OK, must share because this made me guffaw after a day bad enough to require adult beverages.
Those are AWESOME. I do love a good haiku. Back in 2002, we went to Gatlinburg, TN (one trip of many, but we haven’t been there in years and years) and I narrated the trip in haiku form. A selection:
People all around.
Dead stop, middle of sidewalk.
Move your [bleeping] [bleep].
When I awaken,
my quads scream with ev’ry move.
Gatlinburg Death March.
Hotel room so big
roomy, spacious, perfect. Butt
is what it smells like.
Miz Poo chirps at me
and then she purrs happily,
glad to have us home.
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I had a kitty [Dinah] who looked sooo much like Mercury. She was a super sweet little lady I had many years. She also had a spot next to her nose like Mercury, and the odd thing was the color seemed to extend to the roof of her mouth. Just curious if its the same – assuming you can get a look in there!
Mercury was a bigger Fred fan than a Robyn fan, so I asked him to take a peek inside her mouth. Girlfriend was NOT having it, so I don’t have an answer for you. I did kind of follow her around hoping she’d yawn, but that made her nervous, so I stopped.
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Did you notice that the 2010 post also says that Kara is keeping an eye on you??
Kara likes to keep her watching skills as sharp as possible. It’s important for a Sheriff Mama to know what’s going on!
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Robyn, how can they be part of the same litter and Mercury still be two weeks older than Kennebec…huh?
They’re not from the same litter. They were adopted together, but Mercury was from the same litter as Norland and Russet, and Kennebec and his sisters (Agata and Fianna) were grouped together with Norland and Russet (and Stompers!) as the Taters, but Mercury and Kennebec are not blood relations.
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made a quick gif for the tin foil gato
Every time I go to look at that gif, I laugh out loud. I just LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! Thank you for making that!
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I’ve been waiting for Da Bird to show up again on one of your blogs to share this, which I found on Amazon when I was trying to decide if it would be worth spending the money to buy one. (I did eventually decide that it would be, and it arrived about a week ago, and it is definitely a hit! I’ve now made two cat-related purchases that I otherwise definitely would not have had they not come so highly recommended by you, Robyn. These companies should pay you a commission!)
Herewith, the Amazon review on Da Bird that I thought was just hysterical: Caused K.O.C.D (Kitty Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Oh, that is great! I love reviews like that on Amazon. I guess we’re lucky that we haven’t had a full-blown case of Kitty Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, though I think that Jake certainly leans in that direction.
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Oops, forgot to ask, are those ties from Oskar the blind cat?
No, those ties (okay, confession: it was just the one tie, I didn’t have two of them) came from Petsmart. I happened to be walking by the dog section a few months ago and saw it, and thought it would be ironically funny, so bought it. I had NO idea that Oskar and Klaus were opening a store, and now that I know, I’m thinking that Jake REALLY needs a bow tie.
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Where Alice is, on the bed… that’s… um… there’s no polite way to ask this, I guess, so here I go: That’s ALL Alice? That’s just ONE cat there? Yowza!
(LOL @ myself, all worried that I’m going to hurt Alice’s feelings. *snort*)
YES, that is all Alice, and I believe that the only correct response to your question would be a Miss Piggy-style “HMPH!” (You’re just lucky she’s not revving up for a Miss Piggy-style “Hi-YAAAAAAH!”)
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Robyn, have you heard any news about Gingersnap, the kitty who needed surgery for a leg injury and a hernia?
According to the Riley County Humane Society page, Gingersnap had surgery last Friday, the 25th, and is recovering well. And according to their Facebook page she’s not crazy about her e-collar but it will come off when she’s healed a bit. And ALSO, I saw a post that she’s already got people who are interested in adopting her, so that’s wonderful news!
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Just wanted to let you know that Ted and Martha at 50 Kittens have just lost 4 newborn kittens who were very, very sick when they got them last Saturday. They did their best to save them, but the kittens were just too sick. The very skinny mama cat is hanging in there and they hope she’ll recover. Although they are experienced cat fosterers, they may want some condolences.
Poor Ted and Martha, that is just so sad.
