StealthBunny

stealthbunny @ 2009-11-14T16:07:00

2009-11-14T21:07:31Z

Smidgeon, you darling little idiot, you need to wake up to the fact that The Phooka is BIGGER THAN YOU! He is huge. He is almost THREE TIMES your weight. And he is a lop, which means that he is not mostly leg, like other breeds of rabbits. His weight is all muscle and bulk. It would be the equivelent of me seeing an upended refrigerator hurtling down at me.

Therefore, my dear kitten, when he is racing across the room for his beloved salad, it is NOT the time to pull to an abrupt stop in front of him to half roll over and clean your butt. Besides the above mentioned bulk.. he also has really really rotten brakes. It is only out of sheer luck for you that he was getting his salad just a little bit earlier than usual and so he wasn't quite as hungry as usual, that he was able to stop in time, and I have to say that I admire his self-control. I've seen him bowl over bigger and fiercer obstacles than you on his way to his salad. I was amazed that all he did was look at you, then at me in sheer apalled amazement, then at you and back at me again. And STILL he didn't charge right through you.

You have no idea how lucky you are, scamp.

stealthbunny @ 2009-11-13T18:23:00

2009-11-13T23:23:28Z

Dear Smidgie

I am delighted that you love your new feather boa so much! But why do you insist on dropping it in your water bowl? I can understand you wanting to keep your Feathered Lure toy in your food bowl. That way, you always know where it is, and your food bowl is usually empty. But your water bowl is FULL, which makes your feather boa wet. And soggy. And messy to play with. And then you bring it into my lap. While it is wet. And soggy. And, when you do that in the dark, rather scary, until I identify it as your wet soggy feather boa.

I also did enjoy watching you pretend that my sneakers were trying to eat your feather boa and you had to attack them and pull your feather boa out from inside of them. It was a very dramatic performance, and you certainly taught my sneakers several very important lessons about messing with your toys.

I was also very glad you did that segment of play BEFORE you dunked your feather boa in your water bowl.

Also, I'm not sure your sister Nox or your Lapine Brother The Phooka appreciate having bits of feather swimming in their drinking water.

I'm still wondering about the WHYS of that one.

All love,

The provider of feathered fun stuff.

stealthbunny @ 2009-11-12T11:55:00

2009-11-12T17:12:24Z

Yesterday, I took a ton of pictures for eBay listings, so dumped the camera to the computer for editings. Which meant... the kitty pictures got transferred as well! New ones follow!

Noxie VERY asleep.

Smidgeon would LOVE to share the window pillow. Nox is never too sure when sharing turns into Playing With Nox's Tail.

But Smidgie is distracted by the pretty crystals.

"Mooooom! Come rescue me from the kitten!"

"Maybe if I just ignore her..."

Ignoring turns into snuggled napping.

Smidgie with a new "Feathered Lure", her all-time FAVORITE toy. This one only lasted a day and a half until it was denuded of all feathers. Now there is nothing but Woe.

stealthbunny @ 2009-11-09T10:52:00

2009-11-09T15:54:35Z

It's a mild rant-n-rave this time, but no less heartfelt.

It's bad enough when the music from your teens has become fodder for tv commercials.

But when it has been compiled on OLDIES CDS... Totally Oldies from the 80s... there is nothing like that to make you suddenly feel ancient on a Monday morning.

EDIT: Thank gods the next song was Footloose. It may be a Totally Oldie... but at least you can't sit still when it's on. (dances in her chair and types in rhythm)

Note to Cat

2009-10-28T23:11:21Z

Dear Nox,

I am so sorry you don't like your new collar and tage, but hun... get used to them. I know it's a little uncomfy at first, but the collar will soften up, and you do look so beautiful in it! The shimmery goes so well with your glossy black coat! And the tag says that you live here, and that's very very important.

I also know that it would be easier if your annoying little sister didn't think the bell on it meant that it was... oh, dear... a play-toy just for her. I am sorry for that.

All my love,
Momma.
____

Smidgie,

Leave your sister's collar alone. It's hard enough to get used to one without you grabbing the bell and dragging yourself along from it. She's embarrassed enough as it is, and she's bigger than you, knows how to sit on top of you, pin you down, and isn't afraid to use it!

In about one month, you'll be old enough for a collar of your own.

Your day will come.

All my patience,
Momma.

more pictures!

2009-10-26T20:38:23Z

Can you tell I dumped my camera into my computer today?

