Injury Interlude, 2

TBT is still feeling unbendable, so we have more older pictures.  On January 31, 2012...

We were all still sharing the tree, and Marley had adopted hut-napping.

He sure enjoyed that spot.  He doesnt do that much annymore cuz he is kinna bigger now.

Injury Interlude, 1

Well, TBT  overused or lost his back a couple days ago.  OK, he said "threw out his back".  We have no idea why he did THAT, and we spent a couple days looking for it without success.  Mainly, it means he cant chase us around taking pictures and he makes weerd sounds when he bends over to put our food bowls on the floor.

So we decided that it might be a good time to post some old pictures taken this week in past years until he gets better...

From January 30, 2011 -

We were having a visit from Henrietta Hippo.  She was here when Marley arrived and was quite impressed watching how a new cat adjusted to a house and other cats!

Here you can see how much smaller Marley was than Iza.  He was a small as Ayla!

But unner his watchful eye,  Ayla and Iza were getting along better, even sitting next to each other on the cat tree.

Caturday Saturday

Responses to comments and questions...

1. Megan asked:  “Why oh why is TBT so slow with the foods? Perhaps a wee nip on his ankle would speed him along”.

There is a process.  First, because the cats don’t eat a whole can at once, there are leftovers of varying amounts and those are refrigerated.  So the cold can has to be warmed in a shallow tray of hot water for 5 minutes.  Then the proper amount for each cat must be spooned out carefully.  Marley gets the most (being the largest).  Ayla gets about 1/2 as much (being only 1.2 Marley’s weight.  Iza’s food has to be smeared around the edges of her bowl to slow down her eating rate or she “returns it”. 

Iza will eat as much food as she can get at, as fast as she can eat it, as often as she can get it.  I got her 3^rd-hand so I don’t know about her kittenhood.  But apparently she had some food-issues. 

I even have to give them all small amounts for the first meal of the day.  Iza can’t handle more than a spoonful the first meal, and if I give Marley a full amount, Iza noses in on it when I’m not looking.  Ayla gets a regular amount because she eats out of Iza’s reach. 

Marley and Ayla want to go outside right after that, so Iza gets a 2^nd spoonful 15-20 minutes later.  After that, everything seems OK.  Mealtimes can be a real dance around here!

2. Summer commented:  “That's interesting that all three of you have gotcha days in January”. 

It was mostly coincidence.  In December 2007, came across a local Siamese cat breeder, and mentioned that if she ever had a kitten that didn’t quite meet her selling standards, I might be interested.  As it turned out, she had female too small for breeding and her regular Queen had a litter on the way and she didn’t like having other cats in the house with newborns.  So I got Ayla in January 2008.

When Skeeter died in December 2008, Ayla was lonely (she loved Skeeter and LC was mourning him and not being friendly).  So I emailed the same breeder and she happened to have a Siamese female “with smudged colors” and wasn’t good breeding material.  So I took her.  That was Iza.  Well Iza was really a Tonkinese and her colors were proper for her, but the breeder didn’t realize that.  My thanks to the “A Tonk’s Tails” blog for telling me Iza was a Tonkie! 

But after a year, Ayla and Iza weren’t getting along well (Iza was twice her size, and a bit “assertive”), so I remembered that Skeeter had always been a peacemaker.  It seemed to me that Orange/White male cats had always been calm, so I searched for one.  The shelters always seemed to have brothers that had to go together, and that was exactly NOT the point.

This is a bit embarrassing, but I don’t recall who directed me to a CraigsList notice about an Orange/White male cat for adoption (please feel free to remind me so that I can keep that in my cat file, and thank you once again). 

I emailed the owner, and she sent a picture.  I fell in love with him.  She explained that Marley had been a Christmas gift from a friend, but it turned out she was allergic to cats.  She loved him dearly, but wanted the best possible home for him.

I had to work to get him, as he had been promised to a family.  I pointed out that I was retired and could give him attention all day.  I mentioned the large fenced-in back yard full of moles.  I told her about the high-quality food I gave my cats.  I sent her pictures of all the toys and scratchers. 

She suggested I come visit to see how he reacted to me.  I came.  She called “Marley”, and he walked right down the stairs.  I sat on the floor cross legged and he came right over and curled up on my lap.

