Work Update



Pardon my finger.

 This is my second attempt at writing this, the first try got long, and might be a bit too boring. I got a little to detailed, and identifiable. I want to keep this job at least until I can find something else, so I wont post it. Maybe later when I have moved on and I can include names. As for the work its self it is not too bad, so far I have survived. It is not that so much as it is the companies policies, that make this a less than desirable place to work.

Lil' Bit see's something outside.



What is this funny flashing thing???



I said before they were low on my list of places to work at. I worked for a place that sold a branch of their business to them, so I had worked there before. I estimate in the first month 40% quit due to policies another 20% got fired in the following 2 months. In my current experience it is as bad as I remember. Let me explain in a brief overview of what makes it so. Remember this is a call center I am working for.



Squirrel says "Don't forget me!!!"



First the turn over rate is very high. There is very little training, before getting set out to sink or swim. You are measured by your metrics such as call time, along with requirements to be met on every call. We are divided into teams with coaches as supervisors. Failure to meet the metrics results in getting fired. The big problem is that there is little to no coaching to help the employee to improve on these. With very little training you have to figure it out as you go creating high call times especially in the beginning. The company figures it is sink or swim and if you can not make it then they will just hire more. Throw enough people at it to see who sticks.



Everyone gets along at dinner time.



They only get paid by the number of employees taking calls. It seems they would save a bundle with some improvements in these areas. With improved moral less would quit, better coaching fewer would get fired. They would get the numbers they need to fill the seats keeping them while cutting down the costs of training continuously. Having worked in call centers before I understand the need to be dynamic and flexible, to a point. I have started work at 6 am, 7 am 7:30, 8, 6 etc. Days off vary every week, it is very rare to get 2 in a row, one week I had Thursday and Saturday off, another it was Sunday and Thursday. A little more consistency would go a long ways. Flipping burgers starts to sound real good even at a lower pay. So yes I am looking for another job, so I can join the ranks of those that have left.



A big water bowl for a big cat.





 

What I was thirsty!



Well enough griping, it is keeping a roof over my head and food for my little ones, so it will do until something real comes along. Now one to the kitties. No real theme just some photos I wanted to share. Action photos are hard to get as digital cameras do not click when you push the button, instead they spend time charging the flash. The old cameras with flash bulbs were instantaneous, I miss that. My house is a bit dark so I miss almost all of the best shots.

     

Sleepy Sunday

                                                The floor is taken.

                                   Martian stops by to check things out.

                                              Mittens is all comfy.

                                           NMK's (Not My Kitties!)

                                        TJ, Ugly, & Pretty don't care.

                 A promise to keep the bed warm was kept by one and all!

                                   Even Blackie came in for the day.

                                  Ugly by the door getting some sun.

                                             Thor found a good spot.

                                  Mizz Purrzzy next to Mama Mittens. 

      

Sleepy Sunday

                                  Peace at last?? (Squirrel & Girl)

                              Another unlikely pair! (Pretty & Lil' Bit)

                                  Today’s help at the computer. (Squirrel)

                        Passed out in the middle of the house. (Mittens)

                   Take my picture! Take my picture! (The ham at it again)

                            Ever wonder what can make them so tired?

        

Daddy's Lap



Squirrel on her perch.

 Some times every just wants to lay down in daddy's lap. Just yesterday I was sitting on the couch with my feet on the coffee table, when TJ climbed up and got into my lap. After a few minutes Mizz Purrzzy came by and propped her two front paws on my legs. She was looking to get on to my lap, she would walk away and come back every couple minutes to see if it was clear. Lil' Bit came from the recliner across the end table to the arm of the couch, checking to see if my lap was clear. She too would wonder away and come back several times. Occasionally both were just sitting there staring at me, wanting me to do something about the situation. Both wanting some lap time.




Lil' Bit getting onto the recliner.





From here to arm of couch to lap.
Two leaps and she is there.



Lil' Bit will do this a lot, when another cat is in my lap. She will go to the arm of the couch or on the back to see if my lap is empty. She is notorious for plopping into my lap. I will be sitting on the floor at the coffee table when from the couch she will jump into my lap. Or if I am in the center of the couch she will jump from the arm, instead of walking across the couch. Kr-plunk 5 pounds dropped into my lap. It is like someone dropped a bag of sugar into your lap.



