Tabby Tuesday

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCXCVI

Stinky & Periwinkle are two cartoon tabby cats. Stinky is a Manx cat and doesn’t have a tail. They are alter egos of Sawyer, who lives in Virginia, and Noelle, who lives in Florida. They began as boyfriend and girlfriend but are now engaged. The tabbies alternate planning adventures, which they post on their blogs (The Cat on My Head and Friends Furever) on Tuesdays. The tabbies travel between locations in a cat play tunnel, which they refer to as a teleportation tunnel. They have shared more than 300 adventures.

National Lost Pet Prevention Month*

 

* Stinky is an imaginary, cartoon cat, so he never actually went missing. I have, however, written many posts as part of this series indicating he did. As most of you know, that was his alter ego, Sawyer. In an attempt to keep this post from becoming confusing, only Sawyer will be referenced as the missing cat.

As always, Stinky is impatient for Periwinkle’s arrival. Only seeing her once a week makes him quite lonely at times. He does not have to wait long, however, until he sees the teleportation tunnel begin to vibrate. Soon after, Periwinkle comes tumbling out in a whoosh into his waiting paws. Once Stinky sets her upright, they spend a few minutes paw hugging and whisker kissing.

Before Periwinkle can ask what Stinky has planned, he tells her, “I hope you don’t mind, but we will be staying home again today. We have some really important information to share with our friends. And, it is just so darn hot outside, I don’t really feel like going anywhere.”

“Okey dokey … as long as we are together, I’m happy,”  replies Periwinkle. “I think I might be able to guess what the important information is about. Is it National Lost Pet Prevention Month, as this is the time in 2021 when Sawyer went missing?”

“You are so smart. That is exactly right. We are going to give tips to help our friends find their kitty should it escape and disappear. Mom said she had her eyes on Sawyer one minute and then it was as if he went ‘poof.’”

“That was the most scary and heart-wrenching time of our lives, and both Noelle and I are so happy he has not tried that again.”

“So, today’s adventure is about what worked for my mom and dad as well as mom’s suggestions for any pet parents facing this situation.”

“Sounds purrfect, Stinky.”

Some Things to Keep in Mind

“When Sawyer decided he wanted to try his paw at living outdoors again, my Mom read every article she could to find what methods she should use to find him and bring him home. The list of tactics we are going to discuss is quite long. Some she found helpful and some useless.

“Some web-sites will tell you an indoor pet most likely will stay within 2 1/2 houses of home, and an outdoor or indoor/outdoor cat is probably within 17 houses of home. That may not seem far away when traveling up and down your own block, but if your cat is transversing from block to block, that can be 8 to 9 blocks away. An adult cat might travel as much as 1.5 miles per day. Additionally, a cat can sprint at up to 30 miles per hour and travel as much as 10 miles in a day,” Stinky informs Periwinkle.

“Stinky, I remember Sawyer ended up .9 miles from home, which is way beyond 17 houses away. That was still within that 1.5 miles, however, and he was gone for three-and-a-half weeks. He must have taken baby steps.”

Stinky giggles and reminds Periwinkle that this is a serious post before saying, “That’s right, Periwinkle, and he crossed a very busy street as well. If he’d traveled 10 miles every day, he would have been over 300 miles from home.”

Periwinkle gives Stinky a big paw hug and replies, “Yikes, we never would have found him. Thankfully, Sawyer didn’t do that.”

Best Tips for Getting Your Lost Pet Home

Collars & Microchips

“For starters, my mom recommends all cats wear collars with ID as well as any pertinent medical/vet information.”

 

National Lost Pet Prevention Month: Grey tabby cat with a tag identifying him as having seizures.

Sawyer with his “I Have Seizures” tag.

 

“If one is an indoor cat, why is a collar so important?” asks Periwinkle.

