Lucky Friday

I hereby declare Friday the 13^th as “Lucky Fridays”. Flying in the face of conventional superstition, I go out of my way to pass paths with black cats. Not everywhere are black cats considered a portent of ill omen. A few lesser known facts about black cat superstition.

In Great Britain and in Ireland, black cats are a symbol of good luck.

Black cats are also considered good luck in Japan. Furthermore, it is believed that a lady who owns a black cat will have many suitors.[I wounder if that bears true for men also, having a choice of ladies]

In Germany, some believe that black cats crossing a person's path from right to left, is a bad omen. But from left to right, the cat is granting favorable times.

Maneki Neko (Japanese Lucky Cat) each color has a different meaning. A Black Lucky Cat: gets rid of badlucks.

Although she is not mine I feel fortunate to have Blackie stop by and visit on a regular basis. Not only is she a very beautiful cat, she also smells nice.  

 

Long time no blog

Girl Kitty!

I just added it up, it has been about 8 months since my last post. I hope everyone is doing OK. As most of you are aware I had some difficulties and had to cut back on things, internet included. I just wanted you to know that we are doing all right now, I managed to get caught up with everything. I even got the internet back as you can see.

My favorite pic of her, the turkey pose.

I got back on line about a month ago. I wanted to get caught up with my emails, news, etc. I have tried to catch up with the blogs I am following, but it has been hit and miss. I did notice that some are not posting as often as they did, I also noticed the absence of one or two others. Makes me wonder if anything bad happened or if just due to life changes, loss of interest, and so on.

What am I suppose to do with this?

Which brings me to the subject of this post. A lot has happened while I was offline, yet not much has changed (or is that the other way around). I am not sure where I want to go with this blog, or what to do with it. I still want to brag about my kitties. My hart is not in it like it use to be. I have spent the last couple of weeks thinking I should start this up again, but could not think of much to say on a daily, or weekly basis. It does not seem like much happens each day. I go to work come home feed the cats and that is about it.

Such a sad look. Nov 2011

I don't know if maybe it is a bit of depression lingering. Seems like a lot of priorities have changed. A lot of other things just seem meaning less. It could also be that one of the main reasons I started this was to brag on one cat in particular. One who seemed that she had been through a lot, yet she still opened up and let me love her. She had changed, grown so much that I was very proud of her. I wanted to let people know that with a little time, effort and love how wonderful these magnificent creatures can be. Not to give up or pass them by because they may be old, scared, timid, or even aggressive. With a little care and love they can blossom to be a wonderful caring friend with much love to give.

Blackie

This is going to be the first, last, only time I will mention this, as I do not think about it doing my best to put it out of my mind. There is a lot of anger, hurt, frustration involved with this, the full details of which I will leave out, I just can't get into it. On Nov 14, 2011 just before midnight Girl took her trip over the bridge. I personally helped her cross over, here in her home where she felt safe and loved. God this is still hard to write. She was and will always be my baby girl, my sweetie pie being so quite and gentle. I will always miss her. She is the reason I have so many cats. She is the one that started it all. I suppose for her I will keep this blog going.

Thor (MIA)

Like I said a lot has happened, but not much has changed. About 6 or 7 weeks ago Thor disappeared. Sometimes he would not come around for a few days, but after not even seeing him in the back yard for a week I knew he was gone. I fear that the coyotes got him. I live in the middle of town, and yes I have seen them in the street out front. He was one of the five that “belong” to my neighbor. Being such I did not try very hard to make him an indoor kitty, having to let him wonder around so they can see him. They are the ones that put food out but will have little to no interaction with their cats. Three of their other cats (Pretty, Ugly, TJ) spend most of their time in my house I make no apologies. Only TJ bugs me to get out at night the other 2 are usually in bed with me.

Tom

That brings the count down to 10 my 5 and the neighbors 4 plus Tom (who is totally independent). None of my cats get to go out ever the neighbors 3 I keep in at night and usually most of the day. I have started to work on getting Blackie and Tom to want to stay around more. Tom may never become an indoor cat, unlike Thor who stayed near by, he wonders the whole neighborhood (too independent). Disappearing for a week at a time. I have seen him several blocks away, I do not know if he has a regular home or not. That leaves Blackie as my best bet to corral into being a house cat. Everyone is still on a mostly dry food diet. I give both Tom and Blackie canned food as a bribe to come around more often, the rest get left overs. At least for the time beaning.

