Mancat Mondays

I present to you one of the few pictures of the Endangered Canadian Snow Leopard in its natural habitat:

It's hard to be believe that our little Mancat-In-Training has been with us for four whole months now. He is getting bigger and bigger.

Back in February.

Now in April.


Dolce:
I have to turn to my blogging friends to prevent a travesty of justice; a unwholesome twisting of the truth; an invasion of feline privacy. Dad says he has pictures of my snuggling with Baci and he's going to post them as part of Wordless Wednesday. I told him he can't. What will Scout say when he sees them? I have a reputation to maintain. Just remember Dad: if that finger hits the publish button, a house plant will have to die.

What to do, What to do.

There is meme out there for the 5 Reasons You Blog. Since no one sent it to me directly,(sigh!), I guess I will fill it out anyways.

1. A place to put all the stupid stories I would tell my wife about what the cats had done that day. (I do voices too.)

2. A chance to exercise my writing skills. (Believe it or not, I have thought about becoming a writer. Once I win a million dollars, and find a cure for cancer...)

3. Being able to interact with the other voices of reason and civility in the noise of the web. Politics sounds so lame when voiced through a cat. Seriously, would you elect anyone who would drop to the floor in the middle of a press conference and start licking themselves. Or if they saw a Bill they didn't like, they would just pee on it.

4. Knowledge shared is knowledge gained.

5. A virtual shoulder to cry on when times are tough and the absolute worst is a reality.


Now for an update of the household:

• It's supposed to be spring. I promised Baci this. Now we have another three inches of fricking snow. Dammit, Al Gore, You promised me Global Warming! or is it Global Cooling?Whoa. Deja Vu all over again.
• Smudge had a V-E-T visit today. He has gained a whole 0.5 of a pound. Dr. Nick says that he is extremely happy with Smudge's physical condition. There is a small sidebar. Like kidney disease in humans (I have an Aunt with kidney failure and on dialysis.), there is the risk of high blood pressure issues. Smudge is at the top of the acceptable range for a Cat, so Dr. Nick wants to start him on some meds to manage this.
• Smudge has decided that this house is not his home anymore. I brought him home to see Magoo, Bella and Dolce since Grandma was at work. Smudge knew where the water dish was and the litter boxes. But he hissed at both Bella and Dolce. Dr. Nick asked me about the new arrangements and I told him that Smudge associates me with these V-E-T visits. Dr. Nick said that we have to be careful not to just manage his disease and become caregivers only to Smudge. We have to be congnizant of the social relationship as well. That is my role now, I will bear the distrust and loathing and the unease so that Grandma can be free to show him the love and comfort he also needs. I am reminded of a line from a movie: "I will hate you for as long as I live." "I hope that it is a very long and healthy hate."
• Our dishwasher got recalled, and the dear wife used this as an excuse to replace the appliances, which Magoo has promptly sprayed after they were delivered and installed by yours truly. Anyone want a cantankerous old grey cat? Seriously, it's the cat equivalent of "Get the Frick Off My Lawn!"
• We still cannot understand how Baci, (Now referred to as a Meezer thanks to Miles and Sammie and the Girls from the Big Piney Woods), was not adopted sooner. He is a playing, cuddling, purring monster. He cries to be picked up when you get home and he starts to purr as soon as you touch him. He and Magoo are still not settled in the sleeping arrangements, but he makes sure he is in bed with us every night. Everything about him makes you want to pick him up and snuggle him.
• Also, Baci fetches toys like a dog. Don't let him know I said that. I'm sure he'll leave a gift in one of my shoes if he hears this.

If you come by and read the stories, please leave me a comment whether you liked or hated it. I'm not making you buy it, so the only way I know what you think is by how many comments they get. I would rather try and find some new storyline that captures your imagination than to keep feeding you stuff that you find boring.

Dolce's Story Chair - Antonius and Malachi Part 2

Dad: On this blog, I wrote a story about what happens to the Lonely Ones and how they made it to heaven. A while back. I came across something on the web that made me very angry to the point that I could hate someone I do not even know. In my mind they have become evil personified. Whatever good they might have pretended to do has been erased by their hypocrisy. The following story ties together two other stories I have posted here for my beloved cats,Of Memory and Loss, and Antonius and Malachi Part 1

Antonius and Malachi delivered the last of the kittens contained within their hem-frayed robes to the softly breathing calico as she laid in her sheepskin lined bed. The young cat turned her head and regarded the two faintly glowing forms that only she could see. Antonius smiled and he placed a gentle kiss on her head.
"Sleep well, young mother." Antonius gently smoothed the fur on the young cat's head. "Your babies are safe and will be here before the morn. Raise them them as you were raised. Love them as you were loved. And when it is time for them to go out amongst the world, give them the strength they will need."
The young calico blinked once and then settled her head on her paws. She could already feel the life within her stirring and longing to breathe the air of the world.
"Time to go, Malachi" Antonius' face took on a slight grim tone.
"I know, Antonius" Malachi replied, his face grew downcast. "We have brought life to those we carried and now its time to take our friends home."
"Remember." Antonius replied, "There is no greater joy than to return to the glory of heaven."
"I know." Malachi said as his little wings lifted his tiny body into the air. "But I don't seem to find the same joy as you. I don't know why. I feel joy when we bring them to Earth, but I feel sad when we return them to Heaven."
"You are attuned to the human spirit, dearest Malachi." Antonius stated. "You feel as they do. Joy at birth and Sorrow at Death."
"I wish I felt as you." Malachi stated.
"And I wish that I felt as you." Antonius smiled. "Come, we have some furriends to take home."
Malachi nodded and he followed Antonius into the ether.

Malachi looked at the final spot that Antonius lead him too. It seemed too clean and too modern by even human standards to be a place where Antonius needed to retrieve the Lonely Ones. He could hear the voices of other cats and dogs. Until now, Malachi had only followed Antonius to places where the lonely still forms of cats has laid unwanted and unclaimed in deserted and vacant spaces. This entire space felt wrong to Malachi. It felt like a place of hope but it bore the taint of desolation and loss.
"Where are we?" Malachi asked. "This place does not feel right. It feels confused. Torn between hope and fear."
"That is it's curse." Antonius replied. "This is an animal shelter. The humans within try to help those cats who have been abandoned by other humans. But, alas, they cannot save them all."
Antonius lead Malachi to a room. Malachi's small heart nearly burst at the sight that he beheld.

There in the clean sterile room were the still forms of dozens of cats; young, old, once sick or even once healthy, were piled unceremonously near a double steel door. Cheurb had never seen this number of Lonely Ones in a single place. He could not understand how they all managed to end up here. Not one of them bore sign of trauma or injury.

"What happened?" Malachi asked.

"Apathy." Antonius replied. "Indifference, Carelessness, and Thoughtlessness."

"This young boy was loved briefly by a little girl." Antonius said as he lovingly picked the long furred body of a young grey male cat. "But his humans did not bother to get him changed so that he wouldn't spray as his nature said he must. In time, they blamed him for the messes he made instead of their own carelessness, ignorance and apathy. So he ended up here."

"This little girl and her four siblings." Antonius set the little grey cat down and then exposed the still forms of five older kittens. "They were born to a cat that also had not been changed. The humans did not know what to do with them so they were abandoned here in a box during the middle of the night. No one else came to claim them or to give them a Forever Home."

Malachi turned away from Antonius and wiped his eyes on his silken robe.

"Did we not know this when we brought these to Earth?" Malachi asked as he motioned towards all the still forms. "If we knew this, why did we bring them only to face this terrible, lonely end?"

"We bring them in hope that humans will do what is right." Antonius replied as he placed wings on the last still form. "We are not given to question or change what humans do on Earth. They have been given the capacity to nuture and love. We have no power to force them to heed that nature. Come, we have one more place to go."

Antonius and Malachi stood next to a dirty rusty trash container.

"We cannot be here to find Lost Ones, Antonius." Malachi cried. "Even humans cannot be this callous."

"Malachi." Antonius placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I am sorry that you have to see this, but to do this task, you will be forced sometimes to see the worst of the humans' handiwork. I have tried to shield you from the worst but I felt it was time for you to see everything."

Antonius lifted the lid for the dumpster. He exposed several plastic bags tossed in amongst the other human refuse. Malachi looked on as Antonius gently lifted the body of a female cat and her kittens from the garbage bag. There were no signs of trauma on the still bodies.

Malachi's wings drooped at the sight of the still forms. They were similar to the bodies he had seen in the backroom of the Shelter. Malachi tried to withhold the tears that threatened to flow down his cheeks.

