StrangeRanger

New Behavior

Well.  We've just seen some new behavior from Ivy.  It's been colder than normal here over the past week and Ivy has taken to sleeping on the air vent behind the couch in the sitting room.  We've put a fleecey blanket back there to make things even warmer and more comfy.  She comes out to eat, do cat-patrol, and to help make the bed:

 ...but she's been spending a lot of time on the vent.  I guess she's just getting too thin to keep herself comfortable.  7 pounds at last weigh-in.  She's still bright-eyed and interested in stuff, though. 

With Ivy spending most of her time in her new favorite spot, Maddie has had the luxury of spending time in the sun-puddle:

  At last!  The universe is set to rights!  The world is as it should be. 

Enjoy it while you can, Maddie.  We're pretty sure Ivy will be back to claim her place in the sun.

In the Sun, by the Fireside, and a New Toy

It's been a relatively peaceful week here.  LadyRanger and I are getting over variations of sinus infection, Ivy is holding steady between 7.5 and 8 pounds, and Maddie has been entranced by a new toy.  Since you *don't* want pics of the sinus infection, we'll give you the pics of the cats.  First off, Ivy continues to be cute in the ever-moving bedroom sunpuddle:

  zzzzzzzzzzz......

 Dude, you woke me up.  Uncool.

  Oh well, I'll just sleep over here...

With the event of much colder temps this past week, the humans has been keeping the fireplace stoked.  This has drawn the attention of the wee tuxedo cat, who stops by to stare into the flames, soak up the warmth, and think deep, inscrutable, feline thoughts:

  Maddie, meanwhile, has been having a series of good plays with an organic catnip stuffed fortune cookie.  She really enjoys it!

This goodie was given to Maddie by our good friends Isis, Wasabi and Mischa.  Go give 'em a visit and revel in the Siamese-kitteny goodness, with a healthy dose of Aby for spice!

Abreviated post

Due to a sinus infection running rampant at Chez-Ranger, there will be a much smaller post today.  Funny how something so microscopic can make such a mockery of my place in the food chain...

Ivy seems to be flirting with 8 lbs this week.  The last check-up confirms the thyroid is a *bit* high and the kidneys are holding their own, which was Dr G's plan.  Success!  Now to fatten the tuxie up a bit... Of course, if Ivy keeps improving, and Dr G thinks it's mostly safe to knock her out to clean the teeth and do another lion trim, Ivy will be back under 7 pounds due to loss of all that matted fur...<sigh>

Maddie has been doing well.  She's been enjoying the cardboard scratch-pad refills we got her, but like every 8-year old, she likes the box better!

  Thanks for checking in!  I'll try to do better next week.

The Consolations of Home

We've been home from the Winter Palace for about a week, and the cats have settled in.  Maddie was ecstatic about returning to her familiar haunts and Ivy has learned that there are some consolations to being home:

 Okay.  This does *not* suck.

She was right up at the edge of the bed, too.  I was momentarily afraid that she was going to tumble off.  Silly me.

  Silly you.  I'm a cat.  If I tumble, it's 'cause I *meant to*....

Don't worry, Ivy fans.  The wee tuxedo cat was just fine.  I'm sure some of you have noted the standy-uppy fur on her sides.  That is where it's *not* matted down.  Her matted fur/kitty dreads proceed to grow apace.  We took Ivy in for a check-up friday.  She's holding steady at 7 lbs 1 and 1/2 ounces.  We got some of the especially yummy gooshy food to see if we can get her back up to 8 pounds.  We'll get the results of the blood work back monday.

One interesting note:  at exactly the same time these pics were taken, Maddie was enjoying the last of the sunlight in the front room:

  More stripey sunlight.  Yay!  Once Ivy got up for a bowl-raid, though, the situation on the bed changed:

Okay.  This does *not* suck. 

Ivy showed up not long after and wondered how to cope.  We were prepared with spray bottles in case things got all swatty.  To our great surprise, Ivy hopped up on the cedar chest and napped on the blanket stack.  You can make her out in the inky shadows to the right of the frame:

  You can also make out the wall of towel that we draped over the foot-board to keep the peace.  It turns out well for the wee tuxie in the end, never fear.  After about 30 minutes I wandered into the kitchen to grab a soda and Maddie came jogging in, ready to be fed a handful of kibble (quite literally).  Ivy took the opportunity to once again bogart the sun-puddle:

  Gosh, but it's good to be me!

We'll let you know what happens with the blood-work, gooshy-food and sunpuddle!  It's bound to be another exciting week at Chez-Ranger!