Kittens

FRIENDS, HOPES & DREAMS

Sparks

With yesterday being the International Day of Friendship, I’ve had friendship on my mind. I am thankful for many things in my life, and friendship is very near the top of the list. I have had and currently have many wonderful and supportive friends. So I selected a Spark about friendship for today. The kittens, Raleigh and Audrey, are presenting it.

friends, hopes & dreams: A ginger tabby cat and a torbie sitting together in a blue chair with a Christmas pillow behind them. Torbie cat is washing her right front paw.

Admittedly, Raleigh does not look too friendly is this photo, but he does like his sister. I think he just didn’t want to get her girl cooties!

Sparks is the creation of Annie from McGuffy’s Reader. Sparks began as a blog hop, created by our friend. Annie stated when she began Sparks, “I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world.”

Awww Mondays

I am not certain I would consider Raleigh “awww-adorable” in this photo, but he does have some pretty terrific looking fur. Anyhoo, Audrey and Raleigh will be taking part in Sandee’s Awww Mondays blog hop at Comedy Plus. If you would like to participate, click on her badge below.

The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky

It’s time again for our fun-loving tabbies, Periwinkle & Stinky, to take-off on another adventure. You can catch up with them tomorrow over at Friends Furever. It is Periwinkle’s turn to plan what they will be doing. Whatever it is, you know the two kits have more fun when you join them. So, they’ll be looking for you tomorrow.

Thanks for joining us today.

FELINES COMPLETE FILL-INS

Feline Friday

Audrey and Raleigh are here today in a photo from their first Gotcha Day celebration. They were indulging in a bit of smacky paws prior to me snapping their photo.

I don’t know if you realize or have noticed that all the Kitties Blue wear collars with an ID tag. You can see, however, that Raleigh is naked. As he avoids being touched, it is very difficult to get his collar on him. Whenever we do get him dressed, that usually lasts less than 24 hours. He either yanks it off himself or gets in a tussle with one of the other Kitties Blue, who end up pulling it off. He is the only cat we have ever had who dos not wear a collar 24/7.

Raleigh actually let both Dad Tom and I briefly pet him on his Gotcha Day. Maybe we are making progress.

Feline Fill-Ins: Torbie cat lying on her side next to a sitting, collarless, pale ginger tabby cat.

Raleigh and Audrey will be joining the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. To join them on the hop, click on the Feline Friday badge.

Friendly Fill-Ins

I am pleased when I can get help completing the fill-ins selected by our blog hop hosts, Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). This week I am fortunate to have only needed to do the first one. My frequent assistant, Sawyer, completed numbers two and four, and he convinced Stinky to do number three. I am grateful for the help. We all used teal italics for our completions.

1. I would describe my home as my sanctuary and favorite place to spend my time.

2 Sawyer: I would never give my treats to any of the other Kitties Blue, but I would share with Noelle.

3. Stinky: I share my secrets with no one but Periwinkle.

4. Sawyer: Did I ever tell you that I like treats and love my girlfriend Noelle?

If you want to take part in the Friendly Fill-ins, click on on the badge and you will be whisked away to the Four-Legged Furballs blog where you can enter your link.

Thanks for popping in today. We’ll be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

July 28, 2023 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Kittens Kitties Blue 12

YOUNGEST KITTIES BLUE 1ST GOTCHA DAY

Wordy Wednesday

Unbelievably, Kitties Blue have yet another celebration on their paws. Today is Raleigh and Audrey’s first Gotcha Day. They came to reside with us on a rainy afternoon one year ago. I took them in as a favor to a friend, and really had no intention of having them become members of the family. At the time, we called them Kitten #1 and Kitten #2.

A ginger tabby kitten and a torbie kitten wrapped in a colorful towel on their gotcha day.

Within 48 hours they had been to the vet and had received names. They officially became Kitties Blue.

Here they are today.

Youngest Kitties Blue (a torbie cat and a ginger tabby cat) celebrate their 1st gotcha day.

They are as different as day and night, as I have explained in many other posts. While Audrey is gregarious, Raleigh continues to be standoffish; though, he has allowed Dad Tom to pet him some recently.

