Photo Extra: The Return of Spider-cat (2012 edition)

In the summer of 2004, when we had only been valets to the kitten Catzilla Brothers for a couple of months, we had already determined that Whitey was the Spider-cat. This title has been challenged by others, especially his brother, but never truly equaled.

Whitey doesn't do major jumps much these days. But just as back in 2009 when a bedroom shelf called, sometimes he gets that look in his eye ... he chooses his destination ... he extends his spider-cat ki ... and he goes. Up.

This past Saturday he got the look in his eye, when the top of the dining room hutch called to him. In our five and a half years here, no cat had ever gotten up there before. He gave on a clinic on how it's done. Simply. Up.

Note that he didn't jump from the hutch shelf, he started on the window sill, which was a better angle but a full five feet of vertical. I have no idea how he made the last scramble up, although the smooth upper side of the hutch has a cluster of pin prick holes which could be the tracks from all claw drive in piton mode.

Whitey After Leaping From the Window Sill (right)

He got an easy ride down. I dragged over a six foot cat tower for the him to hop down into.

The Spider-cat has still got it.

Photo Holiday Extra: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Catmas

Around Thanksgiving, +Katherine Derbyshire and I had the usual conversation about whether or not to put up a tree for the holidays.   There are of course only two of us to do the work, we have to make it safe for the feline overlords, and the last time we put one up, we didn't exactly get it down in a timely fashion ...

The question for this year was solved the week after Thanksgiving, when we decided Katherine needed to attend an Aikido seminar in Tampa over the holiday break.   But the boys still got a wonderful Catmas morning, because Katherine packed, and they all helped

Cat-mas Morning Packing

Katherine has now been shipped off, with me as head-valet-in-residence for the next week.   Now if I can just find the proper spot on Oscar's chin to scratch ...

Photo Extra: Stoner Kitty is Stoned

The packaging for this toy said things like "long lasting" and "durable," but also bragged about the high quality catnip inside.

That was less than 24 hours ago.

Apparently their test lab never met anyone like the Catzilla Brothers.

Good thing we live in Washington state.

Phone Extra: Quiet Hunter vs. The Rainbow Ribbon

While Billy and Penwiper are the most enthusiastic hunters among the crew, Whitey does have his moments. Here, he gives Mom an excuse to play with her new camera while ridding the world of evil rainbow ribbons. 

(Note that the image metadata from said camera is wrong. Still working on that part.) 

Photo Weekend Extra: Sports Sunday

The boys love to watch sports with Katherine.  And yes, she was watching, the flash makes her close her eyes.   (I have no idea how she can be faster than a flash.)

Photo Weekend Extra: Purr More, Meow Less

Since we moved to Washington State, we've always worn our support for pets on our sleeve.  Well, actually, it's been on our cars, with specialty plates that include a donation for pets.

However, we splurged recently and upped it notch with our new and improved pet plates:

Oscar and Penwiper Converse About Our New Licence Plates

We'll let you guess which car got which.

Photo Friday: Failure to Communicate

Why no, Penwiper didn't get the message a scratched nose should send him.   Three weeks after the last  incident, Penwiper got scratched again this past Sunday.  Whitely probably delivered it, as he was staring at the couch with a nervous Penwiper under it when I found them.

Penwiper With A Scratch On The Tip Of His Nose

He's one smart cat, but clearly not interested in the lesson at hand claw.