Mollie Hunt's Blog, page 13
October 18, 2023
THE CAT SHOW
I was a kid, and my daddy took me. This was odd, since he didn’t often take me places—that was left to my mother and grandmother who weren’t working a 60-hour a week job. But for some reason, he took me that time. We went over town by bus since he didn’t drive. All I really remember are the cats in their cages and how I wanted to pet every single one but couldn’t. I also remember drinking my first Coca Cola. The taste still reminds me of that day.
It’s been a while since I’ve been to a cat show. Definitely pre-COVID. I wouldn’t have gone to the Portland Cat Extravaganza & Adoption Event by LCWW Group either if it hadn’t been for my daughter-in-law Yukiko inviting me to share a vendor’s booth with her. It was a fun experience. I launched my new book, Cat House, and nearly sold out. She sold lots of her beautiful cat-themed cards and hand-cut Cataround stamps. Will we do LCWW again? I don’t think so.
Cat shows have changed a lot in the past fifty years. The biggest change is the admission of non-purebred/house cats as well as the inclusion of shelters and rescues among the vendors. When I read the promotional material for the LCWW, I felt encouraged.
LCWW is the new kid on the cat show block, competing with the standards like CFA and TICA. I’ve sold books at both those shows, so I was interested to see what this new company would do differently.
First, let me mention where I stand on the breeding and selling of cats. As a shelter volunteer, I see far too many homeless cats for me to be enthused about breeding. There are other objections as well. Often breeding produces a less healthy cat, with issues like proclivity for arthritis or breathing problems. Though many breeders are compassionate and caring people, some are not and treat their cats like property. Some breeds become popular because a celebrity has one, and many people buy the kittens but don’t fully understand the impact of that cat’s personality and needs. Then the cat ends up in shelters.
That said, I know that both CFA and TICA use their reputation as well as their finances to help non-breed cats through medical research and education. I assumed the same would be true of the new LCWW. Granted there were several shelter and rescue booths, but still I found myself disappointed. Some of the organizations had brought cats to adopt out. Nice idea but a terrible environment for the cats. The Expo Center is big, loud, and horribly lit. If I were a cat I’d be scared $#!*%ss. And several of them were. Not just crying and hiding, but huge pupils and licking of lips, both signs of extreme stress.
As for the cat contestants, I saw far too many people carting their cats around under their arms like sacks of laundry, so much so that I began to wonder if it wasn’t a required standard to carry them that way. Still, there were many loving and caring cat companions as well. A blind black floof of a cat named Ridley looked perfectly at home in his cohabitor’s arms. And here is a Bengal breeder introducing her Bengal katten to a pair of kids.
As I mentioned, I had a good time. I enjoyed pursuing the vendor booths and watching the cat judging. The show staff were excellent, helping with whatever needs arose. The attendance was reasonably diverse. There was a tattoo show going on next door, and many of those vendors dropped by to see us.
Still, “Adopt, don’t shop” continues to be my motto.
Pebbles enjoyed being in the limelight and was soon adopted from Humane Society of Southwest Washington.
October 12, 2023
GRATITUDE CHALLENGE, Still Time to Enter
Most of us have so much to be thankful for. Just looking around me now, I see so many reasons to give thanks. Let’s not wait until the third Thursday of November to do it. Let’s do it right now, right here.
A way to say thank you.Is there someone in your life who helps you or others? Someone who takes the time to contribute to their community? Someone who comes to the aid of a lost cat or a makes sure water is available for outdoor animals? Small efforts by individuals rarely get the notice they deserve. We can change that right now, right here.
Here’s how it works.You nominate someone you feel deserves recognition. It can be for whatever you think qualifies: a kind word, a helpful act, a good attitude. Tell me their story in a few sentences—you don’t have to tell me their name if you don’t want to, but you need to be willing to let me publish the story in a blogpost.
The winning nomination will receive 2 signed paperback copies of Cat House, one for you and one for the person you nominated. Winners will be announced on October 29th, National Cat Day and the official release date of Cat House.
