Tag Archives: cats

The Shpilkes Report

Received this report from Derek, Shpilkes’ foster daddy:

Hello Dan and Family!

I hope you are doing well in Israel. I wanted to let you know that all is well with Shpilkes: he is happy and well fed. I have broken new ground, as he now lets me rub his tummy without getting a face full of claws.

Just wanted to drop you a line letting you know I have yet to lose the cat again.* See attached picture of Shpilkes sleeping with his monkey. He loves his monkey.

Tummy rubs??? He never let us rub his tummy…

 

*Shpilkes pulled off the classic Disappearing Cat Routine the first couple of nights he was there, convincing Derek he’d somehow escaped because there was nowhere he could possibly be hiding in this small apartment.

 

Progress

Haven’t posted in a while, because the progress we’re making in preparations has been steady, but uneventful.

  • We have lined up friends to take our cars, and figured out how to handle the insurance.
  • Magazine & WSJ subscriptions are canceled (WSJ converted to web access).
  • We signed up for a remote mail service (www.usamail1.com) to deal with mail that comes while we’re away.
  • I got my iPhone unlocked, so I can get Israeli cell phone service, and confirmed that we are eligible for Orange’s package deal (~$35/mo. for unlimited minutes/texts in Israel, unlimited incoming calls from abroad, unlimited minutes to U.S. landlines, 1G data) even without being citizens. We will need to get Debbie an unlocked phone, though.
  • We have our new laptop to take with us, and I’m in the process of transferring our files from the desktop.
  • I stocked up on non-iron white dress shirts, and other clothing needs.
  • I’m getting final tasks at the office finished up.
  • Our visa applications are all in — including Mordechai’s, as we got his passport in time.
  • I renewed my driver’s license, which would otherwise expire while we’re there.

and, critically:

  • We have a foster home for Shpilkes, and a trial run for Nemo this Sunday.

What’s left? Lots of packing, which is underway (at this point, that means packing up stuff that’s staying; soon we’ll start packing stuff that’s going), and a few other odds-and-ends, like getting broadband internet without a landline or cable. And figuring out how we’re going to get from the airport to the Old City and how we’re going to get the key when we probably won’t make it to the Old City until about 1:00 a.m.

Cats! And another Internet law.

My friend Greg pointed out that I’m doing a lousy job marketing the cats – I should be posting cute pics of them. Fair enough!

This leads me to an observation about the Internet: All blogs eventually become catblogs.

I don’t know if it is 100% true, but it’s the kind of blanket statement that the Internet loves. I’m deeming it Shmikler’s Surmise.

Now, on to the fuzzy:

 

Cat setback

Well, we’re back to looking for a temporary home for both cats. Nemo went on a trial run to the vet’s assistant over Shabbos, and it didn’t go well. There was an incident, which was not his fault.

Again, for the benefit of those considering hosting him, it was not his fault.

Anyway, she has a cat and two dogs of her own. So, she kept Nemo in a separate room for starters (this is a key part of gradually introducing a new cat to existing pets). She went to go check on Nemo in the middle of the night (he was lonely, and crying), and her own cat zipped into the room before she could stop him. Her cat then attacked Nemo.

Apparently, a full-on, roadhouse-style brouhaha ensued, complete with Nemo trying to climb the blinds to escape his attacker. One of her dogs interceded on Nemo’s behalf (!), resulting in a fight between her cat and the dog. The room is reportedly much worse for the wear, although Nemo’s wounds are, B”H, purely emotional.

She apologetically explained to us tonight that Nemo is very sweet and – I can’t emphasize this enough – totally not at fault for what happened, but this doesn’t look like a good match.

If anyone has any ideas, we’d love some leads.

Shavua Tov!

Cat update

For those of you waiting breathlessly for news of our cats, there is an update. The vet’s assistant who was going to take them has had a change of circumstance, and can no longer do so. Another vet’s assistant may be willing to take Nemo (who needs the extra maintenance), but not both.

Yes, it looks like our cats will be going to separate homes.

I know this is traumatic news, and I’m sorry to spring it on you like this. We’re all just going to have to find a way to get through it.

Anyway, this means we’re back to looking for a foster home for Shpilkes. On the upside, he’s the low-maintenance one. No medications or special needs. He is not so shy, and loves to play. Not really a cuddler, though. He’s also magnificently beautiful. And knows it. And would prefer that you know it as well. Full disclosure: he does have his front claws (we would spring for occasional clipping), and also has a bad habit of chewing on the cord you use to pull up blinds. We keep ours tucked up out of reach.

If you know of any leads, please let me know.

Okay, the cats.

There seems to be a lot of interest in what’s going to be with Shpilkes and Nemo while we’re gone. True, most of the interest is from Tzvi Bider. Okay, all of the interest is from Tzvi Bider. Still, I aim to please. Like everything else, we’ve given careful consideration and solicited advice. Rejected suggestions include:

  • Take them with us, where they can study under the tutelage of the famed street cats of Jerusalem. (Ours are pampered, indoor American cats. They would stand no chance. And what if they get Jerusalem Syndrome and think they’re some sort of cat messiahs? We can’t take that chance.)
  • Let them stay at home with our renter. (We’re already asking him for flexibility in certain areas. Watching our high-maintenance cats, including giving Nemo his allergy (!) shot is just too much. We’d have to pay him to stay here.)
  • A return to the Albin’s house. (Rejected by the Albins.)
  • Move them in with the Biders. (Actually, this hasn’t really been rejected. I’m still pushing for it.)

Instead, it looks like we are going to hire our vet’s assistant to take the cats. The sad thing is that he’ll probably take better care of them than we do. Here, I’m talking mostly about Nemo, who – yes, it is true – has allergies. I’m really embarrassed to admit this, but we take our cat to a pet dermatologist. I never thought I’d be that person. He was getting bare spots, with nasty sores. We had no choice. Really, we didn’t. Stop looking at me like that!

It would be poetic if Nemo were allergic to us; even more so if to himself. But, no. He’s allergic to a whole laundry list of stuff: wool, various kinds of pollen, dust mites, minding his own business…

So Nemo has to get shpritzed with a steroid spray, which he hates. He has to take pills, which he hates even more. And every few weeks, he gets a shot. Which he hates.

But he is very sweet.

So, the cats will be fine. Do you feel better now?