Todd's Tales

Still Kickin

I have been so busy writing my column for the weekly newspaper, The Lennox Independent (www.lennoxnews.com) that I havn't been so good about leaving a note here!

Sorry my fellow felines!

I miss you all.

My humans determined that I am 14 years old by the way! I thought I was younger, so I am coming to terms with this new information. Uugghhh, who wants to be that old? It's like 72 years old in human years. I'm an old man, that explains the long naps and the need for "medical" catnip.

Oh well, to be old is to be wise...

and I am one brilliant feline.

Meow to my friends.

I will be better about leaving some interesting notes - so see you soon!!!

Wow - Does Time Fly!

I apologize for the lateness of my latest entry. Things at the office have been wild! We have this huge July 4th Celebration in town! It was wonderful, I got to see the Budweiser Clydesdales march right past my front door! They were huge massive beasts, and there was a cute little Dalmation sitting up by the humans.

Now when they get a cat - that will be the greatest!

Other than that, I have been staying busy with my weekly column in the newspaper. I have heard that I have a huge fan in Chancellor, SD. I’m flattered truly but I try not to let it go to my kitty head.

Today, I am going to try to squeak out another column today - if you guys have any suggestions, let me know!

If you have nothing better to do, vote for this dog

My human entered her dog into a calendar contest. So you can vote for my little Beagle brother Dukes at www.sfhumanesociety.com. Under the calendar contest section of the website.

Purr-ease

I've tried all day.

I did the leg rub.

I did the "look at me, I'm playing with curly blue ribbon"

I did the "I don't care I'm napping but I really want you to see me stretch."

And still,

no one has refilled my catnip mouse!

PEOPLE, can you hear me? PURR-EASE, Put more catnip in my deflated furry friend!

I may as well go to bed.

I will try again tomorrow.

If any of my genius cat friends have ideas to get the message across to my less-than-genius humans please let me know.

Tag - I'm it

I’ve been tagged by HILDA & LOKI to participate in a game!!!!!!

THE RULES: Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged write in their own diary about their seven random facts. 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.

Seven random facts about ME:

1. I like a full bowl of food. With the cneter of the bowl filled slightler higher than the outer edges.

2. I was injured on a fence when I was two and it hurt so bad that my humans let me come live in the house forever!

3. My mom ran away when I was a kitten and I never met my dad.

4. I caught a bird in Kelli's house one day. It came in from the patio doors, and I jumped on the dining room table and knocked it out of the air in mid-flight. Kelli didn't let me eat it, but she was so proud of me!

5. I loooovveee Cat Nip. To the point of addition. My humans limit my exposure because I get all "rubby" I did just get a new catnip toy for my birthday though. So they do love me.

6. I used to sleep with a dog. Okay, this is hard to come out and talk about, but I'm not ashamed. Zoey and I shared a bed back in the ninety's. Seems like forever agao. My humans got her in '97, I was still young. We became the best of friends, lying in her dog bed with her on lazy Saturdays. Some of the best memories. Zoey is part basset, part Gordon Setter. She's still at the old home, while I moved to the office. She comes in to visit occasionally but it's not the same. You just can't go back you know.

7. My favorite, secret hobby is to play top-secret cat spy. Please don't tell everyone, I am much to old to be playing "pretend." But I do. I clip on a secret spy gadget belt, crouch down behind doors and sneak throughout the office. I radio my pretend spy partner, who I've named Louise. I write down clues in my little notbook and continue the hunt for the bad cats.


I’m tagging the following seven cats :

