Wordless Wednesday

Man Cat Monday - SubQ's R Us! =^..^=

I did it! She did it! We did it!

Mom got my SubQ fluids into me today without any drama!!

Thanks to those who recommended warming the solution pouch in a bowl of hot water - and she stuck me in the neck instead of the back this time. And thank you everyone for your suggestions and support. We can do it! Yes we can!!

No big whoop. 

Even for me!  ; )

=^..^= 

SubQ Fluids Day 1: Not So Good : (

Mom got a subcutaneous fluids kit for me from the vet, since I've practically stopped drinking water over the last week - which is one of my favorite things - and I'm very dehydrated. As you may know, I won't go to the vet, or let a vet come here. Basically I refuse contact with vets unless I'm knocked out - which they have to do by putting my whole carrier in a chamber, and which is very dangerous for an 18 year old mancat. I'm feisty. ; )

Lactated Ringer's solution

Anyway, Mom thought she could totally do the fluids herself, since I let her and Dad shave me with a loud trimmer thing (a few minutes at a time, anyway). They figured if Dad gave me lovings and face scrunchies, Mom could just come in and stick me (the cats in the videos don't seem to even feel it) and in a few minutes they'd be done.

Well, that didn't go quite right. She got some solution in me but not a lot. The water level - full - is above the 100 ml mark, now it's at the 100 ml mark. She jabbed it in once - that needle's bigger than we thought it would be! She didn't quite get it, and I cried and complained.

She had to try again and I cried the whole time for a minute or so (in a manly way), even though Dad was giving me my favorite face scrunchies. Then Mom noticed my back was starting to get wet and stopped the flow and pulled out the needle.

She thought I'd stuck it in all the way (she wasn't sure if she was supposed to do that), in a pocket under the skin - and there was no blood... Maybe I moved and it pulled out but she didn't notice that.

We can't figure out why it seems to hurt me when the cats in the videos don't even notice, and when Wynnie got hers once, she didn't even wince. I've gotten shots before without reacting. Now Mom's thinking she's a bad kitty nurse. I don't think that's it. She tries really hard and isn't too squeamish about things that have to be done. She's really bumming now cause she thought she'd be good at this.

I'm going to try to be a better patient - but I don't see what I did wrong??

 I did a Google search for smaller cat subQ needles and found a great Hub Page by danielmybrother *HERE* with all kinds of advice about giving cats subQ fluids.

Tomorrow, we're going to try these things:

1. Mom's going to see if the vet has to give fluids to one of their patients so she can observe.
2. Heat the fluid bag in hot water first, to warm it up a little.
3. Maybe we'll try it with me on the floor beside Mom's computer chair - my favorite place, or on the couch, between mom and the arm of the couch, with the bag hanging from a planter hook.
4. We saw someone suggest on another site that cats can eat while they're getting their fluids. That would distract me...
5. We're also going to see if we can get 20 gauge needles - and possibly the apparently sharper Terumo needles.

If you've had any experience with giving your cat subcutaneous fluids and have any tips or words of encouragement for my Mom, I think she'd really appreciate it! 


Thank you,
Cokes (and Mom!)

Thankful Thursday Blog Hop

Again, I find myself feeling so very grateful to have such a wonderful vet. She loves me and understands me, even though I won't let her within 30 feet of me. She sent me this on Facebook yesterday (yeah, me & my vet are FB friends), and said it made her think of me.  =^..^=

She's also super awesome, cause she's going to show Mom how to give me SubQ fluids (that's subcutaneous for you laycats), so she can give me fluids at home. I'm really dehydrated from my hyperactive thyroid, and I need a good water fix. Mom insists she can do it, though most vets, groomers and home vets I've come to know in the last few years are betting against our success. I've got $50 bucks that says we''ll get a whole pack of fluid into me in one sitting - combined with some pretty loving ear scrunches, neck rubs, and a couple different versions of the Cokie the Cat song (sung to the tune of Felix the Cat, Winnie the Poo and Under my Paw (Rollilng Stones). I like it when Mom or Dad sing to me.

So that's on the schedule for tomorrow. The old 'teach an old broad how to IV a cat.' I figure, worse case scenario, Eldad from Hope for Paws probably knows how to do it and could come over and give Mom a one-on-one tutorial. I think I'd be OK with him. He did a pretty good job of cleaning up my stunt double at BlogPaws in SLC.

