Sunday, March 27, 2016

Spring Blues

Spring is here. My cars are green with pollen, and I survived my spring cold. The hills are brilliant green, and will certainly still be green on my birthday. 
But I'm still unsettled. 

Work is nice: I get to work with a bunch of nice people on a early iMac "network". Since I got assigned the IT guru in the first week, I now get to learn more stuff (like how to uninstall Office 2008 from a 2007 iMac).  The commute is great, and the "other duties as assigned" includes walking this lovely, sweet pile of fur called Spicer. The commute has no traffic, and one of the best curvy roads in the area. 
Why am I still not happy?

Glenn and family have moved back into the area, and I get to see them every so often, which is always a blast. Mom is thrilled they're back.  She's doing OK, playing bridge, needlepointing and dealing with tech.  
But I still worry about her. 

For some unknown reason I've lost 20 pounds in the last 8 months. More sleep?  Cooking for myself? Strep Throat?  
I should be thrilled.  

The best I can manage is content. 
That's not a bad place to be - certainly a step up from sleep deprived and stressed.  I just don't know where to go next. 



Monday, March 14, 2016

Life, part 2

I finally have a job. 
I enjoyed my year's vacation, but I really needed to get back to work. Nothing scientific - I've explored all those jobs, and there was nothing in my field. 
So, I'm now a bookkeeper.  Back to where I started!  Thanks Dad - you trained me well. 

I'm doing paper & pencil bookkeeping for a small travel agency that specializes in scientific based trips: eclipses, transits, botany and exotic locations. High end.  I don't get to do any traveling (yet), but I've seen their trips for years and wanted to go there & do that. 

Location?  Dream commute!  It's at the top of Montebello Road, right below Ridge Winery. I really enjoy the drive.  But it's taking a toll on my brakes and gas mileage. 

Saturday, March 12, 2016

In memory of my “Little Green Eyes”

Original Post: Monday, April 27, 2015
I still miss little Tigger.  She had the most beautiful green eyes although she would never let you see them. I wish she had lived long enough to become a loving pet. I found this song and wrote down the lyrics when she died, but haven’t posted them for some reason. 

Little Green Eyes
Words: Mercedes Lackey, Music: Kathy Mar

Silent City, silent ruin stands alone.
Nothing left there but a wall piled stone on stone.
And beneath it, where the cellar used to be
lies a hidden sheltered place no one can see.
From that rubble two green eyes appear and blink, 
and a tabby cat steps timid through a chink.

In the twilight, in the silent evening gloom,
Tabby shadow runs with joy from room to room. 
Here his chair and there his bowl, and all the rest,
and his people, all the ones that he loves best.
With a tiny cry of bliss he greets them there.
Was it magic brought them back to him again?

Little Green Eyes, is it hunger makes you see,
all the walls now where your old home used to be?
Little Green Eyes, is it cold that clouds your sight
so the phantom fills with sound and warmth and light?
Little Green Eyes is it loneliness at last
makes you build once more this vision of the past.

But the vision disappears into the night.
Gone the people, banished are the warmth and light. 
Little Green Eyes you are by your hopes betrayed
all your memories are shadows and they fade. 
When they've left your self deceit you realize.
is it human grief and loss that fills your eyes?

Tabby shadow slips in sorrow to the stone
Little Green Eyes curled in pain so all alone.
But as dawn breaks and the stones are touched with light,
he is fading with the shadows and the night.
Little Green Eyes isn't really there at all,
one more ghost that haunts this fine old crumbling wall.

Little Green Eyes, is it hunger makes you see,
all the walls now where your old home used to be?
Little Green Eyes, is it cold that clouds your sight
so the phantom fills with sound and warmth and light?
Little Green Eyes is it loneliness at last

makes you build once more this vision of the past.

Rusty - Later

Original Post: Monday, March 31, 2014

Still my beautiful big boy.  Happy to be an only cat, and still very friendly and outgoing.

Dream

Original Post: Sunday, September 9, 2012
I had a dream - a last dream before waking - vivid and clear in 3 out of 5 senses. 
I was sitting in my Jeep, and Tigger was sitting on the seat next to me.  She was sleek and svelte, her tail was full length, her eyes brilliant green.  She was purring, and I pet her just as I would any other cat - and her fur was soft as silk. 

