Monday Meowsings

SHELTER CAT MUSINGS AND A WINNER

Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

I wanted to do something special for this very important month, but time slipped away from me as it often does. So, on this last day of the month, all I can do is share a poem. It is based on what I imagine a caged, shelter cat might be thinking. Maybe it will touch your heart enough to adopt a new friend.

Musings of a Shelter Cat

Oh, look at that one. Doesn’t

she look nice? Do you think she’ll

notice me? Maybe she’ll want

to hold me. I’m going to

purr really loud. Maybe she’ll

hear me and come this way. She’s

not taking the bait. Should I

meow? Maybe she likes

talkative cats. No…nothing!

Maybe I should roll around,

show her I like to play. Maybe

she likes active cats. No…

she’s leaving. She didn’t even

look my way. She probably

wants a kitten and thinks I’m

to old to adopt. Oh, look

at that one. He looks nice. I

think he’s a cat man. Prrrr…

prrrr…prrrr…prrr!

June 29, 2014

And the Winner is…

our furiends, Hannah and Lucy, in the UK. Pretty purrfect…a garden flag with two cats for a two-cat household. I’ll be contacting them via e-mail for their address.

I used Random.org to select the winner. Forty-two comments were left on the post, Fabulous Feline Flag Giveaway. Number 28 was the first number selected of the 42 by the random number generator. Hannah and Lucy made that 28th comment.

I wish I had flags for all 42 making comments. Alas, I don’t, but I will plan to offer them again in future giveaways. I hope some of you like them well enough that you will order one or more for yourself or as gifts from AJ’s Pup Pastries.

Petties Awards

Nominations for the Petties close today. We have been nominating all our favorite blogs and hope you have been doing the same. If you’d like to nominate us, that would be terrific. You’ll need our url: https://www.thecatonmyhead.com. Click on the badge to enter your favorites.

We’ll be back day after tomorrow with a new post for Wordless Wednesday featuring everyone’s favorite tortie, Astrid.

June 29, 2014 by Janet Blue Monday Meowsings 35

MONDAY MEOWSINGS: CJ’S BIRTHDAY WRAP-UP

Hi Efurrybuddy,

It is me, Calista Jo, reporting today to let y’all know that I had the best birthday ever. Now granted, this was only my second birthday, but it was pawsome. I really want to thank my brofur Mau and mommy for making it so special with the Hello Kitty Palooza theme. Lots of my furiends attended making it even more fun.

I got this most excellent card from our furiends at Kitty Cat Chronicles. That’s where Astrid’s boyfriend Sampson lives. All the kitties, Sampson, Caster, Sophie, Sassy and Delilah are wearing Hello Kitty pawty hats. Isn’t that cute.

Then my brofur Bailey from Bailey Boat Cat has offerred to have his dad take Kitties Blue for a ride in one of the Hello Kitty airplanes. He’s a pilot. I cannot wait until we can arrange this. Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime gift, and it was for me, Calista Jo!

The cat's whiskers: Taiwan's second-largest carrier, Eva Airlines, and Japan's comic company, Sanrio, which owns the Hello Kitty brand, collaborated on the second generation Hello Kitty-themed aircraft, sen here at Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan

Lots of my furiends asked to if they could get a Hello Kitty memento photo from my pawty. I want to share all their cute photos with you. (If you wanted a photo and forgot to ask or Mom missed your request, please let us know.) Efurryone has their name on their romper. You can click on any photo to make it bigger.

: Kitty Cat Chronicles

: Kitty Cat Chronicles

: Kitty Cat Chronicles

: Twinkletoe Tails

: Twinkletoe Tails

: Twinkletoe Tails

: Nylablue & Sherri-Ellen’s Purrfect Pad

: Dezi’s World

: Critters in the Cottage

: A Doll’s Life

: Tomcat Commentary by Tim

: Me…CJ

Me with Da Bird

Fiona with Da Bird

But the very bestest part of my birthday was the gift. I got something we all have been needing for a really long time…the others since before I was even born: Da Bird. The night of my birthday, seven of us (all except Misty May) played with it in the foyer with Mom for 30 minutes. In all that time, only one small growl was heard from Lily Olivia. I don’t know if she was on her good behavior for my birthday or if this is something we can all do together and get along.

