Sunday

Cat Couch here:

Today at church, our intern minister spoke about being content and thankful for the important things and not wanting more than food, shelter and loving relationships. She had us do this as a responsive reading:

Meow.

Some humans call the way "the Tao."
All I know is it rhymes with Meow.

Meow is the beginning of all things,
The source of everything I want.
I don't actually need all things,
Although some humans think they do.
Food, shelter, catnip, and mice to catch
Are enough for me.
Although -- I will admit
It's nice to have someone provide these things for me.

I do not know their names -- they are the Nameless Ones.
I just call them "Meow."
Meow. They come. They open the door.
I don't know how they do it.
But they do. They know the Meow.

Through the Meow, it is possible to perceive the Subtle.
Through the Meow, it is possible to get what you want.
The Tao of Meow --
The way to get the best of both worlds.

And when I have the best of both,
I lie down on a simple blanket
And contemplate the profound
Even that which is more profound than the profound,
More subtle than and subtlety
The purr of perfection
Which is the door to all contentment.

Meow.

(this is adapted from The Tao of Meow by Waldo Japussy)

This evening Chatham came down the stairs on his own, looking for food. We haven't seen him come down the stairs yet, so I don't know how hard or precarious it might be. His appetite seems to be good, tho' he's not pooping enough to make us really happy, but we're trying to push the fiber. At least he's pooping some!

We are concerned mostly about his back legs. He's lost so much muscle tone and is weak and wobbly. We've been catering to him, making sure that he can easily get to his food and water, even holding it for him so that he can eat without getting up. Now that he's back up to 8 pounds, perhaps we shouldn't make it quite so easy ... but can we really get a meezer cat to get some more exercise? I don't know.

From the side, Chatham doesn't look bad ...

... but from the top you can see his thinness. But he IS getting stronger - it's getting harder to give him his medicine! He has been struggling more strongly lately. He really doesn't like the taste of this batch of thyroid medicine (we've ordered the other flavor that he liked) and he REALLY doesn't like the current antibiotic. We'll find out by the end of the week how the infection is (or isn't, hopefully!)