And just so you guys know… this is what he looks like when he doesn’t look like a Dr. Seuss character pic.twitter.com/ObxUUyCdQ9
— Caitlin Christine (@caitchristinee) June 8, 2019
Poor kitty. Steve should be grateful he’s got John looking out after him instead of this guy. LOL
Also, JeffreyW cracks me up. He posted this on our blog with the caption, “Late Again” it’s where his bird feeder usually is placed:
— Miss T (@TaMarasKitchen) June 11, 2019
Today is not going as planned. LOL How about you?
Respite open thread
misterpuff
Somebody got screwed…..or at least, twisted.
Auntie Anne
What did they do to that poor cat? It looks ridiculous, and you know that the cat a) knows it b) is plotting its revenge.
Betty Cracker
Okay, good time to ask a question that has baffled me for years: Why do people barber their cats? Cats’ fur doesn’t just keep getting longer like a poodle or a sheep. So whyyyyy?
TaMara (HFG)
@Betty Cracker: Mostly for cooling in the summer (which I believe is why John risks his groomers’ lives with Steve), and some cats just don’t groom themselves well. Butts especially.
chopper
that’s what happens when you drop your cat off at the groomer and ask for “the squeeze box”.
Jay
@Betty Cracker:
Long hairs get matts as well. Often when they get older, they arn’t as good at grooming themselves, and don’t take kindly to being de-matted.
If it get’s to bad, it’s often easier to just shave them and start over.
SiubhanDuinne
I’m going to have nightmares about Steve tonight, I just know I am.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@TaMara (HFG): IIRC shaving cats butts is a sensitive topic with our Blogfather who art in West(By God) Virginia.
CarolPW
I would greatly appreciate any advice or experience with CBD oil for dogs with anxiety issues. My 8 month old pup is terrified of anything that’s different (and all people she hasn’t met three or four times), and is the only dog I have ever had that HATES going for walks.
?BillinGlendaleCA
I went on a shoot with the Meetup group Sunday evening at the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, I got there early so I thought I’d get a different view. Under the Bridge…
Jay
@CarolPW:
Healthy dogs ususally live in the moment, but key in on and adopt the emotional state of the pack leader. If you are anxious about taking the pup for a walk, (because it’s a struggle), or meeting new people, (or dogs), then often, just having a positive and leader attitude over a short period of time can make all the difference.
Do you take the pup to training classes?
TaMara (HFG)
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Nice!
MomSense
Dealing with some sad news today so the poor kitty’s grooming mishap is a welcome laugh. I used to have to get my Maine Coon shaved – he stopped being able to adequately groom his fur. I wish I had known there was a flapper style fringe option. It’s so ridiculous looking it’s cool.
satby
The semi feral young tom cat I’ve been feeding for almost a year climbed up on my lap for scritches today while I sat outside with him. He’s not at the point where I can pick him up, he jumps up and jumps away if he feels threatened, but he’s trusting me more. I leave the door open so he can decide to walk inside one day, and I think we’re getting close. So that was a good thing that happened today.
Major Major Major Major
The last couple days at work have been a tire fire, but I guess things are limping along surprisingly well considering.
Time to work on another short story for the anthology…
ETA and Nintendo’s big product announcement today looked pretty alright! Excited to some day play the sequel to Breath of the Wild.
satby
@MomSense: sorry ?
TaMara (HFG)
@CarolPW: We use CBD for pain and inflammation for Bixby and my cat Emma. I don’t know about anxiety. But you might want to start with (the cheaper option) Bach flower, Rescue Remedy- get the spray – you can spray it on her gums (easier than trying to get drops in). Works great for dogs with thunder anxiety, and other emotional issues. I have used it on rescues for years – after learning an elephant rescue organization had great success with it.
Works so well we would rub it on the cats’ ears at the vets’ office and their heart rates would drop back down to normal. Vet was always amazed.
dmsilev
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an accordion cat before.
debbie
Unless the father specifically asked for this style, I don’t understand how the groomer thought it would be okay.
CarolPW
@Jay: Took her to 12 weeks of puppy school starting at 3 months. Take her to the feed store weekly, This is not my first rodeo (she is the number 4 dog over the last 50 years [I am a serial monogamist when it comes to dogs, but I have also lived with and around other people’s dogs]), I have no struggle with or anxiety issues in aking a puppy for a walk (she is only 30 pounds so it is not like taking a hyperactive rottweiler for a walk who weighs more than me.
TaMara (HFG)
@Jay: No lie there. Most of my early training with Bixby was learning to remain completely neutral and get him to take his cues from me. Really, really important as he topped 100 lbs by 8 months and very, very protective of me.
ETA: To say, he still really doesn’t listen to me, but at least he reads me and behaves pretty well. LOL
dmsilev
@?BillinGlendaleCA: The Arroyo trail is a nice walk. Except for the small segment with the “Warning: Arrows!” signs.
