How She Is Among Them

Indigo is becoming daily more accustomed to the other cats. She doesn’t like them and, I think, doesn’t like other cats in general. But she is getting used to them, which means that she would not necessarily have to be adopted as an only-cat. I believe she would do quite well with older felines who don’t really want to interact that much, like my Neville.

If Indie didn’t want anything to do with the other beasts, she would remain in the library day and night. But she clearly wishes to widen her world, even at the expense of having to relate to others. Here, she is tolerating Tempo’s presence. A few minutes later, there was hissing and manifest displeasure. Indigo has actually chased Temps out of the library on more than one occasion, moving pretty swiftly for a middle-aged cat. I don’t mind Indigo establishing her place in the hierarchy. She doesn’t want to cause mischief, so if she takes a position above those who do, I won’t be upset.

How Heat Affects Typing

The heat is rather oppressive here right now, and the cats are trying various ways to beat it, or at least reduce its effects. Imogen has decided that the surface of my computer desk is cooler than other surfaces. It is also in the way.

I type quite rapidly, despite using just two fingers and my thumbs. Though I have to look at the keyboard most of the time, it is not to watch every key; it’s just a general observation of the whole field. Nonetheless, when Imo is lying in front of the board, her legs or tail hang over the edge of the table enough to disrupt the flow of my typing. It’s like attempting to play the trumpet when someone’s hands are between your fingers and the valves. Every third or fourth letter that I type is wrong, my speed is slow and I have to watch every movement.

I can’t wait until autumn…

The Next One Thing at a Time

Indigo is doing reasonably well in the Cosy Apartment. She is coming out of the library more and more, the incentive often being food. She will come out of her safe-room at meal-times, and has been adding her wail to the hoots of Brazil and the cranky squeals of Tempo in demanding food.

Just as importantly, though, is that I have been able to deliver her insulin on a regular basis, and in an easy manner. Instead of trying to jab her with a needle while she is squished into her corner – which she seems to enjoy inhabiting; it doesn’t have to do with fear – I now sit on the library couch. Indie comes out to lie next to me for some minutes. I can then give her injection without fuss. She doesn’t appear to feel it. Sitting with her in the late afternoon is no problem; it is usually after my dinner, and I can relax for twenty or thirty minutes with a cup of tea. In the morning, though, it adds about ten minutes to my routine, and so I must wake correspondingly earlier. I don’t want simply to give Indigo her medicine and then get up and go; if she feels that it is not worth coming up to lie next to me, she may not bother. So I spend at least ten minutes with her before I go to work, and give her a treat.

The next step, which will be a big one, and probably some way in the future, is to try to poke her ears for blood-testing. But one thing at a time.

A Return to Normal

Tempo appears to be over whatever was ailing her. She ate some Fancy Feast last night, of her own volition. This morning, she ate all of the portion given to her, and wanted more. When she ate as much as she liked, she hurried off to see what was out the window. So far as I can discover, everything she consumed stayed down.

Even last night, I could tell from her posture and behaviour that she was feeling better. When she was refusing to eat, she sat hunched up much of the time. She still ran about and looked out windows, but the way she sat was unusual. But last night, she stretched herself out, and fell asleep easily. This morning, she was playful, and I think she and Brazil were chasing each other. In one moment, Shimmer ran into the sitting room and looked around, searching for Tempo. That little one then leaped out of the nylon tunnel at him. I hope that playfulness continues.

I don’t know what caused Temp’s episode, though, considering the ruckus she made all the way to the veterinary hospital last week, it may have been stress. Then again, it may have been a reaction to her vaccination. I believe that the Cerenia I gave her helped a great deal in soothing her. She must go back for her booster shots, and her spay, so I hope that history doesn’t repeat itself.

I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts regarding Temp’s health, and also all the condolences sent this way after Renn died. I know he was a favourite for a lot of his readers, and it meant a great deal to hear from everyone. Thank you.

Learning the Rules

Indigo is spending more time out of the library, and even venturing into the sitting room, as long as she thinks the other cats are snoozing somewhere. She is also learning more about the rules of the household, and how to ignore them. After I took this picture, I removed her from the kitchen counter. She protested, probably asking what the problem was, since she did the same thing every day for eight hours while I was at work…

My Problem Child

Tempo is going through a bad period. After a short time of eating and drinking well, she began refusing food last Saturday. She has turned her nose up at all cat-food, and was eating only human food - roast chicken and ground beef. Yesterday, she stopped eating even that. Sardines and other fish have no appeal for her. I know that she is hungry, but she won’t eat. She squats by water-bowls, as if she is thirsty, but won’t drink. I have begun syringe-feeding her, and I gave her an amount of Cerenia appropriate to her weight. She is scheduled to see the veterinary on Thursday - I couldn’t get her in earlier - but I hope that the Cerenia will have a positive effect by then.

She seems otherwise well, though I think she is weak from the lack of food. She purrs and is alert when she watches out the windows. She has chased insects, and so is not losing interest in the world - just in any kind of food. I know that some cats decline food when in heat, but the girl shows no signs of that right now. Having an adult go through this would be bad enough, but seeing a kitten with this strange malady is worrying. I don’t know that an appetite stimulant would help because, as I wrote, Tempo is hungry: she simply won’t eat.

Some good wishes directed her way won’t be refused.

His Name Was Renn

Renn’s portrait has been added to the memorial wall. I had long had in mind this picture, if ever my big boy were to die. The fact is, I never thought much about him dying, even when he was old and frail, because he had been with me for so long. But everything passes away; even the stones of the Earth crumble into dust, eventually. And even Renn has left, to go on ahead.

He was my good and long-lasting friend. His name was Renn, and I will remember him.