Cat\’s Eye View

One of the joys of ruling the house is when you can convince your people to modify things to suit you. Recently Ma began working in her office again. I tried at first to convince her this was a bad idea as it meant she was moving further away from me when I needed my morning rest.

However, since she seemed dead set and determined to use the office, I decided to go along with her plan. However, there were absolutely no good key seats in the office. This needed to be remedied.

I first showed my disdain by playing in the blinds. This got me scolded.

Then I tried walking across my desk back and forth stepping on keys in making sure to interrupt what she was doing. This got me scolded.

Finally, I laid in the floor in a bit of sunshine, rolled on my back, and squeaked incessantly to let Ma know that I needed her attention. It’s funny how easy they are to manipulate when you’d simply act cute.

Shelves were rearranged and blinds pulled up so that now I can sit in the window and watch the birds in the bush outside while Ma taps away at the computer. Once again, I understand how easily the cat rules the house.

When I first moved in with Ma and Da, I used to be allowed to play in the room with the desk and all the windows.  It was a very fun place and I used to sit there on the desk when Ma was working.  But then Mr. Nick moved in and I wasn’t allowed in that room anymore.

For the last few days, Mr. Nick has been taunting me, leaving the room open and then telling me that I wasn’t allowed in still. That’s not very nice, is it?

Today after he left, my Ma said I could go in and look around. It still smells like Mr. Nick in there so I had to start making it kitty-scented.  I started with the low spots, the wall and the edge of the closet.

Tomorrow when Ma goes to work tomorrow, she said I can go back to sitting on the desk and cuddling in the cubbyhole. Then, all’s right with the world.

As you read this, I will be happily sleeping alongside Ma on her futon,with no visitors in my living room, no one sleeping on the couch, no one moving my bed to someplace other than where it goes.  Last night, I could snuggle with my people with no witnesses, no loud noises and no irritations.

My drum set for Rockband 2 is back in the corner where it belongs, clearly meant as a jungle gym for this kitty and not for some flailing human to hit with sticks. Mr. Nick is moving out of the back bedroom and all is right with the world. Well, mostly. Da is feeling bad today. Something clogged his ear and made it hurt. He called it a ‘fection and said he ahs to go to the vet.

I hope the vet is nicwer to my Da than she is to me. Seems like every time I go she wants to give me a shot, or take my temperature (shudder!). Ma said the vet is closed today so Da will have to wait until Monday. Da seemed disappointed that he can’t go to the vet. Silly Da!

So I figured I’d try that nursing thing Lady Carmel mentioned, but well, it doesn’t seem to be working. I’m watching over my Da and making Ma fetch him medicine and cool water, but he seems so unhappy. I worry for my Da!

Anyway, I’m off to check on him now and then I’ll be running between my perch in there and my perch in here watching my Ma. It’s so good to be alone!

For the past few weeks, for the “holidays”, Ma and Da have had a ton of company. It’s been one guest after another and party, party, party.

Now, I am about to put my paw down.

Seriously, my bed has been moved, shuffled and scrunched. Dinner time has been variable based on the when the people are eating. Hello! Fish time is 6 p.m. not 7:45 or 5:25, though the later is more acceptable.

Last night, the people were here long after sleeping time, past the nightly rips and well into I should be stalking the house alone time. I think some of them left at like 3 a.m.! Can you imagine, interrupting my sleep for that long?  Kitty naps begin just after fish time, with a short break for play at 8, then put Ma to bed at 11, rips about 12:15 a.m. and the house to myself by about 2 a.m.

Technically, I’m watching over my people at that point. They let me sleep during the day and I watch them at night. I swear it’s like putting toddlers to bed. Last night, it was all “Happy New Year” and “Let’s play another game” and “Get me more wine.”

And, just before the yelling and kissing, they opened bottles that made bad noises and I had to hide from them…

So, I would officially like to say…”Thanks for visiting, now go away…”

I’m an indoor kitty. I only live inside, but I also like to watch the outside.

Unfortuantely, this morning when I woke up the outside was cold and yucky. It was freezing and there was ice and snow on the ground. I don’t like either  one very much.

I want the warm and I want the sunshine. When the cold comes out like it did today, it hides my birdies and my squirrels. I think they stay in their own houses whwen it gets really cold. I miss them.

Make it warm, please.

I took some time off, but now I’m back to encourage all my loving friends to ask Santa (or their parents) to get some poor homeless pet a present for the holidays.

My Ma tells me that our local humane society has a pet tree at the mall where you can see the pets available at the shelter. Most of them have the first wish of a new home for Christmas and if you are thinking of adding to your family over the holidays, please check there first.

Each of the little cards on the tree also has a wish list for the pet on the front. Ma picked out a grey tabby who looks a bit like me and brought her card home. Sally wants a home for Christmas and while she can’t ahve mine, I am sending her a box of Christmas pressies to help her through until she finds her own people.

