I haven't talked about the "kids" lately...

Beasley got stepped on this morning. I stepped back while washing the dishes (no, I don't have a dishwasher - totally superfluous for one person!) and stepped squarely on his tail. He yelped, and I let up enough for him to take off like a shot. He was spitting out hair he'd nipped off, while bathing and laying behind me in the kitchen. Poor baby! I picked him up and apologized profusely!

He's much better. Overall, this is a true rarity.

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Their behavior since Queenie took over as alpha, is really different. Queenie is a heavy-handed alpha cat. She lords it over everyone - even me - that she is now the true queen. Man, what a big head!

She picks on everyone, even Beasley. She used to tease him, but now she chases him. I've seen one positive, though. Fluffy is now engaging in the chasing games that she used to ignore. She would ignore everyone and everything, just going about her merry way. Now, she's involved.

Princess, my dethroned lady, is very insistent on snuggles all day now. She still won't come to sit next to me on the chair, but she is very snuggly all the same. Kissing is still part of the package, too. Very hard nips, along the hands, fore-arms and on my wrists.

Bugsy is less an instigator and more disobedient. She's not getting into fights like she did, but she still is bearing the brunt of the "discipline" by the others. She has taken to snuggling in the chair, in the most unlikely positions! She just wants to be held and cuddled. A stroke will cause her for flatten her ears - and I'm not sure if she's doing that out of fear of being hit (she's never been hit) or if she's making room for my hand. I make sure she gets a snuggle session as often as she asks for it. She pops up at least once a day.

Queenie keeps picking on Beasley. He'll be sleeping quietly on the cat-chair, and she will jump up and kick him off the chair. She will sit there about 15 minutes, then leave. Meanwhile, Beasley's sleep has been disturbed for no real reason.

She is also hogging the back of my chair, which used to be Beasley's refuge and his place to be close to me. I don't pet her like I do him while she's up there. But she won't back off.

This little cocoa colored tyrant needs to be brought down a peg!

I need your help....

One of the less-than-shining Vet Tech Schools resources has been taken over by another entity. I would like a review of the course from someone who has or is taking the course there. It looks much better.

It's Ashworth College Online, near the bottom of the page. Please follow the link to give me a review.

Thank You!!!

New Page on the Site...

I culled some information from other online places, including Wikipedia, on FLUTD - Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (Disorder). There are many causes of this condition, most are not caused by disease. The most obvious cause is diet. Here are some concrete recommendations, how to recognize the disorder, and when you absolutely MUST get the cat to a vet PRONTO!

Feral Cat Day!

It's National Feral Cat Day!

Give a kitty a home, feed a feral colony, donate to your local chapter of feral cat rescue, or donate to the local TNR program. Whatever you can do, please try.

No More Homeless Pets, another national movement, is really out to help us not have any more homeless animals.


The mission of the Focus on Felines campaign is to keep cats safe and out of shelters across the country. We partner with non-profits and local governments to help achieve a day when there are No More Homeless Pets. We implement innovative Trap Neuter Return (TNR) and educations programs to prevent ferals and strays—community cats—from entering shelters. The Focus on Felines web community is a place for cat lovers to meet, share information, and provide support and advice for TNR and community cat topics.

Change in Pecking Order

Well, Miss Princess is no longer my alpha cat...

I've been noticing that she is losing weight. Not enough to be really in a health crisis, but she is losing weight. Her fur is good, she is not dehydrated, and she seems healthy. She is snuggly, but still does not want to be picked up or held.

I was playing with the cats in the living room yesterday for the first time since we moved. They've had toys out, but I actually got out DaBird and played with them.

I noticed that each time Queenie would show up, Princess would cringe and cower to the ground. That tells me that something happened - probably just before we moved - and that Queenie is now the alpha.

Queenie has become "kissy kitty" and will get up on the arm of the chair when I'm sitting in it and "kiss me" repeatedly - nudging her nose/muzzle on my chin or nose - or even mouth!

These two behaviors, combined, tell me that the pecking order has changed. Princess is still a beautiful baby, and she knows I love her, but she is no longer telling me what to do.

She comes and asks, she snuggles, and will do the "hit-and-run" snuggle. But she stopped doing the prolonged "getting up on the arm of my chair" when I'm working late. She used to really demand that I quit and pay attention to her. She's not doing that any more.

Back to e-mails...

I'm back to answering e-mails in a timely manner. I'm so sorry it took so long. I was offline for 4-5 days, and completely out of touch.

In that time, I received a mailed submission, too! I'm confirming the e-mail address on that right now, and then I'll go forward with my response. Otherwise, all is well.

I sent out a special issue of the e-zine out today - there is a timely piece of legislation for pet owners in the USA, and you need to be aware of it.

I also picked up an article from the ASPCA about insecticides (flea drops) and cats, that I'll include in the next issue of the e-zine.

That's all for now! I'm very glad to be back!

WooHoo! E-zine is put to bed....

I've been working on e-zine issues in between running here and there - building the house, going about the chores and trips around town that need doing, packing and working...

So, I finally got the September issue done, and it will go out on time! I'm kinda proud of myself, anyway...

It's been tough to get the e-zine issues done lately, with all that's going on. On to the October issue!

I hope you enjoy the issue. Due to come out Sept 1, so look for it.

Big OOPS!

My apologies to my subscribers. I mistakenly sent out an unfinished e-zine issue for January 2010 today.

When I have a little time, I set up my e-zine issues to go out. It keeps the series going and in order, and it helps in planning product advertising campaigns.

It got sent instead of saved for future delivery. I apologize for the bother. Please don't unsubscribe becuase I had a brain-fart...

Many silly posts

I put up a bunch of silly posts on the RSS feed yesterday.

I found a great video source of kittie videos. It was good to laugh! I hope you will look at one or more of them.

I don't get anything for it, but you will get a chuckle, I'm sure.

They were sponsored by Butterfinger candy bars.

MSDS Sheets Moved

The MSDS Sheets from Flea-Fighters (now offline) have been moved to here....

MSDS Sheets

This is a valuable resource, and needs to be available online.