Tax Day?

Oh, Mom and Dad have been talking about something called "taxes" and Mom played with all her piles of papers and she set some pages aside for me to sit upon and put some in the recycling bin for Victor and put some back in other stacks! Victor said we help by sitting in the recycling or lying on the papers. He said Bonnie Underfoot was a great helper at tax time, and he showed me pictures to prove it!

Oh, in this picture, I think Bonnie looks like her brain fell out, and that's about how Mom looked when she finished playing with her papers, but she didn't roll around on top of them. Maybe she should have, then she'd have been happier about it?

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I DID convince Mom that I'm not a bunny. See? No more bunny ears. Did she get my best side?

Hoppy Easter!

Oh, what am I to do? Mom wants to make me an Easter Bunny! I don't want to be a bunny, I'm a kitty! I *like* my little ears! I *like* my long tail! See what a pretty kitty I am? Why, oh why does she want me to be a bunny?

Nina, she's not reely gonna make you a bunny. She just plays wif our pictors. See, here's me an Bonnie's Easter pictors!

Oh, really? I don't know, Victor, you DO have big ears. No, I'll stay a pretty tabby kitty.

International Box Day

It's International Box Day!!! THIS is a holiday made for cats!
(The slide shows need time to load. Your patience is appreciated)

Victor is known as a "bag" cat, but he LOVES boxes, too.



Nina LOVES shoe boxes. She's a Size 8 from the exclusive Lands' End Tabby Collection!



Bonnie also loved boxes, whether sprawled over the top or squished inside.



Enjoy!

Thursday 13: Paper

Vampy Vic an Mushka asplained that the paper in a pictor was not trash but a toy. Wul, DUH, all cats know that! But I guess it haded to be asplained to dumb beans. So here is 13 types of paper we loves, wif sum help from Bonnie:

1. Tissue paper.


2. Drawin paper.


3. Rappin paper.


4. Sorted papers.


5. Packin paper.


6. Paper bags.
Um, dat's PAPER bags...

7. Homewerk papers.


8. Impawtant bizziness papers.


9. Junque mail papers.


10. Tissue paper (can't haf too much!)


11. Mewspapers.


12. Insturction papers.


13. Bill's papers... No, efun WE don't like Bill's papers!

What's yur favoritest kind of paper?

PS Nina needs to get into da papers round hear more! Mom don't got any pictors of her wif paper yet!

PPS Dis week, Bonnie's been goned 5 months. We miss you, Crabby Girl. But fanks fur guidin us to Nina. She's grate.


Victor's making funny faces!


Victor's curly tail should win!

Caturday - Photo Hunters: Sad

The Photo Hunters theme, SAD, kinda fits fur Nina today. Mom werked late last nite (I thot it's a DAY huntin job) an Dad an the boy tooked furever to notice dat Nina had left a poop on the floor. Not just a reglar ol poop, but the bad kind that starts wif D. They saved it fur Mom to inspect an clean up. Wasn't dat nice? They said they didn't know how. An then she asked the boy to clean ALL the litter boxes, but then she had to clean the scoop an the sink an, wul, one small mess after another. All afore dinner! And as soon as our favoritest litter box was clean, Nina went an left a poop in there that starts wif D, confirmin dat it's her an not me. Cuz it was late, Mom said "Let's see how she is ofur nite."

Nina seemed fine an we all had a nice night in bed, but dis mornin, Nina an I was playin, then she ran to an old kitty bed of mine an, wul, she tinkled in it. It may nefur smell da same! I hope she wasn't tryin to revenge on me. So Mom washed the kitty bed and shut Nina in the human litterbox room an called the vet.

Then Mom tooked Nina sum food an water an I wented into the human litterbox room, too. I didn't like bein outside while Nina was inside, an she didn't like it eifur. But then we was bof shut in there, which wasn't so bad, actshully.

Well, Mom talked to the vet lady who was a little bit bery bizzy but wanted to see Nina, an then Mom camed to get Nina, but WOW Nina's quick! She scooted out an dove unner the big bed. Mom went in the bedroom an closed the door, so I didn't see the rest, but fur like 10 minutes, I could hear Mom runnin round the bed an talkin to Nina. Twice, I herd her say, "OK, THIS time yur not gettin away yaaaaaaa! Ow. Darn it." Finely, Mom camed out wif Nina in the cage. She looked worn out (Mom, not Nina) an when I looked in the bedroom, lotsa boxes unner the bed had been shoved togefur an stuff round the bed was all outa place. It musta been sum restlin match! Nina cried fur help, but I can't do nofin bout dat cage.