Stinky replies, “Even if a cat is microchipped, s/he is easier to identify with a visible collar. Also, if the kitty has an ID, it does not need to be taken to a vet or rescue to be scanned for a chip. Collars are now breakaway, so can easily be lost, but it is still a good tool. Raleigh is the first of the Kitties Blue that absolutely refuses to wear a collar, which makes Mom very nervous. As you know, he has escaped on two occasions. Though he never left the yard, it took Mom and Dad three-and-a-half days to get him back in the house the second time.”

“Even with a collar and ID, cats should still have a microchip shouldn’t they?” asks Periwinkle.

“Yes, definitely. And some microchip companies provide a tag that can be put on a cat’s collar. Pet parents need to make certain the microchip company always has their current contact information. And they should be notified if the cat goes missing.”

 

National Lost Pet Prevention Month: Ginger tabby cat wearing a tag identifying him as being microchipped.

Cooper Murphy with his PetLink microchip tag.

 

Locator Tags

“Many companies offer locator tags that can be placed on a pet’s collar. Sawyer did not have one of those when he took off. Now he wears one as do Kizmet and Audrey. Kizmet is an escape artist, and Audrey has a tendency to have her collar pulled off when wrestling with Raleigh or Kizmet. They all wear Apple AirTags. Pet parents can check the internet for other brands and recommendations.”

Searching for Your Cat

Do this everyday. Include garages, basements, sheds and crawl spaces on your property and that of your neighbors. Don’t forget to look up in trees and on roofs.

 

Mauricio in a tree.

Misty May on the roof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Stinky, I remember Sawyer used to get on the roof before your Mom and Dad blocked access.”

The best times to search are dawn and dusk, as cats are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during low-light hours. Also, this is when it is more quiet outside and frightened pets are more likely to venture from a hiding place. If you searched an area once, don’t dismiss searching again. Many pets are not found as their humans become fatigued by the searching, give up and stop.

Social Media

Get your pet’s photo and relevant information on all the lost pet web-sites. Start with the local ones like your neighborhood forum and ones for adjacent neighborhoods. Some sites are listed below. You will find others by searching, “Lost Cats” on the internet. “My mom used the first two plus another she can no longer find listed on-line,” Stinky says. (Click on the listings to go to any of these web-sites.)

1. PawBoost
2. Lost My Kitty
3. PetRadar
4. Petco Love/Lost
5. Pet FBI
6. Petkey

“Periwinkle, these sites should be checked daily to see if one’s cat has been found and listed,” advises Stinky. My mom has listed Cooper Murphy and two other cats that were hanging around that she didn’t recognize.”

Avoid listing on Craig’s List. Many scams have been associated with individuals falsely claiming to have a person’s cat and requesting money to return it.

Animal Control & Rescues/Shelters

Contact Animal Control, all local rescues and shelters, your vet and any vet offices in your area. Some of the web-sites listed above will do this for you for free or a small fee. But call or drop by with a lost pet poster anyway. Make certain they all know your pet is microchipped (if it is).

Posters, Flyers & Signs

Posters: Sites like PawBoost and Lost My Kitty create a poster/flyer for you that you can print. For posters, place them inside a plastic cover before putting them up. And change them out if your pet is still missing after a week to ten days. “Mom started with a PawBoost poster and switched out to a Lost My Kitty poster, each with a different photo. This will make people look again, not knowing if it is the same lost pet they had seen on the previous poster,” Stinky tells Periwinkle.

“That’s a great idea, Stinky. It reminds people that the kitty is still missing,” comments Periwinkle.

“That’s right. It is equally important to take all those posters down when the cat is found or returns home on its own.”

Flyers: Deliver these in your neighborhood to residences and businesses and ask business if you can post on a bulletin board or in the front window. Personally talk to as many individuals as possible while doing this.

Signs: Make a sign for your yard that is highly visible to passersby both on foot and in vehicles. Include a photo of your pet, contact telephone numbers and any other information that might help you locate your cat. “See how Mom included the information that Sawyer is tailless. That made him more easily identifiable.”

