It’s been a week and a half since I began weaning Lady from her Reconcile.  In that time, the altercations have increased noticeably (from none to almost one a day).  I don’t think she’s ready to come off the medication, so I put her back to her normal dose today.  The medication doesn’t seem to bother her, and not being on the medication seems to bother not only her but the other cats as well.

For a few days, I feared Walter may have had a home I wasn’t aware of.  I stopped to talk to my neighbor two houses down to find out if he was their cat and to apologize for neutering him.  It turns out her Henry looks very much like Walter but is far too laid back to be Walter (and Henry has all his parts).  We had a nice talk.  I met her Tuffy (a cute little dog), and now, if I see him out on the streets, I know where to lead him back to. She has a young granddaughter who sometimes forgets to shut the gate.

Sneaky is doing well.  She’s taken to sleeping on the back porch at night.  I suspect something has chased her out from under the house, and I don’t think it’s Walter.  My neighbor trapped skunks and opossums and released them at the edge of town, but I think we still have a raccoon.  If that’s the case, I don’t think Sneaky wants to tangle with it.  Last time I filled the feeder, I noticed some claw marks on the plastic that looked a little more substantial than cat or skunk.  I think I’ll bring the game camera in from the ranch after this stint and put it back on the porch to see who we have visiting.

Natasha has been very snuggly.

I think I’m having a problem with Pretty Boy Floyd again.  Just before I was ready to head to bed last night, I was finishing up some things on the computer.  I heard something at my feet, and then I smelled something. Floyd was in the shred box, and he’d just peed on my trash can.  I cleaned it up, but I wonder what he’s trying to tell me. He didn’t seem to be in any discomfort, but I hadn’t scooped the litter boxes for the night yet. He likes to be able to dig, and he prefers the Tidy Cats box to the World’s Best box (he’ll use that in a pinch, and he tosses half the litter onto the floor when he does).  Is it the litter boxes, or is it something else?  Time to ask Dr. Val.  He’s boarding next weekend.

Lady likes a new box — it will probably become the new shred box.  I have decided to retire the old shred box (see previous paragraph).  I fondly remember the days when Lady and Tarzan both fit in that box to sleep, but Lady has continued to cram herself into it for a nap.  She fits this new box much better, so I don’t think she’ll miss the old one.

Mr. L is making progress with Rossie.  She still won’t give me the time of day, but she seems to adore Mr. L. At least as much as a strongly introverted cat can.  Ruby seems to prefer him, too.

Tarzan, Ajax, Daphne, and Delta are all doing well.  Have you seen the movie Arsenic and Old Lace?  Or maybe the play?  Remember where “Teddy” charges San Juan Hill?  I always think of that when I see Delta or Daphne run up the back stairs.  I hear, “Charge!” in my head every single time.