And The Horse I Rode In On

Scout went to the vet yesterday for the second time in a week. He sang the song of his people all the way there and most of the way back. He clearly knew where we were going and he was not having it.

You see, we went for a routine annual visit last week but the dr found a heart murmur. We did blood work and it luckily isn’t cause by a heart condition. Instead, they are concerned about his high blood sugar and wanted him back for a glucose test.

So, in case you’re counting (because Scout sure is), I dragged him from home last week so he could be prodded by strangers who would stick him with a shot before sticking him with a needle to take his blood.

This week, things were less dramatic but he did get stuck with another needle.

Unacceptable.

He let me know that he would be speaking to Santa Claws about all this. He had some choice words for where I could go and what I could do with the proverbial horse I rode in on too.

He gets so anxious in the car and at the vet. Even his little paws are sweaty and clammy so that undoubtedly impacts his bloodwork. Poor guy.

Our pets are like our children and it’s hard to help them when they can’t verbalize how they’re feeling. So we just do our best and hope to not be murdered in our sleep after a vet visit.

Shop Cat

I met a shop cat yesterday. I wish I had a picture to share with you because she was the sweetest little kitty you’ve ever met with the ideal temperament for a store.

Her name is Rue and she’s a tuxedo cat with beautiful markings for a little girl. She seemed full grown but small boned.

She was curled up asleep when I first encountered her but you know I couldn’t just walk past without giving her ears a good scratch. She stretched and purred, lazily opening one eye before amping up the purr to a light buzzing noise.

She meowed when I stopped scratching so I stayed a minute longer before walking away. By then she was wide awake and followed me. After rubbing around my legs and talking to me softly, I asked to pick her up and she let me!

It was the best time as she let me hold her like a baby, stretching and reaching, kneading the air and occasionally letting out the tiniest, most satisfied little mews.

The store was not great but, like any good employee, she convinced me to reconsider leaving and stay a little longer.

All shops should have such good employees!

Big Eyes

I tidied my writing table over the weekend so Scout had to check it out. I’m not sure why but his eyes were big as saucers as he investigated the lack of pens and scrap paper lying about. People say that cats are aloof and without personality but my experience is that they are little characters with big personalities and emotions as valid and worth expressing as any human I know.

I’m grateful for my house panther.

Revenge Is Best Served At 6 a.m.

I was relaxing on the couch with a book the other day while Scout napped at my feet. I shifted one foot just a fraction of an inch, thus disrupting his sleep and causing him to stir.

Who knew you could ruin someone’s day so easily?

He yawned big, gave me a look and jumped off the couch and onto the floor where he could stare at me pitifully. All was lost and the nap was ruined.

What was he to do?

Notice that in this picture he can hardly stand to look at me. His disappointment is clear.

Fast forward to about 4 a.m. the next morning when we both were awakened by a noisy car going by. As I attempted to drift off to sleep, he was digging through the bathroom trash can to locate a discarded q-tip which he brought to bed for some raucous play time.

I never did make it back to sleep. And you know something? When the alarm went off and I was headed to the shower, he was curling up with his head on my pillow and his tail wrapped under his nose.

When you’re a cat, revenge is a dish best served on your human’s pillow at 6 a.m.

Vixen

Meet Vixen.

This precious little baby was enjoying the view of all the flea market goings on from the privacy of her own stroller.

I met her yesterday along with her parents who were so kind to let me pet her and try to snap a photo. Two things you can’t tell from this photo are that Vixen has stunning green eyes and her fur was unbelievably soft.

What a fabulous life she must have.

We encountered some characters yesterday but none more memorable than this little Vixen!

Silent Sunday