TYLER'S PAGE EXCERPTS from Tyler Coxon's correspondence with Terzo

From Tyler, November 12, 2011: I haven’t written to you for a very long time. So I have a lot of things to tell you. Part of the reason I haven’t written is because June and I have had a lot of company. A strange thing happened this Halloween. I liked it this year because I sometimes helped June when the children came to the door. She gave them candy – is that like cat treats? I guess it must be because the children all seemed to want it. Remember my friend Pod, who lives next door? Poor old Pod has been having a hard time lately.  I told you a while ago that he had to put up with a dog and a baby coming to visit his house sometimes? Well now that baby is walking around quite quickly and likes to chase cats – and he has a baby sister who visits with him. She doesn’t walk but she is noisy sometimes. Pod is very patient with children and dogs, although he tells me he’d prefer not to have either at his house.  I’ve got some new cat food now, in addition to my regular cat food. I get a little bit of this food each night instead of the hard treats I used to get at that time. It’s soft and mushy, not at all like the crunchy cat food I’ve eaten all my life. Apparently it’s good for senior cats like me. I like it. What kind of cat good to do have? Life is good. I have new cat food, a new cat toy (actually June says it’s an old one she found in the basement, but I don’t remember it so it’s like a new one), and my sunbeam has been around a lot lately. I hope you have all of these good things too. Love and purrs, Ty Tyler responded to Terzo's blog post about hating his carrier (Sept. 3, 2011) by writing: I know all about those hateful carriers and I was curious about what you had to say about them. I really don’t like mine. I must admit I sometimes sleep in mine when it is in the basement if I’m down there and am too tired to climb upstairs. But I know if June brings that carrier upstairs then it’s time to hide, because she will put me in it and take me some place I don’t want to go and we will go there in a car. I also don’t much like cars either. But let me tell you what happened this year! It’s something really nice! First of all I got a new vet. Her name is Emma and I really like her a lot - even when she pokes and prods me. June tells me the other vet was nice too, but I did not think so. Not only is Emma really nice, she comes right to my house to give me an examination. I no longer have to worry about being put into that carrier and going to the cat hospital to be checked out. Now isn’t that great? Personally I think all cats should be catered to that way. Actually we should be catered to in every way shouldn’t we?

A reader of this blog just commented: Great Hairballs!  I think that must be a compliment don't you? She also thinks that what we are doing is actually e-meouwing,  not e-mailing.  Here's Tyler on June's desk, preparing to write  a new message to Terzo. Terzo is NOT allowed on the desk, and has to  use Bobbi's computer when she's sleeping,  being careful not to leave any telltale black and white hairs on the keyboard! Tyler sent Terzo a series of postcards called Cat on Vacation. A purple cat named Benjamin sends individual postards with brief messages from exotic locations over the world. Terzo received cards so far from Paris, London, Venice, Australia, Mt. Fuji, Easter Island, Stonehenge, the Grand Canyon and the CN Tower in Toronto.

from Tyler, March 11, 2011:

Good Morning Terzo,

June just told me that you are on someone's blog. I hope that's a good thing. If it it, congratulations. I haven't seen a blog but I'll ask June to read what it says about you to me. I do know about computers though. I'd like to sit on the table beside the computer when June is working on it. But for some reason she doesn't think that's a good idea. Do you help Bobbi when she works on her computer?

Since I wrote to you last I've seen the vet again. I quite like this lady and her assistant. Even though both times they've stuck a needle in me and taken away some blood to test, they do it so it hardly hurts at all. Besides they always make a fuss over me and say such nice things. Mind you, that's how it should be isn't it? I mean what's not to like about cats?

What I really liked this time though was this thing they put me on to see how much I weigh. They took it out of a big black container and it was so cozy and warm to lie on. Besides it fit my body so well I just wanted to curl up and sleep there. But I guess they had some place else to go because they didn't let me stay on it very long. They told June that they are pleased with me though, because I've gained quite a bit of weight. That's the good thing. But they also checked my eyes and said if I was a person I would have to wear very strong glasses so I guess I'm glad I'm not a person. I know I can't see very well. But I mostly like to sleep anyway. So that's ok.

