Minna & beyond...

Minna is enjoying the night view

2010-12-05T08:55:00.001-08:00

Underbed Storage

2010-12-05T08:52:00.000-08:00

Minna: Hi little mouse, want to know something really scary?

Minna: Mittens opened the underbed storage the other day and I wanted to hide in there. Mittens didn't know I was in there and closed the storage.

Minna: Luckily she heard me right away and let me out, but I won't get near the storage anymore.

When Mittens is Away

2010-12-05T08:24:00.000-08:00

Minna: Mittens got a new 17 in laptop with Blu-ray DVD & High-Def Display .

Minna: Wonder how I know, I use it to watch my cat video from Amazon.com.

Mittens Went Shopping

2010-12-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

Minna: Mittens went shopping again, I got the shopping bag as usual, but can you guess what she bought?

Minna: Do you think it's a block of wood?

Minna: It's actually a digital clock with sound control.

Look at all the gifts I received

2010-11-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

Can I go to San Francisco with you?

2010-11-09T03:29:00.000-08:00

Mittens: Minna, I am going to San Francisco for five days and my dad will come visit you everyday while I am gone.

Minna: Can I go as well? I am very comfortable in the luggage.

Minna's Drinking Fountain

2010-10-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

Minna's Field Trip

2010-10-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

Minna: I'm ready!

Minna: Am I on the Star Ferry?

Minna: This is Victoria Harbour.

Minna: Is this a big boat?

Mittens: Minna, Do you like you field trip?

Minna's new companion

2010-10-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

Mittens: Minna, you don't like new kitties in the bedroom?

Quality Time

2010-09-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

Mittens: Minna, do you want to spend some quality time together?

Minna: You go shopping, I'm busy.

What's going on?

2010-09-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

Mittens: Don't worry Minna, it's only the doorbell...

Moon Festival

2010-09-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

Minna: Are these mooncakes for Moon Festival?

Minna: I like the bag better.

Royal Canin Dental

2010-08-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Since Minna doesn't allow me to brush her teeth and tartar is a concern for her, the vet recommends Royal Canin for feline, she now has 80/20 mix of Orijen and Royal Canin Dental.

Minna: I think Royal Canin is tastier than Orijen, but Mittens thinks Orijen is better for me.

Minna likes Japanese Sheba

2010-08-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

I bought this Sheba cat food from Japanese department store, the box contains 12 tiny packages of dried food and costs about $10USD, I think it's very expensive but Minna really likes it.

Walking Minna

2010-08-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

I tried to take Minna to the podium garden in our apartment complex during the day many times, but she just didn't want to stay and walked right back to the lobby of our building (There are ten buildings and she knew which one she lives in). When I took her out at night and she was having such a good time and didn't want to go home, we now go to the garden about three times a week.

Minna: Yummy!

Minna: What's under the bridge?

Minna: This is my domain, I have to leave my scent here.

My New Summer Look

2010-08-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

Can you see me?

2010-08-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

Summer Heat Tips

2010-08-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

We have been experiencing very hot weather this summer, and I tried different ways to help Minna beating the heat:

Turn on the air-conditioner all day - It didn't work because it dried out her delicate skin and she got sinus infection due to her nasal allergy, I almost went bankrupt with the electricity bill and vet payment.
Bought her a tower fan - Not cool enough and she doesn't like the strong wind.

Bought her an aluminum pet cooling pad - She simply won't sit on it.

Bought her a Japanese straw mat to put on the mattress - She thinks straw is not good enough for her.

While researching air-purifier for Minna, I came across 3M Filtrete air cleaning filter. Instead of buying an air purifier, I can just attach 3M filter on top of the filter from my air-conditioner. I now turn the air-conditioning on during the day, and use the fan function at night with windows opened for fresh air. The filter on the left is brand new, and the one on the right is used for two weeks. BTW, I bought the filter at department store, I do not have any affiliations with 3M except I think their Command hooks are genius.

