Birthday boy

No, no, not me.

The blurpy boy.

It was his first birthday today. They had a birthday barbecue for him at a local park. (Thank goodness they didn't have it at home... can you imagine how many sticky little people would have invaded my space?)

Even though Alex was the guest of honour, I was given a prime position in the celebrations.

What do you think?

Cheers,
--Pabs

Confused and confusing

In other news... they finally put my bed together. Am I doing it right?

Hi again,

It's been a confusing week.

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. Baby Alex has started crawling FAST, which means that Kate spends all her time running after him, and I spend all my time running AWAY from him!

And we've kind of been waiting until we had some concrete news on my health. But we don't, yet. So I went back to the v-e-t last Monday (15 November) for more tests. They had to keep me in overnight because they got blood in my #1 sample (they had to try and get it with a needle, and I moved at just the wrong time).

Anyway, they finally got a clean sample (makes me sound like Lance Armstrong!), and all my indicators that they were worried about were in the 'normal' zone, and I had no urine crystals.

So they sent me home to see how I went, and it's been over a week and I'm kind of ok, but still NQR (not quite right). I'll still only eat dry food (at least it's the urinary diet stuff), and I'm not eating as much as normal, but I'm in pretty good spirits.

I still have to give Kate another #1 sample to take in to the V-E-T, but I'm kind of holding out on that.

Thanks so much to all of you for your thoughts, prayers and purrs. I know I haven't posted much, but we've been reading the comments and feeling really loved. As you Americats prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I can join in and say how thankful I am to have such AWESOME friends.

Cheers,
--Pabs

No Good

Well, my bloods were No Good.

The weekend v-e-t told us yesterday that I have 'some level of kidney failure' as well as my bladder issues.

So tomorrow, it's back to you-know-where for me, for a day of tests to confirm my health problems. It's not looking totally dismal; the kidney issues may be able to be controlled by diet. They just have to work out whether I need to be on a kidney diet or a bladder diet - which is the priority.

Feeling sick is No Fun. When I'm feeling sick or sad or angry, I sit on my chair like this.

Think I might be here for a while.

Cheers,
--Pabs

You've got to be #$@%ing kidding me

No WAY.

So I had to go the the v-e-t again today.

Because I'm not eating again.

And when I ate yesterday, I threw up.

When Kate called the v-e-t and told him, he asked her to bring me back in TO STEAL SOME OF MY BLOOD. He's worried that my #1 sample from the other day was a bit dilute, which may suggest a kidney problem.

Great.

So I got jabbed by needles and prodded by human hands and he put the you-know-what up you-know-where.

And I'm on extra anti-vomiting meds now.

Hope your Friday doesn't suck as much as mine does.

Cheers,
--Pabs

Lest We Forget

Today, as we remember the fallen, we remember Rupert Cosmo Johnston. Private Rupert Cosmo Johnston was baby Alex Cosmo's Great, Great, Great Uncle. He was a member of the 21st Battalion of the Australian Army, and was killed in action in northern France in September 1918.

We remember the fallen, and those currently serving, with pride.

Cheers,
--Pabs

She did it!!

Yes everycat, that is mine.

The v-e-t wanted Kate to get a sample from me to take to my appointment today. He said to put some plastic over my litter tray and get me to pee on it, then collect the pee in a syringe.

She was very dubious. I was very dubious.

But when a mancat's gotta go, he's gotta go.

Dr Geoff was so proud of Kate for bringing in a sample. It made my checkup much easier.

And guess what? My crystals are gone! There were no other bad things in my pee either, and I've lost 200g. I don't have to take any more Valium (unless I start refusing food again), but I do have to stay on my special diet. Dr Geoff felt my bladder and my kidneys and looked in my eyes and checked me out all over. He said that I seem in good shape.

Dr Geoff said that I was a gorgeous cat.

Tell me something I don't know, Dr Geoff!

Cheers,
--Pabs

I'm still here

Kate promised to set this awesome cat bed up outside for me to help me relax while I'm recovering. I couldn't wait for her to finish.

