Cat-astrophe | A Fool of Myself

Category: cat-astrophe

August 6th, 2009

Cat-astrophe | Sleeping Pictures

I haven’t updated you all about the kitties in a long time, so I thought I might share some of the pictures I’ve taken of them on the iPhone lately. I gotta say, with the iPhone, I can capture more of funny moments of them than I know what to do with.

This first picture [below] is Ravi laying on a box of cat litter. We don’t have a good spot to store our litter box supplies, so I leave them in the spare bathroom. Ravi apparently thinks this is a suitable throne. (Since this picture was taken, this box has been removed and replaced with a plastic tub of litter. Ravi, in protest–or weirdness–, has taken to sitting in the bathtub. Not napping. Just staring at us over the edge.)

Mowgli has had a rough summer. In June, we noticed that his gums were really pink, so I took him to the vet. After some poking and prodding, the vet concluded that Mowgs had a bad gum infection. (Ah, finally, an explanation for the halitosis that will put hair on your chest.) He got his first round of antibiotics with a shot, but they didn’t produce the results the vet wanted, so on our second visit, we were sent home with pills to take for 10 days. He was a trooper and didn’t complain about the pills at all. (Would you if you were promised a tuna treat afterward?)

The antibiotics stopped right around the time Chris got laid off, so we couldn’t take Mowgli back to the vet for a follow-up. His bad breath is back, which means his gums are gross again. We can tell he doesn’t feel good because he wasn’t clingy or needy at all when the antibiotics were in full force. Now he must be by our side at all times. Here is a picture of him conked out on the couch:

Both cats have put up with a lot of shuffling around our house the last few weeks. I’ve been cleaning and reorganizing the office, so they’ve been inspecting boxes and climbing on shelves.

And that’s pretty much all that’s new with los gatos. Don’t tell them I told you, but they’re pretty boring. Cute, but boring.

Tags: cat-astrophe, cats, litter, mowgli, ravi, sleeping, vet
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December 17th, 2008

She Works Hard for the Money, Part III

Wednesday! My week is 3/4 of the way through, and here is my video explaining what I do on Wednesdays:

Tags: job, lifepoint church, video, wednesdays, work
Posted in brilliantly creative, cat-astrophe | 2 Comments »

December 8th, 2008

CAT-astrophe! | Goodbye, Christmas Penguins, May You Rest in Peace

Well, it finally happened. All hell broke loose. OK, it wasn’t that bad, but we did lose two penguins yesterday when Ravi and Mowgli’s antics resulted in the tablecloth getting pulled off the table. The poor Christmas salt- and pepper-filled penguins never saw the floor coming.

The kitties are apologetic. They knew immediately they were in trouble; I heard the crash, came out of the bedroom, and up the hallway they ran, as if to say, “Mom, you don’t want to go in there!” Salt, pepper, ceramic penguin pieces, rocks from the centerpiece, and candle were everywhere. Mowgli even had the cajones to start playing with one of the rocks on the floor. I was not happy, but thank goodness Chris wasn’t home when it happened, for he would’ve skinned them alive.

Yesterday afternoon, Ravi and Mowgli received the no-love treatment from Chris and me. No naps with me, no tuna treats, no nose rubs, no toys. Nothin’. They are not getting tuna treats this week, nor are they getting master bathroom priveleges.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Tags: accidents, cat-astrophe, cats, mowgli, penguins, ravi
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December 2nd, 2008

The Great Cat-astrophe | Yes, They’re Both Still Alive

It’s December 2, and so far I’m 2-0 for NaBloPoMo. W00t! Today is also my best friend Jenny’s birthday, so here is a shout out to her 26 years and to our 16-year best-friendship! Double w00t! Happy birthday, Chica!

Today, I wanted to give you all a little update on my kitties. Can you believe we’ve had Mowgli for seven months? I’ve been reading through all those posts from when we got him, and I can hardly remember how hard the transition period was. He’s grown up a lot since then, and barely seems like the same cat. Well, that might be an understatement. He still scavenges for food. He still “helps” me nap. He still likes to steal shiny things. But he’s shedding giant tufts of fur now–that’s been a fun treat.

Ravi hardly seems like the same cat, too. All the cat books said it could take 3-6 months after moving in together before cats resolved their issues, and right on schedule–around November–Ravi snapped out of his funk. Not that he was in a huge funk, but there were several instances of passive-aggressive pooping, which we resolved by taking the door off the litterbox. He’s also forgiven me for adding Mowgli to our family; for a long time, he would only give Chris the time of day, but now Ravi gives me some lap time, too, namely when I’m home in the afternoons working on the couch.

Both cats are happy that I’ve picked up my crocheting hobby again. They both seem to think that they are yarn inspectors and hold themselves personally responsible for the quality of the material I use in my work.

Likewise, both cats are happy it’s Christmas. Ravi knows the drill: you’re allowed to sleep under the tree, but you’re not allowed to play with any of the Christmas ornaments or eat any part of the presents. He hasn’t given us any problem with the Christmas tree since his first Christmas when he destroyed a handful of Chris’s childhood ornaments in the name of Ooh! Neat!

Mowgli, on the other hand, is adjusting to Christmas. He was thoroughly confused when Chris scolded him for trying to eat our artificial tree. I speculate that Mowgs was thinking, “It’s green, so I can eat it.” Not so much. He’s looked closely at the ornaments, but so far, none have fallen from the tree that we can tell. Of course, the next time we move the couch, we might find all of our missing ornaments in pieces on the floor. Mowgli did get scolded this morning for attacking a silver ball from the back of the loveseat. I’m not surprised that he went for the ball: it’s silver and shiny and exactly what Mowgli likes to steal.

Lastly, Mowgli is very proud of his new namesake. In case you hadn’t heard, Ashley Simpson had her baby in November, and she named him Bronx Mowgli. We’re a very proud family.

More tomorrow!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Tags: ashley simpson, bronxmowgli, cats, christmas, crocheting, mowgli, ravi
Posted in cat-astrophe | 4 Comments »

July 30th, 2008

The Great Cat-astrophe: Mowgli Eats Funny Things

Well, it’s the end of July, and summer has been in full swing for a month or so now. With summer, we welcome a series of miscellaneous critters in our house, namely bugs. Mowgli has been proving his usefulness in this department for weeks.

Mowgli Yawns for the Camera

Because we’re not sure of Mowgli’s past before we adopted him, Chris and I are left to speculate what events transpired to shape his personality. We have reason to believe that he had to scrounge for his food at some point because he is constantly begging for food—cat and human. Likewise, no plate or bowl is safe from his scavenging. Thankfully, he’s not a good jumper, so we haven’t had problems with him jumping on the cabinets. I sometimes think he is part raccoon because of his food-finding abilities.

Mowgli likes to pig out on his kibble and tuna treats, but one of his favorite treats is an empty bowl of cereal or ice cream. He also likes popcorn and will sit mesmerized while we eat it, waiting for us to drop a piece that he can eat. When Ravi gets a hairball and coughs up some food, Mowgli eats that, too, but the most surprising thing Mowgli eats is bugs.

Yes, bugs. On one occasion, Mowgli was playing with a moth, and he managed to pin it under his paw. Not sure what to do with his hostage, Mowgli let it go and caught it in his mouth. He let it go once more before gulping it down midair. The poor moth had no idea what was coming.

Earlier this month, three slugs and a tree frog got in the house. I managed to send the first two slugs packing without any fatalities, but while I was disposing of the first slug, the tree frog got in the house. No, Mowgli didn’t eat the frog, but he did catch it for me before it went under the couch. I soon found the second slug and sent it packing, too. The next morning, I found another slug on the living room floor—dead. I picked it up with a paper towel and noticed a few teeth marks on the creature. Mowgli met me in the kitchen, and yes, he had a little bit of slug hanging out of his mouth. Apparently, he doesn’t eat everything.

P.S. More or less, nothing has changed with Ravi. He sometimes retreats to his travel case and closes the door behind him, and he has adopted a box of books as his throne. I’ll try to take a picture of him reigning over the spare bedroom sometime.

Tags: bugs, cat-astrophe, mowgli, ravi, slugs, summer
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May 6th, 2008

The Great Cat-astrophe: Six Weeks In

Well, it’s May, and things at the Awesome household have more or less returned to normal except for the fact that we have one extra cat. Mowgli is officially one of the family, and his personality seems to come out more and more every day. He likes eating popcorn, routinely begs for whatever I’m cooking in the kitchen, and is known to steal things like tissues, pens, and jewelry.

He and Ravi are getting along, too. They’ve sort of come to an understanding that Mowgli is the little brother and that he will always annoy Ravi. Ravi uses this to his advantage and likes to get Mowgli in trouble, and they both like to chase one another around the house. Sometimes Chris and I feel like we need to take cover while they’re playing–they leap over the furniture, fly down the hallway, turn around, and run to the kitchen. It can feel like we’re sitting inside a race track sometimes. And yesterday, I returned home to an end table that was flipped over with remote control and pens all over the floor; I’m pretty sure it was a casualty from one of their chasing escapades.

And they wouldn’t want me to tell you this, but I caught them napping together in the office chair Friday night. We had company over, and I think they were avoiding other people, and the office is the one place they could retreat. I haven’t seen them snuggle since, but maybe they’re hiding their brotherly affection for one another.

Yep, Mowgli is part of the family. I’m sure I’ll have more updates soon!

Tags: cat-astrophe, cats, mowgli, ravi
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April 22nd, 2008

The Great Cat-astrophe: Ravi Receives an Email

Ravi received this email from my mother last week:

Ravi,

I’ve been thinking about you and all the Sarah and Chris have been putting you through. How are you REALLY doing? I know what they are saying, but they might be hiding how upset you really are. If you need someone to talk to, just let me know – I’m a good listener.

I can see some benefits for you with a new feline on the scene. No, I’m not just trying to fool you into liking him! How could you think such a think. If you’ll just listen I’ll tell you what I was thinking. You know how you have had sole responsibility to bother Sarah and Christ when they are trying to sleep – well now you don’t have to do that all by yourself. Neither are you alone in putting things out on the floor for them to step on – I know how you like to see them hop around on one foot when they step one a piece of cat food. Then there is the hair thing – just how much hair can one cat be expected to loose and decorate the house with when they keep cleaning it up. It is a wonder you have any hair left after 2 years of interior decorating. And thing of all the times you’ll be able to nap because they are occupied with you know who. Long, long naps I know that is what you like (and tuna treats).

Well I’ve got to go, you know feed Sarah’s previous cat, Sullivan. Oh, she didn’t tell you he was still here – you’ll have to ask her about that and check for his cat hair when she comes home April 25. I know they say they are going to a concert, but I think Sarah needs to come see Sullivan. Don’t worry about Sullivan too much, he is pretty po’d that she left and is gone so long between visits. He gives her the cold shoulder at times and he really doesn’t like being inside ALL the time.

Hope to see you this summer. Hang in there and I’m sure you can find some other things for Mowgli to do. You are my favorite black cat.

Vicky

I don’t know which is crazier: the fact that I have an email account for Ravi or the fact that my mother sent an email to it.

Tags: cat-astrophe, mom, ravi
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April 16th, 2008

The Great Cat-astrophe: Week 3

Well, Mowgli has been in our family for three weeks now, and I think it’s time to show you some pictures!

Figure 1. Mowgli is smart.
In this first picture, you can see evidence of Mowgli’s intelligence. Note the glowing eyes that seem to thirst for knowledge. Mowgli will be going to University in the fall, where he will study the art of seduction begging for attention. He will also join the Mouse Chasers club and train for the 2012 Feline Olympic Trials. We hope to display a medal in the family trophy case.

