Bowl Smiles

It's Sweetnesday!

Sweetie continues to leave smiling faces in her kibble.

I figure she is simply happy!

 This makes me happy too.

😸😺😸

Cold

Temperatures are about 20 degrees F below average, and we've had a couple of significant snow storms.  This morning, I put out kibble only for The PO'M and Sweetie, because wet food would freeze solid before they could finish their meal.

Sweetie: "How is your kibble this morning?"
Paddy: "Quite delicious, Moma brought us a fresh batch!"

This bowl was used by my family since I was a little girl.
Now, it's The 'O' Cats's warm weather water bowl.
I don't remember where I put their winter bowl, but I'll find it!
And don't worry, I put out fresh...and liquid...water after this photo was taken!

Windy

Wish I could snap a photo of how the sound of the wind blowing around millions (zillions!) of maple tree samaras (propeller seeds) makes both Angel and Chucky get moon eyes!  The seeds are spinning and rustling and crackling everywhere, and with the windows open (yay!), the wind gusts and noises are a bit much for the kitties.  The samaras pelt the side of the house, and the windows, and they are stuck in the edges of everything outside: the gutters, the sidewalk, even getting stuck on the cars parked in the driveway.  They stick to our shoes, drop into pant cuffs, and end up everywhere.

Windshield

Driveway

Patty, sitting on my foot and samaras!
That cat!

Patty and Sweetie don't seem to care, even when the propellers propel themselves right into their food bowls!  And with the samaras, there is some sort of tree goo that has plopped little bits of sticky resin on the deck, upon which I sit to hang out with Patty and Sweetie.  I've had some stick in my hair, on the seat of my jeans, and of course both cats have some in their fur. Spring has sprung!

And Now It's Missing

No Snaggletooth!

Broken Bowl

Yesterday, Sammy's snaggletooth disappeared.  He probably dislodged it, and I must say he's acting quite chipper today.  He appears to be eating more, and we see him licking his paws.  Hubby thinks that maybe we should leave him alone now, and shelve the quest to trap him for a vet visit.  I am of two-minds: of course, I do not want to upset these outside cats at all, but he did have a tooth sticking out of his mouth!  Something is not 100% in there, right?  So, while I think about this, I am going to keep the drop trap out, just to try to desensitize the cats to it.

And wouldn't you know?  The wind pushed the trap 'shut' and broke one of my bowls this afternoon!  Rats!  Although the trap is not very heavy in itself, when it falls down...ie closes...it can really pack a wallop.  Which is why it's so big; no one wants a kitty tail to get pinched.  The food bowl goes 'way in, so the entire cat body and tail are inside.  We are expecting more wind and maybe some rain tonight, so I closed the trap for the night.  Perhaps if I keep opening and closing it, for days, they may start to ignore it as a normal part of their territory now.  

Have had a touch of a sinus cold these last few days, which has caused some sleeplessness.  Hard to keep one's eye on the ball when it feels like cotton wool is stuffed in your head!  I try to let the cats tell me what they need, but that toof put a scare into me, and I don't want Sammy to be suffering.  And yet nothing is happening fast, that's for sure.  Guess I'll just see how this plays out.

Old Man Winter

Here are a few photos of the 'o' cats taken yesterday, before it got really windy.  We heat up their bowls and food, hoping the warmth will keep everything mushy enough so they can get a full meal, before it starts to freeze.  On a day like today, however, with wind chills in minus, I've only put out kibble...which freezes too, but after a much longer time.  Sammy did not show up for breakfast or lunch, but he ate a good dinner, and so did Mia.  Patty has been acting a bit strangely; darting around, hiding in a box and NOT in a shelter, and he runs off to the neighbor's garden.  I cannot tell if all three are bunking together right now; my guess is that at least Mia and Sammy are.  Needless to say, my cat mama worries are on high alert; I hear the wind howling in the trees, and I am concerned about my three little furry friends.  Once the snow starts, the temps are supposed to rise...weird, huh?...and the wind will slowly ease.  Old Man Winter is having a himself a splendid time this year, don't you think?

Paying the Chuck Tax

Bring me my tax!

We try to feed both sets of cats at the same time each day.  Ideally, it's 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, and I mix up Angel and Chuck's food first.  I give them their bowls on the kitchen floor, then work fast to pull together the 'o' cats's meal.  However, a while ago we realized that ANY CAT FOOD in the house belongs to Chuck, and he must get a portion of it; no matter when or why.  We call this "The Chuck Tax", and make sure we drop a bit of whatever we have into his bowl.  Normally, he's still got a full meal still, but he'll break off eating and follow me around until I put a taste of the other food out for him.  Angel and Chuck are on a special limited ingredient diet, to combat his past intestinal tract issues.  The 'o' cats get healthy food, but it is not quite as fancy, plus they get kibble, especially in the cold weather when wet food freezes easily.  He only gets an 1/8th of a teaspoon as tax, if even that much, but peace reigns when Chucky gets paid his due.  We also place a food bowl in front of him first, then Angel, to acknowledge his highest standing.

Cat food bowls

Bowls

In use

On Saturday afternoons, I am almost always out shopping in area resale shops.  I've managed to update both my work and weekend wardrobes, and of course add to my collection of cat pins.  Bob rarely goes with me, but he's also managed to score for himself a jacket, some t-shirts, and more importantly a nice pot for the stove and some oven/microwave/freezer safe plates so he can provide yummy breakfasts for me!  So, I rarely shop resale for kitchen items; that's his territory, know what I mean?  However, while nosing around recently, and after having broken two of the bowls I use for the outside cats, I stumbled across six bowls for $2.99.  The bowls are low but wide, so they are perfect for cats (their whiskers don't rub much on the edges).  In addition, the sides are just slanted enough so food doesn't get pushed up and over.  As we see from the photo above, Mia, Sammy and Patty seem to enjoy the 'new' bowls...especially when they are filled with yummy kibble.  Of course, when I announced that I had found 'perfect' cat bowls, Bob had to give them a close examination...since he is the cook and bottle-washer around here.  I got an 'A', and six bowls are now in the rotation.  We are lucky to have many resale stores within a few miles of home, and both the humans and the cats seem to have gained in the process.