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Happy Sunday cat servants. Welcome to another Pull Up Your Cat. Sorry I was out sick last week but I was under doctor’s orders to spend most of my time lying down. I’d like to thank tejanarusa for filling in for me. But I’m back so please feel free to pull up your cat and share some cat stories with us.
I have a routine that on Saturday, I do my cleaning up around here. I start with laundry and surfaces and then work my way down to floors. Usually I wait until the kitchen floor is dry again before I pull the laundry out of the dryer put it in a heap on the bed for folding and etc. This is Kuroneko’s favorite time, since she loves to burrow into warm, clean laundry. When it cools, I can then fold it and usually get her to help me make the bed.
The issue is that while mopping, Neko knows that I’m about to pull out the vacuum cleaner and she loathes the vacuum! She bats it and hisses at it and hides from it, snarling. But since mopping always immediately precedes vacuuming, she picks that time to love on me and try to cajole me into not pulling it out of the closet it lives in. This has led to some near misses over the years. On more than one occasion, she has tried to rub against me while loving on me while I’m mopping. Since the floor is wet, she tries to do it from the top of the counter. Sometimes she strays too close to the edge and loses her purchase and slips. I’ve managed to catch her when that happens but it’s pretty clear that one of these days she might wind up in the mop bucket. I use mild cleaners but that could be really bad!
Yesterday, I hit on a solution. I piled all of the laundry up on the bed before I pulled out the mop and bucket and she promptly burrowed in. I then was able to mop without fear of her winding up in the bucket. After I was finished mopping, I then folded the clothes and made the bed before I vacuumed, so as to avoid her beginning to associate something she enjoys with something she is so terrified of. I hope this is a lasting solution. I don’t want a mopwater soaked kitteh.
Kuroneko picture of the week: Kuroneko eyes the mopwater after nearly falling into it for the umpteenth time
Obligatory cute kitten picture of the week: Look into my eyes…You WILL release me from this cone of shame… via cute overload.
What could be better than Van Halen with cats? Please enjoy both!
That’s it for another week. I hope everybody has a wonderful week ahead and I sincerely hope that nobody lost an animal loved one in the great blizzard of 2013! (Are we calling it Nemo? Seems a funny name for a blizzard but hey, I guess if somebody wants to name a Nor’easter after a fictional, psychotic submarine captain, who am I to argue?) Please remember to set aside some time to spend with whatever animals share their lives with you.
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Good morning. Please share your kitteh stories or whatever stories that you feel the need to share. All animals welcome!
Hola, Margaret. Glad you are feeling better.
What a great solution for your cleaning day/cat. Little is a laundry girl, something in the laundry soap seems to make some kittehs wild, I can tell by how they love on the laundry when it is fresh. Little also likes to help with bed-making.
Some of those fat cats on the video are quite a lot fatter than Lucy, so I feel hopeful for her. After losing TWC so suddenly, I feel like I need to pay more attention to weight loss and gain. For some reason Lucy has been gaining weight, and I am concerned about it. The other cats don’t seem to change much.
A couple of those cats were enormous, weren’t they? Kuroneko hasn’t put on much weight at all and goes around five pounds at her heaviest. But she’s always been la petite kitteh.
Five pounds is indeed petite. Very. Almost kitten-like.
Lucy is heavy. I imagine she is closer to 20 pounds now, which is alarming, really.
How is your writing going?
Okay. I’ve been on a break while unable ti sit for long stretches. I’ll take it back up soon.
Thanks, Margaret, while I would not ever wish it, the thought of a mop bucketed Neko does seem like a photo op and learning experience all at once.
Will you forgive me for that meanness?
Of course I will. I had my camera handy when I took the above picture for just such a circumstance.
Good Morning Margaret, Barb and Pups,
M was outside this morning on the cleared and snow-free part of the walk and driveway, explored the garage.
Kept kitty happy with a few scraps of salmon from my supper last night, hidden around in the garage to get her out of her favorite hibernation chair.
