Last night I got the link to our wedding photos from our photographer. I'd really tried to be patient and not send too many emails asking for updates.
Some are ones that are similar to ones my family took, but there are a good number of the ceremony and reception that I hadn't had any photos of.
Here's the link if you'd like to see: http://ronhagen.smugmug.com/Scott-Laura/n-6nkHfw
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We've been having some animal issues here. Right now I'm still the only one actually *living* here. With all the cats and the dog we're dogsitting.
DH's cats are adjusting pretty well to the new house / new environment. They also have adjusted well to being fed out of individual bowls (rather than food scattered on the floor with a mad scramble ...)
Kari though ... she adjusted well when it was just her and I. She was okay when the first few cats were added. Still okay, though getting stressed when more were added. Then, the dog was added. And finally, the last cat.
The first few days with the dog went okay. She wasn't eating much because she kept looking out for the dog every time there was a noise. But eventually I figured out that if I fed her away from the group up high, that that would work somewhat better.
That was good - because I had enough to deal with due to the dogs skin allergy. (which while not totally healed, is a whole lot better now - thanks to being consistent with his meds!)
The last 3 or 4 days though, things have gone from just okay, to not okay. She is very stressed. Not just hissing once in awhile at the other cats, but hissing a LOT, growling, and doing this horrible scream that sounds like she's being murdered or something. (while no cat is even touching her - nor is the dog - just a cat getting too close to her space or something) Also, is basically keeping herself sequestered in a corner of my office.
DH thinks it will get better once the dog is gone. (Two more long weeks.) I really hope he is right.
I am afraid though, that Kari won't be happy in a multi-animal family. She was very skittish and aloof with other people even when it was just her and I. Now she's even more jumpy.
I'm afraid that I may have to consider doing something that makes my stomach turn inside out. Something I have always said I would *never* do. But .. if it is either find a new home for her or have her continue being stressed out and not enjoying life ... and stressing me out, which in turn stresses DH out (since I'm a *wee* bit over emotional due to the stress ...) It's also not helping the other cats much to be constantly hissed at/ swatted at by Kari.
Ugh.
I won't make any decision until I've tried just about anything and everything I can think of.
Tonight I bought some calming chews from Petco. Kari wouldn't eat them. Koky (the dog) liked them though. (He also prefers cat food - and his owner just feeds him cat food.)
I also ordered some kind of calming gel paste from Amazon today.
The dog - he is a sweet, good dog for the most part. But ... he has this tendency to charge the cats once in a while when he gets overexcited. He also has the most annoying bark in the world. If you ignore him, it just gets worse.
I'm SO ready for this dog to go. 2 more weeks.
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DH asked me tonight to schedule movers for the 21st. Finally. (He's been working on getting his place packed - lots of electronics/speakers which take a lot of time to pack properly, etc.)
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Sunday I have someone scheduled to come put the coaxial cable through the walls (for cable/Internet). I can also have them make connections in other places in the house, or do outlets. All for the same price. ($40) I'm going to ask them to do the bedrooms, the office, the workshop and the laundry room. May as well, right?
I was just so happy to be able to have someone come out on a Sunday!
When that's done, then I'll be working on my Cook Smart's meal plan. I bit the bullet and paid for a year - at 20% off. $56.
I went shopping for ingredients tonight. I still need to find farro and soyrizo.
Meal 1: Zucchini Cake Sandwiches
Meal 2: Farro Bowls (may sub Quinoa if I can't find farro)
Meal 3: Mexican Hash
Meal 4: Soyrizo and Corn Saute
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Ok, gotta clean the cat boxes, take Koky out, and then feed the gang so I can get to bed. Night all!
More Wedding Pictures - Courtesy of the Photographer! - Cat Stress
June 11th, 2016 at 04:38 am
June 11th, 2016 at 05:04 am 1465617892
June 11th, 2016 at 05:42 am 1465620142
June 11th, 2016 at 06:06 am 1465621588
I feel for you with Kari. Our Noodles was so bummed about us bringing Clue into the family that he ran away twice -- the second time for good. I still feel like they would have come around if they'd had more time, though. I admit both of our current cats are more people-friendly so probably more cat-friendly, but I miss Noodles and wish we'd had time to see if he got used to Clue.
June 11th, 2016 at 03:43 pm 1465656215
June 11th, 2016 at 04:03 pm 1465657434
June 11th, 2016 at 07:18 pm 1465669087
June 11th, 2016 at 10:15 pm 1465679711
June 11th, 2016 at 10:37 pm 1465681078
Thanks for commiserating. Kari running away is at least one thing I don't think I need to worry about. She is petrified of being outside. Unlike my previous cat Monkey who I had to keep a vigilant eye on the door ...
CB - I really, really, really hope you are right. Maybe she's feeding off of my stress a bit too .. going from being a mom of one cat to a mom of too many cats. (plus a dog temporarily, plus the baby chick and chicken eggs in the basement, plus the turtle and turtles to come ...)
CCF - I've tried. But the room she's coocooned herself in is the office - which at the moment has a cable running through the door - which makes it impossible to fully shut the door (at least not enough to keep Koky the dog from opening it.) If your daughter ever wants some cat time, she's welcome to come over and get loved on by multiple cats. All but two (Kari and Munchkin) are people lovers.
Butterscotch - The cats (except Kari) were my DH's. He had two when I met him (one of which is still living now), acquired another two (mother and daughter) during the years we only corresponded, and then added the rest while we were dating. All were strays (except the one that passed) he found while out delivering. All of them are really great cats in their own way. (He had them checked for diseases and microchips, posted lost cat found ads, etc.)
Rob - I'm looking forward to them myself.
June 12th, 2016 at 02:34 am 1465695249
Good luck on the cat situation. I'm sure things will get better when the dog departs. Maybe you could move Kari in your bedroom for 'her place'. It might seem more familiar to her. If the cats aren't neutered, I wonder if there could be some hormonal causes behind her behavior.
June 13th, 2016 at 04:16 am 1465787772
June 13th, 2016 at 04:36 pm 1465832172
June 15th, 2016 at 09:12 pm 1466021544
June 17th, 2016 at 02:01 am 1466125281