Hi everycat.

Pablo here. Thanks so much to y'all for your care and concern and advice while I've been sick. We really appreciate it.

I've been home from my last trip to the v-e-t for a week now. Sorry I haven't blogged until now.

I'm still feeling pretty delicate. I'm not doing a whole lot, just resting, just catching some of our awesome spring rays.

My last blockage was crystals, not protein. So the v-e-t said I need to be on an all-wet-food diet (prescription diet) to help me stay unblocked.

I miss my crunchy food.

I miss it so much that I wouldn't eat the wet stuff to begin with... until they gave me Valium to calm me down and stimulate my appetite. I hafta say, that stuff makes me feel... strange. Floppy. Clingy.

But I seem to be eating ok (not heaps though) and peeing ok. Got a checkup on Wednesday. Kate's supposed to try and collect a #1 sample from me before then.

Yeah, good luck with that, Kate.

Cheers,
--Pabs

Thanks, everycat!

Message from Kate: Me again. Thanks so much, everycat, for your good thoughts and prayers for my dear Pabsy's health. And thanks so much to dear Huffle for spreading the word about Pablo's latest health scare. It means a lot to know that there's a whole world of kitties and woofies and their families thinking of us all the way down here.

It's Sunday evening here. Early this afternoon, the v-e-t called us and said that Pabs was doing well, his blockage has been cleared and his urine output is good. But he still has a catheter in and his appetite has been poor. The v-e-t wants him to eat wet food (the special diet kind that dissolves urinary crystals), and I know that it's best, but he just won't eat it. We've tried him on it; the best that we could do was get him to eat the special urinary diet biscuits. Anyway, the v-e-t gave him some valium today to stimulate his appetite; let's hope that works.

All things being well, we'll be able to bring Pabs home some time tomorrow. We'll keep everyone posted. Thanks again for being so caring; it really does mean a lot.

Cheers,
--Kate

Here we go again...

Message from Kate:
*sigh*

It's 7.56pm on Saturday evening, and we've just taken Pablo to the emergency vet again for another urethra blockage. He should be ok, I was just hoping that this problem had been resolved. Please send good thoughts and prayers Pabsy's way. He was so sad and uncomfortable when he left home.

Cheers,
--Kate

I'm ok

Hey everycat,

My good friend (and Awesome Footy Finals Fever Competition winner) Huffle Mawson stopped by the other day and asked me how I was going. Thanks Huffle.

You know what? I'm doing ok. I'm still taking the anti-inflammatory meds for my bladder, but I'm tapering off those now. I'm still taking things pretty easy, and I have a checkup with Dr Gareth on Friday, but I'm eating and drinking well... and my *ahem* number ones seem to be coming out ok.

But you know what else? Baby Alex couldn't handle the fact that I was getting all the attention, so he arranged for one of his little sticky baby friends to give him bronchiolitis. He's on the mend too, but he's had a nasty cough and wheeze. Kate said that she needs a holiday.

I can't think why.

Cheers,
--Pabs

A Pablo health update

Hey everycat.

So I've been home for a week now.

And although I'm getting better, I'm still not feeling the best.

I've really been off my food; both the new urinary diet and my old crunchies.

Kate took me back to the V-E-T today. Dr Gareth is awesome. He's the one who unblocked my... um, man parts... in the middle of the night a week or so ago. He looked after me so well. Today, he gave me some more meds to make sure that my bladder continues to improve. He weighed me... I've lost 700g in a week, which is too much too fast.

So they're just gonna keep an eye on me and see how I go over the weekend. I guess I'll just take it easy.

Hope you have a good weekend, wherever you are.

Cheers,
--Pabs

Pablo is home!

Message from Kate: After a day of good #1 output, Pablo was allowed to come home this afternoon... a day sooner than the v-e-t thought! I've tried to maintain Pabsy's dignity in these photos of him resting by the heater (not too much of a view of his shaved bits). Check out his purple smiley face bandage on his front leg. Very un-Pabs.

