| Feline Diabetes - a really good resouce that I found very useful after Whiskers' diagnosis Cornell University - a source for more technial info |
| My name is Whiskers. I am a grey tabby with white on my belly, paws and chin. I have long hair and my parents seem to think that I am part Maine Coon, whatever that means. Valerie and Michael let me move in with them in the summer of 1993. I was homeless at the time and had been crying and begging for food outside their apartment building for a few days. A few other families in the building tried to take me, but they already had cats. I don't like other cats (except for Davey, that is). Besides, I had a surprise I didn't want to share with any other cats. About a month after I moved in, I had 5 kittens. Boy, were Mommy and Daddy (Val and Mike) surprised! (They didn't know I was pregnant.) Davey was one of the babies and the only boy, which Mommy told me was why he still lives with us. He looks a lot like me and surprisingly was the runt of the litter - hard to believe considering how big he is now. Since then, my parents made me get an operation so I can't have any more babies. I don't mind so much - I didn't like going into heat anyway. I also had my nails removed. Sometimes I wish I still had my nails, like when I try to climb on something, but Mommy says I'm not supposed to be climbing anyway. I was diagnosed with diabetes in the summer of 2000. My mommy said that explained why I had lost so much weight and I was always thirsty. I feel better now, but my parents still have to give me insulin shots twice a day. I try to hide from them sometimes and avoid getting my shot, but they always seem to find me. I like to sit and watch the birds and other animals that run around our neighborhood (see picture below). During the day, when Mommy and Daddy are gone, Davey and I stay in the basement, which is fine with me. My food and bathroom are down there. I like to sleep on the bottom shelf of one of the bookshelves. At night, I like to cuddle with Mommy and Daddy before they go to bed. |
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| My name is Davey. I am an American shorthair. People sometimes say I am fat or pudgy, but I prefer husky. I am still a growing boy, you know. I don't eat a whole lot, although I have been known to help my mom finish her meals. I like to wake Mommy up at 5:00 a.m. in the morning for breakfast. I don't think she likes this very much, but a guy's gotta eat, you know? I am not a very active cat, I like to practice the art of napping. As these pictures show (right and below), I started sleeping on my back at a very early age. I find it very comfortable, although people seem to always feel the need to grab my belly when I sleep this way. What's up with that? I have been pretty healthy, except for one urinary tract infection during Christmas one year. It was rather unpleasant, let me tell you. I also have some allergies, which make me very itching sometimes. My Mommy (Valerie) makes fun of my legs sometimes, because I pulled a lot of the hair off and it hasn't grown back. My best friend is a little catnip bag, which Mommy and Daddy got at the cat shop in New Hope. The catnip inside is really strong and it gets me kind of drunk. I like to chew and lick it and roll around with it. When I get tired, I sometimes use it as a pillow. Whiskers used to try and play with my bag every once in a while (Mommy and Daddy forgot to tell her it was MY bag). Since I don't like to share, Mommy and Daddy had to go by another bag. |
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| We like to look out the screen door and see what is going on in the neighborhood. |
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| Can you see the family resemblance? |
| Information on feline diabetes: |
| Virtualvet.com - besides lodging, you can locate kennels, groomers, etc. in a given area Petswelcome.com Travelpets.com Orbitz - be sure, after you choose the location and dates of your trip, to scroll to the bottom and choose 'Let me choose preferred amenities', so that you can limit the search to places that allow pets |
| Information on pet friendly lodging: |
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| About Whiskers: |
| About Davey: |
| Breaking news from kittyland: |
| (October 2002) Small field mice have been spotted in the basement. Capture and consumption has been accomplished by uncharacteristically brave, Davey. Hind portions of 2 mice have been left for the owners of the house, but for some reason, do not seem to be appreciated. 2 live mice have been delivered to the owners, which caused great excitement, although it is not clear if the reaction was of joy or disgust.. The entrance point for the mice has not been identified, but further details will be provided as they become available. |
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| Introducing the Queen and Prince of the house: Whiskers and Davey! |
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| Mommy took these pictures of us looking at the snow outside. It looks pretty, but we are smart enough to know that they don't want to be out there with them shoveling the stuff. "I like to lick the door when it gets cold and foggy like this", says Whiskers. |
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