Cat Writer's Association Certificate of Excellence for the youngest Kitties Blue on their Gotcha Day. In addition to this being the kittens Gotcha Day, they wanted me to let you know that Stinky & Periwinkle are not the only kitties who received a Certificate of Excellence from the Cat Writers’ Association. They received theirs in the Photography (Series) category for the post, “Vet Visit Aftermath.”

Time to Party

Cooper Murphy whipped up two cakes for the celebrants.

Youngest Kitties Blue Gotcha Day cake is face of a ginger cat.

Today, we are serving lemonade, as Audrey and Raleigh are too young to indulge in stronger libations, and a seafood buffet. Please help yourselves and enjoy.

Though we have been very wordy today, Audrey and Raleigh will be joining the Wordless Wednesday bog hop at Comedy Plus. To participate, click on the WW badge.

Thanks for joining us today.

July 26, 2023 by Janet Blue Gotcha Day Kittens Wordless Wednesday 17

SUNNY DAY GINGER SNOOZER

Caturday Art

Sunny Day Ginger: ginger tabby cat snoozing on a sunny day and turned into art in colors of orange, yellow and rose and framed with orange flowers.

Raleigh was enjoying a snooze on the catio right outside the cat door on a hot and sunny day. Any cat that wanted to enter or exit the house had to jump over him. He was unmoved by these actions.

As you can see, he is no longer kitten-sized. He and Audrey are all grown up and will celebrate their first Gotcha Day in a few days. You would think after being here for a year that Raleigh might have warmed up to Dad Tom and me, but he still shies away from us and does not want to be touched. He is such a cutie pie. It breaks my heart I can’t pet and snuggle with him.

To create Raleigh’s art I used the Flower Gogh effect from Painnt and changed the hue slightly. To that I added the Flux filter from piZap at 100 percent. And, of course, the frame is from the favpng app.

I made a puzzle for those of you who enjoy them. I cropped off all the white space created by the frame, as I know it is pretty boring putting all those white pieces together.

120 Sleeping Ginger Cat Art

Raleigh will be participating in the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. To do the same, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Time to spruce up your furs, feathers or scales and snap a selfie so you can join us tomorrow on our weekly blog hop. It’s easy and fun and one of the best places on the internet to make new friends. All the humans love seeing cute animals and “oohing” and “aahing” over them, so this is the purrfect place to show off. Your host tomorrow is a mystery to me, so you’ll definitely need to drop in to find out who it is. And don’t forget, if you don’t post on Sundays or cannot join us then for some other reason, the hop remains open through Thursday.

Thank You

Kitties Blue and I want to thank you for joining us today and also for stopping by yesterday to celebrate our 11th blogoversary and Sawyer’s second anniversary of his second Gotcha Day. If you missed that post, the link to it is at the bottom of this one.

Have a wonderful Caturday. Tell your humans to spoil you.

July 22, 2023 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop Doozy of a Snoozy Jigsaw Puzzle Kittens 15

KITTEN SQUIRREL HUNTERS

Wordless Wednesday

In a collage of three photos, two tabby kittens try to hunt a squirrel from the confines of a screened in catio, as the squirrel climbs on the outside.

Raleigh and Audrey really aren’t kittens anymore, as you can see from their size. Identifying them as the kittens, however, worked for the title. The two will be participating in the Wordless Wednesday blog hop hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus. Click on the WW badge to join them there.

Looking Back

This week’s Looking Back post is from August 10, 2012. It’s entitled, “Home Again With My Kitty Kids.” You can access it by clicking the link. It includes another photo of precious Mau. It is a tad blurry for which I apologize. If you enjoy the post, I hope you’ll leave a comment there.

Thanks for joining us today.

July 19, 2023 by Janet Blue Kittens Looking Back Squirrels Wordless Wednesday 13

CAT TREE SIBLING RIVALRY

Caturday Art

Raleigh thinks he owns the top of the bedroom cat tree. When Audrey had the audacity to try it out, Raleigh pestered her until she got down. He could immediately reclaimed his spot.

Art rendering in shades of red, pink and blue of two tabby cats on a cat tree.

Raleigh has very unusual patterns in his fur, and I like how this effect from Painnt accentuates that. The effect is Forager and the frame, as usual, is from the favpng app.

I also made a puzzle.

