Boxes

Abby is always the first to check out a new box when it comes in the house. It wasn't the sturdiest one we received because it collasped under her 5 1/2 pounds.

Abby says she hopes efurryone has a safe and happy New Year's!

12-29-28

It was only 4 days after Christmas 1929, my father was born into a tiny tin roofed house with no electricity or running water in a small rural town 50 miles East of Dallas Texas. He lived in this same small town until he left to join the Navy in the 1940's . The Navy took him many places, but he settled into Jacksonville, FL. There he met my Mother and rest as they say is history. He never returned to those Texan roots that meant so much to him.

My memories of my Father are firmly planted in his enormous presence. He stands 6'4", and as a child I thought he was a giant. I thought my Daddy could do anything. I had one of those blessed childhoods where we grew up like "Leave It To Beaver." I can credit both of my parents to raising my brother and myself with great care and love and security.

As a baby boomer, I can now view my parents with different eyes, grateful eyes. They both sacrificed a lot for my brother and myself. They still do.

Today marks 78 years of his life. It is a life well lived and I hope he feels well loved.

I love you Daddy.

Hi Gemini!

Gemini I am takin a naps in the condo. Wanna come ofur and play wif all the new chrissmouse toys we got?

Ahhh let me snooze just a little longer...

Momma has been on vacation all week. She hasn't let me blog or visit any of my furfriends all week!

Not A Creature Was Stirring

Boo looking lovely underneath the tree. She is nestled up snuggly inside the folds of the gossamar fabric and checking out the lights.
Hey Boo, do you see Santa out there?

From Abby, Boo, Jinx, Ping and Gracie we wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

My Beautiful Girl

My Beautiful girl. UPDATE:

I just got back from the Vet. She said that she thought it was a sprained muscled or pulled ligament. She couldn't feel anything when she palpated her, and the X-Rays were negative. So she believes it is a soft muscle tissue problem. Poor Abby doesn't understand that she can't jump. Our Vet also thought it may have occurred when Abby became a ninja kitty last night. She said Manxies don't have all the bones and ligaments that other Cats do and they are more prone to hindquarter problems. But she is eating and drinking and doing all the normal things. In fact I am having a problem in keeping her from trying to hop up on stuff or from just going ahead and hopping up on things. I have a series of steps for her near the places she likes to be 'high' on. But, keeping her quiet and away from the other Cats (like the Vet recommended) is going to be near impossible. THANKS everyone for your concern. I was so afraid this morning when I got up to get ready for work. None of the Cats have had anything like this and I really didn't even know what it was. Major crisis averted!
It is customary for Abby to follow me into the bedroom while I take my shower and sit down for a little bit in front of the TV, she will nestle herself up in my lap and take a short snooze. Boo usually joins us, by jumping in the chair and lays down beside me. Last night Boo decided to be brave and she started sniffing Abby. For some reason Abby came unglued and she came at Boo with full force (I was in the middle). Boo retreated but Abby was so angry at her, I knew that she couldn't stay in the room because she would have been after Boo. So I picked her and and took her into the kitchen and gave her her normal treats. She seemed fine. This morning when I got up to feed them, Abby tried to jump up onto the stool that sits by the counter in the kitchen. She didn't make the jump and fell back to the floor. I thought she had just missed. So I went and picked her up and put her on the counter so I could feed her. She ate just great. Then as per our morning ritual, I sat down in the bathroom for her to cuddle up in my lap. This was a much smaller jump, but again she couldn't do it. When I reach down to scoop her up in my hand to lift her up she cried. Now Abby is a little trouper. She doesn't cry out in pain. So I watched her walk and I saw she was dragging just a little that left back leg. She cannot jump up and there is something wrong. It was a very hard thing for me to leave her this morning at home. I set up her area in the kitchen with different levels so she could nearly walk up and I also set up her little sleeping spot the same way. I will call the vet first thing and get her in today. But my heart is very heavy with worry. I hope it is something minor. But I can't help but be full of worry. It was all I could do to take myself to work this morning. If there had been any one at all in my office today I wouldn't have left her. But, unfortuanately I am it. Still whenever they get me in today I am going. Please keep us in your prayers.

Twas the night before Chrismas....

Visions of sugarplums danced through their heads.....

