Category: Kitten Tuesday

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Sally is a Work of Art

Guys, I got the nicest surprise in the mail the other day. I mean, I always thought that Sally was a work of art, but now he really is!  Long story:

Going to the store to buy cat food was a pain in the butt.  That one pet food store doesn’t carry the right brand, the other one might only have a few cans and I’d have to go back every week or so.  Whatever.  I was annoyed. 

So, I started ordering from Chewy.com.  It’s great.  I set up an auto ship, but it sends me a notification every month so that I can change anything about my delivery.  Anything.  Like the type, or the quantity of cat food.  Or I can add a 40-pound bag of cat litter.  Or I can change the date.

Last month, I got my auto ship notification.  But I needed cat food like the next day, not the next week.  So, I changed the date to “ship now” and it did. It shipped THAT DAY.  And it was delivered before dinner time the next day.  How great is that?

Mr. Man had piled up the four cases of cat food on the dining table.  Sally knows what his dinner looks like and he wanted to let us know that he was ready for some as soon as we wanted to give it to him.

Long story short: I sent Chewy.com this photo of Sally with his thanks for the prompt delivery.  They wrote back a hilarious message full of pet puns (I thought I was bad).

Then last Friday, I found a fancy, metallic blue, padded envelope in my mail from Chewy.com.  I know that I hadn’t ordered anything recently and had no idea what it could be.

Inside was a very sweet, hand-written note and this beautiful painting of my handsome Sally based on the photo that I had sent them!  Isn’t that just the most thoughtful gesture?  As if getting multiple cases of canned cat food and 40-pound bags of cat litter delivered to my door without having to pay for shipping isn’t fantastic enough.

Sally’s favorite part of our surprise delivery was the tissue paper which he thoroughly shredded before retiring for his afternoon nap.

Now I just have to figure out how to get a painting of Anabel before she gets too jealous.

Anabel is not amused

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Another vet visit

You guys, I have a confession to make: sometimes I take the kittens for a vet visit even though there isn’t anything wrong with them. It sounds worse than it is.  You see, when they were little baby kittens, the vet talked me into the “kitten package” that included all of their vaccinations, getting fixed, microchips, and unlimited vet visits and nail trims for a year.

You already know that I am a firm believer in nail trims, and it is something that I do at home, otherwise we would probably have been going to the vet every two weeks.  But every few months, I like to take them in to be weighed and talk to the vet about their diet, etc.  I like putting them in the car and taking them somewhere close by and since they aren’t getting shots or other procedures every time they go (and are so easy-going in the first place), they don’t freak out.

Sally napping in his cat carrier

When we get into the exam room, the kittens get weighed and then I let them wander around.  This time I was cracking up because as Anabel was exploring, Sally was trying to hide himself in the corner.  Poor guy!  At one point he even crawled under a bookshelf.  Now, he never behaves like that at home and nothing bad ever happened in the exam room anyway (they get taken in the back for shots) so I just thought it was funny that this big guy who acts all BMOC at home, was trying to hard to hide.  So, I scooped him up and held him in my lap while the doc examined Anabel.

This time, because we are transitioning from kitten food to cat food, I wanted to talk to the vet about what and how much we feed them.  Here is what the vet told me: a normal, full-grown, female cat should weigh between 8-10 pounds (Anabel is just under 9 pounds); a full-grown, male cat should weigh between 10-12 pounds (Sally weighed in at 10 pounds, 12 ounces).  I mean, I already knew that my kittens are perfect, but it is always nice to get quantifiable confirmation of such things.

Of course, the vet did have to find something to pick on me about.  Their nails were trimmed, they were a good weight, they are nice and well-behaved…he was going to have to really make an effort to come up with something.  He broke out a flea comb to see if he could find any evidence of fleas (he didn’t, we have the really good flea medicine that we get at there and I use it).  He sure did get a comb-full of fur though.  Busted!  I have been trying to brush these guys ever-other day, but the day before their appointment, Anabel was not in the mood for a brushing.  So, now under doctor’s orders, they are one a daily brushing schedule.

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Sally Snuggles

Yesterday, I had been in-and-out of the house all day.  The kittens (oh, excuse me, now they are cats) had followed me around all morning. We had a little bit of kitten snuggle time and we even had a very productive session with the brush. But eventually they settled in for their mid-day naps and I went about my puttering.

