Breaking Cat News by Georgia Dunn for January 23, 2024

Or a playground for very small cats.

I know it’s a late post. Our intrepid Shadow is very much on the decline. For those of you who don’t remember, we brought him into our home during Tropical storm Beta. He had a bad sore on the side of his head. We took him to the vet for a physical and neutering and he managed to get out of the clinic, wily guy, and showed up at our house two days later. He was FIV positive. He was also so full of tape worms that one showed up in his eye. Ok, took care of that. Fast forward to now. Eye problems came up with nasal congestion and we tried some homeopathic treatments which seemed to help. But he recently developed swelling in his head and we took him in. We got antibiotics and an appetite stimulant but Dr. Tom said it’s probably cancer. We are keeping him comfortable but it looks like he wants to go. At least the last 3 years of his life was in a warm, loving home. I forgot to say that we don’t know how old he is.

First we get Ora Zella doing her “Kilroy Was Here” impression, then she goes for an Apollo 11 Capsule on reentery? We just need BUZZy ALDRIN Mouse to be her sidekick!

Is it possible that the desk is … um … doomed?

OT – Back at work

“Everything’s a cat toy if you believe hard enough!”

OT: For those who missed yesterday’s post TROUBLE GOT HIS FIP MEDS BOOOOOOOOYEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ღƪ(ˆ◡ˆ)ʃ♡ƪ(ˆ◡ˆ)ʃ♪

OZ plays with everything, just like my Monroe.

Look at the black knob: that is one fully adjustable desk!

Um. Goldie? Don’t get too het up, or, claws out, or no claws out, you’ll be joining OZ in sliding off.

Yes of course folks. The only thing in the world which is not a cat bed. More mews about it after this short break.

Kitty Mealz the best meals kitties can gets. Now with each mealz you is get one free alive mousey that you can plays with before you is eats it.

Kitty Bedz the best beds that kitties can gets. For a purrrrfect sleeps and for added bouncyness.

Not be a steenker. Do not litters. Use Kitty Litterz!

There may be no such theengs as postmans. But Kitty Scratch Post is the realest scratching post you is can gets!

Table Toppers. Multi purpose multi functional multi types objects to decorates your table tops and to pushes em off then tables. Specially designed to make loud and noisy crash when they is hit ground.

Kitty Box. The best empty boxes you is can get. Now gets one small empty box free inside when you orders bigger one.

Sorry Goldie, you’ll have to find another, Cat Perch! And OZ needs a little parachute!

Ora Zella Toe Beans!

I think OZ is living proof of what a vet told me about kitties (when I expressed concern about mine not always successfully jumping on/off surfaces): they bounce!

It was so thoughtful of Woman to get a play area for Ora Zella.

Meanwhile, Back on the Nile

At the Artisans’ Studio

Maat-Tilda: Thank you all for coming to test the new Space Time Fabric exercise curtains. We need you to do everything you can think of to test the strength of the fabric.

Lupinium: I’m really gonna put it through its paces. I’ve thought up a new tumbling routine to use the fabric.

Beatrixia: This will be a great way to practice for the Climbing Games!

Adobe Style: Alright, who wants to go first?

Ora Z: Wheee!

Sophititi: I think we have the answer.

Wally: Iggy, Iron Glove, and I are thinking up ways to use it for our new Artisans Construction Crew.

Tillie: Sounds like a plan. Elvis, do you want to go next?

Elvis-Anum: Don’t mind if I do.

Soph: Looks like he’s still got it!

Now she’s had the slide of her life

No, she’d never napped like this before

Yes I swear, it’s the truth

And she owes it all to a desk slip’ry smooth

More fun than a fire or a knife

Or even what her chainsaw could do

Just for today

It’s the one thing

She can’t get enough of

So I’ll tell you something

She needs no shove, because

She’s had the time of her life

No, she never slept this way before

Yes, I swear (yes, I swear), just hear her yell

As she goes just like a bat outta – well, um, heck

- Donald Jay Markowitz / Franke Previte / John Denicola – (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

At least Ora Zella is having fun, although Goldie might want to provide a bit more adult supervision.

