Fraidy Cats!

Inspected by No. 3

2012-02-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

That's me!

Minnie!

Mom did some grocery shopping the other day. She had to go to Target to stock up on waterproof pillow protectors again, so she grabbed some foodables while she was at it.

When mom had Wriggley outside taking care of business, I ~~got into the~~ inspected the bag of groceries she left out for me on the floor.

I noticed straight away that there was something different about the bread. Of course I had to taste test it, make sure it was ok. You know, whole wheat an all.

I think my work ethic and go-to-it attitude surprises mom. She figures maybe this time I won't remember to do my job. She really should know me by now, don't you think?
Still, I could tell she appreciated my work by the way she said "oh, Minnie!"

You're welcome, mom. I'm always happy to lend a paw!

Wordless {Wriggley} Wednesday

2012-02-08T02:01:00.000-08:00

Toesday with Minnie

2012-02-07T00:07:00.000-08:00

Mom has this thing she does with Wriggley where she will put this close to his pawsies, make some funny clicker noise, and give him a kibble-treat.

Hmmm...something's not right. My pawsies are close an all but I don't here any funny clicker noise...and there isn't any kibble treat!

Did you know that we kitties here are actually kibble-deprived? It's cruelty, I tell you! Mom is even pretty stingy on the treats for us...

I suppose it doesn't help that the other day after dinner when mom gave me a treat, I proceeded to projectile-vomit my meal...

...anywho...

It's a good thing Wriggley is messy especially when it comes to eating a cookie and I'm sure to find a crumb or two.

Hope you have a treat-filled Toesday!

It's Not What You Think

2012-02-06T02:58:00.000-08:00

When mom gets back from her walk with Wriggley, I'm usually sitting here waiting for them to come in the door.

Oh, it's not what you think. It's not like I miss them or anything.

See, after mom takes off Wriggley's collar and harness and releases him, she gives him a handful of kibbles from her treat bag...

And I'm just waitin for my chance to find some crumbs...

or maybe even a stray kibble!

Stock Tip

2012-02-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

For anyone looking for somewhere to invest their green papers, might we suggest Target Corp., who have these waterproof matress protectors...

...which mom seems to be acquiring a lot of lately. Not to mention waterproof pillow protectors...

Oh, and there's also the company that makes the laundry detergent mom uses:

Yeah...mom's been doing a lot of laundry this weekend...

What? I can't help it!

The Joker

2012-02-02T01:21:00.000-08:00

hai...it's me...Hollie!

I bet you didn't know I have a prankster side to me.
Well, let me tell you, I got the lady here good!

Some time ago the lady noticed a deaded spider in my closet. It was a big, hairy, ugly deaded spider and the lady was kind of scared of it. No... she was really creeped out by it!

So she just left it there.

This is really what the spider looked like...um...I mean, this is the spider!

The lady was cleaning house before she went on her trip and she had the sucky monster in my room. Well, she got all brave on account of she had the hose attachment on the sucky machine, so she finally decided to clean it up.

As she got closer she noticed...

It was one of her plastic joke spiders!

MOLOL!!!!

And I have no idea how it got there... ;-/

Wordless Wednesday: We All Love a Good Crossword

2012-02-01T01:04:00.000-08:00

No Rest

2012-01-30T17:14:00.000-08:00

Mom came home from her trip last week on Thursday. Every year she has to make this same trip for her workplace. She used to be able to take a couple of days off when she got home. Lately though, things are too busy for her. She was back to work on Friday.

I was back to work too! Mom picked up some groceries on her way home on Thursday. Of course, I had to inspect things, you know, to make sure she got the right stuff an all.

Well, I noticed she bought a different kind of cereal. She's usually been gettin cinnamon. This time I noticed the package said high fiber. Are you sure, mom?

I tried my best to taste it, but mom said I didn't need to.

Ok, mom, if you say so. But you know I'm there for you...just ask...

anytime...please...ask!

Surfin' USA!

2012-01-28T11:55:00.000-08:00

um, hai...it's me...Hollie!

Before the lady ~~abandoned us for furrever~~ left on her trip, she got me ~~an new little scratcher~~ this surfboard.

I've taken up the exciting new sport of carpet surfing!

Now that the lady is back, I had her help me make this movie. Check me out!

(Click here if the movie won't play)

I'm hangin' twenty!

Wordless Wednesday: Waiting

2012-01-25T03:44:00.000-08:00

Toesday with Minnie

2012-01-17T12:27:00.000-08:00

::whispers:: Yello!

It's me, Minnie!

Well, maybe this lump is me...

Mom abandoned us again to go on another trip for her workplace. She's gonna be gone for like 10 ~~squillion~~ days! She left this mornin with her huge clothes packy case and Wriggley, with his stuff for camp. I'm whisperin and hidin cause I thought I heard the pet sitter lady.

If I could show you my pawsies, they might look like this...

Wait...what was that? I think someone's here...I gotta go...

Have a great Toesday and week, everybuddy!

Location, Location, Location!

2012-01-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I'm hanging out on my top of my cat cave again.

Mom wonders why I like it here so much.

Then, as the heater came on...

aaaahhhh!

She finally figured it out, mol!

Suspicious, Yet Thankful, Thursday

2012-01-12T01:37:00.000-08:00

Since mom tricked me last week and closed me in my little cage, I'm reluctant to nap in it any more. And it was such a nice place to hide, too.

Mom got the call from the Doc on Toesday with my and Minnie's results. Everything was ok for both of us. Thanks, everybuddy for the good thoughts! We could feel it and they helped!

Mom was hoping for something more definite to explain my accidents. My kidneys aren't too good anymore, so maybe that's why I'm leaking a bit. The good news is that all my bloodwork numbers hadn't really changed since my last check up!

At any rate, I'm supposed to take an herbal tea pill...don't ask me to say what it is, much less spell it...but it's supposed to help me out. We'll see.

Mom keeps notes on all of our habits and since all of this started, she has been scribbling down who, what, when, where, and how in terms of our litter box doins. ::sigh:: And she goes around smelling every place I've been sleeping. She's crazy, I tell you!

I hope this herb pill works...for all of our sanity!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T01:51:00.000-08:00

I WAS in Trouble!

2012-01-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

After my little, er, accident on Sunday, mom was able to put my bed back together on Tuesday. We spent two nights sleeping on the floor - mom said she didn't trust me on the bed without the mattress protector, and we had to wait for it to dry. Tuesday night was our first night sleeping on the bed again. You won't believe this, and I'm not sure I should even admit it...but... it happened again!

Mom might never have known except that Minnie was sticking her nose in this one spot on the bed... ::sigh:: At least this time my mess did not go all the way through to the mattress protector.

Regardless, I was still in trouble! Mom made me go on this ~~squillion~~ hour long car ride today...to the V-E-T!

First, though, mom came home from work early, and I just happened to be having a nap in my cave, and she shut the bathroom door on me! (That's where my cave is.). She came in later and, as I was still in the middle of my nap, shut me in my cave! Minnie must have been in trouble too for telling on me, cause mom came back a few minutes later and put her in the other ptu.

