We Remember Those Who've Gone Before

For Ana, Ubee, Oscar the Puppycat and all Those Who Have Gone Before including our beloved Bingo and so many others. Thank you to Kashim & Othello for this graphic and the very nice idea to remember and honor our friends on the bridge this weekend.

Thursday Thirteen # 12

Today is the 1 year anniversary of our big brother Bingo, going to the rainbow bridge. We never got to meet him but mommy and daddy loved him very much and he sounds like a wonderful kitty. In honor of this amazing kitty's memory, mommy is taking over to post 13 things about her beloved Bingo.

1. Bingo was 17-18 years old. He lived a long and happy life filled with many friends and lots of adventures.

2. Bingo was originally my brother, Richie's, kitty. My friend, Mike, got Bingo for my little brother when he was very little. When asked what he wanted to name his new kitty, he thought pensively for a moment and then brightened up and looked at my mom and I and said, "mmm - how about Bingo?"

3. Bingo has lived in many places. After I took Bingo, he moved with me wherever I moved (which was a lot of different places) so he got to meet many new friends and other kitties and even woofies!

4. Bingo was a bit of a bully with other animals. As mentioned in #3, he lived in places with lots of other animals and he didn't always like sharing the stage. In particular, he really bullied my other little kitty, Clarabelle ruthlessly. Woofies never really intimidated Bingo. He was a bit of a bad ass with others. When he finally got to move into his own place when I met Jim, Bingo was in heaven. He was finally the only animal and he had both of our undivided and copious attention. The last six years of his life allowed him to be the center of attention all the time. I am very grateful for that.

5. There was a rough patch where Bingo had to live in a basement for six months. It was extremely hard on him and me. He loved attention so much but he didn't get as much as he needed in the basement. While we would go down and visit him, it broke my heart that he had to endure that. Hopefully, he forgave me...

6. Bingo had many nicknames. Later in life, these were the ones that really stuck: Boons, Boonie, Boonsarellasoon, Misser.

7. Jim was allergic to cats when we met and when we moved in together. This was very nervewracking as we were not sure how it would work out and I was not going to give Bingo up so there was a heck of a lot riding on it. After some initial months of allergic reaction and taking allergy medicines, Jim eventually got immune to it. We used allergy wipes to wipe Bingo down and this seemed to help. It's amazing to me that this actually worked out. It could have gone very, very wrong had it not.

8. Bingo had to get declawed at a very old age (around 11-12 years old). In our apartment, the landlord would not allow us to have a cat if it wasn't declawed. This was an agonizing decision and I was crying even at the vet hospital when we took him in to have it done. But, he recovered extremely quickly and it was quite nice actually to have him put his paw on your face or your arm now that he wouldn't rip skin. Still, my verdict is out on declawing. Chen and Ollie still have theirs and probably will keep them if we can avoid having the procedure done.

9. Bingo was Romeo incarnate. No really. I am not kidding you. Bingo was the biggest lover kitty ever. He would look straight into your eyes and then put a paw on your shoulder and then lean in with his hot kitty breath and LICK YOUR EAR!! It was a very intimate and adorable behavior of his that I've never seen from any other kitty. One time early on when he first did this to me, I was convinced that he was not a kitty but Romeo incarnate. He did this to men and women and if you were lucky enough to get this ear treatment, you never forgot it.

10. Though he was an indoor cat, Bingo did like to run outside. At one point in our lives, he was an outdoor cat for a short time so he got a taste for roaming the wilds. Bingo used to be found up on roofs just hanging out watching the world. When he was back inside as an indoor cat, I think he liked to try and bolt because he had a taste for outdoor freedom. Occasionally, he gave us a really good scare but we thankfully were always able to get him inside again.

11. Bingo loved people. He adored company and new friends in the house. More love and attention for Bingo! Bingo had many very good friends including Gabby, Mike, Bob, Leila and Tom, Christine, Christa, all of his grandparents and many other wonderful people who loved him.

