Happy First Adoption Day to Our Adorable Roary!!

 It is so hard to believe our adorable "marshmallow boy" Roary has been with us an entire year!!! It's time to celebrate!!!  I had introduced you to Roary quite some time ago and for this post there will be a mix of his intro post and some new things! Hope you enjoy!

A year ago, I believe in  August I thought I might be up for adding a kitty to our family again, I wasn't sure, but I subscribed to a number of sites and figured if it was meant to be it would be. One day after meeting two other cats that were instantly obvious they were NOT the right ones, I saw this:

Yes, Roary began his life as a "Felix!" I saw this face and instantly fell in love. I decided to send Lenny to PetSmart to check him out in his cage first, just to see if he was friendly. Lenny came home with a great report, "Felix" held his paw out to Lenny and proceeded to work his way into his heart. I promptly filled out an application, they checked my references and an appointment was made to meet "Felix" on September 21, 2020.

The rest is history! "Felix" instantly was named Roary, (after the Detroit Lions mascot), and we promptly adopted him. Roary was born June 10, 2020. He was a little over 3 months old when he joined our family. What strikes me as strange is Dakota was diagnosed with cancer on June 8th, we found out Cody had to have biopsy surgery on June 9th and Roary was born June 10th. It certainly seems that a higher power had a plan that I knew nothing about.

The original Roary and I at a game on my birthday

Our Roary, a friendly, playful, adorable bundle of fur came into our house like a terror. He was into EVERYTHING (and I DO mean EVERYTHING!) From getting behind the washer/dryer, to getting stuck under our china cabinet (or so we thought, until we called the Fire Department and Roary came out 2 minutes before they arrived after being under it for nearly an hour).......we knew we had a real character on our hands. He went from being UNDER the china cabinet to scaling it.

Now, a year later, you can find Roary still scaling heights from the cat tree

to the shower when Lenny is in it, to the top of a doorframe, if it's a high up spot, Roary wants to be there!

In my original post I wrote that I didn't think Roary would ever be a lapcat. I had said that because he was always sooo busy! I couldn't have been more wrong! Roary began to settle down at around nine months of age. Trust me, he still gets into plenty of mischief but he isn't constantly on the move like he was when we first got him.

Roary LOVES to give kisses, he LOVES being held, cuddled and petted.

He still loves to play (I am guilty of not playing with him one-on-one enough) because he prefers wand toys over almost anything else (except those crazy colored springs that so many of the cats  have, he LOVES those!)  He also likes mice, (the small ones, not ones quite THIS big!)

Unlike Cody who was completely disinterested in boxes, Roary has yet to meet a box that he DOESN'T like!

Roary has A LOT to deal with in reference to Levi. Roary likes him, but Levi just doesn't leave him alone.. Still Roary doesn't mind being around him (as long as Levi is behaving, which is usually NOT the case!)

Roary was a most darling kitten and he is an adorable cat. He has grown into his body, but his head seems surprisingly small. It's as if his body grew but his head decided to stay the same! 

For Roary's first adoption day I bought him a couple of items that I wanted to share with you, I BOUGHT these items, I did NOT receive them free.

The mat above is made by SmartyKat and it is called the Purrfect Play Cat Activity Mat. It makes a crinkly sound when Roary plays with it. I think it is darling and Roary loves it!

My favorite item is below. I first saw it on the Hauspanther blog, it is a cat scratcher made to look like a laptop. It is just too stinking cute!!!! You can read all about it where I linked to the Hauspanther blog above.

 

Every day we are grateful for our fun, adventurous, mischievous Roary. He is truly a special boy. He's kind, patient and extremely intelligent. We made it through his wild kitten days!! We love our "Marshmallow" boy and wouldn't trade him for the world!

Happy First Adoption Day Roary!!!

xoxoxo

Love, Mom and Dad 

"We All Shine On...."

 Today marks a year that my beloved Cody was taken away.

When I think back on Cody's life, it is as if it all went by in seconds.  Cody gave us thirteen years of love, laughs, fun, cuddling, and yes, sometimes aggravation, but mostly he gave us the blessing of sharing our hearts and our home with one of the most patient and loving cats I have ever known.