Here's a video showing how to give a cat subQ fluids. (A very calm, nice, easy going cat. I think he might be lacking a few IQ points personally, but that' just a guess.)  : P  Check it out:

Looks easy, right! Ha!

I'm very thankful for Dr White, but seven more so right now that her Mom, Ulla, pulled through and is recuperating after getting a bullet in the chest on the 4th of July - someone shot a bullet in the air and guess what? They freaking come DOWN people!! They had to crack her chest open and it nearly got her heart, but it didn't and she's a trooper and is healing back at home now, finally.

Dr. White's Mom, Ulla, on the mend. Isn't she beautiful?

On top of all that, Ulla's sweet 16 year old dog, Jack, crossed the RB just after she got home from the hospital - and this poor wonderful woman who raised such a fantastic daughter to care for pets like us (and another good one, too) can't even cry for her dog because it hurts her chest too much.

Let's all take a moment to consider how lucky we are that some freak thing hasn't pulled us out of the game unexpectedly - considering all the times that could have happened in our lives,  Give a high paw to my vet, Dr. White, and light a candle for a quick recovery for her Mom, and for her darling Jack, who's already been escorted over the Rainbow Bridge by Ambassador PepiSmartdog, but wish him well  anyway, until his family is reunited.

PepiSmartDog & Jack Heading for the Rainbow Bridge

If you feel so inclined, please light a virtual candle for Ulla and Jack here:  
Light A Candle.


What are you grateful for today?

Wordless Wednesday - These Dogs Got Talent!

Click here to enter the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop!

I'm Still Standin'...

That's right. I'm 18. I have spinal damage. Some days are better (or worse) than others. Some people actually give Mom 'the look' when she tells them I wear pants.. Like they think - get this - she should 'put me down!' I'm not even kidding.  =^..^=


The reality is that I'm a senior mancat. Sometimes I wake up and my back hurts and I can barely walk. My mom has the same problem! You should see her stretching every which way on the bed for 15 minutes before she gets up sometimes, then hobbling into the kitchen - and she's WAY younger than me in cat years.


Anyway, I was having one of those bad days. Even Mom and Dad were starting to give each other 'the look,' cause I was looking a little (OK, a lot) worse for wear. Then Mom took me downstairs to the courtyard and I had another midnight romp through my (very small) magic forest, up and down the stairs, along the swimming pool, out to the front door leading to Hollywood Blvd. After about 40 minutes, I was feeling good, and walking pretty dang good, if I do say so myself. 


Mom finally had to 'shoo' me up the stairs to our apartment, and took this video. I think I look downright frisky. So don't be too quick to pull the plug, guys. We may have bad days, but if we still have good days, eat, drink, walk (even if we do list to the right), and especially if we can still take the dang stairs for cryin' out loud... AND we're not moaning or groaning, aside from occasional complaining (a la my mom!), we might still have a second wind - or a 9th life - on the way.


Just sayin'.

Thankful Thursday Blog Hop

Amy Palmer (@bosoxamy) asked BlogPaws for Mike Arms' keynote talk from the 2010 BlogPaws pet bloggers social media conference in Denver. Tom posted it last night on the BlogPaws Community website. I just have to post it here for those of you who may not see it there (or on the BlogPaws Facebook page)... 


If you aren't familiar with Mike Arms, he's the CEO/President of Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, California. This video is 40 minutes long and worth every second. If you don't have 40 minutes, watch it for two minutes, so you see why I'm thankful there are people like Mike Arms in the world to look out for orphaned pets - like I was 17 years ago. 

Wordless Wednesday: I Could Be Great

Blog the Change

Eldad Hagar from HopeforPaws.org at BlogPaws 2012

Eldad Hagar from HopeforPaws.org, whom many of you met at this year's BlogPaws conference, had ticket to Saturday night's "CATS for Cats" celebrity musical benefit at L.A.'s Orpheum Theatre for Kitty Bungalow. All dressed up with someplace to go, he got a call, which for Eldad usually means, "Drop everything!' And he did...

Where's Eldad??

Last year Eldad met a homeless disabled veteran in downtown L.A. who was sleeping in his car with his four dogs. Eldad gave the man some dog food and his card - and told him to call if he ever needed anything. 