Mizz Purrzzy tongue out as normal.



Mizz Purrzzy is a bit more diplomatic about it, she waits until I am sitting with my feet on the coffee table then will prop up with her front legs to see if its available. Sometimes she will come up and meow or just look at me until I invite her up. If Lil' Bit is already in my lap she will get up and leave, and Mizz Purrzzy will take her place. Otherwise Lil' Bit is on the arm waiting for her chance.



TJ half asleep.



TJ (Tom Jones, “M” named him) might get a name change to NMK (NOT My Kitty). He supposedly belongs to the people out back, but thinks that this is his home. He will come to the front door, pick at the screen until I let him in. I keep telling him, “Not my kitty”, he doesn't pay any attention. Once in he believes it is time for petting and attention. Once in my lap he does not like to leave. I can pick him up, put him down next to me and before I can stand up he is back in my lap. Passive resistance all the way, limp and difficult to move.



Squirrel, Mittens, Mizz Purrzzy in their beds.



With all the other cats around Squirrel has not had much chance to play lap kitty. She avoids the others. In the last couple of weeks she has started to come around wanting in my lap more often, mostly when I am on the computer.

No pics of them in my lap, hard to do by myself. But here some of each of them. By the way I have opened a store on Zazzle of cat related images etc. I did this to help me pay to feed them. I plan on adding to it as time goes by. Check it out and let me know what you think. There is also a link in the column on the right.

   

Prima Donna (First Kitty)



Sitting Pretty! Squirrel likes to pose.
(House is mess, sorry)

 When Squirrel first showed up she was the invisible kitty. I would hear her come in to eat, but whenever I tried to look she was gone. Sometimes I would get a glimpse of her tail, all big and bushy. Coming in really hungry one day she let me walk into the kitchen while she was eating. I could not get to close at first, but soon was able to sit beside her while she ate.

Squirrel's Early days.

I tired to scratch her behind the ears but she would just wine ehhh ehhh ehhhhh. Mumbling into her meal, because she did not stop eating. (Skinny cat see second pic) Using her head as a pivot point she would circle around the can of food. Needless to say she was not too friendly nor was I able to get close unless she was eating.



Hiding under the bed.



She started to hang around the house, sleeping in a box or on a blanket. At this time Girl was still spending a lot of time under the beds hiding from everything. Being skittish Squirrel would chase her trying to start a fight. They got into it once, that I had to break up. Two days later I noticed Girl was licking a cut and took her to the vet. I did not connect the two events until the vet said it looked like a puncture wound on Girl's tail. A couple of bite marks actually. Those two have not gotten along very sell since.



Belly Rub, Attack Pose!



One day while my brother and his wife was over she finally let me pet her. She became loving very quick after that. Soon she became a lap kitty, jumping on my lap most anytime I sat down. When I would come home from work she would run out to meet me rubbing against my legs. Looking for some loving. Following me everywhere, constantly wanting to be near her daddy. She has never like to be held, will squirm and wine until she is put down. Then right back to rubbing up against me, wanting to get petted. Most importantly NO belly rubs, Squirrel does NOT like. She will attack. LOL



 

Hamming it up for the camera.



Squirrel's favorite hobby is to chase Girl. She will lie in wait outside the bedroom door for Girl to emerge then chase her back in. From across the room if she sees Girl walking she will leap up and give chase. She came in as head cat pushing Girl out of the way. She started sleeping with me taking Girl's spot on the bed.



 

Her favorite toys.



Squirrel really enjoys playing, chasing after balls through out the house. She would take a toy like the first one pictured and toss it 5-6 feet into the air and jump up to catch it before it hit the ground. The second toy pictured (I circled the attachment) she would chase around the house. She would jump over 5 foot into the air to get it. She would run after a string, when she caught it she would do a flip. Just roll right over grabbing it on the way. Then Mittens showed up while trying to join in she was pushing Squirrel out of the way.

Squirrel had attitude when she first showed up. What with her chasing Girl, growling and mumbling at me when I tried to pick her up. Still though she is the brave one. When someone comes in she will be out to see who it is, if she approves she will even rub up against them. She really likes “M” and will jump onto the couch to get petted by her.



Squirrel playing with her toy.



