Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Here's wishing that every cat out there has a year filled with health and treats!

Keep inside and safe with all the fireworks and celebrations tonight. We thought our Aunt Tiff was our friend, but then she showed up with enough fireworks to overthrow a small country, so now we're not too sure about her.

Secret Paws pictures

We received our Secret Paws gift about a week and a half ago, but Mom and Dad made us wait to open it until mid-week last week. We got some amazing gifts from Sparkle the Designer Cat! We got nip mice, and nip sticks and sardines and Greenies, and best of all, a copy of Sparkles book!


Here we are checking out all the great stuff. Look at all of us in one picture!


Josie was all over this mouse!


And Maggie was loving the nip sticks!


These colorful mice are pretty awesome too. We love their long tails.


We had so many mice to choose from...


And of course the box counts as a toy, too.


And Huggy Bear really liked this nipped up toy.


Josie decided to lay across the treats so no one else could get them.


All this excitement made us need a nap. No better napping spot than under the tree.

Thanks again Sparkle! This was a great Secret Paws!

Secret Paws!

We got to open our Secret Paws package last night -- it was from Sparkle the Designer Cat! We really got fixed up good -- we got a copy of her book, some treats, mice and nip toys -- all kinds of great stuff. I'll be posting pictures soon ... we have so many great pictures of us going nuts over all the great stuff we got. But the desktop computer has been fussy lately, and sometimes doesn't want to wake up after hibernating, and sometimes doesn't want to boot up right, and we think it needs to be looked at by someone who knows more than Dad does. So the pictures didn't get uploaded last night. So instead, here are some pictures from two weekends ago when our little friends Gracie and Clara Ann visited and gave Josie and Maggie treats.


The girls walk with quick heavy feet which makes us want to run away quickly (which is why Huggy Bear and I aren't getting treats) but Josie is a little braver, and was willing to eat treats from Gracie's hands.


And wherever there are treats, there is Maggie. Once she saw that Josie was getting treats she was right there to get some from Clara Ann. The girls think it is so funny the way we eat treats straight from their hands.


It's a little blurry, but I love little Clara Ann's smile in this picture. I think all four girls in this picture were having fun.

Secret Paws is here!

Our Secret Paws package showed up the other day, and you know what ... it's still in the box! I think we've been good, but we're having to wait. Maybe we'll get to open it tonight.

Mom should be putting our package in the mail to our Secret Paws today. We were pitching such a fit to play with it that Dad had to put it in Mom's car last night so we would calm down.

Helping Mom

Mom was trying to pick out a class to take at the gym. Maggie decided that Mom needed a little help. This is how she helped:


Big helper, huh?

Josie investigates

We had a stranger in the house on Saturday. The HVAC for the upstairs was acting up and the fan wouldn't turn off, so Mom and Dad had to cut the power to the heat, which wasn't all that great during the cold nights, except for the extra snuggling that Mom and Dad get from us. Fortunately the heat downstairs still works, and heat rises.

Well, when the stranger was in the house he opened a door in the closet ceiling that we didn't even know was there. There's a ladder that goes up there.


Josie is very brave, and considered going up. She even got a paw on the second step. Dad was right there with her and wasn't about to let her get much father up. There's just too much she could get in to. But then the guy started to come down and he made a ton of noise, and that was about the end of Josie's investigating.

They were back again today to put in the part that they had to order, so hopefully the heat is working again -- just in time for it to be 76 degrees.

Get well soon Ginger Jasper!

There's another super cool orange-colored Jasper cat out there ... Ginger Jasper ... and naturally I've been a big fan ever since I discovered his blog. Well, it turns out that he is at the vet and struggling with some bad news. So please send all the extra purrs you have to him in hopes that the treatment works and that his kidneys can get going right again. Mom and Dad are particularly sensitive to this, since this is what sent their first cat Fluffy to the bridge many years ago. Ginger Jasper, get well soon and get back home to your beans -- they need you there!

