Six years ago I brought the first 4 cats to the ranch spending the night in a cold office trailer, 38 degrees. I grabbed Tommy and then went into my sleeping bag zipping us in for the night. Today I came out of the same place after a warm night inside and get a wonderful greeting from my little friends, happy to see me. So many coming my way as I stoop to greet each one. I feel happy inside.

 Today, like so many other days, will be long; I work no less than 100 hours a week, but it is all so rewarding it seems effortless. I have my routine so down pat now, topping off all feeders and bowls with dry cat food and fresh water everywhere. My little munchkins must eat all night, this is the last thing I do before turning in, and now the bowls are near empty.

 It’s been months since I’ve written a story; I sit now at Denny’s sipping hot chocolate. All my babies are warm and toasty tonight inside seven heated shelters. Yesterday I sat thinking of this story during doughnut time, 40 cats now join me. I am amused as I see one big cat tossing around a 2 inch in diameter rock in the dried up pond basin. Snoop Dog is on the edge of the resort house an arm’s length away. I set treats of Pounce on the roof edge for him. Coco, a beautiful Siamese and five year veteran, comes and sits behind me. I toss out hand full’s of Pounce.  She was the first cat I trapped five years ago from a Publix in World Golf Village. 

Another cat rescued from the Jacksonville Humane Society (an unadoptable) sits next to me wanting his doughnut; he can eat a whole one! Some cats lounge on my lap just enjoying the attention. I will wipe a nose, clean some eyes, clean an ear. I fuss over them in-between sips of coffee. Yes, I am happy.

 Rain moving in today.  As the first raindrops fall I see little bodies running about as they head for their favorite spots. I don’t mind the rain, I don’t want the woods to get dry. 

 By nightfall the first round is done. I am soaking wet. Earlier, Rob had invited me to dinner. Looks like I will be late as usual. It’s 6:30, I will wash up and change into some dry clothes. I tell my babies that I will be back soon.

It’s a two hour run to my son’s house, chicken is on the grill, a movie waits. He has a big house, nicely furnished, as was my home some years ago. I peer into my bedroom where I haven’t slept in a long time, but my babies are waiting. I have allot of responsibility at the ranch. When I get back to the ranch, there will be a second round of medicine, some IV’s, some eye ointment, refill the feeders, fresh water, change litter pans.

 Just after midnight I’m heading back, it’s still raining. Got to go to Wal-mart for doughnuts, garbage bags, wet food and plates. I’m tired, still an hour away, so I try to hurry through the store. My street is washed out, I step out of my truck with Bug Eyes wrapped up in a blanket, walk through the puddles of water toward the office. I’m home, this is my home. 

 Its 2:30am, by 4:30am I lay down, ending my long day. In a few hours a new day begins…

Caboodle News!

Hi folks! We have had allot of emails lately asking how the cats are doing through this cold snap that has hit the south. I am happy to report the caboodles are doing quite well ! Craig has really out done himself this winter, adding more outdoor shelters that have heat and increasing the other shelters insulation. The cats love the sunny days and cool frisky temperatures and then head indoors to snuggle down with each other for the night. So many caboodle fans have sent care packages with wonderful fleece blankets for the cats bedding too! Before we know it, it will be Springtime! We can’t thank you all enough for helping us out ! 

In other Caboodle news, Craig now has a full time ranch hand and manager! Chuck has been a great asset to the ranch and to the cats. He has a very special way with cats that calms them. He works side by side with Craig all day and it is not unusual to find him holding a newcomer and talking to it to help ease his fear of the new environment. Chuck has helped in so many other ways as well, with maintenance, repairs, security. Welcome Chuck!!

 Craig was interviewed today by Cat Fancy Magazine! They are going to feature Craig in their June issue in the article entitled “Champion For Cats”. What better person? Craig is indeed a champion for cats, saving lives every day and spending endless hours making sure they have everything could possibly need. We are hoping that this article will reach people all across the country that can help support the ranch. Times have been very very tight, and our dream is to secure the caboodles future and we can do it with your help one step at a time!