If you missed my party, but still want to visit, click on the link in the first paragraph.

Thanks again efurrybuddy. If I could come to your houses and hug each of you, I would.

Purrs and paw-pats, Calista Josette

MONDAY MEOWSINGS: MORE OF THIS AND THAT

Our New Badge/Button

Nellie, our furiend from The Cat from Hell, made us this cool new button using part of our logo and the colors from our blog. I haven’t had the opportunity to upload it to any accounts yet but start looking for it when Kitties Blue leave comments on your blogs.

A Nice Surprise

On May 3, one of the blogs we follow, A Pet’s Life Blog, had a post entitled, Top 5 Cat Blogs and Bloggers (that you should follow!). I wanted to make certain to read it as I didn’t want to miss any potentially great blogs I didn’t know about. Imagine my surprise when I saw the following:

4. The Cat on My Head

Janet writes this blog which features her 8 cats! She is not ashamed to be a crazy cat lady. Her photographs are beautiful and her writing makes you feel right at home.

Thank you to our friends at A Pet’s Life Blog for thinking us worthy of this list!

Flag Counter

Since I started blogging, I’ve noticed the Flag Counter on many blogs I follow and always thought I’d like to include that on this blog. Well, I finally added that feature to our sidebar. Adding it nearly two years after launching The Cat on My Head is never going to give me a clear picture of what is happening with regard to readership, but I am still excited to check it each day to see where our readers are in the world.

Two for the Road

We have managed to hit the road on the tandem four times since the vascular surgeon gave me the okay last Monday to begin biking again. Many of you thought Tom was joking when he said that we would start with 20 miles. He wasn’t! But, we only made it 19 miles that first day. We bumped up the distance with each ride and almost managed 100 miles, falling short by less than one-half mile. We’ll do better this week.

The Petties Awards

The kitties and I have been busy nominating our furiends for the 2014 Petties Awards. If you like our blog, could you do the same for us? There are a few categories for which we would qualify, but we’d suggest Best Cat Blog or Funniest Blog or Blogger.

To nominate, simply click on the badge to the left. Nominations close on June 30, and you can nominate everyday. You will need our url: www.thecatonmyhead.com. Thanks.

Please join us tomorrow for our post: Date Night at the Drive-In with Cat Scouts.

June 15, 2014 by Janet Blue Monday Meowsings 25

MONDAY MEOWINGS: PREZZIES

We got prezzies in the mail on Friday and Saturday! Well, if we are going to be truthful, Mom got prezzies.

First was the No-No bracelet Angel’s and Isabella’s Mom Sharla made for her. You may have seen it on their blog, Beaded Tail. Isn’t it beautiful? It’s in Mom’s favorite colors of aqua and purple. Lily picked it up in her mouth and tried to walk off with it last night. First words out of Mom’s mouth were, “No No.” MOL.

Yesterday we received the two items Mom won in the auction for Katnip Lounge‘s The Baby.

One was the book, The Zen of Max, by our furiend Lou Belcher, who has painted portraits of some of us. This package and book smelled of Knuckles and Bugsy (formerly of HH and the Boys and now part of Lou’s personal blog, Lou Belcher Fine Art). We kept trying to open the book and turn the pages to see if they had sent any furs along with the book. They didn’t. Phooey!

All these prezzies have had the most seductive smells. Best of all was the one from Ms. Stella O’Houligan, on a more personal note. It contained one of the premium catnip quilts Stella’s Mom Stacy made to commemorate the 2014 BlogPaws Conference. It even has all our names on it. Mom still insists, however, that it is not for us. She says it is going in the guest room so we don’t fur it all up. Sheesh…has the woman never heard of lint rollers or washing machines? It’s imbedded with catnip. It’s for the cats! She claims to want it as a good souvenir of her trip, as opposed to the bad souvenir…that stoopid scorpion sting. We suppose that makes sense. Double phooey!

As Calista Jo demonstrates: The aromas are irresistible and pure heaven! (If you don’t want to hear the television in the background, turn off or down the sound on your computer.)

Mom sees the vascular surgeon this afternoon. She promises to let you know tomorrow how her recovery from the scorpion sting is progressing.

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

June 8, 2014 by Janet Blue Kitty Written Blog Monday Meowsings 33

MONDAY MEOWSINGS: THE EVIL SCORPION

As most of you know, Mom’s trip to the BlogPaws conference ended on a painful note when she was stung by a scorpion. And though we have been taking extra good care of her since her return home, she developed an abscess on her ankle that became infected. She ended up going to Urgent Care, and then her PCP sent her to a vascular surgeon. She had her third appointment with him today, and he decided she has improved enough to avoid hospitalization. That’s a huge relief for all of us.

Home Health will continue to come each day to repack and redress her wound. She will return to the surgeon next Monday. So she continues to sit on her butt with her leg up; though, the addition of a compression bandage today will allow her to be up and around a little more. We aren’t complaining about all this lounging around as it means her lap is always available for one of us.

We all think she should share some photos of her ankle with you. She has declined, however, stating that our blog is rated PG and the photos are much too graphic. She did tell us that her ankle looks much better today as all the dead skin has been removed.

Since she won’t share one of her gory photos, we requested one of a scorpion. Supposedly there are from 15 to 23 different species of scorpions in Nevada. Mom has no idea which of these stung her. The photo at right is that of a Bark Scorpion.

She is very grateful for all the purrs, prayers and well wishes our furiends and friends have sent her. She especially would like to thank Savannah’s and Sage’s (Savannah’s Paw Tracks) mom, Linda, for soliciting purrs and prayers for her from the Cats With Blogs Facebook group. We all know the incredible healing power of both those things.

Though this incident cast a bit of a pall on Mom’s BlogPaws attendance, she still feels as if it was one of the best experiences of her life, and she has already registered for next year.

Mom asked us to end this post with something upbeat and “catty,” as this is a cat blog. So, it is with pleasure that we report on how Astrid continues to shed her “scaredy cat” persona, which Mom attributes to the love of a good cat…Sampson from Kitty Cat Chronicles. Astrid spent about two hours on the catio this morning and is now chasing Calista Jo and Fiona, instead of the other way around. Thanks Sampson and way to go Astrid.

Until next time…purrs and paw-pats from Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

p.s. Please forgive us for not visiting and commenting as often as usual. We are doing our best under the circumstances.

June 2, 2014 by Janet Blue Asrid & Sampson Kitty Written Blog Monday Meowsings Prayers 45

MONDAY MEOWSINGS WITH STREET CAT BOB

My Name is Bob: An Illustrated Picture Book

If you are like me and can’t get enough of the lovable orange tabby, Bob, you will be happy to know that a new picture book by Bob’s rescuer and companion, James Bowen, (and Garry Jenkins) is now available.

My Name is Bob is a book geared toward children, but any cat- or Bob-lover will enjoy it. Each page is a fully-colored illustration (by Gerald Kelley) with text overlay. It is reminiscent of the over-sized, quality, picture books I enjoyed growing up.

This short book imagines Bob’s beginnings before he and down-on-his-luck, street musician, James Bowen, saved each other.

NOTE: For young children, the section where Bob’s previous owner is taken away in an ambulance never to return could be paraphrased when reading the book to them, as this section could evoke questions parents aren’t ready to answer.

Though Bob’s previous home life as well as his life on the streets prior to Bowen finding him, injured and cowering in his building, are imagined, the trials and tribulations Bob faces are most likely close to the truth for any cat lost in a big city. With this in mind, My Name is Bob offers several teachable moments for children with regard to the abandonment and rescue of animals.

In addition to the exquisite illustrations, two full pages of photographs of Bob and Bowen are included at the end of the book.

My Name is Bob is available from both Barnes and Noble and Amazon and reasonably priced below the retail ($16.99 U.S.) at $12.27. The only decision you will need to make is whether or not you want your own personal copy when you purchase the book for all the other cat lovers in your life.

To read my review of A Street Cat Named Bob, which focuses on Bob’s life after his rescue, click on the title.

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this review other than a copy of the book, and opinions expressed are mine alone.

May 26, 2014 by Janet Blue Book Review Monday Meowsings 25

MONDAY MEOWSINGS: CINCO DE MEOW!

Fire up the mariachi band and lead the way to the nip margarita bar ’cause the Kitties Blue are celebrating Cinco de Meow! We’re planning on kicking up our heels and doing a mexican hat dance or two while we’re at it. We may even bat at a couple of treat-filled pinatas.

If you plan on joining us, we ask that you please drink responsibly and take the sombrero off your fursib’s head before you start dancing.

Have a fun-filled day!

May 4, 2014 by Janet Blue Holiday Kitty Written Blog Monday Meowsings 31

MONDAY MEOWSINGS: THIS AND THAT

Kitties Blue Sail into Purrmotion

Good morning furiends. We hope you all had a meowvolous weekend. We finally had our first real day of Spring yesterday with sun and warm temps. The humans got to ride their bike and swim, so they were happy.

Currently we are purrticipating in a competition on our Brofur Bailey’s Facebook page. We’d be ever so grateful if you would “like” our photo. Here’s the address for his page: https://www.facebook.com/baileyboatcat. And here’s the photo you’ll need to look for:

Back row (L to R): Astrid, Fiona, Giulietta, Mauricio
Front row (L to R): Misty May, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Lily Olivia

The competition is to purrmote Bailey’s book, Bailey Boat Cat: Adventures of a Feline Afloat, which will launch on April 24. If you don’t know our brofur, you can read more about him on our “The Felines” page, by visiting his Facebook page or his blog at, Bailey Boat Cat. Of course, we hope you will buy his book when it becomes available!

Cat Scouts Easter Egg Hunt

When Mauricio wasn’t napping through a gorgeous day yesterday, he was searching for eggs on the Cat Scout site. Twelve eggs were hidden around the site, but after hours of searching, the poor old guy was only able to come up with six eggs. Seems he is going to need to hone his search skills prior to the next Quest or contest.

Easter Cards

The two love-birds among us, Mauricio and Astrid, sent Easter cards to their special furiends, Allie (Friends Furever) and Sampson (Kitty Cat Chronicles) and wanted to share them here.

And finally, this is the adorable card that Sampson sent to Astrid. She is so over-the-moon about her relationship with this sweet and gentle Cat Scout. Isn’t he a cutie-pie.

Both Astrid and Mauricio would like to call your attention to our new poem, “A Cat’s Heart,” in the side-bar, which celebrates their relationships with two extra special cats.

Wishing y’all a meowvolous week with lots of sun puddles and naps.

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

April 21, 2014 by Janet Blue Allie and Mauricio Asrid & Sampson Cat Scouts Holiday Monday Meowsings 26

MONDAY MEOWSINGS: THE YOO-HOO! YOO-HOO! AWARD

Our furiend Nissy from Nerissa’s Life is celebrating receiving 100,000 page views on his blog. In honor of that accomplishment, he developed this new Yoo-Hoo! YOO-HOO! (one of his favorite sayings) Award.

We are so honored o be one of his recipients and delighted to accept the award. The rules for accepting the award are pretty simple.

1) Post the award on your blog and thank the blogger who gave it to you. Thank you Nissy for developing this new award and passing it on to us.

2) Visit at least three of the blogs that are receiving the award along with you and leave a
comment.
3) Tell us all three things you have to celebrate. You know, three things for which you are
thankful.

We are thankful that our sweet Astrid and the wonderpurr Sampson have found each other. We’re also thankful that Mauricio was in the very first group of Cat Scouts to be purrmoted to the rank of Cougar. Finally, we are so super thankful that Spring has finally arrived

4) Pass along the award to seven other bloggers and let them know you have done so. Here are our seven:

Friends Furever ♥ Kitty Cat Chronicles ♥ The Island Cats ♥ Tom Cat Commentary by Tim ♥ Critters in the Cottage ♥ The Cat from Hell ♥ TwinkleToe Tails

We know none of our recipients received this from Nissy, but we sure hope they haven’t already received it from another source.

Have a great week y’all.

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calists Jo

April 14, 2014 by Janet Blue Awards Monday Meowsings 33

MONDAY MEOWSINGS: THE ROUND-UP

Dr. Neel tries in pry open Fiona’s mouth to check her teeth.

Once a year, our Vet, Dr. Kathy Neel, comes to the house for our annual check-ups and vaccinations. We definitely don’t look forward to that day. But it is better than being stuffed in PTUs and carted off to the place that smells like woofies. Even though they have a cat’s only exam room now, those big furries are everywhere else. And the aromas…pure animal fear!

Dr. Neel listens to Lily Olivia’s Heart.

On Friday our breakfast was late, and we all got locked in the kitchen while we were eating. Mom had to coax Fiona downstairs with treats. No breakfast in bed for her that day. All being corralled together could only mean one thing which made for lots of tension. And then we had to wait and wait. Dr. Neel needed to help a sick kitty before she came. She and our favorite tech, Tamika, were an hour late. Our nerves were pretty well frayed by that time and a lot of complaining took place. (Mom will post the video of Fiona and Giulietta’s duet later this week.)

Misty May’s turn to have Dr. Neel listen to her heart.

We must admit, the whole process went lots better than last year. Not even one of us escaped! Last year, all of us, except Lily Olivia and Mauricio, bolted after Lisbeth pried open the door to the foyer. Dad, Mom, Dr. Neel and Tamika had to chase Astrid and Fiona throughout the house. Astrid wedged herself under the sofa and Fiona plastered herself against the wall UTB. (Click here to read about last year’s fiasco.)

We all got pretty good report cards. A couple of us need a teeth cleaning sometime this year. Lily Olivia has developed a heart murmur. Dr. Neel rated it a two out of a six. Even though Lily is now 15, her weight has only decreased by 1 ounce in five years. At seven pounds, 15 ounces, she is no longer the smallest. That honor goes to Astrid at seven pounds, 13 ounces.

Tamika gives Giulietta head scritches while Dr. Neel gives her an injection.

The remainder of our weights are (from heaviest to lightest): Mauricio, 13 pounds 8 ounces; Giulietta, 13 pounds 7 ounces (no change from last year); Calista Jo, 13 pounds 6 ounces; Lisbeth, 13 pounds 4 ounces; Fiona, 9 pounds 6 1/2 ounces; and Misty May, 8 pounds 10 ounces.

This was Calista Jo’s first round-up.

Mom got Dr. Neel to show her how to trim our claws. Fiona got to be the demo cat much to her disliking. She got the purrito-wrap treatment, but she wriggled her way out. The job, however, was completed. We’ll have to see how long it takes Mom to work up the courage to do the remainder of us.

We won’t say that “a good time was had by all,” but Dr. Neel and Tamika left unscathed. Mom and dad take that as a victory. We take it as a personal challenge for next year!

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

March 30, 2014 by Janet Blue Backstory Kitty Written Blog Monday Meowsings 30

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.