Last Week

TBT:  I didn't post yesterday (feeling both uncreative and a bit worried) and it was a busy day.  But it occurred to me late last night that a lot have things went "off" with The Mews the past week that I hadn't mentioned (being worried about it and waiting for resolution).  Then things seemed to get resolved, so I kind of ignored them.  But then I thought I should mention those things.

I mentioned Laz going to the Vet and having some blood drawn for and FiV test.  I didn't mention a minor issue the visit revealed and what happened for several days after.  And do keep in mind that "almost all was resolved".  ;)

So what was the bad stuff?

When Laz returned from the Vet, Lori sniffed him.  Then hissed and swiped a paw at him.  And she growled at him.  OK, I know that is not too unusual a response to a cat returning from the Vet with strange medical smells.  But then she even attacked him (briefly).  Poor Laz was shocked and confused!  

She even growled and swiped at Marley!   Now, that's pretty futile.  It's like waving a ping-pong paddle at a tennis racket.  So she must have been very very upset.  And that was all very confusing to me because Laz has come back from the Vet before since Lori arrived.

Worse, she kept it up for 2 full days.  I saw Laz approach Lori next to the pillow on the bed (where they routinely nap together) and she hissed at him even then.  I considered whether Lori was have some separate problem coincidently occurring at the same time.

And then, none of them wanted to eat!  Well, Ayla did, but she stays separate from the others.  Marley, Laz, and Lori were all turning up their noses at the regular canned food, even when I put a few kibbles on top,  and even when I crushed some freeze-dried chicken on top (which would probably get Laz and Lori to eat dried potato flakes, but Marley hates the dried chicken anyway but does like the kibble sprinkles)!

Lori's odd actions lasted until Thursday.  I saw then napping "nearby".  Later that day, I saw them curled up together.  But even today, I notice they don't cuddle like they used to.  I hope things get back to normal soon.

I tried some various things.  I got Lori up on a table and "carefully" ran my fingers through her fur looked for something that might be bothering her (wound, thorn, sticky-seeds, tick) and found nothing.  I also checked Laz thoroughly  to see if he had some infection at the blood-drawing site or anywhere else.  Nothing I could findLaz and Lori are now almost back to usual.  I say almost because even now it is more 50-50 mutual napping rather than 90%.  

They are all eating normally again, so that is good.  And yesterday, Laz and Lori chased each other all around the house after dark in apparent good spirit.  

This will probably just be one of "those cat mysteries" I will never have an answer to.  I will just accept that things are mostly back to normal and be grateful for that.

Yesterday (once)...

Girlcat Tuesday

IZA:  Who, ME?  No, no, *I* didnt pull it off the hanger.  It, um, slid right off by itself, yeah.  I was ALL the way across the kitchen and I saw it fall.  So I went rushing over to, um, see iffen it was alright.   And thats when YOU walked in and saw me sitting here, comforting my poor towely friend.

I mean, just LOOK at me.  Is this a face that would lie to YOU?

And iffen you leave the room and hear some noise, I am NOT bunny-kicking the towel.  As far as you'll know annyway...

Mancat Monday

MARLEY:  Im up on the high narrow windowsill in the bafroom.  I don't go up there much cuz its a tricky jump.  Ya have ta jump both up an sideways a bit.

Sign?  What sign?  Oh, THAT one...

Oh BAST!  I did it AGAIN!  Now shes gonna sniff the windowsill an KNOW I was up here again...

Shes gonna be MAAAD.

Well, Here It Is...

AYLA:  I was watchin this large bright yellow thing on the floor.

TBT did somethin to it an it started movin.  It kinna looked like it was spinning, like a alien space saucer!   I got out of there fast.

But Iza watched it closer.

She said there was something UNNER there.

And she tried ta CATCH IT!

But it kept stopping and changin directions.  She reached unner the thing and announced there was something in there an it felt like it had a tail.

So I came back an watched along with her.

 I DID see a tail unner there!