I love how Nox splays herself into a puddle! When the sun hits her fur, she turns into molten hematite. She's bird (or squirrel) watching here, but she also splays like this on the back of the recliner or softie chair, with either of her back legs on either side. And her tail is made out of the deepest plush velvet. I don't blame Smidgie for being obsessed with catching it; I can't keep my hands off of it myself. It must be captured and the tip of it kissed!

Mom got this huge pet bed shipped to her in error, and the company told her to just keep it. I've had it listed in my eBay store for a couple of years now, but I'm outlisted by the sheer number of this type of thing. Up until this summer, I had two pillows on the storage bins in the studio window for the cats and The Phooka to lay on, but one of them was beat and chewed to death and back again, and there was no salvaging it. I tossed it after Jazzi's and Tiki's passing, and The Phooka refused to lay on just one. It turned out to be too small for him. So Mom graciously gave us the pet bed and I put it in the window today. It is just the right size to cover the two storage bins. It is rather like a feather bed-type of pillow, and several inches thick. And I do mean thick! Out of sheer whimsy, I tossed Smidge on it. She sunk. The covering (which comes off and is machine-washable. I swear, they see me coming when they make these things!) is made out of a tough material that makes wonderful shooshy noises that sends a kitten into playful delights!

She brought her feather-fishy in. Feather-fishy is down to two feathers and stubble now, but is still bringing her great joy. The crystal beads are the bottom of a bird feeder that I found at a garage-sale last summer that is far too beautiful to hang outside. Smidgie was having a hard time keeping her mind on the feather-fishy and not attacking the dangly crystals. Oh, the dilemnia!

She grabbed a few mouthfuls of dinner, then there was this little blur through the livingroom and back into the studio for more serious playtime in the pillow!

And finally all played out and laying comfy to watch the evening birds and squirrels come to feed.

The Phooka hasn't been in yet this evening, so hasn't seen the new bed. He's been sleeping a lot on Tiki's old bed in the living room in the evenings these days. He did that a lot last winter too, as it was next to one of Tiki's favorite heating vents. I'm rather hoping that this pillow will give him another choice of a comfy place to lay in the evenings. He used to spend evenings with us here in the studio, although it might be a little too chilly for him now, too.

Bunkmates. The Phooka and Smidgie take a nap together.

From a few days ago - Smidgie and the bird feeder. Sooner or later, she's gonna figure out she's just the right size to fit IN it....

And Smidgie passed out in the window scratching post nest. That's all the cuteness for tonight!

The Phooka's Shnuggly Face

2009-10-26T17:17:29Z

No more pictures, please. Just shnuggles!

stealthbunny @ 2009-10-26T13:06:00

2009-10-26T17:12:55Z

Wherein Smidgie learns that persistance gains the best bed nearest the window, and Nox learns that some things Just Aren't Worth It.

(Note the Noxie ears behind Smidgie as she tries vainly to hold out!)

Alas, Kitten Energy wins out and there is Triumph.

Note to Cats

2009-10-26T17:05:25Z

Dear Nox and Smidgeon,

I only went to pour a cup of coffee.

This does NOT mean that the Softie Chair becomes immediately Up For Grabs.

And thus, you shouldn't look so shocked when I come back less than THREE MINUTES LATER and want my chair back. I am more than willing to share, but that means there has to be room left for ME TOO!

stealthbunny @ 2009-10-25T18:39:00

2009-10-25T22:49:38Z

Smidgeon LOOOOOVES toys with feathers.

I had to hide the Da Bird, because she'd drag the lure, the six foot long string, and the three foot long wand around the house and try to take it into The Phooka's cage, which she adopted as sort of a den. If Noxie even LOOKED at her, she'd do this low growl. Not a GRRRRR, but a grrrrrrr, which was simply .... adorable in it's smallness.

"Ise be FEERCE! This be MY FEATHER! I KILLS the ... um... DANGEROUS... um... FEATHER!"

I love PetStages cat toys. So when I saw these: www.petstages.com/cats/playing/feathered-lure-pair.html I had to order them. Small enough for a tiny itty bitten kitten to bat around, and with FEATHERS!

