Here at Chez-Ranger, from about 7:30-9:30 of a summer morning, we have a sunpuddle that slides across our livingroom floor. It's normally Maddie's puddle, but this morning she was napping hard on the bed. Ivy took advantage and plunged in. These are some of the first shots I've been able to take of her in decent light.
The last one's for Fiona, 'cause you can see the wee feet!
I'm glad Ivy's relaxing. She had a trying day thursday. She went to the vet for her annual check up and rabies booster vaccination and a geriatric cat blood work-up. Our vet, Dr G, was the vet who first saw Ivy the morning we rescued her from the ivy patch. Dr G told me yesterday that she was sure that morning that Ivy wouldn't live three days, and here she is! We've decided that next friday we're going to take Ivy back in and get her the 150,000 mile tune-up. This includes the Lion Cut, a tooth-cleaning, and the removal of the bump on her eyelid. LadyRanger and I aren't really happy about anaesthesia for a cat this age, but Dr G says that, unless the blood work shows something dire, Ivy's healthy enough to only be at normal risk, so we're getting a bunch of stuff done on this one knock-out shot. Keep Ivy in your thoughts next friday as she'll be having another rough day.
We think Ivy will be much more comfortable without all that fur. I swear to you that only 15% of Ivy's caloric intake goes toward maintaining basic life processes. 60% goes toward growing fur, and the final 25% goes towards matting that fur. And we comb as much of her as she will allow. Every Day! Inconceivable! If we could only find a way to apply this to humans. This cat could put the Hair Club for Men out of business single-pawed.
Our computer has been on the fritz and we haven't checked in lately. We didn't know (or didn't retain the info) that Ivy is an elderly cat. Glad she is doing well (and found you too).
Posted by: Scooby, Shaggy & Scout | June 23, 2007 at 05:54 PM
Is Ivy a Maine Coon? Our Amber suffers from too much fur too but I have to admit I about fainted when the groomer said Amber would have to be shaved. My daughter and I have been using scissors and a comb but poor Amber's cut is very uneven! :P
Posted by: Cassie | June 24, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Hi SSS, yeah, Ivy's an old girl. We don't know exactly how old Ivy is, but the vet estimated between 12 and 16 years old when we found her. We decided to split the diff and call her 14 then, so we figure she's 15 now. We do wish we knew more of her story...
Cassie, Ivy's probably not a Maine Coon. Maddie is a pure-bred MC and the differences between the girls are pretty evident. Ivy is nowhwere near Maddies size and doesn't have the tufty toes or the silky fur. Her ears, while modestly tufted, aren't as large or as mobile as Maddies. She's also not a vocal girl like Maddie. We think she's a good old American DLH. We surely don't love her any less for that.
Posted by: john | June 24, 2007 at 03:32 PM
Ivy is a trooper, for putting up with all that. Just very happy to hear she's doing so well.
And the wee paws! They made my day *chuckles*
Posted by: Fiona | June 25, 2007 at 03:30 AM