The problem with shake can grenades at 5 AM is if that you're supposed to punish meowing with it, you need the perp to keeping meowing until you're ready to toss the device.
Unfortunately, if the cat hears you get up to get the can and position to toss it, he may settle down because he assumes you're headed downstairs to greet him. Never mind stealth, we're talking about a species which hunts with their ears.
For that matter, if you buy them off being for being quiet with kitty treats, it would be nice if they stayed bought for longer than the time it takes them to go back down stairs.
At least when I finally did get off a grenade at 5:45 AM it shut Billy up.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Just to clarify ...
The boys will get more food. Only it will be more yummy kitty treats, not boring dry kibble. (Oh darn.) And it will be distributed when they are being good. (Mew!)
Not, say, at 5 AM, when I tossed a grenade (in the form of a shake can) into the stairwell this morning when Whitey meowed.
It had the desired affect on Whitey, but both Billy and Katherine were unhappy with the collateral damage to their rest.
Not, say, at 5 AM, when I tossed a grenade (in the form of a shake can) into the stairwell this morning when Whitey meowed.
It had the desired affect on Whitey, but both Billy and Katherine were unhappy with the collateral damage to their rest.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Target weight (mostly) achieved
The boys are definitely slimming down. Billy is down below 14 lbs, at 13 lbs 14.5 oz. Whitey is down to 13 lbs 6 oz.
It would be time to nudge their food up a little bit, except the demanding meowing has gotten a bit out of control. We need to chastise noise and reward silence, and that means kitty treats.
It would be time to nudge their food up a little bit, except the demanding meowing has gotten a bit out of control. We need to chastise noise and reward silence, and that means kitty treats.
Photo Friday: Can I go too?
As previously noted, Billy likes to stowaway on trips, even though once he gets out of the house he realizes that he hates cars. Two other things about this picture may not be immediately obvious, though. First, note the empty cat carrier behind him. This is an attempt to decoy him so that I can pack in peace. Sometimes it actually works. Second, note his alert focus on the area to the left of the frame. That's where the pompom shelf is. Luggage is good, but pompoms are better!
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Meow! We're Starving! Meow!
Not.
Their pitiful meows to the contrary, both boys gained weight in my absence. Whitey is up to 13 lbs 8.5 oz since the last weigh-in, while Billy comes in at 14 lbs 5 oz.
We won't discuss how much weight Mom gained while exploring Belgium's culinary delights at someone else's expense....
Their pitiful meows to the contrary, both boys gained weight in my absence. Whitey is up to 13 lbs 8.5 oz since the last weigh-in, while Billy comes in at 14 lbs 5 oz.
We won't discuss how much weight Mom gained while exploring Belgium's culinary delights at someone else's expense....
Mom's Home!
Katherine has returned.
They were so distracted by her appearance (and of course, she had luggage to explore!), I could not get Billy to play with a pom pom while she unpacked.
The boys have returned to their normal overnight kitten pile anchored by her.
After they settled down, there was virtually no meowing until 7:45 AM.
(Actually, the boys were kinder the last two nights she was gone, as well. With Whitey on morning meow duty, he let me sleep until almost 7AM Thursday, and on Friday he let me go until 7:30 AM. That's not say he didn't wake me at 5:30 AM with a meow, he did. But he doesn't have the volume or the persistence of his brother the Power Meower, so I could go back to sleep.)
They were so distracted by her appearance (and of course, she had luggage to explore!), I could not get Billy to play with a pom pom while she unpacked.
The boys have returned to their normal overnight kitten pile anchored by her.
After they settled down, there was virtually no meowing until 7:45 AM.
(Actually, the boys were kinder the last two nights she was gone, as well. With Whitey on morning meow duty, he let me sleep until almost 7AM Thursday, and on Friday he let me go until 7:30 AM. That's not say he didn't wake me at 5:30 AM with a meow, he did. But he doesn't have the volume or the persistence of his brother the Power Meower, so I could go back to sleep.)
Friday, October 20, 2006
Photo Friday: A boy and his cave
The ferocious tiger defends his cave against all invaders!
(Actually, the photographer caught him in mid-yawn. But he likes to think he's ferocious.)
(Actually, the photographer caught him in mid-yawn. But he likes to think he's ferocious.)
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Inmates: Kill Billy, Vol. 2
Our story continues ....
During Tuesday's dawn meowfest, I thought maybe it was Whitey doing the meowing, but I later realized he was at my feet -- burrowed under the quilt no less. For all I know, he slept all night under the quilt. (I think I saw saw him burrow as I went to bed, and let him go so long as he didn't pounce on me.)
Last night was a mix of Sunday and Monday nights.
Whitey was under the quilt before I even went to bed. Unfortunately, he was on my side of the bed, and he got nudged so far out of my way he decided he wasn't welcome and surfaced.
BIlly came to bed and curled up on my left side just below my arm. This unfortunately caused me to search for a clear spot for the arm for much of the night. But like Sunday, he was quiet and warm, and he let me move around as much as I needed. So, he was welcome.
Unfortunately, he woke up earlier than I did. The meowing started at 5:30. I even tried closing the bedroom door, but Billy, expert door opener that he is, went to work rattling the knob.
So I was up 6 AM, resigned to not enough sleep again.
I was so off my game (not upset, just off my game), I almost forgot to feed them. I had my coat on when I realized it, and it freaked me out. For all the jokes we make and however much they may annoy me, they do depend on me.
Pass the carbonated caffeine solution, please.
During Tuesday's dawn meowfest, I thought maybe it was Whitey doing the meowing, but I later realized he was at my feet -- burrowed under the quilt no less. For all I know, he slept all night under the quilt. (I think I saw saw him burrow as I went to bed, and let him go so long as he didn't pounce on me.)
Last night was a mix of Sunday and Monday nights.
Whitey was under the quilt before I even went to bed. Unfortunately, he was on my side of the bed, and he got nudged so far out of my way he decided he wasn't welcome and surfaced.
BIlly came to bed and curled up on my left side just below my arm. This unfortunately caused me to search for a clear spot for the arm for much of the night. But like Sunday, he was quiet and warm, and he let me move around as much as I needed. So, he was welcome.
Unfortunately, he woke up earlier than I did. The meowing started at 5:30. I even tried closing the bedroom door, but Billy, expert door opener that he is, went to work rattling the knob.
So I was up 6 AM, resigned to not enough sleep again.
I was so off my game (not upset, just off my game), I almost forgot to feed them. I had my coat on when I realized it, and it freaked me out. For all the jokes we make and however much they may annoy me, they do depend on me.
Pass the carbonated caffeine solution, please.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Inmates: Dead Cat Walking
Billy woke me up at 5 AM by meowing. And he refused to stop. I wanted to hit him.
Or just cry.
(Later... I didn't do either, but did come close to the latter. I did however fed them 45 minutes early to shut them up.)
Or just cry.
(Later... I didn't do either, but did come close to the latter. I did however fed them 45 minutes early to shut them up.)
Monday, October 16, 2006
Inmates: Kitten Pile
With Katherine gone and crisp fall weather here, Billy has given me two test drives as his mutual nap furnace. This included both a nap yesterday and much of the over night.
I'm a physically restless sleeper, but he's not weighing the covers down too badly, and he lets me scoot in or out a little to find the magic spot where we're in mutual personal (and heating) space but not pushing on each other. And I'd certainly rather have him quiet next to me in a happy doze rather than meowing downstairs.
Sleep tight, Billy.
I'm a physically restless sleeper, but he's not weighing the covers down too badly, and he lets me scoot in or out a little to find the magic spot where we're in mutual personal (and heating) space but not pushing on each other. And I'd certainly rather have him quiet next to me in a happy doze rather than meowing downstairs.
Sleep tight, Billy.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Inmates: Testing the Valet
Katherine jumped on a plane for Belgium today. This means I'm running the show the only valet.
One of my charges, I think Billy, decided to promptly test my attention by lightly wetting the upstairs cat paper around the litter box -- sort of a half hearted miss. I caught it promptly because someone decided it needed to be lightly covered, and the throwing of kitty litter around on paper is a very unique sound, even if I was half asleep.
The only thing really worthy of note (aside from the humorous timing) is that this the first litter box mess in a few weeks. Suffice to say the boys are neater than their departed Aunt, especially with the lighter litter box load.
One of my charges, I think Billy, decided to promptly test my attention by lightly wetting the upstairs cat paper around the litter box -- sort of a half hearted miss. I caught it promptly because someone decided it needed to be lightly covered, and the throwing of kitty litter around on paper is a very unique sound, even if I was half asleep.
