Counseling Session With Charlie

 Charlie  
Ok, now tell me all about it.

 I know you're new here.

What's that?  You don't care much for dogs?

What exactly would you like?
Another cat, you say? 
No problem, I can help you with that.

Charlie:
Don't you just love it when things work out.

Thank Heaven For Second Opinions!

Click photos to enlarge

Lalique
(La-Lee)
~~~

La-Lee is one of those cats that purrs her way into everyone's heart. She's a talker, a lap sitter, a tag along, and a pillow warmer. As you might guess, we got her from the Humane Society.

We had been looking for a Burmese cat. None were available, but we were told that there had just arrived a beautiful Tonkinese cat that sure wouldn't be there long. We jumped in the car and she was ours about 45 minutes later. I asked why such a beautiful cat was there.

It seems a girl was getting married and her future husband had said it was "me or the cat". Personally, I would have found a different groom and kept the cat.

Lucky for us, this adorable cat has been the center of our household for almost 12 years.


Last January things seemed to be going wrong with La-Lee.

For all of you who have cats, I'm telling you about our ordeal in the event you have a cat with symptoms similar to what La-Lee had.

Perhaps some of you have already been there and done that with your cat and wonder why it took me so long to arrive ... at the "second opinion" that saved her life!

It all happened gradually. This calm, sweet girl began acting nervous, then later seemed to be having "panic attacks". I rushed her to an old vet I'd used years ago. He said she was a Tonkinese and was "neurotic" and not to worry. (La-Lee has never been neurotic!)

However, things got worse. When holding her I could feel her heart pounding, and she was panting as though she couldn't get her breath.

Back to the vet:
This time he said she was having an asthma attack. It was decided she was allergic to the dogs. This meant she had to be isolated in the bedroom, permanently, forever. I also had to use a face mask to give her asthma medications.

Things still got worse, nights were especially bad. She was so hungry, yet she never ate. I tried every food imaginable. She seemed to like tiny bits of my left over egg or tuna salad with mayonnaise. Eventually, La-Lee only licked Nutra-Cal from my finger.

Back to the vet:
She was put on high powered steroids and penicillin. I was sent home with the syringes to give her the meds. I said there was no way I'd be giving penicillin shots, it is painful, requires a large needle ... and I knew La-Lee would have no part of that.

Back to the vet:
After a good scolding, the vet said ... let me show you how to give a penicillin shot. I knew what was coming! He held her firmly and attempted to give the shot. The cat jumped in the air, the syringe hit the wall and the vet was covered with penicillin. He was very annoyed, I was amused and La-Lee was furious. We were sent home with medications less troublesome. (I later found out it was tranquilizers mixed with antibiotics.)

La-Lee continued to get worse. She was now dreadfully skinny, had insomnia, cried all the time and was extremely restless.

Back to the vet:
This time she was given an ultrasound. The vet determined she had cancer throughout her intestines and if I loved my cat, I'd put her to sleep ... right then.

This didn't sound right and didn't feel right. I'd had enough with what I now considered to be a neurotic vet. I told him I didn't make hasty decisions and would need to take her home and give this some thought.

After calling all my friends to help me locate a specialist, I decided to rush La-Lee to the young vet that in the past had the unpleasant responsibility of coming to our house when it was time to say "good-bye" to a family pet.

I needed a second opinion, pronto.

Off to a Different Vet:

Dr. Kelly was all business. To put my mind at ease, she did an ultrasound of La-Lee's intestines. Several other vets, as well as myself, studied the screen. It was agreed by all that there was no sign of any cancer. Next came x-rays and then drawing the blood for a complete panel.

Dr. Kelly was quite certain by La-Lee's behavior and appearance (skinny, nervous, hungry) that she was ... hyperthroid and that there was probably a non-cancerous tumor on her thyroid.

When the blood results came back ... her diagnosis was correct. La-Lee's thyroid was alarmingly high. Had we not found this out she probably would have had heart problems and not long to live.

We had three options:
1. pills = which made her vomit
2. medication rubbed on the inside of her ear = this made her vomit
3. radioactive injections

Radioactive !! To poor La-Lee? How frightening!

But that was now our only option. I couldn't imagine sending her off to a special hospital for this procedure and then leaving her there for a week while she became ... non radioactive! But that is what we did and how fortunate we were that such a clinic was near our home, so off she went.

There were 18 cats that checked in that day, all being sent for the same hyperthyroid treatment and all kept in individual isolation "suites". I was amazed. I had no idea this was such a common problem in cats, especially 13 years old and over.

I coughed up the $ so that I could watch her on my computer screen from early morning to late at night. It was worth the peace of mind.

I'd sent along an old green T-shirt I'd worn for her to sleep on. Somehow, I think it made her feel better. It certainly made me happier.

Here is the first picture of her in the hospital.
She is not radioactive, yet.
But she knew ... this wasn't home.
She's tucked back under ... on my green shirt.

The next day she had her radioactive procedure. I didn't know what to expect, how she would act. Would she be a sick-er cat? I knew she would be lonely, since they couldn't pet her.

So I checked out my computer screen to see what was happening.

I certainly didn't expect to see this.

Hey! Any room service here?!

We all survived her week being gone. She is now healthy, loves to eat, is no longer skinny or nervous. She is back to normal ... purring, sitting on my lap and keeping all the pillows nice and warm.

That's her job, you know ... that is when she isn't walking in front of the computer screen or pawing her way across the keyboard.

Wow ... I sure missed her and how lucky we are to still have her ... thanks to a second opinion!

Problems With Your Printer?

Making the email rounds and too cute not to share!

The VOTE Is In! ~ The Envelope, Please

Click on photo to enlarge

Mousetrap wants to thank all of you wonderful people
who helped him to make such a serious career decision.

The vote totals were:

0% = Move To Hollywood
55% = Stay On The Farm
37% = To Ask For Raise
8% = Retire

He has decided not to move to Hollywood.
However, it did require some concessions on his behalf.

1. MouseTrap now has his own personalized Director's Chair
2. He is available for all "Cat-Calls" in Hollywood.
3. He has a Star on Sunset Boulevard

The Management willingly granted all requests
knowing that MouseTrap was essential to the farm.
~~~
There were, also, a few necessary
changes made to MouseTrap's farm contract.
1. no more night duty
2. unlimited sleep hours
3. no more pest patrol