Oh, I begged and pleaded with mom to stop the car and let me out; to turn around and take us back home. She wouldn't listen. ::sigh::

Minnie and I had to be poked and prodded. They took some our blood and they even stuck us both to take some of our pee! Can you believe that?!? Our blood and pee has to take some tests. I hope they pass. The Doc will know the results next week and will hopefully be able to help me with my, er, piddling problem.

In the mean time, mom says she's thankful that I don't like to sleep on her head!

Wordless Wednesday: Who Can Resist a Box?

2012-01-04T06:33:00.000-08:00

The First Easy Sunday of 2012

2012-01-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, furriends! I don't know about yours, but here, things have gotten off to a not-so-auspicious start.

I must admit to an embarrassing problem: I sometimes have accidents in my sleep. Mom is not really sure if I'm sleeping or have to go so bad I can't be bothered to make it to the litter box. It's not something I care to talk about, 'cause like I said, it's rather embarrassing!

Well, I had an accident on the bed this morning...and I just happened to be cuddled up with mom...

She woke and noticed the smelly blanket first...and then the wet spot on her leg!

Mom got up and took Wriggley out to do his business - she didn't want any other accidents in the house! Then she had to clean herself up, and then tear the bed apart and start some laundry.

Of course, this meant all of our breakfast was delayed (but somehow mom managed to make coffee straight away...hmmm...but that is really a good thing...).

Some time ago, Mom got a waterproof mattress protector so she wouldn't need to banish me from ~~the~~ my bed. The good news is that it worked, but we only have one. So now my bed has to stay torn apart until everything dries (we don't have a dryer).

I'm just gonna take it easy here for a bit, and then maybe find a sunbeam to enjoy, or perhaps catch an episode of bird tv - we've had some very good programs lately, including the hawk again!

As things have started, the year can only get better!

Purrs,

Keep 'em Guessing

2011-12-29T13:49:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I like to mix up my nappy spots. Just when mom expects to find me in one place, I've moved on. There was my pillow, under the sofa throw, under Wriggley's bed, the top bunk on Wriggley's crate, to name but a few. Now I give you:

Mom's been home from her work place all this week. I just want to be sure she has something wothwhile to do while she's home. Did you notice how I pulled the towel down over the opening to my cave? Can't make things too easy for her.

When I do come out, I'm careful to play it cool.

I make a subtle noise in the window, as if I'd been there all along.

Before I suggest it's time for dinner!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-28T07:36:00.000-08:00

Toesday Interrupted

2011-12-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

By me! Yeah...Hollie!

Do you see these big presents from Santa Clawrs? They were for me!

Thanks, Santa!

See what I got! My very own cardboardy ESS!

And even another scratchy box...with a bonus catnippy toy. And tassles!

Actually, I wouldn't mind sharing these with the other kitties, but they don't like scratching on cardboard.

Can you see me?

I got some other catnippy toys too and had a bit of fun with them and the papers...

woo hoo!

Some pawsie-action for you, so this Toesday isn't a total wash.

Well, thanks for letting me share...

I'm gonna go play some more.

Have a nice Toesday!

We Must've Been Good...

2011-12-26T11:24:00.000-08:00

We had a nice day yesterday and hope you did too!
We must have been good cause we each got some nice gifties. The packages under the tree weren't bags of coal!

Wriggley got a big box of cookies.

But he wouldn't share with us.

Each of us got a selection of catnippy toys.

We thought it was kind of funny that we got mom this training manual, and we got some books too!

We've been wanting to learn French, and now we have these two course books.

Of course, paws down, the best present of all was the ribbons and wrappings!

And mom has purposely left everything lying about so we can ~~make a big mess~~ still have fun with it.

Oh! Guess what? The big presents under the tree weren't for Minnie after all. Hee hee! Not to give anything away, but Hollie will tell you about that later.

Have a nice Monday!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T05:30:00.000-08:00

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Luke 2:8-14

********************

Merry Christmas from all of us!

Thank you so much for your friendship, and we wish you a peaceful and blessing-filled New Year!

Anticipation

2011-12-24T10:26:00.000-08:00

We are all very excited for Christmas.

There are even some presents under our tree!

I wonder what this one could be...

Oh, all right! I'll leave it alone.

Gosh...I really wanna know what this is! Could it be for me? Lookit how big it is!

ok, OK!

I'll just wait over here...

sigh!

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for tomorrow!

******

Merry Christmas, everybuddy!

Where's Smidgen?

2011-12-23T13:13:00.000-08:00

Smidgen disappeared again today.

The first place mom looked was under the sofa throw...

Nope, not there.

How about on her pillow?

Not there, either.

She wasn't under the bed, or in any of the top perches of our trees.

She wasn't under any of the living room furniture, either.

Our house isn't that big and there are only so many places a kitty can hide.

Just as mom was about to check the bedroom closet...

...say, that's a funny looking lump to Wriggley's bed...

Aha!

What?!?

oh all right! I'll move!

Oh, Minnie!

2011-12-22T18:18:00.000-08:00

We were hangin out, watchin some movies this afternoon. Mom got a new Hello Kitty fleecey blanket and I wasn't too sure about it. It didn't feel right or something and I wouldn't set paw on it.

So I made myself comfy on ~~the six inches of space on~~ mom's chest where there wasn't any blankie.

Mom kept sayin stuff like "Minnie, I can't see" and would shove me off. She pulled the blankie down so I'd have room lower on her chest and stomach...but I just didn't trust that fleecy thing! So I went back to mom's neck and shoulders and got comfy.

Then it was "Minnie, I can't breath" or "Minnie, your paw is on my windpipe!" "::Gasp::"

And she'd shove me off again and again.

Fine! I can take a hint!

I'll just watch from over here.

"Minnie, look, the blanket is moved. Come sit with me."

Sigh!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T08:47:00.000-08:00

Pip and her catnippy toy had a difference of opinion...

Toesday with Minnie

2011-12-20T15:36:00.000-08:00

I'm innocent this time! Really!

I'm back here in Smidgen's room, on ~~mom's~~ her pillow...

...havin a bit of a bath.

Course, I'm not admittin to anything that happened the other day. Afterall, mom never actually saw me knock the tree over...why, I was just there checkin things out, you know, makin sure the ornaments were ok an all!

Did you hear that, Santa?!?

Wordless Monday: Busted!

2011-12-19T14:48:00.000-08:00

X-treme Bird TV

2011-12-18T15:55:00.000-08:00

Check out who was hangin out in our yard yesterday:

We're pretty sure s/he's a Sharp-shinned Hawk, but it might also be a Cooper's Hawk; they're both awfully similar.

Every year we see them at this time, or evidence of them. See, Sharp-shinned (and Cooper's) hawks mostly feed on birds...and we have the bird feeders in our backyard...

Sorreh little birdies!

Mom used to blame the pile of feathers she'd find in the backyard on the neighborhood kitties. Until one day, as she rounded the corner of the house, she just about walked smack-dab into a hawk with it's, er, lunch!

After studying our picture and the pictures where we linked to, we're thinking our friend might be a Cooper's Hawk. Check out the tails. But then again...the more pictures we look at the more confused we get, mol! What do you think?

