Looking Down - From Above

Looking through some old photos, I came across this one which I had originally planned to delete. I am so glad that I didn't, as it features our now departed Timmy, perched high in a large craggy tree that is also now gone. A big storm one day took the big old tree down. There is an ethereal quality to this photograph, and the effect with the sun shining down almost directly onto Tim was totally unplanned. It took me aback when I saw it again after so many years - almost like the future, in the past - how he is now. That may not make much sense, but maybe some of you might know what I mean. Click on the picture for a really good look.

More great shots at The Friday Ark and then even more at the
Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

Goodbye Sweet Tim

Rescued December 26, 2001 - Released September 28, 2009



Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep

"Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room,
I am the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I did not die."

By Mary Frye of Baltimore, Maryland in 1932

Grey Days

It snowed this morning, just a few flakes and no accumulation, but it's sign that winter is coming, and I feel cold, through and through. Little Angel has been inconsolable since the passing of our Tim. They had a special relationship and she knew him since her first days with us as very very small "in-the-palm-of-your-hand" kitten. I often found them together like in the photo. She now knows something is wrong - she seems to be looking for him, and every now and then she peers at little Chesney as if trying to make sure it's not really Tim. No, not Tim, but as little Ches grows week after week - near glimpses of Tim will be inevitable. But not for Angel - she knows he is gone, she is very quiet, and she sleeps a lot. I wish I could do the same...

A Photograph for Friday

It was the morning of the 28th, the day that our Tim would leave us. I was at home sick for the 2nd day, and I would develop what seemed a very bad fever later that night - after his passing. I think the extreme emotion of the day, and all that had led up to it, made everything worse. But that morning, on his last day, I awoke to see Timmy asleep on the window seat, his breathing still heavy and laboured. He seemed larger than he was, and when I cleared my eyes a bit, I saw that tiny Chesney was snuggled by his side. I knew if I'd move, to get the camera, Chesney would awake and follow me, as kittens do. So, I just looked on this scene for awhile - it is a photo now etched in my memory only: Timmy and the little "Tim-Bit".

Each of these - my babies...

For Tim, and all my babies now gone:
In my soul
My blood and my bones
I have wrapped your cold bodies around me
The face on you
The smell of you
Will always be with me

I wish could get music to embed like at JC's. I can't get a link to work here. Just Google Three Babies by Sinead O'Connor - it is such a haunting song - I first played it for the passing of my Popeye, so many years ago. This song moves me to my core, especially when she sings the lines, "the face on you, the smell of you".

Thank you so very much to all of you wonderful people who stopped by to give sympathy - I have been very touched - profoundly. A special thanks to JC, who started it all - bless you. Soon I'll post pictures of Tim - for the moment, it is too difficult to look at them, especially those I took just a few days before he left us.

Tiny Tim - Gone Too Soon

At around 1:30 today, our vet came to the house and released our beautiful Tim from his suffering. Tomorrow is my birthday.

Update on Tim

Tim came back from the vet with an appetite on Tuesday evening and we were all optimistic until the night came and he developed very laboured breathing. This continued into the next morning – at one point so bad his mouth was slightly open and his tongue was hanging out a bit. Back to the vet, since I googled these symptoms and it looked a lot like cardiomyopathy, which has no cure, and death can come within hours/days. At the vet, it was discovered he had a fever which is not consistent with CM – and an x-ray showed a blurred heart which in turn indicted Pyothorax – a relatively rare thing which is basically an internal abscess in the thoracic cavity– the blurred heart indicating presence of fluid.. Researching on the internet, I have seen this needs aggressive treatment – draining at the hospital 5-10 days – cost can go up to 2-3,000$. Not that money is an issue (not that I have that kind of $ anyway) – mostly, it is quality of life, and Tim being a very nervous hyper type cat = visits to the vet affect him terribly. He slept on the bed all night, breathing still laboured – still not eating, nor drinking. We are trying to induce appetite with a special paste. He is also on antibiotics and fever reducing medication. All these measures we have tried in past years with other “patients” for different conditions, and the story always ends the same. We’ve gone through this so often – the feeling is familiar – that heavy feeling – of the inevitable.

Oh, and the vet checked out little out little "TimBit" Chelsea (fellow Canadians will get that) - to discover once again, as we did with Chaiyka - she is a he, so I have suggested Chesney - sounds close.

And last but not least, thanks to all who are sending healing thoughts to us, especially Merrylou, JC and Knatolee...

