We were hit by a winter storm, buried in 18" of snow, and went without power for 3 days and 3 nights. In the house, we did all right because we have a gas heater, but the unfortunate Horde in my office had to endure 72 hours of chilling temps because the only heat out there is from electric oil-radiators.

I brought out piles of old blankets so they could snuggle up together while I bugged the power company several times a day. I worried about them a lot. I'd come in and find them piled up together, but seemingly no worse for wear.

Except for my very old girl, Querida. After the first night, I was so worried about her that I talked it over with Randy and we brought her into the house. I had her in a carrier until she warmed up, then rubbed her with the anti-allergen liquid to keep Randy from having problems.

Nefreet was absolutely put out. She hissed and snarled and carried on like the psycho-kitty she is. Nor did she let up. She went and sulked upstairs most of time. When she deigned to come downstairs for food, she hissed preemptively at us and anything else around, and fixed us with glares that said, "If I were a cougar, you would be dead now."

Having Querida inside where I could watch her, I quickly realized how sick she was. She was having bloody stools, drinking huge amounts of water, and refusing to eat.

By Thurs. morning, though we still had no power, we were able to get our 4X4 Subaru down the dirt road and get Querida to the vet. The vet immediately agreed she was a very sick girl. We left Querida there for tests, had brunch, did errands and went back for the results. It came down to what we hope was only a raging urinary tract infection, starting to affect the kidneys (vs more serious underlying problems). We left her there to be hospitalized, treated for severe dehydration and given heavy-duty anti-biotics.

Nefreet was still hissing automatically for a while, but she is finally calming down again.

This morning, the vet called to say that Querida responded very well overnight. No more blood in the urine and they had gotten a little bit of food into her. We picked her up at noon. They gave us instructions in how to inject her with more IV fluids for a few more days, pills, and special food that I must get into her. I have a lot of nursemaiding to do. I'm also in a state of shock from the cost of the vet bill. I really couldn't afford that.

Power is finally back on and the cats are glad to have heat again.

Ariel has gone aerial. She's discovered the high walkways and is now sleeping waaaay up on the top of the boxes on the top of the highest shelves...far out of my reach.

I was looking more closely at Owl's leg. At first, I thought the fur on his knee was white because it was starting to grown back and would then turn dark brown as it got longer. Judging from the length of the fur, I suspect that it has grown back white rather than brown. After two surgeries, I'm not surprised.

Nefreet was adorable this morning. She cuddled herself into a lovely little lump inside her green blanket, as cozy as cozy could be.

My stepson visited for xmas. He knows half the cats quite well, having lived with my late husband and myself on and off for years. Later in the evening, he came into my office to see the Horde. I was hoping he'd get a look at Ariel, but this time she didn't cooperate. She found a cunning hiding spot and stayed there. The rest of the greeters were out in force -- Puck, Tribble, Sly, Tosca, Diva and Owl. Querida and Knobby kinda slept through it all. Theseus, Kate, Blue and Ariel were invisible.

I did the Good Food and cat chores after my stepson wen back into the house. It took large amounts of coaxing, but I did finally get Ariel to come and get her bowl of food.

Cats don't like having their routine upset.

Puck, Lord of Mischief, was struck with a fit of boredom which he alleviated by jumping repeatedly onto my desk and making off with whatever he could carry from the tray of my monitor stand. First it was a small cat's head magnet, then it was the cat claw clippers, then a metal frog click-clacker doodad. I finally let him carry off the frog, which is fairly impervious to harm, but Puck was bored with the frog in half a minute and came back to see what else he could carry off.

I tried to distract him with a couple of actual cat toys, but he wasn't interested in authorized play. He wanted mischief, so it was bck to the desktop. The frog ended up waaaay under the monitor stand, causing me to crawl around behind the desk to retreive it.

Puck moves into mischief mode.
Having worked over one part of my desk, he moves on to a new section.
Ariel wonders what is going on up there.
His work done, Puck settles in for a nap with Querida.

And a very moggy xmas to all who celebrate it! A very moggy hannukka, kwanzaa, solstice and so on to the rest of you! May your stockings be filled with catnip!

I was quite pleased this morning. Ariel showed up with all the other cats to greet me this morning. Usually I have to go looking for her after I change into my cat clothes, but this time she actually showed up on the other side of my desk where I was greeted by the rest of the Horde. She did some friendly rubbing against a footstool and chair, though she came no closer to me.

