Archive for the ‘cats/kittens’ Category

Why do we need to give our cats nicknames?  Or… Why do we feel the need to give our cats more than one name?  I have 8 and every single last one either has more than 1 name or a nickname.  Now some of the names are just variations on the original name. 

Take Irwin for example.  He was named after The Crocodile Hunter.  We call him Irwin, Win-Man, the Winster.

Then we have Houdini.  We call him, Houdini, Houd-Man, Houd-butt, Scraggle Butt (he is allergic to flea bites and licks all the fur off his butt in the summer – which we try to prevent), Scraggs, and Lao Tzu (his eyes slant and when he closes them and looks at you he looks very wise). 

Or Steve.  He’s also named after The Crocodile Hunter and he’s Win’s brother. Steve, Steve-O, Weavie Stevie (he’s got some brain damage from an illness and isn’t alway steady on his feet), The Weave Man.

Sam.  Samuel Q. Kitty, Sammy, Samster, Stinky Sam, Sexy Sam (he’s very sleek and silky), and Plough Kitty (we like Men In Trees).

Earl. I don’t think I’ve ever called her by her given name of Earl.  Earl the Girl, Bubbies, Bubbles, Grubby Bumps (she doesn’t like the other kitties).

So as you can see our kitties have a number of names each.  Is it any wonder they don’t come when called?  Ok, besides the fact that they are cats.

from http://members.tripod.com/~keallaigh/Catiquette.html

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Making the bed or
Cats and Other Household Pests

For those of us who have cats you’ll understand this next story.  Let’s start with my Beloved.  David is a messy sleeper.  He’s active and when he gets up in the morning the covers are in complete disarray.  He likes to stick his feet off the end of the bed, which untucks the sheets helping to cause said disarray.  Me, I’m the opposite.  I can get into bed, sleep all night and wake up the next morning, get out of bed and barely move the covers.  I don’t like my feet stuck out.  The bellsnickle will get my toes.  It’s not a good thing.

Needless to say, we have to remake the bed every day.  Well, I have to remake the bed everyday.  I like tidy covers.  David doesn’t care.  But he loves me, so he helps me remake the bed.  Well tonight my Archimedes was in full blown play mode.  Those of you who have cats know what is coming next.  Everything was a toy.  My toes, fingers, my shirt… everything.  So I pulled the blankets and quilts off the bed and left the sheet and Archimedes on the bed.  Getting the bedding off the bed was a treat.  Everytime I would pull one piece off, Archimedes would jump on it and ride it to the end of the bed, biting at the covers.  And then try to bite at my fingers as I pulled him off the covers.  I tried to get Archi off the bed… but it was like trying to keep a piece of styrofoam at the bottom of a pool.  Not happening.

Archimedes & the Sheet.  So… I pulled up the sheet and the cat, because… well, I would have had more luck stopping a nuclear reaction than getting Archimedes to stop helping me make the bed.  Archimedes grabbed and bit and kicked and just generally had a whopping good time as I tried to pull the sheets up to the pillow.  He managed to get under the sheet at one point.  Every little move of the sheet was another joyful grab from under the sheet.  Paws & Claws and Teeth.  Finally… step 1 complete.   Next came the small comforter.  And more play.  Archi just had a blast.  Sliding under the comforter, grabbing my fingers, biting my fingers, biting the comforter, just more general cat fun.  So much fun.  And the of course, when the comforter stopped moving for a minute… out popped the little black furry head with the look of, “Hey, I’m not done playing here! Keep going.”

Well 3 throw blankets, 2 quilts, a down blanket and 15 minutes later… the bed is finally made.  With one rather large lump dead smack in the center.  I guess I could have made it easier if I didn’t trace some circles on the bed with my hand.  But Arhicmedes was having so much fun.  So all of you out there who have a cat and have made a bed… you know what I’m talking about.  You know how much fun the cats have with making the bed.

And that was that little adventure.

Cats are patient until it’s time and once it’s time they want it now.

“It” might be food, pets, treats or that ball of string.

The act of ignoring a cat or being ignored by a cat until such time as it is right for the cat to not ignore you.

It’s why people who don’t like cats seem to be cat magnets.  They have good catiquette.