A Farewell Post For The Deaf Kitty (So DU can return to grousing about politics)
You know, people, I work really hard to write some thought-provoking political essays on DU. I edit and rewrite and labor over what words to use. I really do fancy myself a writer on here. I have seen a post of mine top 10,000 hits and once I had a post go over 500 recs. Stephanie Miller read a large part of one of my posts on the air one day and the next day Rush Limbaugh read more of my post as he ripped me to shreds. Proud Moments for good old Don. It is nice to lead a political debate!
But do people on DU talk about that? Ask me about those posts? Hell no.
It's about the kitten. Kitty this and kitty that, and where is the kitty? I write a political post and people want the kitty.
So, OK, here's the deal. I LOVE the kitty. The kitty is amazing. I've taken over 350 pictures of the kitty. DON LOVE KITTY (caveman voice). But DU isn't supposed to be about kitties (even though he is a deaf kitty which makes him extra loveable, even to hardened political junkies).
So, here is a nice farewell post for you kitten junkies. The kitty is awesome, though, he has taken to puffing up like a furball at 4 a.m. and running laps up and down my body 10-20 times, and then collapsing into a little cotton ball on the top of my head where he will purr loudly for, seriously, 30-40 minutes before he falls asleep. I let him do it. I can't stop him. He is too cute. My partner says, "You'd better do something about that now before he's a big 10 lb cat." But I can't. His little tail sticks straight up as he runs. How can I stop that?
Mostly the kitty runs around like a crazed ferret or sleeps. He sleeps on my head sometimes but mostly he naps on my hubby. Any part will do. Here is sleeping on my husband's foot. My husband will sit for the entire time the kitten is asleep. I've seen him sitting in horribly uncomfortable positions with the kitten draped over a shin or an elbow. He sheepishly tells me the kitten is too cute to wake up.
The deafness does bring up issues. I lost the kitten the other day and freaked out because I was afraid he might have darted outside under the dog where I couldn't see him. I searched frantically and had to go to work not knowing where the kitten was. I got home early and searched inside and out. No kitten. I was slamming my feet and jumping, doing my best to make the house shake. Even though I knew he couldn't hear me, I kept calling him. Just as I was making "lost Kitty" signs, he came trotting down from upstairs. "MEW!" We're getting him a bell collar.
Kitty and Big Moose Dog are besties. The moose's eye has a big scratch next to it and those big paws have squished the kitty a bit but The Big Moose definitely has a little bitty white shadow.
The kitten no longer sleeps cupped in my hand at night. He doesn't fit! But he sure has fit well into our lives. Feel free to ask about the little guy, but, unless something so cute happens I can't resist sharing, I'll probably be kitten free in my posts for a while. DU, you may return to politics. I hope you have enjoyed your kitty fix. I now return the job of supplying you with kittens to salmonenchantedevening.
Now, if you all will excuse me, I'm going to go play with my kitty. Have a real good weekend!
= new reply since forum marked as read
Furry friend posts welcome.
That kitteh is darn cute, btw. 
GD is a rough place for a def kitty. 
to get overrun with a whole lot of critters. But your post had a nice story, and it was a rescue- so progressive values were showcased. 
That was my excuse for voting to leave it, LOL. Adorable cat! Have you joined any boards for deaf cat owners? There;s probably a Yahoo or Google groups. Great places to pick up strategy and tips.
You had me cracking up with this one. That kitty sure is adorable & very lucky to have you guys. My full grown kitty wakes me up half a dozen times a night by tearing around the bed or biting my arm so I pet her. And you know what? Shes still to cute for me to stop her. Especially when she's got her twitchy tail on!
Thank you for keeping us updated. So good to know the little tyke has a loving, safe home. I guess I'm content for you to just leave it at that. I guess...
in the lounge, where they will be followed avidly, and put political posts in GD. I promise to read them.
Adorable! 
Kitty posts in the lounge
political posts in ....whatever fits.
We CAN multi-task, indeed.
And after all the glum news of the day, it is our fur children who relieve the stress, isn't it?
You are a good writer, I always enjoy your posts of any topic....
Who could resist this little guy? Don't be jealous, just because he's cuter and fluffier than you are doesn't mean that no one is reading your other posts.
Who could resist rubbing that cute pink belly?
Not even the man of steel could resist that. There are GPS units for cats, might be especially valuable for this special kitty. You could also train him to respond to a certain scent, but make it one you like and don't use otherwise. 
