The Puffin face

When I was still in the shelter, I was named "Puffin." I know -- very weird. BUT, looking at my very first photo (the one that was eventually posted on the shelter's Web site, and subsequently the one that Mom saw and fell in love with -- little did she know), I can kinda see why. I looked like a Puffin. You know, those strange little birds with cheeks. So, anyway...Mom saw my picture (the one that's now on my Catster page), and thought that I was the CUTEST little girl. Funny how looks can be so deceiving. See, my "Puffin Face" (which is what it's now referred to as) is the look that I make when I'm not getting my way. For example, if someone picks me up when I'm *clearly* enjoying a good romp with Jake, that person will get The Puffin Face. It's like a warning...you're gonna get your face scratched. And if you get The Puffin Face with a little bit of pink tongue showing, you're gonna lose an eye. So, looking at my very first close-up and seeing what's being done to me, it's easy to understand why I was making The Puffin Face at that moment. Little did I realize then that making such a peaved expression would buy me the home of my dreams.

(BTW, if you look at my shelter pic, you can kinda see Jake still in the kennel behind me. He's the little ball of gray fluff. Together forever.)

What about MEEEEEEEEE??????!!!

My brother, Jake, is sick. Suddenly, it's as if the whole world has stopped and no one else exists for Mom and Dad except for him. They're fawning all over him, loving on him, worrying, putting ice packs on him, giving him food by syringe, and here I am, dancing around them like mad, and no one even notices the little black cat. Suddenly, I'm invisible! I even jumped up on the counter to get Mom's attention, but all she did was scoop me up and put me down and went back to tending to Jake. Man...What does a girl have to do around here to get a little love??

Emma, the Lap Cat Formerly Known as Evil

WHAT is this irresistable urge I have to always be in a lap? I could be chasing a ball or mangling a curtain, but the minute I sense that someone is gettin' comfortable, here I come and with one little *meow* I'm in your lap and being loved on. Oh, WHO can resist the charms of such a tiny charcoal cat such as myself? I squint my amber eyes and stretch my neck to be gently scritched, and no gleaming needle-nose teeth are anywhere in sight (I PROMISE!). One giant yawn so strategically timed so that the owner of The Lap can SEE that the gleaming white needle-nose teeth are just inches away from scritching fingers, but the threat is covert (just like my stealth stalking of the ankles!). A few moments later, I'm snoozing hard, with a sweet little kitten purr eminating from my diaphragm. Sucker.

(Yeah, and Jake is the one who broke the crystal candle holder on the diningroom table...just FYI)

Who stole my wild kitten...

...and left this sweet little angel in her place? Suddenly, all of the evilness has left Emma (we'll have to come up with a better acronym for her name than Evil Monster Manipulating All). It's as if the Body Snatchers took the out-of-control little wild thang and left this sweet, loving little cat-kitten. She gets in my lap -- to sleep, rather than draw blood. She asks to be picked up. She WANTS to be loved on -- I don't remember the last time she sank her fangs into my hand! What a relief! Granted, we were prepared for 20 years of hyperactivity, of forever having our ankles attacked. But now it looks as if we have nothing but purrrrs and whisker kisses in our future!

My Tail of Devotion for Emma

This is a special Tail of Devotion

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