Precocious Issey

I have trouble believing that Issey is only 5 months old. He is incredibly smart and mature. I keep looking at those cute light gray balls of his and wondering..........

Therefore perhaps you will understand how it is that I had a mini freak-out last night. I was dozing....not quite asleep....when I was startled by an unfamiliar sound. It was Sophie, quiet Sophie who only mutters and trills to her toys. Issey had mounted her. Before I remembered that she is spayed, I had let out a scream and that was that.

Since I had been half asleep....perhaps, even all the way asleep....I don't know whether it was only a simple mugging. :-) I can just imagine Issey laughing at me!

Just the same, as soon as Issey's shot records arrive, I am making an appointment for neutering!

Joy of Kittenhood

This morning when I awakened, only Santino was in bed. I stroked him gently in greeting, then...looking around the room....asked out loud, "And where is little Issey?"

At the same moment I saw Issey running toward me and heard him loudly purring. And, there he was....all over me....expressing his happiness at seeing me at last! Kittens express such joy!

Issey, like all kittens, is on the clumsy side. He smacks into walls, falls off things he tries to climb....And, when I say "Oh, Issey, please be careful. Are you o.k.?" the loud, loud purring starts and whatever just happened is forgotten. (While I try not to worry about it.)

I was still in the magic of this kitten, when I heard a loud crash a few feet away. I have too many tasseled thing around the house......why did I not think to kitten-proof it better? Did Santino not do any of these things? I don't think he did!

Next, Issey jumped up on my studio wall....a perfectly aimed leap, for he smoothly grabbed the pushpin he had aimed for, and ran off with it.....with me right behind him. OMG! I can't outrun a kitten! I stopped, sat on the floor and called him. He brought me the pushpin. Sweet, sweet baby! He is so much fun!

Our Family

It's a good thing that Santino is such a sweet kitty, because Issey looks up to him. Of course, then there are the things that Santino would never do....things like get on the kitchen counter or the dining table. Issey also figured out curtain climbing all by himself. He is a smart boy. Oh, how I love having him! I especially love how he flops over onto his back, presenting his belly for rubbing.

Everyone who has seen him asks about his being so thin.....and, of course I tell them he looks exactly how he should look.....Perception is a funny thing....He has never looked thin to me....I assume, because I have seen enough Oriental breeds. I so hope I can keep him lithe and sleek! He has a voracious appetite.













Rudy always arranges himself in a perfect setting and patiently waits until I have finished.....Yes, I tell him "Good job!" and he knows he is done sitting for his portrait. Rudy is having a hard time. Miki used to groom him. Now everyone steers clear of him because they can't understand his muttering and growling.










Santino hanging out with Sophie. Sophie has relaxed. Perhaps, she thought I brought Issey home as a replacement for her? I have promised her that she can stay with me forever.

Out-takes

Let's play werewolves, o.k.?












I so don't stick my tongue out!











Now what is there to do?
















This is so in my way!











Yes, things are really are weird here.

Bed-Making 101

I almost said that Issey failed, but that would have been incorrect. All good teachers know what mothers seem to have a harder time grasping: that students will only learn what they want to learn. The teacher's job is to motivate the student.

Santino is so good that he can approach the bed running and in one swift movement dive under the covers which hang down halfway on the side of the bed. Yes, one fluid motion puts him a good 3 feet away from the edge under the covers! There is no way I could have taught him that as I haven't a clue how he achieves this. But, I did provide the original motivation of a wiggling toe or a furry mouse....even Rudy, sometimes.

The other evening Issey watched this and attempted to follow.....unsuccessfully.

So today when I saw Santino and Issey playing on the bed, I thought it might be a good time to start Bed-making 101. But, as I said earlier.....mothers can be on the slow side.

Santino knew right away what game we were playing, but Issey was having no part of it. Duh! They already HAD a game going and I was interfering!

I failed Training Cats 101. :-)

The Boys

Take a close look at this first photo. Issey/Santino look glued together. :-)















Issey likes to sit in the sun behind the blinds. In this photo, he has just come back....looking zoned out from the heat.












All the cats like this fake fur afghan, but Santino and Issey most of all.
















As yummy as an icecream cone...































Rudy, the photogenic kitty.

Adorable! So sweet!

Do I say this about all my kittens? I believe Issey is the smartest and cutest EVER! This opinion doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the others.....I just know that kittenhood is fleeting, and I don't want to miss a moment of it! Every kitten murmur, every prancing side step, even every naughtiness....Issey loves silk plants...(and I put them away one by one, reluctantly, as even this is cute.)

Issey prefers Santino's company to mine....for which I do not blame him. I like Santino's company, too.:-) Sophie has engaged Issey in play, but he is so very taken by Santino that everyone else comes in second. I guess Santino does look like "family"!