 

National Lost Pet Prevention Month: Cartoon tabby cat sitting in front of a "Lost Cat" sign for a grey, tabby cat named, Sawyer.

 

“Stinky, I remember that your mom said this was probably one of the main things she did that helped bring Sawyer home.”

“That’s right, Periwinkle. A lady who walked her dog by our house remembered the sign when she saw a photo of Sawyer listed as “found” on a nearby neighborhood forum,” replies Stinky. “She contacted Mom and then met her at the house where Sawyer was spotted to help search.”

“Wow, that sure was nice of her!”

 

National Lost Pet Prevention Month: Small grey, tabby cat lost outside.

Sawyer’s “Found” photo.

 

“Periwinkle, you know it took Mom several hours to catch Sawyer and bring him home. Even though she didn’t locate him right away, she never left the neighborhood where he had been seen, That is a very important for pet parents to remember.”

Other (Not Recommended) Suggestions

“Periwinkle, my mom received additional suggestions from friends and other bloggers as well as discovered others on-line. Though, I am listing them, they have proven to be less than or not helpful as reported by others and verified by my mom after trying some of them.”

1. Place your cat’s litter box outside.
2. Place a piece of clothing belonging to the pet’s human outside.
3. If you have no additional pets, leave the door or window open from which the cat originally exited the house.
4. Put out a Have-A-Heart trap with stinky food in it. (This will more than likely attract a neighbor’s pet or a wild critter such as a possum, skunk or groundhog.)
5. If your cat is treat motivated and not afraid of strangers, hand out small bags of cat treats to your neighbors to use to entice your cat should they see it.

“Stinky, that last one might have worked for Sawyer had he not left the neighborhood and wasn’t such a fraidy cat,” comments Periwinkle.

“Maybe so, Periwinkle.”

“I really hope all this information will be useful should the cats of any of our friends go missing.”

“Me too, Periwinkle. But I also hope my mom and dad never face this situation again.”

Snack Time

“Now that we have finished providing all this helpful information, Periwinkle, would you like a snack?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Periwinkle says with a giggle.

“As I said earlier, it is super duper hot outside, but let’s go to the front porch. There is a ceiling fan there.”

 

Two cartoon tabby cats having snacks on a porch.

 

After they have eaten, it is time for Periwinkle to head home. Before she leaves, Stinky promises to take her someplace extra special for their adventure in two weeks. Periwinkle throws her paws around Stinky and gives him a huge hug. He then takes her paw and leads Periwinkle to the teleportation tunnel where they share several more paw hugs as well as whisker kisses. Then Periwinkle enters the tunnel and with a final wave and blown kiss, she is gone in a whoosh.

Stinky returns to the house to cool off, nap and dream of Periwinkle.

The End

 

Pet Prevention graphic at head post created by the Cat Blogosphere for use by bloggers. All photos are by the author or the author’s spouse and used with permission, except the one of lost Sawyer, which was provided by the individual who found him. As Sawyer went missing in 2021, I no longer have that person’s name.

Information on how far lost cats travel is from PawBoost, Missing Animal Response Network and Vet Explains Cats.

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCXCIV

World Cat Domination Day

Stinky is pretty excited for today’s adventure, as today is a day that is all about cats. Stinky is thinking to himself: It’s Cat World Domination Day, a holiday created by Janiss Garza for her now angel cat, Sparkle’s 10th birthday back in 2012. For centuries, we cats have been treated like royalty and gods … just as it should be, and a day to celebrate that seemed like a great idea.

Stinky talks outloud to himself: “Some individuals do not realize just how smart we are. My mom knows better. She is certain we could dominate and take over the world, but we’d rather be waited upon with humans catering to our every whim and need. Hmmm … guess that actually is domination. Way to go cats!”

Stinky realizes there has been a lot of celebrating lately at the home of Kitties Blue. Callista Jo’s birthday was June 20 and Kizmet’s was just yesterday, June 23. But today is for all cats, including cartoon ones like Stinky and Periwinkle.

