Sad Cat Diary

It seems I can't get away from feline themed subjects. This latest video strikes close to home, considering The Manse houses 7 and three-quarters cats.


WARNING!: Do not drink any beverages while viewing this video. Ignoring this warning may lead to said beverage being spewed upon your monitor and keyboard.

Kitteh Sings The Blues....

I haven't done any cat blogging in a while. When I saw this I couldn't resist.

Kitteh sings the blues!!

Hilda's Maw showed me this video, stating quite accurately that it depicts exactly what we go through every morning with Cole, with one exception: Cole can't wield a bat...yet. I figure it's only a matter of time.




For more cat cartoons, videos, and pictures, head on over to Simon's Cat.

Bagheera The Magnificent: 1999 - 2011

It is with heavy heart that I must announce the passing of Bagheera The Magnificent. He died late this morning in the arms of my wife Deb.

He was an opinionated, stubborn cat, a leader of the feline members of the Weekend Pundit Household. He was also an occasional contributor to my own blog, covering topics of import...to him.

As snooty as he was, he was also a great companion, a comfort during troubling times, and generally an all around “Gu' Boy”. He helped Deb raise BeezleBub from the age of 5. He managed to decimate the chipmunk and mouse population around The Manse over the past 6 years. He lulled us to sleep with his purring, curling himself around the tops of our heads like a cat hat as we fell asleep. He would dry BeezleBub's hair after his bath because “he couldn't do it hisself!” He tolerated the other felines in the house, but personally I think he liked having the others around if for no other reason than to show his magnificence by comparison.

It's never easy losing a member of the family, even if they have four feet and fur. Bagheera was a sweet lovable cat, his curmudgeonly online persona notwithstanding.

Sleep well, old friend. May your supper dish always be full and your bed filled with catnip, Big Kitty.

I have a feeling that both Bagheera and Hilda would have to agree this kitten has a nasty habit. That at his/her age this kitten was acting more like Charlotte, our grumpy kitchen cat, is not a good sign.


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I'm Gonna Be Famous!

Pa told me the wrote something about me in one of his post thingies. Does this mean that I can become famous as people come to see me on my blog?

I hope so!!

Holidays and Laps

I know it's been a while since I wrote anything, but I've just been so busy! Ma an' Pa have been bustling around since the last time I wrote, with a couple of things called 'holidays' that kept them from helping me out.

One of those holidays had something to do with food because there was a lot of it around and it smelled so good! The other one had Ma an' Pa and the round-headed cat putting all kinds of neat toys including an indoor tree with all kinds of dangling sparkly things on it! (I don't understand why they wouldn't let us play with them, though> Why put them there if we can't touch them?)

But the absolute best thing has been lying on Pa's lap next to the big warm thing that Pa keeps warm by throwing pieces of trees into. It's warm there on his lap and he scratches me behind my ears and under my chin. Sometimes he even gets my favorite brush and brushes me as I'm dozing.

Dear Cats....

I know the feline residents of our household were not pleased when I posted the following (received via e-mail) on the refrigerator door at their eye level.

Dear Cats:

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR CATS:

(1) They live here. You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture...
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

(1)eat less,
(2) don't ask for money all the time,
(3) are easier to train,
(4) normally come when called,
(5) never ask to drive the car,
(6) don't smoke or drink,
(7) don't want to wear your clothes,
(8) don't have to buy the latest fashions,
(9) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and
(10) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children!

Got it?

Changes

It's been a while.

I know both Ma an' Pa told you what I did. I don't know why I did it. Maybe it was because Miley spends so much time in Pa's lap. I'd do that too...if I remembered I like being in Pa's lap.

But that's not why I'm posting today.

The problem is that I'm not sure whether this was part of my punishment or if Ma an' Pa had been planning this for some time, but they did something that got me a bit miffed. And it wasn't just me that felt this way.