I miss Cody's quirky little mouth, I miss his gorgeous sea-green eyes, I miss him sitting on the armrest of the couch next to me, every night of his life for 13 years.

I miss his constant quest for food, his loudly announcing to all of us when we had to awaken and when we would eat.

Lenny and I probably mention Cody at least once a day. I often call Roary, "Cody." I sometimes am in the kitchen and think I see some gray fur out of the corner of my eye. 

I will never be able to re-live that day in print. NEVER. Believe me, you don't want me to. I remember Ingrid King of The Conscious Cat telling me I was suffering from PTSD, and a special woman I spoke to yesterday, who is in the Veterinary field, told me the exact same thing. She validated my pain by saying that those who  know the details of what happened that day, COMPLETELY understand that there is NO WAY I wouldn't (or my husband wouldn't), suffer from PTSD. Ingrid's comment and the special person who told me this yesterday, helped to give me some closure and to put my heart/mind at ease. For much too long I have beaten myself up because I promised Cody that  after his biopsy surgery he would be ok......until he wasn't. What happened to Cody was a freak one in a million incident, that I pray NO ONE ever has to WITNESS or live through.

There IS one strange thing that took place that day that I would like to share with you. Many years ago s special friend of mine made me a beautiful sweatshirt in honor of John Lennon's passing. (I am a huge Lennon freak). For a number of years I tore through closets trying to find that shirt and could never find it.

The day Cody passed, somehow he managed to go into the closet (where he often would lay in Bobo's old PTU), but due to his enormous loss of blood he couldn't make it in the carrier. Instead, when my husband found him, he was laying next to this.

My sweatshirt that I had been searching for and could never find. It was on the floor of the closet and Cody was next to it. 

I believe Cody was sending Lenny and I a message by choosing to die next to that sweatshirt. He wanted me to know that even if he was gone physically, he would never, ever be "gone." His memory would still continue to "shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun."......

Cody, Daddy and I miss you every day and love you more than you could ever imagine. I'll do my best not to cry.....I'll try and focus on the happy, loving, cuddly times.......the day I adopted you after YOU CHOSE ME, was one of the luckiest days of my life. Thank you my "Codester", "Codalicious", my "Co-dependent one"......you will NEVER be completely gone. You will ALWAYS "shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun." AND YOU ALWAYS WILL........

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Announcing NomNomNow:INSIGHTS: A Microbiome Testing Kit (A Window Into Your Cat and Dog's Gut Health)

NomNomNow has sponsored this post with product and monetary compensation, but all opinions are my own, read important disclaimers throughout this blog post.

Photo Courtesy of NomNomNow

When NomNomNow first began their goal was to enable pet parents to improve the health and wellness of their pets by "equipping them with excellent nutrition, acting as partners in the care of their pets, and providing a range of resources and services to make every aspect of being a pet parent as easy, convenient, and positively impactful as possible."

The NomNomNow:INSIGHTS, kit is an easy to use, at-home microbiome testing kit for pets that will give their parents an in-depth look at the health of their cat or dog's  gut bacteria. 

What is the microbiome?

"The microbiome, in humans and in our pets, is a unique population of microorganisms that live within and on us. The diversity and types of microorganisms help to keep our pets healthy. Similarly though, these microbes can contribute to pet illnesses if there are disruptions to a healthy balance in the microbiome. So clearly the microbiome is an important part of maintaining our pets’ health!"

Why test the gut?

"The microbiome of the gut is the largest and most studied microbiome, and has been demonstrated to impact a wide variety of different health-related systems including things like food digestion, immune system function, weight management and even mood and behavior."

 I am one who will ALWAYS listen to my Veterinarian FIRST, but agreed many moons ago to test this product, (because I misunderstood what it was and thought it was a DNA testing kit which it is not),  and decided to give it a go and see what it reveals. Regardless of what the results reveal, my Veterinarian is my ultimate "go to" and personally I would never take action in reference to anything pertaining to Cody and Dakota based on results from a kit. Everyone has to make their own informed decisions. I am featuring this product simply because I said that I would. For me, and many others, my Veterinarian is my ultimate source that I trust. That being said, this kit could not  have been easier to use!

Everything you need is in this kit when it arrives.

It comes with step-by-step instructions:

You first collect a stool sample. using the enclosed items:

You then put the sample in the vial and shake it up until the stool dissolves in the liquid.

You put it in the mailing enclosed bag:

You then register your sample on their website:

Put it in the enclosed mailing envelope and mail

 Their scientists will analyze the sample collected from Cody to evaluate the types of bacteria that reside in his  gut, then they will send me a report describing Cody's overall structure and how he compares to other pets. (When I receive my report I will let you know how I read it, they provide detailed instructions as to how to read it on their website.) The results will be sent to me within two to five weeks. Once I have the results, if there is anything at all that concerns me, rest assured I would CONSULT MY VETERINARIAN FIRST. Stay tuned!!!

Some Kitty is 12 !!!!!!

HAPPY, HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY 

TO OUR  PRECIOUS, CRAZY, INDEPENDENT,

BRAVE, FEISTY, CUDDLY, LOVING BOY!!!

When you turn 12 you deserve a wonderful photo shoot (whether you want one or not lol), and that's exactly what Cody got!!! He sat patiently too! Tonight he will have his all time favorite, CHICKEN!!!!

If you like Cody's bandana, it is actually Dakota's and came from Canine Compassion Bandanas. All of their bandanas are only $5 and a $1 from each sale is donated to the ASPCA.

I'm keeping this post super light this year because I am actually full of emotion about Cody turning 12. (He was only 2 when this blog began).

Our crazy cuddle bug has brought us so much joy in 12 years, he helped heal my broken heart when my Bobo passed. He is special beyond words. 

Happy, Happy Birthday my Cody, Dad and I adore you and Dakota does too!! 

Baby Girl Loves Her Kitty

Our adorable granddaughter
was photographed by her Mama
napping with one of her two kitties
She is a HUGE kitty lover already!!!! 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, from US to YOU

And...most of you have probably already seen this, but we are happy to present the 4th Annual Cat Bloggers Holiday Slide Show that was organized and put together by Carol, the Mom of Peaches and Paprika

Grab some catnip tea and some treats and enjoy!!!!!

She's Here! Meet our Newest and most ADORABLE Family Member!!

SHE'S HERE!! And...no...she isn't a cat.......(but she makes little tiny licking and cooing sounds like one!), and she lives with 3 cats and dogs.........meet Harper Amberle our first grandchild!!! (the photos below are photos that I took FROM photos that my bonus daughter was so thoughtful to give to us when we visited the other day, so I apologize for how they reproduced on the blog)

Harper Amberle

Proud Parents and Baby Harper
they have adjusted so well!
They are going to be pawesome parents! 

This precious cutie was born TWENTY days early! She was born August 10, 2018, (which makes her a LEO, "Leo the Lion", a feline, and as a result she can be on the blog!!! lol).  My husband and I are COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY  IN LOVE!!! 

I was never blessed to have children of my own, but I certainly have been blessed to be able to hold and love this precious sweetheart. When I hold her, all of my cares just disappear, she is such a good baby and the pets at her home are smitten with her too! They are all soooo good with her!


So, be prepared, occasionally you will see this darling little one making appearances on the blog, and who knows....I might just be motivated to write a children's book for her while I babysit. You never know!

"What Part of Leave Me Alone Do YOU NOT Understand?" Wordless Wednesday

Reflection:Wordless Wednesday

"Easy Sunday?" Not for my Mom

This is what Mom was doing on Sunday.......

It's name is "Pebbles"

Mom really ROCKS

doesn't she?

No worries, I laid on the couch

with Mom and took good care of her.

I had to be sure she would be

well enough to feed me

Love, Cody

The WINNER of the Kitty’scape™ Is...

CONNIE KITTYBLOG!!!!

of 

Tails from the foster kittens!!

Huge Concatulations!!

You are gonna LOVE this!!

Mom is going to email you

to get your address!!!

I am sooo excited for you!

Thanks to all who entered!

Love, Cody