Not the guy we're talking about, but another guy
Eldad photographed in Santa Monica some time ago.
But you get the general idea, homeless animal lover...

The man finally called last night. He said the V.A. had helped him get a small apartment, where he'd been bringing home homeless dogs. He was up to fourteen dogs now and asked Eldad if he might be able to help with some dog food and to find them homes.

A 'night on the town' went out the window and Eldad instead went to the pet store, grabbed a car load of dog food and spent the night taking photos of this kind man's dogs - probably not far from the Theatre where CATS for Cats was being performed. Eldad will be posting pics and trying to find forever homes for these dogs next week.

This is an average day in the life of a full time animal rescuer. Here is something easy you can do to help:

The Forgotten Dog Foundation helps Eldad and Hope for Paws by fostering and helping place some of his rescues, fundraising, etc. Please take a second to click on the Facebook contest link HERE, "like" the page, select The Forgotten Dog Foundation, and vote for them to win a $20,000 food donation from Kriser's Pet Supply. (You can vote daily for the next seven days).

Thank you! And next week... 

Cokie and Kristin

Hello Russia!!

Добро пожаловать читателей из России!

I hope that means,  "Hello! Welcome to readers from Russia!"

Photo of Moscow's St. Basil Cathedral
by Christophe Meneboeuf

I was looking at my blog statistics and realized that I have A LOT of readers from Russia! Most are from the U.S., but check this out: 

                                                                                               ← Look at all these guys!

Approximately 64% of people (and pets) who visit this blog are from the United States. The second highest number of readers - 17% - are from Russia, and that's been pretty consistent for the last year or so. I thought for sure my second highest reader count would be from the U.K. or Canada, but nyet! Russia rules! Who knew?

I couldn't think of any Russian Blue pals, so I just followed Alexi (@KrasotaCastle)
Privet Alexi!

I decided to learn how to say "cat" in Russian. Turns out the Russian language doesn't have a gender neutral word for "cat" in Russian. They have man cats and lady cats.

I am a kot (rhymes with pot), which is Russian for man cat. 

Kot. Obviously.

And this is my lovely košečka, Jazzy da Cat 

(pronounced "koshechka").

Jazzy da koška 

That's the endearing term for a girl cat. 

The regular word is koška ("koshka").

Jazzy can call me her kotik.  ; )

You should check the stats on your blog and see where your readers are from! You never know...

=^..^=

Thankful Thursday Blog Hop

I'm thankful for the ridiculously simple things that make us happy every day!

Tell me those didn't make you smile.  : ) 


Maybe next week I'll get mom to show me running up and down my stairs.
Probably not as fun to watch, but super awesome for an old cat like me...

Blog about what you're thankful for this week, 

and join the blog hop below!

Super Discount for L.A. "CATS for Cats" Benefit!

Los Angeles cat rescue organization, Kitty Bungalow: Home for Wayward Cats is presenting their 2nd Annual "CATS for Cats" Celebrity Musical Benefit starring Fred Willard is THIS SATURDAY, July 14th, 2013 at 8pm, at the Orpheum Theatre in Downtown L.A. This year, as part of the program, they'll also be awarding the 1^st ever "Cats in White Spats" award to Carrie Ann Inaba ("Dancing with the Stars" Judge) for her animal advocacy efforts.

Fred Willard just before last year's "CATS for Cats"

LIMITED TIME SUPER "RESCUE" DISCOUNT!

Kitty Bungalow is offering some Orchestra seats for Saturday's show at a "Rescue" rate of $15! (Full price is $150!). There is a limited supply of these seats, and they're meant for animal rescuers, shelter volunteers, fosters, etc. Shawn Simon is the Headmistress of the Kitty Bungalow, and the writer and producer of "CATS for Cats." She appreciates that my readers are a very special sort of animal lover, who support rescues, fostering and TNR, even if they're not on the 'front lines' - though of course, many of you are! 


For this reason, Shawn directed me to give all my readers the opportunity to take advantage of this great offer for a night on the town, and a great show, rubbing shoulders with L.A.'s animal advocate community! To get your $15 Orchestra seats, do NOT go to TicketMaster! Buy your tickets directly from Kitty Bungalow here: BUY TICKETS and enter the code "RESCUE."