They came in a couple of days ago. The feathers are about three times the size of the fishie. They are so big that when Smidgie carries it around, you can't see her face. Just a kitten body with a bunch o' feathers where her little head should be. And she loves this toy! The first night, she played with it for 45 minutes straight. Hard! Then she finally climbed up into my lap, curled up with her head in my hand and passed out for over two hours. The toy was minus two feathers and starting to look rather bedraggled. I had only given her one (they come in pairs), but she had found the other, still attached to the cardboard backing. She dragged it away too. Still attached to the cardboard backing. The cardboard was taller than she is. She was bouncing through the room with the toy... still attached to the cardboard backing... taller than she is. I laughed myself silly. When I went to find the other one to bribe her, I found it in her food bowl. Since then, it is ALWAYS in her food bowl when she is not playing with it. ALWAYS. Apparently, this is such a special toy, that she puts it in her food bowl when she is done playing with it, so she always knows where it is.

Late that night, she brought it to bed with us. I woke up in the middle of the night by a romping kitten bouncing on the bed and occassionally being smacked in the face with wet feathers.

Four days later, there are only about three feathers left on it. And several teeth marks on the fishie.

And it is sitting patiently in her food bowl. Waiting for the next playtime.

The Phooka, always a gentlebun to the ladies

2009-10-18T19:07:42Z

The Noxie-kitty was laying in the kitchen while I was preparing The Phooka's salad this evening. I stepped over her when I went to carry his bowl out to his Place Of Eating, and realized that he wasn't following.

When I turned to see why, it was because he was standing on the other side of the sprawled-out Nox. She's wary of him because of his size (and his really really rotton brakes), but is gentle and docile, much like Tiki was. And apparently, he didn't want to rush by her and startle her, which is always how he was with Tiki.

He stayed there until I called Nox away, and once she stood up and moved into the room with me giving him more space to get by her, he bounded for his salad with his usual enthusiasm.

However, if it had been the Smidgeon-kitten (or in the past, Jazzi) in similar circumstances, I've seen him bowl her over.

Nox, however, is a Lady Cat, and is given Honor.

stealthbunny @ 2009-10-17T10:56:00

2009-10-17T15:01:49Z

Dear Phooka,

I know that you love to dig and scootch the blankies in the softie chair. But, sweetie, you have to start being a little more careful. The Smidgie-kitten was laying in the blankets, and when you dug and kicked this morning, you... um... well, sent her flying out of the chair, tumbling head over tail. I know you didn't mean to. You never even touched her. You just managed to flip the part of the blanket she was laying on.

Fortunately, she ADORES you and jumped back up.

Unfortunately, you didn't see her and sat on her. All that was visible was a tiny kitten paw flailing and her tail. I know she nipped your butt in protest, but your fur is so thick that you never even felt it, did you? But that was why I boofed your butt and lugged you off her. You DID get shnuggling, though, so don't give me that look of Disapproval. And Smidgie didn't mind at all, since she also curled up in my lap.... just a little ways away from your big body, you lumox of a bunny.

You are such a goofball.

I have GOT to start keeping a camera in that room.

stealthbunny @ 2009-10-15T11:39:00

2009-10-15T15:40:36Z

Nooooooo! The juncos are back! I don't waaaant winter yeeeeeet! Waaaaaah!

stealthbunny @ 2009-10-14T16:16:00

2009-10-14T20:30:52Z

Dear Nox

YOU may be still unsure of The Phooka... but he is smitten about you! I know he's been going out of his way to spend time in the same room with you, but today was certain proof!

I walked into the livingroom, to find you asleep in the recliner, and The Phooka on the floor in front of it on his softy blankie (which used to be Tiki's cat bed), completely flopped on his side in bliss. You probably don't know this yet, but rabbits only sleep on their sides when they are very very happy and comfortable in their surroundings. I haven't seen The Phooka flopped like that in a long time. He had even folded a small softie into a pillow for himself. He was so happy, just to be near you.

You are so welcome here, baby. Our home is all the better for your presence.

Dear Smidgie,

I love that you want to sleep with me, but sleeping on top of my throat is not only uncomfortable, but also potentially hazardous. And when I start coughing, the proper reaction is to MOVE OFF THE THROAT, not just to sit up and look at me quizically while I continue to cough because you are STILL ON MY THROAT!

Really, though, my taking a bath is perfectly safe for me. You do not need to continually check on me. However, suddenly seeing a pair of ears and the top half of kitten-eyes peering over the edge of the tub sends me exploding into giggles no matter how often you do it, so maybe you should keep on with it. It's obviously very healthy for me.

stealthbunny @ 2009-10-14T13:23:00

2009-10-14T17:24:18Z

You know it's going to be a reallyreallyREALLY long day, when your coffeemaker breaks down first thing in the morning.