Then came Mizz Purrzzy, who would chase Squirrel under the bed like she did to Girl. It surprised me at first . But like I said she changed a lot calming down becoming more loving. So maybe that is what it was. Having to fight for attention may be good for her. She has started to come out once again. Playing with almost the same abandon as before.



 

Bribing her to come out from under the couch.



Squirrel likes to help out.
Here she is helping me make cookies.

 

Well that is Squirrel, loving, outgoing, a ham that loves to have her picture taken. She is just so photogenic that I have more pictures of her than of any of the others.

  



Time to Brag



Girl Kitty

 Today’s post is all about Girl and the amazing progress that she has made. Just a couple of days ago for the first time, and again last night for the second time, she played “string”. I dangled a string in front of her, she played with it, batting at the string with abandon. This lasted about 20 seconds each time. So what is so special about a cat playing with a string you might ask, don't most cats? I do not think Girl quite knew how to be a cat. Let me explain and highlight some of her steps along the way to this major milestone.


When Girl first showed up (late 2006) she was and still is a proper little lady. Even with the back door open she would not come in unless personally invited. After eating she would jump up on the couch next to me rubbing up against me to get loved and petted. At the slightest noise from out side, if I stood up, or if she saw another cat walk in (She kept a constant watch on the back door) she would run and hide for hours. She was hard to catch and put out in the mornings. Two weeks after she showed up I relented and got a litter box so she could stay in full time.


Girl didn't see Twinkie


She was a very shy and timid cat, always slinking around with her tail between her legs. She probably spent 8 months or more of her first year with me hiding under my bed. She would join me up top when I went to bed, then back under in the morning. She was always fearful of other cats. One day she came out of the bedroom looking towards the back door, keeping an eye out for other cats, she jumped on to the arm of the couch, still watching the back door. She did not see Twinkie sleeping there, about 15 minutes later when she finally noticed him she immediately ran and hid, for at least 3 hours. See how she is sitting ready and alert she used to always sleep that way, never any other position. Ready to spring away at a seconds notice.



I was beginning to wonder if something was wrong with her I never heard her meow. I only knew she was purring by placing my finger on her throat. Twinkie was still around at this time, he would meow to be let in, get fed, petted, in other words a lot of the time. One day Girl started to meow to get fed and was very insistent about it. Good for her, I think she learned it from Twinkie. It was at least a year and a half before she messed up and I heard her purr, and at arms length too. Around this time also she would lay more like a cat, with her legs extended out and even started to lay on her side, she finally was starting to relax a little bit. Sometimes too much, she reminds me of a turkey spread out like that.



Turkey pose



I tried to get pictures each step along the way, but with her being so skittish it was hard. I tried playing with her but she would run from the string, at best shyly pushing it away when I put it in her face, with a half harted attempt to play. Her catnip mouse she at first ignored finally she started rubbing against it. Just a few weeks ago she started picking it up and tossing it around pouncing on it. I think she is learning how by watching the other cats play. But if she sees them watching her or hears a noise she will stop.



Girl eats in public



I used to feed her where ever I could find her, finally I got fed up with empty cans under both beds and the couch. So I made her a spot in my room and would only feed her there. One time she went to the community food bowl (where I feed the others), I have a pic of it. She does it on occasion now. I also have a pic of the first time another cat (Mittens) laid down near her and she was aware of it. The first cat she walked up to and sniffed was Lil' Bit. (Lil' Bit is smaller than Girl).



Girl with Mittens


I can only guess as to what kind of background she came from, to be so scared all the time. I have a real soft spot in my hart for her because of this. I sometimes think she might have been abused. This post shows just a little of the progress she has made, I could write so much more. Each incident is like a child taking its first step. Recently she has started to growl and swat at any cat that gets too close, will walk up to some of the others, and does not hide as much as she used to.

Progress has been slow in coming. The vet guessed her to be about 5 when he first saw her in 2007, so she is a senior cat now around 9 years old. You would think she would be set in her ways, but she is learning how to become a cat. Lil' Bit tries to play with her, by swatting Girl when she passes by. Girl just ignores her :).


Girl on piano with others :)


It has taken a lot of time and patience with Girl to get this far. She is very spoiled, and tolerances are made. Sometimes I have to pick her up and carry her into the bedroom so she will go eat. She still is afraid to use the litter box to pee in (it is not medical we checked with the vet), I place some old towels next to the boxes she uses and change them out regularly. She has some special needs and allowances need to be made for her. But she is a special little girl that I would be lost without.

