Herschel visits the vet

 

Herschel visits the vet

Our cats do not like visiting the vet. We have had cats in the past who have relished it, but Herschel and Jellicoe are averse. They make a lot of noise, but don’t follow it with any action.

Anyway, on Thursday it was Herschel’s turn to be checked over. It was raining and the cat basket is made of mesh, allowing the ingress of the nasty wet stuff. We haven’t got a custom-made cover so have to improvise with bin liners.

Herschel yowled all the way to the car and continued making piteous noises until Barry realised the poor cat couldn’t see him and lifted the cover. Herschel then settled in the car.

He was found to have a heart murmur, which is very common in cats, affecting about 40% of them. Herschel’s is quite a soft murmur, but as he is now thirteen years old and so considered elderly, it will be checked regularly to determine whether further steps need to be taken.

The vet said that ticks and fleas are making a much earlier appearance this year. Normally, they are seen from March onwards, but have been seen since January in 2026.

Is dread too strong a word?

 

Is dread too strong a word?

We joke that Bank holidays are the times that Jellicoe likes to test us. He usually waits until the evening, but it was mid-morning today when he jangled our nerves. It was time for elevenses, and while Herschel and the dogs were alert and keen, Jellicoe was nowhere to be seen.

He had been sitting on the bridge over the pond, earlier. It’s his favourite place in the garden, where he can keep an eye ‘over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth,’ as Genesis tells us. Flying things, too, are another interest of his, though he doesn’t usually bother with butterflies and dragonflies.

I called, ‘Cats, cats, cats,’ which usually brings him running, but that failed. I then tried shaking the treats tin, full of tasty dried liver (!), which normally causes him to race towards me. Nothing!

Barry went out to look for him and found him lying on the ground, miaouing to be picked up. He brought him indoors and set him down, but he was lethargic and rather uncoordinated, staggering a little. We decided it was time to try the honey remedy. A fingerful of orange blossom honey was rubbed around his gums and mouth, and within a couple of minutes he had revived sufficiently to eat his food, although he didn’t finish it. However, he wanted to investigate Herschel’s bowl, as usual! It's a variation of the grass always being greener on the other side.

We put him and the remains of his food in the conservatory and shut him in there for peace. We applied some more honey, and he ate a little more of his food. I conducted a fifteen-second breath count, and it was within limits, so we left him. When I went to check on him twenty minutes later, it was hot in the conservatory and he was breathing rapidly, so I opened the door and sat with him for a while.

After the air had cooled, Jellicoe’s breathing was at the higher end of the normal range, but slower. The mid-afternoon feed will tell us more, perhaps, but I have a feeling our bank holiday weekend is going to follow a familiar pattern with Jellicoe visiting his friends at the vet.

We are beginning to dread bank holidays!

Later: the three o’clock feed went well. Jellicoe came bouncing into the sitting room when the Alexa alarm sounded. He seemed to want to eat in the conservatory, so I gave him Herschel’s food and Herschel had Jellicoe’s.

There is just one more meal for the cats today, at 7:00 pm, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed until that one has been completed, hopefully successfully. 

Roxy visits the vet

 

Roxy visits the vet

 It looks as though Roxy has a strange beard - it's actually Jellicoe's tail!

Our dogs love going to see the vets because treats are involved. They are expert at adopting soft, pleading-eyed, irresistible expressions and their tactics are always successful.

On Monday, it was Roxy’s turn to visit the vets. She had done something to her right hind leg and was intermittently limping and whimpering. It didn’t affect her appetite, and she was not in great pain, but one of her toes was sitting at a strange angle. It transpired that she had split the nail, and it had to be removed.

When Barry returned without her, Gilbert was most disturbed, looking at the porch door and crying softly from time to time. He cheered up when he went out for a walk, and came home, panting, damp, and pleased with himself.