I was pulling some thick drifts of snow off the lower roof edges as it is warming and if we get a half inch of predicted rain absorbed into that snow, that can be a serious strain on the flat roofs on one the old farm buildings here.
Got a lot of curious looks as she eyed the ladder and me up on the flat roof.
I think that would be a serious strain on all roofs.
That brings me to an interesting story that was never really explored. Though Hurricane Alicia was a small hurricane as far as such storms go, it knocked down a whole lot of new construction southeast of Houston in 1983. It was because there had been a great influx of people from the rust belt, especially in the construction disciplines in the late seventies and early eighties during our housing boom. The overwhelmed inspectors in many cases pencil whipped inspections. Though these builders from up north were perfectly capable, they used their own knowledge and techniques along the Gulf Coast. But they built their structures to withstand vertical loads like snow, not lateral loads like hurricanes and tornadoes. Just an interesting factoid about what a difference experience in a temperate climate vs a sub tropical climate can make.
I don’t doubt that happened, building codes have been upgraded for well over twenty years for wind loading on walls and windows around here.
Places in the NE that received twenty and thirty inches of snow in the last few days out east are expecting considerable rain in the next few days.
My favorite name for this storm: Snowtorious B.I.G.
Hey Ruth, have you seen the hacked paintings of GWBush? I think they are interesting, a bit bizarre.
LMAO! That’s one I haven’t heard.
I don’t like them but I do like that he did them. I think they show personal growth. Too little, too late of course but he’s not without the possibility of redemption at least.
To tell the truth, I’ve avoided that tho I did chance on something earlier that purported to be a w shower scene. Do not have any need to see any part of him after the many times my flesh crawled at the appearance of his face on my t.v. when it was really, really not appreciated.
Thanks, had to find those, I’m always interested in art. Just saw two or three works, any others that the bathroom two and the life-size piece.
Maybe he’ll start doing cat portraits, we’d have a much better grasp of possible blossoming of real humanity. Or this could also just be a regression to childhood. ;-)
Actually w’s presidency was a reversion to childhood, at least the part about playing with his own offal.
He’s all dressed up and nowhere else to go, then?
Morning Ruth
Good almost afternoon, firekittehs, and thanks so much for the post, Margaret.
Love the mop bucket Neko story, and I understand Ruth’s tug-o-war feelings,lol!
I have a water story and photos this week, about Arry. She loves her little flagondry toy better than anything, and carries it around in her mouth all over the house. The oddest thing she does with it, and I can’t understand her reasoning at all, is place it in the water bowl. Every day or two I find it floating, or completely waterlogged, in the bowl.
Arry and Mottyl
It’s not that it needs a bath, because she dunks every one, new or old, dirty or clean. I keep several around, because she hides them, too, under the dresser is her favourite spot, but they have been discovered under the dryer, stuffed between sofa cusions, on the kitchen counter…. in bed, most mornings… often soaking wet :) Odd little duck!
On my way out to find some neoprene shampoo. You’ve never smelled anything until you have smelled wet suit/gloves/booties that have been used in salt water for a week. O.M.G. See y’uns later…. :)
You always wished he had gone somewhere else and not where you had to watch.
That’s wonderful, must be waiting for it to go into the chrysalis stage.
Great to see your fonts Ohm and thanks for the story and pictures. Kuroneko puts feathers in her water bowl sometimes. I think she drops them to get a drink and then can’t figure out how to fish them out again.
Mcat drops kibble into the water dish to gauge the depth of the water level. Maybe part Maine Coon cat? Washing the prey before consumption? Nice pictures, thanks Omi, those two even fit nicely into the decor.
Sorry no specific recommendations for the neoprene.
