<$cats, rats, pets, advice$>

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Dark Cloud

I feel like my little animal kingdom is living under a dark cloud that just won't go away. David called me at work just now to say that the baby hummingbirds are gone. Something, probably a crow or hawk, must have gotten them because I don't think a cat or other large mammal could have reached them, and they're way too young to get out of the nest on their own. Momma hummer is still coming to the nest, looking for her babies.

Momma hummer was building her nest about the time I realized that Elsinore would die soon. Knowing that new life would be coming to our patio gave me something to look forward to. I feel very sad now.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Catching Up

Lots of changes at Catz 'n' Ratz recently. My eldest kitty, Elsinore, died on May 16. Even though I knew this was coming, it was still pretty hard. I miss her a lot. Like some elderly people who have Alzheimer's, Elsinore's unique personality and traits that made her "Elsinore" had pretty much faded away. She no longer got talkative when I got on the phone, hadn't walked on a leash in several years, didn't "happy crap" anymore, etc. I think this made it a bit easier for me to let her go and accept her death. When Armand died in January, he still looked and acted like the Armand of old. Nothing had changed, which I think made his death (from cancer) a huge shock for me. I don't think I've fully come to terms with it yet.

The 2nd batch of hummingbird babies hatched last week and are growing quickly. David is already making plans for his second video. The first video has, so far, been viewed more than 25,000 times on YouTube, and several school teachers have e-mailed him, asking if they could have copies to show to their classes.

Sally Salome Ratty Rat has fully recovered from her Myco flare up. Thank goodness!

Simone McSkitterson was spayed last week, and you'd never know she'd had her belly opened up from the way she's flying around the house and tormenting Dougie (as usual!).