Thought For The Day

Orangie kitties must rule - it's the second day in a row where the Kitties Of The Day are all REDHEADS!

I AM one of the chosen ones, I just knew it!

Proudly prancing and purrring... Meow!

No Longer Top Cat?!!

You have got to be kidding me.

When Hanni-Girl came back, I assumed she'd be back in Her Room where she belongs, a place where I could come play footsies with her when I please and ignore her the rest of the time.

This arrangement was great. I still had Finney to maul when I felt like it, and the house to myself.

So what happened to this utopia???

Hanni-Girl. THAT'S what happened.

For reasons I cannon fathom, Hanni-Girl has been slowly been introduced to my territory. I tried to whomp on her a few times with little success, she has the world's loudest and scariest HISS. She also knows how to give me a mean SMACK alongside my head, something I've never experienced before.

And now she's living with Finney, Spencer (the pup), and I all the time. What's a big orangie supposed to do?

She seems to have reset the rules around here.
(1) If she wants to sniff you, that's okay. But...
(2) If you want to sniff her, prepare to be clobbered and hissed at.
(3) If you want to use the litter box, she's allowed to watch. But...
(4) if SHE wants to use it, you'd better be far, far away unless you want to again be smacked.
(5) If you are thirsty, you are allowed to drink unless...
(6) SHE is thirsty in which case you better make yourself scarce.

I think you get the picture. This little missy is ruling what used to me MY roost.

The only way I can maintain some resemblance of dignity is to avoid her at all times... this is what I've been reduced to.

For now.

This just isn't what I'm used to. So I've made my mind up.

I will prevail someday. Somehow. Some way. After all...

I AM Opie and I AM going to be Top Cat again!

Do you hear me Hanni-Girl??!

Lions, Tigers, And Bears...

.... don't frighten me.

Not even a smidge.

I found a way out of the house yesterday - my human males left the door cracked just for me! - and I took full advantage of the opportunity, zipping straight through the garage to the Great Out-Of-Doors where a plethora of birds, squirrels, and chipmunks quivered over the arrival of me: Opie, The Hunting Warrior God.

Note: Goofy Finney, who just HAD to follow me out wouldn't venture out of the garage, giving new meaning to the term "Scaredy Cat." But anyway...

... there I was, finally free, where I wanted to be, one amongst nature.

Or so I thought.

I kinda froze, remembering once-upon-a-time I DID in fact live outside and on my own. And I didn't like it back then. Not one bit.

So what was I doing?!!!!

I cowered for cover under the humans' truck (refusing to hide in the garage like that ridiculous Finney), suddenly happy to observe nature from a distance, content until one of my humans discovered me.

I didn't even wait for a human to look for me: all it took was one frantic "Opie?!!!" and I dashed right into that human's arms.

And okay, she smothered me with kisses; something I normally detest, but today I just had to make an exception for I was as happy to see her as she was me. Let's just call it an exceptional experience and leave it at that.

The moral of this story is:

To those of you who think being big, bad, and brave in the face of Lions, Tigers, and Bears is where you wanna be, I've got big news for you...

There's No Place Like Home.

Really.

And Truly.

Tagged... I'm It!

The point of this game is to list six things that I, as a kitty, dislike and/or hate. THEN, you have to tag six other kitties to do the same.

Wow, this is way too easy!

Here goes.....

Number Six - An empty food bowl

Number Five - A mousie sliding under an appliance when I'm playing with it

Number Four - Getting my nails clipped

Number Three - The Other Kitty (you know who you are) wolfing down MY treats.

Number Two - The Other Kitty (ahem) thinking he can sit atop MY chair.

And Number One - The Other Kitty (silly ol' Finney)

Me? A Diary Pick?!!!

OMC! It's me on the diary page today! ME! Opie!!!! Yippee!

(Ha! How do you like them apples silly, spoiled Finney?! Read 'em 'n weep Pretty Boy!)

It IS a Wonderful - and JUST - Life!

Okay. Enough!

I do believe it's time for me to share my side of the story.

Up until now it's all been about "Poor Little Finnegan". Or "Sweet Little Finnegan". Or, worse yet, "Bad Ol' Opie!"

Up until the past couple weeks I was cordoned off to a single room while Finney, the little whippersnapper had run of the entire house. This because I was a supposed threat to the little goofball.

Admittedly, he was easy prey. As soon as he saw me, he rolled onto his back, making his pathetic, tattle-tale "RAH!" cry, just asking for it. And what's a dominant kitty to do when an opportunity like that presents itself???

Well, "Little Finnegan" has suddenly become "BIG Finnegan." And I mean big! Once-upon-a-time he supposedly was a sickly little kitten. Well, he certainly doesn't act or LOOK sickly anymore. My humans have been wondering if I've been shrinking?!!!

Hiss. As if.

The thing is, as big as Finney had become, he was still a pushover.

Until now.

The bugger actually had the audacity one day - while I was minding my own business no less - to try to topple me. He more than tried. He succeeded. Where THAT came from I have no idea. I was too surprised to react.

Ever since then, Finney thinks he's The Man and regularly attempts to see if he still has this new mighty power over me.

Unfortunately, he does.

And it's annoying.

Very.

The moral to this story is I'm no longer the bad guy. Or the ONLY bad guy. Finney now causes more altercations than I do!

Is this understood??

Okay.

Because enough is enough.

Where To Begin?

My name is Opie - yes, after the cute little redheaded boy on The Andy Griffith Show - and my life is a good one.

I am a big, friendly, gentle cat, a lover not a fighter, very content with my lot in life. I am what you all call a Rescue cat, my owner Emma found me in the middle of a dirt road one night and it was a genuine case of love at first site - for both of us.

I've since become a house cat, with absolutely no inclination to even venture outside. I know I have it good now. I've lived the outside/stray life and it's no life for anyone. My humans wish I could talk to tell them of my story... but it's a good thing I can't. My tale is one of horror and abandonment, I'm certain these kind people wouldn't have the heart to hear it. My past will always be my secret.

After a few months away (I lived in another house with my Emma) I'm now back home where I know I'm loved by all. Well, almost all.

There is one exception...

.... a little white whipper snapper of a kitten the humans call Finney.

Finney is apparently fearless. And kinda stupid.

He thinks he's big and bad. He charges the French door window that separates us, under the illusion he's frightening me.

Yawn.

And then when the humans crack the door and I go trilling up to greet him, he returns my affection with his silly paw in the air, making pointless waving motions in my direction.

The goofy little critter.

He's trying to be the Alpha and I give him credit for being that bold, given his slight size and all.

Me, I'm just trying to do what I can to once again gain access to the house I love instead of camping out in the sun room. If that means being patient with this silly Finney, then that's what I'll do.

I'm thankful to have lots of food and water, a clean litter box, loving humans who dote on me, and even Spencer the Lhasa Apso on my side.

Truth be told, I believe Spencer finds that silly Alex Finnegan as annoying as I do. Perhaps between Spencer and I, we'll be able to help that kitten find his true place in the family pecking order...

... at the bottom!