Cat in a Hammock 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

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Moses wasn’t impressed with the empty hammock. He did better a few days later when I was in it. I was reading, so he sat on my chest so I couldn’t see my book. (typical cat!) Mittens gets out now and then, usually in an escape mode. Little Bear does haul her from her window box and will cuddle her outside til Mittens decides she’s done. Maxwell, however, is a connoisseur of comfort in his ripe old age of 16. (hmmm, I thought he and Moses were older..We picked up Moses in 2004 and Maxwell a bit earlier) At any rate, Maxwell T. Silverstone was absolutely fine with being perched on top of Little Bear for as long as possible!

Sunshine and cats. Perfect summer afternoon.

Cat on the Prowl Cat Nips

“May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep. ” Erin Hunter

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This is the neighbor’s cat. (We are pretty sure it lives next door.) Little Bear woke one night to noise on his bedroom roof and discovered it was this cat. It ran off to the house next door. At any rate, this beautiful Siamese feline is a hunter. Little Bear saw it in the locust tree and proceeded to snap a series of pictures for me. The cat is investigating a squirrel feeder The Craftsman put up. We are not sure if it has actually caught a squirrel, but it is very interested in the idea!!!!! We did see it haul off a wounded starling, which was incredibly brave. Starlings are not docile birds and have formidable beaks. But cats have teeth and four paws full of claws! (the starling did escape under the neighbor’s fenced in porch.) I love Siamese cats, but I’d not adopt another one. They are even more snooty and sweet than most ordinary cats! (music video from Youtube)

Sleep Yoga Cat Nips

Moses in the Classic rounded pike. A familiar feline resting position.

Moses in the Slide with Inclination Not to Hear. Position must cover at least one ear.

Moses displaying Paw Palm at rest. Cats excel at paw palms.

Maxwell Hiding in Plain Sight. The feline must hold this position for at least two hours.

Moses Tail Curling. This can be beautiful when done while awake.

Maxwell in the Tail curling with Extended Pike and Inclination Not to Hear. Difficultly is a 9 and depends on the flexibility of the cat.

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Above is the rare Button on the Just Pulled From Dryer King Size Sheet Pouf. As you can see, both Moses and Maxwell enjoyed this particular position.

Last in this display of patterns, is Maxwell. Once more he is Hiding in Plain Sight, but he’s added Close to Completely Covered. Mittens excels in the Completely Covered. Often, she’s just a lump in Little Bear’s blankets.

It’s fascinating how flexible a feline is and their resting positions often defy physics. The longevity of the positions held is also crazy!

Outside Cat Nips

If the pull of the outside world is strong, there is also a pull towards the human. The cat may disappear on its own errands, but sooner or later, it returns once again for a little while, to greet us with its own type of love. ~Lloyd Alexander

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Being outside is lovely in spring. The air is mostly warm and there are so many things rushing to put on their festive dress. The daffodils open golden trumpets to announce the season and there is so much to do!!!

For cats, it seems sleeping and hanging around in sunshine is their favorite thing. Although, I have discovered some cat antics I could do without!!! Maxwell T. Silverstone does not like a litter box. (Granted, Kila used to ambush him when he was in it and that must have been disconcerting! But, he didn’t like them before. Maybe because he was born in a barn?) At any rate, he prefers to go outside. On grass, in dirt, it doesn’t matter. EWWWW. One of my forays outside left me with a less than favorable feeling toward this aging feline! Weeding and digging in dirt is not fun with pet waste around.

Then, on Tuesday morning, EARLY, I was confronted with another annoying response to warmer weather. It had sprinkled outside, but Moses left the house to wander the neighborhood. He arrived back in with a meowouthful. (Literally!) Whenever he finds prey, he announces it by talking with his mouth full. I tossed that damn, thankfully dead, rodent outside no less than 5 times before finally getting the pet door locked properly. He eventually devoured it in front of the door. He was going to commence his crunching and munchings on the mat in front of the door upstairs. I was happier it was outside the back door on the cement. (Much easier to clean than a rug!) I was so darn glad I was still awake. CATS!

Then, the critters do something sweet and are lovable all over again! Are not Mitten’s whiskers beautiful in this photo??? (She’s outside in the window box that was made for Kila.)

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!

To wake the beast Cat Nips

“Arise from sleep, old cat,
And with great yawns and stretchings…
Amble out for love”  Issa

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Moses loves to sleep. Well, he’s 17..of course he does! Usually Maxwell sleeps on the cushion on top of the couch, Moses has appropriated it. Moses loves, but he appropriates. If it is yours, then it is his. Whether it is food, a sleeping spot, the yard, or a lap. For being a sweetheart, this guy is definitely the biggest bully on the block!

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.

Decorating Cat Nips

“The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Or a Cat!

Moses doesn’t care too much for decorating. It adds unnecessary drama and debris he’s not allowed to chew on. His favorite places tend to be usurped for things like nativity groups or stuffed reindeer and objects are moved from their normal spaces. He, however, does not mind the larger boxes once emptied. Granted, he was annoyed when I refilled this particular one after removing him, but I told him there will always be boxes of some sort somewhere. He’s still looking. 

Toys! Cat Nips

“Life is more fun if you play games.”
― Roald Dahl

When I left Alaska, I had found Mittens absolute favorite green mouse toy under a throw rug. It was fairly flat, but smooshed back into mouse shape moderately well. I was going to give it to her, but then decided she might like it in her new home. I dropped it into a box I was having mailed and promptly forgot about it.

A week after our traumatic journey, Mittens was bored and playing with all sorts of things. I was cleaning and tossed her a couple of cat toys, which she treated with indifference. Then, I tossed her an army man (this is intriguing. My youngest is 24 years old and army men litter the house!). Oh my! She tossed that little green man around like Sid on Toy Story Later, Little Bear brought home a box from the PO and I told him what Mittens had done, he said Moses loves to toss them around, too. ! I could see a whole new scene with cats and toy soldiers!

When I opened the broken box, I discovered the mouse I’d packed. Mittens was thrilled! Eventually, she lost it. Little Bear later found it in his blankets. I think it was a very good idea I packed her toy and I believe it is helping her feel more comfortable in her new home.

Familiarity is a positive thing when big changes occur.