 Craig is also looking for folks that can help donate Purina Cat Chow-blue bag and Friskies moist food. It is very hard to find it in bulk in his area and he has to travel far to get it. He will come to Tallahassee or Jacksonville and meet with anyone who can donate some bulk food supplies. It would be a tremendous help to him!! He goes through 5 eighteen pound bags of Purina Cat Chow per day! And 5 cases of the extra large Friskies moist food per feeding. Your help stocking us up would be such a blessing!! If you are able to donate food, please email me at kastlekats@yahoo.com so that we can arrange a pick up date. It would be ideal to meet with several people in one trip.

DANCING PAWS ANIMAL WELLNESS CENTER

Craig and the caboodles had a wonderful treat this last week. The doctor and staff of Dancing Paws Animal Wellness Center of Richfield Ohio came and spent 4 days at the ranch administering vaccination boosters, flea treatments, exams to over 250 caboodles! They had planned this trip for months in advance and started collecting donations from Ohio residents for the ranch as well as supplies, medications and toys. It was a tremendous outpouring of generosity on their part. 

Dr. Neal Sivula , and staff, Stephanie, Michelle and Nick worked tirelessly along with Craig giving the cats at the ranch superior treatments and bundles of loving care. The cats LOVED having new friends there to hug and rub on, and the doctor and staff fell in love with many of the caboodles. 

Along with administering vaccines and other treatments for the cats, the vet team gave Craig allot of praise for taking on such a huge responsibility and running his ranch beautifully, They saw that the cats were healthy and happy and truly at home at the ranch. We cannot thank Dr. Sivula , Stephanie, Michelle and Nick enough for everything they have done for Craig’s babies and for the welfare of the ranch. We hope they can come back again in the future, their new friends will be waiting for them with big purrs!

To read what they had to say about Caboodle Ranch after their visit click on this link: (you may have to copy and paste)

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=10595&uid=98397403692

Some Info and Updates!

Hi folks, this is Nanette, Craig’s faithful assistant and volunteer. Craig asked me to write in to his blog about a couple of things. The first being something that has been brought up a couple of times from recent visitors to the ranch. They asked why did the ranch grounds look a bit untidy in camp and up the driveway. It concerned them that it didn’t depict the photos on the website. They also asked why there were some cats that had a runny nose or eye or that looked like they had lost fur or weight. I always do my best to assure people that what they ‘see’ isn’t always what they think it is. Meaning, the ‘untidy’ grounds are the way they are not only because it’s deep summertime and things are all grown in, but the grounds are maintained for the cats and not for people. When I told people this they even laughed and said “I never thought of it that way, of course it’s for the cats!” The long grass provides not only shade but also coolness against their bellies when they lay down as does the now over grown pine trees up the drive-providing extra shade in a very hot summer. If Craig were to mow or weed whack all that nice tall grass down , just for looks, the cats would be forced to lay in the woods where it is not as comfortable. 

If someone sees a cat that looks less than perfect, we urge them to NOT make assumptions of lack of care/medical attention or unhealthiness. What they may see as a cat that has patches of fur that are thinned out, I see (like in this last trip, last week) a cat who had NO fur when it came to Craig and now has almost all of it grown back in from his care and the treatment of Revolution! The very same for a cat someone may see with a runny eye or nose. These cats recover much faster outside than they would inside in a cage, and they are getting their daily medication to help them as well. Craig recently had a group of vet interns and professor of Veterinarian Medicine, visit the ranch and she concurred that the cats do indeed do much better outside. A cat would be isolated if it had a more challenging illness but not a simple cold. On my most recent trip, I walked right past a certain cat , “Old Timer” because I literally did not recognize her! When I saw her last, she was covered head to toe with mange and ring worm, but from Craig’s total devotion to getting this cat better, she has ALL her fur back and is healthy as a horse! Craig has received major kudos on all his work and the good health of his cats this summer. That means allot to him not only because they are acknowledging his exhausting efforts but because his babies are his world and he wants what’s best for them. There will always be a situation now and then, it IS a working ranch after all. But Craig’s statistics are amazingly high for good health and far exceeds any other shelter in Florida. With new guidelines that Craig has painstakingly followed for his cats, they have flourished and enjoy a very healthy life.

