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.

Taking a Break

Two Spot bids you a Happy St Pat's

I have not posted as much on here as in the past but I don't want to close down the blog so I will be taking a break.  At some point I may come back to the blog or if some event occurs that I want to share but I don't know when. 

All the cats and the humans at our house are fine. I do post often on our Facebook page Cats of Wildcat Woods. and on our Instagram page, @wildcatwoods.  We also have a local page called Carolina Mountains on Facebook if you want to know what the humans are up to. Please follow us at any or all of these.

It has been a wonderful experience blogging and getting to meet you all.  We have made some very dear friends. After nine years, it is time to focus on other things. at least for a while.  Please feel free to email us at calcatsndogs AT gmail DOT com if you want to keep in touch.  We would love to hear from you!

Take care.  We love you!  

Remembering Chica

On Friday March 3, it will be four years that our beloved totrtie Chica left us for the Rainbow Bridge at age 22.  She is forever in our hearts.  It is also Mom's birthday so this makes each birthday a bittersweet one.

Let's take a moment to recall some of Chica's memorable moments on our blog thru the years. She was a very unique personality and her bond with Mom was real and true.

Chica shortly after she was found.

Mom found her in FL at a strip mall.  She came right to Mom even tho other people were sweet talking her and trying to get her to come to them. She was about 5 months old. Being Mom's first cat, this was a learning experience for her.. Chica went into heat before they got her spayed.  Poor Mom did not know what was going on with all the howling and schreeching.  Lukcly Chica was indoor only so nohting happened.

Mom had always had dogs so she treated Chica like a dog at first, playing fetch, catch and even hide and seek. Mom would say go hide and Chica would run off to her spot, usually the bath tub.  Mom would call to her and look behind doors and under things until she was in the bath room.  Chica would be way down in the tub so you could not see her.  Mom was real quiet and waited until Chica would slowly peek over the top of hte tub to see where she was - Gotcha Mom would yell and off Chica would run while mom hid. Dad thought they were nuts.

Happy Rubber Ducky Day - Jan. 13

Norm and Snowball want to know "Whatsthis????"

Another Rubber Ducky Day is upon us.  Another day of Mom trying to pose us with these strange yellow things.  As you can see from our photos, we all have different reactions to today!  Browse thru and check us out.

For those who don't know...in 1970, Jim Henson performed the song “Rubber Duckie” as Ernie on Sesame Street, and the rubber duck bath toy has been an iconic American symbol ever since.  Show us your Rubber Ducks and sing along with us.

Rubber Duckie you're the one
You make bath time lots of fun
Rubber Duckie I'm awfully fond of you

Rubber Duckie joy of joys
When I squeeze you, you make noise
Rubber Duckie you're my very best friend it's true
I find a little fellow who's cute and yellow and chubby
Rub a dub dubby
Rubber Duckie you're so fine and I'm lucky that you're mine
Rubber Duckie I'd like a whole pond of you
Rubber Duckie I'm awfully fond of you

Woody wodering what he is supposed to do with the duck!

Tabitha is ignoring the ducky.

Mr Kitty says "Is mine!"

Only just looking cute with his.

 Happy Rubber Ducky Day from all of us!!!!


P.S.Update on us....both Mom and Pop were pretty sick before and after Christmas so they didn't even post or show all our holidays cards.  We are so sorry.  The cards were great - we got way more than the humans did.  Mom just got over her flu thing this week.  All us cats are fine.  Sweetpea is going on 6 months since her CRF diagnosis and doing good. She gets daily fluids and is eating well.  She turns 18 this year along with Mr Kitty.  We hope the beans will post once in a while for special days or our Gotcha days.  We do post much more often on Facebook as Cats of Wildcat Woods and on Instagram as @wildcatwoods  so please follow us there.

Remembering Angel Joey on his Gotcha Day

On Thanksgiving day in 2001, Joey showed up for breakfast at the feral cat shelter in our yard with an abscess on his shoulder.  He was being picked on by a bully cat down the street.  After several run ins with this bully, this was the last straw for me, so I set the porch door as a trap for Joey.  When I pulled on the piece of wood tied with a string, the door would shut leaving Joey inside.  He came in willingly for food of course, and I caught him easily.  Freaked out, he spent the day hiding behind the extra refrigerator on the porch. 

Minnie on top of Joeys kennel

My husband and I took turns trying to lure him from his hiding place while we cooked Thanksgiving dinner.  After several hours, Don finally scruffed him and put him in a kennel cage, his temporary home until he got acclimated to being inside.  Minnie, his litter mate, spent the day on or near his cage.  It was a Thanksgiving to remember - trying to catch a feral cat amidst the bustle of preparing a family dinner.

Joey in the back with Mamacita and Rosa

We had eleven wonderful years with Joey but lost him to cancer in 2012 a week after his last Thanksgiving/Gotcha Day celebration.  

I still miss him so very much - he was such a lover boy.  He loved to cuddle with me, especially at night while I read in bed. If there was a pile of cats in a warm spot, Joey was in the middle of it.  

He welcomed each and every new cat we took in with kindness and tolerance.  Even with an aloof cat like Clarence, a stray we took in and only had for 18 months, Joey would groom and sleep by him while the other cats ignored the newcomer. Joey was a pacifist.  I never saw him get rough with any of our cats.  If he was being picked on by a younger cat, he would just walk away.  

Joey and Ivy

He loved to eat and it showed with his big pendulous belly.  While he was still outdoors, one of our neighbors told me he thought the grey tabby was pregnanat.  I said with a smile " I don't think he is."

Joey's poochy belly

He was curious and slipped out one day through a section of the porch floor that was a bit rotted.  Don saw a grey tabby looking in the back door and said "That cat looks a lot like Joey".  I looked inside for Joey and realized that  it was him outside.  Panicking I herded all the cats off the porch so no more could slip out the small  crack in the floor.  It took several hours to lure Joey back inside.  If I went out he would run under the house into the crawlspace.  Fearing he would run away or get hurt overnight, I secured all the cats in our bedrooms and left the porch door ajar again in the same trap I first caught him in.  He fell for it and he was safe inside once more.

Joey loved the sun and would sit next to the window in his last days with us, leaning against the glass and soaking in the warmth.  My animal communicator told me that when I am relaxed at home and feel the warmth of the sun on me, know that Joey is with me in spirit then. 

We lost several other cats from his colony since he passed four years ago so I am sure he is once again surrounded by his litter mates and buddies at the Rainbow Bridge.  

Wishing you a happy Gotcha Day at the Bridge,Joey,  playing and relaxing in the sun with your cat pals. Thinking of you with love until we meet again dear boy.

As a young feral cat

Wishing all our friends a happy holiday weekend.
P.S. Stop by Brian's Home for his Thankful Thursday blog hop!