"Madison's Mystery Adventure"

As most of you know, I had to take Madison to the 24 hour Veterinary ER Saturday night. She is doing well now. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

Madison why lying down by me before 10 pm, and I noticed some clear fluid on her lower belly area, when I wiped it off with a tissue, there was some blood. Madison & Maverick had been playing earlier so I wasn't alarmed, figured the cat might have scratched her though they usually play face to face and he has never scratched any of us, just swats at her from time to time. I went to get cotton balls and the cleaning solution the vet gave me for her abrasions on her chest, and then I saw it: a 1-1/4 inch gash on the inner part of her back right leg, I guess we can call it the pelvic area. Odd that such a big cut would not be bleeding but I knew it needed stitches, so a couple of phone calls later and off to the 24 hour vet we went.

Madison doesn't hate the vet, she loves seeing all the people and animals, but late at night, only the staff was there, two black and white tuxedo-like cats, and a female Rottweiler, a big pup also; all these animals are the staff's.

(Madison weighed in at 78.5 pounds, she has lost a few from running around chasing Maverick and she and me playing more with the nice weather.)

Madison really liked the lady vet and lady vet technician, gave kisses to both of them, she wasn't too sure about the guy who weighed her but he didn't flirt with her and solicit kisses like the girls did (he doesn't know what he is missing, maybe he's a cat person). Local anesthesia and antibiotic injections, stitches, and the "Elizabethan" collar, maybe 20 minutes later, I heard her toenails tapping on the tile floor towards me and through the door, it was over.

The vet called it a "stab" wound and said, well she's a Lab, as far as Madison getting into things (ain't THAT the truth!). Since we live in a quiet neighborhood and there were not barkfests that evening, she must have stabbed herself. The following morning she and I walked around the yard to see if we could figure out what caused the injury but found no evidence. I did come up with a few possibilities, (1) maybe she slipped on the puppy ramp, no evidence: no blood, no noise, and it had not moved; (2) a stick under the picnic table, Madison likes to run and dive under it, its her open air dog house, again no evidence: wound was clean, no debris around or inside it, leaves look like she has not been under the table lately.

There is a possible third choice, something around the shed, but there is a lot of overgrowth of weeds so I could not check behind there but again, when she runs through there I can her her bang against the shed, so no evidence for that so far.

So this may remain "Madison's Mystery Adventure" to all except for her. I am sure she had to feel something, right?

Anyway, she is healing well, taking her meds and dealing with the collar. She has found some pluses: only she can eat or drink out of her dish, Maverick can not sneak in, I can't lock her in the crate when I leave or overnight so she gets to sleep around the house, extra head scratches especially since she can't scratch for herself, Maverick has been giving her lots of nose kisses, if I toss her a treat if she misses the collar catches it, placing collar on mom's sneakers keeps it at good sleeping level. Minuses: she keeps hitting collar against walls, stairs. I tried to bring her up to my room to sleep but going up a flight of stairs even with me trying to hold up her collar doesn't give her the confidence she needs to believe she can go up the stairs.

We are hoping and praying for her speedy recovery and for health and safety for all of us from now on

"I'm The Momma!"

I think Madison thinks she is Maverick's momma. Madison likes to stroke Maverick, Maverick likes to lick Madison. Have to keep watch because Madison forgets how big she is but things are going very well... except Maverick has an eye and upper respiratory infection, but it is clearing up fast.

As Madison and Maverick say, "Happy Snuggle Sunday!".

“There is no Such Thing as a Free Lunch”

Day 4: Madison & Maverick getting along real well, pretty amazing! I am sure working from home these days allowing me to spend time with both of them has expedited the process. The are sniffing each other, tapping noses, rubbing cheeks, and chasing, all in small increments, without hissing and barking: Amazing!

Came back from Stop-n-Shop (food/supermarket). Finally remembered to cash in $5.75 worth of soda cans and to use my free Freschetta pizza coupon (Note to Self: soda cans sitting in the trunk of the car can get stinky! Make sure a) rinsed better, and b) don’t leave them too long). So I bring in and put away all my booty and decide to heat up my free pizza: 4 Cheese Self-Rising crust, yum! Got myself a Cherry Coke Zero (not bad!) and went into my usual eating place, the TV room/Den; its small but the most used room in the house and where Maverick’s bedroom is first established.