Around five-thirty, I sat down in the front room.  I was going to catch up on Instagram, then come in here and do some writing.  Sally had other plans for me.  He hopped up on the chair, climbed into my lap and settled in for some snuggles and tummy rubs.  Now, this is unusual.  Yes, he is a sweetie who likes his belly rubbed and he will let me pick him up and hold him like a baby, but he doesn’t really ever seek me out for cuddle time.

So, I flipped on the TV and enjoyed having an armful of purring pussycat.  Two hours later (yes, TWO HOURS!) I was starting to get hungry.    It was way past his dinner time and even Anabel had emerged from her don’t bother me spot looking for something to eat.  But I couldn’t get up. I didn’t want to break whatever magic spell got me such a substantial kitty cuddle session.

Eventually he did wake up and let me escape (so that I could give them their dinner).  It was almost eight o’clock.

Even though I didn’t get any writing done, it sure was a good way for me to spend some time.  I may try to only watch TV while I have snuggling kitties on my lap, that way there is some redeeming aspect to my trashy reality-show obsession.

Now if I can only get Anabel to sit with me…

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Happy Birthday Anabel and Sally!

When I adopted Anabel and Sally last June, I was told that they were seven weeks old. That meant they would have been born on Cinco de Mayo.  Works for me!  That is an easy-to-remember date and there is already motivation to celebrate.  So, this past weekend, we celebrated the kitten’s first birthday. Happy birthday Anabel and Sally!

Now apparently calculating cat years isn’t quite as straightforward as dog years.  It is said that the first two years of a cat’s life are equal to 25 people years, then every year after that is around 4 people years.  They certainly do mature quickly because their kitten making equipment was just about ready to go by the time that they were fixed, and they were not-quite even five months old then.

  • Anabel, 7 weeks old

According to this online calculator (don’t you love the internet, it really does have everything), the kittens are the equivalent of 15 in people years.

Fortunately, they don’t behave like teenagers.  But Mr. Man and I have noticed that they are acting much more like cats than kittens over the past few weeks.  Sometimes Sally can’t be bothered to run to greet whoever is at the door or monitor our showers because he is too busy napping or looking out the window.

They are still sweet little loves though; thank goodness they didn’t develop big cattitudes as they grew up!

I feel a sense of relief that we managed to keep these precious, little, baby kittens so sweet and loving.   That we didn’t turn them into aloof, difficult cats. They are healthy and comfortable and nice to be around, and they bring immeasurable happiness to my and Mr. Man’s lives.  Cinco de Mayo may well be my favorite day to celebrate from now on.

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Anabel is a Daddy’s Girl

Recently, Mr. Man went off on a dirt adventure for a few days and left me at home all alone with the kittens.  Which is really no big deal, it is a lot like every day except including nighttime.

But Anabel was not happy about it at all.

She spent all day every day sitting in his desk chair.  She barely got up to eat and after, would go right straight back to her spot.  She didn’t want me to pet her or pick her up.  She didn’t even want to play, and Anabel always loves to play.

At night, I usually go to bed first, then Sally, then Anabel, then Mr. Man.  When he was away, Sally would come to bed with me like normal, but Anabel would just spend all night in Mr. Man’s chair. I had no idea that she was such a daddy’s girl.

Finally, on the evening of day three, she came out to the living room and hung out with me for a little bit (maybe 30 minutes) then back to her vigil.  The next morning, she seemed to be getting over it finally.  Either that or she knew that he was coming home that day.  She followed me around a bit and talked to me and let me brush her.  I was relieved that she was starting to act normal again.

That night, I went to be, Sally came to bed, then Anabel came to bed and eventually Mr. Man did too.  But what I really want to know is: if she only is going to come to bed when he’s home, why doesn’t she sleep on his side of the bed?

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Sally is a Golf Fan

We’re a golf household.  Mr. Man is an excellent golfer.  I am a hack golfer, but I enjoy playing.  The kittens have a golf ball that they like to play with in the house (they can’t throw it, so they aren’t going to break anything with it).  And we like to put the golf tournament on the TV on the weekends.

Some golf tournaments are more can’t miss TV than others.  The Masters is one of them.  Augusta is one of the most beautiful golf courses that I have ever seen. Since I’ve only ever seen it on television, I can’t imagine how stunning it is in real life.

So, the other weekend, we had the Masters on and by the end of play on Saturday it had gotten really interesting.  Tiger Woods, Francesco Molinari, and Tony Finau were playing in the final group on Sunday (the leaders play last).  Tiger who?  Remember back in the day, there was this golfer named Tiger Woods who turned the golf world on its head?  Yeah, him.

