kitty companiona

kitty companiona

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Fall Already?

Waaah!
Where did the summer go?
I must say I loved this summer with only one week when the temperatures were in the 90's.  Mostly it has been pleasantly warm and sunny with a nice breeze blowing.  There were a few much-needed rainy days.  I can't remember a more enjoyable summer since I don't know when.

We've been busy painting in the addition.  WOW!  Brad and Kami have been life savers.  They are so good with the brushes and rollers that the basic wall and ceiling painting only took two day.

Brad is the king of the roller derby.


 Kami did all the trim work around the ceiling.


 Zip is revving up the reciprocating saw.
There are no pictures of me because I'm sitting on the sidelines supervising the action.
Well, not really.  I did do a little bit of the rollering but I just don't have the strength that I used to.


The job is finished!
 

 The colors look brighter than the picture.
 
This week the crew came and put the trim around the windows and doors, put locks on the French doors and installed the chimney for the wood stove in case we decide to install one.  No pictures of that yet.

Next either the flooring or the electric will be installed.  Then all that's left is the plumbing.

When we took a lunch break during the painting, we discovered this guy taking a stroll through the yard.  First turtle I've seen in our yard in several years.


This past weekend I noticed that little Miss Penny was in the catbox a lot more than normal.  I keep little styrofoam bowls handy in the bathroom so that I can take kitty urine samples when necessary.  Sure enough, she was peeing pink.  We called the vet and they were able to see her right away.  She has a recurring bladder problem when she gets stressed.  She didn't seem upset by the roadwork by our house and the work crews in the addition, but it must have affected her more than we realized.


When we got there the vet tech came out with a towel and put it over the cat carrier.  They are using 'comfort towels' to lower the stress levels of cats who come in for an exam.

It was pretty amazing!  She isn't a spazz or anything, but she does like to wander around the exam room and climb up on the shelving and hide.  This time we got her out of the carrier and put her on the towel and she lay there and purred.  She was relaxed and very cooperative all through the exam.  I was relaxed and happy too, even when I saw the bill!   It isn't supposed to work on humans, but I wonder...

The stuff they spray on the towel is called Feliway.  It mimics the pheromone that cats use to mark their favorite things.  You  who have cats know how they rub the side of their faces against things.  When they do that, they are leaving this certain scent that tells them that this is a good place or thing.


The brochure claims that Feliway will help reduce inappropriate scratching and spraying and helps reduce stress.  I don't know about the first two, but is sure did calm Penny while at the vets.

I bought a bottle for myself and Kami.  She used it on Ernie recently when an inspector came to their house to make an assessment in preparation for selling their place.  Ernie who usually races off to a hiding place as soon as someone comes to the door, remained laying on his 'comfort towel' right there in the living room.


We may have to buy this stuff by the gallon when they move here.

One last kitty thing.  A friend emailed this to me yesterday.
Was she trying to tell me something???



Thanks for stopping by!

11 comments:

  1. It's looking good Pat. It won't be long now. I have lots of painting to do in my house. Do you think Brad and Kami would be interested? Lol I need one of those towels for dogs. Millie is a nightmare in the car.

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  2. So happy that Miss Penny got in to see the vet and it was a pleasant visit. I'm with Kim...I need something like that for Ellie. She is the car almost daily and after 1 3/4 years she still whines the whole time unless I am petting her.
    The addition is lookin' good!
    Hugs :)
    Lauren

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  3. Our vet told me that they are developing a product for dogs also. It just isn't available yet.

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  4. So you spray the Feliway on a towel or something? My son moved home with his cat and his cat and mine have been fighting. I'm wondering if it might work for them....

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    Replies
    1. Yes, you spray it on a towel.
      They also have a diffuser that plugs into an outlet like air freshener.
      Check their website and some of the reviews from other sites.
      From what I have been reading some people really like it and others say it does nothing.

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  5. this was a great post!
    the rooms look fabulous!
    hope all is well now for Ms. P.!

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  6. It's all coming together nicely and it's great that the kids are doing all the painting for you. It won't be long now before you move in your new home.

    It's amazing the the Filiway works so good to de-stress the cats.

    I'm glad your summer is easier on you this time. Having the kids around will be great for you.
    Thanks for the update.
    Hugs,
    JB

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  7. Hi Pat
    We could do with Brad and Cami here, we recently painted the loo and it knocked us out, so a large room is out of the question, as you say the energy is just not there.
    I might have to get some of that Feliway when the builders move in next door, I know its going to upset out lot.
    you asked what Tom was making recently. Well, he's got fed up with crocheting Hexagons and is now making a crochet bird. He wanted to make a fox but I told him he needed to learn shaping first. Can a girl do nothing without her spouse wanting to copy. lol
    Hugs
    Briony
    x

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  8. You wait until you move into the addition, the cats will do their 'Nodding donkey' expression when they inspect every bit of the place!
    Soon be home again, didn't take long did it?

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  9. Pat, I caught a little mouse. The cats are all busy at the farm catching mice there. I guess the little mouse couldn't read.
    Hope that you're in your new home soon. Hugs,
    JB

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  10. I took my kitty to a new vet now that I have moved. She wound up with a urine problem too. He did something very different. He gave her a shot and I couldnt believe it but that was the end of her problem. Absolutely took it away in 1 day. Couldnt believe it. I have had many cats in my day and peeing problems are common but have never seen anything disappear like this.

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