Thursday, June 27, 2013

first contact

This morning was going like every other morning. Inside cats get fed and then it's time for the outside cats to get their special breakfast.

Pierre and MK were snuggling in the little red bed on the back porch as they often are and Oliver was coming down from his loft perch. They all stretch and get ready for some special yums.

As I put out the wet food, Oliver starts right in while Pierre sits back a short distance away, intently watching. Sometimes, I'll slowly reach my hand out to him and he slowly backs away. Well, this morning, instead of backing away, he slowly raised his right paw and gently touched my fingers with his paw! What a joy! Soon I'll be loving on him, I just know it! What a great way to start the new day!

And speaking of Pierre, I chose him to be the featured cat on my first ever blog-card! I was hoping to have them for the upcoming conference in Chicago and I just got the email today saying they shipped! I can't wait to get them!

Here is what they will look like:


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

do not disturb!

Pierre and MK enjoy a morning cuddle
You know you're a cat-codependent when you see two semi-feral cats snuggling on the back porch and so you exit out the front door of the house and walk around the block to get to the car which is parked at the back of the house, all so as not to disturb the sleeping cats.


Sunday, June 23, 2013

rats!

What happens when a plush rat finds it's way into the yard?


It's time to play!



Then comes the feather toy!




Oliver knows how to have a good time!

Friday, June 21, 2013

prison break

For three days in a row last week I woke up in the night to the sound of cats fighting. Each night the fighting was later into the morning. On one day, around 2am, I ran outside in my bathrobe to try to break it up. An angry neighbor across the street had beat me to the scene. She was out there screaming at them to stop.

I don't like the idea of Oliver upsetting the neighbors. It would be horrible if the neighbors decided to take matters into their own hands and do something awful to Oliver and his family. I also don't like the idea of him fighting. So, I've resorted to locking Oliver on the fully enclosed front porch for the nights  and have started giving him daily fluoxetine in hopes it will curb his urine marking and strong territorial attitude.

I feel horribly guilty when I lock him away, and when I don't, I worry all night that he'll get in a fight when he's patrolling the neighborhood. Either way I lose!

The other night, after he promised me he wouldn't fight, I decided to let him remain free that night. I went to bed worrying about him. Sure enough, a little before six in the morning, I hear cat fighting! In a huff, I throw on my robe and start to charge down the stairs. Before I got very far, I see Oliver sitting peacefully on the front porch, looking up at me with a quizzical look. Sometime in the night, he decided to lock himself on the front porch. Oliver was not fighting this time, I had indicted the wrong cat!

Oliver has learned to let himself onto the front porch by pushing his head against the door and moving forward into the opening. The door closes behind him, locking him away until someone comes and lets him back out. I don't think he views being on the front porch as a negative, he actually seems to equate it to being one step closer to being an inside kitty, which is his true wish.

Wednesday night, I again left Oliver free for the night. I went to bed worried about him. I awoke a few hours later and checked the porch camera, Oliver had locked himself on the front porch once again! I fell back to sleep much more at ease, knowing Oliver was safe. Oddly, in the morning Oliver was no longer on the porch! How did he escape?! Take a look and come to your own conclusions.

10:52pm, Oliver lets himself onto the front porch

12:19am, Oliver's still hanging out

12:43am, he's still there

1:53am, Pierre's looking in

I'm speculating that Oliver escaped his front porch prison with some help from the outside. The evidence strongly points to Pierre as the accomplice. Maybe Pierre pushed the door open for Oliver so he could escape. Very sneaky, those two!

Update: Same thing happened last night. Take a look:

11:31pm, Oliver enters porch

12:24am

1:20am

3:41am, first visitor

4:36am, second visitor

4:42am, hanging out

4:56am

4:57:08am

4:57:40am, escape!

5:05am, third visitor

What's your theory of how Oliver manages to escape?

Sunday, June 16, 2013

papa's day

Oliver's such a great father - he's no dead-beat dad. He remains very committed to the wellbeing of his sons and daughter. He always welcomes them to eat before he eats and is eager to play or cuddle with them whenever they want.



This day is for you Oliver, a day to rest and enjoy!


Ok! Enough already - no more flashy thing!

Happy Papa's Day to Oliver and to my Dad, a man who is also a very loving and committed father!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

two years of the Budster!

Yep, it's Buddy's Gotcha Day!!




Two years of Buddy, where does the time go? He still loves his cuddles and tummy rubs. He's a very directive cat, always telling me what I need to be doing. Whether it's demanding second or third dinners or insisting that his tummy must be rubbed right then - no it cannot wait!


Happy Gotcha Day Buddy!! Love ya!

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Boys

My friend Jana is an amazing artist. She recently gifted me with this pencil drawing of three of my kitties. Can you tell who's who?


Saturday, June 8, 2013

playin' feather with the boys

How is one suppose to mow the grass when Oliver and Pierre are hanging around?


Grass mowing will have to wait for another day, as there're outside cats that need to play!



I am very enamored by Pierre, he's so curious about everything and loves to play and play!



Sorry for the sub-standard picture quality, these were all taken with my mobile phone camera. I didn't want to spoil the moment by going inside to get the real camera.


Oliver likes to stalk the elusive feather








Play - it does the heart good.

Monday, June 3, 2013

score!

Look what Hershey did!



Mike tells me he was making a sandwich and turned his back for only a second.

Way to go Hershey!! You're doing it right!