Adieu Mr. Kitty (1999 - 2018)

In his window seat

We lost our handsome 18 1/2 year old ginger boy Sunday night. It was unexpected but Don and I were sitting on either side of him on the sofa talking to him and holding him when he passed.

Sleeping with utter abandon

He had hyperthyroid (on Felimazole) and odd bouts with nausea, vomiting and loose poop off and on since we had him but nothing showed in tests. I managed his symptoms with natural remedies. Then a few weeks ago his left back paw and later his front paw became swollen and sore.  All tests were inconclusive.  We will never know what took him.

Begging for food.

Mr Kitty was only with us for two years and nine months but he ensconced himself into our home and hearts like he had always been here. True to his Maine Coon background his intelligence, friendliness, playfulness, curiosity and ability to live in the now captivated us.

Mr Kitty at his first home.

 Mr Kitty grew up in a household with two human brothers, Nate and Jason and their parents, Deb and Barry. Mr. Kitty was a gift as a kitten to Nate for his tenth birthday. Mr. K was so very loved and spoiled in his home. When Barry had an organ transplant they were not allowed to keep pets so I offered to bring Mr Kitty to our house for however long he lived.  He joined us at age 16 and adjusted well for his age.

Mr Kitty and Don

Mr. K was a social guy who loved people, especially men, greeting all guests with an opportunity to give him some love. Our ginger cat loved my husband Don with a passion.  They bonded on the two day trip to our house.  Mr Kitty always had to be sitting next to or on Don.  If Don went out, Mr. Kitty was on alert for the sound of the back door and would be right there to greet Don as he came in. When Don wore his baseball cap, Mr Kitty rubbed his face against the visor purring with pleasure.

He did not care for the other cats but Mr. Kitty tolerated Sweetpea for some reason.  They could be found spooning each other on the sofa while napping,  Sweetpea was with us on the sofa on Mr. Kitty's last night.

Mr Kitty with Sweetpea on the sofa

A purrfect model for holiday photos and special occasions, wearing costumes or bow ties, Mr. Kitty tolerated the fuss.  He wanted all the attention good or bad.  He had a habit of pushing things off the coffee table with his paw if no one was paying him attention.  He was a true attention hog.

His favorite place was in the office on the window seat catching the morning sun. or on cold days in front of the heater.  His time on the back screen porch was something he cherished no matter what the weather.

In his window

On the porch with Tabitha

In front of the heater

Always curious, Mr. Kitty loved to check out the grocery bags when we came home from shopping.  Once he pulled a full loaf of bread out of a bag on the floor and ran down the hall, dragging it.  The cat toy basket was a source of fun for him.  He would pull out several toys , digging around to find one that caught his eye to play with.

If you cannot see this video, go here.

These past few months his personality was mellowing out. He was less and less active. He had a couple of good days on Friday and Saturday.  He spent time on the back porch, was treated to cooked chicken liver, and sat in all his favorite places. He enjoyed his time with Don on the sofa watching TV. We did not expect to lose him on Sunday.

In all his gorgeous glory

We wrapped him lovingly in a soft fleece blanket with is catnip flower and buried him on our land next to the others we have lost.  Rocks cover his grave with a bouquet from our holiday wreath.  I have ordered a stone for his grave site to be put there later.

This big beautiful boy with a larger than life personality left a gaping hole in our hearts. I am forever grateful we were able to have him in our lives for the time we did.  He brought us so much joy, laughter and love.  Rest well Mr. Kitty, until we meet again at the 

Rainbow Bridge.

P.S. This morning before I woke I dreamt I woke up and Mr. Kitty was sitting on the end of the bed in all his glory looking so content just like in the photo above in his window seat.  When I did get up I saw him again in my peripheral vision next to my feet in the kitchen where he always sat waiting for his breakfast..  I know in my heart he is safe and young and happy once more on the other side of the veil watching over us.

Mr. Kitty Needs Purrs

UPDATE TUES - Mr Kitty is on his way home.  All went well.  The fluid filled lump was sizable - about  2" by 1 1/2". The vet drained it rather than put him thru surgery to cut it out.  He will be happy to get back home to eat - he loves his food and was so upset we pulled the food up last night.  I had to shut him in the bedroom to feed the others this morning before I took him in.  After so many losses I was upset leaving him this morning and cried when I came out to the car.  It will take a while to relax at the vet I guess. It was not anyone's fault with Georgie - just a lot of complications.  The vets involved did the best they could for her.  I just have to let that go.  Thank you for all the purrs for Mr Kitty (and me).  Love you all.


Mr. Kitty has a lump on his neck.  We did a biopsy months ago and it is not cancer - just a pocket of fluid collecting there.  The vets drained it at that time while he was having his dental.  It is rather large again and in the way when we have to get blood from him etc.

Watching bird TV

Tues. tomorrow, we will bring him in to have it drained again. He will need a little anesthesia but not as much as if he had surgery.  Please keep him in your thoughts and keep those purrs coming for a easy procedure and recovery.