Roxy’s homecoming in the afternoon was greeted with enthusiastic sniffs and tail wags. The nail had been split down to the quick and had to be removed under general anaesthetic. It is a quite common occurrence. She has come home with antibiotics and painkillers and is now sporting a multi-coloured bandage and a disposable glove over the paw. She won’t be out walking for a while yet.

Roxy looks rather untidy as her winter coat is being shed.

A close-up reveals that the bandage is patterned with little pink pigs with curly tails.

It is only when you have animals that you realise how expensive medical procedures are, both for animals and humans. As an indication, the cost for this process was £523.00. Drugs are extra! 

There is no NHS for animals. It is wise, therefore, to have pet insurance to cushion the blow.

Roxy

 Roxy

Left to right:  Herschel, Roxy, Jellicoe

When dogs have a disagreement another dog will often intervene, placing itself between the two opponents. This seems to calm them and everyone can relax.

Does this  orientation look better?

Our cats argue, squabble, bat each other and sometimes one of the dogs will step between them to take the heat out of the moment.

        In the photo(s) above Roxy is acting as a buffer between the brothers.

Herschel had first claim on Roxy. She’s big and warm and he likes to snuggle up to her. Jellicoe also likes to sleep close to Roxy, so they each claimed one side of her and so long as there was no eye contact peace held sway.

How about this one?

The cats also like to groom the dogs, with mutual satisfaction. Roxy needs to look her best as she will be visiting the vets on Thursday for a check-up. She will have a pedicure (!) while she’s there. I used to clip the dogs’ claws but caught the quick on Dominie once. Roxy has dark claws so it’s very difficult to see where the quick is and I don’t want to risk hurting her.

One photograph, four orientations

The wart on her face has grown very quickly since we first noticed it a year ago. It will be assessed and I suspect the vets may recommend removing it. It doesn’t bother her – she doesn’t scratch it or seem to be otherwise aware of it. How could she be? She’s not a vain dog and doesn’t look in the mirror every five minutes.😉

Before that, Gilbert has to go and see the vets again on Monday, just to check that all is well. I’m sure he’d like to tell you all about that himself.

Gilbert the Good – visiting the vet

 

Gilbert the Good – visiting the vet

Waiting for a biscuit

I don’t understand why some dogs are afraid of going to the vet. All the vets I’ve met have been really nice and given me cuddles and lovely treats and told me what a handsome chap I am.

I visit the vets (I’ve seen several) quite often to be checked. I don’t know what they’re checking but each time they say, ‘No, it’s still not there.’ I don’t know what they’re talking about but they always say it when they’re twiddling about around my tail end. I mean, they fiddle around my mouth, too, and that’s when I can lick them. They seem to like it when I do that. They always laugh, anyway.

Ready to catch a biscuit. Roxy knows it's not her turn yet.

Anyway, Barry took me to see the vet this week, not the one very close to home, where all us animals go for routine stuff, like being weighed and getting vaccinations, but another one not very far away.

Barry and the vet were talking about my birthday at the beginning of November. I can’t believe I’m going to be one year old. Something special is going to happen on my birthday. I can’t wait to find out what it is. I like surprises!

I don't want that ball to get away from me!

When we got home again Roxy was very pleased to see us. I played with her after we’d both had a couple of biscuits in the kitchen.

We're sharing the ball

Now, I’m not complaining, but I do wish my humans would think about the background before they took our photographs.  I’m still wearing my collar, too. I usually take that off as soon as I go through the front door, then I can relax properly.

Roxy's turn for a biscuit

Can you see the wart on Roxy’s face? The vets are ‘keeping an eye’ on it. It’s grown quite quickly since last summer when the humans discovered it and thought it was a tick. It doesn’t bother Roxy but I think she’d look better without it.

TTFN

Gilbert

Another visit to the vet

 

Another visit to the vet 

Last Thursday, Gilbert was fourteen weeks old and visited the vet again for his final vaccinations. As he was not allowed to put paw to ground until fully immunised, he had to be carried. He now weighs 12 kilograms, the average weight of a three-year-old child, but he doesn’t cling on in the same way!