Another update, is the fence! I got to see first hand, the progress of the ‘no more coyotes’ fence! It looks fantastic! One whole side of the first 7 acres is almost complete, as is the front of the ranch and the other side is well on its way. It is a long process because Craig requires help putting it up and the weather has been extremely hot and it’s very hard for volunteers to work that physically in the heat. But it IS going up and it’s wonderful! Also, the new ‘Yellow Brick Road” should be completed next week! Craig has formed a beautiful path up the entire entry to the ranch and curved it around the office. He will have help pouring the concrete, stamping a brick pattern into it and tinting the concrete yellow. This will really brighten up the entry way, give visitors a nice clear path to follow AND it will be handicap accessible as well!

Craig wanted me to tell everyone that his precious “Cling On” (aka the Cougar) had gotten very ill a few weeks back, and Craig thought he was going to lose him. This is the cat that Craig saved from being euthanized when the vet said nothing could be done for his damaged liver and illness. Well, Craig worked around the clock on Cling On and he made a comeback then AND now! 2 weeks ago, Cling On was ‘down for the count’, but Craig would not stop trying to help him. Little by little he responded to treatment and now he is on his feet and eating on his own and being himself again! The most wonderful part of my visit was to see Craig and Cling On together.  When Craig would walk into the room, Cling On would jump up and start prancing in place and literally hold his arms out for Craig to hold him. Cling On would wrap his arms around Craig’s neck and hug him tightly, while constantly rubbing his head against Craig’s face. He is so grateful Craig never gave up on him and shows that love and gratitude every day, it’s a beautiful thing.

I had ‘an adventure in rescue’ a couple weeks ago, which ended up having me make an impromptu visit to the ranch last week. I have been feeding a group of strays for about 8 months or more that were abandoned, dropped off, etc next to an empty building. They became my other cat family. Well, the man who owns the property was selling the building and needed to have the cats leave. He was very nice and understanding, but it needed to be done FAST. So , I gathered my 3 traps that day and began the task. Each day I trapped 2 then 3 then 4 a day! And what I thought was 4 kittens turned out to be 7! All in all, I got everyone. I ended up renting a cargo van because the cats were in very large ‘travel cages’ and would never have all fit inside my Jeep. I also picked up 3 kitties in Virginia and 2 kitties in central North Carolina!

It was a VERY long road trip, stopping at every rest stop to keep cages clean, give water and crunchers, comfort and console. 

We arrived the following morning (going on 30 hours of no sleep) and Craig and I took them to their new temporary housing for their adjustment period. The cats were SO happy to not be in the van anymore or in cages! They instantly started rolling in the hay and sipping water. Now, just one week later they are truly thriving and settling in to ranch life. They are safe, happy and healthy and I can rest easy knowing they are with Craig. Craig offers the most amazing safe haven for cats that have nowhere to go and no one to love them. He is truly as ‘life saver’. 

Stay tuned for more updates and more stories from Craig very soon! And thank you everyone , as always, for your support and generous donations to the ranch. We could not do it without every single one of you!

 
-Nanette-
 

Caboodle Evolves!

There have been many positive changes and improvements happening at the Ranch these days. From new outdoor litter boxes to protective fencing going up around the first 7 acres of ranch land. NOW, there is another wonderful thing evolving. A new “Gated Community” made exclusively for Leukemia Positive cats! Caboodle is about saving lives and second chances, not putting cats to sleep because they have a disease. And according to Florida state law that animal does not have to be put down unless the leukemia has come out of remission and that animal is sick.

So Craig has decided to build a unique ‘gated community’ for these special cats. It will be an outdoor kennel, about 100 feet by 100 feet, with all amenities of Caboodle! Roofing, shade, little houses, kitty condos, feeders, fresh water and it will also be built with at least 3 live trees inside it for hammocks and climbing. These cats will be able to live out the rest of their lives in luxury, comfort and safety. The kennel will be isolated from the other Caboodles, being outside the fencing perimeters and in a wonderful location Craig has hand picked just for them. They will enjoy exclusive outdoor living at its best!