That settled everything right there!  Marley went home with me, with his bag of Meow Mix, his litter box, and his one toy (a cloth fish with a Velcro strip that allowed you to stuff catnip in. 

Over the first few days, I mixed better food in with his Meow Mix, emptied the old-style clay in his litter box and bleached it (in case of parasites), and put real catnip in his fish (which I examined and discovered had never had any catnip in it.).  He arrived January 22. 

So Marley was 4^th-hand.  He was, apparently, born in a house as one of a litter of unwanted kittens, then spent time in a shelter, then spent a month in a house where the owner was allergic, then came here.  I’ll count that as 4.

I got Skeeter on Halloween 1992.  I got LC on Halloween 1993 deliberately.  Ayla, Iza and Marley came into my life at the same week of different years entirely by accident.

BTW, Ayla and Iza got their names from a series of books I loved (‘Clan Of The Cave Bear’).  Ayla was the main character, a Cro-magnon orphan, and Iza was the adopting Neanderthal mother.  I had intended a next cat to be named in the same style of the books, but when the lady said his name was “Marley”, I knew at once that “Marley” was exactly the right name. It just fit him perfectly.  “Marley” he was and “Marley” he stays.

Marley has lived up to my expectations.  From nearly his first days out of the adjustment room, he brought peace into the house.  Iza was larger than him, but accepted him as equal.  Ayla loved him.  They slept together after the 1^st week, ate together,  and ran around together.

3.  Many mentioned Ayla’s “Princess” poses, so I won’t list everyone.  But from the first day she was here, she had the royal “look”.  Not all Siamese do.  She sits upright with her ruff showing and her long tail curled around the front paws.  She eats daintily.  She draws but only “allows” attention.

She only wants to see me at eye-height.  If she is on the floor, she pulls away.  If she is “up”, she demands my attention.  We HAVE to be at least equal in height (and she likes it better if she is just a little above me) for her to feel comfortable.

She likes to walk off the bathroom windowsill and walk briefly around my shoulder, neck, and other shoulder before reclaiming her windowsill spot.

She lives almost entirely in the bedroom.  But if I open the deck door (however stealthily) I can count down from 8 and she is there at the door.  She is quite certain that I ONLY open the door JUST FOR HER!

Ayla is certain that I give only her the best food in the house.  She is certain that the Duck, Turkey, and Rabbit is ONLY for her.  That I give Marley and Iza cheap junk…  She eats in the bedroom, so what does SHE know?  I indulge her fantasies.  Who wants to upset a true Princess?

Ask more questions, and I’ll do this more often…

Flashback Friday

Seven years ago today, newly-arrived Marley was busy being cute...

and Ayla was doing her beauty exercises...

While Marley spent additional time up high watching to see how the house worked with multiple cats...

Evening Napping

MARLEY:  After dinner is a good time for a nap.  I'm all full and who wants ta run around when ya are feeling all full?

So I find just the right position.  My dangley foot will take care of itself soon.

And go ta sleep with a smile.

HEY!  Why is Iza in my photo shoot?  Am I having a weerd dream that I am her?  [No, Marley, I added her cause she was napping in the same pose].  Well, OK...

See?  My dangley foot is all fixed...

I like ta change positions, though I dont truly wake up while I do it.

OK, Im all done nappin.  Break out the wand toys!  Mebbe I can disturb Izas nap...

Meal Time

Ah, the wonders of the sound of a can being opened!  We all gather around immediately.

Sometimes TBT is a bit slow dishing out the food, though.  We have ta sit there staring impatiently!

Well, its hard ta sit PATIENTLY when yer tummy is rumbling from the smell of the good foods, right?

TV Tuesday

Its Birdie TV Time...  So for all you kitties who (sadly) dont get that channel,  and even those who get their own but want ta see more, here are some of ours!

The Goldfinches are enjoying the thistle seed.  They eat a lot of that stuff.  (TBT buys it by the 50# bag!  Its WAY cheaper that way and he divides it into gallon jugs and refrigerates them).

The Woodpeckers and small birds love the suet.

The Cardinals focus on the sunflower seed.

More Goldfinches...

And there is a 2nd thistle feeder - no waiting!

They are allus coming and going!  Can you spot the 2nd flying birdie?

My Gotcha Day!

MARLEY:  Its my 7th Gotcha Day! 

I dont remember too much about it all of course. 

