Kitties

During the short transition while I was moving from mom and dad's basement and into the apartment I left Quince there so she wouldn't get out in a new and unfamiliar neighborhood.  That plan didn't work.  I never saw her again. :(

I seem to have no so great of luck when it comes to cats.  Moe was the cat I was able to keep around the longest.  I got him for Christmas in the 6th grade and he disappeared close to the end of my Senior year.  Soon after he was gone I adopted Alara.  Since I went off to school right after that, she spent four years living with mom and dad while I was away.  After graduation she moved to Kansas with me.  In September 2007 I had to put Alara down.  With the billions of farm cats around at the time it didn't take too long to adopt another (or two) as mine.  Tiny, a little runt cat and Puff, aka Big Fluffy Orange Cat.  A short time before I left the farm Puff and Tiny went missing.  I adopted O'Malley on March 17th, 2009, just days before I returned to Colorado.  Quincie soon joined our little family in July 2009.  O'Malley had some behavioral issues and had to be put down in December 2009.

Quince moved with me from the apartment and into mom and dad's.  As you know, she didn't get to join us in the new place.  I think she knew that I was not returning to live at mom and dad's but what she didn't realize was that I would be back for her.  I have spent a lot of time at the Humane Society recently.  We posted signs in the neighborhood and even got a few calls of possible Q sightings.  I was very hopeful at first that she would come home, but alas she has not.

We were planning on waiting to adopt another kitty until after out trips in October and November.  Then I came across an add on the county "for sale" site at work.  There was a cute little cat 3-5 years old who has spent a majority of her life as a stray and she recently gave birth to a litter of kittens.  Her current home, a foster home, was looking for a forever home for her.  Adam and I went and met her and loved her right away.  She is a real sweetie!  We named her Noodles!  We are still getting to know each other as she has only been here since Thursday night.  She is loving and playful and a begger.  No matter what you have in your hand she wants to know if she can have a bite.  We plan to keep her indoors only.  Now we're crossing our fingers that she's a part of our life for years to come.  Also, if Quincie does decide to come back, we think they would make great friends!

May I See Your ID?

Guess what extremely exciting online purchases I made?! They both got new ID tags!

Quincie got a pink mouse and O'Malley got a green shamrock!

I think they love them.

All we needed was a little catnip

This is a good sign

Proud mother of two!

For the past few months O'Malley has been having a bit of a bladder control issue. Even going as far as relieving his bladder on the clothing of over night guests. He's been to the vet several different times coming home with medications for bladder infections. When he would start the medications he would do better for a while and then the issues would return.

Even though I felt sorry for him and what he was going through, I began to think I was reaching my breaking point! I was trying to consider different options figuring that the reason he was in the animal shelter to begin with was most likely due to this very issue. I didn't want to give up on him. He's the sweetest kitty I have ever had. So I began with a litter box additive that was supposed to attract him to the litter box. I tried removing the lid from his box. I even got an additional box. I tried the "Cat Attract" brand of litter. Every time I thought it had helped the issues would begin again.

My next thought was that maybe he needed a buddy! Marika had mentioned that her friend Shera had been looking for a home for their kitty. She was also a sweet kitty, but since their family has grown by two in the last two years they didn't feel like she was getting the attention she needed.

Before we left on our trip to Canada I took O'Malley back to the vet in hopes that we would be able to control things while Claire and Fay were looking after him. This time they did a few things differently. First, he was prescribed the usual antibiotic for the infection, but in addition he was also prescribed a medication that helps with digestion, a prescription wet food (since all the store brands made him sick) which helps him get more water into his system and a low dose of anti-depressants. (The thought of kitty anti-depressants is funny) While on vacation O'Malley did very well never having any "accidents!" I was still considering the possibility of a friend for him.

Yesterday after Marika had gone to the movies with Shera and they had discussed the cat swap and it was decided that sooner was better than later. So yesterday evening O'Malley and I welcomed an addition to our little family! Her name is Quincie! She's almost six years old. She's a very pretty black cat with green eyes.

Shera, her husband and their two children brought Quincie over, stayed for a bit while we let the cats meet each other. It was agreed that we would first have this arrangement on a trial basis of a week. That way we could make sure that they liked one another. If I were them, it would be very difficult to give my kitty away. I hope they know that the person they gave her will love her! :)

Now having been here for almost 20 hours, poor Quincie is looking a little scared. I imagine that this is due to not only the completely new surroundings but also because of the huge cat that hangs out outside the door of the room shes in and every time she is brave enough to venture beyond that room O'Malley is right there to remind her she's not the only cat in the house. They have been nice enough to each other. The hissing has decreased from every time they make eye contact to every three or four times. She's come out from under the bed twice today for a little while to eat and be pet.

So welcome to the family Quincie! Hope you and O'Malley become bff soon!

Oh my! O'Malley!

I have the cutest most bestest cat in the whole United States.

Don't tell me its too soon to fall in love!

I have a new friend. He's loving and so sweet, soft and cuddly! I got him yesterday. He doesn't have a name yet...any ideas?

Please hope for an uneventful and happy trip to Colorado tomorrow! He didn't care for the car ride between Newton and Hutchinson, but maybe tomorrow will be better. :)