Sleepy boy.

At some point, if the lump seems to come back quickly, we may opt for surgery to remove it altogether but I hesitate to do this due to his age (17 this year) and his feistiness.  Recovering from full surgery would be stressful on him and us.  We will update this post and Facebook when he gets out of his procedure.

Mr. Kitty on Mancat Monday and a Georgie Update

Me and Georgie enjoying the sun.

Mr. Kitty here - I seem to be sharing my Mondays with Georgie - I don't mind.  She is a sweet ladycat.  

Auntie Cheri has been very busy caring for her.  The ER vet has upped her insulin hoping that she will put on weight.  She was down a bit last week - not good.  If the new insulin level is not working to help stabilize her weight, then they will do a test for pancreatic insufficiency.  Scarier than it sounds - it just means she will need to take digestive enzymes with her food.  Before that  tho, Auntie has to do a "curve"  - something to do with the blood glucose.  It takes all day so that will keep Auntie and Georgie busy!

Georgie had been doing great - eating on her own and eating a good amount but they wanted to make sure so they left the feeding tube in her.  Good thing too cuz Sunday night she did not eat on her own and the beans had to feed her with the tube so they could give her insulin shot!  Hope this is a one time issue.  Auntie forgot a dose of the appetite stimulant.  I guess we can forgive her as Auntie was sick this week and went to the ER herself!  She is OK - just a stomach bug, and dehydration which made her pass out!  Purrs appreciated to Georgie that this can be resolved pretty soon.

Now to me!  Even tho it was a heat wave this past week I spent all the time I could out on the screen porch.  The beans wouldn't let me out unless it was cool - like in the morning and then later in the day.  I like the heat tho and lay tummy up soaking it all in!

For the International Box Day - Auntie made us all pose in boxes.  None of us were in the mood so she put catnip in the boxes to entice us.  She forgot and left the tub of catnip on the coffee table.  Oh boy! I jumped on this super opportunity to have it all to myself.  I knocked it off  onto the floor and low and behold, the top came off too!  Whoo whee - I was in nip heaven!  I rolled and rolled in the delicious fragrant nip.  What a feeling! Nothing like getting high!

Me in nip heaven!

Auntie rescued the rest of the catnip and I eventually passed out on the floor. It was great while it lasted!  Wishing you all a nip filled week!  See ya for the 4th of July!

International Box Day - June 19

Mr Kitty - a big cat in a small box

 For kitties, everyday is box day!  Boxes are better than any toys we could have - we can sit in them, nap in them and hide in them. 

Al in his nap box

 Wishing cats everywhere Happy International Box Day!

Two Spot taking up all his box.

Mr. Kitty's Scary Mancat Story and a Georgie Update

 The warm weather is here so we don't have the windows open anymore for fresh air but Aunt Cheri lets us cats go on the back porch from early evening on.  I enjoy this and stretch out, scratching on the wood of the porch.

Then my next job is introoder alert.  This is very important.  My Mom told Aunt Cheri that I would chase everything and anything that came into my yard back in my old house.  I am fearless.

 While I was on the porch this day, a big black dog came into the yard.  The other kitties all ran inside the house but I stayed and hissed and growled at the thing.  No one messes with me.

Auntie heard me growling so came to make me come inside.  "Do I haveta?" I pleaded.  She wouldn't listen to me.  Inside I went with the doors locked.  Auntie kept looking out the window where all the cats were now looking safely inside.

Then...she saw it.  It wasn't a dog after all.  It was a black bear!!  Auntie figured out it must have been just outside the door of the house maybe heading for the trash can.  When I hissed and growled, he ran up the embankment.  Bears are afraid of bobcats and mountain lions so my cat sounds scared him off.  Auntie had noticed the trellis for the climbing veggies in the garden was moving back and forth even when there was no wind.  That was when he bear ran by!

 Now that we were all indoors, Auntie Cheri ran to get her camera and took this photo of the bear.  It was getting dark and all you could see was his light brown snout against the dark woods.  Then Auntie yelled and banged on the screen to scare him away!  He lumbered slowly into the forest.

I got praised and told how good I was at my job as snoopervisor of the house and yard.  I was pretty proud of myself.  Auntie is hoping the bear does not come back again.  He won't, cuz I am here to guard everyone!

P.S.  We have a short update on Georgie...she is home, eating (tuna only but at least eating) and acting more and more like herself.  She is not a docile cat (except when she is sick) and is pretty fiesty if you try and hold her.  Two nights ago while the beans were feeding her with a syringe via her feeding tube, she jumped down off the table and ran down the hall with the syringe still in the tube!!!  Horrors!! Auntie was screaming and running after her.

Georgie seemed OK but Auntie took her to the ER vet to make sure the tube didn't come out.  It didn't - whew!  Now they wrap her in a towel when they feed her - better safe than sorry.  Georgie goes back on Tuesday to her internal medicine specialist to have a recheck.

Mr. Kitty Wishes Everyone a Happy Memorial Day!

