Back in 2011 and early 2012, we had a litter of kittens we called the Peppers Gang. One of those kittens was Everett Peppers, who looked like this in August of 2011.
And like this in February 2012.
Everett and his sisters Sally and Lucy went to Petsmart and came back a few times for breaks before they were adopted, as I recall. Everett was the leapingest leaper who ever leapt, and he would jump up after Da Bird and it seemed like he’d just hang there in mid air for 45 minutes before landing on the ground again.
Well, here’s Everett now!
Emma said: Everett Peppers is 8.5 years old and still living his best life. He wishes all of you and his furry friends a Happy Holidays!
Is that the SWEETEST THING EVER, or what? (Thanks, Emma!)
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When you finish with the living, maybe bios on the dear departed?
Maybe once Christmas has passed, I’ll do that. I’ll have to do several per post, though – if you include George and Gracie, we’ve lost a total 19 over the years.
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Didn’t Frankie lay smack down on Archie more than once? He was the big brother who had enough of his little buddy being pushed around.
I think you’re right! I do believe Archie got the ol’ smackeroo a few times when he tried to show Dewey who the boss was.
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Alice so loves her daddy. I love it when he gives your ham tribute. No mention of how she got her own theme song? How many cats have their own theme song?
Oh, I don’t even remember how her theme song happened. Fred started calling her “Alice Mo the calico,” and the last line just came out of my mouth at some point, and then I put it to a tune (kinda.)
The only other cat with her own theme was Maxi, though I didn’t post it very often. Theme songs have to happen naturally, you can’t force them!
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Never heard the term “loons” before. Is that something you made up or is that a real term for those puffy cheeks? I’ve never seen a cat with loons before, either.
You know, I’m not entirely sure how to explain it. When Jake was little, he gave us those bug-eyed looks, and at some point Fred said “He looks completely insane.” Which turned into “Jake’s gone loony again” and then we referred to his loons and when he looked particularly nuts we’d say his loons were well-tuned. Which turned into us referring to his “loons” as shorthand. I don’t know – does any of that make sense?
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Sorry Elwood’s journey was cut so short. Do you know how he contracted the FIP?
Most cats have been exposed to coronavirus, and in a very small percent of cases, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is caused by a mutation of the coronavirus or by an aberration of the immune response to coronavirus. (More about FIP here.)
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How do you pronounce the sheriff mama’s given name? Is it Care-Uh or is it Car-Uh or something totally different?
We pronounce it Care-Uh, but wouldnβt be offended by Car-Uh.
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Would LOVE to take you up on your offer for copies of favorite photos. My 3 favorites are the black kitten with the floof suit (profile), Kara of her doing a yoga stretch before her daily walk watch, and the three yowling kittens in the kennel with their food in plain sight. If you have the time would appreciate it.
I am going to need a little guidance here. Is the black kitten in the floof suit this one?
Is this the Kara yoga stretch you’re referring to?
I know what the third picture is, though! (This one, right?)
Let me know if those are the right pictures, and I’ll get them uploaded to Society6.
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Is Khal able to keep himself unmatted? He looks a lot like my long term foster Pepper, who would not let me brush him, and who would develop serious mats. Eventually I just got in the habit of taking him to a groomer every few months, she would shave as necessary to get him unmatted.
Fred brushes Khal 2 – 3 times a week, which seems to keep the mats at bay. Lucky for us, he likes to be brushed.
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What did happen to Stefan, if I may ask? It broke my heart…I canβt imagine how yβall felt.
It was cancer of some form – the vet was relatively certain it was bone cancer. The only way to have known for 100% sure was to have a bone marrow biopsy, and neither of us was willing to put him through that.
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All the cats are obsessed with trying to find a way under the deck; here’s Khal taking a look around to see if a place to crawl underneath has magically appeared.
I would let them go under the deck all they want if the space were big enough for a human to walk (or even crawl) under. But it’s not and if a cat were to get under there to hide from us, I’d have to slide in on my stomach and inchworm as far under as possible to reach them. I don’t mind being in a small space (I’m not the slightest bit claustrophobic and in fact I find small spaces soothing; I could easily slide under there and take a nap)(wait. Am I a cat??) but there’s a space in the far corner that’s too small for me to get to, and so the space is blocked off. Doesn’t stop them from checking for a way in all the time, though.
Guess who’s having a dental on Monday? Merry Christmas, Jake!
AND Alice! Y’all will have shiny teeth and fresh breath for the holiday, hurray!
Oh, this girl and her little-old-lady face. I gave her a squeeze after I took this picture and she squeaked and ran off. No one appreciates me.
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Previously
2018: Meeting Uncle Newt.
2017: It cracks me up that in posts from a year ago, he was still βDustin.β He is such a Dewey.
2016: Turns out that Willa didnβt care for the cut of Dustinβs jib, and she didnβt hesitate to let him know.
2015: Bummer.
2014: Youuuu waaaant to giiiive meee the weeet foooodβ¦β
2013: Oy, these Sopranos kittens!
2012: βPlaces to go, scratch to eat, outta my way!β
2011: Opieβs the kitten most likely to bite your big toe.
2010: βLady, hey. Lady. LADY! Pet me?β
2009: No entry.
2008: No entry.
2007: No entry.
2006: Merry’s got the crazy eyes going on.
2005: No entry.