So as you can see playing “string” is something amazing to brag about. This is coming from a cat that tried to crawl into a hole and pull it in after her so as not to face the world. A lost kitty that did not know how to be a cat, who was afraid of her own shadow. A senior citizen who is facing her fears and over coming them, gracefully. So yes I will brag about my special kitty because I am so proud of her and the progress she has made. Three cheers for Girl!!
    

Innocent Bully



"All Kitties are good Kittie

I talk a lot about my cats with “M”, often bragging about their progress and achievements. Frequently about the dynamics in the relationships between the cats. Some times I think I give her the wrong impression about what is happening with the cats. Depending upon the cat in question she will say something like “but they look so sweet and innocent.” I am not really saying that the cat is bad, instead I am describing the affect its actions is having on the others.



Case in point with Mizz Purrzzy, “M” is under the impression that I think she is a bully. That Mizz Purrzzy enjoys dominating and intimidating the other cats. Even though her actions can be construed as those of a bully, I believe she has no intentions of being one. When her personality first start to show its self I wanted to call her Jealous or some name with that meaning. Unable to find a suitable name and with her tendency to constantly purr (even when getting scolded), she wound up with her current name.



Girl tolerates Mizz Purrzzy



I think she was just insecure, not sure that someone actually cared for her. That she needed the extra attention to feel more loved. Like Mittens before her, when ever I would play “string” with one of the other cats she would dive in front of them to catch it. In this case causing Mittens especially but also the others to quit playing and walk away. (Mittens did that to Squirrel when she first showed up, it has taken Squirrel almost a year before she would chase after her fuzzy tail on a a string again.)



"Mamma" Mittens grooms Squirrel



What made it worse though is when ever I sit down to pet one of the other cats she will come up between us, wanting attention. Again I am thinking that she just need a little extra reassurance. This would naturally cause which ever cat I was paying attention to, to get upset and walk away. She was constantly butting in and not letting me have any one on one time with the others.



This caused some resentment amongst the others. Unintentionally of course but never the less it still happened. Lil' Bit will growl at her then run away to avoid conflict. Squirrel just ignores her and will walk away. Mizz Purrzzy just wants to play though and will try to play with Squirrel and chase her. Which will lead to a small skirmish between the two of them. This leads to her getting bored as Mittens (mama Mittens) is the only one that will play with her.



She follows Mittens everywhere almost like her shadow, Mittens will tolerate it. Even will groom her, when Mizz Purrzzy is insistent about it. Mittens eats, she eats, Mittens goes to the potty, she follows, Mittens try’s to play she is right there. Mittens will tire of this and sometimes will slap her or try to hide from her. Mittens is patient though and will still mother her.



 

Tuckered out from play.



Now that Ugly is spending more time inside the two of them will chase each other through the house, so now she has someone else to play with. She used to constantly come up to me and “meeah” at me wanting me to get up and play with her. I would say "is that so" she would reply “meyeaa” and have a conversation with me. Mizz Purrzzy is still very energetic and playful, more so than the others with the exception of Lil' Bit. I think she has been watching Lil' Bit play, taking some cues from her. She has started to use the toys and other items around the house to amuse herself more, finally.

Cat dynamics can be interesting to say the least. The way the hierarchy, structure, bonding changes with the introduction of each new cat or situation. What can appear to be the actions of a mean bullying cat, are instead the ones of an insecure timid and maybe slightly fearful little kitty. Seems that she was just a little misunderstood at first. Squirrel is a bit more bold around her, even Lil' Bit is a tiny, tiny bit more tolerant of her. Things are starting to get back to normal, it just takes a little time and patience.

Rare photo indeed.

So the first pic is a common one of Mizz Purrzzy, with her tongue sticking out. “M” thinks it is odd I think it is cute, especially when she is stretching. She normally has anything from just the very tip up to ¾ of it sticking out. The second pic is her with Girl, who I need to brag on in a post soon, as I am so proud of her. Third is Mama Mittens cleaning Squirrel. Next is Lil' Bit in the piano passed out from playing so hard. Finally a rare photo, no tongue.