Caturday (Cat Bed) Saturday

Teri has an eMac on her desk, just waiting for her to gut it and make a cat bed out of it...







Then we saw this and so wish that Dougie, our techie friend, could make one for us!

eSleeper from Sam Cox on Vimeo.

But til that happens, hahameow... this is what we've been up to!

Enjoyin' our Hammicks...

Following sunpuddles...

Keeping an eye on TomTom...

We caught a glimpse of Mama Katz on Thursday late at night, but TomTom chased her off before Teri could snap a photo of her!

Teri made a new 'cat house' out of a clear storage box this time, with openings in both ends, in attempts to tempt TomTom to curl up inside on a heating pad...but so far no dice! But she did see a possum inside stealing the cat food!

Watching our cat grass grow...

Teri loves this product, cuz it grows fast and is less expensive than the pots she used to buy at Petco. She just puts it in a pretty yellow pot instead of leaving it in the bag.

In fact, it's on sale through the store for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and if you bought it from them, you'd be helping out the animals there, too!

Pet Greens Garden

Playin' in the tub after Teri takes a shower...

And strollering!

Yep, our friend Jeff donated his almost new Pet Gear Jogger Stroller to us cuz his kitty, Twix didn't like venturing outside (though there is evidence he enjoyed snoozing it it, hahameow).

Teri took us out Thursday for a 5 mile stroll and it was good she put in 2 Snuggle Safes and an extra blanket and we were all in 'puffy coats' too...cuz it was dark when we got back home! We think she may have to get headlights if she takes us out for any more long strolls like that!

We were ready for a nice cozy nap after that trek!

It's supposed to rain on Sunday, so we will probably be doing more of the snuggle and snooze activities while Teri starts decorating the house for Christmas...that's the plan anyway!

Hope all our furriends are havin' a nice weekend too, and we promise to get around to visiting this week, promise!

Caturday Saturday

Disco...how you going to get down from there without knocking everything over? He got up there but I had to help him down!

Saturday Caturday

This is Machu and Picchu (see Wednesdays post) snoogling together. I just got an email from their family updating me on how they are doing (we thought Macchu may have had a seizure episode recently)...

Teri ~ just wanted to drop you a line and let you know machu seems better.... personally, i think he became upset by our new blender that is obnoxiously loud and he was just overly stressed out for a spell. he was literally afraid of his shadow for a week or two and would not go under the afghan. but he seems settled back in now although he sometimes gets rattled by sounds. picchu is the opposite. for some reason they keep shutting off the water in our building. then air gets in the pipes and when you turn the water on this terrible hissing sound comes out from the air pressure instead of water. there's been a few times when picchu has had her little head under the faucet patiently waiting for water when this big explosion sound happens instead! and she just sits there totally unaffected still waiting... anyhoo, they are both really cute and sweet and i'm looking for a knitter to make them a couple of sweaters for christmas. i found some really cute patterns on the internet... of course, fear not, i would NEVER put picchu in an evening gown though i found some of those on the internet as well!!!!

Caturday Saturday, Part 2

We just found out Romeo the Cat and Pugsley chose the Beaufort Community Cat Project is their May FURPOWER recipient!










The Beaufort Community Cat Project (http://beaufortcats.org) is an all-volunteer organization in Beaufort, North Carolina, who advocate non lethal methods to reduce the free-roaming cat population using Trap-Neuter-Return. They are a charitable non-profit organization with federal tax exempt status, 501(c)(3).

Donate to the Beaufort Community Cat Project

Caturday Saturday

Lots of stuff going on this Caturday!

I had time to do another kitten photo shoot and out of about 50 photos, a quarter of them turned out good enough to share...and out of 3 videos, made one where they weren't just sleeping, MOL.

The babies are doing great! Gaining weight consistently now and starting to crawl around with their legs getting strong enough to lift themselves up now, instead of just their front legs pulling themselves along. They also can right themselves faster when they topple over. And, they are just starting to "groom" and "bite" themselves and each other and mom...it's so cute, like a baby noticing it's toes for the first time!

