Little Man, Revisited

Momma saw Little Man at the shelter today. The lady who adopted him brought him by and Momma got to hug and kiss on him and take pichers. He is all grown now, a true Mancat.

My Ears Are Fine, Thank You

Momma seems to think I needed my ears cleaned (which I didn't) so she got this oily stuff and put it on a cotton ball and swabbed my ears! I got real upset and walked away in a huff. She says Precious needs hers cleaned (which she does) and so does Mittens. I think I will go warn Mittens of the upcoming event. As far as Precious goes, she deserves it; she is always picking on me!!!

~Patches Lady~

Feeling Great

Yes, I feel real good. Momma gives me medicine wrapped in a treat........she thinks I don't know what it is, but I do. It does really help. Momma even said the word remishun. All I know is I feel great, I even run and play a little.

~Mittens Pollypaws~

Mittens Update

Mittens seems to feel pretty good, although, she doesn't eat much. I have tried everything I can think of, including baby food. She will eat canned chicken but seems to prefer the juice so I keep adding water and letting it soak. She eats a few crunchies, but not enough. She is taking her steroids in a pill pocket, but if she won't eat them I have decided not to force her to take them, anymore. It is so upsetting for her; and me. All in all, she is doing very well. Thanks for all your wonderful comments.

~CalicoMom Toni~

One Day At A Time

I am taking things a day at a time. I am making more time for Mittens, hugging her, loving her, holding her, petting her. Each day is precious now. I have spent time looking at photos of her, I know, when the time comes, I won't be able to do that, not for a while. It is hard to wrap my mind around the fact she won't always be here. She will always be one of the Big Piney Woods Cats, her spirit will always reside here. She is giving me sweet memories to cherish, on this her final journey. My heart is already broken and I feel a terrible loss. Thank goodness she doesn't have a clue, one nice things our animal friends share. She looks at me with her loving, trusting eyes. She isn't eating much and I won't force the steroids on her anymore. They seem to have stopped working, anyway. She has real bad times and real good times. That is my wish........time.....

Thanks for all the gotcha day well wishes.

With tears,

~CalicoMom Toni~

What A Great Day!

Thanks to all of you who came and snuggled with me. We had so much fun and it was so good to see all my furriends, again. If you want to reminisce, like I have been, you can go to January, 2006 and read all about the Napathon and who came. Momma says I need to snuggle her now.

~Mittens Pollypaws~

It's Me, Mittens

Hi to all my furriends...

I just want to thank all of you for your kind thoughts and wishes. I don't know what they mean cuz I feel fine. Momma looks sad at me and has been snuggling me and giving me all sorts of good things.

I have been spending time reminiscing. My good furriend Victor reminded me about the Napathon. That was the first kitty party, and we had such fun teaching everycat how to teleport.. We also hosted the Cat Olympics, which was tons of fun. Mistrie carried the torch from Max and all the excitement helped her not to be so shy. Patches won a gold medal in the tub soccer competition. Then, I won a prize for my special big paws on the Pawprint Contest. Patches and Mistrie entered that contest, too.

A short history about me, for those who don't know........When I was 7, in 2000, I was brought to the shelter (it wasn't a no kill shelter then) where Momma was volunteering. She cleaned my cage and she was the only one I trusted. She knew my time was almost up, so she took me home and said I found my furrever home. For three years Patches and I went to Laughlin, Nevada and spent three months with Momma and Daddy in a condo . Yes, I have had a good life. I have wonderful memories and have been safe and secure and well loved in the cabin in the Big Piney Woods. I just wish I knew why Momma looks unhappy and stares at me so much. She keeps telling me she loves me, but I knew that. Patches seems nicer to me, too. She comes in my bedroom and naps and doesn't hassle me.

Again, thanks to all of you for the wonderful well wishes. Come on ofurr anytime and visit. I will be waiting for you in the guest bedroom.

Purrs,

News On Mittens

First of all, thanks to all of you for your kind words and support. It means so much to me!

The meds the vet gave Mittens seem to be helping and she is very hungry! I am giving her things she shouldn't have (she has been on special food for years, due to constipation.) She is getting stinky goodness and I will continue as long as it doesn't upset her. She loves it, poor girl is so sick of the same thing. She was very vocal after I brought her home, telling me to feed her something good. She still is very vocal, talking and talking to me and following me around. I wish I could understand her!

Again, thanks to all of you........your support is phenomenal!