Most three-year old children are competent walkers and climbers and puppies would love to have the same freedom to tackle stairs and steps. The difference between them, though, is that children don’t generally fling themselves up and down stairs with gay abandon. Given the opportunity, puppies will.

However, there are dangers in allowing them to go full pelt because of the potential damage to their growth plates.

This is an x-ray of a two-week old puppy, showing how far the bones have to grow before forming a joint. 

From the Internet: ‘Growth plates are soft areas of developing cartilage tissue found by the ends of the dog's long bones. They are made of cartilage when the puppy is born, but gradually calcify and harden into solid bone; prior to that, the growth plates are vulnerable to being injured and possibly fractured because they are the last portion of the bones to harden.

Generally, most growth takes place between the ages of 4 to 8 months. After 8 months, there is minimal longitudinal growth of bones. By 12 months most growth plates are fused or closed and no longer show on x-rays. In some large/giant dog breeds the growth plates may remain open up to 18–20 months of age.’

We have always used the rule of thumb of 5 minutes of exercise per puppy month. When Gilbert sets paw in the outside world later on this week, he will be on a carefully controlled extending lead, so that he can explore and sniff the information left by other dogs. It will be an exciting time for him – and for us.

In the past two weeks Gilbert has learnt to climb stairs, under close supervision and control. At first he zig-zagged from side to side as he climbed, stopping every now and then to discover that Roxy, Herschel and Jellicoe had been there before him. 

Coming downstairs he always wants to go faster than he is allowed, usually because he wants to get into the garden. He has been a very reliable puppy, only having had one or two ‘mistakes’ in the house when he first joined us.

He seems to be in a hurry to grow up. It’s always amazing that puppies grow so quickly but Gilbert appears to grow visibly by the day. In the last week his adult coat has started to come through. The soft plush of his puppy coat now has a coarser strip along his spine.

He loves playing with Arthur and doesn’t grab his ears as frequently as he did, probably because he is now taller than him. Roxy plays with Gilbert, too, but not as much or as frequently as he would like. I think that will change as they start going out together for walks.

Herschel continues to strengthen his bond with Gilbert but Jellicoe usually ignores him in the supercilious way only cats demonstrate. Gilbert is grateful for any attention, even that of being positively ignored.

He saw Selene-the-Vet this time. She confirmed Patrycja-the-Vet’s discovery that one of his testicles hasn’t descended. We have to wait now to see whether the second testicle will descend by the time he is six months old. Life as a stud dog was never envisioned for Gilbert, nor a career in the show ring - just as well, really.

From the Internet: ‘Dogs with cryptorchidism can develop torsion, an extremely painful condition where the testicle twists upon itself, inhibiting blood flow. The testicle swells as it becomes engorged with blood. This condition typically presents with abdominal pain and evidence of a firm mass in the stomach. The pain can be so severe it causes the dog to go into shock. Immediate removal of the testicle is required to provide relief.’

Dogs with cryptorchidism are at a higher risk of developing testicular cancer later in life. Testicular cancer is the second most common cancer in older male dogs, and the risk among dogs with cryptorchidism increases by about 13 percent.’

It was all going so swimmingly! Hopefully, the problem will resolve itself. Meanwhile, we shall be keeping a closer eye on Gilbert’s nether regions than we had anticipated. I was going to say ‘watch this space’ but that hardly seems appropriate!  

The 24th blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke (Gus)

The 24^th blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke, (Gus) aged 9.

Hello everybody? Anybody? Is there anyone out there?

I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone had abandoned this blog, just like Mrs H seems to have done! She thinks she’s the only one who’s got lots to do. It’s not even as if Frankie takes up a lot of time now because he’s at school. Humans! They should try being dogs. We have to be alert all the time, guarding the house and barking at the television. We like Kitty Croquettes so we clear up after the cats, too, but the Humans don’t like us doing that and pull faces and tell us to go away. That’s not a nice thing to do to loyal Labradors, or any other faithful dog, for that matter. I suppose they have their reasons.