At any rate, we think it's cool to see these beautiful birds up close!

We're Ready!

2011-12-17T17:24:00.000-08:00

Did you hear that, Santy Clawrs? We're finally ready!

Mom had to go on a trip last week for her work place and she said we'd have to wait until she got back to put up our Christmas decorations. It's like she doesn't trust us while she's away or something...at least she was good for her word and we decorated today!

First we hung our stockings on the mantel..

Then mom got out the tree. She almost forgot where she had put our ornaments! Well, most of them are doggy ornaments and we wouldn't mind losing those... but the only kitty ones we have were in the same box!

Mom was up really early this morning cause she's still on east coast time, so we got her busy stitchin up a little skirt for our tree. Hmmm...maybe she should've traced around the outside of the hula hoop when she made her pattern...

Well, at least the tree stand is covered.

Say, I can still smell the Lounge Kats...

What do you think, Smidgen?

Where are all the presents?

Here's another angle in case you want to see more of the dog ornaments.

Happy Holidays, everybuddy!

Go to Work with Mom Day!

2011-12-16T17:46:00.000-08:00

by Wriggley.

Mom abandoned us all this week for a work trip she had to go on. When mom leaves, my kitty sisters get to stay home but I'm packed off to camp. This time I went to winter camp. This morning mom picked me up and I got to go to work with her!

I was mom's "4-legged assistant" she said. It was my job to behave myself and not be a distraction to anybuddy.

I did a pretty good job cuz when people came into mom's office, they were surprised to see me. I got to see some friends again that I hadn't seen in a while and I got some good scritches.

But to be honest, mom's job is pretty boring,at least there in the office, so I was really happy when we left. It's no fun just being quiet.

It sure was nice to get back home.

Oh, I had a fun time at camp, too. I got to do some fun play and walk activities. And I got a good report card from the camp counselors!

I even think my kitty sisters were glad to see me!

ummmm....riiiiiiiight....

'Tis the Season...

2011-12-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

For boxes and shreddy papers!

This is my fav'rite time of the year 'cause boxes and fun shreddin papers start showin up at our house! We got a really good one last week. I think mom wanted to hide the papers for herself, but she couldn't fool me!

oooh! This looks like somethin fun!

Woo hoo!

Why, just look at ~~the mess I made~~ the fun I had!

How Not to be Seen

2011-12-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

So last night mom was all set to go to bed. She had tucked Pip and Hollie in and took a stroll through the house, looking for me as she turned out the lights.

I wasn't in my new usual place on ~~mom's~~ my pillow...

She checked all through the house and turned out all of the lights. She went back into my her room and checked for me again and called for me. She started checking all of the rooms, just in case I snuck in somewhere I shouldn't have.

Then she went back in the front room and turned on the lights again. How can a kitty just disappear? This time she did a double take as she looked over at the couch...

Do you see me?

Well, you know what I mean!

zzzzzzzz

What can I say? Mom puts this nice blankie on the couch ~~to keep our furs off~~ for us to snuggle under and be warm. Well, I was kind of cold just on my pillow, so I took advantage!

Wordless Wednesday: Smidgen...?

2011-11-30T00:48:00.000-08:00

Toesday with Minnie

2011-11-29T01:00:00.000-08:00

Yello!

I'm checking out our new hallway scratchy-climber.

I'm rubbin on the corners to make sure everycat knows it's mine.

Do you like that pic-sher? Mom didn't do a really good job when she took it so I added that antique filter effect. Kind of gives us an idea how our scratcher might look after we've gotten our clawrs in it, mol!

I put some kind of film filter effect on this pic-sher too; I just

clicked around 'til I saw something I liked! It really brings out

my leg stripeys!

Do you know, though, that we really don't scratch on furniture? The wood parts, I mean. We all like sissal and carpet (and Hollie likes cardboard, too). Since our house has wall-to-wall ~~carpeting~~ scratchers installed, we're pretty happy!

hee hee!

Have a great Toesday!

Perspectives

2011-11-28T02:32:00.000-08:00

Woo hoo! It's MONDAY!

Let's go, let's go, let's GO!

***** or *****

Greeeeeaaaat...Monday!

phffft!

Easy...Fogday

2011-11-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

Minnie on the look-out

We had some rain on Thanksgiving and since then the weather conditions have been ripe for fog. Yesterday it gave way to sun, so I'm hoping for the same today. I'm on the lookout!

We're mostly taking it easy today. It's our mom's last day of holiday. We've had a busy weekend, though. First we had to help mom with some chores, you know, laundry an all...

No, really, we are helping!

Our mom was on a bit of a clean-up-and-get-organized bent. She took away the scratchy climby thing we had in the hallway and ordered a new one; one that she could store stuff in too. It came yesterday and I helped her put it together.

Not bad!

Pretty cool, huh Pip?

Mom let us play in the box for a bit before taking it out to recycle.

Mom, you should recylce this into a cat toy for us!

So now we're all waiting in our own way for the sunshine still.

We hope you're all enjoying a nice weekend and SUNday!

Black Lab Friday

2011-11-25T07:51:00.000-08:00

Carry on!

Wordless Wednesday: Brrrrr!

2011-11-23T01:08:00.000-08:00

Cat-Exempt

2011-11-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

Hang on...I'm doing some computer work here.

This is mom's work lap top. Her company has a IT policy that says she's not allowed to let anyone else use it. Not even family!

I don't think they mean family cats...

I'm collecting my thoughts...

We're just usin it to watch some movies anyhow.

Now which key do I push to get it started again?

Strange Behavior

2011-11-19T19:47:00.000-08:00

Oh, I know what your proly thinkin... "What's that Minnie doin this time?"

Well, it's not me...really!

It's our mom!

All this past week she's been, well, how do I put this?

Well behaved.

See, she's been attentive to our tummy time and when she got home from her work place, instead of ~~taking time to herself to relax~~ wasting time, other than a bit of play time with Wriggley, she prepares our dinners right away! Even today, Caturday, we got our dinners on time, maybe a little early, even. It's only been a week so we'll have to see how things go. Maybe we should reward her with some extra cuddles and purrs, to be sure.

I'm not sayin our mom is perfect, now... breakfast is a whole 'nother story. I'm not gonna say too much on this cause it's been cold here lately, and to be honest, I'm kinda reluctant to get up too...hungry or no!

Have a Nice Day!

2011-11-18T00:45:00.000-08:00

Smidgen and I sit here at the front door and see our mom off to work.

Smidgen, if we move fast, maybe we can scoot out the front door too!

Bye mom! Have a nice day!

********

(9 hours later...)

Well, it's about time! Where's my dinner!?!

Feed me now! Yow!

...I mean...Hi mom! How was your day?

Wordless Wednesday: Upside Down

2011-11-16T01:07:00.000-08:00

Remember Me?

2011-11-14T00:34:00.000-08:00

Um...hai! Remember me? Yeah...Hollie!

A cat can't get a blog post in edge-wise around here. I just wanted to be sure you know I'm still here and doing ok. We're not all the best of kitty-friends around here. I exchange hisses with Smidgen and Minnie from time to time, and that's about as far as it goes, at least. We kind of have a time share going with the house.

