Laundry Day

The kitties are so helpful.

No, really. I mean that. From installing dishwashers and setting the table to reading the paper or changing Checkers' stinky abode, these kitties know how to earn their keep.

And each one has his own strengths, and -- well, let's face it -- weaknesses. Thankfully, they are well in tune with who is good at what, and who should just go off and find a catnip sock to kill.

Blusie is the self-proclaimed laundry helper. He screams at the top of his lungs to let us know when the washer and dryer are running - I guess to make sure we know they're doing their jobs. And he's OH SO HELPFUL when it comes time to fold, and heaven forbid if anyone else (furry) should try to help.


Spot check inspection on the drying phase. (Neiko looks drunk here. He probably is.)


Blusie: "You're not seriously considering messing with my dryer duties..."


Neiko tries to lend his expertise. (Blusie: "That's right. Just a little closer.")


"Closer..."

(Insert head chewing photo here. This is a family site. I will show crotches but I won't advocate violence. On a positive note, the head chewing ended in licks and kisses.)


The victor. Blusie keeps his title. Thank God we have him to help with the laundry. I'm not sure what Mat would do if his undies weren't carpeted with cat fur.

Oh yeah...pidgets

When I woke up this morning to the sound of Checkers' guinea pig version of a cock's crow, I knew right away that this was no ordinary get-the-hell-out-of-bed-and-feed-me-bitch wake up call.

The usual pidget pweet-pweets were more like the squeals of an angry boar on helium. It went something like this: "PWEEEEET-pweet-pweet-pweet, PWEEEEET-PWEEEET pweet pweet pweet pweet, emm-oh-eff-oh!"

Translation: "You started this blog FOR pidgets and ABOUT pidgets, and you've turned it into OTHER FINE STUFF -- namely bad, fat kitties, you crazy em-effer!"

I listened intently to his concerns over some fresh romaine and apple cores, and after a brief impromptu photo shoot, we settled on pidget crotches for one whole week:



Lucky you, Internet.

One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war

Ok, I don't mean to dwell... I know we've been through this before... and he's been here for a few months now... but I still can't get over these thumbs.



Now, one could argue that Neiko has some kind of evolutionary advantage over his brothers, but so far this freakish super power has only led to better kitty toy control and superior grip on the scratching posts.

That, and a bit of an attitude.

He has developed a charming cockiness that says to Buddy and Blue, "that's right, bitches. I've got thumbs. We don't know what it means yet, but I'm pretty sure that makes me cuter than you."



Once more, with feeling:

A Tribute to Oliver (the cat, not the musical)

Our friends in Whitby (that's where all the cool people live) recently lost their kitty Oliver to cancer.


Oli was a sweet boy who new how to pose slim despite his girth. Sometimes.


His sister Cindy sure misses him during naptime.


But I hear she's really come out of her shell as the queen of the kingdom.


(That girl's got spunk in her trunk!)


We miss you Oliver. Hope the couches are soft and the catnip fresh. Keep a spot warm for your mom - you can sit on her lap when she gets there.

"No heaven will not ever heaven be
unless my cats are there to welcome me."
- Anon.

Herm

This is Hermie. He belongs to our friend Shawnwall in Pittsburgh. We went to visit them on the May two-four weekend (Canuck speak for the holiday of Queen Victoria's birthday, held every year around May 24th).

As you can see, Hermie's a beautiful boy. What makes him super special is that despite missing a back leg and suffering considerable brain damage from a car accident (pre-Shawnwall), Hermie can do what any cat can do, even better.

In short, he's a spaz. I almost brought him home in my suitcase. But Neiko would've had to defend his Freaky-boy title and I'm not sure I could witness tripod attempt to usurp ol' thumby's throne in a cage match. Who would I cheer for?

Besides, you can collect only so many grey cats before people think you're crazy.

All kitties and no peace make niffer something something

"Go crazy? Don't mind if I do!" -- Homer J. Simpson

G 'n R and Zinger just left for their real home. I miss them, but they're only 10 minutes away. And quite frankly, everyone was going a little stir crazy. George started picking on Zinger, which is very unusual. Buddy starting fighting with Blue, which happens, well, a lot.

The following photo is dedicated to my friend, the President of the Itty Bitty Titty Club.



Mat and I are off to the Pitt to visit our friend Shawnwall. We'll have some great photos of Hermie the 3-legged cat when we return.

Double the kitties, double the fun

To folks like Kristine who keep coming back, even though I'm been a bad blogger, today you shall be rewarded with NEW kitties! (To see them asap, scroll down to skip this long bit.)

Back in University and College, I used to do a lot of pet/house sitting. And by a lot, I mean that sometimes I went for months living at someone else's house.

Thankfully, at the time I only had Buddy, who sometimes came with me. When he didn't, he stayed with my incredibly understanding roommate and friend. She and Budzo were tight, and still are even though she now lives in Toronto. Whenever she comes to visit, he stands on his tippy toes and gets the "shakey tail of happiness". I'm not sure if other cats do this, but it's pretty funny to watch. It's like he can't contain his excitment and it escapes out his tail.

All of this pet/house sitting pretty much put me through school. (Well, not really, but it certainly helped.) I also met some great people through it all who are still good friends to this day. I think it boils down to this: Love of critters = the great equalizer.

My favourite critters of all time were five kitties named George, Roo, Zinger, Stray Kitty and Secundo. They also happened to have the best people in the world who became very good friends of mine and Mat's.

A few years ago they moved to Pittsburgh. Mat and I visited the kitties and their people a few times. Over the years, Stray Kitty found a new home and, sadly, Secundo went missing. Then they moved to Kansas City and we waited for the day when they'd return to London.

Well, they're back! Not only that, but George, Roo and Zinger are in our spare bedroom chillin' because their house isn't quite ready.

Allow me to introduce Sir George:


And Miss Roo:


You'll never see Zingy -- he's afraid of the camera. Actually, he's afraid of just about everything but me, Mat and his parents.

So if you've wondered where I've been these past couple of weeks, I'VE BEEN SCOOPING CAT LITTER EVERY WAKING MOMENT OF EVERY DAY. (JessicaRabbit, how on earth do you do it?)

But I wouldn't have it any other way. My kitties are home!