Happy St. Patrick's Day!

   Dear pals of Catster and Dogster, I am having a wonderful day! It is largely due to my Sister’s happy disposition. She believes it is her lucky day. She can be a very festive and spirited person, even in situations that would not call for it. Put it this way, everyone else at her place of employment was dressed in gray. She wore green! The lucky green, no not Smudge OReo-Green, paid off.
   It was an hour before her lunchtime, and Jeremy (Sister’s boyfriend) showed up out of the blue, not Kamara Blue. I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself! He took her out for lunch, where she dined on salmon (lox). I am so jealous! During their meal, Sister told Jeremy that she was accepted into college to become a veterinary assistant. You see, my Sister is 27 and she would like to accomplish as many dreams as possible before she turns 30. She graduated from university with a degree in fine arts, and also has aspirations of working with animals. She says that she is inspired by us, and hopes to spend her life assisting animals. She seems deadest on having another framed document on her wall!
   This is a major turning point in both of our lives. These big changes could mean new siblings! That is my hope.
   As St. Patrick’s Day comes to a close, we are reminded of a very sad event. Yesterday afternoon we learned of our dear friend Hazel Lucy’s passing. This came one day after our own Chloe’s fourteenth anniversary Rainbow Bridge passing. Our hearts are truly broken for, Julie (Hazel Lucy’s mom), as we only too well understand the heartbreak and agony of losing a family member.
   To have the luck of the Irish is to feel lucky everyday. To be thankful and grateful for our family members who are with us, and for those who we will meet again when our time comes. God bless you all.

I’m Your Daily Dairy Pick!

   It never ceases to amaze us. Whenever my Sister and I could use a little pick-us-up, something wonderful happens to our family, in the community. Today, I am ecstatic to be named as a Daily Diary Pick!
   Sister has not been very diligent in maintaining our Catster / Dogster profiles lately, and this ought to learn her to always be on her toes! It would have been nice if she had at least changed my main photo, over the past six months...Oh well, I’ll let it go...Even if I do have repeating achievement photos on my page now, she does love me very much.
   I do feel loved. I appreciate the congratulations that I’ve received from my fellow site members. Sister and I have recently begun making new friends, and reconnecting with a few old ones. With this unexpected win, we are feeling a tad overwhelmed; in the best way possible! So, if we have not connected yet, please do not give up on team O’Rourke yet.
   Speaking of our team....Dad has returned home from his vacation. I now have to organize my time between him and my Sister, to prevent having any feelings be hurt.
   I keep hearing little murmurs about the possibility of me getting a new sibling. This excites me more than when I started to chew on the little plush bear our Dad brought home for Sister. To be fair, I wasn’t chewing the bear itself...just the golf club that came in the bag over it's shoulder. It was too irresistible not to touch. It reminded me of my own Oatmeal.
   I spent the remainder of the evening watching American Idol, snuggled up with my Sister. We have never seen the show prior to this season, but we have to support our main man, Steven Tyler. If you didn’t already know, we are huge Aerosmith fans.
   During the commercial breaks, Sister took a couple of snap shots of me with her BlackBerry. We will save those for another day. This afternoon she posted few photos of me taken over the past few months, during my Catster hiatus. These recent updates should tie me over for the next little while.
   Do you still find me dashing?

Winner of The A-Cat-emy Award for Most Needy Cat

   Tonight I’ll be watching the Oscars with my Sister. Although we will be watching from the warmth of our family room, I am more than appropriately dressed for the occasion. Sister has not added any new photos of me in such a long time, so you’ll have to imagine me in my permanent tuxedo! (Pausing for laughter).
   We spent our Sunday patiently awaiting our Dad’s return home from Hawaii, only to find out that he will not be home until Wednesday afternoon. This means 2.5 boring days left for me, while Sister is at work. I’m running out of things to occupy myself with. Sure, I carry Oatmeal (my bear) around. I give him a good chew, and leave him in the most unusual places for Sister to find. However, what I really crave is interaction with my family!
   I am all over Sister these days. There is not a moment when I don’t try to climb up on her lap. My latest attempt was while she was on the carpet doing sit-ups. Yes, I have become your consummate “sucky kitty”. Should I feel shame in this?
   If she spills the beans to our Dad, over how affectionate I am towards her, I fear that he will think I’m merely a time server. Sister feeds me, cuddles with me, and kisses me until my fur ends up in her eyes. She has become my “favourite”, because there is no one else in our household (excluding the fish). It is so strange without our dear Gem in the house. We miss her so.
   If our Dad becomes jealous, there is only one way to remedy the situation. I think it is time we adopt another sibling. Sister has wanted one for the longest time, and hopes for a girl kitten to balance things out. I would love to have a little playmate, and I wouldn’t have to be labeled the baby anymore.
   You’ll have to excuse me, folks. I’m off to go jump in the wastebasket, and knock over the paper shredder. Have a great night!

