My friend, Cathy, has been reading about my efforts to get Monster Cat to be at least a bit more cooperative. One of my ‘training tools’ is a small cosmetic bottle of water that I can spray to TRY to get her to –
You get the picture.
Yesterday she sent me this –
I’m still laughing.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family, Funny Signs - Humor
This is a nice mental picture of what it’s like to live with our new cat – “Monster Cat” (aka Jet).
She fits in well with us, as she may have mental/emotional challenges. One day she’s quiet and prefers to find places in the sun on the floor to sleep. Other times you cannot walk around without her attacking your leg, pouncing, with claws out and trying to bite. I’ll be reading in my chair and suddenly the cat flies past me, apparently after a catnip mouse, or attacking the empty box on the floor.
She has only actually hurt me once, and that was a long time ago. Usually the bites could be considered ‘love bites,’ I guess – very noticeable, but not breaking the skin. The claws are more problematic. Since she is a ‘house cat,’ rather than going outside as our last cat did, I’m thinking of trying to clip her toenails – one at a time – with great care.
Two days ago I found a roll of paper towels on the floor in the pantry. She had gotten the roll out of the opened package on the shelf, dragged it to the floor, and riddled it with claw holes and bite marks. It looks like a pretty serious fight was enjoyed. I’m not sure who won. I THINK we can still use the paper towels, just maybe not on the roll holder on the kitchen counter…
Sometimes she will allow a bit of petting. If she starts waving her arm, though, back off. She follows me around, jumping up to say “Hi,” then lying down by my feet in the recliner. She doesn’t want to sit in my lap. Just says a quick. “Hi,” and then moves to lie beside my leg.
When I pick her up to put her to bed at night, I kiss her head and cuddle her as I walk and she PURRS – the only time she does this.
I’ve learned that since she follows me, I can get her to go into her bathroom when needed by rattling her food container in there. She is suddenly right there. I can give her a few pieces of food and shut the door. HAH! She is seeing the pattern that we keep her and the dog separate for eating and then use the cat door cat door latch holder –
that props it open so she can go in and out readily while keeping Amber out when it’s safe for her to come out again.
I’m having an easier time working with Monster Cat, trying to train her a bit, than I am my husband, who I’ve been working with for over 55 years now. I had to yell at him yesterday because he was actively trying to get her to go outside while holding open the door! I think I finally got through to him, but he’s a stubborn former Marine Corps guy and he is quite recalcitrant about cooperating.
Every day is a challenge, with both the cat AND the husband. I’ll just keep on keepin’ on.
Filed under Amazing Animals, cats, Challenges, Family
This is our Amber. She is really too large for people our age. (97+ lbs. now). It’s amazing that in the house and around the yard, when we’re by ourselves, Amber minds amazingly well. She comes, sits, gets down, fetches toys, sits until we tell her it’s okay to eat her food, waits for us to say ‘okay’ before she goes out the door, goes to her ‘place,’ stays off the furniture, doesn’t jump up on us, and more. When someone is HERE, she acts like she is deaf, has never seen us before, and has never had ANY training of any kind. A definite work in progress. We were told that labs calm down when they get to be two years old. Amber didn’t get the memo. She’s going on 5 now.
This is Jasmine, my SIL’s dog. My SIL works hard to raise a well-mannered dog who minds well, gets along well with people and other dogs, etc. They enjoy long walks together daily, have play dates with others, wears a CUTE raincoat when needed – a sweet, fun dog.
Finally, this is Skye, my good friend’s brand new puppy, only brought home this week. She is 8 weeks old. She doesn’t do anything yet, but eat, poop, sleep, and look at cute as cute can be. She probably will be like Amber, as far as minding when others are there, but Skye will only be 7 pounds full-grown, where Amber is a bit over 97 lbs.
Three different dogs in different situations, all bringing joy to their families. How “doggie-rich” we are!
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
Katarina Avendano and Yaa Bofah – Good Housekeeping
Filed under Amazing Animals, holidays
BREAD BASKET: Monster Cat (aka Jet) just jumped into her bread basket that lives on the counter beside my computer. She jumps in, sharpens her claws a bit on the bottom, then walks over to play with, or try to chew on, my headphones cord, then walks over my keyboard, then back again, pausing in case I want to pet her before she returns to the basket.
