Well it’s finally Furiday and da sun is shinin’. You know all last week it was like winter had returned so me was really happy to see mr. Sunshine this week. Me had been hangin’ in da stroller hopin’ mommy would take me out. And she had purromissed dat when it got warmer out we would indeed go fur a stroll. She sed she would take me up to see Buddy while we were at it, so me watched and waited fur warmer weather to arrive. Da storms finally over, gave way to to da windy days of spring in da South. So on Tuesday after we got up and ’round, mommy told me she had to get some fotos of Buddy fur his wrap up review and we would go fur a stroll afterwards. Dat all sounded pawsum, so me settled on da cat tree to take a little bath afur goin’ visitin’. You know, a girlys’ gotta look her bestest right? Right.
Mommy cleaned up da kitchen and put on some strollin’ clothes and gathered da camera and then me. Well dat’s where things went sideways. Mommy carried me over to da stroller and me went nuts. Yep, dat’s right, me got all scared and just plain freaked out. Now let me say dat me may not unnerstand exactly what’s goin’ on and where sis Lexi is, but me knows one thing fur sure, She Ain’t Here!!!Mommy gathered her up in her arms and they walked out da door and she ain’t never come back home, least not da way me knew her. Since she left, mommy and me have stayed home and not really gone anywhere, so this was da furst time since sissy left me dat me was gonna be goin’ out, and me just wasn’t sure me really wanted to do dat. You know, was mommy gonna be leavin’ me where ever she left sis Lexi? Was she gonna take me away to never return home again? Me didn’t have da answers, but me wasn’t havin’ any of dat; so me just got so scared dat me piddled a little. Yep, me knows it’s embarrassin’ but me sure did it.
Mommy didn’t react like me had ‘spected, but she did react. Mommy started bawlin’ and held me even closer. And she started cooin’ ’bout how much she loved me and such, but all me could see was da open stroller awaitin’ me’s depawsit.
Sweetheart, I would never take you away. You know I love and adore you and never want to be without you.
Yeah mommy me knows and you say dat all da time; but you said it to sis Lexi too and….She Ain’t Here anymore!!!
Oh baby, you know I didn’t want Lexi to leave us. I would have done anything to keep her here, but sometimes there’s just nothing more we can do. God needed sissy more than we do, and we just have to accept that. You know your sissy was sick and in pain and we didn’t want that for her. So even though we have the sads, Lexi is in a much better place now. She’s no longer sick or hurting and she’ll always be with us, because we’ll never ever forget her.
See how me’s hunkered down and scared?
Virtual bloggin’ me unnerstands dat mommy, but real me, da one da lives in our house doesn’t get it at all. Anyways, mommy has this sayin’ ’bout gettin’ back up on da horse, so after a good ole cry fest she placed me in da stroller and cleaned up da piddle from da floor and changed clothes. Okay, maybe it was more than a piddle…Me was scared. Not sure where da horse comes into play here, but mommy likes her sayings so we’ll just go with it.
Don’t you be hissin’ at me Buddy. See ifin me shares anymore treats with you. Ha!!!
So, in da stroller me laid down and didn’t make a peep, chirp or mew. Out da door we went. Da wind was stronger than mommy ‘spected, but we headed up to check on Buddy anyways. On da way up me heard lots of birdy’s chirpin’ and lots of them flew right in front of da stroller. Me eased up a bit and actually stood up to get a better view of all those birdys. Sorry Tabbies, me likes good bird teevee. We arrived at Buddys’ ‘pawrtment and he was standin’ at da door as ifin he was waitin’ fur us. Once inside, Buddy purrceeded to hiss at me. Can you believe dat? Me? Da kitty respawnsible fur gettin’ him some good noms. Da kitty dat made hims daddy want a kitty in da furst place. Little ole Southern Belle me. Well, bein’ da Southern ladycat dat me is, me turned and showed him me’s backside. Yep, to borrow one of mommy’s sayings, he can kiss me’s lily white. MOL A few fotos later and we was off.