Ok, so here’s the Kitten Tuesday part of this story:

When the kittens very first came home, I had them out in the front room while the U.S. Open was on.  They were both very interested in the golf tournament or at least seemed to actually be looking at the television that day.  It was good to know that I had brought home natural golf fans.

Since then Anabel has been more interested in watching TV than Sally.  She seems to like football and hockey but mostly she likes the sports ticker at the bottom of the screen.  She will jump up and sit in front of the TV and try her darnedest to catch that scrolling ticker.

Back to the Masters.  Its Sunday, Tiger Woods is in the lead and getting ready to tee off on the 17th hole.  Sally, for the first time ever, jumps up and sits in front of the TV.  He was watching Tiger Woods!

Now, it’s hard to say whether Sally just likes Augusta, or Tiger’s Sunday red & black, or if he is a true Tiger fan. I think he may be more interested in the big tournaments and great come back stories than week-to-week play.  We will have to keep an eye on him during the US Open to find out.

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Kitten Day Dreams

After I wrote about the kittens’ nighttime sleeping routine, I began cataloguing where they sleep during the day, the locations of kitten day dreams. 

Even though they have the run of the house, there are around a half-dozen places where they are most likely to be found during daytime naps.  This simplifies kitten inventory.  Yes, I will go around the house at least once a day making sure that I can locate both kittens. Even if all of the windows are closed and no one has gone outside.  Do I think they have gotten out?  No, not really.  They are very good about waiting at the door but not trying to get out.  But one of them has accidentally gotten stuck in my closet at least once and the thought of having to clean up what could happen if a kitten is trapped in there for too long gives me nightmares.

They still really like the front room which was the kitten nursery when they first came home.  That room gets a lot of sun and is always warmer during the day; I like hanging out in there too.  There are a bunch of nice little kitten-sized nap spots that they will rotate through over the course of a day.  One of Anabel’s favorites is a basket full of blankets.

I keep their travel crate open on the floor next to my desk.  When they very first came home, they would go back in there to sleep, it was their safe place.  The vet encouraged me to leave it out and open for them; if there is an emergency of some sort, it will be easily accessible, and they will be used to it.  Anabel doesn’t really use it anymore, but after I have been sitting at my desk for a bit, Sally will head in there and sack out for the day.

Sally also has a wicker chair that is HIS chair.  Anabel likes to sleep on Mr. Man’s desk chair.  Once, he was gone for three days and she barely moved.

There is also a sort-of perch that Mr. Man created for them that consists of a crate, covered with a towel, on top of an end table.  This is a favorite place for both of them, it is usually just a matter of who claims it first.

I like that I rarely find them hiding out under furniture.  Occasionally Anabel will go hide out under the futon.  Unlike Emma, whose default was under the bed, that is the last resort place to look for Anabel.

When I used to work at the dining table, they would keep my company by taking their naps in there.  They both had their designated chairs and after they took a lap across the table to inspect my materials, they would retire to their designated chairs.

I have yet to catch either of them napping in the living room.

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Cat Scratchers

As any cat caretaker knows, giving kitty somewhere to scratch is not only important for the cat’s happiness, but for the survival of one’s people furniture.  Finding the right cat scratcher however, is not as straightforward as it seems like it should be.

Traditional cat scratchers are generally rather monstrous, unattractive, and expensive.  And it is not uncommon for cats to completely ignore these monstrosities.  I feel like I should invest in one because it would give my little furry loves a fun place to climb and nap and scratch, but they are just so awful.

These days, there is a whole other category of chic cat scratchers that are generally minimalist and not covered in shag carpeting.  Unfortunately, these are also usually even more expensive, and I can’t seem to bring myself to rationalize the splurge.

Fortunately, there is another style of cat scratchers that I find satisfactory functionally as well as budgetarily – the cardboard cat scratcher.

When these first started coming out, they were usually just a flat rectangle of bias-cut cardboard.  These days, there seem to be all sorts of new shapes and larger sizes available at my favorite discount home furnishings store.  I must not be the only fan.

Most importantly, Anabel and Sally are also fans of the cardboard cat scratcher.  We have quite an assortment and at least one of them will use at least one every day.

I saw a tutorial online about how to make your own cardboard cat scratcher.  It involved cuttings many, many strips of cardboard, then gluing them together.  Sort of like making your own butcher block.  And much like making your own butcher block, although it is not particularly complicated and would be extremely budget friendly, I still have no interest in attempting it.

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Sleeping Beauties

News flash: cats sleep a lot.

Ok, not actually news at all.  As I sit here writing, I am surrounded by sleeping kitties and it made me think about how funny they are about where and when they sleep.

Of course, there are daytime sleeping spots and nighttime sleeping spots.  And while in some ways it seems like they will sleep anywhere, Anabel and Sally can be fairly particular about their nighttime sleeping spot.

Both kittens come to bed with us at night.  Sally knows when bedtime is and he will sometimes beat me there.  Anabel likes to wait until no one is looking and then she comes to bed too.  Neither of them snuggle with us though.  They both sleep down by my feet. 

I used to have a blanket on top of the duvet.  One night, Sally started going crazy and was attacking the blanket.  He would scratch and bite at it.  I kept throwing him off of the bed and throwing him out of the bedroom, but he kept coming back (no, I didn’t close the door because…cats) and raging at it.  Mr. Man was not happy.  Finally, I took the blanket off of the bed and then he was fine.  He had just been upset with the blanket.

The kittens resumed their nighttime sleeping position.  It was a tenuous detente because I was worried that at any moment Sally would get mad at the duvet and attack my new down comforter.  At some point during the next few days a sweatshirt or something wound up on the foot of the bed.  The kittens made a point of sleeping on top of it; Anabel seemed especially happy about it, so I left it.

After a bit, Sally started getting mad at that shirt too.  Yikes!  Ok, let’s put that in the hamper.  How about if I get a clean shirt out of the drawer?  Oh, he likes it!  Happy kittens, phew.

So, now we have a system where I leave a t-shirt out on the foot of the bed for the kittens to sleep on.  Every few days I switch it out for a clean shirt.  The kittens love their spot and we haven’t had any more incidents with trying to kill the bedding.

On one hand, I really would like to be able to sleep with my legs stretched out.  One the other hand, when I wake up in the morning, I find adorable snuggling kitten vignettes that make my heart overflow with happiness like the bubble run-off of a poorly opened bottle of champagne.

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Manifesting Kittens

I may have already told you a version of this story, but stick with me here, it’s about to get weird.

We had put down both of our cats, Emma and Clementine, in about a six-month period.  We loved them both very much and this was the first time for both of us of being grown-ups and having to go through that.  Mr. Man was very adamant that he didn’t want any more pets.  I wasn’t so sure, but I wasn’t in a hurry.

Anyway, one weekend when I was traveling up to go to the ballet with my mom and sister, I was sitting on the airplane, flipping through Vogue and daydreaming.  There was a story about the private club in London, Annabel’s, which was going through this fantastic renovation.  The photo of the dining room that was all done in this fantastic floral pattern really caught my eye.  And I thought to myself, Anabel (with one “n”) would be a nice name for a cat.

As I indulged in this daydream, it got really specific: I would get a kitten that looked like a little Clementine (brown tabby Maine Coon).  I would name her Clementine II and call her Tutu for short.  Then, I would get another fluffy, brown tabby kitten, but this one would have some white on her.  I would name her Anabel and call her Belly for short.  They would be sisters and grow up together and get along and we would all live happily ever after.

I was so happy about my plan!  I put in my order with my animal rescue friend because I knew that she would have access to all sorts of wonderful kittens and also because I knew that I would be better able to stick to my plan if I wasn’t going kitten shopping myself.

It was around four months later when she sent me a photo of this precious little tabby/white kitten with the sweetest little booboo face.  It was my Anabel!  She had a tabby littermate, but he was a boy.  Mr. Man had already put the kybosh on naming a cat Clementine II, so I wasn’t that worried that he didn’t look too much like Clementine.  The rest is history.

Ok, so here is the weird part: maybe three or four weeks later, after I had brought Anabel and Sally home and everyone was all settled in, I was changing purses and I pulled out my old make-up bag.  I had bought this thing probably at least three years ago, maybe longer.  It had Anabel’s face on it!  Ok, not EXACTLY, but close enough.  I hadn’t really used it much, certainly not recently.  It was a very weird moment.  Was I subconsciously manifesting kittens based on objects that I already had around me?  Or was it just a coincidence?

Is there a moral to this story?  Be careful what you bring into your life?  Little things can lead to bigger things?  Only buy make-up bags with cute kittens on them? It’s hard to say…