While Stinky is contemplating how he and Periwinkle might celebrate, he sees the teleportation tunnel begin to vibrate. A moment later Periwinkle comes tumbling out with a whoosh. Stinky rushes to help her up, and the two tabbies spend several minutes paw hugging and whisker kissing.

Stinky’s Health Update

When they finish, Periwinkle asks Stinky, “How have you been doing since you started getting your phenobarbital transdermally? Any seizures?”

“I have only been getting it that way for a few days, and I did have a seizure in the living room after Mom and Dad went to sleep Saturday night. Getting my noms without meds in them is terrific, but I cannot say I am enjoying this new delivery system. I do not like being picked up and held by my humans. But I am getting treats afterwards,” Stinky replies. Stinky continues, “Dad got really frustrated with me a few nights ago, as he couldn’t catch me. Thankfully, Mom remained calm, and eventually the deed was done. But I don’t want to talk about that anymore.”

“Alrighty then. I do want to tell you, however, how sorry I am to hear about the most recent seizure.” Periwinkle gives Stinky a big paw hug and then asks, “So what’s on the agenda?”

“World Cat Domination Day.”

“Yippee, a day just for us,” exclaims Periwinkle as she claps her front paws together. “How are we going to celebrate?”

Celebrating

“Kitties Blue have been acknowledging this special day every year, but they really have never done anything to actually celebrate. They have always thought with seven to nine of us in residence at any given time that they dominate everyday. And, they would be right. That, however, is not how it is for every cat,” Stinky replies.

“That’s very true, Stinky. So let’s brainstorm some ideas for ways humans can spoil their cats treat their kitties like the royalty they are.”

“We can take turns coming up with ideas. And, let’s do ladies first.”

“Mmmm … okay,” replies Periwinkle. “I am going to begin with your favorite thing.

TREATS

“Treats are essential and a terrific way to reward a cat for good behavior. Not that we cats ever get into trouble.” Periwinkle looks directly at Stinky and snickers but doesn’t say anything. Stinky gives her the stink eye, and adds. “Most treats are high in calories, so humans should not overfeed.” Stinky giggles after saying that, as everyone knows he is addicted to treats. “Treat puzzles are good idea for those who tend to over-indulge,” adds Periwinkle.

 

Periwinkle Stinky Cat World Domination: Collage of cats enjoy treats and treat puzzles.

 

CATNIP

“Not all felines are nip heads. Some do not like or respond to catnip, but it also is a nice treat for one’s cat(s) that do. If you have a place to grow it, your kitties will be delighted. But if not, many good brands of dry can be found in stores and on-line,” advises Stinky.

 

Periwinkle Stinky Cat World Domination: Collage of cats enjoying catnip.

 

TOYS

“Both interactive toys, such as wand toys and red dot (laser) toys, and ones we can play with by ourselves, like springs and catnip-filled ones, offer entertainment and help us expend energy to keep us fit. This is particularly important for inside kitties, which can become couch potatoes,” advises Periwinkle. Stinky giggles, and says “Oh, just like Calista Jo!”

 

Periwinkle Stinky Cat World Domination: Collage of cats enjoying toys.

 

ENTERTAINMENT

Stinky tells Periwinkle, “This can include toys, but also cat trees or beds in front of windows for bird and critter watching. Bird feeders are a nice way to ensure something to watch. TV and YouTube also have lots of videos just for cats. Kizmet likes watching and participating in sports on TV as well. Computer games for cats can be fun. Kitties Blue even have their own iPad.”

 

Periwinkle Stinky Cat World Domination: Collage of cats watching other critters.

 

Periwinkle Stinky Cat World Domination: Collage of cats watching TV and playing on an iPad.

 

ATTENTION

“Some of us like being pet or groomed, enjoy chin scratches, hugs and even belly rubs but on our terms. So, do not try to force your feline into accepting your attention when they are not in the mood. You could get scratched or bitten,” advises Periwinkle. “My humans know I do not really enjoy any of those things, as hands frighten me. I do allow my mom to kiss me on the head,” comments Stinky.

