Delighted with a gift, and the simple pleasures of life.

Exciting news here! I have a new toy, a big happy fish, and it is by far the very best Christmas gift I received. 

Mamma tried to catch me playing with it on video, but I am hip to her game, and as soon as I noticed she was recording me, I stopped playing. I am a wee-bit camera shy. Check meowt: Life With Cats

This fish is awfully fun, and pretty, too - thanks to Aunt Jules for sending it to me.

We had some snow here this week, and I liked watching it from the window. Grateful to not have to be out in it. Between the fun new toy, and being able to be inside in the winter, I know I am a blessed cat.

Does it snow where you live? Do you have winter? Winter here offers beautiful sunrises, and when it snows it looks magical outside. 

I enjoy being inside, lots of blankets to warm up in. If you like to warm up with a blanket, hot cup of tea or cocoa, whatever you like, be sure to treat yourself this week, and relish in the beauty of life. 

Purr & Paw, 

-Stivali. 🐾

A sunrise, a walk in the woods, take time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. - Sunta. 

This week in pictures. . .

We saw a family of deer from our window! So much fun to watch. 💓

Grigio visited us every single day. Some days, multiple times, and on a few days, he spent hours basking in the sun on our deck. 💘

Looking out windows help us decompress. That, and music. If your kitties seem stressed, and you want to provide them a relaxation room - be sure to put on some music to soothe their souls... here's an article that says it does help. We agree with the scientists. 😸

We had a wonderful week and we hope you all did, too.

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 🐾

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. – Albert Schweitzer.

Bust Stress Boost Happiness

Happy Sunday, Dear Readers!

We hope your week was wonderful. Mamma read us the following article and we had to share it with you: 4 Stress Busting Tips to Boost Your Happiness

We do all of these suggested tips and highly recommend them:

1. Practice Mindfulness

2. Make More Connections

3. Keep Your Body Moving

4. Eat a Healthy Diet

We have one to add to the list. Stop and take the time to smell the roses! 

What are you doing to boost your happiness and bust stress? Let us know your tips and we will add them to the list.

Have a super Sunday.

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali.🐾

Even in the darkest of times, people are hopeful, innovative and resilient. -Chris Libby.

A note from Stivali, Stray Cat's little sister.

I have been considering delving into this blog thing for a while now.

I am much too lazy to write, nor do I think I have much to say which people would want to read.

However, it did occur to me that I think I am quite adorable, and maybe just a mere photo of me once in a while would make Stray Cat's fans grateful to see a cat - even if they don't believe I am cuter than him. 

Dear Readers, trust me, I am quite cute. 
Here:

Evidence of why I haven't written sooner. I like to sleep.

Also, I wanted to share with you a fabulous cat sanctuary in New Jersey.  It is here, that my mother decided to sponsor a special needs cat named Pixie.  She chose this particular kitten for two reasons: 1) she looked like a female version of Stray Cat. 2) the horrific cause of how Pixie became a paraplegic. 

The kitten's backstory tug at my mamma's heart strings (a diabolical teenager shot a pellet gun at Pixie which lodged in her spine causing her to lose the use of her hind legs).

My mamma and Uncle PJ went to meet this sweet cat and of course, quickly fell in love with her.

To learn more about Pixie, click here: http://www.tabbysplace.org/updates/cat.php?i=2299

If you are interested in sponsoring or adopting a cat from the sanctuary, or learning more about the organization, click here: www.tabbysplace.org

I think that is all I've got in me for today. Thank you for reading.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

Test Results & Weight Update

On Monday, my ma dropped me off at the animal hospital on her way to work.
She left me there all day while she was at her office.
At the animal hospital, they completed an ultrasound, and I was examined by a cardiologist.
The cardiologist drained 200 milliliters (0.0528344 US liquid gallon) of fluid out of my chest cavity.

They received my blood work & thyroid test results from Saturday.  My body is handling the medicines I am on and I do not have any issue with my kidneys.  The doctor increased my dosage of the diuretic I am on. 

I will be reexamined in three weeks: x-rays, blood pressure test, blood work.

My medicines are now: Morning = .625 mg Pimobendin (CHF medicine to strengthen muscular contractions of the heart & dilate blood vessels)
                                                         2.50 mg Enacard (CHF & blood pressure medicine)
                                                         20    mg Lasix (diuretic)
                                       Mid-day = 10    mg Lasix
                                       Evening = 10     mg Lasix
                                                         .625  mg Pimobendin
                                                         1.25  mg Enacard

My weight history since diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure: 

DATE:       WEIGHT:

March 19, 2016            21.70

April 08, 2016              20.50

Aug 01, 2016               19.11

Aug 16, 2016               19.04

 Jan 24, 2017                19.04

  March 27, 2017            19.06

 May 14, 2017               18.50

 Aug 10, 2017               17.90

 Aug 23, 2017               17.80

 Sept 30, 2017              16.80

I feel okay, tired mostly, trying not to be sad. 
My sister was mean to me until Thursday - hating my scent upon returning from the animal hospital.

Your continued prayers and good thoughts are a blessing to me. Thank you for them.

Getting old isn't easy...

There is this door in our house.
If  I stand and stare at it long enough, my beautiful mamma opens it for me.

Inside is our laundry room, where mamma cleans all of our toys, blankets, and bed covers.  There are shelves behind the washer which hold all of her towels.

When I was younger, a year or two ago, once the door opened for me, I would jump up onto the washer and make my way to the back of one of the high shelves to sit and relax and meditate.

