Easy Sunday

Sitting on the table trying to decide if I will knock everything off...

Early Christmas present...

Mom got me an early Christmas present despite my attitude yesterday. Hey, what's a kitty to do when mom buys cheap kitty litter? I let her know I didn't approve by peeing next to the litter box. Today she bought the correct kitty litter and got me an early Christmas present too! Luv you mom!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday! Mom told me there are other holidays being celebrated now than just Christmas and to be sure and wish everyone a Happy Holiday! Luv ya! Smooch!!!

Scary Sunday

I had a scary moment when I choked on a treat today. I couldn't breath so mom did the Heimlich thingy on me. I didn't like it so I kept trying to get away. She caught me and kept squeezing my tummy and banging on my back until I threw up the treat and some yucky stuff. I'm napping now. Thanks mom!

Want know how to help your kitty if they choke? Follow this link: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+1411&aid=3550.

Or follow this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmNl9X50jxk&feature=youtube_gdata_player to watch a video.

Hey anipals...

Just wanted to say "Hi"...

 

Lazy Caturday

Enjoying some deck time. Mom can't believe its December and so nice outside!

Sharing...

I (okay, mom) thought it would be nice if I would share some of my toys with Kaycie. Moms twin adopted Kaycie from Wayside Waifs earlier this year. Kaycie's pooped after a day of playing!

Traveling this Thanksgiving Holiday? Traveling with a Cat requires some planning....

Traveling with a Cat Requires Planning Ahead

 

Traveling with a cat sounds like a nightmare situation to most people.  Traveling with me is a nightmare... just saying!  I meow the entire trip!!! 

But for dedicated owners of felines, anything is possible, including a road trip with a cat.

Actually, traveling with a cat isn't that hard. It can be a little challenging at first, but planning ahead will solve many problems before they occur.

A Good Cat Carrier is Essential

It used to be that the old hard plastic pet carrier was the standby, but today there is a wide choice for discerning cat owners. Soft-sided cases are becoming more popular. It may be wise to choose a carrier approved by the International Air Transport Association if there is a possibility that air travel is in the kitty's future.  Whatever type of pet carrier is preferred by the owner, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a cat carrier. It should be big enough for the cat to move around in comfortably. A secure latch is also a must-have. Some carriers even have clips so they can be secured by seat belts.

 

Try to get the cat used to the carrier before leaving home. It's best to leave it out with the door open so kitty can investigate it, and hopefully become comfortable with it. Put an old t-shirt or sweatshirt inside the carrier, so it smells familiar to the cat. This also provides him/her something soft to lie on. It's recommended that cats remain inside a carrier while traveling in a car, as they can become projectiles in the event of an accident. However, the reality is that cats are not usually happy to remain in a carrier for hours, and they have ways of making their displeasure known. Cats will find their own places in a car. This may be a favorite person's lap, or under a car seat. Once kitty finds a place to settle down, everyone will be much happier.

If the cat is allowed out of the carrier while traveling, it's a good idea to try to put him back in it before getting out at rest stops. Losing kitty along the road is not a travel adventure anyone wants to have.

Bring the Basics

Kitties often won't eat while traveling, but food and water should be offered at rest stops. Most of the time, a cat will eat while at the motel, usually while the owner is sleeping. Provide a litter pan, too. Be sure kitty knows where it's located, and has access to it. Many cats will empty their bowels within the first few miles when starting a road trip. This is normal, but it does mean that the first stop will be very soon, so the pan can be scooped.

Contact Pet-Friendly Motel Chains Before Leaving

Most motels are pet friendly these days, but it's usually a good idea to check availability of pet-friendly accommodations before leaving on a trip. Some motels will charge a few dollars extra for a cat or dog. Be a responsible cat owner by cleaning up after the kitty as much as possible. Leaving a mess behind will make it difficult for other people traveling with pets to find a motel room. Don't try to sneak kitty into the motel. It's very hard to keep a cat out of the window, and, if discovered, the motel will probably evict the pet owner, possibly without a refund.

Put Identification Tags on the Cat

A figure-eight harness is recommended for cats, since they can't slip out of it, like they can with a collar. Attach identification tags to the harness. The tags should have the pet's name, as well as the name, address, and phone number of the owner, along with contact information for the kitty's vet. Pet microchipping and tattoos are other means of identifying a companion animal, in the event that he manages to slip away.

Plan Ahead for an Enjoyable Trip

Traveling with a cat offers special challenges, but with good pre-planning, a road trip with a cat can actually be an enjoyable experience.

 

Information borrowed from the following source:  Top 6 Ways to Ease Travel by Car with Cats

 

 

If you are traveling this Thanksgiving, travel safe and have a happy, healthy holiday!!!

 

RIP Scooby

Mom would go housesit for a friend who's furry friend was this big moose of a dog... Scooby.  She was a sweet doggy and mom will miss taking care of her.  Scooby lost her battle with cancer and passed Over the Rainbow earlier this week.

RIP Scooby!

Deck time!

Enjoying some deck time on a nice day before winter arrives.

Lazy Caturday

Got some sun puddle time in earlier today...

Now napping in my favorite spot next to mom watching football.