But then it stopped.  TBT fiddled with it an got it movin again a few minnits [TBT:  new-recharged batteries]  But then it would only move when he held a button on the top down.  And then not at all.  So we all ignored it after that. 

TBT:  After a 2nd set of recharged batteries, it still would only move with some fussing and then it stopped completely!  Looks like I have to return it.  Maybe a replacement will work better.

Easy Like Sunday

AYLA:  OK, Marley was good about last Sunday, so Im bein good today.

Im not sure HOW I want to take it EASY today though.   There are several platforms I could nap on, but mostly, I wanna get up on top of the bookcases.  But Marley is taking his Easy on the one I need to jump up from, so I cant get up there.

Marley says TBT TOLD me ta stop gettin up there cuz there is nice stuff I might knock over, and he is just keepin me out of trubble!  I love my brofur dearly, but sometimes he is a bit too much of a boy scout, ya know?

Mebbe I'll just curl up on this one fer a while an see iffen he leaves. 

The Tail

MARLEY;  I can hardly believe it.  Both Iza AND Ayla rejected my grooming offers today.   Wouldnt play Mousies.  Wouldnt play King of the Cat Tree.  Wouldnt play THoE either.  So I am showing them...

The Tail of Annoyance.

Mebbe they are jealous that I have my OWN Gotcha Day an they hafta share one.  I hope they come to their senses tomorrow.

Mebbe I better check my breath.  But they should TELL me if that was bad, right?  But I'll be extra nice ta both of them on the sleepin bed tonight an get them out of their temporary bad mood.  Its what I do!

WHAT WAS THAT?

10 minutes ago...

Hey guys, wake up!  Look!

 What, some moth on the door?

WOW!  That's BIG!

What WAS it?  It wasn't a possum.

Or a skunkie!

TBT:  That was a raccoon, guys...  An ya don't wanna mess with them.  That's why ya stay inside at night!

Iza:  Um, Ayla stayed outside a few nights ago... 

TBT:  Yeah, and she was lucky.  That thing would have ATE HER!   There MIGHT just have been fur left on the ground!  HERS!

All:  UTB!!!

Houston, We Have A Problem...

THE BIG THING:  Well we did not have a good 48 hours here at Mark's Mews!  Marley lost his collar, Iza barfed twice, the shelving rack I am assembling is missing 2 pieces and otherwise becoming more of a project than I expected, the printer died, the groundhog I trapped and then humanely released outside of the fence is back inside.  My 'Cavebear's Lair' blog refused to add uploaded photos for a day.

But all that pales...

Ayla got outside Wednesday afternoon and did not return until a couple hours ago!

There is a history to this.  LC basically taught Ayla how to get over the fence.  Both would stay out for an hour, then come home when called.  But last year, after Iza joined us, Ayla would stay outside the fence (but close to it) for 2 nights at a time.  The last time, Iza chased Ayla over the fence as if she was an intruder.  I had to spray Iza with the garden hose to get her to back away.  Ayla stayed close to the fence, but outside for 4 days.  At that point, when she finally returned, Ayla became an indoors cat.

I do not understand this at all.  Indoors, they sleep together, eat together, and nap on my lap together.  They groom each other. Outside, something is different...  Last year, Iza chased Ayla over the fence twice.

But I have successfully kept Ayla indoors for about a year now, while Iza and (very recently)  Marley went outside.  Iza and Marley can go outside in the big fenced-in backyard because they show absolutely no interest in getting over the fence.  Probably because they can't.  That's good, because I am outside a lot and I like to have my friends outside with me.

It isn't easy managing the deck door cat-traffic.  Iza or Marley want to get in or out, sometimes in opposite directions.  I always watch Ayla carefully, tapping my foot in front of her to back her away.  But it all went wrong yesterday...

Iza was in, and wanted out.  Marley was out, and wanted in.  Ayla was across the room, sitting quietly.  I opened the door so Marley could get in and Iza out.  They usually enter and leave quickly.  But Iza and Marley blocked each other with Marley's head just in the opening.

