Saw Some Old Friends

Before the Monday snowstorm, I was able to get out into the neighborhood on Sunday, and meet up with some cat friends!  Wonder what their humans think about me, as I wave at and prattle on to their cats...even one in the window!  Hmmm...

And, I hate to type this...but Angel is NOT getting along with Manny and Chili Bruce.  We are no longer going to try to integrate them; each will have some of the house during the day, then switch for the balance.

My heart is broken over this as there was a horrible fracas this morning that just freaked everyone out; the cats were on either side of a closed, locked door.  I feel that am the worst cat mom AND wife on the planet today.  Words of rehoming were spoken...and then I left for the office, crying my eyes out.

Fur Pull

https://youtu.be/Tm0RYqc5Ihs

This is what we at Eastside Cats call a fur pull; cat fur grabbed and pulled gently, often with hands on either side of the cat's body, and a sort of back-and-forth motion is established.  And this video has a bonus image of The Hubby, but please don't tell him!  Listen to Angel's purrs...she LURVs this!

The PO'M, Captured On Video!

I don't really know what he was doing, but I captured it on video, just before backing out of the driveway to motor my way to the office!

I LURV my Patty O'Malley!

https://youtu.be/bVaKFu32o8c

Thankful Thursday: Manny was inside

Manny, taken moments after discovery

Metro Detroit, Michigan, has had enough warm temperatures and rain, to wash away much of our snow.  Therefore, I can get outside for my evening walks through the neighborhood, in an effort at exercise; the sidewalks are clear!

Last night, as I closed to outside door, both Manny and Chili Bruce tried a bit of a door dash, but I was 100% sure that they were both inside, safe and sound.  Imagine my alarm when The Hubby called my mobile after about 10 minutes, telling me that Manny was NOWHERE to be found inside, and that, in his mind, I had obviously allowed the cat OUTSIDE!

Turning around quickly, I speed-walked back home, and eyeballed the area to see if Manny was hiding near the house.  The PO'M and Sweetie weren't talking, but they were hanging around in the front yard, as if watching the spectacle.

I raced inside, climb the stairs, and start a systematic search of the house, from top to bottom.  The Hubby said, "I've already done that!", but I did it too.  No Manny.  My heart was pounding.  Outside again, I walked around the house, and had reached the backyard (fearing a Manny versus raccoon stand-off!) when The Hubby yelled from the front porch, "FOUND HIM!"

Yep, Manny was inside, just closed in the coat closet that I'd opened to grab my ugly, puffy, but very warm walking coat.  Manny was not the worse for wear, and I cancelled my walk to sit down and allow my heart-rate to subside.  The Hubby apologized, but defended his early position that it 'seemed' that Manny had escaped when I walked out.

So, I was ready when the newest episode of "The X-Files" came on...YES!

Therefore, I am thankful that Manny was inside.  I am thankful that The Hubby is as much in love with Da Boyz as I am.  I am thankful that Sweetie and Patty O'Malley are well, and I love them both deeply.  I am thankful that I have blogging friends like you all, who understand, and that we can share the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in-between together.  And I am thankful that "The X-Files" has new episodes!

Raccoon Patrol Begins

Raccoon paw prints in The 'O' Cats bowls

Raccoon's are no stranger to our yard, but I do NOT like them eating from my bowls.  If I have to stand guard while The 'O' Cats finish their meals, then I'll do it.  As cute as raccoons are, they can be viscious, and they have been known to kill cats.  In fact, a neighbor was sure that a litter of Sweetie's kittens was killed by raccoons, but why he didn't trap her to get her fixed, and allowed her to have another litter that I ended up caring for...?!?...well, now I've gotten off subject. 

Raccoons shouldn't be near the food.  We cannot prevent them from existing in the yard, which is a little nature preserve, but I'll keep them away from my babies.  In fact, I thought Patty was eating up EVERYTHING, leaving no leftovers, since he's got the girth! 

Dude, your making a oinker of yourself!