Many people were concerned that the ranch wasn’t aware of all the care a leukemia cat can need, but we are. Craig is ready for any extra medical attention these cats may need and fully understands their situation. Madison Veterinary Clinic backs Craig on his innovative idea and is happy to know these cats, and more like them, will have a safe haven to go to if diagnosed.

Craig will need your help to make this all happen, and happen soon. If you would like your donation to go to one of our specific fund raisers, just indicate it in the memo section of your check or in a note on PayPal. For this cause please write Gated Community, and it will go directly to the building of this special home. 

**A special “Thank You” to Rachel Mooradian, of Topspin Creative Corp of  New York, for coming up with the name for the leukemia cats new home! Rachel has been an essential part of trying to get Caboodle Ranch on a show in Japan called “Amazing Stories”. We will keep you all posted of when it will air and hopefully have a link to view it! 

  
NO MORE CALLING ‘PATCH’

“Patch! Patchie!”   Day after day for four years I’ve called her. She is Tommy’s sister, the one with the bee bee in her side just under her flesh. Like Tom, she doesn’t like cats either and chooses to live down the street. She picked some guys house, living under it. I’ve seen her in his drive, he has a dog that used to bark, I’d hear it from time to time. The guy would pass by the ranch on the way home from work, he’d wave when we saw each other, which wasn’t often.

I don’t know what happened, there was no sign of life at that house anymore, no dog barking, now that I think of it, not for awhile now, where is my Patch? The freshly graded dirt road shows no tire marks into the drive. I’m concerned. Could he have moved taking Patch? I call and call her for days.

Whenever I’ve called Patch, she’d show up, she may have missed a wet food feeding earlier, so I’ll walk into the woods with her can so she can eat in peace. I took a photo of her beaten path like a rut through the pine needles and leaves. Where is she? Sometimes I would see Patch late at night eating from the dry food feeder near the Receiving Center. She’ll cry when she sees me and I’ll go give her some attention and she’ll head out.

It bothers me sometimes, I never know when I won’t see her again. I need to keep her home. I have considered ‘grounding’ her when I fence in this place, she’ll have to find a spot to live. Nanette was here the day Patch showed up. My beautiful Patch! I went to get Nanette, she’s only heard of her, now she gets to meet her. I walked ahead of Nanette so I could hold Patch, she hasn’t been around anyone in years. Patch had an injured front paw, it was time to ground her. I placed her in a cage for the first time in her life, she didn’t like it and complained for 2 days.

After treating Patch for five days I let her out. I placed a foot stool in front of her cage , it’s her ‘condo’ now and she can come and go as she wants, but she does stay at the ranch now. A For Sale sign is in front of the home now that she made her home. Maybe it’s not the same there anymore, but I’m sure glad she decided to stay with me.

OUTDOOR LITTER BOXES:

This is exciting huh? Six big 8 foot by 12 foot pressure treated wood frames holding sand and soil, excavated from the pond, works to fill these new litter boxes. I used to laugh when I saw people in gated communities walking their dogs carrying a small bag. Pay back now, I bought spades and pick up poop with a big bag. So be careful when laughing at someone…

TWO THUMBS UP!

Big day for the caboodles! Today Craig, the ranch and his caboodles got a big ‘two thumbs up’ from Madison Animal Control Director, Jamie Willoughby and Madison Veterinary doctor, Dr. Lewis. They were happy to see all the positive changes and improvements happening at Caboodle Ranch and especially happy to see the bright happy, healthy faces of the herd. In just a few short weeks Craig and volunteers have made improvements to the ranch that secures the ranch’s cleanliness and optimum health levels of the cats. Dr. Lewis will start the vaccination boosters next month on all the caboodles, and the cats will also be getting micro chipped for identification and tracking health info. 

Check out the photo gallery titled “Improvements For Caboodles” for pictures of the changes happening at the ranch. Thanks to your support Caboodle Ranch can continue to save lives, improve health, and give cats a second chance to live a life of freedom and happiness.

FENCING

I went to our town hall a few weeks ago thinking I’d need a permit? I was told ‘no’, but did request a letter of approval for the fencing I selected. Thanks to all those that donated to the fence fund, I can begin ! 