1. Leo
2.Oxford
3. Punkin Pohh
4. Tiki
5. Louis LeBeau
6. Mooch
7. Princess

Pets and the people who love us

I am surrounded by animal lovers. Our office is always a buzz of pet praise. Phrases like, “You’ll never guess what my dog did”, or “Look how cute my shoe is now that the dog chewed part of it.”
I mean all the girls here have dogs at home, and sometimes they even bring them here! Why, we’ve had all kind of animal visitors at the Office. Al brought in his beautiful rottweiler one day. I get to see Benny, the handsome dog from Boomers, sometimes when he’s walking outside. Someone even once brought in a ferret on a leash. Yes, my world is full of animal lovers.
But I know I am lucky. Not all of my four legged friends have it so good. I always look online at the Second Chance Rescue Center website (www.scrcsd.org) and sadly, they always have many animals up for adoption.
The Sioux Falls Humane Society (www.sfhumanesociety.com) is another website that always has a lot of available pets for adoption. Last week was national Pet Week, so I thought if any of you didn’t have a pet to share it with, now would be a good time to go get one.
My favorite on the Second Chance photo gallery was Bella, a beautiful one year old female cat who looks a lot like yours-truly. And on the Humane Society my favorite was CJ, because he was listed as a “big boy.”
Adopting a cat or dog can be a rewarding (and challenging) experience. To those of you considering taking this step, good luck and stop in to visit sometime!

The little birdies

I watched from the front office door as the bird stood on the other side. Taunting me. As if to say, “Ha, ha, fat cat, you’ll never catch me.”
I paced back and forth in front of the door as if to say, “Just wait, you bird, you have no idea if this door will spring open and I will grasp you in my strong white paws, with claws as sharp as needles and speed like lighting and force like fire.”
The bird, lightly stepping on it’s skinny, little, chicken legs, oddly popped it’s head up and down, and then, sensing my superiority flew away.
Even through a plate glass door my dominance is felt. Birds, mice, bats, bugs, they all look at me and tremble. All I must do is walk, think to myself of the possibilities, and they flee.
Hello Spring, Goodbye Robin!

IT's my birthday, Have a party

Wahoo! I love my birthday! My very nice primate brought me a cute fury mouse (not real) filled with the intoxicating armoa of cat-nip. MMMM, my favorite.

So I plan to spend the rest of the day enjoying the furry little critter, by tossing it in the air, rolling on it and generally poucing (Well, my version of pouncing) on it until I'm all tired out.

Now if only I can find where she hid the rest of the cat-nip we can really go wild tonight!!!

Meow Meow Open House Today!!!!

OOOHHH, I'm soooo excited today - we are having an open house today at The Lennox Independent. I just know so many people are going to come in to see me and want to pet my gorgeous fur. Today is going to fantastic!!!

The Talented Felines in Media

Here at the newspaper office, people always share with me stories of other talented cats. One nice gentelman telephoned this morning to share with me a cat video on MSN of Nora the Piano Cat. What talent!

Here is the link to Nora's video. It encourages me to learn something new.

Click this link

http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=04f3dee5-b12a-4c67 -96a3-cdc2749fca47&f=msnhome&fg=email

Why humans love us

I apprecaite the food. The clean water and the belly rubs. And I know my human loves me too.
Sometimes when I'm bored, I take out a well worn piece of paper, that Kelli gave me almost ten years ago. It's a poem she wrote about me. I sleep with the paper under my big blue dog bed pillow. If I ever wonder if my human loves me I read it. I'm sure your humans would want you to feel the love too!

Todd
by kelli bultena

My cat snores.
He lies upon my bed,
curled up by my head,
snoring.

Little love moments.

My cat hugs.
He rubs against my legs
in the morning
underfoot until he gets his water.

Little love moments.

Little love moments break the long hours
into pieces of happiness.

Meowing Monday

The sliver of sunshine from the front window has grown into a pasture of brillant sunlight that I now can lounge in until the evening steels it away. It is an absolutely purrfect Monday in this warm, delightful day.

Enjoy yours.

It's winter again

Here in South Dakota, one of the longest seasons it seems is winter. Not that I mind much as an indoor cat. Although I hate it when my humans have wet snow on their shoes and track in the office and I accidentally step my paw into it. Truely a disgrace in personal hygine.

Today the snow is back, I can watch from my front door. The snow is coming down in giant wet flakes that stick to the sidewalk. I am glad to be indoors and have the comfort of my big blue dog bed.

If only my people would lick their feet off.

My latest adventure

Most of you know I write a column for The Lennox Independent, but this week I wrote a news article about one of catster's own: Loki the talking cat (http://www.orangecatblues.com).

The article was so much fun to write, Loki is such a talented cat. The article has been well recieved by our readers and I am so pleased that humans are paying attention to what we as companion cats can do!!

Loki also interviewed me for his Critter News Channel. I even got to wear a vest, I tried on the suit coat but for a stout cat like me, it didn't quite fit.

But I always say it's not the clothes that make the cat, it's the claws!

Marvelous Monday

The Lennox Independent is taking part in an Easter Promotion, in which the area children go into different businesses about town and get an Easter treat, they clip out the Easter Egg advertisment from the newspaper and once they've stopped at all the stores, they get entered into a drawing for an Easter Basket.

Today after school we had about twenty kids come by the office. My humans moved my big blue bed towards the front of the office so all of the children could meet me.

I must admit, they loved me.

One kind boy told me about his Grandma's cat named Hippo. He said Hippo was a big cat, but that I was even bigger! I took it as a compliment.

It was an illustrious day. I hope the whole week contines with pets, purrs and praise.

Happy Monday fellow felines!

Drip Drop Saturday

It began as an ordinary day.

A drip drop, listen to the rain, smell the new grass kind of day. But in my nappy-day-dream state of mind I discovered that the rain drops are quite intelligent.

I'll admit, I was bored and still half asleep, but I kid you not, the rain drop I was chasing down the glass front door...

it would zig and zag and travel up and down, around, over and under, and all I could do was watch in a most hypnotic trance.

Human doubt

In my position here at the office I get to meet a lot of wonderful people. Just yesterday some customers stopped in and this woman was so nice to me. She took time to stroke my beautiful black hair, and visit with me.

The others with her were nice too, but one young man looked at my coffee mug. Well, it's not my coffee mug, but it features my picture. This picture is the one where I am licking my lips in anticipation for some great tasting cat food.

He studied the coffee mug and finally asked my humans, "Is that his real tongue or is it Photoshop-ed in there?"

My human replied, "It’s his real tongue. He’s a very photogenic cat."

The man put the mug down and looked over at me. I was walking about these new human's legs, paying close attention to the nice woman who enjoyed petting me.

He still didn't believe.

Even when it’s right there to see.

It’s no wonder that humans struggle to believe in what they don't see.

Cats on the other hand trust their inner cat voice and pay no attention to the doubts that plague humans.

Today I am glad to be cat. Celebrate your cat calmness and soak up some sunshine in the window sill. That’s where I’m headed.

I might be a hero

When my girls at the office have their kids here, I feel so loved.

Kelli has twin boys that are first graders. I lived at their house when they were just babies, so I know them well. When they were only one and a half they would try to ride me like a horse. I didn't care for that much. But now, they watch Tom and Jerry in the back of the office and I climb up unto their laps, making sure to sit by each one for several minutes, so no one feels left out. They stroke my beautiful black hair and I give them a nice coat of fur on their clothes, so they'll be able to remember I was with them.

They were talking about me while they were here, I enjoyed listening to them so much.

One said, "I wonder how Todd is so fast?"
His brother answered, "It's because he has springs in his legs."
"Yeah," the first one agreed, "He's got to be the fastest cat in the whole world!"

I purred proudly and remembered why I love human children.

Weekend warrior

As a working cat, I have certain expectations to meet. One is to stand gaurd at the office. As a cat, I pride myself on being observant, fast, strong, light on my feet, well maybe not light on my feet, I mean at 25 pounds, these feet are not exactly light.

But I have a certain presence, a cat with charisma if you will. The girls at office say it all the time.

During weekend hours, in between naps and writing, I pace the office floor. I jump upon the chairs and demand that any unwanted critter show themselves and face the consequence of being an inhabitant of my domain.

This weekend, it 's quiet. In the past I have had to deal with a cricket, a moth, a bee, a hornet, a mouse and a bat.

I will not deny I take a certain pleasure in asserting my superiority. This weekend I attend to the dust bunnies only, but it's good practice for the next great pounce.

My favorite toys

Yesterday was great, I was able to play with my favorite toy: a human baby. My girls at the office are all mothers, and sometimes, they bring their children for me to play with. Yesterday it was one year old, Eli. He is walking and he loves to sit on my lap. I don't like that much at all. I prefer to climb on his lap.