Figure 2. Mowgli is enthusiastic.

In this second picture, note Mowgli’s perked ears. As you can see, he loves having his picture taken, and he loves his new owners. In his spare time, Mowgli likes to knead Sarah and Chris’s bellies, pounce on Ravi, and beg for attention (and tuna treats). He also likes to rub noses with his new friends and likes to generally be underfoot whenever Sarah or Chris are in the kitchen.

Figure 3. Mowgli is untameable.
In this third picture, see the raw power that emanates from Mowgli’s fur and paws. He is strong as a lion and swift as a leopard. He can jump over tall couches and chase plastic toys with the agility of a panther. After University, Mowgli hopes to get a job with the circus. He also hopes to meet a real lion.

Figure 4. Ravi likes pencils.
So that’s your introduction to Mowgli, the newest member of the Austin clan. For those of you who know our “first-born,” you can see the brotherly resemblance, but when you see them together, it’s easier to tell them apart. Mowgli is fluffier than Ravi, Mowgli is smaller than Ravi (except in the tummy), and Mowgli purrs louder than Ravi. In Figure 4, you can see that Ravi, on the other hand, is sleek, can jump higher, and likes snuggling quietly.

Tags: cat-astrophe, mowgli, pictures, ravi
Posted in cat-astrophe | 3 Comments »

April 10th, 2008

The Great Cat-astrophe: Day 11

Life is starting to return to normal around the Austin household. Today we left Mowgli out while we were at work, and since both cats were still alive and the house was still standing when I got home, I assume they got along pretty well. This weekend, we’ll start combining their “facilities” and see if they can eat and drink from the same dishes.

Ravi, smart cat that he is, has a new sleeping location. He has figured out that Mowgli is not a good jumper, so he likes to go to “higher ground” and look down on Numero Dos. The laundry room—atop the washer and dryer—is one place he likes to retreat; just yesterday, he found a laundry basket full of laundry and has made that his new default napping place. It’s up high, quiet, and most importantly, Mowgli can’t reach him there.

We’ve noticed that Mowgli has a thing for human food, particularly orange juice, buttered popcorn, and spaghetti. Every time we sit down to eat, he hops up on our laps to smell the food, but it doesn’t stop there. He insists on putting his nose in our plates and glasses until we are finished or until we’ve pushed him away with some subtle convincing. We’ll definitely have to teach him that he’s being rude and replace his actions with good manners.

He goes to the vet tomorrow for shots. He still has a little kitty cold. It was pretty gross last week; he sneezed all the time, and once his snot landed on the remote control and another time it got all over his face (and he licked it off). Yuck! Anyway, this trip to the vet is just to get him checked out (and I’m sure he wants to see all his lady friends there, too).

Tags: cats, mowgli, ravi
Posted in cat-astrophe | 1 Comment »

April 8th, 2008

The Great Cat-astrophe: Day 8

Mowgli and I have a problem: I like naps, and he likes to make sure sleeping people are alive. Today’s nap after work was supposed to be all snuggly and warm with my favorite blanket, but every ten minutes or so I had a nose in my face. And when I covered my head with the blanket, someone pawed it off. He did, however, accept my invitation to snuggle with me under the blanket, and that seemed to resolve part of the problem. Believe me, the problem will be resolved.

He and Ravi still haven’t established Top Cat. This morning, Ravi sat outside Mowgli’s door, and I could see Mowgli’s shadow on the other side; so I presume they were working out their differences through the door. If If this continues to happen, I’ll have to assume they’re making plans for total world domination. Ravi made some strides tonight by claiming the couch, but even that was short lived since Mowgli is now asleep between Chris and I on the couch.

I’ll keep you posted…

Tags: cat-astrophe, cats, mowgli, new cats, ravi
Posted in cat-astrophe | 1 Comment »

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