I saw Ayla rush the door.  I couldn't shut it on Marley's neck, so I swiped a hand toward Ayla.  Just as Iza got in the way...  Ayla hopped over both of them like a gazelle, and she was out on the deck. Marley ran inside and Iza backed away;  I walked calmly onto the deck and tried to get Ayla back inside, but she hopped off the deck and ran straight over the fence!

You would think that, being inside for a year, she would be interested in the yard.  To stop and sniff things, nibble some grass, sniff the mouse holes.  No, she went straight over the fence.

I heard the bell on her collar jingling while I was outside yesterday, but I couldn't see her.  At least she was staying close by the fence.  There is an area between me and 3 other neighbors that stays wild.  She likes it there.  She doesn't go near the road (and it is a very low traffic dead end street). 

She was 4 days out from her recent heat cycle (the first in 2 1/2 months!), so she was safe from that kind of unwanted attention.  But I couldn't help worrying.  There are owls, there are loose dogs.  She MIGHT wander too far away to find home this time.

I didn't sleep the first night.  Literally, I stayed up til dawn, calling outside about once each hour.  Slept from 8 a.m. to Noon...  Last night, I slept solidly, just too tired to call her all night.

Around lunchtime, I glanced outside, and it looked like Iza was out on the lawn.  It definitely wasn't Ayla, too light-colored.  Then I saw Ayla a few feet away!  I shut the bedroom door to keep Iza and Marley inside and opened the deck door.  Then, I could see the other cat was a light ginger.

When he saw me, he trotted away and Ayla chased after him.  Dammit, she went back over the fence again!  Fortunately, a few minutes later she hopped back up on the fence and walked along it for a while.  I got quietly to within 20 feet and just stood there for about 10 minutes talking to her.

FINALLY, she decided to join me and came over.  When she started to purr, it was safe to reach down and pick her up.  Inside, I fed her and stood next to the cat tree until she hopped up there.  I scratched her for about 15 minutes until she decided she wanted to nap.  I got her into the Mewsroom and closed the door so that she would have some secure time after I let Iza and Marley out of the bedroom.

As soon as Ayla was out of the Mewsroom, Iza attacked her!  I separated them and soothed Ayla again for a while.  An hour later, she did it AGAIN!  This time I had the spray bottle at hand and gave her a couple of good shots.

While they usually get along, there is just something about Ayla that Iza does not like!  She doesn't attack Marley like that, ever.  I think Iza would like to be an only cat, but she does really like Marley...  Maybe it is because Ayla runs from Iza and Marley doesn't, but that might be either WHY Iza attacks or BECAUSE Iza attacks.

Equally, I don't know whether Ayla started to stay out longer because I began to keep her inside or because she wanted to get away from Iza.   She stayed out overnight a few times before Iza arrived, but the multiple night episodes started shortly after Iza arrived.   I often see Iza staring at Ayla intently. 

At least she is back inside again.  For now.  I don't know what will happen next...

UPDATE:  Oh, BTW, TBT is moaning about his plant light stand project iffen ya wanna read about it over here...

http://cavebearslair.blogspot.com/2011/05/seedling-light-stand-part-3.html

We dont see what he is so annoyed about.  Its not like his time is worth annything when he isnt payin attention to US!  An he is tryin ta grow veggables!  Who cares?

Destructo Kitty Again!

IZA:  Why me?  I dont wanna be destructive.  It jus HAPPENS, ya know?

See, here is an attractive nuisance.

A pile of some stuff just WAITIN ta be falled over!  I don't WANNA do it.  Im jus there when it gets falled over.  NOT my fault.

OK. so I WAS there when it happened.  That doesnt prove I caused it...

An yes I did LOOK at the stack of tapes RIGHT after...  No crime in THAT, right?

I was as amazeded as anyone when they FELLED RIGHT OVER! 