Email your nominations to molliehuntcatwriter@gmail.com with “Gratitude” in the subject line. Meanwhile, be kind, love cats, read books, and share happiness when you can.
GRATITUDE CHALLENGE is part of the Cat House National Cat Day book launch.
***Entries due by noon, October 29th, National Cat Day and the launch day for Cat House. USA addresses only due to shipping costs.
October 4, 2023
HOW TO SUPPORT AN AUTHOR DURING THEIR BOOK LAUNCH
That’s right! It’s time for a book launch! Cat House, my tenth Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery will be launching this weekend at the Loving Cats Worldwide Portland cat show. It’s actually sort of a pre-launch, since after the show, the books won’t be available again until National Cat Day, October 29th.
1. Go to the launch event if you can.
You don’t need to buy anything—the author won’t be insulted if you don’t. If anyone can understand financial constraints, it’s an author. Your presence is more than enough.
Tell your friends. Spread the word to other readers. If you’ve read the book, say so.At book signings, spell your name.
Even if it’s Jane (and not Jayne, Jain, or Jaine).Understand if we don’t get to talk to you for long.Launches are exhausting, and we might not have the energy to carry on a brilliant conversation.Friends and family, be patient with us during this time.Launching a new book is stressful. Sometimes we just need someone to listen. Sometimes we need to be left alone.Request the book from your local library.Most libraries have an online form and will gladly fulfill requests if possible.
Put the book on your holiday or birthday wish list.Christmas is coming. Is there someone who never knows what to get you? Give them a hint.
Authors need support months, and years, after the release.
If you read the book, please leave a review online. Reviews help other readers to discover the book and decide whether it’s for them. If you loved the book, let us know. If you didn’t, that’s fine too, but please refrain from nitpicking and hate-speak. What you can disparage in a mere few seconds took someone months to create.
at the Portland Cat Extravaganza & Rescue Awareness Event by Loving Cats Worldwide. Cat House is the 10th Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery and it’s going to be a paw-ty! (Admittance to the cat show required.)
https://lcwwgroup.com/events/portland2024-szd7t
The 10th Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery
This Halloween, the cats are hiding, and the monsters don’t wear costumes.
Young men from the Portland-Seattle area are going missing. It’s just another sad headline to Lynley Cannon—until she starts her new cat sitting job for an enigmatic neighbor.
An off-limits room, a suspicious phone message involving drugs, and the sudden appearance of a missing man’s cat arouse Lynley’s suspicion, but how far can she go before the consequences of her cat-like curiosity turn deadly?
September 28, 2023
LIGHT UP THE WORLD FOR ORPHAN PETS
Tyler says, Pass it on!“Tyler was a stray when some kind soul took the time to get him into a shelter. Thankfully our area shelters let animals stay as long as they need to, and it looked like the skinny 18-year-old cat might be there for a while. That’s where I found him six years ago and took him home. Despite his age, (which our vet deemed younger than originally thought but still in the high teens) he has been the best companion ever for my husband and me ever since! I saved him and he saved me.” —Tyler’s human, Mollie
Changing just one mind can save a life. Share this to help others #ShineALight about pet adoption on #RememberMeThursday.
On September 28, 2023, let’s get the entire world talking about pet adoption. Tweet, tag, post and share the beauty and life-saving significance of pet adoption on social media. Let’s honor the 1+ million orphan pets who ran out of time and help #ShineALight for the rescues that we can still help.
Sharing #RememberMeThursday on September 28, 2023
With love & light,
The Helen Woodward Animal Center Team
September 24, 2023
CAT HOUSE—MORE THAN JUST A CAT MYSTERY
There are a few reasons Cat House is special for me. It is the tenth Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery, ten being a milestone. It takes place in my own neighborhood, and though the exact locations are fictional, anyone familiar with the Hawthorne district of Southeast Portland will be able to visualize some of the features. And if you’ve read any of the series, you know I incorporate cat information into each story and include cat facts and snippets at the beginning of each chapter. Like my character Lynley Cannon, I am an avid cat person, a volunteer, and an advocate for all cats. If my stories can not only entertain but teach something about cats, I’ve achieved my objective.
