Extra Hands

I'm sorry that I've not been very chatty. I've had other things on my paws to worry about.

Those babies sure are fast, and they think I am totally cool. When they come over, they look at me and go "meow". They are very funny looking cats!

Lucy even said my name this week! "Ivin!" she said. Her mommy, Secretary, and my mommy were so proud of her.

This weekend I got to go to my first "super bowl" party. I have no idea what a super bowl is, or what it looks like, but I was upset that I couldn't curl up inside it. Secretary and Julia brought food, and there was cooking and bags rustling in the kitchen and then everyone sat at the table.

I wanted to nap in my kick 'n play. Mommy keeps it on the table for me to sleep on. Maybe the super bowl was on the table, too? So I jumped up on the table, between Mommy and Julia.

Can you believe this? Not only did not I not find the super bowl, but my kick 'n play wasn't there, either. Instead I found nasty smelling, gooey stuff that the babies were covered and dripping in, and Mommy immediately pulled me down. "Ivan, we have company! Stay off the table!"

Aw, come on, Mommy; they're family! They won't mind!

The Lucy and Megan grandbabies don't stay where they are supposed to stay. I headed down the hall to get away from the noise and walked by the bathroom and the bathroom door was closed! What if I need the litter box? I sat by the door and cried.

Secretary heard me and took pity. "When you shut the door, Ivan can't use the bathroom!" I heard her yell down the hall.

"What makes you think Ivan needs the litter box? He hates shut doors!" I heard Mommy yell back. Excuse me - I'm right here! Don't talk about me like that. Enough of that, however. I marched in and walked around my litter box. Secretary was so proud that she knew what I wanted.

"I don't want Megan in the litter box!" Megan's mommy yells back. Come to think of it, I don't want Megan in my box, either. She might be small, but I don't think she'd fit. Besides, she'd probably kick more litter of the box than I do. I'd hate to have competition.

I went back to the living room. Megan saw me. "Meow!" she says and comes after me.

I don't feel like being chased. I turn around and head for Mommy's bedroom. Megan turns around and follows me. "Aaaaaa aaaa aaa aaa meow" she says. Secretary follows her down the hall and shows her how to be "gentle". I decide to cooperate and sit still while Megan gives me a pat on the head.

"Meow!" Megan says.

"Did you Ivan?" Secretary asked.

"Ssssssssss" say Megan. I think Megan has a slow leak!

Oooo - an energy burst! I race out of the room, down the hall, through the living room and skid across the kitchen floor, before I stop under Mommy's chair at the table. I hear the girls laughing and squealing and.. next thing you know, there is Lucy. She's standing and pointing at me and saying "Ivan" and "cat" and "meow". Everyone is so proud of her. I'm just glad that Lucy knows who I am!

Having the grandbabies over isn't a bad thing, really. They love to shake my feather boa and mouse on a stick around. Instant attention! They are so good at it, too, and I take advantage of them. They know I'll jump for the blue stick, so they fight over it. Then they chase me with it, so I chase them. They squeal. I get to play. It's a wonderful combination!

Invading Pursonal Space

Oh boy its been grand. Mommy and Secretary dragged a tree in the house last weekend and they put lights on it and glittery stuff and dangling things. They call it "Christmas Tree" and that I am not supposed to disturb the stuff that's on the tree.

It surly is fun to be under, though!

That's not my personal space. I mean, pursonal space.

Yesterday Mommy had the kids and grandbabies over for lunch. She also had other company come over that is afraid of cats, so I had to spend most of the time in Mommy's room with the door closed. Sooooooooo distressing!

Finally Mommy took pity on me and let me out, even with the cat-scared people there. I raced right to my water and food bowls, intent on enjoying lunch.

Just one problem: the babies saw me go by.

Next thing I know, Lucy is on one side of my bowl, and Megan is on the other side of my bowl, and they're both staring at me and pointing and talking and asking "what's that?", wondering what I was doing. Excuse me? It's my food and I'm not sharing it! Mommy was right behind them, explaining that I was hungry and not to touch me or bother me or move my food. The girls thought this was sooooooooooo special. I couldn't handle the intrusion! I never did get to finish my lunch yesterday.

Then today, Secretary comes over right after breakfast to do her laundry. She never comes that early; Mommy and I were still doing dishes and Mommy was still in her PJ's. Mommy knew she was coming though; Mommy said that this new snowstorm is really, really big and Secretary wanted to do her laundry before it snowed too much.