Wishes

We're all going to gather round the tree and share our Christmas wishes with efurryone. Abby, why don't you go first. Momma I wish that our bestest gurlfriend Nancy; kitty Sharky is feeling better. He is a senior kitty with some health problems, and our friend Nancy has been furry worried.
OK Jinx it's your turn now.
Momma I wish that all of the oddur kitties Momma's who are out of werk can find a jobbie.

Gracie, honey what do you wish for this Christmas.

Momma I wish that all of the Momma's and Daddy's that are hurtin because their beloved kitty went ofur to the Bridge can find some happiness this Christams.

Ping, how about you?

Momma, I wish that Smudge and Chatham and Georgia all get well, and all the oddur kitties who are not feeling up to par get better too.

Boo, sweetie what's your wish this year?

Momma, I wish that we all have a very merry Christmas with one another and just be happy with what we have. Because as long as we have one another we have all we needs.

And now Abby, Boo Jinx, Gracie and Ping would like to share a story with you.

It's called NICKY'S WISH.

A story about a boy, an impossible wish, and a little cat
Ian attached the last twinkling light to the tree that was framed in the window of their house. "Jingle Bells" filled the air with jaunty cheer.
"Would you like to put the angel on the top of the tree?" he asked Nicky, who sat on a footstool watching.
"I guess," Nicky shrugged glumly. Ian hoisted Nicky into the air, and said, "You have to make a wish first."
Nicky closed his eyes tightly and whispered, "I wish--"
"No - don't tell me. This is your own secret wish and it won't come true if you tell anyone."
Nicky's lips sealed tightly, and with his eyes still closed and a frown of concentration, he nodded, and said, "I'm finished."
An hour later, with the few shards of broken ornaments swept up, the empty boxes stowed away in the closet, and the overhead lights dimmed, Ian sat in front of the tree with a glass of wine and stared at the angel.
She had auburn red hair, much like Nicky's, which he had inherited from his mother. Ian rolled his aching shoulders and thought of Nicole, as he had every night since she was gone. She had died when Nicky was a year old, and Nicky's name, his russet hair, and the punctuation of freckles across the bridge of his nose, were the only live remainders of the glory that had been Nicole.
He sighed - something he did too much every year at this time. He had a good idea what Nicky had wished for: the one thing he couldn't give him.
In the child's bedroom, he lay awake, gazing at the stars that glistened faintly on the ceiling. His Dad had put them there for him, and had said, "See that big one? That's your Mom, and she will always be with you, watching over you. She loves you very much."
Nicky closed his eyes and thought about his Mom, the beautiful young woman whose photo was displayed on the lamp table next to his bed. He wondered if his Mom would help him get his wish this year. He wanted so much to be like the other boys. When he was younger, he had several friends, and had run and played with them.
Then his life changed when he had to start wearing the detested brace. When he struggled to learn to walk in it at the doctor's office, and had seen his father avert his face, he had thought it was because of his disappointment at having a crippled son. He was too young to know that his dad was hiding his tears of pride at the courage of his son. Since last year, though, he had started keeping to himself, tired of all the jokes and taunts, until even his loyal friends had stopped coming around.
The glow of the moon filtered through the tree outside, and its rays illuminate the cumbersome metal brace and the heavily built-up shoe lying on the floor next to the bed, as Nicky slept.
In the living room, Ian watched the news on television with little interest, until their nightly "human interest" slot, which tonight featured the local animal shelter. They showed cage after cage of cats and dogs who were homeless this holiday season, and then brought out a few special animals and gave capsulated versions of their stories. Ian clicked the "off" button of the remote. He didn't need any depressing news tonight.
Later, as he lay in the king-sized bed, both arms and one leg wrapped around the large pillow next to him, a nanospark of an idea bore into his subconscious thoughts just as he drifted off to sleep.
