Special Day Cats

Ok, here it is. Today is the latest day that humans have decided to make special. They named it Easter, and argue about why it is called that. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the kind of day it is. The story is that one of their gods was killed on a Friday - see last Friday's story - and when they went to fix him up to be buried on the next Sunday, he was gone. Some people made a big deal out of this and said he came back to life. They figured that he went to heaven and promised that they could go to heaven as well. I guess they celebrate because they decided it means that he would save their lives after they die. It seems like a nice idea, but to make a whole day out of it - well - that's how humans are. Some of the customs for this special day are to get all dressed up and go to church, even if you haven't gone since Christmas. They give kids baskets full of candy and eggs, and there is a lot to do with rabbits. Kasey and I don't get it. I don't think it is a secret that He and She don't get it either. She thinks it is a welcome to spring and a new beginning of the year, and He thinks it is a way to sell baskets and eggs and candy. She says some people have big dinners on this kind of day. It makes Her laugh to think a lot of people eat lamb meat, because lambs are particularly cute and fluffy, but maybe they think the lambs will go to heaven. For our dinner tonight, She is going to fix pizza, which is fine with me. In case there is no pizza in heaven, She is going to eat a lot of it right here here we live. Dying is very peculiar. We don't like to think about it, but She says it is heaven right here  and as long as there are good memories, no one ever really dies. I guess that is why She still thinks about Their old cat, Charlotte all the time. I don't think there is another special day for a while.Well, I hope you had a nice special day today. Bye now.

Brunch Cats

A while ago, She used to go for brunch almost every week, with Mable'sMom, but those two ladies don't have time for each other anymore, so She hasn't had brunch for a long time. Brunch is when you mix breakfast and lunch together, so now She either goes for lunch or dinner. Well it was happy news to find out that Cleo'sGirls were both here today, and they decided He and She and Cleo'sPeople would all have brunch together. They were excited to go to a favorite place, and get hugs and see how pretty the girls looked. There was only one thing wrong. There were lots of people, so you had to talk loudly. She asked Him not to talk so loudly, because His voice is very loud and clear, and She didn't want everyone to hear us. I think you know He has to take medicine. Well, his new medicine hasn't started to work yet, so He was  solving all the world problems, only not everyone would agree with him. She hates to have to shush Him, because it doesn't seem very friendly, but She didn't want someone with a different opinion to come and punch his nose. Luckily the food came, and everyone was busy eating a lot of good things. It was lovely to see the whole family, and it is lucky they understand how He is. She is glad He has some new medicine.
The things She ate for Her brunch were so good that She gobbled them down and didn't bring home leftovers. That is OK, because I will be happy with whatever She fixes for dinner, even if it is a mixture of things. I am so glad They are home. I love for Them to see Cleo'sPeople and I love for Them to come home for pets and snuggles. Have a nice evening, everybody.

Good Cats

Readers, if you have a chance to listen to the humans without saying anything, you will hear some very peculiar stuff.  For example today is another human special day, and it must be kind of minor, because we still get mail. This day is named Good Friday. When you ask them why, they say the story is that one of their favorite gods was killed on this day a couple thousand years ago. I cannot quite figure out how that makes it good, but that's what they call it. I decided Kasey and I can call ourselves good cats, as long as you don't need to have reasons. Wait a minute, Cofs, She says to me. The people who believe in this call it good because it was the beginning of a process. The name came after they finished the process. OK. I am still puzzled, but She says I will have an answer in a few days. He and She don't believe what lots of other people believe about this killing thing, since They believe in nature and order and stuff like that. I honestly don't know how humans hold all this stuff in their heads.  One of the beliefs is that you should eat a lot of fish, so She is fixing fish for our dinner tonight. Now that is a belief that works for me.
I will be especially glad to have some of that fish tonight, because of the thing that happened this morning. When He fills our regular dishes with kibbles, He takes the dish away, fills it, then brings it back. Well, today He forgot to bring it back. I had to bother Her three or four times until she went to check. No wonder, She said, and brought the food to the eating place. He and She are good people. No one has to kill them to prove it. Oddy-ose.

Catnip Cats

For many years now, I have not been under the influence of catnip. I would sniffle it, but it didn't make me act silly. Kasey, on the other hand, liked to sniffle it and roll around ,  but Kasey does not like attention, so she kind of acted low-key about it. Then along came Kate. Kate would act just like the kittens in the cartoons. She would roll and wiggle and like her catnip. Remember, Kate had claws, and we don't, so He got her a scratching post. Kate was used to scratching on trees, so she didn't care much about the scratching post. It seemed a good idea to rub a bunch of catnip into the scratching post, which Kate enjoyed, but she didn't scratch. There were catnip toys that occupied our Kate. Kasey and I were not all that interested. Now Kate has gone to live somewhere else, and her toys are still here. All of a sudden I like the toys. I like the scratch-lounge, which is a box with scratching paper in it, where She also put catnip. I love that thing. Kasey loves the scratching post. It makes Her baffled. Kasey scratches her non-claws on it, and rolls all over the base of it. She likes the scratch-lounge as well. I like playing with the catnip toys. It as if I were just a kitten again. The funniest thing is to see Kasey, who has always acted as if nothing were of interest to her, rolling around and scratching and being silly. This is quite a change for Her, who is  used to seeing neither Kasey nor me acting silly over catnip. It just goes to show you, She says. We had nearly a year when Kate kept us stuck in the bedroom, and now she has left us this legacy of joyful playing.  It is not easy to figure out how that works, or why, but She appreciates that it happened. Very mysterious - but nice. As a matter of fact, I think I'll go play in the scratch-lounge now. Buh-bye.

Pretty Cats

I can tell you the names of three pretty cats. One is Kasey. She is not very friendly, but she is surely pretty to look at. She has some stripes and some spots and the neat thing is that some of her spots are kind of orange. If you think a bunch of marks on one cat is pretty,l then you will have to agree with me. Kasey has a little problem with being very independent, except with Him. I don't think that is pretty. Still, she is my sister, and when I look at her I see a pretty cat.  Another pretty cat is Kate. Kate is blue and silver, so that she looks kind of gray, but her fur is pretty, and so is her face, with very green eyes.  Because Kate is so pretty, She thinks Kate has found another home. The third cat is (ahem) me, myself. I am the color of coffee with cream in it, so She thought that was a perfect name for me. Coffee.  I am the biggest of the three, and I have some wobbley hips, but when I get up on Her and purr, She says I am the most beautiful cat in the whole chair.  I give Her extra snuggles for that.  It is harder for me to tell if humans are pretty. Being pretty seems to mean much more to people than it does for cats. You should see what they do. They put on paint on their faces and their lips They fuss with their hair. If you are a guy person, you sometimes shave the hair off your face, or maybe just some of it. I'll let you in on something. If I were blind and couldn't see Her, I would still think She is pretty, because of the way She pets me and brushes me and lets me snuggle. I would think He is pretty, because He always takes care of us and pets us and treats us nicely. It makes me wonder. I know what makes cats pretty, but as for people, I think it has nothing to do with the way they look. It is how they treat their cats and each other. To me She is not fat, She is just right. He thinks She is just right, too.  If you wonder if you are pretty, think about who loves you and not how you look. I'm just saying.
She isn't fixing dinner tonight. It is Cleo'sMom's birthday, so She and some other special friends are going to celebrate. I won't tell you what is in the package. It would spoil the surprise. Cheers.

Wise Cats

Cats are always wise, but humans are sometimes silly. Right now they are having a fuss about whether men can marry men and ladies can marry ladies. This is just looking for something to argue about, in my opinion. Cats don't get married. We do have other cats as friends, but it doesn't matter if they are boy cats or girl cats. Sometimes we meet a cat who is ready to have kittens and we have a kitten-making experience, but after that, we just go on with our daily lives. Humans are not always interested in more kittens, so they take us to the vet and have us fixed. We don't get a choice, but I must say that a lot of unnecessary drama - and unnecessary kittens - go away. Humans have this thing called getting married. It is mostly about rules, you see. When They got married, He and She promised to help each other and take care of each other. Because of rules, They can share  money and safety and stuff, and They agreed not to make kittens with anyone else. I don't know how that works for anybody else, but it works for Them. They made these promises to follow rules because they love each other, and They agree that love is the best thing there is. Kasey and I scratch our heads, because we cannot see what difference it makes if the men love the men and follow the rules or if the ladies love the ladies and follow the rules. Everyone should have the same rules and get the same chances. If humans want to have little humans, and they can't make them, they can get them the way He and She got Kasey and me. I am telling you, I don't see a reason for making that so hard to do. All I can guess is that it saves you from thinking about real problems if you spend a lot of time arguing about silly things..
More important than the marrying argument is what will we have for dinner. She has some meat that you have to cook a long time, so She will get started early. He is going to like it, because He always likes what She fixes. Relax and have a nice evening, dear readers.

Warm Cats

The weather here has been just perfect, with sunny days and warm air. the worst anyone can say about our weather here is that we need rain. But She has friends all over the place, and where many of them live it is cold and snowy. That is unusual for this time of year, and we were a little sorry to brag about our nice weather. The guy on the news told us that it will be cold here at night for a few nights, and not too warm in the daytime. Not cold enough to snow, or warm enough to swim, so we are still better off than those other people. You know how the humans have their days? Well, the next special day is one called Easter, which must be something about the east, I guess. All I know is that there are about a gazillion ads for candy and eggs. We don't do anything special for that day here at our house, so I don't know if it affects us, but She wishes She had a little bit of that candy. Not a whole basketful, like they show on TV. Maybe just a little. Kasey and I are waiting for a holiday when you get fish. So far we haven't had one like that.  I don't hold out high hopes for one, either.
I am not sure about dinner tonight. She hasn't gotten anything out of the freezer yet, so we shall have to wait and see. I don't think it is more eggs, or any pizza.  She likes to leave a little time before She fixes the same things. Kasey and I have kibbles every single day, and we don't mind at all.
Toodles for now.

Friendly Cats

The cats at our house are not always friendly with each other. Kasey is not friends with me, neither of us was friends with Kate, and she didn't like us. Kate liked Him and Her, and was Their friend. I think we need to learn some friend lessons from Him and Her, because They are excellent at having friends. First of all, They are friends with each other. Each of them has other friends, as well. I am Her friend, and She is my friend. Although Kasey is not actually friends with anyone but Him, Kasey is polite to Her, and is willing to accept treats. She loves Her friends, and would always want to help them, although She is kind of slow and lame. She likes having lunch and tea and conversations with Her friends, and She really trusts them. Trust means that you can be sure about them. She has friends on the computer. She has met some of them, like Her OperaGirl, Her OzGirl, Her StefferGirl and Monkey. She has met Her WestTexasGirl and Her DallasGirl. She is friends with Eddie, but He doesn't really know Her very well.  Eddie has a gazillion friends. There are a whole bunch of EddieFriends that She knows on the computer, and She loves to visit with these friends.  She is on the computer for hours, talking to them and listening to them, only in writing. Sometimes it is all I can do to get Her away long enough to write my story.  Here is the thing about friends. They make you a better cat or a better person. You don't want to disappoint your friends, so you pay attention. If you can't help them, then you only need to stay out of their way. There is a saying at Her church. A joy shared is a joy multiplied and a sorrow shared is a sorrow divided. I know what that means, and I bet you do, too. Later, Gator.

