When he was young and thin, he opened up a sore on his side that he kept licking, causing it to fester. We had the sore treated, and then provided Otie with the Cone of Shame, so that he would leave the sore alone. It worked and the sore healed.
But what we learned from those visits with the vet was that cats can be extremely allergic to dust, the food he's being given, or other environmental factors. Where we might get watery eyes or sneezy as a reaction, cats are more prone to have itchy skin.
Sometimes they just over-groom, because it's such a good feeling for them (an endorphine-releasing activity, like when people work out) and they just plain old want more of it.
Sometimes, they use the activity as a release of stress, in the absence of a loved person, or in the presence of another pet, for example.
I think Otie just likes to act out, and will continue to do it as long as he knows it irritates the hell out of me. I have moved his food and water bowls into the room with his litter and now keep the bedroom doors closed so as to minimize the area I might have to clean after him. I am trying to not over-react when he gets up on the counter or doesn't bury his what-not in the freshly cleaned litter box so as to minimize stress in his life.
He's so cute, and very friendly when he gets to know you; I want him to be happy and healthy too.
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| Although he is not an original member of the Glowy Eyed Pets from Another Dimension, The Glow is strong with him. |
The Tigers are winning their Saturday afternoon game right now, in the 7th; after losing last night in the 9th to sucky 1-9 in their last ten games Kansas City - a blown save and loss for Shane Green. Well the Tigers are two games below .500 as the weather breaks, and game-time temps should routinely be above 35 degrees from here on out.
I am at peace with the fact that Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, David Price, and Robby Ray are doing well in their starting positions with other teams. Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, and Drew Smyly are currently on the DL but could very well be doing quite well with other teams, and this is OK, too.
I hung a shelf in the kitchen for our herbs and spices near the stove, and couldn't be happier with it. Moni snagged it from the Lakehouse; and in It's honor, we are leaving the rack Lakehouse-blue.
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| Among other good seasonings - parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. |
The Cardinals have been daily visitors to our safflower feeders; the hopping and singing Robins have also enjoyed a cake of suet I've left out on a shelf on the deck. The European Starlings, despite hoards of them living among us, have not been able to get comfortable at the hanging suet cages, due to strategically placed baffles. Our last snow about a week ago stayed long enough into the day to show me tracks of bunnies galore, which I didn't see too much of during the winter. Downy Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Chickadees have been regular visitors as well.
I recently bought a used 6-string Alvarez acoustic guitar. I like it - it sounds good and one day I will be a rock star.
I will not be growing pumpkins this year; nor will I attempt corn, carrots, or green bell peppers. My for-sures are going to be cucumbers for pickling, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and jalapenos, along with my herbs: sage, rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley. And I will plant garlic this fall!
I 'made' a loaf of bread to-day (in my faithful Copper Chef pan), and it smells pretty good in here. It's the frozen kind you get at Walmart and then let sit for four hours thawing before you bake it. I basted it with butter and then seasoned with garlic powder for the final five minutes - hot and fresh, drenched in butter - holy moly is it good!
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| Holy moly indeed. |
The grass is beginning to green, but there are few buds yet - on this 21st day of April in the year of our Lord twenty eighteen.
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