Consistent Costume

Diego-san is bored that every year he has to dress up as a black cat for Halloween.

Proving Things Wrong

He got up there, now he doesn't know how to get down. This disproves the theory that it's easier to go downhill than uphill.

Remembering His Outside Days

They're talking about snow in our forecast.  None of us approve.

More of a Gaga Fan

Somebody was unimpressed by my attempts to learn my favorite Madonna song ('Til Death Do Us Part') on my guitar. I did ask Diego-san if he had a favorite Madonna song I could learn instead and he shot me a look that said, "that's the stupidest question you've asked me yet."

Variety is Key

Sleeping in one position can be so darn boring. Thompson likes to mix it up a little by manipulating himself in to different shapes.  This livens things up.

Soccer Skills

There was a big announcement that St. Paul is getting a Major League Soccer team (after building the team a stadium). The boyz were so excited they practiced their soccer skills.  Here Diego-san is practicing to be a ball and Thompson is practicing his scissors kick.

House Rule

We have a house rule that to be a member you have to have a sweet face.  All three boyz pass the test with flying colors. Obviously I was grandfathered in from the era that wasn't a house rule.

Foodies

When I brought Diego-san in for his medical issue a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned to the vet that Diego has been throwing up a lot this year (once or twice a week). The vet ran a test on Diego's thyroid.  The test showed the thyroid was OK.

The next suggestion from the vet was to put Diego on prescription food. The theory being Diego has developed an allergy to his normal food.  This was also something the staff person at our friendly pet store mentioned- that over time cats can develop allergies to the food they've been eating for years.  So I picked up some of the prescription food. I had a choice, wet or dry, and picked wet since the boyz have really taken to the recent migration to canned food. I figured Diego-san would be more likely to accept the change in his diet with wet food involved.

I tried feeding Theo and Thompson the normal dried food and when I gave Diego-san his first round of the prescription food.  Thompson would have no part of that arrangement- trying his best to get at Diego-san's food. After a couple more tries I gave up and fed Thompson some canned food too.  I kept Theo on dried food and only the past few meals has he suspected something is up that he's missing out on.

The good news in all of this is Thompson is eating a lot more than he has in a while.  Hopefully he can gain back some of the weight he has lost.  Now I just have to figure out what to do with the big bag of dried food I bought not too long ago...

Lucky?

I told Diego-san that in the outside world there probably are animals out there who suffer from the same butt problems he recently had. Unfortunately for those animals, they don't get the treatment needed to help them feel better.

He had to think about that.

Willing Volunteer

My great nephew is celebrating his first birthday next weekend.  I'm not sure what I'm going to give him for a present. Theo seems to have volunteered his services but I suspect that's because he heard there's gonna be birthday treats.

Da Boyz

Peace and quiet, that's all we need.

A Familiar Place

This tunnel has long been one of Thompson's favorite spots. I think it provides protection from any brother that might want to bother him. He stopped using it the past few months. But last week spent a lot of time there.  I think it comforted him with all the other stuff going on...

The Look

You wouldn't know it by Theo's expression but things are pretty much back to normal in our house.  And that's a good thing.

Turning the Corner

Things are getting somewhat back to normal.  I let Diego-san go the entire evening without his cone and he ran around like the wind, like he'd finally been freed from his shackles.  And he ate a lot too...

Health Update

Diego-san had a followup vet appointment. It didn't go as well as expected. Part of his wound is still open so they put him on an antibiotic again. Meanwhile, Thompson took a nasty spill trying to jump up to the faucet for a drink. He doesn't appear to be in any pain but he's not moving much at all.  Hopefully both return to good health soon...

Intruder Alert

Thompson gives a wary eye to the strange space visitor...

Madonna

Went to see Madonna Thursday night.  She knows how to put on a show.  It was the second time I've seen her and as last time, I note that she does more laying on the stage and writhing than Bob Dylan (the artist I've seen the most times). At 57 she's in remarkable shape and is still a very athletic dancer. The crowd made me feel young(ish) too because unlike the crowds to most shows I go to these days, many appeared to be older than me. On the other hand, I didn't get to bed until 1:00 a.m. so I may have not been my most effective Friday at work.  I guess I am old.

Teamwork

Theo is starting to look at his cone head brother with a look of envy.  I told him I could probably find a cone for him to wear as well. 

He'll Find a Way Around Everything

So yesterday when I got home I saw Diego-san licking his wound area.  I'm not entirely sure if the cone was preventing him from actually getting to the wound but if it was not it begs the question, why I'm making him wear the darn thing...

Entertainment Choices

Thursday night I can spend the night relaxing with the boyz or...

 

Spend the night taking in this spectacle...

 

 

Different Degrees of Normal

No one in the house is hoping things return to 'normal' more than I am. Diego-san's has a follow up vet appointment on Friday and hopefully things will settle down afterward. He still is required to wear the cone when I'm not around, and still is taking a pill twice a day. With the cone on, he apparently loses a lot of motor function as he bangs into various objects. He's very skilled at hiding the pill in his mouth and then spitting it out when I'm not looking. Thompson meanwhile still is hissing at everyone and everything in sight.  And he still isn't eating much at all. I'm trying to find the time to spend with each of the boyz and am trying to make the routine as regular as possible.

Therefore, I'm very thankful for Theo. He may not be acting normal but that's normal for him.  In other words he's back to his usual goofy self.

Shelter

Sometimes when things in your house don't make sense anymore it's best to find a box to mull your troubles in.

Kindrid Spirit

I've said all along that Diego-san of the three boyz, is the most like Simon's Cat...

Update

Diego-san was a bit more himself last night. He still is having difficulty getting around with the cone.  I'm still isolating him from Theo and Thompson when I'm not there to watch things. Last night the two of us slept in the basement while Thompson and Theo had the entire upper two floors to themselves. Theo spent much of the night howling at the basement door not understanding why he wasn't allowed downstairs. Diego-san spent most of the night sleeping on my chest, purring. He kept trying to headbump me with the cone making it difficult to get any sleep...

Not a Good Night

I came home yesterday and started the boyz's dinner routine. Diego-san didn't come down from upstairs like he always does. I went to check on him and he was lying there, leg held gingerly in the air. I brought him to the veterinary hospital close to our house. They determined he had an abscess near his rear end, probably from his anal glands not expressing like they are supposed to.  He's had ongoing anal gland issues for the past few years. So, they sedated him, cleaned out the wound, slapped a cone around his neck, and sent home a painkiller and an anti-biotic.

It was a long night. Theo wanted to sniff all the unusual smells coming from his brother, particularly the wound area. Diego-san stumbled around trying to overcome the anesthesia. He was really hungry though so I fed him, a little wary that he was just going to throw it all up.  He didn't.

I didn't want him and Theo in the same room overnight and Theo drew the short straw, getting locked in the basement.  He howled his displeasure throughout the night. I just didn't want Diego-san spending the night alone.

Thompson took Diego-san's usual spot lying next to me in bed. This morning though, Thompson was the one who freaked out most. When I served the boyz breakfast he hissed at Theo and then turned his hissing to his other brother who was trying to not bump into things with the cone. Thompson ended up not eating at all, which is not good given his continual weight loss. Theo sheepishly walked around not knowing why all the changes were happening.

Diego-san has to wear the cone and take the medicine for the next week.  I'm not sure how I'm going to handle each of the boyz at this point...

Synchronized Snoozing

A very difficult team to beat.