Emma & Gracie

I love all my doggie and kitty clients, but Emma & Gracie have a special place in my heart. They were my first two regular sitting clients and their mom is a friend, so I kinda feel more like the aunt that comes in to spoil them than their pet sitter. :-)

This is Gracie, the Beagle. I adore Beagles. I don't know what it is about them, but they are just so flipping cute. And Gracie is definitely no exception. She is a bit neurotic, but come on, who among us isn't?

This is Gracie's sister, Emma. She is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. She definitely loves her rawhide bones, and here she is eying Gracie while keeping a protective paw on her new one. You can tell it's a new one because it's still in one piece. She makes quick work of those things.

Kinda dark, but this is one of my favorite pictures of the girls. They were in the window watching me leave. Made me feel kinda bad, leaving them like that. But, I had others to take care of, and they kept each other company until I returned for my next visit. They're really great girls and we have a lot of fun.

Cats and Stuff

Well, time has flown by and April is almost here. Spring is in...well...full spring I guess...but you wouldn't know it from the weather around here. It's cold and a bit of snow is falling here and there in Critter Sitter Land. So, I'm going to add some sunshine to this otherwise gray and dreary day.

Today, I'm going to share some photos of my own resident cats. Don't get me wrong, I adore dogs as well and I like to say I get my dog fix through the pet sitting. I just don't have the space for a dog here, and the cats weren't actually brought in by choice. They just started showing up. I think there's a large neon sign on top of my house proclaiming that a sucker lives here and constantly gives out free food.

I do have a personal blog where I often talk about my cats, among other things. It is called Rambling Thoughts and Thoughtful Ramblings. Stop in and check it out if you'd like.

These two are the latest additions to my group. This is an older picture, they're still kittens here (are about a year and 9 months now). Hope is the one eating and the other is Google, her brother. Now, before you get any ideas, he was actually named because of his eyes. He has such big googly eyes. I tried to find indoor homes for them, but to no avail. I would still love to find one. They really deserve to be inside kitties, and I think they would transition over to that just fine. (I already have 4 inside.) But for now, they are outside and enjoying it immensely.

This is Tango. He's about 6 years old now. He used to belong to my neighbor, but one day just decided to stay over here instead. I have a great neighbor, and I'm really glad he didn't get upset about that. Tango's a good kid and I adore him. Always have. He has a great personality.

This is Muffin. She just showed up one day about three years ago and never left. I always said I wouldn't have an outside cat, then she came along. We think she's about 5 or so now. She was spayed already, so had a home at some point, but for some reason decided life was better here. That summer, she followed me all around the yard when I'd pick blackberries. She likes to make you think she's not a big fan of Google or Hope, but then you catch her playing with them in the yard. She's turning into a great little auntie for them.

That's just a few of our crowd. Kittens have shown up at my door, helped along I'm sure by people who know my reputation for taking care of them. One feral cat has been here for about as long as Muffin and still won't let me touch her...or him. But, I am able to get closer now, so there is hope. I've taken cats to the local shelter where they've gone on to good homes, and my husband and I have had the wonderful experience of bottle-raising a litter of six, which is where our four indoor kitties came from.

I love cats and dogs....animals of all kinds actually. We get the occasional raccoon and opossum on the porch at night, grabbing whatever tidbits the cats happen to leave behind. I've taken care of all kinds of animals ranging from the usual cats and dogs to horses and roosters. And one thing I've noticed, they all have their own personalities and they're all unique.

I have to say, I love my job. ~Susan

Another Rosie

Putting the spotlight on another Rosie I recently sat for. This one is a sweet little kitty. She's 15-years-old and still frisky. She was a bit wary of me the first time I came to visit, but after that started following me around and watching me closely. Maybe she was just guarding her house.

This is where I found Rosie on my first visit, curled up on the couch.

After that initial visit, Rosie hung out with me a bit. This is her on the banister watching me as I headed downstairs to clean out her litter box.

I always get nervous when a cat jumps up on a railing or stair banister, but I know that's just my own fear of heights talking. They know what they're doing and have great balance.

