Meezer Colors Day!

There are four Tims in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Kitty Horde.  Of those, the two eldest are Sir Thomas of Snuggle and his littermate Zaphoid Beeblebrox.  We know that Thomas is the elder of the two because we adopted them via a friend of mine who happens to be allergic to cats (but still let her two kids have two cats) and had a pregnant Queen stray show up on her doorstep.  At the time, having no shelter to take her to, and our house being overloaded she decided to just let the Queen stay at her house until she had given birth and everyone had found furever homes.  Well, as such things go, there were two that my ex and I were having trouble making our minds up between and she was having trouble finding just One More Home (BTDT!!).  As a result, we ended up taking both Tom & Zaphoid.

Of course, as kittens they had hardly any color at all!!  Just the faintest bit of color, as if they'd barely dipped their paws and ears and tail tips into some paint.  Well, except that in Thomas' case, the paint was lynx (or tiger) point.  Now the Horde at that time was fairly strong. Christopher T. Cat at the top, where he'd been since the year my ex and I had gotten married and stayed until he was sure I was back on my feet alone after the children's father & I separated [We adopted Chris at the age of 6-8 weeks when his hip was broken & rotated.  He lived for 16 years.].  The next cat behind Chris for Da Boys was Quigley the Demon Dust Bunny Hunter.  Zaphy is trying to grow up to be juuuuuust like him. Quigley was more of a Burmese with a thick double coat and claws that could not retract for the life of him (we also called him Velcro kitty, which did not amuse him... ask me about that some other time).  So Zaph now has a double coat ::rolls eyes:: acts like everyone's mother (I did not institute the thing about him cleaning human ears... which must go btw~!!!)

"Hanging out near the grill.  Maybe someone

will drop something yummy!!"

"What was that?"  "Just mom talking about you."

                  "Moi?!?!"

Thomas and Zaphy are also known as the Trouble Twins.  Thomas is the Instigator (my husband has a shirt I made that says "It's all Thomas' Fault!".  This was the first Kat's Kat shirt as I count them.  Of course that bloomed into a gazillion designs in the store.  That's all Thomas' fault as well.  No, Really!!'  Now Thomas started out as a quite lovely blue lynx point.  Awwwwww.  Then he turned into a red lynx point.  Okey dokey... but still awwwwwww!  And then he went lilac.  We started checking the expiration dates of everything in the house.  I mean, granted, my eye color changed from blue to green when I was three, to brown when I was 8.6ish.  My hair did something similar... fire engine red to auburn to darn near brown brown.  But ths??  And he seems to do it on command.  Okay, command of himself!  ::grin::  Normally he keeps his head & tail blue.  How??  Only Bast knows.

"You can see my beautiful blue eyes a

bit better in this picture, as well as the

strong blue of my face mask & legs

with a lilac starting up the legs."

"I call this one my inscrutable pose!! 

(but I'm really just doing Sudoku!)"

"Can you see my heart?"

Thomas and Zaphoid have two brothers.  StarWalker BitCat the ComputerKitty definately has Meezer blood.  All you have to do is listen to him talk!  He and his sister Samantha were rescued by my ex from a walking trail at about the age of 4 weeks (covered with dried up tuna & fleas poor babies!!).  Star was the eighth cat and loved the computer from the moment he hit the house (hence his name).  Samantha made her displeasure for a primarily Tim, large household known and went to live on my ex's parents' farm.  There she wormed her way into the heart of my children's grandfather.  Star has always loved to hide and reach out to 'get' people.  The fact that he is a Ninja Cat is where the start of the name Teenage Mutant Ninja Kitty Horde is to be found.  [okay, that and the fact that my ex used to sing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle theme song insurting "kitty" instead of "turtle" and at the end of the 'dance' he would turn Star upside down.  I have to admit that this looked pretty darn funny since Star had very very big ears & paws  - which in turn made me worry about nutrition! anyway.. there ya go...]

"I also like to ride when mom uses her walker,

I hang around her most of the time to make sure

that she stays safe.  I'm the Greeter when she comes home."

