Albert somehow managed to jump onto the highest counter top in the house on Sunday and stick his face right into a candle. I was in the process of moving the candle to a higher shelf when it happened so it kind of seemed like really bad timing on both of our parts. He didn't cry out and I think was more concerned by the stink coming from the few whiskers that got singed. I wiped down his face with a wet rag and checked his eye and everything looked ok. He was back to chasing Elvis around the house as soon as I set him down. The next day the squinting started. We had another vet appointment that afternoon so I had the vet check him out. Thankfully the vet said all was well and he just had a minor boo-boo at the corner of his eye and that it would heal in no time. He then stuck two booster shots in his butt and sent us home. So, today, little Albert is squinting like a pirate and on top of that, has an upset tummy from the vaccinations. Today is not his day, poor little boy.Lesson Learned: NO CANDLES, what was I thinking
On top of that, I feel like the kits are just a little too young to travel all the way to Texas for Christmas. They are too big to both be in the carrier and unless I want to sedate them, which I don't, they are constantly crying and trying to gnaw their way out. So, if anyone is in the Seattle area and knows of a really safe boarding place or cat sitter who could come by a couple of times a day, I'm all ears.
P.S. Both kids are healthy says the vet and Elvis officially reached the 5 lb. mark and Albert is about half a pound away. Such big little guys.
22 comments:
Oh my. Such an adventure for both kitty and mama. I'm glad all is well.
If you're comfortable with your vet, many provide boarding on site. Or perhaps they could refer you to a sitter.
You're going to miss 'em something awful!
I am super tempted to just stay home but I miss my mom too. Maybe we will all just have to suck it up and fly the friendly skies together.
Oh, poor baby Albert...I'm sure extra kisses and hugs will make it all better soon...plus, he gets to be a Pirate for a day!
Cori, we use a cat sitter for our kitties when we're traveling and it works out great...there's a website called Pet Sitters International which allows you to search for sitters in your neighborhood, so it may be worth a try...I would highly recommend getting references and talking to them in person though...our first sitter had wonderful online reviews but our experience with her was absolutely terrible...with the next sitter, I talked to all her references and they all said she was great and we've been very happy with her.
great suggestion!
Check with the Itty Bitty Kitty ladies and see if they know anybody! How about Charlene??? Hee!
Kisses to ARRRRR Albert. When I was a little kid, I cut off my cat's whiskers with scissors. They grew back and he lived to be 18.
Another Great Suggestion!
Itty Bitty suggestion is probably the best. I plan on using one of the Petsmart stores close to Kansas City when I need to board the AnnieCat. A neighbor of mine works at one that has a "pets hotel". Rather pricey but the one she works at is quite large. they have separate areas for cats and are staffed 24/7 with a vet on call just in case. You can also arrange a time to call and "talk" to your "kids". Haven't used it yet, but I don't currently have anyone reliable to take care of her if she needs boarding.
Check stores for the very tall 18-30", very heavy bottomed clear glass hurricane/cylinder style vases. I bought some from Illumination Candle store when they had one here. The much shorter candle goes in the bottom. Very difficult to reach with inquisitive paws, very heavy to knock over. Draft proof. Illuminations also used to put water in the vases and float small round candles in them closer to the bottom than the center or top. I've also bought the vases at Pottery Barn and Target when I saw them on sale. Sometimes the power goes out.
Cori - I LOVE the ambience of candles, and Evangeline enjoys them too - but Lilliane? She'd have her face in there too, in no time. There are now FABULOUS very realistic candles which have nice flickering "flames" but are battery operated. You can get a pack of 6 little tealights (GE) for under $10 and they look wonderful, and they're perfectly safe! Could your family come visit YOU for the holidays? I hear you've got some great coffee in your neighborhood.
