Hermione’s Kitty Korner #27: What’s New With Meow

I’ve been waiting for my brother Harry to post  his updates, but since he’s so lazy, I’ll go ahead an post mine first. The last time I wrote back in May, we had recently lost our friend Stripey. It’s just been me and Harry since then.

Things were going smoothly until my grandma, Debbie, noticed some blood under my tail. This had happened before we lost Stripey, but Debbie was so involved in trying to feed him and make him better that she wasn’t really watching me too closely. The vet had asked her for a urine sample, but she and her family had come down with COVID the day that Stripey went to Rainbow Bridge. It was a Friday the 13th and very bad luck for all of us.

Debbie thought my bleeding issue had resolved itself, but then in July, she saw me after I used the litterbox and noticed the blood was back. She brought me in emergency to see another vet who kept me at the animal hospital and took some tests. It turned out that I was diagnosed with Feline Urologic Syndrome. Debbie’s mother had a male cat with this issue, so she was slightly familiar with it but didn’t realize that female cats got it, too. The vet told her it was less dangerous in a female cat because it didn’t usually cause the blockage that it does in male cats which can be deadly if not caught right away.

To make me better, the vet recommended a special diet of very expensive food, Hill’s C/D Urinary Care canned food. Debbie has it delivered by Chewy. She tried a few samples from the vet first to see if I would eat it and was surprised that I loved it. The problem is that Harry loves it, too. He watches me eat and tries to steal it from me if I don’t finish it right away. I also try to steal his dry food, although I don’t really miss it that much.

The prescription food is so delicious. Debbie gets the small can that is a scrumptious chicken stew with carrots in it. The vet told her to feed me 2 small cans a day. She breaks that up into a few servings by covering the cans and refrigerating them.

So far, so good. No more bloody behind. I’m very playful, especially at night and am enjoying the cooler weather. I also modeled for Debbie’s book, Memories and Meows, that just came out. It features me, Harry, and a few other cats that came before us including Stripey.

The Cat in the Christmas Tree: And Other True Stories of Feline Joy and Merry Mischief. is another book that isn’t out yet but features me and Harry in “First Christmas with Kittens,”  a holiday story about when we were young. It will be published on October 11 and is available now on pre-order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Christmas-Tree-Stories-Mischief/dp/0800737938/

That’s it for meow. I hope my writing will spur my brother to take up his paw and share his news which includes becoming an author in a forthcoming anthology. You heard it right. Harry has pawed his own story, but I’ll let him share that information soon.

Advertisement

Hermione’s Kitty Korner #26: My Tribute to Stripey and Other News

Purrs, it’s Hermione. My brother, Harry, already posted the sad news about our older brother, Stripey, who traveled to the Rainbow Bridge on May 13, but I also wanted to add my respects. I had a love/hate relationship with Stripey. When we first got together, we hissed at one another. But I remember playing footsie with him under the door before we were allowed to be alone together.

I don’t have too many photos of me and Stripey because I always spent more time away from him and my brother. I preferred my own spots to those of “the boys.” Here’s one of us sharing the cat tree in the room where we have our toys and litter boxes.

And here is a photo of the three of us when we first got together. Debbie called us “the three Mouseketeers.”

I know that Harry also shared the good news about Debbie’s new book, The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady, the first Buttercup Bend Cozy Mystery, and her other forthcoming books, Sneaky’s Supernatual Mystery and Other Cobble Cove Stories, releasing June 1st. and Memories and Meows that will also be out soon.

For more information about these books and Debbie’s other news, you should subscribe to her newsletter, Debbie’s Drafts. You could even win a giveaway prize. Just fill out the pop-up form on her website: https://debbiedelouise.com.

Last, but not least, please look for my America’s Favorite Pet feature in the Sept/Oct issue of Catster Magazine that will be out the first week of July. I am very excited about being featured in a national magazine.
Before I end this post, I just want to share with you a beautiful painting that a friend of Debbie’s daughter did of Stripey. I think it’s the best tribute of them all. My humans will be framing and hanging it.

Harry’s Kitty Korner #26: Lotsa Bad News but Some Good

Meow, there. It’s Harry. I hate to write this column after all this time with bad news, but I’m afraid I have no choice. I’m a black cat, after all. However, I was lucky that I was adopted, along with my sister, by Debbie and her family three years ago.

The bad news I have to share involves my older brother, Stripey. While we weren’t from the same litter, like me and Hermione, he was a pretty nice guy. We weren’t exactly friends, but we hung out a lot. Debbie referred to us as “the boys.” Now I’m the only boy cat left because Stripey has taken that trip to Rainbow Bridge. He was 14, so much older than me and my sis, but time goes quick. That’s why I’m trying to enjoy my youth as long as I can.

Here’ are two photos of us hanging out together like cat buds. They were taken some time ago. Stripey started losing weight. They thought it was thyroid, but it turned out to be the Big C. Poor boy. I miss him.

And here is a photo of the three of us when we first got together.

The other bad news is that, right after I noticed Stripey was gone, my humans started sneezing and coughing, and I heard them say they had COVID. I don’t know too much about that disease, but I always saw them wearing masks when they went out, so I don’t know how they caught it. While Debbie was in bed with fevers, me and Hermione did our best to keep her company and make her feel better.

I hate to be the bearer of so much bad news, but I also have some good news. Debbie published her new cozy, The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady, which is the first of the new Buttercup Bend series, and I took a peek at her notes for the next book and see that me, Hermione, and even Stripey will be characters in it.