~CalicoMom Toni~

Sad News

My Mittens has a tumor in her small intestine, where it connects to her stomach, also it has spread into her upper chest cavity. Mittens was very good, even through the lengthy ultrasound process, on her back. I held her front paws and talked to her, she actually nodded off once and never attempted to scratch or bite, she didn't even growl, like she does when she is upset. Christine, her vet, said they could operate for the tumor in the intestine, but that doesn't address the fact it has spread. Also her age is against her. She gave her two months. I have meds to help with her appetite. It is a cold, cloudy day, the way my heart feels right now. :(

Thanks to all of you for your kind comments, they mean so much!

~CalicoMom Toni~

Upcoming Vet Visit

Mittens is going to the vet tomorrow. They were booked today and she didn't seem to be ill, in fact had fun with a fly and carried on quite a conversation with me. She asks for food, but hasn't eaten in three days.

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful comments and all the purring! What great furriends you are. I will let you know the results.

~CalicoMom Toni~

Please, Purr For Mittens

Sometime in the night Mittens vomited blood and mucous, no food. She hasn't eaten for a couple of days now. I am taking her to the vet tomorrow or Tuesday. Please purr for her. Thank you.

~Calicomom Toni~

Patches, Please

Oh, Patches, please

Come play with me

We can run and jump

On the kitty tree.

And tosie box

Maybe pounce and flee

Or hide and seek

You must agree.

Toy mice and balls

Are great fun, too

But the very best thing

Is playing with you.

~Precious Flower~

Purrty Fowlers

One of Momma's fowler beds.

The cabin and more fowlers.

Parting Thoughts

This is the last photo of Little Man I have. I miss him terribly. Because he was my first foster, I don't have anything to compare him to, but he has left a giant hole in my heart. I really think he was a very special boycat.

It will be a week tomorrow since he left. I know he has grown and changed and I have missed that. I will be seeing his new Momma tomorrow and then I will find out how he is doing.

So, my Little Man (who has been renamed Manny) I will always, always love you and you have a special place in my heart. Be strong, be brave, be good.

~Your Foster Momma Toni~

Some Of Little Man's Favorite Things

Playing with his blue/green yarn

Hiding under the glider or foot stool

I Have Places To Go

Remembering Little Man

Halloween stance

Going To My Furrever Home

FM has a sad look today. She told me it is because I am going to my new furrever home. I was there before, when she didn't feel good, and I really love it. There are two tiny woofies there I play with (the big cats here run from me) and a really loving Momma and Daddy, too. I have learned a lot this past week about becoming a Mancat. I can run fast and jump high. I explore everywhere and have learned the "butt wiggle" and Halloween cat stance. New Momma promises to send pichers and FM will see her at the shelter every Tuesday. I luvs you FM and thanks for taking care of me.

~Your Little Man From Siam~

Could I be Any Cuter????

That Piece of Wood Is MINE!!

Little Man Cat In Training

It's All About Playing and Biting

Little Man Photos

Hi, I am Little Man

I am Little Man From Siam and I am here to visit my Foster Momma for a few days before going to my furrever home. If taking pictures means she loves me, then she loves me lots. She says I am a wild and crazy kitten now, evident by the picher below. She will be helping me share photos for the next few days. I really love yarn, running fast, biting FM (Foster Momma,) sploring, whapping big Patches and making her hiss, and kissing FM on the lips. FM says I change daily and she sure is happy to have this time with me. I really love her, too.

Another Little Man Update

I am going to take Little Man tonight, through the weekend, as his new Mom is going to run a marathon. I can do some final bonding with him, important for me. I will be taking lots of pictures.

~CalicoMom Toni~

A Happy/Sadness

Hi.....CalicoMom here. I was all set to foster Little Man From Siam until he was big enough to g be adopted. The lady who is fostering him now has decided she is going to keep him. She has fostered many cats, but always had the will power to resist.....until Little Man.......so it is with a happy/sadness I close this chapter. I know he has found the best possible home and will be so loved and adored. I will always have a special place in my heart for my first foster baby.

Little Man Is Coming Back!!!

The Little Boy Baby Cat is going to be coming back here on Thursday, July 23. Momma is doing a happy dance, me.......not so much. I guess he is using the litterbox now, but still isn't weaned. His foster mom is going to be working on that.

Last night Squirt and Patches played THOE. Well, it was about 4 this morning, actually. They also flew over the bed. Now they are napping. I am too mature to partake of such nonsense.

~Mittens Pollypaws~

I will Always Love You, Little Man

It is with a heavy heart I had to send my Little Man to be re-fostered. I am no longer able to take care of him as my stomach issues have resurfaced. I am crying as I write this, he was so special to me...maybe I am not foster material. I feel like such a failure, last night he put his little nose on my lips, his paws on my face. I can't even look at his pictures. I won't be blogging for a while. I have an appointment with the specialist later this month. Keep Little Man in your thoughts as he starts his journey through life.