Talking of devoted dogs (and we all are) Mrs H saw a photograph of Buddy Liver Spots on her Facelook feed the other day. What? Facelook! What’s wrong with that? Oh, Jenna’s just told me it’s FaceBOOK. Well, I didn’t know . . . Anyway, it was a lovely photo. I remember Buddy, and Dominie, but the Dalmatian I remember best is Frodo the Faller. 

(If you want to know why he was called Frodo the Faller you’ll have to read about him here and here and here and here . . . and so on.)

I loved Frodo. I really admired him and wanted to grow up to be as big and strong as him.  I didn’t grow as tall but I’m sure I’m just as strong as he was and quite broad, too.  We all missed Frodo when he travelled on but we had each other and then Roxy came to live with us and she’s a lot of fun. Well, the other day, in the Dreaded Woods, we met a Dalmatian and Bertie and Roxy and I really enjoyed playing with her. I felt as though I was a puppy again. Jenna was very friendly to the Dalmatian, too, but she’s thirteen and doesn’t charge around any more. She prefers to stay close to the Humans because they’re carrying the biscuits and she loves biscuits.

I had to go to the Vet before Christmas because I had a lump on my leg. My Humans thought it was a cyst but it was a tumour and it was benign. Well, the Vets carried out more tests and discovered that it is malignant but very slow-growing. It doesn’t matter to me. It doesn’t hurt. I don’t feel as bad about going to the Vet now as I’ve been quite a lot recently. I met some nice children there the last time I went.

I had to keep going to the Vet because my bandage kept falling down. First I had a lovely, Christmassy red one, then a blue one, then a green one. I was very pleased when I didn’t have to wear a bandage any more because then I could go out for walks again. I can tell you, it’s not much fun being stuck in the house when the others go out.

It was lovely to go out again and it's always fun when Frankie comes with us.

On Christmas Day a heron visited us. The Humans think it was trying to find a way to reach the fish in the pond. It stayed for quite a while.

What else has happened? Oh, yes, there has been a new baby. He’s called Jack and he arrived on Marnie’s birthday. She’s twenty-five and he’s nought! So, Mrs Human went to stay with Bethan for a few days to help with Jack’s big brother, Charlie.

Jack, a few hours old

Brothers!

Gillian and Paul and Callum and Kat came to see us after Christmas. They didn’t bring their dogs, though, so we were a bit disappointed about that.  Roxy was ever so pleased ‘cos she really likes Callum.

I don’t think there’s anything else to report. 

Be good.

Hwyl fawr am nawr! (That’s Welsh for ‘Goodbye for now!’)

 The Entropy Gang’s August 2018 blog
(Clicking on the photos enlarges them . . . usually)

Herschel: It’s more than a year since Zula joined the family. She’s still tiny but very determined. She loves the GARDEN. To our sorrow, not many birds venture into the GARDEN these days.

Jellicoe: The MASTER calls me the assassin. I’m the smallest of my brothers but probably the quickest. This year I’ve caught a rat, a mouse and a young blackbird. I was told off for the blackbird but the MASTER and the MAID were quite pleased with me for keeping down the rat population.

Jellicoe up high on the arch and watching . . .

Isambard: I’m still not very interested in hunting, though my attention was attracted by a fly the other day. Lenny is the hunter of butterflies and dragonflies. He eats the butterflies.

Isambard

Herschel: The butterflies have been coming into the conservatory. They laid eggs and the caterpillars from the eggs ate the plants.

Jellicoe: Lenny spends a lot of time with us. He’s still a bit frightened of Zula. He sleeps next to the MAID’S pillow and I sleep between her and the MASTER.

Isambard: I always sleep on the MAID’S feet and Herschel lies on the MASTER’S legs but he spent all night in the gymnasium the other night.

