Looking Back in Time

As you may remember, Romeo is no longer with us.  I was looking at some past photos and came up with the one below.

It was a rare occurrence when Patches would accept Romeo being so close to her.

Togetherness can be a good thing.

The Unexpected Value of Blogging

I started this blog in 2011.  Didn’t know a thing about blogging, but for a few posts on another blog which was connected to a small business I had at the time.

My cats were the incentive, and I took photos and posted them.

This blog has become my memories, which I can look in on whenever I feel the need to see how far they’ve come and how far I’ve come along with this chosen avocation.

Now that I don’t have Romeo with me anymore, I can look back on all the happy times and his shenanigans and his interplay with Rusty and Patches, that I so much enjoyed!  Better than framed photos on the wall or on a shelf!!

Update On Romeo’s Situation

I’ve had a very heavy heart lately.  Wondering and worrying about what has happened to Romeo.

If you’ve read my “Hello Everyone!” posts (4 parts), you’ll know that my life has changed (these things happen as we grow “older”).  Rusty is back, but Romeo is not.

Miss you, sweet boy.

I hadn’t heard from Linda of RU4ME rescue organization in the last 3 weeks (the amount of time since I re-adopted Rusty).  So, it was my assumption that Romeo was still being fostered.  I had to find out for sure about what has happened to him.  I called her this morning, and she apologized for not calling me.  The rescue “business” is a very demanding one, and fitting in personal responsibilities – well, she is very busy, for sure.

I started off my call by telling her how heavy my heart has been every day since I last saw him in that cage, looking at me as if telling me he was very disappointed that I wasn’t taking him back, and that he needed to be back home.

Was I imagining it or was it for real, that his expression in his eyes was full of sadness and fright?

The tears were streaming down my face as I spoke with Linda, and she finally, with happiness and excitement, told me he was adopted.

The boyfriend of one of the young women who fostered Romeo adopted him!  And it was a wonderful placement.  I asked her if Romeo was the only one in the house, and she said he was.

I told her to give the adopter my phone number, and if there is anything he wants to know about Romeo, I would love to speak to him.  I thanked her for all she did for me and Rusty and Romeo, and for all the hard work in making it possible for kittens and adult cats to find new, loving, responsible homes.

At this moment, I still feel sad.  Romeo was my baby for 10 years, and there is a space in my heart (one of many) where he still resides.  But, knowing he has been re-homed in a good place, has lifted some of the weight I’ve been walking around with, for these many weeks.

Hello Everyone! I’ve Missed You All

I don’t have my camera handy, but I have company again here in my office.  My absence has been long, I know.  I will try to make my post as concise as I can (I’m not known for being concise).  Here’s the story:

Way back around Thanksgiving, I started to have an attack – back and sciatica pain.  It just got worse, and if it weren’t for my sister’s and her husband’s help, I would not have been able to get through my days.  Pain was so bad, that I made visits to the ER twice.

As it got closer to Christmas time, the situation was quite dire, and I said to myself, “What if this attack will not end?  How can I keep on depending upon others to get  me through the days and more importantly, is it wise and fair to have others take care of not only me, but also my cats?”

Blogging was impossible.  Couldn’t sit for long.

In the middle of all this, it was found that Rusty had struvite crystals in his urine, and had to be rushed to the vet.  New special food needed to be introduced into his diet to diminish the formation of these crystals.  Evidently, he has a sensitive stomach, and he was vomiting just about every day.  I was changing the food very slowly – for almost a month – and still, when I went over half new food and half old, he couldn’t tolerate it.  This stress on all of us was extreme.  I thought I had it down to a science – half new and half old, and that seemed to be OK.

Was I being selfish to my family to continue to have them care for Rusty, Romeo and Patches?  After all, they (sister and husband) had never taken care of cats before, and even though they insisted they “didn’t mind at all,” I found it so difficult to be the one receiving the help.  I’m a very independent woman.  Also, in the back of my mind was the question, “What will happen to my cats if I suddenly die tomorrow?”  I had not made any plans for that eventuality.  Next month, I will reach my 78th!  It sounds like a big number.  It is.

So, I made the decision:  they needed to be re-homed!

To be continued tomorrow…

 

The Great Divide

At opposite ends.  Romeo and Patches seem to have reached an agreement on the couch.

From New Toy To New Apparel

It’s always interesting to me to watch my cats’ reactions to a new toy.  Sometimes they will get excited (rarely happens) and at other times, their reactions are surprising.

This time, Romeo seemed to like his new toy, but then there was a new twist.  Romeo became a model for a new style of kitty apparel.

Please left-click on the first photo to enlarge and view the gallery.

A Truce On The Rug

Romeo and Patches only tolerate each other as a rule; however, the other day I happened to catch them comfortably sharing the rug that is mostly Patches’ territory.

As long as Romeo isn’t hitting Patches on top of her head with his paw, I guess she’s OK with his “invading” her “property.”  Romeo is still being careful.  He’s using just a corner of the rug.

What a surprise.  A truce is in progress here.

The Lookout

Romeo loves to sit on the cat tree to look out at the lake and is usually interested in something going on out there.

Mr. Great Blue Heron decided to make his appearance this morning, and Romeo was right there to witness him as he strutted along the lake edge.

Left-click on the first photo to enlarge and view the gallery of photos.  Thanks.

 

Romeo Is Surrounded!

He loves his toys.  They’re his friends, too.

 

C’mon Romeo

 

Romeo is such a good boy.  I think he would follow me anywhere!