Catnip Capers

I made sure to have good food on hand, but daughters got the kitties real presents! Their favorites are a little furry thing which makes mouse noises when batted around and a fur mouse which opens for stuffing with fresh catnip. Issey loved the latter.

Drunk with catnip, he fell into the washing machine full clothing in soapy water when I opened the lid to put something else in. So, for Christmas I got to see a flying soapy cat! :-) I think he blames the mouse as he hasn't gone near it since.

Wishing everyone laughter and joy!
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/ZoNpVPbgPCOQJlfC3tqu

Issey In Charge

My cats let me know what they want in no uncertain terms. Yes, always. I may be slow in "getting it", and even after I do, I try to hold fast to what I want. After all, aren't I the Alpha Human?

It appears that I'm not. In this regard, my relationship with my cats is similar to what it was with all the men with whom I ever lived. They told me what they wanted, and I did it so they'd be happy and I then I could do what I wanted. Unless I make them happy first, it's one continuous pester! (I think I need a therapist, only they are such bad examples themselves that I can't put my faith in them. It's kind of like saying "I want my MOTHER!", knowing full well that she would be totally vexed and perplexed. )

Issey now lets me sleep. No more waking me early in the morning. No more not allowing me to take a nap of reasonable length. Thanks to advice from Virginia, I feed him more. He is getting fat, he farts more, but oh, is he happy. Peace. We have peace.
Who would ever believe this sweet baby (look at his paws) is in charge of one human and 3 cats? And, none of us mind? His purr could melt a heart made of ice.

Poop Trails

Chem trails above, poop trails below! Fortunately, the latter, though gross, do not happen frequently.

But, what is a clean, indoor cat to do? Would I really want them to lick their butts and then come kiss me? I think not. I don't like the entire business. If it's not the bedroom carpet, it's my bed, and I'd rather spot clean the carpeting than watch king sized quilts or sheets.

It's only been 7 years that I have begun keeping my cats strictly indoors, though back in the days that they (not my present feline family!) were allowed to venture out....they always came in to use the litter box! My point is that who knows why this is something new for me.....What does it mean? Who is the culprit? Can I do something to make it stop?

What Happened?

I see Sophie looking particularly cute, so I grab the camera while talking to her softly. Issey appears out of nowhere, asking me if I don't think he is cute, too. But, that's only the beginning.....










He hops on Sophie's back and bathes her for a short while.
Sophie never protests, choosing to leave instead. Prince of the high perch, Issey, surveys his kingdom.











I've got a problem here. Issey is so cute, and so sweet that I cannot get mad at him....ever. But, now he won't let me sleep, not in the morning and not in the afternoon. Even though there's dry food available always and I don't feed wet in the morning, he wakes me. He wants me up and he wants me to put out FRESH dried food. In the afternoon he wakes me to give him dinner. Trying to break him of this habit, I have tried not feeding him immediately after my waking, but I can't tolerate the loud yowling for long. He can go on like that (loud Siamese howling) for an hour easily.

What happened to my being Queen?

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

The kids love to nap together, spreading out across the king size bed. Even with the blinds closed, the room is heated by the sun. Everyone sleeps much closer together at night.

There's always a lot of jostling for position, mostly caused by Rudy and Issey, the usual trouble-makers. Rudy can't get close enough to me, but sends out a loud growl if anyone comes within a couple of feet of him. Issey loves to wind up Rudy! I don't think it's about being jealous of me....He just enjoys getting a rise out of Rudy....as if Rudy were his squeaky toy. I no longer intervene, and now it ends a bit sooner. Both Santino and Sophie leave quietly if they don't like what is going on. :-) (I suffer in silence.)

Thanksgiving

I have many things for which to be grateful, but today I want express special gratitude for the companionship, affection, and giggles my cats provide me.

Santino and Issey sleep and play together. Both of them excel at bedmaking, often surprising me by wrapping themselves up in the sheets.

Rudy loves to watch me brush my teeth, and is always waiting IN the shower. His idea of fun is to watch the shower head, see the first few drops forming and run out of the stall before getting wet. I cooperate by turning the shower knob on very slowly. :-)

They play games of various complexity, and I love it when their games involve me! And, by the way, I am grateful for the time I have to fully appreciate my kitties.

Slow Learner

Of course I would not be referring to my cats!

I once had a friend...a rocket scientist....exclaim that he would have a problem with having cats smarter than him. I bit my tongue to keep from saying the obvious "I can't speak for all breeds, but don't ever get a Siamese, an Abyssinian, or a Balinese!"