Herschel: Yes, I went to keep the MASTER company while he was exercising. I must have been asleep when he left and he didn’t see me.

Jellicoe: The MAID was in the garden (not hanging out the clothes) when she heard him miaouing and rattling the door handle, so she let him out but he wasn’t cross or hungry.

Isambard: It’s a good thing it wasn’t during the Very Hot Weather but the MASTER didn’t go in the gym then.

Herschel: No, he concentrated on swimming. We like to join him in the pool, not in the water, you understand, just watching.

Jellicoe: Solomon and Zula spend long days in the garden. Zula drinks from the pond. When she was very small she trod on the water weed, thinking it was grass, and fell in and got wet. She hasn’t done that again.

Zula

Isambard: Solomon and Lenny have been scratching a lot. Poor Solomon had to wear a body suit to stop him scratching. Then he went to the VET to be tested for things that might make him itch.

Solomon

Herschel: They’re called ALLERGIES and it turns out he’s allergic to NINETEEN different things.

Jellicoe: Now he has to go to the VET for injections to DESENSITISE (that’s a long word!) DESENSITISE him.

Isambard: Then Lenny will have to be tested. We don’t have to go to the VET. We’re strong Ocicats.

Lenny

Herschel: Oh, oh, I had to go to the VET recently. I cut my back foot. The VET said I had severed one tendon and half-severed another. The MASTER and the MAID don’t know how I did it.

Jellicoe: They think he might have done it in the garage. He likes to go mousing in there.

Isambard: But now he’s only allowed in there for short periods and Lenny isn’t allowed at all.

Herschel: That’s for a different reason. (whispers) It’s because he uses it as a litter tray, even though we’ve got lots of litter trays as well as the GARDEN.

Jellicoe: We still love the dogs, especially Bertie and Roxy. Zula loves the DOGS, too, but I don’t think Solomon and Lenny are quite so keen.

Herschel sleeps on Bertie

Jellicoe shares Roxy's bed

Isambard: I’ve seen Lenny rubbing round the DOGS sometimes, but not Solomon. It’s us three brothers who love them the most. It’s funny to remember how frightened we were when we first saw them.

Herschel: Time to go now. The DOGS are going out for a walk soon. How funny! WE don’t have to be taken out for walks.

Jellicoe: It’s been very quiet at home. Frankie, the small SERVANT, has been away on holiday. He’s coming home on Friday.

Isambard: I like Frankie. I like to scramble onto his lap and he likes that. Zula is his little cat and she sleeps under his bed every night. TTFN.

NaNoWriMo 2012 Final update

NaNoWriMo 2012 Final update

I’m pleased, nay, relieved, to report that I have completed the challenge. The novel itself, such as it is, is unfinished and needs lots of work, but I’ll get to that later.

Meanwhile, my daughter’s baby has still not put in an appearance – I think he’s far too comfortable where he is – and she’s anxious to meet him face to face. By this stage pregnancy feels as though it’s set in for life! I remember it well.

Winston has had a little excitement. He gradually stopped eating and started looking not quite right. He stopped playing and chatting – he’s a very chatty cat – so on Saturday he had a trip to the vet (he was seen by one I had not met before) and was duly pulled around, some of which activity caused him to yowl in pain. I was at the business end and though he flattened his ears he didn’t attempt to bite or scratch. He’s such a gentle cat.

It transpired he had a high temperature but the vet didn’t know what might be the problem, though he mentioned pancreatitis. Then he gave him three injections and we came away with antibiotics and pain relief. Today he went back to have some blood taken and hopefully we’ll know the results in a few hours.

Winston’s temperature is down and he’s definitely feeling and looking much happier though still not eating as heartily as usual. His voice is stronger and he’s demanding attention. He resists his medication but doesn’t hold it against us when we’ve been manhandling him.

The dogs have reacted in typical fashion. First they were upset that Winston was going out and they weren’t. When he came home they each had to sniff him all over. Fortunately, Winston loves the attention.