BOXES, BAGS, BEDS AND CUBBIES

“Humans should provide lots of these. We kitties like to feel safe and secure. A heated bed is nice, especially in the winter time and for senior kitties,” remarks Stinky.

 

Periwinkle Stinky Cat World Domination: Collage of cats in beds and boxes.

 

Some Important but Maybe Not Fun Stuff

“Stinky, I think we should mention some practical things as well,” remarks Periwinkle.

“Good idea. Even royalty require the necessities.” responds Stinky.

FOOD

“Felines should always be provided with quality food. It is important for humans to remember that we are obligate carnivores. Also, nothing is more frustrating than an empty noms bowl. If you have ever wondered why we cats think our bowl is empty after we have only eaten the food from the very center, here is the answer. Our vision is not that great when items are right in front of us. We have a blind spot below our nose and chins. And our vision in human terms is only 20/100 to 20/200,” reports Periwinkle.

“Yikes, I wonder why we can see a little speck of a bug when our humans can’t?” muses Stinky.

“Stinky,  I know the answer to that. Some of the reasons are that we have superior motion detection, enhanced low-light vision and a wider field of vision, including better peripheral vision,” replies Periwinkle.

“Wow, Periwinkle, you are a smartypants. Thanks for clearing that up,” enthuses Stinky.

WATER

“Always make certain your kitty has lots of fresh, clean water available in several places around the house and on the catio if they have one. Fountains are best, but some people may not be able to afford them. Whether it is a bowl or fountain, make sure it is glass, ceramic or stainless steel. Many kitties are allergic to plastic,” Stinky tells Periwinkle.

CLEAN LITTER BOXES

“Humans don’t like dirty, stinky restrooms, Stinky, and we cats are no different. I know you have lots of litter boxes in your house and some remove waste automatically. How’s that working out?”

“Good, those who like them use them, and those who don’t use the regular ones. Raleigh keeps throwing the litter out of one of the auto ones which gets Dad frustrated, but as you know, Raleigh is his own man.” Periwinkle nods her head and giggles.

VET VISITS

Before Stinky can even say anything, Periwinkle pipes up, “Yikes, Stinky, you have got to be kidding me!”

He replies, “Okay, I don’t like going to the vet, either, which is why I have the reputation of being a PTU Pooper, but if we are going to stay healthy and dominate, those annual visits are important, especially if like me, a kitty has health issues.”

“I guess you are right, but I do not think we need to say any more about that,” says Periwinkle.

In Conclusion

“You know, Stinky we could go on and on telling our readers all the things that are important for cats to continue in their exalted roles as head of their households. And other than those extra treats and possibly the catnip, felines deserve and should expect nothing less from their humans than the things we mentioned.”

“That’s correct, Periwinkle. Humans are here to do our bidding at all times. Even if we had opposable thumbs, we wouldn’t use them. Cats have been revered and waited on for more than 10,000 years, and that is exactly as it should be. After all, cats rule, and humans should never forget that. So, let’s go find my mom or dad and get some treats.”

“I’m right behind you.”

“Periwinkle, we have to stay inside today to have our treats, as we are under an extreme heat advisory. I hope that’s okay.”

“No problem, Stinky. I do see a few of your fursibs have decided to join us.”

“They heard me say treats. I should have whispered!”

 

Periwinkle Stinky Cat World Domination: Two cartoon cats and three real cats enjoy treats at a kitchen island.

 

The End

Supporting Characters in This Post

Angels Giulietta, Lilly Olivia and Mau”ricio”.

Astrid, Audrey, Cooper Murphy, Lisbeth, Raleigh and Sawyer.

If you are unfamiliar with any of these Kitties Blue, click on “The Felines” from the menu at the top of this page.

Periwinkle, Stinky and Stinky’s fursibs will be joining the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus. If you would like to take part, click on the Happy badge.