(there’s an archery range. So yes, really, watch out for arrows)
satby
@CarolPW: my dogs weren’t helped by the oil but are you using a harness for the walks? Some dogs don’t like collars constricting their necks, and a harness instead helps with that.
MomSense
@satby:
Thanks.
mrmoshpotato
Did they bleach the cat’s fur too? WTF?
Still hilarious in a glad-that’s-not-my-cat way.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@TaMara (HFG): Thanks.
@dmsilev: Yeah, I’ll watch out for that. I didn’t get that far upstream.
laura
@CarolPW: I’ve used CBD products for Chet the weinie dog – he’s got turned out hands that put a lot of pressure on his wrists. I’ve used snacks that are CBD and I have a salve, but it’s so yummy he just licks it off. I second the recommendation for rescue remedy – its fast acting. You can use the drops under the tongue and inside the ears. It comes in handy for loud holidays, thunder, long trips in the car…
I’ve stacked CBD and rescue remedy and haven’t seen any downside results.
I hope you can find a solution as anxious pops become anxious dogs and I live next door to two extremely anxious pittys. It’s awful, as soon as they are upset – and everything upsets them – they turn on each other. It’s sad and sub optimal.
Please report out if you give them a try.
I think spiral cat looks snazzy af.
Major Major Major Major
@debbie:
The dad must have been pranking them. Right?
MoxieM
Was that a groomer training school? Just, uh, asking.
(I kind of think it looks cool, but it’s not my cat, or my bed the cat’s going to shit in either.)
CarolPW
@satby: Yes, all my dogs have always worn harnesses, The coller is only for the tags.
dmsilev
@?BillinGlendaleCA: The archery range is downstream of the bridge (upstream, there’s the freeway bridge and then the Rose Bowl). Roughly opposite the range is a pool for practicing fly-fishing; there’s parking at the pool if you want to start a walk there without having to walk down into the arroyo (and then back up again).
Jay
@CarolPW:
How did she do at puppy school and how does she do at the feed store?
Still super anxious?
TaMara (HFG)
For those asking – the dad asked for it, I guess. I’d still like to know what exactly he asked for. I mean I’ve heard of lion cut, but WTF is this called, so I don’t accidentally ever ask for it. She updated with another cute picture:
?BillinGlendaleCA
@dmsilev: Oh, OK. I was just under the bridge, I didn’t even go upstream as far as the freeway bridge. The fly-fishing pool came up in the Noirish LA tread over at Skyscraper.com a few months ago.
CarolPW
@TaMara (HFG): The weird thing is she has no problems with thunder or fireworks (because early on I assured her it’s all perfectly normal, no worries, and it worked). And she goes out with me at work in the wind farm for environmental surveys in range land where there is real danger and is completely carefree and oblivious to the risks. And I will try rescue remedy, thanks for that very much.
NotMax
LuciaMia
Maybe the ‘Michelin Cat’?
TaMara (HFG)
@CarolPW: Let me know how it works for you. I’m always amazed. When Bixby fell ill, the first thing my nurse friend did when she came over to help was squirt a few drops in my mouth. You can just feel your pulse rate go down.
TaMara (HFG)
@LuciaMia: The “Layered Look” ??
CarolPW
@Jay: We were the only puppy in that class, so not a lot of puppy interaction. She got to know a couple of the store personnel and became reasonably comfortable with them, but it was always an issue meeting anyone (customers, other store personnel) she hadn’t already seen at least twice. She has two buddies (store personnel) at the feed store but if there are a lot of other customers she panics.
dmsilev
@TaMara (HFG):
“Give the cat the pipe-cleaner cut”.
Jay
@CarolPW:
So she likes running and exploring, hates urban walks and new people.
Does she get to go to dog parks? It could be a socialization issue. Too much happening around her in the store and on walks.
Try the drops that the others have suggested and see if that helps.
chris
@Betty Cracker: My Pumpkin (on the right, Steve in his glory on the left) sheds very fine hair all the time, it’s every where. But when the season changes she just dumps it, going from lovely soft kitty to horrible lumpy thing in about a week. So I had her shorn about a month ago when the matts were just starting. She’ll go again in September. I have brushes, combs and a Furminator (h/t Cole) but nothing works when the Great Shedding happens. So, yet another pet expense but she’s worth every penny.
Major Major Major Major
@TaMara (HFG): Maybe the dad wanted to give his family the gift of an Internet-famous cat. They’ll all look back on this and laugh when they’re rolling in Instagram Bucks.
Jeffro
Today’s going quite well – it’s been beautiful out here in Aspen. Will be sad to fly home to NoVA tomorrow, but it’ll be great to be back with my kids. =)
NeenerNeener
@dmsilev: Make my cat look slinky?