Worried

We are very worried about our Tim, who went to the vet this afternoon. He was fine Sunday night, went out early Monday morning with the rest of the gang, he came in, but didn't eat breakfast as usual (his routine is to yowlfor food!), but instead went straight to bed and hasn't eaten at all, or moved much since then. he hasn't had any water either, and resists any attempts to force some in. I hate to be an alarmist (I am good at that), but I have read some scary things can be associated with sudden loss of appetite. I was thinking well maybe it's a reaction to little Chelsea (i.e. a new animal in the house)- but why now after 3 weeks? Maybe he ate something rancid outside? Maybe he fought with someone? I recall my poor PeeBee once had a brief but intense "encounter" with a local thug-cat. It affected him so badly, that over the next 2 weeks his fur came out by the handful, so much so, that his back was almost bare after a while. And then there was Mitzi, who once stopped eating the same way, but it turned out her teeth were bad - a good cleaning fixed that. Another time, she languished again - was sequestered alone in room for a few days with her own food, water and litter. Afterward, she came out totally fine, as if to say, "thanks, I needed some 'alone time' - I'm quite ok now". That was very peculiar.

Nothing to do now but wait, and worry...

Can We Come in?

Mr. Poole peers into the back door and asks, "Can I come in now? I promise I'll behave!"

"Me too? Me too!?" (Asks little Frankie through the screen of the solarium...)

Timmy looks dubious, but a little smug as he thinks, "ha - I'm already in!"

More comings and goings over at The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

It's Friday - Everybody Dance Now!

Friday is here and some just cannot contain their excitement and are "gettin' down tonight". Chaiyka demonstrates how it's done:



Meanwhile, despite the various highly accessible water bowls around the house, it seems there is nothing tastier and more refreshing than a watering can that is accessed with some difficulty and awkwardness. No wonder there is a line-up down at the "watering hole".

I am sure there are more Friday worshippers and thirsty felines over at The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

Sun Showers

Don't forget to check out The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

Timmy Poses and Ponders

Well, after several days of mild weather, sadly tricking the cats into thinking spring was well on its way, another blast of winter came down upon us all yesterday. This morning, the cold bitter wind made going outside rather miserable, and I sure did envy the cats cozy inside while I trudged up the road to catch my ride. Timmy has the right idea: stay inside and look out the window, and when bored with that, time to stretch and have a good long nap!

As always, there's more to see at The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

Mid-Winter Cabin Fever

Yup, it's mid-winter cabin fever big-time: the cats are bored and often cantankerous (not unlike the humans at times!) Manitou is so bored lately he has resorted to sitting in the bathtub watching the water drip, and here we see him laying claim to the scratch pad.

If they could, they would check out the The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

A sure cure for those winter blues!

Equal Opportunity, Please

I have been receiving some complaints from the furry residents that my blog seems to be overloaded with photos of Manitou, AKA Macushla (an Irish term of address expressing affection, like darling), the Big Mac, Fluff-Meister, etc. Well, while it was not intended that way, I do plead guilty, but perhaps he's the one cat that seems to sit still the longest so his full splendor may be captured again and again. But I digress! On this Friday I am therefore including pictures of everyone, and yes, Macushla as well! How can I resist!





Angel says "it's about *&^% time you posted a picture of me!"









Timmy on guard.








Longfellow reposes.









Macushla eats too much turkey!









Bandito stakes out his territory under the Christmas tree.









The Big Mac waits for more turkey, having sufficiently recovered!

Check out who else has been pouting or posing over at The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

The Watched and the Watcher

Ah yes, Longfellow does love to lounge about, tummy up (everyone say "Awwww!"), in blissful oblivion to the ever watchful Timmy, ready to pounce when he least expects it. Actually, Timmy rarely attacks when Longfellow is sleeping, rather, ambushing him around corners and down hallways is more his style. Better still, wack him on the bum as he's trying to step off the porch.

Check out other antics at The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

Is It Christmas Yet?

No, Timmy, it's not Christmas yet, but (as Bob Dylan says), "it's gettin' there"! Actually. this picture is from last year's holiday season: Timmy hopped onto the hall table to pose with the Christmas angel. Or so one would think. Truth be told, that clever cat knew darn well a pouch of catnip lay hidden in the drawer!

For those who don't know the story, Timmy was named after Tiny Tim, of the Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol. We saw this poor little guy hobbling on three legs one very cold Christmas, and so we saved him - that's the very short version of the story!

As always, there are more happy "tails" over at The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

Halloween

It's Halloween again, and so of course I must post a picture of Angel, and also a picture of a rather extra-terrestrial looking Timmy.

Check out some more spooky felines at The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.