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Purr, Munch and Pounce

I can run!!!

I've learned the coolest thing ever! I can run!! I mean, not a marathon or anything, but at least 10 feet, which is really a lot. It used to be I'd pounce a couple feet, then again, so Mom said I bounded like a rabbit. But now there's no pause and I go really fast! Mom's so proud of me!

The other thing I've discovered is this direction called "up." I do "down" quite well, if not gracefully, but up has been largely a mystery. Now I can go up to the sofa, stand on my hind legs, and reach up! I'm not certain what to do after that, but I'll figure it out in time.

I've seen the other cats do this jumping thing and tried it, but didn't - *ahem* - quite master it. I reached up like before, and pushed off my back legs - only to land right back on those same legs and fall straight over on my side. Mom laughed SO hard, it was really embarrassing! I'll need to practice when she's not home.

She might get me a pet kitten! She asked if I wanted one (duh!) and said if she doesn't come do her senses first, a little girl named Chance might come to live with us. Chance has CH just like me! Our vet has her and is trying to coerce - oops, I mean convince Mom to bring her home. I hope she does; I need a pet kitten!

I got in trouble yesterday.

Mom and I had a bit of an argument last night. See, I've been super-playful lately. Problem is I don't know how to be playful without being aggressive, so the other cats won't play. Rumble will once in awhile, but not the others. Mom, on the other hand, is fair game and likes to play. But when I get too revved up and forget to retract my claws or bite down too hard, she doesn't like it. And that's what started all the fuss.

We were on the couch (as usual), and I started biting the electric blanket (as usual). For some reason I'm not supposed to do that, so she raised her leg under the blanket and I fell over on my back. Clear signal for play to start. So I quite reasonably attacked her leg. My claws haven't been clipped in a couple weeks and are nice and sharp, enough so to penetrate both blanket and jammies. She said "ow" and jerked away. Well, of course, that's prey motion and I attacked again. And again. She tried to distract me with a toy, but then her toes looked so tempting... come to find out toes are sensitive creatures, and the "ow" this time was somewhat louder. She picked me up and started to give me a brisk body rub-down. Sometimes that stimulates me enough that I quit being aggressive. But not this time, oh no, I was dead set on chomping those toes.

Then she did something that was, well, really stupid IMO. She decided to clip my claws. I mean, come on, I was WAY too hyper for that. Apparently even moms can have brain farts. I gave my best irritated meow and pushed her away, but she wasn't dissuaded. I tried to kick her away, but she doesn't put up with that - disembowelling your mom is out of bounds. Still, it's just a means of pushing her away, so she doesn't really get mad about it. But THEN - I gave my angriest meow, growled, and tried to scratch her! No one does that. Even when she pills us, no one ever attacks, just tries to get away. And she was not happy with me. She lifted me up to eye level, loudly said "Lurch, NO!" and put me on the floor. I was still peeved, but before long I wanted to come back up. She ignored me! For minutes and minutes! Finally I gave my humblest meow and asked to *please* come back up. So she picked me up and we were friends again. I don't hold grudges. I realize she's just a human and doesn't always understand cat rules. For her part, she put off clipping my claws.

That's been the only real trouble we've had though. Lately I've discovered that she eats tasty things, and pop right up to get my share. Bagels and cream cheese are my favorites, and if she has a glass of milk - well, there's just no stopping me. I've almost knocked over a couple of glasses in my enthusiasm. Give it to me right out of the glass, thank you! And those little bits of bagel - they are just the greatest.

She says she's creating a monster, but the combination of excitement and bliss must be cute. Hey, whatever works.

No more vampire teeth...

Mom says I can't be a vampire anymore. I've chipped both my fangs and they don't stick out over my lower lip now. I don't know how I did it - probably falling on the brick patio, or launching myself off the couch and hitting the coffee table leg. Oh well, they don't hurt. Mom looked and said the chips aren't near the root of either tooth.

And just think, it's almost October. Pooh - I wanted to be a vampire for Halloween.

At least I can still stick the tip of my tongue out and look super cute that way...

Watch for a new video on my page. Mom caught me while I was walking around the back yard, so you can see how I get around. Pretty darn well, I think. Plus she filmed me snacking on a cicada. Cicadas are tasty!