They are all quite fuzzy, and at this age, their fur isn't soft and velvety but more like one of those green kitchen scrubby things. I love all their patterns and colors--the cute tiger-like look of Daisy, the cute white stripe on Clover's face and who doesn't love little orange tabby cats?! Both Buttercup and Dandelion are Mackerel Tabbies, which is the pattern that has "fishbone" stripes down their sides. As they get older, it is a little harder to distinguish stripes from waves, as they go in the same direction.

Here's the latest pix!














and the newest movie!



And more news...

Disco moved in with his new owner yesterday and is causing quite a stir! He is a seasoned show cat and took all the traveling and hotel rooms and new accomodations all in stride, but he is going through some Separation Anxiety, and that surprises both me and his new owner, Tabitha (who works at the cat hospital where Teri works and who fell in love with Disco the first time they met!).

For the past month or so, he had been going in to work with me to bond with Tabitha, and so he would be less stressed, I sent him with his familiar litterbox, numerous cat beds/blankies/sleeping bag so he would have familiar scents in his new home. She is following my directions on how to acclimate him--keeping him in her bedroom for numerous days, then letting him investigate the house when she is home, but again confining him when she is gone. And I think he will settle in...but the first 12 hours have been filled with anxiety for both Disco and Tabitha.

First email:
Teri, it's 5:40am and neither of us have slept a wink.

I really didn't think it were possible for a cat to constantly meow and move around for 6 hours on end. I can't shut him in the bathroom because he starts screaming, and has woke Brian up twice (he has work this morning).

From 11-12:30 I snuggled my brains out trying to get him to settle down. From 12:30-2ish I consistenly ignored him, thinking he would get tired and go to sleep. First he spent a while going in and out of the bathroom, meowing etc. Then he started digging at my shoulders (I sleep on my hands) and eventually leaving bite marks all over them. It looks like I've been chewed on by a mouse! Toward the end of my "just ignore him" stage he started acting like he was lost... standing in the middle of the room yowling and pacing by the door.

Of course I felt terrible and started the snuggling phase again. No luck.

He's terribly unsettled, and although he's enjoying contact with me he's getting overstimulated and still acting ill at ease.

I know he needs time to adjust, but he needs to sleep! Should we ask Dr Jan and Fern if there is something else he can take at night time for a few days to get him sleepeh? Right now he's standing in the middle of the room emitting a "MYEHH" about every 4 seconds.

I'm going to sleep on the couch downstairs after Brian goes to work, I'll be back up to check my email.... later!

Taberious

Ps. I'm in love! Please don't think that I'm displeased with him. I can catch up on sleep, but he needs to settle down for his own good. The anxious excitable Disco needs... some help.

Second email:
I got a few zzz's on the couch. Whe I went downstairs (this was after his breakfast, and he has dry food to nibble on) he meowed for about 10 minutes and then was totally quiet. When I got back upstairs, I snuck in and found him sleeping in his bed on his heat pad. I knew he was tired!

But why didn't he sleep with me? I even let him sit on my face! When we were at the hospital he would get tired and go back to his cage to sleep. Maybe he just needs to establish his own space.

This email is taking me like 20 minutes to type due to mancat distraction. If he can stay off my keyboard long enough, I will update the blog. I have some very cute photos!

Third email:
Teriiiiiiii!

After my blog post I went downstairs to eat and watch some tv while he napped... I heard him start yowling and when I got back up here after breakfast he had pooped on my bed. I guess I'll be doing laundry...

Fourth email:
Talked to Dr. Fern on the phone. She said he's having separation anxiety (from you and his old home, not from me!) and we should change his meds. Just like the rest of us, the less sleep he gets the more stressed he is. I will either get valium or ace to give him tonight. Fern said on Monday we can figure out what to give him throughout the transitional phase (clomicalm, diazepam, more lorazepam etc).

He peed in the box while I was on the phone w/you. When I was talking to Fern he fell asleep on my bathrobe... he's SO tired. I'm going to nap with him for a while before going grocery shopping. Later this afternoon I will go by the clinic and get meds for the weekend. Patrick and I are supposed to have dinner, and Fern says to give him the valium or ace before I leave for dinner so he can get some solid rest.