He has to be closely monitored for a few days to make sure he doesn't have another blockage, he's now on a special urinary diet and we have to help him lose a kilo, encourage him to drink more water and exercise more. This is going to be tough... it's hard to make Pablo do anything he doesn't want to do. But we'll try!

It's great to have him home. Thanks, everycat, for your good wishes and support!

Cheers,
--Kate :)

Pablo is sick!

Pabsy in happier times (that's his leopard tail toy in the foreground)

Message from Kate: Hi blogging buddies. Our dear friend Pablo is in hospital today, recovering from emergency surgery for a life-threatening urethral blockage.

Just before bedtime last night (10pm-ish) I noticed him taking a long time to do his business in his litter tray, then leaving before he'd done anything. Then he wandered around the house, meowing and hissing, before flopping on his side in an armchair. He was meowing and growling low, obviously in pain. So while I stayed at home with baby Alex, Nick rushed him to the emergency vet, and they assessed him and decided to perform surgery there and then (at midnight!) to unblock his urethra. The vet said that we did the right thing to bring him, that the blockage could have been fatal if left untreated. Pabs came through the surgery well, it seems like it was a protein blockage.

Today, they did an ultrasound on his bladder, because he wasn't producing as much urine as they would have liked. Thankfully, it was all clear, so they're now just keeping him under observation for the next few days. We miss him around the house... every little noise, every movement I see from the corner of my eye, I think they're all him. Please join with me in praying for his speedy recovery. I know we haven't been able to blog or visit blogs much since baby Alex's arrival, but we still feel like we're part of the CB family... and we could use your support!

With thanks,
--Kate
(PS The Collingwood Magpies won last weekend's AFL Grand Final rematch by 50-something points! Which, I believe, makes Huffle Mawson the winner of Pablo's AWESOME Footy Finals Competition. But I'll let Pabs announce that when he's back on deck.)

Pablo's AWESOME Footy Finals Fever Competition - Redux

Oh. My. D-O-G!

For only the third time in the 116-year history of the Australian Football League (and its predecessor, the Victorian Football League), last Saturday's Grand Final was... a DRAW. In a tough encounter, both the Saint Kilda Saints and the Collingwood Magpies scored 68 points each.

And you know what? Unlike every other major sporting competition I've ever heard of, according to the AFL rules, there's no overtime in the Grand Final. No tiebreaker.

They have a replay.

For reals.

It's like having TWO Christmases!

So, my AWESOME Footy Finals Fever Competition has been extended. Same rules, same teams (see last week's post for more info). Get your tips in by 2.30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time this Saturday. (By the way, tips recorded last week DON'T count for this week... you hafta enter your tip on this post.)

Cheers,
--Pabs

Pablo's AWESOME Footy Finals Fever Competition - be quick!

Well everycat, it's springtime Down Under.

And in springtime, a young mancat's thoughts turn to... FOOTY!

Tomorrow is the Australian Football League's Grand Final for 2010.

This year, the Saint Kilda Saints and the Collingwood Magpies will face off to see who will be this year's champion.

And YOU can be a winner too! Just join in my AWESOME Footy Finals Fever Competition.

From now until game time, 2.30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time tomorrow (25 September), every blogging animal of the non-human variety can enter their tip for who will win the game, and predict the winning points margin. To enter, just post your prediction, with your name, in the comments of this post. Like this:

Pablo, Saint Kilda Saints by 999 points (an exaggeration).

Feel free to add a little cheer for your team, but these will not affect the outcome of the contest. The winner will be the blogger who guesses the winning team with the closest points margin to the actual final points margin of the game. In the event of a tie, the blogger who posted their tip first will win. One entry per blogging household. And I can change these rules whenever I want (but I'm not likely to).

A $40 (Australian dollars) donation to the Hobart Cat Centre (my local) will also be made in the winner's name... and I might even send you a little something! Past winners of this AWESOME annual competition include The Island Cats, our dear friend Luxie and Daisy the Curly Cat.

A hint from Pablo: in general, most AFL matches are decided by under 30 points, but it's not unheard of to have a points margin of 100 points or more. In last year's Grand Final, the Geelong Cats beat the Saint Kilda Saints by 12 points. The Saints haven't won the flag since 1966. The Magpies have lost MANY Grand Finals over the years. They last won in 1990, but have been the strongest team by far this year.

Last time Saint Kilda and Collingwood met in a Grand Final (in 1966!) the Saints won by just one point! If you're interested in studying the teams' form, or keeping up with the score during game time, you can visit the AFL's website. Otherwise, just make your bestest guess!

Start tipping... NOW!

Cheers,
--Pabs

I am the MASTER

...of anti-socialness.

Cheers,
--Pabs

Take THAT!!!

...and THAT!

...and THAT!

...and THAT!

Man, I am so TOUGH.

Cheers,

--Pabs

When Grandma comes to stay...

...her coat's the place to be.

Happy Friday, everycat!

Cheers,
--Pabs

A World Cat for World Cat Day

Happy World Cat Day, everycat!

In honour of World Cat Day, I have a World Cat to introduce to y'all:
This World Cat lives on the island of Corsica, off the south-east coast of France. My Uncle Herb took this photo on his recent world trip. This kitty lives in Pigna, a small artisan village in the hills in the north-west of the island.

Corsican kitty, because you live on an island and because your claws are so awesome looking (and because it's World Cat Day), I'm gonna ask my friends Wally, Ernie and Zoey (The Island Cats) if you can become a member of the Island Cat Club. It's a pretty cool club: no dues, no meetings and only 3 rules you have to meet...
1. you have to be a cat
2. you have to live on an island
3. you have to be spoiled rotten.

Most of you know that I live on an island at the bottom of the world called Tasmania. Apparently it's the 26th largest island in the world. And Corsica is the 84th largest.

I guess you can't win them all, Corsican kitty.

Cheers,
--Pabs

HPSTR KTTY

[props to Uncle Simon and his rad iPhone]

Cheers,
--Pabs

Honorary Oregonians

A little while ago (well, a few months ago, actually), my super friends Phoebe and Joey at the Pablo Fan Club bestowed a great honour on me. They made me an Honorary Oregonian!

Here's my Official Honorary Oregonian t-shirt.

And, if you look closely, you can see that Phoebe and Joey gave it their Paw of Approval before sending it to me.

Uh... what do you mean it's not for me?

Oh. Maybe we can share the honour. I don't do clothes, anyway.

Happy Fourth of July, Americats!

Cheers,
--Pabs

Fazzy Friday

This time last year, Kate and her mum went on a BIG overseas trip to the UK and Europe.

The highlight of their trip?

...meeting Miss Faz and her human Christine on a sunny Wimbledon morning. (It was before Birks came on the scene.)

Can you believe that was a year ago, Faz? Hope that Christine has a great time at The Championships!

Cheers,
--Pabs

I've been FRAMED

Portrait...

...AND landscape.

Cheers,
--Pabs

P.S. Just wanted to wish the Socceroos, the Australian football team, best of luck in their first game in the FIFA World Cup. We play Germany in the early hours of tomorrow morning, Australian time. Go Socceroos!

Thoughtful Thursday

Know what I'm thinking about?

Sunshines.

I miss them.

And it's not even winter!

Yet.

Cheers,
--Pabs

We're a little bit late

...but we know it's still Sunday 23 May in the States. So...
Happy birthday ML! Thanks for keeping the Cat Blogosphere running. We love it, and we love you!

Cheers,
--Pabs

Five months on...

...and this guy:

finally weighs more than this guy:

...but the latter guy still has sharper claws.

So there.

Cheers,
--Pabs

Cute boys with cats?

You be the judge: Cute Boys with Cats.

Happy Friday, everycat!

Cheers,
--Pabs

I love my chair

Boy, do I LOVE my chair.

Yep. Love that chair.

Cheers,
--Pabs

It was only a matter of time...

...before I was immortalised in edible art.

