What The Guardians Didn’t Have To Worry About

People and fur people who are Disciples of The Leader Otis,

It’s Thomas.

The Guardians had a lot to worry about as they battled cancer this summer. They had to worry about doctor appointments and test results, surgeries, time off work, and a million other things, but can you guess what they did not have to worry about?

Can you guess the one thing the Guardians did not have to worry about?

The Guardians did not have to worry about Brother Henry, Brother Oliver, and Me! They did not have to worry about us because they keep us safely confined. So when the smaller Guardian was on the couch recuperating from her surgery, She knew where Brothers Henry and Oliver were. They were not outside in the world without walls, dodging cars and crazy wiener dogs and risking their lives. They were right there with her, doing their best to help her heal!

The Guardian knew where the Brothers were because they were right there helping her heal.

And I was right there too! Well, I was kind of right there. I was near there… ummmm… making sure no wiener dogs were planning an attack from below.

I was there too… or… just below there.

So you see, of all the stressors the Guardians had to deal with, fear that their kitties were in harms way was not one of them. Even if you do not have cancer you should do yourself and your kitties a favor and keep them safely confined. It will save everyone a whole lot of stress.

Thomas out.

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Brother Henry Shouted The Good News

Disciples of Otis,

Brother Oliver here,

This might be old news to many of you by now, but the Guardians have kind of been hogging the computer so this was my first chance to fill you in on what’s been happening. Brother Henry, Sir Thomas and I have been eavesdropping on the Guardians’ conversations as much as possible as we have been very concerned about the smaller Guardian’s progress fighting cancer. We have been doing everything we can to help her. For instance, we have been gluing ourselves to her whenever she sits on the couch or lies in bed, and we we have been waking her up early every morning to make sure she is still OK. So far, she has been.

Anyway, last week she had a doctor appointment that was pretty important. It was the one at which she found out whether or not she would need chemotherapy treatments. Even though I am The Brains of The Cult, that stuff is kind of over my head. I just know that if she had to have it, it would have made her feel very bad and possibly cause a lot of shedding. That thought made Thomas very worried that the Guardian might develop a hairball of epic proportions since her head fur is so long.

Not long after the Guardian came back from her appointment, she got on the computer and updated the page on which she is keeping all of her human friends in the loop on her health. Brother Henry was sitting on the table next to her as she wrote, and I asked him to look at the screen and see what he could discover. He looked over, took a deep, relieved breath, and then shouted, “NO KEE-MOOOOOOOOOOH!”

Brother Henry looked at the screen and then shouted, “NO KEE-MOOOOOH!”

Thomas heard Brother Henry’s shout all the way from our Outdoor Domain, and he yelled, “YAY! HAIRBALL CRISIS AVERTED!” and then began to yowl his head off because he couldn’t contain his happiness. I began to yowl excitedly as well, and I ran around the living room until I reached the snack bowl and decided to have a celebratory feast.

So that’s the news, Disciples of Otis. I know the Guardians have been saying there is still more that the smaller Guardian will have to have done before she is fully recovered, but I have sensed so much less stress coming off of them since they got this latest news. My own stress level dropped quite a bit too, that is, until I heard the Guardians say something about Brother Henry’s and My annual Bad Place visit being past due. Haven’t the Guardians had enough of doctor’s appointments yet?

So sayeth Brother Oliver

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Thank You… For Two Reasons!

People and fur people who are Disciples of The Leader Otis,

It’s Thomas.

I was hanging out in the Outdoor Domain today when I heard Brother Henry say “Wow!” very loudly from the living room. I thought that maybe he had discovered a secret stash of chicken treats or something, so I rushed in to the living room to investigate.

I found Brother Henry sitting on a table looking at some papers the Guardians had been working on earlier. He looked at me and said, “Sir Thomas! Have you seen this!?”. When I told him I had not seen what he was looking at he said, “Ever since the smaller Guardian got sick, people have been sending cards, gifts, food, and other things to help her get better. This is a list of all of those things and the people who gave them. It says ‘Thank Yous’ at the top. I recognize a lot of the names on the list as Disciples of Otis!”

Brother Henry had discovered the Guardians’ “Thank You” list. A lot of the names on the list were Disciples of Otis!

