets on the sides of the pots, and the plants come out of those pockets as well as out of the top of the pot. I love mint, so I'm growing several different kinds.
Next
Yesterday, I went to the vet because Zoe had tapeworms! If one animal has it, you have to treat all the animals, so I had to give Walter 4 pills (it's based on their weight) and each of the cats one pill a piece. Walter took his pills in "pill pockets," an ingenious invention - they're little malleable treats with a hole where you insert the pill to enclose it. He thought he was getting treats.
They have feline pill pockets - they're smaller versions of the canine pill pockets - but I had to break up the pills into quarters because the tapeworm pill was too large to give all at once. I tried giving one pill pocket per quarter to Harry. He took them by the hardest. Good thing I clipped all the cats' claws last week...
Next was Zoe. Did you ever try to give a cat a pill? You haven't attempted one of the most difficult tasks on earth until to do this. So I had four cats with four quarters each - that's sixteen pills basically, that I had to quickly shove down their throats while avoiding getting bitten or scratched. Not easy...
Zoe spit each quarter out at least three times before I got her to swallow them. Violet was easier than I thought, but she still wasn't happy about it. Henry screamed like I was killing him. It was a harrowing experience for everyone but Walter.
Anyway, I had gone to the vet to get the tapeworm medicine, and the women behind the counter at the vet had brought their dogs to work. One was a Shih-tzu puppy, and the other was a three-year-old Yorkie. Precious and irresistible. I played with each of them.
So that got me thinking. I want a kitten and a Yorkie puppy and a baby rabbit all at the same time so they can all be friends. I told my husband, and he said, "Not until all of the pets we have now are gone." I don't know if I'll be alive long enough to outlive the animals I have right now, but I still would love to have a puppy and kitten and bunny raised together. Something to think about...
Of course, as I'm writing this, Walter and Henry are playing/fighting all over the house. Walter is a puppy, so he really wants to play with everyone. Henry is curious and interested, but a little overwhelmed by Walter's size and canine-ness. Walter chases Henry around the house, and then Henry hisses, growls, and meows loudly when Walter corners him. When Walter trots off to another room, Henry starts crying for attention. Then it starts over and over and over.....
Yesterday, I went to the vet because Zoe had tapeworms! If one animal has it, you have to treat all the animals, so I had to give Walter 4 pills (it's based on their weight) and each of the cats one pill a piece. Walter took his pills in "pill pockets," an ingenious invention - they're little malleable treats with a hole where you insert the pill to enclose it. He thought he was getting treats.
They have feline pill pockets - they're smaller versions of the canine pill pockets - but I had to break up the pills into quarters because the tapeworm pill was too large to give all at once. I tried giving one pill pocket per quarter to Harry. He took them by the hardest. Good thing I clipped all the cats' claws last week...
Next was Zoe. Did you ever try to give a cat a pill? You haven't attempted one of the most difficult tasks on earth until to do this. So I had four cats with four quarters each - that's sixteen pills basically, that I had to quickly shove down their throats while avoiding getting bitten or scratched. Not easy...
Zoe spit each quarter out at least three times before I got her to swallow them. Violet was easier than I thought, but she still wasn't happy about it. Henry screamed like I was killing him. It was a harrowing experience for everyone but Walter.
Anyway, I had gone to the vet to get the tapeworm medicine, and the women behind the counter at the vet had brought their dogs to work. One was a Shih-tzu puppy, and the other was a three-year-old Yorkie. Precious and irresistible. I played with each of them.
So that got me thinking. I want a kitten and a Yorkie puppy and a baby rabbit all at the same time so they can all be friends. I told my husband, and he said, "Not until all of the pets we have now are gone." I don't know if I'll be alive long enough to outlive the animals I have right now, but I still would love to have a puppy and kitten and bunny raised together. Something to think about...
Of course, as I'm writing this, Walter and Henry are playing/fighting all over the house. Walter is a puppy, so he really wants to play with everyone. Henry is curious and interested, but a little overwhelmed by Walter's size and canine-ness. Walter chases Henry around the house, and then Henry hisses, growls, and meows loudly when Walter corners him. When Walter trots off to another room, Henry starts crying for attention. Then it starts over and over and over.....
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