BIG TEST: This is ‘the big test,’ a trial to see if I will AGAIN give her a spritz from the cosmetic bottle of water on the counter on my right. She does – I do – rinse, repeat.
REACHING OUT: Yesterday she did something she hasn’t done before. She jumps up on my recliner whenever I’m in it, saying ‘hello’ quickly and then settles beside my left leg to sleep until I get up, dumping her on the floor in the process. Yesterday, she said, ‘hello,’ went to the foot rest, but instead of settling, she turned and walked up my body, settling on my stomach! This is a first. She only stayed a minute or two, but she ‘allowed me to pet her’ -without biting me – and THEN went down to her regular spot, settling beside my leg.
BOX GAME: We’re playing a game with the open box we now keep in the living room for her. I’m moving it each day to see what she does. Yesterday it was on the couch. There was no hesitation. She jumped up into the box and settled for a bit. When I put it on the hearth later, she jumped right into it. She seems to enjoy the movement of her ‘toy.’ When it’s in the middle of the room, she gets in and crouches down, hoping you’ll forget she’s there. When any of us pass by (including our dog, Amber) she leaps out, acting like she’s attacking. At first I was a bit worried how Amber would react, but she just looked at me with a pained expression as she continued to go to get a drink of water. We’re all adapting to live with Monster Cat, who shows a new side of her burgeoning personality on almost a daily basis.
CATNIP ON CAT TOWER: I keep 2 catnip ‘mice’ on the top part of the cat tower in the corner of the living room. The tower also has a ball on a string hanging from one of the top levels and another toward the bottom, each swaying in the air a bit to attract her attention. She doesn’t play on the tower often, but it’s quite the show when she does, Olympic-style hanging from one level to reach and play tether ball with one of the hanging balls, while managing not to fall on her head. She reaches the top, finds the two catnip mice, and the race begins, with her batting the mice from level to level til they all finally reach the floor.
PING PONG BALL BATTING: I find a ball in a corner somewhere and take it where I can let it bounce on the floor. Wherever she is, Monster Cat comes bounding to catch or bat the ball. She recognizes the sound now and LOVES to chase it. Woe betide anyone who gets in her way in this game. She has no interest in playing or sharing with anyone else. That ball belongs to HER!
CRAZY CAT: We’re quietly reading, watching TV, or napping in the living room. Suddenly, ‘Crazy Cat’ appears, running at full speed across the living room, stopping on a dime, turning and running the other way as fast as she can, eyes wild, leaping, pouncing, jumping on the furniture, bouncing off the walls. We just look at her in amazement. Yesterday she landed beside Amber’s large bed next to the Entertainment Center. She just stopped. She looked at Amber. Motionless. Then she jumped at Amber. My heart was in my throat. Amber jumped up, then calmly went into the office, leaving the bed for Monster Cat, who calmly walked across it and plopped down in the exact middle, regally surveying her domain…
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
“However much you know giraffes, to see one in the wild for the first time feels prehistoric.” – Jane Goodall
“A giraffe has a black tongue twenty-seven inches long and no vocal chords. A giraffe has nothing to say. He just goes on giraffing.” – Robert Fulghum
“A bit of advice: never read a pop-up book about giraffes.” – Sean Lock
“You need that guy like a giraffe needs strep throat.” – Ann Landers
“A giraffe’s gaze is a reminder of nature’s silent beauty.” – Unknown
Filed under Amazing Animals
Monster Cat (aka Jet) loves the two cardboard boxes we plopped in the middle of the living room floor. She walks by, gets distracted – stopping mid-stride to leap into the inside box. Or, like in the pic above, she’ll crouch down or under one side of the box, alert for any ‘prey’ in the area, waiting to pounce. (If you look carefully, the black below the box lid on the front is Jet, with the tip of the white part of her paw showing.)
I apologize for my feet in these pics. I had my phone in my lap, trying to catch some pics of her. Each time I would get into position, she would notice me and stop what she was doing. All of these were taken as fast as I could, trying to capture the action, catching mostly my feet…
Round and round the box, alert for real or imagined adversaries – Jet skulks around the boxes.
The black to the left side of the boxes is Jet, stretched up, looking into the boxes.
