Moses and the 12 Days of Christmas

This will have a lot of pictures. I probably should have cut it in half, but although I used these on FB, I didn’t think of sharing them here til the 11th day!  So, here is Moses celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas. Enjoy.

On the first day of Christmas, Moses tried to sit in a piece of cardboard packaging from my new air fryer. He was probably practicing for Boxing Day! The second day of Christmas, Moses decided to nap on a lap. On the third day of Christmas, I didn’t take pictures. Both of us were annoyed with the chirping from the smoke alarm. Thankfully, someone taller too care of it for us!

The fourth day of Christmas, Moses was outside and not impressed about posing with Christmas lights!On the eve of fifth day of Christmas, Moses took out the stuffed mouse that wasn’t stirring! The sixth day of Christmas, our Moses declared it wasn’t a day for six geese a laying, but a day for one cat a laying on the bed! On the seventh day of Christmas, Moses kept an eye out for those swans. Happily, they didn’t show up!The eighth day of Christmas is the new year. Moses wishes one and all blessings, love, and cats to fill those empty 365 days. The ninth day of Christmas Moses enjoyed some catnip. Ladies dancing have nothing on a cat rocking and rolling on nip! On the tenth day of Christmas, Moses was tired of posts and sharpened his claws on the porch. On the eleventh day of Christmas our Moses wanted to put a sock in the whole proceedings. The twelfth day of Christmas, the day of Epiphany, Moses consulted with me..and then the Magi. Almost everything is put away for another year, but the memories of Moses and the 2019 holiday season will live on.

Springtime Cat Nips

“Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day.” W. Earl Hall

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On the last day of winter Moses was moving from sun spot to sun spot. He has a favorite flowerpot he snoozed in for a little while, then he moved to my garden bench, under the bench, on the ground next to the flower pot, in my yard rocking chair, and under a tree. I finally caught up with him slumbering among the dead Japanese lanterns at the edge of the dry creek in my garden. The first day of spring, it was cloudy and chill. (Of course!) I went shopping and the cats slept inside!

What’s Afoot? Cat Nips

“A cat knows how to be comfortable, how to get the people around it to serve it. In a tranquil domestic situation, the cat is a veritable manipulative genius. It seeks the soft, it seeks the warm, it prefers the quiet and it loves to be full. It displays, when it gets its own way in these matters, a degree of contentment we would all like to emulate.”  Roger Caras

Moses is always taking Maxwell’s spot. When I saw this napping duo, I had to laugh. Maxwell’s feet are firmly on the top of Moses’s head! (The best part of this was the two legger lap these two were on was also asleep!) I wondered what each one was dreaming. I am sure our furkidz dream, but of what? Although, if Moses was dreaming of being stepped on, he’d probably object in a vocal manner. I’m curious if Maxwell was dreaming about being top cat, crushing others beneath his feet!

Loving Cat Nips

“What greater gift than the love of a cat.” Charles Dickens

No words. Just Moses being sweet, for once! Happy almost Valentines Day. 💕💕💕

Warming Cat Nips

“Summer is the time for squabbles. In winter, we must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths.” George R.R. Martin

Maxwell is often cold. His fur is growing back, but his preferred spot is anyplace it is warm. I had on a long skirt one day while sitting near the heat vent. When it came on, there was a spot of Marilyn Monroe happening. Maxwell, discovered this ‘tent’ and moved in. Awkward, but not too bad. Most of him was under the bench I was sitting on.

When I am in the house, I often wear a ‘house jacket’ made of polar fleece. Since I was cooking, I removed it and dropped it on the bench. Maxwell found it and I conveniently draped the coat for his comfort. (I’m really a good cat mom!) Moses found the fabric on the floor and parked himself on the warm cloth. As you can see, Maxwell was not impressed!!! Silly cats!!!

Bullying Cat Nips

“You know Yellowfang, don’t you? she was cranky, stubborn, impatient-and the most loyal cat you will ever meet.” Erin Hunter

photo from a couple of summers back.

I was going to call this post Bully Cat Nips, but I didn’t want anyone to think it was a good thing! It is annoying and frustrating.

To look at this picture of our yellow/orange/white kitty, one might think he’s as sweet as the violets he’s sleeping on. And you’d be correct, part of the time. He really is a character, friendly to humans, and is almost like a dog in many respects. But, to another feline, this adorable 24 toed meowser is on the other side of nice. He’s a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde sort of creature.

Moses met with one of the neighbor cats the other night. It was short, loud, and completely random for us two leggers. When Moses sauntered in finally, he had spots of fur not smoothed against his coat. After a short while, we could tell he was hurting. He didn’t want touched, he wasn’t interested in his wet food snack, and he curled up on a soft shawl I placed on the floor.

