Some of My Friends.

The sore spot in my spine has been giving me some discomfort lately so I haven't been doing any blogging.

I have decided to tell you a bit about some of my friends.

First of all my German Shepherd dog, Culann.

I love Culann. He has big pointy ears and a bushy tail just like me and he is about the same size as my mother was. Seems like it anyway, when I curl up with him. He is a bit hyper though - needs to calm down.This is one of my favourite photos of Culann taken a couple of years ago. He is a good looking boy isn't he. He would make a great model too, except that he nearly always gets a worried look on his face when a camera is pointed in his direction.

Another photo of Culann - more recent .

You can see he has some grey around his mouth now. It started when he was only 2ys old. He says it isn't grey, it is called "frosting". He also says premature frosting is a genetic trait which is often seen in GSDs who come from good working lines.

One of the things I like best about Culann is that he is so easily chased off a mat or a chair if I want that mat or chair. All I have to do is give him a good smooching (running my upper k9 tooth along his face) and he just gets up and leaves. Such a thoughtful and unselfish creature!

One of the things I don't like about him is that he has a collection of toys which he obsesses over. He doesn't like to share with anyone but me. I wish he wouldn't share with me. I can't say that I like having a wet, slobbery toy dropped on me without warning. Yuck!

Tomorrow, if I get a chance, I will tell you about my apprentice Fearghus.

Something happened today

Everything went crazy today. Lots of phone calls. Some sort of problem with the "Mum".

Everyone went off with her to The Hospital which I believe is like The Vet. They were gone all day. So Chaplin, Fearghus and I did what we do in these situations. We slept.

The dogs had to stay in the front sunroom. They get agitated in at times like this - they need to learn to relax and sleep.

Matthew came home for a little while and then went again. Then Maggie and Matthew came home but the "Mum" is still at The Hospital.

Maybe I can sneak into her room while she is gone. She doesn't like fur on her bed.

Maybe I won't it wouldn't be fair would it? Probably not.

Sebastian.

You just have to understand why....

.... I have to re-affirm my place in the household (even though I know that humans don't like it when you "mark" the furniture).

I am adopted. One day my people took me to The Vet (a different one, not the one I see now) and left me there. This had happened before. I wasn't worried - they always came back for me. This time they didn't.

I was at The Vet's for a very long time - well, it seemed like a very long time. I was very unhappy and very confused. I made a lot of noise and stole food from the cupboards (I'm a comfort eater).

I met Maggie and Matthew there and after a couple of weeks they took me to their home. They had 2 cats there. One of them ignored me but one, Aten, wanted to be friends. We had a great time together sometimes but he had a bit of a split personality and every now and then he would charge out from under a desk and attack me and then disappear before I could react (turns out I was wrong. It wasn't Aten - there were 3 cats. Aten had a sister and she didn't have a split personality. She was just CRAZY. Still is!).

After a while I settled in - although I did start to lick my tummy a bit too much.

Then we moved. Everyone moved. I got to go too.

Then we got dogs, one at a time until we had 4. I love dogs. I'm not too fond of cats really, take them or leave them, but I love dogs. I really, really love German Shepherds and we got one.

The Vet used to come up and see us every 6 months or so and give us our injections etc then we made friends with a new The Vet. Something about being closer in case of emergencies.

Then one day I was feeling very unwell. I got taken to see The Vet and I was left there. I was too sick to worry at first and I felt sleepy most of the time. I did get a little worried but Maggie and Matthew came to see me every day. I wanted to go home. I didn't want to lose another family. I was very, good and very sweet to everyone and I did get to go home.

Next time I had to stay with The Vet I got quite angry about it and refuse to let them do blood tests - they called it "acting independently". Maggie and Matthew said "We told you so!" to The Vet. I don't really know what that was about.

This time I was there for 3 1/2 days. I wasn't happy - I was really sick and wanted to go home (did I still have a home? The doubt is always there.) but I made friends with Blake The Vet and I'm back home now.

I am spraying. I admit it. The dog mats needed cleaning anyway. "That bottle plugged into the wall cost $100!" So? It is supposed to calm me. I am calm. Have I licked the fur off my tummy? No. What are a few small puddles among family anyway?

You just have to give me a little time and continue with the extra cuddles. Sorry if I don't sleep so well at night right now. I'm glad I am allowed to sleep on the bed when I want to. I know the German Shepherd doesn't want to be smooched ALL the time but I am just so glad to see him every day. I wish the dogs wouldn't get up and move when I enter a the room but I suppose I have been a little bit "needy".

You just have to understand - the doubt is always there.

Sebastian

Home Again..

I am back at home. The Vet was kind enough to drop me home late this morning.

I am feeling much better. I am supposed to take tablets but I don't know if I will yet. We will see tomorrow when I am supposed to start on them. I might take them. I might not.

The Vet knows that it is not possible to force me to do things like take tablets and submit to flea treatment. I am a big cat and I am very very strong.

I have refused to have flea drops put on me for a whole year now. Everyone has just given up. They don't even try. Although, strangely enough, I do tend to wake up the day after flea treatment smelling just like the cats who have allowed that horrid stuff to be put on them. Maybe they rub against me when I am sleeping.

It isn't much fun when you come home smelling of The Vet. Cats hiss at you. Dogs crowd around poking and prodding with their noses. I don't think my German Shepherd recognises me at all. He won't give me any cuddles.

It doesn't matter though. I got lots of cuddles from Maggie and some extra food - it is a special diet but it isn't too bad really. Fearghus got shut in the bedroom for hissing at me.

Now I just cant wait for Matthew to come home.

Still in Hospital

Sebastian is still in hospital. We are hoping he will be allowed to come home on Monday. His condition proved to be much worse than was thought at first.

The vet has said that it was very fortunate that we noticed that something was wrong so early. We, on the other hand, are very grateful to have a vet who will get out of bed at midnight to check on a cat who may or may not be in urgent need of attention.

Maggie

Todays picture is a SFA (small format art) watercolour and ink painting of Sebbie as an Ice Cat.

In Hospital Today

Hi,

Sebastian is in hospital today. We are hoping he will be home tomorrow. We are waiting on test results. He must be getting better though. He made it quite clear to the vet that he is not amused by the Elizabethan collar that he has to wear - not his style at all.

Maggie K

Oh Dear .... not The Vet

I haven't been quite myself all afternoon....well, long story short I have just come back from The Vet at 1:10am after getting him out of bed at midnight. I have just had a pain killing injection and am feeling a bit better.

I have explained to Maggie that I feel better and would like to have something to eat now but, apparently, I have to go back to The Vet in the morning and he doesn't want me to eat until I have seen him again. Something about blood tests and emptying bladders. He is a very nice man really but I would prefer it if we could meet socially over a nice bag of dog food and a bowl of water.

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow when I get home - then we can talk about How to Dominate a German Shepherd.

Look here for a preview
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18821498@N07/sets/72157603013079593/