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Daily Activites of the Cabbocca Brood
Merry Christmas, Happy Chaukkah and Happy Kwanzaa! Well the holidays are almost upon us all. Our best wishes to you and all your animal friends for a truly wonderful holiday season and best wishes for a Joyous New Year. The cats loved their new fishing poles especially, Skipper. We decided to try the ones with the mouse feet instead of the feathers. They are made with a rope cord rather than a plastic cord and seem to being holding up a bit better. The cats also love to grab on to the mouse paw and hug it. They also enjoyed the numerous boxes coming into the house that they quickly turned into fun spots to snuggle and play. It's amazing at how great they are with our outside visitor, Becca-Benji. They sit there for hours with her/him. Gilligan gets very upset when Smokey comes around and starts eating her/his food.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
It's been quite awhile since I've added to this page. Summer has passed, school has been in swing, halloween pumpkins have lost their grins and we're headed to the final end of the year. A few entries back I noted that we had not seen Becca/Benji or the little black cat in quite a while. At that point Ludley and Smokey were our regular porch visitors. Well all that has changed. Becca/Benji (we're really not sure which) has decided that our porch is HER/HIS HOME and she protects it from all who seek to trespass; all that is except the little black cat.
We had been trying to figure what to do about protection for Ludley for the winter. We were fortunate to pick up an old dog house igloo at a garage sale this summer. We figured it would be great for Ludley. WRONG! Becca/Benji reappeared and unlike before she/he had developed some asservtive tendencies. Becca/Benji moved in bag and baggage - sorta. She's/He's in poorer condition then Ludley and still very fearful and tentative with us. We have only seen Ludley a few times since then. He had become quite friendly and had a pleasant personality. We are hoping that someone has taken him in and adopted him.
It's only started getting cold within the last week or so. So we have been busy trying to get the igloo as winterized as possible. I took one of our old carriers, it's door had broken off, and duct taped the sides, added some old rags and a couple of old sleeping bags that were headed for the scrap heap and our new little stray has a bit of protection against the bad weather. She/he has been sleeping in there at night and hangs out on the porch during the day. If the little black cat comes up on the porch, she lets him. Anyone else she chases off. She's not aggressive - it's more fear, arching of her back and hissing. All bark and no bite. I think if anyone really challenged her she be off and running. When I put food out for her/him, she/he tears off the porch and under it. Then she'll/he'll come to the stairs and watch and wait until I'm back in and the door is closed. If she/he is in the igloo when I open the door, there is this gray flash that flies by and dives under the porch, same routine as above. I don't remember how long it took for Ludley to get use to us, yet I think Becca/Benji might take a bit longer. Time will tell.
It really is amazing the vocalizations that cats can make! And ours all seem to be coming into "their own" in this area. Zachariah, who has always been outspoken, has been getting some stiff competition lately. Malachi has taken up to bearing gifts to Daddy with very vocal announcemets accompaning the gift. Lately she will choose "an especially" special morsel from her dish, bring it across the room and set it down by Chris. She then announces her present and prescence with a really weird vocalization.
And you should have heard her the other day on the way to the vet. Just a "well checkup", but did she carry on. From the moment we put her into the car, until well after we were settled waiting for our turn. She was definitely NOT a "happy camper!"
Goliath has started getting more mouthy lately also. He does this thing, where he carries a ball in his mouth. The whole time he is walking around with it, he makes the strangest noises. And they are not quiet ones. Of course his favorite time to do this is in the middle of the night!
Gilligan has lately been coming up to me for attention. Although he is far from loud, his vocalizations are persistent for sure. Skipper just goes on and on and on. And JJ sits outside the bathroom door and lets me know he misses me. If only we had the "know how" to record these vocalizations and then pull out the correct notes to turn them into tunes. You know like those cats and dogs that sing Christmas songs. We'd have our own little "Flea club!" Oh what a cat-cophany that would be!
Monday, August 5, 1997
Gee, the summer is almost over with and we haven't started the painting. We've been having visitors and more to come. All the cats are really starting to enjoy having company. There was a time when Goliath disappeared at the sound of the doorbell or the footsteps of guests. We would really have to go hunting to find him. Lately though he's been mellowing. He was even getting right up on Joey so that he could take advantage of extra attention.
Joey , our 13 year old nephew, was visiting with us for 2 weeks in July. He really loves the cats. In fact he got his first cat this past fall. Socks is a tuxedo who was just a year old yesterday, August 4th. All of the brood were sneaking extra attention from Joey, especially Zachariah. Joey will be back for another visit later in August. They will be so happy to see him again!
