Dinner Now!

Our cats like their routine and stick to it – and steadfastly ignore Daylight Savings Time. Now that we are no longer free-feeding so that Mau gets his Tylosin and to ensure everyone gets equal portions (and thus prevent pigging out or bullying), the cats let us know when they’re hungry. Mau, in particular, is very vocal when he thinks it’s time for dinner and would like to lodge a complaint with management about the delay in service. This afternoon he took it upon himself to get dinner now.

After the cats finish eating, we take the bowls up and put them in the pantry, with the door firmly closed. Why? If we put them on the counter, Mau might climb up and help himself to his food along with everyone else’s (we’ve caught him doing this in the past, hence why we now put the bowls in the pantry). That is not a habit we want him to continue – counters are not acceptable places for kitties in our house – and we don’t want Mau to teach Garrus and Charlie this habit either. Mau decided to go counter surfing and climbed onto the trash can to get leverage. He promptly knocked over the trash can and a couple things off the counter (unbreakable, fortunately) and skittered off, startled by the CRASH. I saw him skedaddle and followed him into the hallway. He turned and gave me such a look of innocence with those big, slightly googly blue eyes. It’s difficult to get mad at him because he’s so cute.

Cue the dramatic yammering. “Mama, I’m STARVING! FEED ME NOW BEFORE I WASTE AWAY INTO NOTHINGNESS! Oh, by the way, I have no idea how the trash can got knocked over. I had absolutely nothing to do with that and I wasn’t anywhere near the counter. See? I’m too adorable and TOO HUNGRY.”

Charlie and Garrus, hearing the drama unfold from their snoozing spots in the bedroom, came out to give their two cents and squeaked too – comments from the peanut gallery, I suppose. At least they were more polite about it and even threw in prancey walks and tail hugs with their “please feed me” requests. Cats are so demanding.

Garrus contemplates his dinner options next to the ottoman.

Charlie tries to be coy after squeaking up a storm.

Are your cats fed on a schedule? How do they react to Daylight Savings Time? When they are hungry, how do they let you know? Share in the comments!

Mau the Beautiful

Mau is doing well on his regimen of antibiotics and painkillers. His coat is getting healthier and he eats up to two cans of wet food a day despite his dental issues. We brush him frequently and there are far fewer mats as a result.

Much to our delight, he has started to show a more playful side by chasing after the red dot and batting the crinkle ball and spring around. Oddly though, he only plays with the latter toys when no one else is around! When he wants to explore, though, there’s no stopping him. He really wants to be friends with Charlie and especially Garrus. In a few ways, he does not act like a senior cat! Above all, Mau is a lovey-dovey lap cat who complains when he is left alone or denied access to said lap.

Aaron took two fantastic photos of Mau. Of course I immediately wanted to share them because they show how beautiful Mau really is.

“Hello. I am Mau and I am incredibly gorgeous. You should pet me.”

“Oooh! What’s over there? I wanna go on an adventure!” I love the expression on his face in this photo. Mau really is a darling cat and not just in terms of looks.

Googly Cat Remembered

I shared this little anecdote on Facebook one year ago, a few months before I started Purry Home Companion. It’s been three weeks since I said goodbye to Boudicca but she will always be my beloved Queen B in my heart.

This exchange happens nearly every time I open the sliding laundry doors…

Boudicca: Mama, whatcha doing? Can I help? I must be involved in every activity you do!

Me: Moving laundry.

Boudicca: I must explore this place for the 4,638th time! *sneaks in as I close the doors*…Um, Mama? Why is it dark in here? Mama? OMG I’ve been abandoned and imprisoned forever! I am now INCREDIBLY CONCERNED. Meow. Meow. Mreow. MROW.

Me: Boudicca, you’ve been in there for 2.3 seconds. Calm down. *I open the doors*

Boudicca: I must make epic prison break! I am FREE AT LAST! *darts out of laundry closet and proceeds with highly googly zoomies around the house*

In seventeen years, Boudicca hasn’t learned much and it’s still hilarious.

Human, Your Attention Please

Today is National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day! Do you have inquisitive cats? Are your purry companions talkative and have lots of things to say? At times does your cat seem puzzled by something you are doing and ask a question about it? Today’s your opportunity to answer the questions burning in your cat’s mind.