We are happy to report that MouseTrap is happily back
to running the farm ~ and living his life of leisure.

Click on photo to enlarge

Once again, everyone is happy on the farm.

What?! They are not?
Is that another fracus I hear?

Oh no, we're back to contracts, again.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Hey!! Have you heard of Aflac?!

We need to talk.

Mouse-Trap Considers New Career

MouseTrap is seriously thinking
about show-biz.

It has something to do with being
the official Biotin-Plus Cat
for all of their ad campaigns.

Nevermind, that it is a horse product.

His fantasy is to have a career similiar

to Morris, the 9 Lives Cat.

That would, of course,
include a personalized chair.

Therefore,
MouseTrap has been reviewing
his responsibilities around this farm.

It seems there are too many,
and, thus, he is thinking about
moving on to other opportunities.

According to him, this is his work list.

Supervising the entire hay barn,
and being on constant guard against
all manner of beasts, both large and small.

Sharing all meals in a timely
and courteous fashion.

Thoroughly washing up before
returning to work.

Holding down all bales
of very heavy shavings,
and keeping them neatly in place.

Guarding the entire farm from the roof top
for invaders, vagrants and intruders
or any threatening mice or other wild life.

To be prepared and in constant alert
for any coyotes
that wander into the coyote cage.

To keep dad company at all times.

Being the official guard and door man,
which includes keeping the geese out,
and the house cats ... in.

To keep dad's work gloves warm
for those cold mornings.

To carefully guard the family silver
from possible thieves during the night.

MouseTrap is seriously considering the
possibility of a career change,
as well as fame and fortune.