Cat of the Day

  Cat of the Day! What an honour. Not bad for a three year old suit. This could not come as more of a surprise for Sister, who spent the morning racing the clock to work. As she sneakingly logged on to her personal e-mail account (don't worry, it was before working hours), she saw my name in her inbox multiple times. At first glance, she thought the e-mails pertained to condolences for Gem. Then she realized it was for me!
  Sister began peeking at my first few gifts and pawmails, each one bringing a smile. "This must be Gem working her magic", she thought.
  Afterall, it was only last evening that she, Mom, Dad, any myself gathered to bring Gem home. Dad and I waited for us to be together, so Mom could open the special package containing Gem's urn. Sister placed it on the fireplace, alongside Kamara and Smudge's urns. The trilogy of the Daniel Court era was complete. For Gem was my Sister's last surviving childhood pet sibling.
  Mom cried as she looked up at them on the mantel. Sister was sad too, but felt a great sense of relief that her Sister of thirteen wonderful years was finally home.
  All that she has left to do is glue on the special star tag that we all wear, to Gem's urn. She also has to seal the urn, which had already been done when we received those of Kamara and Smudge. While peering in, Sister noticed that had been placed in a gold pouch.
  Although last evening was mainly a sad occasion filled with mix emotions, I was so happy to be spending time with my family. Being named Cat of the Day is such a wonderful way to be recoginzed and remember my sister, Gem. Sister has sent both our parents and her now live-in boyfriend, Jeremy, the e-mail announcing my Catster title. She also informed them that this is the second time an O'Rourke cat has been named Cat of the Day, following the passing of one of our siblings. Even greater, the idea that this has only happened immediately after their ashes had been brought home. Our Smudge was named Cat of the Day on May 10th, 2007, the day after what was Gem's tenth birthday.
  Sister truly believes that this is less of a coincidence, and more of a sign. A sign that all of her siblings are forever linked together, with an eventual meeting at The Rainbow Bridge.
  I am humbled to be your Cat of the Day. Thank you Catster, and to all of my pals, old and new. This is the first day Sister feels happy since our "Diamond in the Ruff" left us.

...And we're back!

   Approximately one year later, we O'Rourke's have returned to Catster / Dogster (in Gem's case). This unplanned hiatus occurred when Sister decided that she needed a break from working on our pages. The loss of our Smudge had much to do with our absence.
   But not to worry. Although our pages have gone unmaintained for such a lengthy period, our Sister gave us plenty of love and attention. As the months rolled by she watched me, Baby Tux, grow into young adult Tux. I went from unraveling toilet paper rolls, to drinking out of the toilet bowl. From kitten formula food, to adult cat food. From the first notch hole on my collar, to a larger size...You get the picture!
   Now not all of our news has been peachy. My younger Sister, Gem, has been giving us plenty of woes. She's currently on vacation in Texas, and recently took a bad health spell. After throwing up and bleeding, Mom rushed her to an emergency vet clinic. Whilst staying there over night, she was x-rayed and tested for everything under the sun. It was finally determined that she had a weakened immune system, further complicated by a bacteria in her body, in which she was having a very difficult time fighting alone.
   After being placed on a drip, and given the best care money can buy, our little champion pulled through. Thankfully, it seems like she will be able to make the car journey back home.
Please keep your fingers crossed for my Sister, Gem. I hope you all didn't miss us too much!

Let's Get Outside!

I went outside for the first time today! Sister took Smudge's collar off of her green leash, and that's what I used to go on my little stroll outside. I was also sporting my brand new red collar, with four embeded metal stars.

A New Hope

   Today marks the second month without my Sister's physical presence in our home. It has been a pretty difficult holiday season for my human Sister, as this has been the first Christmas without both Smudge and Kamara. She has very realistic dreams of them both, and I always ready myself to be nearby when she awake each morning. In return, Sister made sure that this was a very memorable first Christmas for me.
   My name was puff painted onto the pet's stocking, and placed on the mantel along with the family stockings. Over the holidays I wore a purple scrunchie around my neck that Sister had made for her in 1993. I looked very festive, and she called me "Harlequin" as I looked like a little clown cat.
   Todd took many photos of me, so I will be ready for Catster's 2008 Holiday Picture Party. During our Christmas Eve dinner at Dad's house I slept in my bed while my family ate.
   Santa Claws must have thought I was a good boy, because I received my first ever Christmas gift! It was a plush round fish, that Sister calls my "Fishball". I love carrying it in my mouth, and Sister and I play fetch with it when she is on the computer.
   I spent Christmas day with Sister, at our Mom's house. There, I interacted with Gem, and we were both given turkey during our dinner. What a treat!
   Unfortunately, Sister only had three days off of work. However, she took the day off last Monday and made my final appointment at the John Street Animal Hospital. On the last day of 2007, I was neutered.
   Before we left the house at 8:15 am, Sister played with me by the fireplace. It has now become our morning ritual before she leaves for work. As the radio played in the background, the song 'Sea of Love' started. Sister began to cry, as this was the last song she sang to Smudge before she went to meet our Brother in heaven. Adding to the emotion was the fact that she had not heard this song play on the radio since that time before Smudge's passing. My family believes that Smudgey was sending us a message that my surgery would be a success, and that there would be no need to worry.
   It has been a complete week since my operation, and I am as fit as a fiddle! I did not receive stitches as the incisions were so small, and I had absolutely no complications. As a reward, Sister and Dad gave me a special toy mouse and a soft fuzzy blanket.
   As we were about to leave the animal hospital, I had the pleasure of meeting Hope. She is an adoptable kitten from the North Toronto Cat Rescue, where I was adopted from. She was placed in my Dad's arms, and as she snuggled in, he held her up to my Pet Taxi box. There was no hissing or spitting, as all cats from the shelter are raised to be loving towards one another.
   I really hope that a loving family will adopt Hope. In the meantime, Sister is working diligently to convince our Dad that another shelter-adopted addition to our family would be a wonderful asset. Amazingly, she appears to be making some strides. Wish her luck, and I will be given the gift of a new sibling to play with!