You see, they changed the arrangement of all the furniture in the living room and dining room! Everything's in a different place and I'm not sure I like it. What's worse is that they didn't even bother to ask us what we thought about it. They just did it.

How rude is that? They should have at least warned us before they moved everything.

At least nothing's missing as far as we can see.

That Was Mean!

Hilda's Pa promised I would explain what it is she did that warranted her being grounded for two weeks. It's about time I do just that.

I know Hilda has given all of you a rundown of the rest of the felines residing here with me and Pa. One of the last she introduced was Miley, a sweet little thing that took up residence with us early this past summer.

Miley's what we have come to call a handi-cat because she's missing a leg. That doesn't stop her from getting around but it does limit her from time to time, particularly when it comes to jumping up onto chairs, sofas, and beds. Most times we forget she's even missing a leg.

Now to the matter at hand.

Hilda, usually a sweet natured and affectionate cat, did something I'd never expect from her:

As Miley was walking past her she reached out and knocked Miley over for no reason! She was being mean to our little handi-cat and that's not something we tolerate around here.

It was for that reason we grounded Hilda for two weeks and wouldn't let her post or watch her favorite TV channel.

Now that she's finished her punishment and has stopped mistreating Miley we're allowing her to start posting again.

She's Been Naughty

In case you're wondering why Hilda hasn't written anything lately, she has a good reason.

She's been grounded.

Normally she's a sweet cat. Really, she is. But she was naughty and did something she shouldn't have to Miley. Not that she hurt her, but it wasn't nice. So the missus and I decided she wasn't going to be allowed to post or watch Animal Planet for two whole weeks.

I won't go into what it is she did. I'll leave that the missus. - Hilda's Pa

She's Going To Spoil It For All Of Us

It pains me to say this: Miley spoiled it for all of us.

Why do I say that? Because she'll climb up into Pa's lap or the round-headed cat's lap, make herself comfortable, and doze all while getting her ears scratched or her fur stroked. To make it worse, she'll be purring the whole time. And she'll do that for hours!

As much as I'd like to do the same thing for that long, I haven't been able to. At best I can manage 15 minutes. I mean I like being in Pa's lap and being brushed and having my chin scratched and all. But I don't fit on his lap very well. It's not that I'm fat because I'm not. (She isn't, really. She is very fluffy, but she's not fat. – Hilda's Pa) I'm just bigger than Miley and I have all four legs. Being a lot smaller than the rest of is and only having three legs she fits on Pa's lap better than anyone except maybe Minnie, and Minnie isn't all that interested in sitting in his lap. ( That's true. Minnie is not a lap cat. She's a shoulder cat, not unlike Miss-Miss. - Hilda's Pa)

Just yesterday Miley spent almost 3 hours in Pa's lap and another 2 in the round-headed cat's lap! She's going to spoil them and they'll come to expect it from all of us. All we want is to be petted, brushed, and to get scratched on our ears or under our chins once a day or so. We don't need to lie down on their laps to get all of that. But because of her we're likely to get less of it unless we're in Ma or Pa's lap. Thi isn't good at all.

First, she drinks from the toilet. And now this!

Way to go, Miley....

In The Wings

Hilda's been a bit busy, helping us get things squared away for the coming winter, so she's be remiss in updating everyone on the goings on around here. I have reminded her in between her daily brushings, naps, and rousing games of Can't Catch Me! She has assured me she's been working on a few ideas for her next couple of posts so we'll have to take her at her word.

I might be able to spur her on with a few of her favorite cat treats and a session with the Furminator.

I'm Shocked!!!

I know I've covered the various members of our household once already, though I didn't go into a lot of detail (I didn't want to bore you). But I have to tell you about something I saw that shocked me to the point where I didn't know what to do.

You see, it's Miley.

We all know she grew up in a house full of dogs. That means she's better at defending herself than most of the rest of us. But I think her time with those awful dogs has also given her some really bad habits. It's this that caused my fur to go limp with shock.

