The advent of Christmas is near, but I have not been able to get into the spirit of the season this year. Thanksgiving has not yet ended in my mind. For several days, my oldest cat, Bianca, has not been coming to the feeding station. She had an eye infection. I was grateful that I had some leftover antibiotic eye ointment to treat it without having to make a difficult trip to the veterinarian. When I was giving Bee Bee a bath, I felt that something was amiss. Her hind legs were not functioning properly.

I discovered that many of the light switches stopped working last week. After some investigating and messing with the circuit breakers, I realized that an electrician visit would have to wait. I plugged in a few lamps, but it wasn’t the same. The house felt dark and gloomy. Luckily, the refrigerator and other appliances were still working properly, and the heat was still on.

While scanning the Lost and Found page for any lost or found cats, I came across a posting for a Charlie Brown tree that was in need of a new home. The pictures of the tree helped me determine that it would be a suitable tree for my cats, so I snagged it the next day and placed it in the dining room. The room was lacking lights, so I placed a battery-operated star on top to brighten up the room. I left the tree as it was for the next day, as I wanted to start decorating it for Catmiss.

The next evening, I added a few ornaments to the tree. I also wrapped some empty cardboard delivery boxes and cut holes in them so that my cats could play with them. I then put up some battery-powered tea lights that I had attached to the tree with clips. With that, my simple cat-friendly tree was complete!

I came home from work a couple days later and found that my beloved cat, Bee Bee, had not woken up from her nap. I was shocked, saddened but also relieved. I agonized over the decision of whether to take her to the vet to be euthanized or have a vet come to our home. I knew that Bee Bee would not appreciate either option, as she was a very independent cat who hated being around other people. She was a one-person-only cat, and she despised anyone other than me to pet her. She would growl and hiss at anyone who tried to touch her, except for me. She was 17 1/2 years old, which is 86 in human years.

The Quinns, in the meantime, were missing me terribly. After Queen Bee went to kitty heaven, they have been showering me with love. O’Ryan Quinn is the princess of the house and appears to be larger than anything when she’s outside. I remember watching Godzilla films when I was a kid, and she reminds me of him. Catzilla O’Ryan is a jumpy cat and often knocks things over when she’s in her way. Her brother, HoneyBear Quinn, is a fairly large cat. However, he is the gentlest one of the Herd.

They were surrendered to AniMeals shelter together. When they first arrived home, they were together for a while. Oddly enough, they do not sleep together. They both have similar mannerisms and their tails sashay with grace. They have zero mean bone in their bodies and they walk away from any disputes with the other cats. They both love attention and are always up for a pet or a massage. However, they are different in some ways.

O’Ryan is a shy and independent cat who enjoys her own company. She is not afraid to show her affection to me, but she prefers to do so on her own terms. HoneyBear, on the other hand, is a more social cat who enjoys playing with other cats. He has a special affection for Tanna.

O’Ryan has whiskers above her eyes that are about 6 inches long. HoneyBear has tufts of hair outside of his ears. They both have soft lovely fur. The Quinns have a genetic predisposition to dental problems. O’Ryan has already had two dental extractions, and she has very few teeth left. Sometimes, her bottom incisor sticks out of her mouth, making her look grumpy even though she is not. HoneyBear still has his teeth, but he drools excessively. Some of his teeth will soon fall out.

Queen Bee’s throne by the window was once a place of power and prestige. It was where she would sit and survey her kingdom, the Herd of cats, and make sure that all was in order. She would sit on her throne, her fur luxurious and flowing, her eyes sharp and intelligent, and her demeanor regal. 

But now, the throne is bare, with new bedding that has yet to be claimed. I have declared Harvey to be King. He is the best candidate to be one. He is the guard cat, and he rules with an iron paw. He swats at the other cats for their wrong doings, and he keeps them in line. It is only a matter of time before he takes his rightful place on the throne.

I will have to find a successor in the near future. The Quinns unfortunately do not have the demeanor to succeed King Harvey. They do not have the leadership ability. O’Ryan can remain a princess, and HoneyBear can be the gentle fellow that likes to knead on my chest and drool. I love them for just the way they are.

This is the final introduction of the Herd. You have read all the previous posts this year, and now the Herd has been fully introduced. I am looking forward to writing and filming the cats as they do their thing. You will have a better understanding of what it is like to be a cat herder and to manage a household full of furballs with distinct personalities.

RIP Queen Bee

This video clip was taken a few years ago. You can see that Bee Bee was not having it when my visiting aunt is trying to pet her.

It is okay to not be in the spirit of Christmas, but Catmiss is something that you should not bypass. It gives the Herd a sense of adventure and love. After all, what is Christmas without a tree for the furballs to explore and rip?

Meowy Catmiss!