nugget lock down

To circumvent future nugget raids, I came up with the brilliant idea of just turning around the bins so the latches faced the wall. Simple and effective.

And guess what? It was completely ineffective. Laura came home to find...

The bin had been raided once again. 

Surprisingly enough, when kitty dinner time came around, only Buddy expressed any interest. I'm not surprised that the boys would do such a thing, but the girls too?! I'm so disappointed that Willow would have taken part in such a thing, she's better than that! But she had no interest in dinner, so she's as guilty as the rest!

nugget raid

Laura came home to find this:

Buddy's nugget bin had been raided and Theo was feasting.

Theo checking out the bins

One might suspect Theo as the guilty party, however, the night prior, I found Nahum out there alone working over the latch. He had successfully opened it without toppling the bin.

These food bins have been located here for years.

Many of Theo's bad habits have rubbed off on Nahum. In this case, Nahum had gotten his fill of food and left the scene, while Theo kept eating and eating. Come dinner time the guilty parties became evident as Nahum and Theo expressed little interest in food.

Later on in the evening, I asked Nahum to show me how he accomplished this, but he only sat quietly and looked fluffy. So, with Nahum not cooperating in my investigation, I asked his accomplice. Theo was very willing to show me how the process works in exchange for some of the loot.

First step involves using one's pointy nose to pry open the latch and lid...

then survey the loot to make sure you got the right nugget bin... (don't want to inadvertently break into the bin of low fat-nuggets!)

then place face in nuggets and feast!!

The way these boys act, you might think they never get fed, but in reality they get two full meals every day! Sigh. I guess it's time to figure out how to re-secure the secure nugget bins.

A Rosy Friday

Happy Friday!

happy lunch

One of the perks of coming home for lunch...

midday Oliver love

I think the enjoyment is mutual!

plan B - the blanket fort

I didn't sleep well last night, partly due to the all night crazy kitty antics that kept waking me every few hours. When morning finally came, I was feeling pretty lousy and with it being a rainy day, I decided to bag my plans for the day and go with plan B.

Might as well join the kitty madness and build a blanket fort...

The concept is simple, tuck one end under the couch cushion, one corner goes across the scratching post and the other is secured to the kitty tree.

Theo enjoys trying to storm the fort by hanging out on top, 

but Nahum's not going to purr idle and let that happen...

After a good tussle, it's always refreshing to hang out under the kitty fort with your mates.

The good kitty forts always have a teleportation tunnel close by.

Willow hangs out by the teleportation tunnel just in case she needs to make a quick escape.

No kitty fort is complete without the appropriate toys.

Every kitty loves the scratching post when it's part of the fort!

Even super-shy Rose is drawn to the scratching post!

Theo barely fits.

Rose!!!

Adorable Rose never gets this close to the evil humans.

Kitty fort even draws the shy ones to play

What a Theo-siege looks like from inside the fort

Nahum's gotta go check this out

This looks serious...

Safety first! A pause in the action while the senior goes by

the battle resumes...

arrrrrrrhhhh....

How rude! Theo gives Nahum a raspberry!

Poor Oliver wants to come inside and join in the kitty fun.

There's always someone who feels left out.

Buddy tells Oliver he's not allowed inside.

Another blah day salvaged by endless kitty fun! The only kitty not to take part in the fun was Bert, our autistic kitty who can't seem to figure out know how to play with the other cats. Bert just laid nearby watching the other kitties have fun.

work party

It was a gorgeous warm and sunny Spring day today. I couldn't stand being in the office all afternoon with the sun shining, so I packed up and headed home with the a vision of finishing up some work with kitty assistance.

An impromptu outdoor work party ensued...

 and Oliver wasted no time in offering his assistance.

Oliver makes a delightful and cute assistant...

but one thing led to another...

and before I knew it the work party turned into a cuddle party.

Work, schmirk! Why do today what you can put off for tomorrow?!

Time for nap!

Happy Spring!!

speedy recovery

On Friday afternoon, I went under the knife. It was a simple outpatient procedure to remove a cyst that had been hanging out under the surface of my neck for too many years. Everything went fine, but I was pretty groggy from the sedation when I got home. I could barely lie down before Buddy was on the job with his healing purrs.

I'm so grateful for my cuddly kitties and their healing purr-powers.