Rare pic. Tom making himself at home. 

Well that kinda brings everyone up to date on whats happened over the past several months. Sorry it got a little depressing. I am still not sure how often I will update will have to wait and see.  

Sleepy Sunday

                       Mittens taking the art of relaxation to the next level.

                       Girl just waking up. Sticking her tongue out at me.

                            Blackie found a spot on a crowded end table.

                                       Ugly sleeping like an angel.



Hoping you all had a nice sleepy weekend. Remember to get plenty of rest for the week ahead.
       
  

Sleepy Sunday

Once again everyone is enjoying a day of rest.

                               Lil' Bit woke up as I took the picture.

                             Finally she was able to completely relax.

                                          Blackie came in for the day.

                                        Pretty in her favorite spot.

                                  Squirrel sleeps with one eye open.

                                        Mittens is totally relaxed.

                            TJ and Pretty are not sure what to make of Mittens.

Hope you all had a nice peaceful weekend.

      

Black Cat Brown

As some of you may know I live in the desert southwest, southern Arizona to be more precise. This first picture is one of my back yard, it is typical of most yards around here. See all the greenery, nope it is just brown. Grass is something we hear about or see on TV. So far this year I think we have had around one half inch of rain. Dust is a big problem, no matter how much you clean you just can not get rid of it. In some parts of town it is as fine as talcum powder.

Really, she is solid black.

You might wonder what all that has to do with black and brown cats. Well as you know cats love to roll in the grass, except we have no grass near by. We have only weeds, leaves, and dust. Lots and lots and lots of dust. So what is any respectable left cat to do? Take a dust bath!

Feed me.

Last night while I was cooking dinner, Blackie came to the back door wanting in. I opened the door and this is what I found. She was all ready and eager to come in to get a bite and out of the sun. I told her I would not let her in until she cleaned her self. Poor thing I tried to help by using my hands to brush her off, to no avail.

Pest.

(I have got some help typing. The Martian climbed into my lap and is using his right paw to try to type. He alternate it with using all 4 to push my hands away from the keyboard. If I ignore him long enough he nips at my arms to get my attention)



Ashamed.



Back to the story. So not wanting to miss an opportunity I grabbed my camera and went outside to take some pics to share. While outside I met “R” the father of the woman who “owns” Blackie. We got to talking about the Martian, he did not know that I was able to tame him. So I let him out for “R” to see. Know what the first thing he did was? That's right, he took a dust bath. I did not get any pics of him though.



Let me in.



Anyways being the softie that I am, after an hour or so I let Blackie in. She went in and out a few times, before deciding to stay in for the night. She does not normally stay in very long, maybe she was just trying to butter me up. Oh well tomorrow is the day to clean house anyways. She always knows when I clean and will roll around in the leaves before wanting in. Everything sticks to her long hair.



How do I look? Did I miss a spot?



I hope you get as much of a kick out of the brown colored black cat as I did. She did such a complete job of it, only missing part of her face.

I don't care what you think, I had FUN!!
Now let me in!!

P.S. Blackie looked fairly clean this morning when I put her out before going to work.

 

Sleepy Sunday

This week is dedicated entirely to NMK's (Not My Kitties). No matter how much they beg, pester, or bother me to go outside they never go far. Most of the time they stay in my back yard, You would think that they have adopted me or something. Especially TJ who knocks on the front door when he wants in.

                               Blackie taking a bath before nap time.

                   Starting to get hot out so Blackie spends more time inside.

                                             Ugly has found a perch.

                                            Pretty not far from the door.

                                         TJ is on the fence about things.

                                                       Tunnel time.

                                                         My turn.

                             Rare pic, Lil' Bit starting to get along with Ugly.
       

The Forgotten Ones



 Thomas Cattacus

 Part of the problem with having so many cats running around, is it seems that some can get lost in the mix. If you are a regular reader you might have noticed that some of my little ones get written about more than the others. While some appear to get all the attention, others are neglected fading into the background. This is only semi-true, sometimes there is not much happening with them leaving nothing to tell. This post is dedicated to them, the quite ones, the forgotten ones.

 Lounging on the back of the recliner.