12. Bingo broke his tooth a year or two before he died. We saw him chewing away on something and it just didn't look right and when we looked in his mouth, half his tooth was missing and he was bloody inside. We never knew he was in pain or how he broke his tooth. But, he was never well again after we took him in to get it fixed. After the tooth removal surgery, he was sick within a year. At first we thought it was hyper-thyroid and we were treating him for that. Then we thought he also had triaditis (irritable bowel syndrome, swollen gall bladder, and pancreatitis). In the end, it was lymphoma and leukemia. We still don't understand how he could have gotten leukemia since he lived with other cats and never got it and didn't go outside for the last seven - eight years of his life. I know this sounds awful, but I think he got it at the cat vet we took him too for his tooth. The lymphoma can result due to compromised immune system from the leukemia. I will always regret this and wonder if we might not have had a few more good years with him before he had to go.

13. We got to spend the last night of his life with Bingo. I've never seen him so sick, so unfunctional. It was one of the hardest nights of my life but I am very grateful that we got to spend that time with him to repeatedly tell him how much we loved him and how we would never ever forget him. In the morning, our friend Mike (who is a vet tech) came over and was able to put him to eternal sleep in our arms.

We miss you so much, Bingo!! We will see you again someday and we know that you are happy and pain-free on the bridge with all Those Who Came Before.

We love you very very much!
Love, Mommy & Daddy

The One Who Came Before

This is our big brother, Bingo. We never got a chance to meet him. He is The One Who Came Before. Today marks the 1 year anniversary of his last day before going to the bridge. Tomorrow mommy will be taking over the blog to do a longer post about him. Bingo is missed so very much.

Happy Belated 18th Birthday Olympia

Today we want to tell you about our friend, Olympia, who turned 18 years old last Friday Aug. 24th. Olympia is a very special kitty who lives in Noo York City. She is very well traveled and goes to Oak Island, NC and Buffalo, NY. Olympia was diagnosed with cancer after her daddy found a golf ball sized lump on her right shoulder. The lump was removed, as well as a good portion of her right shoulder and back muscle. Olympia went through Chemotherapy every two weeks for a few months and she lost a lot of weight, but pulled through with the help of her Mommy and Daddy and lots of support from her Grandma H.

After all that she was feeling pretty good but has since been diagnosed with several other ailments including Bladder stones and a gastro-intestinal disorder requiring herr to take Pregnizone every day to keep her from throwing up. Recently she was also diagnosed with Diabetes, so she gets a shot of Insulin twice a day. Her Mommy and Daddy are good with keeping her on a schedule and as a result of it, she gets to eat some yummy new cat food and just go about her business as usual.

Olympia's beautiful floofy belly has been shaved many times in the past and she used to love laying next to her daddy in bed while he scratched it. Olympia has many nicknames including "Goo", "Goose", and "Big Earl". Though she has a feeling when her mommy and daddy are calling her Big Earl, they mean Big Girl, as her hearing isn't as good as it used to be.

Olypia has a baby bean brother named Will who is now 3 and a half years old. Will is a very sweet boy and makes sure Olympia's food dish is always full.

We're so happy to know such a great and wonderful cat like Olympia. She is such a positive role model and knows the value of family and unconditional love.

Happy Birthday Olympia! We love you!
Love,
Mr. Chen & Ollie

P.S. Don't you guys think Olympia should get her own bloggie so we can learn more about her?

Holy Smokes!!

No way - I won the Full Monty contest??? I can't believe it? I am so honored to be picked by my peers around the world and so honored to be tied with Rocky the Gutter Cat for this most amazing honor. I am truly humbled because when Mr. Chen and I went through and tried to cast our votes it was very very VERY hard - there were so many wonderful entries. We loved them all! Thank you to Monty Q. and mombean for running such a fun contest and thanks to all the kitties who submitted entries and voted. I am truly honored! Thanks cat blogosphere!

Finally, I would like to dedicate this honor to the glorious Anastasia of The Cat Realm. We honor her joie de vivre and her funky spirit by dedicating this cool award to her. We are missing you, Ana!

Purrs,
Ollie

Mancat Monday

Happy Mancat Monday! We are very happy because mommy and daddy were supposed to go on another trip to Ohio this weekend but their plans have been thwarted so they are home with us today. Hooray!