Shredded Nori

2010-07-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

I always knew Minna likes bonito flakes, but had no idea she likes shredded nori (dried seaweed). She went all crazy when she saw the nori on top of my Japanese take out. I bought her a bag so she can have a little everyday.

Nine Lives The Cat Hospital in Hong Kong

2010-07-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

Minna had her annual checkup and teeth cleaning at Nine Lives The Cat Hospital in Hong Kong couple weeks ago.

She didn't mind to stay in her new carrier, which is a good start.

Minna was watching the pouring rain outside.

Minna checked out the construction while waiting for the vet.

Minna Likes Pu-erh Tea

2010-06-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

I was very surprise to find Minna drinking my pu-erh tea one morning because of its earthy favor, may be she can try jasmine tea next time.

Kitty Grass

2010-06-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

I had been buy ready to eat kitty grass for Minna until I found this growing kit, it includes two packs of seeds, two blocks of condensed soil, and a container.

Minna: I am busy, yum...

Morning nap

2010-05-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

Minna thinks the bathroom is the best place for her morning nap.

Minna's perfect figure

2010-05-21T05:47:00.000-07:00

Minna: What are you doing with the camera?

Mittens: Just want to show your furry friends why the vet wanted you to lose weight.

Minna: But I think I am just perfect.

Instant Weight Loss

2010-05-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Minna: My vet wanted me to lose two pounds...

Minna: I think I already lost some weight after my grooming session.

Pinkish Minna

2010-05-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

Minna: Mittens likes to buy everything in pink.

Minna: I hope she won't go insane and dye my fur pink someday...

Pet Greens Treats

2010-05-02T01:04:00.000-07:00

Minna: I like smelly treats.

Minna: It tastes good too!

Minna: But I think I look cuter than the cat on the package.

Sinu-Rite Update

2010-04-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

Minna got better after taking Sinu-Rite, but it lasted only for a week. She might need to go back to the vet again. But it's a relieve that I don't see her breathing with her mouth, which means she probably doesn't have asthma.

Lotus Chicken Recipe for Cats

2010-04-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

Minna has been enjoying her Lotus chicken recipe for cats, it made with fresh chicken but not grain-free, but I am glad that Minna likes it.

PetAlive Sinu-Rite

2010-04-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

Last week, Minna finished the antibiotics from the vet and whole bottle of Respo-K, she felt great for one week and she started sneezing again. I didn't think Respo-K really helped in her case.

I decided to try Sinu-Rite for her sinus infection and AmazPet for her asthma. I figured Respo-K only works for minor cold without infection. Distributor in Hong Kong does not carry Sinu-Rite and AmazaPet, so my friend sent them to me from San Francisco. After three tablets of Sinu-Rite today(one tablet five times daily), Minna actually stopped sneezing, I am not sure it actually worked within one day or just coincident. I'll definitely have another update about Sinu-Rite and AmazPet.

Minna's new cat food

2010-04-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Timberwolf Serengeti Herbal Field Diet is another high quality grain-free cat food. It is called herbal field diet because it has grounded cinnamon, fennel, rosemary, & basil to simulate natural diet of a wild cat. Minna is not crazy it probably because it smells different from Orijen, I hope she will like it eventually.

Minna's favorite show

2010-04-08T08:58:00.001-07:00

Minna: My favorite show is on?

Minna: Yeah! This is my favorite.

Mittens: Minna's favorite is Windows mystify screen saver, I connected my netbook to the TV.

Minna: I like netbook.

2010-03-31T22:39:00.000-07:00

Seems like Baytril is working for Minna as she stopped coughing yesterday, I hope her sneezing and stuffy nose will be gone once she finished the treatment. I also hope Sweet Praline has a quick recovery from her surgery.

Minna gets free lunch

2010-03-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

I checked with at least five Orijen retailers in Hong Kong and they all told me Orijen cat food is out of stock for the month of March as they simply couldn't replenish from distributor. I decided to switch brand and staff at Dog One Life was very nice and gave me several bags of Lotus Cat Food sample, will write review after Minna tried them all.