My good friends Miranda, Phebe and Lizey made these for Kate. Not only do they look great, Kate tells me that they tasted AMAZING.

My favourite one is the one with three eyes.

Hope everyone has a great Easter and gets lots of yummy, species-appropriate treats.

Cheers,
--Pabs

Sorry Kate...

...I don't have time for a photo shoot.
I've got some autumn Sunday morning sunbeams to chase.

Cheers,
--Pabs

Taking the short cut

Who needs doors when you've got an open window?

Cheers,
--Pabs

Earning his stripes

Baby Alex is pretty smart.

From an early age, he realised that to be a member of this family, you hafta earn your stripes.

The photo above was taken when Alex was just a few weeks old. Not only are stripes his #1 fashion choice, he also chooses to stimulate his growing brain by gazing at some high-contrast tiger stripes in this artwork by prolific kidbean artist Phebe.

'Mr Tiger', as we call him, guards Alex's change table. He has become Alex's closest friend and confidante.
Apart from me, of course.

Cheers,
--Pabs

A decade of Pabs

Is there a better way to celebrate one's tenth birthday than with a snooze on one's favourite chair?

Today is the day that we celebrate my birthday and my gotcha day, which fall roughly around the same time of year.

It's my EIGHTH gotchaversary and my TENTH birthday.

Yes, a whole DECADE of me.

Awesome.

Cheers,
--Pabs

Awards season

Catchin' some early morning rays in my garden...

A few weeks ago, my mate Yoggi gave me the Superior Scribbler Award.
These are the particulars for this award:

Each superior scribbler must pass on the AWARD to 5 friends who are also SS.

Each SS must link the author and name of the blog from whom he receives the award.

Each SS must display the award on his/her blog and link to the post which explains the award.
(For more info, visit: http://nollsnip.blogspot.com/)

You know what? I'm so late with posting about this, most of my buddies have it already. So if YOU don't have it yet, it's yours! ALL my friends are superior scribblers!

Cheers,
--Pabs

Superbowl Monday?

That's right, Americats. We're so far into the future here in Australia that Superbowl Sunday is Superbowl Monday.

I'm just having an early morning roll in the sun before settling down in front of the TV for the big game.

I haven't followed the NFL this year at all, so I just have to pick a team to support based on the team names. So I'm supporting the New Orleans Saints today, because Nick's Australian Football League Team is the Saint Kilda Saints, and they just missed out on last season's championship. Here's hoping that the New Orleans Saints can go all the way!

Really, I'm most excited about seeing The Who rock out at half time.

Have a fun day, everycat!

Cheers,
--Pabs

Pablo no-show

My friend Heidi came to visit me today.

Heidi was one of the people who adopted me when I was a kitten. (I only came to live with Kate when I was two.)

You could say Heidi's been like a mother to me.

Heidi now lives on the island of Yap in Micronesia.

In the middle of the Pacific.

She hasn't visited Hobart for, like, five years or something.

So what did I do when she came to visit me today?

I hid in the next door neighbour's garden.

There aren't any photos of today.

Cheers,
--Pabs

Once I had a Secret Paw...

I know it's awfully late of me to be posting this... turns out that having a new babybean plays havoc with one's blogging life. Anyway, my Secret Paw for 2009 came from my Wisconsin, USA buddies Victor and Nina. My package was filled with awesome goodies:

Lovely Lucy - an awesome furry mousie toy (not to be confused with Miss Lucy, my kitty friend who turned 22 this week), a nip pouch, some cool squishy straw thingies and a beautiful Christmas decoration with my name on it!

Yessir, that's some quality nip!

Oh, and I scored a coupla cool cards this season, too. The one on the left's from my buddy Trip (although his brothers are on the card... maybe next year, huh, Trip?), and the one on the right's from Victor and Nina.

I had a great first Christmas as a big brother, with a little help from my awesome kitty blogging friends. Here's hoping that my next Christmas won't be ruined by a certain tail-pulling stickybean!

Cheers,
--Pabs