You can’t see ’em, but there’s a lot of birds me’s watchin’. Even a few “crows” gossiping at da office. MOL
By now all dat fear me had was gone and me was enjoyin’ me’s time with mommy. Seems every step she took caused da birds to flush and fly right in front of me. We went over so mommy could sit down on one of da benches and me could have a good view of da birds and squirrels. We didn’t stay out too long as da wind was really blowin’ and altho’ da sun was out it was still a little cooler than we like. You know, mommy’s over purrtective and didn’t want either of us to ketch a cold. Once we got back in da house, me strutted ’round like a peacock. Me was so happy dat me had courage was home again. Mommy said it was really purrtant dat me be okay leavin’ da house again, so we’s been out fur a little stroll every day since then. And me’s enjoyed every one of them. Dat’s right, no more piddle puddles. We even went to her doctors ‘pointment yesfurday, and me was so happy to see all me’s furiends again. But it has been windy here lately, so me has to do some major groomin’ when we get back home. Ya’ know a girlys’ always gotta look her bestest. Me’s joinin’ Rascal and Rocco fur da Pet Parade as me does every week.
Kittens!!! It was windy. Me’s gotta get me’s furs groomed back down.
How do you get over your fears?
Do you jump right back into a situation that scared you?
Well it’s finally Furiday mommy. Do you think these storms are gonna last all weekend?
I don’t know baby, but you have a quest to attend at cat scouts.
Me sure does mommy. Me hopes it isn’t too hard. We’s sure learnin’ lots of new things at scouts lately.
Ya’ll sure are Dezi. You should be well prepared for hiking and camping.
Well me sure hopes so. Me wouldn’t wanna let me’s patrol down. So with dat sed, me has to run now and meet up with me’s patrol to hike into da campsite and get all set up. It’s gonna be a crazy busy weekend, specially with da storms. Me’s joinin’ up with Rascal and Rocco fur da weekly Pet Parade Blog Hop. And ifin you’re lookin’ fur lots of virtual adventure and fun with other cats why not join Cat Scouts today? Me hopes yous havin’ great spring weather and lots of sun puddles wherever you are. Me will see you all soon.
Well as you can see by me’s title, today me will talk ’bout me’s grief. Afur me gets started me wants to pawlogize fur not visitin’ fur a couple days. Mommy had to get ready fur da big inspection yesfurday and was totally exhausted at da end of each day. Hopefully it’s all over now and we can get back to da business of livin’ and visitin’. So now let’s get to it.
March 7, 2016: Sis Lexi had been feelin’ a little unner da weather and me had been spendin’ a lot of time with her back on da bed tryin’ to comfurt her. She had begun to do ’nuffin’ but sleep all day and all night. She wuld only get up to go to da pawdee box or get a drink. Mommy would carry her to da kitchen at meal times in da hopes of gettin’ her to eat sumthin’. Often mommy would open three to four different foods afur sissy would finally take a few bites and not spit it back out. Dat night after dinner, me sensed sumthin’ had changed with sissy. So when she crawled back up da steps to da bed, me followed her and gave her a quick bath and some luv and then returned to da livin’ room to be with mommy. Me mewed a quiet mew and settled in. Dat wuld be me’s last mommy mew fur over a week. Mommy seemed to sense dat sumthin’ was up too, cuz she started cryin’ when she saw me jump up on da cat tree and settle in fur an after dinner nap.
March 8, 2016: Sissy still helped me with mommy but she was gettin’ ’round really slow. Me needed her help, but me mostly ignored her. Mommy continued to carry sissy to da kitchen fur meals; hopin’ to get her to eat. And me? Me continued to ignore her. Mommy laid with sis Lexi and cried and begged her to eat, and purrayed fur God to help her. Each time mommy would get sissy to swallow a little bite of food, sissy would make herself throw it back up. And mommy would cry even harder. Me laid on da top of da cat tree tryin’ not to notice what was goin’ on. Me didn’t really unnerstand why mommy was cryin’ so much and tryin’ to force sissy to eat. Me had already sed “see ya” cuz me knew sissy wasn’t well and me didn’t know why mommy didn’t know dat. When we went to bed dat night mommy purrayed really hard fur sissy and asked God and sissy to give her a sign. She told sissy how much she loved and needed her but dat she didn’t want sissy to suffer needlessly. Finally mommy cried herself to sleep with sissy massagin’ her head.
March 9,2016: Sis Lexi kuldn’t keep her balance when she tried to stand, and she continued to refuse to eat. Mommy cried and couldn’t stop cryin’. She purrayed and asked God and sissy to let her know what to do. And sissy pulled herself into mommys lap and put her head down and mewed quietly and started to purr. Da well walls broke and mommy started sobbin’ so hard her body was shakin’, and she told sissy she unnerstood. When mommy got home me knew she was alone and dat sumthin’ was different, me just didn’t really know what. Me snuggled with mommy and tried to keep da tears on her face wiped up with me’s paws, but there was just too many of them. Me and mommy both furgot all ’bout dinner till really late. But even when mommy fixed me’s plate, me didn’t eat. Neither of us wanted to sleep dat night and so we didn’t. Every time me would nod off, me would jerk meself awake again til dawn’s light finally broke thru da darkness.
March 10, 2016: With da light of a new day, mommy gave me breakfast and as always fixed sis Lexi a plate too. But da plate went uneaten as all da plates in da last few days. Mommy just stood there lookin’ at it and cryin’. Both os us finally gave in to da exhaustion and laid back in mommy’s lift recliner fur a short nap. We didn’t sleep very good, but we did get a little rest. We had a big inspection comin’ up so mommy tried to busy herself with cleanin’. She picked up all da piddle pads dat had been all over da floors and da bed and threw them out. After vacuumin’ she didn’t put them all back down. Me watched from a distance and mommy sez me’s face looked puzzled. Mommy then tore all da linens off da bed to wash and put new ones on it. She also washed up da blankets, throws and comfurter. Sissy had thrown up and peed on them da day befur. When mommy finally got da bed all made up me climbed da steps and smelled it. Me looked back at mommy and then da bed several times befur returnin’ to da cat tree. When dinner time came, me was hungry after not eatin’ a couple of meals, so me ate everythin’ in me’s plate and asked fur more. Mommy sez she thought at dat point me was okay. Me’s here to tell you, she was Wrong. We went to bed dat night but me was a little uneasy. Things didn’t look or smell da same. But me cuddled up next to me’s quietly cryin’ mommy and we both drifted off to sleep.
March 11, 2016: After a restless night it was time to help mommy get up so she could make me brekky. Me started mommy’s massage as usual, but sis Lexi wasn’t there to help. When mommy could finally move a little me got into da wheelchair and started lookin’ round fur sissy. Me couldn’t see her anywhere, so me started callin’ out fur her. Me mewed and mewed but she never answered. After ’bout 30 minutes me jumped down and ran to da pawdee box room to see ifin she was in there. Me couldn’t see her, so me went to da livin’ room and climbed to da top of da cat tree look fur her. Mommy kept hollerin’ fur me and cryin’. Me finally gave up and went back to help mommy. After a bit of brekky me went back to lookin’ fur sissy. After a few hours of not hearin’ or seein’ me mommy came lookin’ fur me. She found me layin’ in front of da washin’ machine and tryn’ to see unner it. A long time ago sissy got stuck behind da washer and any time me couldn’t find her, dat’s da furst place me looked. Well of course mommy started cryin’ again and picked me up and took me to sit down with her. She went on and on ’bout how sissy went to heaven and wasn’t comin’ back, and dat she was lookin’ fur me a new helper, but me didn’t really unnerstand anythin’ she was sayin’. Me just wanted her to look fur sissy with me. And as soon as me could get loose, me was goin’ back to stand guard at da washer. Me was sure ifin she would just get on da washer and look behind it, she would see sissy. Me returned to me’s post at da washer several times over da next couple of days, but mommy never looked behind it. All she did was stare at me and cry.
As me sed, me continued searchin’ fur sissy and mewin’ fur her fur days. Eatin’ only a small amount at each meal and sleepin’ more offen then not. Mommy tried playin’ every game me likes but me just wasn’t innerested. Me’s been a little jumpy and nervous and uncertain ’bout just ’bout everything. Even normal sounds make me jump a little. Me even attacked mommys legs a couple of times out of furustration. Me scratched her leg up purretty good. She knew me didn’t mean it and never even hollered at me.