Though I have no need to be smarter than my cats, I would...at least...like to be AS smart as.:-)
After all, there are FOUR of them...though I don't know how Sophie would come out intelligence wise.

Last night I had fed the kitties their we food dinner, ending in a little cooked chicken for dessert.
Stuffed to the gills (I assumed) they had retreated for naps while I prepared my own dinner. The coast was clear when I left one of the cooked pork chops out to cool before placing it in the refrigerator. A few minutes later I came back into the kitchen....and that's when I discovered I really am on the slow side. :-)

Issey had the hot porkchop on the floor and was gingerly gnawing on it. Duh....We have done this before! Issey considers ALL food prey. Hahah...he was probably only attempting to save me from getting fatter!

Santino

Caught exiting the pot and pan cabinet in the kitchen. Issey is still inside, no doubt looking for food and wondering why there's nothing IN the pots!
Santino is a laid back happy kitty....












There are very few things that Santino insists on:

*To get on the dining table when there are guests.
*To be given Pitr-Pats on demand.
*To be given a little bite of everything that Issey has, even of things which Santino does not like.
*To be brushed on demand. He wants the RIGHT to eat it....which he does not.
To have his daily fill of sisal.

My Four Kids

Sophie loves to lie on the living room floor, always in exactly the same spot.

Sometimes they are cooperative and sometimes not so much....just like humans! Rudy is jealous of Issey so I did not expect to see the two very close, but neither would even look at me when I called to them. It's this kind of behavior which prompts people to believe that cats are independent. I think of it more in terms of "free" or "healthy"....even as "having inner lives".





















I looked at Issey and Santino together and said "awwwww". It will take Santino some time to learn that I no longer use the flash and it's safe for him to open his eyes.

Life Goes On

Two dishes of food, usually turkey or chicken in one, and beef, deer, or tuna in the other. They are soooooo happy! Rudy is the only one who would prefer to be alone when he eats, but since he is overweight, I am not inclined to oblige him.











Doesn't Issey look sweet? I love his folded paws.










Issey now weighs a little over 8 pounds. He still looks like he is all legs and people still refer to him as skinny. He is anything but skinny, but they don't have the opportunity to caress his solid silken body.











I have begun trying my shooting without flash. In this case, I got the image to be light enough by "pushing" it in my photo editing program...the simple one, not Photoshop which I keep avoiding as being too complicated.












Sometimes all the kitties, including Sophie, and I are in bed together. This morning I woke up with all of them, Sophie quite close. She even walked over me.:-)

Napping

We do a lot of napping here! As a matter of fact, I think we have napping perfected. We can do it in the sun, in the shade, alone or together. We can do it sprawled out on the floor, or cramped in small spaces. Best of all, is napping under the covers, curled up with Mommy.

Letter to Virginia

Dear Mommy Viginia,

Thank you for leting me go with my texas Mommy to my new hoom. Everythin is gud.
I have 2 cats to play and sleep with. Thats reely enuff for anybudy. Why do you hav so many ? The thurd cat heer is ok but he want to b in charge and thats not right. My Mommy luvs me best, and I now how things need to work.

Sofee and Santeeno are no trubbel. Espeshally sofee hoo does wat I want. Santeeno is nice. lets me eet his food. But mabe you cud talk to Mommy? She is suppost to giv me a bite of her food. Last nite she forgot. I wus gud. No pester while she aet. I see she lef meet chop on kitchun counter. Me not go on counter. But how els get poke chop? Goes on counter, yes. OOO, so gud, so gud. Me purr, purr, purr. Me happy, Cut up with teef. Me big. Get my own snak.
Me feel gud. Purr.

Mommy com in kitchun. and mommy luk not like mommy. Hoo is dis? Mommy maik loud noise say noooooooo, noooooo, noooooo. Wats you meen noooooooo? Me get my snak. You leev for me, big boy. Mommy cut off were I chuud and gav to Rudee and Santeeno. Say go way to me. Y say that? Me no go way, me want moor treet. Mommy luv me but say nooo. Y she not let me get treet? Y she luk funnee, not like my mommy? I wurred. She not like big boy get own treet? I lef her alone an she turn into Mommy agin cuddl, kiss, purr.

Yoor big boy,
Issey

A Cat, a Pig, or a Dog?