MouseTrap would greatly appreciate
your help in making this decision.
Should he stay on the farm
or seek advancement in the city?
~~~

Please help by voting in the box
on the top right hand side of the page.
~~~

MouseTrap thanks you.

Cats Hired For Patrol By Los Angeles Police

Usually I read about all the problems with feral cats and what to do about them. Some suggestions are enough to make me build a soap box.

For time eternal, we've heard that we have too many cats. The truth is ... we do. However, spaying/neutering cures that. But in the meantime we also have too many rats.

Well, hallelujah, somebody in Los Angeles finally figured out that cats are useful in our world ... that they have a purpose.

Enter ... The Los Angeles Police Department:
They have recently "hired" feral cats to control the rats in the department. (I mean as in ... rodents.) It is called the "Working Program".

To be honest, they didn't need to have so many City Council meetings to come to the conclusion that cats make history ... of rats.

I have "Mouse-Trap" in my own barn that could have proven that without tax payer money.

Well, on with the story ... as it appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

~~~~~

LAPD Enlists Feral Cats For Rat Patrol
By Carla Hall,
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 29, 2007

They are the homeless of the domestic animal world -- colonies of feral cats that roam residential neighborhoods and lurk around office buildings and commercial garages, scavenging for food.

Unlike other strays that might rub up against a leg hoping for a crumb or a head rub, these felines are so unaccustomed to human contact that they dart away when people approach. Feral cats cannot be turned into house pets. When they end up in municipal shelters, they have little hope of coming out alive.

But one animal welfare group has figured out a way to save their lives and put them to work in Los Angeles. The Working Cats program of Voice for the Animals, a Los Angeles-based animal advocacy and rescue group, has placed feral cats in a handful of police stations with rodent problems, just as the group placed cats in the rat-plagued downtown flower district several years ago -- to great effect.

Six feral cats were recently installed as ratters in the parking lot of the Los Angeles Police Department's Southeast Division, and another group will be housed at the Central Division early in the new year.

Rats had been burrowing into the equipment bags that bicycle officers stored in outside cages; inside the facility, mice were sometimes scurrying across people's desks."

Once we got the cats, problem solved," said Cmdr. Kirk Albanese, a captain at the Wilshire station at the time. "I was almost an immediate believer."

The cats don't generally solve the rodent problem by killing rats and mice -- although the cats are game for doing so if they catch them. Rather, the cats simply leave their scent.

Once rodents get a whiff of feline presence, like gangsters under a gang injunction, they move on."It's the smell of the cat and the cat urine," said animal rescuer Jane Garrison, a member of Voice for the Animals' board, who selected the half dozen feral cats for the Southeast station.

Sandra Magdaleno feeds and cares for the
Southeast station patrol cats in Los Angeles

According to Garrison, it takes about 30 days for a feral cat to be comfortable enough to consider a new location home turf. Garrison said the Working Cats program can be used anywhere.

"We are willing to put cats in any safe area -- businesses, hotels, industrial parks, even residences -- and we will do that for free."

Soon the ferals may get a chance to work their magic on the legions of rats that make their home behind Parker Center, the Central LA Police Department.

"They're coming out of everywhere," said Officer April Harding, who works in media relations. "One time I stood in the parking lot and just watched in horror, like it was a movie."

Thom Brennan, commanding officer of facilities management for the LAPD, said, "Nobody was more skeptical about it than I was. It sounds like too easy a fix. But everywhere it's been done, it's worked. . . . I think I'm convinced it's a viable program that will help us."

There has never been a shortage of people willing to care for the cats at any station.

"If I were a wild cat, that would be a great job," he said. "Your meals are there, your housing is there, you're at a police station so you're safe."

Can I Come In, Yet?

As you may recall from an earlier story on MouseTrap, he arrived as a youngster late one stormy night. Since we already had two cats guarding their domain in the house, MouseTrap was offered the hay barn as his personal residence.

That worked out real well for quite a long time. Every corner of the barn was his from top to bottom ... and there was nary a mouse to be found.

MouseTrap became friends with the chickens, horses, ducks and geese. He was soon hanging out with Kayla, the Golden Retriever, almost acting like a dog as he followed us around the yard and horse corrals.

They were pals. The only difference was ... Kayla could come in the house.

Then it got cold.

That is when MouseTrap called for begging support.

"Hey, mom ... please let him come in"!

Amazingly ... that worked.

He had hardly arrived in the house
before he went to work.

There just had to be a mouse in here, somewhere!

Now, with two cats watching his every move,
MouseTrap knew he had to act really cool.

There could be none of the hissing, claws routine ...
or he'd be back in the barn.

C-o-l-d ... remember?

The chair with the blue towel worked for awhile.

But this cat is an adventurer.

Oh yah ... now this is great !

The sunny place by the window was pure heaven.

Well, for a little while.

Lalique found this completely unacceptable.

This was not her plan.
In fact, she considered a good swat appropriate.

It was time for some diversion.

Let's see, maybe a little cat-nap will help.

Oh yes, he's a clever, clever cat !

Without one fight, MouseTrap was part of the group.

Only, he had it even better.
He was an "inside-outside" cat.

MouseTrap was still in charge of the barn.

There was only one desired place left ...

... on dad's lap.

