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5 + 4 Weeks: Another Walk and A Cat Who Doesn’t Hold Grudges #cats #nature

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My wounds are healing, and the size of my hand is now normal. The swelling only lasted until Tuesday, although I was impressed with what I could still do while it was swollen (knit, type).

Our bond with Raji gets a bit stronger each day. He really doesn’t hold a grudge, it seems. He’s loving the petting sessions and is very playful. Getting him to stay still long enough for a photo is still a challenge.

It seems the only time Raji is still enough is when he is eating.

I am testing some medication on him prescribed by our vet to “calm” him and make him more amenable to getting into the pet carrier. The dosage prescribed is 100 mg of Gabapentin the night before and another 100 mg the morning of his vet visit. Two mornings ago I gave him the 100 mg with his breakfast just to see if he would eat mixed with food (he would) and whether he’d show any adverse effects (he didn’t). He seemed a bit more mellow, but not enough to be coaxed into a pet taxi.

It’s going to be another slow process. I’m trying to desensitize him to the horrors of the carrier by lining it with a familiar cushy pillow, playing near it with him, and putting treats deep inside. He will go in to eat the treats, but he keeps his back legs planted firmly outside the carrier. Maybe I should get a bigger carrier.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We spent it as we usually do. Outside, weather permitting. We went to our favorite in-town trail. I thought I’d have no reason to take photos and yet …

Late afternoon light is the best!
Not as vibrant as previous weeks, but I’m still loving the yellow, red and orange leaves of these trees.
Consider me odd if you will, but the center of this palm really caught my eye. I had never noticed this difference in color before.
The Timberlane Ravine trail is criss-crossed with thick roots for the most part. I spend a lot of my time looking where I walk.
But looking down has its rewards!
Fungi!
It’s not obvious in the photo but this is a lovely and gentle downward part of the trail.
Ending with the love of my life perched on a boardwalk.

Thank you for reading! So now I wish you all a very happy New Year! Bring on 2021! I’m ready to say adios to 2020.

P.S. Did I mention how chilly it’s been in north Florida lately? Only cold weather would get these two to snuggle together.

Junior and Maxine

Categories: Cats Nature

Tagged as:

Marie A Bailey

Writer, blogger, knitter, cat lover, and introvert.

18 replies ›

  2. We can learn a lot from Raji when it comes to not holding a grudge. I’m happy your hand is doing better, Marie. With all of the craziness that went on in 2020, I think it’s nice we can look back through your posts and see the beauty that still exists in the world through the lens of your camera. Thanks for sharing you photos!

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    1. Thank you, Merril. Yes, it’s all going well. We just have to be patient … very patient … with Raji 🙂 Now that you’ve mentioned peacocks, I’ll probably never look at those palms the same way again 😉

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    1. Thanks, Phillip. We use walking sticks on trails like the Timberlane Ravine because it’s so easy to trip. What amazes me is how many people run the trail. We’ve even seen a couple of mountain bikers.

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  8. Glad your hand is healing. We tried Gabapentin with one of ours a few years back for nighttime crying. It didn’t help with that, but she eventually outgrew the need to yowl all night. I love the countdown—you’re getting closer. 💕🙌🏼🥂

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    1. We did a “test run” with our vet’s recommendation. 100 mg last night and 100 mg this morning. I sprayed the pet carrier with Feliway, waited 30 minutes before putting it down on the floor. Then I put some Churu (a pasty food that he loves) in his food dish and placed that at the far end of the carrier. He went in but his butt still stuck out. When I went to try and lift the flap, he skedaddled out of there! Sigh. His reflexes are just too good, even with the gabapentin. Our next option is a huge playpen-pet carrier combo that we bought. He seems comfortable sitting inside it. Not sure how well it will fit in the car, though 😉

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  9. Marie, I can’t imagine you going anywhere and not getting a photo or two. Those two cats look pretty cozy. It’s amazing to find them this way if it’s not a normal behavior. Glad the hand is healing and that you were able to type and knit even while it was swollen. I didn’t realize until now that you were a knitter (guess I didn’t pay attention to your description of yourself). I also knit and finished just in time an afghan made for our daughter that had to be shipped from Oregon to SC for her Christmas. No I’m working on a sweater and cap for our 4th great-grandchild, a girl, for her first birthday. I have until mid-January or could be a few days late. Sweet Aurora would never know at age one. 🙂

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