Saying Goodbye

We knew when we took PeeWee in that we wouldn't have him for long. There's that whole 'hospice' part of hospice fostering, yano?

But we were lucky enough to have him in our lives for a little over a year. And we'll have him in our hearts forever.

Some mornings I would wake up with PeeWee purring against my back and Starbuck curled up behind my legs as the wind chimes gentled tinkled outside and, for a few moments, everything was right with the world.

I'm going to miss this sweet boy more than words can say. He deserved a long life with healthy sinuses and robust kidneys. We tried to give him the best life possible with the chronic sinusitis and CKD he was handed instead.

Rest in peace, dear boy.

Food Fight

Cali is a fat cat. Pictures don't really do her justice.

There wasn't a lot we could do about it while we were trying to keep weight on Mike Wazowski without driving us all up a wall. Around the time Mike passed, we learned that PeeWee's kidney disease had progressed and he needed to start eating K/D food. Which is higher in calories. Which is exactly the opposite of what Cali needs.

Paging Dr. PeeWee

We need 10 units of cuddles, stat!

Fur Family Holiday

Mike's and Cali's stockings don't look nearly as exciting as the dogs'. I promise there's stuff in the cat stockings, too!

 

It's a good thing pets don't understand stockings. Or presents. Or Christmas, really. Because PeeWee's gift doesn't come close to fitting in his stocking.

Triple the fun

I've been to the vet each day for the past three days.

Cosmo developed a limp just before Thanksgiving. She was getting better, but then she just...plateaued. Got her checked on Tuesday and took her back for x-rays today. Turns out the poor pup has a torn ACL, so she goes in for surgery next week.

PeeWee the snot master had an appointment sandwiched in on Wednesday. More antibiotics for him, plus his kidney values were off, so he gets to go on K/D food now.

The joys of a fur family.

Tis The Season

PeeWee says "Happy Holidays!"

Purr-sonality

When talking with potential adopters at the shelter, I'm often asked questions about some variation of the 'rules.'

"Can two male cats really get along?"

"Are female cats too territorial to live together?"

Over and over I give the same response, that it's really more about the personality of the animal than the gender. I feel like this often frustrates adopters, and I get it. It would be so much easier (for all of us!) if there were a set of rules to follow to ensure a smooth addition to your fur family.

The great big world outside

PeeWee has chronic sinus issues, but I had noticed him getting stuffier and stuffier, so we made an appointment for him with the shelter vet.

He also doesn't do a whole lot of scratching, so we've had to start clipping his nails.  He is an incredibly chill cat, but he absolutely *hates* having his paws handled. It's pretty difficult to clip a cat's nails without handling their paws, so he's just not a fan of the process. As you can see by the amount of hair he left on my pants, this morning's session stressed him out just a tad.

Anyway, the shelter is 20-30 minutes away, depending on traffic. Since snuffles seemed less than thrilled to be in the carrier, we decided to let him out to roam the car for the trip.

PeeWee explored the backseat for a while, then decided he liked it better on my lap where he could watch the world go by.

What's going on out there?

Where are you taking me?!

This is faster than I like to travel...

He ended up spending most of the drive by my feet. Of course, being a cat, he decided he *really* wanted to be under the driver's feet, but he didn't protest too much when I blocked him. All of the other critters got a piece of his mind when we got home, though.

What goes around...

I was watching PeeWee sleep the other night.

Woke up to find him returning the favor.

Frazzled

Living with five pets is often like living in a house full of exceptionally gross toddlers:

Mike is hungry. Starbuck needs to go potty. Mike is hungry. Cosmo wants to play. PeeWee has a gunky nose. Mike is hungry. Cali is hitting! Starbuck is hungry. Mike pooped all over himself. Cali is taking stuff. Cosmo wants to play. Starbuck needs to go potty. Mike is hungry.