I will start with Tom, he has been with me as long or longer than Girl. I have forgotten which one came first. He is a true tomcat, fierce, proud, strong, independent, mostly a loner. I never really tried to make him a house cat. He comes and goes as he pleases, sometimes disappearing for a week or more at a time. For a while he came around most every day, then as more cats started hanging around regularly, his stays became less frequent. When I only had the 3 indoor kitties, he would show up as I left for work so I would leave him in all day, while I was away. Other days he would come in and stay from a few hours to most of the day.

Stud, drives the girls wild.

When he first showed up he was scruff, probably the dirtiest cat I had ever seen. Not dirty from having just rolled in the dirt and weeds, but as if he rarely cleaned himself. Shortly after keeping him in for a week when he was neutered, followed a month later taking him to have his infected leg taken care of. Another 4 day indoor stay, he soon cleaned up his act, becoming a clean and attractive cat. He is not one much for other cats, although all the girls thought he was a stud. Every time he came in they would crowd around him, vying for his affection. This drove him crazy naturally. I feel very fond of him, what with his strong independent spirit. He is a very proud cat, fit to be a king. I just wish he would come around more. When he does he gets prefurred treatment, taking priority over the others. I try to make him feel welcome so maybe he will come by more often.



Thor



Next is Thor, he is one of my neighbors 5 cats, also the only one not neutered. He used to come in every day, staying around for a while most days. A long haired cat a bit dirty and unkempt, as his owners do not take much interest in him, leaving him mostly on his own. When I decided to take up the challenge of taming the Martian, causing him to hang around more, the two of them would start to fight. Neither one was neutered at that time. Then on Thanksgiving weekend last year, just after the Martian was neutered and allowed to stay in the house they got into a fight inside. That is when I got scratched up separating them. See my post on Battle Scars.



 Such puffy cheeks!



I had to stop letting him in, plus had to chase him away to prevent any fights. Thor stopped coming around for a while. He is a loving cat, although his owners father thinks he is mean. They just don't spend any time with their cats. Lately though I have been able to let him in more. The Martian usually ignores him, might grow when Thor gets into his face, but they do not try to fight, much. With time and supervision there will be a peace. The Martian and TJ get along well enough that I can leave them both inside while I am gone at work. I hope to be able to work to this between him an Thor as well.



Such a pretty cat!



I think Blackie took a disliking to the Martian as well, she does not hang around as much as she used to. Now she will come in and eat, then go right back out. Maybe if I am home she will stay in and take a nap before going back out. So like Tom and Thor I do not have a lot of pictures of her, none of them being around much anymore. She use to start purring just as soon as I picked her up, I called her my rag doll because she would go limp in my arms. She is a beautiful long haired solid black cat. She is very physic also, just as soon as I clean house she will roll around the weeds getting covered, then come in and track it through the house.



On the outside ledge wanting in.



Lastly as it always seems to be is Girl. I have written a couple of posts on just her. She is my sweetie pie, pretty girl, number one cat. Number one because she is the first one I decided to adopt, also because she holds a special place in my heart. I have had to practice tough love with her, to help get her out of her shell. (It was harder on me than it was on her.) She will spend most of her time being quite, either hiding under the bed or running away from the other cats. She does not play nor is she very active on her own, defiantly never part of the group. For a while I could go a day and a half with out seeing her, even though she was inside the whole time.



Girl Kitty!!!!



Just started recently though when I feed her, I put her food in the bedroom and shut the door. She has been content to stay in there with the door closed. Then when I go to bed she will stay on top of the bed even with 3 or 4 other cats until I fall asleep. Not every night but maybe 2 or 3 in a row. She has not played but once or twice sense the last the last time I mentioned it. With the others pressing in demanding attention she does not get as much as she deserves. When I do try to spend time with her one of the others will come up causing her to leave. I just wish I could find a happy medium some where.

It would be nice if I could find a home for some of them. The Martian I would very much love to find a home for, as he is an attention hog, my next post will cover this in more detail. If it was just Girl and Lil' Bit, I am sure she would become more out going. I just do not think I could part with Squirrel, Mittens or even Mizz Purrzzy. Mittens does not bother her much but the other two will give Girl chase, much to her disliking.



Such a sad face.



Well that is the update on the forgotten ones, with some pictures so you can see who they are. Although I do not talk about them much they are still cared for. Some more than others. What can I say I play favorites among my children.