Mommy and I battle over the brush. She insists on brushing underneath my tail and I simply won't have it happen. So what did Mommy do? She tattled on me to Secretary! Said I had a big knot under my tail and it needed to come off.

Secretary came over like she was going to hug me and brush me, but instead she put her arm under my belly with my head next to her butt and then she pushed my tail back with my other hand and I could hear "snip snip snip" and I could feel it too! I was very unhappy! I can't believe Mommy let her do that to me! When she was done, Mommy was holding this big, huge chunk of Ivan furr; it filled Mommy's entire hand. Now I've got a bald spot back there and, quite frankly, it's drafty!

Mommy made up for it, though, because she gave me my Christmas present early. She got me a feather duster that she twirls in her hand and I can attack. Wowsers it is so much, super fun! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I am Thankful!

I'd be more Thankful, though, if Secretary would spare enough of her time to help me write in my diary! MOL

She did, however, take pictures of me helping her and Mommy put stuff on the windows so the wind wouldn't come inside. That was a couple weeks ago, and man, I was such a big help. I am certain they couldn't have done it without me!

So I am thankful for my mommy. I just love her to pieces; I'm so glad I found her! She loves me. She picks me up when she gets home and we close the curtains. She lets me play with food bags and chase the light that falls out of the fridge and lets me help her knit and cleans my litter box and feeds me - what more could a cat ask for?

I'm thankful that the babies are getting more gentle when they come over. Lucy and Megan just love to run over and touch me, and that used to be really scary! They don't pound on my head anymore; they are growing up so fast!

I'm thankful for Secretary; she loves me too. She lets me help her with the laundry; the empty laundry baskets are just too much to resist. She also spends time playing with me and brushing me and she doesn't think I'm trouble or a nuisance. She comes over special to see me. She also takes good care of my Catster page. I wasn't so keen about posing for a Christmas photo; after all, I didn't have to do that lat year. But Secretary says I was a good sport about it and I took the best picture of all the cats (so THERE!) and I can't wait to show it to you!

I'm also thankful for Meow Mix. Oh you've never tasted such fine stuff as moist, succulent Meow Mix. I don't get enough of it!

Happy Annifursary to Mommy & Me!

Wow - I can't believe it - its been an entire year since Mommy came to the ARL once again to find a cat to love. I'm so glad she came, because I found her, and she found me! She can't believe its been a year, either. So much has happened in a year!

Can you believe that, being a special day and all, she left me home alone? Instead of spending her day with me, she left to visit with the baby Lucy's family because it was Lucy's mommy's birthday a few days ago and they all went to the zoo today. How fair is that?

Mommy is displeased with my newest hiding place: the bottom drawer of the fridge. Secretary seemed to agree with her, but I don't understand. Sure, its cold in there, but have you seen what they put in that fridge? There's light and bags in there. You can plunge in the bags and roll in them and its nice and snug in there! Mommy now has to do a double check when she closes the door now because she's scared that I'll get in there and get stuck.

No worries, though. She took out the bag that I loved so much inside! She cooked the potatoes and threw out the bag - can you believe it? It's just devastating! I want a crinkly bag to lay inside!

So yesterday, when Secretary came over for lunch, she took one of the crinkly shopping bags, cut the handles, and left it on the floor for me. SCORE! I dragged that bag all over the kitchen. I laid on it; I jumped on it; I pushed it; I dragged it; I dunked it in my water bowl... and apparently that wasn't allowed, because Mommy took it away after that.

I finally got Secretary to put my new series of pictures on my page. She actually took them last Sunday but she's been so pokey that she didn't take them off her camera until today. I love posing for the camera!

My Tail of Devotion for Ivan (Moms Cat)

This is a special Tail of Devotion

See All Tails of Devotion

A Birthday?

Catster sends Secretary a note that says "happy birthday, Ivan!" But I don't remember when my birthday is!

Secretary whispers "I had to pick a date and since you've been with Mom almost a year, I chose this date. Just go along with it!"

Since I do remember having a birthday for Mommy, and for baby Emma, and they both got oodles of cool presents (for them, anyway) and FOOD, then I will be happy to have a birthday and see if I get special food and new toys. Stay tuned!

Here Comes Lucy!

Yesterday Mommy woke up and had "an agenda". She had lots of things she wanted to do, both inside and outside, and naturally, I was not allowed to join her outside. I'm not totally upset about that, because when she goes outside like that, I see her pushing this machine that makes a huge amount of noise and dust and it scares the grass so much that it never looks the same after the machine goes by.