"Who?" was the only word that could escape Malachi's throat.

"Humans." Antonius stated. "Humans who hide behind the ideal of Ethics and Fairness for all living creatures. But no Human. who understands those two words, should ever be able to do this."

Malachi watched as Antonius attached wings to all the still forms in the dumpster. He tried to stop the tears that flowed down his cheeks. He found that he could not. As Malachi stood and stared at the still forms, he barely noticed the feathers as they fell from his wings and drifted to the ground.

"Malachi!" Antonius snapped sharply, "Mind your wings!"

"Antonius." Malachi dropped to his knees as the last feathers fell to the ground and his wings withered against his back. "My heart is broken. I have no more strength. I was wrong to think that as a cherubim, I could handle your task like you."

Antonius lifted his fragile friend up from the ground.

"I will take you home." Antonius said. "I should never have let you accompany me."

"No." Malachi said softly. "I do not want to go home. Take me to the Rainbow Bridge."

Antonius took Malachi back to the earthly side of the Rainbow Bridge. There were thousands of animals playing and running in the sunlit meadow. Antonius started to set Malachi down. Malachi grabbed and held Antonius' robe tightly.

"Not here." Malachi asked."Take me far enough away that I can still see the Bridge, but no one can see me."

Antonius took Malachi to the limit of human vision away from the Rainbow Bridge. He set Malachi down. Antonius fully expected Malachi's wings to grow back. Malachi stood up to his full height, which barely took him to Antonius's hip. He reached back and pulled his withered left wing from his back. He tossed it so that it was on the far side of the Rainbow Bridge as far away from the bridge as he was. Where his withered wing landed, a small cliff with two empty pools formed. Malachi took his withered right wing and he laid it down on the ground in front of him. As it touched the ground, a dry creek bed grew towards the Rainbow Bridge and the newly formed cliff and empty pools. Malachi sat down on a small rocky ledge on the Heaven side of the dry creek bed. The tears he had tried to hold in on Earth began to flow uncontrollably. Antonius watched as the creek bed began to fill, water flowed under the Rainbow Bridge and two waterfalls started to cascade over the small cliff and filled the two small pools.

"I can no longer help you Antonius." Malachi whispered through the tears that flowed down his cheeks and into the creek at his feet. "The Sense of Loss and the Memories of all those cats and kittens has shattered my heart and destroyed my wings. I am sorry that I could not bear the weight of such feelings like you. Maybe as Humans find the two Pools I have made, they will learn what a precious gift they have been given. I can only hope that they will soon realize what they squander and that they will change their ways."

Antonius left his friend's side and flew to the two pools at the base of the small waterfalls. He dipped his finger into the one pool and he felt the loss that had shattered the cherubim, Malachi's, heart. He then tasted the water from the other pool and he felt all the joyous memories that Malachi felt as he had helped Antonius bring the kittens to Earth. Antonius let a tear fall from his eye into his hand. From it, Antonius created a silver cup and a thin length of chain. Antonius fixed the chain to the first pool.

"This is the Pool of Loss." Antonius stated and then he created a second silver cup and chain from another tear. He affixed this cup to the second pool of water. "This is the Pool of Memory."

He summoned another being of Heaven and instructed it to watch over the two pools.

"These are the Pools of Loss and of Memory." Antonius instructed the creature who sat down between the two pools. "They are God's covenant to any Human that wishes to bring one of his creatures into their heart. In their dreams they shall come to this place and drink from the pools. Only those who can feel and understand what it is like to shatter an Angel's heart are worthy of such a gift."

My First Spring

Summoning my infinite powers of kitten cuteness, I have decided to take over this blog.


Mom and Dad have been talking about this thing called spring. I don't know what that is. Dolce says its a lot of fun, and that I might be allowed outside to see exactly how much fun it is. I asked her how many of these "Springs" she has seen and she said two. I don't think that makes her an expert. So I asked Bella how many springs she has seen. She hissed at me and said that a gentlecat does not ask a lady her age. So from that, I assumed more than two. I decided to ask Magoo how many springs he has seen. He said that he has seen 11 springs. He said that one was as a wee little kitten so he doesn't remember that one very well. In my mind that makes him a expert. I asked him what is the best part of spring. Magoo said that Dad will start Bar-B-Qing more since it is warmer and he doesn't have to trudge through the snow.

Magoo is very smart, because Dad Bar-B-Qued this weekend. I had to get a front row seat to see what the fuss was all about. I must say Bar-B-Que looks very tasty from this vantage point.


But since cats know that you can't always trust your eyes, I had to have a little taste of Dad's meal.

Magoo is right Bar-B-Que is fantastic. I think I will have to reserve this place at the table next time to see what else Dad has cooked up for me to sample.

This just cracked me up

I made the dear wife buy this bottle of wine this weekend for two reasons: first, the name just cracked me up, and second, the marekting is supposedly donating money to the SPCA. I don't know which one, but since we have found furriends from Singapore to Australia to the United States to the U.K. to Spain, I don't worry. Somehow someway this money will help a furriend of ours.

Maybe I will get lucky enough in my life to have a job to think of names like this for wine:

Now you might not be a wine drinker, but doesn't this bottle just say "Honey, let's invite your mother over for dinner this weekend."

Too much to say Thursday

I had to keep my mouth shut for wordless wednesday. You do not know how much that killed me to not talk about each and every picture of Baci.

There are words for ever picture that I post on this blog. Some are sad, some are happy, some will give you hope, and some with shatter your heart. After I wrote Smudge's Tail of Devoshun for Skeezix's contest and I posted some of the stories that careened around my brain, I realized that I can write things in a very sad, emotive way.

I try to write humourous things, but to me they sound contrived and stupid. My wife laughs, but then again I think she does it to humour me as she slips my credit card from my wallet.

But right now, there is a little kitten, who is dreaming of becoming a big mancat just like his older brother Magoo, curled up on the rug at my feet. What he doesn't realize is that the amount of love he generates is equal to his size times a gazillion.

I know that if I pick him up, two things will happen: he will let out a stinky kitty fart and he will start to purr. All I know is that I will brave a thousand of his noxious farts just to feel his purring cheek against mine. So in the immortal words of Obi-won Kenobi: May the Farts be with You.

I leave you with the following pictures. If it was free, right now you would be hearing the song "Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting"


This picture has nothing to do with wrassling but if you look at
Dolce's face, she looks like she has just been shut down underneath the net at a basketball game. In Baci's words: "Denied!!"

Wordless Wednesday

Mancat(s) Monday

Baci and Magoo are having a small disagreement as to what constitutes a proper Mancat.

Baci says that a Mancat needs to be athletic, strong, and have a certain aura about him that inspires awe in other cats around him. He adds that it should make the female cats swoon, even if you don't have any hoo-haas.
Baci gets some air!
So the above is Baci's idea of what a Mancat should be.

Magoo on the otherhand says that a Mancat is strictly based on size. The bigger you are the more of a Mancat you can claim to be. This is easy for Magoo to use as his yardstick since he is quite large.
Magoo shows off his girth!
The above is Magoo's evidence for what makes a Mancat. In his words: "Awe this, Baci, you little turd."

Dad's Coming Home

Dad talked to Baci on the phone last night and said that he was going to be home for more than just a weekend. I told Baci not to lie because it is not nice to get your favourite sister all excited and then dash her hopes.

Baci said he was not lying. So all I can says is Hooray!

I have already drafted the napping and cuddling schedule for the next month. I left a couple of spaces for eating and using the litterbox. Oh and I hope Dad makes a point of using the time I allocated for updating the blog to do just that. Shopping and going to movies with Mom is not a acceptable excuse.

Baci noticed that I did not give him any time with Dad on the cuddling schedule, and right now he is crying to Mom about. Even though he is getting really big, he is still such a little baby. He is getting better at the wrassling and chasing games I have been teaching him. I heard Mom tell Dad that we were actually sleeping next to each other all curled up. That is a complete fabrication. I was sleeping on the bed and Baci was sleeping on the bed. The fact that we were right next to each other and that our paws and tails might have touched is no indication that we were cuddling.

I demand that Dad produce photgraphic evidence of this supposed cuddling. Until then, I do not want my reputation being sullied about the cat blogosphere. What would my Scout say if he heard these scandalous rumours.

Purringly Yours
Dolce

Pee Ess. Dad says he has lots of pictures of Baci and he get them converted and posted as soon as possible. Both Dad and Mom say that he is living up to his name.

CatBlogger Idol

Dolce says that she has a great voice and she has decided that it is time for all the world to hear it. She saw "American Idol" and decided that there should be a Catblogger Idol.