In Cat House, I’m taking things a step further. I’ve incorporated a secondary storyline involving a cat who is being treated for Feline Infectious Peritonitis, a disease that up until recently has nearly always been fatal to the unfortunate cats and kittens who contract it. But now there is a cure. Sadly the drug to treat FIP isn’t approved in the United States, so sufferers have to look elsewhere. That’s where Peter Cohen and his cat advocate groups come in.
Peter is the crusader behind House of Nekko rescue and ZenByCat, a nonprofit that has helped to save tens of thousands of cats. I contacted Peter in hopes he would write a few pages about his campaign that I can include in Cat House as an afterword and was excited when he agreed. A few days later we met for a zoom call—he was in Tokyo. In that call he revealed he would prefer to talk, so he related his story in an interview. I wrote the afterword with the hope I can convey even half the enthusiasm and caring he exhibited during our conversation. You will find it in my book, and I also plan to publish it in a blog post soon.
Young men from the Portland-Seattle area are going missing. It’s just another sad headline to Lynley Cannon—until she starts her new cat sitting job for an enigmatic neighbor.
An off-limits room, a suspicious phone message involving drugs, and the sudden appearance of a missing man’s cat arouse Lynley’s suspicion, but how far can she go before the consequences of her cat-like curiosity turn deadly?
The Kindle version of Cat House, a Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery, is now available for preorder. Request now and you’ll receive it in your inbox on October 29th, National Cat Day. Paperbacks will be available October 7th and 8th at the Portland Cat Extravaganza & Rescue Awareness Event by Loving Cats Worldwide. Remember, my books need not be read in order.
“National Cat Day is an awareness day to raise public awareness of cat adoption, taking place on August 8 in Canada and October 29 in the United States. The National Cat Day website states that the holiday was first celebrated in 2005 “to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of cats that need to be rescued each year and also to encourage cat lovers to celebrate the cat(s) in their life for the unconditional love and companionship they bestow upon us.” The day was founded by Colleen Paige, a pet and family lifestyle expert, who was supported by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is a nonprofit pet adoption organization.” ~Wikipedia
September 22, 2023
GRATITUDE CHALLENGE—A NEW WAY TO SAY THANK YOU
I love writing!Sometimes it feels like work, but more often, my mind takes me away on its own little journeys. Then every once in a while, it comes up with something amazing.
That’s what happened when I began a side-story in Cat House, my upcoming Crazy Cat Lady mystery. Lynley’s neighbor drops by with a thank you box of chocolates. The gift is utterly unexpected, but Patty explains it has to do with a new group she has joined—a gratitude group.
To find out more, read the excerpt:
The scene: It’s Halloween evening. Lynley is taking a rest with her cat, Dirty Harry, before the trick-or-treaters start to appear.
The ring of the doorbell shocked me out of my comfortable contemplation. Annoyed by my inadvertent jerk, Harry leapt away and stalked into the kitchen to see if he could find a kibble treat the others had missed.
Rats! I swore to myself as I jumped into action, heading for the bowl of candy. As I rushed to the door, I couldn’t help but wonder what bold child would have the audacity—and the fearlessness—to approach an unlit porch.
Flinging open the door and proffering the bowl, I found it wasn’t a child at all.
“Lynley?” The slim woman had been about to head back down the steps but now she turned, my neighbor Patty. “I didn’t think you were home. All your lights were off.”
“Patty! Oh, I’m glad it’s you. I wasn’t quite ready for the Halloween onslaught, so I was keeping it dark. But I guess I’m ready now.”
I set the bowl on the side table and clicked on the porch light, noticing Patty had something in her hand.
She held out a flat box wrapped in orange tissue paper and tied with a black bow. “This is for you. It’s a little thank you.”
“For what?” I took the box. The big gold sticker on the ribbon branded it as chocolates from Zeno’s, my favorite local chocolatier.