The past couple of days, she's taken to hanging out in a small carrier that used to be Querida's hiding spot. For some reason, Querida abandoned it a while ago (possibly because I had to keep dragging her out of it to give her pills). The carrier sits on the floor to the right of my desk about five feet away from where I sit at the computer.

Owl decided to squeeze himself into the tripod box. A bad move, because he was then unable to turn around, due to his size and his bad leg. This led to distressed scrabbling that made me jump out of my chair to come to his rescue, except that he managed to extricate himself before I got there. Ariel was waiting outside the box to whap him, thinking it was part of a game. She didn't do any real whapping, though.

After that, Owl went over to lounge at the cat spa, so I've spiced it up with a bit of fresh catnip. The catnip junkies are gathering.

Now this is one BIG moggy!

We were proud of Ariel last night. Randy's sister and husband came to visit, and when they first came into my office, Ariel hid waaay down at the end of the tripod box. A few minutes later, she scurried out, darted around a bit, then settled down and let them have a look at her...from a safe distance. But she let Randy get close enough to sniff his finger, and he was able to get her to play with a string. We think that was quite brave of her, with strange people around.

There's been no further mess made in the back corner of the office since I cleaned it up. While I was cleaning the cat boxes this morning, I got to the last one and was about to stand up when I realized Ariel was using one of the boxes behind me. She took off like a shot when I turned around, but the fact that she was using it, and with me nearby, is a good sign.

She's gotten up on the high shelves at the window a couple of times, too. I keep trying to snap a picture of her there, but as soon as I head in that direction with a camera, she takes off.

Photos here: Ariel, Puck, Owl, Tribble.

Ariel was inside the tripod box when I came in this morning, though she did come out of it right after.

A couple of days ago, I decided to take the small cat box out of Ariel's cave since too many other cats were using it, including Owl. Unfortunately, because of his bum leg, Owl's aim isn't very good and I didn't want to go back to that mess again in there. I figured that since Ariel was out and about, she could use the communal cat boxes, something she has to do eventually.

However, this morning I disocovered that Cat Uknown had peed in the cat bed I left in the cave, which is very annoying. Then I discovered that Cat Unknown has left a large cache of turds against a back wall of the office on the cement. It's in a spot that Ariel first hid in, so it's possible she's going there because she doesn't feel safe with the communal boxes yet. But it could be another cat. I keep catching Puck harrassing Tosca when she's trying to use the boxes. At any rate, someone left a big mess back there and I need to put a stop to it.

Once in a while, when things get too intense, Ariel will dart into the tripod box to escape, but I'm pleased to note that she also comes right back out again, usually in less than a minute. She didn't run away when Randy came in for a visit last night, either, and I think that's the first time Randy has come out since Ariel was given her freedom. She still comes over to me for her portion of the Good Food, though she continues to be wary of any attempt I might make to pet her. All in due time, my pretty, all in due time. (If you heard the Wicked Witch saying that, give yourself ten points.)

Puck jumped Tosca this afternoon, and I mean really jumped her. It was a nasty attack. I couldn't do anything about it because they were way up on top of the highest shelves, but once he chased her down to the floor, I grabbed him. He was unrepentent, so I held him next to the water bowl and splashed water in his face. That got the message across.

Ariel was cute last night. When I got out the Good Food, she first went to join the other cats. I called her name, not really expecting a response, but she came over to her cave and ate her own portion of food next to me. As soon as she was done, she sprinted past me, went back to the other cats and stuck her head into the bowl from which Theseus was eating. He looked at her, perplexed, then moved away like a gentleman.

She even jumped up onto my desk last night, while I was standing a several feet away from it, of course. But still...

Ariel was hanging out in her cave when I came in this morning. When I gave out the Good Food, she wasn't content to wait for me to bring her own bowl to her. She came out to get some for herself. I was able to get her to come over to me and eat from her own bowl, but once she finished that small portion, she went back to the other bowls to help herself to more. She seems to be getting along just fine amongst the other cats. She retreats to her cave when she needs a break. At one point, she was back in the covered niche, so I uncovered it to give her easier access and to keep her from hurting herself climbing through the tiny hole at the top. At the rate she's eating, she won't remain svelte for long!