Before I left the house to go to surgery, I was hanging out with Oliver on the bed. He so loves being an inside kitty and cuddling. Just a few hours later, when I went into the operating room and got settled on the operating table, I remembered the Oliver cuddles I had enjoyed. What a pleasant way to drift to sleep.

re-enactment

I failed to get pictures of Oliver cuddling pre-surgery, but thankfully, he was very gracious and offered to re-enact the cuddle on Saturday, for your viewing pleasure. Thank you Oliver, for your kind and thoughtful nature.

re-enactment

With this kitty crew looking after me, I'll be healed up in no time! Kitties are the best!! Oh, and a big thanks to Laura, who makes a darn good nurse (for a human)!

remembering MK

Today marks 6 weeks (42 days) since MK went missing. My heart still aches for him and yet I've come closer to accepting that he's not coming back. I'm guessing he might have gotten hit by a car or some such awful fate.

MK                                      July 12, 2014

The back porch was his home, he spent most of his nights here snuggled up with his papa, Oliver, and brother, Pierre. More than anything else, he loved spending time with his family.

 Family snuggle                                 May 13, 2014

Oliver started coming around in early 2011, by the late summer, I had built him living accommodations and a safe place to eat. In that time we started becoming friends and by late Fall, he was cuddling in my lap - to my delight, he had come to fully trust me. Apparently he trusted me enough to bring his kitts to my yard, to share in his good fortune.

One of Oliver's young kitts having some dinner             Nov 28, 2011

   Oliver, MK, and Pierre enjoying dinner in the Dining Hall           Dec 31, 2011

Oliver keeps watch

Oliver has always been more than happy to share his food and heated homes with his family. It's no wonder MK adored his papa so much, as Oliver has always gone to great lengths to care for his family.

  Oliver on roof with his kitts staying warm inside his heated home       Jan 12, 2012

It didn't take long for MK and Pierre to feel more at ease in the yard. Over time, they began hanging out here more frequently and eventually they were here more than they were not. When Oliver was around they always felt very safe and would lounge in the yard.

Jan 14, 2012

MK hanging out with his sister, Nora                   July 5, 2012

In time, MK began trusting me more and more. He loved to play with toys. I would bring fake mice out in the yard and he would go crazy, batting them around the yard. He particularly enjoyed a large stuffed rat-toy!

June 9, 2013

Family portrait                           Jan 15, 2014

MK was always willing to take more risks when Oliver was around. Oliver's presence gave him courage and confidence. If Oliver was coming inside the house, then MK would have to check it out too.

MK checking in on Oliver in his "room"                   Jan 21, 2014

It was common for me to check the kitty-cams and see MK zonked out in Oliver's House or his Guest House. Seeing him all safe, warm, and snug on a cold, rainy winter day always brought me great joy. 

MK and Pierre enjoy a cuddle together inside Oliver's House   Feb 6, 2014

MK and Pierre enjoying a cuddle         Aug 2013

I'll be the first to admit that I have a control issue. I'm the kind of person who likes to do everything I can to ensure my cats are safe and happy. Therefore, taking care of a backyard feral cat colony has been incredibly stressful, as there is only so much I can control. I've lost a lot of sleep over the years worrying about their wellbeing. I've worked really hard to create a feral cat paradise, so they won't wander and will be safe and secure. Care taking the ferals has also been incredibly rewarding, winning the trust of feral cats is a very emotionally intoxicating experience. Looking back, I probably was only able to touch MK just a handful of times, occasionally stealing pets while he was distracted and happily eating his wet food breakfast alongside his brother and papa. As soon as he realized I was touching him, he backed off, just out of my arms reach.

It's amazing how attached I can get to a cat that I've only touched a few times, however, I watched him live out his life in my backyard and back porch. Everyday I got to see his playful personality as he romped with his brother around the yard and cuddled with whoever was available. MK was certainly the silliest of his family, he was always doing something that made me smile and warmed my heart.

MK, I'm really, really sad that my time with you has been cut so short. I know Oliver and Pierre miss you too. My heart aches to see you again, free, happy, and romping in your yard with your brother. Thank you for gifting me with your beautiful presence. I did everything I could think of to keep you safe and happy, but in the end it wasn't enough, and for that I'm deeply sorry. Although I can no longer see you with my eyes, you will forever live in my heart. I love you MK and I miss you dearly.

May 8, 2012

 Summer 2011 - January 19, 2015