It was yesterday morning just as Ma was getting up out of bed that I saw it.

Miley was drinking water....out of the toilet bowl!!

That just isn't done!! It's something DOGS do, not cats!! This is something she obviously learned from those awful dogs she lived with before she came here. None of the rest of us do that!

This whole episode upset me so much that I started shedding and needed to be brushed three or four times yesterday! It was awful!!

I'm going to have to give her a strong talking to. She has to learn that kind of behavior isn't acceptable. We. Just. Don't. Do. That. It just isn't cat-like by any means.

It's Been A Little Crazy Around Here

It's been a little bit crazy around here the past few days, let me tell you!

First, the round headed cat has changed his schedule, waking up later in the morning than he has since last spring. He also comes back in from outside earlier than he has for some time. I have no idea why he'd do that! (Our son has gone back to school, meaning he gets up later than he does when he's working at the farm. He also gets home far earlier for the same reason. - Hilda's Pa)

Second, there were strange humans in the house today, making all kinds of noise around the big metal box that gives off such wonderful heat when it's cold outside. There were banging sounds and whirring sounds, it smelled like old burnt wood, and there was really fluffy dirt in the box too. (But the dirt wasn't nearly as fluffy as me!)

Pa and the round headed cat spent a lot of time in the garage stacking pieces of trees. Pa says the pieces will help keep us warm when it gets really cold outside. I like that. There's nothing more I like to do on a cold day than lying in front of the metal box to keep warm.

All the windows have been closed for days, making it difficult to lay in the sun. I don't know why Ma an' Pa do that when it's so nice and warm outside!

At least I haven't had to worry about being brushed. It's one of my favorite things next to eating, sleeping, and getting scratched under my chin. Brushing helps my fur to be nice and fluffy and keeps me from getting too many hairballs. Ma brushes me almost every day, and sometimes Pa does too. It's nice to be fluffy!

Miley

Now that I'm back to feeling like myself again I must tell you about the latest and last addition to the list of feline residents here.

Miley is a couple of years old and when she was a kitten some nasty person threw her out the window of a moving car. She was badly hurt and had to have one of her legs taken off by the vet to save her life. Despite only having three legs she gets around pretty well though she has a tough time jumping up onto window sills, tables, dressers, and beds. Sometimes Ma or Pa have to help her get where she wants to go if it's too high for her to reach.

We know she's a tough kitty because she grew up in a house with dogs! Living in a house like that gives her some advantages, particularly when it comes to dealing with Henry. Henry can be a bit of a bully at times, but Miley will have none of that. More than once she's put him in his place, driving him off and chasing him until he finds someplace high to perch where she can't get to him.

Another thing Miley learned while growing up with dogs? She's bilingual. She speaks both cat and dog!! [I can attest to that, hearing her 'woof' when she's hungry and wants to be fed. - Hilda's Pa]

While Miley isn't fluffy like me she's still cute. She has nice eyes and likes to flop just like Minnie. But unlike Minnie I think she flops because sometimes she forgets she's missing a leg and tries to stand on it.

I had to delay posting this because it was difficult for either Ma or Pa to get any decent pictures of Miley but Pa finally managed to snap a couple of quick ones so now you'll be able to see what she looks like.

And here's another one of her poking her head out of one of what Ma an' Pa call “cat condos”:

I've Been Sick

Pa figured it would be a good idea to write a brief message to let you all know I've been sick but that I'm much better now. I am missing some fur. (No, I won't post a picture showing where. I do have my dignity. But at least it wasn't in a thoroughly embarrassing place. The places they shaved give me something Pa calls "an asymmetrical look." I'm not sure what that means, but I don't like the sound of it.)

I'll be back to writing more important stuff in a day or two.

Some News

It's apparent to anyone reading Hilda's little blog that she hasn't posted for a while. This is because she was quite under the weather. In fact, we had to take her to the emergency veterinary clinic because she was so sick.