Wul, when they got home, Mom turned Nina loose an she wented into DEEP hiding. Like the deepest hidin she knows, unner the train layout in the basement. I herd Mom tellin Dad Nina gotted SHOT by our Aunty Byottics an has to haf pills efurry day fur awhile an if she's not better by Monday, they'll haf to go back. Poor Nina! She didn't mean to make those messes.

So anywho, Nina's sad cuz she don't feel good an restlin wif Mom an goin to the vet don't make her feel any better. I's tryin to make her feel better, but she don't wanna come out where I can lick her. Maybe dat's cuz I always go from lickin to bitin to restlin! She's just sooooo much fun!

So, here's da pictor I choosed fur SAD. Bonnie an I was bof SAD to see how Mom's plant was dying. Also, we's all still SAD dat Bonnie hadded to go to the Rainbow Bridge in May. I still miss her so much! Nina's purty good at hissin an growlin an efun whappin, but Bonnie... she was THE Attack Tabby.

photohunt

Totally Tabby Tuesday

I gotta enter Monty's Doin the Q contest! I could proly win a curled tail category, but first, here's my Full Monty pose:

Mom says that blank look on my face means my brain falled out.

Wul, I passed my T4 test so my thyroid's not hyper or un-hyper. Ms. E. Kay Gee says my heart's normal, too. That all sounds good, but I musta done sumfin wrong cuz the vet lady don't wanna see me again until next year. Don't she like me? ::big round eyes::

HAHAHAHA! ::spin:: No mo go! No mo go!*

Skittles has started "LOLTabby-Tuesday" an I wanna try it too. Here's one Mom did of Bonnie. I's just not the sink cat Bonnie was. I snuggle instead.



* "No mo go" is short for No More Going [to the vet].

Photo Hunters: Emotion(s)

Bonnie was nefur one to hide her emotions! Here's a rememborable shot frum July 2006. I *was* layin near Bonnie, but when I gotted up, "HISSSSSSS"!



Bonnie would hiss at anyone an efurryone. It was kinda funny to us! Once, she tried to hiss wif her mouf full. I fell ofur laffin an laffin at that one!

I can't wait to go to the party for Gree an Othello! I's ready fur ::spin:: FUN!
photohunt

What Happened - Test Results

My friends, the emergency vet called Friday with the lab results for Bonnie. The results point to either lymphoma or hepatitis - the technicians are split on which. Briefly, lymphoma means cancer somewhere in the lymphatic system and hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Or maybe she had both. We could find out for certain, but we'd have to pay for more tests. We feel the information we have is enough to bring us closure. Most importantly, it was NOT something in her environment and it was NOT contagious.

Bonnie had a blood test last August before being knocked out for teeth-cleaning and the results were normal. While she was out, the vet examined her more thoroughly than was possible with Bonnie awake (she would, with great dignity, growl, hiss and snap throughout the exam). Nothing was detected then.

The "signs" of illness we now recognize were few and easy to overlook or explain away. The worst was weight loss. She was looking a bit skinny, but we didn't realize she had dropped from 12+ lb to 9.5 lb. Aside from that, she was typical Bonnie - demanding water from the sink instead of the fountain; requesting extra Temptations so as to avoid eating mere cat food; mellowing her reaction to one of our friends as he became familiar; tolerating Victor somewhat more than before. Nothing extraordinary. Typical ornery Bonnie!

The weekend before Bonnie died, I watched Victor approach her in her kitty kuddler. They touched noses and she didn't growl or hiss. I don't know who was more surprised, me or Victor. But Wednesday morning, waiting for treats, she gave Victor one heck of a whap on the nose. That was Bonnie for you - Beauty and Beast rolled into one.

I've changed the blog title, but it's not final. For one thing, it's too long. It's Victor's blog now and we'll change it slowly. As for a title, "Victor Tabbycat", "The Spin Doctor", "Victor's Blog"... I don't know. He'll tell me when he's ready, but some part of Bonnie Underfoot will always be part of this blog.

((((HUGS)))) and PURRS
Tabbymom Jen and Victor Tabbycat

Photo Hunt: Shoes

Um..., thanks?


photohunt

For those who don't already know, we lost Bonnie suddenly Thursday morning. Thank you for the happy memories, sweetling. I'll always love you.