I remember being in the PTU, but this time it wasnt to a VET.  It was to a new house.  I stayed inside the PTU a while and just sniffed and sat.  Well, there were other kitties...

But there was also a neat climbing thing in the room I was staying in.  I liked the cave especially.  I wasnt sure I was staying there though.  I'd been moved around a few places before.

But I ended up staying here, an it has been really wunnerful.  Gotcha Days are especially good when they are the permanent ones!

Caturday Saturday

AYLA:  In response to public demand (meaning TBT asked for more "Princess Poses"), naturally, I obliged.  Noblesse Oblige, you know...  I think that means "the price of being a noble".

Twisted Whiskers...

Gazing wistfully to one side...

Looking up slightly bemused at something you cant see...

Reacting to a silly statement from one of the Court Ministers...

Sad about current events (like lack of mousies in cold weather, lack of outside time in cold weather, and cold weather in general)...

A Princess has to master many poses to transmit unspoken messages to the public...

Freaky Friday

IZA:  TBT follows the idea of "One more litterbox than cats".    And he kept them spread out a bit.  But I developed a BAD HABIT.  When I was younger, I would pee in one and poop in another.  But sometime last year, I decided that pooping BETWEEN the boxes was the way to "go".    I'm not quite sure "why".  I'm going with the idea that the cold cement floor is better for poops especially when there is litter pawed out on it. 

Well, it is there on the floor fer a REASON, right?  But TBT dint agree.  So he moved them closer together so that there wasnt room for me to stand between them.

I can take a hint...  I tried going in front of them, but TBT has been spending a lot of time in the basement lately and he watched when I came down ta do my bizness. 

He actually PICKED ME UP when I set to poop in front of the boxes and set me in one.  Like I was a KITTEN!  OMC, I was acting like one...

I've been good since then.  And HE has been better about cleaning the boxes more than once per day. 

BTW, those jugs in the back are are filled with fresh litter.  He fills those from the huge tubs of it he brings home.  He says a little work at first makes filling the boxes later a lot easier later.

Pantry Prowling

IZA:  When TBT isnt around, I like ta go sniffing around in the recycle bin.  Sometimes there are cans with a bit of lickable stuff in them.  But he has gotten really good at rinsing the cat food cans clean lately and I don't find any ta pull out and lick.

If you think that means Im hungry, you are right.  I've been on a mild diet for a couple years.  I was up to 11 pounds once and loved it but I'm at 10 now.  I'm not thrilled about it.  He got me down to 9.5 pounds, but relented.  He weighs me evry few days ta make sure I dont got lower than 10.

If I get below 10 in the morning before 1st breakfast, he says "OK, we better plump you up a bit today.  More exciting werds I never heard!

I dont get to choose how much to eat.  And I HAVE been more active lately with the less weight on me.  But I still would like to eat more, so I look around for foods...

He caught me checking out the pantry.  Thats not where OUR food is kept (that is in a hallway closet where the door is allus kept closed).  But I keep smelling stuff in the kitchen pantry.  So I look...

Whats THIS stuff?  Nuts, dried beans, cooking oil.  He EATS that stuff?  Why?  Theres no meat in it...

Uh Oh, BUSTED!  He caught me.  I was so curious about what was in there, I dint realize he was right behind me.  

I should know that if a door is open, there isnt annything I would want inside...

Womancat Wensday

IZA:  I am SO happy ta see a sunpuddle again after weeks many days of cloudy cold!

I rolled and rolled loving it!

And I was inspired ta write a rhyme (by Erato, the "mews" of love poetry, of course)...

ODE TO SUNPUDDLE

Oh puddle sunny,
Here I laze
And melt like honey
In your warm rays.

My feet are firmly
Pressed to the door
To hold my tumly
Your heat, adore.

And then I roll
To spread it round
And such to loll
And warmth abound!

Our Gotcha Day!

AYLA:  Its My and Iza's Gotcha Day!  My 10th and her 9th...

So lets PAWTY!

Please enjoy our trees while you are here.

There are scratchers...

Ladders ta climb...

Boxes fer various sized kitties...

Bags for all...

A large assortment of toys that TBT will toss around (or ya can just grab one ya like and bat it around)...

Wand toys...

Foods like ham

And Shrimps...

 And Fancy Drinks!

And TBT is hiding kibbles all over the place fer us ta find!