Helping other Himalayan cats and kittens

2010-03-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

I just read about 22 Abandoned Himalayan Cats & Kittens Need Help from Goma's blog and made a small donation to Hal's Haven on Minna's behalf. I hope anyone reading this blog can make a donation and help these kitties also. Thank you so much.

More about Minna's vet visit

2010-03-29T03:32:00.001-07:00

Besides her respiratory problems, the vet also found couple of minor issues from her x-ray. The vet saw four tiny objects in her intestine and he suspected those were staples; however, I didn't even have stapler and staples at home. I went through the apartment last night and couldn't find anything that looked remotely close to a loose staple, the vet said those things should pass through her system in three days or another vet visit for her. The vet also suggested her to lose two pounds, he said eight pounds is optimal for her.

Another Vet Visit

2010-03-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

We just got back from vet because Minna was coughing badly this weekend. The vet said she has upper respiratory infection. The vet asked me if she had Feline Herpes Virus as a kitten but I didn't know since she was adopted. The vet took an x-ray of her lungs and told me it could be either asthma or simply lower respiratory infection but hard to tell at this point.

I just wonder what else I need to do so her respiratory symptoms will go away and she can be a healthy kitty, she already has premium high protein cat food, fresh filtered water, ventilated apartment, and clean litter box at all time, not to mention regular grooming sessions and vet visit...

Homeopathic remedy for Minna

2010-03-24T03:06:00.000-07:00

I had been worrying about Minna's recurrent colds for couple months now, she already had several treatments of antibiotics from the vet so I started to look for homeopathic remedy for her...Minna has been taking one tablet of Respo-K four times daily for two weeks and she seems to get better; however, I am not sure if it has to do with the warm weather lately or Respo-K is working, I should write a follow-up after she finishes the bottle.

Indonesian layered rice cake

2010-03-18T20:12:00.000-07:00

Mittens: This is Indonesian layered rice cake I made from the baking class, it has nine layers!Minna: It smells nice...
Minna: I like sweets.

I have your remote

2010-03-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

Minna: Your remote control is under my captivity, give me bonito flakes or you will never see your remote again.

My New Favorite

2010-03-03T07:17:00.000-08:00

Minna: This measurement tape is my new favorite toy.

Warm & Humid

2010-03-03T07:10:00.000-08:00

Minna: I'm not sleeping with you, floor is much better when the weather is warm and humid.

Is this for me?

2010-02-27T22:30:00.000-08:00

Minna: Is this for me?

Minna: What is this? It has a tail...

Minna: Oh, it's a mobile phone holder...

Rub my tummy

2010-02-22T04:34:00.000-08:00

Mittens: Are you trying to do sit-up?
Minna: No, I'm waiting for you to rub my tummy!

Cold Winter

2010-02-16T20:46:00.000-08:00

Minna: Just like many places, winter here is colder than usual this year.

Minna: So Mittens bought me this mini oil heater, it's only 11"x15".Minna: I just spent all day hiding under the comforter.

Kung Hei Fat Choy

2010-02-14T19:44:00.000-08:00

Since Chinese New Year coincides with Valentine's Day this year, I want to post some sexy kitty pictures here.

Kitty Phone

2010-02-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

Minna: Can I have a kitty-friendly phone?

Grocery Bag

2010-02-06T07:24:00.000-08:00

Minna: I see you have a Hello Kitty grocery bag.
Minna: Let me see how it taste.

Minna: It doesn't taste as good as I thought...

Cat Bed

2010-02-06T07:11:00.000-08:00

I wonder how other people choose accessories for their pets, Minna likes to sleep on the $1.50 travel ironing pad rather than the $15 cat bed.

Minna's Update

2010-02-01T21:31:00.001-08:00

Stitches on Minna's right leg were removed last Friday and Dr. Adam West said her wound healed up very well even though she spitted most of her medicine out. Should have posted this update sooner but I got sick right after her vet visit (interesting timing). Anyway, Minna should be very glad that she doesn't need to visit her vet until her next vaccination.

Can you see Minna?

2010-01-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

Minna: I want to play.
Minna: Let's play hide and seek.

