I think this is the last story about adopting Floki.
Author Archives: Charles Huss
Frankie’s Post Hurricane Idalia Walk
We live in Pinellas County, Florida, which is west of Tampa. As far as I know, a hurricane has never made landfall in the county, but we had some close calls. This was not that close, but we did get tropical storm force winds. Our house is under a large oak tree and we found it hard to get to sleep last night because every couple of minutes we would hear something dropping on the roof.
I got up at 5:30 this morning, and it was still raining and very windy. Despite that, Frankie would still ask to go outside every fifteen minutes. Finally, I had to say to Frankie, “Are you crazy? Have you looked out the window.”
Just before 10 a.m. Frankie became relentless. I looked out the window and noticed the rain had stopped, and the wind had reduced to a nice breeze. I couldn’t resist any longer and had to take him outside.

Fortunately, there was no noticeable damage to or near our house, although I haven’t checked the roof yet. The only evidence a storm came through were numerous twigs and branches on the ground, and my rake was blown into the yard.

So my record in Florida is 35 years and no hurricanes. Let’s hope I can continue the streak.
Photo Friday: A Good Place for a Nap
Sometimes, during the middle of a walk, Frankie will decide that this is a good place for a nap.

Throwback Thursday: Meet Floki, Our Newest Addition
This post is from July 6, 2016. We adopted Floki on the Fourth of July that year.
Another Vet Visit for Chris Plus Free Book Promotion
Chris went to the vet yesterday for his infected ear again. They had him on an oral antibiotic which caused him to puke once every five or six times I gave it to him. After the full course, twice, I didn’t notice any difference. I’ve lost count of how many different treatments we tried.
When we arrived at the vet, the office cat, Freddy, was very interested in Chris. He checked out every inch of his carrier. I thought there would be some hissing, but there was not.

A vet tech brought us into the exam room and asked many questions before leaving. I then unzipped Chris, but he was in no hurry to get out of his carrier.

The vet tech came back in with a pair of wildlife gloves. You know, the ones they use for catching alligators. I said, “I see you are preparing for Chris.”
“You can’t be too careful,” she said. She remembered Chris from the last time he was there.
The vet that usually sees Chris only does occasional surgeries there now, so another vet saw Chris this time. She did a basic exam while the tech held Chris with her big alligator gloves. While she was examining Chris, Friddy was sticking his paw under the door. He must have heard Chris howling. I wanted to get a photo of that, but the vet stepped in the way when I tried.
The vet then attempted to clean Chris’s ears. She started with the good ear. After several seconds they were forced to do the burrito wrap on Chris. That lasted about half a second before he burst free and jumped to the ground.
The vet said she wanted to give Chris a little time to calm down, so the vet tech thought she could briefly sneak out of the room. She pushed Chris back with her foot, but she did not realize that Chris was an excellent escape artist in his prime, and he still had those skills available for emergency situations, like vet visits. As soon as the door opened, he was out of there.
She caught Chris and brought him back to the exam room. The vet wanted to check her medication inventory, so I was alone with Chris for a while. At first, he got under an end table. I thought that was weird at first. I mean, it would be easy to pull him out of there. Later I found out that was wrong.

Chris ended up lying under a chair, but when they came back into the room he went under the end table again. I tried to pull him out, but his claws were hooked around the other end of the table, and we had to move it so the vet tech could loosen his death grip. Once we had him, we packed him in his bag, and she brought him to the back where they bring bad kitties. I could hear him screaming from my room.
After almost an hour and a half, they sent us home with an ear medication and instructions on how to order another compounded medication.
On another note, I am still looking for readers willing to review my book. So far I got one from Ellen from 15 and Meowing. Thank you, Ellen. The Kindle version of the book will be free Saturday and Sunday. You can get it here. It is also available in printed form, but I can’t make those free. Thank you in advance.
Photo Friday: Buddies
Floki is the only cat we ever had that seeks out Chris for attention. All the other cats paid attention to Chris only because Chris sought attention from them. It always makes us happy to see this bond.

Throwback Thursday: We Came, We Saw, We Left With No Kitten
Here is the next post in Floki’s origin story. This was from July 4, 2016.
Photo Friday: All Toyed Out
Frankie fell asleep with his head in the toy box. I have no idea what that was all about.

Cat Fight of the Day
A fight between Frankie and Floki is a regular occurrence at our house. Mostly, Floki is the instigator. I don’t think there is animosity. I just think Floki wants to play.
How common is this at your house?
Photo Friday: Spot Stealer
The other day, Chris was on my lap when he decided to jump off and onto the nearby shelf. That shelf has been exclusively Floki’s domain . . . until now.

It wasn’t long before he was napping there.

I don’t know if Floki came around later and found Chris in his spot. If he did, I am probably lucky I missed it.
