7 posts tagged “isabel”

All you cat-lovers out there know about Doctors Foster & Smith, right?
Love... love... love!
Wish I had a million dollars... love!

Got their new cat-alog today (hee hee) and here are all the things I want to get for my babies.

1. Catspa
CatSpa activity center for cats ensures sensory heaven for all kitties. Features a variety of textures your cat can rub, massage, and groom against. From low textured platforms to removable brush inserts, this playground even hides catnip. Rim guard prevents catnip tracking and rubber feet prevent slippage. Catnip (1/2 oz. bag) included. Removable parts for easy cleaning. Measures 20" diameter, overall height 6".

2.  Peek-a-Prize
Tantalize your cat's instinct to hunt! Toys peek out, but can your cat free the prize? Stimulating and challenging, this interactive puzzle box keeps your cat mentally active. Place toys or treats inside for your cat to reach, bat, and scoop, and ferret out. Sturdy all-wood construction lasts years, and box includes two assorted toys to get the fun started. Also makes great toy storage until the game begins again.

3.  Laser Light Show
This cat toy's automatic laser chaser keeps your cat on the prowl. The laser dot, which circles, pauses, and then circles again, cannot be caught - which keeps your cat moving. The Ba-Da-Beam features a rotating laser that can be directed into one of two adjustable positions - straight ahead for wall use, or downward toward the floor.

4.  Thing in a Bag
Cats think this durable, claw-resistant bag is really alive. "Thing in a Bag" shakes randomly, bringing out your cat's stalking instinct. When activated, inner battery-operated shaker operates for 3 minutes before turning off automatically. Self-fastening bag closure. Requires 3 AA batteries, not included. 5" x 2" x 9" high.

5.  Crinkle Tunnel
Crinkle tunnel mimics the paper-bag sound cats love. Do you remember the times you brought home groceries, and your cat darted into the first empty bag you unloaded? Likewise, this crinkle tunnel is just the right size for cats to roll around inside and play. Crinkle liner between the outer leopard print and neutral inner fabrics makes the tunnel crackle with every touch. It features two 6" peek holes, a hanging toy for batting fun, and a sturdy spiral frame that resists collapse.

Is it just me or does Isabel look ever so slightly thinner? Humor me and say yes. The first was 2-3 weeks ago at my old house, the second was yesterday.

And now, for your viewing pleasure... I am slowly working on creating a cat jungle gym in my basement to keep my cats entertained and hopefully give them and avenue for exercise. The first thing I did was cover the support pole in carpet so they can climb it like a tree. The first video shows Dunkin doing his thing. It's about 1/3 of the way in if you want to fast forward. The second video is showcasing how funny he gets when he is on catnip. I sprinkled it around the base of the tree and rubbed it all over it to get them interested. Yes, two videos only a mother would love.

 

Copying BA who was copying Arbed...

Will Smith

Leading Man

A fresh prince in the pursuit of happiness, dunkin is megastar Will Smith!

Putting the jazz back in jazzy, dunkin is always moving and grooving to the beat of his own internal drum. Not one to settle for second best, dunkin only takes on projects that are sure to draw attention and improve his pawpularity in the pack. dunkin's broad appeal across breed, age and gender lines means that his actions often lead to his being named best in show. Smooth, suave and debonair... he's the perfect pet to take home to Mommy. Not lacking in the looks department, dunkin‘s toothy grin would send even the most furrocious group of alien invaders spinning helplessly back into space.

I've dedicated so much energy to Dunkin lately because of his medical scare, I decided to give Izzy some time to be the center of attention. One of the funniest thing about Isabel is that she EATS FISH FOOD! How crazy is that?

It's a morning ritual in our house, right around 7:00 on weekdays that everyone gets their breakfast - the cats first, then the fish, then me. I always turn the tank light on just before I feed the fish and they have been trained like Pavlov's dog to come running... ummm, swimming... when the light goes on because they know the food will be following.

Well, the tank light makes a pretty darn loud clicking sound when it turns on and what is hysterical is Isabel comes running too... from wherever she is in the house. I click the tank light on and immediately hear her paws hit the floor from wherever she is perched at the moment. Ha! Cracks me up. This morning I got some shots of Izzy and the fish, enjoying a light snack together.

In case you're wondering, she never goes after the fish. Even when they are nose to nose eating in the same spot. She looks at them but doesn't swat or try to grab them. I suppose they both know there's more than enough fish food for everyone. Hee hee.

These are from our last trip to the vet. Isabel is smarter than Dunkin in that she remembers the cat carriers and immediately runs and hides when they come out of storage because she knows they only mean one thing... a trip to the vet. So every day that contains cat carriers is automatically a bad day in Izzy's world. Dunkin, bless his heart, does not clue in until I have grabbed him and am trying to finagle him butt first into the carrier. Right about then is when the light bulb goes off over his head and he starts frantically trying to get away.

So here's Izzy desperately trying to find a good hiding spot in the vet's office. Can you find her in this picture?

Ok, not such a great hiding spot. Try again Izzy.

How about this one?

MUCH BETTER! Good job, Izzy. She actually found this spot when I had stepped out to go to the bathroom. I got quite a good laugh out of it.

Such a sweet girl.

