It just occurred to me that today is Chris’s birthday. I should have had a big, elaborate post planned for his birthday but instead all I have is a quickly thrown together post with a photo of Chris on top of our kitchen cabinets on his fourth birthday, which I have never posted before to my knowledge.
We don’t know exactly when Chris was born but since he was about six months old when we adopted him I just celebrate his birthday six months before his gotcha day. I will have to make sure he gets plenty of Stella and Chewy’s today for a treat.
Our cats love to take over our spots when we get up, especially Chris. Here he is sleeping on my spot on the sofa while his nice, cozy blanket is laid out for him in “his spot.”
Here is a picture of Chris when he was around ten months old, taken on March 5, 2010. He was playing with this stuffed animal at the time.
I know the quality is not perfect but I like the look on his face. I also have videos from the same day of him playing with a Q-tip. Unfortunately, the videos are too out of focus to share, which is too bad because he was so funny back then.
During this difficult time people have stepped up and have been fostering or adopting pets at a much higher level than I anticipated, but there are still many pets stuck at shelters.
Volunteer duties have been suspended at the SPCA where I volunteer, but they are still open with paid staff and the shelter is taking reservations for people who want to adopt.
I hope to see an empty shelter when I am able to return.
That probably won’t happen but hopefully the pets at the shelter will be kept to a minimum.
That could happen. I am sometimes almost embarrassed to be human because of all the stupid, mean things that people do but during a time of crisis people tend to put the humane in humanity.
A few weeks ago, my wife ordered a new office chair that had a retractable footrest because her foot started hurting around the time this lock-down started and she wanted to be able to raise it while she was working. Unfortunately, she did not find the chair to be comfortable and gave it to me with the instruction to get rid of my old chair, which I happen to like. Garbage pickup was several days away so I had two chairs in my “office” while I was waiting for trash day. I didn’t find the chair to be as comfortable as my own but I needed to get rid of one of them because I didn’t have much room for both and I couldn’t see getting rid of the new one after she spent so much money on it.
During that time Chris would lay on my lap while I was working and annoy the crap out of me. He constantly claws at my chest like he wants to climb up or pull me down. It is something he started doing several months ago and I can’t get him to stop. If I put him down he just starts biting my legs.
One day I put a pillow on the new chair and put Chris on it and he stayed there. He was right next to me and I was able to pet him while I worked so it was all good. Now when he is annoying, like he is now while I am writing this, I can move him to the chair.
Notice Frankie already put holes in the new chair.
There are times when that doesn’t work. Now, for example, Frankie is on the chair so I can’t put Chris there.
Other times putting him on the chair doesn’t work and he comes right back to bother me some more. When that happens I do the only thing that works and I get up to put a little kibble in their bowls, which I just did so I could finish this sentence.
So it looks like I will have to deal with having two chairs in my way until something changes.
On a sadder note, I just learned that Yoda passed away yesterday. You may remember my recent post about losing Jerry. Yoda and Jerry arrived at the shelter where we adopted Chris in 2006 and never left. They were best friends in 2009 when I volunteered there and met Chris, and they were best friends until the end. I suspect losing Jerry was too much for Yoda so he left to join him at the Rainbow Bridge.
Our latest incarnation of Fort Box lasted longer than any other, perhaps six weeks or so, but my wife is tired of tripping over it and wants it gone today.
I have another box ready to go so I will give it a few days and then start over.
Frankie goes stir-crazy if he is stuck in the house too long. It was probably over a week since I took him for a walk and maybe almost that long since he last escaped so he was driving me crazy with his crying and scratching at the door. I couldn’t take it anymore so, even though I was busy, I got his harness and we went outside.
Okay, I am out. Now what? Oh, I know. There are plants to smell.This one smells great.Now it’s time for a rest but this cat bed is uncomfortable.Ahh, this is much better.
I hope everyone reading this is doing well and I hope if you are stuck at home you are not going stir-crazy like Frankie.
Bad Cat Chris 