I had over 1000 feet delivered Saturday morning, but there is not enough of me to put it up so I asked my son Rob for help. He’s a contractor. For this, he and his helper will start next week. I expect it may be slow going as first we’ll need to rent a tractor to clear the way. The code calls for minimum of 25 feet from the street which is where we’ll start.

SICK WITH PAIN

Another one of those expressions that I got to experience firsthand (no pun). Never in my life has anything hurt as bad as the bite I got on my hand from “Kiss” the cat. I was thinking of this as I put the story together; I guess it was 1971. I was with my wife and my 3 year old son Rob. We went to the grand opening sale in a basement store. I slipped and went down the whole flight of stairs. I picked up tremendous speed splattering on the basement floor in front of dozens of people.

 I stood up and found mouths dangling open as horrified people looked on. I put my broken arm in the belt of my winter jacket and said to the people “I’ve just made my grand entrance!”. When I looked back up the flight of stairs, my wife, holding the rail with one hand and Rob’s hand in the other, was laughing. I asked what was so funny. She said Rob had asked “what’s daddy doing?”. But anyways, I didn’t feel bad, but lost 6 weeks of work.

Kiss has always been on the feral side, and when I found her in bad shape, sick and needing my help, she was not very friendly. When Kiss bit me I still finished up the IV trying to ignore the state of shock that I was going into. I was still trying to believe what had happened. My hand was starting to throb. Nanette was down for the week, I needed her now more than ever. Over the next few days, my hand started to grow in size, a sick feeling would come over me and my stomach would twist. All I wanted to do was sleep. I walked around keeping my hand elevated, chest level. Holding it to my side would start it throbbing like you wouldn’t believe.

Nanette would tell me to go lay down, and I did. I would pass right out. After a few hours I’d get up, tried to do a few things, everything was a great effort. Whether refilling water bowls or just opening a bag of cat food, it was almost impossible. I just wanted to sleep. I would lay on my recliner and put my hand up near my shoulder, it was rough trying to sleep with the pain. A cat would test me once in awhile stepping on my hand during the night and saying “hey, does it hurt when I do this?!”

The next morning Nanette was at the ranch early. She was pushing the loaded wheel barrel up the drive way and about to top off feeders and change out litter boxes. Me, I’m not even breathing normal. My hand is unsightly. Kiss was going to need more fluids, he was in rough shape. I held his scruff real tight with my good hand trying to get her out of the cage. Putting the IV needle in when I could barely hold it.

Nanette had everything under control. It was a good feeling. I spent most the day sleeping. The next day I found out that I could lose part of my hand if it went untreated. A heavy duty prescription for an antibiotic was called in to CVS. Nanette invited me to her hotel room to rest and relax and watch TV. I don’t have TV at the ranch so it sounded good to me. When I got to the room, I didn’t watch much TV, I passed out again. I woke up several hours later at 2:30 in the morning; Nanette was  just getting back from the ranch. She told me that everything was okay there.

 I head back, I don’t like to leave the cats for long periods of time. Looking around, I couldn’t believe it, everything was done! Making my rounds I saw that Nanette had done everything that needed to be done, just as I would have done it. 

Today, some months later, Kiss and I are fine. We’ve called a truce and I’m allowed to pet her, but with caution. She will even come to me at night and sleep on my chair! Nanette was really my ‘right hand’ in my time of need. Thank you Nanette.

PUTTING ON THE BREAKS:

I offer the people a nice service. I want to keep it that way. But sometimes you need to step back a bit before moving forward. In January, it began to look like the ranch couldn’t make it past April. The cats and I didn’t want to be seen standing by those signs that said “Will Work For Food”. Recent press did generate donations but I need to watch the budget a little closer so that I can continue to care for the cats that are already here and cover the expenses of the ranch (land mortgage, electric).

 I need to sell off one of my 5 acre parcels, up the back of the ranch. That property isn’t needed at this point. And I’m considering selling my PT Cruiser, which was to become the Cat Taxi; hopefully I can get what I bought it for. The land line to the office will be turned off to save money as well. You can call my cell phone (which will be working again this weekend!), just be persistent-you will reach me.