Twinsy Twosday

Manny in back,
Chili Bruce in front

Manny and Chili Bruce often sleep together, usually with legs entwined, or bodies overlapping.  Hard to tell where one cat starts, and the other ends!

Chili Bruce on the left,
Manny on the right

The double-wide scratcher beddy is a favorite napping spot.

Hairy Eyeball

Sweetie, taken in May 2016
She does a pretty good sneer!

I was allowed to sleep in yesterday.  The Hubby fed the voracious Manny and Chili Bruce, gave Angel her bowl, and put food out for The 'O' Cats.  When I awoke, he mentioned that Sweetie had not appeared when he set out breakfast.

When I put down fresh food bowls later that afternoon, The PO'M was there, but no Sweetie!  OH NOES!  In my zeal to make sure she was okay, I pulled The Cat Hotel out from under it's awning, in an effort to take a look inside.  If Sweetie was ill, I was going to find out!

As The Cat Hotel was about halfway out, Sweetie exploded out of it, and turned to me with such a look, that I can only describe it as the Hairy Eyeball, or Stink Eye!  The Hubby was watching too, and we laughed for a full five minutes, interpreting her expression as, "What the heck, human?  Can't a kitty get some sleep around here without you bothering us?"  Or something like that, with a few cuss words too.  If looks could kill, I'd be a dead woman!

I did not snap a photo of it, but Sweetie's look is imprinted on my brain forever.  She has appeared for every meal since, however!

Friendly Feral Friday

The PO'M gets a snuggle

Sweetie waits for her breakfast

The 'O' Cats, this morning!

Thankful Thursday: Da Boyz

Rub-a-dub-dub, two cats in the tub...

The Hubby and I are simply in love with these two silly mancats!  Manny and Chili Bruce are a handful, and Angel fusses at them, and they walk across my body in the middle of the night, but they make us smile, make us play and act goofy, and are a breath of fresh, youthful, air through the house.

And...three cat pheromone diffusers were installed last night, and The Hubby is worried that I'm going to burn the house down with them!  Every cat spent a few minutes sniffing the air, which was entertainment in itself.

I've joined Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

What The ? Wednesday

Umm...

I discovered this last night.  I presume that it's handcuffs...er, um..."faucet cuffs" to prevent Manny and Chili Bruce from turning on the water, but I never asked The Hubby about it.  I think I'll just remain silent on this one.

Thanks for all the comments on yesterday's post.  A couple of you recommended "Cat vs Cat" by Pamela Johnson Bennett, and I'm pretty darn sure that I have a copy in my cat library, so I've got some reading to do this weekend! 

But not tonight; a new episode of "The X-Files" is on!

Getting Schooled

Don't remember when I picked up this book;
probably at a resale shop or garage sale!

I've only been able to skim this one

Anything by John Bradshaw is good!

Can you tell that I'm doing some research?  The cats are schooling us!

You see, Angel isn't enjoying her two brothers as much as we humans are.  I thought we'd tried the 'right stuff' to integrate them, but if they are unsupervised...and within paws length...growling, hissing and whappy paws ensues.  I feel that Manny and Chili Bruce would be happy to completely ignore Angel, but she instigates the battles. 

And here is another rub; everyone talks about introducing the resident cat to a new cat, or kitten, or dog.  We've got a multiple deal here!  Luckily, we are able to partition off the house into five zones, and move the cats around, so all get good exposure to the humans and the scent of the others.  But when they *SEE* each other, the fracas begins.  So, we have cardboard and newspaper taped up over the glass in our french doors, or have solid wood doors.

I have hormone diffusers on order; should arrive tomorrow.  The Hubby is going to put up a fuss over those, but since we close the cats off into separate areas, each area needs it's own diffuser.  Feeding them on opposite sides of a door appears to be a nothing-burger; they eat and it's no problem.  So...somehow...someway...someday...we want to turn the key in Angel's mind from intruder to no threat.  Am thinking about clicker training too.  Has anyone tried it before?  Please let me know in the comments!

