Solar Powered Saturday

Stygia: One of our mom's friends dubbed us "solar powered cats," and now that we consider the idea, we agree with it! We love the sun. Maybe I've mentioned it before, but it is always worth reminding everyone how invigorating it is to bathe in the sunshine. It is even suitable to snooze in it (maybe for a looooong time) before the wild romps begin.

Abby: There is a piece of tissue paper on the floor demanding to be played with! I need to get a good view of it before I . . .

ATTACK!!!

Stygia: I have to relate the next part of the adventure to you because Abby will never admit it. She was rolling wildly in Mr. R's chair, chasing her own tail, and for once she managed to capture and bite it . . . a little too hard! She let out the most terrible screech, and I had to approach the chair and snoopervise carefully because I was so concerned about the noise.

Actually, I was kind of hoping she would let me get in on the game . . . !

Thankful Thursday

Abby & Stygia: Ms. C just read an article in her local paper that our local animal shelter (where we both came from) closed its doors at 4pm today, almost without any notice to the public! After she relayed the information from the article to us, we are not sure how to feel about the closing of the shelter -- being embroiled in controversy and local politics is not something we cats care to involve ourselves in.

What are we thankful for? We are thankful that Ms. C and Mr. R were able to adopt us before the closing of this shelter. Yes, there are other shelters and rescues they could have adopted from, but if they'd gone elsewhere, would they have found US?! No! And of course we are very, very special cats, they're very lucky to have found us . . . not to sound ungrateful, I guess that means all four of us are thankful and lucky!

We are also thankful that some local rescue groups were able to come in and take some of the animals at short notice.

Stygia: I was scared and depressed when I moved in to my new home here, but have since really acclimated to it. I show my love to my people by rolling, sometimes repeatedly, and getting a great belly-rubbing! Right now, however, I need to get back to sitting by and meowing at Mr. R's chair, cause I know it's almost time for him to return from work and I miss him!

Abby: Do you really like him that much, or is it his scent?

Stygia: I don't just like him, I love him!

There are lots and lots of things to be thankful for . . . our cozy home, fuzzy afghans, feeding time, and most of all, friends!

Clear Evidence . . . and Awards!

Stygia: First of all, we'd like to thank our friends at The Poupounette and Ramses Meowings for our first award of the new year! How beautiful it is to have friends. We love making new friends, and sometimes friends are lost for one reason or another, but friends are always in the heart!

We are going to pass this award on to Niko and Cloud of Cats in Maryland and to Whicky Whuddler and his family at Everycat. By the way, Ms. C is ashamed to admit that when she tried to remodel the blog, she lost track of last year's awards. She is still hoping at some point she can discover a way to resurrect them, but if not we shall start afresh with the friends award!

And now I have something far more serious to report. You can see that I am very serious, yes?

She . . . I mean Abby Normal, has finally been captured wet-pawed doing that thing she thinks she is doing secretly!!! She does it in her water-bowl, and now she has even started doing it in Ms. C's water-cup, as you can see here! In case you cannot tell what she is doing, she dips her paw repeatedly in her bowl or the glass and licks it off. I just can't understand this behavior, so I can understand why she wanted to keep it a secret, and why she stops when she thinks Ms. C or anyone else is looking. But now we have PROOF.

Nevertheless, we still love her even if she is a sneaky little adolescent type of girl, because she is just so cute. And I appreciate that she bathes my head and ears for me. I have only just started giving her a tentative lick from time to time. Maybe when she calms down a bit in a year or so, I will be able to return the favor.

At least we can calmly share the couch together. We like it that our humans cover it with all kinds of comfy blankets for us to snuggle around.

No Dignity

Stygia: We are back in business, now that Ms. C and Mr. R are back from celebrating a very late Christmas with Ms. C's parents. We even got some presents!! Wasn't that sweet of them to think of their grand-cats? We will have to show them to you in the upcoming days.

Hee hee hee, look at this photo our mom captured of Abby sitting on Mr R's chair. Not very dignified, is it? There is really nothing dignified about her. Sometimes I wonder if she really is a cat at all. What do you think?

I enjoy spending time in our own chair next to Ms. C's, getting all of the attention I deserve. When I am happy, which is often these days, you can see how I smile:

Ms. C went out for a walk and brought back this evidence from the patio that we, too, get visitors outside our home. But we never see them! What kind of visitor do you think these tracks are from? We think they are from an Other Cat.

Inside or Underneath

Stygia: It is a beautiful, sunny day. Many humans think lying on a sunny beach is the perfect way to spend a sunny day, but I think being safely enclosed in my hidey-hole is the best. At least, I think I am safe. I don't see Abby anywhere . . .