Some of these decisions were based on this past winters vet bills which exceeded 2000 per month. Food cost is a fixed expense at 800 per week, and cannot be reduced, as it is with the utility bills and mortgage. These changes will ensure that we do continue on and maybe when the economy bounces back a bit we will be able to move forward again. 

On a happier note, the fence materials will arrive at the ranch on Saturday the 16^th! Thank you all so much for enabling this to goal to be reached for the safety of the cats! I need to take the time now for repairs and maintenance of the ranch to keep it safe and presentable. 

NO FLEAS PLEASE!

It’s been the worst year ever for fleas. Last year not a bite on the cats, thanks in part to Advantage flea treatments used at the ranch. I’m told the hot dry weather is creating conditions where flea eggs are hatching and not dying off with treatments. Advantage is not working this time around, results are much better with Frontline. I was even ready to put it on the back of my neck! It’s the first year that I’ve been bitten all over. I know now how all the cats feel. The grounds were recently sprayed with a product ‘Malathion 5EC’, and will be applied every 2 weeks. Another product I will try will be delivered this week called ‘Sevin’ which is time released granules; you use a grass seeder to apply to the grounds. 

I have noticed some of the cats improving in appearance. Maybe over the next several weeks the cats will be healthier and happy looking again. I never feel they are neglected; I care for all of them every day.

CHEAP DATE:

I asked around, “Anyone wanna go to Daytona Beach?” At 3 hours away, I’d be talking to myself. Rat Cat said “Yeah! I’ll go!”, jumping up and down. I had bribed her by saying I’d get her a Rotisserie chicken. We were on our way by 4pm.  She was enjoying the ride; she was lying on my left shoulder, eyes beginning to close. My Big Eyes would have been on my lap, maybe he is. 

Half way there I decided to stop at s Petco and get the Rat a harness. She came in with me on my shoulder to get fitted. Just down the street was a Wal-Mart and we got a nice hot chicken dinner as promised. I flicked some of the breast meat onto the console and she ate it happily. 

It was almost 8pm and dark when we got to where the action was, at the Iron Horse Saloon. It’s an open area with lots of biker people, loud music. I’m not sure how she’ll react and I wanted to introduce her to Sandra at the Wall of Death. I park the truck, put her on my shoulder, put her harness on and secure her to me. I don’t want my girl to run off with someone else. I walked through the quiet parking lot into the busy Route 1 when I stopped to get a feel – of how she’d do around the loud bikes. She looked around amazed, stood tall, taking the world in. I felt she would stay on my shoulder so I continue.

We walked past idling bikes waiting to park. Many people were drinking beers, pointing at us and making the usual comments. There was the Wall of Death! Sandra was on stage! The show was about to begin, I waved Sandra down to meet the Rat. Rat could not stay and watch the show, but I could. I took Rat back to the truck and went to watch Sandra do her routine.

Our next stop was Main Street in Daytona Beach where we walked the strip and had our photo taken by many people. I felt proud. I saw the Rats head bob as she took in all the smells of sausage, pork chops and turkey, offered by vendors. We pass up the food making our way towards the beach and a local pizza place. I ordered us 2 slices of cheese pizza, a coke and a cup of water. We walked over the steps and onto the famous Daytona Beach where we sat and ate. The Rat thought this was the biggest litter box in the world, and breathed a sigh of relief.

It was after 11pm when we returned to the truck to make the long trip home. I feel tired, the Rat was very lucky; she got to sleep the whole time. I guess after chores were done, it was going on 5am. If you’re gonna play, you have to pay…

 

WHERE’S THE DONUTS?

I go to Wal-Mart often for cat food, donuts too. Live Oak Wal-Mart is closest, almost 18 miles. I go after dark when all outdoor work is completed, I’m tired. I get to the store; don’t tell me, no cat food? I can’t believe it. When I ask why, they tell me they sell a lot. So why not have more delivered?! Donuts? Plenty, in the donut section, where else? But there are none! I buy the Entenmanns Softee donuts, my cats love them. As for the cat food? Now I have to drive 20 more miles to Lake City. I know they will have cat food. 