(Graphic from Zoolatry - thank you, Ann)

Thank You, Furiends

(Graphic by Lauren P & Chase - thank you)

My furiends, we is ofurwhelmed by yur comments an memorials an efurryfing fur Bonnie. We is furry sad, acourse, but you've all been furry helpful for us in dealin wif our grief. It hurts so much rite now, but we're amemberin all the good times wif Bonnie an smilin an laffin. She was quite a cat. I'm a little lost wifout her. I mean, I've gone two days now wifout gettin hissed at! I looked fur her at treat time, but she wasn't there. I can't find her... I guess she really is goned.

(Graphic from Zoolatry - thank you, Ann)

Bonnie was fine Wed mornin. We was askin nicely fur treats, an Bonnie gave me quite a WHAP on the nose. She was in a grump, but nothin unusual bout that. Mom acided to gif us stinky goodness too cuz she was always a little worried dat Bonnie'd lost wait an insisted on drinkin frum the sink instead of the fountain. She wanted Bonnie to get newtrishun an plenty of fluids. Wul, we dove into dat wonderful food an made happy piggies of ourselves. We was so busy nom nom nomin, we didn't efun see Mom leaf.

That affernoon, Bonnie left a big barf on the carpet. No surprise - she'd always do dat affer eatin too fast. She was nearby, not lookin happy. Again, no surprise. But all evenin, she stayed in the hallway, more huddlin than loafin. Then dey found a little puddle she'd left on the carpet. She nefur did that afore, so Mom cleaned it up (no blood) an dat's when Mom an Dad sed they'd defnitly take her to the vet in the mornin. Wul, Bonnie kept kinda huddlin all nite, but moofed next to the big bed, nearest Dad (she always liked him best). When he gotted up, she wented into the puter room. Dat was der mornin routine, where they'd haf sum private snuggle time. Dey was in der bout an hour, but Bonnie was lyin like the Egyptian Sphinx, only flattened. Still, dey thot it was ok to wait until our reglar vet opened at 8. Then afore 7, Bonnie collapsed an rolled onto her side. Dat's probably her last conscious memory, of bein wif Dad in the puter room.

Dad tooked her to the mergency vet an when they camed home wifout Bonnie, Mom an Dad bof cried lots. I was a little bit ascared that they mite take me away, too. They said Bonnie's heart stopped twice. The first time, round 7 am, the vet got it started an ran lotsa tests. I fink they stoled her blood. What they found was furry bad an they didn't know what was the cause an what was the effect. But Bonnie was still breathin on her own an fightin, until her heart stopped again bout 10:45 am.

Rite now, we finks it was sum kinda cancer or tumor dat wasn't detected. Da vets are gonna find out what it was, then return Bonnie's ashes to us. Dey don't fink it was sumfing she ated an they's sure it wasn't containgas... conageis... sumfing I'll catch.

I's gonna keep bloggin, but Mom an I haf to figger out how it's gonna be. Maybe Mom an I will talk. Maybe we'll imagine what Bonnie woulda sed. It hurts rite now to fink bout the changes, but we'll haf to moof on. If not, Bonnie's ghost is gonna whap us!


We've appreciated all the poems an lovely sayins an tributes an pictors efurryone has made. We founded one poem we specially want to share wif alla yous. I'm sorry, I can't amember where we saw it, maybe on Flickr, but I fink dis is how Bonnie would feel. Please, join us in amemberin feisty, beautiful, grumpy, difficult, complex Bonnie for the joy she brought us for 11 years (well, only 2.5 years for me, but you know what I mean). 11 years of happiness must mean more than the sad day she left us.
~ Victor

Don't Grieve Too Long Poem

Don't grieve too long for now I'm free
I've followed the path God set for me
I ran to Him when I heard His call
I swished my tail and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To meow, to love, to romp or play
Games left unplayed must stay that way
I found such peace; it made my day.

My parting has left you with a void
Please feel it with remembered joy
A friendship shared, your laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things I too shall miss

Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
My lifes been full, you've given so much
Your time, your love and gentle touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief
Lift up your head and share with me
God wanted me; He set me free!!

Thank you, one and all. Bonnie loved and admired you, too. This weekend has been chosen for a time of hugs. Please hug your loved ones, physically or virtually, because you never know how long you'll be together.
~ Tabbymom Jen

(Graphic from Zoolatry - thanks again, Ann)

The Blogosphere goes on! There's more info on these roundups available at the CatBlogosphere:
Bad Kitty Cats Festival of Chaos Edition #46 5/25 at The Catboys Realm
Board the Friday Ark at The Modulator (thank you for including Bonnie!)
Weekend Cat Blogging #155 May 24-25 Katie & Puddy at A Byootaful Life
The Carnival of the Cats #219 5/25 #219 at M-cats Club

Bonnie's Gone

Bonnie's Gone
Originally uploaded by Bonnie and Victor Cats

She's gone. Just like that. Her heart stopped at the vet's a second time and she didn't recover. They think it was something systemic. We'll find out in a week or so - we have to know.

