Abby's Secret

Abby: Let me tell you a secret . . . 

Stygia: Ha HA! I know your secret!

Arrrrooww! rrr-rrr-rr! Moww, rrrr-rrr rrowr rrr-rr-rr!!

Yeah, I know all of your secrets!

Happy 6th Birthday to Stygia!

Ms. C: Today, Stygia is 6 years old. In case you are not familiar with the story of Stygia, we adopted her from the SPCA animal shelter on the day after her 2nd birthday. We thought she was an exotic oriental cat because she was so slender.... but it turns out she was starving. As you can see, she is a typical shorthair house panther:

Here is Stygia peeking out from the window! Abby's in it too, so they look like one long cat!

Stygia has been in a long-term relationship with this toy, the plague ratsy, which takes all the beatings she can offer, especially with those big bunny kicks and large fangs. They tend to lose their ears but that's it! She is playful.

Chasing Abby is a daily sport! Stygia is stubborn and doesn't give up.

Stygia has a great appreciation for plant life. Here she is in the window with her catnip and mint plant, which was purchased especially for the cats. Being in the window on a nice day when the screen is open is her most favorite hangout.

Sharing the window with Abby isn't always welcome, but as long as Abby keeps to herself, Stygia is a gracious sharer.

Stygia loves everyone who comes her way, and she would love you too! Thanks for sharing this special day with her!

An Abby Normal Kind of Day

Abby: Today is a day for me only. Every cat needs a day like that, right? So here I am, as you can see I am going to tell you all about what's going on here. 

Some of you will be VERY interested in seeing what's happening in our back yard these days! It seems we have a new family living here. How many do you see? Should we GET them?

It's warm out. Being flat helps.

I am very interested in all my my Mum, Ms. C, has to do. I follow her everywhere, and she was sick the last few days with a sinus thing, but I had a fantastic time. She slept a lot, and I made sure I was right there, curled up in her armpit. I can get very small if I need to!

For some reason, Ms. C put this blanket on the floor, and I found it to be VERY stimulating. Maybe it had something to do with our catnip plant nearby, maybe not. I'm not telling!!

To feed or not to feed...

Stygia: Ms. C wants to know.... even though this happened a couple of days ago... if this is the first thing you saw in the morning, would you feed it? Be honest!

Happy Fourth Blogoversary to Our Friends at The Poupounette!

Four years ago today, our friends at The Poupounette began their blog, and it has been an amazing four years with incredible history. Please stop by and wish them a happy fourth!

Cilent Caturday

Still a passion!

Abby: I have never given up my passion for this game, which Ms. C calls "fetch." Although, lately, my favorite item to bring back is now a crumpled up cash register receipt; it used to be a bottlecap. This paper is so fun to bite!

Stygia: While Abby is playing her foolish games, I am keeping an eye on Ms. C and making sure she is doing her writing as she should. Behind the screen is a very good place to lurk.

First thing in the morning...

Stygia: What do you do first thing in the morning? Ms. C was kind enough to rise early and open the window for me so I can catch all the beautiful scents in the air, hear the birds clearly, and see what's moving. I have to keep an eye on my neighborhood!

As you can see, Abby chooses to sleep in. Isn't she lazy? I could reach down and whap her from where I sit, but I have better things to do right now, obviously!

Abby: Zzzzzzzz........zzzz........

Abby Normal Scares Mum

Abby: I had a hairball or some little cat-cold the other day and it scared my Mum cause I lost my voice. But I am feeling a lot better now! I am back to being a chair vulture:

And I am back to my morning scampering with my puffed up tail and loud meows!

So no worries! I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend.

Sniffity Sniff!

Stygia: I don't know why Ms. C laughed when she saw the face I made as I carefully checked out her scent. Isn't it important for cats to put their whole hearts and souls into this effort? After all, it is one of the most important senses. Ms. C will never understand because she has allergies and can barely smell anything. Poor thing!

Tabby Tuesday

Abby: Ms. C thinks the sun makes my eye look pretty in this picture. To be honest, I am soaking up energy, getting excited and ready to race around the house.

She also wanted to show you my happy paw in the sunshine. I really love the sun, but on rainy days and in fact any time, Ms. C is my sunshine because I would rather nap with her than do anything else in the world!

Abby gets a turn!

Abby: Stygia is usually the one in the window all day long. She has black fur and, snakelike, lays there and totally bakes her brains out. She is such a sun pig! I hardly ever get a turn. But today I did!

As you can see, I am enjoying myself very much. VERY MUCH! I hope all of you are having as spectacular a weekend as I am. 

Wordless Wednesday: It's a TRAP!!!

What are we looking at?