Minna: No one can find me here, I can't even see myself.

Neko chigura

2010-01-26T01:22:00.000-08:00

(Image from Wiki Japan)
Minna and I watched Japanese TV show PochiTama last May and wrote about the Japanese cat house, it is called neko chigura and Modern Cat had a post about it several weeks ago (Neko Chigura: Traditional Japanese Cat Bed). According to Modern Cat, a similar pet basket is available from Design Within Reach (Woven Pet Basket Available in the US).

Little Pink Riding Hood

2010-01-26T01:09:00.000-08:00

Afternoon nap

2010-01-23T04:36:00.000-08:00

I saw Minna was sleeping with her eyes open when I got home yesterday.

How we communicate...

2010-01-23T04:23:00.000-08:00

Minna: It's feeding time.
Minna: Keep hand-feeding me when I lift my paw.

Minna: You can stop when I look the other way.

Minna is doing fine

2010-01-20T07:28:00.000-08:00

I had been taking a break updating this blog because I wanted to think of something new to write about, such as how Minna and I communicate...
Anyway, Minna just had a surgery on Tuesday at SPCA Hong Kong, the tip of her dewclaw was infected again (I forgot to ask Dr. West why she got infected in the first place, I was way too stressed out). The picture was taken in the afternoon after the surgery, she looked very crankly because I was too slow hand feeding her. Too much food or water right after surgery might induce vomiting. The bandage will be removed two days after the surgery, she needs to wear buster collar & take antibotics for a week, and appointment is already scheduled on the 29th to remove stitches.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-23T22:40:00.000-08:00

Satsumas

2009-11-12T03:49:00.000-08:00

Minna always inspects my fruits but she particularly like satsumas from Japan.

Minna's Dreamy Treat

2009-11-10T06:49:00.000-08:00

New Treat

2009-11-09T07:14:00.000-08:00

I bought a small bag of Wysong Daily Dream Chicken Treats for Minna to try, she loved it so much that she followed me around asking for more.

Floofy Tail

2009-11-07T06:40:00.000-08:00

Minna's tail is almost as big as her body in this picture.

Cute pic of Minna

2009-11-05T06:18:00.000-08:00

No more sleeping on windowsill

2009-10-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

Minna was sneezing in the morning so I took her to the vet this evening just to make sure she is fully recovered from sinus infection.

The vet said it's just a minor cold but she cannot sleeps on the windsill anymore because that's probably the reason she caught the cold.

Minna's Favorite Da Bird Toy

2009-10-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

Minna is recovered

2009-10-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

Minna finally finished all her medication and got out from her hiding place.
But she gained some weight since she didn't move around much.

Diet???

Minna is hiding

2009-10-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

Minna: I am not coming out, I don't like those yellow pills...

Vet Visit

2009-10-07T20:30:00.000-07:00

Minna started coughing & sneezing yellow discharge from her nose while Miss Law was blow drying Minna after her bath on Monday, I took her to vet office that night. Vet said Minna has sinus infection, minor infection at her dewclaw (I was never able to take a good look until Miss Law was here to help holding her.) and she also needs her teeth cleaned. I brought her back for teeth cleaning on Tuesday.

Minna is fine now but it's a struggle everytime I give her medication, she is so upset that she doesn't want to look at me.

Minna is all wet

2009-10-07T20:18:00.000-07:00

Miss Law was here again on Monday to bathe and groom Minna.

Minna: I don't like water, let me go!

Minna: I still don't like water...

New Digs

2009-10-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

Peeking Out

2009-10-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

Lazy Sunday

2009-09-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

Minna's new home

2009-09-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

We moved on Thursday and Minna is getting used to her new home already, she is enjoying the city view.

Packing Time

2009-09-12T21:09:00.000-07:00

We are moving to another apartment next week, Minna is busy supervising my packing.

Minna is checking out the new window curtains.

Minna is making sure the wardrobe box is big enough.

More now and then

2009-09-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

Then and now

2009-09-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

September 2009

October 2008

Minna has been living with me for almost a year, Minna looks so different now.

