PSC is Closed Today ...

Thank you all for the kind heartfelt condolences ... it looks like we've all been here at some point in our lives and it's never easy.

I appreciate all the suggestions about finding a replacement, especially from a shelter. Anyone else in our shoes should hear that advice and take it under consideration. But aside from the fact that Sox could never be replaced -- they're all so unique -- anyone who knows us well could rightfully call us "those crazy cat people down the street."

Inside we still have Sox's brother Martin (the 26-pound co-Mascot on the website), Mini Mew (Billy's Russian Blue who's been with him since 1999), and Poof and her daughter Sheba (co-stars in the video below) so there's plenty of catness to love. Hard to believe this was just a few weeks ago on Christmas Day ... he deteriorated so quickly. You can see the swollen knees, wobbliness and difficulty walking straight.

[ame="http://youtu.be/gJMhI1lKoq8"]http://youtu.be/gJMhI1lKoq8[/ame]

But outside is a different story. With 5 1/2 acres outside of town, it's not unusual that they get dumped off or just show up from meow o'mouth from their friends. Although I'm proud to love cats, I'm more than a little embarrassed to show this photo Billy took a few evenings ago (kindly also excuse my obvious bad habit) ...

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I'm also not pulling your lariat when I tell you that this past fall, he and I constructed Greenfield's only cathouse [that I know of :-D] mostly out of leftovers from the shop tornado rebuild. This isn't just some plastic shelter made out of a Rubbermaid container either ... it's particle board, three storeys tall, wired, fully insulated, seven feet tall, six feet deep and four feet wide sitting on casters. Judging by how much fun we had rolling it from the shop after construction to its final location near the house, it's probably between five and six hundred pounds.

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Lower level ... yes, that's an electric blanket. They're spoiled rotten.

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Second floor (not shown is the dual pane Plexiglas window in the door) ...

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and the Penthouse Suite that now has black light bulbs for heat ...

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It's piled high with pads and blankets throughout. They all disappear and stay quiet after supper and I don't see them til the next morning so I'd have to guess they all love it.

Yes, I already agree that it's totally extreme. We also know that cats have successfully survived outside for millions of winters without human influence. But last winter one of the favorite loners froze to death in the field and we decided that wouldn't happen again if we could help it.

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As a memorial of sorts, Sox had a few FABO appearances over the years. I think he first hit his 15 minutes of fame wearing out Mullinax's girlfriend ...

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showpost.php?p=1203478&postcount=101

but this was a big favorite too.

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RIP my dear friend. Even with all the pussy galore (as Billy tastelessly calls it lol), you'll be sadly missed.