Abby: I've been napping, but I suddenly feel quite energetic! I wonder where my sister is? I bet she is hoping to see me.

Aha! There you are, Styggie! Hey, don't whap me in the face like that, I was just saying hello.

Stygia: . . .

Speaking of hidden things, last night as I was having a snack I made a discovery, that a blanket Mr. R placed on the floor appeared to be alive! I ran over to investigate, and here are the results:

Ready or not!

Stygia: Hi. I'm ready to play!

Abby: Hey, that looks like a neat place to play, behind the curtain. I think I'll join you, Styggie! Hey mom, what are you doing looking over the half-wall at us like that? You're just as much of a snoopervisor as you say we are. But maybe we don't want you to watch us play this time, maybe we --- ARRRRGH!

Stygia: Take that, Abby! Arrrrr!


Hey, why'd she run away? I'm still ready to play!

My Progress

Stygia: You know how most features about weight show a before and after picture in which the person depicted is so much skinnier than they were a few months before? Well in my case, my before and after pictures are just the opposite of that.

When Ms. C and Mr. R saved me from my cage at the SPCA, they thought I was an "oriental" style cat, and as we know from some of our best blogging friends' examples, this type is typified by a chiseled chin, long elegant limbs, fine bones, aerodynamic midsection, and often the trademark frootbat ears.

Here are my before and after pictures (biggify for detail):


Admirable as the oriental form is, after a few months of my new humans' care, it became clear that I am a normal short-haired cat and not an exotic. I can't believe how skinny I was! Now I eat my half a cup of food a day, and I get 2 or 3 Temptations, and plenty of exercise because of my sister Abby, and I not only look so much healthier, but I feel better too! Ms. C always comments on how much softer my fur is now, too. I feel like a very lucky cat.

For the Record!

Abby: Mom spent a long time today trying to catch me in the act. An act I do not perform. I tell you, I do not stick my paw in my water-bowl repeatedly and then lick it. I drink normally, just like this:

I did not just do what I said I do not do, and you will never catch me at it. Never.

It's a really yucky day here today, everything is coated in ice, and the air is foggy. We are very glad we are indoor kitties today.

Here is a close-up of the poor, icy birch-tree. You can biggify for more detail:

One last thing I would like to set straight. Stygia started a false rumor that I have a stinky bum. It's not true at all. In fact, she is the one with the stinky bum, but I don't complain about hers, I try to help her out with it but she kicks me away.

I take care of my entire family!

Good smells, bad smells

Stygia: Yes, I am hogging the blog this week because I have a lot to talk to you about. First, I'd like to discuss with you just how attractive Mr. R is each day before he leaves for work. After he showers, he puts on his favorite scent, and I am bonkers about it. I like catnip, but not as much as I like this scent on him. Ms. C says it is called Usher. Look at how I act!

But what does it mean, Usher? I think it means this:



But Ms. C told me it means this:

How can it even remotely be the same thing??? As long as Mr. R keeps wearing it though I am going to keep on loving him even more than I already do!

Well, that was the "good smells" portion of this post. Next, for the "bad smells." I am sure when you look at the next picture you will be able to figure out exactly what doesn't smell so good and why I left the chair about 5 seconds later:

Deer and Dear Report

Stygia: Our mom went outside this evening and counted ten (TEN!) deer in our backyard! I think you can only see eight of them here, maybe there will be a few more in the movie she made for your pleasure as well.


They were busy feeding on vegetation and were not intimidated much by Ms. C:

Now for the "dear" part of this report -- a picture of ME, of course!

Conversations with mom

Abby: We had sun this morning! As usual, Stygia and I began to groom and wrestle in it, but she . . . (whispers) got the best of me today and so I ran to the bedroom and hid for a bit. Ahem. After I returned to the sunny living room, I decided to talk to my mom from my partial position under the coffee table. I wasn't mad or anything, I just had a lot to say:

Stygia: For some reason, Ms. C thought it amusing to make a sort of "trading card" featuring me. I'm not sure whether it's a compliment or not? Plus my rump furs are still ruffled from the butt-scratching she'd just given me. Hmmmph.

Honoring Sen-Chan

It is with great sadness today that we learned that Sen-Chan of The Poupounette crossed the rainbow bridge today.

Please stop by their blog today and leave #1, Tama-Chan, and Tom some love. In spite of his all-too-short life, what a fantastic life he had with wonderful friends and family.

Have a very . . .

Oh, yes, we are still celebrating the way we love to do it!

Whether we are happily at rest with our people or having a great wrassle, we know it's going to be a wonderful year. We hope yours is too.

Love and Purrs,
Abby Normal, Stygia, Ms. C and Mr. R