Day broke, crystal clear and brisk, but sun-kissed with the promise of warming. Since Christmas fell on a Wednesday this year, Ian had arranged between vacation days and trades, to take the whole week off to spend with Nicky. They ate their oatmeal and toast, and Ian poured a second cup of coffee, and then thought better of it. The thought that had been teasing the back of his mind since waking had suddenly jelled, and needed some study. As he watched Nicky dawdling over the last of his hot chocolate, he pushed his chair back and stood up.
"Get dressed, Nickster. We need to do a little shopping."
Half an hour later, they were driving down the road from their house, heading toward the outskirts of town. "Where are we going, Dad?" asked Nicky, for the third time.
"You'll see," answered Ian.
"Just keep your eyes peeled for yellow cars. I'll give you a quarter for each one you see."
Nick settled back in his seat, his braced leg planted firmly against the floorboard. He liked this driving game best of all.
They climbed a short hill, and Ian slowed as they approached a gravel driveway with a sign hanging over the entrance. As he turned up the driveway, they approached a group of shabby buildings with a ragged Christmas wreath adorning the door of what appeared to be the main ones. Ian almost had second thoughts, but his lips narrowed with resolve. As he parked the wagon, an uproar of barking rendered the air, from a group of large dogs behind a chain length fence.
"What're we doing here, Dad? Why are those dogs here?" Nicky scrunched down in his seat and peered out the window fearfully."
"It's okay, Nickster. They can't get out, and they can't hurt you."
Inside, Ian rang the bell on the desk, and they both looked around as they waited. There were colorful posters on the walls, a few Christmas decorations, a Menorah Candle, and flyers with photos of cats and dogs displayed on every vertical surface. More subdued barking came from a corridor to their right, and Nicky scrunched closer to Ian. A few minutes later, a large woman wearing a green smock, a graying ponytail, and a large smile, came to the desk. When Ian described what they were looking for, she pointed to the corridor at the left. "Go down there, and turn right." There is a room with cages and a couple of open rooms with more cats. Be sure to clean your hands with the gel before and after handling each cat, or before entering the community rooms."
They followed her directions, and soon saw a small room with several cats inside, in various positions of repose. They lay on padded shelves against the walls, in the "limbs" of cat trees, and a few huddled inside fabric "igloos" on the floor, or dozed curled up in soft fabric beds. The walls were covered with cats too; cleverly painted cats peeked out from behind trompe 'loeil bushes, and others dozed on painted shelves. Nicky's eyes widened when he saw them. His Dad had always considered cats "too independent," and Nicky had despaired of ever being allowed to have one. They rubbed the antiseptic gel into their hands, and Ian slipped the latch to the room.
Once inside, Nicky lowered himself to his "good" knee, and with some difficulty, turned and flopped so that he was sitting on the floor with both legs spread wide. A little orange and white cat came from nowhere and jumped on his leg. He scritched it behind the ears, and then picked it up and rubbed his face against its fuzzy whiskers, giggling when they tickled his nose. The cat, really just an adolescent, raised one paw and patted Nicky gently on the cheek. He looked down at it and only then saw that the kitten was deformed. He had only one hind leg. Before Nicky could say anything, the kitten lunged out of his arms and ran across the floor, his three legs flying, then tackled a gray tabby about the same size. They rolled around for a few minutes in mock-fighting, then zipped across the floor, the three-legged kitten in the lead, and the tabby in hot pursuit.
Ian silently watched Nicky watching the kittens, then finally cleared his throat. "That gray kitten looks pretty playful, doesn't he? What would you name him if you took him?"
Nicky watched the kittens cavort for a few more minutes, then as they dashed across his knees, he grabbed the orange and white boy, and said, "I want this one, Dad. I'll call him Sparky."
They both watched the kittens play for a few minutes, then Ian pulled Sparky's flyer off the wall. "It says here that the orange one has to be adopted along with his brother. Looks like you're going to have two kittens." Ians innate distrust of cats melted when he saw the beatific smile light up his son's eyes, as Nicky said, "Then I'll name the other one Bubba." .