And she’s IN! The only thing ‘out’ is the end of her tail. (I tried to get pics of her looking out of the boxes, only her eyes lighting up, but couldn’t get them.)
And she’s OUT again, rolling around on the floor.
Yesterday she was so full of vinegar she then went to the tower in the corner, playing volleyball one handed while dangling from various angles on the flat parts.
She finally jumped up beside my feet on my chair, one of her favorite spots now, to take a well-earned nap.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
“I work hard so my dog can have a better yard.”
“There is a 100% chance I’d rather be home with my dog.”
“The more people I meet, the more I like my dog.”
“My floors aren’t dirty…it’s paw art.”
Quotes from Nylabone.com
Filed under Amazing Animals, Angie Wallace Fine Art
“Giraffes are fairytale animals, almost heraldic – as if from the land of fables. They have extremely beautiful faces, huge eyes, very sensitive nostrils and oh, blue tongues!” – Joanna Lumley
“Well as giraffes say, you don’t get no leaves unless you stick your neck out.” – Sid Waddell
“The place I most missed my husband and family was when I stayed at Giraffe Manor, which is a crazy hotel in Kenya where giraffes wander around sticking their necks in through the top-floor windows for snacks.” – Monica Galetti
Lisa S. Baker via Michelle Johnson-Pinterest
“Giraffes are completely tranquil – they have no predators as adults because there’s not an animal in the jungle stupid enough to go for them.” – Joanna Lumley
“If I could adopt any zoo animal, it would be a giraffe. I have always loved giraffes. They are so graceful and beautiful to watch.” -Torrey DeVitto
“My neighbors are crocodiles and tigers and giraffes.” – Bindi Irwin
Filed under Amazing Animals
“The crow wished everything was black, the Owl, that everything was white.” William Blake
“An owl is the wisest of all birds because the more it sees the less it talks.” – Christie Watson
“Don’t count your owls before they are delivered.” – J. K. Rowling
“I am both a night owl and an early bird. So I am wise and I have worms.” – Steve Carell
“Owl hasn’t exactly got Brain, but he Knows Things.” – A. A. Milne
“An owl sound wandered along the road with me. I didn’t hear it–I breathed it into my ears.” – William Stafford
“At home, I love reaching out into that absolute silence, when you can hear the owl or the winds.” – Amanda Harlech
Filed under Amazing Animals
Filed under Amazing Animals
“You had me at meow.”
“Home is where the meow is.”
“Live, laugh, meow.”
“No meowing around.”
“You’ve cat to be kitten me.”
“More meow.”
“Just one cat short of crazy.”
“Puurfect just the way you are.”
Quotes by Kristen of Dream Dash Journal.
Filed under Amazing Animals
Amber is our 7-year-old yellow lab. She is very set in her ways, but got along with our cat, Abby, until Abby died about 6 weeks ago. Now she is having to try to get used to our new cat, Jet, who is about a year and 2 months old, whom we rescued via the Fort Smith Animal Haven a little over a week ago now.
Since Jet isn’t a baby, and, in fact had a litter of kittens before she was found by the Animal Haven, she is very set in HER ways, as well, making for an interesting and quite laborious ‘introduction’ period. Jet’s area is in the bathroom off the utility room, and has all of her stuff in there, except for toys and the cat tower we got and built for her.
My wonderful friend/cousin-in-law Murray suggested we might put Amber on her leash and sit with her quietly, giving her treats and lots of love while we allow Jet to roam freely, to help them get used to each other. My husband did this yesterday afternoon, to good effect. THEN, because he’s hard-headed, he decided to let Amber off her leash after only one session of this. This occurred with no altercation, thank goodness, except for me lighting into HIM for not letting me know what was going on, plus his leaving Jet’s door open, giving Amber access to Jet’s food again.
This morning Jet was already out when I came downstairs. Amber was outside. I got Jet’s area cleaned up and finished morning chores, then put Jet in my chair in the living room and carefully let Amber in, first behind the gate, and then into the living room with Jet. All has gone well.
A few minutes ago, Amber came into the office to say, “Hi.” Jet was sprawled out on the shelves I use as a computer desk. She stood up and hissed. I petted Amber, kissed her head, and told her, “Place.” Happily, Amber went toward the living room where her bed (place) is.
