Sights

Stuff seen in my 'hood:

The world's biggest spent whisker; glad I haven't run into this kitty!

Doggo sculpture...

...and it's matching cat sculpture.

Star hanging out atop a van.

Proof that Henry is using The Cat Hotel!

Thankfully, we haven't experienced wild weather, as has other parts of the US has; only plenty of rain, sun, and temperatures fluctuating down and up, up and down.

As I continue to work from home, I tie up my chuggin' shoes and get out for a walk twice a day.

Unafraid to carry an umbrella, to wear a floppy sun hat, or to wrap my face in a scarf.

And I always have my phone with me, ready to snap a pic of anything that strikes my fancy.

📸

Newcomer

There is a new cat in the yard.

21 January

2 February

12 February

These images were taken through windows, as this kitty races away when a human appears.

There is always water to drink, and the straw-filled Cat Hotel seems to be getting some action.

Food was set out once, and none was eaten.

Oh heck, shy newcomer kitty, I've not yet begun to coax you closer.

❤️

Looking Good!

It's Sweetnesday!

February, 2019, and somehow Sweetie allowed a few snaps that turned out wonderfully.

After this post is published, Sweetie and I venture to the veterinarian's office for her monthly Solensia shot.

Poor Sweetie seems to unusually uninterested in any flavor or brand of food that I put down for her.

Maybe her last pain-relieving shot wore off early, and being hurty has reduced her appetite.

Here's hoping she'll be gobbling up her chow later today.

🍤🐟🍗

UPDATE: Sweetie is eating, she's received her shot, and she didn't even yell at me too much.

😹

Visitor

Am NOT thankful, to have a new cat wandering the yard in the bitter cold.

We pulled The Cat Hotel out from storage in the garage...

...added heaps of fresh straw, and set it on bricks.

Cat tracks!

And a pic through the window of our visitor!

 Thankful that we have a comfortable shelter, straw, and water bucket; the remains of Sweetie and Celestial Paddy O'Malley's outside life.

Should this fine kitty choose to hang around, we will put out food.

And if said kitty becomes a regular at the food bowl, then our humane trap will reappear, for no cat wanders our yard without TNR some day.

Let's Hop!

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2010

It's Sweetnesday!

End of 2010, Outside Sweetie had a thick, furry coat; she looks huge.

Under The Cat Hotel's awning.

Napping on the straw bale.

Sweetie and Hobo

Mobile cameras didn't have terrific cameras back then, so everything is pixelated.

❤️

January, 2015

It's PO'Monday!

January 2015 was a very cold, very snowy time.

Always anxious about our 'O' Cats, we'd provided them with an insulated shelter full of straw AND a heaty pad, plenty of fresh water, and lots of kibble, because wet food froze very quickly; too rapid for Sweetie and Celestial Paddy to get their fill of it.

Paddy, despite the challenges, still gave me plenty of lovin'!

The Hubby had created a wind-break out of plexiglas, for The Cat Hotel.

Always hugging my Pommy!

I didn't shovel the driveway or sidewalks; I just shoveled walking paths for The 'O' Cats.
My priorities were purrfect. *wink*

Nature

Summertime in our now catless yard:

Wild Geranium

Cinnamon Fern

Mushrooms

Brown-eyed Susan

Swamp Milkweed

The Hubby and I are hedging our bets by leaving The Cat Hotel and feeding station in place, until we see how things progress with Paddy O'Malley.

Interesting to note how often I look outside to get eyes on The PO'M, but he's not there!

Inside, he sits in my lap and allows our usual lovefests, yet he'll dart into hiding as the merest provocation.

We will take things one step at a time.

The Cat Hotel's Spring Refurrbish, and Farewell Felix

The Cat Hotel had a Spring Cleaning!  Old straw out, and new straw in.  An inspection of every inch was made...

First Floor, fresh straw

Penthouse, with new straw

Paddy snoozes on top!

 ...and our snoopervisors gave the refurrbishment a Four Paws Gold rating!  The PO'M allowed Sweetie the first opportunity to nap in the new digs, so he gallantly slept up on top when we were done, so the straw was pristine for her.

***

On a sad note, Angel Felix unexpectedly ran off to The Rainbow Bridge yesterday.

His humans Trish and Scott are very sad.
They've lost Angels Sweet Pea and Rupert this year also.