Christmas morning broke clear and glorious, with just a hint of frost in the air. Ian and Nicky polished off the last of the Christmas stollen, while Nicky unwrapped his presents. He had received a bounty of gifts, including a new video game with two different games. Nicky was more interested in watching the kittens pounce and play among the wrapping paper, and he and Ian both laughed as Sparky and Bubba played hide-and-seek, then raced around the room, bouncing off the furniture and pogo-ing off the walls. Ian was amazed that the disabled cat didn't seem to even know or care that he was lacking a leg, but gave his brother tit for tat as they played.
They had taken a detour to their local pet food store on their way home the day before, and the kittens had every amenity they needed: colorful ceramic dishes, a scratching post, litter boxes, and a soft cushioned bed, big enough for both of them.
Not surprising, however, they had both slept curled up with Nicky, and the three of them had awakened Ian this morning at the inhumane hour of six.
After awhile of watching the kittens at play, Nicky pushed himself up off the floor and went to the phone on the wall of the kitchen. Ian watched him dial, and when he heard Nicky ask, "Can Floyd come over?" he blinked away the mist that had suddenly covered his eyes. Ten minutes later, a tall, dark-haired boy came flying into the house.
"Wow! a Game Box," Floyd exclaimed. Then his eyes lighted on Sparky and Bubba. "And kittens! Wow, you sure were lucky this year!" The boys played with the kittens for awhile, then Floyd asked Nicky if he wanted to go outside and throw a ball around.
Ian watched the two boys through the window, tossing a football back and forth. He cringed when he saw Nicky clumsily running to catch a long pass, then crash to the ground, then watched as Floyd helped him up and brushed the dirt off his jacket. Finally satisfied that things were going okay outside, he sat in his recliner and gazed at the tree, both kittens curled up in his lap. As his gaze drifted to the top of the tree, he remembered Nicky making his wish two nights before. As he wondered again what the wish had been, he thought, just for an instant, that he saw the angel wink.

Boo's Secret (paw)

Yesterday a wonderful surprise came in the mail. It was addressed to BOO! Hey Boo, you're secret paws is here!!! Even though it's addressed to Boo, Abby has to be the first to 'inspect' anything that comes into the house.
Here's Boo getting a first 'sniff' at her goodies. OOh look Boo, a nice present and card and wow some NIP! As you can tell Boo is loving her new present! What is it Boo? Go ahead and open it....
Boo it's a cat dancer! See how intently she is gazing at it!
Here Boo is trying to grab it as it makes a circle near her.
Now it's Ping turn to do a little cat dancing.

And of course Jinx wanted to get in on it too!

FANK YOU Psycho Max for the wonderful Secret Paw. Boo loves her cat dancer and she doesn't mind sharing it with her other brothers and sisters. But, she is saving the NIP for later! FANK YOU!!!! Also Fank you to Oreo for the beautiful Christmas card!! What a welcomed surprise!

My Little Helper

Abby decided she wanted to help send the Christmas packages out.
See how nicely she is arranging everything inside the boxes?
She very dedicated to whatever her task.

Have you ever seen the way a cat will react to having tape on their paws? Abby accidentally stepped on some tape I had set aside to throw away because it got tangled. I have never seen her jump so high. Naturally as soon as she came down off the ceiling I removed the offending tape.

Abby's Tail

Skeezix is having a contest to celebrate your favorite human bean...here's Abby's.

As told to my Momma by Abby

Abby’s Tail

I was a very small kitty when I was born. My Momma kitty was a pretty tabby with no tail. She was a good Momma kitty, but I was taken away from her when I was just a little bitty kitten. I really missed my Momma kitty. I think my first people took me away too quickly from my Momma. I lived with them for the first 3 years of my life. They were nice to me at first, but then they didn’t understand me and how I needed special care. They only wanted to have a cat, well that was simply a cat; they didn’t want a Manx. Fate stepped in and the little girl who lived down the street had fallen in love with me and wanted me to be her Kitty, so I went to live with her. She loved me very much and I was very happy being her Kitty. Her Momma was very nice to me also, but the Daddy didn’t like me. He was unkind to me. He said things and did things that made me unhappy with him. I still needed special care and he did not want to have any Kitties that needed special care. Finally he wore down the Momma and she agreed to rehome me. I had lived with them for nearly 3 years too. There was another nice lady who lived in my neighborhood that worked with rescue kitties. The Daddy approached her and asked her if she could find me another home. The lady said she knew of someone that was looking for a small Tuxedo kitty and she would take me and see if this new lady would want me. I heard all of this and it made me very sad. I was going to lose my little girl! Then the day came and the Daddy put me in my little igloo carrier and gave me to the rescue lady. I heard him tell her if this new lady I was going to meet did not want me to NOT bring me back, to just leave me by the side of the road. So here I was again being thrown out because no one understood me, except my sweet little girl. Then all of a sudden I was in this big place with lots of strange smells and people I didn’t know. Then this new lady came up and took me out of the cage I was in. I hugged her for dear life, because I did not want to be put out by the side of the road. She fell immediately in love with me, and she told me she was going to take me home. Did that mean I was going to see my little girl? OH I got my hopes up. Then we left, this new lady and this new man and me got into a big metal monster but we didn’t go to the house with my little girl. We went to a new house with 4 other cats! BOY was I mad. When this new lady tried to be nice to me I just hissed and growled at her and swatted her hand. I did my best to show her how big and mean I was. She tried and tried to pet me but I was mad and hurt and I wouldn’t let her near me. I didn’t want to be with her. I wanted my little girl back. Well, I hate to admit this, but I was really wrong about this new lady. It took her a long time to win me over, but I finally found someone who truly loves me special needs and all. She saw right through my hurt and aching heart. She believed in me when all others had let me down. She takes very good care of me and spoils me all the time. I never want to leave. I have a true home now, and I worship my one and only Momma. It was worth all that I went through to get to her and I am so glad she was patient enough with me to see through my rough start and love me no matter what. Now, I am very thankful to have a home to call mine, and a Momma to love me unconditionally.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Abby

