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. :-)

Funny Baby

Mom says I am a funny boy. She is crazy for me! I am crazy for her! I am always the first to greet her when she opens her eyes in the morning.










Ooooh, this rug feels so good! It's my favorite!
















I've got the longest tail of anybody!!! But I can't believe she took a picture of my butt!

















MOM! Please clean my butt!