Ludley and Smokey have been making regular rounds outside at the food bowl. We haven't seen anything of Becca or the other small black kitten. Hopefully, they have found homes. Ludley was so drenched in the heavy rains we had a few weeks ago; he actually came in the apartment for awhile to dry off. He nibbled at the food bowl and was off again. I set up a plastic bin against the patio door so that he would have some shelter from the rain. He didn't use it right away, but now almost every morning he is in it waiting for his breakfast. JJ, Skipper and Gilligan usually are right in front of it staring at him. They don't deter him in any way. He holds his ground until I come out with the replenished food bowl.
Well enjoy the rest of the summer. It goes so quickly. The kids will be back in school in a blink of an eye.
Monday, June 23, 1997
Well "Hi there everyone!" It's been awhile since I've had a chance to work on our homepage. Between Chris reformatting the computer and the "spring cleaning bug," I just haven't had a chance to park myself and keep you all in touch on the Bocca Brood. Seems as sometime between the last time I was on and Memorial Day; we decided to paint the bedroom. Being in an apartment complex where getting the mangement to "DO" regular maintenance stuff is like trying to knit and not have kitty play with the ball of yarn. It finally got to us. We decided we would take action into our own hands. Literally!
We had started with the bathroom and hall in March. We had gotten the paint and all that was needed was for us to get moving. Well we started and it became an all consuming project. The walls are an artic ice- a very light blue tint. We did trim and accessories in slate and bold blues. We even had the floor resanded and stained. It's turned out really fantastic! We bought another futon bunk and put the TV and Ninetendo in there. It works now as a combinded bedroom and sitting room. Being in a small apartment, five of the six cats have claimed that room as theirs. Mali still has to hang out at Chris' side and adore him! We have tagged the new bedroom/sitting room as the Kitties Blue Room. As soon as we get the film developed, you will be seeing photos of the kitties enjoying their new room.
All the cats are doing well. Gilligan we found out had a bladder infection and was on antibiotics for quite awhile. The infection has cleared up and we've had few accidents in almost a week. He also did a lot of crying. Chris thought he was just talking. But he hasn't gone on like he did in over a week. This will certainly be a clue for us, if he has recurring infections in the future.
He has gotten very cuddly and is coming over to get his share of attention. He's still very shy and backs off easily with the least bit of competition from the others. However, he is managing to get his "place in sun" more and more often now. He is such a quiet, shy cat; I'm glad that he is allowing himself to get the cuddling and attention.
Oh yes, MAJOR NEWS ITEM: Lovey is Ludley. About a month a go either my eyes were working or there was another "SLOW DESCENT!????" Note DJ's biography in the biography section. We had gotten some tape worm pills to give him, so I focused in that area more closely. Well no wonder we hadn't experienced any bundle of kittens! LOL We still would like to get him over to the vets. We put one of those flea collars on him that kills the eggs. The next day he was back sans collar. I guess I'll have to find out about those pills for keeping your animals, flealess. Otherwise, I'm sure we'll have to be deworming again soon.
We now have three other outside cats that visit on our deck and feed out of Ludley's bowl. There is a smokey gray cat, we named him Smokey. Like Ludley he is content to sit outside the door and pass time with our guys. It's amazing how there is no hissing and spitting. Ludley has a look-a-like out there. A black kitten that appears to be 7 or 8 months. Unlike Ludley, who meows for pets and meows his "please and thank yous," this little guy runs for cover the minute you look at him. The fourth is a gray and brown stripped tiger. She looks like one of the photos that our vet has on his "pet wall." We had remarked one time that the cat in the picture looks like our neice Becca. It was the first time that we had ever seen a cat that looked like a person. Would you believe that this gray and brown tabby looks just like Becca, too! We call her Becca. She is on the shy side also, but holds her ground to grab a nibble or so and snooze a bit off to the side of the deck.
Well I'll try to get to the updates sooner, but we are talking about painting the rest of the apartment in July. If you don't hear from me it means I probably have paintbrush in hand instead of keyboard! You enjoy your summer and take care of all your pet friends with flea collars, plenty of water and refuge from the heat. PLEASE NO LEAVING ANIMALS OR KIDS IN CLOSED UP CARS OR OTHER CONFINED AREAS!!!!!
Tuesday, May 11, 1997
It will be a week since David has left us. Hearts have ached; and there is an emptiness we have all felt. Skipper seems the most affected. She, after all was his constant companion during his last days. She spent much time grooming him and just snuggling with him; sharing her warmth. The first night JJ and Goliath seemed to be having a dance for dominance. It was short lasted and there seems to have had no ill resolve. Today they were sleeping so that each pillowed against the other.