First and foremost, I’m cleaning out my toy box. Ma and Da buy me all sorts of toys and some of them suck, I mean, ummm, did not fit my playtime needs. There’s a big bouncy battery-controlled ball that I hate, but Sally might like it….and some cat nip bubbles. Seriously, who thinks I would like these things?  Oh right, Ma…

Then, we’re going shopping to get Sally some other stuff. Ma is gonna get her some cat sip and some treats (She can have mine, I only like fish), some kitty litter and some food. Sally’s wish list also had a cat tree on it, but that’s just not gonna happen, unless I get a new one from Santa. Then, she can have the old one.

Ma wants me to go shopping too, to pick up some of Sally’s pressies and to get my picture taken with Santa. Bah Humbug, I say. I’m staying home.

But I will write Sally a little note and tell her to keep her chin up. She’ll find people who love her, I think. She just can’t have mine.

Yesterday, it got cold here. The weatherman claimed that a cold front moved in. I don’t mind cold. In fact, when you are wearing a permanent fur coat, a little cold is preferable to too hot.

But it means that I have to grow my fur back again. Ma says that when it gets too hot, I shed. She says I leave whole cats under the table and that they make giant attack dust bunnies out of my fur. I think she  ‘xagerates, just a bit.

But the truth is when it gets cold like it did last night, I have to eat more and spend more time in my bed, because we have to give the fur time to come back. Ma says she loves the spring and the fall, but I gotta say, it’s not a kitty’s favorite time of year. It goes back and forth. First I’m too hot and then I’m too cold. it gets to be just about right in the dead of winter and in the air conditioning of summer.

But then both of those times mean I lose my windows…I just need to move someplace where the temperature is a nice constant 65 degrees. Any suggestions?

Love ya, Rainy D. Kitty (the frozen)

Today my Ma said a word I hate: fleas!

No, I don’t have them! How dare you ask!

The problem is that this is the time of year that they try to sneak in. Usually in the early spring and in the mid-fall, someone (usually a friend with cats and fleas) brings one of the little blood suckers into my house. It’s not like I got out and get them, ya know.

Anyway, somehow or other, they sneak into the house and Ma goes to the vet and gets my Revolution. Now, if you have not been treated with Revolution, you might now know that it stings — a lot. I’ve tried to convince Ma that fleas aren’t as irritating as that stinky medicine, but she never listens.

So I make my indignity known and run off to the basement to hide after I get hit with the Revolution. I hate it, but man does that stuff work.

When I was a baby kitty, I had earmites and worms (but no fleas) and one dose cured me. I didn’t have to get it again for 6 months. Then, I had 8 fleas. Yup, Ma counted them when the Revolution made them fall off dead. Since then, every spring and every fall I get one treatment whether I need it or not.

I heard her say today it was time for a Revolution. She did mean my flea medicine, right?

Ma says she likes it when my fur is soft and snuggly and i like it when she pets me a lot.

So, we have an understanding.

At least once a day, and more during heavy shedding season, I agree to let her brush me. Now, you have to understand brushing is good for a kitty. It gets rid of the loose fur that might otherwise be furballs and it helps prevent me from shedding all over the house.

But it can be kind of uncomfortable. At first, the scratchy slicker brush feels pretty good, but then it gets kind of irritating. Imagine having some scratch the same spot over and over again. Yeah, just like that.

So we have an understanding. When I’m ready for the brush, I go and get Ma and yip at her a few times. If she’s not busy and sometiems even if she is, she says “Hit the table” and I jump up for my brushing. While I’m enjoying it, I’ll wallow around or walk back and forth pushing my fae against the brush. But when the tail starts to swing, it’s almost time to stop. Ma has learned to be more gentle then.

Finally, when it’s time to stop, I reach out and grab the brush with my front paw and pull it into my mouth. Then, I chew. Ma sas the hairbrush doesn’t go in the mouth.  Silly Ma. Everything goes in the mouth.

Yesterday was the day for the annual kid’s fair in Anna and a special event for weiner dogs. Yup, the dauschunds and their kinfolk had weiner dog races at the park.

I can’t imagine anything more humiliating. the dogs got dressed up in COSTUMES and some of them ran around in circles to amuse the people. One poor dog was forced to wear fairy wings. Can you picture it?

I saw the pictures today in the paper and I must say, I felt sorry for the dogs. There were some cute puppy pictures, but too many of the poor little guys were wearing sweaters and cutesy clothes. It was 85 degrees for goodness sake. No dog needs a sweater over his fur coat in 85 degrees.

Still, the people seemed to have a good time and the dogs were raising money for charity. So I guess a little humility is a good thing–if you’re a dog!