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Mercury and Kennebec are working on their “Ain’t I CUTE?!” looks in preparation for going to Petsmart (we’ll be leaving here in a few hours).
“Ain’t I cute?”
Kennebec makes sure that he’s spic and span to greet his adoring public.
“Ain’t I cute? I’m just a big lovable mushbucket who likes to purr in your ear and lick your hand while you’re petting me!”
“AHEM. I said, ‘Ain’t I CUTE?'”
“Look at my frazzled whisker ends. Not everyone can carry that look off, you know!”
::lick::
Kennebec has a bit of a foot obsession, I think.
“I. AM. CUTE!”
LOVE the whiskers.
Okay, okay. YOU ARE CUTE, Mercury. Utterly adorably sweetly perfectly CUTE.
“Like I said.”
“Get outta my way, long-legged cheetah, I need to go sit and think about how cute I am.”
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This is Corbie. Corbie is… what’s the word? Oh, right. GORRRRRRRRRRGEOUS. In case you were wondering.
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Previously
2012: Sugarbutt gets in the middle and decides to show Sally who the boss is.
2011: Corbie’s all “Why you gotta be up in my space, man?”
2010: Where’d they come from? What are they doing here?
2009: No entry.
2008: A picture of each cat with his/ her name and nicknames, and what they’re doing in our house.
2007: Maybe she IS part cougar.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
I’ll miss Mercury and Kennebec, but they need to be off to find their new home(s)! I hope that happens speedily. Thanks for posting the saga of the neonates on 50 KittensM, but the link doesn’t work.
Just so people know, Ted posted the current photo-essay when the kittens were alive and then the bad news came in the tweets (to the upper right). The whole thing brings tears to my eyes still, but some kittens are just too sick to survive. That’s the tough part of life, isn’t it?
At any rate, Ted and Martha have expressed appreciation for the condolences, so I’m going to encourage folks to go over and leave a comment. It’s all we can do at this point. The good news is that mama cat is on the mend, so that’s something.
Thanks DB. We’re still not quite over that feeling of doom and the need to go in and check on kittens, but it’s passing. Mom-cat Nola is doing very well–still snuffly and sneezy, but eating on her own. She is both gorgeous and very loving with unusual lime green eyes. These four little guys just had too much going against them from the beginning, but we’re happy that Nola survived.
Oh, man, if I lived on that side of the Atlantic, I would be waiting outside the Petsmart right now… I have a serious weakness for very long/large marmalade boy-kitties. The first cat we had that I remember as a kid was one, we have a photo of him stretching out on me for a nap when I was… oh, 9 years old or so, and he went from my feet to my chin. *sigh*
Oh man, Mercury can do the half lidded eye thing so well. I just keep hearing her say “Reeeaaaallly????” in those pictures. Good luck to Mercury and Kennebec. It history holds, they will be adopted immediately since all kitties coming from Crooked Acres retreat get adopted immediately.
I sure hope so! 🙂
Mercury’s side shot is great. It looks like she has special leggings on that might need a bit of “pulling up”.
Oh these kids today and the way they dress! 😉
Ha – that’s exactly what I was going to say!
Oh, Kennebec, we all know you’re cute! You had me at “big lovable mushbucket.”
Oh, he is SUCH a mush!
I have 3 orange tabby boys like Kennebec – and all 3 love to plop down on your feet whether your standing or in mid stride and they love for you to put one foot on either side of their head and give them rubs with your toes. I think its an orange tabby thing.
I think you might be right!
Dang, Kennebec and Mercury are adorable. Thinking good thoughts for them.
Did you read the comments on that review of DaBird? Someone had the nerve to say that cats that are loved, held, hugged and kissed more don’t become obsessed with DaBird. CLEARLY they’ve never read your blog. You’re known to stop what you’re doing to cuddle, love, kiss, and hug your cats, and some seem to *still* become obsessed with DaBird. 🙂
No, I didn’t see that! Some people just always have to chime in with something negative, don’t they? Some cats are just the obsessive sort! 🙂
Oh dear gracious, did I ever need Cat Haikus and the Tin Foil Gato today. Thank you for the smiles.