~Calicomom Toni~

Learning And Exploring

I just discovered something! I have toes and they need to be licked. My feet are also good for running, but sometimes the front ones go faster than the back ones and vice versa and I do "the drunken dance." I love to stare at my Foster Momma and "get her in focus." She laughs and calls me "her little man." She says I have an "old face, very wise and serious." She says she sees changes in me everyday and that I am very brave and like to explore, but when I hear and see her, I run real fast to her and start my motor.

~Little Man From Siam~

Too Much Washing!!!

Yes, my chest is wet!!! Momma is always washing me; she says I am a messy eater. She put a calico stuffed kitty that Edsel's Mom gave her in my bed and I cuddle up to it. Thank you Edsel's Mom!! I love to cuddle. Momma wraps me in a little towel so all that is sticking out is my head and carries me around. I like that, too. But I don't like getting washed......No, I don't!!!

~Baby Siam~

HERE I AM

Hi:

My name is Squirt, but The Foster Lady Momma calls me Little Squirt because, as I have seen, there is another Squirt here. After a few little bumps in the road, things are going great. (I hate it when she rubs my little hiney to make me go potty and I scream and scream.) I am doing my best to win Foster Mom's heart, and I think I have succeeded. She also calls me Little Man from Siam, Little One, and Baby Boy. She thinks I am going to have long furs and I already have tufts in my ears. I have really nice white whiskers and very SHARP claws. So, without further ado........here I am.

NEWS!!!!!

Momma just told us some news. She is going to FOSTER a baby Siamese from the shelter. This baby is about 3 weeks old. I guess his momma moved her other babies and never came back to move him. The people waited 24 hours (they fed him) for her to claim him, but she never did, so they brought him to the shelter. Momma is new to feeding baby kitties and is a bit scairt, but the lady who has him now is going to help her. (Momma would love any input from other foster Moms in the blogosphere.) I have a feeling this is only "the tip of the fostering iceberg." Yes, there will be pictures. Oh, his name is Squirt. Now there will be two Squirts in the house!!!! (You can see by my expression I have mixed feelings about this.)

~Patches Lady~

Do Cats Cry?

Judge for yourself. This little beauty was brought in by her owner. She was up to date on shots and spayed, so she went directly to the cat room, where her owner watched through the window as her tiny life was turned upside down. Momma took pictures of her, but didn't notice, until she took them off the camera....... she had tears in her eyes!!! The next day, when Momma looked, her eyes were dry. She was adopted that day. This is Luna....

Elizabeth

Momma is just way too busy at the shelter, but loving it. She says, for the time being, we can share pictures of kitties with you. This computer is so slow and gives so many problems. We tell her she needs a new one, but we think all the monies are going to the shelter. We think she couldn't spend it in a better place. So, without further ado.......here is Elizabeth, (yes, she has one gold eye and one blue eye) who got adopted in two hours!!! Oh, and she says there are at least 50 kittens in the shelter right now and she wonders what is wrong with people????

Something For Us!!!

Momma keeps buying stuff for the shelter, today she said she got a pink cat cube for Room #1. Then, just as I was about to protest, she opened the door and brought in a blue one for us!!! It has a toy hanging on the top and smells wrong. I will have to fix that.

I found a sunny spot today and waited for Momma to get home. She was gone for 6 naps! Daddy went fishing for a few days so we are "home alone."

I have to go try out the new cube before Patches does....bye....

~Precious Flower~

The "Eyes" Have It

Momma says she loves working at the shelter, socializing with the kitties and taking their pictures for Petfinder. She says it is a "happy sadness" when one is adopted. We don't understand what she means, how can you be happy and sad at the same time?

There was a kitty in the shelter that was gray, with the most gorgeous eyes Momma has ever seen. She says her name was Spazz and she got adopted (along with her best bud and sibling) almost immediately. Luckily, Momma got a good picture of this beauty. We are sharing it with you on a gorgeous Sunday morning in the Big Piney Woods. Happy Spring everyone.

A Crime In The Big Piney Woods

We have had a goose napping!!!! The story goes like this:

Mom and Dad goose #1 hatched out 7 babies on our pond. Later that day Mom and Dad goose #2 came by with 2 babies. Geese, after they have their babies, hang close to each other, but protect their little ones. However, Mom and Dad goose #1 decided 7 wasn't enough and goose-napped Mom and Dad goose #2 babies, so they have 9 now, and Mom and Dad goose #2 are very upset. Our Daddy says he has never seen this happen before. Momma feels bad for the poor parents. I wonder if they want a ransom. Maybe a sack of corn? Possibly Harley, with his Secret Agent 007.5 experience, can shed some light on this caper.

~Patches Lady~

Mittens Tells All

Yes, we are still all here in the Big Piney Woods, happy and healthy, after a long winter. Momma is working at the shelter A LOT and planting her flower pots. Her tummy is good and she has lots of energies (evidently not for blogging.) She says she needs "time off" to pursue her hobbies and extra curricular activities. Derby suggested a fairy watching party; anycat that wants can come over as they are out of hibernation. Mistrie says they are making beds out of her shed furs. Happy spring to all!!

~Mittens Pollypaws~

Big Piney Woods Update (finally)

Momma has been so bad about letting us blog, she uses the excuse "busy."

The following things have happened:

Momma's stomach is real good and she is eating like a normal person now, not eating soup all the time. She has cat-a-rack surgery coming up next month.

Momma is at the shelter a lot!! They had their big grand opening and last night an auction. She bought stuff, but she says it is going to stay at the shelter. It is all kitty stuff, things to decorate the walls in the kitty foyer. She also ordered a huge cat tree for the kitten room and purchased a tile to go on the outside of the building. It says "A purr is music played to the heart" with her name on it. She said she is going back to three days a week now.

The snow continues. It is looking like a Christmas card AGAIN!!!

We are all fine. Below is a picture she took of a big boy cat called Davey Jones (blind in one eye) giving a bath to the newcomer Bush. DJ had to hold him in place, he is a rambunctious one year old.

Momma Is Sad

Momma had a favorite kitty in the shelter. His name was India, a sleek black beauty with golden eyes. He was still a kitten, but in the three months she has been there, hadn't put on any weight and never played. She told the techs there was something wrong, and for a while they said, he was just "laid back." Momma knew better and would hold him, but he seemed so frail and wanted to cuddle the other kitties.

Yesterday, when Momma went to the shelter, everyone was sad, and they said little India had to go to Rainbow Bridge because he got terrible sick, he couldn't even stand up. He was suffering. Momma knows it is for the best, but she misses her black beauty.

~Patches Lady~

What Is Goin On???

Momma puts on a strange outfit, with kitties all over the front on it, she calls it a "scrub" and says it is to protect us. When she comes home, she doesn't even say "hi" but rushes upstairs to change. I can still smell something, though. It smells like other cats! Is she two-timng us?

~Patches Lady~

Health Update

Hi everyone:

Well, I found out why I have been so sick. It is a bacteria in my stomach called "bacterium Helicobacter pylori," the same bacteria responsible for ulcers (which I probably would have gotten.) It seems this bacteria is in many of us, lying dormant since childhood. It was verified with the biopsy they took during the endoscopy. I am on very heavy doses of antibiotics (two kinds) because it is very resistant. I have 10 days worth of pills, then a month to see how I feel, and an appointment with my Dr. at the end of March, when I, hopefully, get a clean bill of health.

I can actually say "I am glad" that is what it was, easily treatable and now I KNOW. Now, I feel I can get on with my life, (I will probably have ups and downs) and feel great today, although I know it is too early for the meds to be working.

Getting back to a regular routine at the shelter is so important. I have learned many sad facts about humans, mainly that they aren't very humane! If the way we treat animals reflects on what a society we are, it is very disturbing. So many animals are "owner release" or just dumped in the hallway or outside (we have a waiting list because we are a "no kill" facility.) I am not going into details, it is just too upsetting and heartbreaking, however on the flip side, I do meet many wonderful animal lovers.

Thanks to all of you for being so supportive in this long ordeal of mine. You are all wonderful friends and the CB means so much to me. Hugs to all.........

CalioMom Toni :)

Pee Ess: The girls are all fine, and Mistrie came through the winter fat and sassy and waits every night before supper to come inside and rub noses with Patches, then runs out to "her domain."

Health And Shelter Update

Health Update from CalicoMom Toni:

Hi and thanks to all for your concern. Here is what has happened so far:

My GP sent me to a Gastroenterologist in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, (60 miles from home) last week, who did an endoscopy yesterday. He said my stomach was red and irritated and took a culture, checking for the presence of Helico Bacter (the bacteria responsible for ulcers.) Tomorrow I go to our hospital for an ultrasound of my stomach. He also did blood work, involving my liver and pancreas. As soon as I hear something, I will let you know.

I have been doing volunteer work at our shelter, and try, if I feel up to it, to go in three days a week. I do everything for Cat Petfinders now, taking pictures and posting them on Petfinder's website. I have about 100 cats I have done, so far; many have been adopted. There are about 60 viewable ones, right now. I also love to spend time socializing the cats, and whatever clean-up is necessary. You can see Panhandle Animal Shelter's Cat Petfinder site HERE. The first entry I call "The Kittens" and it is a work in progress, as it changes almost daily.The work is so rewarding and I really love it.