Do I wake or sleep?

Tibbles 'n' Bits went to the new vet today for the first time. I really like this vet--although they are NOT cheap (~$15 more expensive per visit than the place in Inwood), they are very respectful of money issues and did not pressure me to vaccinate either of the babies (especially since they're both indoor kittehs). The assistant was cooing over how handsome Tibby was and he acted a little better than he did at the place in Inwood. He still seemed nervous but didn't try to hide quite so much--although at one point I was standing next to the examination table and he pushed his head into the crook of my arm to hide his face and not see the doctor. Meanwhile his enormous fuzzy body was still in view! It was pretty adorable.

The trip there was kind of stressful. Tibby HATES the carrier, no matter how luxurious it is (I have two and the bigger one is The Gold Standard, very comfortable) and started howling immediately. I made my mortified way down to the lobby and onto the sidewalk, Tibby's plaintive ululating issuing forth piteously from the carrier. The subway was stressful--I'd sat down with the carrier against the back of the seat, to protect him. I only had two stops but wouldn't you know it--at the first stop, the doors opened and at least 30 kids, plus teachers and aides, tumbled into the car and were ALLLL up in my business. As in, one of the kids (they were about 7 years old) was literally CRAWLING across my knees to sit on the seat. I was myself majorly stressing out--I do NOT like crowds, the subway is stressful enough, but I also have a terrified animal with me! I don't know why the teachers didn't correct them--they could see my reacting protectively toward the carrier and they had to have known I was nervous. It was honestly very rude. I told one of the teachers I'd be getting off at the next stop and two of the kids reacted by literally *leaning* into me, like right in my face, so they could scramble into my seat when I vacated it. It was seriously quite annoying and I felt bad for my Tibbles 'n' Bits.

Interestingly, something I've suspected for awhile has been confirmed--Tibby is "a little bit" overweight. (They also agree with me that he may be part Maine Coon cat--a notoriously large breed.) The doctor said it wasn't bad, just try to feed him separately from Tatia so he doesn't gobble her food, and feed him less.

My baby boy is healthy! Precious sweet scared lamb-kin. I always feel so responsible and adult when I take the babies to the vet.