What’s Up?

Things are looking up for Norma Jean. Weekend snuggles are currently in the forecast. 
 

Learning from the Masters

When it comes to peaceful napping, I have a lot to learn from my housemates.
 

Remember

It's hard for me to remember day to day life with Thompson, Diego-san and Theo even though we spent so many important days together. I'm doing my best to appreciate day to day life with Norma, Alias and Kenta better. 

 

Sweet Dreams

I spent my Labor Day napping with these two. The only thing that would have made it better was if Kenta joined us.
 

Hole in One

Kenta has invented a new game... put your paw through the back of a chair. He's winning 1-0.
 

Photobomb

I love this photo of Alias. It captures his personality so well, curious approachable, and welcoming. I didn't even see Kenta sleeping in the background until I looked at the pic. 
 

The Disrupter

Norma loves to race me upstairs from the kitchen and she hops up on my desk chair so I can't sit down. Eventually I'll nudge her onto my desk. She's very good at preventing me from getting any work done.
 

Mindless Chatter

Alias has no idea that I don't yammer around people as much as I yammer to him. He's a lucky boy.
 

You're Lucky to Get to Know Me

I'm a sucker for her lucky pretty eyes...
 

All That Work Gone Down the Drain

Kenta is worried that Norma and Alias are going to scare away all the bunny friends he’s made this summer who live in the backyard.
 

Slurp 2

One thing I can say about my housemates is they value cleanliness. Better than a smelly old dog any day.

Slurp

He's decided that leg tastes like chicken and the other front leg tastes like salmon. Life is good.
 

Mum

Sometimes Norma uses her motherly instincts to take care of Alias.
 

Rabbits and Birds

Some days, backyard observation duty is a two cat duty.
 

Sunday

Sunday lived up to its name.
 

Face Off

Is this playful time together or will it lead to another daily epic wrestling match? I can report it was a bit of both. 
 

Close Attention

I still worry about Kenta. His recent health issue really scared me. So every time he does something out of the ordinary, I pay close attention to him. This pose however, isn't out of the ordinary and is one of my favorite views...
 

He's Very Zen

I remember the days I felt equal parts relaxed and spaced out.
 

She’s One of a Kind

This is Norma in a nutshell. Or nutty Norma.
 

Contest

They are having a who’s cuter while resting contest.
 

What I Love

Alias’ howl, our conversations and his nightly multiple need of belly rubs  I love how fast he is up and down hallways and stairs and how he grunts when he dashes. He knows when his next meal is due and clings to the schedule. He adores sleeping in a splash of sun. Alias is fierce fetching his toy mousie and chasing that elusive red laser dot. He is the favorite snuggling partner to both Norma and Kenta (and maybe even me).

 

Kenta’ tiny squeak of a meow that belies his size, his love of meals, gulping them down like each is his last meal, his sitting in my lap in the living room, his favorite room in the house, his love of his stuffed hedgehog that might be a porcupine so I named it Porky. We disagree on where Porky should spend the day as Kenta carries him to various spots in the house. Never lived with a cat who demonstrably appreciates his/her life more.

 

Norma’s squeal and spazzing around several times now every evening, wanting all my attention during these moments, her rubbing her nose on my chin and then her licking my chin, how she loves a belly and chest rub during these moments, how she tosses toys and gleefully chases after it, her facing down five large crows in the backyard by yipping at them even if they have no clue she's threatening them.

Good Dude

Alias holds our household together. He’s Norma all time favorite soul and Kenta’s too. Maybe even mine…
 

My Boy

I call him Kenta-beans. I don’t know why. He’s such a great fellow.
 

True Luck/Love

Spent another unexpected day together. I’m grateful I was around to see their yet another loving day together. 
 

Face to Face Side By Side

Watched the Twins/Brewers game in bed with Norma and Alias cuddled face to face at my feet and Kenta napping next to me into the 7th inning. He’s never napped with me that long. This is the best my life can be these days which says so much. (Though it would have helped had the Twins won a really good game.)

Gratitude Again

Kenta’s been spending more time with me than ever before. So not only has he forgiven me for last week’s tortuous adventure, but he, like he always does, is teaching me what a great home we have.
 

Tough Days

I needed a reason to smile. I got one. 
 

Popular Gal

I posted this on social media and it's gotten 264 likes, by far the most of any pic I've posted.
 

Gratitude

Last Wednesday evening was one of the worst, if not the worst moment of my life. I faced the real possibility that I would have to let Kenta go because I couldn't afford the surgery that could keep him alive. It was a spur of the moment decision. At least with Mr. Max, Thompson, Theo and Diego-san (who died when I was trying to decide if it was time), I had weeks, months, a year to know their end was near. 

Wednesday morning I left for work and all seemed fine. When I brought Kenta to urgent care that evening, it didn't even dawn on me that I might not bring him back home. But there I was staring at a $4,000 bill and knowing even if he got the surgery to unblock his urinary tract, it might just be a temporary cure. I had a little over $4,000 in my savings account. Not only was I heartbroken about not just paying for the procedure but I was devastated I was even contemplating letting my four year old friend, the one who has made me smile every day I've known him, the one who inspires me to love life as much as he does, go.

