January 3, 2008

That Boomer makes me so jealous! He still gets to eat treats! He still gets to join the humans for dinner. I don’t. Well, I can sit there, but I don’t get to try anything anymore. Darned crystals! Mom tries to make it up to me with lots of extra hugs and attention. Those things are all very nice, but doesn’t she realize treats are a cat’s best friend?

“Oh a kiss on the nose may be quite continental...but
Tuna is a cat’s best friend”

Guess I’ll go nibble some more kibble. Maybe that will take the edge off.

Fort

January 2, 2008

Hey, two for two! Not too shabby a start on this tabby's part!

Today was all about playing with my little blue mouse. I am working out an excellent game. I think I’ll call it Mouse. Here’s how it works. If you have an easily portable toy (it can be anything—it doesn’t have to be a mouse) and a staircase…you have all you need to get started.

Grab your toy and chew on it a bit--make sure it’s in good condition and also so that everyone knows it’s yours. Then, bat it around to get yourself warmed up. I like to involve my human in this part of the game. I bring my mouse to her and she tosses it for me to chase it. Once is usually enough.

Once you’re all warmed up, grab your toy and carry it to the top of the stairs. With your paw, flick it down the stairs. Give yourself points for distance and number of times your toy bounces. Run down the stairs and retrieve your toy. Do it again! And again! And again! The longer you play, the more points you score. This is all about endurance.

Make sure to drink plenty of water and give yourself time to cool down aftwerward. I think it's a great time to get brushed, (hint, hint).

Happy Mousing!
Fortitude

January 1, 2008

Hi Everyone!

I’m back! Over the past couple of weeks, I seem to have gotten my mojo back. I even tried to climb a wall today to distract my humans from whatever it was they were watching on TV that was making them so stressed out. ( I thought football season was over!)

Hmmm. I’ve got a new food that I like a lot. It’s supposed to keep me from getting any more struvite crystals. (Boy did THAT stink!) Mom finally figured out that it was probably the change of diet combined with the antibiotics that was making me throw up my dinner, so she waited until my medicine was all gone before switching me to the new kibble. So far, so good. Boomer can even eat it, too! It’s great to be able to share a bowl with him again.

(Don’t think I don’t know about that secret stash of the yummier old-style kibble his Mom, my own Grandmother, keeps hidden from me up in their bedroom. )

The fur on my forelegs is finally growing back. I was worried I was going to have to start wearing leg warmers. I could just see my Mom knitting up a pair for me and thinking “How cute.” Yuck. It would be kinda like Ralphie and the bunny suit. I’d wear them to be polite, but not for very long and I wouldn’t enjoy it.

Oh, and for Christmas I got the most excellent fur mice. They are sooooooooooooo much fun. I only got two, but Boomer wasn’t interested in his two, so then I had four, and then I found where Mom was hiding more (for future use), and now I have 8! Isn’t that great! They make a delightful noise as I toss them down the steps! Bink bonk bonk. Oh just thinking about it makes me want to go play!

Hope your 2008 is great!
‘Tude

September 21, 2007

Thank you to everyone for the purrs, notes of encouragement, and healing rosettes. They mean a lot to my mom and me.

Aside from having to take those yucky pills and having to eat a new kind of food, my life seems to be returning to (almost) normal. I haven’t resumed pouncing on Boomer yet, but I’m thinking about it!

I miss my kibble. I really liked my kibble. Now Boomer gets it all to himself. (Lucky guy.)

Life is not fair.

I have to keep my chin up and think positive thoughts…

I’m home!

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrs,
Fortitude

May 26, 2007

One whole year! I've been on catster ---one---whole---year!

I think I should celebrate...but how?

I could climb a wall...

or chew on a plant...

or cuddle with Grandma....

or play with Mom....

OR I could just relax and enjoy the day, think about all the cool kitties I've met and prepare for another year of catster fun.

Can I do all of them?

You bet!

Cheers,
Fortitude

May 24, 2007 - A Game of TAG

Hello There!

I've been tagged by Tiramisu!

The rules of the TAG game: Each player starts wtih seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own diary about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to TAG and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your diary.

1) I think I'm a miniature tiger 'cause I have stripes on my back.
2) Tiramisu's Mom rescued me from the basement of her apartment building.
3) I love to sit on Mom's lap when she's at the computer--but only for a little while. When she's working, I'll come up and tap her on the knee to let her know it's time for a Fortitude Break!
4) I'm named after the lion in front of the New York Public Library.
5) My favorite place to sit is...wherever Boomer is!
6) I don't like people food much, except really rare meat and mild fish.
7) I snore.

The cats I'm going to tag are:
1) Oreo
2) Jack
3) Xander
4) Joey Ramone
5) Tigga
6) Ravi
7) Gemini

March 5, 2007

It's cold again outside! I'll bet the band of beaked thugs is sorry now that it decided to come back early to taunt me.

Go back from whence ye came, fowl demons! Begone!!!! Surely, the cool weather means that you should go someplace else! Not here in MY back yard.

There must be plenty of places where the worms are all defrosted and squishy. My lawn is still frozen solid. Good luck pecking a meal out of that.

Uggg! I must not let the wretched creatures get to me! I must concentrate on more important things.....

like my singing career!

I've been devoting more and more time to practicing my scales. I'm getting quite good (I think!) Mom only told me to be quiet once last night...

Tra la la la la

March 2, 2007

Boomer thinks I should try to look at the bright side of things...

The return of the birds must mean that spring is on its way...and that means...

I can go strolling soon! Yippeee! (I knew there had to be a silver lining there somewhere!)

Purrrrrrs,
Fortitude

March 2, 2007

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!! The bird gang is back...( bullying, chirpy little monsters.) I hope the leader liked it wherever it spends the winter months and decided to retire there!

Please, Mom, please get some sort of bird deterrent system! My nerves can't take it.... Just thinking about it is making me edgy.

Boomer, (ever-brave and sometimes a little too free with his advice), suggested I try to make peace with the birds.

How the heck am I supposed to do that?

Fly away birds, go visit some statues or something. Whatever you do....

Leave me alone!!!!!!!!

February 23, 2007

I've been watching American Idol with the humans. (The theme song with the "meeoooooooooow" just calls to me! )

I like all kinds of music AND fancy myself an accomplished singer. However, whenever I start to sing, Boomer & the humans run away! I don't get it.... So I thought maybe I could learn something...

I did!

"It's all about song selection."

You know, I think those judges might be on to something!

In the past, I have tried to meow pop tunes, figuring that's what everyone wants to hear....

Upon reflection, I realize that I don't have a "pop" kind of voice, so....

I've been thinking about the many different kinds of music I like. My human even played a few samples for me...I listened to Meatloaf, The Who, Johnny Cash, and some really twangy folk stuff, but then....

I stumbled on something completely different....

That's right, kitties....Light Opera! Great lyrics...Unusual...just like me!

So, I think I'll try it. Who knows? Perhaps the humans will shower me with roses (or catnip!) and shouts of "Bravo!" when I sing, instead of showering me with the spray bottle and yelling "Be Quiet, I'm trying to sleep!"

Wish me luck!