Fudd Rest in Peace 1992 - 2009

Fudd passed away unexpectedly yesterday in the waiting room at the vet's office. He had just had an exam a week ago and seemed to be in wonderful shape, especially considering his age. He did show some hyperthyroidsim in the test results that came back this week and had just begun medication for it. However it takes some time for the medication to really have an effect and before it could he began going downhill very fast - over the past 24 hours or so, becoming lethargic and losing his famous appetite. We're not sure of the exact cause.

Fudd was adopted as an adult cat and was always affectionate, unassuming, gentle, and just a tad mischievous. He was a great friend to Bear and Cole, and especially to Cole during his illness. He will be hugely missed.

A Goodbye to Cole

Cole, one of my three pets, has passed on at the veterinarian's office on Tuesday morning.

Cole was born wild, almost twelve years ago, and captured along with his mother and siblings. Two of the litter, Cole and his brother Porter, came to live with me. I had a spare room that has a loft and I put the two in that room at first, with food and water, to allow time for the other pets to get used to the idea of them. After a couple of days I left the door to the room open and sat with my dog Zeke at the end of the hall opposite the spare room. After some time, two curious little kitten heads gradually emerged at the top of the ladder leading to the loft. Bit by bit they descended the ladder steps, eventually arriving at the floor. Slowly and tentatively they crept down the hall while Zeke and I sat motionless. At long last they approached and then boldly pushed themselves into Zeke's fur and instantly bonded with him. After Zeke was gone and Bear came along a couple of years later, they accepted him as well.
About a year after that Porter disappeared, probably a victim of the coyotes that inhabit the nearby canyon. Cole managed to evade the coyotes even though he hunted every evening. In fact he didn't need me at all up until he got sick. He could find enough water and food for himself and even enough to share with Bear on occasion. His list of hunting conquests was impressive, including rats, mice, rabbits, gophers, snakes, the occasional lizard, and once, sadly, a young hawk. He had a cat door and came and went at will, but he always came home at night. If he wanted attention he would gently, but firmly, bite my hand until I woke up.

Cole was diagnosed with kidney failure in January and began a regimen of prescription food, medication, and fluid treatments. He had to have an abscessed tooth removed and during surgery a feeding tube was implanted in his neck so he could receive nourishment while his mouth healed. Maintaining him during his illness was time intensive and complicated. He had to have water every hour, and food every four hours. He had medication twice a day and eventually another medication an hour before meals. His neck had to be cleaned and disinfected every day and the yards of soft stretchy gauze that held his tube in place had to be changed. The overwrapping comes in assorted colors and I thought he looked very dapper in the red. He had routine visits to the vet for subcutaneous fluids. While I was away he stayed in the hospital so that his treatment could continue. His attitude during this intense human intervention was incredibly sweet and cooperative. Even though he occasionally growled his disapproval - especially at the vet's office, he never lashed out or so much as snapped at anybody.

It was quite an experience to take care of him and I was happy to continue with it as long as it made him feel better - anything to keep him happy and comfortable. He slept a lot near the end. Sometimes I'd have to wake him up to feed him. I would hold his head up with my hand while feeding him. One day while leaning his head on my hand he placed one paw over my arm and then the other and fell asleep. There was nothing else to do but just lie down next to him while still holding his head so he could finish his nap. I will miss him greatly now that he's gone.

Small Work: Cypress Grove Point Lobos

Katherine Kean Cypress Grove watercolor 3 x 4"

It's already time again to bring new work in to the gallery. This past month has gone quickly. Thankfully, Cole is starting to feel and look a little bit better. He has come out of his hiding place way in the back of the closet where I put some thick towels to make him more comfortable and he more or less slowly follows me around. He still isn't eating or drinking on his own and having to keep up with taking care of that by hand is keeping me on a very short leash with trying to time every trip out to an hour or less. That wasn't too difficult this past week or so, because I've had a cold that kept me home anyway and not doing much except sneezing and coughing and using up every tissue in the house. With all of this my studio time has been very limited, but I am back on track this week. I have two paintings in their final stages and two started and today I finally got around to updating portfolio pages. Hopefully a website update will soon follow.

I'm bringing the diminuitive watercolor above for the ever changing North Gallery, at TAG. It's a sketch from the Cypress Grove in Point Lobos State Park. In keeping with the times I've been focusing on presenting smaller, more affordable pieces.

Happy Groundhog Day

It's unusual to see these three all hanging out together. The sudden togetherness is mostly due to the fact that one of them, Cole, the dark one, has recently become sick. He has chronic kidney failure complicated by dental problems and anemia. He has lost a scary amount of weight over the past two weeks. He had oral surgery last week to extract a tooth and they put a feeding tube in at that time. While his mouth heals I can give him water every hour, food every four hours, and medication every twelve hours, which, as squeamish as I am, is much easier with the tube. He spent most of this past weekend hiding in the closet, although some time during the night he managed to find his way to the bedroom and jump up on the bed on his own power, because when I woke up this morning he was sleeping next to me. As a very independent outdoor cat - known for his amazing hunting skills, it's unusual to have Cole indoors so much. His mother was homeless and he and his siblings were born in a field and he still has his wild habits. Using a litterbox is unfamiliar, but he's starting to catch on.

Bear, the Eskie in the picture above, as the one seemingly in charge of everything going on in the house is very curious about what's going on and a little too curious about the tube coming from the cat that smells a little bit like cat food. I am reminded all too well about the incident with the forgotten catheter a couple of years ago. While I am taking care of Cole he looks on with great concern and if I leave the room he comes after me, barking to let me know that Cole is in the closet!

In between trips to the vet I got this painting started, which I'll continue to work on between feedings:

Snake Visits Again

I was heading out the front gate just as my new friend was heading toward the same gate. This time I ran back in to get my camera. The snake waited obligingly in place until I could get back outside and allowed me to take these pictures. I shot a few motion pictures as well, but until I figure out how to edit them I won't be posting those.

I hope my snake friend can help out by reducing the critter population around here. This week I was surprised on two occasions by a rat falling off the bird feeder - he was startled by my stepping out the door and lost his grip. The third time he managed to hang on as I came out and then disappeared up on the roof. Every single young vegetable plant and seedling has been chewed down to the root, perhaps by possums, but I'm not sure. This only happens while I'm sleeping. Cole, my cat, has stepped up to the plate to catch one or two a day. He brings them inside to show me. Unfortunately usually at 4:00 in the morning.