Mommy came in for lunch and was busy preparing for Lucy to come over. Mommy was very excited about babysitting Lucy for daughter-in-law Julia, and she was busy vacuuming and sweeping and cleaning the floor to make sure it was "baby proof". Mom wasn't staying still in any one place, so I climbed to the top of the china cabinet and curled up next to the big plant that's up there.

Then the door opened and wowsers - it wasn't Julia, it was Secretary! Mommy was surprised to see her so soon with her laundry, but I wasn't going to complain. I jumped off the cabinet to the counter to the floor to run after Secretary to let her pick me up. Oh I love having her come over because she gives me attention! Secretary carried me to the living room and sat on the couch, putting me next to her. Oh, the love!

Then the door opened again and in came Julia and Lucy. Julia put Lucy on the floor and - whoa - she started moving! Lucy was on her hands and knees and boy can she move! She headed right for Secretary, who picked her up.

Lucy has been afraid of me before, but she didn't seem too worried about me yesterday. She reached her hand out to me and said the most silly things that I couldn't understand but Secretary and Mom seemed quite pleased with what Lucy was trying to say. She even leaned over to touch me. I wasn't too worried about that, but Lucy tried to pull on my tail! I got up and walked away.

Secretary put Lucy on the floor again and off she went towards the kitchen! Mommy called it "crawling" and says Lucy does it very well. I also got to see Lucy try to walk; she likes to hang onto someone's hands and off she goes! Silly baby; she think she can run. She falls down and everyone giggles and she laughs and claps and then gets back on her feet...or she pulls herself up and well, she seems harmless.... and I see the wisdom of making friends with little Lucy.

What could be so cool? Another body to lean against! I walked by her and rubbed on her legs, though hers are so small and short that I can touch her padded bottom with my tail. Secretary told her not to worry; Lucy was making different noises that sounded not-so-happy but as soon as I walked by, she went back to banging on the coffee table and flinging cheerios.

Then the evil noises began again! I can't stand the noise they called thunder. I hope this isn't going to happen for the rest of my life, but just about every afternoon it gets super dark around here and then light flashes and the horrible thunder noises come and usually I have to hide under Mom's bed and shake by myself. Yesterday, though, I wasn't about to leave my people, so I stayed very close to Secretary, who was sitting on the floor watching Lucy. I couldn't get close to Mommy because she was on her hands and knees, too, playing chase with Lucy, who was making loud, squally baby noises and seemed quite pleased with all of this racket.

Julia came back to get Lucy and she ate her supper with Mommy and Secretary. I couldn't find my kibble, but Secretary showed me where Mommy had hid my food so Lucy wouldn't dig in it and eat. Mommy put my food on the island in the kitchen - normally I'm not supposed to go up there! So I ate while Lucy spread more cheerios and gold fish on the floor and the adults thought it was so cute and messy and tried to teach Lucy to clean up after herself. They also left before Secretary did, who brushed me before she left.

Ah, life is grand when your people are around. I'm so happy to have so many of them to lavish attention on me! I just wish they'd stay longer and come more often.

Hurray Mommy's Home!

The past couple of weeks have been horrible. Mommy left me all by myself!

She called it "vacation" and she's taken those before, but this time she packed a ton of her stuff into bags, boxes, and coolers (which was way cool to assist her in doing) and then she put them all in the car. She told me she loved me but that she'd be gone a few days to go "camping" and that Becky would be over to check on me every other day and make sure I had food.

Then Mama was gone. She wasn't kidding. I didn't see my mommy again forever - even though Mommy swears it was only 9 days.

I wasn't entirely by myself. A couple of nights, Lisa and toddler Emma came over to sleep and do laundry. Oh how I wanted attention! I followed them everywhere they went. Emma chased me, but she's so rough when she touches me. Lisa's trying hard to teach her gentle but the kid is slow in figuring it out. Mommy says that's because Emma is only 15 months old and she doesn't live around cats enough. She's used to big dog Zeus and she doesn't need to be as gentle with him as she has to be with me. She about knocks me off my paws! Lisa was worried about one thing: it got super hot while Mommy was gone. Oh man, I could hardly move it was so miserable. Lisa opened the windows and turned on some fans to let some fresh air come inside the place. I was so grateful for that.