Nice Full Cats

At our house, there is always plenty for cats to eat. We both get plenty of delicious kibbles, of course. Every morning, I eat butter off of Her finger. Today I had ten fingers, as a matter of fact. More often it is two or three and I have enough. Then, in the evening, if there is fish or something with gravy, I get a little snack of that. She would not want me to tell you I eat it off Her plate, because She thinks a lot of people would gack at that. Kasey doesn't want any butter, but she likes some tempting treats, which He and She both give her during the day.  He and She have nice things to eat. First She has toast with black berries in it, and it smells wonderful. She always has coffee-the-drink with that, but then, She almost always has coffee with everything. He has to eat every so often because of His blood sugar, so He has probably had breakfast before I can get Her out of bed.  During the day They eat at different times, but every night, when the clock says 6:30, They have some dinner together.This is where She has a problem. I heard that She used to be a good cook, and She liked cooking. She made some fancy food, and He and She had company over to have dinner. Little by little, She lost interest in cooking, and now that She can't stand up very long, She only cooks really easy things. Sometimes She isn't interested in thinking about what to fix. The nice thing is that it is always something, and They sit together and have dinner. When it is something I like, I am right there with them. She likes that. We are very lucky at our house, because we always have enough to eat and somebody nice to eat with. G'nite, friends.

Problem Cats

There has been a lot of talk around here about problems. She has some very definite opinions about problems, and I can see some of Her points. For Kasey and me, our biggest problem has been Kate, who didn't make friends with us, and kind of kept us prisoners in the bedroom while she ran all over the house. That problem was solved when Kate got tired of living inside all the time and ran away. So one way to solve a problem is for it to go away. Every person and cat seems to have some kind of problem, and sometimes you need some money or the vet or a red pill. But sometimes you need to work a little harder to get a problem to go away. This is what She thinks - There are three main attitudes toward problems. For example, He want to solve the problem just like that. He is a solver. That's why all his ideas and projects are about solving a problem lickety split. On the other hand, She is an analyzer. She thinks about the best way to solve a problem with the least damage. She likes win-win problem solutions. She thinks about how important is the problem, whether it can actually BE solved, and what are the best steps to take. A lot of times with Her, the cost is involved. Not so much with Him. But the thing that makes Her sad is that some people don't want their problems solved. I agree with Her. Some people like to have their problems, for some reason. No matter what you come up with to solve it, they tell you why it won't work. If you give them fifty ways to solve them, their problems never change. Even if you tell them one easy way, they have a reason not to solve the problem. Then She has a problem with the problem. Her way of solving that one is to back away and just smile and nod and say umhmmm. I like the ways that They solve problems so that Kasey and I don't have them.
No problem about dinner tonight. She is going to bake some chicken. She told me. AAh-dyoo, amis.

Tempted Cats

Today She went out for lunch with Rocky'sMom. She had one of those tickets for saving money on lunch, and She and R'sM went to a place where the food is mostly pasta and stuff like that.  Because She had the ticket, R'sM told Her to get something to bring home for Him. That means that tonight for our supper we will have nice food with that delicious red sauce on it that tempts me to share it right off Her plate. She had some bread dipped in oil and spices, and what we know as Anti-Vampire food.  MmmMmmm. Then She had a salad. She ate half and saved half for him. They had some little bites of chips and cheese and meat. By the time the nice young fellow brought Her pasta and meat, She was almost full, but had to save room for dessert. That means there was enough left over for our dinner tonight.  Rocky'sMom took a lot home, as well. The only mistake was that they gave Her leftover salad to R'sM instead of Her, but it is OK, She says, because we have plenty. Since She was so full, She just had a scoop of ice cream with coffee flavor. They liked the whole thing, and plan to go to the same place again. As much as I would rather have Her here with me, I do like it when She goes out, if She brings home tempting things to eat. 
Now, She just has to watch Her questions show and relax. Dinner is all ready. Have a nice evening, readers. Chow.

Chuffed Cats

It was a nice day to start with, after the thunder and lightning that sent me hiding in my closet. I was just pleased that the sun came out. But that was only the beginning of a fine day. Imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang and there was Cleo'sMom and Cleo'sGirl. They came in loaded with good things to eat. I actually got up on the table to check it all out. I know some people don't like cats on tables, but Cleo'sPeople didn't mind, and She is quite used to it. This is what I saw. Two kinds of bread, some nice green lettuce and red tomatoes. There was some eggs all mashed up, and some tuna, all mashed up. Cleo'sGirl had put a bunch of stuff in the tuna, and it smelled wonderful. I knew better than to put my nose in the dish, but Cleo'sMom gave me a taste on a piece of plastic. Mmmm. There was a big bowl of fruit, which I don't care for, but it looked pretty. They also brought a pie, which did not have sugar in it.  The ladies made their own sandwiches, and She was so happy She could hardly eat - and if you know Her, you know that THAT is happy. He came in and joined them for some of the food and talked about His project.  When it was time for this nice party to end, Cleo'sMom left all the leftovers for Him and Her, so they could eat some more later. It was a perfectly lovely day. I hope She has some more of that nice tuna for our dinner - but I think I saw Her getting ready to fix something else. Oh, I am really chuffed today. Talk to You Later.