Love the haiku! I was last in Gatlinburg a couple of years ago, and your poem is still appropriate (for the crowds – can’t speak to the eau de butt room!). 😉
Good luck Kennebec and Mercury!!
On the topic of Da Bird – has anyone had problems with the nylon cord being destroyed? I think my cats would love this toy, but in the past when I’ve tried Toy-on-a-String type toys, my big badass hunter cat will easily catch the toy, hold it down, and bite the string in half to free it so he can run off with it. And you can only tie so many knots in those strings!
I have a cord chewer also. I would think you could get cord like that or something similar at JoAnn’s or anyplace that sells sewing supplies. I got that dragonfly toy that fluttered that Robyn told us about, and it lasted exactly 1 minute till he had chewed thru the cord. Dang him!!
We actually haven’t had this issue, we try not to let the cats have hold of Da Bird long enough to chew through the cord. We HAVE had an issue with them pulling so hard that the toy pulls off the end, though! I do think Trudy’s right, you could probably find replacement cord at Joann’s or another fabric store.
I love how in some shots it looks like Mercury has a heart on her side! Hope she and Kennebec get adopted right away!
Corbie’s gorgeous? I’ve heard that somewhere before…. Yes he is!
Godspeed, Mercury and Kennebec — and may someone/some couple/some family prone to spoiling their charges to the max* take you home soonest. *Cf the picture of Corbie, for instance.
Take care of yourselves, Mercury and Kennebec, and many many good thoughts of finding a forever home quickly, with people who love you like Robyn and Fred.
So sorry to hear of your loss, Ted and Martha. I’m sure you did everything you could. My heart hurts for you. Get better and stronger, Nola!
Ahhhh, Corbie….. *Siiigh*
Hi Robyn,
So before Christmas I took in a small female cat. She’s good cat overall but doesn’t really know how to be loved. She’s good with me, lets me pick her up and the like, but several of my cats pick on her. And the problem is when they pick on her, she corners herself and howls like the dickens – sounds like she’s dying. If any of the cats get near her when she’s awake she growls at them. I know she got attacked by another cat before I brought her inside because she had an abscess. I have some calming stuff you add to their water which I might try, but might anyone else have any suggestions if that doesn’t work. I’ve never had this problem with the others, even my Ginger who is still semi feral and won’t let me near him gets along fine with the other cats.
Feliway is supposed to be good at calming cats, although I’ve had issues with it here. Another thing to try is to make sure she has a safe way out or up so she can’t get cornered. This seems to help the nervous types, and keeps the other cats away from the eye to eye fight.
I agree with Oldcat – if she has an escape route to get away from the other cats, she’ll probably use it. I’d also give Feliway a try, and also Rescue Remedy! If that’s the stuff you have, I’d definitely give it a try.
I’ll post your question in Friday’s post, I’m sure there’ll be other suggestions that might help!
Hi Robyn,
I know this comment might be out of the blue, but I just want to tell you how sorry I am about Elwood’s passing. I’m a long-time reader but for some reason I originally missed the post/s where you mentioned his illness and so forth. I’ve always had a soft spot for both Jake and Elwood because of my cat Toby who looks just like them (though now there’s lots of white mixed in the grey as he is getting on in years!)
On a completely different note, I have wanted to share something with the L&H community for a while – the Stimulo feeding station by Aikiou (website here: http://aikiou.com/en/stimulo). It took my two a bit of time to get the hang of it but now it’s the only place they can get their dried food from and they have become quite good at it. I originally bought it more as an enrichment type of thing to make mealtimes a bit more interesting (plus I’m a sucker for anything marketed for cats) but a very welcome side effect has been that Abby, who used to more often than not immediately puke up dried food after eating it (because she ate it so damn fast – she is like a vacuum that cat) has been stopped from eating so quickly, and miraculously the puking has stopped. Well it has almost stopped I think… I can’t be certain that she did the one I found the other day. One of the problems with having two cats!
Just thought I would share in case there are any cat mamas and papas out there who want to give their kitties some enrichment and/or have a bit of a puking problem on their hands.
Thanks for listening, and sorry for those of you with sensitive stomachs!