Mommy, me knows she’s here. Ifin you will just look, you will see.
March 18, 2016: Today marked da furst day since sissy left dat me didn’t spend any time lookin’ fur her. And after usin’ da pawdee box, me mewed fur mommy to clean it out. Mommy seemed thrilled to hear me holler fur her to clean da pawdee box. Da once tedious job now seemed to delight her. Me only mewed fur pawdee box cleanings, but mommy seemed to be happy. Over da next few days me got a little chattier and seemed a little less nervous. Of course inspection day had me on edge as usual, but mommy sez me bounced back after all da excitement was over. Me still has moments of lookin’ fur sissy, but mommy sez once she gets me a helper and a playmate dat will disappear. Me will always member and luv sissy, me just won’t search fur her any more.
While me didn’t act out or develop any “bad habits”, it’s not uncommon fur grievin’ pets to urinate outside of da litterbox or in da case of doggies, in da house. Altho’ not eatin’ is a sign of grief, ‘member, kitties cannot fast. If your kitty stops eatin’ fur more than 2 days, their body and vital organs can sustain irrepurrable damage. This condition is called Feline Hepatic Lipidosis which you can read about by clicking on it. Me didn’t mew much but your pet may become very vocal. Sleeping and general lethargy, loss of innerest in their favorite toys and treats may also be a sign of grief in your pet. Your pet may or may not search fur their missing house mate, but rest assured they feel da loss and don’t completely unnerstand what’s goin’ on. Extra luv and cuddles from you will help your grieving pet as much as it will help you. Adding a new pet, will also help distract and take the mind off da loss. You can NEVER replace da life or luv of your beloved pet, but you can open your heart and luv another. Sometimes it helps to get a new pet who looks nuffin’ like da one you lost. A good thing to ‘member, is dat when getting an anipal who looks identical to da one you lost is, dat da new furry has his/her own purrsonality and should have their own name, and be loved fur their uniqueness. Again, you CANNOT replace da furry you lost. To celebrate their uniqueness, buy them a new toy or food bowl. Mommy has little boxes fur each of her lost fur babies dat contains a favorite toy, dish, nip mat, collar or whatever. Sissy adored da nip mat awnty Ellen made fur us and now it resides in her memory box along with her favorite nip toys, a few whiskers dat had fallen out (mommy saves everyone she finds) and a tuft of fur mommy cut off befur sissy left us. There is no set way fur any of us to grieve, and there’s no set time on how long it’s gunna take. And to answer da question you wanna ask but won’t, yes, we’s had to delete “and Lexi” on just ’bout every comment we’s made.
C’mon mommy, where’s sissy hidin’?
On da inspection front, we sat ’round all day watchin’ and waitin’ and nuffin’. Finally da vice purresident of da management company dat mommy had worked with after da flood dropped by to check on us and sed our ‘partment wasn’t chosen fur inspection. Mommy figgers it’s cuz da lady from Rural Development spent so much time in our ‘partment befur, durin’ and after da flood incident, da managers harassment and all, dat she knows mommy keeps da ‘partment clean and legal and reports any purroblems purromptly. And ifin anythin’ was amiss, she would’ve already heard from mommy. So altho’ we’s good dat our ‘partment wasn’t chosen, we was furustrated dat mommy nearly killed herself over da last little bit gettin’ things in order. Anyways, there ya’ have it. Mommy and me are gonna be okay. It’s just gonna take a little time to get everythin’ back to what we call normal. And ifin anypawdy in our area knows of sum girly kitties in need of a home, purrlease let us know. Me really needs help and mommy and me both need sumkitty to focus our extra luv on. As we try to do every week. we’s joinin’ Rascal and Rocco fur da Pet Parade. And Lexi’s last post is up at da Daily Mews. Mommy and me also want you all to know dat sissy’s ashes be back home where she belongs. Mommy went to pick her up yesfurday.
