Koko update and news of other furry critters

Hello again - is there anybody out there? Can anybody hear me?  Is there anyone there?  Would make a good song you think?

Before I forget, here a couple pictures of Buddy the latest addition to the 'pride'.

 I have to dump him off the washing machine to do laundry.  He gets a perfect view of the birds in the woods from here.  Also gets a kick out of watching the dogs when they are out on the overhead line.


<<----And one of Polar Bear and Charlie 'discussing' ownership of a bone

Needless to say, Charlie ended up with  it and Polar Bear feigned disinterest---->>

As for Koko, here she is causing mischief.  She is waiting to attack Buddy when he emerges from the kitty litter pan!  Poor guy can't even use the litter in private.

Regarding the extra potent antibiotic she was on for a couple of weeks for her eye socket; there is good news sort of.  It appears to have stopped the seepage.  Why sort of good news?  Cause if it stopped it that means there was infection all this time and it wasn't just a tear duct or something that hadn't been removed.  If the seepage starts again either way the socket has to be re-opened (4th time!) per the new vet.  So far so good.  No mushiness or swelling and she doesn't seem to be inclined to rub it against things so keep your fingers crossed for her.

I was going to go to Northern Ohio to visit my Uncle today cause he isn't doing all that well and we don't know how much longer he will be able to recognize people at all.  I was going to take the Blazer cause he uses a walker and it is easier for him to climb into a larger vehicle (I was going to try to convince him to go to breakfast-not easy to do) than to try and crawl into my teeny Saturn.  Unfortunately, even tho the Blazer has a brand new battery and is parked in the garage, it wouldn't start.  Not even a whimper.  Leads me to believe electrical somewhere altho nothing seems to have been left on.  It is trickle charging now to see if it will start tomorrow.  Just as well cause we had a nasty ice storm here and they had nasty weather up there too.  

Worse than that was the fact that the hard contact lens in my right eye apparently has a nick in it and has scratched my eye.  I can't keep it on center.  I move my eye I feel like I have a stick poked in it and away goes the contact to never-never land.  So I had to take it out and function with just the left contact for the last two days.  (And I am REALLY blind without them!!!!.  No. REALLY!!!!) I found an older lens so will try to stick that in my eye after it has had a rest.  Then call the eye Dr. tomorrow for an appointment and more $$$$.  I need to try and get a cheap (yeah right.  Cheap.) pair of glasses to use in an emergency.  Unfortunately my eyes are such that I can't get near the amount of correction out of glasses as I can with contacts. Sigh.  

Guess I will wait til warmer weather to visit my Uncle anyway cause then I can leave the three big dogs in the garage kennel and my neighbors will keep Charlie in their garage in a crate and walk him a couple of times a day.  He is still small enough he can squirm out of the portion of the kennel in the garage and there are too many potentially fatal things for him to chew/eat in there!!!!  Cats can stay on their own for a day or so as long as I leave food out for any that don't make it in the house before I leave.  They have a restricted entrance to a pet house outside so most of the wild animals can't get to it.

Per my concerns, Buddy has snuck out several times.  Was kindof funny to watch him toboggan across the deck and through the railing posts after this ice storm!  One surprised kitty!  Then watching him try to get traction on his rapid way back to the door to come back in was priceless.

Poor Slim, on the other hand is middle aged and has some pretty bad arthritis so he didn't want to go out at all.  I had to carry him across the icy deck to the grass.  In the process I nearly put Buddy to shame with my own form of tobogganing.

Beautiful Ohio weather.  You don't like it?  Wait five minutes and it will change.

-me

Koko and crew in the new year

Koko went to a different vet for a second opinion the other day.  We are trying a much more potent, all encompassing antibiotic for two weeks.  If that doesn't stop her eye socket seepage we may have to consider opening her up - again.  This vet says it can be any one of a number of things but doesn't feel it is a major concern.

She also has what I was afraid was another hernia down on her belly between her back legs.  I can grab it and it fills my fist.  He checked it out and said there was good news...sort of.  It isn't a hernia it is FAT!  A very defined ball of wobbly fat!  Says it will just wiggle to and fro and not cause any harm.  Putting her on a diet would be of limited effectiveness with this kind of pocket fat.  Sheeze!  She is just like her human!

