Exciting Announcements and Therapy Cat Tales from 5/22/13

Tabby writes:

First, the exciting announcements!!!  *runs around chasing her tail*  The Pet Blogger Mall (PBM) is having a Sneak Peek Sale Day today!!!  It's a new online shopping venue featuring those of us who are pet bloggers and sell our creative products online.  We have a store there; look for Trace Elements Art to purchase my children's book, t-shirts featuring us, playing cards, and other great products.  Also check out the other stores for everything from blankies to greeting cards to paw-paintings from your other pet-blogging friends!  If you sell products, you can sign up for a store on the PBM as well.  All the details of the sale day and the PBM in general are on their most recent blog post.

We have had a very exciting week, which is why my blog post has been so delayed.  Sorry about that!  Mommy Erin and JJ moved into their new apartment a week and a half ago, so we had a fun time zooming around in the half-empty house, in and out of their rooms, and generally enjoying the increased space.  We moped that first night, missing them, though.  Heimdall thought they were in Mommy and Daddy's bedroom, but they weren't there.  Smokey thought they might be out in the garage, but they weren't there, either.  Mommy and Daddy said they were in their new home.  Where is that?  Can we visit them there sometime?

Then, last Sunday, Scamper and Smokey got put in carriers and taken to be with Mommy Erin and JJ.  I was very sad to see them go, but reluctantly let Scamper use my favorite carrier to travel in.  His new daddy, Mommy Erin's boyfriend, promised that he'd bring it back in good condition.  I touched noses with both Scamper and Smokey through the mesh of their carriers to say goodbye, then pouted on the bed.  It's very odd not having them here.  Dare is still here, being fostered until we find her a new forever home, because they could only take two kitties.  Mommy Erin is sad they couldn't take Dare along, too, but we promised we'd take good care of her and find her a wonderful home.

Ok, on to the Therapy Cat Tale!

Last Wednesday was very rainy!  Mommy made sure to bring my umbrella to cover my stroller where the mesh is, but I growled at the rain anyway when it came in under the umbrella a few times.  On the way to H., we listened to stories of cats who lived at a nursing home and a dog who visited there, courtesy of a former employee at said nursing home.  It was all very interesting!  However, I had to ride on the floor in my carrier because the bus driver wouldn't allow Mommy to set the carrier on the bus seat like she normally does.  I had to look at everyone's shoes rather than their faces.

After we got on the MAX, I got to ride on the seat out of my carrier.  I wanted to snuggle with Mommy because I don't like the sound of the MAX, so I stuck by her side the whole time.  She talked with three people who were quite impressed with me and my work while I rested.

We got to H. early, so we greeted a few people in the hallway then went into the ladies' restroom.  I love the brown couch there and sit on it while Mommy fixes her hair each time we come to H.  That's where a lot of my photo shoots are done, as well.  As we were going in there, we heard someone in the hallway say, "When she comes early, she takes Tabby in there and takes updated pictures of her on that brown leather sofa."  Yep, we do!  I shared some of them with you on my last edition of Therapy Cat Tales, the ones with the blue bandana.

S. went around with us for the first part of visiting, then she had to go home and R. went around with us.  Some of my regulars were sleeping, but I got to visit with quite a few of the ones who were awake plus some new friends.  M. wanted me to come up in her lap, so I did.  She had a cookie for me!  I used to get cookies from another lady, but she died.  I didn't know M. had the same cookies!  Fig Newtons are so yummy, and Mommy checked with the vet about me eating them.  I can have up to a quarter of one per visit.  I didn't get even that much, just a corner of one this time, but I ate it all up then looked around for more, licking my lips.  That got a laugh out of M.!  She promised me that next time she would give me another cookie.  Yum!

F. is a new friend.  He was excited to meet me, because he had cats when he was younger.  I got up on his lap, then wanted to get onto his bed.  He wouldn't let me!  I liked that he was petting me, but I really would've preferred being on his bed.  That's how I am with new people sometimes.  It usually takes me two or three visits to be comfortable on someone's lap.  But then, watch out, because I won't want to move!

Our last visit was with another M., who was trying to put a puzzle together.  She petted me while she worked on it, but R. and Mommy quickly realized that not all the pieces were there.  They put that one away, then sorted through the remaining puzzles to find one of the right level that seemed to have all the pieces.  All three of them worked on the new one, which had ducks and fish on it, while M. petted me with her free hand.  I was very content to lie in my stroller and listen to them talk while getting petted.