Resting Cats

You know She and I are very much alike in ever so many ways. We love to laugh, we give good advice. We don't care if no one takes it. We like pizza and stuff with gravy, and we both like fish very much. We are both kind of slow in our achy bones. She and I like the computer, and we have lots of relatives on line. We both like snuggles and massages, and we both think Kasey is a little strange. When She was a girl, before She married anybody, Her initials were C.A.T.  It says that in Her high school ring. I saw it myself. But there is one area in which we are not alike. That is the subject of naps.  Every day, I take several naps, in order to keep up my strength and alertness.  Kasey takes at least as many as I do, and He takes several naps in a day. Guess how many naps She takes? Not one. Not a single nap all day. Sometimes Here eyes get tired, so she listens to a CD instead of reading or computering, but in a little while, She is ready to go again. She is awake until it is time for Her to go to bed. When She is in bed, She works a puzzle or plays with me. Then She turns off the light and goes to sleep. She is embarrassed to say that when so many people have trouble sleeping at night, but I have to tell the truth. She and I are like that.  He has given Her lots of reports on how naps are good for you. She tells us that She only sleeps in the daytime when She is sick, and those naps are awful, She says. She wakes up feeling worse. So I will keep on napping, She doesn't mind. And Kasey will, and He will. If you want a nap, go ahead. She doesn't mind if others take them. That is the only way She and I are different. Oh, yes. And there's also the falling thing. I'm not afraid to fall, but She is.
We will all be awake when Cleo'sMom comes tomorrow, though. Cheerio Pip.

Places Cats

There are about a gazillion places in our house where a cat or person can be nice and comfy. It was what we missed when Kate lived inside with us. Kasey only likes a few places. She loves her soft blue blanket, there in the picture, and she loves the little box on  His desk, where she spends hours. As for me, I have a lot more places than Kasey. I like to rest on the chair in Her office that goes under the other desk. It is quiet and out of sight, mostly, and the seat is big and soft. I like the big stool under the pass-through counter. It is also tucked away and soft. I am just as happy out in the open, where my sun spot comes in the window. When She is in Her chair, I like to get up on the back of it, so I am handy of She has a treat or pets for me. For Her, that chair is Her place. It has a button that She can push to make it go into different positions, even into a bed. When She is in there, I can get on the arm of that chair and get on Her lap, or lie across Her chest, or just stay on Her arm. You know, a cat and person need to have their special places. When you have such places and can get to them, life is good.  When a new cat comes in, and takes over places, it turns a cat's world all askew. Now, everything is the way it should be. Kate seems to be happy with her new arrangements, so it is a win-win for all of us. It is too bad that She sometimes misses Kate, but She says She understands.
I hope She stops being sad about it very soon. Meanwhile, I heard Her say there is chicken for dinner. That's almost as good as fish. Sweet dreams.

Examining Cats

This is a kind of day for examining. She has been thinking all day, and I have been thinking, too. We do this every so often when we are tired of our to-do lists. She was thinking about all Her friends and family, and what they mean to Her. I was thinking about how I love being in this nice house with my peculiar sister Kasey. I guess my thinking wasn't anything so new, and it makes me smile. Her thinking is made out of remembering, and it makes Her look a little bit sad. It is not new that She loves Her friends and family, and Her cats and Her stuff. It is new that so many things have changed since She stopped being able to get around very well.  There are a few people who make Her feel safe, so She loves to be with them. One of those people is Smudge'sMom. Even though She almost never goes anyplace, She went far away with Smudge'sMom to see Eddie and meet other Eddie people. The whole time, She felt safe, except when She was getting into taxis. She had to go on an airplane, which She doesn't like anymore, to go to Her OperaGirl's house. That was an epic time with Eddie and Eddie-people and even a visit with Smudge'sBoy. She goes to places around here with Hana'sGran, who takes good care of Her, and with Rocky'sMom, who has new hips. Other than that, She does Her visiting on the computer, but She misses Her friends whom She doesn't see. Her examining is way harder than mine.  I examine how nice it is here since Kate found another place to go. I also examine how Kasey hasn't changed on little bit since we came here to live.  You would not think of me as the adventuring type, but I have been in every place in this house, including the shelves on the bookcase.  I will go and give Her some snuggles, because I really want to see Her smile. Chow, bellas.

Close Call Cats

We didn't think too much of it when He was hollering at the Phone this morning, because He has a lot of stuff seem to go wrong with His computer. We had our butter and read the paper, and after awhile, He got everything fixed. It was all good - until we went to sign on to Her computer and start visiting with our beloveds. I bet you can guess. Our internet didn't come up. She tried to remain calm, and tried every one of the tricks She knew to get it right. Then She asked Him if fixing His computer might have broken Hers, and He got all in a flurry again. She called our usual computer-fixing guy, but he wasn't there. She called the regular computer people, and after a lot of different connectings, She finally got a fixing guy. I was beginning to see why He yells at the phone. It took a little bit of time, but She was finally happy that She could check Her messages and get in some conversations. It was pretty close there for awhile. For a moment I thought She might even yell, but She didn't.  She told me it is a teacher thing. You never yell or the rascal kids will know how to get at you. Push your buttons, She says. So She had time to say hi to Her OperaGirl, and Her OzGirl, who is feeling sick over there in Oz. Hi to all our cousins'Moms and Dads. It was a busy morning.
When it was time for lunch, She had a dish of some kind of round noodles with a yummy cheese sauce. It was left over from Her lunch with Hana'sGran yesterday. And for our dinner, She brought home some of the meat from that lunch, and I will get to lick meat off the bones, just like my old family used to do when cats were wild. At least I didn't have to go find them myself. A close call today, for sure - but it all worked out. Bye bye.