When I first shopped at this Wal-Mart I had to ask “where are the donuts?”. The clerk didn’t understand me, didn’t speak English. But I find them myself, in the dairy section. I want to be back at the ranch, I’ve got to work past midnight, this takes time, too much time.

I decided to try another Wal-Mart in the opposite direction, the place is new and farther than I thought. Only four bags of food in stock. Litter is 4.00 a bag! I use the Special Kitty Red bag and it’s usually 2.78 at the other Wal-Marts! I’m just not winning tonight, “where’s the donuts?” I looked at the Bakery, no donuts; I asked Customer Service, she made a face and says to look in Bakery. I asked other clerks, no one knew! I wish I had an empty box to show them! Maybe sign language will work.  

No luck. My poor cats. Bear loves donuts; I can’t go back without them. I pass a Publix near the highway. I stop there. I walk into the store, my eyes fall on a donut display, not the Bakery, but donuts! I’m happy. I stop to look at the many variety packs, no good! Two boxes are upside down; I turn them over and felt my eyes grow big. It’s Softees! 12 plain donuts in each box! I took them to the register right away; 6 dollars should cover it (they are 2.98 at Wal-Mart). I see 4.69 being rung up. Crap. I dig deeper and find change! Whew! But we have donuts, boxes of gold at this point. Never the less, I’m happy because a day without donuts is like a day without sunshine.

I know this; the donuts will stay in my truck tonight. I have made the mistake of hanging them in the plastic bag on the office doorknob. The cats treated it like a Piñata. The bag was shredded and all the donuts gone. They had donut time without me. You snooze you lose Papa, the cats told me.

More and more cats join me for donut time now; please enjoy our newest YouTube video of donut time, filmed end of February…

BIG EYES IN THE SKY

I was driving back to the ranch after having lunch in town. I realized I was in a daze, my thoughts on Big Eyes. I’ve just lost my traveling companion. A malignant tumor took his life inside of a two week period. Seems just yesterday he was in my lap, today he is gone. I feel so sick. He had an incredible thought process. Our communication seemed through his eyes, a gentleman was inside that little body.

I took him to Jacksonville for a second opinion. He didn’t stand on my lap this time nor did I get my hugs , instead he walked between the front seats to his pillow. This cat came to the ranch about two years ago. An indoor cat for years, he made the big adjustment to the great outdoors. Seemed the new lease on life made this 16 year old guy feel young again. We had fun everywhere we went, and he did go everywhere. He had a way of making me feel guilty if I left him behind. He’d be tapping his foot with his hand on his hip when I got back.

This trip to Jacksonville would be his last. At the vet office, I let him walk around the waiting room, he would sway and side step. Of course they wanted me to consider the option; I wouldn’t put him to sleep. Maybe I’m selfish, but I don’t have the right to take a life, or the heart. I never give up hope, I won’t kill a friend. 

I reached to the back seat on the way back to the ranch; I felt his bony body, petting him. I hand fed him when we got back home, gave him his medicines, I still had hope. He laid down on the office floor seeming content on the sleeping bag. The next morning I tried to feed him, the paw came up, ‘no’ he said. I gave him an IV. 

Later, when I got ready to head out for lunch, I picked him up carrying him down the drive towards the truck. He tried to push my arms away, he didn’t want to go, it was awful. I carried him back to the office and went to eat. When I returned, he’d fallen, laying with his head against the water bowl. He would never walk again.  I laid him on the heating pad regulating the temperature the rest of the day just before he died. I held his head in my hands, facing his big eyes toward mine. “We will see each other again” I said. He died a few minutes later, he did not suffer. I laid him on a soft knitted blanket and let his friends be with him for a time. There seemed so much life still in those eyes, even though I knew he had passed on. I called Nanette and we cried. I laid him to rest the next morning. 

More than a month had passed and Nanette came to the ranch to help out. She presented me with a certificate; a star had been named after Big Eyes. She had printed out a beautiful picture she took of Big Eyes in the driveway. A star ornament with his picture hangs from my rear view mirror. I miss him so much.