Tag: cat tree

Looking for the Light

Our cat Trixie stands atop the cat tree, looking out the window, on April 7, 2022. Original: _Z720241.NEF

Trixie the day after Sam died. She was so tightly bonded to him I knew his death would be hard on her, as it was with Scout when Templeton died and with Sam when Scout died.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: April 7, 2022

The Rise of Boo

Our cat Boo as a kitten looking down from the cat tree in my office on August 18, 2013. Original: _MG_5208.CR2

Since it’s Halloween how can I not post pictures of a cat named Boo? This was about six weeks after we adopted him in 2013, playing in my office atop the cat tree. The slow introduction paid off, the terrified kitten transformed when he knew he was safe, knew he was loved, knew he was home.

📷: Canon M | Canon 18-55mm
Date: August 18, 2013

Rain Yes, Thunder No

Our tortoiseshell cat Trixie looks out from the top of the new cat tree on August 4, 2021. Original: _CAM3057.arw

Thankfully we’ve had a number of storms this monsoon season, bringing desperately needed rain to the parched desert. Trixie would like to point out, however, that while she doesn’t mind the rain (she’s Oregon born and raised after all) she knows from personal experience that you can have rain without the constant scary booms and flashes of light. She goes into hiding for hours at a time while the lightning storms move through, recently I found she made a nest in some of the softer clothes in my closet. Brother Boo holds out longer but he has his limits, while our oldest Sam generally sleeps right through them, though the loudest thunderclaps might get him to raise his head and look around to make sure it’s OK to continue napping.

Here Trixie is sleeping atop the new cat tree, her brothers haven’t taken to it but she loves it. I’m not sure Emma would have ever left it if we had something like it during her life, except of course when the Christmas tree was up.

Our tortoiseshell cat Trixie sleeps on ttop of the new cat tree on August 4, 2021. Original: _CAM3018.arw

The Aging Heart

Our cat Sam rests atop the cat tree with the TV in the background on January 30, 2021. Original: _CAM9550.arw

Sam needs oral surgery but in preparation they noticed some odd heart behavior so he went to a cardiologist and was diagnosed with heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), so he’ll get his surgery at a specialist with an anesthesiologist trained for his condition. Then he’ll be on a blood thinner to reduce stroke risk, thankfully I think it’s in pill form as he likes pill pockets but getting liquid down his throat is not for the faint of heart. He’s not showing any symptoms yet so depending on how his condition progresses he might be with us for years to come, he’s to get periodic evaluations every six months and we need to keep a close eye on any symptoms that develop.

A Quiet Moment

Our cats Emma and Sam in the cat tree in the dining room in July 2009. Original: _MG_6006.cr2

Emma and Sam spend a quiet moment in the cat tree in front of one of the picture windows in the summer of 2009. It didn’t stay quiet long, in a minute Emma snuck down and poked Sam from above. The sneak attack poke was a favorite game of theirs and fortunately they had each other to play it with as the much older Scout was not a fan.