For some as yet unknown reason one of my drives has disappeared - the one with the photos - so I cannot add photos to this post. 

Off to look at some blogs, now:-) 

Winston’s mid-May blog 2010

Winston here . . . p'rrrrr, p'rrrrr . . . 

I've just got back from seeing Nadia-the-Vet. It's all right, there's nothing wrong with me -I just had to have my annual booster. It doesn't seem like a year ago that me and Monty had our boosters and I got so embarrassed when he misbehaved. Who'd have thought he wouldn't be here this year? Poor Monty!When I got back today all the dogs rushed up to say hello and give me a good sniffing. It was nice to get home again and go back to my soft cushion in the conservatory. It gets really hot in there – soooper!I like going to the vet. Everyone makes a fuss of me and tells me I'm beautiful. Nadia-the-Vet's ever so nice but she did say I was a little overweight. I was rather hurt by that – I think I'm a fine figure of a feline and my tiger tummy looks very impressive. Still, I'll have to lose a bit of weight – I know it makes sense. It's been hot lately and the birds have been busy in the garden. It's fun watching them but I'm not interested in chasing them. They're ever so noisy and they start so early in the morning, before it's light. They're still flying about as it's getting dark, too. Don't think I'd like to be a bird! Too much like hard work, don'tcha know.

The stinging, buzzing things are flying about a lot as well. I leave them alone 'cos when I was a kitten I was playing with one and it left its sting in my chin. Mrs H got it out and I was all right and the lump soon went down but I don't want that to happen again and I definitely don't want none in my mouth.I heard that Foxy has got something wrong with her hips – hip displaced I think Mrs H said. Anyway, she's going to have some treatment, just like Jenna, but maybe one day she'll have to have a new hip. Poor Foxy! 

The tiny mice in Jenna's and Gus's ears have moved away now so everyone's pleased about that. Gus is ever so big and he's still growing. Jenna looks really small next to him. He keeps jumping on her and sometimes she yelps so Mr and Mrs H are making him stop. He don't mean to hurt his sister; he is only a puppy – just rather a large, strong one. Sometimes he jumps on me but I can hide in smaller or higher places than Jenna can. I think he's going to get as big as Frodo – I know he'd like to be as big as him 'cos he really likes Frodo.

What else has happened? Ooh, yes! There was water coming through the sitting room ceiling the other day but it's all right – Mr H knows what made it happen and he stopped it. He's ever so clever. Gus had a new toy and it had to be mended twice almost as soon as he started playing with it. Now all the stuffing's come out and the squeaker's gone. He keeps taking my toys, too. Gareth and Louis come over one day to collect their barbephew what Mr and Mrs H looked after when they was in Noo Yawk. Louis played with me – he likes me. Oh, and Mr H went off for the day – he went ailing and when he come back he was all red and ever so tired but he said he'd had a really good day and then he fell asleep. Mrs H had a quiet day at home all alone – apart from us, of course. It was really hot and all us animals slept all day. Mrs H didn't', though.

That's it, I think. Be good!

TTFN

Oops!

Barry just phoned to find out if his prescription is ready. (Capsaicin cream for his wonky knees – magic!)
The veterinary receptionist was most polite and managed not to guffaw!

ABC Wednesday M is for Mites! and Monty . . .

I'm sure you've all heard the expression 'Poor little mite' . It's one that I shall never use again advisedly from now on!

A week ago today (Tuesday) all the dogs seemed to be taking it in turns to lick the side of Jenna's face. We all looked and could feel that there was what appeared to be a lump. We investigated and found what seemed to be a slightly infected cut so Barry and our eldest granddaughter Marnie took Jenna to the vet. Mark-the-Vet discovered that the cut had been caused by scratching because she had ear mites. We hadn't noticed any excessive scratching but the evidence was undeniable.