So here is her audition tape...

"These Purrs"

These purrs are my own

Threw some meows together
The combination Mew-Mew-Mow
It's who I am, it's what I do
And I was gonna barf it up for you
Try to focus my attention
But I feel so Ta-ab-by
I need some help, some Temptations
(But they're not coming quickily)
Meow-oh!

Trying to find the catnip
Trying to lick my backside
Don't you know, don't you know, don't you know?
Waste-bin full of paper
Fevver mouses, see you later

These purrs are my own
From my heart flow
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you
There's no other way
To better say
I love you, I love you...

Read some Derby, Skeezix and Meeps
Recited it over a Meezer beat
I'm having trouble saying what I mean
With Tabby Cats and House Panthers
I know I had some litterbox time booked
But I couldn't find a killer hook
Now you've gone & raised my dish right up
Nothing I scratch is ever good enough

These purrs are my own
From my heart flow
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you
There's no other way
To better say
I love you, I love you!

I'm getting off my ledge
The curtains pull away
No furry coat to hide behind
My naked soul exposes
Meow-oh!.. Mew..Mew Mew.. Meow-oh!...

Trying to find the catnip
Trying to lick my backside
Waste-bin full of paper
Fevver mouses, see you later

These purrs are my own
From my heart flow
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you

That's all I got to say,
Can't think of a better way,
And that's all I've got to say,
I love you, is that okay?

Pee Ess. Apologies to Natasha Bedingfield. But then again Dolce is a cat and she really doesn't care about copyright.

A little philosophising...

As I write this a little boy kitten is celebrating his six month birthday. How is he celebrating it? He is sound asleep on my feet while I type away on the keyboard. It boggles my mind sometime on how creatures that have no knowledge of greed, jealously or vanity can accepted us humans so easily. Then I thought about it...


Cats will purr to show happiness or to show discomfort of pain.


Although I will call myself a Christian, I have often found myself disagreeing with a lot of what the establishment has been saying or doing. But, my cats keep reassuring me that I am in line with what God says we as humans should do.

A cat will purr to show it's pleasure at being petted or brushed or cuddled. This is suspicously similar to humans who will rejoice to God when things are going their way.

A cat will purr when it is harmed or in pain or scared. This also sounds very familiar to humans when they are scared or in pain.

Who taught them this? Is this why we treat cats to be on almost the same footing as ourselves? We share the same opinion of God. If we pray or if a cat purrs, then we are trying to connect with the same God that we believe made us both. In happiness and in sorrow, we try to reach out and find strength outside of ourselves.

Personally, I think that GOd likes Cats better. Cause Cats can lick themselves.

Sorry. It's been busy in the Great White North

I just realized that it has been over two weeks since my last post. To say it has been hectic in our household would be an understatement. I have been travelling a lot with work, and when I get home the last thing my beloved wife wants is me to spend time on the cats' blog. Go Figure.

Things have been moving along in our house. Baci is growing. Both in size and spirit. I do not want to encourage people to get kittens just so they see this miracle of of evolution, divine guidance and screenplay by Laurel and Hardy, but watching a kitten grow up is truly one of the miracles that we humans can see easily. Once you learn to see the easy miracles, the harder ones become more apparent.

How to summarize the Four Furry Cats household? Let's use some old TV programs as guidance:

First off we have, Dolce loves Baci (aka Joanie loves Chaci)
Dolce and Baci have started to bond the way we hoped. She looks for him to play, and he is trying to get her to cuddle with him.

Then we have Dolce and Bella (aka Laverne and Shirley)
Dolce and Bella have a weak arrangement as to who is in charge. Dolce the outgoing, not-to-bright butterfly or Bella, the mature, always thinking responsible one who still manages to drive the local boys crazy.

Then there is Magoo...
Magoo is Dirty Harry, Macleod, Columbo and Inspector Clouseau all rapped up into one package. Ever alert to what is going on around him but totally oblivious to the effect he has on his surrounding characters.

Last but not least, there is my Smudge (aka The Shadow)
I no longer see him daily, but I sense his presense throughout this house. What lurks in the heart of this blogger? Only the Smudgie knows...
(For the rest of his update, you are going to have to visit the House Panthers)

CONTEST: Scooter McTabby's Case Files

Scooter McTabby's Case Files

Updated: January 29, 2007

Number of Open Files: 8

Money to be Donated:

• Cat Blogging Friends Fund: $16.00
• NASAP: $16.00
• SNAP: $16.00

Current Case Backlog:

• The Tale of The Unattainable Temptations (Dolce)


• The Case of the Mistaken Meezer (Magoo)


• The Secret of the Haunted Hairball (Cheysuli)


• The Mystery of the Missing Furry Mice. (Munchkin, Missy and Monte)


• The Mystery of the Nipped Nip.(Midnight)


• The Case of the Purloined Paw Print (DEBRA)


• The Case of the Menacing Meow? (Cocoa)


• The Case of the Headless Cricket (Orlando's)


• Your suggestion here!

Pee ess: Some of the suggestions have been quite violent. Remeber more Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, less Mack Bolan and Robert Ludlum.

*** Bumped to top of the blog ***

Sock Hamper Chat

Under the cover of night, two troublemaking cats meet. One to purvey wisdom and knowledge. One to learn mischief and stuff.

Baci: Ouch! Dolce!
Dolce(pouncing on Baci): Don't be such a wuss.
Baci(rolling onto his back): You play too rough!
Dolce: No, I don't.
Baci: Yes you do.
Dolce: If Dad knew what a wimp you are, he send you right back.
Baci(swatting at Dolce's outstretched paw): No, He wouldn't.
Dolce(Batting at Baci's head with her paw): Yes he would.
Baci(springing to his paws): You take that back!
Dolce: Baci's going away! Baci's going away!
Baci (pouncing on Dolce): Stop saying that!
Dolce(rolling onto her back): You play too rough!
Baci: No, I don't.
Dolce: Yes you do.
Baci: If Dad knew what a wimp you are, he send you right back.
Dolce(swatting at Baci's outstretched paw): No, He wouldn't.
Baci(Batting at Dolce's head with his paw): Yes he would.
Dolce(springing to her paws): You take that back!
Baci: Dolce's going away! Dolce's going away!
Dolce (pouts and turns away): I'm not playing anymore.
Baci: I'm sorry.
Dolce: Good. (Gives Baci a swat to the head and takes off down the hallway.)
Baci: DOLCE! (Takes off after Dolce.)

Baci (sees Dolce looking at a mesh laundry hamper): What are you doing?
Dolce: Baci. I know you are young so I am going to teach you about one of the greatest things in the house.
Baci: Is is better than Catmilk? Better than Stinky Goodness? Better than fuzzy mice? (pauses and takes a deep breath) Better than even Catnip?
Dolce: Depending on how fresh they are, they can be better than Catnip. I know it is hard to believe. But it's true.
Baci: I think you are just teasing me.
Dolce: No. I'm being totally serious. I swear on the Fuzzy Mice.
Baci (watches Dolce jump into the hamper and come out with a sock): What is that?
Dolce: This is one of Dad's socks. (she sniffs it.) And it's a good one. Mom hasn't done his wash from his last Busy Ness trip. Smell it.
Baci: Ewww! That's gross!
Dolce watches Baci as his expression changes.
Baci (sniffs the sock even more): But it's somewhat alluring. Almost intoxicating. Makes my paws all twitchy.
Dolce: Exactly. Magoo, Bella and Smudge thought I was crazy. But these socks are the bestest thing ever. You have to be careful though. Sometimes, if you wait too long, Mom makes them smell all clean and flowery.
Baci(rolling around and over the dirty sock): Why would she do such a thing? It's purrfect the way it is.
Dolce: I know, Baci. Who can figure out Beans? I don't want to scare you, but have you ever see them wash themselves? I've been here over a year and I have not seen Dad or Mom lick themselves clean once. (Dolce shivers) It's just gross, I tell you.
Dolce watches Baci play with the sock.
Dolce: No. No. No. You are doing it wrong. Let me show you.

Dolce digs another sock out of the hamper. She tosses it into the air and pounces on it. She picks it up with paws and waves and twists it in the air in front of her.