Yes, they've only been here since 12/1/17, so it's only been six weeks.  Many of you have mentioned that months of transition can be expected, and to JUST HAVE PATIENCE. 

Disclaimer: The books shown here were purchased by me; did NOT receive one or any as a gift or as an inducement to talk them up for more sales.  While I know nothing of The Eckstein's, I have watched several television shows by both Jackson Galaxy and John Bradshaw, but I don't know them personally.  Wish I did!  But not with camera crews; our house is too messy for broadcasts!  Plus I'd have to lose about 75 pounds...

2018 Calendars: Artist Christina Hess

Am I lucky or what?  My friend BG gave me a gift bag full of cool stuff for the holidays!

Chili Bruce, get outta the way!

Calendar, candies, book and tote!

"William Shakesbeard"

"Slothespine Baker"

"King Tutankhameow"

Are these drawings beautiful or what?  Gorgeous!  

My photos don't do the artwork justice, but I hope that you get the idea.  The calendar is "Animals From History", and there is "Leif Roverson", "Dog Sinatra", "Kitty Roosevelt" and "Pocafawntas" too.  So imaginative, and delightful!  Thanks, BG!

2018 Calendars: Catio Tales

I received a surprise holiday gift in the mail: from Catio Tales!  Oh, my cup runneth over, and I couldn't be more delighted with the photos of Karin's kissas!

Love the synchronized bathing!

Sampo

Lewis

Roosa

Awhile ago, when Pikku Punapippuri and Chuck were still on earth and not shining stars in the sky, Puna graciously gifted us with one of his purple beddies, here: Gifts From Far Away.  King Spitty at Spitty Speaks also has a royal purple beddy!

Angel making her inspections

Thank you so very much, Catio Tales!  We know that you are all sisu, and we are glad to be counted as your friends!

2018 Calendars: Canopy Cat Rescue

Guess what I won!  A 2018 Canopy Cat Rescue calendar!

Ya know why?  Because I captioned a photo on their Facebook page...and it received the most likes.  How much fun is THAT!?!

If you don't know about these amazing folks, please click here: Canopy Cat Rescue.  A non-profit rescue operation of arborists, who climb trees to carry down marooned cats.  In Western Washington State, there are lots of tall trees, and some cats go up to avoid a predator.  Tom and Shaun rescue HUNDREDS of cats every year.  There was even a TV show on AnimalPlanet about them! 

Screen grab of my winning photo caption
(Used with permission of CCR)
"Climb up the tree", the dog said.  "It'll be fun..." he said

Calendar cover and sticker...yep, I received
a sticker TOO!  Woot!

April 2018 image and info

August 2018 image and info

If you'd like a Canopy Cat Rescue calendar of your own, please contact them today, or simply make a donation to help out these men who are doing a terrific...and very specific...cat rescue!  My only regret is that I live too far away to visit them in purr-son, but it's on my 'to-do' list to travel to Washington to do so.

50 Days

Today

50 Days since Chucky left us

Bardo is completed

Chuck's portrait 

Chuck's favorite piano stool lookout

The last woolie sock that Chuck ever herded

The very last photo taken of Chuck

During the deep cold that we've recently experienced, I found myself more than once wanting to check on Chuck, who usually slept in the blanket-draped rocking chair.  You had to lift the blanket to see him!  The Hubby and I miss him; we talked about Chuck when out at lunch this weekend.  It's kind of hard to talk about him while at home; why is that?

Book Review: The Vanishing of Katharina Linden

Published August 10th 2010 by Delacorte Press (first published April 1st 2009)
ISBN 0385344171 (ISBN13: 9780385344173)
Edition Language: English
Hardcover, 287 pages

Actually finished a book!

I discovered this book at the public library, because...it's got a cat on the cover!  The story takes place in Germany, and the book begins with a most unusual and fantastic death in young Pia Kolvenbach life.  She grits out her school years as a pariah, trying to enjoy life with her English-born mother and German father. 

