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Sunday, May 31, 2026

My Poor Ear #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

I mentioned on Friday that I had to go back to the vet. When I was last there (just 2 weeks ago) some debris in my itchy right ear was taken to look at under a microscope, and bacteria was found, so the vet wanted to see me again. 

Waiting in the car. I think I was just here a couple weeks ago, Mommy.

This year Mommy started taking me to a new vet that she just loves, but it's a very small practice and last week they had to close for several days because of a "personal tragedy". We later found out the wonderful vet tech lost her home in a fire in the middle of the night, and all 4 of her pets were killed. Unimaginable. 

So once they reopened Mommy made an appointment. Remember how I said I had lost a couple pounds at my last weigh in? Well I gained a little of it back MOL! Must be that rotisserie chicken Mommy got me. But the vet said she is ecstatic that my appetite is so good, because that's not the case for so many CKD kitties. 

But my right ear is a mess, to put it mildly. For the past several weeks the "stuff" you see in the above photo has been coming out of my ear. It's hard as a rock. There are days my ear makes me feel just miserable. The vet went through several q-tips trying to clean it out to no avail. She doesn't know if chronic inflammation has caused the ear canal to narrow or if there might be a mass in there. She sent us home with a daily salve to make the ear more comfortable for me, and a cleaner to be used twice a week. Then she wants to see me again in 3 weeks in hopes it gets cleaned out enough for her to see what's going on in there. 

No, I was not trying to hack into the vet's computer. I would never. 

Of course Mommy had a panic attack hearing the word "mass". This ear has been a problem off and on for the past 3 years and we never considered it a big deal. Our prior vet chalked it up to allergies (which makes sense because I have asthma), so we're hoping and praying it's inflammation that we can manage with medication.

If anyone has experience with this type of thing, please let us know! 

We're joining our friends at The Cat on My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!  

Saturday, May 30, 2026

Minty Mudpie #CaturdayArt


Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!



And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. Finding Mudpie online, even though my heart was still shattered from losing Truffles just a few weeks before is the luckiest thing that ever happened to me.

2. A container of Trader Joe's chocolate mascarpone with Mudpie pee in it (for a urinalysis) is the most unusual item in my refrigerator. 

3. My patience is lacking. I always say when God handed out patience I didn't have the patience to stand in line for it! 

4. I have more than enough Halloween and Christmas decorations. Yet I look forward to shopping for more every year. 

Friday, May 29, 2026

What on Earth??? #PetPhotoFails

Meows from Mudpie!

Thank you for joining us for this month's edition of the Pet Photo Fails blog hop!

Bad news - I have to go back to the vet this afternoon! I was just there 2 weeks ago! Today is about fun bloopers though so I'll fill you in later.


Mommy snapped this picture the other day while I was sunbathing with the door open a crack. It turned out all sorts of wrong! My head looks like it fell out the door and there's a shadow of Mommy's phone on my side. This should've just been deleted.


That's my blooper...let's see yours!


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Monday, May 25, 2026

Memorial Day 2026

 


"We can never replace them. We can never repay them. But we can always remember. And today, that is what we are doing — we remember. Words cannot wipe away the tears or bring back those smiling faces. But if Americans just take the time to look into your eyes and tell you how much we thank you and how dearly we pray for you and how truly we love you, then hopefully you can find solace through your pain. And every time you see the sun rise over this blessed land please know your brave sons and daughters pushed away the night and delivered for us all that great and glorious dawn."


~ President Donald J. Trump, 5/29/17

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Caturday Art


Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!



And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. I would be willing to pay more for anything Mudpie (or any cat) needs. I'm ridiculously frugal, but if a cat needs something, they get it. 

2. I refuse to spend money on air. Meaning, gas station air pumps. I recently bought a portable tire inflator so I'm never in search of a gas station with free air again! 

3. My house is a bit chaotic. I've been doing loads of decluttering lately but I have a bad habit of not finishing one project before I start a new one so nothing ever looks completely polished.