PhotoHunt: Upper

Smokey prefers the upper level on her chair, while Scamper and Starla both prefer the lower level.

If you would like to join the photo hunt, click here.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from all of us at the PDX pride!  We hope you are having a lovely Christmas and holiday season with your families.  We've got a (fake) tree in the living room, and we haven't even bothered any of the ornaments, except bumping them occasionally with our noses or looking at them.  Missy likes sleeping on the packages and found one in a bag that looks like her!  We have a Christmas village that lights up, which is on a side table.  Little Bit and Scamper each have jumped up on the table once, but got down when Mommy told them to.  So, do you think we got presents?  Yep!  Lots and lots of boxes, ribbon, and paper to play with!  We also got food treats!

Tabby had a great Christmas visit last Wednesday to H., where she dressed up in her red felt cape like a Victorian lady.  Everyone loved that, and loved that the stroller had Christmas lights wrapped around the handle.

Watson has been missing since Dec. 7th.  We hope he comes back!  Everyone in the neighborhood has been alerted, posters are up, and Craigslist ads are also up.  Mommy and Mommy Erin have been checking shelters and the humane society for him, but no luck yet.

Happy Thanksgiving and new housemates!

We are very thankful for food, family, a home, friends, and our purrents.  We have extended family living with us now, because Erin and JJ have moved in with us for a while, bringing their cats Smokey (who has already been here for a few weeks), Scamper (JJ's cat), Dare, and Watson.

Scamper writes:

Hi!  I'm Scamper!  You may remember seeing me on this blog before, because Karen and Scott took Mommy and my boy to get me.  I was also the kitty who had the photo shoot in Salem.  I'm all grown up now!

Watson writes:

Hello, I'm Watson.  I'm an inside-outside kitty.  Mommy saw me at a pet store and saw that I was slated to be put to sleep.  She couldn't stand the idea of that, so she adopted me.  Since she probably will not be able to have more than two cats at a new apartment when she gets a new apartment, I will be Scott's parents' kitty in a couple weeks.  I'll get to live on a farm!

Dare writes:

Hello?  I'm a shy, scaredy kitty just over a year old.  Mommy found me under a bush in the parking lot of her apartment building and got me out, bringing me inside to live with her.  I bonded with her ex-boyfriend, but then he abandoned me.  I've been at this new house for about three weeks, and am just now letting Mommy Karen and Daddy Scott pet me.  I'm even letting Mommy Karen pick me up!  I still love Mommy (Erin) more, though!  I may need to go to a new home, because I think only Scamper and Smokey are going with Mommy and JJ when they find a new home.  But that won't be for a while yet, because we all need to get settled here first.  Mommy needed to move for her job, which is why we all moved here.  I'm very thankful for everyone here and for this place to live.

World Cat Day: Adoption News!

Today in the news...another kitten got adopted and is in his new forever home!

Skylar sent his Mommy Erin a new kitten, a tuxedo boy formerly named Pete but now (at least temporarily) named Scamper!  Mommy, Daddy, Erin, and JJ went yesterday to pick him out!  Erin thought she was going to look at a little orangie boy, but the orangie was adopted already and the other orangie didn't want to come out to be held.  This little tuxie dude went right over to JJ and wanted attention, then was perfectly happy (even purring) while JJ picked him up, carted him around the room, and plopped him on various cat furniture pieces!  It's not every kitten who can put up with a 2 1/2-year-old boy!

Scamper was a good traveler,

but kept sticking his paws and nose out of his cardboard carrier on the way home

When he got home, Smokey came over to sniff the box and was interested in it, even when he meowed at her.  But when the box was opened and she saw who was inside, she hissed and ran off to the far corner of the room.  Scamper is now in the bathroom at Erin & JJ's, with a radio going.  He meowed all last night until she carried him into the living room to watch a movie with her.  Unless he's being held, he's meowing because he's lonely.  We're all sure he'll be fine in a few days once he realizes that he's somewhere new for real.  Then, the process of introductions to Smokey will begin!  Moke's already sniffing under the door, but not hissing or growling.  Erin's going to find the mesh carrier and use that for introductions.

The people at Salem Friends of Felines were so happy to hear that Freya and Heimdall are doing so well here!  Mommy & Daddy brought the digital camera loaded with pictures and video to show them, and they said to e-mail pics as well so they could share them with the other volunteers who cared for them while they were there.  :)  Once Scamper gets settled, Erin's going to e-mail them pics of him at his forever home, too!