G-morning, firepups and kitteh staff! I have finished my basic kitteh chores this a.m.; chiefly, feeding, head rubs, and litter box sifting. Big Boy has departed, after a couple false starts: cry, gaze at the door from a position close to it, gaze up at me; Staff opens door, Big Boy looks out, doesn’t move, looks back up at me, I close door. A few minutes later, same routine, same result. Just now, though, with his bowl pretty empty, he went through the open door.
He’s been staying out overnight this week, presumably because it’s been quite warm. Yesterday though, we had rain, and he decided to come in (late, last chance before I went to bed) and settled into his bed. This morning when I got up (also late), he was crouching in the living room, at the end near the bedroom.
Unfortunately, the more he settles in, the more he gets whacked by Squeaky and Smokey as they wait for the breakfast to be delivered. He rarely whacks back, and none of it has left any scratches or other damage.
In other news, Smokey has been very lovey this week; the afternoon I spent on the bed with computer and books, he actually curled up on my lap, and most evenings he’s curled up on my lap in the living room. Relatively new behavior, or old behavior long-abandoned. Rather nice.
Om, forgot to say, the pictures of Arry with her flagondry in the water bowl are adorable…love the video. That flagondry is big for a kitteh!
I’m pretty sure my first calico, Sasha, used to drop kitteh toys in the water bowl sometimes, too. These days I find bits of kibble, but it’s been a long time since there were any toys floating there. Wonder why some need to, and others don’t?
We are getting more play with toys lately; I’m wearing them out indoors so they won’t try to slip out to the outdoors. Now they expect it at certain times of day, and I do find toys in new places when I come home from being out awhile.
Peg, you are even more clever than Neko, figuring out how to knock her off her perceived cleaning schedule. Yeesh a kitty not only wet but wet with Pine sol or something…iiicckkk.
The worst part is I would have to grab her, take her to the shower and then somehow hold onto a frenzied mass of furious razor blades while I washed it off her! I don’t think I ever want to experience that!
I have occasionally found some kind of toy in the water. It is interesting behavior, but I can’t recall the last time it happened.
I find it astonishing some of the things the cats bring upstairs. There one plastic ball that is fairly large that I don’t know how it is possible, but that is the only way it would get upstairs, so someone does it.
Spooky is one who is big on hunting and delivery of toys, but I find that various of them take the toys out of the basket and do things with them. Lucy had the new toy from Xmas out the other day, from the cats in Seattle. I just threw three soft balls downstairs that I found in various places in the bedroom area upstairs. One of these days I will have all my projects done and take some photos to post of my project that started with finding the bedspread in the thrift store leading to tile then to closets/curtains and such. Still trying to finish it, lots of interruptions.
PS, Om, so very nice to see your fonts and the photos of your very lovely duo. A matched set.
I’ll tell you, when I saw the bathtub one, it reminded me of a portrait that Frida Kahlo did. I have not seen mention of that on line, but perhaps the thought of linking GWB with FK is just too great an offense.
“frenzied mass of furious razor blades” – very well put, Peggy! Can you imagine? And no time to get out the heavy duty ironworkers’ mitts…
I’ve posted this one before, of Pushy standing proudly beside the toys he’s lined up on the rug.
Lined up perfectly by size, by spacing and by line. That’s a tasteful kitty.
Your knowledge in the art world is assuredly much better than mine. I have trouble even associating promotion of childhood literacy since watching him read, “The Pet Goat.”
I hear he eventually finished the Cliff Notes version.
Ooh! Ouch.
Sorry, I must be experiencing a touch of cabin fever.
Slightly OT–checked out my FB page, and there was a notice that my basketball game is on NOW, not tonight like I thought!!OMG OMG!
(that would be Indiana v Ohio State).
To keep this sorta on topic–I am surrounded by the puddy tats, who will help me keep track of the score (they give me those “have you lost your mind?” looks when I cheer and jump up and down).
lol! Hadn’t even registered that.
He’s the one who has a special cry for when he’s carrying a soft rubber ball in his mouth, and bringing it to me. He does that sometimes, then not again for a long time. The other morning when I was sorta kinda awake, I heard that cry, and called to him, but he didn’t come up on the bed.