She's been prowling around the office checking everything out while I work at my desk, and I've heard her batting a ball around on the other side of the shelves where the concrete floor isn't covered with carpet. Just now she scooted rapidly past me to get to another part of the office. I think she's having a good time. [g]

Meanwhile, Querida slept the morning away in the cat bed inside the cave. Ariel has had a fun day of wandering around the office and hanging out in her cave with various cats occupying her bed. After Querida left, Owl took up residence. During the afternoon while she was hanging around near her cave, I got her to join a play session and chase the purple string, taking turns with Puck, Theseus, Blue, Sly and Tosca.

Later, she let me walk right past her to get to another part of the office, but she is still totally off-limits as far as touching is concerned.

"You can look, but you can't touch!"

For your amusment, moggies (not mine) helping set up a xmas tree.

I came into my office this morning, said hello the moggies as usual, turned on my computer, changed from my house clothes to my cat clothes (to keep the cat hair off the clothes I wear in the house) and did all the usual things I do when I first come in. Then I went over to say hello to Ariel. There was no sign of her, but I assumed she'd gone hiding in her covered niche again. I left the door to her "cave" propped open.

I went back to my desk and stopped dead in my tracks. Puck looked up from one of the cat beds under my desk. Except he had a white chest. And I realized it wasn't Puck, it was Ariel! Happily curled up in the cat bed only a foot from where I'd been standing. You could have knocked me over with a feather!

She finally decided she didn't like the way I was looking at her and she nonchalantly headed back into her cave, after which I did the rest of the normal routine -- giving pills and treats, refreshing the water bowls, giving out the Good Food and refilling the dry food.

I figured out how she got out. The "cave" is primarily made up of an oddly angled desk that my late husband built to be a computer desk. The child gate closes off the main open part of it, but because of the angle, I had to place a bookshelf across the top to close off the large gap between the gate and the angle of the desk. The bookshelf had gotten pushed back, one way or another, leaving a substantial gap and she must have shimmied up and out.

Obviously, she did fine during the night and got along with the other cats, so I'm seriously thinking I may open the gate and leave her to her own devices again tonight.

More throwing up from Blue. I got out the hairball remedy gel to see if that will help him. Naturally, he didn't like it enough to lick it off my finger and I had to force it on him. Meanwhile, half a dozen other moggies gathered round and nearly bit off my fingers to get some as a treat.

Randy and I have been completely unable to count Nefreet's heartbeat. We've tried over and over again, but every time we press our fingers to her chest trying to feel it, all we can feel is her loud, happy purr or her breathing.

I tried to give Ariel a couple gentle strokes on her back and she whacked me thoroughly for it. I was careful not to overreact and rather than just going away, I followed it up by getting a string and playing with her. I have never seen a cat so stubbornly dead-set against being touched by a human.

I've also been inundated suddenly by tons of new submissions to the Silly Sleeping Pose Olympics. I must have hit some tipping point in being discovered on the net. There are lots of new photos.

Like most cats, Ariel is a mind-reader. I've made no secret of my intention to start petting her, though I'm biding my time about it, so she's resorting to pre-emptive whacks. When I even think about trying to pet her, she whacks me. Gently, so far (no claws), but firmly. Ariel stubbornly refuses to accept me as alpha cat. [g]

It's been 2 months since we brought her home. I know we've made some progress, but it feels like slow going to me.

She didn't use her cloaking device today. Maybe because she knows I've figured out the secret.

I received an unexpected call from the local vet. She was able to show Nefreet's x-rays to a radiologist and discussed Nefreet's symptoms with other vets. The radiologist didn't see problems with the spine or neck bones. He saw a bulge in what would be the right atrium of the heart in a human. He saw a solid mass in the area of the spleen which could mean an enlarged spleen. Unfortunately, following up on any of these things to get more definitive info requires money I don't have.

So we're still in a gray area of mystery. It could be a heart problem, she could be throwing the occasional clot (but having the left front leg affected is highly unusual), or it could be a nerve problem.

The vet also commented that Nefreet had an extremely fast heart rate when she was at the clinic, something that would normally indicate being hyperthyroid. But her thyroid results were normal. She wants me to check Nefreet's resting heart rate a few times. I tried a couple of times earlier tonight, but she won't sit still to let me do it, or she purrs so much I can't find a heartbeat!

Ariel played some serious mind games with me this morning. I came into the office, said hello to the moggies as usual, and went over to unhook the bungie cord from Ariel's gate and say hello to her.