Why blame ME?  Jus cuz I was there?   I felt a small housequake.  Ya heard of those, right?  So it wasnt ME.   RIGHT?

Hmmm...

IZA:  Ayla dint fall for the dryer ride!  It dint occur ta me that she would ask you guys for advice...

But this looks promising!  She likes ta explore inta places.  I wonder if I can talk her inta taking a bag dive.

She might just go for that...  Heh-heh!

Egg Carton Fun

AYLA:  OK, it really doesnt show up well, but I took one of Izas egg carton chunks an bunny-kicked and chewed it ta shreds!

That'll show her shes not the only one who can do that!  Of course, I made sure she was outside when I did it.  She's "possessive".

An how does she get all that mushed cardboard outta her claws?  Does she EAT it?  I cant ezactly ask or she'll know what I did.

I think I better go claw around in the "clean" litterbox a while an get this paper mache stuff out.  Ick...

A Problem

THE BIG THING:  I'm taking over the blog for right now.  I have to mention a problem from the past week.  I was trying to avoid it, but I need any advice I can get. 

Ayla and Iza get along fine in the house.  They both nap on my lap sometimes together.  They sleep with me on the bed at night.  They eat in the same room.  They wrassle friendly often.  But Iza is a bit of a bully sometimes.  Ayla can hop up high when she needs to, so that isn't a major problem.

The problem is when they are outside.  Ayla likes to go over the fence into the wilder woods when she is allowed outside.  That's been "OK", she usually returns at night. 

But then Iza started waiting at the door and threatened Ayla when she wanted to come inside.  I had to protect Ayla as she came in.  It got worse last week.

As Ayla went outside, Iza followed.  The instant Ayla pranced toward the fence, Iza lit out after her like she was an intruder kitty.  Ayla ran over the fence easily and Iza could not follow her.  When Ayla returned later, Iza chased her into the house and made some fur fly.  I had to separate them for an hour, but after that, they were fine again.

The last time, Iza jumped on Ayla while still on the deck!  Ayla jumped off (10' to the lawn) and Iza chased her out of the yard.  And screamed at her while halfway up the fence.  Iza has never climbed halfway up the fence before, nor has she screamed at Ayla before.

Ayla would NOT return to the yard for 4 days!  I saw her around often.  She was wandering near the fence all the time.  She would sit ON the fence frequently.  But she would not come in the yard.  It did not matter whether Iza was out or in.  If I approached her quietly and alone, she would hop off the fence and stay outside.  I was feeling sick and worried.

If Iza was outside in the yard, I could always tell where Ayla was because Iza was right opposite inside the fence warding her away.  No screams, just "I dare you to come back over the fence".  I should mention that Ayla is 5.5 pounds and Iza is 11.5 pounds.

Finally, at the end of the 4th day, Ayla showed up at the deck door.  I grabbed Iza and held her high and opened the door.  Ayla hesitated but came inside.  I closed the door fast.  Then I closed Iza in the bedroom and attended to Ayla.  She was so loving and happy, so at least I know it wasn't me she was trying to escape from.  I gave her canned food in small amounts over 2 hours and water.  She curled right up on my lap and purred .

So it is something between her and Iza.  Yet, when I opened the bedroom door and let Iza out, they got along fine, sniffing and grooming. 

I first thought that it was because Iza is very possessive of me (you would think she was on a 2' leash attached to my ankle).  But, inside, they are (mostly) fine.

It's outside that is the problem.  Outside, Iza treats Ayla like an intruder or even prey for the past 2 months.  I don't understand it.  If Ayla just sits on the deck, she is generally safe, but if she moves toward the fence, Iza attacks her.  The last time Iza just wnt insane attacking at Ayla.

Idea 1.  Iza suddenly treats anything that moves away from her as prey.

Idea 2.  Iza wants to be an only cat but only thinks she can drive Ayla away when she is outside.

Idea 3.  Iza is going crazy because Ayla keeps going into heat (Ayla has been spayed twice, but it hasn't worked).