Maneki Neko

2009-09-06T03:55:00.001-07:00

Minna is still in protest against the waterless foam bath she had this morning by hiding under the sofa. I think she looks like the Japanese fortune cat with her paw up.

Minna can read

2009-09-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

Seems like Minna can read just by laying on top of a book.

And she does that everytime I finished reading.

A male tortoiseshell???

2009-08-29T07:37:00.001-07:00

A male tortoiseshell was born in England according to Daily Mail!! Tortoiseshell kitties are usually female because it takes two X chromosomes to have different color.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1209167/Eddie-male-tortoiseshell-kitten-Britains-rarest-cat.html

Minna: What is a chromosome?

Etiquette

2009-08-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

Mittens: Minna, don't you want to sit like a lady?

Minna: I'm always a lady.

Thinking Spot

2009-08-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

I was trying to figure out why Minna likes to face against a plain wall, it has to be her thinking spot.

Minna loves plastic

2009-08-28T00:44:00.000-07:00

Summer Sunset

2009-08-23T04:13:00.000-07:00

Minna didn't enjoy the beautiful sunset yesterday, she spent most of her time in her carrier.

Sunbath

2009-08-21T01:20:00.000-07:00

Minna was enjoying the sun yesterday when I got home.

World’s Best Cat Litter™ $4.00 Savings

2009-08-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

While I was checking out cat litter for Minna in Hong Kong couple months ago, I noticed the packaging for World’s Best Cat Litter™ was very different from US and thought different formula was being used overseas but it turned out they are launching new logo, packaging, product names and website.

http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/preview/

They also offer $4.00 savings on next purchase of World’s Best Cat Litter™. Just click http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/blogsavings/ to redeem $4.00 savings starting on August 19 and ending on August 29.

Pillow Minna

2009-08-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

Deep in Thought

2009-08-12T22:44:00.000-07:00

Not sure Minna is sleeping with her eyes open or very deep in thought this morning.

Minna watching TV

2009-08-08T18:16:00.001-07:00

I played the Cat Sitter DVD last night.
The first time Minna paid attention to the TV.

Minna: I want to catch the birdie.

Da Bird Again

2009-08-08T02:05:00.000-07:00

Mittens: Minna, I bought you something today.

Mittens: Look at all Da Bird toys and DVD from the warehouse sale, only cost $30 USD.

Minna: Birdie catching

Minna: Birdie chewing

Typhoon

2009-08-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

Typhoon signal No. 8 is just issued about an hour ago. Signal No. 8 stands for gale or storm force winds.

Storm Goni? Funny name...

Short hair Minna

2009-07-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

Minna: What did you do to my fur?
Minna: Don't stare at me, that's not polite.

Mittens: I can tell you love your new style.

The Queen of fruits

2009-07-17T20:08:00.000-07:00

Minna and the "Queen" of fruits - mangosteen.

The Very Hot Weather Warning is in force today

2009-07-16T02:46:00.000-07:00

I always have the air-conditioning on for Minna and this is what she has been doing lately.

Minna, where are you hiding?

2009-07-16T02:43:00.000-07:00

Power of FURminator

2009-07-16T02:32:00.000-07:00

Minna gets combed with pin brush twice a day but I can still remove so much fur with FURminator, guess she needs another groom very soon.

Minna's Tummy

2009-07-09T19:46:00.001-07:00

I was in denial that Minna didn't gain any weight until I see her tummy. I always thought it's just her fur...

Minna: I'm not showing you my tum tum anymore.

Guess what Minna is staring at...

2009-07-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

My new foam hair rollers! She thinks these are her new toys.

Shopping in Hong Kong

2009-07-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

I bought this wok the other day for approx. $70 USD during sale, it costs about twice as much on Amazon.com.

Minna: I love the plastic bag that comes with it.

International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong

2009-07-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

The building behind Minna is ICC, it will become Hong Kong's tallest building and third highest roof in the world upon completion.

I'm waiting for my belly rub

2009-07-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

Fluffy pillow

2009-07-01T06:52:00.001-07:00