Click image to enlarge

Last year, Mom was on the CATS for Cats Event Committee, helping them organize that fantastic show. Some of you attended, some donated artwork or other prizes for the auction, and lots said they wished they could have gone. Mom also invited her pal Jackson Galaxy ("My Cat From Hell"), who made his first "red carpet" appearance at the benefit and had a great time.  ; ) 

Jackson Galaxy last year on the red carpet

The event received great reviews and honestly, Mom was blown away at how amazingly good the show was. She doesn't see a lot of Broadway caliber musicals and it was really awesome. This year's production promises to be as good, if not better! 

CATS for Cats is a reinvention of T.S. Eliot’s whimsical letters to his godchildren which became “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” an archive that much later became the inspiration for the musical CATS by Andrew Lloyd Webber - with many of Webber's songs featured in the show. 

All funds raised will benefit Kitty Bungalow - a wonderful cat rescue serving the area often referred to as 'South Central' Los Angeles. A 501c3 nonprofit organization, they rescue, neuter, socialize and find homes for feral kittens while providing outreach, education and Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) services.



Celebrity Performers include:

Fred Willard (Best in Show)

Owain Yeoman (The Mentalist)

Todd Lowe (True Blood)

Keith David (Princess and the Frog)

Alicia Witt (Friday Night Lights)

Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars)

Naturi Naughton (FAME, The Client List)

Bethany Joy Lenz (One Tree Hill)

Ioan Gruffudd (Ringers)

Paul Vogt (MADtv)

& several of the So You Think You Can Dance Dancers

Mom hopes to see you Saturday!! She'll be the one with my stunt double on her arm. Be sure to say hi!

Fred Willard, Jackson Galaxy & Owain Yeoman photos: Kristin Dewey, Carrie Ann Inaba photo: CC-BY-SA-2.5,2.0,1.0; Released under the GNU Free Documentation License, L.A. Orpheum Photos: LAOrpheum.com, All other photos and graphicss: KittyBungalow.org

Thankful Thursday: Rainbow Bridge Flags

Just Added 4:10pm PT - Rainbow Bridge Flag Project Video with Mom's Dad playing piano... Scroll to the bottom of the post to watch the video Mom took at the BlogPaws 2012 final reception of some of the Rainbow Bridge honor flags strung across the stage...  =^..^=

It's Thursday and time again for the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop, so post, Facebook or tweet whatever you can find to be grateful for today (or at least before next Thursday, when the blog hop ends) then come back and hook up to our blog hop.

This week, I'm focusing on two of Mom's good friends, Michele Brown and Wanda Kruse, who happen to be the moms of two of my good friends, @MaggieTKat and @PepiSmartDog. 

Wanda (@maggietkat's mom),
Plush Cokie & Mom (@blogpawskristin)

Michele (@pepismartdog's mum)

These two beautiful women took it upon themselves to set a place at the table at BlogPaws for the elephant in the room - the sadness humans carry deep inside, and that can't help but rear its little head in a hotel full of every make and model of pet... I'll bet almost everyone there had moments that caught their breath as they were reminded of a pet they'd loved and lost.

Michele put together a video explaining PepiSmartDog and his responsibility as the Rainbow Bridge Ambassador. It was played at the conference, and while everyone cried - it also made everyone feel better to think of their pets being happy and pain free, playing and waiting to join them...

@PepiSmartDog's Flag - made by Wanda

Wanda created the Rainbow Bridge Honor Flags Project, similar in concept to Tibetan Prayer Flags. She brought loads of material, glue, scissors, beads, and other art supplies, and set them out on tables at the Sheraton for BlogPaws attendees to use to create flags in honor of their own pets who'd passed on.

And they did! Every day there were different people sitting at the tables alone or in groups, silent, or happily sharing stories of the pets the flags were for. They began stringing them along a fire place hearth, and later, on Saturday evening, after the Nose-to-Nose Awards Ceremony, the flags where strung across the stage, as attendees came up to look at each one, take photographs, and talk about the significance of different elements in their own flags.

It was remarkable, healing, and a beautiful tribute. 

The flags were all collected, and the plan is to bring them back next year, to continue the project.

So I'm thankful for my wonderful friends and their wonderful passions - and Mom's great musician dad (Ray Dewey).

How about you?

Cokie