Cats!

I'm surrounded by Cats, but not a single one of them will can play with me.




I wonder what Treater would say if I tried to play with them?

Peaceful?

Treater found this in today's newspaper. That's one really brave Cat there. I'd be outta there in no time. I'm not brave enough to "peacefully coexist" with any D-O-G.


This brave fellow even has his back turned on that big guy.

Just me!

Treater was catching a catnap on the sofa when I decided that I really needed some attention. I kept looking at Treater, but she just kept on snoozing.


Napper picked up the camera, so I thought I'd be cute for him.



At least someone in this family pays attention to me.

I'm a glutton for these blog things!

The Recipe For Spooky

3 parts Allure 2 parts Craftiness 1 part Intuition Splash of Giddiness Chug!

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

Cats are better for people!

Treater read this article to me today. It's from a newspaper. The kind that's not in the litter box.

It's good!

Cats are good!

D-O-G-S...not so good.

Here's the whole article:

Study finds health benefits to owning cats

By Maura Lerner

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

4:20 PM EST, February 21, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS

Here, kitty, kitty...

A new study suggests cat owners are less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than people who, well, don't own cats.

And no, dogs don't do the same trick.

The study, by researchers at the University of Minnesota, found that feline-less people were 30 to 40 percent more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those with cats.

Yet dog owners had the same rate as non-owners. "No protective effect of dogs as domestic pets was observed," said the study, which was presented Thursday at the International Stroke Conference in New Orleans.

Dr. Adnan Qureshi, a stroke expert at the university, said he decided to raise the question because other studies have suggested pets can help reduce stress. He and his team analyzed a group of 4,435 people who had answered questionnaires about pet ownership and other risk factors.

But the cat-dog differential came as a surprise. "We don't understand this completely," he said, but "it's probably not a coincidence."

Asked if he owns a cat, Qureshi replied: "No. Maybe I should get one, though. With this new research, I think the time has come to change."

CATS VS. DOGS

--90 million cats are owned in the United States

--36 percent of U.S. households (or 38.4 million) own at least one cat

--56 percent own more than one cat

--74.8 million dogs are owned in the United States

--39 percent of U.S. households own at least one dog

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Assoc.

It's all about the Nap

Sometimes, a girl just needs her beauty sleep.

Treater spent the day yesterday stepping over and around me. I kept moving to other places, but she said that I was in her way all day.

This is one of my favorite napping spots (yes, I have several). I'm in front of the glass wall where the sun shines on me and warms my fur. This weird blue thing appeared a few weeks ago, but I haven't figured out what to do with it. One day I found my catnip pillow in there, but I have decided that now I do not like my catnip pillow. I took care of it. I'll never see it again.


Now, every time I wake from a nap, I look inside it. About once a day, I find TWO GREENIES in there! I wonder if this is a Greenie factory? Perhaps someone is playing tricks on me. Doesn't matter. They're Greenies. I like 'em. I eat 'em.

Another favorite spot to nap is right in the middle of the floor next to the rocking chair. I keep my tail away from that chair. That thing could inflict some serious damage to my perfect little tail.


Know why I sleep all day? I chase "mems" all night! I'm not sure why they're called "mems." That's what Treater calls 'em. She said her family D-O-G (when she was a younger person) used to let himself out of the house every day and run circles around the backyard woofing and carrying on...chasing "mems." I guess that's what Treater thinks I'm doing.

This is a picture of Treater's family D-O-G from long ago. For a D-O-G, he looks kind of friendly. But if he chased "mems," then I'm sure he'd chase Cats, too. Oh, his name was Tramp.


Why do I run through the house all night? Actually, I'm practicing for the day when I catch one of those anoles. They move pretty fast. Besides, I've got to work off that Cat food and those Greenies. I must keep my girlish figure.

I could tell you more about my napping places and napping in general, but the sun is up and I absolutely must begin my long morning nap.

Ta-ta for now!

The neighborhood Cat

There are a lot of Cats that live in my neighborhood. Most of them are inside/outside Cats. I'm just an inside Cat. I like to sit in the porthole window and watch the Cats who are outside.

One day, I heard a racket coming from the garage (the door to the garage is next to the litter box room which is where the porthole window is). I didn't know what it was, but it sounded like a Cat. Napper was at work and Treater was gone someplace. She's always going someplace, but she always comes back. After Treater came home, I didn't hear that noise anymore.

Later, while Napper and I were getting settled for our nap, I heard Treater telling him about "that silly orange Cat" being trapped inside our garage! She says that Cat sleeps in her big ficus on the front porch, and it made a litter box behind the holly hedge in front of the house. She's so mad at that Cat that I once saw her throwing palm tree seeds at it (and our Queen palms make a lot of seeds)!

Treater went outside this morning to take a picture of the sky. I think the sun was making pretty colors, but that's beyond my understanding and appreciation. Anyhoo, when she went out, she scared the orange Cat from his hiding place. I think he doesn't like the big, loud, jumpy black D-O-G that lives inside his house, so he goes to other houses.

Cub gave me an award!

Cub may be a D-O-G, but she's a very nice one. She even gave me an award. She's trying to be extra-nice online, since she says she isn't very good with Cats in real life. I really appreciate getting this award from her!

I think there are some really nice Cats and maybe even other D-O-G-S (at least online!) out there. I'd like to recognize three of them.

First of all, Tiggie, Faithful Orange Cat inspired me to start blogging. He's a handsome orange fellow who positively glows in the sunshine. He's an expert on many things, including napping and dancing.

Next, a really beautiful Lady Cat is Miss Kitty, Norwegian Forest Cat. She is also an expert in napping (we're all Cats, so that goes without saying!) and avocado tree-climbing.

Lastly, I'd like to recognize The Ginger Cats. They get to take fascinating walks and write so poetically about their wanderings. They live in a far-off place called Wales. Reading their blog is better than traveling in real life (I don't like cat carriers and I don't like cars)!

Thank you, Cub, thank you very much!

My Valentine's Day present???

Apparently, Dad sent Mom some flowers at work, and she took a picture of them. She said she'll be bringing them home because they won't survive the extreme heat of her office this weekend. I'm kinda excited! I ate some of her roses that she got a year or so ago. Well, I wasn't the only one. So maybe these yellow tulips will be tasty! Can't wait! Happy Valentine's Day to me!

(there are six buds, they haven't all bloomed yet)

Spooky, dear aunt, you are a darling! Kitty kisses!

Happy Valentine's Day

Time of Day quiz

Treater and I took a quiz today.

Here are my results. I think it's pretty accurate. That's about the time I want my treat. Then it's back to sleep somewhere...usually under the bed. Sometimes under the wingback chair.

And here are Treater's results. This is pretty close. She likes to get up and have breakfast while reading the newspapers on the computer...and checking her email...and checking blogs...

Of course I'm a Cat!

You Are: 0% Dog, 100% Cat

You are are almost exactly like a cat. You're intelligent, independent, and set on getting your way. And there's no way you're going to fetch a paper for anyone!

Are You More Cat or Dog?

I am one-hundred percent CAT! What's with the "almost exactly like a cat" thing?

Monday morning

Greetings.

It's Monday morning. I don't look very happy, do I? I'm just a little bit irritated with Treater and Napper for trying to trick me again. I won this battle; I did not take my pill today.



For all you wonderful felines and canines who nicely suggested Pill Pockets - I learned a couple of years ago how to peel the "pocket" off the pill and leave that ol' pill behind. I like the pockets; not the pill.

I even figured out how to sniff a pill out of the "wet" food.

I sniffed Treater's fingers yesterday and figured out that she had just been holding a pill (they managed to cram that one down my throat anyway).

After that, I spent the entire day sleeping inside the entertainment center. I don't believe they have discovered this hiding place yet, so it's safe for napping.

After Treater and Napper gave up on trying to hold me down, I decided to make it up to them by playing cute since Treater had that shiny flashy box in her hands. This is my imitation of playing dead. I like to nap like this. Treater calls me "roadkill" when I do this.



This morning, I have been very politely asking for my Greenies. Treater keeps telling me that I can have it after my pill. I'll show them. I can be so cute and irresistible that they'll have to give me a Greenie.


Please?

You'd give me a Greenie, wouldn't you?

Ahh, this is the life...

There's nothing like being back home again, spending a quiet evening with my people. Napper gives the very best nose scritches.






I think Treater felt really bad about leaving me with the V-E-T all day long. Apparently, she heeded Whistle's most excellent advice and found a very special Treat for me! She brought home a bag of...

G R E E N I E S ! ! !

Now I'm one very contented kitty cat. That is, until they try to give me another one of those pills...

...scruffing me...
...forcing my mouth open...
...pushing in that pill...
...stroking my throat...!?
Oh, gag.

But, for now, I've got Greenies and I'm content to just laze around. I wonder if I can follow Treater around and convince her to give me another Greenie?











Note from Treater: I may have created a monster. Spooky is following me around the house with those wide-open, can't-you-see-that-I'm-in-need-of-some-lovin'-GREENIES-eyes. Just looking for those Greenies. She even pushed aside her favorite treats and left them in the middle of the floor.

I'm finally home!

Oh, the complete indignity of it all!

Tiggie warned me to keep my tail curled under, but that vet's assistant managed to push my tail aside any ol' way. That was not fun. At all.

Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, they did something else completely unspeakable to me, and then told Treater that I would have to stay there until I was able to "leave a sample."

Haaa-rrrumph!

How completely and utterly unladylike.

I spent the whole durn day there...with all those other Cats and those barking, whining D-O-G-s. We should have banded together and staged a mass revolt of some sort. I think we could have busted outta there. However, I actually think those D-O-G-s liked it there. Strange critters.

Now, Treater and Napper tell me I have to take a pill every day...for ten days. Well, I took that first one, but I'll show them. I can still bite fingers and hide 'way back under the bed.

Help me!

They caught me!

Treater's taking me to the vet.
Please, somebody help me!
I'm so scared mad that my beautiful blue eyes are red!