And that was it.  
There are some problems with this reality.  Other than the utter impossibility of her purring or my casually petting her, the Jeep has bucket seats - not a bench seat - so she couldn’t be sitting next to me.  And I would never drive the cats in the Jeep except as a last resort.  


But there she was, the perfect and happy cat that I never knew. 

Farewell Tigger

Original Post: Sunday, September 18, 2011
Tigger finally gave up her fight with kidney disease.  Just like Silverfeet, she suddenly stopped eating (and throwing up) and just faded away to fur and bones.  My poor Little Green Eyes.  She did survive twice as long as the vet predicted. 
    The sad part is that she actually started getting friendly in the last month.  First she would sit next to me and let me pet her, then she would stagger over and lie down in my lap and would give her grumpy meow if I tried to move.  
    I finally got a picture of her beautiful green eyes.  

Hopefully she’s purring in Margaret’s lap. 

One year later

Original Post: Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Well, it’s a bit more than a year, but here she is!  I don’t know exactly what she weighs because I still can’t pick her up, but there is about half as much as before.  And she hasn’t been starving either.  While she eats amazingly fast, she usually leaves a couple of bites for Rusty. . 
January 2010
January 2011

Too Small...

Original Post: Thursday, February 24, 2011
You would think that by now they would have figured this cat bed thing out. I guess not. 

Anniversary update (only a little late)
Tigger is still alive despite the vet’s predictions that she wasn’t going to live very long.  She’s doing very well.  She’s drinking less water than before. but still more than she should be.  I put it down to good food with little or no carbohydrates.  The KD diet didn’t work for Silverfeet - I wish I’d found the Blue Buffalo food back then. 
    She doesn’t do much more than sleep and eat, but I can occasionally coax her to play.  Unfortunately, my 2 week vacation set us back to square one and she is back to being skittish.  I can pet her, but she won’t come sit on my lap any more.  
Patience. 
Rusty has stabilized at a hefty 16 pounds, with just a little bit of fat under the fur.  He’s very frisky, and likes to chase Tigger around.  But she’s not having it.  

Ella is very happy in her new home.  The people who adopted her were scared to get a new pet because of their sorrow at losing a cherished dog.  But they are very glad that they took in Ella, and have even adopted another 2 cats for her to play with. 

Happy Cats!

Acting like a cat...

Original Post: Wednesday, November 24, 2010


Tigger has been acting like a real cat!  She’s been jumping up on the sofa, sleeping in my lap, and letting me pet her!  I even get a very soft purr on occasion.  But, she’s still very skittish and will jump off if I move at all.  So, I have to sit very still.  

Tigger on a hot day

Original Post: Thursday, September 2, 2010
Well, it was a very hot day, and Tigger just couldn’t stand the heat any more. It isn’t the most elegant pose, but it is the most unguarded I’ve ever seen her.  And, it’s the first time I’ve seen her tummy since she was at the vet - unconscious. 
    She’s still a little tubby, but she is much slimmer than she used to be. 

    Makes me want to rub her tummy - not highly likely!

One small step...

Original Post: Wednesday, June 9, 2010
As I was sitting on the sofa with Rusty across my lap (and a good chunk of the rest of the sofa), little Miss Tigger walked up to the other side of the sofa and looked up at us.  And then the most amazing thing happened - she jumped up on the sofa.  Then she walked slowly over and lay down in my lap next to Rusty!  
    She let me pet her.  Then she purred!  And she stayed there for an hour and a half, just letting me pet her gently, even after Rusty left.  

    Wow!  It’s taken 6 months.  Maybe she’s going to become a pet yet!

Air Rusty

Original Post: Monday, April 5, 2010
Well, I tried to get an action shot of Rusty playing, but it’s hard to use the camera and play at the same time.  It’s my first movie, so I have some technique to master.



Harmony

Original Post: Saturday, May 8, 2010
Harmony at last!  Nothing like a shared bed and bath. 

My Bed!

Original Post: Wednesday, March 31, 2010


I had to buy another bed.  Burgundy was not my first choice, but it was on sale.  The only problem is that Tigger was NOT going to give up her lovely big bed. And Rusty just does not fit in the new bed. 

That’s Better!

Original Post: Monday, March 29, 2010
Tigger thinks that Rusty makes a fine pillow.  Rusty isn’t so sure.

