The Adventures of Lynyrd Skinyrd

[MaddieP]

@Yoda mom We've tried the big crate, scheduled potty breaks, essentially everything short of tethering him to us when we're home. We've done your recommendations for getting used to the cats, and although he'll stop when we use the 'leave it' command, as soon as they run, he's right back to chasing and grabbing them to play.

The person he'll be boarding with is a close friend and I'm welcome to come visit whenever I'd like. She's been doing in home training with us since he came home, he just needs a place with more consistency. He's so incredibly stubborn, he'll literally just stare at us while he stands and pees.

 

[MaddieP]

General life update now that life is settled a bit: Mercury has gone to a new loving home with parents that are home 24/7, and he's the only pet. They adore him and lavish him with attention and love, and don't mind his energy or lack of potty training.
After Mercury and a trial run with a Dane, I've decided that I'm just a cat person and Leo is a special case... so now we're considering another cat
I'm going to at least one cat show in March, and can't wait to meet more cat people locally!
We also got Christmas pictures made, which turned out pretty cute. As expected, Bunny is the most tolerant, and even did some improv of playing under the tree while we took our photos. They're too large to upload here, but I just posted in the Facebook group. I hope everyone has had a relaxing, stress-free holiday season.

 

[Yoda mom]

@MaddieP , thank you for the update and thatt Mercury found a wonderful forever home.
to share pics here, you can screen shot and share. some of us are having problem uploading pics too , states file too large. admin has been made aware.

hugs n head smooches. enjoy the cat the cat show.!

What to expect from a responsible sphynx breeder

We get this question quite a bit here on Sphynxlair so I figured we would compile some useful information, a check list if you will for a first time sphynx buyer or even an existing sphynx parent looking to get another sphynx cat or kitten. All of these items listed below aren't necessarily deal...

sphynxlair.com

looking forward to updates and will check out your pics on our FB page too!

 

[MaddieP]

@Yoda mom Thanks for the tip about the photos!
We're looking into a few hairier breeds because I'm interested in creative grooming. Currently British Longhairs are at the top of the list. I posted in a purebred cat group asking for suggestions, and that's my favorite so far. I'm hoping I can find someone locally that will let me meet theirs so I can really feel out if it would be a good fit before I commit.

 

[Yoda mom]

@MaddieP , love!!! hugs n head smooches. ooh, harrier breeds , how neat. all paws are family. looking for updates. british longhairs are gorgeous . lol I have 2 aussie pups high maintenance fur compared to nakids.

lol my nakids love the aussie pups fur! like living moving heated blankets.
I researched personalities when I adopted bengal cats. what are british longhairs personality?

 

[MaddieP]

They're very sedate, they like to be near you but not on top of you. Not generally very playful or mischievous. Much like our girl Bunny, who's the calmest, most neutral cat I've ever had.
I'm still looking into other cats, but my husband quite liked the look of a male BLH one very nice breeder has, and I messaged her with some general questions. She's been very kind and helpful, and I mentioned that hubby liked him and that's a high compliment. He's apparently being neutered in a couple months and will be going to a pet home, and I'm strongly considering him. He's a grandchampion, fantastic for grooming, and loves dogs. We will have to wait and see how he feels about other cats after his neuter, because of course it would only work out if he's cat friendly. He is chocolate, so my dreams of creative grooming would have to wait, but he's very handsome.

 

[MaddieP]

We've had a rough few weeks. First it snowed, which was actually nice. Bunny and Lynnie had been acting abnormal for a bit, not eating normally, and Bunny lost weight while he got bloated. I ended up dropping them off that Friday morning, the first day the roads were safer to drive on. Well, on the way there, I started vomiting. I managed to make it there, drop them off, and get home before I spent the next two days in the bathroom. My husband got them home, I was half delirious, but after a lot of tests, we determined that Bunny was having a flare up of her feline herpes and Lynnie's colon was swollen. They got a bunch of meds sent home.
By Monday, Lynnie still wasn't eating. Which is a really, really bad sign for him. So immediately back to the vet we went, and he spent the next 3 days hospitalized, on fluids and having daily x-rays.
He's recovered and home, but we've been going through it.
Free picture of Leo enjoying the seeing the snow for the first time.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Oh no, you guys have really had a big bump in the road. I’m glad to hear you/the cats are feeling better. Love the pics!

 

[Yoda mom]

@MaddieP , oh my heart.. been thru so much. sending continued hugs n positive vibe head smooches. love the photos!

 

[Toa and Ross]

Such heavy weeks you have had. Glad to hear you all are doing better now. Sending positive vibes

 

[nudebea]

Im sorry to hear you've had such a tough time recently .Sending good vibes that things will get easier and better for you all

 

[MaddieP]

Sorry guys, I didn't get an alert for some reason, but I appreciate your good vibes and healing energy. Everyone has been good lately, and a couple of weeks ago we celebrated Lynnie's 6th birthday. He had a dino chicken nugget themed party, and on his actual birthday he got to go to his favorite places. We went to the mall, where all his favorite stores and people are.
He got to snuggle with his people at Lush, Hot Topic, and Boxlunch, and for the first time got to go into Blue Zoo (small zoo/aquarium in our mall). He loved watching the stingrays in the touch pool!
He got extra spoiled with a new cat tree and I even made him little birthday cakes out of his hydrolyzed protein food.
Leo got a new dye job yesterday and then got to go to a dog friendly event, and got a ton of attention, so he was thrilled.