1. Be consciously aware of your cat. Notice when your fur person is attempting to ask you something.
2. Try to figure out what your cat is asking. Then try to answer that question.
3. It may sound silly but doing this helps foster positive interactions between cat and owner. It might behoove you to learn something about cat behavior, such as body language. Pay attention to your cat’s personality too. Your cat may surprise you.

Here are some of the questions I think my cats ask me on a regular basis:

Boudicca: “Mama, I’m hungry. Why aren’t you giving me some of your ice cream?
Me: “You have food in your bowl, Queen B. Ice cream isn’t for kitties.”

Boudicca: “But what you have is mine, right?AND I WANT SOME.”

Me: Sigh.

Garrus: “Pardon me, madam, but why are you smooching my head?”

Me: “It’s one of the ways I show that I love you.”

Garrus: “I see. I assume this is some human ritual but it does not appear to hurt me. Carry on.” [He continues to give me side-eye as I pet him but he starts purring too.]

Note that Garrus sometimes has the snootiest expressions in photos. I think they’re hilarious.

Charlie: “Mama! Mama! Help! Where have all my toys gone?”

Me: “I’m sure they’re in the house somewhere…”

Charlie: “I haven’t seen them since this morning…I was batting them all over the living room. But the furniture kept eating them. Can you help me get them back?”

Me: “Sure. Let me get the broom so I can dig them out.”

Charlie: “Aaah! Not the broom!” [runs away]

Garrus: “I say, dear boy, do chill out. A broom is not a valid reason to lose one’s fur.”

Charlie: “Squeak! Squeak! Cheep! Chirp!” [Translation:” Where is everyone? Hello?”]

Me: “We’re in the living room, Charlie. You should come out here if you want any rubs.”

Boudicca: “Why do you encourage him? He’ll ruin a perfectly good snuggle session if he comes out here.”

Charlie: “Squeak! Chirp! Trill! Squeak, squeak, cheep!” [Translation: “Salutations! The Spotted One has arrived! Look how adorable I am!”]

Garrus: “You sir, may indeed be cute, but some would consider it rude to interrupt everyone’s quiet evening by squeaking up such a storm.”

Charlie: “Play?”

Garrus and Charlie: “What’s this? A new toy? We must explore!”

What questions does your cat ask you?

Needy Cats

This morning Charlie woke up and came onto the bed for a visit before we got up. (It was quite snuggly under the covers so we didn’t want to leave.) He was very insistent about receiving sufficient affection and both squeaked and purred up a storm about it. Garrus came onto the bed as well but he had not yet decided whether or not he wanted rubs once he got there. Boudicca arrived late to the game but was more interested in receiving morsels from Aaron than anything else. I think the cats were cold this morning, and that is the factor that underlies their neediness this morning.

Charlie discovered my desk today! Three times he sat on the window seat near the corner of my desk, tentatively put his paws on the edge, and then invited himself onto the desk so he could investigate everything. I’ve been able to pick him up from the desk once when he blocked my view of my dual monitors. I held him against my chest in a snuggle and he purred very loudly about it!

Charlie: Hi Mama. Whatcha doin’? *squeaks*

Me: I’m working at my computer. I will give you rubs, though.

Charlie: What’s up there? I must see for myself! *jumps onto desk, sniffing everything, blocking my screens*

Me: Ahem. Charlie, this is not conducive to working. I need to be able to type and see my screens.

Charlie: What’s work? Besides, I’m cute and more important. Love me?

Me: Oh, alright. *picks him up and holds him*

Charlie: I can get on board with this snuggling thing. *PURR PURR PURR*

Garrus: Excuse me. I am looking for warms. May I sunbathe here?

Me: Absolutely. *gives rubs*

Garrus: *gives mournful look* I’m cold. Please fix it. *finds a stretch of sun and turns into loaf cat* I will contemplate the universe from this location. This spot of warm is acceptable.

Boudicca: This is why I LOVE my bed. Sunlight hits it just right in the morning so I don’t have to get up! And I have my pink blanket. The blanket makes my bed in a box even better. Y’all are jealous of my awesome box-bed.