Laughing Cats

Even when Kate was here, something made me laugh every day, and I still do. Do you know why? It is because laughter is good for you. I laugh when He yells at His computer, as if it could hear Him. I laugh at Her trying to pet Kasey, when Kasey says, Don't touch me!  I laugh at some of the pictures on the computer. There are cute cats and a few puppies, some otters and a sloth. I laugh when She laughs, because if She thinks something is funny, I probably would, too. She is perfectly willing to laugh out loud. He just sort of chuckles and snerks, but if you ever saw Him really laugh, it would tickle you, too.  It makes Her glad that He can get some good, healthy laughing done. She believes that laughing makes us feel better, and so does Hana'sGran.  Those two ladies have so much fun that they must both be very healthy. She is chuffed when She sees me laughing. You are my cat, She tells me, because we both think laughing is great fun. Besides laughing, She and I both smile a lot. Sometimes I catch Her sitting in front of the computer and smiling about something nice that happened to one of Her computer people. She is smiling and She doesn't even know it until I point it out to Her.  Now here is something almost no one knows about Her. Her teeth are not straight and even, so when She sleeps, Her mouth closes all the way and it makes it look as if She is frowning. Sometimes, when She first wakes up, She and I look in the mirror and laugh, because She looks like Grumpy Cat. When She was a little girl, She didn't get things on Her teeth to straighten them out. Now, it gives us one more thing to laugh about.
I am curious about our dinner tonight, because He wants something made out of spinach and eggs. I don't remember having that before, so I will have to wait and see if it is slurp-worthy. Have a laugh tonight, my dear readers.

Cash Cats

Today I want to talk to you about money. Kasey and I don't need money, because we get whet we need by a system called barter. It works like this. We have nice comfy places to sleep and lie around. We get brushed and groomed. We get kibbles and treats. We get nice laps to snuggle on, and we get pets and skritches. All of this is not free, of course. In return for it, we have to look cute and handsome, We have to be there when They need a cat on a lap, or arm, or chest.  We have to patrol, in case a bug gets in. We have to stalk all imaginary perils, and of course, we have to wake Them up. Since we can't tell what time it is, this wake-up call might just be in the middle of the night.  That is more than He and She have to do to get what They need. Oh, sure, He works a lot on His projects, but He doesn't get paid for that.  He says He will someday, but mostly he doesn't go to work for pay.  She doesn't go to work either. She just sits around, visits with Her computer friends, talks on the phone, and watches Her shows. Oh, yes, and She works Her puzzles to try and keep Her mind fit. She needs to work a lot of puzzles, because She forgets a lot of words. At least She remembers where She is going when She is in Her car. So it turns out someone puts money in Their banks every so often. I guess that is why She is very particular about money. He, on the other hand only knows how to spend money. She keeps some money in a special bank, so He doesn't get into it and spend it. It is the money for Their insurance and taxes. She calls it an S-crow. Sometimes He wishes He were rich. She says She is already rich, because She counts all Her beloveds. And don't forget, She has a picture of Herself with Her darling Eddie. Who needs to be richer than that? She says.
No idea what to have for dinner. Might I suggest - fish?  Goodnight, readers.

Fair Weather Cats

Since Kasey and I stay indoors all the time, the way we enjoy the good weather is to find a nice place in the sunshine that comes through the window. The sunshine makes a nice spot on the floor to lie down and have a nice snooze. Kasey likes to go between the shade and the window in front and watch the leaves come back and the neighbor kids playing. If Kate comes up to the window, Kasey acts like Kate is not there. If Kate comes to the back yard, where I am, I try to act as if she isn't there, but I sometimes have to yow at her. He and She are happier when the weather is nice and warm. Where we live, it is not cold very long. The time between the cold weather and the hot is usually the best that we have. Every time the weather gets nice, She says She will take Her walker and go for a nice walk. I don't think She ever will do it, though.  A lot of her bones start to ache if She stands up too long, and She gets really out of breath if She has to walk very much. He and I don't get mad at Her, though. He is happy to help Her, and I am glad when She stays in here with me.
It was a lovely day for Her to have lunch with a bunch of Her friends. They used to be the Crones, but The Crones has been cancelled. Several of the ladies still want to get together. Today there were more ladies there than before, when She sent out messages. If those ladies knew what it does to make Her feel happy, they would really smile. The good things to eat are just an extra. The place where She went today doesn't let you take home leftovers, because you can have as much as you like of about a gazillion things. There is a whole section of just sweet things, She says. Cleo'sGirl knows what She likes for dessert, and goes to get it for Her. That makes Her chuffed.
So our dinner will be very sensible tonight. It looks like meat and vegetables with gravy. She calls it stew. I will like that. Sy-o-nara, everyone.