Move Over!

Original Date: Monday, March 29, 2010

Tigger isn’t so sure she wants to be on the bottom. 

Room Enough?

Original Post: Monday, March 29, 2010

Well, they are sharing the cat bed, but there really is not enough room for both, and they occasionally squabble (nightly) with hissing and yowling. 

In the dark of the night...

Original Post: Thursday, March 18, 2010
Deep in the dark night, the cats were sleeping on the sofa.  
I came in to bid them goodnight, and they looked up at me. 

I pet Rusty and whispered sweet dreams, and Tigger didn’t move!  So I pet her - a big, whole hand pet, several times and finished with a scratch under the chin. She didn’t flinch, or get up or look the least bit disturbed!  I just wish she would let me do that in daylight. 

Playtime & treat time

Original Post: Monday, March 15, 2010
Ok, I never claimed that Rusty was the smartest cat around.  He didn’t know how to eat treats out of hand!  I thought every cat learned that as a kitten.  Ella would sit up on command for her treats. 
    But, with patience I’ve finally gotten Rusty to take the treat directly from my hand, and he is beginning to learn to sit up for it.  
    On the other hand, Tigger had no trouble taking the treat right out of my hand, but there is no way she is going to sit up for her treats. 

I got the cats a new little red laser - I seem to lose a lot of these.  Rusty plays with them, but he also seems afraid of it.  Well, Tigger was watching us play, and decided to show him how to catch a light.  And she walked up to the red dot and pounced on it.  

    I’ve been worrying about toys for her because 1. she frightens easily, and she is de-clawed.  Bells are out, and any toy that might hurt her paws, but the red dot can’t hurt her. The only precaution to take with lasers is to 1. never look at them, and 2. BE SURE THE CAT CAN’T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THEM.  Even a small laser can do permanent damage  to the eye.  Be very careful about reflections - lasers reflect much more strongly than normal lights. 

Slow Progress

Original Post: Saturday, March 13, 2010
Tigger cat is slowly coming out!  She has taken to sleeping under the chair across the room.  That way she can keep an eye on Rusty as he sits in my lap purring. 

    After I go to bed, she curls up with Rusty on the sofa.  So, I’m still catless all night. 

Pet my pet?

Original Post: Sunday, March 7, 2010

Well, I FINALLY got to pet Tigger!
I walked up to her in the cat bed, and she didn’t run away.  

She sniffed my finger! and then, she let me pet her down her back!  There is hope yet that my cat will become a pet.

Cats reunited!

Original Post: Thursday, March 4, 2010
Well, it looks like the cats have kissed and made up.  There is still a bit of hissing and yowling, but they spent a comfy night stuffed in their bed while I froze all alone in mine.  It isn’t as small as they make it look - there is just a lot of cat stuffed into the bed.  Maybe I should have gotten a dog bed?


By the way, Rusty is also a cat nip junky.  He goes crazy for it.  

Now you see her!

Original Post: Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Well, Tigger has taken to sleeping in the cat bed, especially if I have the “Snuggle Safe” is in it.  She will rest there so long as I have my back to her, or am working on the computer.  If I turn to look at her, she dashes back under the bed.
    Here’s the bad news - the vet has diagnosed her with kidney disease.  Stage 4, and there is not a lot I can do to help her.  He thinks she will make it about 9 months - and suggested a Kidney diet.  We both know I'm not going to be able to do subcutaneous fluid infusions. Considering Silverfeet only lasted about 3 months from Stage 2 to dead on the KD food, I'm going to just keep feeding her the good stuff.   

Rusty’s love of Q-Tips has led to a new trick.  He can now open the drawer and dump the box of Q-Tips, and spread them all over the floor!  Oh joy!  Now I have to find a childproof lock for the drawer.

(Shameless plug here for a great product: “Snuggle Safe” a perfectly safe and convenient pet bed warmer.  Can usually be found at Pet Food Express or online and worth every cent of the price especially if you have an old cat, kittens, or a freezing room.  Mine is over 5 years old and still working nicely. http://www.snugglesafe.ca/)
   

Out from under the bed!