120 Two Cats Art

Audrey and Raleigh are going to be joining the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. You can do the same by clicking on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

I know those of you who join us regularly do not need a reminder that tomorrow is selfie day. But, if by chance, someone new should stop by today, Kitties Blue would like them to know about tomorrow’s hop. New hoppers are always welcome, and we hope you will encourage your friends to join us as well.

So, we’ll be looking for you and your smiling faces tomorrow. None of the gang have come forward to offer to be your host, which means you’ll need to come by to find out which of the Kitties Blue will be here.

Until then…have a wonderful Caturday.

July 8, 2023 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop Jigsaw Puzzle Kittens 11

AUDREY ART X TWO

Caturday Art

I loved this photo of Audrey on the cat tree due to her sweet expression and her shadow on the wall. Unfortunately, the original photo was out of focus. So, that made it the purrfect candidate for Caturday Art. And, I have two versions for you today, as I could not decide which I liked best. If you have a favorite, please let us know in the comments.

A torbie cat in a cat tree with her shadow on the wall in some art with pastel colors and surrounded with an aqua lacy frame and a blue-green butterfly.

Torbie cat and her shadow in an artistic image in aqua, rust and brown and surrounded with an aqua, rickrack frame.

To create both of these artistic images, I used Painnt. The first image uses the Legoo effect with soft lighting and analog color composition. I created the second image with the AmyK 3 effect. Both frames are from the favpng app.

Of course, two artistic photos means you also get two puzzles.

120 Torbie Cat Art #1120 Torbie Cat Art #2

Audrey will be participating in Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty’s Caturday Art blog hop. If you’d like to join her there, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

It is time again, tomorrow, to share your selfie with the Kitties Blue and all your friends. Raleigh was supposed to be your host tomorrow, but I made him use his selfie photo yesterday on his naughtiness confession post. That means I will be trying to find one of the other eight to step up and take over the hosting duties. I suspect some treats will be involved in the process of persuasion.

Thanks for coming by to visit with us. We hope to see you again tomorrow.

May 27, 2023 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop Jigsaw Puzzle Kittens 12

NAUGHTY CAT & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

An orange tabby cat in a crouched position staring at the camera with a sad look on his face after being naughty.

This was supposed to be my Sunday Selfie, but my mom said I had to post it today. She also said I had to confess to being a naughty cat. I refused to come in from the catio for dinner two nights in a row. Last night I managed to hide so that Mom couldn’t find me. I wedged myself into the very back of the bottom cubby of the cat tree on the upper deck. My fur color just happens to match the covering on that tree. Until Mom got down on her belly and shown the flashlight into the back of the cubby, she couldn’t see me. Of course, I wouldn’t come out. She had to drag me out and haul me into the house. Did I mention that it was 10 p.m. by then.

I think you know by now that I am not a social cat, and I do hide often. Even so, Mom said that she does not appreciate me scaring her yet again.

When I came in the house, I started romping around and acting goofy, as if nothing unusual had happened. She thought that was pretty insensitive of me. But I am a cat, and I make no apologies for my behavior. I also will let you decide if you think I was naughty or just stubborn.

Purrs and hisses, Raleigh

Raleigh will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings. To do the same, click on the Feline Friday badge.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Time again to let you know a bit more about Kitties Blue and myself by completing the weekly fill-ins. Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs) host the Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop. On Thursday they each select two sentences to be filled in by hop participants. You can find those on both blogs. Enter the hop by clicking on the graphic.

My usual helper, Sawyer, took over for me today on fill-in #4, and his cartoon alter-ego, Stinky, completed #2. Thanks, boys!

We all used teal italics to complete the sentences.

1. This weekend, I plan to finish washing the front porch.

2. Stinky: Spending time with Periwinkle never disappoints.

3. I once saw our cat, MacKenzie, standing at the backdoor alongside a possum as if to ask, “Can I keep him?”. (I will find the photo and share it sometime in the future.

4. Sawyer: You’ll never hear me say, “I don’t want any treats.”

So, that’s another week of filling in. We will be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art. Hope you’ll join us again then.

May 26, 2023 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Kittens Kitty Written Blog 10

PASTEL PURRFECTION BLEP

Caturday Art

Audrey has become Queen of the Blep at our house. Today she shows it off in our Caturday Art presentation.