Good Boy

   I am being such a good boy today, and I'm doing so to make my Sister proud of me. Sister and I spent Thursday night at our Mom's house, where I got to hang out with Gem. My dog Sister is really starting to grow on me, even if we did fight over who got to play with the toilet roll!
   I slept in Sister's room, and she awoke with tears in her eyes. It seems that she had a second very realistic dream about Smudge, in which she told Sister that she would always be in the house to watch over our family.
   On Friday, Dad put up the Christmas decorations when we were out the house. I have been pretty good about not destroying too many decorations, but I do enjoy sitting under the tree and having a good wee chew. Mom thinks one of the ornaments must be made of candy, as Gem was also poking around there yesterday evening. It seems that I am taking after my siblings more and more with each passing day.
   Today we had to wake up early. It wasn't really that early, but Sister has been up working really late at night, and we don't get to bed until 4 am. Dad took us on a car ride to the John Street Animal Hospital, where I received my third booster shot. I was not afraid, because I have been on quite a few trips. However, the vet mentioned something about me getting neutered in one month. I really hope it procedure doesn't hurt too much.
   Since I've been home, I've been following Sister even more, and not just because she gave me a treat. I'm feeling rather sleepy, and I keep dozing off in her arms, while we listen to music together. I'm really digging this Alice In Chains band. Rock on little cats!

Home Sweet Home

   Week two of missing my Sister. I'm just a little black and white kitten, born to make my human Sister happy. She's got so many new photos of Smudge and I to add to our pages! She's already put some up, but the rest will have to wait until she can find a spare moment.
   On Monday, Sister and Mom went out shopping. Sister came home with a blue polo shirt for me to wear, for when we both go to our Mom's house. She purchased a blue collared shirt, much like the one's she likes to wear to work in the summer. She's worried about me being cold, even though she swaddles me up in blankets.
   When she first helped me to get dressed, I didn't mind as I was too busy suckling my bed. By the time she carried me up to pose for a photograph, I was kicking my way out. She posted the photograph on my Catster page for your viewing pleasure.
   Yesterday, Dad went to the vet office and brought back a package. It sat on the kitchen table until Sister got home, and revealed its contents to me. We sat on the kitchen floor, next to Smudge's bed, where Sister opened up a green box. She pulled out a jar, and rubbed her face against it. Sister started to cry a little bit, and she told me that Smudgey was inside. I already knew that, because I was sniffing the urn. I even lay down beside it, and snuggled my little body up to it. Before I could fall asleep next to the urn, Sister promptly called our Mom to tell her what I was doing.   Sister says that she will glue Smudge's star tag onto her urn, so as not to confuse it with Kamara’s urn. Then she will lovingly place them beside one another, and wrap the beautiful scarf that Hazel Lucy so graciously sent our family.
   I am so glad that Smudge is now home sweet home. Its a shame that Sister has to go to work during the snowstorm we are expecting. We would have much more fun giving rosettes out to our caring friends.
   I would like to wish all of our American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving. Who would have thought that I'd end up with five pumpkin pies? Gem is going to be so jealous!

Scratchin' At Heavens Door

   I miss my Sister. I feel ripped off. I was brought into my loving home on October 1st, and Smudge left us just about one month later. I know we cannot see her, but Sister did have a very real dream that Smudge was on her bed, and she was stroking her as she slept. This was on Thursday night, November 8th, the day she got her memorial tattoo.
   The afternoon after this dream, Sister had a more strong spiritual encounter, which led her to believe that Smudge did indeed visit her, and is always watching her from heaven with our loved ones who have passed. I still wish I could find a way to dry Sister's tears.
   Last night human Sister saw that I was about to eat a dust bunny behind her bed. Luckily she stopped me, but I need my cat mentor to teach me these things.
   I spent Tuesday night at our Mom's house, so that I could spend time with Gem. Sister even brought my new scratching post with us. She packed so many of my comfort items that she forgot her own bag, and we had to turn the car around.
   I'm becoming quite the seasoned traveler, with my second visit to see Gem earlier this evening. I just hope I can fill the big paws Smudge had. Human Sister has been teaching me the hand signals and voice commands they used. Apparently I'm a natural at begging!