While searching the internet for parts to restore the iMac cat bed to mint condition (sans innards), I discovered the most wonderful thing: a miniature iMac!
Well, of course I had to get one. Turns out, it was pretty easy to modify, too. The screen came right out with a minimum of hassle – much easier than the real one!
It also just so happens to be the perfect size for the Elleo Jacoby ball jointed doll.
I even made a little cushion for it…just like the big one!
Bringing a domestic cat (or dog or ferret) into Sweden as a permanent resident seems to be a lot easier than importing a human. At least some things about this will be easy!
The regulations are intended to prevent the spread of rabies in Sweden, but the rules are acutally set by the European Union. Dogs, cats and ferrets that travel within the EU must be identity marked with a microchip and vaccinated against rabies.
Well, since Massachusetts also requires cats and dogs to be vaccinated against rabies, that’s not a problem.
The microchip was a bit more problematic. The EU requires a 15-digit ISO microchip. Angel’s was already the correct type, but Jacoby had a domestic, 9-digit chip. Not only that, but his chip had migrated to the front of one shoulder, where his collarbone would be if he had one.
So Jake had to have a new microchip implanted.
In case you’ve never seen an actual microchip, this is what it looks like. And it’s tiny – literally the size of a grain of basmati rice.
Both Jake and Angel also needed to get their blood drawn to test their rabies titres. This is the level of rabies antibodies present in their systems. Because I keep them up to date on their shots, they’re both fine and can go to Sweden at any time.
I wish it were that easy for humans. I mean, I have had my rabies shots, too!
This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Public.”
The last time Jacoby and I were in public was ArtBeat in Somerville last month.
We usually go out in public a lot more often, especially in summer, but this summer has been a little unusual to say the least.
Since Jake’s leash is attached to my waist, and not to his stroller, he can hop out and walk when he feels like it. When we first got off the T at Davis Square, Jake decided he wanted to see something.
He was clearly a cat on a mission.
But what was he after?
Oh. All righty, then.
You know what the best thing to do in the heat of summer is?
Buying winter boots! I love Uggs – I’ve been wearing them since the early 90’s, long before they were “popular.”
And yes, they can be quite expensive. Well-made footwear usually is, but, being well-made, they also last a long time if you take care of them properly. Last week I managed to find a pair of Bailey I Do! boots on eBay for a fantastic price – $100 less than the list price!
Of course, I can’t take a photo of anything without Jacoby’s assistance.
I think he was really interested in the glittery soles of these Uggs.
After a thorough examination, I think they pass inspection and meet with Jake’s approval. What a relief!
…because despite yesterday’s post, this has been happening recently:
I mean, just look! It’s Angel…sleeping near Jacoby!
And not hissing at him! Maybe there’s hope after all!
Still more cat art from my childhood archive. This time, that venerable, age-old staple of preschooldom: tempura finger paint!
I believe I did this one when I was four years old (and going to preschool, because my mom would NEVER have let me do something as messy as fingerpainting at home)…so this would have been 1969. Isn’t he a happy cat, though?
Thanks, tangentially, to the very missed Catsparella, I’ve fallen in love with Tony Moly beauty products.
A lot of their products are packaged in cute little fruit-shaped packages. I thought it would be fun to pose the Russian ball-jointed Jacoby doll with some of my favourites. Here he is with my Apple Hand Cream and my Peach Lip Balm.
Here’s the Jake doll on my Tangerine Hand Cream. Cats may hate citrus, but…well, this is an exception.
Who needs an alarm clock when you have a hungry Abyssinian?
I don’t usually feed Jacoby in the morning, but that doesn’t seem to affect my wake up calls.
It would be nice if he could learn the concept of weekends, though…
This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Beard.”
Cat bearding is a thing.
No, I’m serious.
And it’s a thing I’ve been meaning to try with Jacoby.
I actually first heard of cat bearding two years ago…so I’ve been wanting to try this for a while now.
Jake…Not so much
We totally failed at it. But at least we had fun trying.
Well, at least I had fun…
Angel has had dental cleanings and extractions before. The last time she had X-rays taken was 2011.
You saw her new X-rays yesterday. You can see she’d already lost all her incisors on her bottom jaw four years ago.
However, she still had one left on her top jaw. That one is now long gone.
This one tooth had a shadow on it four years ago. I think this is a tooth that was removed this time around.
At least she still has all her fangs. This one, which we discovered was chipped four years ago, still seems to be healthy. Let’s hope she can hold onto it for a while!
Angel has the worst teeth of any cat I have ever owned. She is only 8 years old, but already she has had more dental work than all the other cats combined.
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While Abyssinians are notorious for being prone to dental problems, this isn’t just an Aby thing with her. Jacoby, only two years younger, has amazing teeth. He’s never even needed a cleaning! According to both Sherry and Chris, his grandparents had good teeth, too.
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Since I know very little about Angel’s ancestry (and what I do know is based on speculation and theory), I have no idea about her genetic history.
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All I know is, she has had several FORLs (Feline Oral Resorptive Lesions).
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As a result, she has lost nearly all her teeth. Besides her four canine teeth, she has only a few teeth left.
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She has lost every single one of her tiny incisors, both top…
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…and bottom.
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She’s lost more of her upper teeth than her lower.
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One lower jaw only has two teeth left!
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The other side sports a few more teeth…
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…But I’m not sure I like the looks of that big one in the back. Hopefully it’s just a shadow?
Just this past weekend, Björn finally found the first letter I sent to him in response to the letter he sent me about my cartoon.
What I didn’t remember was that I’d written to him on stationery I’d made myself at the print shop I worked at. So my first correspondence back to Björn back in 1992 was this “Kitty Letter.”
Last week, Angel and Kylie had dental cleanings at South Boston Animal Hospital. Angel also ended up having a couple of extractions. She has terrible teeth – I think now, apart from her fangs, she’s got about four teeth left.
This Instagram photo was posted on SBAH’s Facebook page…close enough to Hipstamatic, don’t you think? She’s hugging the moon…
It’s not easy with Björn in Sweden and me here in the States.
I think Jacoby senses how sad I am these days.
I was taking some photos of myself to send to Björn the day after he flew back home after his visit, and Jake decided he would “help” me. “It’s okay, Mom…I’m still here!”
This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Kid.”
Kids really love seeing Jacoby in his stroller…especially if they are also riding in their own stroller.
Last month at ArtBeat, we had a little stroller party right in the middle of the street.
It was actually pretty funny. And, I’m sure, really cute.
This one little girl really loved Jake. She was actually really good at petting him, too.
When Angel first arrived, Tessie and Kylie weren’t especially welcoming.
But as I posted back in November 2008, there were moments of promise.
There was a moment when Tessie reached out to touch Angel.
And then, Tessie actually started to groom Angel on the top of her head. I don’t actually think that this has happened again in seven years.
As you all know, Angle and Tessie have never had the best relationship.
Tessie was not a welcoming matriarch when Angel joined our household.
With all that history, I was pretty happy to see this scene one recent morning.
Angel was probably in the bed first, and then Tessie joined her on the windowseat. Anyway: adorable!
The Daily Abyssinian...and Singapura 