Original Post: Thursday, February 25, 2010


Well, I got a surprise on the way to bed last night!  There was a cat on the bed - and it wasn’t trusty Rusty!  And my brave little Tigger stayed there while I brushed my teeth & washed my face and only ran away when I got into bed.  This isn’t the best photo either, but you can see her pretty colors, and her odd multi-color nose.  


Rusty darling has learned a new trick.  He lies down on the power strip for the computer, and suddenly Ellen’s keyboard and mouse no longer work! Scared me to death the first time it happened, but I eventually figured it out.  

2 steps forward, 1 step back?

Original Post: Monday, February 15, 2010
Well, I found out how to get Tigger out from under the bed.  Just run the vacuum.  She ran so fast - ended up outside on the porch hiding behind some pots.  At least I know what to do if I have to...

She wasn’t best pleased with me. 

What was that about?

Original Post: Sunday, February 14, 2010
What was THAT about?
I know these cats love each other, but last night they got into a hissing and yowling match!  What’s up?
I rescued Rusty and we closed the door on Tigger.
He stayed up on top of the bed all night.

I hope it doesn’t happen when I’m not here.  I don’t want to leave them locked up separately all day while I’m at work, but I may need to do that.

Argh. 

There is hope!

Original Post: Friday, February 12, 2010
She came out this morning and walked up and sniffed my hand!  
Then, she walked back under the bed...

Oh well.  At least my finger is still un-perforated.

Progress?

Original Post: Friday, February 12, 2010
Well, maybe it is progress.  Tigger now will come out from under the bed while I’m in the room.  She still won’t let me near her and runs away if I seem to be taking notice of her.  She has even been known to sneak out of my room to look around.  I’ve even heard her meow! Just a quiet little squeak. 

On the other hand, Rusty has a lovely sweet quiet voice. He doesn’t really chirp like a Maine Coon.  He finds workdays very difficult.  He would rather play than eat, and gets upset when I leave in the morning.  He loves the days I sleep in so long as I get up and give him some breakfast.  He certainly isn’t as good an alarm cat as Ella, but he won’t let me sleep past 9am.  

    He has a basket full of toys, and has adopted Ella’s favorite feather on a string as one of his faves.  But he REALLY loves to play with Q-Tips.  Strange cat.  

Well it isn’t a great shot...

Original Post: Sunday, February 7, 2010


Just a bit tubby...
Got a picture of Tigger at last!  She snuck by me to eat dinner, and stood there while I took a photo.  But she wouldn’t come to me, and was really jumpy when I moved towards her.  So, I just backed off & gave her some space, talking to her.  She eventually scampered back under the bed.  But, I got a photo.  Sorry about the setting...

There’s hope yet?

Original Post: Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Well, Tigger actually came out from under the bed while I was in the room!  We were both rather surprised.  I was brushing my teeth and looked up and there she was.  She looked just as surprised and turned around and headed back under the bed.  
    Well, maybe we’ll get there.  

She really is a pretty cat. There is just a bit too much of her and she waddles.  She is a dark tortoise shell over white with a white stripe down the middle of her face ending in a white muzzle.  Her nose is pink with one orange & one black spot. She has white feet but her tail is totally tortie.  She has bright green eyes.  I guess she is technically a calico.  But the green eyes are striking. 

He’s just so photogenic...

Original Post: Sunday, January 31, 2010

I can’t stop taking pictures of Rusty.  He’s just so cute.  And funny.  And handsome.  He’s my big peach fuzz.  

Getting Tiggy with it...

Original Post: Friday, January 29, 2010



Thursday: Well, not much luck on the Tigger front.  
I tried feeding her under the bed and providing a covered bed for her to hide in, but she won’t come out from under the bed.  After a frustrating half hour trying to get her out, I gave up and just cleaned up the mess.

Friday:  tried again to flush her out without luck.  Well, with Barry’s help, we got her out, but she went under the computer table and we couldn’t get her into the bathroom.  So, poor girl, her food and water are now next to the litter box in the bathroom.  If she wants to eat or drink, she can use the box at the same time.  I have sat and talked to her, but I don’t think I’m getting anywhere.  I hope I can get her back in the bathroom soon.  


The only problem is at night, when Rusty insists on sleeping on the bed with me, he goes in and eats her food.  He’s supposed to be on a diet too.  During the day, he doesn’t seem to mind being shut out of my room, but I think he misses Tigger.  He tries to visit her under the bed, but he just doesn’t fit!