Maverick wants to drink my soda and taste my pizza, Madison is trying to get her tail to hit my plate… Calgon take me away! So I get up, close the door with both of them inside, and retreat to the peace and tranquility of the kitchen to eat my meal.

There is no such thing as a free lunch… not anymore… for now.

"Progress"

We had multiple instances of Maverick and Madison with their noses within inches of each other, now they finally touched noses! Seems as long as my face is between them, no or little hissing and barking. Now both are pooped out on either side of me. A big day for them indeed!

Maverick seems to like my Molson Ice, no he licked the top of the bottle, he's a 3 month old kitten, no booze! Maverick also very interested in my chocolate cake. Well, now I can see why he & I bonded!

Madison seems to be stressing some. Every time they get nose to nose, she starts to pace and then chew feverishly on her bone.

All in all a full, rich, fine day! We all will sleep well tonight!

"He Has A Name!"

Hi everyone, Madison here!

I barked at new kitty again, he wasn't even hissing at me. I just get so possessive of my bone... I was on one side of the exercise machine, he on the other, coming close to take a peek at me and I let him have it: WOOF WOOOF WOOOOOOF! He ran behind the reclining chair; his cozy spot.

Mom took the gate and put it in the doorway so I am in the hallway, mom on the couch working, and kitty came out into the open, but staying on his side of barricade just in case. I keep whining here and there while chewing on my rawhide, he's been sleeping.

And I know, what you all have been waiting for, his name: Maverick the Tiger, well Maverick for short. Guess we both got to name him!

hugs & cuddles, Madison xoxo xo

PS: mom going to buy disposable camera so it maybe a little while until we get pictures unless she can borrow camera from one of my Aunts. We will post pictures as soon as we get them, of course. The vet calls him a "black & white" tabby, we just love him, see I said it mom!

"First Meeting"

Finally forced Madison to pay attention to new kitty.

Madison was gnawing on her rawhide, tail wagging, and the wagging tail caught new kitty's eye. Got Madison to sit nicely, picked up kitty, and he thought I was going to feed him to Madison; they were about 5 feet apart, kitty in my arms. They looked at each other for about 5-10 seconds then kitty hissed, Madison barked, and kitty ran off behind the chair.

All in all a good first meeting, I think. No permanent scars on me.

Otherwise, new kitty doing very well. He is very comfortable roaming around the TV room when I am the only one with him, of course. Even ran out into the bathroom when I opened the door; Madison was outside at the time.

I bought a couple of scratching mats that you can hang from door knobs so I can have a few, a carpeted bed type thing, brush, harness, and leash.

Camera not working, very ticked at that. I may have to go back to film so I can get a few shots of him. Still need to select a name. Madison still likes Tigger.

"New Kitty Details!" by Madison

New Kitty is about 12 weeks old, he is a neutered male gray tabby; he has black tiger stripes, mom says he’s a tiger kitty! Mom met him this past Sunday (October 18, 2009) and we are bringing him home today (October 20, 2009). The shelter calls him “Pokey” but we are going to give him a new name. Since mom & I have “M” names she would love to find an “M” name for him as well, but not a requirement.

When mom met new kitty, definitely will be one of his nicknames like my “little girl”, he was in a room with 6 or 7 other kitties, 2 others look exactly like him, but one was already adopted, the other a girl kitty, mom wanted a boy. As soon as mom walked into his kitty room, all the kitties came to her. Mom hugged & snuggled with all the kitties; it was Snuggle Sunday after all! New kitty snuggled, nuzzled, licked her, and nibbled her thumb.

The shelter wants to find forever homes, of course, so they check references. She had to promise not to de-claw, we are not into that and promise it would be an indoor kitty. She was honest and told them since me and mom spend nice days out in the yard, she was thinking of getting a harness and line so new kitty could join them, just like she did at grandma’s when she was a little girl and Aunt K does with her new kitty El Gato. The got “approval” from the foster family, they thought mom meant she would take a 12-week-old kitten out in the dreary, damp, rainy weather we had Sunday. Mom told them she was talking about next Spring and Summer when the kitty is older, like duh!!!

They ask for two personal references, at least one not a family member, a vet reference, and for you to specify who would take care of the pet if you pass before the pet does. Mom got the call at work yesterday that she had impeccable references so we were approved; we knew we would be!

So I think those are all the details for now.

15:40 EST New Kitty Update: new kitty is home & currently exploring the closet, he's not taking any pictures yet which is OK since the camera is not working.