Idea 4. Something else.


If any kitties or Beins have any advice or suggestions, I could sure use it.  I give them both a lot of separate attention.  I try to give them both attention when they are being friendly to each other.  I don't favor either of them.  I am wondering if a third cat, male, might bring some calmness to the house, probably an adult one (having a larger friendly cat than Iza might settle her aggressive habits).  Or that might make things worse. 

Please help us...

I'm In Serious Trubble!

AYLA:  The Big Thing is very upset wif me.  He says I just became an indoor kitty!

Well, I knew he was unhappy wif my gettin over the big fence and wanderin aroun fer hours and not comin back when called lots.  But I relly made it all wrong Monday.  Ya see, he hadda bring the puter ta be repaired and leave at Noon.  But it was only 9 am an it was cold out so he figured I wouldn't stay out long.  He called at 11 am, and every few minnuts after.  I heard him OK an he could see me outside the fence but I wouldnt come back in.  He even pushed leavin later than he wanned to.

He finally had ta leave.  He says that made him miss his appointment, which meant he hadda wait fer a whole extra hour just ta drop off the puter and drive home.  He's used ta that kinna stuff, so he wasnt real upset.  But when he got home, I still wouldn't come in an he was getting real worried cause of the cold.  I'd been out 6 hours!

Then one time he called an he heard me call behind him.  He looked around and dint see me, cause I was up on the roof!  Then I came runnn to the roof edge cause I wanned ta come IN.  It was cold an windy up there an I couldnt get down!

How did I get up there?  Well, Im not tellin in case he figures out how ta stop me...  He figures I either jumped 6 whole feet up from the deck rails ta the roof or I climbed the huge tree and either jumped or fell from the big branch over the roof 20 feet above.  But Im not sayin which.  Let him figure it out.

But Im gettin ahead of the story...

So there I was at the edge of the roof by the deck with him askin me ta jump down.  UH-UH, that looked too far and hard.  So he ran an got the stepladder and set it up.  It reached right to the gutter, but I ran back to the chimbly ta keep out of the wind.  I cried at him efrytime he called my name, but I dint wanna come to the ladder.

He was annoyed cause I run up an down the stepladder in the basement fer fun.  So he also put up the big xtention ladder cause I go up an down that too.  Ya may remember me doin that when I was younger.

I think I may have been gettin the woozies from the cold.  It was about 20 degrees and the wind was blowin hard.  So TBT climbed up the ladder ta the roof.  He doesn't like heights like I do.  In fact, it took him a few minnits to get off the ladder onto the roof.  Then he crept toward me callin my name.  That was actally fun.  Until he grabbed me, that is.  He was faster than anny snake!  I grabbed him back with all claws right inta him.

I even got a claw inta his nose an made it bleed bad.  But he wasn't lettin go of me and I wasn't lettin go of him.  He shuffled carefully down ta the stepladder I like ta run up an down in the basement, but I wasn't having annything ta do wif THAT!

I wouldn't go down.  I grabbed the roof, the gutter, the stepladder and TBT wif every claw I had.  He  cried and begged but I wasnt goin!  Then he held me inside his light jacket in the wind an the cold hopin I would calm down.  I refused!  He was about ta drop me down onna deck, but he shuffled over ta the xtension ladder I used so easily in 2008.  He may as well tried ta push a pig down a baftub drain...

I've done it before all easily and liked it.  But not THIS time!

He sat there tryin desperately to figure out how ta get onna ladder holding me, but he couldnt.  He was getting woozy from the heights and feelin sick.  He finally forced me down a step atta time  while guardin the roof so I couldn't get back up.  I finally went down awkwardly one step atta time.  Me, awkward?  He followed.

Ya know what I did when I got onna ground?  Do ya?

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I ran off over the fence!  I stayed away fer 4 more hours (an it was after dark then) in spite of him callin me efry 10 minutes the whole time.