I put his sleeping bag on the bed, too. Fern agrees it would be best to keep the disturbances to a minimum, so I'm going to limit my coming and going from the bedroom. I have to get used to using my bathroom without closing the door!!! I'm going to keep my window open a bit so there is some white noise. Also, no visitors for now (we must resist).

He's still asleep!!! *whispers* (see attached photo)

Thanks for your guidance. I'm very tired and kinda freaked out with the poo on the bed... but I can only imagine how he feels! We are just going to take it easy today. I will update you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am so glad I work with super people and wonderful vets, too! Tabitha has lots of experience with her work at shelters, with all the emotional baggage pets come with, so I know she will try her best to make Disco happy...and if he just can't settle in...of course, I will take him back to join the Furrydance clan again. I want him to be happy too, and after Mike died and he began his spraying and peeing outside the box, I knew he was not happy...but I worked with him, rehabbing him and he was doing 100% best behavior and I considered keeping him.

But I have worked very hard this past year to get down to having 5 cats in the Furrydance household, as I owe it to them and me to be able to have the time to love and care for each one, and keep the cattery small and manageable and so I have found new homes for 5 cats, and now they get lots more one-on-one time with their owners and can rule the roost instead of having to share, mol! That's what makes me smile and be happy when I think of them, and lessens my missing their presence in my house. (Plus, most of them are close enough for me to visit, too!).

If you want to get to know Disco better, you can visit his Catster page at
Disco's Catster Page
and his new blog at:
Purr, Baby, Purr!

Here's a new pix of Disco in his new home...sleeping, finally!

Saturday Morning Kitten Report--Good Mews!

Good mews to report...the kittens are continuing to gain weight, in fact the three boys have gained 15 grams each day for the past 2 days and are right on target! The little brown tabby girl still worries me a bit, but she is eagerly nursing and active...but sooo small. She has only gained 24 grams since she was born (should have gained 40 grams). The first day she lost weight, but each day since then she has gained 9, 6 and 12 grams...so she is gaining more each day and that's a positive sign.

I am still not letting the other cats in the bedroom with us, as I tried it last night and every little sound and activity, like one of the cats jumping on top of the tent to snuggle in the sleeping bag there, disturbed wary mom and she just doesn't need that right now. All the other cats are confused as to why they can't sleep with me...but I napped with them yesterday in the warm sun and told them soon all would be back to the usual routine, I was sure.

Here's a new photo of the kittens I took today. I usually take photos once a week, as it takes about that long to see much visual change in them...but I know you are all awaiting updates, and if you look at the photo similar to this one, taken on the day they were born, just four days ago, you can see a small change already.

Caturday Saturday

Teri just had to share this cute story she recently got from a Furrydance kitty who just celebrated his birthday. Every year, Teri sends out birthday E-Cards to all the kitties that were born at Furrydance, and that's a lot of cards and kitties to wish Happy Birthday to, but she remembers each and every baby that was born here!

"Dearest Teri and the cats at Furry Dance (at least those of you who know me and are still there):

Many thanks for my birthday card! I am fine, living my life in Davidson...the house is barely big enough for me, but I try not to complain. The people try hard to please me and that has to count for something.

You all might remember Percy. He is well also. He and I have stampede contests in the long hallway upstairs, making first time guests jump out of their chairs and look out the windows to see if a sudden thunderstorm has come up.

I am attaining Master-status as a Garage Sneak. I hide in a variety of places in the mud room, and have caught on to all the tricks to fake me out. Most effective is hiding inside the mud room litter box and waiting until the door is open just enough to fit my body. I am working on my black belt in this worthy sport by practicing the art of jumping up on the highest shelf in the mud room (near the ceiling) and waiting quietly for someone to go out the door. Hardly anyone thought of looking *up* to find me... Of course the downside of this is that sometimes I have to wait so long for someone to go out, that I fall asleep. Then I am caught unawares when the door opens. I hate it when that happens... Plus, after that first successful time, when I surprised the pants off them, the people are starting to remember to look up to find me before they open the door. If they see me asleep they open the door to go out, knowing I can't get it together that fast. I am sure they know I don't like that.