Here I am exploring the house on my turn.

I think I mentioned before that I don't sit still for the pawparazzi...some things don't change, mol!

um...ok...well, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna check out the view from the big screen patio window...

You're welcome to join me if you want...maybe there will be something good on bird tv...

A Bit of Fall Color

2011-11-13T10:04:00.000-08:00

Our trees finally have some fall color. It seems like they were late to change this year. This is what I see out of my window. We have a Silver Maple in our front yard.

The insets on the right are from the Liquidamber tree in our front side yard. I can't see that one from my window but its leaves get some nice yellow color. Usually, mom turns off the yard sprinklers as our weather cools down, and the leaves on the Silver Maple just turn brown and drop. This year, she left the water on for a bit longer and we also got some early rain, so we get to see a bit of color from that tree this year. As you can see, mom has a bit of raking to do...

This is a kitty-eye view of our back yard from our big screen patio window.

In the foreground is our Bradford Pear. Out of all of our trees, this one holds its leaves the longest and gets some nice red and purple color.

It also produces little pears that the birds like!

So our mom likes trees and maybe went a bit crazy in our back yard...

This is our Chinese Hackberry:

The picture isn't very good but it's beginning to turn yellow. There is a certain aphid pest of Hackberries, the Hackberry Wooly Aphid (go figure...) and our tree gets them every year. Often it will drop its leaves early on account of the aphids. Mom doesn't like to spray harsh chemicals; sometimes she'll hose the tree off or spray with soaps and oils. A healthy tree can withstand a certain amount of pest pressure and then natural enemies can keep the pest population under control. Our tree stayed strong this year! Oh, check out all of the Pyracantha berries in the background! The Mockingbird has staked out our yard for those, and sometimes we see Robins and Cedar Waxwings!

We also have a Chinese Pistache and a Chinese Tallow Tree in our back yard. The pistache hangs on to its leaves too. Then we'll get a few days with a strong north wind and all of the leaves will drop :).

Whew! I don't know about you, but I'm a bit tree'ed out!

Thanks for visiting our yard with me!

It's Always Something!

2011-11-11T01:02:00.000-08:00

la la la

Oh, don't mind me, I'm just doing a bit of computer work.

What's that, mom?
What do you mean, you can't type with my tail on the keyboard?

ok, ok! I'll move!

What!?! My tail's not in the way any more.

What more do you want?

You know, my mom seems to be whining a lot lately, something about a stiff neck and shoulders. Something about this desk set-up not being ergonomically correct...

Whatever!

Second Thoughts

2011-11-10T01:19:00.000-08:00

Sunday sure was nice, what with that "fall back" business. We all put that extra hour to good use with some bonus sleeps!

Since then though, I'm not so sure...I'm beginning to have second thoughts, even. See, suddenly everything has been an hour late (and by everything, I mean breakfast and dinner). It's like mom is sleeping in every morning! And she gets home from her work place around ~~six~~ five, but by the time she gets to making our dinners, it's more like ~~seven~~ six, if not later!

Usually I don't make a big deal of when mom comes home, but this week I've been at the door, hollerin, even. I'm hungry!

Enough with the flashy box, all ready! Get moving on our dinners!

Forget daylight savings time and standard time...mom needs to get on our tummy time!

Wordless Wednesday: Pip's on Guard

2011-11-09T02:14:00.000-08:00

Thankful Thursday

2011-10-27T05:52:00.000-07:00

We've really been giving Wriggley a hard time lately, and well, we are feelin a little bad about it...just a little...maybe...

We proly wouldn't even have all of our super duper deluxe super extra large cat beds in the first place if it wasn't for him ~~(our mom can be pretty cheap that way).~~

Minnie wouldn't have kibbles and cookies to inspect. Or any groceries for that matter. Mom would have the time to do it herself.

Yow! I'd be out of a job!

I think Wriggley is pretty cool cause I know when I'm around him, Pip will leave me alone!

It pains us to say this...and this is proly gonna ruin our reputation as cats, but...
we're thankful for our doggy bro...maybe...just a little...

Even if he does slobber all over our kitty toys...

And no, this doesn't mean we're giving your beds back!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T03:44:00.000-07:00

********************

Toesday with Minnie

2011-10-25T03:27:00.000-07:00

Yello!

Don't mind me, I'm just relaxin in ~~Wriggley's bed~~ my super duper extra large deluxe cat bed.

Aaaaahhh!

This is the life!

I highly recommend these beds to everycat. There's plenty of room to stretch out if you want, or you can snuggle in and be warm and cozy! If you send your pawrents out looking for one for you...I think they call them dog beds in the stores...

Not that that means anything. Consider it more like a suggested use. All of us here have been using these super deluxe super duper extra large deluxe cat beds with no bad reactions... wait hang on...

mom just threw my wormie toy and I have to go fetch it up...

Ok...now...where was I?

Training Progress

2011-10-24T03:14:00.000-07:00

I've been working with mom on paying attention to where I'm at in the kitchen so she doesn't step on me.

Surprisingly, I've made some good progress.

The other morning, as I was sitting behind her, she was actually looking out for me.

In fact, quite often she was even jumping about and dancing all over the place.

See, she was stepping on creases in this towel, and she kept thinking she was stepping on my tail!

MOL!

I don't think I was even in the kitchen at the time....

Wordless Wednesday: Gotcha!

2011-10-19T00:46:00.000-07:00

Toesday with Minnie

2011-10-18T00:29:00.000-07:00

Yello! It's, me again, Minnie!

I'm just about to get comfy on mom to watch some movies.

Hang on...

ahhh!

That's better!

Hey! Speaking of movies, I made a movie! Of my pawsies!

I thought it would be fun to show you my pawsies live, so to speak, instead of just pic-shers.

(Click here for a direct link.)

Can't you just feel the velvety softness? :-D

I edited out a lot of mom playin with my feets. But you can see what we all have to put up with around here. Hee hee! Actually, I am pretty tollerant when it comes to my pawsies... just so long as you don't try clippin my clawrs or anything like that.

So feel free to grab a hold!

Have a fun Toesday!

I Wonder...

2011-10-17T01:25:00.000-07:00

So everyday mom has been covering up my blanket project. I figured she wanted to protect it. You know, since it's such a work of art!

Well, I got to thinking, and...you don't actually think that maybe my mom doesn't want me to lace the blankie?

My blankie project, all covered up and safe.

Nah! I didn't think so either...

My blankie project later in the day, after I've done a bit of lacing.

I'm getting ready to start another layer.

Cheers!

The Apprentice

2011-10-13T00:26:00.000-07:00

I had some groceries to inspect the other day. A cat can't be too careful. I had Smidgen help me out ~~since there was no telling how long mom would be outside with Wriggley~~. I'm training her in the finer points of grocery quality control.

This time we had the impawtant task of making sure mom got the right kind of flour...you know, all purpose an all...

See Smidgen, first you need to open the package...so you can get a taste...

What do you think?

mmm...I see what you are saying, Minnie.

Yeah! This is pretty good! No wonder they call it "Gold Medal"!