Free at Last!

Original Post: Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Well, Tigger is OUT of the bathroom.
She headed under the bed. Instantly. 
Now I'm just trying to keep Rusty from eating her food.

I finally have my bathroom back. Well, except for the litter box... (small steps)

Vet Night

Originally Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2010

I decided to go with Adobe Animal Hospital for a several reasons: they have provided discount work for Maine Coon Rescue, they were nice to Mom, and they have appointments until 10pm! This is perfect for after work. 

First, I got a message on my answering machine from Animal control stating that if the cat was still alive, she was released from quarantine. Lovely. 

Mom volunteered to help with the cats, but I don't think she realized how heavy they were. The little red wagon was helpful in getting them to the car. 

I went into the exam room with Tigger, and it soon became clear that they would have to sedate her just to examine her. She was fighting the vet and the attendant. While the attendant put her under, I brought Rusty in to see the Vet. 

He walked out of the carrier like he owned the place and was a perfect gentleman. Well, we think he's a boy - there's so much fur that even the vet couldn't tell without a more "thorough" exam. We decided to let him alone. He's very healthy, and surprisingly, chipped! According to them, he's only 16 Pounds. Yeah, right.


Back to Tigger. I find out why she fought so hard and bit - she’s declawed. Poor little girl.  She’s 15 pounds, way too heavy especially considering she’s really a small cat!  She should weigh about 10 pounds.  They took blood and urine samples because I suspect that she has some renal disease - she drinks way too much for a cat her size. She also got a chip.  Not that she’s likely to run anywhere.

Work Week/Cat Weekend

Originally Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010

What can I say? Mousing with a sore hand, 
Trying to work on a microscope with no fine finger control. 
Trying to get some sleep. Dealing with the side effects of antibiotics.
But after 2 more doctors appointments, it looks like there is just a lot of scar tissue and possibly a little nerve damage. I got lucky.

And of course, trying to keep the kitties happy - Tigger locked in her bathroom, and Rusty SO not wanting to be locked up. I finally let him out to roam when he proved that he knew where the outside litter box was. 

Weekend: spent the WHOLE weekend reading to Rusty and Tigger. Well, except for getting the part to fix the 1975 Mustard Yellow dryer. And about 50 other errands that I couldn't do one handed during the week. 


Rusty just wants to PLAY. 

About the cats...

Original Post Date: Sunday, January 17, 2010

Rusty: the gray squares are 6" apart. 
It occurs to me that I haven't introduced the cats!
Rusty is a BIG very light orange tabby with huge golden eyes and white eye liner.  He is actually a light peach color with brown over it and the only tabby markings he has are the M on his forehead and the stripes on his tail.  He is a long hair, with many of the attributes of a Maine Coon. No ear tufts, but some cheek tufts and loooong toe tufts. He's about 18 pounds. He definitely has a Maine Coon muzzle, which is one of the things I love.  For scale - the tiles are 6 inches between the gray corners.

Tigger: well I haven't gotten a really good look, but she's sort of a tortie over white, DSH with green eyes. She's about twice as wide as she should be. 

January 17: Sunday. 
Rusty is running around the house, very happy to be petted, brushed and played with. 
Tigger still won't come out of her carrier. That's a good thing - I want to take her to the vet and I know that if she gets out of the bathroom, I will not be able to get her back into the carrier. Ever. She'll be under the bed. And I've already lost that fight once. 
So, just as we leaving for the return visit to Urgent care, I get a call from animal services. They are here to quarantine the cat!! Oops. Well, it's pretty late and we are leaving for the doctor so he says he can do this over the phone. That's good. I assure him that the cat is confined and not going to bite anyone else. I promised to FAX over her vaccination history just as soon as I can find it. And yes, I'll inform them if the cat is dead before the 10 days are over!! Really? 

That leads to another flurry of calls - but no one has the cat's vet history, nor is anyone sure of the name of the vet except that they are "near a Safeway". Well, there are 5 Safeways close to where I live. I have some calling to do. Eventually, someone comes up with Miramonte, but the last records they have are 2003 when Rusty was a kitten. They're never seen Tigger. Oh well, I'm gonna die of Rabies.


One of the things I found out about in the calls:  my neighbor passed on Friday night after I collected the cats.  It was like she had one last task - to see that her cats were home.  