4. A fun fact about me is that I was obsessed with Nancy Drew as a little girl. I tore through the whole series thanks to my grade school library, and then bought all the original books with my own money at a flea market. Somewhere in the basement is that box of books, which keeps me going when I get tired of going through boxes! 

Friday, May 22, 2026

Feline Friday: Tuna Butt Protects Her Turf

Meows from Mudpie!

I've had a couple funny moments this week to tell you about. 

Wednesday night Mommy had a tuna fish sammie for dinner. I don't like tuna, but sometimes I like slurping up the juice. That particular night I didn't want it, and Mommy didn't realize it until I had managed to tip the bowl over onto the kitchen floor and sit in it! She called me "tuna butt"! 

Then Thursday afternoon Mommy decided to mow the lawn. While pulling weeds in the back she could hear a man talking very close by. She stepped into the driveway to see that a lawn service man had opened the side door to slip in his advertisement, only to find me laying right there! I don't know who was more surprised, me or him! Mommy is very thankful I'm not one to bolt out the door when it opens.

When she came to check on me I started screaming at her. I told her, "Mommy, a man just tried to get in! I scared him away!" 


Feline Friday is simple to join. All you have to do is:

Post a picture, drawing, cartoon or video of a cat (They may be silly or cute). 

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Happy 19th Gotcha Day, Angel Tara!

Mommy here!

19 years ago today I brought Tara home. With the exception of the 6 weeks after she passed away before I adopted Truffles, and the month after I lost Truffles so unexpectedly before finding Mudpie, I've lived with a tortie for 19 years now. That's a lotta tortitude for one small house!

In honor of her Gotcha Day I thought it might be fun to share her PetFinder profile. I actually met her "in the fur" at the PetSmart adoption center before I went home and looked her up on PetFinder, which I'm really glad about because I don't think the posted pictures did her justice at all.

And yes, her name at the shelter was Kelly. My mom is the one who suggested naming her Tara because of our mutual love of Gone With the Wind...



Kelly
Cat
Dilute Tortoiseshell Mix

Size: Large
Age: Adult
Gender: Female

Notes: Kelly is a beautiful short haired cat with a sweet personality. As you can see from her pictures, the coloring on her face is half black and half brown and is divided at the nose. She is a pretty big girl who loves to sleep (even in her litter box if it is clean). Kelly would like a home where she has a big bed to curl up on and a person to give her attention. Kelly sleeps through most anything except when another cat goes by her cage, for this she will even get up and tell the other cat to back off. Because of this Kelly needs to be the only cat in the household.

***********************************************

What has come to amaze me is how much of Tara I see in Mudpie. Many times I even refer to Tara as Mudpie's "grandma" even though there's no way they could possibly be biologically related. They're built the same, diabetic (even though Mudpie is thankfully still in remission), they react the same to other cats, their coat is the same...so many similarities. 

Tara was a middle-aged ladycat when I adopted her so we didn't have a lot of years together, but the memories she left behind will remain with me for the rest of my days. 

Remembering Tara
Adopted May 20, 2007
Rainbow Bridge July 7, 2013

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Mudpie's Tail of Torture #SundaySelfie

MUDPIE: You won't believe what happened to me on Friday. It's almost too horrifying to talk about but I need to put it on the record while it's all still fresh in my mind in case the ASPCA needs to be notified. Honestly, I'm lucky that I'm still here to tell you about it. 

It started out as a fairly nice day so I spent the morning soaking up a little sun. After lunch Mommy did several chores around the house and then suggested we sit and cuddle for a little while. I was all for that and after a nice nap on her lap I jumped onto the squeezie table for a treat. 

That's when I knew something was up. Instead of indulging me with a squeezie, Mommy went into the basement and came upstairs with my PTU (Prisoner Transport Unit). It went into the bathroom, then Mommy took me off my squeezie table, hauled me into the bathroom, loaded me up and off we went.