 

[nudebea]

Happy (belated) 6th birthday Lynnie! Love the pics, he's a real social animal !

 

[Yoda mom]

@MaddieP , awh! adorable photos and great birthday adventures! Happiest 6th birthday wishes n kisses Lynnie!
hugs n head smooches for health and many more!

 

[MaddieP]

Quick little update on Ebi! Our little smush-faced man has come so far. In about a year and a half, he's gone from feral and untouchable, to begging for attention!
We ran into a volunteer at the event that we brought Leo to last weekend, and when she mentioned she volunteers at the rescue we got him from, I told her that we had adopted Ebenezer, if she remembered him. She immediately got super excited and said that he had been in 5 or 6 homes and she had wondered what happened to him. I was more than happy to show her all the pictures of the progress he's made!
He approached my mom for attention when she visited last week, and now most of my friends that come over regularly have gotten to pet him. He's really an absolute sweetheart and cuddlebug now that he's settled in. I'm definitely planning to take in another elderly scaredy cat one day, it's been incredibly rewarding watching him progress and come out of his shell.

 

[Yoda mom]

@MaddieP , awh, precious update. Ebi struck gold in your hearts and home (after all those rehomes, wow,, be proud, you have done amazing with Ebi). melt my heart, hugs n head smooches to all paws!

 

[nudebea]

So glad to hear that all your hard work and patience is paying off and Ebi is living the life he deserves

 

[MaddieP]

We have a new aquatic friend! Fettuccine Alfredo is a freshwater Tiger Moray, and he's super fun. The cats all love watching him, and he's a great addition to the house. He shares our 120 gallon with a single pearl gourami, and seems quite content with his life.

 

[Yoda mom]

melt my heart! My kittles live wat hing the fish too

 

[nudebea]

Better than cat TV !

 

[MaddieP]

Well, I did a thing. Saw a terrible, two sentence craigslist post about a 2 year old female 'sphyx' needing a home. My gut kept bothering me, so I texted the number. Last night, I picked up our new child.
Guys, I was not prepared. She's so emaciated. Skin and bones, upper respiratory something, ear mites. I almost broke down when we took her from the previous owner.
We're still figuring out a name, but I brought her to our vet as soon as they opened and said "do whatever you have to do". Poor baby is so so sweet already. She purrs when you touch her. She hates the car, gets horribly car sick.
I really think she would have died in the next two weeks if I hadn't gotten her. The old owner didn't give me any vet records, she didn't even know if she was spayed, and I strongly suspect a hoarding case because she couldn't even tell me how many cats she had. Send her all the good healing vibes, she definitely needs them!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Welcome to your forever loving home little girl. We look forward to seeing you become healthy and strong. If she was spayed, you should be able to see the small scar. Keep us updated.

 

[tuffysmommy]

Oh Maddie, you have such a beautiful kind heart. Lair prayers for good health for your poor new kitty. I cant imagine such horrible mistreatment. You already have such a big brood. This kitty definitely had her stars well aligned to get to your family. Please us know her name and how she doing.

 

[Yoda mom]

@MaddieP , oh my heart, bless your heart for being this beautiful baby's angel and opening up your heart and home to her. please keep us updated on her vet visit results. did vet confirm spay incision? or possible intact that she may have been a backyard breeder girl. She surely will thrive in your hearts and home. keep us updated on name you choose ( My Tobylove was off a craigslist add at 11 mos old I suspect a closest breeder, he had no idea of what his supposed name was. she replied with a question when I asked , "Prince"? and could "not remember " the name of the alleged out of state cattery she got him from,, yeah right) I named him Toby as sounded like meant to-be , added the love to his name later on when I would tell him toby have love. )

hugs n head smooches to all paws.

stay strong baby girl, you are in the best of hands, sending love, hugs, and thriving vibe head smooches. you struck gold in your forever home.

 

[MaddieP]

Thanks for all the well-wishes for our new darling. We've dubbed her Nirvana, and her vet visit went well. Obviously she's underweight, she was dehydrated, had ear infections, an upper respiratory infection... just kind of a mess. We're waiting on her fecal and bloodwork results to come back, but she's doing really well. Her stool is slowly improving, she eats pretty well, and she's extremely affectionate.
I went a little crazy at work yesterday and bought half the toy aisle to stock her room with. She doesn't seem to understand what they are, but I'm sure we'll get there. Right now we're concentrating on getting weight on and resolving any health issues.
My friends have been an absolute blessing. They've agreed to make her some quick baby sweaters since only Lynnie's smallest baby sweater fits her, and one is going to come over and do a magnawave treatment on her to hopefully help speed healing. My husband, despite his initial unhappiness, definitely likes her.
She snuggles as deeply as possible into your chest and purrs like crazy. She seems to be improving. This morning I feel like I saw a visible improvement in her hydration level and maybe a tiny bit of filling out.
Fingers crossed it was just neglect and not any serious underlying health issues.