I just wanted to be close. I tried to sleep with Lisa, but she wasn't going to tolerate that, no way, no how. She shoved me off the bed with a nasty voice, saying "get your sticky fur away from me!" Well, I wouldn't have had fur to spare if she would have brushed me like Mommy does! I was so distressed. I was hoping Secretary would come over to do laundry because she always spends time with me, but she didn't come over, either!

Then came the night when the door opened and there was Mommy! Oh my catness - I was so happy to see her I could hardly wait for her to put the things down that she had in her arms and pick me up. She did that, right away, and she hugged me and loved me and I purred the very loudest I possibly could. I wouldn't let her out of my sight the rest of the night. It was hard enough to let her have enough time to go out to the car and bring in all those boxes, bags, and coolers!

Lisa and Emma were with her, too, so it got really busy and noisy, but I wasn't moving. Emma was just going to have to wait - this was my mommy and I was going to have her! When Mommy went to bed, I slept right next to her face. I tried to get closer, but I ended up waking her up whenever I tried to move my tail and butt closer. I woke up a couple times during the night just to make sure she was there. I put her face between my paws and I touched her nose. Sure enough, it was Mommy! Oh life was so wonderful again -

until morning came and Mommy and Lisa stocked up on some of those bags and coolers and left me again! They were gone all day.

This time, though, when they came home, it was only a day they were gone and no overnights. This time, they came home with Secretary! She was so happy to see me, too, and she picked me up and said how much she missed me and that I should be very happy because Mommy was going back to work in the morning and we'd be back to our regular schedule.

Ah; such good words to my lonely heart!

Secretary gave Emma a bath while Lisa and Mommy made supper. I couldn't decided which was more exciting! I quickly realized that being next to Secretary meant that Emma could see me and splash WATER at me - freak me out! - so I spent the time with Mommy and Lisa in the kitchen and chased the light hiding in the refrigerator box.

Now that Mommy's back to her regular schedule, I get a/c on during the day again, and Mommy sleeps in her own bed, and I get fed and brushed and petted at the regular times. Lisa and Emma have gone home, though, so its just Mommy and me again.

I love the sound of that!

Loud & Scary Outside!

Sister Lisa and a growing-up Emma are here for a couple weeks, so that means I'm not allowed in the guest room. Mommy has done her best to cover Emma's mattress so my fur doesn't get all over it, but Lisa is telling the story about Emma rubbing her face on the sheet and then licking her mommy's arm because she had "Ivan fuzz" on it.

Ooops; guity as charged!

Lisa and Derrick and Emma went to spend a couple days with Becky and baby Megan, so Mommy went over there to have lunch, leaving me alone for a while. I don't like being alone, but normally its OK - except for today. I hate the outside noises that come with flashing light. I don't know what it is, but it scares me! I don't know why someone just doesn't stop that noise!

Today it was really bad. It was so dark outside; the light was so bright; I could hear popping and horrible crackles and crashes outside the windows. The windows got all full of water and it sounded like someone was throwing rocks at the house! I was so scared.

Finally Mommy came home and picked me up. She was worried that I'd be so scared but she couldn't come home to be with me because it was too dangerous to be outside during the storm, she said. I was still too scared and not pleased that she wasn't there; I didn't purr for her like I usually do when she comes home.

Then Secretary came over with her laundry, and everything was right with the world. She waved my blue stick in the air and we got to play a long time while her clothes got clean. She said I looked very kitten-like when I play, and then she told Mommy about the very baby, orphaned kittens she got to hold at the animal shelter today. She said one of them had coloring kind of like me.

Secretary wore me out with all that playing. I had to take a nap in the pack 'n play on the kitchen table. At least by then it was quiet enough to sleep!

Just Hanging

Mommy has been busy cleaning the home and working outside. I don't like her being outside so long, but she's been busy painting the porches. she says something about being neat and tidy outside.

She also tells me that sister Lisa and baby Emma are coming home for a few weeks. She says to be prepared because Emma is now walking all over the place and she can now chase me around. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Thank goodness Secretary has returned from her trip to visit Lisa. When she came home, she picked up the guinea pigs and took them home. I loved watching them. They were so entertaining while they were doing whatever it is that guinea pigs do. Mommy cleaned them and took care of them and I did my best to assist in making sure they didn't run away.... and that they did. They kept getting out of their fencing that Mommy used to keep them in place on the floor. They move FAST!

Secretary is almost done her laundry; I can hear it ending in th other room. I must go and check on it for her!