Angel Felix
Image used with permission

Katnip Lounge Cat Blog hasn't been active in a long time, but you can communicate with Trish here.

💔😿😿😿💔

Mancat Monday

Chili Bruce, chillin'...

Manny, mannying....

Paddy, taken Saturday.
This was the first evidence that he'd moved back
into The Cat Hotel since the renovation.
Sweetie has been going in and out for days,
but this was MY first time seeing The PO'M inside.
YAY!
And of course, he's taken over the Penthouse...

Am Afraid That I've Stepped In It...

Michigan is having a few days of ultra-warm weather.  I figured it was a good time to fit out The Cat Hotel for the upcoming cold season, and had The Hubby pull it out from under the new awning he'd created.

To my horror, I found mold.  I pulled back the silvery insulation that we'd attached on the inside, and found it.  DAMMIT!

The Hubby said, "Okay, let's pull off the old stuff, give the inside a quick coat of 'die-mold-die' paint that we have.  In an hour, it will be dry, then we'll tape in new insulation, you'll fill it with fresh straw, and VOILA!"  Included in that list, was to insert the warming pad on the bottom floor.

MOLD!

Unfortunately, the paint didn't dry fast enough, but dusk was falling soon.  Between the two of us, we cut and taped, while Sweetie and Paddy snoopervised.

Painted!

Even the lid was painted and repaired

It was about 8 pm when we slide the new, improved Cat Hotel back into its slot.  I put out some kibble for the cats, and explained to them what we'd done, and how the mold abatement procedure will keep them comfy and cozy.  I apologized profusely for allowing things to get in such a state, which is why I had insisted that we build a new awning and wind breaks.

Both cats seemed purrfectly fine with everything.  In the past, I had freaked out every time I replaced the straw in the old Mama's House, thinking that I'd scared them off.  Yet, they returned every time.

Except last night.

The 'O' Cats's overnight quarters

This morning

Both cats slept in the cardboard boxes that we set out for them, and replace often.  While filling The Cat Hotel with straw last night, I threw some into one box, and forgot to fill the other.  But that's where they were when I left them last night around 9 pm, and where they jumped out of, for breakfast this morning. 

The Cat Car window, dripping with fog

And, we have FOG this morning.  Everything is dripped with moisture, and visibility is low.  And my cats stayed outside all night!  WHA!  *sob* *sniffle*

I am beside myself, worried that I've screwed it all up, and they won't use The Cat Hotel!!!  Neither cat seemed too distraught, but you know how well they hide their feelings!  The Hubby has reassured me...several times...that they will go in once the paint finally dries (it didn't 'dry in an hour').

And now, I look outside, and it's pouring rain at my office.  If it's raining at home...

The New Awning, with old windows used as windbreaks

The PO'M sleeping under the awning, on top of The Cat Hotel in July

 Am afraid, and quite sure, that I've screwed up this time...

Cat Bees

We discovered that a nest of bumblebees took over 'Mama's House' shelter!  I had cleaned out the old straw from The Cat Hotel, and was doing the same to Mama's House, when I saw bees flying all around me.  I stepped away, and then peeked over the edge and watched the furry, fat bees wriggling around in the straw!

Just after dark, The Hubby and I carried Mama's House out the the back of our yard, and set it up on bricks so the bumblebees can continue their residency until it gets cold again.  The PO'M and Sweetie only use The Cat Hotel, but I've kept Mama's House ready in case we had a new cat visitor or as a less-insulated, summer abode.

Mama's Bee House Shelter

Funny thing is, I placed a Bee House for native, non-hiving bees on the barn months ago, and we had a lot of visitors to that!

The hollow bamboo is purrfect for bee nests!

Am thinking about nailing up a few signs, "This Property Protected By Cat Bees!"

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!

Saw The Straw

I replaced the straw in both The Cat Hotel and Mama's House:

The Cat Hotel's lid off, with old straw showing

Bottom floor, cleaned out

Second floor

Mama's House, cleaned out

Mama's House, lid open

Old straw, waiting for sweeping

I get this done twice a year: in the spring and autumn.  Am a bit behind on the 'spring' part, but was glad to see that both shelters are in good shape, and the straw really didn't need to be changed.  I did anyhow, because...why not?

Patty and Sweetie seem to appreciate the attention!