When I dragged myself out of bed, I found one of those balls in the middle of the bedroom rug.
ok, jumping in unread, but good krist. that was the funniest cat video i’ve ever seen. thank you mags. :-)
Hey cd. Glad you could make it!
Ooh, thanks for the reminder, was skimming through comments and haven’t watched it yet.
Neko does an odd thing. Sometimes she’ll meow, very loudly and plaintively for no discernible reason and then she’ll come to me and be all lovey. Last night I realized that at least in some cases she’s doing it immediately after waking up from a nap. I think she misses me or is having bad kitty dreams. Of course that knowledge will make it much easier to leave her alone when I have to. Not.
“bad kitty dreams.” I’m sure they dream, just as dogs do. You can see the REM eye movements under their closed lids, and I don’t think it’s (just) anthropomorphizing to figure they dream then, just as we do. Especially since there are often paw movements and other slight body movements at the same time, right?
And btw, that video is pretty funny. I’ve seen a couple of those before, but there a bunch of new ones included. The most astonishing; the cat leaping into the air to catch — what? a pheasant? — such a BIG bird on the fly. The funniest to me, the cat climbing the open stairs who falls through, can’t right himself, so climbs up on the under side. Then at the top I’m sure he had that look, “See, I meant to do that!”
Oh, I know darn good and well they dream. Anybody who denies it might as well deny everything else clear evidence shows us.
Yep. Dunno what kind of bird that was or what kind of cat that was for that matter.
You think it was some kind of wild cat, a lynx or something? It went by so fast I couldn’t tell either, but it does seem like a very high leap for even a feral house cat. Still, they surprise me alla time.
Yeah, I thought some kind of wildcat. Not a bobcat or puma kind of cat but more like a lynx or ocelot kind. Dunno but like you said, it happened very fast.
Sigh. Am I gonna have to break down and buy a new tv? It’s fairly far down my list…should probably replace the broken-down smelly (of you-know-what) sofa first, but when I reallly want to see the whole screen, it’s tempting. My tv screen has a (increasingly tall)band of no-picture across the bottom, exactly where sports scoreboards appear. Also sometimes important clues in mysteries, or subtitles (the volume will only go so high, and my ears are functioning poorly, so I have subtitles turned on).
However, as in the ESPN game Thursday, I’m working around it by opening CBS Sports’s page with a running score on it.
So I guess I can last awhile longer. ; )
That happened to my old television and eventually it got so bad that I couldn’t watch anything. Too much distortion.
My second cousin in Connecticut posted a neat video (he didn’t take it) of a time-lapse photo of the STORM. It’s extra neat because the camera is focused on a large clock face at the top of a fairly tall pole. By the end of the video, the snow is just below the clock face.
I’d love to post a link, but can’t figure out how to find the original, not just the FB link.It’s pretty cool for us here in snow-less country.
Ooh! Found it! (hope y’all don’t mind the off-topic)
So, Dan’l decided he didn’t much care for the decor at this time. I have an older book case that has seen some use over the years. Right now, it sits in front of a window. Dan’l is often sleeping on the top of the books on the top shelf. He will go “exploring” behind the book case.
Well, the other night, he decided to leverage himself down, and push things apart. The end result? I was awakened at about midnight with the crash of the book case toppling over. And of course, he was the picture of aggrieved innocence while I was just aggrieved.
Saw that – was reminded of the storm in Rome, NY where we got 2 feet of snow in 12 hours one day (8AM when I went to work was just a dusting and the storm was done by 8PM). At the height of that storm, the snow was falling at 5 inches per hour.
Crikey. Lots of comments to read this morning.
Love the picture of Neko eye darting the mop water. Lol.
Heh. Must you buy a new bookcase? And was Dan’l hurt? (nah, unlikely, right?)
Always something, right?