I have stopped giving her the special kitty milk and she sticks her nose up in the air and walks away from most canned cat food, the milk was her favorite, so all she is eating is the regular dry cat food now.

Charlie is also a stocky little sucker.   The whole family is tubby!  And the one ear up, one down thing?  Looks like that is the way things are going to stay.  He is improving regarding potty training but the chewing is driving me nuts.  I bought what was supposed to be an indestructible toy made out of canvas.  Didn't last a full day! 
He finds things I didn't remember owning and destroys them.  Sometimes to the point I don't recognize them so I don't miss them that much!  8-}  I know he will grow out of it but will somebody adopt him.  PLEASE!!!!

I had to hide all of Slims squeaky toys cause Charlies' idea of 'playing' with them is to absolutely destroy them within minutes.  VERY sharp little teeth.  And poor Slim likes to sleep with his squeakies.  He treats them like pacifiers by grabbing a hunk of the squeaky in his mouth and holding it there while he falls asleep.  He is NOT happy that his pacifier is no longer available.   

Oh well.  The new kitty, Buddy, (no pictures yet) is doing well and gets along with just about everybody.  Keeps trying to sneak out the door when I let the dogs out so I suppose he will succeed eventually.  All I can do is hope he doesn't wander off too far in to the woods and become coyote or fox food before he learns his territory.  Some of the other cats are always outside so he will probably stick around. 

On a personal note, I had an interview with the County Veterans Society for a job.  I felt reasonably confident about it.  I was one of three finalists and they said they wanted to make a decision quickly but... I have heard nothing back from them.  They are closed today and for the weekend so I may do a follow-up call next week.

Meantime I had to spend more money on my 'new' vehicle, a 95 blazer.  It went down the road like a big boat, wandering all over the place and scaring the crap out of me.  Apparently lower ball joints are in bad shape so bought them and will have them put on as soon as I can. 

Then the tail pipe came loose and the 'new' muffler (a teeny little round thing off of a Pinto or somesuch) was already rusty so nothing to clamp the tail pipe back onto.  I had to take it to a weld shop.  Exhaust consisted of multiple size pipes and a teeny round muffler from a pinto or some such.  Catalytic converter is small and bright blue which I am told means the fuel/air mixture apparently isn't right so that is something to add to the list.  I had him burn a hole in part of the pipe and insert a fitting for the missing oxygen sensor that is apparently/hopefully what is causing the "Service Engine Soon" idiot light to stay on all the time.  Soon as I can afford to buy that I will put it in and have the sensor reset.  Altho if the converter is any indicator it may come right back on again even with the sensor.

Bought used tires, which should last for a while and will be going to the junkyard to try and find a radio that works.  Bought new struts to hold the back window up when I open it and got a 'new' rear view mirror from a friend.  Replaced a headlight and had new body panel welded in and dents pulled out of passenger door.   All in all I decided to withhold part of the payment/trade I had offered for the vehicle.  That didn't go over well with the guys I got it from.  I will start piecing it together once I start working so I have it ready to drive by this summer.  Hopefully.

 

Whether or not I get the job with the veterans I should probably get the one with the local grocery store part time.  I am waiting to hear from her as they are having some issues at their new location.  My 'retirement' payments started Jan 1st so I at least have a bit to tide me over for a while.  Life is never dull.

Polar Bear is sniffing at the computer room door...  that means he wants to go out.

More later...

-me

Happy New Year to all......

Koko is doing pretty well.  Has a bothersome cough almost sounding like she has a bone caught in her throat but nothing visible.  She has been on several programs of Amoxycillin and other antibiotics so not sure what the issue is.  Her bad eye socket has started seeping again - a small amount but seeping none-the-less so I suspect an infection of some type.  It doesn't appear to have any swelling or puss, just clear seepage.  I will try to get her to another vet this week for another opinion.  If that doesn't provide any relief I will probably take her to the vet in Cinci I volunteer for when he has clinics in Adams County as he seems to be very good. Expensive kitty that Koko.    Meanwhile her assumption that she is the queen around here is keeping things lively.