It hurts.
It really hurts.
I'm glad to hear he's doing so well. Looks like he's spoiled rotten like my Sparkles. 
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She curls up just the same way, and has the same tabby pattern except for the white socks and white belly she has .
I adore her.
Her little nose blushes sometimes, and that's why I call her Roma-tomato-nose 
Sparkles doesn't have the Roma tomato nose ability but she makes up for it with personality.
Wants to come in, then wants to go out. She lurks by the door at night and barrels in like a streak of lightning, then whines to go out. Then she wants to eat. Then she wants to chase squirrels, then she wants to go inside and then she wants to pile up for several hours until I get home, then she wants out, then she wants in at night.
Uh, yeah, probably 
My vet told me sodium is rough on their kidneys. Maybe just a few every now and then is OK.
All Sparkles wants is her cat food. She doesn't care about treats or people food at all. She is a weirdo.
It sure is hard to say "no" when they want something and they know how to use that against us. 
Have a great rest of the weekend! 
Keep it up when you have more cuties...definitely.
That bell collar might be good. Because kitteh might learn to sense something from the vibrations and work with it in helpful ways to signal?
Keep us posted.
You do good work that stimulates many areas of the DU brain, from the "Isn't that interesting!" cerebral cortex to the "OMG I'm going to bust an artery!" limbic system. Kitty soothes. He's The Paws that Refreshes. He tickles the "SQUEEEE!" reflex and stimulates the hormones. Don't underestimate the ability of Kitty to let DUville enjoy the more cerebral posts more.
But I feel ya. Pet him a couple of times for me and maybe check in now and again. Now go dazzle us.
and I am one who has noticed and appreciated your
writing, but forgettabouttittt!!! kitties!!!!!
He's going to be big! And beautiful and wonderful. And if you don't keep us updated on him, we won't read any of your political posts again--no matter how awesome they are
Seriously, stories like this make us remember why we discuss politics. To make the world a place where little deaf kitties--and people likewise out of the norm--can feel welcome and at home. You made us love him almost as much as you and your partner and your dog do. Thanks for that, and for reminding us what we're all fighting for here on the DU
Easily a 13 pounder with feet that huge.
They are not just gratuitous kitten pictures (although if it were up to me, those would be mandatory in GD). Your posts are human interest stories and they fill people with joy on otherwise pretty depressing news days, so I will always look forward to reading them, and seeing the beautiful pictures that come with them.
Thank you, Don and Deaf Kitty
I love all the kitty posts. I love your political post also, but hey, it's politics. We can always have politics. We want kitty posts! We want kitty posts! lol
To be totally honest, I love reading all your posts, but still want kitty posts.
Kitten Belleh! 
The newest addition to our family. A little orphan (with the worst case of coccidiosis our vet has ever seen). I didn't need the extra kitty care right now, but I sure needed the kitty snuggles.
(And that is her back right foot peeking out by her right ear)
I call her velcro kitty - the nickname the vet gave her when she velcroed herself to my shoulder between incidents of the vet-torturing her with shots and rehydration. She came from the vet - the same vet who came to our house to put our last kitty to sleep nearly 5 years ago (starting the 5 year free-range-critter ban, until my spouse fell in love with this charmer and brought her home).
I never even see Salmon unless his latest is on Page One because of all the Recs and I happen to log in just at that moment.
All these hardened pols will just have to go back to fighting about everything, but you brought a bit of genuine sweetness here for awhile, and a look into your little family. 
Thanks for sharing.
Now, about that NSA thing....
That's the sweetest baby kitteh! I can imagine how wild you was when he was lost in the house! Motion, like jumping up and down, really would be the best way to find him when he disappears. It would be great if your doggie dog could help you find him. I can't think of anything else. The bell will really help. Thank you so much for sharing your photos and stories on your new addition to the household.
a good kitten post now and then helps me maintain my sanity.
Thank you for the diversion!
this world.
One of our girls was deaf for the last two years of her life and another for her last six months.
Once you work out communication with them (visual or tactile signals for things like "I'm home" or "food's ready" they're easy to work with.
Funny story: we took in a rescue while we had our first deaf cat. He tried to push for dominance. He would growl and hiss behind her back or while she was sleeping and since she couldn't hear, she would ignore him. That sangfroid disturbed him and before long he accepted her as the alpha.
