Flying Cat Hug!

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If people can jump into the arms of the ones they love, kitties can, too!

I'm pretty sure that I could teach Moo to do this. Sometimes I think he might already. He loves to get on the bathroom counter and kind of lean way forward while I'm getting ready. I usually get nervous he's going to jump on me and scratch, so I get closer. But maybe we'll try the flying cat hug trick next time!

Cat Figures Out Water Cooler

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Zack the cat is a genius! He knows exactly how to use the water cooler to get fresh, cool, delicious water whenever he wants it.

All he has to do his use his paw to press down on the little lever... and tada! Instant kitty water fountain!

Ticklish Camel

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Look out, mister camel... the tickle monster is coming!

Who knew camels laughed so cute and funny? I'd tickle him all the time if he was mine.


P.S. The video says the camels are tied up for transport, not tied down in a mean way. It's to keep them safe. Happy camels!

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Mama Hippo and Baby Hippo Swimming Together

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Mama Hippo and her baby swimming around with each other at the Valencia Zoo in Spain. For such big creatures, doesn't it look like they are light as feathers in the water? It's like they glide around.

I could watch this over and over again. So very peaceful.


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Two Cats Tuesday: Who Doesn't Love Kitty Toe Pads?

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Happy Two Cats Tuesday, Cuteheads! Today Pimp and Moo want to show you the bottoms of their feet. They know I love their little paw pads, and they think you will, too!




On a serious note, I really want to thank all of you for your nice comments and generosity yesterday when I had to help Bully to the Bridge. I was completely overwhelmed by all the caring, and it makes me love all of you, and this blog, even more. Without the Cute, I would never have had the chance to "meet" most of you.

I am going to total up Bully's expenses and email everyone today or tomorrow. Yesterday was a rough day, and I didn't want to think about too much. Thank you again. Reading through all the comments was so heartwarming and helpful. I really appreciate all of you. --Dorian

When Is a Cat Just a Cat?

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If you're like me, the answer is never.

Most of you know I feed the parking lot kitties at my office. They get vet care, too, if they need it. But up until now, it's never been anything major.

We've pulled teeth, given them Revolution, antibiotics for bites... Little easy-to-handle things. But this week, for the first time, I had to make a real life-or-death, expensive decision, and it really made me think.

I have always said that cost is not a factor when it comes to my kitties. If Pimp or Moo ever needed ANYTHING, I'd sell my car, max out credit cards, whatever it took. They are that precious and important to me.

But a cat in a parking lot? Where do you draw the line?

Last week, we noticed Bully, my favorite cat in the parking lot, wasn't eating. Actually he was slowly eating less and less, and we were getting concerned. So we decided to take him to the vet.

On Thursday, the day we were going to take him, he was nowhere to be found. Not normal. He is a fixture, and always there. We looked, we searched and finally found him late in the day, looking sad and miserable in a bush. He looked like a person looks when they have the worst flu ever. Just miserable.

So off to the vet he went. He had a fever... and something in his stomach. The vet could feel it and it seemed big, but needed an x-ray to see what it was.

Hi. I'm Bully and I'm anything but a Bully.

Turns out Bully had eaten something with a claw. (We think it was an iguana foot.) It was inches long, stuck high up in him, clogging him up and causing his intestines to become very inflamed. He got antibiotics and doctor's orders to watch him and see if he starting eating in the next few days. Sometimes it can take a couple weeks for cats to pass things like this, he said.

And Bully had to pass this... or else it would mean surgery that could cost thousands of dollars.

He went to our friend's house (who also has Stubbie still). He didn't eat Friday. He didn't eat Saturday. He wasn't going to do this on his own. Sunday morning his other parking lot mom, Kelly, talked to the vet.

We had to make a decision: Either put him to sleep or pay for expensive surgery.

Now, if this were Pimp or Moo, it would not even be a question. But for a cat from a parking lot... who is going back to the parking lot after the surgery? The decision wasn't so clear.

But I couldn't just let a cat die because he ate something. A great cat. A friendly, loving, perfect cat who I am pretty sure is Daddy Meow's brother. (They both have big heads and similar dispositions. I have always thought that.)

If we can save him, should we try? He doesn't have to die. After the surgery, he should bounce right back -- the vet said it's usually very successful and cats go right back to normal. The surgery would cost between $1,500 and $2,000, depending on what he sees when he actually goes in there to get the claw thing out.

In the end, we decided that we don't have thousands of dollars, but we do have huge hearts and we owe it to Bully to do what we can to help him. He's having surgery today.

I know some people will think it's crazy, but it's the only decision I could live with. And I know most of you aren't the people who would think I'm crazy. You guys get it.

I don't usually like to ask for money, and I struggled with even putting this up, but if anyone would like to chip in to help out with the costs of Bully's surgery, I've set up a Chipin where you can contribute. I know times are tough for many, so please only give if you can spare it.

We made this decision, and we'll find a way to pay for it.

And Bully is going to make it. And every single time I look at him, I'm going to know we made the right decision, because he'll still be around giving me that look and rubbing my legs and being the first one in line for the pile of food.

Here's a video of him I took Sunday when I visited. I told him we were going to fix him all up.


Please think of him today. I don't know what time the surgery will be, but I'll update as soon as I know when it is and how it goes.

P.S. I'm posting this on both of my blogs today, because it's the only important thing to me right now. If you've already read it over there, thanks for visiting both. I'll tell Bully you said hi. :)

Update 9:30 a.m.: Bully is at the vet. He's going to get blood work done and another x-ray to see exactly where the claw thing is now. As long as the blood work checks out, he'll have surgery early afternoon. The vet did warn us that he is an anesthesia risk (Bully is probably 10-ish years old), but that's normal for older cats. Once he goes in, he'll call us if he sees anything that he thinks he can't fix (it is a claw, and sharp, so hopefully it hasn't injured him inside). Everything crossed that surgery goes well for our little man! I'll update as soon as I hear anything else. Also, you all are amazing. I am so touched. I don't even know what to say. Thank you. :)

Update 10:10 a.m.: Well, the vet called. He did another x-ray and saw something that was obstructed by the claw and bones before. Turns out the claw thing has moved down a little, but the vet is seeing something else there and he thinks it might be an abdominal tumor. Please no cancer! :( He is going to try and get some of the cells and check it out so he can know for sure. High white blood count is high, which is not a good sign. I'll keep you posted. This isn't good. :(

Update 10:41 a.m.: The doctor says the tumor is inoperable and he thinks that it is that, not the claw thing, that is causing him to not eat and feel bad. The claw is actually moving along in him. His white blood cell count is really high and his red really low. I'm so sad. I'm heading over to be with him now and we're going to help him to the Bridge so he can go peacefully. :(

I'm going to close the Chipin. He does have expenses from his two trips to the vet and all this testing. I'll see what that is and get back to you all. Thank you.

Update 11:50 a.m: Bully passed peacefully to the Bridge surrounded by love from his three parking lot mommies petting him, talking to him and kissing him. He loved us, and we truly loved him, too. We asked to have a private cremation and we're going to spread his ashes back home, here in the parking lot. We lost a very special cat today.

Baby Goat and Cat Playing

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Since the baby goat dancing a couple days was such a hit, here is more baby goat. This one (in my opinion) is ever cuter... because he's playing with a cat!

Pepperjack the baby goat and Macy the cat are just horsing around on the stairs a little. It's like a cross between a game of chase and a boxing match, with a little hopping and headbutting thrown in, of course. Goats.

Now I want a baby goat even more.


Thanks to Cute's fabulous friend, Vicki of Bunny's Blog, for sharing this cute baby goat video!