Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Pssst....I Have a Secret

I have to confess - I have a secret. Some would say that technically I have five secrets but the way I look at you say TOmato, I say toMAto. The point is I really would like to tell you about some lovely little kittens I am personally acquainted with before the National Catquirer spills the details.

Last year I was just a young feline out playing in the sunshine of a lovely Minnesota summer day. I was so innocent, truly I was. I would sprawl on the lawn looking through the blades of grass trying to find some mice to chase. Or I'd hide beneath the deck and peer out to see the bird feeder and attempt to catch the little birdies when they flitted to the ground to get seeds that spilled. I wasn't too good that.

One day I came running around a corner and nearly slammed into another cat. Specifically, a big tom named Rocky. I'd heard about him and his exploits around the neighborhood but I was sure it was just a reputation, nothing more. He was so handsome I nearly started to drool. But instead we both froze in place our tails getting bigger by the nano-second, our backs arching up like dinosaurs. He meowed low at me a few times and then then he walked a little closer to me...yowza!

Was I captivated by his charm and his good looks? Probably, because all I could think about was his reputation and boy, just that moment of inattentiveness and my guard was down. Whoops.

So 60 some days later I'm at Oak Knoll Animal Hospital having been brought there by the police. That's a story for another day. Suffice it to say they discovered I was pregnant. Oh dear, that darn Rocky, and here I thought I was getting fat from all the mice I caught. Silly me.

They checked my belly with some big machine thing and figured I would have 3, maybe 4 kittens but I surprised them all and had five! I was at the hospital for a bit before I had them and then I went home with one of the employees (such a sweetheart, she spoiled me so much!), who cared for me until I gave birth on September 8, 2010, and then through the weaning process. That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be because I really loved my babies.

Pictures? Ms. Patty took some, I don't know all of their names and the ones I do know I'm not sure if I'm spelling them right but they're so darn cute, who cares? You can see the pictures larger if you just click on them.

The Twins - They love to wrestle together and then they snooze all spoon-like.

Wrestling Was Hard Work, Spooning Is Easier

Blackie - He was totally black when he was born and then little white hairs started to sprout out all over! I adore his eyes, don't you?

Blackie

Lily - My beautiful, darling only daughter. She's so pretty she takes my breath away. Sigh...

The Twins, Blackie and Lilly resting on Mama Stella

Harley - He is a rambunctious one and has so much personality. When Ms. Patty visited us at the hospital he walked right up her arm and looked her directly in the eye. Then he tilted his head one way, she tilted hers the same, then he tilted it the other way and she did too. Silly Ms. Patty, doesn't she know he was teasing her?

Harley - doing the head tilt.

Here they are with me right after the birthday party. They look like little rats, don't they? But they were so good and I had fun with them. But now I have fun all on my own with Ms. Patty. I do wish I knew how they were doing so if any of my kids get a chance to read my blog, please do let me know how you're all doing.

365:48

Love you, my darlings!

P.S. to the National Catquirer  - say all you want but I'm not ashamed and you'd be better off chasing down that naughty girl, Co-Co. Now SHE has some dirt you'd want!!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The Temptation of It All

After nudging Ms. Patty on her cheek this morning to wake her up, she gives me my breakfast and then goes back to bed. Unusual, but it was chilly in the house so maybe that's why. Anyway, I finish my breakfast and start to prowl around the house as it gets gradually lighter outside.

Our routine in the morning is torture, pure torture for me. Ms. Patty opens the blinds on the windows in the living room, then the kitchen, then the dining room and then finally - finally! - she feeds me.

Today this additional light was to my benefit. Of what do I speak? Well, see the picture below? That is the edge of a package of Temptations kitty treats. Awesome name, yes? I was just giddy with excitement when I saw it but I had to keep quiet.

Temptations

Well, I had already tried to open this package myself one day to no avail. You can see a couple of the teeth marks on the edge. Ms. Patty usually keeps these in the food cupboard but I guess she forgot to put them away. I reached up with my right paw as it's the stronger one and worked at it to get it closer to me. Closer, closer...on the floor it went. Success! Wait, the package still isn't open so I guess not, just yet.But I'm nothing if not determined.

I chew and I chew and I chew some more. I still can't get this opened but I am getting little, tiny pieces of the food to come out! Eventually, I am successful by tossing the package around and around letting pieces get shaken out onto the carpeting everywhere! Oh, rapture! I'm nearly swooning - can you just imagine it?

I eat until my tummy is full and then I go into the bedroom where Ms. Patty is still sleeping. I jump up on the bed and proceed to snuggle in by the crook of her knees and promptly fall asleep. By the way, no matter what Ms. Patty tells you - I do NOT snore. I hum. There is a difference.

A little while later Ms. Patty wakes up and goes into the bathroom, then into the dining room. That's when I heard her screech and then yell, "Stella!"

Uh oh. What did I do? What did I DO?? My toys are always everywhere so it can't be that. Hmmm.

I slowly walk in behind her and her eyes are bugged out but she's got a grin (so I must be sort of safe). I look around and see the treats waiting for me later in the day, scattered on the carpeting. What's the problem? It's easier than waiting for her to feed me, right?

"Where's the package, Stella?"

Oh. That. So it IS a problem. Oops.

Then she walks to the little closet by the front door and brings out the monster, I believe it's called a vacuum but I call it a monster because it makes a horrifically loud noise! She plugs it in and comes into the dining room. Oh no, she isn't. Is she? Please, don't do it, Ms. Patty!

She vacuums up the dining room carpet. All my treat crumbles for the day are gone. Gone! Oh, woe is me. 

Then she finds the package and she can see that I was successful in getting the treats out (see the picture below as proof!), but rather than her telling me I was a good girl, she throws the package away. Then tells me "No food until dinner, Stella". Gulp. I realize that's a really long time from now - so I stand up on my hind legs and place my little paws on her leg, hoping for some sympathy.

I got nothing. Except she tells me I am going to pay for this because "what goes in must come out, Stella". I'm not sure what that means but perhaps I'll let you know when I figure it out. In the meantime, I'm feeling a bit tired so I'm off for a nap.

After the fact

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Welcome To My Cat House

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Stella and I was adopted November 5, 2010 by a lovely woman who goes by the name of, well, let's call her Ms. Patty.

I am a short-haired, domestic cat with a tortoise shell coloring, mostly brown. I have gold eyes and a swanky walk. I use that to attract the attention of Ms. Patty because what does it get me? Food! Most of the time that works but she's catching on to me. I'm not sure if it's that she's less busy so she remembers when she's fed me or what, but I do need to come up with another strategy as I do so love my food.

I also love Ms. Patty and the affection she gives me. I do whatever I can to get more petting and play time. She has given me all these lovely toys; my favorite is the mouse. Oooh, who doesn't love a mouse?? It sometimes makes a noise, sort of a rumble (Ms. Patty refers to it as a remote mouse, I'm not very techi so I'll take her word for it). But I like it better when it's quiet, I snatch it up by its tail and carry on to my recliner or into my carrier and bat it around.

I also have this gold and black striped toy, looks like a huge tail. It smells really good and I love to play with that one, my feet just start clutching at it like I'm running a marathon, and then I get all calm and relaxed. You know what else is fun? Straws. Yes, just a simple straw. See, I like to chew. A lot. And straws are awesome to chew on, plus they're lightweight so I can carry them everywhere and leave them in unexpected places for Ms. Patty to find. Like a boot - that was so funny - she thought she stepped on a spider!!

Oh, about the title of my blog, being addicted to humans? Ms. Patty chose that and I'm still trying to understand why. Just because I need to be on the same floor of the house as her within earshot (and preferably where I can see her) or because I drool, I mean, kiss her in the morning on her neck to wake her up, doesn't mean I'm addicted to humans. Sheesh. I think it's a sweet sign of my love for her that I want to be around her so much. Don't you?

Well, I'm going to sign off for now and leave you with a picture of moi. It's not my favorite but it will do for now. Ta ta, darlings!