This Mancat Monday is also Memorial Day - a day to remember those who we lost in wars. Lots of people also have barbeques and family get-togethers to day too.  Aunt Cheri's family, when she was little, would go to the cemetery and put flowers on all the graves of loved ones, not just those who served.

We also included the remembrance poppy (Papaver rhoeas) which has been used since 1921 to commemorate soldiers who have died in war.  These poppies are from the local organic farm. Thank you to all who served!

Now when is this parade coming through?????

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday!

Mr. Kitty on Mancat Monday

It's time for me to do my post and let everyone know how I am doing at my new digs. Life is  pretty good these days. My new family and I still have to get used to each other so things are  slowly working themselves out.

 I am not using my old hidy spot in the bookcase anymore.  I prefer to sit on the table in the office window and watch the critters outside, enjoying the breeze.  It has been warm enough to leave the windows open at night and then things get really interesting with opossums and raccoons to watch.

 The excitement this week was that I coughed up a furball.  Aunt Cheri was concerned about me cuz I was throwing up my food  right after I ate it  for a couple of days.  But then up came a huge furball...no more throw up after that!  Now I get my Laxatone regularly to keep this from happening again.  (I am glad cuz I heard the V-E-T word!)

 I am still very much a guy's mancat and just love my Uncle Don.  I have a way of rubbing my face on the rim of his ball cap like I did with my Dad and human brothers back home. If Uncle Don doesn't lean forward enough so I can reach his visor, I tap it with my paw so he knows.  He gets a big kick out of it!  It doesn't take much to make humans smile!!

Come back by next Monday - I have a surprise for you all.  

Until then, have a super week and be kind to all critters! 

Mr. Kitty on Mancat Monday

Me on the back porch

 I guess this is my day for the blog so my Mom and Dad can see how I am doing with Auntie Cheri and Uncle Don.  So far so good.  I had a few hissing spats with Sweetpea and Callie but other than that no problem.

Being snoopervised by Minnie

I had my own room initially but that was pretty boring so I figured how to get out and meet the other cats.  At first I was a bit overwhelmed by how many there are.  But I am OK about that now.  I inspected every inch of this new place and settled right in.

 

I like to hang out with Uncle Don best, maybe because he traveled with me from  New England to North Carolina where I am now.  I follow him from room to room and sit next to him.  He give me lots of loves and pets.  When I hear his voice, I come running out of my hidy spot to sit with him.

My hidy spot in Auntie's office

It is not so bad here- they have lots of catnip toys laying around. I love to play with them and get a good bunny kick going.  I get to sit in the window seats and watch the critters and birds outside - they have a lot of things here we didn't have at my old place...copperheads, bears, coyotes, bobcats, hawks, foxes.  I guess I am better off being an indoor only cat here.

Welcome Mr. Kitty

Taken on his first night.

First off I want to apologize for my absence from the blog since I posted about Lily's passing.  I have not had it in me to even go visit your blogs to thank you for your kind comments, cards and emails.  This one was particularly hard and I think am still in denial.  I do appreciate all of your expressions of sympathy so very much.

Handsome Mr. Kitty

One thing that will take my mind off of this loss is that we have a new kitty with us. Let me start from the beginning.... my oldest friend from childhood has been going through a difficult time.  Her husband had to have a liver transplant recently (some of you know about this from Facebook).  The doctors told Deb that their two beloved senior cats would not be able to stay in her home with her husband when he came home as he will be on immunosuppression drugs for the rest of his life. She asked me to help find them a home.

I posted all over Facebook about the Maine Coon called Mr. Kitty and the sweet tortie named Squeaks.  Unfortunately it is difficult at best to find homes for 15 year old cats.  Since no one had contacted me, I told Deb I would take them.  My husband was in agreement and we made plans for him to drive up to New England from North Carolina to get them.

A few days before Don left on this trip, Deb let me know that Squeaks had passed in her sleep.  She had been very distraught about her human dad being away in the hospital for so long and her human brother had also left for boot camp at the same time.  As one blog friend said, Squeaks most likely had a "delicate constitution." I think the changes in her home took its toll on her and she slipped away.

RIP Squeaks

We still wanted Mr. Kitty so Don drove up and back over the past weekend.  Don was able to enjoy some delicious seafood and visit with friends while he was there.  After a bittersweet parting from his mom, Mr. Kitty made his way to North Carolina with Don without any problems.

Enjoying the nip scratcher from Auntie Peel

He is a sweet gentle soul with an easy laid back temperament.  He loves to be with people but it will take time for him to accept the other cats and them him.  He has his own room for now and we let him out with us when the other cats are napping.  He is a slippery one and and escaped his room a few times to run and inspect the house.  So far all his interactions with the others have been just curious.  He already goes to the door of his room when he wants back in.  For his age, he is doing quite well.

A little nipped out!

I am looking forward to letting him host the blog in the weeks to come.  He is quite a character and will keep us on our toes for sure.  Please welcome Mr. Kitty!