About Kate

I guess you remember that Kate came to live with us nearly a year ago, when her family had to move away, and no cats were allowed. Kate is a little Russian Blue. We were fine and happy without her, but if Kate's people sent her away, she would probably have been put down. Kate's original name was Katie. That sounded so much like Kasey that He and She called her Kate. When she lived next door, Kate had a busy family with two kids and a dog. Kate went inside, into the garage, but she was mostly outdoors. She would come over for pets and sometimes to get a snack. Sometimes she would come inside, but she always wanted to go right back out. When Kate came to stay with us, He and She never let her out. They didn't want her to get fleas or eat birds.  I surprised Her that we didn't become friends. For many months, Kasey and I stayed in the bedroom and the closet, but Kate was all over the house.  It seemed as if she liked the comfy chairs and the nice pets and snuggles. I started to sneak into the living room, so She was hopeful that we could all be together and happy. Without a single hint that she was not happy here, Kate got outside somehow. He and She searched all over for her but didn't see her anywhere. None of us saw Kate for lots and lots of days. Then one day He was putting out food for the stray cats, like He always did, and there was Kate. She had a snack and He opened the door for her to come in. Kate wasn't interested. She ran away. Kate has been back a few times for a little snack, but He decided not to pick her up and make her come in, since she didn't want to. The round tummy is still there, so He guesses she goes somewhere to live and just comes around to visit.  I hope Kate is happy, wherever she has gone to stay, but Kasey and I have been so glad that we have the house back to ourselves that we don't want her to come back. I am just telling the truth.
If you got a new cat, like Her OperaGirl, and they get along fine, we are happy for you. No more cats here, please.
Until tomorrow, dear readers.

Jobs Cats

The TV says more people need jobs. I have special jobs myself. My hardest job is taking care of Her. She has come to depend on me for many things. I am certainly not saying I need a helper, but being a person's main cat is a very responsible job. I have to be sure to wake Her up every morning, then join Her for breakfast, eat some butter off Her fingers, and get Her settled at Her computer. I have to check out the house for anything suspicious. If a bug happens to come in, I have to track it down and call Him to kill it. Then, there are the naps. I have to schedule naps, just like everyone else. Kasey has jobs, as well. She has to get him started on His work by moving as many of His papers as she can,and checking out his keyboard. She walks all over it, until He lets her know it is fine. I can't always make out what He says to her, but he does refer to some kind of dam.  Kasey has to perform certain tricks so He will give her treats. I have seen  her take magnificent leaps to get where the treats are. Besides Kasey and me, He has jobs here. He has to talk on the telephone, write stuff, draw stuff and yell a lot. It is to get his project ready to sell. He also has to go to meetings and got to the store. Kibbles don't just grow here, you know. He has to be sure She has Her root beer. He is a very hard-working person. Now, She doesn't do any job at all. I guess She just lets Him and me do all the work while She reads messages and works puzzles. Maybe She is one of those people they talk about on the news. One that needs a job. Well good luck. She almost never goes outside, let alone to find a job. I guess She thinks that having a teacher job for a long time entitles Her to just sit around. I guess it is good to have one person fewer to need a job. She says the President is working on it, so I don't need to worry my furry head. That is good advice, because I have enough to worry about.
She is on Her way to the freezer. There just may be shrimp in there. A hard-working cat can always hope. TTYL.

Time Cats

One thing that cats are kind of ho-hum about, is time. Yes, we know when it is time to eat. When it is time to use our litter-box. When it is time for a snuggle, but we are kind of open to different times. Now, let's talk about humans. People are absolutely enchanted with time. There are clocks all over the house, on the phones. On the computers. They can't escape it. Long ago, when She used to go to Her teaching, not only was time important, but they rang bells to show when things began, and when they were over. I couldn't believe my ears when She told me that. Now that She doesn't go to teaching any more, you would think it doesn't matter about time, but She needs to know when Her shows come on, and when to start fixing dinner. Still, She isn't as bad as He is. He sets a clock by His bed, and it rings when it is time for Him to get up. At least She doesn't do that. Wait until I tell you what They did last night. Before They went to bed, They moved the time on the clock to tell them it was one hour later. Every clock. And when They got up this morning, they went by the time on those clocks, just as if nothing had changed. Readers, I love my humans with all my heart, but don't ask me to understand why They act the way They do. As strange as some of Their habits are, They love us and take good care of us, so we just chuckle at them.
Tonight She is serving some of that meat that comes on bones. We love that kind of meat. It just takes a very long time to cook.  She eats most of the meat off the bones, and then I get to lick off the rest. Kasey has no idea what she is missing. I hope you have a nice night, whatever time it is where you are. Oddy-ose.

Messaging Cats

One of the things that He has to do when He works on His projects, is to get information from lots of people. She would do most of the messages on the computer, but He is more likely to use the phone. She and I have had to laugh at him more than once when He is on the phone, because if the phone machine says they didn't get what He said, He shouts the message. If they say they still didn't understand He gets very annoyed, and shouts even louder. At this point, they either disconnect, or give Him a human to talk to. Meanwhile, She and I are in here giggling. We are very used to him shouting at the phone, the computer and the TV. There is a thing called frustration, which means all your patience is used up. That is what happens to Him.  The latest problem has been getting papers to people, and then back to Him.  To do this, people use a machine called fax. He and She used to have one, but it got old and worn out, so He went to a store to use their fax. Naturally, they ran into trouble and He came home very angry. He called a guy to come out and fix up His computer so that it sends the papers. Maybe we will have better luck with that. She and Kasey and I wish He didn't have all this stuff going on. If He could just get His ideas without turning His life into a frustration, She would be happier. But He is a good person, very nice to Her and to me, and very nice to Kasey, so She wants Him to do what He likes. What He likes is to be busy and in a fit a lot of the time. Meanwhile, She and I give each other messages in real life, and She doesn't let it show so much when She has frustration. She says She learned that teaching children. You couldn't let them see you upset. She says don't let people know what makes you have frustration, so they don't have extra power. I know what She means, but it isn't always that easy. I am better at it than Kasey.
She got meat and vegetables from the freezer. We will like that. Good night, sweet readers.