Wordless Wednesday: Smidgen... and Friend

2011-10-12T01:35:00.000-07:00

Toesday with Minnie

2011-10-11T01:27:00.000-07:00

Yello!

It's me, Minnie!

I'm just hangin on the little cat-pad!

Do you know I'm not really a biscuit baker?

I just kind of flex my pawsies a bit.

This is my closed paw:

oh yeah, I'm purrin too!

Have a happy Toesday!

Signs of the Season

2011-10-10T02:52:00.000-07:00

It's getting a little cooler here. Fall is trying to come in. Tho' the trees in our yard haven't started to turn color yet.

One sure sign of the season is that I've migrated again from napping with my teddybuddy to napping in my Princess Bed.

oh, sure, it may Look like a paw-me-down dog bed...but it's Not!

Another sign of the season is that our friend Phoebe is back!

Every year at about this time we see the Black Phoebes in our yard. They don't come to our feeders cause they eat mostly insects (note to mom: get some meal worms) but we can see them in the trees. And we hear their call. I think it's really cool to see them back every year!

And finally, mom can't sit down without one of us magically appearing in her lap!

Do you have any special signs of the season?

Easy Sunday

2011-10-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

Oh, I know what you're proly thinkin...

I'm a cat and that's all I do but nap.

Well, I had a busy day yesterday. Mom did some sewing for us.

And I helped! I had the impawtant job of holding stuff down:

She stitched together some of the squares from our fleecy grab bag to make a...well, it's not really a blankie, it's more like a cat pad. She had it almost finished when she broke the needle on her sewer machine! Can you believe that!?! At least she had it "done enough" so I could do a preliminary quality check..

not bad...not bad...

Mom also baked puffins for Wriggley (kind of like a pupcake, only muffins, get it?). 'Cept I didn't help her with these. They were zucchini puffins...not like she was makin anything good like with chick-hen...

Besides, I was busy, er, testing out the cat-pad!

aaahhh! zzzzz...
I hope your Sunday's just as nice!

Sniff-alicious!

2011-10-07T01:09:00.000-07:00

We had the winning bid in Annie's auction for some fleecy fabric scraps from the Katnip Lounge. We got the box in the mail earlier this week, and YoW! Talk about sniff-tastic!

First Wriggley licked the outside of the box all over. When mom got it open, he was first to check everything out.

Don't get your dog-slobbers on everything, Wriggley!

Once he nosed through everything, we had a chance to check it out.

Nevermind the neat fabrics...smell this!

We want to get our mom busy crafting stuff for us, but at the same time, we don't really mind just keeping the fabrics out for our sniffing pleasure!

********************

(three days later...)

I can't leave the box alone!

mmmm....is that Rupert I sniff? ...or maybe The Baby...?

*****

Thanks, Katnip Lounge!

What's a Pup to Do?

2011-10-06T00:19:00.000-07:00

The other day I was trying to help mom in the kitchen.

Except she said drooling all over the floor wasn't helping and sent me to my "place."

My place is my round bed in the living room...

...I did the best I could...

Do you see my problem?

Wait...here...

Now do you see?

Don't worry, apparently close enough counts not only in horse shoes, but also in kitty interference on obedience cues.

I still got my ~~cookie~~ reward!
Take that, Minnie!

Wordless Wednesday: The Outstretched Clawr

2011-10-05T00:55:00.000-07:00

Toesday with Minnie

2011-10-04T00:48:00.000-07:00

"Up on the counter top..."

Ho ho ho!

er...I mean, Yello!

What's that mom? I'm not supposed to be up here?

I might get into something? Moi?

It's like you don't trust me or something.

Whatever!

More DIY Style

2011-09-29T00:42:00.000-07:00

with Pip.

Hello again!

I thought you might be interested to see how my blanket fringing project was coming along. Well, ~~mom made me stop~~ I think I'm finished...~~mom made me stop~~ I didn't want to over do a good look.

What do you think?

As I was finishing this up, I got another idea. I really liked the holes effect and wanted to expand on that.

So...are you ready for this? I decided to try my paw at lace!

Check this out:

My apologies for the dark pic-shers, the flashy on the flashy box washed out the white of the blankie

and made the lace even harder to see.

The inset is a close up. Pretty nice, huh? This is an advanced technique and takes quite a bit of time, not to mention a lot more kitty spit. I'm thinking of only doing this to half of the blankie...after all, it's going to be getting colder here. This way, I'll have sort of a dual season blankie: lace for the summer and simply fringed for the winter.

Do try this yourself.
I think you'll like the look and have fun in the process!
Cheers!

Wordless Wednesday: Synchronized Snoozing

2011-09-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

Toesday with Minnie

2011-09-27T01:43:00.000-07:00

Yello!

It's me again, Minnie!

Do you see that between my pawsies?

You haveta look real close!

Yeah, it's an ANT!!!

We had a small invasion on Sunday mornin. Wriggley had left his boney-bone layin on the floor. Oh sure, it was pretty petrified from bein lost outside for the past week at least, but apparently it was still a worthy prize for the ants.

Til now, we had been doin a good job with keepin things clean and preventing attacks.

I told mom just to spray the chemical stuff along the wall, where they were comin in, and I'd take care of the rest...

mmmmm! Ants!

They're paw-lickin good!

hee hee!

Have a great Toesday, efurryone!

Another Crazy Caturday Night

2011-09-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

We had some excitement here last night.

Well, this time at least we didn't have fireworks boomies...
we just had fire!

We were all takin it easy last night and watchin movies. We all heard a noise in our backyard. Mom just figured it was introoder kitties, or something like that and didn't think much of it. I was sure something was wrong and I wouldn't leave the window!

Guard-Cat Minnie on duty!

I convinced mom to go out there and check. Well, that's when she saw smoke and dust on the other side of our back fence! Our house backs up to a vacant lot and the brush back there was on fire!

What with the fence and the bushes we have along it in our yard, mom couldn't see anything but the smoke. Sometimes that lot gets pretty overgrown with weeds and mom also couldn't remember how much brush was back there. The back fence is brick but we were still a bit worried about our over hanging bushes catching fire.

The fire department came and had it out in no time at all. Thank you Williams Fire Department for keepin us all safe!

When mom took Wriggley out for a run last night she couldn't see much. We sent them out again this morning with the flashy box so we could see where the fire was an all.

The arrow marks our house and I tried to delineate our yard with the red lines. You can see there really wasn't much brush back there and the brick fence protected us. Here's a closer look:

The red line is about where the neighbor's yard starts and the trees and shrubbery hanging over the wall is our yard. It was more scary for us mainly cause we couldn't see anything.
*****
We are enjoyin an Easy Sunday today. We were supposed to get some rain too, so we made sure mom took Wriggley out early to get us the pictures (...and to let him have some fun...but mainly for the pictures...). And sure enough, not long after mom got home...

Lookit the rain!

Mom is really bummed she won't be able to mow lawns and such today. We'll have to hide the sucky monster so she doesn't get any ideas along those lines.
I'm gonna hang out here and watch for more rain...and maybe some bird tv, if there's a good program on.

See you!

Smidgielocks and the Black Lab

2011-09-22T01:35:00.000-07:00

Whew! I just got back from a great run!

I could use a rest!
I wonder if mom has put my bed back together since pulling it from the laundry?

***************
(Meanwhile...)

***************

Aww, rats! My bed still isn't finished...wait...hang on...

Wordless Wednesday: Knock Knock...

2011-09-21T01:12:00.000-07:00

Toesday with Minnie

2011-09-20T00:53:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for some football?

I've always wanted to say that!

It's a real fun game. Mom kicks the footballs for me to catch.

Or chase.

Ooommmph!

Then she goes and gets it an kicks it again for me! See? Fun!

I have a lot of these footballs and mom will sometimes kick a whole bunch for me to chase.

And then she rounds them up an we play again.

I hope you're havin a fun Toesday too!

Easy Sunday Interrupted

2011-09-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

What the?

Really! Do you have to bring that Sucky Monster in here now?

Well, I guess it's ok...as long as you stay over there.

(But then...)

Don't worry!

I'm ok...

Apparently the Sucky Monster had all ready fed on Smidgen's catnippy toy and was full.

Pip: Is the coast clear?

Minnie: This toy sure is a goner!

Now...where was I? Oh, yes...

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Occupational Hazards

2011-09-16T00:39:00.000-07:00

Just so you don't think my job as Official Grocery Inspector is all fun and games...

It is a tough job and there are certain hazards associated with it.

Take the other day....

Mom came home with the shopping and left things out for me to check, as usual.

Well, she got some of that barley stuff again.

I really had to dig through the grocery bag to find it.

I wasn't too sure the first time I ~~got into this~~ had to inspect this stuff.

But then maybe this was just an off bag...

(warning: graphic pic-sher ahead!)

er...yak happens...

You have to test the yucky along with the yummy!

Well, I guess it can't always be boxes of cookies. Even the funnest jobs can have their downsides.

The worstest part is that Wriggley is actually gonna have to eat that barley!

Do you think I should warn him?

I just hope it tastes better cooked!

**********

A cat-safety PSA: please note that despite mom's obvious forgetfulness, I don't have the proper training or security clearance to inspect anything that could be dangerous. Mom, as Chief Inspector, is quite sure to keep such things out of paw's reach. Remember, safety first!

Patience...

2011-09-15T01:02:00.000-07:00

...I has none.

Mom planted new kitty grass for us and had it setting on the counter to germinate an all.

I couldn't wait for her to put it down for us...

Come on mom! It's ready all ready!

Can you tell it isn't the first time I've been up here to nom the grass?

Say...as long as I'm up here...

What else can I get into? Hmmm, there's the dog food...what's that in the sink?

Hah! That's better.

Thanks mom!

Wordless Wednesday: EKC

2011-09-14T01:09:00.000-07:00

Toesday with Minnie

2011-09-13T00:43:00.000-07:00

Yello!

I'm just hangin out...practicin my most pathetic looks...

You know, to get attention an all..

I think it's working...

mom's got the flashy box goin...maybe she'll break out a toy?

Yes!

And this time she played with me normal-like.

No unnecessarily whappin me with the wand toy!

Hope you're having a fun Toesday!

Mo' Cats Day!

2011-09-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

In honor of Mo' Cats Day, I give you less cat...

On the left is me in May, and the right is today.

Left May, right today.

Can you tell I'm skinnier? Since I last mentioned my food woes, mom ran out of my favorite treats, and without them, I wasn't inspired to eat much.

But don't worry, mom finally got the treat situation sorted and is adding some to my stinky (not-so) goodness again so I'm eating better.

(In fact, now I practically have a year's supply of treats...duck treats, anycat?)

I'll be:

in no time!

************

Happy Mo' Cats Day and happy weekend furiends!

Back to Work!

2011-09-02T01:11:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since mom has left any groceries ~~lying about~~ out for me to inspect.

But I was in luck the other day when she needed my help to make sure these cookies for Wriggley were ok...you know, corn and wheat free an all...

Mom was in another room but I found the box on the floor near the kitchen. I knew mom left them there for me to inspect before she put them away.

I even made this instructional video, in case anycat else is interested in such a job...

(Click here for a direct link)

What do you think, Smidgen?

mmmm...sweet potato! Personally I prefer chick-hen...

Reruns

2011-09-01T00:24:00.000-07:00

I don't get to post very often so I'm really mad at Blogger for messing up my post yesterday! There was some kind of glitch when I tried to schedule my post at first, so when I went back to edit and post it again, I had two posts of the same thing! I deleted one and maybe that messed up the pic-sher.

For those of you who couldn't see my Wordless Wednesday pic-sher, here it is again:

I'm a cat of action, and not one to sit still for the pawparazzi. When the lady starts wielding the flashy box, I start to move! Most of the pic-shers the lady has of me, if not of my back, are along the lines of this:

Mol!

Take that, pawparazzi!

Wordless Wednesday: Hollie's Signature Pose

2011-08-31T00:28:00.000-07:00

**********

edited and re-inserted pic-sher...stoopid Blogger...

when I open our bloggie in Google Chrome I can see it but not in IE....

Toesday with Minnie

2011-08-30T01:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I must apologize in advance for this Toesday...

I wanted to post some pic-shers of action pawsies, but I was feelin a little jumpy anyway, and then mom kept smackin me and scarin me with the wand toy.

So I had to say enough!

No pawsies for you!

Luckily, Wriggley was nearby and he said he'd back me up.

I hope you don't mind dog paws this once?

hee hee!

Have a great Toesday!

Thankful Thursday

2011-08-25T00:16:00.000-07:00

It gets pretty warm here in the summer. I'm thankful for the central air...

aaaahhhhh!

How about you?

Toesday with Minnie

2011-08-23T03:07:00.000-07:00

We are now eight days under siege by those evil Ants.

We cannot leave a crumb unguarded lest the scouts find it and call their troops.

So far the moats are proving effective. Over the weekend, the Ants invaded Hollie's room and found her food dish. Thankfully she had only left a few crumbs and the invasion was small. Mom employed the moat tactic and the next day, the Ants again invaded but this time they could not get to Hollie's dish; however they did find bits she had dropped on her place mat.

In keeping with Toesday, I can only show you pawsies...

mom moved Hollie's eating spot to this plastic place mat for easier clean-up.

Mom has also shifted Pip's eating spot and so far the Ants are fooled.

Smidgen and I are fast eaters so the Ants don't have a chance at our food and mom can pick our dishes up right away. Mom is a bit crabby for having to stay on top of the cleaning, but we all must do our part if we are to keep the upper paw!

hee hee!

Have a great Toesday!

You know it's a good program when...

2011-08-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

When mom came home from work this afternoon, Smidgen and I were engrossed in an episode of bird TV...

Mom was able to walk in the door, take off her shoes, go find the flashy box, and take this pic-sher.

We didn't budge until she came up to the window and scared the birdies away...

::sigh::

Taking Back What is Mine

2011-08-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

So on account of those crazy ants, three days last week I had to go without breakfast. Three days!