We may be reaching a beginning detente. I cross my fingers as I say this, because a hiss or too-quick movement might result in bad things, but so far, things are good.
My next project is reminding my husband 1) to NOT let Jet out when he goes out of the house or lets Amber out, and 2) to keep the animals separated when their food or ours is involved.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
Filed under Amazing Animals
When I got up to let Amber out, I saw a roadrunner in the front yard! He was skittering along some rocks that divide our ‘civilized’ front yard from the ‘wild woods’ beyond.
As I watched, he crossed the whole front yard and then went into the side yard. He was just beautiful.
I love the way they run, head down and body straight, and then suddenly stop – head up and completely still for a second – and then flatten out and run again.
Filed under Amazing Animals
Amber is acting like herself in every way except for food handling. She is eager to eat, playful, energetic, sleeps fine, seems happy, but she is still battling upset stomach.
Because of this we found some dry and canned food that is supposed to be easier on her stomach. We just got back from the store and fed her. We’ll see how she does with this, fingers crossed.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
Julie Pfirsch – Julie Pfirsch Studio
Julie creates these animal portraits in several different media. I’ll show you more soon. I think she is wonderful.
Filed under Amazing Animals, animal paintings, Julie Pfirsch Art
Some of you have been asking how our animals are. I told you recently that Abby has been diagnosed with a large tumor on her kidney, probably malignant, inoperable in practical terms, due to her age (14) and other health problems. The vet injected her with antibiotics and a pain shot the last time we were there.
I bought her cat diapers so that I could allow her free reign in the house while I’m otherwise occupied. These are a great idea at best, but haven’t worked well so far. We can’t get them to stay on. At this point, I’m bringing her in at least once a day for a cat-loving session, where we sit in my recliner and purr at each other, cramming as much love into each session as we can. We may still need to use the diapers as her tumor progresses, but so far, no problems. We are both really enjoying this time together. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain.
This is an old picture of Amber. Picture her almost twice as large and she looks the same, otherwise. She weighs 95 pounds or so now. We thought that she was the one leaving the bloody puddle on her bed. Our vet tested the sample we brought in, gave her an antibiotics shot for an infection, and prescribed some meds that would clear the bladder infection. I gave her one pill that night and she had been sick the next morning or overnight when we got up. I called the vet, having caught Abby in the act of making the bloody puddle. We took Abby in, getting anti-nausea pills for Amber while we were at the vet’s.
We are still dealing with an iffy stomach with Amber. I remember that her stomach was really sensitive when she was a young puppy and we had trouble finding food that agreed with her. We thought we had solved the problem this time, after two anti-nausea pills, and then, suddenly, she was sick again. We are keeping her on the tiled area of the house in case she is ill again. She seems to be doing well now. She is a happy, overly playful dog, otherwise, her usual self, so I think we’re almost over the problem.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
“Cats and humans have been partners for over ten thousand years. And what you realize when you’ve lived with a cat for a long time is that we may think we own them, but that’s not the way it is. They simply allow us the pleasure of their company.” ~ Genki Kawamura
“Let us be honest: most of us rather like our cats to have a streak of wickedness. I should not feel quite easy in the company of any cat that walked around the house with a saintly expression.” ~ Beverley Nichols
Gregorio Catarino – @gregcatarino1 on X
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes, Greg Catarino, paintings I love
“If your dog is fat, you aren’t getting enough exercise.” – Unknown
“No home decor is complete without dog hair.” – Unknown
“The best therapist has fur and four legs.” – Unknown
“Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot about puppies.” – Unknown
“Without my dog my wallet would be full my house would be clean but my heart would be empty.” – Unknown
“Nothing in the world is friendlier than a wet dog.” – Unknown
“Every snack you make, every meal you bake, every bite you take…I’ll be watching you.” – Unknown
“What I like most about people is their dogs.” – Unknown
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes, sculpture
“You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘Wow, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that!’” – Dave Barry
“A well trained dog will make no attempt to share your lunch. He will just make you feel so guilty that you cannot enjoy it.” – Helen Thomson
“You can trust your dog to guard your house but never trust your dog to guard your sandwich.” – Unknown
“The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.” — Andy Rooney
“My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That’s almost $21.00 in dog money.” — Joe Weinstein
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes
“Handle every situation like a dog. If you can’t eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away.” – Unknown
“Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul, chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we’re the greatest hunters on earth!” – Anne Tyler
“A dog desires affection more than its dinner. Well – almost.” -Charlotte Gray
“If you’re uncomfortable around my dog, I’m happy to lock you in the other room when you come over.” – Unknown
“A boy can learn a lot from a dog — obedience, loyalty, and the importance of turning around three times before lying down. ” – Robert Benchley
“Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.” – Groucho Marx
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes
1) I told the vet that Amber was still vomiting from the one pill we gave her Friday with food to fight what we all thought was a bladder infection. We now have 4 anti-nausea pills to give her one per day. We also got some canned puppy food on the way home that we hope she can tolerate for a couple of days.
2) The vet basically gave Abby a death sentence. She has a tumor (he thinks) on her right kidney. He took x-rays, did blood work, examined her thoroughly. She has bad arthritis in her back legs. He showed me the enlarged kidney that is inflamed, misshapen and surrounded by a ‘cloud’ of ‘something else.’ He doesn’t think the surgery is a good idea, given the tumor, the arthritis, sugar in her urine, and the fact I told him she has a bad intermittent cough. She is 14. We okayed an injection for pain that is supposed to last 30 days. We also okayed an injection of antibiotic also lasting the same amount of time, which may make the bleeding better.
We have had a very expensive week with them, right at $1000 – only to learn that Amber was NOT the one who had the problem (and that was only found by accident by me), and an end-of-the-road notice for Abby. UGH. (The pills we got for Amber were NOT refundable.)
SO – We concentrate on trying to calm down Amber’s sensitive stomach and enjoy every minute of the time we have left with Abby. We have shared a good life with her. She has been a happy, loving cat and our lives have been richer for having known her. We will watch her carefully to make as sure as we can that she isn’t suffering.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
Our family had two pet rabbits. One was named, “Welsh,” and the other “Peter.” They were special, well-loved members of the family.
“If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.” ~ Confucious
“Bunnies will always have a special place in my heart. They are often discredited as being good pets because they don’t ‘do anything.’ — ask any rabbit owner and watch how they laugh.” ~ Shenita Etwaroo
“If a rabbit defined intelligence the way man does, then the most intelligent animals would be a rabbit, followed by the animals most willing to obey the commands of a rabbit.” ~ Robert Brault
“If there are nine bunnies on the ground, if you want to catch one, just focus on one.” ~ Jack Ma
“A sly rabbit will have three openings to its den.” ~ Chinese Proverbs
“The older I get, the more I see a straight path where I want to go. If you’re going to hunt for elephants, don’t get off the trail for a bunny.” ~ T. Boone Pickens
” If the old dog hadn’t got distracted by the fire plug, he would have caught the bunny.” ~ Hayes McClerkin
“If things don’t come easy to you, you have to pull a bunny out of a hat.” ~ Steve Coogan
Filed under Amazing Animals
“Everything I know, I learned from dogs.” ~ Nora Roberts – The Search
“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”– Orhan Pamuk (author, My Name Is Red)
“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.” – Agnes Sligh Turnbull (author, The Wedding Bargain)
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” – Roger Caras (photographer and writer)
“Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses.” – Elizabeth Taylor (actress)
“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” – Charles De Gaulle
Thanks to AKC Staff (American Kennel Club) for these quotes.
“But there was a kitten on my pillow, and it was purring in my face and vibrating gently with every purr, and, very soon, I slept.” ~ Neil Gaiman
“I have felt cats rubbing their faces against mine and touching my cheek with claws carefully sheathed. These things, to me, are expressions of love.” ~ James Herriot
“As anyone who has ever been around a cat for any length of time well knows cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the human kind.” ~ Cleveland Amory
“Never try to outstubborn a cat.” ~ Robert A. Heinlein
“One reason that cats are happier than people is that they have no newspapers.” ~ Gwendolyn Brooks
Niki Firmin-@NikiFirmin on X
Paper Sculpture – Ines – Pinterest
Peter Hogarth – @PeterHogarth55 on X
sculpturesite.com- Glen Ellen San Francisco Contemporary Art Gallery
“I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.” – Doris Day
Filed under Amazing Animals
creativeartworksblog 