A tabby kitten is asleep with the tip of her tongue hanging out (known as a blep) in a pastel art rendering with a lavender flower border on the lower right edge.

The original photo showed off some lovely, back feet toe beans as well. Unfortunately the effect from Painnt, Pastel Pearl Petals, obscured them. I tinkered with the effect only slightly by decreasing the brightness and increasing the saturation. The flower border is from favpng.

If you have missed some of Audrey’s previous bleps, you can find them at “A Napping, Upside Down Blep” and “Audrey’s Sunpuddle Bathing Blep.”

I did create a puzzle for all those, like me, who enjoy them.

110 Blep Cat Caturday Art

Audrey will be joining the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by the lovely Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. If you’d like to join in the fun, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Kitties Blue and I know you really don’t need a reminder to snap your selfie and join our blog hop tomorrow. But some things are a habit, and one of ours is to do just that. We do it with the hope that we may snag some new hoppers who might be viewing this post and know nothing about it.

Your host tomorrow is currently a mystery, but I think we may just have a guest host. So please stop in tomorrow, whether you hop or not, to see who shows up.

Until then, have an excellent Caturday!

May 6, 2023 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop Jigsaw Puzzle Kittens 14

NOT CUT OUT FOR THIS GIG & THANKFULS

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

I missed writing a poem last week, so I could not let down Angel Sammy and Teddy (Two Spoiled Cats) again this week. Here’s the inspiration photo, (which I cropped a bit) with the addition of two little tabby cats, followed by my poem.

Men with yellow helmets and blue jackets in a yellow raft with yellow paddles and two tabby kittens.

My poem is totally ridiculous, but sometimes that’s just how it roles.

Not Cut Out for This Gig

We thought it would be fun to be rescue cats,
So volunteered right away when we saw the ad.
But no one mentioned water when we were hired.
If we don’t fall overboard, we’ll probably be fired
Because nothing will force us to get off this boat,
As everyone knows cats are unable to float.
We would soon become food for the fishes—
Probably as revenge for the fish in our dishes!
When we do finally get back to shore,
We’ll be resigning from this rescue corps
And heading home to do what we do best—
Curling up on our humans’ bed for a long rest.

If you’d like to try writing some poetry, check out Two Spoiled Cats (by clicking on the poetry badge) for next week’s inspiration photo. Please read Angel Sammy’s poem when you visit. He sends it to Teddy each week from the Rainbow Bridge, and his poems are always A+ worthy!

Thankful Thursday

On Thursday, we also like to share our thankfuls with you and join Brian’s blog hop.

Dad Tom and I are so thankful that Sawyer has been eating better. When he went several days eating very little, I decided to try kitten stinky goodness. It worked. He’s been doing a great job, at almost every meal, of cleaning his bowl and getting his meds. He did have a seizure on Monday, but it had been two weeks since his last one.

Friday will be the annual round-up. Dad Tom and I are delighted that this harrowing and expensive tradition will be over for another year. Of course, we have not shared this information with the gang. We don’t want them all to try and run away from home. (If you are new to the blog and unfamiliar with the round-up, it is when our vet comes to the house for Kitties Blue annual exams and vaccinations.) I don’t expect they’ll be marking this day with a thankful next week.

Dad Tom and I have another thankful, Raleigh’s voluntary return after his seven-and-a-half hour adventure. I honestly never expected to see him again. I guess rain and hunger are big motivators, at least for him. (If you missed the posts about his escape and Kizmet’s part in it, here are the links: “National Tabby Cat Day Sunday Selfies” and “Caught in the Act!“.)

There’s been a lot of this going on since Raleigh’s break out and return. This is totally new behavior for Cooper Murphy. Do you think he has taken it upon himself to guard our latest escapee? If so, he doesn’t look particularly happy about it.

Large dark orange tabby cat and light orange tabby kitten in a blue chair.

As always, Kitties Blue and I are thankful for everyone who follows our blog, participates in our hop and offers their support and friendship.

If you’d like to participate in Brian’s blog hop, post on your blog for what you are thankful and then click on his badge to enter your link.

Have a great Thursday. We’ll be back tomorrow with some Friendly Fill-ins.

May 4, 2023 by Janet Blue Kittens Kitties Blue Poetry Roundup Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 13

YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.