“For being a great neighbor,” Patty replied. “For all the good works you do taking care of cats at your shelter. For introducing Jim and me to Kitty, the love of our lives.” She gave a slightly embarrassed shrug. “If you hadn’t encouraged us to adopt her, we might never have known how wonderfully she completes our family.”
“Wow! This is a surprise!” I took another look at the unexpected gift, then at Patty. In her early thirties, she could easily masquerade as someone much younger. Her stature, only a little over five feet, added to the pixie effect, as did her cute brown bob and wide, amber eyes. “Would you like to come in?”
“No, I’d better get home. As you said, the kids will be out any minute, and I shouldn’t leave Jim to face them by himself. We put Kitty in her room so she wouldn’t get excited by the callers. She’s a black cat so we’re taking every precaution.”
“I need to corral my clowder as well. They’re pretty good about visitors, but…”
“Kids can be noisy and excitable. They can scare a cat without meaning to.”
I held up the candy box. “Thank you for this, Patty. You really made my day. But, if I may ask, why now? Out of the blue like this?”
Patty shook her head, sending her hair bouncing. “It’s a group I joined, the Gratitude Group. We get together once a week on Zoom and talk about things we’re thankful for. It’s supposed to help people concentrate on the positive things that happen to them instead of just the negative. We’re encouraged to thank the people in our lives who help us or inspire us. And Lynley, you’ve definitely done that for me.”
I felt my face flush, but in a good way. “That sounds like a great group. You should send me the link.”
A scream split the night. There was another and another, then giggles. The trick-or-treaters were on their way.
“Oh-oh, here they come. I’d better run.”
“Thanks again, Patty,” I called as she bounced down the steps. “Drop by for tea and help me eat these delicacies before I devour the whole box myself.”
She turned and waved. “Will do. Talk soon.”
With that, she was gone to the apartments next door. From the opposite direction came the kids, at least half a dozen of them along with a pair of adults trying to look inconspicuous and failing. As the entourage approached, rushing each house with innocent enthusiasm, I quickly went to herd the cats.
What do you think? Do you wish there really were groups like that, where people could express their gratitude in small, kind ways without being asked? I’m not ready to start a gratitude movement myself, but I’m up for something on a smaller scale, and I need your help.
Here’s how it works.You nominate someone you feel deserves recognition. It can be for whatever you think qualifies: a kind word, a helpful act, a good attitude. Tell me their story in a few sentences—you don’t have to tell me their name if you don’t want to, but you need to be willing to let me publish the story in a blogpost.
The winning nomination will receive 2 signed paperback copies of Cat House, one for you and one for the person you nominated. Winners will be announced on October 29th, National Cat Day and the official release date of Cat House.
Email your nominations to molliehuntcatwriter@gmail.com with “Gratitude” in the subject line. Meanwhile, be kind, love cats, read books, and share happiness when you can.
***Entries due by noon, October 29th, National Cat Day and the launch day for Cat House.
CAT HOUSE CONTEST—A NEW WAY TO SAY THANK YOU
I love writing!Sometimes it feels like work, but more often, my mind takes me away on its own little journeys. Then every once in a while, it comes up with something amazing.
That’s what happened when I began a side-story in Cat House, my upcoming Crazy Cat Lady mystery. Lynley’s neighbor drops by with a thank you box of chocolates. The gift is utterly unexpected, but Patty explains it has to do with a new group she has joined—a gratitude group.
To find out more, read the excerpt:
The scene: It’s Halloween evening. Lynley is taking a rest with her cat, Dirty Harry, before the trick-or-treaters start to appear.
The ring of the doorbell shocked me out of my comfortable contemplation. Annoyed by my inadvertent jerk, Harry leapt away and stalked into the kitchen to see if he could find a kibble treat the others had missed.
Rats! I swore to myself as I jumped into action, heading for the bowl of candy. As I rushed to the door, I couldn’t help but wonder what bold child would have the audacity—and the fearlessness—to approach an unlit porch.
Flinging open the door and proffering the bowl, I found it wasn’t a child at all.
“Lynley?” The slim woman had been about to head back down the steps but now she turned, my neighbor Patty. “I didn’t think you were home. All your lights were off.”
