Community

A few months ago, when Mommy and I began our blog, we had no idea what to expect. At best we hoped to be a humorous, and sometimes heartwarming, stop for kitties and friends. We would get so excited when a cat would stop by and leave a comment welcoming us to something called the "Cat Blogosphere" (we still get really excited when we see a comment actually).

We didn't know what the Cat Blogosphere was back then but we do now - it's a community. A community where all cats (and their humans) are welcomed - regardless of hair length, number of paw toes, or breed. Where support is given in good times, bad times and especially during tragic times. I feel honored to have been offered the paws of friendship and been given the oppawtunity to be part of it. I'll to try do my part to be a good kitizen.

It has been a very sad week for members of our community. So my planned blog didn't feel right for today. I'll be back Saturday in an effort to make you laugh again. Until then please keep the ones you love close and knead them as much as they need you.

Pawpourri II

Well my last post was such fun! Look at all the comments and the funny new friends that stopped by to play. I even thought of another one myself, prompted by Victor Tabbycat’s pedigree question – You might be an alley cat if you’ve only heard of “Pedigree” as a type of pet food.

So after a couple of months in the cat blogging world I’ve really expanded my contact with the world in many positive ways and a couple of not completely positive ways too:

1. On the positive side I’ve met new friends, humans and kitties. I’ve had kitties stop by from as far away as England and Taiwan. I asked Mommy where Taiwan was and I suspect she didn’t exactly know because she tilted her head to the side and got that cute glazed look humans get when they’re thinking. “It’s in the Far East.” She said, looking rather pleased with her non-specific answer. “How far east, farther than the end of the cul de sac?” I asked, hoping for another head tilt. Turns out it’s a whole lot farther, although again, I suspect she really had no idea how far east it really is. I cut her some slack though as she’s directionally challenged.
2. On a positive and negative front - I think I finally have proof my parents are stingy. Angus had a post showing a full basket of his toys. There were things in there I’d never even dreamed possible (sparkly jingle balls, feathery chase toys, too many to even comprehend really) my mind boggles and my paws twitch when I dream about it. So I’m preparing my case and plan on demonstrating that a trip to the pet store for new toys is required – and while they’re at it I want to see what this “stinky goodness” that our friend Max and others speak of is all about too (I suspect it’s more than just tuna and may even involve a fancy feast).
3. On the negative side - I see some of the kitties out there aren’t feeling their best and I was sorry to hear that. On a more alarming trend personally, I overheard this from the mouth of my own mother “Fin seems a little quiet this week maybe she isn’t feeling well, do you think we should get her “checked out” by the V.E.T.?” Well that kind of talk has to be nipped in the bud. First I get “checked out” by my parents all the time, there’s no need for professionals to get in on the action. Second maybe I’d be less quiet if I had new toys to play with. Third maybe a good meal of something stinky would make me more energetic. Fourth it’s like a hundred and eighty degrees outside and my parents aren’t particularly peppy either.

Now I’ll have to spend the week finding the delicate balance between healthy friskiness and proving my case that new toys and new fresh treats are in order.

You might be...

I thought it might be fun to have my online friends play a game with me and finish this sentence “You might be an alley cat if…”

Think of it as the feline equivalent of a “You might be a redneck if…” joke. No offense to our alley cat friends of course, as my feline mother was an alley cat too. I’ll start:

“You might be an alley cat if you think of the whole kitchen floor as your food dish.”

Go on, give it a try and leave your versions in the comments section, and don't be shy my human friends you can join in too.

Oh boy, Spam!

Mommy was reading my comments, as Daddy and I snuggled on the couch, the other day when, imagine my delight, she said “Hey look, Toontzy (my current nickname) and I got some Spam!”

I thought it was rude that Daddy was being left out, but I was all up for tasting the hammy treat (so far I’ve been denied a sample of the Spam, so I was thrilled). I leaped off the couch and I bounded for the kitchen so fast my back paws skidded on the tile floor as I rounded the corner -I realized I needed to clear some room in my dish.

“Blah, blah, blah (boring Mommy talk)… gas prices… blah, blah… some crack pot.” I heard Mommy say above the sound of my kibble crunching.

“Yes Mommy, let’s crack that pot of spammy goodness open!” I called out to her, now dancing around my bowl in excitement.

Well it turns out that she wasn’t referring to the Spam enjoyed by our Hawaiian friend Cheryl at all. It has something to do about mail. You’ve got to be kidding, right? There I was, all pumped up and ready for a snack, and suddenly no treat was going to be coming at all. I mewled for a few minutes to no avail when I cried out in one last ditch effort.

“Mommy, if we don’t enjoy the tasty canned treat, the spammers win!”

Less Wordy Winner

Looks like I get to post on Wednesday's too! Of course I can't promise anything on the less wordy part - my ghostwriter doesn't seem to understand that sometimes a simple "Meow" will do. Mommy had to point out that some kitty bloggers have "Wordless Wednesdays" and just go with a darling photo and wouldn't that be nice. I pointed out that the pawparrazi wars of 2008 which began in June, are still on.

So last night was night three of trying to watch a Harry Potter movie from Netflix. I believe the second time the word “Potter” is mentioned in that English accent, Mommy is out cold, snoring hard. Daddy lasts about 20 minutes and I usually last about 30 minutes (when in Rome).

Last night when they were passed out by 8pm from the “Potter Narcolepsy” I took matters into my own paws and used the remote control. I just kept stepping on buttons until I finally managed to wake Mommy and get her to change over to Wipeout. I just love to see the people bounce off of those big red balls. It so amuses me - he, he, he.

Hard Times & Gas Prices

Call me a softy but I’ve been quite touched by the world this week. First there was the run in with Mittens last week which left me feeling charitable and yes, a little sad. We heard on the news that many animals are in need of a new family because people are losing their homes. I’m not sure how you would go about losing a home, as they’re quite large, but I guess anything is possible where humans are concerned. I know when Daddy loses his house keys he becomes a raving nut, I can’t even imagine how upset he would be if he lost the whole house. So I’m enlisting Mittens help to wave my parents in if they look lost or confused.

My parents even discussed adopting another dog or cat, to which I say “No!!” I did feel like I needed to step in and show them other ways they could help. Max has a link on his page to an online game to help feed homeless kitties and puppies and I decided to add the info here so you can play too. Hopefully that will tide them over for a little while.

Even I can’t ignore the constant stream of bad news on television (and I barely even listen to the news). My parents talk about the high prices of everything, including gas which confuses me for two reasons:

1. Why are they buying gas when it seems they already have plenty? I mean why would anyone want to buy gas? I find it all rather distasteful.
2. I’ve been paying a high price for their gas for some time and it certainly hasn’t made the news until now.

All this talk of hard times and cutting back can really bring a cat down. Until I took another look around and saw the world is filled with good too. People who offer to lend a hand when they could turn away or kitties helping other kitties, and my spirits were lifted. I hope in these hard times you find the bright spots to raise your spirits too.

Less Wordy Wednesdays?

After much campaigning (or is that complaining?) on my part Mommy has agreed to consider adding Wednesday posts to my blog. Something short - call them “Less Wordy Wednesdays” perhaps.

Mommy has to get agreement on everything I think, so she said she would put up a poll to see if anyone is interested in reading the Wednesday blog (honestly, as if!). The poll will be open for the week, so vote often. I like to get my way, as you can imagine.