Abby and Stygia: You may be wondering just what it is that continually fascinates us with this window. We will not hide the truth from you!

Just look at this! They come in to our yard, and they frisk about! They seem calm in this picture, but at twilight, they are quite active. Do you see things like this too? What ARE they? Can we play with them? Should we?

Spring Air!

Stygia: This is so amazing! Our Mum opened the window today and I can smell the Spring air. I hear all of the birds and smell the prey... 

Abby: This is the most beautiful thing I have smelled in a long time. And the sun.... it's almost.... too much.... !

We hope you are enjoying such wonderful weather too, wherever you are! If not, just pretend you are one of us cats! Tee hee!

Who's Stalking Whom?

Ms. C: Isn't it usually the cat's job to do the stalking? Seems like my nephew is getting some lessons!

I love the sun, and I am helpful

Stygia: Mum says she doesn't need help organizing her stuff. But I feel that she does. Especially since she is doing it right in the middle of the sunlight.... I am very helpful!

I follow the sun wherever it goes! Which is often here, on the cat-condo they most thoughtfully placed by a window where we get sun all morning and afternoon!

Have you had your catnip today?

Abby: Have you had your catnip today?!

Ms. C: It's a TRAP!

She'll Always Be #1 to Me!

Ms. C: Well, Abby did not win the contest. She came in 6th place.

Still, there were a lot of entries and I am very impressed with her for making it to the Finals at all! And Abby, you will always be #1 to us!!!

Abby sends her purrs and a big THANK YOU to each and every one of you who voted for her.

Please vote for Abby!

Abby is a finalist in The Animal Rescue Site's Puppy Love, Kitty Kisses Contest!" Please go here to vote for her, and you can vote once a day until the contest ends:
(just click on vote now, and you will see her stretching and yawning on her chair).

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/contest.faces?siteId=3&origin=ARS_FACE_FAN_ADGROUP_CONTEST_PUPPYLOVE_2-3_CTG

Thank you!

Risking Limb, if not Life!

Abby: It's a beautiful sunny day. I like to sit here safe on the printer in the sun, while my sister Occupies the desk.

Stygia: You better watch it, sister! Keep your paws to yourself!

Belligerently Cute

Ms C: She is playing behind my screen. Abby Normal is belligerently Cute!

More Uses for Blankies

Ms. C: I was sitting at my desk, typing away at something. Mr. R was behind me, talking to Stygia. The next thing I heard was him exclaiming, "Kitty Burrito!!" And he lifted this towards me:

Side view:

I don't think Stygia quite approved of Mr. R's maneuver, but she got lots of extra pattings and lovin' for her trouble. It sure was a new way to use those blankies!

I will have to tell Ms. J that the cats have made decisions about which blankie belongs to whom. The newest one now belongs to Stygia. Abby Normal has reserved the original one for her own use. They are wonderful and much loved by the cats! Thanks again, Ms. J!

OCCUPY Continues!!!

Abby: I have super news!! The industrious Ms. J, friend to my Ms. C and Mr. R, gave ME a present!! My VERY OWN fuzzy blankie! Now, I no longer have to share a blankie with Stygia. My Mum placed the blankie in the chair and I Occupied it immediately:

I was so excited by my new blankie that I FLIPPED OUT all over it!

Thank you so much, Ms. J!

Ms. J is owned by a kitty, too! His name is Giacomo. Isn't he handsome?? When he heard about our Occupy movement, he was quick to find appropriate locations in his own home that needed to be Occupied.

Here is Giacomo, Occupying the book:

On those colder nights, you can still be comfortable when Occupying by going undercover. Here is Giacomo Occupying the pillow, and as you can see he intelligently utilizes a very stylish blanket:

What have you Occupied lately?

Warm Winter Hearts

Stygia: How should a cat spend her winter days? Staying as warm as possible and soaking up every millimeter of available sunlight. Couple this with a wise gaze to let humans know how insufficient their own appreciation of sunbeams are. Make them feel like they are missing something.

Abby: For once, I am going to agree with Stygia. Sunlight is to be cherished. I try to choose a location that allows me to keep an eye on Ms. C. Dangling a leg allows the sensation of great freedom and decreases pressure to my limbs, promoting the best relaxation.

Don't you wish you were me?

Even better is "Occupying" a human when they are in bed. Ms. C was sick over the weekend, so I had a fantastic weekend as she slept to recovery. I slept under her right arm. I slept curled under her left arm. I slept on her chest as my nose practically touched hers. I slept between her knees, and I slept draped over her and Mr. R both. When Ms. C was not available, I spent a little time bonding with Mr. R as he read a favorite book: