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Who Woulda Thunk?

What a Great 2008....Reflections, courtesy of Marvelous- Milo~

Geez, Meowm says she's happy about 2008, despite all the tragic world & economic events...

First off, she's very happy about her marriage to Pawps, that they both have jobs, their new house, their and their families' health (especially their parents who are much older), and our new 6 member family.

Although I've been sleeping downstairs, playing with imaginary wisps of hair and lost bottlecaps, they've resorted to pretending to give me treats so I will sleep inside their master bedroom with them. Its been about a week now, and now I snuggle up on the foot of the bed. I still won't sleep on Meowm's pillow like I used to, but she says hopefully I'll remember the softness of her memory foam pillow and change my mind. hehe

The past 2 weeks since Christmas, I've been extra cuddly, and have gone up to Dad and Meowm for some extra canoodle action. My fave thing to do still, is to lie on their chests while they're on the sofa, or while Dad's on his video games, or while Meowm's on her laptop. I like to sleep facing them, and will headbutt the person I'm sleeping on, then snuggle my little face underneath their chin.

My purr is so soft...you can barely hear it...but its soothing and so sweet...so delicate...You can hear it when they rub my chin just so, and when I am sleeping on their chests, enjoying their body heat. hehe I also enjoy kneading their fluffy robes, and will do so for at least 10 minutes at a time. I go into what Meowm calls my "kneading trance," and I look like I'm playing the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto as I spread out my paws real wide, dip my head, and close my eyes in full concentration as I play the imaginary piano keys on her nice, fluffy robe...Ahhh to be a kitten again...

Meomwy and Pawps like to wonder how my life started. They did hear from the SF SPCA, that I was taken from a feral colony by SF Animal Control. Then, I was hand plucked by the SF SPCA a large non-profit rescue org up in the Bay area, and a month later, taken to the Bay Area Pet Fair where I first met Bella, Meowm, and Daddy.

Daddy who has this wonderful talent in reading animals and people extremely accurately, said he knew that I would be calm, mellow, and loving towards Bella. When I met her for the first time, I continued to play with the little sparkly dangly toy, and I sniffed her nose. Within 10 minutes, Bella and I were drinking out of the same bowl. Within 1 hour, I was already out of the bathroom area. Within 3 hours, I was bathed and sleeping on their bed. Within 1 day, I was already trying to play with her.

But more importantly, within 1 minute, I'd already stolen their hearts.

Since then, I've been Bella's best friend. But as I got older, I got lonelier. I still continued to play with Bella, but it wasn't enough for me. I got bored, and didn't want to play with toys anymore. So they finally here comes Tabifa, with her sassy princessy ness, and we are now totally like brother and sister. I accepted Tabifa with open paws, and there was no adjustment period. M and D wonder if I would've been that way with any other cat, as I have such a loving, accepting temperament. I don't mind a change of environment, I just use what I have available...

The best example was how Meomw and Pawps would take me from the Bay area, and drive down to the LA area. That very night, I'd be using a different litter box, different litter type, and sleep in a different room, meanwhile deal with a nosy white dog sniffing my butt all the time, different food and water bowls, and 2 strangers (gramma and grampa), plus all their friends who come to visit. But each time I visited, I didn't mind at all-- I had no litterbox or food upsets-- it was as though I had not traveled at all. Mom and Pawps used to scratch their heads and wonder how a kitten could adjust so easily and quickly to change.

I was like that every single time-- even when they moved back down and we had to drive down, and even when we had to stay with Gramma and Grampa for about a month or so, I loved it there...

When the vaccuum is on, I just stare at it idly. It doesn't scare me one bit, and I will fall back asleep even when it is whirring away. Meanwhile Tabifa is scared for her life, and hides like a Thursday zit waiting for Friday. haha

Although I don't cuddle up like a lap kitten (I'm a breast man haha) like Tabifa does, I don't mind when they hold and cuddle me. Sometimes I give Meowm especially, the paw- I put my soft paw on her mouth so she'll put me down,but I don't squirm, scratch, or meow. I let them hold me and kiss me and hug me all the time. I think I just won't tell them how much I love the attention, by pretending I'm not affected by it. That's the Milo way-- so Zen about all that is life (though I do get pretty darn excited about cookies & mamma-- korean word for "food.")

Meowm says my coat has been glistening so much, as she defurminates me weekly, and she feeds me Evo. It has done wonders for Tabifa's coat, as her adult starts to grow in slowly. My hair is shinier than Moms she always says! hehehe

Well its been a good 2 weeks. I like having Meowm and pawps home more often. They said something about it being xmas and New Year's, but all I know is that these are times when the Santa figurines come out, and there's tons of tinsel and garlands to knock down! hehe I am looking forward to Meowm being able to work from home eventually,b/c then I'll get more chest cuddle time.

Meowmy tells me every day how much she loves me, and what a great kitty I have. She never thought a cat could be so wonderfully sweet and implacable, and says she has been permanently spoiled b/c I don't have ANY typical cat qualities or finnickiness.

The only vice I have is that I HATE when people touch me near the mouth, which they didn't discover until they finally had to give me oral meds. Well lo and behold, Zen Milo too has an Achilles' heel.

The other night, Meowm saw me LICKING my canned Evo. She thought it was hilarious b/c she always wondered how Tabifa could get to Milo's food every time. Then she saw Tabifa taking giant chunks and eating w/o swallowing. No wonder! Well that's why she says I've been so little, b/c I lick my food daintily (I know its kinda girly), and that I must've been plucked from the feral colony really early, and/or I was the runt (b/c I would've let my littermates eat all the milk and wouldn't have been mean or aggressive enough to fend for my own teat). hehe

But Meowm and Pawps make sure to give me enough food, and they've been watching Tabifa more to see how much she takes from me (its usually not much, just a few extra bites). Plus, they want me to stay nice and trim at 7.14 pounds, as I don't like to play daily like Tabifa, and it will be harder for me to lose the weight.

I groom Tabifa every single day, and tabifa will groom me right back. We sometimes sleep together, but we have our separate fave spots on the giant cat tree, and she hogs the lion bed most of the time, as she is NEARLY MY SIZE at only 7 months! She's always been a food monger, so Meomw and Pawops will have to be careful as she ages about making sure she doesn't get chubs. They are really good at monitoring our food intake, as neither of them want to deal with obesity-related health issues, and want to ensure that we are as healthy as possible.

Meowm even has toyed with the idea of organic raw food, but she hasn't gotten there yet. She hopes to get the dogs started first, and then try us kitties. There's been random spells of vomiting, one time from Milo, and we think it was the sudden change of food, which is SO bad, but we had run out of food, and we didn't have a choice that one night- it was either new kibble or starve. Sigh. Anyhoos, never again. We'll be sure to mix the food well, and to have back up food in case.

Meowmy says I'm such a wonderful little kitty, and a wonderful big brother. I've taken Tabifa under my wing, and we are found sleeping near or together pretty much every day. We play fight, and pounce on each other too for good measure. She keeps me entertained, trim, and happy. They noticed I have a bigger skip to my step, and seem more alert with my kitty bud. I was so bored, and also tired of being Bella's only victim! haha Now that we have RUby, the first big dog Dad and Mom have raised indoors only, Bella and Ruby hang out all day for the most part, and Bella is so tired after playing with Ruby so it means less Bella-pouncing-me time! Always good especially when you have the survival skills of a lame duck. Oops, oh well.

Meomw and Pawps are really trying to be good about my not getting out. One time Ruby was out going potty, and I stuck my head out the door and Meowm freaked out and shut it immediately! I have become more and more curious about that door, as Ruby gets to go out that door several times a day for potty. So M and P have to be extra careful that I don't escape, as they know I'm curious about the outside world. they won't even put me on a harness and take me outside, for fear of fleas and also they don't want me to get a taste of the outdoors, and then whine to go outside:)

My dear Sweet MilOooo

I'm Meowmy's sweetie cat. Yeah yeah Tabifa is extra sweet too, but I have an extra sweetness, a mellow, imperturbable quality that is necessary in our home w/our ADD-ridden Bella boom boom. I don't even mind when she bum rushes me, and wants to play fight, and often do it right back to her.

They were so worried about me, Bella, and Tabifa lately. Especially me, b/c after the foster dog was here in her crate in the living room, I didn't appear stressed or show any signs thereof. So when I started getting the snifflies, then drooling and blowing snot bubbles, they had to rush me to the vet. Sigh. Meowmy was so terrified I had contracted something viral somehow even though I never get out, as you never know with these things. I went through a 1 week period where I was isolated from everyone, w/a humidifier on sometimes, and just hanging out on the Aerobed by myself. I was miserable, but Mom and Dad came in periodically to give me bliss therapy (snuggle and cuddle time). Thankfully, about a week later, I got better after taking a stronger antibiotic called Clavomax.

The only problem was, they discovered my IRE for all oral medications. I'd never been medicated before b/c I was always in the peak of health, so they were shocked and surprised that I would run away, fight them, bite, and thrust my head away so the medicine would just fly everywhere all over their clothes. They were glad when that week was over.

Then they found out a couple weeks later that Tabitha had tapeworms. Daddy admitted he'd seen some white particles on my rump but hadn't put two and two together. Anyways I'm all better now, but Meowmy wishes I would sleep on her pillow like I used to.

Ever since we moved here, I've been sleeping in the bedroom and on her pillow less and less. Nevermind there's a huge area underneath their new bed which is great for getting away from all things human and canine, which is my new sleep spot. hehe You can only get in there through the back of the bed, and the slot in the front and sides are too small for Mom or Dad, or Bella to reach and grab me. So I like my privacy. But Meowm hopes one day I'll again sleep on her pillow one day...

