A Toast to Sir JoJo

If you knew me growing up, you would have said I was absolutely, 100% a dog person.  I put a puppy on my christmas list as the #1 item every year, despite the other three members of my household having pretty severe allergies to them...so when I graduated from college and met several of my friends cats, it surprised even me how much I loved the furry little guys...Eddie was the one who really won me over- which is surprising because now I am not so much his favorite person, but I digress...

this is a story about Joey, JoJo, the Jo-ster, Captain Jo, who belonged to my best friend Bonnie and her husband Andy...

one day after we had graduated Bonnie asked me if I wanted to go to a barn to help her pick out a kitten...not the usual location, but why not I thought...and in that barn, with a goat chewing on my hair, we found Joey, small enough to fit in the palm of our hands, and so ready to get out of that barn, away from the goat...he was so cute, fluffy, and as we would come to learn...active :)

now I didn't spend every day with Joey, since he was Bonnie's cat, but I saw him enough to learn a few things...it is important to stay very still, because humans are just large toys to Joey- any movement is enough to set him to stealth mode, ready to pounce on a hand, foot, whatever...but also that he was not actually cat, but just another human like us...

the biggest testament to that, he was very picky about his food, he loved to be outside when we were all there, and he had a human enemy...that's right, Brett and Joey were mortal enemies, although secretly I know they both loved messing with each other...they had one special experience when Joey was young, and slept on Brett for an entire night, and ever since then, they've been battling like brothers :)  sometimes (but not usually) unprovoked, and other times they'd have staring contests for hours...

my fondest memories are when I stayed at Bonnie's apartment, and Joey came and jumped in while I was in the shower, then proceeded to turn out the light while I was still in there (hey, he was done, right?) or when he would come up and smack Brett in the face for no reason, or the most famous one, when he was peeing in the camping chair, and no one believed me...he thought he was sneaky, but I saw :)

I know they know this, but Joey was an amazing cat, with the biggest personality I've ever seen, and probably ever will see...he made us laugh, cry and life will never be the quite the same without him...

Saturday's Photo

happy Saturday !!

*if you're reading this...I'm currently taking the Praxis exam...so keep all fingers and toes crossed...whatever good luck charms you may have...I want to pass this thing in one try!

one interesting, scary, challenging, but very rewarding year...

it's been a whole year since our little kevin was sick...off to the emergency vet with a not so good prognosis of kidney disease that left me pretty much inconsolable...but he turned out to be a fighter, and I could not be more thrilled...I couldn't imagine our house without the little furball in it, and his personality has come out in ways we never saw before...I think even though it was an awful, and traumatic experience, (not to mention costly), we all came out better in the end for it...he's more outgoing and therefore gets the love and attention he deserves, and I realized how lucky I am to have him, and his counterpart Jack...and sometimes Eddie...

so I'm off to feed him his special food, and listen to his happy meows as I bring the bowl to him :) 

here's to many more happy years my furry friend!!

kitty comes home!

it has been a very trying three days...thankfully Kevin has come home...after countless calls at ungodly hours to the vet clinic (who were all wonderful and very patient with me and my hysterical fits of tears), several boxes of tissues, many visits to check in on our patient and some shaved paws...he is home.

it's still very unclear how things will go, and I've vigilantly resisted the urge to Google kidney failure in cats to see what lies ahead...because the few searches I did do, I realized it could be very grim or he could live 15 more years like this...hopefully he'll respond to the treatments we give him, and he'll get many more years, because 6 is way too young for a cat!  I am determined to help him get healthy again :)

it is really scary though...for the next six weeks I have to give him fluid injections, some antibiotics and he gets to take antacids...I hate needles, so this is going to be tough...but I will learn to do it, and he'll hopefully love me for it :)

it is strange to think, that we have to feed our cats at certain times now, rather then leave the food out...but it's important also to monitor that he is eating all the time, since that was the warning signs of his sickness this time...

wish us luck...it's going to be a difficult road, but it's how things are now, so we will get used to it.

the diagnosis

so...Kevin is sick...he has Kidney Disease :(  we took him to the emergency vet this morning and he has to stay for at least three days.  I have no idea what is going to happen, and I am so worried about my little guy...everyone think good kitty thoughts please!!

poor kitty

poor kevvie had to make a trip to the vet today...he's seeming a little off lately- yes he's always scared and hides most of the day...I still think he's not totally used to our new home, and his new 'brother' eddie...but he seems to have lost a lot of weight, so B convinced me to finally make an appointment at City Pets...fingers crossed we'll get the results back and it's just an infection...

possibly the cutest thing...ever!

Saturday's Photo

with the assistance of Jack, getting prepared for next Saturday's Trunk Show!!

Saturday's Photo

keeping my feet warm while I work :)

let it snow :)

today is a good day...the cats got a new toy and were thrilled...
















and we woke up to this:

Saturday's Photo

the do-gooders

yup, we've done it again...meet Wally...in a few weeks he'll be up for adoption at BARCS...after he's had all his shots and tests done :) like always...if we didn't already have three...this little guy would probably be living with us...so if you want a super affectionate cat...go get Wally :)







in other news...inside the house, the three cats showdown continues...

things that make me laugh

I love my furry children...they are always doing something funny, and they have no idea how much they amuse me...

take for example the other day...how Jack, who loves to 'share' whatever I happen to be drinking put not just his nose, but whole head in my cup the other day...I'm sure this is really only funny to me...but I thought I'd share :)

the three cats are getting along better these days...maybe they'll even like each other soon :)












also...super excited that new tv is back...and thank goodness for Tivo for keeping me hopelessly addicted to all the shows I love...













most excited for...The Office....only 34 hours to go until the new episode!!!!!

foster mom?

ahh, the cats of Mangold Street...some days I feel like I have 6 or 7 instead of just the three that live inside the house...but now when I come home, I've got friends waiting for me to put out some food for them...it makes me so sad, but I guess I feel better at least knowing they are well fed...

the cat rescue brigade

I admit it, I'm a softie when it comes to animals...














especially ones that people just decide they don't want anymore, and put outside to fend for themselves...so Kelley and I have found a new project...this cute little gray kittie who we have not named yet (for fear of getting too attached)...if we can scoop him up today, he's going to BARCS where he'll get adopted in a heart beat...seriously, could not be a friendlier or more affectionate cat...

I mean, how cute is he?? when we walk over to him, he just meows hello, and proceeds to roll over so we can give him a scratch...

life on mangold street

Since we can't take in anymore cats off the street...we've taken to naming them, and trying to make friends...leave them food...these are our buddies Penelope (on steps) and Nigel (ground)

what I did today...

not much, not going to lie...it was a slow day at work, so while I was bored, I decided to do a little post-it sketch of a picture of my kitties that I have on my desk :p

jack in the box

Since these two little guys are the ones I spend the majority of my time with....I thought they deserved a little recognition...more like dogs then cats, I have two tiny shadows wherever I go in my house...and Jack (to the right) has a thing for sitting inside anything, boxes, bags, purses...


Kevin on the other hand, likes to sit behind me, on the couch, in my bed, and especially at my desk...the back of the chair is falling apart...but he's happy...

my furry friends

they are always doing new things to amuse me...I guess they like to share :p

Buttons :)

about 2 weeks ago...this little kitty found her way to our neighbor's back stoop...and now we've basically domesticated her...and hopefully will find her a home soon...e-mail me for more info...she is just the sweetest little kitty ever...and we've been calling her Buttons :)