kitties | delicious juice dot com

Cheddar’s test results came back early this week, and she has a bladder infection. Bladder infections are horrible, uncomfortable things, but Cheddar has been a trooper throughout – we’ve been far more concerned about her leaky swollen areas than she is, and she continues to be her ridiculously cheerful self. The vet prescribed antibiotics for her (which she also takes with good cheer – damnit cat, you’re making us all look bad by comparison), and she’s mending quickly. She will be having a (terribly expensive) ultrasound on Friday to rule out any stones, but the vet said her bloodwork was great, her organs are delightful, and as this is the first real problem she’s experienced in the 13 years (give or take a month) we’ve had her, things are pretty super. Our fingers are crossed that the ultrasound will turn out to be an expensive exercise in precaution, but for now things are looking good and that is all I can ask for.

The timing of all this couldn’t really be worse, but that’s how things are apparently supposed to go. The Ghost in the Mini turned out to be a combination blown fuse and poltergeists caused by (according to the car vets) the iPhone stereo adapter we installed – Ed flashed a little sausage to get the bill cut in half, but it still cost us $300. Cheddar’s vet bills hover around $600 to date, and Friday’s ultrasound will cost another $500. Ed’s iPhone 4 disappeared from his office bathroom a couple weeks ago (and has yet to show up on Find My iPhone), so that needs replacing. We didn’t go hog wild in London (95% of our trip was paid for before we left the country), but we did abuse the credit card just a little and that needs to be paid off. Things are expensive. Would anybody like to buy some plasma? How about some eggs? I have eggs I’m not using; perhaps you’d like to incubate your very own little Kimli.

These are so first world I’m a little disgusted with myself, but on the other hand if these are my only problems then I am in a very good place indeed.

this is the only halfway decent picture of cheddar ever taken. she’s adorable, but NOT PHOTOGENIC.

Starting today, Delicious Juice Dot Com is delighted to present you, beloved reader, a chance to Make a Difference and save my marriage in one fell swoop.

Orphan Animal Pics is a local organization started by Lisa Brideau. The concept is as simple as it is brilliant: volunteer photographers take gorgeous shots of gorgeous animals desperately in need of foster homes or adoption. Each week I will profile several animals that I had to be physically restrained from going out and adopting this very second, in the hopes that someone – maybe YOU – has room enough in heart and home to give these beautiful creatures the love and comfort they so sorely need. As an added bonus, by adopting or fostering these animals, you will keep me from doing so and thereby save my marriage. I would adopt every animal everywhere if I could, but then Ed would divorce me. Most of the time, that would be a bad idea. According to the media, if Ed divorced me I would never find love again – so keep me from becoming a spinster cat lady by adopting these beauties:

Shyla and Jonathon:

photo by cindy hughes

When I saw Shyla’s picture, my jaw dropped open and I emailed Lisa to ask HOW this cat could possibly not have a home. Shyla is a bengal cat, which means you would have your very own LEOPARD in your household (which would automatically make you the coolest person in your neighbourhood).

Shyla and Jonathon are a bonded pair, and must be adopted together. They’re both very shy – Jonathon, who is apparently even prettier than his sister, was too shy to come out for pictures – and would do best in a household without dogs or children. They need a patient, loving home to shower them with affection and tell them daily how pretty they both are, because LOOK AT THAT PICTURE. I would love to give Shyla and Jonathon a home and own a pair of leopards, but Ed – now in his 15th year of cruelly denying me things to love – said no.

Both Shyla and Jonathon are currently at Katie’s Place Shelter in Maple Ridge. Please consider giving them a home!

Azlan (wardrobe and creepy Bible allusions not included):

photo by ben johnson

Azlan has had a very rough life and deserves to live in comfort; being catered to and showered with love. He was found living behind a seedy bar on Main Street – the kind your mother told you never to go near – and had to have an eye removed due to a nasty infection. He’s healed up nicely though, and doesn’t seem to miss depth perception – perhaps you could be the one to make him a little kitty eyepatch and he would be an AWESOME PIRATE CAT! Just think of the adventures you could have!

Azlan takes oral medication for his hyperthyroid, and is doing very well with it. He’s very affectionate, and loves people – he’s okay around calm dogs, but would probably be happier in a home without other cats.

He’s currently at HomeFinders in Vancouver and is hoping you can provide him with a permanent home. HomeFinders would also consider a long-term foster, at which point they would continue to support his veterinary needs .. but I KNOW someone out there has a soft spot for this big fluffy bar star lion. The one latte a week you’d have to give up would be in exchange for a lifetime of love, and even the most hardened among us has to admit that is a pretty damn good deal.

I desperately want to adopt all these cats, so please save my marriage by getting to them before I can. Also, check out Orphan Animal Pics for other gorgeous creatures in need of homes that aren’t mine – and if you’re a photographer wanting to hang out with animals for a few hours, please contact Lisa directly! She also guest-posted over at the Lotus Events blog, showing off even more lovely kitties – take a look.

KITTIES!