Oh Furiday what took you so long? We was so confused we kept callin’ Fursday, Furiday. MOL Now you may be wunnerin’ why we was so confused, right? Well let me ‘splain. As you know mommy uses a wheelchair in da meowning’s cuz she can’t get ‘round on da legs God gave her till she gets her medicine and her muscles and all wake up. Anyways, those wheelchairs run on rechargeable batteries. Seems everything runs on batteries these days. And you know, nuffin’ these days is made to last includin’ da batteries in those wheelchairs. Over da last couple of weeks da chair has been getting’ slower and slower. See once we learn how to drive da wheelchair mommy let’s us turn up da speed a bit. But here lately even on full out wheely mode da chair wuld barely creep along and when it hit a little bump it would come to a joltin’ stop and start beepin’ at us. So mommy knew it was time fur new batteries but she didn’t know who to call. See da company we got da chair from is no longer in business. And Medicare likes to work with da same company they bought an item from fur repairs. We don’t why, we just know there’s a lot of red tape to switch companies.
Me’s welkummin’ Furiday and da sunshine
Anyways, mommy had to ask around to find out who everypawdy was usin’ since they all got their wheelchairs from da same place. Mr. W has someone out here workin’ on his chair all da time, so he finally gave mommy a nummer to call to get new batteries fur her chair. When mommy called ‘em they set up a pointment with her fur yesfurday furst thing in da meownin’. She didn’t get to choose a time or she wulda chose sometime in da afternoon of course. Anyways, knowin’ dat she can’t get ‘round in da meownings she knew she wuld have to stay up all night Wednesday and continue takin’ medicine so she kuld function when da repairman got here Fursday. Me has to tell ya’, me doesn’t like all-nighters. We all miss out on prime snugglin’ time. Fankfully it doesn’t happen all da time. Sis Lexi gave up ‘round 4 a.m. and she went off to da bed to get some sleep. Me on da other hand wasn’t leavin’ mommy’s site, so me laid down in one of da cat beds we have dat be unner mommys desk. Me kuld ketch a little shut eye and still watch over mommy. Needless to say we both kept noddin’ off. Mommy sez she’s getting’ to old fur these kinda things.
It’z about time da we got new batteriez fur da wheelchair
Well Fursday finally arrived and mommy fed sissy and me a little early so da repairman wuldn’t innerupt our brekky, and then she sat down to wait fur da call. We’s not in da GPS so she spected him to call fur directions since he was comin’ from da big city (Oklahoma City). Well she waited and waited and waited some more, but no call came. Finally a little after noon da repairman called and sed he wuld be at our house in about an hour. Mommy was exhausted and fit to be tied. All she kuld say was, dat we kulda went to bed and got all those snuggles we missed out on. Oh well kulda, wulda, shulda, right?
Da repairman finally arrived ‘bout 1:30 p.m. and sed he had batteries in his truck. So he turned on mommys wheelchair and tried to navigate it outside. They never do anythin’ in your house. Mommy hates dat cuz she doesn’t trust them, but she has no choice lessen she wants to go outside and watch ‘em. Da batteries were so drained dat when he got to da front door, da chair wuldn’t even go over da little hump. He had to manually push da chair all da way out to his truck. It’s not dat far to da parkin’ lot from our partment, but it took 15 minutes fur him to get dat chair outside. It was kinda chilly yesfurday, but repair man was workin’ up a sweat. Anyways, he replaced da batteries and brought da chair back to da house and left and mommy sed, “WooHoo, girls it’s nap time.”
Me needs a nap.
We’s got a purropurrly workin’ wheelchair again and can finally go faster than da tortoise. So needless to say me had to play a little this meownin’ afur deliverin’ da chair to mommy. Me went speedy zip zoomy and ran smack dab into da bed. Neither mommy nor sis Lexi was amused. At least we’s finally caught up with da days and it’s still Furiday. MOL So as far as we’s concerned, we’s had two Furidays this week. We’ll be round to visit as soon as we can, mommy’s still tryin’ to ketch up on da rest she missed and sissy and me are tryin’ to ketch up on da cuddles. As we do every week, we’s joinin’ Rascal and Rocco fur da Pet Parade blog hop. Check it out, ya’ might make a new furiend or two. Me’s gotta go get some more cuddles now, so me will see ya’ later.
When was da last time you stayed up all night?
After an all nighter are you alert or walkin’ in a haze?
Service Cats U.S. 