The first time I forced Kenta into his carrier to go to his annual vet appointment in 2024 he thrashed against the doors of his cage violently yelling at the top of his lungs (his normal meow is a timid squeak belying his massive size). It wasn't so much being trapped as it was possibly losing the best home of his life. He LOVES his meals. He adores his brother Alias. He's curious about his sister Norma. He loves his living room picture window view of the world passing by. He loves his living room cat tree/bed in another living room window, the one Thompson used to sleep in. He loves looking from the dining room window at the rabbits and birds in the backyard after he eats his dinner. 

I cannot give a cat a bigger compliment than being comparable to my first cat, Mr. Max. But of all the cats I've been lucky enough to know, Kenta most reminds me of Mr. Max. He purrs easily and often. He loves my company but most certainly only on his terms. He loves watching the outside world from the safety of a window view. He doesn't drool when he purrs like Max but Max didn't have a favorite toy like Kenta's catnip stuffed hedgehog, Porky (who might be a porcupine) who he carries around the house until I bring Porky back up to where I think he belongs. Kenta obviously disagrees because he always brings Porky to a different place in the house.

Kenta loves food. So after his dinner I walk upstairs with him to get him from stealing his siblings' meals. He's rewarded with treats. But the best thing is, and I don't know how this started, he won't race up the stairs but match my own steps up the stairs. The few times he's forgotten this and raced up before me, I playfully scolded him and almost always we walk up together. I LOVE THAT and feared with no more treats with him being on a strict diet we'd lose that moment of togetherness. But he seems to be OK getting fed a few morsels of his dried food as treats. I hope this continues. 

One of the last things we went through during my partial hospitalization for depression and anxiety  a couple years ago was to tap into the feeling of gratitude, probably the best antidote for mental health struggles. Take a small moment to be grateful for just the littlest of things... a moment in nature, a small accomplishment, a favorite song, a friend, family, a favorite food... all the little things, moments that we don't think twice about but really should. 

I can't even begin to express how meaningful the support so many of you have shared these past few days has kept me going, has kept my spirits up. I'm grateful for having met and known so many wonderful people during different phases of my life that I'm still in touch with and for those of you currently in my life. I'm grateful you truly understand how my love for Kenta, this random cat, who I adore so deeply because of who he is and what we've shared together the past few years.

I'm truly truly grateful…

Back Home

Kenta came home Saturday morning. He immediately hid under the futon frame in the basement, the same place he spent the first month in his new home. He came upstairs a couple of times but as soon as he saw I saw him, he bolted back downstairs. Today he’s pretty much back to his old self even cuddling with me a couple of times.
 

Kenta Update

They removed the catheter tonight and now Kenta has to pee without getting blocked again. If he can do that, he can come home, hopefully tomorrow morning. Alias is spending more time with me than usual which is really helpful.

 

Kenta Update

Thanks all for kind words of support…

Kenta did well during his overnight and his catheter was draining. His urine is still full of crystals so they need the urine to be more clear before he can come home. Last evening I got another update. He did well during the day but didn’t eat anything! They keep saying how nice and sociable he is, easily purring. I miss my guy. 

 

Devastated

I came home from work yesterday and Kenta was barely able to walk. He tried coming downstairs for his meal but only made it half way. So I brought him in (screaming his lungs out) to urgent care. He has a blockage in his urinary tract. He will need surgery and a couple of nights in the hospital. The worst part is this is likely a re-occurring issue. It could come back years from now or next week. I can’t afford another surgery. I’m devastated.
 

Brother and Sister

Minutes before they had a hiss filled wrestling match. They do have a complicated yet simple sibling relationship.
 

Irresistible

It's impossible for me not to rub the crown of his nose and forehead. Impossible.
 

Playtime

Norma loves racing into this plastic cave. There's a front entrance that she leaps into and then gets as low as she can and wiggles out the bottom. I'm glad she's so easily amused. 
 

Coming and Going

I came home from work and Alias after greeting me at the front door raced upstairs. He knows the next thing on the schedule is me going upstairs to change my clothes. Kenta didn’t greet me at the door and when I started upstairs he lowered himself down off the top of the scratching post and raced downstairs as he and I passed on the stairway.
 

Norma Tested

Norma claimed our newest cat bed. Alias welcomed the scratching post legs.
 

Desk Duty

All three took turns preventing me from using my desk.
 

My Guy

We don't spend enough time together as we should. Seriously. Kenta is one of the greatest soul's ever to exist. I promise. 
 

Cool

They both like resting on my desk because it is cooler than the carpet in all meanings of that word. I think they enjoy me not trying to work on the desk instead of giving them my full attention. Norma doesn't really rest on the desk. She prefers to squirm around and beg for me to pet her.