I feel that I am in good voice. I spend time everyday out on the screened porch, on top of the cat tree, airing out the pipes. After all, I might need to really complain about something and I want to know I can command an audience quickly. I am sure you know what I mean. Of course, the actual need to lodge a bona fide official complaint has not come up yet, but you never know.

I am still a young boy and feel compelled to point out that your birthday card pegged me as a 2005 baby but the actual truth of the matter is that I was a 2007 baby. I'm in my prime...

The people have attempted to provide entertainment for me and Percy, because they think we are bored. So a few weeks ago we had the String-O-Rama battery operated contraption in here. Are you familiar with that one? It drags a string up and down and hangs on a door knob. Well, Percy and I used to take turns breaking it. The people would fix it, and we would break it again, etc... I have not seen it around lately so I think we finally killed it. Just as well, we were getting tired of it.

Next we were given a round scratching disc made of corrugated cardboard. It was placed in a round plastic circle with a motion sensor ball that would blink lights and go around and around the cardboard when we scratched. I think the ball was supposed to attract us to play with it. But after an incredibly short time, Percy and I figured out how to scratch without making the ball move at all.

Next we came upon a furry mouse with very small ears. It had catnip in it. As we were sniffing it, it suddenly moved across the room! Looking up we saw the people holding a remote control box with an antenna sticking up from it...the box was making the mouse move forward and backwards and go in circles. It was obvious that the people were attempting to put on a show for us, and we didn't want to be rude. So we sat down and watched the mouse move around, trying to be polite you know. Very soon after that, the mouse and the box went away. Thank God.

Last week, in a stroke of genius, the people brought in a toy with a long handle, attached to a long string, attached to several strips of leather tied together at the end. We can't get enough of this!! It is a good thing that I am in such a fine voice, as I have to ask for it quite frequently throughout the day. Every day. And of course I never remember the last place I hid it, so the people have to look upstairs and downstairs, room by room, to locate it. The whole thing is very well done. Took long enough.

Well, thanks again for thinking of me. You can see that I am struggling along, deprived and put-upon at times, but making the best of it. Hope you are too. Let me know if you are ever in the area. We'll have lunch! Ta ta."

Mr. Brinks

Caturday Saturday

As if I needed to say this...the cat in this photo is a Diva!

Her name is Nanjizal Bay, but she's known to all her adoring fans as Nani. I had bought her to be a mommycat, but before I bred her, I had her examined by a cardiologist and she diagnosed with HCM at 2 years of age So I spayed her and she lived with another family for 11 years, never getting her meds or followup ultrasounds.

She was returned to me, because she was fighting with the new wife's cats (note: they got divorced later...) and I had her here with me for 2 years when a friend of a couple who have a cat from me, wanted to adopt Nani, with all her medical problems (at one point being very close to congestive heart failure) because they wanted her to be loved and pampered for however long she had left. Everyone I tell this story to say this wonderful family are Nani's guardian angels!

Nani needs 3 different meds daily (Plavix, Lasix and Enalapril) and while for me, being a tech, she is easy to pill...they are having some difficulty. But they have had her just over a year now and she just passed her physical exam and lab work with flying colors so they are even more determined to get her to take her meds.

I wanted to share this email I got this morning with everyone (they approved me sharing) to let you know what a day in the life of Nani is like...

So, M and I spent some time thinking thru how to get Nani to take these pills since I told M that Nani was going to die since mommy was a wimp and couldn't get the job done. We bought the pill pockets and that big syringe looking thing. M didn't want to try the pill pockets. She said they were too expensive and it would take 2 or 3 to hide the meds. She wanted to use the syringe down the throat. She hasn't met the wrath of Nani. Well, M was right. Nani ate the pill pocket but spit out one pill. So it takes 2 pill pockets per day. We get 45 in a package. At $11 per package.

M loaded her syringe this morning. M is so ready! She gave me a time this morning to 'get on board'. Who talks like that at 8 years old? M is Nani's primary care giver and gets no love. She's down stairs now, giving her 10 kernels of food so she doesn't throw up. And in 20 mins, she'll get 10 more. And then she gets her full dish. Kills me! Honestly, I'm glad we have a solution. its M that is killing me. She is determined to rise to the occassion and have Nani live to 30.