I finally decided it was too nasty outside an came in.  I ran to eat some food (which was happily offerred), then I went an curled up on his lap.  That's when he told me the bad news...

I am an indoor kitty now.  In fact, we are all pretty much indoor kitties now.  LC doesnt wanna go out much annymore, an Iza has nefer really liked outdoors much.  5 minnits out on the deck fer her an she is ready ta come in.  But TBT says that they are allowed out cause they dont wanna be out much, while I am not allowed out cause I like it too much.  An he says specially that he aint goin up on that roof again.

He says he is real sad cause he likes havin kitties outdoors wif him like in gardening weather.  Mebbe he will relent when the whether gets nice again an it is safe to be out all day, but he seems pretty woorried and upset about me right now.

I guess I really made some mistakes Monday!

We're Back

THE BIG THING:  At least the computer is working "temporarily"...

The computer was not repaired.  It works, but the fan is on high speed constantly and I fear the whole thing will die completely at any moment.

The problem is that I smoke.  I did not realize the damage that was causing to the computer.  I did a search on "Macs and cigarette smoke" and learned WHY it was such a problem.  Apple techs will not work on smoke-affected computers by official Apple policy.  Reading about the problem, I don't terribly blame them.  The details of the sad adventure are HERE

So, I have ordered a Mac Mini to replace the Mac Pro (which was WAY more computer than I needed).  It has a 500 GB hard drive, 4 GB memory, a 2.5 mhz chip, etc.  I have the entire Mac Pro hard drive backed up on an external drive, so I shouldn't be losing any files, apps, or emails.

And I won't smoke after it arrives.  This may all actually work out for the best.

I turn this back over to the cats tomorrow...

Computer Problem - Fixed?

Well we THINK The Big Thing got the puter fixed, but it seems too easy and may only be temporary.

Today TBT took the puter down ta the cold basement an left it there fer a few minnits.  When he turned it on, it made some noise where the hard drive is, but it stopped after 10 seconds.  He said that made him think the hard drive was overheating cause the fans werent turnin fast.  But in the cold basement, it wasnt overheatin!  Well, that still wasnt gonna help upstairs where it is warmer.  So he took that case off annyway, and turned on a real noisey machine that blows real hard.  He shot air into the puter from all directions specially at the fans and he says some stuff did come out (like cat hairs and grit).  When he turned it on again, no noise!

Then he brought it back upstairs, left the side open, let it sit fer a hour, and turned it on.  NO NOISE!  We are all hopin that lasts, but it probly wont.  But he says as long as it lasts past the holidays, that would be good cuz the Apple repair store is REAL busy right now and after ChrissyMouse Day.

It doesnt seem fair that there are 3 Windows repair stores right here in town, but the nearest Apple repair place is 30 miles away!  First, he's not thrilled ta hafta drive 60 miles round trip twice in holiday traffic.  Second, we all sure dont wanna hafta be wifout a puter fer a week!

So we are all purring good thoughts that it keeps werkin right fer a while...

Decorating The Tree - With Cats

THE BIG THING:  I have sometimes seen lists like this about various experiences People have with their cats, but I thought it would be fun to just sit down and make one up myself.

How To Decorate a Christmas Tree With Cats

1. Put tree in stand, set upright.
2. When cats climb tree and knock it over, set upright again.
3. Decorate tree.
4. When cats knock off lower glass ornaments, sweep floor of glass shards.
5. Move all glass ornaments to top half of tree.
6. When cats knock off soft ornaments from bottom of tree, sweep floor of shredded cloth and fluff.
7. Move all ornaments to top half of tree.
8. When cats climb tree and knock it over again, set upright again.
9. Sweep floor of glass shards.
10. Place a large sheet of plywood on floor, screw tree stand to plywood.
 11. Try to move plywood and tree into place.
 12. Unscrew tree stand when you realize you have screwed the stand through plywood and into the floor.
 13. Build small base under plywood.
 14. Reattach tree stand to plywood.
 15. Since bare plywood looks ugly, cover with a bright sheet.
 16. Leave room to get presents to put under tree.
 17. When you return, admire the way the cats have pulled off the sheet and have dragged it into the next room.
 18. Staple sheet onto plywood base.
 19. Place presents under tree.
 20. Leave room to hang wreath on door.
 21. Listen with admiration while cats shred wrapping paper off presents.
 22. Tape gift wrap best as possible.
 23. Spray “Cat-Off” on all presents.
 24. Remove cat from top of tree.
 25. Fashion tree trunk guard of chicken wire after lopping off branches from lower half of tree.
 26. Go looking for extension cord to plug in tree lights.
 27. Upon return, undo chicken wire to free cat that has somehow gotten trapped inside it.
 28. Redo trunk guard and crimp top to prevent cat re-entry.
 29. Watch cats commence to shredding the wrapping paper sprayed with “Cat-Off”.
 30. Build chicken wire enclosure all around tree.
 31. Put away tools.
 32. Upon return, observe cat inside chicken wire enclosure crying for release.
 33. Disassemble chicken wire enclosure.
 34. Remove now-sleeping cat.
 35. Disassemble chicken wire tree trunk guard.
 36. Remove decorations from tree.
 37. Remove tree from stand and toss outside.
 38. Disassemble plywood base.
 39. Put presents in attic.
 40. Visit catless neighbor.
 41. Admire their beautiful tree and take pictures.
 42. Post tree pictures in room.
 43. Email all your non-visiting relatives pictures of “your tree”.
 44. Especially if they have cats...
 45. Tell visiting relatives that you “decided to donate the cost of a tree to charity this year”.
 46. Gather up all your cats, give them scritches and treats, and tell them you love them (which is true).

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Wonderful New Year!

Anonymous Blocking

We are getting more anonymous spam comments these days.  Some are dubious ads for meds, some are just random weird gibberish.  We set up delayed Comment Moderation a few months ago, but having to reject some comments every day is getting to be annoying.

We are reluctant to use Word Moderation, because we find it personally annoying and don't wish to subject our friends to that.  The Comment Moderation hardly ever effects anyone but spammers.

But we are going to experiment with changing our blog to not accept "anonymous" posts.  That means, as far as we can tell by discussions on blogger forums, that none of you will notice the difference.

But if you are a friend and cannot comment, please let us know.  Our email addy is embedded in our header.  We trust you know about changing some words to the symbols...  We don't want any friend to be blocked from commenting.  But the spam comments are increasing weekly, and we have to try to stop or reduce it.

But definitely, no one can post "anonymous" anymore.  We regret that, but it may only affect the spammers (we hope).

The Big Thing
LC, Ayla, and LC

A Jerk Visits The Blog

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THE BIG THING:  A mild rant: 

We are all used to the occasional ads or spammers who leave posts at our blogs.  But last week, we received one that didn't quite fit into that category, yet was annoying enough so that I immediately deleted the comment.  But I've been thinking about it, and fortunately, I have comments sent to me email.  So while I deleted his comment at once, it was still in my email.

The comment was "mean" but not "nasty", so I've been thinking about it.  I suspect few of you saw it, but I want to discuss it.  I hope the cats will not mind my posting about it.

[LC, Ayla, Iza:  Go ahead, we are busy today]

Thanks girls...  We had posted about the cats licking the gravy bowl when I was done with it.  That does not seem odd to me.  I trust the dishwasher and alcohol to truly clean all bowls and plates and such.

But the person (who calls himself "The Crap Blog Detective") posted "You let your pets eat from the gravy bowl? And I always thought it was the ignorant uneducated Asians who live with their chickens and pigs who spread filthy diseases such as the swine flu. If there is to appear a cat-flu anytime soon, I know where it originated from".

I read it first to be simply stupid.  I'll lived with cat saliva all over me, licks in the food bowls that I was using and use again, cleaned cat litter boxes for 40 years, etc.  I don't much worry about it.  I know that cat-transmitted diseases are rare, and quite frankly, I seem to be pretty much immune to almost anything.  So I just deleted the comment as "ignorant".

But re-reading it in my email later, I noticed some more disturbing aspects.  "ignorant uneducated Asians" for example.  and even "appear a cat-flu anytime soon, I know where it originated from".

The first is reprehensible.  On a general level, "ignorant uneducated Asians", is automatically itself an ignorant individual statement.  All humans are equal in the ability to learn when given the opportunity.  

I probably shouldn't have, but I posted the following comment on this guy's blog:


"Thank you for visiting my blog and displaying your ignorance. You recently responded to a simple post of mine where I mentioned that I allowed my cats to lick the turkey gravy bowl, suggesting that I was exposing the world to a cat flu pandemic.

Apparently, you know nothing about either how I clean the bowl afterwards, about cat-to-human disease transmission, or about animal-to-human disease transmission in general.

I do, and you are fool on all counts. First, you might want to read 'Guns, Germs, and Steel' by Jared Diamond. It discusses typical disease transmission vectors. You won't see cats mentioned there.

Second, you might want to know that I clean all bowls that I share with the cats with both boiling water and an alcohol soak. That's over-kill, but I do it anyway. The cats get this enjoyment once a year on Thanksgiving Day, so it isn't that big an effort.

Regarding cat-transmitted diseases directly to humans: Rabies, stool contact, scratches and bites (more from skin puncture introducing existing human skin problems. Mine are vaccinated against rabies, and are otherwise healthy as hogs.

I know my cats; you don't.

Now, about your "ignorant uneducated Asians" comment: I could discuss your obvious bigotry toward Asians. I'm not Asian, so it is not a personal issue, but such a statement is beyond contempt. You should be ashamed of saying something like that, because Asians are as intelligent as any other grouping of humans, no more and no less.

So, congratulations. You thoroughly disgust me. Not so much by your apparent personal and unworthy biases (which are obvious) but mostly from your general ignorance of basic science. You think you have the qualifications to judge other blogs (the qualifications, not the legal right)?

I don't think so.

I dare you do leave this post up. I bet you won't!"




Sorry for the rant, the cats take over again tomorrow.

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Caladiums A NO-NO!

LC: Max asked us if the Caladiums we showed yesserday were "tasty".

Actally, Max, ya asked a very good question! They ARENT tasty, in fact The Big Thing learned recently that they are NOT GOOD fer cats an other animals ta eat. They are on the Top List of plants not ta eat...

While the ones in our back yard are in hanging pots, the big bed in front hasta go. Fortunately, they are not cold hardy and should die in the next coupla weeks. Now, we are plant-nibblers, so we were probly safe the whole time (an we couldnt reach the hanging baskets in the back yard), but there are neighbor kitties who visit our front yard (mostly). We dont really like introoders even in the front yard, but we sure dont want ta poison one!

So the Caladiums will not be back next year except (mebbe) in a few hanging pots what cant even be reached by Ayla! Mebbe the skwerls will eat them, he-he-he...

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Busted!

IZA: OK, I got caught. I mighta got away wif it, but I couldnt help returnin ta the scene of the crime... I hope I dont go ta jail or somethin.

Well, see, The Big Thing got up a coupla days ago an found the bathroom tissue all unrolled. But he dint know who did it. But he knew LC had nefer done that and he knew Ayla had nefer done that (but might). So he took a picture fer evidence.

Then he waited wif the camera. He called LC in an she she looked at it all bored. Then he called Ayla in. She jus hopped up on the bafroom counter fer some scratchin. Then he called me in.

I couldnt help it. I attacked it again. FLASH!

An THEN I realized I had giffen myself away... BUSTED!

Oh mouse-droppings! I felt really stoopid about that...

Well, at least he jus laffed, so I guess I dont go ta jail fer this. But he did say it better not become a hobby or my rattley mouse might "go on a vacation"...