There's nothing as good as a warm dryer with a flannel sheet to top it off.

*****

Abby hopes your day is as good as hers, so she's like you to know that The Ark is up and this weekend there are a whole bunch of happy kitties over at The House Of Chaos, who is hosting this weekend's 143rd edition of the Carnival of the Cats. Be sure and stop by.

Our New BestFriend -- Cinders

Boo here, I just wanted to introduce efurryone to our new bestest furfriend Cinders. Cinders is a beautiful tortie who is currently living at Best Friends. We asked Diva Kitty to pair us up with a special kitty in a shelter for one of our Secret Paws this time. It was kismet that she paired us up with Cinders. My Daddy was so taken with Cinders that he called and talked to a nice lady named Terrie at Best Friends and found out quite a bit about Miss Cinders. She is the oldest cat at the facility, she am 21 years old. Unfortunately she outlived her human bean family, but she is furry happy and content at Best Friends where they are furry good to her. If'n anybody would like to sponsor a kitty we hope you will take a look at Best Friends. They currently have over 700 kitties that need furever homes. But while they wait they are in good hands.
CINDERS

*****

Miss Cinders Best Friends bio:
Some cats in their old age end up with more than their fair share of health problems. Cinders fits in that category. After she outlived her human family, she came to Best Friends. She has hyper thyroid, high blood pressure, and is blind in at least one eye. Probably both. Eventually, with all her health problems she grew terrified of other cats and wouldn't eat. Now, however, she has her own private retirement suite.
Cinders is all sweetheart with people. In the morning she desperately wants to know that people are around and loves to say hello. One staff member spends time reading books out loud to her, just because Cinders loves to hear human voices. The only thing she'd love more would be a sponsor.

Cardboard Heaven

Jinx takes his turn napping on one of the cats most favortie playthings -- the cardboard scratching box.
Abby may look asleep, but she is really a nipped up little girl burrowing her face into the nip. She is a nip-o-holic.

Tummy Tuesday

Ping asleep in his Daddy's chair.
Smiley boy.

Barely conscious and wishing I would leave him alone.

(By the way, this was the last picture I took...he went right back to sleep)

All Nestled and Snug In Her (new) Bed

Abby
A tiny paw peeking through.
Awaken.... I was searching for Abby a few days ago, and I looked in all of her favorite spots. I didn't realize she had found a new one. Some time ago I had to put a fluffy pillow in the seat of the captain chair in the dining room because the cats had liked to use it as a launching pad. It took her awhile, but Abby finally discovered it was a wonderful soft comfy place to sleep. She has been nesting here now for a few weeks.

The Laundry

Huh? What's all the fuss about? Ping, what have you found? Oh no, Jinx is in the laundry basket...again!

*****

Don't you forget to drop on over to the The Ark and don't forget to visit this weekend The House of (Mostly) Black Cats for the #142 edition of the Carnival of the Cats.

Christmouse Carole

Emma issued a challenge to me to write a Christmouse carol so I chose

"On the First Day of Christmas".

On the first day of Christmouse
Emma sent to Boo
A mousie tail on a stick.

On the second day of Christmouse
Boo sent to Emma
Two pretty feathers
And a mousie tail on a stick.

On the third day of Christmouse
Emma sent to Boo
Three bouncing balls
Two pretty feathers
And a mousie tail on a stick.

On the fourth day of Christmouse
Boo sent to Emma
Four tins of stinky goodness
Three bouncing balls
Two pretty feathers
And a mousie tail on a stick.