The only thing really worthy of note (aside from the humorous timing) is that this the first litter box mess in a few weeks. Suffice to say the boys are neater than their departed Aunt, especially with the lighter litter box load.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Photo Friday: Here comes the sun
Earlier this year we visited the Louisville Zoo, where we discovered that big kittens like sunbeams, too!
We had to apologize to the boys, though, as the tigers were napping in the shade and wouldn't come out to pose for pictures.
We had to apologize to the boys, though, as the tigers were napping in the shade and wouldn't come out to pose for pictures.
We're famous!
When I'm not watching over the kitten farm, I study aikido, and I earn my daily kitty treats as a writer. So, when I was invited to write about cat fu for an aikido website, how could I resist? "The Gentle Art of Cat Fu" can be found at Aikiweb. Includes photos of our fursome threesome, so even non-martial artists may enjoy it.
Monday, October 9, 2006
Fighting trim
The trend continues, with Billy down to 14 lbs 3 oz, and Whitey at 13 lbs 6.5 oz. Both boys are definitely looking sleeker now. Next comes the tricky part: leveling their weight off without sending it back up again.
Bug Hunt!
The boys went on a bug hunt tonight.
Unfortunately, the bug was hiding in the light over the kitchen sink.
Both boys tried to jump on the (off limits) kitchen counter chasing the bug, including Billy, who jumped across the kitchen from the onion bin (next to the wastebasket) to the counter which had two full glasses of milk on it. He slid right into one, which sloshed badly but didn't spill.
This was attempted literally under my nose, or more precisely under my arm which was holding a Mist of Doom waiting for Whitey, on the floor, to jump up. Needless to say, the Mist chastised Billy instantly.
Whitey did go for the gold five minutes later, making it all the way up to the cabinets over the frig. He got chastised as well, and retreated.
Unfortunately, the bug was hiding in the light over the kitchen sink.
Both boys tried to jump on the (off limits) kitchen counter chasing the bug, including Billy, who jumped across the kitchen from the onion bin (next to the wastebasket) to the counter which had two full glasses of milk on it. He slid right into one, which sloshed badly but didn't spill.
This was attempted literally under my nose, or more precisely under my arm which was holding a Mist of Doom waiting for Whitey, on the floor, to jump up. Needless to say, the Mist chastised Billy instantly.
Whitey did go for the gold five minutes later, making it all the way up to the cabinets over the frig. He got chastised as well, and retreated.
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Watch These Tiger Kittens Roar
Some Tigers that were the favorites of my departed mother were on TV today. They turned the tables on some rich white hunters from New York.
Next, the Tigers are hunting elephants! (If you didn't know they were elephants, look at the sleeve of their shirts!)
Next, the Tigers are hunting elephants! (If you didn't know they were elephants, look at the sleeve of their shirts!)
Friday, October 6, 2006
Photo Friday: Sorry, no XL available
No matter how small the box, Whitey tries to fit in it. If Whitey were willing to wear a rubber nose and big shoes, we could label his current cardboard prize a clown box.
This is even funnier when you realize it is only because the box has flaps that it appears to come up anywhere past Whitey's ankles.
This is even funnier when you realize it is only because the box has flaps that it appears to come up anywhere past Whitey's ankles.
Sunday, October 1, 2006
Hey Mom! Watch this!
Did you know that the activated charcoal inside PetMate cat fountain filters is in the form of tiny little black rods?
Neither did I, until Billy managed to rip one open. As previously noted, the filters are among his favorite toys. I hadn't seen one wandering around the house lately, so I thought we had managed to thwart him. Then I found a couple funny black rods floating in the water. Which I threw away and didn't think anything of it, until I found more.
Turns out he had managed to reach a paw into the space where the water comes out, snag the gauze part of the filter with his claws, and rip a hole. Of course, when I pulled the damaged filter out to replace it, Billy pounced, grabbed it, and went running through the house, leaving a trail of charcoal bits behind him. That's our mighty hunter.... sigh
Neither did I, until Billy managed to rip one open. As previously noted, the filters are among his favorite toys. I hadn't seen one wandering around the house lately, so I thought we had managed to thwart him. Then I found a couple funny black rods floating in the water. Which I threw away and didn't think anything of it, until I found more.
Turns out he had managed to reach a paw into the space where the water comes out, snag the gauze part of the filter with his claws, and rip a hole. Of course, when I pulled the damaged filter out to replace it, Billy pounced, grabbed it, and went running through the house, leaving a trail of charcoal bits behind him. That's our mighty hunter.... sigh