Category Archives: cats

made it!

08 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, holidays, Malaga, travel, trips

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But I almost didn’t! I mean, just look at this little guy…

That was Azar last night. He clearly knew this wasn’t just laundry being sorted and that I was getting ready to GO AWAY. And with his continuing health issues (this past weekend was a bit dodgy) I seriously considered postponing until at least Tuesday. But in the end I decided to go this morning because the real issue wasn’t that he’d be okay today and tomorrow, but for the rest of the week. I had to leave at 10.15 to catch my train and – bless that little sweetheart – at 10 o’clock Azar went to the box and had a very healthy looking BM, which made me almost weep with joy and relief. And so I was able to leave with a light heart and feeling very optimistic that Azar is going to be just fine this week, under the care of Nog and vet Yolanda.

As usual I was a nervous wreck about packing and leaving, and not just because of Azar. Personally, I think I need to travel more so I get over this “leaving anxiety” thing. And if I did travel more often I’d have a selection of small travel toiletries and whatnots always ready to go, so that I didn’t have to ransack the bathroom and then still end up having to buy stuff when I arrived.

The other thing about staying at Manolo’s is that I always bring my own sheets and towels, which really fills up a suitcase! So even though I’m only going to be gone for four nights, it looks like I’m going away for a month. Anyhow, Nog came to the train station with me this morning and saw me off. The plan was that Manolo had left a set of keys inside the apartment and I was to ask the doorman to let me in, but Manolo warned me that he might be gone for lunch when I arrived. Well, the train got in at 1.35 and I got to the apartment just before 2 o’clock, so thought I would surely catch the doorman before I left. No such luck. Turns out his break is from 1-5pm! So I went upstairs and luckily the neighbours were in and were happy to look after my luggage while I went out for lunch.

After that I had quite a long wait at this total dive of a place on the beach, as you can see…

La Moraga 

Afterwards I stopped at the supermarket for a few supplies, got the doorman to let me in, picked up my bags from next door…and got settled in! Made the bed, hung up my clothes, got my kitchen stuff organised, took a shower, set up my “office”, and I have been happily ensconced here ever since. Feet up, sea breeze blowing in through the balcony doors and windows, listening to music on my “travel iPod deck”. And dammit, I feel happy. I really really really needed to do this.

More mañana. Manolo’s place looks amazing! It’s been renovated since last time I was here and is so light and fresh looking. Not sure what I’ll do this evening, though I’m thinking I’ll just stay in and have an early night as I only got about 3 hours sleep last night worrying about Azar. Oh, and that massive mofo cockroach that Loki cornered at 3am also didn’t do any wonders for the ol’ sleep department. Really looking forward to falling asleep to the sound of the waves tonight, which is the next best sound to a cat purring…

malaga mascot?

07 Sunday Aug 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, health & happiness, Malaga, summer, travel, trips

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Ever since I found out I’d be going to Málaga (I leave tomorrow morning and come back on Friday) I’ve been a nervous wreck about Azar’s health. For much the past couple of months he’s been up and down, and the past week he’s needed daily doses of a mild oral laxative as well as an enema every 2-3 days. I had decided that it was time to take him in for a check-up and blood test after talking to my vet Yolanda on the phone several times, but then this trip was looming and I doubted Nog’s ability to give Azar an enema. In the end we agreed it would be best if Nog takes Azar in to see Yolanda next Wednesday (half-way through my trip) and get everything done at once, which would not only save on taxi fare but also on STRESS. This seemed like a sensible plan until I was woken up by the sound of Azar throwing up in the wee hours and so I lay there for ages cuddling him and wondering what to do and I thought … why not bring him with me?

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hey, this looks clean…

27 Wednesday Jul 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, health & happiness

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… so let’s cover it in cat hair!

Well, it’s part of the reason I have washable covers on my sofa and comfy chair. But while I wasn’t surprised to find the boys keen to get the freshly washed covers back to “normal”, Azar took things a step further. My poor darling continues to have problems with his bowel movements in spite of keeping him well-hydrated and the occasional use of enemas. Yesterday he suddenly got very distressed trying to go in the box and ended up “leaking” all over the place, including the soft furnishings (what timing!). Another enema and half an hour later he was comfortable again and since then has been eating and drinking normally.

I’m so torn about taking Azar to the vet’s. Last time I did they ran a bunch of tests over three visits, expensive for me and very stressful for both us, only to tell me they couldn’t find anything obviously wrong with him. So do I do that again just in case there is something else that I should be doing for Azar, or do I keep on making him as comfortable and happy as possible? My next plan is to take him off the dry food altogether, at least while it’s so hot, so he gets more moisture in his system. I’ve done the “skin pinch” test and it doesn’t show him to be dehydrated, but his eyes look a bit sunken in the inside corners, which is worrying. But he’s drinking a lot, really much more than a healthy cat would, so I’m guessing his kidneys aren’t functioning very well.

On the one hand, I want to give him the best care possible, but I also have to accept that at 16 1/2 he is likely to start “running down” now and no matter how many times I take him to the vet’s, there ain’t no cure for old age. Right now he’s just had his morning dose of malt and is happily curled up next to me on his comfy footstool (within easy snibble reach) and I hate to disrupt his happy morning. On the other hand, maybe I’m living in denial and he should be getting regular check-ups? What to do…

terraza brekky

24 Sunday Jul 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, home, sevilla, summer

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A cool and overcast Sunday morning seemed the perfect moment to have brekky up on the terraza with the laptop (less glare) and the boys. I was a bit nervous about the low swooping birds that kept catching Loki’s attention, but he seemed content to explore every inch of the terraza as if he had never seen it before. And then quick as a flash he was off chasing a dragonfly and almost went “over the top” in the process. My heart still catches just thinking about it. And so he was put back inside, at which point Azar decided he didn’t like being out there without his buddy… but it was fun while it lasted.

Seriously considering  trellises…