Speaking of sleeping,  my sunbeam seems to have disappeared again. Is it at your house? I like to follow the sunshine as it moves around the house for my naps. But I guess I won't be able to do that today. I hope it comes back again. Mentioning naps, it's time for another one. So long until the next time.

Love and Purrs, Ty

from Tyler, February 17, 2011:

Hi Terzo,

I'm so glad you liked the little present from us. It certainly sounds like you had fun with it. I'm glad to hear you like paper too. That's one of my favorite things to play with. I just know we'd be great pals if we didn't live so far from each other. We could chase paper as well as toy mice together!

June gave me a mouse just like yours and when I first got it I played with it. But now I usually just sleep with it. I am, after all a senior cat. At least that's what June tells me my new cat food bag says. Did I tell you I have some yummy new cat food? I had the same food for years and years, and while I liked it ok this new food sure is much nicer. June tells me it's supposed to help me walk easier (the vet said I might have something called athritis) and maybe even jump high again. That would be fun. When I was a kitten I sure could jump! One of my favorite things to do was jump to the top of the fridge and sleep there at night because it was so warm and cosy. Besides it was something that my chubby buddy, Gerry, couldn't do and I could tease him about it. At least I used to do that until one night I startled June and Hal when they went into the kitchen one night without tuning on the light and all they saw were my two copper eyes staring at them from my spot on top of the fridge.

You asked if I'm allowed on tables or counters. I must say that I am not supposed to go to those places - but I have been on top of both of those things (ssshhh - don't tell June though. I'm sure she doesn't know). How about you? Are you allowed to explore tables and counters.  

Tricks? What are those? I can roll over when asked to and Gerry used to shake paws with visitors. Are those tricks? So you get treats when you do tricks eh? I must speak with June about that. Mind you, these days I get treats twice a day when she sticks that thing inside my ear.

I like your Valentines Day photo. Do you like wearing that sweater? I've never had one. Did you get special treats on that day?

June's going to leave me again soon. I just know it. She brought that thing called a suitcase upstairs again today and every time she does that she goes away soon after. She hasn't said anything to me yet and likely thinks I haven't noticed. But I know ....

I know what you mean about being bored this winter. I've hardly seen my next door buddies Pod and Uncle O'Ryan (or better known by his nicknames Uncle O or Tripod - because he only has 3 legs) at all since it turned cold. I hope they come back to visit again one day. I also hopeand that you'll have a lot of visitors to make help make the rest of your winter is more fun.

Love & Purrs to you.
Tyler 

 from Tyler, November 4:

Dear Terzo,
          I try to understand people. I really do. But they just keep surprising me all the time. The other day I had a visit from Pod, one of the cats who live next door. He's the nice one, not O'Ryan who can be very bossy sometimes. Pod came over to tell me a long story about some of his problems at home. Apparently now his owner, has not only a dog visit her place sometimes but a noisy little baby too. Both belong to her daughter and I think, personally, she should keep them at her home because they are really stressing out Pod, his uncle O'Ryan and sister Cuddles.
         Because the baby is now walking around a bit the cat food dish has to be moved so this baby can't reach it. Imagine having your food moved! Pod came here to get some sympathy from me. He really had a lot to say and I was willing to listen. But June, who is usually sensitive to these things, just wouldn't leave us alone. I kept trying to tell her that this was a private conversation but she wouldn't listen.
         First I tried to tell her by meowing nicely and so did Pod, then I bunted her to try and get her to go away, and I finally had to use my angry voice. In the end Pod just gave up, walked to the door and left. Why don't people understand us as well as we understand them?