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCLXXXVI

Periwinkle’s Arrival

Stinky is sort of excited about what he has planned for today’s adventure with Periwinkle. They will be staying at his house but doing a project they have never attempted in the past. 

So Stinky is waiting for Periwinkle by the teleportation tunnel exit when he hears the familiar whoosh. Periwinkle comes tumbling out into his waiting paws. For some reason they both get the giggles. When those have finally subsided, they spend a few minutes whisker kissing and paw hugging before Periwinkle asks the inevitable question: “Stinky, what’s on the agenda today? The weather her is absolutely gorgeous, so I hope we are going to be outside if we are not going anywhere.”

“Well, we are staying here, but I suppose we could sit on the front porch or the catio. The porch is probably better. Otherwise all the Kitties Blue will be up in our business.”

“Sounds good to me. Let’s do the front porch then,” Periwinkle replies. “Are you going to tell me what you have planned”

“Sure, but let’s get set up first. I need to get Mom to set up her laptop for us.”

Stinky runs and gets his mom while Periwinkle takes a few minutes to visit with the other Kitties Blue.

AI Project

Once Stinky’s mom has the laptop set up, Periwinkle & Stinky head to the front porch. Before they can do anything, Periwinkle comments on how beautiful the azaleas are. Stinky just nods, as he is anxious to get started on their project. 

The laptop is on the little bistro table, so the tabbies hop onto the accompanying chairs. Periwinkle asks, “What are we going to do, Stinky?”

 

Periwinkle Stinky AI: Two cartoon tabby cats sitting at a bistro table outside with an Apple laptop.

 

Stinky explains that a trend is going around on social media where people are creating Barbie-esque dressed images of themselves in a Barbie box that includes accessories they would normally use. The BlogPaws team shared their creations and gave his mom instructions on how to do it using ChatGPT. 

“My mom saw some where a cat was created instead of a person, and she thought we might want to try it. She has given me detailed instructions, but she is not very adept at the art of creation,” Stinky adds.

“We are going to try to create our images using ChatGPT, DALL-E and piZap, which is what my mom has used in the past. Do you want to get started?”

“You bet. It sounds like fun,” replies Periwinkle.

DALL-E

After having some trouble figuring out how to use ChatGPT, the tabbies try DALL-E, which they found pretty easy to use.

 

Periwinkle Stinky AI: AI generated image of a tabby cat in a box with red sneakers, toy mice and sunglasses.

 

“I specifically put in the instructions that I was a Manx cat and added that I do not have a tail (twice),” moans Stinky! “I also have no idea why I have one shoe on my front foot and one on my back foot and why I have a third shoe. They got some of the accessories correct but only put some in the box.”

“And, Stinky, they misspelled my name. Phooey!” harumphs Periwinkle. “I think you should try again!”

“No, let’s try you instead,” Stinky insists.

“All right; though, I am not feeling very optimistic,” replies Periwinkle.

 

Periwinkle Stinky AI: Cute tabby cat doll in a box with pink sunglasses and a pink and white hair bow and diamond collar.

 

“Periwinkle, you look purrfect. I am really impressed with how this turned out. Maybe we are getting the hang of this! Should we try the image creator from ChatGPT now.”

“Sure; though, I am not certain they can do a better job,” replies Periwinkle.

ChatGPT

“Stinky, you go first again, okay?”

“Yes, dear!”

 

Periwinkle Stinky AI: Long-haird grey and white tabby cat with a black nose and red tennis shoes in a box.

“So once again, I have a third shoe and Periwinkle is spelled wrong, and they really didn’t use the accessories we asked for. I wonder why I have long fur and that sure looks like a tail in the corner. Can I try again?”

“Sure, go for it,” says Periwinkle.

 

Periwinkle Stinky AI: A grey and white tabby cat in a purple box wearing red tennis shoes with a sour expression with purple mice, heart-shaped sunglasses.

