Best sung to the tune of "It's Howdy Doody Time!" IYKYK and your back probably hurts.
These two fluffernutters are doing SO WELL and I am SO lucky to have them - today is 4 weeks since we brought them home. (I kinda love that we broke them out of the shelter on Bastille Day.)
Morning Cat TV Time
Synchronized Sleeping - Gold Medal!
Sean had some separation anxiety while I was in Baltimore for the weekend - he didn't want to leave the living room (I think to keep an eye on the door where I left) - there were a few accidents by the door. But, we talked to the vet and he has a calming supplement that I just mix in a licky stick for him, and we've deployed another litter box near the carport door and no accidents since then. (They both also love having a bathroom on the main floor. Who wouldn't?)
We're working on his dermatitis with some prednolisone to try and break the cycle of "itch, overgroom, itch" - I had to give in and admit that I do not have the ability to pill a cat anymore*, and we got the transdermal option. It feels like cheating, it's so easy just rubbing it on his ears. There is still some over-grooming, but it seems like it's lessened, so I think we're on the right track.
Jorge is a big, adorable, loveable lunkhead. I just don't know how else to describe him. He absolutely ADORES my brother - I think my brother finally has a cat. He has also lost his recliner to Jorge, LOL. I don't think Jorge even notices when I leave the house - he is very "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with."
He snores
Sean is sweet and gentle and I think some days still learning How To Cat. There are very few rules in this house and I think he is still realizing he can pretty much be just about anywhere he wants. I've also seen him initiate playing with Jorge a couple times, which is awesome.
I like to be tall
If they were in school, Jorge would be the big ol' football player who is legit friends with EVERYONE and Sean would wear glasses, be a bit shy, and make flower crowns for the girls at recess.
I was so worried about the vet visit, especially given that Sean had been described as "fractious" at his neutering appointment with the county vet. (He had to be so scared and stressed out.) But really, the only difficulty was in getting them both in their crates - they were SO GOOD! (We do have clearance to give both a full gabapentin pre-appointment to get them crated. I considered the fact I was not bleeding to be a win, but the vet was "Um, yeah, we can make this easier for you.")
Sean was perfect during his appointment - I was SO relieved. I easily lost count of how many times I told him, "Oh, you are doing GREAT!" Jorge kinda pawed at the vet when she tried to look in his ears & mouth, but didn't actively *fight* it - it was more "WTF, that is weird, why are you doing that?" Once the exam was over, Jorge just ankle twirled and flopped over on the floor while the vet & I talked about his diet.
Though going forward, only one will go to the vet at a time, trying to do both at once was A LOT.
Overall we really hit the jackpot with these two. I had been pretty set on two cats when we went to the shelter - we met one younger cat that had a littermate at the shelter, but they were definitely *not* bonded and didn't seem to like each other much, so that wasn't going to work.**
I am so glad we looked over at the big room where Sean & Jorge were and decided to go in and meet them. I'd seen them on the website, knew that Sean needed Jorge for his confidence and that they needed to be adopted together. I was telling my brother, "Well, you know, 7 & 8 years old isn't really OLD for cats" and I think it took about 45 seconds and we were both "Yup, these two are coming home with us" and "OMG, they're so soft!"
I almost cried reading their intake notes - found in a park, Sean stuffed in a box, Jorge outside the box - I don't know if they were together and Jorge got out of the box, or they were dumped separately and Jorge realized there was a fellow cat in the box and was trying to help - either way, Jorge saved Sean's life twice - in the park & at the shelter. Sean had spent pretty much all his time under a blanket until they put them together in the big room.
And still - no real behavior issues. Sean's anxiety accidents have been resolved. Jorge likes play biting a little too much, and is still learning where he can scratch, but responds to "no bitey" and "no scratchy there" with a move to the scratchy boards. These are just "having a cat" things.
I just love them both to the moon and back. And they tolerate my randomly grabbing them and giving them smooches. I hope they never remember their before days.
* I legit can't remember the last time I had to pill a cat. Carmen just took her Prozac in pill pockets with no complaints. Maybe Lily when she was young? I recall having to give her Baytril, but I have no recollection of how I did it.
** I just checked and both Smokey & Bandit have been adopted. I told Smokeshow she was definitely gonna get adopted and I'm glad I was right. She's gonna be a great solo cat for someone. Peaches has also been adopted - she was an orange cat and it sure looked like she had been returned once, which broke my heart.
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