Squeak was pretty good about being at the vet and arrived home unterrorized by his dental cleaning. I have been thinking about bribing my neighbor, who is a tech at my vet's, if she would be the bad guy for me. I could even make that all educational by inviting my other neighbor's teenage daughter who wants to be a vet.

Oh, and I remembered: I have a story about what can happen to an old cat with untrimmed nails: my rescue cat Grace developed not one but two totally ingrown claws that damaged her toepad. The claw made a horrible calloused crater by the time I noticed. So, Doctor Katie says, buy the special parrot beak clipper and sneak up on your cat while it's relaxed. One nail at a time is plenty. Doctor Calli is totally right that fearing the caretaker is not so good.

Farewell, my Bitches, Goodnight and Happy Friday! I leave you with a question about your cats. Do they have anything to say that you understand beyond Feed Me, Let Me In/Out, etc.

Katie, perhaps if your neighbor comes over to your place and Squeak gets used to the idea, you could gradually shift to your being the one to give the injection.

One way to get more fluid into dogs and cats is to put a little chicken broth into the water. At least it seemed to make mine more interested.

Oy, the vet bill, even with the discounts, was terrifying. But I have my dog back.

Do they have anything to say that you understand beyond Feed Me, Let Me In/Out, etc.

I think so. Liefur has a pretty clear "what's going on/what's that/whatcha doing?" trill.

Bleh, sinus infection. But I have drugs and I *will* be fine by the time I leave for New Orleans on Sunday!

Yes. I so decree.

At my parents, finally all packed. Time for shower and bed.

I think so. Liefur has a pretty clear "what's going on/what's that/whatcha doing?" trill.

Where are you? I'm HEREHEREHEREHEREHERE. You moved. I'm here. Hi. BIRD! BUG! INVISIBLETHINGAMAJIG! Play with me! You're home! WHOA. Me. me. me. (that's Devi. She's all about her. She just talks to get attention.)

Harvey cat has a pronounced communication of "Dadddyyyy!" when I show up after he has not seen me for a while. then he gloms on to me and head bumps me and accepts some scritchins, and then settles over my shoulder or falls asleep upside down in the crook of my arm.

As far as pets and their life cycles go, after having pets with personalities I think I can understand how an immortal would feel, having those he loves grow up, get old and die while he/she lives on.

Oy, the vet bill

Yes, a number of my medical doctors have big envy for vets. Charge the huge bucks, don't argue with insurance companies, and their patients don't even lie to them.

My cat is either snuggling, or loudly declaring she is starving. I love how she comes running up the driveway when I come home, but then immediately she goes into this long loud story about how she didn't catch any vermin all day and she is starving.

Xusa has a Mom pick me up pick me up pick me up noooowwww.

DJ, do your cousins know how we know each other? I know some people are sensitive about that.

Jeeves makes this obnoxious blatting sound when he wants something.

As for hydration, he only eats dry kibble, and has refused any and all attempts to give him canned food. The only "people foods" he likes are: greens (the bitterer the better - he once ate an entire flat of arugula seedlings), Parmagiano Reggiano, and stinky blue cheese. All other cheese is of the devil as far as he is concerned, but he will come running if I pull the roquefort out of the fridge. I don't think cheese is an adequate medium for getting more moisture into his system, no matter how runny it might be.

Fortunately, he loves water, and is constantly begging me to turn the faucet on for him. I can also not leave water glasses unattended any more. I'm hoping, therefore, that adequate hydration won't be an issue with him. Having the Drinkwell fountain has gone a long way towards preventing UTIs with him.