So far as we know, the baby of the family (who'll be 4... 4 already?!... this summer) has no meezer in his lineage.  Howsoever, Da Boys have been teaching him to talk.  In fact, while Mister Kitten (aka Vicious Miette Pumpkin Thunderblaster Knives Pterodactyl aka the Kitten aka Trouble aka Oberon aka Cat with the Idenity Crisis ) could not meow very well at the start, he now has quite a volcabulary of trills, purrups, murrows, etc.  We are all very proud of him and pleased that Sarah (Dale's daughter, our eldest 'child') picked him out at the 'shelter', even if we all thought he was a she at first!!

"Watch, wanna bet I can toss my head &

make the mousie land on my nose?

huh? huh?  wanna bet?"

Okay,I may be a Cat Mommy, but I set this link to the main section...

cat fancy, cat daddy, I breed winners.. yada yada yada!

Who's That Knocking at Our Window?

"He's furry and a big pain in the a**" is what my husband just sang.  This morning it was Thomas.  You see, our vociferous cats (yes, even Mister Kitten, even though he doesn't have the classic Siamese voice)  have been trained to "knock" at the windows and doors to get our attention when they want into the house rather than scratch on the screens.  Now granted that this doesn't always work, but they are getting better.  So when you hear knocking at the window at our house, you immediately check for errant cats.

This means that my husband had to slip downstairs (split-level house) to let whomever was out.  Being half-asleep he wasn't sure who did what, although he did know that Zaphoid went Out, and that the skunk smell was back.  Our street backs up to about ten to fifteen acres of farmland (okay, they just grow hay) so we have a lot of 'critters' around.  Oddly enough, we're also within walking distance of a Krogers shopping complex.  Go figure. 

Back to Zaphoid, I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before or not, but Zaphoid doesn't care for kitty litter.  This means that we're constantly letting him in and out while we're awake.  This also means that he does his kitty best to hold it near our waking time so he can go to the "bathroom".  He has been known to wake me up for this purpose.  "Mom?  Mom?  Mom!  Mom!  Mooooo-ooooom!   Meeeeeee-oooooooom!  Gotta Go!" rather like a small child learning to potty.  Zaphoid is probably our most vocal cat so far as his own needs are concerned.

He is also known as Emo Kitty.  Poor Emo Kitty.  He often jumps up on the bed and when you ask him what he wants, he doesn't know.  He doesn't head out toward the food or the door.  He isn't making a "I'm sick, please take me to the vet." meow.  He talks and talks to you while you pet him until your arms fall off (and hopefully give him a good brushing as well).  Then he either gets up on one of the pillows or down at the end of the bed and lays with his head on his paw looking like a black poet.  I swear.  The picture of Emo Kitty comes straight from one of Zaphoid's favorite poses.

Sometimes I expect him to put on a black beret, start snapping his fingers or beating a drum, and reciting poetry about death, doom, and despair.  He lays his head over the side of the bed with the most worried look (and will purr if you pet him while he's doing this!).  When he first started doing this, I took him to the vet.  Nope!  Perfectly fine, absolutely gorgeous (all of my Tims can con the vet techs out of a gazillion treats! ::grin::), and completely healthy.  He's just our Emo Kitty.

 

journal (more items available)

wondering if I should switch this to b/w

Anniversary , the naming of Cat Groups, and Hunting for Kittens or would that be...

Yesterday was my third anniversary.  My husband brought me roses and I put cards all over the house.  The kitchen, the bathroom, his dresser, the place where he hangs his jeans, his computer, his pillows.  No, I am not the card fairy.  ::whistles tunelessly and stares innocently at the ceiling::  He made us dinner; steak with
béarnaise sauce, broccoli, and baked potato.  A lovely wine and a chocolate jello I had not incountered before which tasted like a mousse.  mmmmmmmmmm  The kids were banned from the bedroom whilst we were feasting, although my son acted as waiter when I as being served (oh yes, I forgot the salad of my favorite green... spinach... mmmmmm).  We ended up being joined by Star.

Later in the evening, Oberon got into the act.  We call these two the 'Commodore Kitties' when they hang out together.  Vanderbilt University's (in Nashville, TN) colors are black and gold.  So, given a black cat and a orange tending toward gold cat... well... what else would one call them??  When the three eldest cats are together they are Tres Gattos Ombres (don't ask me, it's my husband's fault!).  Of course, these are the three who triangulated the mouse one day.