Cats and Trauma

A while back mom borrowed a post from my friends Ryker'z Boyz about Cats and Trauma.  The post asks if cats can experience trauma the way humans do.  In fact, they do!  In the very excellent book, "Animals Make Us Human," Temple Grandin states that cats can exhibit high levels of OCD-like behavior triggered by anxiety and fear. This stems in part from the fact that cats tend to be very set in their ways, much more so than dogs, and don't always adapt well to new circumstances. They can go from calm to terrified in seconds -- she says it's because cats have very small frontal lobes, the part of the brain which functions as the "brakes" for emotions.

Thanks to Ryker'z Boyz for sharing this information! To read the entire post with comments please click here to visit Ryker'z Boyz.

Last night was a reminder that cats do experience trauma and need time to heal too.  About 1:30am mom and I woke to sirens in our apartment complex.  It was a fire truck, ems and police.  They all stopped at a building a few buildings down from us.  We had a perfect view because of our old building no longer standing.  It was quite an eery sight seeing the fire truck, ambulance and police cars all in front of what used to be our building.  I didn't like hearing the sirens.  I kept meowing and running back and forth between the living room window and bedroom window.  It would be an hour or so before I calmed down and finally joined mom back in bed.  Mom didn't mind the meowing.  I think she was worried about me more than annoyed by the meowing.  :(

I am resting comfortably tonight.  Today marks 8 months since the fire.   I am doing well but would really prefer to not hear any more sirens, k?

 

 

Sunday Funday!

Yay for Sunday Funday and some deck time!

 

 

Addictive Blog? Me, Really???

Did you hear? Maxwell, Faraday and Allie gave me the Addictive Blog Award! Really??? Blushing...I'm honored!

I'm to share a little about why I blog, and how I got started...and then nominate 10 other bloggers for this award.

If you know my story then you know I got started blogging after a fire on Feb 23, 2012 took my home and big brofur Cosmo. Maxwell, Faraday and Allie were blogging about my progress.  Mom thought it would be good to start a blog for me.  Someone called me "Legend" because I escaped the fire so mom got me signed on to twitter (CJLegendKitty) and started this blog to keep all my friends...old and new...updated on my progress.

Social media has been a huge help to mom. It showed us how much people care which was a huge help in recovering from such a tragic event! Thank you to everyone who followed my story and prayed for my recovery!!!

To see how much I have recovered here's a pic from just a few days after the fire...

And now...

As you can see, I am doing well!!!  Mom still blogs about me occasionally when she has time.  I'll keep on her about that. 

Now I need to pass on the Addictive Blog award to some recipients:

Sebastian the Sensitive Soul (Have you met Harvey yet?)
Bunny's Blog
Katie Isabella
Sparkle the Designer Cat
Curlz and Swirlz...

Max the Quilt Cat

Tails and Wails
Laila and Minchie
MANX MNEWS
The Furries of Whisppy


Happy Monday everyone!

 

 

 

 

Lazy Caturday

Laying on a bag mom brought home.

What???

What do you mean you don't like French fries? OMC Harvey Palmer doesn't like French fries! Silly kitten!!!

Harvey likes to play. While I haven't met Harvey yet, mom has been spending time with him this week so he gets play time while his mom is on vaca. Harvey is probably a little too hyper for me to have a play date with. I'm a lot older than Harvey and don't have his energy...

Oh well...it's deck time for me! Yay for lazy Caturday!

Lazy Caturday

Woo hoo, it's Lazy Caturday and mom's actually home! Wait...is that nip I smell? Yep, yep it is. Woo hoo!

A car ride... I don't like car rides!

I knew something was up when mom moved the carrier to the middle of the room and opened the carrier door.  I immediately stopped eating and ran to the bedroom (away from the living room where the carrier was now sitting).  Mom called my name until I finally poked my head out of the bedroom.  I still wouldn't come so she got the treat bag out and sprinkled a few on the floor.  I didn't used to like treats but I really like them now!  They are my weakness and mom used that to get me to come in to the living room.  Treats were scattered about leading me right in to the carrier.  Then that tricky mom closed the door!  Dammit, how did I let her trick me like that???  

I don't like car rides and I told her so the entire way to Wayside Waifs.  I really didn't like the car ride this time and threw up the treats I had just eaten.  No problem though, mom cleaned up the mess (in the car) and on we went in to Wayside.

We were at Wayside Waifs so that I could get microchipped.  Bayer was doing a training session with their employees and wanted some volunteers.  Mom didn't really think microchipping me was important since I am an indoor kitty but after I was found running around the apartment complex parking lot after escaping the fire on Feb 23, 2012 she thought it might be a good idea to get a microchip put in me.  You never know when a kitty might get lost or be involved in an emergency!  The folks at Bayer liked my story and might use it in their campaign teaching pet owners about why it's importamt to microchip your pets.  Isn't that cool?  Thanks Bayer and Wayside Waifs for getting me microchipped!

Since I got sick on the car ride over, mom decided we would hang out at Wayside for a while before hopping back in to the car.  I got to hang out in the sun room and meet some of the great people at Wayside Waifs that mom volunteers with!  Here are pics of me exploring:

This actually took place on Wednesday August 15, 2012 but lazy mom just got around to writing it up for me today... something about being busy working.  Whatever mom!