Dolce: See. You have fling it and twist it and shake it really hard.
Baci (imitates his sister): Like this.
Dolce: Yes! Just like that! Now you also have to tell the sock who's boss. Otherwise, the Socks won't play with you properly. So you have to yell at it. Like so... YEeOoWwRrOoOoOoWwRrRr! RrOoWwWwRr! MmEeEeEeEeRrRrRrOoOoOoOoWw!
Baci: Oh. yeowrowr. rowr. meerrow.
Dolce: Right idea. But your tone is off and you are being too nice to the Sock. You need to pounce and tug and growl and show the Sock that it is powerless before you. YyEeEeRrRrRrOoOoOoWwWwRr! MmEeEeEeRrRrOoOoOoOoWwWwRr!
Baci: Got it! Yeerroowr! Meerroowr!
Dolce: You're getting there. You just need to practise.
Baci (headbuting Dolce gently): You are the bestest sister ever.
Dolce: I know. (Gives Baci a swat to the head and takes off down the hallway.)
Baci: DOLCE!

Scooter McTabby's Detective Agency: Active Case File 1.2

Case No. 1: The Tale of the Unattainable Temptations (Part II)

Scooter lead Whatley and Persephone from the Sunroom to kitchen where the Lesser Pantry was located. Several of the other cats tried to follow, as they were very concerned about the missing Temptations. Scooter told the other cats to remain in the Sunroom until he and Whatley had processed the crime scene. He had heard that from the television from something called CSI. Scooter thought the Corgis would soon think twice about making fun of the cats as they watched television. Scooter paused and wondered if the Beans would worry if they knew his favourite show was Mythbusters.

Scooter looked around the base of the Lesser Pantry. He sniffed and tasted the air. There was no sign or taste of any Temptations on the floor or on the front of the Lesser Pantry doors. Scooter had a twinge that he was missing something. He looked down at his paws. That was it.

“You could never hold a magnifying glass. Scooter.” Whatley said as she moved closer so that Persephone could not hear. “You’re not a Poly-Toes.”

“If only my old friend, Harper Caturday, was here.” Scooter mused softly, “There is a cat that can hold a magnifying glass. Oh well. We shall have to use our noses, tongues, and our ears instead.”

“I don’t have to lick the floor do I?” Whatley grimaced. “Since Mom Bean has the Icks, the floor hasn’t been washed for several days.”

“As my sidekick.” Scooter instructed. ‘I do believe it is your job to process the evidence and present it to me as the Lead Investigator.”

“Well.” Whatley steeled herself and looked Scooter directly in the eye. “As the Lead Investigator, it is your job to provide your sidekick with a suitable outfit. Such as a well trimmed trench coat or such. I checked Skeezix’s Latest List For Fashionable Investigators and he said that a Trench Coat was the absolute minimum for any detective work.”

“Darn.” Scooter murmured to himself. “That will teach me to name drop during an investigation.”

Scooter looked about the base of the Lesser Pantry. Everything appeared to be ordinary. Something caught Scooter’s eye near the bottom hinge.

“Whatley.” Scooter asked his assistant for confirmation. “What is that hanging from the hinge of the Lesser Pantry?”

Whatley looked closely at the evidence that had caught Scooter’s eye.

“It’s a long piece of fur.” Whatley looked even closer. “Definitely cat and definitely long haired.”

“My Dear, Whatley.” Scooter declared. “We have just eliminated half the household. The perpetrator is one of the long haired cats.”

“Now what do we do?” Whately asked quickly. She was finding this detective assistant work very exciting.

“Now, we try to catch the thief in their own lies.” Scooter advised.

A furriend has a new blog

A long time ago, a friend asked us to take of her cat. Ceili was a lovely little girl who decided that as a person I wasn't all that bad.

Ceili

Well, Ceili's person has been reading all about the adventures of our foursome. She's laughed at Dolce's antics, and she's cried at Smudge's health problems. In the end, she was inspired to create a blog for Ceili. So please go and visit Ceili and her purrson at Vancouver's Yeowtown.

On another note, our soldier, Magoo, is showing his age. He went for a bit of a tumble on Thursday night. When he came in from outside, he had a large cut on his nose. I told my wife that probably he slipped and banged it on the deck, since the deck is quite covered with snow. She agredd that he probably had slipped. I told to check him out and see if he has hurt anything else. Well a short time later, I got another frantic call from my wife. Magoo was limping on three legs and was favouring his right paw. My wife took him into the V-E-T to get it looked at. The V-E-T said that she was sure it was just a sprain, but they could take x-rays later to verify if the anti-imflammatories did not work. My wife said to do the x-ray now as opposed to having to bring him back.

Magoo is now officially a medical wonder. The V-E-T says that she has never seen such an advanced case of osteo-arthritis in a cat. She says that his x-rays look more like a dog's. She was shocked because she said that without the x-rays she would have never assumed that Magoo was suffering since he was hiding it so well. She gave him some drugs for his arthritis and his sprain and said to let her know how they fared for him. It looks like my boy will be on some sort of pain management regime for the rest of his life. You would never know to look at him. But then again, he is my soldier, and Soldiers do not make a fuss when they are suffering.

Weekend Update

First things first:

Dad decided that I was too important to become a second class citizen on my old blog. He thought it would be a great idea to put my Sunday Smudge Update posts over on the House Panthers blog. It makes sense to me since I am not part of the Four anymore but I am still and always will be a House Panther. So come visit.

Smudge (House Panther Forever)


Dolce avoids the snowy deck.

Docle and Baci are becoming fast friends. She will still hiss at him if he comes too close when she doesn't want him to, but I saw Baci walk up to her and lick her on the forehead. Then there was the game of Chase that was held on Friday night. They took turns being the Chasee and the Chasor. We saw Dolce jump up in the air and try to spook Baci. It was quite funny to see her two feet in the air with all her paws spread out and Baci sudednly taken aback and trying to make himself as big and poofy as possible. This happened two more times. We brought Baci home in hopes that he and Dolce would play together. So far they have exceeded our expectations. There will still be some adjustments to be made, but so far there has not been one single fight.

Last night, Magoo and Baci slept on the bed within a couple feet of each other with very little growling or hissing. So there is hope on that front too.

Bella still gives Baci a fair bit of space, but then that is just her nature. She is fiercely independant. I am sure she would have been perfectly happy as a single cat.

As for Baci, he has been very busy wrapping my wife around his no-so-little paw. Then again, she has always been a sucker for a handsome man with bright blues eyes. The more we look at Baci, the more we think his Rescue Lady was trying to keep him. I remember reading one of Jasper McKittenCat's posts about Huggy Bear. At a certain point, some fosters just accept the inevitable and adopt that last forlorn kitten into their household. That has to be what Baci's Rescue Lady wanted to have happen with him. When you look into his baby blues and listen to his little cry, he just melts your heart. I find it very hard to believe that some did not want to snap him up as a kitten. If he is this cute now, he would have been an absolute heartbreaker at 8 weeks and 12 weeks.

My wife tells me that when I am not home the cats all sleep on my side of the bed. So there is some sort of community that has been re-established amongst the cats of our household. Unfortunately, I am now the unwanted interloper. I will have to say good-bye again and only be able to hear my furriends over the phone for another week. I told Baci that he shouldn't grow up anymore on me, because I didn't want to miss anymore of his kittenhood. He just gave one of his cries, started purred and then flopped over in my lap.

There is a God. I am holding proof of it right now in my lap.

Frolicking Feline Friday

Since there are no days in the English language that start with an "A" for Action, my trusty thesaurus indicated that the word "frolic" would suffice.

So I give you, Baci on "Frolicking Feline Friday".


Baci is turning into a real Man-Cat-In-Waiting. At five months, he is nearly the size of Dolce. Of course a lot of that is fur right now, but every indication is that he is going to turn into a big gund bear like his brother Magoo.

We have found out that Baci is also a Talker like his sister Dolce. It must be the Himalayan in him. He walks into a room and begins giving everyone heck. It is hard to take his wee little voice serious though. But he does love to be cuddled and his purrer is in fine shape.

The other cats have started to accept him more. Magoo stills hisses and growls, but then that's what he does best. He hisses and growls at us if we don't move fast enough for him to get comfortable on the bed or to let him out onto his deck. Bella does not know what to think of him. She hasn't been hissing at Baci, but she is still giving him a wide berth. That just leaves us with Miss Dolce.

Dolce still hisses a little bit at Baci, but it is all for show. She has let him touch noses with her several times that I have been privy to witness. Also, as I write this, Baci and her are busy chasing each other up and down the hallway. It looks like they will be very good playmates for each other. This was something we really wanted, since Dolce seemed to have too much spunk for either Bella or Magoo.

I have to go now, someone has just shown up and is demanding attention.