Sending purrs for Daisy Mae Maus

I heard that Daisy Mae Maus is at the vet with bad news. We're sending lots of purrs that the B12 shots and IV fluids do the trick!

Simon's Cat

Have you seen that you can win a free copy of the new Simon's Cat book? Who wouldn't want that? We love Simon's Cat.

Happy Day!

I just saw that Kimo came home! There is much rejoicing! And apparently he just walked back to the house like nothing ever happened ... he is such a cat.

Lots of napping

There's been a lot of napping going on at the McKitten-Cat house ... and that's even without the help of turkey to make us sleepy. We're having some cool weather right now, and that certainly helps the napping. I just wish we could find a way to keep Mom and Dad home so we could nap with them.

Thankful Thursday

I think it is only fitting that Thanksgiving should fall on a Thankful Thursday. There's so much to be thankful for. First off, we are thankful for our Mom and Dad because they gave us love and homes and good food. And we're thankful that they love us even when Dad is trying to troubleshoot the computer and I stand in front of the monitor, or when we bite Mom's calf when she's getting ready in the morning because we want a treat. We are also thankful for each other, because life is better with siblings, even if we hiss and chase each other sometimes.

And we are super thankful for our amazing Catblogosphere friends. I can't imagine how empty our lives and the internet would be without you.


I'm also thankful for a comfy pillow to rest my head on.

Pooping on the pillow

OK, I'm telling on myself here, but it's too funny. You know how we reserve the right to poop on the bean's pillow when they misbehave or don't spoil us properly. Well, last night I got a little poop on my tail furs. And like a good boy I hopped up in bed to let Dad know he needed to clean me, which he did. He even scooped the litter box in the middle of the night. But he kept smelling poop. That's when he rolled over and realized there was a spot right there on his pillow. I didn't mean to do it -- it just happened. Or maybe it's a preemptive punishment, because I doubt they're saving us any Thanksgiving turkey.

Still purring for Kimo

Apparently there's still no sign of Kimo. I'm really worried for him, and his people. But I keep thinking back when Luna returned after 40 days, or our neighbors de-clawed indoor cat who was out in the woods behind their house for weeks and just came home one day. I'm staying positive that he'll be back soon. But we're purring extra hard until then.

Kimo come home

We just heard that our friend Kimo got out and has been away from home. We are purring for Kimo to come home soon. We are just worried sick...

The cat and the cactus

Did you see the video of the cat who was atop a 30- to 40-foot cactus and climbed down? I don't know about you, but I can imagine getting three feet up a cactus before deciding this was a bad idea. There must have been something worse on the ground for him to want to climb that.

Restful Maggie

We like when Maggie is sleeping -- it means that she's not chasing us. She loves on Huggy Bear, but likes to torment me, and really loves to torment Josie. Soit is a good thing to see her sleeping like this...


This is a new sleeping pose for her. She's turtling, with a chin rest.

Thank you

Thank you for the purrs for Mom and Uncle Billy. Mom made it home safely and we've been snuggling with her and giving her loves. Mom's Uncle Billy passed away Monday evening. Mom was thankful that she got to go up and spend some time with him and was glad she could help out her cousin so she could spend some time with her dad with less on her mind.

Mom came home from Ohio on Monday to our cable and internet being out. She was very upset with the AT&T U-verse tech who was supposed to call her mobile phone yesterday so she could leave work and meet him for the service call, but instead called our home number and put it down as a "missed appointment." It's not Mom's fault he called the wrong number. So we still don't have internet or cable at home. But he should be there tonight. For their sake, I hope it's a different tech today than yesterday or he's gonna get an ear full after the work is done. It's a shame when a good product is tainted by poor customer service. No one even said, "we're sorry he called the wrong number." On the plus side, Mom and Dad have been watching Arrested Development on DVD since they had no live tv.

Purrs needed, and Josie in the cat bed

Please send purrs for Mom. She has been up in Ohio this weekend with her uncle and his family. He is ill and on hospice care and Mom went to say goodbye. So please purr for Uncle Billy and that he is out of pain and at peace. Mom will be on the road home Monday. We've missed her, but are so glad that she could be up there to help out.

---

Now for some happiness. This is a rare sight...

Dad brought Josie upstairs to get loved on and Josie found her way over to the cat bed. Josie has been spending most of her time curled up on the couch downstairs, so it was a treat for Dad to see her curled up in the cat bed.


Maggie even came over and loved on Josie for a minute and licked her head. But since Maggie usually wrassles with Josie this quickly turned into hissing and growling from Josie.

BlogBlast for Peace

Peace on Earth and goodwill toward all kind!

Vicious Elk?

Mom and Dad drove home from Tennessee through the Smoky Mountains and stopped to take some pictures along the way. Mom was hoping to see some bears and had her camera ready. Well, she didn't see any bears, but she did see this...


A vicious elk! I figure since deer are vicious, then this elk is surely vicious too. Dad got out of the car to take some pictures because the battery died in the big camera so he had to get a little closer. The ranger said they should stay 50 yards away, but everyone was about 30 yards away. Close enough, if you ask me.


There was a field full of them at the feet of the mountains, but only the only big male with the rack.


Isn't he magnificent? I wouldn't want to head-butt him.


This is Mom and Dad at the football game. They look happy even though the wrong team was winning (Mom Paula's team). It's just nice to be surrounded by 100,000 friends for a football game.


Mom and Dad love the drive through the Smokies. Dad climbed down to the creek and took this picture with a long exposure to give the cool water effect. He's pretty happy with this one, and lucky to not have a lot of motion because he didn't have a tripod. It looks cold to me.


They also saw a squirrel and took a picture of it for us, because you know how much we all like to keep an eye on the squirrels. The last time Dad tried to take a picture of a squirrel at a park it jumped at him, so Dad was sure to stay back this time.

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone is having a safe and happy Halloween! Be careful of the trick-or-treaters and be sure to stay away from the door when they come. I know it is a curious time, but we don't want anycat wandering off, especially on a night like tonight. I suggest snoopervising from a safe window. This is one of my favorite holidays because it is an orange holiday and I'm a big orange cat.

Happy Halloween!

Back home

Mom and Dad went up to their old stomping grounds in Knoxville, TN, to watch their beloved football team lose last weekend, but they still had a good time. They got back late last night and were pooped. All four of us piled in bed with them because we missed them so so so much. They're not going anywhere again for at least a few weeks, so that's good.

They drove home through the Smoky Mountains and got some really good pictures. Their really good camera's battery died toward the end, but fortunately they had a backup camera because they came across a field full of elk. Dad got some good pictures, but he sure wishes the better camera had a little power left in it. It's the first time the battery has actually run down, so you know it was a good weekend. The pictures will follow soon.

Seventh Blogoversary!

Oh my goodness ... did I really catnap through my own blogoversary?!? How does that happen? Yes, my beans have been selfish and have been hogging the computer and not helping me blog. Scooby, Shaggy and Scout hit it right on the head when they said my beans had been slacking. All this week I had a feeling that there was something I was forgetting, too.

Thanks for all the nice blogoversary comments. I can't believe I've been at this for seven years now (as of 10/25). Sure, I know I haven't been as active as I once was, and I plan on changing that. I was just reflecting that other day on some of the wonderful cat friends who aren't around anymore -- specifically Buzzerbee and Meep, and Bonnie Underfoot. You have all touched our lives more than you probably understand, and offer a welcoming escape from life's wear and tear. Thank you all.

By the way, yesterday was Dad's 10 year anniversary of graduating from chiropractic school and he forgot that too, so it's not just us...

And to make up for missing my own blogoversary, he's some pictures:


Maggie found both the cat bed and a ray of sunshine at the same time. Really, what more could a cat ask for?


