Smooth Operators

The cat weigh-in was smooth as silk again last night. Doing it weekly helps, as it gets them into a routine.

I realized the scale wasn't out while we were eating, so I popped up and grabbed it before Oscar showed up. This smooths things later, since equipment is not banging around.

When Oscar did show up, I popped up again and got the treats out, which promptly got his attention. 

As I headed around the kitchen island, Oscar, thinking I was headed for the stairs to deliver them to him, raced ahead. 

I was actually headed to Penwiper's room to let him in. When PW recognized this, he picked up his pace to a sprint, and dove off the counter for the door as I opened it for him. Then I headed back to the counter.

Oscar immediately got a clue (he knows PW let into his room means food), and came back into the kitchen. He hopped on the counter before I could get treats on the scale. Treats were offered to Oscar to get him off the scale (to reset it), then on the scale (to weigh him) and then off to the scale (to make room for Penwiper).

Lather, rinse, repeat with a released Penwiper.

Life was good.

Millie (2000-2021): Another Over the Rainbow Bridge

 From my sister in Kentucky:

Millie came into our lives on Oldham County Day in 2000 where a family at one of the booths had a litter of kittens available to good homes. 

In her younger days she was notorious for scaring small children with her angry sounds, but she never hurt a soul. While she was not thrilled with the addition of baby Bootsies in 2006, they eventually reached detente. And Millie formed a special bond with [our grandson], always accepting his pets and hugs. 

Her health had deteriorated to the point where we made the decision last night to take that final trip to the vet this morning. She was having none of that, and died on her own terms, peacefully lying down on a mat in the laundry room to take her last breath sometime in the night. 

RIP, sweet tabby.

Up, Up, and Away ...

Penwiper, at the tender young age of 10 and one-half years, decided the top of the dining room hutch needed inspecting yesterday. This of course was not a new journey for PW, he first made the top of the hutch when he was three years old. Seeing him up there again was wonderful, as it shows PW still has his inner spider-cat. He beats Whitey's record, who as I recall last did it when he was 9 or so.

Give Blood

Oscar is at the vet, a 90-day follow up his thyroid zap In August. (We can also toss his radioactive litter this week.)

Vet tech: "Oscar, we need a blood sample."

Oscar: "Nope. Nope. Nope. You want blood, take your own, human."

I left him there while they plan their next move.

Penwiper, the Fluffy Cuddler

For the record, Penwiper is our only cat ever who trusted humans enough to be cradled on his back like a human baby and be petted there.

PW even can have his white tummy rubbed a bit, unlike say the Detweiler's now long departed Radar, who invited you to rub his tummy in order to set up his Venus Flytrap-like feline pounce. (He was FAST, too!)

Closing the Books

 I was paying other bills online, so I browsed over to the King County Pet Licensing site, and I closed out the records for Billy & Whitey.

Farewell, old friends.

The Departed, in Pictures

We've put up raw albums of all our departed overlords:

• Her Emilyness
• Kage, The Grey Mouser
• Billy, The Mighty Hunter
• Whitey, The Spider-Cat

We also have our very alive & well Penwiper and Oscar up in albums:

• Oscar, The Catzilla in Training
  (also known as The World's Cutest Kitten)
• Penwiper, the Fluffy Ninja
  (also known as The Doofus of Darkness)