I noticed that the laptop computer was sitting next to Brother Henry on the table. It was turned on and something was displayed on the screen. I asked Brother Henry If he had looked at the computer and he said he had not. He then looked at the screen, gasped, and passed out.

Brother Henry looked at the computer screen and promptly passed out.

I was puzzled by Brother Henry’s behavior so I took a look at the computer screen. I nearly passed out myself. On the screen was a list of donations and supportive messages from people who were concerned about the Guardians. I recognized many of the names as Disciples of Otis!

Thank you all for your caring and support during this challenging time. I have been watching the Guardians, mostly from under the couch because people I do not know keep coming over, and I know they have been very touched by all of your supportive words and gifts. Thank you also for making Brother Henry pass out, because after he did I found a secret stash of chicken treats behind one of the couch cushions! Because of all of your kindness and generosity, I got to enjoy the treats without having to share them with Brother Henry. That was the greatest gift of all!

Thomas Out

P.S. if you would like to follow the Guardians progress in their battle against cancer, you can do so at the Welcome to Cancer website and on the Facebook page.

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The Guardians Need Us Right Now

Disciples of The Leader Otis,

Brother Henry here.

Ummm… there’s no easy way to say this… one of the Guardians is sick. Sir Thomas, Brother Oliver and I have known something was wrong for a few weeks now as the Guardians have seemed very stressed. In recent days Brother Oliver has been sticking close to them and he discovered that the smaller Guardian has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and that she is having surgery for it on Wednesday, July 15. We are all very worried.

The smaller Guardian is having breast cancer surgery on July 15. We are all worried.

Brother Oliver also discovered that the Guardians have created a new website about the smaller Guardian’s illness called Welcome to Cancer. It will include updates on her progress as she goes through her treatment. I was getting impatient with the Guardians recently because they were hogging the computer when Thomas, Brother O, and I wanted to write new blog posts. Now that I see what they were doing I feel a little guilty for that impatience.

We aren’t sure how much we will be updating the Blog of Otis in the coming weeks. We will probably be needed to snuggle and comfort the Guardian as she recovers from her surgery and whatever treatment will follow. We will return as soon as we are able though and, for those of you on Facebook, Thomas will do his best to continue the Flashback Friday posts.

Even in our absence we hope that you will continue to do all that you can to help make this a world in which every cat is happy, healthy, and safely confined.

So says Brother Henry

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We Have Lost Mama Cat

Disciples of Otis,

My name is Kevin. My wife Julie and I are the Guardians that, until today, have chosen to remain in the background of The Cult of Otis. I can’t do that today though. Not after what has happened. I cannot write a story through this pain.

Yesterday morning, Julie was sitting on the couch and Mama Cat was resting next to her. Suddenly, Mama Cat began to show signs of discomfort and distress. We rushed her to our veterinarian and then received a steady stream of bad news all day as the results of blood work, x-rays and other diagnostics came in.  Mama Cat was dying.

We had no warning that Mama Cat was even ill. This is her playing in the front window less than two weeks ago.

A day that started like any other ended with us having to say our final goodbyes to Mama Cat, and that day came before our tears for Otis have even had a chance to stop, let alone dry. We are both in shock.

I know this news causes you pain as well, and for that I am truly sorry. There is some comfort to be found in the thought that Mama Cat spent her final 5 months safe, warm, and loved, but it is too early for us to fully embrace that comfort. Right now it just hurts.

She was such a beautiful girl.

The pain of the loss is also too acute to see beyond to what this means for The Cult of Otis blog and website. Julie and I still believe in the mission and the message, but it was difficult continuing after losing Otis, and it feels even more daunting now that we have lost Mama Cat as well.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I want to thank you all for you kindness, love, and support, especially over the past few months. Your cards, your words, your thoughts, and your prayers have been bright spots during a very dark time.

I also want to invite you all to help keep the message alive. There are more than 1,100 posts in the Blog of Otis archives. If you find ones that you like, please share them with others. The newly redesigned Cult of Otis website will remain up as well, and it contains the Teachings of Otis that are woven throughout the stories in the blog.

Please help keep the message alive. There are many more cats out there that need help.

Thanks again for reading, for caring, and for helping to create a world in which cats are happy, healthy, and safely confined.

So Sayeth the Guardians