he does have a definite personality // attitude -- I've had Siamese, or Siamese mixes, or Balinese, since I was a small child, and this "standard orange tabby" definitely has some of that in his background -- yet, every cat IS different, I enjoy getting to know them -- as I sit here at the computer, he's quite happy to have me rub and scritch his ears while he sprawls at my feet -- so all of you are right, it's MY anxiety and nervousness that's affecting him beyond what he feels otherwise -- but nobody else is going to do it, it's my kuleana (Hawaiian for responsibility, stewardship, care) --
I appreciate the support and encouragement, it's a godsend -- I basically dropped everything else I was doing other than going to the food banks to collect food for the family -- so for those of you playing Farm Town on Facebook, this is where I am -- the rest of the cousins are laying low and letting me have the computer 24/7
I used too much Neosporin first times I tried and it contaminated the blood sample, I now put it on AFTER I get one; the idea of gloves is a good one, I was thinking of that today on the way back from shopping, my son is a shade-tree mechanic at times, will see if he's got something that might work for my much smaller hands; usually I'd be about ready to clip (blunt) front claws, which I normally do when I notice them getting sharp, but I've messed with him enough lately, better to let that slide for awhile
no impervious surface up here in the loft, but that made me think -- possibly on the closed lid of the commode (it's adjacent to a wall), possibly on a towel laid over a midsized unmounted whiteboard, one I used to keep track of what was going on in the game, or back to the floor which is indoor/outdoor carpet
some cats quiet down when wrapped, will have to try it with him when I am *not* trying to do anything to him, for him, or make him do anything
I'm breathing, I'm breathing, I'm trying to listen to that internal posthypnotic voice that says "you can do it" -- smart counselor trying to get me calm enough to endure blood sampling on ME ... thank goodness for Ativan/lorazepam and its induced amnesia
I feel hugged, here are hugs back