Here you see Issey getting ready to take a nap, after having given up on my lap. This is his and Santino's favorite chair, which anyone can tell by the layer of white hair on it. Since I wind up working standing up, anyway, the chair belongs to the cats.

But, what I really wanted to write about is Issey's piggishness. He eats at lightning speed! He inhales the other cats' and his own food, and begs for more. Is the only solution to feed him in a separate room? I think that change would upset all four kitties. And, add more work for me.

What follows stinks.

Such a little creature, not yet a full-grown cat, passes large volumes of gas! It seems like a dumb reason to take him to the vet....but, could there be something physical which is resulting in his eating habits?

(Rudy, who has always swallowed his food whole, also has digestive issues. And, yes, I buy kibble for "sensitive stomachs"....but no digestive system is built for processing unchewed foods.)

So Beautiful To Me, Can't You See?

This is a popular sleeping place when I'm on the computer. Issey starts out on my lap, but I can't stay still enough to suit him. It's really nice to always have a kitty next to me!

Look at that beautiful wedge! I've never seen a better profile.:-)











I don't really have green cats. I just wasn't paying attention to the lighting. Though Santino and Issey never quite manage to arrange themselves as bookends the way litter mates do, they come close. These two are more alike in personality than they are different.

They both know what they want, want it now, and insist on getting it. Santino is mellow, but as a kitten, was a lot like Issey is now. ON me! Crying for treats. ON me. In my face. :-) Crying for treats. Now the only think Santino insists on is a daily brushing. He will wail until he gets it.

All Happy Here

I'm happy to say that Rudy has his mojo back! He likes to hang out with me, and he has become affectionate and well behaved. Today, for the first time in many months, he posed for me...as he used to do....when he saw the camera come out. He has lost a bit of weight but he looks good.
















Issey now has a belly. It's not a happy thing because he loves food as much as life itself. He quickly inhales Santino's while Santino just watches. (Totally relaxed, Santino KNOWS there will be enough food for him.) Next, he gobbles up his own, begs for more... and though it breaks my heart, I don't give it to him. Finally, he comes and attempts to snatch my food, regardless of what it is.










Issey sleeps either with Santino or Sophie. They are both happy to have him.










When Santino saw the camera, he turned his back on me. There isn't enough light for me to forego the flash.











A few days ago I walked into the studio so quietly that Sophie didn't hear me coming. She didn't have time to retreat by the time she saw me. Withing inches...careful to not look at her....I walked right by her. It's as if something clicked in her head. She now allows me much, much closer.

Doing What They Like Best

Well, it's another day that I can't make up the bed! They look much too cute, too comfy for me to disturb them. I think they count on this!

I'm much happier NOT thinking about manipulation, so I tell myself "not to go there". Anything negative which I can't or won't do anything about just isn't worth thinking about.


Issey finds my studio to be much more interesting than his toy-box. (It's a GOOD toy box, with toys rotated so there will always be something 'new')

It seems to be a "mouth thing". He is either loudly letting me know what's on his mind (not enough food), or using his mouth as a vacuum cleaner! He forages for food, yes, but he also loves my art supplies. Tiny silk flowers, jewelry chains, stickers, brushes, pens, even bits of paper he redistributes all over the house after getting them down off my work table or removing them off my bulletin board. It is beginning to annoy me, but then I remind myself that he is going to be all grown soon enough! In a few days he will be 10 months old, and every day I have had him I've thought how incredibly cute and how incredibly smart he is. :-) It's not that I don't think as highly of my other kitties....It's just that he does "cute" so well, and is constantly with me.

A Typical Afternoon

Issey loves to take afternoon naps on this chair in the living room. When I came in with the camera he awakened, first looking at me and then across the room where Sophie lay napping.







Sophie's sleep doesn't last long, but she doesn't seem to mind! She is always ready to play.


















































While in the bedroom, Rudy and Santino are resting

Issey Obnoxious?

Santino quietly playing by himself is a rare sight. It's a good thing that my camera was nearby, because...as is usually the case....he was not alone more than a few seconds. :-)

Sometimes, I think, it's a toss-up between whether Issey is a wonderful playmate or a pain in the neck for Santino....at least right now which must be Issey's adolescence. (I, of course, consider him my baby. I try very hard to not overdo this so his sibs won't resent him as happened with baby Blue) I admit that I think of Issey as being a bit obnoxious these days.

Santino makes for a sweet, patient older "brother". He does extract his daily treats as well as a long brushing session from me, though, which I see as being well balanced. He knows how to take care of his own needs. :-)