ProfessorTomoe

Update: Baker the cat did not, in the overall scheme of things, end up liking the prescription food, so Mrs. Prof bought some Feline Urinary Tract support food that a cat organization she is acquainted with uses. Baker reportedly dove into it and chowed down. She also bought an oral gel called Methigel, which is a DL-Methionine amino acid supplement for urinary tract health, again at the cat organization's advice. I'm assuming Baker ate his first dose, because she didn't tell me about the outcome. We've had one incident of litter scattering, but that's it, and it was prior to the new food (which is chicken & gravy flavored, BTW, a supposed fave of his) and Methigel regimen. This is not going to be a short road to recovery. It's going to take daily monitoring and dietary adjustment. Will report as new info is available.

Update on Baker the cat: Baker had two good pees overnight. No apparent litter tossing. Mrs. Prof was impressed enough that she decided not to give him the medicine that makes him all goofy 'n stuff. He's trotting around the house like normal today, so far.

Update: Baker's tossing kitty litter again. He had been ignoring his prescription food, but just now I saw him begin eating it. Let's hope it helps.

One of our cats, Baker, was transported to a 24-hour veterinarian's office by Mrs. Prof last night. For two straight days, we'd found kitty litter scattered all over the floor around the litter boxes (we have multiple, since we've got two cats). Last night, Mrs. Prof noticed Baker going back and forth between the litter boxes. She kind of spied on him using one of them, and noted that nothing came out. She felt his abdomen and got worried that he might have a urethral blockage, so off to the vet they went. The good news was that there was no blockage. However, he might have been developing crystals. The vet couldn't tell since Baker's bladder was empty. So, conservatively, they gave him a pain med and medication to help relax his urethra. They also put him on prescription canned food. Meanwhile, Mrs. Prof needs to do some more research and consulting with her cat rescue friends. As of this morning, Baker is still on the medicine. He's rather grogged out and assuming the pose of Meatloaf Cat on the floor. I've seen him use the litter box successfully, and he's not scattering the litter so much. He's not too enamored with the prescription food, but we'll deal with that. Time will tell how he progresses.

The stupid, it hurts too much. I couldn't watch it all the way through.

We have another cat in the sewing room. Not under quarantine this time, and not such a talker. It's a female that was raising a litter of kittens that Mrs. Prof trapped and sent off for foster at another home (they're almost old enough for TNR treatment, but they won't be returned to the wild - they'll be neutered and adopted out). The female is *definitely* not feral. We've already both stuck our hands into the kennel and given it scratchies on the head and neck. It purred loudly in response. It won't come out of the carrier "cave" in the kennel far enough for full interaction with me, but I think Mrs. Prof has made further progress with it. I just have to get it used to the big, scary, hairy guy before I can make the same breakthrough.

Thanks! P.S.: He's not disappointed.

My first Derivations disc has been delivered to its new owner, according to the United States Postal Service. Someone offered an outrageous sum (I won't say how much, but it's more than $199.99) for the "honor" of receiving the first disc shipped. How could I turn that down? I autographed it for him and gave him said "honor," plus I shipped it before the official shipping date. I hope he's not disappointed.

Woke up this morning feeling remarkably better. Saw no reason to waste the doctor's (or my) time. Cancelled the appointment. Why go in when you're not sick? First time this has happened to me in ages.

I just learned that I have a custom YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/c/LeeJacksonAudio Bookmark it when you get the chance, please!

Going to my primary care doctor tomorrow afternoon. I think I'm developing a nasal infection. All the usual symptoms, plus a sore throat. No fever, as usual. So, no suspicions that it's COVID-19.

Speaking of cherries ... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X5BZ89M Maraska Maraschino Cocktail Cherries. Not the kiddie cherries that you find on top of a banana split, but real, flavorful, Croatian cherries with a character all to their own. Sweet and sour at the same time, robust - you've got to try them at least once in your lifetime. I'm going to cherish my bottle.

Boots, the obnoxiously loud quarantine cat, has been inspected by Garland Animal Control and has passed. That means he can now be returned to the wild, but not before being neutered and treated for an abscess on his head first. That means he is out of the sewing room of our house and in a trap in our garage, awaiting transfer to either a Carrollton facility tonight or another facility tomorrow for the neutering and treatment. It also means that he's in a spot where we can't hear him very well for the first time in 10 days. Huzzah!!!

Drinking a mug of illy extra-dark roast coffee with Amoretti kirsch flavor syrup. Lovely cherry coffee taste - not medicinal, no weird aftertaste. Highly recommended.

The official video medley trailer for Derivations is up on YouTube now! Please give it a listen/look-see:

One of my favorite shows when it was running. Good for 600 episodes.

The proof is in the picture:

I wonder if cats think mice are Human Treats.

Thunder rumbling through. Our cats are blase'.

... and they're here! Already tested one out. Works just fine, looks just fine! Phew!

The CDs for my album, Derivations, are loaded onto a UPS truck and are headed to my house as I type this. I'm tracking the truck in realtime on UPS's website. It's tantalizingly close. By the end of the day, my second CD will be in my grubby mitts. I can't wait!

Mrs. Prof changed the radio station (which has been playing 24/7 on low volume in the cat quarantine room) from JackFM to Classical. Here's hoping this calms him ("Boots") down somewhat.

Tonight's forecast for my area: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 63. South wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Friday Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7am. High near 72. North wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. In other words, maybe a lot of noise and bluster with not a lot of rain. Bleh.

Mrs. Prof's quarantine cat is turning out to be a real talker - as in an all-night talker. As in a "won't shut the fsck up all night long" talker. Incessant "meow meow meow meow meow" coming from the kennel starting at around 9pm and ending ... well, I'm not sure. I eventually crash due to exhaustion from listening to the little bastard. And he's a Jonny One-Note, too. Can't seem to meow at any pitch other than one single frequency. No, that's not fair - he does a pitch bend from a low note up a few steps, but it's the same start and stop notes every time. We'll both be relieved once he's out of here.

Is there an entry for yourself in that list?