Another new kitty came from the young men who used to do some work around my house for me and baby-sit the animals when I had to go out of town.  They saw it dumped in an intersection and rescued it but the cat (Buddy) was an intact male and their other animals were NOT amused.  So of course, I went to get him and immediately took him to the vet to be tested for FeLV.  After he tested negative he came home and in a large dog crate for a day til the majority of the hissing was done.  Then out and about for two days til he went in to be neutered.  He is a handsome gray short hair with light tiger stripes and beautiful green eyes.  He is a lover, plays with Koko - running all over the house.  Also plays with Charlie and the others so for the most part things are going well.  Vet estimated him to be less than 1 year old.  He keeps trying to sneak outside tho so I suspect come summer he will be an in/out kitty.

Charlie is... Charlie.  He behaved better when I first brought him home than he does now.  Definitely a puppy and MOST definitely a chewer.  Books, paperback or hardcover, he isn't choosy, are going fast if I am not careful.  One leash, the power cord for my portable DVD player (last puppy Nameless did the same thing!) and thinks the kitty litter pans are buffets!  Gross.  He is getting a little better but if I can get him adopted his new family will know up front they still have some training to do.  At least he is paper trained so if he can't hold it overnight it isn't a disaster.

Slim is doing OK, seems to be slowing down more and more but no new growths other than the small one on his bottom lip so that is a good thing.  He had been a bit overwhelmed and grumpy about Charlie and still is if he gets too obnoxious but they have actually started play fighting now and then so that seems to be working out.

Polar Bear and Chica play fight with Charlie-The-Obnoxious all the time and tear the house apart.  They will usually settle down and look guilty if I yell at them tho so for the most part we are surviving.  The house is a zoo... everywhere you look there are cats; I feel like a cat lady and it is a bit worrisome.  But so far it is working out, the cats usually get along and I clean the multiple litter pans 2 times a day so have no problem there.  Problem is the money it takes for cat food and cat litter... adds up much quicker than you would think.

Speaking of money, I have an important job interview this coming Wednesday with the County Vet Admin/Services group here in town and I am hopeful.  I went out and bought some 'interview' duds.   Had to be a veteran to apply and neighborhood scuttlebutt says they are friendly, laid back people.  Looking for an administrative assistant so I am very excited although I am apparently one of several who will be interviewing with the entire Board of Commissioners.  I think there are 5 on the board... will have to check before I go.  Will probably feel like I am on trial... Yeeeeehhhhaaaaa!

The same day I got the call from them I got a call from a locally owned grocery store asking me if I wanted to start with them - immediately - as in THAT DAY!  Sheeze!  After all this time of NOTHING I get two calls in the same day.  I think I have it worked out to where I will start part time for the grocery tomorrow or Tuesday (Jan 2 or 3).  They know about my interview on Jan 4 and understand that if I am lucky enough to get the job with the Vet Svcs group I would only be available to work for them some part time on weekends and maybe evenings.  If I don't get that job she wants me for up to 32 - 38 hours a week so what the heck.  She is understanding, (we met and talked a couple of times) and now that my retirement has started (got my first check Saturday), even at minimum wage (less than $8/hour) it will be enough to live on if I am careful.  Also, either one of them is but a 15-minute drive.  Maybe the New Year will work out OK.

Super windy and chilly today but so far this winter hasn't been much of a winter temperature wise.  We had our first snow, just a teeny dusting, the day after Christmas but otherwise it has been in the 40's and even 50's with a day or two in the 60's.  I keep the thermostat set at 60 degrees and wear a hoodie in the house most of the time.  Keep my ceramic heater going in the bedroom if I want to go in and lay in bed to read a book.  So far am using a lot less propane so that will help too.  Meanwhile I am hoping the wind doesn't damage or even blow down my car size canvas garage cause it is REALLY strong and gusty today!  That would NOT be a good thing to see that sailing through the neighborhood.

OK.  Enough rambling.  I hope everyone had a good New Years Eve and there is a better year ahead for all of us.

-me

Slim, Polar Bear, Chica & Charlie

Koko, Shaggy, Lucky, Sid Vicious, Newbie, Scruffy, Lil Red, Taz & Buddy

      Remembering Puss Puss & Luke

Update on Koko and Charlie

Koko and Charlie went to the Adams County Pet Health Day put on by All Creatures Animal Hospital of Amelia, Ohio yesterday.  Such a great group.  Thank you to Dr. Dan, his wife and fellow vet Linda and all of the staff and volunteers for doing such a great thing!

Both Charlie and Koko are doing fine altho Charlie wouldn't cooperate regarding a stool sample to check for worms, either voluntarily or involuntarily.  Seems he hadn't wanted to eat because of all the excitement of being at the site all day (I was volunteering) so he had nothing to contribute!  Sheeze!  Any other time he contributes regularly if you know what I mean.  Oh well.

Koko had her 'eyes', heart and lungs checked and all are looking good.  She basically slept all day altho towards the end she became a bit vocal.  Some of the high school kids who were volunteering took her outside a couple of times but all the other animals, strange noises, people and sounds got her a bit spooked.

I got to listen to them both serenading me a good portion of the way home.  They both were VERY enthusiastic about getting back in the house and Polar Bear, Slim and the inside cats did some MAJOR sniffing to welcome them.  Then all ran around like lunatics playing and tearing things apart.  Charlie, of course, pooped not 5 minutes AFTER I let him outside and back in.  Sigh.  Oh well.  My retribution is coming - tomorrow he gets neutered and gets his rabies shot.  That'll teach him!

I have to go hide the food and water from all of them til he leaves for the vet tomorrow morning cause there is no way to restrict him and not restrict the others.  If he is crated he will NOT stop howling, barking and whining even if I am here.  That is not going to make him popular with potential adopters and I haven't yet figured a way to stop him from doing that.  Even covering the cage, giving him chewies, putting on music or going into another room doesn't help.  If I leave the house and then wait outside he still doesn't shut up.  I waited over 2 hours before I let him win last time.  Gave me a headache!

Will update after he comes home from surgery.

-me

Hope you all had a great turkey day........Koko did!

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving.  Koko did. 

Koko and I were invited to a friends house in Dayton and she had a blast.  Now she has THEIR house memorized and THEIR cat terrorized!  Another battle won.  She ate more turkey than I did and was spoiled to the nth degree..... Not that she is spoiled at home or anything. 

She slept about 1/2 of the way home and then started getting very vocal.  So she had what was a first for her.  An outdoor potty break.  She has been out before but never had to make a deposit.  She didn't seem to be thrilled about it..... really got frustrated when it came to trying to cover it up.  I laughed so hard my stomach hurt because she REALLY intended to stay at it until it was covered and the grass just wasn't cooperating as proper litter should.  For once she didn't win the fight.

Then when I came home I buried Puss Puss.  It was still extremely muddy but I finally hacked thru the tree roots and vines and buried her next to Luke.  RIP Puss Puss.  She had a long life and I hope she was happy with me.

I am having a rough time convincing Charlie it is time to graduate from the paper and do his business outside.  I think he was doing better when I first got him actually, but then when I had to make special arrangements and allowances for Puss Puss he got into some bad habits that are proving harder to break than I had hoped.  And he certainly seems to be teething a lot more than he was originally!  I wonder if he knew what was up all along and hoodwinked me at the beginning so I would start to love him before he let loose with all his bad habits?  Nah. 

So he - and I - are going thru some rough patches right now.  Dec 6 he gets neutered and hopefully when I start taking him out to try and find him a new family I will have broken him of the chewing and the paper use.  We will see.

I think if there was a way to have Koko train him it would work.  She is bossy and doesn't give up til she wins the fight whatever it is about.  Maybe she can give me lessons?

-Me

Puss Puss chose her own time.....

Puss Puss died at approximately 12 noon today.  I knew I would be taking her in to the vet for the final time very soon and was debating whether today was the day but she decided for us both.  It appeared to be peaceful - I don't think she was in pain but she sure was tired.  Last night she ate some gourmet food and slept on the bed with me a bit before going back to her heating pad.  This morning she collapsed and it was over quickly. 

It is, of course, a swamp outside in the fur-baby resting place in my woods.  Been raining for 2 days with hail yesterday so digging a hole will be delayed for a while and a mess when it has to be done.

Meanwhile, Shaggy Kitty had made an escape to the outside world on Friday and hadn't returned.  For many years she was an inside only kitty but I started letting her go outside during the day several years ago.  This time she had gotten angry at Charlie picking on her and not being intimidated by her hissing and smacking him - she was 'de-clawed' by her previous human - so when I opened the door to let the dogs out she booked. 

When I hadn't seen her for several days I thought she was gone too.  Then, as I came back in from taking Puss Puss out to the garage to wait for the rain to stop, there was Shaggy at the back door.  When I let her in she just about unhinged her jaw burying her face in the gourmet cat food I put out for her now that Puss Puss doesn't need it.  Shaggy is getting old, losing weight and her fur is looking a bit - shaggy.  She will be getting her annual blood work on Dec 4.  I am not sure how much longer she will be here yowling, hissing and smacking the other animals around.  Her Royal Majesty, Princess Shaggy.

Life ends, life goes on.

Koko is fat.  The puny, flea ridden, encrusted kitten of a few months ago has disappeared.  In her place is a sassy, ornery, aggravating bully.  And, of course, I love her.  If I ever find out who spoiled her and turned her into this brat I will have to have a serious talk with her tho……

All the other fur-babies are doing OK.  Charlie is scheduled to be ‘fixed’ on December 6 and a week or so later I will probably start taking him to PetLand and TSC to try and find him an adoptive home.  He seems to be a late blossoming chewer.  Phone books, leather cell phone cases, DVD cords, extension cords, plastic cat dishes and……………YECHHHHH – gets into the cat litter.  That will all stop quickly tho. I have my ways…..

Deer hunting season is in full swing so I may have to paint 'DOG' in large pink, fluorescent letters on Chica's sides.  She is deer color and after some of the local yokels have been sitting in a tree stand drinking beer for a few hours she may be close enough to looking like a deer to warrant a shot or two.......Altho I have to wonder if they can read.

-me

Koko status report

Koko is back to being herself.  She took a break from being the instigator and harassing the others this morning by spending some time laying in the sunshine on the rug by the back patio door.  She may not be able to see the sunshine but it apparently feels real good! 

It is chilly but sunny today so I let Puss Puss go outside.  She has gained quite a bit of her weight back altho she still has no energy and is breathing hard/deeply.  She appears to want to hang on for a while so if she wants to go outside to lay in her sunshine so be it.

Charlie has fit right in with the rest of the fur crew and for the most part they tolerate his puppiness.  He still sticks around on our walks when off leash and as long as he behaves this well he will continue to have that privilege.  He has started to lag behind and/or go off the side to explore more than he originally did but is quick to come back when I call him.

Dan, my neighbor, delivered the Blazer yesterday evening!  Such service!  He did a GREAT job on repairing the huge rust hole on the driver rear quarter panel and in pulling out the dents in the passenger door and rocker panel.  He also primed them and the Blazer looks 500 percent better just getting rid of that big gaping rust hole.  In return he will be back later today to start loading up some of the creek stone I have in my yard.  I will never use it and he wants to build a wall around his house so we bartered.  I still have to find something more to barter tho cause he did such a great job on the Blazer!

Chica is being good and sticking around for the most part.  I took her out in the yard with me this morning while wire-brushing some of the surface rust on the Blazer and except for one exception when the dogs next door were saying something challenging to her she stayed in the yard with me.  She is such a loving girl I hope I can find the right home for her this time.  She has no problems with any of my other animals, is gentle with Koko and she and Polar Bear are best buds.  After they have done their business on walks they start play fighting and it is a riot to see Charlie get involved - mostly by biting Polar Bear in his furry tush while he is busy fighting Chica.  Wish I had a video and some extra hands.

Once the sun warms things up a bit I will finish the wire brushing and coating all surface rust on door edges and the spare tire holder with a special paint that encapsulates the rust so it can't progress.  Then I put on seat covers, test out the towing wiring on it and the trailer and hopefully take a load of stuff to Goodwill in a few days.  Then load it up and do it again.  I am tired of being a pack rat and don't want to wait till spring to have a yard sale so might as well donate what might be of use to someone else.

Koko was sleeping in my lap but wants to get up and play now so .............

All is back to 'normal' for now.  Whatever that is and however long it lasts.  As normal as it can be for a not-so-normal person living in a community of past middle aged farmers who just voted in a nationally known, adult humor (?) comedian as it's mayor.  Can't do any worse than what we have had. 

I hope.

-me -