I don't recall if I've told that story.  Here's what happened;  we came outside one day to find Thomas sitting and staring intently.  About a foot away, his brother Zaphoid was also staring intently facing in the same direction.  Then there was Star, yes, you guessed it.  Star was also staring the same way.  All three cats were in a perfect equilateral triangle, staring at the center.  In the center was a field mouse.  First, it would dart one way... ooops!  There's a cat.  Then it would dart another way... ooops!  There's a cat.  Then it would dart another way... ooops!  There's a cat.  You could tell by the flicker of their tails and the set of their mouths (btw all three Tims were standing, not crouching) that they were quite amused about this predicament.

Now, I was outside for quite awhile and this went on... and on... and on.  In fact, I'm not sure how long it went.  My boys can play with Things They Consider to be Toys™ for hours.  ::sigh::  At least they didn't bring this one inside!  The worst time they did that was when Oberon was a kitten.  No, really!!  Evidently all of the Tims felt that it was imperative that they teach Oberon to hunt.  So they would bring in prey that... wasn't quite... gone yet.

This is because all of the Elder Cats™ (including the late Quigley whom we still miss, Tanis didn't get into the act) are at least half Siamese.  Siamese cats were bred to be temple guards.  Because of this, they were all kept in one room during the day; Toms, Queens, and kittens.  One can not have the Toms eating the kittens as they would do in the wild.  Ergo, the Siamese were bred to help take care of the kittens.  I remember my grandmother's cat being whacked out when she had a litter by a Siamese cat who was rather put out when she wouldn't let him help with the litter!!

At any rate, being Siamese, means that whenever a cat with Siamese blood encounters a kitten, their first instinct is to take care of it.  That means bathing it, making sure it's eating right, giving it toys to play with, playing with it; and, of course, teaching it to hunt.  ::rolls eyes::  Which explains why we spent to much time going, "Take that back where you found it!!" or some such.  Zaphy was the only one who wasn't that good at understanding that, although I believe I've trained that a bit better into him.  It's only taken five years or so.  ::rueful grin::  As it turned out, Oberon doesn't care for hunting, even after his tutelage (private lessons being given by Star).

Now, things are back to normal; whatever normal is around our house.  Oberon still trys to see if he can flop on someone.  The Boys (Thomas & his brother Zaphoid) usually disappear for the night.  Star spends his days with me, no matter where I am; oh wait, he tends to do that at night as well.  Hmmmmm, does that make him a NinjaBodyguard as well as a ComputerKitty??  hmmmmmmmm  Oberon has actually taken to flopping on my husband (or beside him).  Of course, Dale pets him and goes, "I don't like cats.  I don't like you.  I wonder how big a pot we'd need to cook you in." etc.  All the while Dale is scritching the cat and Oberon is purring like there is no tomorrow.  ::chuckles::  This is exactly like my dad.

Feeeeeeed Us!!

I actually woke up at 6:06 (CST).  Okay, okay, I really should have gotten up then.  But not actually having any reason to get up (okay, I should but I've got three doctor/orthodontist appointments to deal with today and no day work until next week at least), I turned over to get some more sleep. I got... maybe... half an hour.  Suddenly... the Siamese Sonic Alarm Clock™ went off!!  Zaphy, who probably has the loudest voice in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Horde jumped up on the bed, made his way (increasing his body weight by at last twice) over my body, and appeared across from my face.  The entire time he was yelling.  Merrrrrrrr-oooooooow!!!  Merrrrrrrrr-oooooooooowwwwwww!!!!  and then, just in case I might have missed it... Merrrrrrrrrrrrr-oooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!

"Okay, Zaph Zaph , I'm up already!  Geez Louise!"  So he proceeds to follow my path down the bed, during which I have to pet him or else be exposed to even yet more talking.  Trust me on this.  This is a normal thing with Zaphy.  For the Zaphy must be petted.  This is a mortal imperative.  Seriously.  He follows me until I hit the bathroom.  I am allowed privacy there... well, by Zaph & Thomas... most of the time... okay, half of the time.