BEFORE you've had your first cup of coffee.

stealthbunny @ 2009-10-13T10:49:00

2009-10-13T15:23:56Z

I finally was able to get some good pictures of Nox! This one is my ultimate favorite of her... well, at least, so far.

Her coat fascinates me. When she is in Crouching Huntress mode, she looks like a puddle of molten hematite. The sun splashed off her fur in highlighs of silver-black. Her fur is plush and incredibly thick and much softer and healthier than I ever would have suspected from a cat who has spent a year in a shelter. Yesterday, we had a lesson of tough-love with a glass of water, and twenty minutes later, she was already COMPLETELY dry. Apparently, that thick coat sheds water like a duck! She's waterproof!

I've been crashing from a FMS/CFS flare after the busy week of adoption, vet visit, and ... well, just a horrible summer, actually, but Sunday morning, I spent in the studio net-surfing, and Nox was delighted. She found a sunny patch right at my feet and washed and preened and purred and gave me luvins. I feel a little bad that the kitten breaks in and demands so much attention away from her, especially since Nox chose me and the kitten was supposed to be The Phooka's friend. Nox definitely seems disappointed at times, but she is obviously happy for the most part. She adores her windows, is back to sleeping with me at night, and plays hard in the evenings. She loves to run through the house in mad dashes, and it feels SOOOO GOOD to hear the sound of pounding kitty feet again. Tiki also was one who loved to run for the sheer joy of running, and the first night Nox did mad dashes, I had tears of joy. She does it every evening now, that plushy tail poofed huge, and tiny Smidgie bipbipbipping after her. They take turns chasing and leaping over each other. My instincts of when to move and when to freeze have come back, although last night I opened the fridge door at the wrong moment, and Smidgie couldn't stop in time and ended up inside the fridge on one of the shelves.

Anyway, more pics!

The Pretty Noxie Tummy!!

The scratching post in the window is a favorite of both. Smidgeon loves all scratching posts and already knows what they are for and that she will get luvs and pettins and praises for using them. Nox... not so much. She just doesn't see the appeal . However, I also haven't seen her use the furniture as an alternate. The closest has been stretching up against a doorjamb with her claws out, but not dug in. Yet, anyway.

Mighty huntresses! Nox spends almost all her time at the Within The Fence window. Unfotunately, this is already leading to her belief that she should be allowed outdoors. Since she has spent almost her entire life with no training or understanding of human speech, I'm going to have to do some serious work with her and quickly. Smidge is already learning from just a watergun... and when she sees me with it, she squinches her eyes tightly shut!

Smidge is also already the triumphant huntress. She has killed several pieces of hay, feathers, (dear lord above, but she loves feathers. I have had to hide the Da Bird toy), and was very annoyed when I killed the spider she was trying to eat (the body was bigger than her little mouth, and I'm phobic about spiders anyway) and freed the small dragonfly she somehow managed to pull in through the window screen. She has also stalked the grass growing in The Phooka's garden box. Truly impressive!

Another of my favoriites Wrestling sisters under a chair leg.

Smidgie is also fantastic to watch horror movies with. She actually focuses on the screen (she also likes The Transformers!), curls up on my chest under my chin and lets me hide behind her ears.

New favorite Smidgeon Marking: All her whiskers are black, except for ONE single white whisker..

As promised...

2009-10-08T20:48:27Z

PICTURES!

To save you from major spamming, I'll put them all behind the cut, except for....

Smidgeon learns an extremely important lesson of life. Never get between The Bunny and His Salad. Evah! This includes The Bunny while he is waiting for his salad as well. She tried doing a flying tackle on him tonight after his salad. She flew off the recliner, all four legs sticking straight out to the sides, looking rather like a flying squirrel. I never saw the landing. Just the skinny tinycat in flight.

The Phooka is excellent in teaching cats manners, though. He taught Jazzi perfectly. Jazzi wouldn't listen to ME, but she'd listen to my rabbit. When she'd poke at him while he was eating, he grrph and punch at her. Once he threw a carrot at her. My favorite was when he picked up a sprig of parsely that was covered in water and shook it in her face.

This morning, Smidgie was in a stalking mood. Nox was stalked. My feet were stalked. A piece of innocent paper was stalked. And The Phooka was stalked. Yes, the Mighty Huntress went after the Dangerous ... um... Bunny Rabbit! On her tummy, she crept while he drank at the water bowl. Inch by inch until she could peer around the corner at him.

He lifted his head to gaze at her. She didn't move.

One of his floppy loppy ears swivelled forward to point straight at her like a finger. "Don't even THINK of trying it, kid."

Mighty Huntress backed away, then bouncied off.

Oh, yeah. We know who the boss is around here!

However, they are quickly becoming friends in between the Kitten Energy Spurts. This is them on the cats' first night home, dozing less than ten inches from each other. The Phooka is already giving them nose-bonks and I've been seeing him do his special "giggle" (he loves to shake his ears and give a little shoulder wiggle when he's happy), which he hadn't been doing at all in the last week or so.

Smidgie alllllmoooost asleep if it weren't for that darned flash! Give it a break, Maaaaa!

Finally, she figured out that she'd just turn her back.

Nox, being almost entirely black is really hard to photograph.And whenever I tried using a flash, she'd squint up her eyes and look like an angry demon cat. And she'd not - she is the sweetest Lady who has already let me trim her claws without a single struggle.

She does make some wonderful silhouette photographs, though!.

She has become almost obsessed with windows. Oh, how she LOVES watching out the windows. Any window. All windows! Unfortunately, there are now two neighborhood cats who are bunking in my yard (I know one of them lives nearby, but the other might be a stray for all I know) and have chased all the birds except for the woodpeckers away. But woodpeckers are good enough for Nox. Especially at the feeder Within The Fence that is only four feet from the window. She shows no sign of wanting to go out after them, but her ears go up, her bottom goes down, and her tail lashes. She has discovered birds! She has discovered squirrels! She has discovered chipmunks!

Smidgeon has discovered Nox's tail!

Nox is finding Smidgie's Kitten Energy ... trying. I rather think she thought she was coming home with me to be the Only Cat. When Smidgie discovered Sleeping In Bed With Mom, Nox abandoned the bed to sleep on the dresser. She comes back whenever the kitten leaves, though, so I don't think it will last for long.

Even in between naps, must watch birds...

Smidgeon is willing to learn from that, too.

Nox had earmites terribly, but a dose of meds at the vet's yesterday seems to have helped tremendously. Last night, she showed that she loves to simply run. Mad dashes from one end of the house to the other, over and over, just for the sheer joy of running. Tail all poofed - she has the most fantastic tail, so dense and soft. Her coat amazes me because it is so soft and glossy, without any sign of that shelter-cat roughness. Right now, both of them have sticky ears and neck from the ear mites meds and the Advantage (although they had been comb-checked for fleas at the shelter, there was one crawling on Smidgie's tiny tummy that night), so burying my face into that deep plushy coat of Nox's will have to wait a few more days. Even The Phooka has been Advantage-d, so I am bereft of face-burying.

That's it for this writing. I'm still dead tired and sore, but we're all settling in well. The biggest improvement has been The Phooka. Already he is loosening his Velcro-hold on me and is spending more time in the studio with Nox and is slipping back into the schedule he used to have with more independence, instead of being glued to the same room wherever I am.

He is amazing.

Just to let everyone know....

2009-10-07T22:49:05Z

The Phooka has picked a new Feline Friend, and so have I. On Monday, we visited a local shelter and came home with a five month old kitten whom I renamed Smidgeon and a year and a half old that I renamed My Lady Nox.

The Phooka and Smidgeon both sat in my lap at the same time without any growling, hissing, or boxing on either side, so I took that to be a Good Sign. The Phooka is a little overwhelmed by Kitten Energy, but she ADORES him. He is teaching her various manners (You do NOT come between a bunny and his salad. EVAH!), and seems rather amused by her.

Nox picked me. I had decided that I needed one slightly older as my own friend, to help me get over my loss of Tiki. I haven't been sleeping well, especially in the last week. The minute I walked into the shelter, a cat landed on my shoulder and pressed against the side of my head purring loudly. She couldn't wait to coax me into bed that night, just like Tiki always did. I had said a little prayer toward Tiki that morning asking her to help me pick well. I think she heard me.

Smidgeon is a tortoiseshell - a smidgeon of this color, a smidgeon of that. Nox is solid black, except for a frosting of white under her throat.

So far, we are all doing well. Even when bombarded by Kitten Energy. I'm completely exhausted from 2.5 hours at the shelter, and today was a vet visit as well. Which is why I haven't posted earlier, and why this is short and without pictures.

There will be more. Once I can see straight again. And when Smidgie is asleep. She has discovered the cursor on the screen. She has stalked, done the butt-wiggle dance, pounced, and sent my laptop into hibernationl

Yeah. We're getting there.

stealthbunny @ 2009-10-01T16:31:00

2009-10-01T20:33:55Z

Just so that I can find this again someday....