Love, purrs and questions, Tyler

from Tyler, October 7, with Terzo's reply:

Dear Terzo,
          It's been a long time since I've written to you so I have a lot of news this time. You won't likely understand this, being just a youngster, but I've been having some health problems. I am, after all about 12 years old now (we don't know my exact age or birthday, but celebrate it in October which is when Gerry and I came to live here many years ago).
           Anyway, you may know that I had my thyroid removed about a year ago. That was no fun at all. It meant being put into a carrier and taken away with that nasty vet I've mentioned before. June tells me he really is very nice but I don't like him at all. I spent two nights and three days away while they did something called an operation. When that was done I wasn't myself.
           Can you believe they shaved some of my beautiful black fur off around my neck? Luckily it grew back in and so now I'm just as handsome as I was before. But it was quite a shock when I realized what they had done. I had to walk around with my chin down to hide the bald spot so no one would see it for a very long time. I'm sure you can understand how embarrassing it is when a cat doesn't look his very best.
           Apparently there's still something wrong with me and that vet actually came to our house to talk with June a few nights ago. I knew something was up because that night June didn't sit down with me to read the paper like she usually does after we eat. But I certainly didn't realize she had invited him to our place! He didn't come near me though. But then I didn't actually give him a chance. As soon as he come to the door (I recognize the sound of his car you see) I ran away and hid in a dark corner of the basement, so I don't know what they talked about.  
           But June's been doing something really strange to me ever since he was here. Twice a day she pokes something that looks like a stick in my ear and then I feel something sticky on my ear. I don't like that much but she tells me it's for my own good and that soon I'll be feeling better. Since I didn't know I wasn't feeling well I'm not quite sure what she means. But she does give me a special cat treat after each of these pokes so I guess I won't protest too much.
           As if that isn't enough excitement I had two adventures last week. One day Cathy, who is the nice lady who lives next door, came over and she and June put me into the carrier and drove me to someone they called a pet groomer. Have you ever been to one of those? Well let me tell you it was quite a place. In the front part there were all sorts of cat toys and cat treats. Of course I couldn't get at any of them because I was locked in that carrier. But I knew they were there. I didn't try to get at them because I had brought my own toy and June had some of my favorite treats so I was ok. Once we went to the back part a nice lady in a white coat let me sit on a big long table and she cut my toe nails. I've never had that done before but since I was having trouble keeping my nails trimmed lately it did feel good to have them the proper length again.
            Life isn't all bad though. June brought home a new toy a few days ago. It's a blue ball that has sparkly things inside it that move whenever I roll it. I am a grown up cat so of course don't play a whole lot, or at least I pretend I'm not interested. But I like this new ball. Maybe June will take my picture playing with it and then you can see what it looks like.
            I've been able to stay home this week. But I sure am missing the sunshine. It hasn't been here much lately. Do you know where it goes? I do love to curl up on the floor and have the warm sun shine on me while I nap. In fact I think that's what I will do now. It must be at least a couple of hours since my last nap.....

Hi, Tyler,
           I don't mind being handled by the vet, and am always curious about who else is in the building when I'm there (dogs!), but I'm afraid of going outside and in the car, so the trip there and back is always traumatic.
           You poor thing. I had no idea you had an operation (I'm not sure what a "thyroid" is, or how it got into you and then had to be removed), but having any of my fur shaved would be a nightmare! I love to be brushed, but afterwards, when I look in the mirror I see I look very handsome, with no bald patches!
            I also don't mind having my claws clipped. Bobbi does this every so often, and it doesn't hurt at all!  There are special clippers June can buy at the pet store.
            I'm fascinated by the sticks June puts in your ears. Bobbi cleans my ears, but I never get a treat afterwards, and she only does that every couple of weeks.
            Your new toy sounds wonderful. I recently discovered an old toy that used to belong to Tiki. It's a round circle with a ball inside, and I've been playing with it at least once a day ever since she moved it into the bathroom.
            I always get new toys from the Cat Writers' Association after their conference in November. They send Bobbi a bag of "goodies" contributed by sponsors of the conference, and she usually lets me have one thing right away and saves the rest for Christmas.
            Speaking of that, do you like holidays? I see we have Hallowe'en things out now, and look forward to seeing the little children who come to the door. I don't know when Christmas is, but will know it's getting close when she puts decorations around the house.
            Why do humans do that? I have no idea. And as for where the sun goes, I think it goes over the Rainbow Bridge to bring some rays to Gerry, Tiki, and all the other pets who went there.
            Love & purrs, Terzo 

from Tyler, May 20:

              I almost had an adventure the other day. I came awfully close to going out somewhere very exciting. I just know it would have been exciting - if I hadn't been caught first that is.
              One day earlier this week June got dressed up ready to out, and although I'm usually quite happy to stay home with my toys and let her go wherever it is she goes, that day I felt like having a little fun. I could imagine what it would be like. We'd walk down the street together - well I'd be carried, of course - and every now and then I'd pop my head out of the bag to look around at all the amazing sites. Then people walking by would stop and say how handsome I was and maybe even pat me on the head. I guess it was hearing about all those interesting places Benjamin went that inspired me.
              Anyway, when June put a black cloth bag on the cair next to her purse I knew what to do next. I climbed inside and curled up ready to go. After all she couldn't see me, I'm black too and so she'd never know I was there. Besides, why wouldn't she want me with her?
             But she had other ideas. When she picked up the bag she could somehow tell I was inside. I really don't know how, because I'm not a very big cat and I'm really slim and trim. But she shooed me put and then left me alone again.
            She didn't even turn the radio on so I could listen to my favorite CBC programs while she was gone. I will admit that she must have thought of me while she was away though and maybe even felt guilty about leaving me behind because she brought a really neat toy home for me.
            I still haven't had an outside adventure (unless you count visits to that awful doctor who seems to like sticking needles in me and poking me in strange places. I sure don't count those visits as fun!) but I'm sure it will happen one day.
           Maybe you could come and visit one day and we could go out together. I heard our neighbour Cathy say one day that there are wild turkeeys in the park nearby.  What's a park? What's a wild turkey?  Could we play with one?

Hello Terzo,
           I've been listening to the birds too and watching them through the picture window in the dining room. I get quite excited watching them - and sometimes wish I could go out and play. Usually though I'm quite happy staying inside. But lately I've been missing my sunbeam. I do love to nap in the sun.

Today's attention made up for my bad hair day yesterday. For some reason June got up later than usual yesterday even though I tried to get her up even before it was light out. For some reason she didn't pay any attention and when she did get up she changed her routine. I didn't think much of that as I am a pretty orderly cat. So to try and hurry her up I jumped into the bathtub - where she was having a shower.  How was I supposed to know the water sprayed right down to the end of the bathtub where I was? When I stepped into the tub I got an instant shower! I haven't been so embarrassed or haven't moved so quickly since I was a kitten and fell into the sooty fireplace! Needless to say I left the bathroom pretty quickly after meowing at that shower letting it know what I thought of it.

Wishing you love, purrs and dry fur,

Tyler

Dear Terzo,

Have you ever seen a cat wink? Can you wink? 

I can't, but that's what Gerry used to when he was trying to be cute or funny. Gerry also loved company and he never missed a chance to greet visitors, although I'm not sure any of them ever saw him wink. He assumed everyone would love him - and they usully did.

Since he was so popular I usually just stood in the background and was ignored. But that was fine with me then. Now, of course, I am "the" cat in the house and demand all the attention I deserve.

But when Gerry was here,  whenever the doorbell rang he would bound into sight from wherever he happened to be in the house and perch on the little school desk in our front hall. The idea was that whoever walked in the door would see him immediately and he would be suitably adored. If the visitor went to the desk and patted Gerry, he would reward them by kissing their forehead and putting one paw on their cheek (always with retracted claws of course).

Another funny thing I remember is that not long after we came to live here Hal caught Gerry walking down the hall carrying a red plastic glass in his mouth. He walked with the with the open end towards the ground and with each step he took his front paws would go into the glass and he would trip. But he didn't give up! He tried again and again, without any success, to take this glass to his stash of  goodies in the basement! Hal watched this little scene a while before finally taking the glass from him.

What a comedian he was!

Dear Terzo,

I didn't realize I was supposed to date these letters. Why? Cats don't follow calendars or clocks! 

I'm writing because I discovered the most wonderful game last night! So I just  have to tell you about it. 

Yesterday afternoon June did something with paper that she calls shredding. Personally I'd just use my claws to do it and it would have been done faster (humans are such inadequately designed creatures!) but she has this rather noisy little machine to do it for her.