I have never scratched a baby, so my humans let me play with them a lot. Eli and I rolled around on my big blue dog bed. He hugged me and I gave him his own coat of fur. His mom complained about that, but Eli loved it. He even kissed my head. When Eli would leave, I would follow him. When I would leave, he would follow me.

It's great to be loved.

I'd like to thank...

I'd like to thank my feline friends, for without you I would not be here.

That is how I'd like to start my speach when I win the award for the "Purritzer Prize."

I really feel I'm on my way, as "Todd's Tales" was one of today's featured diaries and it will be displayed all day on our Diary Central page! What an honor. I hope I can meet more friends this way.

But my goal is the Purritzer Prize. The Purritzer Prize is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in print journalism, literary achievements, and musical composition. My newspaper column, also titled "Todd's Tales" , has been published in The Lennox Independent (www.lennoxnews.com) for five weeks now has been well recieved.

I know our newspaper is not a daily paper, I know it is not the largest in circulation but it is perhaps, in my opinion, the best local weekly newspaper around. Just think, with "Todd's Tales" now in print, cats have the opportunity to teach humans so much. And let's face it, they need our help fellow felines.

Sunshine temptation

South Dakota is known for its harsh winters, not that this year has been unbearable. But still when spring is on the way, the sun feels warmer. Today, for the first time in years, I walked towards the outside. I didn't go outside, but I walked toward it.
For those of you who have been getting to know me, you know I used to be a country cat. I lived that life. I weathered the frigid cold, I enjoyed scratching the tree trunks. But I also remember the pain, I was hurt pretty bad on a fence (my humans think) when I explored too far from home. And another cat picked on me. Inside was much safer, much calmer, much more comfortable.
Now that I'm a city cat, I don't really think about going out in the concrete jungle. I know that the trees are there. But I have my cardboard scratching toy, and a nice couch. I don't understand why the humans are bothered when I add texture to their furnishings.
Yet today, I went towards the outside, but I didn't go out there. My humans just watched me, as I couriously sniffed the ground, the door, the air. I love the sunshine and my blue dog bed pillow. I don't want to go anywhere right now.

Solitary Sunday

Weekends in our community are quiet. My view is from the glass front door, I sit and watch the feet walk by. Sunday it's heels and skirts that woosh by. There is a church on the block. I love the mothers who hurry their little ones, as the little ones pull at their dress clothes, and poke at the door because they see me. Smile. And run back to catch up still fussing with the clothes they wear but once a week.

Sundays are lay in the sun days. Enjoy the heat and the peace days. Sundays are perfect for a fat cat like me.

But Monday is even better. Except I have to figure out what this week's newspaper column should be about. I'm leaning towards the special bond between children and animals. Why is it that kids see what those old two legged beings miss?

It could be the lower vantage point. I know from where I'm sitting life looks pretty good.

Thirsty Thursday

I am a connoisseur of fine water. I enjoy a full bowl of fresh, clean water. I enjoy trying to sip from a left over coffee mug and I'll admit, I have, on rare occassion enjoyed the T-bowl after a flush.

Today I sat staring at my water bowl with floaty, puffy food in it. Just waiting for one of the girls to notice. I just sat there staring.

They kept right on ignoring me.

Thursdays are thirsty days.

By now it has been nearly three hours and still the puffy, floaty food stares back at me. Taunting me. Daring me to drink, knowing full well I will not.

I, weak with thirst, go to my human, nudge her leg, arch my back and in no uncertain terms demand my water be replenished this instant.

Perhaps it is because she is getting up anyway, perhaps it is because she can read my cat mind, but in any instance, she empties the nasty puffy, floaty food-water and sets in it's place a nice cool, clean bowl of fresh water. Along with a quick neck rub.

My thirst is quenched.

The Day I found Catster

There is a saying that is "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," I beg to differ.

Although I am an older cat, I have found that I learn something new each day. And today, I am proud to say, I learned how to find other brilliant felines. I'll admit typing is difficult but my human is always willing to help. As a professional cat, I am always striving to keep my skills top-notch.

I am a newspaper cat. I write a weeky newspaper column, that is actually published! I am thrilled to share with readers my view of the world around me.

And who knows perhaps I will inspire an old dog, or an old cat, or an old human - to learn something new. And the world can only improve if we all learn from each other.