Buddy And I Will Be Right Back!

Big Buddy is convalescing with the help of our hero, Little Buddy.

Hello admirers of the most handsome and meowscular cat in the world!

I’ve gotten some messages from people asking if Bud and I are okay and just wanted to let you know we are, and we’ll be back soon.

I planned a brief hiatus, no more than a few days to recharge the creative batteries. That hiatus was extended when I flew to Washington to hang out with my brother, his wife and the kiddos.

Then I returned home, assisted with a family emergency, got sick shortly afterward and tested positive for COVID.

It feels kind of strange to have lived through the original COVID wave that brutalized New York in 2020, as well as the subsequent delta and omicron waves, managing to avoid infection only to get COVID now in the summer of 2023. But if getting it was inevitable, I’m grateful it happened after I’ve been vaccinated and boosted, and not in those chaotic, horrific early waves when doctors weren’t sure what they were dealing with.

COVID hit me hard, like an extremely intense flu with a grab bag of other symptoms thrown in for good measure, but I’m very grateful I haven’t suffered major upper respiratory distress. Likewise, I’m grateful that my congenital heart problem — an extremely rare valve deformation — was not a factor, because that was my biggest worry.

I am aware that cats can catch COVID, and in the back of my mind I always imagined quarantining myself from Buddy if I came down with it, but cats have their own plans for things and Bud, who is already famously intolerant of any distance or closed doors between us, has a longstanding policy of never leaving my side when I’m sick. Quarantining from Bud was not an option. There’s no way to communicate the why of it to him, and on the practical side I have not had the energy to cordon him off, assuming that’s even possible. Knowing him, he’d quickly find a way to circumvent any barriers and, failing that, he’d meow incessantly and refuse to allow me a minute’s peace until this farce (“Closed doors between us, can you believe it?!?”) was ended.

Just one more reason to love the little guy and be grateful for him, but of course I’ll be watching him closely.

For now I’ll be happy to see the other side of this. Getting really sick is always a good reminder to be grateful for health, and in particular this experience helped me understand that despite vaccines, masks, air filters, hand sanitizers and careful behavior, so much is left to chance.

So that’s what’s happening here. I apologize for our extended absence, and I look forward to returning to our regularly scheduled cat content — same Buddy time, same Buddy channel — in the near future.

19 thoughts on “Buddy And I Will Be Right Back!”

  3. I’m so happy that you are feeling (nearly!) normal now, ( sorry British humour)
    I’m sure as well that Buddy has been very supportive so extra turkey treats for him.
    You must have been very worried about you heart, so glad that it turnout fine.
    We (Puspus and I) am looking forward to hearing many more adventures of the Buddies.:)

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  6. Thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy recovery, Big Buddy. I think I had covid the month before the lockdown in 2020, before any testing or much information was available. At the time, I thought it was the worst cold I had in my life, but looking back, the symptoms were very, very similar to covid. I have been vaccinated and have has several boosters since then, but as you have observed, one can still get it, hopefully a much milder case though.

    Yes, you are right, there is no real good way to quarantine ourselves from our cats.

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  7. Oh no! I know so many people who have avoided getting COVID for the last 3 years – only to come down with it now. Fortunately, while It’s really nasty, it’s (mostly) not lethal. I hope you feel much better soon, and that Buddy stays well. Good kitty!!

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  9. Wow!!!! Soooo sorry to hear that you have been sick. That covid can be nasty. Glad you are on the mend😻😻 I am a senior, with asthma so have to be very careful still. You and Bud stay safe and get well soon. We miss you!!

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  10. Hi there!! Always good to take a break. Glad you are well. Covid is not over. I know people who did not get vaxxed and every single one of them have permanant ailments. I only wear a mask on the bus rides and stores. A nurse i know near me said nearby hospital have deaths from Covid. They were not vaxxed. Don’t worry too much about Buddy catching it. Sadly, mostly dogs get Covid but recover. But cats are not immune. If Buddy can toletate Lysine in his food it will help with immune system. They sell this for animals, also.

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  11. I’m glad to hear from you! I had wondered what happened and considered sending you a note. But I told myself you were probably just on vacation. So sorry to learn that you’ve had Covid! Wishing you a rapid recovery and I’ll look forward to your return! All best wishes to you and Buddy!

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    1. Thank you, Leah. I’m very fortunate. No signs of lost taste or smell or any of that weird stuff, thank God.

      Buddy is very impatient for me to resume blogging so he can update all his admirers on his latest brilliant schemes.

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    1. Unfortunately cats are vulnerable to it, and even big cats living in zoos have been infected. I’m not sure how much that may have changed with the mutations into more recent variants.

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  13. I’m so glad to hear from you, very sorry you were sick. Your praise for the intense loyalty of your little furry guy is very touching. Just take your time getting well, and enjoy the company of the finest Little Buddy IN THE WHOLE WORLD!

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    1. Thank you. I couldn’t ask for a more loyal furry friend, that’s for sure. He’s been with me the whole time and he didn’t even complain when the level of service started to seriously slip. I slept through his normal feeding time twice I think, with the overwhelming fatigue from the combination of COVID and the meds. Normally he would wake me up and not be shy about it, but he let me sleep!

      He just curled up on top of me and I often woke up to find him purring and nuzzling up against me.

      Cats are awesome.

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  14. I’m so sorry you came down with Covid. I know several people who’ve had it, and it is in no way a walk in the park. I’m SOOOO glad you updated us. I kept wondering – is Buddy OK??? Is Big Buddy OK??? Is the blog done??? And if that’s the case, how will I ever find a little relief from the agita perpetuated by my own furmily?? Specifically, hollering endlessly at the Looney Toon brothers to LEAVE LUCINDA ALONE.

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    1. Yeah this is by far the longest break Bud and I have taken in 3+ years writing this blog. I really thought it would just be a few days.

      Thanks for the kind words. There’s a lot to catch up on, including stories I was working on in early June that still need to be told.

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