~~~

"... all is calm, all is bright ..."

FuzzBuzz ~ An Armload of Love

Fuzz Buzz was a chosen child.

She was only a baby when we heard that she needed a home,
a place where she would always be loved.

It's unbelievable to think that this beautiful bundle of fur
had been abandoned in an apartment.
Fortunately, the local rescue shelter had found her.

We heard about this beautiful kitten and rushed to see her.
One look and we knew she belonged with us.

We quickly filled out the papers promising that
we would keep her happy with us, forever.
Soon, she was on her way home.

Kayla and Fuzz-Buzz were constant pals.

They both liked doing the same thing ...
just lying around.

Life was cool around this place...
nothing to worry about.

A favorite place to be was sitting on mom's lap.

Fuzz-Buzz was a non-stop purr machine,
a love-bug all in one package.

Fuzz-Buzz was also an expert in keeping Lalique warm.
She was a personal thermo-blanket.

It was certain you would find them always together.

~~~

Yesterday, we had to say good-bye to Fuzz.
Cancer is a dreadful thing.

We're going to miss this big bundle of love.
Our home just isn't the same without her.

When we took her as a kitten,
we promised to keep her happy,
but she is the one that made this house
a warm and cuddly place.

How lucky we were to have had her.
How sadly she is missed.

~~~

Yikes! He's Back !

The past few days there has been nothing but utter chaos in our usually peaceful kingdom. The chickens have been squawking, the ducks taking nose dives into the pond and even the geese have been honking up a storm.

This ungodly commotion is all because of the ominous shadow sweeping across the sky ... taking low dips towards our yard. This red tailed hawk has turned our yard into a fly-in, fast food, take-out restaurant.

I will claify that probably the biggest racket is me ... as I come tearing out the door with my arms flailing as though I am ready for take off.

For obvious reasons, I've chosen not to post a photograph of this scene.


The hawk is either incredibly bold or semi-tame. He watches me calmly from a low tree branch to see if I am for real. He shows no indication of being startled, nor does he fly away until I am nearly half way up the tree.

The main target for this hawk seems to be our cages
of usually very quiet and peaceful Australian Rosellas.

For some reason when these birds are frightened,
they become suicidal by hanging on the edge of the cage
making themselves easy plucking prey.

The hawk does a death march across the roof of the bird cage
to the tune of the hysterical screeching of the birds.

This is followed by a wide circle around the yard
and a direct pass or two at the side of the cage.

Even "MouseTrap" took up watch-duty on the fence.

Eventually things were quiet again,
but tension definitely filled the air.

Then ... the whole process happened again.

The silent shadow swooped down,
the birds screeched for survival
and I went dashing out the door, again.

We knew something more serious had to be done.


All it took was a very high stool placed in front of the bird cages

and one very determined cat.

It worked ! Can't knock success!

By the way, "MouseTrap" is available for hire.

~~~
Humm ... wonder if Carpenter Creek might be interested.