She was feisty to the end.

Thanks, friends.

PS Wherever Bonnie is now, you just *know* she's bossing everyone around.

Photo Hunters: Candy

Do you see how much I like Temptations? They're like CANDY. Oh, and I was soooo lucky this morning! My woman spilled a big bag of Temptations at my feet. NOM NOM NOM!

PS Regarding yesterday's post, if we all watch that fish, the room will be awfully crowded. And the boy's reflexes aren't *quite* as fast as he thought. ~ Bonnie
photohunt

Don't forget the current raffle at Cat Friends Helping Friends... The Wren's Next donated some wonderful signs so we can help friends in need. To see one of these signs in action, check out Grr's post from Grrsday!

Speaking of Grr, Midnight and Cocoa, they have explained how your kitty litter can also help CFHF. If you use Fresh Step, here's how you can help.

Respectfully yours,

Bonnie Underfoot, Attack Tabby

Friends on Friday

Our good friends Mr. Hendrix and Bendrix tagged us for a meme or two. Bendrix asked me to do the 7 useful things meme. Only 7? Perhaps I'll give more reasons why I'm useful, like he did.

1. I'm the Attack Tabby, guarding our house.
2. I'm loud, making sure no one forgets to feed me, provide water, and give me treats.
3. I've taught the boy good reflexes by snapping at him. I wouldn't *really* bite, right?
   
4. I teach everyone to stay light on their feet. Hello - I'm "Underfoot"!
5. I make sure everyone knows how much Victor teases and bullies me. Loudly.
6. I make sure Victor gets some exercise by chasing me.
7. I remind the woman to change the fountain filter... by lurking in the sink.
8. I give my love to my man, not the woman, so she feels guilty for declawing me.

::Yawn:: There's more, and I should tag some friends, but I need to go guard the boy's room. There's a live fish in there, you know! I need to keep an eye on it. Tomorrow, I'll remind Victor to post the 3 names meme - Mr. Hendrix tagged him.

Oh, I'm also useful to the CFHF... Here's a reminder for the current raffle. To see one of these wonderful signs in action, check out Grr's post from Grrsday!

Bonday - Bonnie Up Top

Bonnie Up Top
Originally uploaded by Bonnie and Victor Cats

It was so good of my man to build this cat tower for me. I don't know why he keeps leaving his toys all over it. Why on earth is the woman trying to get me down? This is MY spot and I WON'T be moved easily!

I've seen Victor on the lower level, where more toys are, knocking over the things that sometimes run round and round. He's always told to get down, proving this is meant for me.

Purrs!

May Day Knock Knock

Victor: Bonnie, I've got a knock knock joke for Camie's Kitties' fundraiser. You start it.
Bonnie: Victor, that's not how it works! You start the joke.
Victor: No, really, you start it.
Bonnie: I am NOT that gullible. You won't get me to say "Knock knock".
Victor: Who's there?
Bonnie: VIC-TOR! I'm not falling for that.
Victor: Aw, come on Bonnie! Just say "Knock knock".
Bonnie: Who's there?
Victor: No no no no no! That's not what I meant.

Victor: For real this time. Knock knock!
Bonnie: Who's there?
Victor: Aardvark.
Bonnie: Aardvark who?
Victor (singing): I'd valk a mile... for one of your smiles... Bonnie!
Bonnie: Ha, ha. That'll be the day.

PS Mom says dis is the 10fh annieversery of lifin in dis house. Dat's the day Bonnie discovered STAIRS so she could play THOE* properly.

* Thunderin Heard of Elefants.

One Word Wednesday: Comfy?

Comfy?
Originally uploaded by Bonnie and Victor Cats

Some words (technically, this occurred on Monday):
Victor: Bonnie, c'mere! It's snowing!
Bonnie: Yea, right.
Victor: No really, it's snowing!
Bonnie: Victor, I'm not falling for it.
Victor: I tell you, it's snowing!
Bonnie: It's the end of April. It is NOT snowing. And isn't it late for April Fools jokes?
Boy: Bonnie, Victor, look, it's snowing!
Bonnie: I don't believe it.