Benny

beautiful boy🐈 - Lulu

Pawprints Keepsake

This is another of my Christmas presents, this one from Smiley. We did them late today,  after I got back from my road trip with LuLu. 

We anticipated Sawyer would struggle and fight to the point where it just wouldn't happen at all. 

As it turns out he was super agreeable and it took two seconds, sooooo.. we look dumb for rushing it with a muddy paw. D'oh!

Huckleberry on the other hand DID fight and squirm and raise a moderate fuss so we made do with what we could get in the moment. 

Then, without my permission, Smiley made a cast of both Kahuna and Benny's paws -  even though this was MY Christmas gift and I didn't want someone else's kitty cat memorialized. Hrmph lol

It was a thoughtful gift Smiley. Thank you!

Ralph Passes

At 11:15 this morning I saw that Smiley was calling me at my office. Knowing that it would have to be something bad for him to call (not text) during work hours, I answered by saying "What's wrong?"

He told me that Ralph was dead.

Smiley had woke up and found Ralph beneath his cat tree, clearly having passed away overnight.

I remember wondering that morning why Ralph wasn't downstairs to greet me as I prepared for work, as had become his custom.

Even in this picture, you can tell he'd lost a lot of weight in the last three months.  We were concerned enough to adjust his food to a less diet- conscious brand, but we chalked it up to the stress of joining a chaotic household. 

In retrospect, while he did become a resident of the second floor instead of the common areas on the first, he never seemed phased by the noise, or by Sawyer. 

I told Smiley to wrap Ralph in a pillowcase and lock him inside one of the dog's cages and to tell the rest of the family.  I told him I would leave early to bury him and say goodbye, but that I had to stay at least until early afternoon.

Shortly before 4:00 I came home, dug a hole along the fence line, and gathered Lulu and Junie with me. Yaya had been notified by phone and sent her sympathies and a number of great pictures of Ralph. By this point Smiley said that he had shed his tears and said goodbye and did not want to participate.

We clipped some hair from him, collected his custom engraved brown leather collar that I had ordered for him, placed him in the grave, and said some prayers.

He was not with us long, just like the grandfather that I named him after, and the similarity of him passing in his sleep unexpectedly was mentioned more than once.

He deserved a longer life. We deserved more time with him.  But I am confident that his 3 months with us were spent surrounded by happiness and love, and were certainly a better alternative than life in the shelter that I took him from in September.

Rest in peace Ralph. We love you. 

The Cat Tree!

After a study session at Collectivo, Smiley and I came across this colorful cat tree abandoned in our alley. A brisk vacuuming later, courtesy of Smiley,  Ralph (and to a lesser extent Kahuna) love it!!

Atticus

Grandpa's Day 2023 pt 2

So where did Junie and I go after the cemetery? What was someplace fun but free? 

Why, how about the Humane Society AND the local animal shelter both!

I LOVED this massive boi that reminded me of our dear Billy!

The little doggos were adorable. 

At the animal shelter Junie was romanced by a very performative, all black cat that really, really wanted to go home with someone!

Meanwhile this stunner caught my eye. It looks like a lynx, doesn't it? I mean, look at the facial structure! It's so unique. 

It was a great way to pass the time and we had a blast!

Kahuna B Chillin

Photo by Junie

Kahuna!

 Pics by Smiley

Pretty Kitty

pretty kitty - Lulu

Pretty Girl

RIP Nipper

This morning Lisa and I drove my mother-in-law to put her cat Nipper, age 16, who was sick with heart disease and fluid on her lungs, to sleep. 

Tears were shed,  but Nipper's pain is gone. She will be missed

Nipper

RIP Nipper, say hi to Grandpa Jaspare - Grandma Jeanne

LOL

I watched this live!

RIP Angelcakes, our beloved kitty

Angelcakes entire life - minus her first few weeks on Earth - were documented here, on Slapinons. From the day we got here (September 15th, 2006) she was featured here.

In recent years, especially as YaYa moved out to college and then her own place, Angelcakes grew closer to Lisa. She would wait for her to go to bed (frankly, she'd sometimes *prompt* Lisa), then take her signature resting spot atop her Momma. 

By Christmas 2020 I secretly feared the end was near, and so we included the pets on our annual Christmas card. By spring her vet visits had increased in frequency, and by the end she was so weak  I was trying to feed her oral syringes of milk and the juice from tuna cans. It was time to let her go. 

With Covid stil prevalent, pet owners were only allowed in for end of life procedures. At the end, it was YaYa, Lisa, and I with her at the veterinarian's office. We held Angelcakes, we petted her, and we cried as her life slipped away. 

She loved a lot, and she was loved in return. We still miss you Angel. RIP

Custard ain't Having It

 Custard ain't having your s$&t.