The machine isn't nearly as bad as that big one with the long hose because it does stop often, so I was able to watch the shredding process. When she was done a lot of little bits of paper went into a big paper grocery bag that she stored between a little stool and some shelves in her office, likely to keep it out of my reach.

But she didn't know I was watching and she forgot to put the pile of books back on the stool -  with them there I couldn't get on it. Other things kept me busy (like napping and test eating a leaf on one of June's plants that made me bring up more than a hairball. Fortunately I didn't do that on the diningroom rug but on the basement floor. Considerate of me, I thought) until after June had gone to bed.

Then I had time to investigate and the fun began. I went into her office and climbed up on the stool, leaned over ready to climb into the bag to investigate. But instead I fell into it, knocked the stool over making a loud bang and the bag (with me in it) making a mess of shredded paper all over the place. It really was fun except it woke June up and for some reason she couldn't see why it was such a good game.

She also tells me that, technically, I have been in paper garbage bags before. Apparently when Gerry and I were kittens she and Hal used to bring home groceries in those kinds of bags and we would play in them. But I only remember plastic ones which she won't let me near. I have plans to find that grocery bag and shredded paper again when she's not paying attention. Too bad you can't come and play too. But maybe Bobbi also has one of those bags. Have a look around the house. You never know.......

It's time for another nap. So until the next time.

Love, purrs and wishing you paper bag games, Tyler

Dear Terzo,

I have had quite a day today. I need a sympathetic ear and I just know you'll understand. 

It began at 8 a.m. when an electrician came to fix an overhead light in June's office. That was exciting. I got to go into the office and offer suggestions. He even had a black case (my very favorite colour) filled with neat things I got to examine. But he didn't stay too long.

Next the cleaning lady came. She's okay even if she does make a racket with that big machine with the long hose she carts around the house. You see she really does like cats and lets me ride around on the mop when she dusts the floor with it and sometimes even gives me cat treats.

After she leaves I usually curl up in the sun for a nap - after all mop sitting is tiring. But you'll never guess what happened today - there was no napping for me.

Some men drove up the driveway and came into the house with a really big machine and a hose. They rolled down a carpet right through my kitchen, dangerously near my food dishes, and down the basement stairs. Then they rolled their big machine downstairs too.

All this time June was assuring me that it was ok and they'd be done soon. I should have known better. 

They were here a very long time and that machine made a perfectly dreadful noise. June said they were cleaning something called ducts and that those ducts were likely filled with lots of cat hair.

"So what's the problem?" I asked myself. But for some reason she wanted them cleaned. After an hour passed I had had quite enough and decided it was time for action - so I deposited a good old hairball right on their fancy carpet. For some reason June wasn't pleased with that.

I just don't understand humans. Do you?

Now I am going for a long nap even if the sun has gone from my favorite spot.

Tyler

Gerry, whose real name was Jeremy, acted like a big fuzzy orange clown the whole time I knew him. Since we were found in an abandoned house by a cat rescue lady named Karen when we were just kittens, I don't ever remember not knowing him. Not long after June and Hal adopted us they realized that Gerry would snitch anything not tied down - from toothbrushes to screw drivers (yes he tried to carry one of those off to his basement hiding place once).

The first thing they missed was the plug for the bathtub. As far as I know they never did find it. Fortunately they did have a spare although I really don't understand human's need to have baths and showers. We cats, with our ability to lick ourselves clean, are made in such a superior way.

Ger was never quite sure he was a cat. He didn't lie down on his tummy like other cats. He preferred to lie on his back, and his tail never ever stopped wagging except when he was lying on it. He used to love to have his fur combed. I can identify with that, but I'm not so sure about the rest of the routine that went with his grooming.

This was a private ritual with Hal and  Gerry. But I did get to watch if I was quiet (that's a hard thing for me to do as I do love to talk!). This first time I saw this, I was amazed as Gerry walked on two legs over to Hal's workbench in the basement, picked up 'his' comb with his teeth and, still on his back legs, walked back to Hal and dropped the comb at his feet. As far as I know once he discovered how to do this he did it every day until he got sick.