Forget it with Star & Oberon.  Oberon is especially fascinated with water.  He is absolutely convinced that if you are going into the bathroom that you're going to take a shower or bath.  If you're going to do that, he's got to watch.  The water might do something.  No, really.  He also likes to sleep in the sink.  Hmmmmm, sinnnnnnk.

Where were we?  Oh yes, so there I was, brushing my teeth when Thomas appeared.  Now Thomas had been the Cat Nurse in Charge™ when I went to sleep last night.  He came into the bathroom going, Mer-ow!  Mer-ow!  Mer-ow!  I take my meds and go back into the bedroom to get dressed.  Thomas follows and jumps onto the bed.  Muahahahahahahahaha!  This was my chance.  For indeed, Sir Thomas has needed his claws trimmed.  I proceeded to trap him in between me and a pillow, got out the clippers, and started clipping.  Ha!  Take that!

As usual, Tom was fairly good through the first paw.  This is normal at our house.  I kept telling him what a good boy he was.  Despite his protest, I managed to get the other paw done.  I only clip the front paws.  I pulled out a treat which he consumed as if he'd been starved for a week.  This confirmed my suspicion.  I made my way to the kitchen with Thomas eagerly leading the way.  Oh my!  Look!  Look!  Three members of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Kitty Horde gathered around the food dishes... which still contained some food from last nights feeding.

Yes, it's obvious how cruelly we treat these poor boys.  Why Moooo-ooooom, weeeeeee're staaaaaarrrrrrr-vvviiiiiing!  We'vvvvvveeee nooooooot eaaaaaaten in daaaaaaaaays!!!  This explains why the smallest cat, Star, is 10-11 pounds of muscle.  ::snicker::

The Big Bowl

I've actually got some work from the day job again... and my back's hurting again.  meh.  I've got to try to go get the tire today!!  Star is doing computer duty!!  He is working like crazy!

I took a stretching break and Sir Thomas deigned to come inside while I went outside.  As he normally does, he waited by the door.  Geeee, Mom... I can't possibly go anywhere until you're back inside!!   So as I come in he proceeds to tell me in no uncertain words that I must needs do something for him.  Neeeooooowwwwww!  ::sigh::  We went off to the kitchen.  He looked at the four food bowls (you just have to have one for each of the members of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Kitty Horde... I mean... really) with disdain and up at me.  Back at the food bowls... up at me... Mother.  Then he nosed the Big Bowl™.  Now the Big Bowl™ is the knee high plastic locking garbage pail I lucked out on in which we put the cat food.

After all, these are Siamese mixes.  If the food isn't locked away you can forget about it.  Before I found the Big Bowl™ I kept the food in a pantry.  At first this was just fine and dandy.  Then the Teenage Mutant Ninja Kitty Horde figured out how to open said pantry.  I had to get child-proofing locks to keep them out.  It's the same way with garbage.  Hey!  Hey!  Mom!  What's in there??  Cats think they might like thaaAAaat!  ::rolls eyes::

Then I found the Big Bowl™.  This was a Good Thing™  because they can't get into it.  heh heh heh  However, Sir Thomas believes that he just can't eat cat food that has been "left out".  Oh no!!  He must have "fresh food from the Big Bowl™!"  ::head:desk::  But the best part is this... I can dump the food from the bowls, mix it around and put it back in the bowls and he promptly eats it.  ::snicker::  Finicky eater??  Thomas??  Nooooooo.  Not Thomas!  ::snicker::

Noooooooo! (or at least... not again!...)

::big sigh::  I've managed to get in 5 of the Breast Cancer Awareness designs.  Howsoever, I still have eight to put in.... aaaaarrrrrggggghhhh.  It wouldn't be so bad except I think I wrenched my knee yesterday and it's going, "Woman?... Woman!!  What on earth do you think you are doing sitting in a chair?!?!  Go lay down on the bed or I will let you know about it!!"  (yeah, my knees talk to me a lot... they're almost as vocal as the cats and three of them are Siamese mix!) ::head:desk::

With that in mind, and having nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that my daughter just made chocolate chip cookies (oh no... absolutely no connection!!), I'm going to go lay down and see if I can get up later and do some more.  If not... well... there's always tomorrow.