Tabifa has become Meowmy's little angel, as she has turned out to be a big cuddlebug. I am more of a breast man, and like to sleep on their chests. Tabifa likes laps, and just likes to lounge near and on them as much as possible. She also has this intoxicatingly soothing purr that Meowmy loves. But Meowmy assures me she doesn't love me any less, and she still comes over to me many times a day and night to give me kisses, hugs, and to play with me more.

Dad says I look happier with Tabifa around. Before, I would get harassed by Bella, but now, its cut in 1/2 b/c Tabifa takes the other half. haha I also like cuddling with Tabifa, grooming her, and playing kitty games that only kitty games are permitted to play. They say that I appear happier, and don't seem as bored and listless before. They really did get Tabifa for me, and I liked her from the start. There was basically no adjustment period, as I have always loved the new kitties, and tried to play with the feral kittens. I am such a great ambassador for foster kitties, and love them all! Too bad Meowmy won't let me have nasal or fur contact with them, as she doesn't want me to come down with anything. Meowmy is kind of a hypochondriac sometimes, and forgets that I'm vaccinnated for feLV, and also FVRCP. Soooo anyways, you never know, esp. with covert diseases like FIP. She didn't know there were so many dangers of having a multi cat household and taking in a stray, so she is going to be even more careful if and when they adopt another permanent kitty.

Meowmy says she loves me very much, and loves that I wake up in the morning and accompany her while she gets dressed, and while she puts on her makeup. She loves that I sit up there, just watching, meowing and chirping here and there. She loves that I enjoy her head butts ,and neck scratching which she is sooo good at. She also likes when I run down the stairs with a murmuring noise as I race down for breakfast!

THE EVOLUTION OF MIMI....

The Evolution of Mimi...

Mimi, oh sweet Mimi. She’s our latest foster kitten that Grandpaw plucked off the streets. Just a little background on her—she was only about 6 weeks old when Grandpaw rescued her. She was so brave—as soon as he’d come over every night to feed the feral colony, she’d come running up from her hiding place to get first dibs. Sadly, she had a really bad eye infection that turned itchy, and she scratched her cornea with her nails. We took her to the vet, and the vet said her eye would just go bad, and didn’t have to be removed. We were all really sad about that, b/c she is probably the prettiest, most dainty little girl we’ve rescued thus far. Mimi is a beautiful, tiny little white kitten, with splashes of calico markings, and a clear white face. Her now bad eye, has turned milky white, but her normal eye is a light yellow color, almost green…She’s got the teensiest little paws, and an even teensier little meow. Such a cutie.

Day 1: Grandpaw moved her to Mom’s house, b/c she wasn’t getting enough socialization inside her crate. She was liking it there, but it doesn’t mimic a real home environment. Day I was last last Friday, September 28, 2008. She was hissing at anyone, flattened her ears, and wouldn’t let anyone come close. However, she’s allowed us to pick her up, and has NEVER even gestured to bite, scratch, or hurt the humans in any way.

Day

Friday, October 10, 2008: Luna is brought over with Mimi, after their vet appointment. They are so far getting along, though we didn’t see any close contact between the two. Later that night, Mimi has her paw on Luna’ butt, snuggling away. Luna couldn’t care less.

Saturday, October 11, 2008. The roles have reversed. Mom finds them together in the old cloth organizer. Luna now has her paw on Mimi’s butt, and they’re snuggling together.

Sunday, October 12, 2008: Mimi for the first time decides to play without fear, bc Luna is there. They both engage in some play with the dangly toys. It’s the first time Mom ha seen Mimi come out of her shell. She seems happier with Luna, and keeps on following her around. She even understands the food is coming from Mom, and eats from Mom’s holding out the bowl for her with no problems.

Week 2: October 13, 2008. On Monday morning, Luna, the older 5 month old black and white kitten was staying with us. Mimi comes out of her area, and sideways, starts walking towards Mom still scared. She tries different alternate routes to become physically closer in location o Mom, but Mom has to go to work. Luna gets adopted later that night, so sadly Mimi is alone again.

Tuesday: Mom wakes up to feed and medicate Mimi. At night after work, Mimi responds well to Mom caressing her neck and giving her massages, and starts purring like crazy. She sits with mom on her lap for quite some time, but I starting to tear up in the eyes again. That morning, s he raised her butt b/c she like mom petting her.

Wed: Same thing as Tuesday, but Mom sees Mimi knead her paws, almost imperceptibly as she massages MIm’s little neck and head area. So far, it’s really cute. She also seems to know that Mom is the food source, and gladly and greedily accepts the Tasty Temptation treats she doles out one by one from her hand. She even play bites Mom and exposes her belly to Mom for the first time, though she is still really really scared. Also, she raised her butt again ever so gently, and enjoyed playing with Mom. She was still really scared, and won’t grab the ball, but at least chases it!