Ear mites are very contagious which meant that the rest of the animals had to be seen. We have had six dogs in our house for the last three and a half weeks as Gillian's two were visiting so they all had to be transported to the vet and taken in two by two on a sort of rolling programme – one being examined while one waited. It was quite a pantomime circus and very entertaining for the other clients! The result was that two of ours needed treatment - Jenna and her half-brother Gus (who was heavily infested) as well as Tia, one of Gillian's dogs. Buddy's ears were grubby so he had to have drops and Frodo and Foxy were clear. The next morning Winston and Monty had to be seen but they were completely clear.

I learnt something new. It seems that puppies are often infested with ear mites! I knew about intestinal worms but I'd never heard or read of ear mites being a problem in puppies. So Gus is probably undoubtedly the culprit.

So the morning routine is now:- anti-epileptic drugs for Frodo, MSM and Glucosamine and other vitamins for Frodo, Buddy and Jenna, antibiotics for Jenna, ear drops for Jenna and Gus, cleansing ear drops for Buddy (which he hates – he shakes and we all get a shower, but it smells quite pleasant . . . ), eye drops for Buddy. Tia and Foxy have gone home with their family now so they're out of the equation . . . which brings me to Monty.

Monty adores dogs, particularly black dogs. He was born into an Army doctor's home and  among other breeds (including a Japanese Bobtail!!!) she had a black GiantSchnauzer who gently ambled amongst the cats and kittens. Monty loves all the dogs!  Here he is between Gus  (7 months) and Jenna (4 years) 

Monty and Winston were declared mite-free for which we were thankful. Monty had been quiet and had had little appetite for a couple of days and we were keeping an eye on him. Throughout Sunday his breathing became very laboured and we decided we needed an emergency appointment for him. My thoughts were initially that he had a respiratory infection but it also crossed my mind that he might have a problem with his heart. It transpired that my second fear was the correct one and he is currently still with the vets who are doing a fine balancing act to restore him to health. Mark-the-Vet phones twice daily (sometimes more) to let us know how he is progressing but it looks as if he will remain with them for another day or two at least as he is on an intravenous drip. Then his medications will join the rest in the 'animal medicine cupboard' and my morning and evening rounds will be longer.

Marnie and Callum went to visit him today and he was very responsive, purring and rubbing his head against them. We didn't go because we thought it might distress him but as their visit was rewarding perhaps we will go tomorrow. We are not pessimists but we do try to be realistic. Our vets are the best and Monty is young – only three years old - but his heart is not in good order, thus we hope for a good outcome but fear the worst. He's a fighter though, nearly dying from osteomyelitis as a three-month-old kitten.

It's difficult, indeed, doing everyday tasks with all fingers crossed!

Thank you to Denise Nesbitt and her ABC Wednesday team for their hard work in organising and hosting this meme. You can find out more – and join in! – here!

Winston’s mid-April blog 2010

Me and Monty like to curl up together. Can you see that he's licking my ear? My Humans don't do that for me . . . :-/

Winston here . . . p'rrrrr, p'rrrrr . . .

It's been very busy in our house this weekend. All six of the younger Humans stayed here last night so there was lots of noise and coming and going. Me and Monty like it when they come 'coz they play with us and give us treats but Monty didn't feel like playing. He hasn't been eating much either so I've been helping him finish his share of the food – yum! 

Me and Monty curled up together in our bed upstairs last night and today he didn't have anything to eat - he just wanted to sleep. Well, the Humans started worrying and watching him really close and Monty was ever so quiet. They kept talking about his breathing and looking at how I was breathing and then they took him to see the vet-on-duty (it's Christopher today) and he said that he'd take an x-ray and some blood for tests. (I hope they didn't take too much blood – we can't spare much really!) Then Christopher-the-Vet said he'd call in Mark-the-Vet 'coz he knows about hearts and things 'coz it might be his heart that's wonky or it might be his lungs. He's only three years old, just like me - I don't understand it. Christopher-the-Vet said Monty would have to stay there tonight 'so they could keep an eye on him'. (How does that work? Do they tape an eye to his fur?) 