Sab
@MomSense: Do you that cat was trimmed in concentric circles or a spiral?
I would love to do that with my husband’s maine coon but he (husband) would probably kill me. I am pretty sure the cat would be okay with it.
Another Scott
@TaMara (HFG): Ollie the Slinky Cat.
HTH.
Cheers,
Scott.
Steve in the ATL
@SiubhanDuinne:
You’re safe—I’m in Texas all week.
Speaking of which, the Evadale, TX meetup was a total bust. No one showed up—not even me!
MomSense
@Sab:
I’m not sure. Maybe it’s irregular concentric? It’s like a Seuss character in a flapper dress. I think it’s kind of awesome.
debbie
@MomSense:
I can’t imagine a cat sitting still for that.
Sloane Ranger
The look on that poor cat’s face is priceless. It looks sad and insulted at the same time.
And who thought having its body hair dyed grey while keeping its head au natural would be a good look?
chris
@debbie: My cat loves it, she purrs so hard she dribbles. Two sets of kind hands and the nice skritchy thing, what’s not to love?
Jay
@Sloane Ranger:
On dark cats, often the under fur is lighter, ( same with some dogs).
Buff, a Golden Retriever was a golden maple colour when his fur was long, when shorn for summer, ( cooler and shedding his winter coat) he was a pale butter colour, and looked like a big puppy.
Rob
Poor kitty and poor Mr. Cardinal.
RoonieRoo
@CarolPW: Your pup sounds a lot like my Lab. Like you, he was far from my first rodeo. It took me 5 years to finally understand and accept he genuinely does not like walks. He is an anxious dog and was from 8 weeks old. Once we accepted each other for what we are, we found peace in a schedule where he gets 1 decompression walk a week. He’s a changed dog after I stopped torturing him with my need for him to go on walks. Once a week, we go to a very wide open park on a longline to a place where we will have lots of visibility, few dogs if any and tons of escape routes. Rest of the week, we do backyard agility while the other dog goes on his walk.
Accepting that he genuinely might hate walks is okay. From experience it will take about 2 weeks for the stress cortisol levels in his brain to go down and you to see some calm in him. The hard part is ignoring all the telling you that you must take your dog on walk. You don’t. Find alternatives for exercising his brain in body. We do agility and nose work.
CarolPW
@RoonieRoo: Thank you very much. But Bisket has not been on a walk for a month; it is not the walks that are an issue so much (although very surprising to me) it is the constant terror at stupid stuff (moving the garbage can, turning the sprinkler on, using the weed whacker, the refrigerator defrost noises). She has an anxiety level that is so high that it really is harming her. She is scary smart and ridiculously stupid at the same time.
Another Scott
@CarolPW: My SIL’s dog Ruby is very nervous. She finally tried doggie Prozac. It apparently made a huge difference in Ruby’s quality of life.
Just another possible thing to consider.
Good luck!
Cheers,
Scott.
RoonieRoo
@CarolPW: okay. In a month, that would have told you if the walk was a big contributor. You are definitely in different territory than I have been. I say try the CBD and/or rescue remedy. No harm if it doesn’t help and hopefully it does. So tackle this knowing firmly it’s not the standard socializing issue but a special case. Knowing that will make it easier for you.
If there is any food motivation for this pup, I would use meal times for small steps on noises and objects where you are hand feeding and praising while someone in a good distance away moves an object. If you don’t have food motivation, is the pup praise motivated?
RoonieRoo
@Another Scott: I have heard several people say they had great success with doggie Prozac.
JaySinWA
I’d call it a spiral cut cat, but it looks a bit random, like the groomer got lost every few turns. Maybe he had a brain fart, was that shaved (ham) or spiral cut.
OTOH apparently it is a thing https://www.groomertogroomer.com/the-timeless-spiral-trim/
CarolPW
@RoonieRoo: She browses her food rather than scarfing it down, thinks long about taking a new treat flavor before she eats it, and says “fuck that” often. However, she is completely devoted to me (and I to her). It’s definitely a new experience for me but I know we can work it out somehow. Thanks bunches.
J R in WV
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Interesting photo, fish-eye? The little “road” under the bridge supports is cute, too.
plato
Steve should meet Oliver.
RoonieRoo
@CarolPW: You’re welcome and good luck. Our challenging dogs can make us crazy but they repay us with love.
prostratedragon
@dmsilev:
“Quejas de bandoneón [Bandoneón’s Complaint]”
Whatever the cat is plotting, it’s going to be epic.
rikyrah
@TaMara (HFG):
I joined the Instagram account for this kitty??
?BillinGlendaleCA
@J R in WV: Yup, fisheye. It’s a second bridge built about 3 years after the main bridge.