Remember Gnome de Plume? She has had some great stories about her dog, Bucky lately. last night he woke her with a loud noise, and she got up to find he had not only knocked over a full bag of new kitty litter, but torn it open and EATEN some! It’s that kind made of wheat chaff, or something. That was on her FB today. The occurrence, I believe, was at 3:00 a.m. ; )
Happy Caturday, Margaret and All
Just a fly by to give you a recommend and a hug.
Sorry we didn’t get to really chat yesterday, Peg.
Going out to get some essentials, including cat food.
Will prolly check back in later.
Great photos from Om and tejanarusa. Great carpets, ladies. :)
Uh-oh. Half time! Gotta go do a couple tasks. I will bbl, of course.
Nah, Dan’l managed to jump clear of things before the boom. It just took a while to get the books off the shelves, and clear everything underneath and put it back upright. There are a couple of places where the sides are sliding apart so I had to work the whole back together but also got a bit more level position. It did keep him from trying to go behind for a few days though that will not last long
Great picture….you are such a nice mommy. Cats really do hate the vac, as I recall. Mine would usually disappear under the bed, etc.
I saw two of them. One looked like the legs of a corpse in a bathtub to me, quite creepy. I think he was working out some issues of nekkid ness and death in those two. We’re there more than two?
Arry on the footboard!! She’s quite a character, isnt she?
Well, FK had some issues with death and mangled bodies too.
Heh. The cousins spent the night with my boys and my nephew got freaked out by the FK print I recently put in the bathroom. He had to turn it around to pee.
My advice as one who had a similar dilemma… Buy the couch first. Until you have a clean, fresh place to sit and watch, there’s only limited enjoyment of a beautiful new tv.
I only saw the two, naked/water ones that have received a bit of psychoanalysis on line since they went up. I also saw some people who felt bad for him that what was no doubt sharing private photos of the paintings became public.
Maybe someone will give him a show, lol. It does make one wonder if he has actually looked at David Hockney’s earlier works and FK’s paintings. I don’t know if anyone thinks they are indicative of common images. There was a mention of Bonnard in one post as well, his bathroom paintings of women.
Hi, ysd. That’s exactly what I keep telling myself when I’m frustrated with the tv. I suspect that getting rid of the thing might reduce Smokey’s temptation to pee, too.
Re the GWB paintings…yeah, they shoulda stayed private. Don’t know if bgrothus is still here, but I found this Kahlo, which I had not seen before….is this the one you were comparing?
Ysd, gotta ask, which FK did you put in your bathroom? I have that Botticelli “Venus on the Half-shell” (yeh, know that’s not it’s real name, but can’t call it anything else) over my toilet.
Jeeze, I didn’t even make the connection to water boarding and the bath scenes. Maybe Laura helped him find a few picture books to browse in his free time for inspiration. The paintings have a real sadness and sense of alienation to them. I feel pity for W when I see them, and pity is the one emotion I dislike feeling the most.
I went out to unload the stuff left in my trunk from last evening’s shopping. Can’t find the Samoas I bought from some irresistible Girl Scouts outside teh HEB. It was on my way out, so what the heck could I have done with them? sheesh.
I’ve already eaten two of the three boxes of Thin Mints delivered last week.
Yes, I am sticking to fruit and non-sugary things today, why do you ask???
Yeah, not what we wanna feel for that guy, right?
Not sure of the name of the piece, but it’s the one with two seated freidas, one in a wedding dress and both connected by a vein and small picture. Let me see if I can find a link…
Two Freidas
http://www.google.com/search?q=frida+kahlo+two+fridas&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#biv=i|2;d|_lQK3Ho_U73cCM:
Oooooh. The chocolate and coconut thingies? My fave.
Thin Mints win for me, hands down (see above), but Samoas are next. I gotta find ‘em!
Wow! That’s a lot of snow!
LMAO! Poor Dan’l. And poor you, having to put all those books back up!
