Fiona is definitely altered now. Instead of hissing, spitting and swearing at my ancestors, she is acting very much like a kitten in heat. When I go in to see how she is doing, she raises her rump high in the air ducks her head down and begs to be petted a loved. She was spayed years ago so this behavior is a bit puzzling- unless it is the pain causing her to do this?

I took her trimline collar off this morning and she ate and drank and then I brushed her to try to get her calm. She kept wanting to duck back into her tent, but I persisted. I didn’t want her to think that only bad stuff (putting the collar back on- giving her meds etc..) happen to her outside the tent.

They gave me some pain meds for her V.A. L. Syrup and Buphoperine which she hates. But there is a sedative in it and she should sleep. Poor kitty, I hope when she finally gets all those drugs out of her system she will be back to the Fiona I know. I am almost sorry now that I put her through all of this. 🙁

She won’t come out of her tent I made her, I think lights really hurt her eyes so I changed the wattage to a lower setting and will use nightlights later. I have to work today, this is my only shift this pay period, so at least I will be home with her to watch her the rest of the week. Mike can’t climb the stairs anymore so she will be on her own till later tonight.

My heart is heavy since being told that the vet found mast cells in the smear from one of Fiona’s lumps. I’ll not pull the plug on her. I will monitor her for additional signs of lumps in the next coming month. The vet says that when this type of cancer returns, it often attacks the spleen.

Tomorrow morning, Fiona goes in to have three lumps taken off her ears. I do know after dealing with Twirl and her squamous cell cancer, that what Fiona has isn’t that nasty type of cancer. But, it could be mast cell, or the lumps will hopefully be declared as benign.

I had to stall the neuters of Puzzle and Riddle because of the cost of the surgery for Fiona- but I believe her lumps take precedent over the spay and neuter.

I feel badly for her as she never really has been allowed to have a life- she is my birdcage kitty. She doesn’t like being in the car, in the carrier or at the vet’s but he is very kind with her.

Please send up your prayers for her tomorrow.

Gentleman wants four barn cats. I have the possibility of reducing my numbers further, but something about his proposal unsettles me. Today I found out that he had four barn cats three years ago and they just “ran away.” First of all, barn cats don’t run away if they are being fed regularly, not being terriorized or harassed, and they have fresh water and get dewormed every six months. Barn cats can’t survive solely on mice, because a cat who is hungry doesn’t have the stamina to hunt.

Gideon and Sharky- the last two cats who are now barn cats, get fed twice a day and they get goat’s milk as well as pets and lovins- they are in an ideal situation. This other offer, I have declined. Something caused those cats to disappear and I am not about to put ANY of my cats in harm’s way.

I just received Marilyn Krieger’s new book, Naughty No More. It concentrates on training cats and changing unwanted behavior through clicker training and positive reinforcements.

Instead of bombing through the book and putting up a review on felinexpress, I am going to use her book to train Puzzle and Riddle and chart my progress along the way.

My first goal is to read Chapter One (which I am almost through) then I will start with the kittens. What I have pulled out of the chapter so far:
First off need to find something the kitties respond to. Puzzle responds to nekoflies and Riddle to small rolled balls of cream cheese sprinkled with a bit of catnip. These are called Primary Reinforcers.

You need a clicker (which I have) if the sound startles the kitties, you can use a ball-point pen or wrap the clicker in a soft towel. The clicker doesn’t seem to bother the kitties one bit. This is the secondary reinforcer.

You need a pointer. I am using a chopstick, but you can use anything slim and lightweight. Marilyn suggests and brand new pencil (unsharpened) with a soft eraser. This is the target prop.

A placemat or small moveable rug that the cat can touch. I am using a bathroom rug since our bathroom is the size of a water closet, I always am looking for the dinky rugs that will fit there.

So I have my props and a few more pages to go before I reach the end of Chapter One. If anyone is intrigued at this point, join the club. The book is easy to read and beutifully designed with wonderful photos of cats in this process.

I will keep up-to-date my progress in this process.

I just read an article about how when a cat’s routine is disrupted, the cat can exhibit sick behavior; vomiting (usually hairballs) missing the litter pan and going off their feed.

Nothing about this new study surprised me. I have seen this happen many times with my crew. Sometimes, something so minor as changing the bedspread can push several of them into this behavior- and anything major (like me leaving for a short vacation) can really push most of them into acting sick.

I think when you live with cats (and not just let them live with you) there is a big difference in the relationship between the two of you. When you just sit down and observe them on a continual basis, they have the ability to teach you so much about their world.

I know for instance, if I decide to move a litter pan to a better location, this can send a few into a tizzy and I will be doing floor duty for a few days. I have to move the litter pans in small increments over a matter of days until it arrives at its designated spot.

Cats crave routine. They need to know you are someone they can count on. If their water bowl is empty, fill it for them- food bowls filled every day same times every day if you can manage it. They don’t like surprises. In a few days, four of mine will be going to the same place to start a new life. I know in the beginning it will be a bit rough for them, but I have no doubt they are going to a better home. Cole, Everest, Riley, and Charlie will all be starting over at a 20 acre horse ranch. Charlie has been telling me for quite awhile that he is not happy here. He needs more stimulation and less cats around to rattle his cage. It will hurt like hell to let him go- I have had him a very long time, but this new place is an answered prayer. I don’t wish to have an unhappy cat- and on 20 fenced acres crawling with mice far away from roads so not to be a threat- it will take Charlie a few weeks to adjust, but I believe he will happier. I’ve been watching him and all that he has been doing lately tells me he needs a change in his routine to be happier. It just won’t happen overnight.

This morning, I found the following memo from my group on my pillow. Apparently, my crew has decided that being human means I must also be weak. Therefore, they have banded together to create their New Year’s Resolutions just for me:

“More canned food please. Dry food is good for our teeth, but we like canned food so much better. Maybe you should go out and find a better job so we can be kept in the style we choose to be kept in. We like it when you feed us canned food twice a week, especially when one of us nudges your hand and food bumps out and gets all over the kitties below! This means that later, we can perform mutual grooming with benefits!

No more kitties! Come on Mom, you keep telling us that you won’t take anymore and then we wake up and find strange kitties in our beds! Either stop sharing your wonderfullness with other kitties, or buy us more cat beds!

Petting Sessions- we like it when you pet us, but no more clipping the claws and grooming our fur! God gave us ample tools for the job of grooming and some of those grooming combs and brushes- they cramp our style!

Can you stop Charile theTerrorHisst from taking our spot in the sun? I mean really Mom, how much more sun does one cat need? He is already golden-colored anyway. Looks to us like our Fearless Leader has been kissed by the sun too many times already!

More bugs! Don’t be such a Neat Nellie in the house. Let those cobwebs form in the corners and on the walls. We will be happy to be your spider and fly catchers. We do the job nicely, aren’t toxic to the environment- and well…chasing bugs…it’s just pure entertainment for all!

Happy Mew Year’s Mom-thanks for Lovin Us!”