Project Uplift Frodo

I was thinking of using two motors from a Premium Aircraft Business Class Seat for the lift motors. My R&D group has a lot of Aircraft parts, we use for various proposals, mock ups and for “government work” like the Project Uplift. This seat was going to be thrown out, so I can snag parts from it.

Aircraft motors are wired for 28V and have a robust design, which makes them heavy, and unfortunately noisy. When they are buried in a seat cushion and are meant to move the seat from upright to lie down position and back, the noise is blocked by the seat and the passenger. I think they are too loud for this (Although Frodo does ride the Roomba around). Also, my voltage converters are bigger than the motor, so that is a minus.

I had an epiphany: what if I used Remote Control (RC) Truck motors for the lift; I could even use the drive wheels as the winch return, the circuit boards and antennae are already set up for forward and reverse commands which I will translate to up and down.

Now, if the truck had removeable tires and actual rims that could act as the pulley gear – that saves considerable time on the lift mechanism. Just finishing it off and building some cabinets to hold it.

Quick search on Amazon, and $25-35 for a Truck just like I want. I found a pulley cable there too. Elastic cord track with rubber bumps along the inside. This would give necessary traction and friction to the pulley, so it won’t slip. So, I guess I won’t be cannibalizing the Biz Class seat for this.

I found the Habitrail tubes to be too small (2-1/2" Outside Diameter)- Frodo could squeeze in there, but it might give him claustrophobia. (I thought they made these things big enough for guinea pigs?)

I could limit the opening so only Frodo can fit, but I want it roomy inside. Six-inch OD would do, but so far only found one vendor for them that is not sold-out, 6-foot lengths, so that will work. Lead time is two weeks.

Well this will be fun. Tomorrow’s comic will come complete with claw tears in the panels as well as flecks of litter scattered about.

Is Ora Zella adding dropping-from-agreat-height to her skill set? Will she become — shudder — the Dread Drop Tortie?

Brand new designer custom texture work surface by Goldie. Prices start at…

Update on Natalie- liver is fine but some inflammation of the gall bladder. On two antibiotics, which means squirting liquid in her mouth twice a day. Already gone through a number of bandages!

Goldie, I know you’re a bit frightened, but just let go of the desk and land on your feet. You’ll be fine. Okay, do you want me to go and catch you?

Definitely a drawing desk. For the woman, I presume, given certain parallels with her life and the creator of this comic… ;)

Why on Earth would People buy things that cats can’t lay on?! Madness!

Monorail Goldie has the brakes on hard!

Ora looks so cute peeking behind the desk in panel two.

Tippy to you, and Goldie, too!

O. Z. always finds a way to make the best of it. Cat bed or thrill ride? You decide.

OT: Writing Desk

I was able to move the writing desk from the basement to my apartment with a minimum of effort. It was more awkward than heavy.

It’s not really mine, though. After thoroughly inspecting it, Jojo has rubbed her scent on it. She as agreed to share however.

All you ravens out there: How is this desk like you?

Yep, it is on the official Mohs Hardness Scale for Minerals. The “Can it be scratched by” test. Somewhere between “Steel nail point” and “Pocket knife” is “Emotionally charged cat’s claw”. So that’s about a ‘6’. Not quite enough to scratch quartz or any harder surface.

So sorry to hear….you gave him a wonderful 3 years. That’s all he’ll remember.

Found out that the cute girl in my avatar is our public library’s second reader to complete the 1000 books before kindergarten challenge. Not bad for someone who will be 18 months old on the 27th.

I grieve with thee on Shadow’s slipping away to the Rainbow Bridge. If he permits, hold him and love him and you may ease his passage.

Really sad story with a happy ending. Look for Keats the Dog of Hendersonville, NC.

WWWEEEEE!!!!! (again)

O.T.

Has anyone seen or heard from piwismom lately? I rarely get a chance to go through comments le3ft later in the day but haven’t seen her recently. Prayers that all is well.

Fred, our male tux is like that. He is everywhere and anywhere he can get Into trouble.

Uh oh

He had happiness in his last years. Remember that.