Places Cats

I have observed carefully, and I have found that every person and cat has certain special places. Take Casey, for example. She fell in love with a blue blanket a few years ago, and now it is one of her special places. When she is in His office, Casey likes to be helping him, but when she has looked at all his papers and has checked out His keyboard, she squeezes herself into a box on His desk. It is not a very big box, but it has crumpled paper on the bottom, and Casey just loves it there. As for me, I prefer the tops of Her chair and the sofa. I have a reserved place on the floor by the window where the sun comes in each afternoon, now that Kasey has moved out. Then there is my total favorite, which is on Her tummy or chest. Those are my places, and everyone knows it. When She is working on Her computer, I am either in Her in-box, or on the chair that fits under the other desk. If She is looking for me, She knows to look in those places.  She has a favorite place, too. It is here in front of this computer, where She is happy most of the day. Then She goes to sit in Her magical chair that moves up and down with a button on the side. She and Rocky'sMom got that from a store where it didn't cost much. That is where I spend a lot of time, too. As for Him, He has two main places. His favorite is His cozy bed. He loves to lie down there when He feels like He needs a little rest. His second place is the chair right near Her chair. His goes up and down as well, but with a lever, not a button. And it rocks. Not like rock music, but like a rocking chair. Sometimes I jump on it and ride back and forth for a few minutes. I hope you have favorite places, dear readers.
When I finish my story, I will do a happy dance, because fish is on tonight's menu. Cheerio!

Observant Cats

In our lifetimes, Casey and I have heard our fellow cats ask why we feel we need to have a pet human. I have given that some careful thought, and I have some of the answer, but there may be more to it. First of all, they are so darn cute. They get into their chairs and their beds and we just can't resist want to snuggle them. Most of the time, they behave rather well, doing whatever it is they do while we have our naps. Sometimes, though, they tend to be noisy and unpredictable, and we have to keep them in line by getting on their arms or chests or tummies to distract them from their little games they call work. They have a lot of different sounds, but if you pay close attention, you can see that they are doing their best to understand you, and they can't believe we don't know what all the so-called words mean. Humans come in different sizes, but only the tiniest of them are the size of the cat that owns them. They get suspicious when you try to train this tiny human. Although the big ones are quite big, they are not dangerous, and have no intention of hurting us, unless they are wicked boys who have mental problems. Or the ones who want us to avoid having kittens. I am OK with that, because too many kittens use up great amounts of kibble meant for us. Most humans don't have much fur, and they often cover themselves with false fur so they don't get cold. It is usually smooth, and doesn't feel at all like real fur, but they provide this for themselves, so I can't change anything. One of their best qualities is that they have thumbs. You wouldn't believe how those things come in handy for taking care of us. I have heard that there are a few that have lost thumbs in some sort of accident, but I wouldn't want one of those. It is nice to know they forage for their own food, sometimes while securing kibbles for us. I often check out Her food, to be sure it is healthy. Our female is very old, and I don't want Her to get sick. That is all I can think of as to why we have humans. They  are simply adorable when they are sleeping or playing on their computers. TaTa for now.

Visiting Cats

I was waiting in Her inbox for Her to finish with the computer, when we got a surprise visit from Katie'sOldMom, OldGirl and OldBoy. When they came up to the door, there was Kate. They thought they had found Kate for us, and invited her in, but Kate was not even slightly interested. I got a peek at her, and I know Kate is living somewhere comfy, because she still has that big round belly that she grew while she lived here with us. What Kate really likes is the food He gives her. I don't know what her new family gives, but Kate sure likes our kind of kibble.
She was even more excited to see the old Kate family. They  have been gone a lot of months, and the Boy looks even taller than Him.  The Girl is still beautiful and sweet, and the Mom is a really good friend. It was plain that She was chuffed, because She really misses Katie'sOldFamily. Unlike Kate, they didn't want anything to eat.
Speaking of things to eat, She did not make the same mistake She made yesterday. It turned out OK that She hadn't planned anything yesterday, because the was some good stuff in the freezer. Today, though, She is fixing a different kind of food. It is sliced-up onions and peppers that she cooks and then puts in some kind of  sausage. I know that is what they are, because He and She were talking about it, and He sliced up the vegetables for Her. I am not sure how I will like it. I am not very fond of vegetables, but maybe the meat will be good. I am always ready for an adventure. Cheerio.

Message Cats

Since She doesn't go out very much, She has found a place where She can talk to all Her friends. She and I spend quite a lot of time reading messages and then sending messages. I have quite a lot to say to my friends, usually by way of their Moms and Dads. We wonder what all our friends are eating for lunch and dinner, and where they are visiting, and how cute they look.  Lots of pictures of my cousins are on there, and She and I look at them and chuckle, or say awwww. There are grandchildren that She hasn't seen in a long time, like Her OperaGirl and Her OzGirl and lots of Her other beloveds. If it weren't for these messages, I don't know what She would do. Probably just stay in bed. It really keeps your spirits up to know what shows and movies they are seeing. It makes it almost as if She sees them, too. If She had to write letters to all these busy people, it would take Her days and days. We can't wait that long to see who has a new boyfriend or girlfriend. And what about our friends who need to be cheered up? She and I know how to send hugs, and sometimes they need to hear a joke. She knows lots of silly jokes and snarky little stories. Those are mostly about the politics. If it weren't for our message people, we would both be too depressed to even fix dinner. Oh, we love our right-here friends, too, and She sees them whenever She can. but every day, after breakfast, we get on the computer and send and get messages. I hope we can keep doing this forever.
I asked Her what is for dinner, and She has not even thought about it. You can imagine how I don't like the sound of that.  I have given Her a message that She had better figure this out before too long. In case you wonder if Casey sends messages, you will not be surprised to know that Casey really doesn't care. Bone Swar, amies.