I;m sure I’ve seen that one, but never noticed the bloodstains on the wedding dress lap before…I guess I can understand your son’s reaction.
Of course, that’s kinda the impact Frida wanted, except for the turning around part, I guess.
When/if you get to buy a new couch, consider rearranging the furniture so that something easily cleanable or difficult to pee on goes where the pee spot used to be. I put a book shelf where the couch used to be and we’ve not had any issues with peeing on the bookshelf or the replacement couch. There are newer targets in the house, but much easier to clean…
Caturday!! Hi everyone
Hi Ellie. Thanks for stopping by!
I hope I did not derail the cats with Freida, but I have to say that I once knew a cat named Freida, named after Kahlo, so there is that.
FK was way deep, and I doubt W has the capacity, but I guess I would like to believe that he could find something in his soul through painting. Like I said, I don’t know how common this sort of imagery is, except that Hockney did plenty of it back in the day, homoerotic of course, which if W could go there, it might be worth his time. It would be interesting to see how many others have used that bathtub kind of image, the only one that came to my mind was FK’s version, have no idea how it popped into my brain, but that is the beauty of memory.
Hey, ellie, barba – we won the game, the cats are running in and out, and I think I’ll round ‘em up and head out for a little bit myself. Been spending too much time indoors. The sun is in and out, but maybe I’ll catch a bit of it.
No doubt I will check back later. Good thread (no worries, Barba, at least from me. Art talk,esp Frida, is all good. And she included animals often! Off-hand, can’t recall any cats…)
BBL
No problem as far as I’m concerned.
Cats and art, have a small copy of this Warren Kimble in my kitchen. Love it.
http://ipaintingsforsale.com/painting/Warren_Kimble/black_cat_with_bib-5040.html
I admit I was being petty with my w comments, but that is a tough personality to allow space, in my mind, to have grown and obtained a more humanistic view. I’ll try to work on that possibility.
Glad you are feeling better, Margaret.
Our parrot Nikko howls like a cat now. (MuhrrreEEerrr!) Does that count?
He also barks like a dog, imitates Curley, from the Three Stooges, and sounds the smoke alarm. We are currently working on coyote yelps (Ow-ow-owwww!) and tornado sirens.
I do love cats, cat vids and cat pics, thanks!
Of course. All animal lovers are welcome here.
So what will happen if there is a fire at your place? Will you even know that the house is burning down? LOL. Might be a bit of a safety hazard.
Don’t you have some Nagi updates? wanna take this post next Sunday?
Nite Nite, Peg.
Hope you have a productive and pleasant week.
Skritches to Neko.
And, pleasant vibes to everyone else.
I appreciate the effort you make here, Peg, I really do.
Thanks Deb and thanks for stopping by!
Well, he is so good at it, it really is amazing. Plus, if we don’t get something out of the microwave fast enough, he broadcasts that too!
Okay, I guess I’m going to wrap this up too. Everybody have a great week ahead and thanks for coming by and reading and sharing.
Thank you, glad you are feeling better!
Aw, I meant to come by earlier, and got sidetracked by the very best soap opera ever (and with the best cosr\tumes evah)and two hours just zoomed by. Could.not.tear.myself.away.
Although I did manage to play with Squeaky and then Pushy, tossing toys back and forth around the living room (while keeping the tv in view).
So, I missed everyone…if anyone looks in again, good night to all, and thanks to Peg for keeping our cat post virtual meetup going.
It’s good to tell one’s kitteh stories without fear that someone’s thinking, “that is one kee-ra-zee cat lady!”
Good night, and have a good week, everybody!
Nothing in particular to update with Nagi, but I’ll take next week if you’d like a break.
No, I don’t really need a break. I had heard that you would like to take a PUYC in order to make some Nagi updates.
Just let me know if you ever *do* need more time to yourself and I’ll be happy to fill in with an update on how Nagi is doing.
Cool! Will do! I’ll put you next in the rotation if you like. Thank you. :)