Fill-Ins and Fighters

TGIF! Let's kick off the eve of the weekend with the always fun Friendly Fill-Ins.

This challenge is hosted by our good friends over at 15andmeowing and McGuffy's Reader. Our hosts are clever as can be. See the fill-ins they crafted for us this week?

1. My idea of roughing it is _________.
2. I never get sick of talking about _________.
3. My youth _________.
4. My "golden years" _________.

And here are the kind of answers I mustered up this time around:

1. My idea of roughing it is losing power.
(You know those times when a thunderstorm blows through, or even a winter ice storm, and you lose power? No lights, no kitchen appliances, all that jazz.. And if your gadgets aren't all charged up, you're out of luck. To be honest, I kind of enjoy these moments of silent darkness. Of course, though, let's be honest, if I know a storm is coming, I do charge up some of my gadgets, so that I don't get too bored.)

2. I never get sick of talking about my furbabies.
(As if you didn't already know that.)

3. My youth has been good to me.
(Sure, life isn't always sunshine and daisies. Nevertheless, I feel like my years thus far have been priceless in their own way. I've been blessed with family and furbabies and friends, past and present, and I certainly can't complain.)

4. My "golden years" will probably be much like all the other years.
(I imagine my golden years will be much like my current years, to be honest. I think older me will still very much enjoy spending oodles of time with furbabies, writing, drawing, and just all around enjoying life in my own way.)


Now, Eddy is here to show you her pictures of the week. She's back to her same ol' I-refuse-to-look-at-the-camera and I'm-a-purrfect-blur shenanigans.

See? All shades of photo shoot uncooperation. It's no wonder, though. I brought Thimble home from her day long visit at the vet on Wednesday night, after she was diagnosed with a UTI. Thimble feels much better already. In fact, she's already acting like her old self again. However, she sort of smells different. You know, the V-E-T will do that to a girl. Now, Eddy is convinced that I brought home a strange cat. Despite the fact that Thimble is still, well, Thimble, Eddy is not so sure.

To be honest, this here momma is pretty disheartened right now. When I first brought Thimble home, Eddy sniffed her and acted normal. Then she went back for a second sniff, and promptly jumped back and ran off to hide under my bed. Then, last night, Eddy began growling at Thimble, puffing up and acting like she honestly has no idea who she is, like she even might attack her. It's to the point where if Thimble is in sight, Eddy now either hides under my bed or growls, or both. Eddy has always been a mixture of skittish and territorial. She came to me semi-feral. But, when I did bring her home as a kitten, the first one she took to was Thimble. What's more, for 2 years now we've had a peaceful coexistence amongst all the furbabies in our house. That is why I am so disheartened by the current situation.

I will likely have to put a gate up in my bedroom doorway while I am at work today, to keep Eddy inside my bedroom, which has always been her safe room. I want her to still be able to view the goings-on in the house, and get used to the sight and scent of Thimble again, but I want to be certain that she will not harm Thimble while I am away (or vice versa, although the former is far more likely as Thimble is far from a brawler). It looks like I may be going out to replenish my stock of Feliway as well.

Though I know that this sort of reaction to another furbaby coming home from the vet is actually not terribly uncommon, it still makes me feel more than a bit upset. If you can spare them, this momma and her furbabies could use some purrs and prayers as I work to keep the furbabies from ripping each other to shreds.

Well, a happy Friday to all!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

In a multipet household, when bringing one of the resident kitties or pups back home from someplace such as the vet, keep in mind that nonrecognition aggression or nonrecognition fear is possible upon homecoming. This might occur, for example, if one of the furbabies in the home reacts to an unfamiliar smell (such as alcohol from a blood draw) or behavior (such as acting sedated after anesthesia) of the returning furbaby. Some animals are more prone to this, depending on their individual personality as well as past experiences. In such a case of nonrecognition aggression or fear, do not force the animals to interact right away. It might even be best if you separate them, and even treat it as if they are being introduced to each other all over again, from the beginning. Separate them, allow them to sniff each from under doors, sniff and see each other through screens or gates, and so forth. You might also consider trying out calming products, such as Feliway in the case of cats. Patience is key, as always.