In between torture sessions I sought comfort on the baby scale.

After waiting in the parking lot for hours I was brought into the exam room. I was told how beautiful I was and then the torture began. I was held down for hours while my blood was drained, then sharp instruments were plunged deep into my ears. After my abusers were finished with me they chatted with Mommy for hours about me like I wasn't even in the room. Mommy actually PAID them for all they did to me with money that could've been spent on squeezies!!! Then when I was finally released from the dungeon and got a taste of freedom, Mommy spent hours talking to more people outside about me while I was still trapped in my PTU! 

When we finally got home it was nearly midnight and I was so exhausted that I slept for hours, after thinking I would never see my own bed again. 

MOMMY: That was a very compelling horror story, Mudpie. How about I tell our friends what really happened, ok?

When I made the appointment earlier in the week I had forgotten that this is college graduation weekend in our city, so we left early in case there was lots of traffic. That's why we ended up waiting in the car for about 15 minutes. 

We saw a new vet at the clinic (an older lady who used to work at our local ER vet) and she was absolutely wonderful! It was actually the most pleasant vet visit I've ever had. She was SO good with Mudpie, calling her cute things like a "rotund woman". While drawing blood she even gave Mudpie permission to swear all she wanted and to call her everything in the book! 

Yes, the blood draw took some time because the tech had a hard time finding a vein. She ended up trying both back legs, and finally was successful on a front leg after shaving a spot to find the vein. The whole time that was being done Mudpie was grumping about it, but I was feeding her a squeezie for distraction. Since Mudpie has had a very itchy right ear for several weeks with discharge coming out, the ear was swabbed to see what's going on. 

We had the last appointment of the day and the vet wasn't rushed so we did talk for awhile after. Unlike so many vets, she actually *listened* to me and my concerns. She agreed that in Mudpie's case a renal diet isn't the best option, and although Mudpie has lost 2 pounds in the last 4 months (the tech said she could actually be eating a little more), the vet isn't concerned about her weight because with both kidney disease and diabetes going on at the same time having some extra weight isn't necessarily a bad thing. 

There's a couple apartments in the same building as the clinic and when we left some kids playing outside asked if I had a cat in the carrier. They wanted to see Mudpie and their dad told me about the cat he once had for 20 years! 

It may have seemed like a long ordeal to Mudpie, but in actuality we left the house at 3 and returned home at 4:30. After dinner she slept in the bedroom for most of the evening, and even slept with me until morning, something she rarely does now. 

MUDPIE: I was weak from blood loss.

MOMMY: Oh, and guess what, Mudpie? The vet said you could have rotisserie chicken as a treat again!

MUDPIE: She did?!?!?! On second thought, maybe I exaggerated a little. She was a pretty nice vet, as vets go. 

MOMMY: Guess what's in the fridge for dinner tonight? 

MUDPIE: I love you, Mommy. 

We're joining our friends at The Cat on My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!  

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Caturday Art


Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!



And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. I think the word or phrase like is overused. It's just filler and sounds so juvenile. 

2. I am embarrassed to admit that I frequently curse people out when I'm driving.

3. I wish I could convince Mudpie to let me test her blood sugar on a regular basis.

4. I could find my way around my house even if I were blindfolded.

Friday, May 15, 2026

Feline Friday Flashback: Please Send Sun

Meows from Mudpie! 

This photo flashback is from 2018. What I'd give to have the sun in my eyes right now! It's been terribly rainy and icky here this week. Then by next week temps are supposed to be in the high 80s so we'll be complaining about the heat! I do need my sun though. I'm a sun goddess.

On another note, please send me some purrs and prayers. I have a V-E-T appointment this afternoon. It's been 4 months since my last checkup and bloodwork, and given my kidney issues and diabetes Mommy says we have to stay on top of things.

Whatever, Mommy...wake me when it's over.



