The Rudy Report

Hello there kitties! It's me - RUDY! with your Rudy Report! Life is good when it's Autumn and there is a lot of access to the deck. It's also good when pork chops get baked and I get a taste. It's heaven when 'nip is introduced to the mix and we get to fly our freak flags with the kitty crazies.
But you know what made my week? When the man in the bloo shorts brought this to the house...

In case you couldn't read it...

Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!

For whom does the bell toll for Parker??? It tolls for thee!

Thankful Thursday - Mommy Edition

Tuesday was a very stressful day for all of us. Mommy was in the hospital and Daddy was there with her the whole time. We were not allowed to go with them so we waited at home.

We watched out the window.
We watched by the table

We waited by the stairs.

We worried by the door.

Some of us waited by keeping the chair warm.

But late Tuesday night, they came home! Mommy was very tired and a little ouchy, but she is doing OK and the doctor thinks they got out what they needed to get out - all of it! They will not be sure for another 7-10 days, but the doctor sounded very positive and hopeful. Mommy feels so much better that she is going back to work today. Mommy and I want to say thank-you for all of the positive purrs and prayers. We know that they helped! I have been very busy being chief snuggle kitty - I really didn't leave Mommy's side for the whole time she was recovering. I think that today I am going to take some "me" time and play with my 'nip nanner. Maybe tonight I'll get some treats and play time with Mommy!

Formerly Feral Friday - The New O Hi O V.E.T.!

Feral cats don't go to the V.E.T., Formerly feral cats do...

Oh dear, oh my. Kitties, kitties, kitties...do you see what I am on top of? They are files. Of our V.E.T. records. They are on the table because AAAIIIEEE! ALL OF US ARE GOING TO THE NEW O Hi O V.E.T. TODAY!
According to the woman formerly known as Mommy we are all due for our wellness checks. The plan is that we will all get stuffed into our P.T.U.'s this afternoon and, and, and...I just can't think about this anymore! Blood and poop stealing, tooth inspecting and shot getting. There is nothing pretty about this.
Send us good thoughts - I really don't mind the V.E.T., but the rest of my siblings are not as Zen about it as I am. I fear I am in for a very bad day...

How To Dry Catnip

My Plant got a little "haircut" yesterday!

Yesterday Mommy took some of my catnip plant to dry out. That way, we will have fun, fun, fun throughout the cold months! Do you want to know how she did it? Here are the instructuions -(Thanks to wikihow)
Wait until the plant is at least five inches tall. Then, taking scissors, gently cut the plant at the base so you have long stalks of catnip. Be aware that you will want to cut more than you think you need, because the plant is going to dry up and it will turn out to be less than it was originally. Once you have all the stalks you need, secure the catnip together with either yarn or heavy thread.
Find a dark area (the linen closet is always the best, but any closet will do). Keep in mind that the plant must be hanging upside down and the door must be closed most of the time for the herbs to dry properly. (And remember to make sure it is secure from prying little kitty paws!)
Stick a tack to the inside of the door, and tie your catnip around it. Keep it closed and let the drying begin!
Within four to eight weeks (or more depending on how dry your house is, how little sunlight you expose the herbs to etc.) you will have completely dry catnip! Enjoy the smell and watch your cats go wild for the favorite treat!
Mommy is going to put the dried catnip in baggies and keep it in the freezer.
She's such a child of the 70's...

The Abbreviated Story of Our Move To O Hi O

We have lived in O Hi O for 5 weeks now. Time really skates along and before you know it you are listening to your Mommy complain about how awful her photo looks on her new O Hi O driver's license and how she can't find a decent cut of meat (we were from Kansas City after all)! Aside from the meat issue and having to ship our Tidy Cat crystals from PetSmart, O Hi O is quite nice. We are unpacked and enjoying the new home, finding new nappy spots, watching the outdoors from our new windows and just generally being happy. Rudy isn't as rude and he hasn't put the bitey on me since we have been here. I miss some of my friends from KC - there were some woofies I liked to watch walk by and I had some squirrel buddies that would hang out in the back yard that I could chitter to from my beloved back porch. I also miss getting little bites of KC BBQ. Other than that, home is here. I have new squirrel friends (they are black here - so good looking!), new birds to look at from the feeder and lots of other interesting stuff. And of course there is the upstairs deck where I can be OUTSIDE and the 19 stairs that are perfect for Thundering Herds of Elephants at dark early o'clock! In the winter I will have 2 fireplaces to choose from for warm naps and the big kitchen that has my special anti-getting-stepped-on snoopervising spot. Yup, it's all good.
So, here is the story of the last week of July, or as Mommy calls it the week from H E double hockey sticks!

Here I am guarding the stereo before the packers packed it.

Payton's Memorial and empty pots waiting to be packed

Rudy amidst the choas
Mommy and Daddy have one last evening at the Brooksider -see that awful O Hi O state flag hanging up there? It really bugged Mommy.

The moving van arrived. (Don't tell Mommy I told you this, but she broke down and sobbed when it pulled up. She said that's when it really hit her.)

It was a huge truck and by now we kitties were locked in a spare bedroom with no furniture - just our food and water and litter box. We were a little freaked out!

All loaded and ready to take ALL OUR STUFF! Even my toys!

Bye-Bye! Please take care of my toys! (Mommy sobbed again)
This doesn't look good, not at all...

On our way, Diamond is having a blast. Us, not so much, we are behind him all passed out in our PTU'S. (Thank goodness for drugs!) It was the hottest day of the year and even with the AC on full blast, Mommy and Daddy were constanly checking on us to make sure we were OK. They had to keep moving our PTU's because of the location of the sun. It took 11 1/2 hours and about 5 years off of Mommy and Daddy's life!
"Hey Pop, can we stop at McDonald's for a burger?"

Better Living Through Chemicals

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
We made it. We are tired. We are VERY GLAD we took drugs. 11 hours is a long time for a kitty to be in a kennel in a vehicle. We have already eaten, drank and, uh, you know....used the box!
More later.ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Updating From The Roasterie - Our V.E.T. Visit

Mommy here - No "innernet" is awful. We have a weak signal at our home, but it takes a "squillion" years to go from page to page, we read your blogs, but no commenting. I took Parker and her sibs to the V.E.T. Friday for their last wellness checks and to be evaluated for medications to travel. Since the drive is so long the decision was made to use medication. We are using a combination of a sedative and a pain killer. It's given via liquid through a syringe toward the cheek so it is absorbed by swallowing and through the tissue in the mouth. The sedative lasts about 6 hours and then the pain killer provides a calming effect for an additional 4-6 hours. By then we should be at our destination.
Parker asked that I show them being tortured Friday. Who am I to refuse?

Here's the best kitty vet clinic in the world.

Waiting for the doctor.

Not happy, not happy at all.

Rudy wants everyone to know he does not at all mind being in a PINK P.T.U.

Puff is not amused. Not even a little bit.

She's even less amused getting her Fpl/Uri Intranasal Vaccine

Parker is getting skritchies here, she's really having fun, not the least bit upset - she bounced out of the P.T.U. and started to flirt with everyone!

All four kids are healthy and fine. AND they have all dropped a little weight, the diet is working! They are a little un-nerved at all of the activity in the house. We will be fine - and Henry Helton, we're gonna be neighbors! Exit 83 off of I-75 is VERY close to where we will be living in O Hi O!

I don't think any of the kitties will be waving at you though, I think they will be taking some serious cat naps!

Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We'll see you later, now back to our chaos that is currently in progress.