She was severely dehydrated due to some kind of intestinal ailment that made it impossible for her to keep down any food or water for over three days. She was given IV fluids and antibiotics, had a number of x-rays taken, and received other treatments there and at her regular vet the day following her admittance to the emergency care clinic.

I am happy to report that she is now home, looking and feeling much better. We're still keeping an eye on her, monitoring her food and water intake and making sure she's comfortable.

The only complaint we've heard from her is the indignity she suffered from having to have some of her fur shaved off in order for the vet to administer her meds and IV fluids.

Somehow we think she'll get over it.

-Hilda's Pa

Charlotte

The next member of the household I have to tell you about is Charlotte.

She's a Maine Coon Cat, just like me. She's also grumbly, meaning the only one she gets along with all the time is Pa. (Personally I think it's because she's old, like Bagheera. But she won't tell us how old she is.)

Charlotte was found by a friend of Ma an' Pa's in an abandoned house. Her family had moved out and left her behind to fend for herself. Ma an' Pa's friend, Julie, took Charlotte to her home to stay with her, but she didn't fit in all that well. You see, Julie has dogs! (How any self respecting person can think that dogs are better than cats escapes me.) So after a few weeks Ma an' Pa told their friend they'd take her in.

It's taken a long time for her to settle in, but she pretty much used to almost all of us now. The only exceptions are Cole and Henry.

Cole, being the nurturing kind of cat he is (at least Ma says so) has tried to play with her and groom her, but she's having none of that. Henry, on the other hand, has run and jumped at her every time he's had a chance. That might explain why she doesn't roam around all that much unless she knows where Henry is.

And something else a little weird about her: she sleeps in the kitchen! Ma an' Pa have even set up her bed on one end of the kitchen counter and that's where she sleeps. The kitchen is hers and she lets everyone know it. She even claims the window above the kitchen sink as hers, too! See what I mean?

She takes the whole window and won't let anyone else use it. That's not nice.

And another thing: she isn't nearly as pretty as me. She won't even let Ma or Pa brush her, meaning her fur is kinda ratty with all kinds of tangles and lumps. How silly is that?

See, here's a close-up of her. As you can see she needs a serious brushing!

Henry And Pip

I've already written a little about Henry and his unintended adventure, but I haven't told you about how he and his sister Pip came to be with us here.

Of all the kitties here, only Henry and Pip were found at the front door of a nice lady's home. She advertised on one of the Internet sites, trying to find them a good home. Ma saw the listing on her computer and called the lady up. The next day Pa brought Henry and Pip home.

I know how scary coming to a new home can be, particularly when there are already other kitties living there. But Henry and Pip were scaredy for a long time, hiding out under the big round-headed cat's bed. (Hilda is referring to our son, who has somehow been identified by the cats residing here as just a weird looking cat. Don't ask me how that came to be because I really don't know. - Hilda's Pa)

Eventually they warmed up, with Pip becoming best friends with Cole, and Henry becoming a strapping example of a bruiser – strong and solid. For his size he weighs a lot more than you'd think.

Pip is still easily startled and will run off at the slightest provocation, except when Pa is around. She really likes Pa and lets him pet her and scratch her behind her ears. Pa is the only one that can pick up Pip without her making a big fuss. (He usually does that when Pip has been unable to hop up onto the island in the middle of the kitchen during Wonderful Food Time because it's too crowded.)

Both of them are kind of funny when it comes to making trips to the veterinarian. (Hey, I spelled that right!) They have to go at the same time in the same carrier otherwise Henry gets really upset and gets really scared. As long as they're together everything's fine.

Here's a picture of Henry and Pip in the hammock, one of their favorite places. Pip is on the left and Henry is on the right.

Pip is a little unusual in a number of ways. For one thing she has thumbs! That means she can play the Nintendo Game Boy better than Bagheera, and he's not too happy about that. She also has spots rather than stripes, and a short tail. She's also kinda roundy-round (but we don't talk about that).