We had sticky little people in the house last weekend with heavy feet and grabby hands. All they wanted to do was to love on us, and all we wanted to do was run the other way. I got hissy, which is not like me at all. Josie was actually very tolerant, and even let the four-year-old try to carry her. (She looked like Penelope, the little girlfriend of Pepe-le-Pew, being squeezed and over-loved.) This is Josie enjoy the peace and quiet after Gracie and Clara Ann left. We love the extra treats we get, but appreciate the silence more.

Halloween is coming up. Everyone be careful with the trick-or-treaters out there.

Tabby Tuesday

We had a perfect box by the window in Mom and Dad's room. Sure, it was getting pretty ratty and broken down. But that's when they are the best. But Mom decided we needed a cat bed there instead.


Maggie was the early adopter of the cat bed. I would tip toe around it at first. It did take the spot of my favorite box, after all. But I did take a nap in it this weekend and it's really not all bad. Mom is having issues with it now, because Maggie is choosing to sleep in the cat bed at night instead of curled up with Mom.

Purring for Parker

We are so sad to hear Parker's bad news. We are purring as hard as we can. It's just not fair. Cats are supposed to get cancer. No one should.

(Not quite) Wordless Wednesday

(Playing with some photo effects on the Paper Camera app on the Android. I told Dad I would be the best subject to try it out on, and he agreed.)

Tabby Tuesday (in a tent)

Maggie loves her tent from IKEA. It's supposed to be a tent that we share, but in all honesty Maggie kind of claimed it from day one. I don't think IKEA carries pet items anymore, and that's just a shame because all of our favorite tents came from IKEA.


Maggie was ready for her closeup that day.

You really can't beat lounging in a good tent. She blends in nicely with all the camo. This tent is in the office, so when she's not sharing the seat with Dad, or climbing all over the desk and head-butting Dad as he tries to type or use the mouse, she'll lounge in her tent.

---

On a side note, I tried to use Blogger on Dad's Android phone and couldn't get it to work. I could log in, but when I tried to touch the field for the body of the post it would never let me actually enter any text. Has anyone else had this issue? And does anyone use the Blogger app? The app got poor feedback so we just stayed away from it. It would be nice to be able to post on the go. Thanks for your input.

The outrage!

I was looking on Mom and Dad's Flickr and look what I saw:


A cat that is not a McKitten-Cat! Dad said this cat visits his office and was in the parking lot and needed some love, but still ... And then to give him a spot on our Flickr stream, too. Just so long as Dad washes his hands real good and doesn't start sharing our treats with him, I guess it's OK.

Stinky Goodness Cake

We had our traditional Stinky Goodness Cake for Josie and Huggy Bear's birthday back in September. They turned seven, so they had a 7 cake...


Huggy Bear was first to check out the cake.


But it wasn't long before Josie and Maggie joined in. We were all very good and shared the cake on one plate. Well, except me -- I got my own.


This was a different Stinky Goodness, and it hit the spot. Maybe we liked it even more because we've been eating healthy, light food, so to have some full-flavor Stinky Goodness tasted so good. How good was it, you ask?


It was so good, it was lick your nose good! Thanks again for all the birthday wishes. I can't believe it is October already! I can't wait until we get to help Mom and Dad carve pumpkins!

Cat waits for her bean at train platform

This story is pretty amazing. This cat waits for her bean every day at the train stop...

Thanks for the birthday wishes

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, for Huggy Bear and Josie last week, and those who saw it was Dad's yesterday. I started to post something, but then Dad hogged the computer and Mom was busy working and wouldn't share her thumbs (I wish I had thumbs) so nothing go posted. But Dad is 39 now -- really pushing 40. He told Mom he wants them to jump out of a plane next year for his birthday. I'm not sure how I feel about that. But he has plenty of time to forget or chicken out.

Meow Like A Pirate!

Happy Meow Like A Pirate Day!