There was no Ariel! I got right inside to be sure, but there was no sign of her. I couldn't fathom how she escaped without dislodging the gate. I left the gate standing open, then began to search, hoping to flush her out and send her running back to her cave.

I couldn't find a sign of her anywhere. I checked inside the tripod box and noticed that someone whose name probably begins with Puck has clawed a hole in the end of it.

Then I looked back at the cave and there was Ariel! You can imagine how baffled I was. I began to suspect a cloaking device.

I did the morning routine and went to work. When it was time to go inside for lunch, I looked in the cave and Ariel had disappeared again! The gate was still in place and I would have heard anything unusual like pushing it open.

I did another thorough search of the office. Then I heard a strange sound and went to check the cave. Ariel had reappeared and was about to exit via the gate I'd left open. I think I figured it out.

There were two "niches" in the back area of her cave (formed by a bookcase upended to block an opening. She had been getting into the smaller niche out of reach instead of interacting with us, so I used a large piece of stiff plastic (a boot tray) to seal it off. However, there's a small opening at the top, and I think she must have managed to leap up and through this small opening and was completely hidden back in that niche.

Clever girl!!!

Ariel had her first taste of chicken tonight. As far as I know, anyway. She quite enjoyed it. I made a chicken pie for dinner and brought out the skin and remnants for the happy Horde.

I'm vaguely worried about Blue. He's been throwing up a lot lately and right now he's crouched next to one of the oil-radiator heaters, which is not all that unusual in the cold weather, but his posture makes me wonder. Otherwise, he *seems* okay, so I could be worrying about nothing.

Old Dame Querida is always soaking up the heat these days. At her advanced age, it must feel very good to her.

The Letting-Ariel-Explore experiment took a downward turn last night when she skittered over to the far side of the office, which is filled with nothing but shelves and boxes, and therefore lots of hiding places. And she promptly hid.

Well, fine. I was counting on her being lured back to her cave by the Good Food. Unfortunately, she just waited until I'd put the food out for all the cats and snuck up to have some.

I finally had to call upon Randy. He moved a heavy box she was hiding behind and the two of us, with some help from Puck, gently herded her to the cave.

I haven't let her out at all today, though I did let Owl stay inside the cave with her for a few hours. They simply napped near one another. He's such a gentleman that I don't have to worry about him, and it gives her more chance to acclimate to another member of the Horde.

Last night, Randy came out for some play time with the moggies. Ariel did a short piece of exploring, but Randy had to keep Puck literally off her tail.

This morning, I left her gate open. She did a short piece of exploring before retreating to her cave. Then her cave was invaded by the likes of Puck, Tribble, Owl and Theseus. They emptied out and Ariel came out a bit later, after the Good Food, and took up residence in the tripod box. Puck was, of course, camped outside the box, making it hard for her to retreat. I dragged the tripod box over to Ariel's cave and she came out a minute later.

Photos: Ariel, Puck, Randy & Horde.

There have also been several new additions to the Silly Sleeping Pose Olympics.

Ariel went exploring this morning! Randy was commenting the other night that we can't keep her locked up in the "cave" forever. I'm still worried about the fact that nobody can touch her, let alone catch her or pick her up, if the need should arise.

But it's true. She can't be kept in there indefinitely. So this morning, while I was preparing the Good Food, I left the door open. She tentatively came out, then went over and sniffed a blanket lots of the cats sleep on, then went inside the tripod box, came out, skirted around to my desk with Puck on her heels. By this point, I had her bowl of Good Food ready and she wanted it, so she ducked under the side wing of my desk and dashed back into her cave, recovered her wits and came partway out to have her food as I sat next to her.

I think short bursts of exploring like that will help her gradually adjust to being out in the open. My other big worry is that Puck might harrass her, so I'm keeping an eye on that.

Nothing much new to report amongst the Horde. Ariel continues to regard my hand with suspicion since I keep trying to pet her.

Puck continues to behave like the boy who can't decide whether he wants to play with new girl or pull her pigtails, or both.

Several moggies had a puke-athon. Blue was the clear winner in terms of sheer quantity. Diva came in second for style, by puking down the side of my printer and onto some of my papers.

Owl's large bald patch is slowly growing over, so I think the anti-histamines are working. He isn't putting on more weight and that disturbs me, since he still feels too skinny for my liking. However, the lower weight is probably beneficial right now as he slowly builds up use of the rebuilt knee.

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