My little reading buddy – she makes herself completely comfortable despite your discomfort.

Nice little bookmark system isn’t it? She doesn’t make things easy – I had to literally lift her paw so I could turn the pages.

You don’t see as much of Tango, simply because sometimes he’s too quick to be photographed. But he does love to sunbathe and this captures him too well.

So today Mow – and yes that is officially her name, as of well a while now – went to the vet.

And indeed she is a she. I finally braved it and put my hand under her belly yesterday, was pretty sure I felt some titties (never thought I’d get to type that phrase in public), and the vet confirmed it. Though for some odd reason she swore it was a male, b/c she’s “healthy” aka fatty is going to get her portions cut down cause she’s almost 14 pounds!! Though she was moving alot on that scale and she’s got tons of hair and she’s a woman so I’m going to make excuses for her.

First off let me tell you, getting to the vet was a bit traumatic for both of us. She was very good, but she made this pitiful horrible crying sound that I swear to God sounded like “nooo, nooo, nooo”. It was awful! We were only a block away from the house when I started thinking this was a bad idea. I talked to her the whole time, which praise the Lord it was only about a 7 minute drive because I was quickly running out of cat conversation.

Once we got to the Wellness Clinic (which another praise because it’s super cheap!!) we were greeted by an empty waiting room, praise again – there’s going to be a lot of praising in this post, warning you know. I put my name on the list and filled out the paper work.

Of course they asked what her name was, so despite the “amazing” names the internet provided I stuck with Mow. She just looks like Mow to me know, I couldn’t change. Well she was a hit. She was so sweet once we got her out of the crate, everyone loved her. On top of that they LOVED her name. I promise you, I could even hear them in the hallway saying “guess what her name is, how cute is that”.

So we proceeded with the exam and shots, they tested her blood and surprisingly she’s 100% healthy.  They found a scar from where she was spayed, praise. They shaved what was basically the biggest hair mat I have ever seen off her back leg – that was actually the most traumatic part of the trip next to the “nooo”. I just wanted to shout to the nurse “hurry up what are you doing back there, giving her a perm?” Of course they noticed all her battle scars, they felt sorry for her. I wanted to say “no really, you should see the other guy”. Cause I’ve seen her fight and she is fierce.

The crazy thing is she was so sweet the whole time, she didn’t swat her paw or hiss or anything. And she ate up the attention, the vet and staff were very impressed. It confirms the theory that she may have been someone’s pet at one time and they dumped her or they moved, bastards.

So Mow is healthy, has all her shots and is now on round the clock survelance to make sure she doesn’t get a fever from the vaccinations – yeah shoot me, why did I pick the coldest day of the year for this project? Oh and I have to go back in 3 weeks for the conitnuation of booster shots, I’m telling you I don’t put this much medical attention on myself! Lord!

I can kinda see why people stop treating pets – but places like the Wellness Clinic are awesome. An exam is only $10-$20! And shots are $10-$14. So if you find an animal or if you are in a financial bind – keep treating your animals – just find a discounted vet. Cities routinely provide these clinics so that people will continue to treat their animals.

Austin Clinics

Wellness Clinic – http://www.animaltrustees.org/ATA/site/wellness.asp

Emancipet http://www.emancipet.org/wellness/

You can also find loads of spay and neuter places for $25-$45 which is great!

So this stray has been hanging around this neighborhood for years. I know because when I would come over to Sandra’s house it was always around. It always seemed kinda scroungy and smelled like pee – blech. But of course all it takes is me moving in for it to decide, I like you, you’re my new owner.

And so it is I’ve apparently adopted a cat. Now normally, I’m not a big cat person. I mean I’m an animal person so I love all animals. Note, rodents do not fall into this category. But when I think of a pet, I think of dogs. But the stray was just so cute and sweet and helpless of course my heart melted. Yes I have a heart.

Plus she’s a Maine Coon or at least has a lot of Maine Coon in her, and from what I’ve researched they are as close to dogs as you’ll get in a cat. Even tempered, sweet and loyal. No wonder she has “flipped” on me and decided she wants to claw my eyes out!

Winter came, and I softened even more. She now has a little house of luxury in the back yard, complete with blankets and a butler.

But she still has no name. I started calling her “mow” because her meow’s are very clipped and different. But that seems to get a resounding no from the public. So public what should I name her. I’ve taken the challange to facebook. So far we have

• Tigre
• Fred Loya
• Taco
• Cat
• Roscoe
• Jagger
• Ninja
• Phil, Bob and Frank
• Valentine
• Isis
• Selena
• Cha Cha
• Kenya
• Sasha Fierce
• Emilio Valdez Quintanilla – yeah right
• Pablo Escobar
• Simba
• Mrs. Featherbottom

Apparently she or he looks Spanish. And so far “Mow” doesn’t seem so bad