Thankfully, he was back to normal in less than 8 hours. And unfortunately, he quickly lost my sympathy when he got into a vocal discussion with Mittens as she walked past. Our Moses is a brat and a bully. He needs to remember he’s almost 17 and settle down!!!

photo from 2016

 

Trapped Cat Nips

“Think you have nine lives, do you? I saved you once…. don’t make me save you again.” Erin Hunter

The other night Mittens discovered the cat door. She’d gone through it once before, but that was when an extension cord was threaded thru it to help power something outside for a few hours. Since it was ‘open’, she naturally went through it. This time, however, it was just closed normally. We had no idea where she was. A norther furry feline lost somewhere. We looked everywhere inside and called her. Eventually, she was found outside, ready to run back through the open two legger door. She was chilled and unimpressed, it seemed, with her foray into the yard. So, without telling anyone, Little Bear locked the door to where Moses or Maxwell could come in, but they’d need to use human assistance to get out.

Late in the night, The Craftsman couldn’t sleep. As he went out into the kitchen for a drink of water, he saw a shadow streak from the food dish near the sink. Then, he heard a thump and then a frantic climbing of the walls sound with accompanying mews. He went downstairs to the basement doorway area with a flashlight and found, huddled in a corner near the door, a neighbor cat! He quickly opened the door and the stressed feline shot outside into the cold darkness. Trapped no more and quite possibly no longer planning on stopping in for a midnight snack of ‘free’ kibble at the big house inside the fence!!

Needless to say, I was very glad a human was awake and incredibly glad Moses and Maxwell slept through the entire visit.

 

It was a Meowy Christmas Cat Nips

’The trouble withcats is they’ve got no tact.’ Sir Philip Sydney

Usually, the tree has a train around it to play with and derail. This year, the locomotive and tracks were kept boxed. It was altogether a boring season for the cats. Briefly, Mittens was interested in the two trees, but that thrill was short lived in that there wasn’t anything to play with. Maxwell was completely concerned with keeping warm and fed. As for Moses, he was unimpressed with the fire call that pulled the kid from playing with Christmas presents. (Our firefighter is on the ladder in the smoke!) I may have scoured social media looking for updates, hoping Little Bear would be home for dinner, but Moses seemed quite content holding his place at the table. I do believe the striped feline was expecting to be served!

At least the December holiday was less stressful than New Year’s Day, no fireworks!

Naughty Cat Nips

“So Tumpty tried hiding upside down, behind a pot plant, under a large cardboard box, with his eyes tightly closed.” Polly Dunbar

Moses was in trouble. Absolutely NOT on Santa’s nice list. He’d been bothering Maxwell and I was not happy. Maxwell T. Silverstone is getting better, the grey kitty is finally filling out a bit, and he sleeps a lot. However, Moses isn’t impressed that Maxwell is getting ‘treats’ and opted to spend some time growling and harassing Max as only a cat can. Maxwell was trying to get away and the two legger mom in me was annoyed beyond belief. So, as I investigated and tried to corral Moses, he hid.

Yup, I broke down in laughter. Kids, fur or otherwise, can be so silly sometimes! After I snapped the picture, I did smack his nose as best I could and looked to see if Maxwell was ok. I also mentioned that next time, he should find a better hiding spot.

Getting Well Cat Nips

“Animals are unpredictable things so our whole life is unpredictable. It’s a long tale of little triumphs and disasters and you’ve got to really like it to stick it.” James Herriot

Maxwell T. Silverstone went back to the vet Monday the 17th. I was incredibly worried. I knew, as an older cat, sedation and meds would take a bit to kick. But, he went from devouring wet cat food to licking the offering a bit and ignoring it! By Sunday, I’d tried everything from raw deer burger (a favorite), to tuna fish. When he was trimmed, his weight was a whopping 7 pounds (he’s a very small cat, always has been!), but he was looking a lot thinner.

On Monday he seemed more himself, he was grooming a smidge and appeared more alert. But, he still disdained food. So, we dropped him off at the clinic. A couple of hours later, we were called to pick him up. He’d been given some more fluids and a jar of Gerber turkey baby food! (The vet’s big guns for picky eaters!) It was a good thing we brought him in, Maxwell was now 5 pounds. We were also given a prescription of a paste to put in his ear. (The script was for Mr.T. Maxwell, but it was really for Maxwell T. Silverstone. His name is often changed!) It was an appetite encourager. (I guess an ear is a bit safer than the mouth! He still doesn’t  like it.) Whatever the stuff is, it’s working. He’s very hungry. We need to be careful and not give him too much at once, cuz he’ll eat it up! Thankfully, he’s got normal cat eating habits and will scarf and snack intermittently.

Hes still cold, preferring to sleep in a box lined with a heating pad. He’s even sleeping under blankets now, near Moses. Although, Moses does continue to steal them. I’m just thankful our 18 year old spy cat is on the mend. He’s really a sweetheart.