The Gory Details

Original Post Date: Sunday, January 17, 2010

OK, Skip this section if you don't like doctors.
I registered at Urgent Care, and found that I had left my insurance card at home. It was on my desk while I was trying to find out on the website where to go. Great. (BTW, do you know how hard it is to type with your hand completely bandaged? Let alone use a mouse or trackpad?) 
But, the lady I talked to on the phone was there, heard my name and said "Ah, there you are. I printed all of your information." Now that's service. 
The nurse took my vital signs. My pulse was 85 and my blood pressure was 140/94. That's a bit high. The nurse stated the obvious - and I explained I had been trying to talk to a living person at the insurance company for an hour and a half. She understood. 
I met the very nice Dr. Curtis, who looked a little shocked at the number of holes in my hand and concerned about the redness and swelling. He took some samples and ordered an X-Ray. Also, some shots...
I love digital X-Rays! Took 10 minutes. He was looking for foreign objects in the wounds (like teeth!) but they were clean. 

He wanted me to come back the next day to check on progress, and then referred me to a hand specialist. Too many doctors!

Urgent Care on a Holiday Weekend


Original Post: Sunday, January 17, 2010

Even after washing with hot soapy water, alcohol and Betadine, my hand turned red and blew up like a balloon. By Saturday morning, I couldn’t move open my right hand or grip anything.  I got some help from the United Health Care Insurance's Nurse Line, and was told to go to Urgent Care. Urgently. And that was the last help I got from them. 
The 3 Urgent care centers in network "within 20 miles" were all across the Bay. Milpitas, Fremont and Newark. Well, maybe 20 miles - if you can FLY! The closest one in Milpitas is 19 miles driving, and ALL of them involved a long drive across bad roads or bridges IN BAD WEATHER! WTF?
I called the Customer Care number on the back of the insurance card, only to get a recorded message that due to the Holiday (MLK Day), offices were closed. Please call back Tuesday. The website was not much more help. 
So, I called PAMF site in Mt View, and they said: you're covered, come on down. It only took 3 hours sitting in a waiting room full of people coughing and sneezing. 
2 antibiotic injections and a bottle of horse pills later, the fight was on!
Oh, the cats? Happily sharing the 8x8’ bathroom. It's crowded in there. Tigger hasn't come out of the carrier, so I'm feeding her in it. 

D-Day (January 15, 2010)

Original Post: Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday after work, I went to "collect" the cats. Thankfully, most of the family was there to help. 
Rusty: no problem. They picked him up and carried him upstairs. 

Tigger - not so much. Preliminary attempts to catch her led to a bad scratch and deep bite, She was so fat, that I couldn't scruff her! I just couldn't get a good grip, and she fought like she was gonna die. 


I donned the welding gloves. And she bit right through them. With help from the 6'5" tall guy, we finally got her into the carrier. Upside down. But contained. He got scratched, and I was bitten in both hands. I locked the two of them in the bathroom, and started on the unpleasant task of cleaning up my hands.

A tale of two tails

Original Post Date: Monday, January 11, 2010
Ella, my Foster Cat at the time 

I'm not a blogger.  But, I decided that I would post this up here so that 
1. I can keep track of events, 
2. I don't have to email everyone with news. Everyone who wants an update can get it.
3. I can show photos at work.

January 10, 2010: freezing cold and foggy day, Mom & I take Ella up to Petaluma to her new home.  She is SO much more relaxed in a home rather than at the Adoption Fairs (where she hissed, and bit strangers).  She wandered around the room and is friendly, even in a strange home.    
When Ella was done exploring the room, she jumped up on Flo's lap and started purring.  Flo is just wonderful, and obviously knows how to handle animals.  I have a very good feeling that my sweet Bella Ella will be happy.

Approaching D-Day

Original Post Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010

It was a busy week. 

I had a chiro appointment Monday, meetings Tuesday and Wednesday. So, I spent Thursday housecleaning. I called up the my downstairs neighbor and told them that I was ready to pick up the cats for good. I had promised her (months ago) that I would adopt her cats when she passed on. Since she had moved to her daughters house for better care, the poor cats had been left alone in the condo, with family occasionally staying over. Rusty LOVED company, but Tigger would hide under whatever furniture was left. This did not bode well for moving day.