Baci finds his voice

Baci: Dolce are you sure its okay for me to be here?
Dolce (mischeviously): Of course it is. What's Dad going to do? Cut off your food? Lock you in the Basement with the Spiders? Sell you to a travelling band of Woofies?
Baci (very panicked): New Dad wouldn't do that would he? I just got here and I like the fuzzy black mousey and the q-tips that New Mom dropped on the floor for me. Please tell me that New Dad won't sell me to Woofies.
Dolce: Well, given that you are pretty young, he might not get much for you, so he might just give you away.
Baci: No! He can't give me away! That's not fair.
Magoo: Dolce. Are you teasing Baci?
Dolce: No. Well, Maybe.
Magoo: Dad will be very upset to hear that you are teasing Baci. What would Smudge think of you? Do you think he would be proud of you?
Dolce (sheepishly): No, Smudgie would not be happy with me. I'm sorry Baci. I'll leave you alone. You write what you were telling me.
Baci: Are you sure?
Dolce (looking over at Magoo to see if he is still paying attention; which he still is.): Yes, Baci. I'm sure Dad would approve.
Magoo: Go ahead, Baci, write what your heart tells you to.
Baci: Okay. But everybody has to read very slowly cause I can't type very fast...


To My Rescue Lady,

My New Dad and I sat at the computer and he read me a story about a dear friend of his. He was one of the cats who was here before he went to live with New Grandma. New Dad says his name is Smudge. It was called a Tail of Devoshun. New Dad said that it made a lot of Smudge's friends cry, even though he did not meant to make it that way. New Dad said that Smudge left a place here that I was destined to fill. I tolded New Dad that if if wasn't for my Rescue Lady I would never have been able to fill that place. So New Dad showed me the keyboard from his computer, and asked me to write my own story about my Rescue Lady.

I wish I could tell you her name but I am too little to remember and they didn't tell New Mom and Dad. But I can tell you what she meant to me.

I first met my Rescue Lady when I was 8 weeks old. When I could no longer stay with my Mom, she took me in with several of my littermates. My Rescue Lady fed me and cuddled me for three more months. She would hold me and clip my tiny baby claws and tell me how special I was. Her daughters would wrap me in a blanket and snuggle with me. I was very happy. But she told me a secret that made her very sad; she said that she was going to take me to a place where possible New Moms and New Dads could look at me and see if they wanted to give me a Forever Home. I can't remember how many times I went with her to find this thing called a Forever Home. I tried to tell her that I liked my current home. I asked her why it couldn't be my Forever Home.

She said that she was a Foster Mom. She said that her job was to give kittens like me a good start so that I would be loving and adorable so that some other Beans would come by and want me for their own. I said I don't care about other Beans. I wanted to stay with her and my brother, Stripes. She held me and said softly that I would find my Forever Home and that in time I would forget all about her. I said that she was wrong and that I would always remember her.

She took me once more to Petsmart to see if I could find my Forever Home. That's when I met New Mom and New Dad. I was very scared and didn't really want to purr for them. I wanted to be home with Stripes with my Rescue Lady and her daughters. But New Dad knew some tricks, he gave me chin skritches and head rubs. Before I knew it, I was purring. Then I was put back in the cage with my brother. New Mom and Dad also met my brother, who is a very pretty long hair tabby. They looked at him too, but said that I was so handsome they could not leave me behind. I told the Rescue Lady that those Beans seemed nice, but I said that I still wanted to go home with her.

Soon, the Beans came back. The next thing I knew my Rescue Lady was holding me and crying. She kissed me and told me to grow up big and strong. I said don't worry you'll see me grow up. She shook her head and said that she wouldn't; her job was done and that these Beans would take me to my Forever Home and become my New Mom and Dad. She looked at the Beans and told them it was hard to let me go. I think the Beans were starting to cry as well. New Dad said he understood.

My Rescue Lady found her fostering strength and she placed me into a cardboard carrier and gave me to my New Dad. She didn't tell him to take good care of me. I think the faint tear in his eye told her that I would be in good hands and that I would be well loved. My New Dad told me to say goodbye once more to my Rescue Lady, and then he and my New Mom took me to their house. I was very scared that first day.

The next day I found that New Dad liked to give head butts and chin skritches and tummy rubs. He said I had very big shoes to fill. I told him that he did too. He then said that he would love me for as long as I needed him, and then he read to me Smudge's story. I told him that I have a story like that. He asked me to come sit on his lap and tell him my story. So I did. I sat on his lap and told him about my Rescue Lady who fed me and cuddled me and loved me and brought me to him and New Mom. He told me that I should never forget her no matter how much I grew to love him and New Mom. So every night, when I go to sleep, I thank God in my purrayers for New Mom and New Dad, Magoo, Bella, Dolce, and Smudge who came before, and I thank him especially for my Rescue Lady.

Scooter McTabby's Detective Agency: Active Case File 1.1

Dad: I need to talk a little lower today. Dolce is going to try and bring her new brother, Baci, to the story chair. He is still pretty skiddish, but he does like to cuddle so I think he will right in.
Dolce: Dad! I'm here! And I brought Baci!
Dad: Dolce. We are trying not to spook your new brother. So please talk a little quieter.
Dolce: Well, I figured he gets used to me now or he gets used to me later. Either way... BACI! COME MEET EVERYONE!
Dad(shaking head): Dolce, Dolce, Dolce.
Dolce(shaking head): Dad, Dad, Dad.
Dad: Well, I think you spooked him again. I think he is hiding underneath the chair now.
Dolce: Don't worry. He'll come out. Especially when he sees all the fun cats and kittens that come for your stories.
Dad: All the refreshments ready?
Dolce: Yup.
Dad: So then lets find out what dastardly event has occurred in the Big Grey House, as Scooter McTabby takes on his first case...

Case No. 1: The Tale of the Unattainable Temptations (Part 1)

Scooter tried to calm Persephone down. She was very upset. Her sides were moving in and out very rapidly; and her tail was switching from side to side.

“Persephone.” Scooter tried to sound very authoritative, but he was very excited and nervous, so her name came out in about four different octaves and only the vowels were coherent. “Tell me what has happened.”

Scooter looked over at Whatley Purrgood. Scooter’s bandit stripes on the side of his face turned up slightly and cast his face in a slight smile. Whatley’s colouring hide her smile but she felt very proud of her friend Scooter at this moment.

“They’re gone! All of them!” Persephone cried. “They’re all gone!”

“Please Persephone. Calm down.” Scooter’s initial nervousness had disappeared. “Now tell me. What is missing?”

“The Bean Mom is home today with the Icks.” Persephone stammered as she tried to get all the words out at once. “And I knew everybody would be in the sunroom for the Early Morning Nap. So I thought I would see if she would get some Temptations just for me.”

At the mention of the word Temptations, all the cats in the sunroom were suddenly interested in Persephone’s plight as it now seemed to affect them all. By nature, cats are somewhat selfish. Actually the word “Share” does not have an equivalent in the Cat language. It was imported from the Dog Language soon after Cats and Dogs began habitating together. Much like the word, “No”, which is obviously a strictly Bean only construct; and other words like “Fetch” and “Stay”, Cats have chosen to ignore these words altogether.

“What has happened to the Temptations?” Dartmore demanded as he stretched up onto his paws and strolled over to where Scooter, Whatley and Persephone were standing.

“Dartmore.” Richard the Lionheart spoke from his spot on the couch. “Scooter is in charge.”

Dartmore gave a quick glare at Richard and then at Scooter. He decided that it was not worth crossing Richard. Dartmore gave a short snort and then sat down on his haunches to let Scooter find out what had happened.

“So you asked for some Temptations.” Scooter ignored Dartmore and proceeded with his investigation. “Just tell us exactly what happened. Leave out no detail, Persephone.”

Persephone was sufficiently calmed down to begin licking her paw. She looked up at Scooter and realized that he had stopped talking.

“Sorry. I’m very flustered.” Persephone apologized. “It was shortly after the First Morning Breakfast. I was still a little peckish. So instead of following everyone else to the Sunroom, I waited by the Lesser Pantry to see if I could get something more.”

Several of the other cats in the Sunroom began to grumble. It was frowned upon for any of the cats to beg for food.

“Let her be.” Whatley chided the other cats. “Persephone, please explain.”

Scooter looked over at Whatley. He was a little perturbed, but since the rules between Lead Investigator and Sidekick had not really been established, Scooter could not get too upset. Whatley sensed Scooter’s dismay.

“Sorry.” She said sheepishly.

“Please continue.” Scooter asked and then he turned and looked at the other cats. ”There will be no more interruptions.”

“So I stayed by the pantry. Since the Bean Mom was suffering from the Icks, I figured she would need something from the Lesser Pantry.” Persephone began to explain the events of the morning. “Sure enough, she went to the Lesser Pantry and began digging around the upper most shelf.