Ready Cats

Yes, Casey and I are ready for anything now. Kate still comes for food, but doesn't want to come in, but we are ready in case she does. It is His guess that Kate won't want to stay here, because she must have a nice cozy place somewhere else. Why else did she disappear for so long, and why can't He coax her in? We are ready for the answer to that. Also, She is ready for Her lunch with Rocky'sMom to celebrate the end of R'sM's hard exercises. I guess you need those if you get new hips. My hips ache sometimes, but I don't want to get new ones! It is Her knees that give Her owies and She doesn't want new knees, either. She is ready for the owies.  We are all ready for Him to start selling His project. He is running out of money kind of fast right now, and that gives Her the colleywobbles. I know what that is, but I don't know how to explain it to you. She is trying to get ready for our beloved Cleo'sMom's birthday, but I can't talk about that, because it is supposed to be a surprise. If C'sM finds out, it will spoil it.
The stuff she put on the meat last night was very good and tasty. Let me just say that I am not afraid of vampires today. (snerk). For some reason, She is especially tired today.  It isn't because She didn't have a good sleep. Every time I gave Her a massage, She was sound asleep. I think. So She will get some rest, and I will be ready for whatever happens the rest of the week. Chow.

Details Cats

You know, things can be going along quite smoothly and suddenly you start to notice little things that grab your attention. This happens to all of us, every so often. Right now we are noticing that it is not easy to stop Him or Her from what they are doing to give us pets and treats. What is up with that? Do They think we run around being adorable, just to be ignored when we want Their attention? I am just getting comfortable on Her tummy, when She decides to get up and go do something. Hmmph. Or Casey wants a treat, gets on the counter and looks cute, and He walks right by. We thought we had trained them better than that. She says I know what you mean, Cofs. I get an amazing present for LW'sMom's birthday, and right smack in the middle of the box top, there is a big ugly sticker that doesn't want to peel off. How about when She wants to use something and can't get the top off. It made me stop and think. Maybe we should do what Her Grandma used to say. Count your blessings, she would say, whenever She complained about something. When you are grumpy and want to be in a snit, that is pretty annoying, but when you stop and think, it makes good sense. From what He and She say, things are likely to get harder about money.  There may be things that cost more, but She believes it will be harder on younger people than on Him and Her.  She wonders if people will buy His project if there isn't any money out there. To him, that is a tiny detail. To Casey and me, it is not a worry at all, because we don't think kibbles cost that much. To Her it is a headache. If you know Her, you would think She is used to it by now. Just another detail. And She counts Her blessings.
She got a new kind of stuff to mix with meat and vegetables for our dinner. I can't wait to see how it tastes. I'll keep you informed. Peace out.

Short Cats

One of Her favorite people is Smudge'sMom. That lady is very clever with words. She writes plays and stories and books and all kinds of things. Just like me,S'sM writes a blog, too. When you read her stories, it tells you about what she is doing and seeing. She does and sees a very lot of things. She also knows how to write so you can just see what she is talking about. I bet S'sM knows as many words as She does. My stories tend to be short. I want you readers to know what is going on at our house, because it is the only place I know about. Of course, I don't know as many words as I would like. I am learning new ones all the time, but She says to check with Her before using the ones I learn from Him. So my stories tend to be short. Today, for example, there is not much new happening. He and His helper are working on getting His project ready to sell. She is ordering a new table cover because someone - I'll mention no names, here - but someone with claws made big holes in the one that is on there now. Speaking of mischief cats, She misses little Kate, and hopes she is in a warm house with plenty of pets and kibbles. She made another order, too. It is something for Smudge'sMom, but I can't tell you any more about it. It is just a little thing that will make her smile.
Another thing She did today was to check with all Her around the world friends, and send them good wishes . She is trying not to think about money today, because the people in charge of the country have put us all in a really scary position related to money. I won't explain, because I really don't get it. So that's my short story for today.  I really need to go get in my sun spot on the floor to rest up for dinner. It will be pizza tonight, and She and I are dancing about that. Toodle Pip.

Word Cats

Casey and I use words, but they are cat words. We know a lot of words besides meow and yow, but people don't recognize them. That is OK, because I don't recognize lots of people words. People seem to have the same problem. There can be two people saying words words words words words, and They still look puzzled.  Cat words can make cats happy or sad or even scared, but a lot of times it isn't what we say but how we look that tells each other what we mean. Kate never understood my words about wanting to be friends, or Casey's words that said leave me alone. Sometimes people words make people laugh. They have jokes about how the words fit together. She likes words like that. The words He likes are the ones that mean exactly what they say, but sometimes He will chuckle at one of Her word twists. She knows more words, but He can say them louder, so if They have a talk where they don't agree, they are pretty equal. He and She like the President's words, because that guy knows nice words that sound fair to them, but some people don't like them.One nice thing is that She understands a lot of my words and I understand a lot of Hers. I don't need to talk much to get Her to understand, and She uses way too many words but I still understand.
There was a big surprise last night when He went out to put out food for the neighborhood cats. Kate was there by the door. He held the door, but she didn't want to come in. Kate just ate some of the food. I wish He understood cat words so He could find out what is going on with her. Well, we'll see what happens. I hope Kate has a house to go to. Well, farewell for now.