Caturday Saturday

Teri is off doing something with friends (she mentioned crabcakes! Yum), so she is having a nice Saturday.

This photo is of MajikMoon Disco NoFurNo having a nice Saturday himself! Disco is going to move out of the Furrydance house, and become the companion of a girl Teri works with. He's had some issues with "Inappropriate Urination" and while his "rehab" has been successful, Teri thinks he would like to be King of the Litterbox and so...he will be an only cat in his new home...but will have to deal with a D.O.G...

Of course, Teri will take him back if he is not happy with Tabitha...she is committed to "A Happy Home for Every Cat!" and while she will miss Disco's presence...she wants him to be happy! So she will let him come back here if his new home isn't right for him.

Disco was Teri's first Sphynx and he is such a cool cat. Silly, very affectionate, pushy, and snuggly. She thinks he misses Mike a lot, and the home he is going into has a couple of guys in it, so she is hoping it will be the purrfect home for him.

Caturday Saturday

Ok...word spreads fast on little cat paws...Coco is expecting, yes we can!! Do I hear an Amen!

I took her into work when she was 21 days along, the best time to palpate for kittens.


My vet could feel 3 little grape-sized babies...her due date is April 15th.

She is a very good mamacat, having had three litters before and raising up 8 wonderful kittens.We are very excited, and all of them are already promised to anxiously awaiting homes!

thank you Zoolatry for the purrty "nursery" photo!

Caturday Saturday

Happy Sunny Spring to All of Our Cat Blogosphere Furrends!

Saturday Caturday

We enjoyed watching Sir's cute kitten video on Tom and Tama-Chan's blog so much, that Teri decided to post one, too. She's not sure it was taken on a Saturday, but anytime we have kittens here at Furrydance, there's always lots of photo taking and film making when Teri is at home on the weekends! She doesn't know how to edit and just learned how to add sound, but it's on her list of things to learn...but it's a long list!

Caturday Saturday

These photos weren't taken on a Saturday, but last Monday after the snow! This is Furrydance Duncan of Cavaliercats, who lives with a lovely couple in Maryland. I was a bit anxious when I saw he didn't have a leash and harness on, but I don't think he would have run...CRex like their heated beds too much!

Saturday Caturday

Saturday's are for naps.
Of course, cats nap about
15 hours a day, any day...

But on this chilly Saturday,
a blankie and a nap with
Teri would be nice!


This photo is from a couple of years ago, and promise
it wasn't posed, that is how I found the babies napping.

Caturday Saturday

Lately I have been thinking a lot about Bo, my favorite boycat, born in my second litter of Cornish Rex back in 1990.

I lost him to HCM when he was 15 years old, so we did have a good, long, lovely life together.

But when I think of the many kittens that have been born here at Furrydance, Bo holds the dearest, most precious part of my heart. I recently came across this poem on another cats Blog and have used it 3 times in the past three weeks, honoring our beloveds and wanted to post it here, in honor of Furrydance Bossiney aka Bo.

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am....forever and ever and ever.

Caturday Saturday

Well, Christmas came and went without much activity round here. Teri went to a friends for overnight, so we didn't even have her to snuggle with. But she promised us that this weekend, she would make up for it...but we heard her say there might be baths in store for us and we wanna smell good, so we will let her have her way with us. We saw the photo of Lux in the drivers seat and thought for a Saturday, this photo of Bo not in the drivers seat would make Luxor smile and feel much better too, do ya think?

Bo was Teri's "Heart Cat" and he crossed the bridge in 2005 and we aren't jealous at all that he was Teri's favorite cat. She and him were a team and spent so much time together at the cat shows, traveling and loving each other, that we all think that there can be only one "Heart Cat". Even after Teri met Mike, Bo shared himself with the both of them, that's how special he was!

Caturday Saturday

We kitties see it's that time to dress up in silly Santa Suits, and what better day than Saturday to do that on. Quick, take those photos and then take those silly outfits off of us and let us get back to our Caturday shenanigans!

Ps: we think Spot got off easy, he didn't have to dress up at all, he just happened to be napping next to the Nativity scene!