Here’s the purr-chase link: mybook.to/cclady

Please consider buying a copy. I give it 5 meows.

Debbie is also publishing two other books soon. One is a collection of Cobble Cove stories called Sneaky’s Supernatural Mystery and Other Cobble Cove Stories.. She’s also reprinting PET POSTS: The Cat Chats with a new cover and new edits. This book will be called Memories and Meows. It also features me, Hermione, and Stripey as well as our predecessors Floppy, Holly, and Oliver..
That’s it for meow, but I’m sure my sister will post a tribute to our friend, Stripey, soon.

 

Hermione’s Kitty Korner #24: A New Cozy Mystery with a Calico Cat Star

Sorry to usurp my brother, Harry, who should’ve been posting his column but has been very lazy lately except when he zooms around after me. I’m also bumping the Feature Friday film in order to let you all know about a great new book in Debbie’s cozy mystery series. KittyKai’s Easter Mystery is now available, and the best part is that it stars a calico just like me.

I love the fact that KittyKai is on the cover of this book and plays such an important role in helping Alicia and her mistress, Gilly at the inn, solve the mystery. Sadly, the book is only in eBook form, but it’s free on Kindle Unlimited. It’s a short book that is part of the Cobble Cove short story series that now consists of 4 titles and follows the Cobble Cove mystery series with the same characters but brand new mysteries. Check them out here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QNJ4GLQ

Also, don’t miss the blog tour for KittyKai’s Easter Mystery starting on March 22.There will be reviews, interviews, and a great giveaway on Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

Besides helping Debbie with KittyKai’s scenes because who better than a fellow calico or should I say, lady calico, to understand another, I’ve been hanging out with Debbie’s teenage daughter since she’s been doing remote schooling this week. One thing I enjoyed was playing with Holly’s crochet yarn, although Debbie keeps taking it away from me.

I have plenty of other toys around the house that I share with my brothers Harry and Stripey. We have a toy box, and we all like to grab things out of it. Here I am with a catnip square.

Even though it’s still cold, we are having some nice, sunny days, and it’s warmer in the enclosed patio room than it is outside. I often sit out there with Holly, Debbie, and my brothers. Holly brought the office chair from her room out there, and now there are paw prints on it. I’m not saying who made them.

One fun thing I did was climb up on a box and look into Holly’s room while she was using her computer. She opened the window, and I jumped inside. I am so clever.

That’s it for my Kitty Korner column. I’ll try to nudge Harry into updating you all on his activities. In the meantime, do check out Debbie’s new book. It’s pawsome because what else can you expect from a calico cat star?

Stripey’s Kitty Korner #1: What am I? Chopped Cat Food?

Hey guys, it’s Stripey. I had a cat chat with Sneaky and asked why I couldn’t get in on the action that those little squirts (big squirts now) have been enjoying for the past two years on this Kitty Korner column. So here I am with my first Stripey column. My apologies that it takes the place of the Feature Friday Film this week, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it much more.

As you know, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism several months back. Debbie has to put this icky cream in my ear twice a day. The only good part to it is that she gives me these special dried chicken cat treats that are so delicious that I cry for them. However, she also gives them to Harry and Hermione. Is that fair? I have to endure that icky cream, and they get the treats just for looking pretty!

I’ve come to terms with those two, but we still have occasional cat spats. Harry is an okay guy. He likes to watch TV with me at night with Debbie and Anthony. Hermione doesn’t hang with us much. She prefers the top of the bedroom closet or the bed.

I’m glad Debbie put some of my photos and a bonus post in her new cat book, Pet Posts: The Cat Chats. I’m including an excerpt from an interview I did with Sneaky when Harry and Hermione first came into my home. It’s my claim to fame and the least she could do since I’ve been her pet for 12 years, and they’ve only been hers for two.

Mice to have you here, Stripey. Did you have a nice holiday?

Hello, Sneaky. My holiday was okay except that those two little furballs who visited my territory in October are still here.

Furballs? Are you referring to Harry and Hermione, the kittens who write the Kitty Korner column on this blog?

You got that right, Sneaks.

May I ask what you have against those two, Stripey?

Isn’t that obvious? They are in my home. I admit that I once shared the place with a cat named Oliver. He was an old guy and really didn’t give me much trouble. When he went away, I had the place to myself. Now I’ve got not one, but two felines to deal with.

I don’t understand. You got along with Oliver. Why can’t you get along with Harry and Hermione?

Well, to be honest, Sneaky, I didn’t get along with Oliver right away. We actually got into a fur fight when he first came into my house, but then I realized he wasn’t going anywhere, and he was a lot older and bigger than I was. These little cats that are in my house now can gang up on me. They’re fast and strong. I’ve seen them zip around like tiny tigers.

Are you saying that you’re afraid of the kittens?

Let’s just say I’m a bit wary of them. That’s why I hiss when I see them and run for cover. Deep down, I admit I’m curious about them. I’ve played footsie with the girl under the door, but I’m not sure I can trust either of them yet.

So, you see, despite our rough start, I’ve managed to make peace with the two furballs, but I still have a beef with them. They get a lot of attention just because they’re young, but I was a kitten once, too, and quite adorable, I must say. What do you think?

That’s the end of my “tail,” but Sneaky has agreed to have me share my words of wisdom as a senior cat on this column. So, there you, youngsters!