So I'm feeling a bit low 'coz I'm missing my friend. The Humans are lovely and all but they're not cats and they won't lick me where I can't reach and cuddle up in that special cat way. I spect I'll sleep on one of the Human's beds tonight.

I'm sad. I'll let you know what happens.

TTFN

The Second Blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke (Gus)

Hello everyone!

Well, I've been here for three weeks and I really like it. There's always something going on and I'm constantly interested, especially if it involves food – and it often does!

There was a lot of sadness in the house last Friday. Frodo and I went to the vet and while we were there Mr Human asked Nadia for some advice about Dominie. Later on he took Dominie out and she hasn't come back and he was very upset. Then Mrs H took the big dogs out for a walk. We don't really understand where Dominie is but Mr and Mrs H said something about her being stardust now and they smiled sadly and gave all us animals an extra cuddle and a kiss. My sister, Jenna, was very depressed and Frodo and Monty were unhappy too. I miss Dominie; I didn't know her for very long and she couldn't really play with me but she was kind and licked me and she was good to snuggle up to. I sleep on her cushion now when I'm in the kitchen and Jenna and Monty and Winston and occasionally Buddy sleep on her settee in the sitting room.

I was really excited on Sunday because Jenna started playing with me. She grumbled a lot at the same time but that was just to let me know I had to behave as I am the youngest in the family. Then Frodo began to play and that was awesome. The three of us played together – it was great! Now she plays with me a lot and she's not making so much noise. She brings me toys to play with - isn't that sweet?

I'm much bigger than I was – that's what Mr and Mrs H say. I think they must be right because I can leap onto the step from the patio mostly in one go though sometimes I still have to do it in two jumps – well, a hop and a scramble really. Mrs H always giggles when I bound onto it and all four paws land at the same time. I don't think it's all that funny but then I'm not a Human and I can't see me.

Monty and Winston are still bigger than me. I like chasing them – it's fun. I'm going to have to stop though because they don't really like it. Monty bats me and hisses. Winston tries to hide but it's just too easy to corner him. I only want to play with them but I'm beginning to think they're not really dogs at all. They make funny noises – I don't know any dogs that hiss – and when they talk to the Humans their voices are high – and they have a thing called a litter tray; they don't ask to go outside like me. I like the litter tray – it's interesting. I was a bit worried the other day when Monty started chasing me so I scurried away and sat next to Frodo in his bed. Frodo's big and he's strong – and heavy. He's cool! Sometimes he treads on me and makes me yelp. Buddy walks on me too because he can't see very well. I'd like to play with him but he doesn't play with anyone; the Humans call him a real cool dude. Of course he's quite old and just wants a quiet life. He's the leader of the pack now.

What else have I found out? Oh yes, the dogs eat raw meat and I have a little too. It's scrumptious but I have to eat my special food too to make sure I grow properly and not at funny angles. When I'm a big boy I'll have raw food all the time like the others. Even Monty and Winston eat raw.

I can climb the stairs now too. I started doing that four days ago on Wednesday. We were all going to bed and Frodo was ahead. He bounded up the stairs in three leaps and I wanted to follow him (I really like Frodo) so I concentrated very hard and got all the way to the top. I'm not allowed to go downstairs though; Mrs H says it wouldn't be good for my joints but I don't mind being carried. I like being close to my Humans.

My next challenge is to clamber onto the furniture. I can nearly manage it but haven't got quite enough spring in my back legs. Mr H settles me next to him on his chair and that's lovely. Mrs H tuts but I don't think she's really cross. I can't wait till I can get on their bed every night with Jenna and Monty and Winston.

Foxy and Tia and their Humans are here for the weekend. Tia won't play with me but Foxy's ever so nice. She doesn't play rough and tumble like Jenna but rolls around and lets me climb on her. That's lots of fun.

I wonder what the next weeks will bring?

Hwyl fawr am nawr! (That's Welsh for 'Goodbye for now!'