We are still praying and purring that Anastasia comes home soon.

Blog blast for Anastasia

Today we will hold a blogblast of prayers and purrs for our good friend, Anastasia, of The Cat Realm. Ana is still missing and there was discouraging news of a bobcat nearby but we will not give up hope. We keep praying for her miraculous safe return. Join the blogblast for Ana at 12Noon PDT, 3pm EDT. Thank you to Skeezik for organizing this important event.

Photo Hunters #5 - Happy

This week's photo hunters is a nice one. Here is Mr. Chen happy to have a nap on the sofa. However, we won't be happy till Ana is home safe and sound. We're purring for Anastasia's safe return.

Urgent News

Everyone we just read the most horrible news that Anastasia of The Cat Realm has been missing since Tuesday. Karl and the staff are extremely distraught. We are praying and purring for them and for Ana's safe and speedy return home. Please stop by and let them know you're purring, too.

Funky Friday

For today's installment of Funky Friday, Ollie demonstrates what fun can be had hanging out in a dry cleaner bag. Babybeans, don't try this at home! Bags can be dangerous for baby humans but oh what fun for little kitties.

TGIF! We hope all kitties and their beans have happy weekends!

Wordless Wednesday

Mancat Monday

Nose Quads

The cool cats at Crew's Views have posted a fun challenge for all kitties in the blogosphere to find their nose twins.


Mr. Hendrix


William


Tyler


Me

Mr. Chen has found his nose twins. They are Mr. Hendrix, Tyler, and William the Mass Destructor. Together we make nose quads! Now, Ollie needs to find his nose twins.

Photo Hunters #4 - Two

This week's Photo Hunters is an easy one!

Today Ollie woke mommy up at 3:30 am by trying to play hide and seek with her leg under the covers. Naughty Ollie! You're supposed to start that business at 5am, remember?

Thursday Thirteen #11

Mostly, we are angels. Mommy and Daddy both say so but there are sometimes when we can be well, a little naughty.

Thirteen "Bad" Things We Do When We Are Being Naughty
1. Lay on kitchen counters
2. Knock over vases (that's what mommy gets for putting feavers in 'em, we say)
3. Play with furry miceys in mommy and daddy's bed
4. Drink from toilet bowels
5. Lick butter from the butter dish
6. Knock over photos
7. Lay on the fireplace mantle
8. Scratch the arm of the new sofa
9. Put the bitey on toes under the covers
10. Drop toys in the water bowl
11. Try to sneak down the cellar stairs
12. Try to sneak out the front door when mommy and daddy get the mail
13. Wake daddy and mommy up every 15 minutes starting at 5am

But it's ok because we're so cute that mommy and daddy just say "Oh Ollie" "Oh Chenny." We try not to abuse our power too much though.

Hope every kitty has a wonderful Thursday!

Wordless Wednesday

Thank You Tuesday

We were so excited last Friday when Mommy came home from work and got the mail and said there was a package for us! It was the first package we've ever gotten and we were thrilled. It was from Karl of The Cat Realm who is such a good friend and a good sport that he sent us a monkey magnet since we did not win the glorious wooden monkeys in Laffin and Laffin's contest. He also was so moved by Ollie's plea for the monkeys that he sent a little hairy blue monkey for Ollie to give to mommy. However, Ollie decided that since mommy loved that magnet so much (and since Ollie loved that hairy monkey so much) that they would switch. Thank you to Karl for making our day! And, thank you Laffin and Laffin for having this contest so we could end up with such neat monkey surprises!

Mancat Monday

Happy Friday

Happy Fun, Fabulous Friday to everykitty and their beans! We are having some house guests this weekend from New York (maybe they know Jeter?) and from Washington DC. It should be a fun weekend and if we don't get to visiting everyone as much we're sorry but we'll catch up with you when we can.

Happy Friday! Happy Fabulous Weekend!

Thursday Thirteen #10

Here are thirteen outtake photos of our recent Phillies baseball cap photoshoot. Fashion is hard work!