I was so happy to see the Everett Peppers update. I loved him so much that I even considered driving all the way from Ohio to adopt him. His leaping prowess was breathtaking.
I loved the photo of Everett and Molly (or Sally) Peppers, sitting side by side, in which they looked like rock stars.
I love that picture, too!
Alice doesn’t look too thrilled about her upcoming dental appointment.
WE appreciate you, Robyn!
And I appreciate that! π
For the person asking about Jake’s loons being tuned – are you old enough to remember “Looney Tunes” which were Saturday morning cartoons in the 60s and maybe also 70s? – Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd and that whole crew. That’s a step in the loon progression that Robyn didn’t remember to mention but which people who grew up then instantly recognize. If you’re a young thing you should google Looney Tunes, it’ll make you laugh. (I could probably still sing the theme music.)
Ahhhhh yes…. Looney Tunes! I could hum the theme song too! (no words!) But, it was the signal for us to finish our cereal and grab a spot on the livingroom floor every Saturday morning… you know, back when there was only one TV in the house and back when cartoons were only on on Saturday mornings! (afterwards, we would retire to our cave and chisel pictures on the walls for future generations to find… π )
They were still being broadcast on Saturday mornings when I was growing up in the early part of the 80’s, too, although by then they were often mixed with other, non-Warner Brothers cartoons as well. Some fond memories there, for sure!
Also, for Robyn: Regarding prints of your photos, perhaps Zazzle.com might be worth a look-see? They offer art/poster prints that you can customize in numerous ways–4-5 different paper types to choose from, MANY sizes from 4×6 all the way up to 40×53 with options for nonstandard aspect ratios, and they also offer framing/matting and printing on canvas, metal, wood, acrylic, etc. if you want to go even fancier. They also offer just about every type of merchandise under the SUN (way more than Cafe Press from what I’ve seen) AND it’s free to set up a store as a designer, so… I thought it was worth mentioning, at least. (I don’t work there or anything, by the way, just been a customer for years and even made a calendar of my own nature photos to sell at one point. I’ve always been reasonably happy with the service I’ve gotten and with the finished products, but I will note that their shipping charges to anywhere outside the continental US are RIDICULOUSLY high, so you might have to make some kind of special arrangements for international buyers.)
You know, it’s interesting that you mention Zazzle, because out of the blue I got an email from them the other day and I went to check the site out. They look like they’re a lot easier to deal with than CafePress (trying to get anything uploaded to CafePress has made me tear my hair out these past few years, thus the reason I don’t do calendars there any more), so I will definitely give them a try!
I totally forgot the Looney Tunes connection! Thanks for adding that. π
Robyn – have you asked Kara which pronunciation she prefers?! Only asking to begin with as I have a niece named Kara… for 24 years, she was Care-Uh. However, after spending one year in New York City (cue salsa commercial “NEW YORK CITY!?!” sound bite) we Midwesterners (read: her actual family) are so bourgeois (haha fooled her, I do know that term) and her name is now and forevermore CAR-UH. π Sadly, I may prefer the unpretentiousness of Sheriff Mama Kare-Uh! (At least until the holiday spirit overtakes me next week… and all will be right with the world – if only for a couple of hours!) Last weekend before Christmas… are y’all ready?!?! Happy Holidays!
I asked Kara, and she squeaked and wandered off to run the perimeter. Then I followed her around and tried pronouncing it both ways to see which she’d react to, so she gave me A Look and told me to stop. So I guess it’s just a mystery. π
In reference to the cats who are getting dental work… what do people usually do about getting teeth cleanings for their cats? None at all if they eat only dry food? Yearly after a certain age? Once every five years? I don’t really know how to approach this.
We go by what the vet says – if the vet says, during their yearly exam, that they need a dental, then they get one. π
A dental for Christmas?? You people sure know how to give gifts… poor Jake! Poor Alice! Hope it’s just a cleaning and nothing serious!
I wondered if Kahl had to be brushed. It’s great when they like it. Mine hate it and they are floofy..
I thank my lucky stars that Jake isn’t floofy or prone to mats, because he acts like we’re beating him when we try to brush him. So much loony drama.
Thanks for the reply Robyn. Yes, those are the photos that I really love. Also, recently received the calendar which I ordered. Such a good job! The photos of course and the quality of the calendar itself. Both excellent! Thanks for all that you and Fred do! You make my day when I read your blog
Brenda
Thank you so much, Brenda!
Was one of the remaining four Les Chatons adopted?
Fleur went home Friday afternoon. π
Fleur was adopted…I am so happy. I thought she was beautiful from the day she was born. All I wanted to do was drive south and bring her home with me. My age stopped me because I don’t want to outlive a pet and leave them homeless. I will sleep so well tonight knowing Fleur has a forever home.
Gosh I love looking at the Christmas cards you get! Especially ones with pictures of former fosters. Iβm loving Margeaux and Katriane in their holiday outfits!!
Isn’t that great? I love it more every time I look at it!
Everett does not look thrilled by this hug but I bet secretly that adores this little fur less creature. He’s just too cool to show it.
Thank you Emma for the update!!
Emma reported that Everett and his little human are BFFs. π
Wow if Alice had a choice between hanging with kittens and going to the vet for her dental… If looks could kill, lol. Hopefully some of Jake’s chillness rubs off on her in the car on the way over.