Senior Nuggie

Nuggie is turning 12 this year.  He still acts the same to me but I know that I should be paying more attention to his special needs.

I never really noticed it before but his face suddenly looks older to me.  His eyes are a bit lighter too.  I wonder if he is having a hard time seeing things...  Too bad cats don't have contacts or eyeglasses.

I'm sure Nug will look super cute with a pair of retro eyewear from www.eyesave.com.  Haha, just kidding :)

I really hope that we will be able to provide him with the proper care that he needs in the years to come.  We love you so much, Nuggie :)

Vet visit photos

It was a challenge to bring BOTH cats at the vet :D  Usually they take turns but we decided that it would be more convenient (and also to save gas) to bring them both on the same day.

As usual, Nuggie was so noisy the whole time.  Kumo on the other hand was very behaved and was just waiting quietly in his carrier.

Noisy Nug and conehead Kumo in the corner.  I'm happy to say that both cats are doing well.

When I went to the cashier I spotted a very cute cat just chilling in the corner.

Her name is Petunia.  She's super cute and has the softest fur too!  I love her!

Hope they find good homes :(

Furry New Year

I spent about 15 minutes grooming Nugget with the brush glove this morning. I don't have problems with this activity because Nugget loves it! No struggling, meowing and scratching involved - just purring, rubbing, kneading and more purring :) Nugget is a heavy "shedder" so we try to minimize the amount of cat hair that he leaves behind by brushing him daily.

After about 5 minutes the glove looks like this! Look at all that orange fur!

When I was finished I had a huge clump of orange fur. I am thankful that I do not have asthma! Nugget then rewards me by rubbing his mouth (and saliva) all over my right foot. Haha!

Don't leave your pets behind

I come from a family of cat lovers. I remember hearing stories of how my grandmother packed her pet cat in a bayong (straw bag) when they were fleeing from the war. Coming to think of it I don't think I recall a time in my life when we didn't have a cat in our home. It's funny because even when I am away from home I am constantly on the look out for cats... Yes, I think I am a little cat obsessed, don't you think? haha!

Our pets play a very important role in our lives and we should always be thinking of their safety - not only during normal days but also in times of calamity. I really was very sad to hear so many reports of pets dying in the flood.

Anyway here are a few safety tips taken from PETA

Before a disaster:

• All animals should have collars with identification tags. Make sure you have a current photo of your companion animal for identification purposes.
• Hotels often lift "no pets" policies during emergencies, but keep a list of hotels that accept companion animals just in case. Include the Philippine Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) phone number, (02) 475-1688, in your list of emergency numbers. It might be able to provide information during a disaster.
• Keep packed a carrier, lease, extra animal food, and any other supplies that you will need so that you can grab them easily if you need to evacuate in a hurry.

In case pets are left behind:

• Do not tie animals outside, leave them caged, or keep them in a vehicle unattended. Leave them in a secure area inside your home.
• Leave out at least 10 days' supply of water. Fill every sink, bowl, pan, and plastic container with water and set them on the floor. Do not leave just one container because it may spill. If your toilet bowl is free of chemical disinfectants, leave the toilet seat up to provide animals with one more source of water, but do not let that be the only source.
• Leave out at least 10 days' supply of dry food. Canned food will go rancid quickly.
• If you can't get to your home, contact a reliable neighbor or friend to check on animals and get them out, if possible. Provide specific instructions for care.