First there was Wednesday, the day after the invasion, when I didn't eat fast enough so mom took my food away. Then, overnight on Wednesday/Thursday a 'possum sabotaged the power in our area and we had an outage. Mom overslept a bit and she actually left for work without giving any of us kitties our breakfast! Finally, Friday morning she was running late again and didn't have time to supervise me eating...sigh...

I liked Raymond and Busby's comment about a mote around my food bowl so that's what I had mom try.

My mote even has a dragon for extra protection!

My food bowl is sitting in the plastic dish of water. I hope my moat is big enough so the ants can't get across.

And my Green Froggy for back-up.

Monday will be the test. Those ants attacked in the kitchen on Friday. They are brave little things, that's for sure. I hope this works, since I'm quite fond of breakfast and I don't appreciate not getting any!

Wish me luck!

Invasion of the Food Snatchers!

2011-08-18T00:16:00.000-07:00

You won't believe what happened to me the other day - my room was invaded! By ANTS!

I still take my time and eat my meals at a leisurely pace. Tuesday morning, in between bites of breakfast, a couple of ants asked if I would share. Why not? I had plenty of food and this was just a couple of little guys.

a re-enactment...I don't have pic-shers of the actual event...

mom was too creeped out to get the flashy box...

Well, let me tell you, don't trust ANTS! Apparently one of them beat it back to their nest and the next thing I knew every ant in the world was in my breakfast!

yow!

There were tens of squillions of them! Oh, it was a scary situation. I was trapped in my room all by myself and I couldn't get to my food any more!

ok, I don't have enough plastic ants so you'll have to pretend the spiders

and flies are ants too...

remember this is a re-enactment...I really couldn't get to my food...

the ants stole it all!

As soon as mom came home and let me out, I ran for my life! Mom took care of those piggy ants but I'm still sticking to the high ground.

Bring it on, ants! Next time I won't be so nice - I've got my laser eyes ready!

But do you know, mom had no faith in my laser beam capablities, and on Wednesday, when I didn't finish my breakfast, she took it away before she left for work! I had to starve! Again!
YoW!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-17T00:47:00.000-07:00

Toesday with Minnie

2011-08-16T00:28:00.000-07:00

Mom abandoned us all last week for a work trip. I made sure she didn't go anywhere over the weekend.

And I even got some special attention. She gave me the brush Caturday and Sunday!

zoom zoom!

I love the Zoom Groom! Just lookit all the furs that came off of me, and this was from Sunday!

I can't show you more than my paws in case I don't have any furs left on me...

Lookit our Zoom Grooms. Can you tell we love to get the brush? The blue one on your right is Wriggley's first. In the middle is the one mom is using on him now. It's only a couple of years old and see how worn it is? There's a funny story that goes with that but I'll have ta tell you later.

hmmm...maybe it's about time Wriggley had a bath...

hee hee!

Have a great Toesday!

Wordless Wednesday: Chillaxin'

2011-08-03T00:41:00.000-07:00

Toesday with Minnie

2011-08-02T00:31:00.000-07:00

Coming to you live, from inside the Cube!

Well...ok...actually it's a pic-sher delay from yesterday...

I was having my own special playtime and photo-shoot so I could show you...

(cue ominous music)

The Clawr!

Hee hee!

Cubes are fun!

Have a great Toesday!

Smidgen's Wild Ride

2011-07-29T00:48:00.000-07:00

I was playing the other morning, feeling kind of silly, when I decided to take the Cube for a spin...

weeee!

I usually act this way in the morning, since I'm fresh from my 23 hours beyooty sleep the day before. Is there a particular time of day that you act the goob?

Wordless Wednesday: Kitty Dreams

2011-07-27T00:24:00.000-07:00

Toesday with Minnie

2011-07-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

I'm just relaxin and enjoyin a bit of mom-time.

We were sitting here in the living room when we heard a dove cooing. It almost sounded like part of the classical music! This fella was sittin outside on top of our chiminey and the sound came down through and into our house. I wanted to post a movie of the sound - I thought it was neat (plus I thought it would be funny to post a movie of our fire place hee hee!). But the dove flew off before we could get our movie box.

Say, I just noticed...

I have toe floof!

Not bad considerin I'm just a medium-floofy cat.

Have a great Toesday!

Fun Times!

2011-07-25T01:36:00.000-07:00

We are a little behind the kitty-times. Now that Ess' are all the rage, our mom finally got us...

Cubes!

Mom was a little worried that she wasted her green papers.

After the initial inspection, I walked away and there sat the cube.

But since then I decided the Cube is a nice place to hang out.

Hide, even.

I like to sit in the Cube and watch bird TV.

Mom can tell when we've been playing in it cause it gets moved. But what we like best is when mom plays with us!

It's kind of skeery sometimes cause we'll clawr at the cube and as we run off, it chases after us! Other than that, we like our cube. Thanks mom!

...Now how about gettin us an ESS?

Our Easy Sunday

2011-07-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying an Easy Sunday here, as usual.

I did some early mornin bird watchin. There is a nest on top of the gutter right outside of this window. I have a good view from the top of my tree! The little ones sure put up a racket when it's meal time.

A couple of weekends ago when mom was out in the back yard, she saw a mom (or dad) Robin huntin for bugs to feed their fledgling. See in the top left below. The fledgling is on the left and mom (or dad) is on the right. Then, when our mom had the sprinkler on, a little hummer flew in to have a shower! (see bottom left pic-sher).

Now the big picture on the right is our resident Mocker. This fella has a nest in our yard and s/he doesn't like it when we sit in the windows! It'll come real close and holler at us. We chatter back at it to go away!

The batteries in the flashy box died so I can only show you Pip on this Easy Sunday.

You'll have to take my word that Smidgen and Hollie are up to the same.

We were supposed to put our mom to work around here this weekend but it turns out she's being kind of lazy. She took Wriggley out for a good walk this morning before it got too hot, and now she's doing some irrigating in the yard. Other that, she's really ignoring the chore list we made her. Guess she wants an Easy Sunday too.. oh well.

Hope you're havin a nice weekend!

Sensitive Souls

2011-07-21T00:46:00.000-07:00

I am a sensitive cat. I don't care much for change. I like things just so, thankyouverymuch. I'm into routines and peace and quiet. I wasn't too thrilled when Smidgen came to live here. But she's not so bad and I got used to her. I'll even admit I like her. A little. Then Minnie came along. I'm still not too sure about her. And Hollie? Hmmph! Change! Phooey!

Along with my sensitive cat nature, I have a sensitive tummy. Oh sure, I'll eat most anything. But if my tummy doesn't approve, I yak it back up. Since I was a kitten up until I was about seven, I ate a certain kibble. Then mom started to learn more about nutrition for Wriggley and in that process, she learned more about kitty nutrition and what was better for us to eat.

So she started to make some, yes, changes, to my, Smidgen's, and Minnie's diet. She started switching us all to stinky goodness. Smidgen and I were skeptics. My tummy didn't care for the beef or any combination thereof, so I yakked. Same for lamb and anything fishy. My tummy liked chick-hen and tur-key. So that's what I ate.

A few years ago now, while I was still allowed outside time, I had a bit of a scuffle with an introoder kitty and ended up with a wound on my tail. It abscessed and I had to go to the v-e-t to get fixed up. Well, at the time, mom thought it would be a good idea, since I was there and all, to have my vaccinations done also. I didn't like that at all! My little kitty body didn't like it either and I even had a reaction where I was vaccinated.

