Incident Reports...

 

"What did you do now, Jim?"  Thanks for asking.  I didn't do nuthin' - you can't prove nuthin' - and I wasn't even there - I have an alibi. 

Sorry, old habits.  As you might know, we are about mid-way into kitty-sitting while Steph and Dan are enjoying some time off with Dan's family.  In a rented house, ocean front, in Alabama, right on the Gulf.

Their cats get fed twice a day, meds for two of the cats, on a schedule, plus Joan and spend time with them each evening (yes, we bring Murphy along with us).  Here, I am being adored by "the boys" (Alfie and Tango)...

 The kitties have adapted to this new routine, and come running when I come into their house.  For the record, Joan has been helping, too: when Tasha needs her meds, it takes two of us - one to hold her, the other to administer the pill.  Tasha is a big beautiful girl, and can be very strong willed.  Joan has also been doing litter box duty.  We work together to keep things as normal as possible for the "herd" (yes, at times it is like herding cats).

I send Steph updates twice a day, after each feeding.  I call it "proof of life" and include photos, always one with all three cats at their food bowls...

 That photo gets repeated a lot.  Joan said, "You could probably send the same photo over and over."

"Well, sometimes the cats are in different positions - Steph would know."

Last night, I did have to send Steph an "incident report":

08/03 Tasha bit my left hand while administering her pill.  Blood drawn.

08/03  Someone pooped in the corner by the front door.  DNA testing shows it was Alfie.  He denies that.

08/03  Alfie bit my right hand after I stopped petting him (duration estimated to be 30 minutes - for the petting, not the biting).  Blood drawn.

08/04 Someone yakked up a fur ball and brown barf… on Tasha’s towel and the kitchen counter.  DNA tests are inconclusive.  Additional costs incurred for handling barf… I was told there would be no barf.

08/04  Obviously influenced by Budzban cats’ bad behavior, Murphy scratched the hand that feeds him.  Blood drawn.  He said something about me “having another family - and who are these twins that the girl next door keeps talking about?”  Libel charges are being considered.

08/04  Breaking and entering.  An orange cat (suspected to be Tango Foxtrot Budzban) was seen sneaking into the Bathurst residence and stealing food… right out of Murphy’s bowl.  Witnessed by two adult humans and one traumatized feline who testified: “Yeah, I saw him.  That orange one right there (let the record show that he was pointing at Tango)."

This is clearly a pattern of bad behavior.  I will be recommending CMS (Cat Military School).

In spite of this crime spree, we will be spending time with the Budzban cats this evening, modeling what good behavior looks like.

You’re welcome.  Love you! 

I try to write some interesting for her with each "proof of life", but after doing this as needed over the past year and 9 months, it is hard to come up with something new each time.  For the record, we are glad to help - when Steph and Dan have to stay late at work, they know they can call and we will get the kitties "fed and med"... it takes some stress off them.  Before we moved here, they would hire a pet-sitter to come to their house twice a day when on vacation.  I hope this makes it easier for them to get away.

There will be another trip for them in a couple weeks: Rubina, the Guide Dog for the Blind that they raised has completed her final training and is being matched with her new human.  Steph and Dan want to be there at the Guide Dog campus for this "graduation ceremony."  Yes, this is a big deal to know their work will change a life.  We are proud of the work they do with this organization (and it is a lot of voluntary work).