Hello there. I love your blog. It is great to read and your babies are adorable. I just wanted to quick write you to tell you that the first year I flew home for Christmas my two babies were 5 months old. My vet told me to sedate them because it was the easiest... he just gave me a pill that i had to only give a 1/4 each to about a half hour before I left for the airport and it really calmed them down. I got a carrier that was big enough to fit both of them (each one weighed about 5 pounds at this point) and they were squished but they liked the comfort of being so close to each other, and then they were put underneath the seat in front me so I could watch them. The sadation actually wore off about 6-8 hours later and they were back to themselves again. The only thing that was worrisome about it is that they seem super groggy and my boy kitty panted a lot because he still was nervous... but no meowing. It is a process to bring them with but if you are gone anymore than a couple days it's SOOO hard without them and they can't be boarded because they sit in a cage for the whole time and get really depressed. Flying half way across teh country with cats isn't something that most people love to do, but it's not as bad as most people thing... Beware of the allergic people though... The love to give evil eyes to you all through your flight! Ha.
Hey Cori - Lots of good advice here. But I want to clarify that boarding an animal doesn't necessarily mean they'll be confined to a cage the entire time. Ask whether they'll be let out to run around occasionally. I bet most places do that.
I know you'll make the right decision. Sounds like you're leaning toward taking them with you. : )
Mommy Joy, that's exactly what my vet told me. Your cats were practically the same age and weight as mine. The only thing that worried me or the vet was how temperamental Elvis's tummy was(in reaction to the sedative). He has had some flare ups and has a diet of very bland food(much to Albert's dismay since he has to eat it too). Thanks for sharing, it's good to know that there are some good travel stories out there with kittens the same age and weight as al and elvis. As for the allergic people, well I'll just offer them MY inhaler. ;)
P.S. thank you everyone for all of the suggestions, travel and otherwise.
Don't beat yourself up over the slightly singed Albert. I can send you an eye patch for him. I have a friend who adopted a cat without an eye and they call her Pirate Jennie. She is the sweetest. She would complement Albert perfectly if they wanted to storm the seas. :D
Too funny Karen. Can't wait to see your two little kittens in their new home.
Poor little guy!
I read this earlier when I was at work, and then my power went out this evening, so I had little choice but to light a few candles. I was very cautious and kept a close eye on my little Chloe so that she couldn't get into trouble, and I put the candles in places that would be hard for her to get to.
I'm sure everything will go just fine if you do decide to fly with them. If you take them in a soft sided carrier, be sure that they're not able to worm their way out of it. I have one for Chloe and she dislikes being kept in it the whole time she's in the car and she has managed to unvelcro and unzip the top and pop out without warning...
You know what? It's so funny because my little girl cat is the one I was worried about because she seems to be bad with medicine and is a puker... but she actually did better than my boy cat with the medicine and the trip. It must have been pretty easy on their stomachs and everything because I didn't even notice anything in there eating habits changed or even their sleep. The worst part about all of it was that my girl cat Momo would NOT eat the darn pill... so if you do give them the pills, give yourself about an extra half an hour before you need to leave for the airport to deal with it all... and have some treats and water in a little food dropper to offer them... god forbid you have delays... ughh...
Cori,
Hi - this has nothing to do with traveling - but when I got Alice she had a "sensative tummy" so her and Dude had to eat the easy to digest food and our vet suggested pumpkin! He had me mix it with a little baby food to get her to eat it - well that was not necessary - she loves the pumpkin! Now they eat regular cat food and I don't know if she still needs the pumpkin but it is her "Princess treat".
I think it has lots of fiber - so the Vet said it is good for people too in case any one needs to know that!
Dude's special treat is asparagus
Hi Cori,
I second the vase suggestion from dale-harriet!
I have some as well as candle lanterns and hurricane lamps. The idea is to cover the flame in such a way that it gets air but keeps away kitteh noses, whiskers and faces.
They've worked for my two inquistive kittehs, so it might work for your two boys.
Pier 1 Hurricane Lanterns- check. Great idea everyone. It's another excuse for some weekend shopping.
I now use an electric candle warmer (Wal-Mart $4.99). Set the candle in a candle jar or bowl on the warmer and it melts slowly giving off the scent nicely. No flame-no danger. You can reheat again and again. Just remember to turn it OFF.
--Andrea
Hi! I'm a regular IBKC reader and I can recommend a *great* cat-sitter, my friend Mila Webb, who watches my cat and foster kittens whenever I'm out of town. Her rates are reasonable and she's so good with felines that she's been nicknamed "the cat whisperer." You can reach her at: gothicmermaid@gmail.com
Thanks Kate, I'll send her an email today!
You might also check out http://www.citycatseattle.com/. It's a new boarding place for kitties only. :)
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