I got better from all of that, but then my itchiness problems started. First my paws were itchy. Then my tummy got itchy and I licked it red and raw.

You can kind of see my red tummy in these pic-shers.

Sometimes my tail and the base of my tail was itchy. Even places on my back. I mowed a lot of my furs off. You can see in the picture the darker strips on my back and toward the base of my tail where I licked:

This was when mom found the holistic vet for all of us. My symptoms were along the lines of food allergies and that's what the Doc thought too. Mom tried to find a novel protein for me, since I had been eating chick-hen and tur-key. She gave me venison. I yakked. Then she tried me on lamb again. I yakked. She gave me some quail and I liked it and I didn't yak. 'Cept this particular brand she fed me wasn't a complete and balanced diet. When she did find a raw quail meats that was a complete diet...I yakked! Finally mom gave me some duck stinky goodness, and guess what? I didn't yak!

It took some time for mom to see some progress in terms of my itchiness. At one point she did feed me some rabbit meats. It was good: my tummy and I liked it, but mom thought it made me more itchy. ::sigh:: I had some prednisone shots and I took some herbal pills for a while. Then mom set up a "safe room" for me that no other kitty is allowed in. I can have peace and quiet when she isn't home, and whenever I need a break from the household stress, I can come in my room and chillax.

I have been off of pills and shots for some time now and my itchiness is under control. My tummy has furs again and I'm not mowing anywhere else. But I've been eating the same foods for furever! Mom still wonders if all of this was just a stress reaction, and now that time has passed and my body has relaxed, I'm better. She doesn't want to risk feeding me something else that could upset my tummy or my body. That's ok. I'm glad I'm not itchy all of the time. Mom did buy a few cans of a different brand of duck food for me to eat. It's still duck... but it is different.

(Now suddenly, after enjoying just one can of the different stuff, mom is imagining that I am itchier again. I'm back to eating my usual stinky not-so-goodness. At least I still get the treats mixed in...that still seems ok.)

::sigh::

Well, thanks for listening and letting me have a little vent.

whew! I'm ready for a nap now...

Purrs,

Pip

Wordless Wednesday: Silly Minnie

2011-07-20T00:53:00.000-07:00

**********

Road Trip

2011-07-18T00:05:00.000-07:00

by Smidgen.

Last week Pip and I had to go to the v-e-t. She all ready told you a little about her appointment. But she left out the part about the terrible car ride, the loud kids in the v-e-t office, the other crying woofies and kitties there, not to mention the whole ordeal of being poked and prodded!

Our mom doesn't care for our local doctor but she found a good holistic practice in another town...50 ~~squillion~~ miles away! Have I mentioned I don't like car rides? I sing, though, to pass the time. My favorite is "99 bottles of niptinis on the wall". At first I was singing solo but Pip joined in too. Then we kind of complained back in forth about the whole situation.

It was time for my regular check up plus I needed my bloods checked on account of my kidneys aren't too good. I got to take the Senior Wellness Exam too! I'm eight years old now! That makes me a senior! It seems hard to believe. I sure don't feel like one.

I get really skeered at the v-e-t. I try to hide under the bed in my ptu, hoping mom won't find me. It never works. She kept pulling me out for one thing or another and putting me back in. I just wanted to be left alone!

Well, efurrything was good with my blood too. My kidney numbers hadn't changed from last year, so that was good. My BUN is a little high but not bad. The Doc said it could stay like that furrever and I'd be good. I even gained a little weight.

But I still have my girlish-cat figure.

I was really quiet on the ride home. I didn't feel much like singing. Pip talked a little bit. She didn't feel like singing either! I guess we're safe for another year.

Caturday Catsup

2011-07-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

um...catch-up.

Our dear furriend Cat and her kitties Ben, Casper, Archie, and Jimmy tagged us for a fun meme. We finally got our mom to get her act together to help us do this post!

1. Do you think you're hot?

Well, we don't really think of ourselves that way but we think we've got cute going in spades!

2. Upload a picture of wallpaper you are using at the moment.

We just have system photos for wallpaper on our computer so we'll show you what mom has on her work computer:

3. When was the last time you ate chicken meat?

Well, if you ask Pip, maybe sometime in 2008, mol! The rest of us don't get real chicken meat like mom eats but we do get it in our stinky goodness or raw foods. In fact, Minnie is eating raw chicken now.

4. The song you've listened to most recently?

We have classical type music playing all the time here. Right now it's Schubert's Minuets and Trios. This is good - mom and all of us really like Schubert. Oooo, now a good Haydn symphony is on!

5. What were you thinking when you were doing this?

Is mom really gonna help us get this post done?!?

6. Do you have any nicknames?

Do we! mol!

Minnie: Monster Minnie, Minnie the Monster, Minster, Minsteroo, MinnieMinnie

Smidgen: Smidge, Smidgie, Smidge-steroo, chunky monkey (even tho I'm not!)

Pip (my full name is Pipsqueak, so Pip is technically a nickname): PipPip, Pipster, Pipsteroo

Hollie: HollieHollie, Hollie-by-golly, by golly it's Hollie, HollieHollie-bo-bollie, hairball-Hollie

When it was just the three of us Fraidy Cats, mom called us the three kitty stooges!

Thanks Cat, for tagging us to play! We had fun!

For anycat that hasn't done this meme, consider yourself tagged! We like to see efurryone's answers!

********

And finally,

we won a door prize during Sparkle's birthday celebration and a week ago we got the package.

Thanks Sparkle!

She sent us some nip-tastic toys and we each found a favorite.

********

Have a fun weekend!

Duck, Duck, Duck...

2011-07-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

Duck!
I bet you thought I was going to say goose!
::sigh:: Don't I wish!

I have been eating duck stinky goodness since July of 2009. Oh, sure, it's because I have to, on account of allergies. But still, a girlcat can dream, can't she?

mmmm...how about some chick-hen...or maybe even tur-key! Mmmmm...

It's always duck this and duck that. I'm kind of tired of eating duck day in and day out. And as such, lately I haven't been eating all of my meals, or even been excited about the prospect.

It was about time for my yearly check up, so guess what? Yup. A trip to the v-e-t!

I'll spare you the general indignities I had to suffer - I know you've all been there. But they had to steal some of my bloods for a test. A senior Wellness Exam! I'll be eleven years old in a couple of months! So they had to poke me to take my bloods. And poke me...and poke me...and poke me! Apparently my veins aren't very good so the technician had a tough time of it. I was sopping wet from all of the alcohol and I still have that v-e-t smell on my furs. Yow!

I passed all of the tests. So despite not wanting to eat and losing a pound over the last year, my little kitty body is normal.

I do have some yummy duck treats that I like. Maybe mom will get the hint and mix some up in my food.

yum!

That's better. Thanks mom!

I'm petitioning for some bonus meals. I think it should be part of my recovery program. Think of it as a prescription: I need to gain some weight back. Just call me Dr. Pip.

Say, mom? How some more...

duck!