I know I be a little tardy a-postin' me pirate pic. I be a bit of a scallywag that way, today. But you be a-trustin' me, I wouldn't be a scurvy dog and miss this day!

Happy Birthday Josie and Huggy Bear!

Happy Birthday to Josie and Huggy Bear! I really can't believe my brother and sister are seven years old! Time goes by so fast. I feel like I was older when they came to live with me, but I was only two. That seems so little now. I have been blessed to have such good siblings, who are nice and fun to play with, and supportive. We hardly bicker at all (although we like to give Josie a hard time).


Josie was so tiny when she came to live with us. She's hardly bigger than Mom's slipper here.


It's hard to remember Huggy Bear being this little (or his tummy not dragging...)


Huggy and Josie used to snuggle when they were little. They don't snuggle that much anymore, but weren't they sweet?


This is more of their "laying together" technique now.


This is probably how they'll spend most of their birthday ... enjoying a sunny spot. But hopefully we'll get open windows tonight.

And you know there's going to be stinky goodness cake! We'll get those pictures up soon.

Happy Birthday Josie and Huggy Bear. I look forward to the next seven years!

Maggie Monday: Window time

Oh the weather is getting so nice. We actually had the windows open the other day. It was wonderful! But when the windows are closed and the blinds are down, you have two choices:


Stay low and look from under the blinds...


or get behind the blinds and check things out.

I guess you can always pull the blinds apart. Maggie does that, too, but not in front of the camera (no evidence of the crime).

Mo Cats Day

I almost forgot today was Mo Cats Day! I can't imagine how boring the internets would be without us. I mean, really!?!

---

On a more serious note, we're sending purrs to Beau's family. His Mom passed away at 49 -- way too young...

Furs at work

Although we've never been to Dad's work before, he discovered some of our furs in his office the other day. Unknown to him, we've been sneaking our furs on all his stuff, so that it will be deposited at his work when he gets there. It's all part of the master plan!

Found the tail

Some were concerned that the tail from the new pink mouse disappeared so quickly. Well, Josie did not eat it, but she did bring it to Dad tonight. Maybe it was in response to him packing again. I think she may have been offering it so he would stay. But Mom and Dad have a family reunion to go to in Portsmouth, Ohio. And Dad's parents and sister are coming too. We'd go too, but the drive is way too long for us.

In rememberance

We learned over the weekend that Edsel's Mom had passed away from brain cancer. It is so sad a heartbreaking. Edsel was one of the first cat bloggers we followed, back when there we so few of us that I could visit every cat blog I knew about in 20 minutes. I noticed a while back that she had stopped posting, then we heard she was sick. It makes us so sad. We get connected through the Cat Blogosphere with so many kind and amazing people. But we know she is at peace, and that Edsel and Casey are in good hands with their dad.

Packing?

Well it appears that Mom and Dad are packing again. Something about Mom's 20 year high school reunion this weekend. That means we're going to be here alone this weekend. So come on over and trash the house with us. We'll blame it on Hurricane Irene.

So sad for Paula

Paula, Sweet Praline's Mom, got some very bad news about one of the new kittens who was due to come and live with her this weekend. Beignet, the little boy-cat, had an adverse reaction to a vaccine and went to the bridge. At least he's in good company with Sweet Praline. But it was such a short life, but full of love. Our hearts just break for Mom Paula and Truffle. Purrs to everyone out there today. It's been a tough week for a lot of us.

Hunting new pink mouse

We got our new pink mouse in the mail the other day from Caren and Cody.


Huggy Bear had a few seconds to inspect it before Josie claimed the fuzzier one.


As you can see, Josie wasted no time grabbing the mouse and running off with it. So quick she almost missed the picture.


She took it downstairs to whap it around a little.


And then she pounced it real good. She was really after the tail.


Maggie wanted a turn, but I don't think she ever got a try.


This is a very happy Josie with a new fuzzy pink mouse.

The next morning the mouse was back upstairs, in one of Dad's shoes, minus a tail. We haven't seen the tail since.