The Mike poop is underrepresented, there. It's probably about 1/3 of the time he either gets it on himself or steps in it and tracks it all over the bathroom. Spouse says it's like he's trying to teach us really crappy dance moves (yes, the Dad Jokes are strong with that one).

just imagine that second one created with poopy pawprints...yeah

There are definitely moments where I envy fur-free households. But then I come home and the dogs are so darn happy to see me they nearly wag their butts off. Or PeeWee curls up behind me in bed and his purr rumbles through my entire back. Or I see something like this

and I'm reminded to appreciate the love and companionship of my pets. Even as I'm scrubbing the bathroom floor for the fifth time in a week.

Delayed

Today has been the Mondayest of Mondays, so cat of the month will (hopefully) be here tomorrow. Until then, you get photos!

PeeWee 'helping' with the August name tags for the shelter

Mike doesn't get pillows. He thinks they are for the butt and blankets are for the head

Garfunkel *does* have a rear end!

February's SCotM, Garfunkel, is getting braver by the day at the shelter. He was out roaming around when we came in yesterday. You can follow his adventures on his new Facebook page: 2 Boys 1 Home

Ramblings

We're taking a short break from school, so my computer has actually been turned off for days in a row. DAYS!

Last year the kid attended the Young Heroes Camp at Great Plains SPCA in Independence. He had a great time and learned cool stuff, even if he did opt out of witnessing the spay surgery.

This year we're going it alone and focusing on music all summer, so that should be...interesting.

BUT this is not a homeschooling blog. So on to the animals!

PeeWee's Big Adventure

No, not that one!

The other night, PeeWee was lying on the bed in a very Photoshoppable position.

So I decided to have a little fun with it (with my admittedly limited 'shopping skills using Paint.NET):

Little Pharma

We have quite the cat pharmacy going on. Plus the scale we use to weigh Mike every night (since he keeps trying to turn into a walking skeleton).

Should anyone want to sponsor our cats' drugs, we accept cash, check, and Paypal.

I'm joking.

Am I?

Yes. Yes, I'm joking.

PeeWee's Purrbox

Mr. Sneeze had to see the vet yesterday for a gunky nose. We woke him from a nap to take him in and it's a 20-30 minute drive each way (depending on traffic), so the poor guy ended up stuck in the carrier with a full bladder.

He almost made it home, too. What a trooper.

It's been swell...

BUT THE SWELLING'S GONE DOWN! Mike's leg is back to normal.

HOORAY!

+1

The Kibbles & Biscuits family has grown!

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that our first SCotM, PeeWee, had been returned to the shelter.

PeeWee is an older fella and he has some health issues. He is prone to chronic URIs, so the shelter really isn't the best environment for him.

Ups and Downs

We can't have the happy without the sad.

With Wesley getting adopted this week, Garfunkel making big strides in confidence, and fantastic updates from Blanket's adopters, it's been a time of big smiles.

Unfortunately, the balance of all of that glee has been our buddy PeeWee showing up at the shelter. PeeWee was K&B's very first SCotM back in April 2015. This sweet guy had been in the shelter since October 2014, and he was finally adopted on April 10th.

He came back in about a week ago as a stray. GPSPCA microchips all of the pets that come through, and they have records about who adopted which animal, so when one comes back as a stray they immediately contact the adopter. Clearly PeeWee's adopter didn't bother to come back for him.

He's still on a stray hold for a few days, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that his stay on the floor will be much shorter this time around.

April Shelter Cat of the Month

K&B's very first shelter cat of the month is PeeWee!

UPDATE: PEEWEE HAS BEEN ADOPTED!

PeeWee is a handsome 11-year-old orange tabby with a motor that doesn't quit. Listen to that purrbox go!

He is a relaxed cat who gets along with kids and other cats and is looking for a loving home in which to spend his retirement.

PeeWee can be found at Great Plains SPCA in Independence, Missouri. He enjoys being held and cuddled, but he especially loves sitting on your lap and purring away while you rub his ears. 

Adopting a senior cat can be very rewarding and it makes you an extra super hero in my eyes. Come by the shelter and visit this guy - you won't regret it!