Now that I am aging, I cannot jump.
It makes me sad.

I wait at the door, as per usual, mamma comes and opens it for me. I stare longingly at the washer, turn my neck and I meow at my mamma.

She picks me up and places me on the washer so that I can nestle in and relax in my favorite spot.

Growing old isn't easy, but when you have a loving mamma to help you, it makes it a little less daunting.

❤

My little sister is in a movie!

So, my ma has a Google Photos account.

It is very cool, actually, her and her friends can share photos simply with it.

However, Google Photos made a slide show of her pictures, regardless if the photos were good or not, and set it to a classic song with a chorus of meows.  It is very cute, I am in it a little bit, but it is predominantly a movie about my little sister, Stivali.

Check it out here.

Normally, I would be very upset that it isn't a movie about me, but I do really love her so much, and I have faith that Google will create one for me, too.

My cute little sister, Stivali. 

Cat Voices

Didn't I just write about how I speak?

It is proven that us cats have many voices.

Mamma recently read me an article of great value which has some very cute videos in it for anyone to enjoy and hear the voices of cats.

Read the article here:
http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-behavior-sounds-cats-make-what-they-mean-talking

Enjoy!

Here I am squeezing into Stivali's bed again... I totally fit:

Chirp trill chirp trill

It is true, I am a Maine Coon. Maine Coon's tend to chirp rather than "meow", why is that? 

Did you ever consider or wonder why?

My sister and I rarely meow at one another, we clean each other but don't really speak to one another. Sometimes she will hiss at me, especially when I return from the doctor's office, she yells at me to tell me that I smell weird.

We both talk to our mamma, and she talks back.  It is quite fun.  My sister meow meow meows, and I chirp and trill.   If you have never met a Maine Coon, you may not know what we sound like - we chirp and trill - trill is like a meow with a purr and chirp is like a bird.  My sister makes the funniest noise when she sees a bird, sounds like "ca ca ca" - my chirp is more like a bird's tweet. So don't confuse the "ca ca ca" of a domestic cat to the chirp chirp chirp of a Maine Coon.  

Today, for Mother's Day, we will be sure to sing to our mamma - she likes hearing our adorable voices, and we like making her happy.

To all the mothers reading my post - Happy Mother's Day to you!  My sister and I hope you get all the singing you want - from cats or humans.  If you have a dog, be fair warned, they don't have as much vocal variety as us cats... so just another reason to add a cat to your family.

I am doing fine! And feeling great!

At the animal hospital with my doctor. 

Thank you, Readers, for all of your prayers! They worked. My tests came back that I am doing well on all my medicines! I am so happy.

My doctor is beautiful, smart, very friendly, and she takes great care of me.

I am so happy to report that I can continue taking my medicines and living my life - - - may I continue to live this wonderful life for a long time to come.

My room with a view...

Stray Cat View.

For two days it has been snowing where I live. I stare out the window and enjoy the view.

It seems to be windy and chilly, and I am not begging to go out there…

In a couple of weeks, it will be 10 years since I found Mamma.

10 years.  For about 8 months (or it coulda been a year, I am not sure about the timing), I was a street cat before she let me in to her warm farmhouse. I am very blessed.

My breed on average lives 12-15 years, I do not know if that is because of heart conditions (typical ailment of my kind) – as that seems very young to me.  We are meant to endure weather conditions, but it sounds like not for very long.  Sad to know it is imminent.  I think of Nonno Tony – my mamma’s father.  He is 74 years old, and still so active and energetic.   He too has a sickness, and it doesn’t let him down, it doesn’t stop him from working every day as a carpenter – he enjoys it.  He is my inspiration to take my medicines, to exercise daily a little, and to make sure my mamma is happy.

For example: I jump on her head in the early morning and wake her.  I lick her forehead if she doesn’t fully wake upon my jump.  She says “no” and “stop” but always follows both words with loving pets, so I continue to lick her and paw her hair until she says, “no” and “stop” again so that I can get a few minutes of those fabulous pets before she falls back to sleep.  If I feel restless, even if it is 4:30 or so in the morning, I pat her head again with my paw, and if that doesn’t stir her from her slumber, I will lick her forehead again, or move down to her cheek… it is a routine I repeat until I can get into my little nook to be held like a human baby and be pet until she gets out of bed to feed me…

I know this morning ritual makes her very happy.

I do not mind when it snows, it forces her to stay home, and that makes me very happy.

A little robin outside my window. 

What I think of Valentine's Day.

Sweet Puffball Pose 01

Most men enjoy boudoir photos from their companion on Valentine's Day... or any day, really.  Here are my best attempts.  It is not every day you see such seductive photos of a male cat. Am I wrong?

My newest and most beloved nic-name came today from one of my favorite humans, Cheryl: "Sweet Puffball".  

These photos are lovingly named the same.

Sweet Puffball Pose 02

My personal favorite - a pose no feline could resist! 

I really don't have much affection for the day of Valentine's.  My mamma and sister love on me all year long, we don't need a special day to be loving.

I will mention that the actual saint is Italian, like mamma.  He was a martyr who died on February 14. He is the patron saint of engaged couples, married couples, and love.

For those who celebrate today - celebrate love.  For those who feel lonely today - may I suggest rescuing a shelter animal to give your heart to?  They will give you love like no other in return.

Happy Valentine's Day, Readers.  May peace and love be with you today, and always.