“Patty! Oh, I’m glad it’s you. I wasn’t quite ready for the Halloween onslaught, so I was keeping it dark. But I guess I’m ready now.”
I set the bowl on the side table and clicked on the porch light, noticing Patty had something in her hand.
She held out a flat box wrapped in orange tissue paper and tied with a black bow. “This is for you. It’s a little thank you.”
“For what?” I took the box. The big gold sticker on the ribbon branded it as chocolates from Zeno’s, my favorite local chocolatier.
“For being a great neighbor,” Patty replied. “For all the good works you do taking care of cats at your shelter. For introducing Jim and me to Kitty, the love of our lives.” She gave a slightly embarrassed shrug. “If you hadn’t encouraged us to adopt her, we might never have known how wonderfully she completes our family.”
“Wow! This is a surprise!” I took another look at the unexpected gift, then at Patty. In her early thirties, she could easily masquerade as someone much younger. Her stature, only a little over five feet, added to the pixie effect, as did her cute brown bob and wide, amber eyes. “Would you like to come in?”
“No, I’d better get home. As you said, the kids will be out any minute, and I shouldn’t leave Jim to face them by himself. We put Kitty in her room so she wouldn’t get excited by the callers. She’s a black cat so we’re taking every precaution.”
“I need to corral my clowder as well. They’re pretty good about visitors, but…”
“Kids can be noisy and excitable. They can scare a cat without meaning to.”
I held up the candy box. “Thank you for this, Patty. You really made my day. But, if I may ask, why now? Out of the blue like this?”
Patty shook her head, sending her hair bouncing. “It’s a group I joined, the Gratitude Group. We get together once a week on Zoom and talk about things we’re thankful for. It’s supposed to help people concentrate on the positive things that happen to them instead of just the negative. We’re encouraged to thank the people in our lives who help us or inspire us. And Lynley, you’ve definitely done that for me.”
I felt my face flush, but in a good way. “That sounds like a great group. You should send me the link.”
A scream split the night. There was another and another, then giggles. The trick-or-treaters were on their way.
“Oh-oh, here they come. I’d better run.”
“Thanks again, Patty,” I called as she bounced down the steps. “Drop by for tea and help me eat these delicacies before I devour the whole box myself.”
She turned and waved. “Will do. Talk soon.”
With that, she was gone to the apartments next door. From the opposite direction came the kids, at least half a dozen of them along with a pair of adults trying to look inconspicuous and failing. As the entourage approached, rushing each house with innocent enthusiasm, I quickly went to herd the cats.
What do you think? Do you wish there really were groups like that, where people could express their gratitude in small, kind ways without being asked? I’m not ready to start a gratitude movement myself, but I’m up for something on a smaller scale, and I need your help.
Here’s how it works.You nominate someone you feel deserves recognition. It can be for whatever you think qualifies: a kind word, a helpful act, a good attitude. Tell me their story in a few sentences—you don’t have to tell me their name if you don’t want to, but you need to be willing to let me publish the story in a blogpost.
The winning nomination will receive 2 signed paperback copies of Cat House, one for you and one for the person you nominated. Winners will be announced on October 29th, National Cat Day and the official release date of Cat House.
Email your nominations to molliehuntcatwriter@gmail.com with “Gratitude” in the subject line. Meanwhile, be kind, love cats, read books, and share happiness when you can.
September 17, 2023
RECIPES FROM THE GHOST BOOK: Fish
My grandmother must have liked fish, because “Recipes-My Friends and My Own” has several recipes written in her hand as well as a few clipped from various papers. She didn’t seem to care that she glued the columns on over the artwork. What may seem nostalgically artistic to us now was most certainly humdrum for her at the time. I tried to crop off the edge with the recipes and just focus on the picture but it came out wonky. Still, here it is.
As for the recipes, we have a Salmon Rice Casserole using canned salmon, which after a brief employment at a salmon cannery I will never use; a Jellied Tuna Loaf; a Salmon Rice Loaf (not to be confused with the casserole); and a “Perfection Salad” which doesn’t contain fish at all.
