March of the Cats, day 14

While Mom's away we shall play.

March of the Cats, Day 13

Yes we know that we are a day behind, but in my world it works out that way. After the snowfall that we had and all the shoveling I had to do, I just needed my beauty rest and surprisingly not one cat choose to write the blog for mom. Now how can that be. Well the little darlings have been very sedate and not hissing or fighting the last few days, I can only say it must be that there is a member of their family missing. As I told you Sophia was Jake the Dog's best buddy. She has been very quite. My son even commented that she just wasn't right. I know that it will only be a matter of days and they will be better, but since mom is going away for a day, this will cause some distress as well. But it has to be. Cats are certainly odd little characters, they have whims and wants, they go around with those tail's of theirs swishing around when they are mad or happy, doesn't matter which. Watch a cat swish a tail sometime it is very interesting. A crouching cat is of interest also, doesn't mean they are going to pounce and kill something, it could only be to attack a brother to play. Such a diverse little animal. Purring cats also signal different things, these can vary. Some of the examples include contentment. A mother cat purrs to her kitten's when they return to her. A frightened cat will purr to appease the aggressive one (not Jezzabel). A cat will use it in self healing and in pain. Sadly enough a dying cat will also purr. I like to think my babies purr mostly as a sign of love. Happy Cats, tired but Happy Mom.

March of the Cats, Day 12.

I would like to thank everyone who offered condolences on the passing of Jake the Dog, it was greatly appreciated. It is very different coming home without him here. Sophia is still looking for him, my poor little girl. I know you must be wondering about the picture today, yes it is a Jo Ann fabric bag, but what is in the bag is interesting. This is the bag Sophia has claimed as her's. I came home one day with it full of fabric and she was nosing around it, I grabbed the fabric out of it and left it on the floor, and when I came back Sophia was in the bag. I use it once in a while to tote things to the car and back. Well when I used it the other day I left it on the chair came back it's on the floor and Sophia is laying on it, so I just left it there. Later when I went to pick it up the bag has a lump in it, of course it was Sophia. I nudged the bag with my foot and it meowed, so I just let her be. She is the original bag lady. We had more snow today, and you know who you are when I relate this conversation. I received a text from a good friend today, here goes. "Which one of yours cats messes with the weather? LOL this is crap." My response was. " Seriously are you nuts?" It wasn't the cats, it was their mom who happens to be a witch." Now this was just a joke, but sometimes I sure do wish I had the power to make the sun shine, have the breeze blow warm air and you get the picture. Well it has to get warm sometime, doesn't it? Happy Cat.

March of the Cats, Day 11.

Ever want to see a cat head for the hills as fast as they can? Grab a vacuum cleaner and there they go the top of the couch, top of the dresser in a cupboard, on the refrigerator, any where safe from the loud roaring machine that they think just might eat them alive. If I want to get them under control I just grab the vacuum and set it in the middle of a room and they scatter to the safe places, and I can have peace and quite for a few minutes. You think that's mean, not really. I just have never understood how they became fearful of the vacuum or thunder. Of course it could be the loud noise it makes. But with thunder I have two that hide and hide so well I can't find them, and the rest could care less, one cat will sit in the window like a little storm chaser and watch it boom and light up the sky. Turning on the garbage disposal brings on about the same response, or my hair dryer, that one gets the bathroom cleared real quick. I think I will look into the effects of loud noises and animals, I am almost sure someone was given a grant to study that. So I will check it out and get back to you with that information. So for today we will leave you with this thought, as we told you Jake the Dog passed away yesterday, to those of you who have lost your beloved companion, my heart is with you and it is natural to grieve for your best buddy. Take care, Hugs from the Cat Clan.

March of the Cats, Day 10.

With heavy heart I must tell you that Sophia's boy passed away on March 10th,2014. Here is the last picture that I had taken of both of them, sleeping on the couch together. Jake has lived with the cat gang and I for almost 4 years, and he was Sophia's favorite, she followed him everywhere and sometimes drove him crazy getting under his feet, but I think that he really did like her. I know she loved him as only a cat can. Actually I think she preferred him over every other living thing in this house. I had a love hate relationship with Jake. He was smelly and hated to be brushed, but Jake was a good dog. One summer when I was unemployed I babysat Jake, this was before I became a kitty momma. My son was unable to leave him alone as he caused a ruckus and barked a lot, I think he also liked to chew stuff up, so Jake and I kept each other company for awhile, till I found work again. Jake was my son's best buddy, and if he wasn't working Jake was usually with him wherever he went. Jake Liked to ride. My favorite memory is of Jake sneaking off with the cat dishes they left with cat food in them, he would take them into my son's room and lick them clean. Jake will be missed, and I am sure most of by Sophia and my son. So rest in peace, where all good dogs go. Sad Sophia.

March of the Cats, Day 9

Today is a day of rest, I said rest, lay down Jinx, no not there, get off the counter, get off the table. Lay down Jinx, it's a day of rest. My work is never done. I pick up after myself, I pick up after others, I pick up after cats, cats and more cats. This is the life I choose, or did it choose me. I do have a good life, I like my job, I love my family great and small. But today is a day of rest. So why did I do some laundry, play fetch with the cats and do dishes, it is a day of rest. I petted cats and cleaned bathrooms, swept the floor and played with cats, after all it is a day of rest. I am never done doing what I do and it's fine with me. Cats here cats there, everywhere there are cats. Now it's time to rest. Say Good Night Jinx.

March of the Cats, Day 8

Here is some interesting information I read this morning. The article is by Virginia Wells. I will just give you the basics. This is about the sleeping behaviors of cats. Cats sleep between 13 and 16 hours a day, depending on their sleep patterns it can be a large part of the day or later in the day, and my wish would be when I am sleeping not when I am at work. Indoor cats mostly sleep out of boredom. I seriously wonder how my clowder of cats can be bored, after all they go around irritating each other when I am home. Most cats are active at dawn and at dusk, this term is called crepuscular. Just as cats in the wild have to be alert your domestic cat is always on alert (sometimes I wonder about that at my house) when he sleeps his finely tuned senses are still active and ready to spring into action. Ear's rotate as he stays in touch with his environment and if hears a noise will open their eyes and assess the situation. A sleeping cat can transform from a deeply sleeping cat to fully alert and back again. I have seen this in action, from sleeping deeply to alert and back to sleep. 0 to 60 seconds flat. Well we certainly hope you enjoyed this info, and the picture of Phantom, not sure why he was sitting in the doorway, but with his tail under the door it was cute. Happy Mom.