Then, Katharina Linden...and several other young girls...disappear!  In broad daylight, in the middle of a town festival, just like the girls that 'ran away' many years ago.  Coincidence, or the supernatural, as Pia and her kind-of friend Stefen believe?

Why the publisher put a cat on the cover?  Pluto, the black cat, makes a few appearances, and there is one spooky tall tale about Hans and the spooky cats that surround him one dark night.  But cats are only a sidebar to Helen Grant's novel, and it was still a great read.

This book is the first one that I've read since Manny and Chili Bruce joined the family.  The Hubby and I spend a lot of time playing with them, and snuggling with Angel and Da Boyz, and reading was put on hold.  Now that the dust is beginning to settle, I managed to read the book over the weekend while The Hubby watched football games, and the cats snoozed contentedly, albeit Angel in her beddy at one end of the table, and Manny and CB curled up together in the double-wide scratcher at the other end.

No cat may enter the center de-militarized zone without human approval!

Snoozy Sunday

Angel in the round
(Heated bed...she's a smart kitty!)

Thankful Thursday

Folks, last night was the first time that I'v slept all night with a cat!  Angel will only jump up on the bed for a couple of seconds, and Chuck slept with me when he was sick, and that only lasted a few minutes to maybe an hour.

Last night, Manny and Chili Bruce snuggled up when I got into bed, and they both jumped off and on all night, but they came back!  I had more butt in my face, and paws walking over my body, than ever before.

I am thankful for Da Boyz!  Hoping that we soon figure out a routine, so all of us can get more rest, but I am overjoyed that my body is an acceptable place for cat snoozing.

Manny, doing a dangle

Chili Bruce, looking down on his kingdom

On top of this, the corporation that I work for just added a full week of vacation for every salaried employee!  Something about keeping talent, and aligning with what other companies do, but all I can say is THANKS!

I've joined Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

Gnawed Nip 'Nana

The cats received sturdy, catnip-filled toys last week.  Chili Bruce got the 'nana, Manny the green fishy, and Angel's was the cigar.  Great fun was had by all...

Claws and teefs!

 ...except the 'nana!  Chili Bruce broke it apart at the seam, and there was catnip all over the place.  I found some carpet thread, and made like Dr. Frankenstein.

Battered but resewn 'nana!

Manny didn't chew and bunny-kick like Chili Bruce; he kept flipping his toy in the air like a majorette, then chasing it into every nook and cranny in the house.

Manny kept throwing his nip fishy around

Angel enjoyed her nip toy, then washed up neatly afterward.

"Gotta look good!"

It was a joy to spend so much time with the kitties over the last week.  The Hubby and I are still using the parlor as Da Boyz room, when neither of us can devote 100% attention to them.  One look away, and someone is up near Angel making her upset.  But only hissing and air whappy paws; no real fighting or touching, and we feel that Angel is geting used to the two rambuctious and rude youngsters.  They appear to be curious about her, and since they wrestle and run, they figure she should do it too.  A mature ladycat like herself doesn't see it that way, of course!  We do site-swapping, and give brushies to all three with the same brush, to distribute a community cat smell.  It's been just over a month now.

Diclaimer: the toys were purchased by me, and I'm not endorsing anything!  Heck, a toy that breaks within hours is not terrific, but the other two toys are just fine so I'm giving the benefit of the doubt.

Welcome 2018!...well, sorta...

Folks, we are in bitter cold in Michigan.  I've spent my holiday time off from work keeping warm, visiting with friends, and hanging out with The Hubby, family...and Angel, Manny and Chili Bruce.  One complete day was spent in my pajamas!

I wanted to hang out with The 'O' Cats too, but the brutal temperatures allowed me to only stand for as long as I can pet them, feed them bowls of kibble, and break off the ice in their water bucket, replacing it with fresh.

There are a lot of posts to come, but for now I'll simply leave you with The PO'M and Sweetie soaking in some warm sunshine while eating their dinner.

Or go here: https://youtu.be/ydIPf9pdats

Hope you all had an enjoyable holiday season!

Now come on, 2018...do we really have to be colder than ALASKA?!?