I thought that since she was there, maybe she could pull a couple of treats for me to snack on. I’m still growing and I do love those Temptations. So I twirled and rubbed against her legs. She even asked me what I wanted so I tried to point out the Temptations on the third shelf. But I’m still too little to reach that high.”

“I see.” Scooter briefly interrupted. Persephone liked to milk her status as the youngest of the cats in the Big Grey House, but she was big enough to touch the third shelf if she really wanted to. “Sorry. Please continue.”

“So I tried to point out where the Temptations were.” Persephone continued her story. “I told her several times. I said ‘The Yellow Package, please. The Yellow Package.’ The Mom Bean just laughed at me. So I tried to tell her more forcefully.

It took her a bit of time, but she realized that I wanted some Temptations. She asked me if I wanted some Treats, and I said Yes. The Mom Bean then looked on the third shelf. She moved several things around, things I could not see. She then said that they were gone. Then she turned to me and said ‘I don’t know how that happened. But there are no treats, Sephie.’ That’s when I panicked. I tried to jump up onto the shelf to see if I could see them.

But there were no signs of any Temptations. There were no pink packages, no blue packages and definitely no yellow packages. Once I saw that all the Temptations were gone, I came running here. What has happened to our Temptations? Who could have taken all of them?” Persephone was getting agitated all over again.

“Don’t worry, Persephone.” Scooter reassured the young silver tabby, and then he talked loud enough for all the other cats to hear. “I, Scooter, of Scooter McTabby’s Detective Agency and All Round Adventure Company, shall, with my assistant, Whatley Purrgood, solve this heinous crime and bring the perpetrator to justice.”

“Justice?” Dartmore asked. “Is that like a Toothy Death?”

“No, my good, Dartmore,” Alastair Cunningworth instructed his old friend. “Think more of a good paw twacking. Or a good double rabbit kick to the stomach. I remember when that nasty ginger tom came to our back door. Now that was a good paw twacking we gave him…”

“Alastair.” Scooter interrupted. Scooter knew how much the dapper Alastair liked to talk about his past adventures. “There will be no Toothy Death or Paw Twacking or Rabbit-Kicks. Once we have identified the individual responsible for this act, we shall bring him or her before the cats of the house to face the appropriate punishment.”

Scooter briefly looked at Miss Marbles and Richard the Lionheart. They both gave Scooter a faint nod. The heads of the Big Grey House had given their agreement to Scooter’s plan. It was now up to him to deliver on his promises.

“How about just a little Paw Twacking?” Dartmore asked hopefully.

“Dartmore.” Richard said sternly, to which Dartmore just snorted again.

“Let us go, my dear Whatley.” Scooter stated to his new sidekick. “We must find who is behind this horrific theft. And our search begins at the scene of the crime.”

“The Lesser Pantry.” Whatley responded as she paused to nibble at a tuff of fur on her right paw..

“Yes. The Lesser Pantry.” Scooter said, as he adjusted his cap again. “That is where the trail of our first case will begin.”

All Round Multipurpose Post

First of all thanks to everyone for their wonderful welcomes to Baci. If he wasn't still hiding behind the washing machine, I am sure that he would have thanked you himself. He is already showing some great promise. At sometime in the night, Baci jumped up on the bed and fell asleep between my wife and me at our feet. He would have stayed there had Magoo not shown up at 4:30am and found the interloper in his preferred spot. After about ten minutes of growling at each other they settled down, but then I had to roll over and I disturbed them both. At that time, Baci decided that it was time to return to his spot behind the washing machine.

The funniest part of this was that Magoo stretched himself out as much as possible at the foot of the bed. It was as if to say to baci, this is all my spot go find your own sleepy spot.

Secondly, in response to those who were concerned about Smudge, I planned on having an update every weekend after we get home from giving him his fluid treatment at Grandma's. Just becuase he is not here anymore does not mean I have forgotten about him. I hope to get Grandma to write something up every week. I think I will call it the Sunday Smudge Report.

Lastly, Dolce and I wanted to think of a way we could get everyone to help out with the Scooter McTabby stories. It seemed that everyone in the comments section was already trying to figure out what the first case was. So that gave me and Dolce an idea. We wanted all our furriends to help think up some cases for Scooter and Whatley to solve in the Big Grey House.

So I will give $2.00 per case suggestion to the Blogging Friends' fund. (I hope to get at least fifty, so the plan is to donate $100.00.) I will then match that donation to the two rescue societies that Dolce and Baci came from; NASAP (Northern Alberta Society for Animal Protection) and SNAP (Spay and Neuter Action Program).

So think back to your days of reading Sherlock Holmes, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and Encylopedia Brown. The case should be like the following:

The Case of the Mistaken Meezer
The Forgotten Footon
The Great Hairball Conspiracy


Please don't post your comments as anonymous or if you must, let me know which blog is yours. I can't give you credit if I don't know who you are.

Huge news!

My mother-in-law has been cracking me up. Everytime we talk to her about Smudge to see how he is doing and how much is he eating, she goes into a long list of wonderful things he does at Grandma's place. If you had heard her, you would think that I was threatening to take away one of her children. Okay, I already did that once when I married her daughter so I have a track record of taking away those she loves.

As for my wife, I think I kind of submarined her last weekend when I said that Smudge was probably never coming back home. She had not thought that far in advance and still thought that at some time Smudge would be coming home. I figured differently. Smudge was under a lot stress with his failing health. Also because I was not home as often, I think he felt abandoned by me. So when he went to Grandma's, Smudge took this change as an opportunity to go someplace where he felt wanted and loved. I tried to reassure him of that today, but he acted like I was a total stranger. So we told Grandma that she now has another cat. She was thrilled, and we were somewhat sad.

Just like you should never shop for food on an empty stomache, you should never go near a Rescue Society booth when you have just lost a friend.

On that note, My Wife and I are pleased to introduce the latest member of our family:

Baci

This is Baci, a five month old Lynx point Himalayan cross kitten. His name means Love and Kisses in Italian. If the name sounds familiar it is a type of chocolate as well, one that Hershey's ripped off (AKA Hershey's Kiss).

We did not do this to replace Smudge but to give the spot he left to another needy kitten.

Scooter McTabby's Detective Agency

Dad: Dolce and I had to put our heads together to get this installment of Scooter McTabby done. To be honest, I don't think Dolce did much thinking when we were putting our heads together, she just loves to give headbutts.
Dolce: And you love getting them, so it all works out. Are you ready to tell some more of the story?
Dad: Yes. Are you ready for your friends?
Dolce: Yes. I have Hot Catmilk or Catnip Tea to drink, Leafy Goodness, and Catnip and Ham Sandwiches.Do you think everyone will come?
Dad: I don't know if everyone will come. But we will have fun with those who do.
Dolce: Sounds good. Purrs.
Dad: Dolce, I know you love me but I can't tell the story if you insist on sticking your tail in my mouth. Now where was I? Oh yes. Scooter McTabby was rushing to the sunroom to tell the other cats of the Big Grey House about his exciting idea.

Scooter trotted into the sunroom of the Big Grey House. His twin peaked cap was still balanced on his head. He was certain that the other cats would be excited as well as all cats looked forward to a good adventure. Scooter’s hopes were dashed as soon as the two young Siamese cats Hunan and Szechwan saw him enter.

“What is that on your head?” Hunan sneered as she circled to Scooter’s left side.

“It looks like something died on his head.” Szechwan added as he curled to Scooter’s right side.

“Leave me alone. “ Scooter tried to maintain the pride and dignity he felt when he first saw the hat on his head in the bathroom. “I have important business that you two wouldn’t understand.”

“Why wouldn’t we understand Sccoter?” Hunan teased. “Aren’t we as smart as you?”

“I think you are as smart.” Scooter tried to explain, “But I think that you spend to much time with Treadmore and not enough with the other cats of the house.”

“So now you don’t like Prince Treadmore the Third as well.” Szechwan added. “You are quite the snob aren’t you Scooter?”

“I’m not a snob.” Scooter was getting flustered. “I’m done with you two. Go tell Prince Treadmont what ever you want. I have some news for the other cats of the house. If you feel yourselves above what I have to say then you can just leave.’

“Whatever you say, Scooter.” Hunan smiled.

“Whatever.” Szechwan added as the two Siamese slinked out of the sunroom.

Scooter adjusted his cap. He was certain that the exchange with the two Siamese cats had altered its position on his head. He looked across the sunroom and saw the other cats of the Big Grey House.

On the largest couch in the sunroom reclined the oldest resident of the Big Grey House, Miss Marbles. She had been in the house for more than seventeen summers. She was the one who welcomed each newcomer into the house. She understood the caring nature of the Mom and Dad Beans best of all and was the one all the cats trusted. Lying close to her, but without touching was the next longest resident of the house, Richard the Lionheart. He was a large grey long haired cat of no special lineage. If Miss Marbles was the female head of the house, then Richard was the male head of the house. Although he had been pushed and challenged by Prince Treadmont and Dartmore, he had remained the alpha male of the house for more than ten years. Scooter had gone to him for advice several times over Scooter’s three years in the house. Never once had Richard’s advice lead Scooter astray.

Scooter saw the long lithe form of Skids stretched out in one of the many sunbeam spots in the room. Skids was a former street cat, a stray, that had shown up at the Big Grey House one day in the arms of the Mom Bean. Scooter always thought he seemed nice enough, but Scooter always counted his catnip mice once Skids left the room. Scooter notice the clean and proper form of one of his idols in the house, Alastair Cunningworth. Alastair was an impeccably groomed tuxedo cat who seemed to exude feline grace and style. He was one of the most friendly cats in the Big Grey House. Alastair always seemed to have a story or anecdote about everything.

Across the room, there was the form of an enormous ginger tabby cat laying on its back with all four paws curled in the air in front of its body as he enjoyed the sunshine. Scooter shook his head at Dartmore’s lack of feline graces. There was a running joke that he had more in common with the three Corgis of the house then the rest of the cats. Scooter looked up towards the wicker plant shelf and saw the bluish grey form of Prince Treadmont the Third. He was a British Short Hair of championship lines or so he said. Of all the cats in the Big Grey House, Treadmont was the only cat that could say he held pedigree papers, and he held that over all the rest of the cats, as though that mattered in the Big Grey House.

Scooter’s eyes found the slight form of the one cat that he would call a true friend in the Big Grey House. She was a slight framed long haired calico who was only six months younger than Scooter. As Scooter entered the room, Whatley Purrgood’s head perked up and she stared directly at Scooter. Whatley stood up and gave a quick stretch.

“What’s with the hat?” Skids stirred from his nap.

“Cats of the Big Grey House.” Scooter tired to sound very official and authoritative. “There is something afoot.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” Dartmore countered as he rolled onto his stomach. “Something is either a foot or it is not a foot.”

Scooter tried to not get flustered. He was very excited about his new venture and he desperately wanted to share that excitement with the other cats.

“There is some dastardly event occurring somewhere in the house.” Scooter replied, as he tried to regain control of his announcement.

“And it is a foot?” Prince Treadmont piped up from his vantage point.

“No.” Scooter replied. “It is not a foot.”

“Then why did you say it is a foot.” Prince Treadmont dropped to floor and sauntered over to right in front of Scooter. “Did you mean that something is a Paw or maybe a Hand?”

Prince Treadmont snickered and then changed his tone to a sneer “Or are you just a confused little mog?”

“Leave Scooter alone.” Whatley Purrgood moved to Scooter’s side. “Dad Bean was reading us a detective story last night. Scooter said that it would be cool to be a detective. But you wouldn’t know anything about lounging with Mom or Dad Bean last night would you. That would be beneath you, wouldn’t it, Treadmont?”

“Ah, Scooter.” Prince Treadmont said snidely, “I see your protector has rushed to your side once again. I would have thought that by now you would be able to stand on your own.”

Scooter could hear Dartmore and Skids snickering under their paws. He had to say something to counter Treadmont.

“The role of detective is a time honoured profession.” Scooter replied, “But then again someone who has rested on his family’s laurels would know nothing about that.”

Dartmore and Skids perked up. They both knew that although Prince Treadmont was from championship lines he was considered ineligible as a Showcat, and this was a sore point for him.

“Little, little mog.” Prince Treadmont slowly and purposefully stalked towards Scooter. “You need to be more careful when you start criticizing your betters in this house.”

Prince Treadmont walked within inches of Scooter. He suddenly hissed and caused Scooter to jump almost a foot straight sideways. Scooter found himself dangerously close to Whatley.

“Nice reflexes.” Prince Treadmont sneered. ”But I’m pretty sure that most famous detectives don’t hide behind their girlfriends.”

Scooter watched as Treadmont left the sunroom. He still had some important news for the other cats of the Big Grey House.

“Now that Treadmont has left, I want to share some important news.” Scooter declared, trying to give his news an air of urgency and importance.

All the cats perked up and looked in Scooter’s direction.

“I have decided to form the Scooter McTabby Detective Agency and All Round Adventure Company.” Scooter declared. “So if any of you have an unsolved mystery you need solved or a proposed adventure that you need a hearty leader for, I am your cat. But I will need a sidekick.”

“If you try to kick me, I’ll box your ears.” Dartmore countered threateningly. “Side or front kick. I don’t care.”

“No.”: Scooter replied. “I didn’t mean I was going to kick anyone.”

“So why did you start threatening everyone with sidekicks.” Skids asked.

“I wasn’t threatening anyone.” Scooter pleaded. Sometimes the other cats could be very hard to converse with.

“I’ll be your sidekick.” Whatley Purrgood stated. “I think it will be fun. Especially if it is anything like the Dad Bean’s stories.”

“Good.” Skids replied. “Now you can leave the rest of us alone and not bother us with your silly ideas.”

“Amen to that.” Dartmore added.

“Let Scooter speak.” Richard the Lionheart interrupted Dartmore and Skids’ teasing. “Scooter, what does this company of yours propose to do?”

“If something is lost or stolen, we shall endeavor to find it.” Scooter tried to be brave. Deep down, he had to admit that Richard scared the poo out of him. “If there is an adventure that none will undertake, we will rise to the challenge.”

“Very good.” Richard inclined his head approvingly. “It sounds like the house is in good hands.”

“I just wanted to announce my services.” Scooter found himself almost bowing to Richard. Scooter found this very strange for a cat.

“I hope they are never needed. Scooter.” Richard replied. “But I will sleep better knowing that you are on the case. So to speak.”

Scooter felt very proud at that moment. He was now in charge of the foremost detective agency in the Big Grey House. It was the only detective agency in the Big Grey House, but that did not matter to Scooter. He just had to wait and be patient. Sooner or later, there would be something that needed investigating or adventuring.

The sudden appearance of the youngest cat in the Big Grey House signaled Scooter that his detective agency was in business. Persephone, a tiny silver spotted tabby, was all out of breath as she burst into the sunroom.

“They’re all gone!” Persephone cried. “All of them!”

In that instant, Scooter saw his dream realized. He gave his peaked cap a slight straightening and he nodded to Whatley. Scooter McTabby’s Detective Agency and Adventure Company was officially in business.

We are pleased to introduce Miss Chloe

As promised, this is Smudge's new friend, Chloe.
Click to biggify.

Click to biggify.

Click to biggify.

We went over to give Smudge his fluids and spend some time with him. Unfortunately, it was just give fluids no cuddle time. As much as it hurts, I think that Smudge now associates me with going to the V-E-T. I tried to help give the fluids, but Smudge just seemed to get stressed out by my presence. When I left it to Grandma and the Wife, Smudge seemed to calm right down. Do I blame him? No. I was the one who took him to all those sessions at the V-E-T. I was also away with work so really the only time Smudge saw me was when he had to go get poked and prodded.

He is starting to look and feel better. He is still on the skinny side, but he does eat nearly a full can of the special food, which is a huge improvement. Grandma says that he and Chloe play together constantly so I know his mental well being is being taken care of as well as his physical. I think Grandma is worried I am going to take her new little boy away. She tells me over and over again how happy Smudge is and how well he gets along with Cloe, and how the two of them curl up together and sleep on the bed side by side.

Do I miss my Smudge? With every breath, I think about him. Am I happy without him? It is a bittersweet happiness I feel, for I know that he is happy and well loved and slowly stabilizing his condition, but I still feel that empty spot on the bed where he would curl up and fall asleep next to me.

Dad needs to apologize...

Dad says he is sorry for scaring all of my furriends. He was not thinking when he used that caption for the entry about me going to Grandma's. Sure the idea is to grab people's attention and make them want to read your blog, but all he did was scare everybody who knows I am sick.

I have decided to live at Grandma's. Not because I don't love my dad, but because I need to have someone around all the time. My dad is travelling with work and I don't see him as much as I need to. Besides, Grandma really loves me. I also have a new playmate who needs me more than Dolce, Bella and Magoo. Cloe is very shy and used to hide all the time. She has been showing me all her special spots around the house where she likes to look out the windows and sleep on the couch. I will have to get Dad to come and take a picture of her. She looks surprisingly a lot like Bella, but she has a tortie face and a big white spot on the end of her tail. Mom says it looks like she had her tail dipped in paint.

Smudge

PS. Dad is working on the next chapter of Scooter McTabby. He says that it is a lot harder to write something funny and exciting than it is to write something sad.

Smudge is gone...

To Grandma's.

We came home from our vacation and decided to leave Smudge with his Grandma for an extra week to see how he would do. We were desparately hoping that he would be able to gain some weight and get his CRF under control. Also, even though we love Dolce to pieces, she is a bundle of energy that is causing the other cats a fair bit of stress. The trip to grandma's was too see how Smudge would be without Dolce cannon balling him at every opportunity.

I am sad to say that Smudge is thriving at Grandma's. His new friend, Cloe, loves having him around, and he is slowly bringing her out of her shell. As for Grandma, Smudge loves her as much as she loves him. He has taken to sleeping on the bed with her just like he did at home.

We went to the V-E-T on the weekend to learn how to do the sub-q fluids at home. Smudge's Grandma came along since she might have to be the one to help my wife if I was not around to assist. Now Grandma had a diabetic cat named Socks that she gave insulin shots to everyday for more than ten years so she is used to dealing with a sick cat. My wife and I were not so good when confronted with the needle.

We went back to Grandma's place, and my wife and I got to see how Smudge is doing. Unfortunately, Smudge has decided that he has a new home. I watched somewhat jealously as he curled around and rubbed against Grandma's legs. As soon as I saw that I knew that the decision was no longer mine. Smudge told us that he was happy here at Grandma's and that he would be staying for as long as Grandma wanted him. He rolled onto his side and let Grandma rub his side and tummy. It was evident that Grandma wanted him to stay as well.

So my Smudge is gone. The house seems a little empty without him, but I know he is happy and much loved.

Dolce's Story Chair

Dad: While on vacation, I thought a little about the stories I had shared with you all last year. I realized that even though I meant them to be uplifting and inspirational, they were all bittersweet and somewhat sad. I had asked Dolce to put on her thinking cap to see if she could help with a story that would not be sad or depressing. She said that she would not wear a cap no matter how nice I asked. But the picture of her wearing a cap got me thinking. Thinking about a little tabby that wanted to wear a cap and wanted to find thrills and adventure. And so, I will welcome you back to Dolce's Story Chair for the introduction to my cap-wearing, adventure seeking tabby...


Scooter McTabby's Detective Agency and All Round Adventure Company


The toyroom was conspicously quiet as a lithe young tabby made his way towards the Doll Cabinet. The Bean Girl and the Bean Boy were both away from the Big Grey House for the day. The tabby had heard them talking about Skool and Homewerk while he was having his first breakfast at the flat blue bowl. It was good that the Bean Girl was not around. She got very upset whenever she caught one of the many cats of the Big Grey House playing in the Doll Cabinet. She really hated it when the biggest cat of the house, Dartmore, wrassled with her Suzy Sleeps-A-Lot doll. The tabby knew why Dartmore liked Suzy Sleeps-A-Lot. It was because she would cry every time he rabbit-kicked her. Dartmore was a little mean that way.

The little tabby stood up on his white back paws and craned his neck to see the doll accessories on the second shelf of the Doll Cabinet. His heart raced and his tail started twitching excitedly as the object of his search was discovered. There, next to a bright pink raincoat, was the twin peaked tweed cap for the Bean Girl’s only male doll. The little tabby sprang up onto the shelf and gingerly plucked the cap up with his teeth. He jumped down quickly and trotted off to the bathroom.

A quick examination of the toilet preceded the little tabby’s jumping up onto the toilet lid. He had learned to check that first when he was just a kitten. He shuddered as he remembered the dreaded Stinky Water Dunking Incident and the Foamy Bath Torture that followed almost immediately after. The tabby leaped from the toilet to the countertop with the little peaked cap still in his mouth. He sat up in front of the mirror and regarded the cat that faced him in the mirror. Quite a handsome fellow, the tabby thought to himself, and he seems to have found a cap as well.

“Let’s see if we can’t figure this out together.” The Tabby said to the other Tabby in the mirror. “I’m Scooter, by the way, Scooter McTabby. Pleased to meet you.”

At first, Scooter was miffed at the cat in the mirror who seemed to start talking as soon as he did. But when no sound interrupted Scooter’s introductions, Scooter just chalked it up to bad upbringing. No cat from the Big Grey House would have such bad manners. Scooter followed the Tabby in the Mirror and placed the twin peaked cap on his head. It was a little small, but it did nestle nicely between Scooter’s ears.

“I think you look quite dashing.” Scooter said to the Tabby in the Mirror. “How does mine look?”

Scooter waited for the Tabby in the Mirror to return the compliment. Once again it seemed to want to talk at the same time as Scooter, but it spoke so quietly Scooter could not understand a word he was saying.

“If you are going to keep being rude, I am not going to talk to you anymore.” Scooter turned away from the Tabby in the Mirror and jumped back down to the floor.

Scooter was dismayed when his newly found cap fell off his head. He could not be certain, but he was sure the rude cat in the mirror had something to do with it. He quickly replaced the cap on his head between his ears and then he headed to the Sunroom where he knew the other cats of the Big Grey House were gathering for the early morning nap. Scooter thought he felt a pang in stomach. It was not time for the Mid-Morning Breakfast yet, he thought. Scooter figured it was the excitement he felt now that he had his new hat. He had some very thrilling news for the other cats of the Big Grey House.

A brief political advertisement.

Prime Minister supports fostering of cats.

I normally want to keep my politics and my normal sarcastic nature out of my blog, but I came across this on the web.

I knew there was a reason I liked him.

And a new year begins.

So much stuff has happened in the last little while, Dad has forgotten to mention it. First and foremost, we have been blogging for more than a year. Our first post was back on Dec 19, 2005. We have seen a lot of joy and sadness during this time, but through all that we met some very special furriends.

The new year has dawned us and sees Magoo, Bella and Dolce getting used to Smudge not being here all the time. He is still having his sabbatical at Grandma's place, where he is doing very well. It might lead to a hard decision for me but best for him.

Dolce has decided that Magoo makes the best wrassling partner.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas from Magoo, Smudge, Bella and Dolce!


Everyone here hopes that all our furriends are having a great holiday break.

Smudge is doing well. He still is not eating as much as we would like, but I have seen him at the food bowls a couple of times which is a little reassuring. He is as playful as always and fell in love with the Whirly-Bird cat toy he got from Skeezix. The picture above is from a Nip session on the Saturday before Christmas.

Smudge has proven himslef to be the Lover of our foursome in yet another way. We sent him off to visit Grandma for a sleepover. Now Grandma has a cat named Cloe. I have to take her word for it, because in four years I and my wife have never seen the cat. I was beginning to wonder if Alzheimers' was setting in, because the dear MIL kept talking about this cat that noone had seen but her. It took Smudge less than a minute to work his magic. Cloe came bounding out to greet this new visitor. The MIL said that Smudge and her sat beside each other and Cloe followed him around wherever he went. When we went to pick Smudge up, m wife and I finally saw this suposed cat named Cloe. Cloe was all rubby and purry and very talkative for the first time in four years. After we got Smudge home, we got a phone call from the MIL; Cloe was besides herself searching for her new friend.

We are sending Smudge over to Grandma's for two weeks. One reason is that we are taking a trip and the other is that Cloe doesn't like his food and he doesn't like hers. We want to see if the less chaotic household of Grandma will help him put on some weight. Although I would break my heart not to have him here all the time, I know he loves his Grandma and it might do him some good. If it helps him plateau from his CRF, then it might evolve into a longer term situation.

PS: In regards to the ending of the story, "Guard Well, Old Shep", there were some readers that were upset that I didn't let Tom know what had happened to Shep. I didn't realize that miracles have become so scarce that people can no longer see the signs. When Shep went to hide so that he could pass (which is a natural instinct for a dog), there is no body because Shep did not die. Because of his sacrifice, he was given another task and he left to go and fulfil it. I alluded that there were only two set of tracks so noone would think that Shep had been taken away by a wild animal. Tom knew that there would have to be a body if Shep had passed away at the end of his tracks. For there to be no body, there would have to have been a miracle. I do believe that when science and reason can no longer explain, then miracles must be accepted. That all said, I hoped you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you. Dolce made me promise to write something funny next time. I told her to put her thinking cap on and help me think of a funny story. She refused. She says there is no way she is wearing a cap of any variety.