At one point during his illness, David had spent Monday to Thursday at the vet's. Since he left us last Monday, I believe the others are just becoming aware that he is not coming back to us.
This past Thursday, Gilligan spent the night over the vet's in order for them to get a urine sample. He was sorely missed- by Lovey! She spent the whole day sitting on the porch waiting for her Gilligan to appear. She usually eats and spends and hour or so. I really believe she was aware that Gilligan was not here. On Friday, when Gilligan returned, she also spent a longer than usual time hanging out on the porch.
Feeding time has become real interesting around this place. Back last summer, we began feeding them Iams or Science Hills. During David's illness, we bought some canned Nine Lives and Friskies to mix his medication in. Darn! Those cats decided that "NOW" that's what they want! I really wanted them on the Iams, etc. The 3 younger cats would only eat dry food. The vet felt they should be eating some canned, especially Gilligan. When we brought in the cheaper brand, they started eating the canned. At least, Skipper and Gilligan did. We had a month worth of Iams in the closet and they were boycotting it. We had to go out and buy Friskies. The only one not affected by this was JJ. He STILL ONLY EATS DRY FOOD! He apparently is not convinced of the vet's opinion. LOL
Wednesday, April 9, 1997
It's been awhile since I've gotten over here, actually on here, anywhere. Chris has been busy getting music, graphics and pictures set up and actually we were just really concerned with David. As you might remember, or have just read, he has a thyroid tumor and was on medication. Unfortunately, he was not doing well. Trying to get pills into David wasn't easy. We were doing it one day and a vitamin fell on the floor. Malachi comes along and just chumped it up like it was candy. Go figure! In desperation we went to the liquid vitamins we had here. Today we were struggling with David and the eye dropper trying to get them in him. Along comes Skipper, and she starts lapping up the liquid vitamins. Seems like there should be an easier way.
This condition caused David to eat and drink continuously, pace and be very verbal. He was always my nightime visitor. Petting my face and doing my "Do", my hair. The other night he was really at it to the point of walking in circles around me. Then he got off the bed and started scratching at the door and making crying sounds I had never heard out of him. All of a sudden Gilligan comes rushing into the room. Fake out time! Gilligan thought it was his Lovey scratching at the door.
We recently bought a futon that has a bunk bed on top. Not being the best sleeper, I thought I had a retreat for myself from cats who wanted to sleep with me. Actually, I meant on me and right up in my face! Once they knew I was up there, they made it their business to find out how they could; even David. He actually climbed up the ladder!
Thursday, Feb. 20, 1997
Last week we had to take David and Goliath to the vet. (probably first time we to took that combination at the same time). Goliath goes on a regular basis for accupuncture for his asthma. It works a lot better than the medication was working. The doctor was going to put one of the pins in Goliath's head, when he reached out and slapped the vet's hand. Boy! That was some surprised vet! The vet took charge right away and said he was just going to have to play Goliath's mother. Grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and proceeded to put in the rest of the pins.
David was 15, our eldest. He'd been dropping weight since this summer and we had been monitoring him. We had lost his mom, Uriah, on January 14,1995. She had wasted away to about 3 1/2 lbs. and she was starving. We were never able to find out what the problem was. She was a fighter and kept on for about a year and a half.
When David started losing weight, we got him right over to the vet. All the tests were negative. On this day he decided to do a T3 test on the thyroid. His T4's hadn't indicated a problem, but the Doctor said there are a small percentage of animals whose results are normal when they aren't. Well come to find out that David had a thyroid tumor and had to have medication. So Chris was putting the "Mother hold" to use. Chris was getting them into David without help from me. Getting pills into David was no walk in the park!
February 5, 1997
Today was snowy and very cold. Now don't think I'm complaining! Compared to last year's winter, this one has been a piece of cake. We were sitting around the computer when there was a knock at the bedroom door. There was Lovey sitting there letting us know that it was dinner time. Gilligan seemed very concerned for his Lovey being out in the cold.
I picked up the dish from in front of the door. We have a makeshift shelter where I also put her food, so that we can feed her in wet and snowy weather. Usually when the dish is empty she pushes it in front of the door to let us know that we are slipping up on the job. This afternoon the dish was right in front of the door and she even had to knock!
February 4, 1997 The weather has been beautiful here the last few days. This morning the crew was all excited; they had a visitor right outside their window. A squirrel. Well there were a few fast thumping tails. The squirrel seemed oblivious to several pairs of eye sizing him up for some fun. Thank goodness for glass windows. They can watch, but they can't touch. No presents on front doorways or pillows. Yuck! LOL!!!!!
Well I've run your ear up quite a bit, or is that your eye. Have a great day and I'll see you again soon.