Vante-1 Mouse-0

I woke up this morning to find a dead mouse in Vante's water.  She may be 15 years old but she's still a frisky little kitty. 

Boxing

This morning Vante decided to climb into this box, rearrange the newspapers and look a little menacing... like she was going to jump out and 'attack' my husband.  Alas, there was no attacking (I could have used a good laugh).  She enjoyed herself though.

Miss V is up to her usual tricks, napping, eating and telling the other cats that she's in charge.  For the most part they listen but little 2-year-old Tucker just has to be close to her and follow her.  Nobody has been hurt though, so don't worry about either of them.  They're both tough cookies.  There is lots of growling and if looks could kill... but there has not been a physical fight between the two of them.  (All talk.)

I adore Vante.  On a different note, sorry it's been so long since I posted.  I'm working for a month at Nellis and just had two finals and a clinical exam.  I finished my 4th and 5th class to be a Vet Tech and so far so good--straight As and I'm enjoying it. 

VANTE DAY!

Today, July 17th, is Vante Day!

Vante Day is the day when Vante left Best Friends and came home to live with me.  So Vante has been with me and my family for a year now and man... does time fly!

To celebrate Vante Day we have already played and chased lasers several times she's gotten lots of scratches and pets.  We took a nap together.  Currently she is napping but we have a full afternoon and evening planned for her to roam the house, nap wherever she wants and lock up the other cats.  This is her day and the house is hers. 

Vante adores cantip, especially those catnip bananas and cigars.  They say on the label that it's the most potent catnip in the world, well I believe it because all our cats just adore their products. 

Happy Independence Day!

Vante and I hope you and your pet families had a great (and safe) 4th of July celebration!

 

"I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means. This is our day of deliverance."

-Andrew Jackson    

 

 

Vante & Ginger - out and about

Here Vante was playing with some ribbon and I stepped back to take a photo to show that Ginger is only a few feet away napping.  Today was the first day that Vante played outside her room since Ginger arrived.

Vante loves the cat furniture from Angelical Cat Company and so do I.  It's pricey, but I've been told it'll last for 20+ years, it's incredibly sturdy and I have no doubt that it will not fall over.  So it's worth every penny. 

I'm a day late providing photos of Getting and Vante; I apologize.

Vante is doing great!

Quick recap: my sister-in-law moved in two weeks ago with her 14-year-old female dog (Ginger) and her 2-year-old male cat (Tucker).

Vante is doing great!  At first she was afraid of Ginger, and refused to come out of her room if she was in sight.  She growled if Ginger got 'too close' and I have to say it was pretty amusing to watch.  Ginger is deaf and Vante just doesn't understand why the dog isn't scared of her; and poor Ginger is absolutely clue-less about Vante's verbal threats.  But apparently Vante is all talk and gives Ginger a wide girth.  However, over time, with a lot of coaxing, love, and patience Vante has gotten used to the dog.  She isn't going to be best friends with her, and is still nervous around her, but she's gotten significantly better. There's still a touch of growling, but we're not worried about them fighting.

Now, we've also been introducing the new cat's smell to Vante.  When I brush Vante I try to bring a towel, or hair clump that smells like Tucker.  Brushing=good thing therefore Tucker=good thing ... that's the connection we're hoping to make.  They've been interacting underneath the door a lot.  Tucker is fascinated with closed doors and I've seen him put his paw under the door more than once.  He's a brave young'un.   

Look for more photos on Monday!

Like a tortise...

Slow and steady wins the race.  That's our motto right now. 
--When we brush Vante we bring some cat hair/smells with us to help her associate her favorite thing (brushing) with the other cats.
--When we let her out of her room, we don't let her run out to search the house for the other cats.  We pick her up, walk around the house and put her down after a minute or two.
--Clicker training will start soon.


My husband held down the fort for two weeks while I went back east to visit family.  He and the girls had fun, although he was probably having more fun in this photo...that's his cell phone on Vante's side and it literally had just started vibrating.

Our new cat tree arrived and Vante has taken up residence on the top.

Ginger (15-year-old dog) and Tucker (2-year-old cat) will be joining our household this evening.  So I'm sure the posts are about to get more exciting!