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?Tiny_birds_incredible_piggyback_ride_on_hawk&in_article_id=744896&in_page_id=34

My friends and I always said, it was the small ones you had to watch out for!

honeycrisp apples

2009-09-27T23:06:20Z

I've never been too crazy about apples. But Oh.My.God, honeycrisp apples are amazing! I got hooked on them last year, and now that it's apple season again, I have my honeycrisps back.

I was eating one this evening, when The Phooka bounced in. He froze a few feet from my chair, nose sniffing. Then LEAPED into my lap and crawled up my chest, nose going a mile a minute.

Now, I've never given him any apple before, ever. And usually when faced with Something New, he treats it as Suspicious. But I bit off a small chunk and handed it to him.

Oh, the bliss! Eyes half closed, lips smacking, he savored every bite slowly.

And then he tried to climb inside my mouth for more.

I have never seen him so eager for something that I was eating. He wuffled my face and oh so very gently nibbled my lip.

So I gave him another chunk.

Oh, the joy, the bliss, the delight, the savoring, MUSTHAVEMOREGIMMEGIMMEGIMME, I CLIMB MOMMA"S ARM THE APPLE RIGHT THERE WITHIN REACH ALMOST, front legs flailing, SHE'S NOT GIVING ANYMORE, WOE, I GIVE BUNNYBUTT SO THERE.

Which would have been more effective, if he hadn't kept peeking over his shoulder at me to see if I was noticing the BunnyButt or if maybe I had relented and was handing another bit out to him.

I compromised and let him have a few tiny nibbles of the core when I was done, and I was loved again.

Powerful stuff, those honeycrisps!

Kitten Prayer

2009-09-26T21:45:20Z

Dear Phooka's Kitten To Be;

Leisl, our pet communicator, said that I should write out what traits I hope you might have, as a kind of prayer. I have given it much thought, and here is what I hope for you:

-solid color, preferably black
-dainty, although tall and slim is also fine.
-tiny paws, although extra toes is ok, too, and softie paws.
-head butt-er - forehead-to-forehead a plus!
-must sleep nights with me, crawling under blankies is a plus!
-paw patter, likes to touch things with paws
-wise and intelligent, which are not necessarily the same thing.
-gentle.
-playful, but not wildly so, or to the point of damaging
-one who likes catnip, who reacts by being "stoned", not wild
-has a sense of humor, more so than dignity
-talker and purr-er
-loves to watch birds from windows
-must love The Phooka
-a healer, who will take care of me when I am not feeling well.

Obviously, all traits are open for negotiation, as long as you are healthy, happy, and love me and The Phooka.

In turn, you will have a loving, safe home, with lots of snuggles, deep conversations, sharing of Kitten and Bunny Secrets, play time with creative games (Bunnies can come up with the greatest of games!) and cool toys, yummy food and treats, a window looking out at birds, squirrels, chipmunks and cottontails that come JUST FOR YOU to watch, and all the love a kitten can want for the rest of your life.

Applications accepted at our Vet's and also with The Phooka.

stealthbunny @ 2009-09-22T08:40:00

2009-09-22T12:47:08Z

Somebird became a meal Within The Fence early this morning. Not sure who or by whom, but there were a lot of tiny feathers and one spot of blood, and I has a little sad. Nature goes on, though, I know. I couldn't find any prints of who-dun-it - too much hard ground to leave any traces.

However, I have to say, that I was fascinated when I could see from my window, one tiny feather that seemed to be marching along the driveway. No other feathers were moving, but this one definitly had an agenda. Since one of the window feeders had fallen and I managed to drop my Trusty Stick (tm) out the window last night, I used that as an excuse to investigate.

There was a tiny ant determinedly moving the tiny feather. No other ants that were nearby had any interest in any of the other feathers. Just this one. It took him quite a while to move it a foot, as it was quite unweildy and kept tipping him over. It was worse when he got it to the lawn and had to try and manage it around grass and leaves. He didn't seem to be trying to take it to the ant hills nearby, which would have been even more fascinating, because the ant hill opening was smaller than the feather. I had a mental image: "Wow! Won't the queen be impressed with THIS! A softie for her to lay on! I am so clever! I am so thoughtful! I am so.... IT WON'T FIT!!!! WOE!!!" And all of the other ants laughing at him.

...as you might be able to tell, I have had neither breakfast nor coffee yet this morning....

Jazzi's walkies

2009-09-20T17:05:19Z

Here are pictures and a video of Jazzi on her walkies. You can see how much she loved to go on these, even though she had to stop and rest so often.

Watching for grasshoppers. She discovered these fascinating creatures very recently when one took off right from under her nose! She chased! She pounced! There was frantic pattings. Then peekings under her paws. Then pouncing again when it escaped! Then pattings! Then munchings.

Apparently grasshoppers taste MUCH better than caterpillers.

And here is a video of Jazzi marching along!

</div>

We lose Jazzi... but gain hope for the future.

2009-09-19T18:24:35Z

My Jazzi-kitty was put to sleep this week, on Thursday. Her pain grew too great - she has had a history of chronic pain in her hips for several years - and it was causing progressive aggression.

The following is a mixture - some very sad, and some very beautiful. I'm putting it behind the cut, so you may read at your own discretion.

I had hoped that when Tiki had passed (she lost her battle to cancer barely a month ago), that Jazzi's temperment would improve now that I had more time for her. She badly wanted to go outdoors, and now I could take her for walks on her leash and harness, without Tiki throwing massive fits at being left behind. And I do mean MASSIVE. My neighbors once asked if Tiki was ill, because she would scream so loudly. And if I took Tiki out for her own turn, Jazzi would scream just as badly. I had tried this years ago and had to stop. But now, I thought, Jazzi could do this.

Unfortunately, Jazzi earned her nickname of Brat Cat long ago. Give her an inch, and she wants the whole world. She loved the walks, but a walk a day wasn't enough for her. She wanted them ALL THE TIME. And I was having increasing pain myself trying to do the once-a-day. And when Jazzi threw tantrums, I bled. I'd take her for a walk, and she'd want to turn around and go right back out again, and would attack me if I didn't take her. Even worse, she started growling at people who would come in my house, even smacking one person. And then to growl at people who would be walking by and talk to me through the window. And this last week, she attacked The Phooka every single day, at least once a day, and the last day, she chased him as well. No blood was shed... but it was only a matter of time. She no longer enjoyed watching the birds out the window, and even though there was a ton of purring... I don't think she liked me much anymore. It wasn't her fault. She just hurt too much, and her meds were no longer giving her any relief. At the vet that last time, she attacked me when I reached to take her out of the carrier, and then set up a growling that simply didn't stop. The vet could hear, and FEEL it from across the room. He quickly agreed with me that it was time. Jazzi was miserable, and I probably would have realized it sooner, had I not been suffering myself.

She fought every inch of the way, every second. She bit at me when the shot went in. She fought her way out of my arms as she became disoriented. She wouldn't let herself lay down, and instead, walked in circles in the chair next to mine and bit at me whenever I tried to reach out to her. When she finally couldn't stay on her feet, she still bit at me when I pulled her into my lap. And the growling! The growling didn't stop, until her spirit finally left her body, and her body was still fighting and breathing. Or snoring, rather, for Jazzi always snored. But she was finally without pain.

The next day, The Phooka and I had an appointment with our pet communicator, Leisl. I was so worried about him. When Tiki had been ill, he had been so worried, that he had stopped eating, which can be a death sentance in rabbits in a matter of hours. And Jazzi had been his bestest bud when they were kits. I had to make sure that he understood that Jazzi was not being mean to him on purpose, and most importantly, that he had to keep eating and to continue to be strong, because I needed him so badly.

He lay next to me as I talked to him, leaning against me, and he told me that he already knew about Jazzi. I told him that in a while, I would take him to pick out another cat friend, if he would like. The vet has a litter of kittens that the staff is bottle-feeding now. They are only about 13 days old, and already are showing signs of huge personalities and loud voices. I always manage to attract animals who suffer an over-abundance of personality, and those who can carry on a "conversation" with me are even more of a blessing, since I live alone and if I didn't talk to my fur-tribe, I would never hear the sound of a voice at all. The Phooka cheered right up and said he had hoped I would bring in someone else, because otherwise he would be very lonely. The vet said that I would be welcome to bring The Phooka in to pick out a kitten, and when I asked The Phooka if he would like to do this, his only concern was that "I hope I do it right!" I assured him that he would do just fine, but that it would still be quite a while yet, several weeks, until his new friend would be ready to adopt, which would give both of us the time we need to heal. I told him that he has been such a brave rabbit and such a wonderful support to me I also asked him if he liked the windowboxes of grass that I had planted for him. He said he liked them very much, but he wasn't sure if they had been for him. And that he rather liked to think they WEREN'T for him, because he liked thinking he was getting away with something that he shouldn't be. Which is... typical Phooka. It's always much more fun when it's not allowed.
.

Then I spoke with Jazzi. She had lost her way, but Leisl told her to go to the light. She was confused, but then I told her that there would be chipmunks and grasshoppers there, and she went immediately. She stretched and scratched her paws on a treetrunk, and then told me that she was sorry that she couldn't tell me she had been ready to go, but that it really had been time. And then Tiki came and put her paw on my forehead and told me that I would be all right and that she and Jazzi would watch over me. At which point, Jazzi broke in and said, "I can speak for myself!" And then ran off after a butterfly. That's my Jazzi. The attention span of a gnat.

Tiki, however, sent such a strong burst of healing energy to me, that Leisl said that she wouldn't be surprised if I woke up in the morning healed. I didn't really believe her - I have so many illnesses. But I woke up this morning with an incredible amount of energy, enough to clean The Phooka's gi-huge-ic cage for the first time in months (I always clean his litterboxes, but the cage itself is another matter). The Phooka was NOT happy about that. He's like a teenager. He has his room just the way he likes it and doesn't want things moved around, darnit!! He ran in and tried to pull the garbage bag out, then tried to rescue a toy... then decided I was really serious about this and ran out of the room to sulk in his Fortress of Solitude. When I was done, his cage (which measures about 5.75 feet x 2.25 feet x 2.25 feet, so we are NOT talking SMALL, here!!) had been vaccuumed, the mats taken out and beaten against a tree (very cathartic, by the way), new mats added in, toys found amoung the shreddings that he probably had forgotten he had, two new phone books added, the kitty hammock from the scratching post added in, clean food and water bowls with a craisin in the food bowl (the equivilent of a mint on his pillow), and I also discovered that an apple chewy branch works very well at poking out a plugged vaccuum tube!

And so, bit by bit, our lives will continue to change as he and I adjust to being without our feline friends.. but at the same time, we are preparing for the new friend that will be entering our lives, and that will be good.

Note-to-cat

2009-09-11T20:34:50Z

Dear kitten at vet's office,

You are very very sweet, and I am sorry that you are still so frightened, even though you have been up for adoption and in fostering for several weeks now. Your sibling has overshadowed you severely, but perhaps now that she has been adopted, you can be in the spotlight and discover that having attentions lavished on you is really a good thing! You really do seem to like being held and snuggled! You climbed up onto my shoulder like a pro, and although you seemed to be afraid to purr - you'd start, but immediately stop, as if you might get into trouble for purring! - once you realized that I knew all the right places to rub and skritch, my heavens, but that purr-motor kicked in! The staff said that you almost never purred and they were amazed that you'd purr so loudly for me! And then you would stick your nose in my ear to tell me Kitten Secrets, and we all know that Kitten Secrets are the most important secrets there are!

You remind me just a little bit of my dear Tiki. Your eyes are the same color, and even though you are going to be such a big girl, already almost as tall as my petite Tiki, and with your huge extra-toed paws, you played as daintily as she did. And the way you have of ducking your sleepy little head into the palm of my hand is also one of her habits.

But honey, as much as the staff plied me to take you home (and BOY did they give a great sales pitch on your behalf!), my home is just not the right one for you. You are so terrified of the world, honey! Once you were out of my arms, you were too scared to come near me again. You would play, but only from a distance. You wouldn't let me come closer than twelve inches, and if I reached for you, you would cower in a little huddled ball of terror. Once I held you again, you would melt into a puddle of purring, but the fear in your eyes when I reached to pick you up from behind the box you had run to, was more than my heart could bear!

My home is not a loud one. It is just me, the Jazzi-kitty, and The Phooka-bunny. However, Jazzi is... *sigh* The Brat-Cat. And I am afraid that she would bully you terribly. And with my house so completely crammed-packed with eBay... STUFFS... boxes everywhere... I'm afraid you would hide away and I'd never find you. It would be too easy for you to give in to your fears and stay hidden away and be miserably frightened constantly. And I am not healthy, sweet little one, and cannot dedicate the energy to the coaxing that you need, at least not without neglecting the needs of my other two, and my own.

You need to belong to a home where you are the only pet, where you can be coaxed and lavished upon, where you can be loved and nurished, and grow into the beautiful cat who has no need to be brave, because she will have nothing more to fear. Ever.

With all my hopes for that future,
The tall human who knew all the right places to rub and who knew all about Kitten Secrets