Who me? I didn't drink your pink stuff. I don't know what you're talking about.

Ahem. It is now time to open the door and let me in. Kthxbai.

Tan kittehs are soooooo much cuter.

Sunbathing kitteh is not amused.

Zen kitteh is zen.

Lamp works for sunbathing on cloudy days.

Disclaimer: If you are easily offended by cat food, commercials, or individuals expressing completely unsubstantiated opinions, please turn off your browser now.

Ok.

Since my cat Isabel disappeared for a few days last week I have been trying to figure out why. I suppose I should explain that this was COMPLETELY out of character for her. If cats can be homebodies like some people are, Isabel is one. Since I brought her home at 4 months old, she has been like clockwork: plopping herself on my lap the MINUTE I sit down, coming in to snuggle and sleep every night, and showing up in the kitchen for breakfast every morning. Like clockwork. Completely reliable.

Then Thursday morning came and went, no Isabel for breakfast. Thursday evening came and went, no Isabel for snuggling or sleeping. It did look like she might have been around eating on Thursday judging from the amount of food in the bowl so I didn't worry.

Friday morning came and went, no Isabel for breakfast. Friday evening came and went, no Isabel for snuggling or sleeping. Friday's food bowl did not look like two cats had been eating from it. I begin to get worried.

Saturday morning, no Isabel for breakfast. Saturday evening, no Isabel for snuggling or sleeping. Now I am very worried and walk the streets in my neighborhood calling her and looking for her on the side of the road. I begin to make all kinds of plans for Sunday to go door to door with her photo, call the SPCA, etc...

Fortunately, she showed up about 1am on Saturday night to snuggle and sleep. Purring as if nothing had happened. I thought she might have seemed a little skinnier and more skittish, but that was probably me projecting my worries onto her.

So, the analytical part of my brain has been trying to figure out why. I've been at home on vacation this week working on my PhD apps and so have had more time that usual to observe her. She has been back like clockwork for her daily routines - whew - but I have noticed a few other things:
1) she is not parked 22 out of every 24 hours on the back of the couch in her sleeping spot;
2) she can run - who knew?;
3) she has been outside in the yard chasing things like she used to as a kitten.

What has changed? Nothing except her cat food. Can that be it? I have heard the commercials on tv claiming how much more energy cats have after eating a certain brand of food and my brain automatically responded with "yeah, yeah" because that's what they are SUPPOSED to say in commercials, right? But, I think I am starting to believe that this might just be what has happened to my sweet little Isabel.

All that running around, being outside, and chasing things hasn't been just one or two days, it's every day. The other afternoon when I went for my walk I found her halfway down the block in a woody lot stalking and chasing. This is a cat that pretty much never leaves my yard. Seriously. Neither does Dunkin - it's a great yard and the perfect place to live if you're a cat. So it was surprising to see her so far away.

I truly believe that she may just be experiencing some sort of resurgence since I switched her cat food. And I'm a believer.

So what about Dunkin, you might be wondering.Honestly, I haven't seen any difference in Dunkin, but he has always been an active cat - outside a lot, exploring, having adventures. My neighbors tell me they have found him in the bed of their pickup and outside their back window visiting with their indoor-only cat. Dunkin is also the one who defends the fortress, yowling and hissing whenever an unwelcome feline-type happens to wander into the yard. I know he has been in at least one physical spat because of the tufts of grey fur I found one day. Don't worry - Dunkin is black, and there were no pieces of skin attached so I don't think the other cat got hurt either. It looked more like the piles of cat fur some of you post after you comb your cats.

So, what is this wondrous stuff that seems to have worked miracles for Isabel? Nutro Dry food for Weight Loss, Roasted Chicken flavor. Gotta tell you, for now I'm a believer. We'll see how it plays out over time. I plan to take photos to see if she really does seem to be losing weight and, of course, vet visits will confirm it eventually. But for now... wow... just wow.

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Ground Rice, Wheat Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Wheat, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Egg Product, Lamb Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Monosodium Phosphate, Salt, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Inositol, Vitamin E Supplement, DL-Methionine, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Niacin, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Vitamin A Supplement, Sodium Selentite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.

Nutro supports the safe, ethical and humane treatment of all animals.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (minimum) 32.00% Crude Fat (minimum) 10.00% Crude Fiber (maximum) 6.00% Moisture (maximum) 10.00% Ash (maximum) 6.50% Linoleic Acid (minimum) 2.50% Zinc (minimum) 180 mg/kg Taurine (minimum) 0.16% Ascorbic Acid (minimum)** 26 mg/kg

**Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.

 

I am so relieved! I spent a good part of last night telling Dunkin how worried I was and that he should go find her and tell her to come home. Lo and behold, about 1am she came in and jumped on the bed and snuggled like she usually does.

I have no idea where she was but she seemed a little more skittish than usual. Could be my overactive imagination, but she also seemed a little skinnier. She looked fine other than that, so I'm wondering if maybe she got stuck in someone's garage by mistake. There are lots of vacation homes nearby and Isabel likes to find quiet places to sleep, so it's not inconceivable... And MUCH better than all the other alternatives I had dreamed up.

Thanks for your well wishes!

Dunkin's glad she's back too... they go off exploring together...