Feline Friday is simple to join. All you have to do is:

Post a picture, drawing, cartoon or video of a cat (They may be silly or cute). 

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Unboxing April's CatLadyBox

 The theme of April's CatLadyBox was the Orange Cats Box...here's what was inside!


Featured Cat Lady Artist:
Gabriela Avila

Less People, More Cats Tee:
This just might be the most purrfect quote I've ever seen on a shirt!

Reusable Cats Paperless Towels:
5 adorable designs, countless uses.

Kitty Paper Clips:
I have other kitty paper clips, but these are extra special because they're orange.

Scratcher Insert:
Mudpie loves this kind of scratcher, and it fits right inside a CatLadyBox which we all know kitties love to hang out in.

Squishy Kitty and Sushi Sweethearts Catnip Toys:
The sushi is just too cute with cat faces in the middle, and I've kept the orange kitty toy for my Mo memorial. I told Mudpie we each get a toy from this box :) 

Not a subscriber yet? Visit CatLadyBox today!

Interested in purchasing individual items from past boxes? You can do that too!

Disclosure: I receive a discount on my CatLadyBox subscription as a thank you for my monthly review. Regardless of compensation received, we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Saturday, May 9, 2026

Mother's Day #CaturdayArt #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

Since I'd like to have a little extra quality time with Mommy for Mother's Day, I asked her if we could do just one blog post this weekend, combining our Caturday Art project with my Mother's Day message/Sunday Selfie.

Happy Mother's Day to all the pawsome cat moms out there!!!




And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!


1. I know I am having a good day when Mudpie is happy and healthy.

2. I sleep more when I am overly stressed. I guess it's an escape mechanism.

3. A sick cat makes me feel helpless.

4. I have a lot of confidence in my ability to always expect the worst possible outcome in any situation. I'm the Queen of Doom Spiraling. 

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Thankful Thursday ~ DIY Cat Shelves

Meows from Mudpie!

Last week I told you about the kitty cupboard Mommy put together for me thanks to our local Buy Nothing group. 

She also picked up a cube organizer for herself even though she didn't have any specific plans for it at the time. After several days she finally decided where to put it (in front of a hallway closet we seldom open), and on Tuesday she went to Walmart to get some canvas storage bins to use as drawers. Unfortunately they didn't have the color she wanted so she came home empty handed and disappointed.


Then she started thinking - she didn't need to buy new storage bins, she already had some ~ cat-themed storage bins from CatLadyBox and Triple T Studios! And two of the three bins she was already using so that freed up more space elsewhere.
 
We couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Mommy says she doesn't have a decorating bone in her body so she's pretty proud of herself for thinking of fun ways to use both pieces of furniture! 

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Cinco De Mudpie

Meows from Mudpie!

This makes me feel really old, but we first posted this little funny TEN years ago! It still makes us chuckle, and hope it has the same effect on you!


Sunday, May 3, 2026

Made You Look! #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

The other night I stared towards the window like this for about 10 minutes. Really freaked Mommy out wondering what I was looking at! It was fun MOL :) 

Maybe I shouldn't mess with her head like that...


We're joining our friends at The Cat on My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!  

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Derby Day #CaturdayArt

Meows from Mudpie, and Happy Derby Day!

Do you plan to watch the Kentucky Derby today? We will be even though Mommy watches horse races with one eye closed. She says NASCAR is her sport of choice because when the drivers crash they aren't destroyed like the poor horses are when they fall. She loves the Triple Crown races though - they're really all she watches - and she's so thankful she's now gotten to see two Triple Crowns in her lifetime. We hope it happens again, but more than anything we just pray for a safe race each year. The horses' lives are more important than any trophy.
 

Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!



And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. When I need to make a tough decision, I procrastinate.

2. If I were a dance, I would be a country two-step.

3. I'm a stay at home cat mom is my current life motto.

4. Living on your own terms is the best part of being an adult, and knowing there are more days behind you than ahead is the worst part.