A Continuous Challenge

Vante is doing well on her new prescription diet.  However, I'm sad to report that she, apparently intentionally, urinated on the bed today after getting into an under-the-door disagreement with her two sisters. Luckily for us we had put puppy piddle pads on the bed and she happened to land squarely on that.  So thank-goodness for that easy clean-up.

To give Vante the benefit of the doubt we bought a bigger litterbox for her today.  So we can rule out a dirty or small litterbox bothering her.  I doubt that is the issue, but it's worth a try.

I'm sorry for the lack of posts but with the holidays I was quite busy.  As I continue to integrate Vante, Amelia & Callie Mae I'll keep you updated with the exciting events.

Vante's goes to the Vet

This morning Vante went to her first Vet appointment with me here in Las Vegas. Here are the details:

-Her bloodwork looked great.

-She needs to have her teeth cleaned and we'll schedule that in a few weeks.

-They gave her a vaccine she needed, so she's up to date on everything.

-She has crystals in her urine but no stones or infection.  This means that the pH in her urine is off, so they've put her on a special diet that should fix the problem.  It will take a few weeks to work and she'll have to eat this special food for the rest of her life. 

This explains why she would urinate where she slept - she had to go quite frequently apparently. 

While crystals in her urine isn't good news, it isn't bad either.  This means that she wasn't urinating on the bed to mark her territory, she was just having trouble holding it.  It's a medical issue, not a behavioral issue.  Now that is good news.  Soon we'll be a happily integrated household with three cats - I can't wait.

Harness Snafu

We had an exciting event two days ago.  I put Vante into her harness and we went to explore the back yard.  After maybe 5-10 minutes Vante said it was too cold so we came inside.  This is the 'exciting' part.  While I was helping Vante out of her harness she tried to get away and got her right leg through the neck hole. 

My father and I loosened the harness as much as possible but we had no luck getting her unstuck.  We fidgeted with that silly harness for maybe 5 minutes and we tried our best to get her leg back through the hole but it wasn't happening. 

During this Vante was less than amused.  She was quite vocal about her unhappiness and even tried to bite me once (her heart wasn't in it--she didn't even break skin).  So, finally I cut the harness off of her and Vante ran away, quite pleased that her ordeal was over. 

Since then we've been painting our house and she's found it absolutely fascinating.  All the furniture has been moved, the Christmas decorations have been put away and long-lost cat toys have been rediscovered under the fridge and chairs.  Here is a photo of Vante helping my father paint.  She's an excellent assistant and didn't get any paint on her tail, toes or whiskers (thank-goodness).

Vante's Christmas

Vante's first Christmas with us was a lot of fun.  Extra food and treats flowed like milk and honey to the birds, cats and humans in the house.  Vante spent most of the morning curled up in a sunny spot on her window ledge.  However Christmas evening she was out and about exploring the wrapping paper that was everywhere.  She found an excellent nook and relaxed for a while. 

As for Christmas presents, Vante got some cat milk, ribbons, a cat scratcher, treats and toys.  And of course  all of the wrapping paper and bows were just as exciting as her presents.  It was a very good Christmas.

Enjoying the Lights of the Season

Vante is enjoying the Christmas lights from her bedroom window.  She's also enjoying helping wrap presents (and I use the word help loosely).  She's met my sister and my parents and they're all having a ball.  She's keeping everybody's lap nice and warm this holiday season.  We all hope that your kitties, puppies, four-legged and even two-legged children are enjoying the holiday season.

As Vante said, Merry Christmas... I mean Merry Catmus!

Vante's Week Before Christmas

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a fake-fur mouse.

But what to my wondering eyes should appear but a little Vante spreading Vante-style cheer.  She dashed through the living room and ran to the tree.  Then what did she do but bat at the ornaments with glee.  But soon that no longer held wonder, so she circled the tree.

Then she chased the red laser dot no fheer.  She chased it ... over chair, over sofa, over Aunty and then into the hall.  Then finally she caught it between the TV and the wall.  That silly red dot was jeering her on and she took one last pounce and poof - it was gone! 

There were many more things to do before Santa came, so Vante she moved onto her next kitty game.

Aunty pulled out her favorite ribbon and watch-out!  Vante would soon be pouncing about.  She chased and she batted that ribbon with fury.  Then she took it and bit it to show it who's boss.  Then finally the ribbon gave up its fight.

Vante soon nestled snug in her bed and would soon have visions of catnip playthings dancing in her head.  There would be ribbon and paper and sparkly things galore.... but she took one last second before she drifted off to sleep: 

"Merry Catmus to all and to all a Good Night!"

Thanksgiving update

Ladies & Gentlemen,
I hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with lots of turkey, pumpkin pie, family, friends and furry four-legged friends. My husband and I spent Thanksgiving in San Diego exploring the Zoo, Wild Animal Park and Sea World, which were amazing. 

We took our two young cats with us since one of them was finishing a regimine of pills.  (Vante says hello. --> hbghbhbbhgvfdrdeddc)  Vante spent Thanksgiving w/the whole house to herself and with lots of love and care from our cat-sitter.  She enjoyed a feast of Turkey and Giblets on Thanksgiving (Friskies-style).

Christmas will be very different since we'll be staying home and family will be visiting us.  Vante is going to adore all the attention, laps and ribbon-chasing.  As you see she's already looking forward to Christmas and all the trouble and chaos she can cause. 

Can't you just see how excited she is - her enthusiasm is contagious.  It's rolling off of her like clouds (storm clouds).

This will be Vante's first Christmas celebration in 10 years away from Best Friends.  I'm going to do my best to make her love and enjoy every minute. 

We'll have to make sure to send lots of love and prayers for her 'friends' that she left behind at Colonel's Barracks and at Best Friends.  I'm sorry that I couldn't bring all of them home but I am truly grateful that I was able to bring Vante home with me.  While she has proven to be a challenge, I love her dearly.  She's curled up and taken residence on my lap and in my heart. 

I hope each and every one of you have your own four-legged friends that bring you such joy and happiness. 
Merry Christmas!
-Ashley & Vante