I hope you and all your furry or feathered friends have a great holiday. May the new year bring us all peace, love and lots of joy.

Buddha and Rosie

What a busy summer we had. Some of the clients we added to our roster were summer visitors to the mountains, and we're hoping to see all of them again next year.

Here are two such visitors; Buddha and Rosie.

Couldn't get them to look at the camera, but I like this picture because I think

Buddha's white feet are so cute.

And check out Rosie's sweater. Her "grandma" makes them for her.

Buddha is a handsome boy, and he knows it.

Buddha sharing a kiss with his "sister."

Sometimes they even snuggle together on the doggie bed.

And sometimes they don't. (Check out the laser eyes. And you thought only cats had those.)

Buddha gave me lots of kisses, and Rosie likes to be carried around when we'd go outside. They're both such good dogs, and I really hope I get to see them again next summer.

Still Here

Well, Tri-County Critter Sitters is still here, albeit we're feeling a bit beat up lately. Besides family members who have been besieged with various medical issues of late, we also lost one of the adorable kittens we have been raising.

Yahoo was a true beauty, and we were really looking forward to seeing the gloriously beautiful adult cat we could tell he was going to become. But it wasn't meant to be. He went to the Rainbow Bridge on March 1st, and we're still heartbroken about it. He will forever be missed.

Even as we continue to mourn Yahoo, we continue to push forward in our efforts to spread the idea of adopting from your local animal shelter. June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month, and as we always do, if you adopt a cat from your local animal shelter this month, we will give you 5% off your first booking. That's on top of the 5% you get if you're a first time client, and other first time client discounts we will discuss at your initial consultation.

And as always, in the famous words of Bob Barker, we ask that you help control the pet population...have your pets spayed or neutered.

Three Kitties Looking For Homes

These three cuties have been with us since the end of August, when they just "appeared" out of no where. (I'm sure they had some help in that department.) We think they were around 2 months old then, so would be about 8 months old now.

This is Hope. We were hoping she was a boy, and are now hoping for a safe & warm indoor home for her. Hence the name. She really hates walking through the snow, but insists on following when I go outside in it. She isn't much for being held right now, but loves to be petted and sits next to you for attention. She has been spayed and is up-to-date on her shots.

This is Google, Hope's brother. He is also looking for a warm indoor home. He looks like he's winking here because he had a mild eye infection. A few days of an antibiotic ointment and he's good as new. He will put up with being held for a few minutes, but much prefers to sit next to you and be loved. Google is neutered and up-to-date on his shots.

And this little beauty is the other brother, Yahoo. He is different from his siblings in that he loves to be held. This is the most loving little guy. He even will ride on your shoulder, which he did a lot when it snowed, and he wanted to be with me in the yard. He is also neutered, up-to-date on his shots and looking for a warm indoor home.

I'd love it if these three could stay together, but I also know that's near impossible. I will be satisfied when they find good furever homes where they can be loved and give love in return. They are very loving little kittens and are available for adoption for a small donation to Mitchell County Animal Rescue here in Spruce Pine. (They helped get the boys neutered and even gave food when it was needed.)

I would keep these guys myself, but already have 4 indoor kitties of my own. There just isn't enough room. I am doing the best I can with them, making sure they have lots of human contact, plenty of food, good shelter. I was afraid at first that I wouldn't be able to prepare them to be good pets for someone. I knew I had done good when each one of them, at different times, looked up at me, then bumped their forehead to mine. That means a lot coming from a cat.

Drop an email (tccrittersitters@gmail.com) or give us a call (828-467-2207), and we can set up a time for you to meet these guys. They will win your heart, if they haven't already.

Chamber of Commerce Membership

Well, so much time has passed. We still have those three adorable kittens in residence here, and are still looking for good homes for them. I will post pictures and info on them later.

As of last week, Tri-County Critter Sitters is now a member of the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce, and we are listed in their directory. I know this will help us get out there and spread the love to as many pets as we possibly can.

That's the news for now. Take care of yourself, and your pets. And as Bob Barker always said: "Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered."