Cat Scratch Fever

It was time to get new scratch pads for the dr. pepper wooden crates. Jimmy nails them to the crates and puts them right next to the fabric upholstered couch. It seems to be a very effective way of keeping the cats from clawing the couch. Frankly, the only one interested is little Lulu. But she prefers the scratch pads to the couch any day.

Even Felix uses the scratch pads. He doesn't have any front claws (taken away by his previous owners), but he still loves to scratch the pads. Something about it (leaving their scent?) is very satisfying even without the actual clawing going on.

Brave, Fearless or Just Plain Stupid

Can you take one guess who this is, eating out of Maxine's bowl like they are two pigs eating out of the same trough?

You guessed it - KOOF!

I tell you. That little cat is fearless - which in the animal kingdom really equates itself with just plain dumb! Fear protects animals from things that will cause them harm. They approach unknowns with a certain healthy skepticism.

"Is that new dog walking in the door cat friendly or not, maybe I should test the water and see."

Heck no! Not little King Kufu. She would rather get on the edge of the table and take a good healthy swipe as the new dog walks by.

Brave? Fearless? Just plain stupid? Or ultra confident in her superiority? Any way you slice it, she is definitely a risk taker.

Body Slam

Here are the three dogs sniffing each other after about an hour of playing. Although Max is quite a bit skinnier than the other dogs she can play pretty rough with the big boys. She did sustain a little cut on the side of her eye when she was playing chase with Boudros and she was trying to squeeze by between him and the edge of the garage.

SMASH! She got body slammed into the garage by the weight of that big dog. She had a little blood by her eye and a little swelling that went away after about 30 minutes.

You can't see her new injury in this picture very well, but you can see an old scar from her racing days. Remember, she led a pretty rough and tumble life at the track. She wasn't stopped by a little cut. She was back chasing and playing before long.

Two Little Friends

Meet two of Maxine's little friends who came over today for a surprise visit. They weigh about double what Max does, but it doesn't stop her from being fiesty britches with them.

The black lab is named Roscoe and does not really like to play he prefers sniffing the grass and marking all over the back yard.

The golden colored one, pictured here with the duck, is Boudros (I hope I am spelling your name right!). He is very playful, loves toys and likes playing with Maxine.

Sneaky Sicky

It looks like Simone is being sweet and affectionate in this picture, doesn't it?

WRONG! This is her tactic for sneaking up on food. What you don't see is that Jimmy is eating some turkey and she is trying to act coy, hoping you don't know her true intentions. Then as soon as she gets close enough BAM she will move her paw super quick and try to swipe a piece of food right off your plate.

That's sickman's style!

Thankful for Chores

Now that the walk is over we are ready for Thanksgiving festivities, which for us this year are: CHORES!

Maxine reluctantly got ready to help!

Start scrubbing the floors Maxine and maybe you will get a turkey leg later (frozen of course).

Thanksgiving Day Walk

The temperature dropped down to the 50's today with bright sunshine. It was a perfect day for a walk. It was pretty chilly out so Maxine definitely needed her little hoody sweater! We walked and walked and walked and finally came to this fountain that Maxine thought would make a great photo. You can see how beautiful it was out and its a pretty neat fountain.

Maxine looks pretty cute too!!

What's a dazzling urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?

Nothing But A Party Y'all

Waiting for us to take her on a walk, Maxine was on the couch eating a rawhide dental treat. Lulu, who does not stalk us for food like the other two cats, thought it would be fun to try to steal it from Maxine. Or maybe she was in a super playful mood and thought she could get Max to play with her. Whatever it was, she still does not yet understand that a dog's bite could really ruin her day!

She was up on the spine of the couch, on her side with her paw reaching down in an attempt to swipe Maxine! Then she moved to the other side where she was trying to steal the rawhide. Then she was running from across the room and jumping up on the couch dangerously close to where Maxine was eating.

She is such a little nutball! Little Spicoli, life is just a party to her but it would have been a real party pooper if Maxine decided to bite!

KOOF!!!!

This subject has been covered a dozen times and in many different ways, but it never loses its magic.

Cats love boxes!!!!

And doesn't Lulu look adorable with her ojo's popping out!

Call of the Wild

We opened the window a little bit just to get some fresh air. The cats went nuts pawing the cool air from the little opening under the window. Koof was the only one we had to watch because you never know what a cat will slip through. Just a minute after taking this picture Lulu got half way through the window when Jimmy grabbed her and quickly closed the window!

Maxine Rules the Roost

The oddest thing happened when we delivered the meal. We took Maxine because our friends have two large Labradors. Maxine walked into their house and peed right on their carpet! She has NEVER soiled our home. I guess the only explanation is that one of the dogs is an unneutered male dog who has tried to mount Maxine in the past. When that happened, she promptly responded with a very clearly stated, "NO," in the form of sharp staccato air bites.

I think she was showing him, once again, who is boss!

Please note the large golden Labrador who is curled up with Jimmy. That dog acts like it is a five pound cat but in reality it is a 90 pound dog!!!!

Felix vs. Salmon

The race was on.

Felix in the left corner.

Salmon in the right.

Who do you think won?

You have two guesses . . . .

We left the house with half the salmon we had prepared for our friends!

Friends

We have two friends moving into a new home and took them lunch and dinner so they wouldn't have to worry about food. Obviously, Felix The Helpful decided to christen the cooler we took the food over in with his presence.

Resting after an Exciting Weekend

Everyone is plumb tuckered after a long weekend of feeding off the leftover crumbs of guests! Linda and Brett visited us this weekend and the gatolinos got their share of snacks! This is them on Sunday, reading the paper with us.

Everyone learned some good tricks from Brett (Linda is allergic to cats so it is best she doesn't teach them anything!). Lulu found out she liked to be massaged by a water bottle. Simone discovered she likes the underpit massage. Felix had the mathematical epiphany that the more human bodies are in one place, the higher the snack yield. He is working on the formula for his paper he hopes to publish on the subject in Feline Mathematics Monthly.

Maxine is just glad to have her room back (note the new color on the walls) and is grateful for all the help Brett and Linda gave to getting it in order!

Construction Comfort

Felix has taken the delays in construction right in stride. He is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Brett and Linda from New York. He is just sure they will bring him all kinds of interesting and exotic meats and cheeses. He is dreaming of the possibilities (while sleeping in our new drawers!).

Construction Blues

It looks like Simone is just beside herself with the Construction Blues. Being pent up in the office with the Black Radishes, dub and the bed is just doing her in.

Do you notice the hot water bottle under her????

Waldo Is Beautiful!

Did you guess what it was?








A beautiful butterfly!

Where's Waldo?

Can you see what is playing in the grass?

Gatolino's Birthday

Here are some pictures from the wild party we threw the black radishes. We use this as an educational toy - we put snacks into the holes and let them use their wits and teamwork to get them out.

You just know Sicky pushes this whole wooden block around with her head in a hurried frenzy of food lust.

The Jolly Roger

A little bit of history for you all to truly appreciate little Lulu.

Do you know what a Jolly Roger is?

Here is one definition, "The Jolly Roger is the name now given to any of various flags flown to identify the user as a pirate. The most famous Jolly Roger today is the Skull and Crossbones, a skull over two long bones set in an X arrangement on a black field. Historically, the flag was flown to induce pirates' victims to surrender readily."

I do believe that is EXACTLY little miss Koof's intention!

Sunday Morning . . . Without Heather

I was in Boston this past weekend at the AASLD meeting, but that didn't stop the black radishes and Maxine from getting crazy with the cheese wiz. Felix found a prime spot on the bed before the final sheets were pulled off.

Lulu found her way underneath some sheets! She loves to go under water (that's what Jimmy calls getting underneath the covers! Koof loves it!).

And Maxine brooded over the fine mess she has gotten herself in! She is a little upset about the week of being cooped up in the office with Jimmy, the bed, and all three gatolinos!

Jimmy sent me all these pictures on his phone!