On the fifth day of Christmouse
Emma sent to Boo
Five leapin lizards
Four tins of stinky goodness
Three bouncing balls
Two pretty feathes
And a mousie tail on a stick.

On the sixth day of Christmouse
Boo sent to Emma
Six flickering kitty hoots
Five leapin lizards
Four tins of stinky goodness
Three bouncing balls
Two pretty feathers
And a mousie tail on a stick.

On the seventh day of Christmouse
Emma sent to Boo
Seven jumping wooly bullies
Six flickering kitty hoots
Five leapin lizards
Four tins of stinky goodness
Three bouncing balls
Two pretty feathers
And mousie tail on a stick.

On the eighth day of Christmouse
Boo sent to Emma
Eight dancing crinkly balls
Seven jumping wooly bullies
Six flickering kitty hoots
Five leapin lizards
Four tins of stinky goodness
Three bouncing balls
Two pretty feathers
And a mousie tail on a stick.

On the ninth day of Christmouse
Emma sent to Boo
Nine toasty kitten mittens
Eight dancing crinkle ball
Seven jumping woolie bullies
Six flickering kitty hoots
Five leapin lizards
Four tins of stinky goodness
Three bouncing balls
Two pretty fev-vers
And a mousie tail on a stick.

On the tenth day of Christmouse
Boo sent to Emma
Ten trembling fuzzie wuzzies
Nine toasty kitten mittens
Eight dancing crinkle ball
Seven jumping woolie bullies
Six flickering kitty hoots
Five leapin lizard
Four cans of stinky goodness
Three bouncing balls
Two pretty feathers
And a mousie tail on a stick.

On the eleventh day of Christmouse
Emma sent to Boo
Eleven fat mice grazin
Ten trembling fuzzie wuzzies
Nine toasty kitten mittens
Eight dancing crinkle ball
Seven jumping woolie bullies
Six flickering kitty hoots
Five leapin lizard
Four cans of stinky goodness
Three bouncing balls
Two pretty feathers
And a mousie tail on a stick.

On the twelfth day of Christmouse
Boo sent to Emma
Twelve catnip bubbles blowing
Eleven fat mice grazin
Ten trembling fuzzie wuzzies
Nine toasty kitten mittens
Eight dancing crinkle ball
Seven jumping woolie bullies
Six flickering kitty hoots
Five leapin lizard
Four cans of stinky goodness
Three bouncing balls
Two pretty feathers
And a mousie tail on a stick.

Playtime

Gemini can you come ofur and play fev-vers wif me?

Maybe we can get some more kitties to drop by and play too!

Dear Santa

Deer SAnTa~

Yesterday my gud friend Sammy Meezer came ofur to help me rite out my Chrissmas list to yu. I knoo it is a long list, but it is a furry speczial one.

Please send speczial gifts of gud cheer to Libby Marie, Georgia , Smudge and Chatcham & to all the other kitties who are not a feelin especizally up to celebratin this year.

Please fink of the Meezer's Mom, Edsel's Mom & the Calico Girls of the Big Piney Woods Mom and help them all heal this Chrissmas.

Also if yu cood please send a speczial gift to Brandi's Mom, she is feelin kinda low dis year and we would really like it if yu could reach down into yur big sack and pull out a nice treat fur her and her little Brandi.

And one other fing, please spread gud tidings to all the households yu bisit this Chrissmas Eve and give a kind pat to all the kitties that will be waitin fur yu as come down the chimknees.

Fank yu.
Faithfullee yurs
Abby

PS...
IF yu find an extra Ham cood yu pleeze leave it at Miles house fur Chrissmas?

In and Out

Abby loves to go into the kitchen cabinets. She's checking out the crunchies...they have all decided that the Fancy Feast 'Chicken and Turkey' crunchies are the absolute bomb!
Now she has to put her little smells on the door!

Sniff and Swat

Boo making a careful observation.
She lowers to head to check out the approaching Ping. Let me give you a quick smell test.
Do I pass, Boo?

Here she is reaching out to give Ping a quick left jab. (She was too quick for me to get the next picture where she actually swatted him)

******

It's time again to board the Ark and visit all the other wonderful critters who are on board this week. Don't forget to stop by for this week's Carnival of the Cats which is being hosted this week by Catymology.