Plot Monkeys

I’m at the end of writing a book and really pushing to get it done, so I thought I’d share something short and funny today. Going off the title of this post, you all were probably expecting before and after photos of ME. When I started my diet this past summer, I did promise to post before and after photos, and while I’m holding strong at having lost 45 pounds, I still have about 25 more to go. Unfortunately, the month of December was my downfall — strict dieting went by the wayside, and I haven’t gotten back on track again . . . yet. That’s going to happen after this book is done. BUT, I have managed to keep the weight OFF, so that’s a plus!

So, what is today’s before and after pictures all about? Well, I recently took our 10 year old cat Portia for a fur-cut. She’s a Persian mix, and because she has long hair it gets matted very easily. And she sheds like crazy, which is a pain because she’s strictly an indoor cat. Because she does shed so badly, my kids try not to pet her because it results in HUGE furballs that end up everywhere, LOL! Oh, and to make matters worse, Portia is very “chunky” (aka FAT), and being so big it’s hard for her to clean all that fur . . . and other private areas that have a whole lot of fur. So, hence the fur-cut.

As you’ll see by the “before” photo, she’s a very grumpy cat. She always seems to be frowning, and I’m certain I know why . . . the OTHER cat and dog (Zoey and Sandie) that rule our house. You see, Portia was an only cat until about 5 years ago when we found both Sandie and Zoey as strays (a kitten and a puppy) and took them in and gave them a home. With two new animals in the house, Portia was NOT happy about that. Oh, Zoey and Sandie have really tried to make nice with Portia, but she’s not having any of it. She still snarls and growls at Sandie when she happens to walk by Portia, and Zoey will get a few paw-swats if she gets too close. As a result, Sandie and Zoey have bonded over the years and are playful and very close. Oh, and when I’m not looking, they like to TERRORIZE Portia (teasing her, chasing her, etc.).

Anyway, I digress. I took Portia in to the groomers and asked for a “lion cut”, and he shaved her down everywhere, except her tail and head. Portia was completely pissed off about that . . . until she realized that once she came back home (and we all had a good laugh about her new look!) everyone was petting her, and loving on her, and she LIKED it. Without all that fur her pelt now feels like velvet, and we all love how she feels — so petting her is a joy.

Sandie, and especially Zoey, were surprised at Portia’s new look (they had to sniff her and make sure it was really HER), and then afterward I would have sworn that THEY were laughing at her. Luckily for Zoey she’s a short hair, or she’d be getting shaved down, too.

So, does anyone else out there have a long haired cat that they shave, too? Or am I the only one who humiliates my cat this way?