In the hand-written category are Codfish Balls, a recipe attributed to Aunt Mary H. whom I don’t know; Salmon Balls from Mary Smith; Salmon Crackers; and Salmon Loaf.
Codfish Balls (Aunt Mary H.)
Soak codfish in water 1/2 hr. drain of water and use equal parts codfish and potatoes (unintelligible word) cook & mash potatoes together with salt pepper butter & 3 T. cream; fry in hot lard in wire basket, white of 1 egg to 1 cup codfish or 1 whole egg to 2 cups.
We also have something called “Mock Salmon Steak” that attempts to duplicate the consistency of salmon steak using canned salmon and breadcrumbs. Garnishing with parsley and sliced tomato carries out the illusion.
Here’s where we need to pause and remember that in the past, even in affluent homes, there were food shortages. We are spoiled nowadays by the abundance and availability we enjoy. That’s why we need to step away and consider how lucky we are to have what we have. When the store runs out of something, learn to substitute and to get along with less. Try not to waste food or parts of food. These lessons may be invaluable in the future.
Next Category: EGGS Happy Cooking!
September 13, 2023
THE STORY OF OTIS THE ALIEN, AN FIP WARRIOR
Otis as a kitten
by Leslie Cobb, Otis’s “Mom”
Otis is a purebred flame point Selkirk Rex kitten born June 13, 2021. The breed is known for its large size, plush curly fur and brittle whiskers. He was purchased from a breeder on 10/8/21 when he was about 4 months old. His then-owner noticed that he seemed lethargic upon arrival, and just 6 days later he was diagnosed with FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis).
FIP was for many years a 100% fatal cat disease, caused by a feline coronavirus (not infectious to humans). In most cats that virus causes mild or no symptoms, but in a small minority of cats, it infects the white blood cells and causes the immune system to go into overdrive, resulting in FIP. Upon diagnosis, which is done based on clinical signs and elimination of other causes, vets had no option other than to suggest euthanasia.
Dr. Niels Pedersen at University of California at Davis spent his career focused on FIP research. He initially tried to find a working vaccine against the disease with no luck. He then decided to explore antiviral treatment instead, and he eventually succeeded in discovering a drug, GS-441524, that is amazingly effective. The only problem is that the drug cannot be legally obtained by vets or pet parents. It is very similar to a COVID drug, and the pharmaceutical company is not willing, at least for now, to license it for use in cats.
Thanks to Facebook groups such as FIP Global CATS and FIP Warriors 5.0 that help pet owners obtain the drug and guides them through the treatment process, cats are surviving this disease! Unfortunately, the high cost of the drug keeps it out of reach of many people whose cats need it to survive.
The treatment is available in injectable or pill form, but the recommendation is to begin with injections for at least the first month, and longer if the cat has gastrointestinal issues that might impact absorption of oral medications. The injections are quite painful for the cat, and the treatment lasts 12 weeks followed by an additional 12 weeks of post-treatment observation to watch for signs of relapse. Monthly vet exams and blood work are needed throughout the 24 week period. Cats who are still thriving at the end of that time are considered cured. It’s possible some cats may be cured earlier in the process, but since there is no test for FIP, the advice is to continue treatment for the full period.
Upon the FIP diagnosis, Otis’ owner contacted the FIP Warriors group and obtained several vials of the drug. She began his treatment, but after a week felt unable to continue. She took him to the vet for euthanasia, but the vet convinced her to sign ownership over instead so he could continue treatment with a new owner.
The vet contacted several clients, one of whom had successfully treated her own FIP cat. That client was not in a position to take Otis but she agreed to sponsor his treatment and pay for the drug. The vet also contacted me to ask if the shelter where I volunteer had ever treated a cat with FIP. They hadn’t, and the way the volunteer shifts were structured would make it impossible for him to get continuity of care at the shelter. I had an appointment with the vet for one of my other cats that day; while there, I met Otis and immediately knew I wanted to try to save him. He was so tiny and helpless, and so adorable. Even though I already had 9 cats and 9 had always been my self-imposed limit, I could not resist him.
I asked the vet if she could take care of him for two weeks while I dealt with a couple of issues with my own cats. Ivy Belle was recovering from cancer surgery and Herman had just been diagnosed with diabetes; I needed time to get a plan in place before taking anything else on. She agreed. During that period, I went to her home and she showed me the routine: weighing him, calculating the dose based on his weight that day, giving a dose of Gabapentin 90 minutes before treatment, applying a lidocaine ointment 20 minutes before treatment, giving the injection itself, and cleaning the skin if any of the liquid leaked. The injection site had to be changed daily to reduce the chance of sores and scar tissue, a common outcome of the treatment.
To make things even more complicated, Otis was also diagnosed with ringworm at that point, so I asked for additional time to set up my guest bathroom as a quarantine zone. I removed all soft surfaces from the room: shower curtain, towels, rug, etc. I moved all my toiletries to my other bathroom and bought disposable pet mats, inexpensive towels that could be thrown away, and a small cat tree that could be wiped down with disinfectant. I also purchased a Tyvek “bunny suit” and found my stash of shoe covers so I could protect myself from getting ringworm or passing it on to my other cats.
The vet had a previously scheduled vacation during that time frame and her petsitter was not comfortable giving the injections on her own, so I went there each day and got a chance to practice giving them before he became my responsibility. It was challenging to do something to him that was clearly very painful, but I reminded myself it was temporary and it might save his life.
He finally came home to me on 11/12/21. He was just under 7 lbs. and had received treatment long enough that most of his FIP symptoms were gone by then. I was given a notebook in which to detail his treatment, symptoms, weight, food intake, litter box use, etc. on a daily basis. The ringworm treatment was even more of an issue for me than the FIP: he got daily oral antifungal meds, daily topical antifungal meds, and lime sulfur dips three times a week that left my entire house smelling like rotten eggs. But he was just a joy to be around. I hadn’t had an active kitten in years, so it was fun to sit in the room and play with him. When the weather was nice, I took him out to the catio, locking the other cats in the house to avoid contact.
I finally got the all-clear to switch him to pills less than two weeks after I got him. That was a huge relief! He was happy to eat his pills covered in a bacon-flavored pill wrap, and I was happy not to be giving painful injections any more. Even better was when he was deemed ringworm-free on 12/17/21 and could come out of quarantine to meet his new feline siblings. He was so happy to explore the house and play with Delilah and Rooney!
His FIP treatment was complete on 1/7/22, and his blood work looked good so I scheduled his neuter appointment. I continued to weigh him weekly and log his weight. Every 30 days he had blood work again and it continued to look good. As of 4/1/22, Otis was considered cured!
During this period, I took photos and posted them on Facebook. The reaction to his funny face was so positive that I created a page just for him: Otis the Alien. One commenter mentioned that his fur looked like mashed potatoes; that description was hilarious and yet so accurate! So the description on his page notes that he is from an intergalactic race of sentient mashed potatoes. I still get people commenting that he looks like taxidermy. He tends to have just two facial expressions: surprised or disgruntled. His surprised face makes him look as though there isn’t a single thought in his head, so I understand the taxidermy comments.
He just had his second birthday on 6/13/23 and he now weighs almost 10 lbs. He is a very active little guy who gets into everything. He stole socks from my petsitter and hid them, only bringing them out weeks later. It’s hard to get much done with him around, but I haven’t laughed this much in years. He sometimes likes to sleep under the covers next to me, and I love his loud purr.
Otis recently began experiencing some eye problems, and vets are concerned that he may be having an FIP relapse, this time of the ocular/neurological type. To be safe, I have restarted his treatment. Because the FIP treatment is relatively new and being given unofficially, there are still a lot of unknowns. Initially it appeared that cats who survived the 12 week treatment period and the subsequent 12 week observation period without relapsing were completely cured. But as time goes by, a few of those supposedly cured cats are relapsing and require a second round of treatment. Such relapses are rare, and Otis is expected to make a full recovery with treatment.
Even though there is now a treatment for FIP, the need for research isn’t over! There may be other drugs that are equally effective yet less expensive or more readily available, or a combination of drugs that would fight the virus more quickly. There’s also a need for a definitive test so cats can start treatment sooner and maybe stop treatment earlier. You can join the fight against this disease by donating toward ongoing research. There are several organizations raising funds for that purpose. ZenByCat (zenbycat.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, allows people to donate toward further research, or directly to pet owners currently treating their cats to help them afford the expensive drug. Recurring monthly donations are especially helpful. Another place to donate is SOCK FIP (sockfip.org), run by a group of people who have had personal experiences with the disease. Donations to this site go toward the Center for Companion Animal Health at University of California, Davis. New clinical trials began last year to expand on Dr. Pedersen’s research to further improve FIP treatment.
If your cat is ever diagnosed with FIP, don’t despair! Some vets are not aware of the treatment, or don’t believe it works, or are reluctant to mention it since it’s not yet legal in the U.S. (although it is legal in some other countries), so your best bet is to visit one of the Facebook groups where someone will contact you quickly and help you get started.
—Leslie Cobb, Otis’s “Mom”
September 3, 2023
GET READY FOR CAT HOUSE WITH A SALE!
In celebration of the upcoming launch of my new Crazy Cat Lady mystery, Cat House, I’m reducing prices on the e-versions of all the other books in the series. Sale runs through the entire month of September.
THE CRAZY CAT LADY COZY MYSTERY SERIES, featuring Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip.
Cats’ Eyes: Look what the cat dragged in! When Lynley’s old kitty Fluffo discovers a stolen uncut diamond, Lynley finds herself accused of murdering the thieves.Copy Cats: When Lynley exposes a breed cat counterfeiting ring, she becomes the target of a serial killer who murders with a grisly cat-like claw. Cat’s Paw: Two suspicious deaths at an elite art retreat send Lynley running back to Portland, but murder follows in her wake.Cat Call: Lynley takes over as cat handler for a TV pilot only to find the show is hexed and murder is waiting in the wings.Cat Café: A body is discovered on the floor of the cat café, and all the black cats are missing! Winner of the World’s Best Cat Litter-ary Award.Cosmic Cat: When a superhero cosplayer falls to his death at a comic con, Lynley is left holding the bag— and a cat! Winner of the CWA Muse Medallion for Mystery.Cat Conundrum: A locked room. A dead man. The cat is the only witness, and he isn’t talking.Adventure Cat: A stolen artifact, an elfin recluse, a handsome feline archaeologist, and one very special cat…Cast’s Play: An eccentric recluse bequeaths his vast estate to little Friends of Felines cat shelter, but the gift comes with a catch.Books need not be read in order.
Young men from the Portland-Seattle area are going missing. It’s just another sad headline to Lynley Cannon—until she starts her new cat sitting job for the enigmatic Darla.
Meanwhile the neighborhood is preparing for the Hawthorne All-Hallows Holiday Fête. Lynley’s mom Carol is running a craft booth, and her granddaughter Seleia will be acting in a play. Then one of the kidnapped men shows up outside the hall, sick and malnourished. He dies before he can give away his captor, and his death casts a pall on the festive joy.
Lynley begins to link the facts together, but her inquiries stir up trouble. An off-limits room in Darla’s house, a suspicious phone message involving drugs, and the sudden appearance of a missing man’s cat arouse Lynley’s suspicion, but how far can she go before the consequences of her cat-like curiosity turn deadly?
You can find paperback copies of Cat House at my booth in the Portland Cat Extravaganza & Rescue Awareness Event by Loving Cats Worldwide, October 7-8, 2023. Follow my Facebook Event page for more information.
You can also preorder the Kindle version of Cat House on my Amazon page. Preorders will be delivered to your inbox October 29th, National Cat Day. U.S. National Cat Day was created by Colleen Paige to bring awareness to the number of cats that need to be rescued each year. Adopt, volunteer, rescue, love—just like Lynley!