“Stinky, that is so much better,” exclaims Periwinkle! Everything is spelled correctly and you only have two shoes and on the proper feet. And they got your rather grumpy expression right!”

“I agree, it is better; though, I know I didn’t ask for heart-shaped glasses and the ‘Rx’ should have been on the medicine bottle. And once again, I have a tail,” Stinky complains.

“Picky, picky, picky. I like it. Let’s do me now!”

 

Periwinkle Stinky AI: Conjoined tabby cats with purple black and white furs and wearing purple gemstone collars with hearts in a purple box with paw prints along with a green lizard and pink heart-shaped sunglasses.

 

“What the heck. It turned me into conjoined twins. I know I didn’t ask for that. And why do I have purple furs? I am definitely trying again!”

 

Periwinkle Stinky AI: Adorable doll-like cat with green eyes, white/purple/black tabby furs with a diamond collar with a purple bow in a purple and pink box.

 

“Well, that’s lots better. There is only one of me, but I do still have purple furs and they left out the cute lizard and my sunglasses.”

“Once again, I think you look adorable,” Stinky tells Periwinkle. “Shall we try piZap now?”

“Yep, let’s go for it,” says Periwinkle.

PiZap

“I want you to go first again, Stinky.”

 

Periwinkle Stinky AI: A grey and white tabby cat standing on his back legs, with green eyes, black sunglasses, thigh-high red sneakers and holding a bunch of purple flowers in a Barbie-type display box.

 

“Stinky, your shoes are hysterical, but you only have two, which is an improvement. And they got your name right, but mine is misspelled again. I have no idea what that red, weirdly-shaped thing in the box with you is. I do like that you are holding a bouquet of Periwinkle’s for me,” says Periwinkle.

“You know, this one could have had potential except for the ridiculous shoes. The face looks a lot like mine,” replies Stinky. “I think I will try again.”

 

Periwinkle Stinky AI: A cross between a tabby and siamese doll-like cat with purple sneakers and a toy purple mouse in a Barbie-type display box.

 

“Well that’s a miss. I have one shoe on and one off, and I look more like a siamese cat than a tabby. And they didn’t get either of our names even close. Yikes! This is not going well at all.”

“Stinky, I don’t see a tail. That’s a plus!”

Let’s see how piZap does with you, Periwinkle.”

 

A doll-like grey and white tabby cat wearing pink sun glasses, a diamond collar and a hot pink and white bow in a Barbie-style display box with a green lizard and bouquet of periwinkles.

 

“Wow, Periwinkle, I think this one is a keeper too,” exclaims Stinky. “Of course, it should have your name at the top and not Barbie’s.”

“I agree. They did put my hair bow in the wrong place and I have no idea what ‘1ak of” means, but both our names are correct. That’s a huge improvement. And I definitely look pretty cute.”

Thoughts About AI

“So what do you, Periwinkle, of our experiment with Artificial Intelligence image creation?” asks Stinky.

“We definitely had a lot of losers and a few winners, but it has potential,” Periwinkle replies. “But I am exhausted and starving. Can we get a snack?”

“Indeed, I will get Mom to fix us something and bring it out here. We can go sit in the rockers.

Snack Time

 

Two cartoon tabby cats sitting in rocking chairs on a front porch and enjoying a snack.

 

“Stinky, are these new rockers? They are really nice!”

“Yes, Mom and Dad got them at the end of last summer. And Mom just got new curtains, which Dad put up yesterday,” Stinky replies.

“You have such a great porch. I love it when we can hang out here.”

Periwinkle and Stinky are quiet while they eat their snack. When they are finished, Stinky jumps down, goes to Periwinkle’s rocker and helps her down. Then he takes her paw. “Mom wanted you to see something before you have to head home,” Stinky says, as he leads Periwinkle to the backyard.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats standing in front of blooming, hot pink peony bushes.

 

“Wow, Stinky, these peonies are gorgeous, and I really like that big, green ceramic cat,” exclaims Periwinkle.

“Mom knew you would like them, and wanted you to see them now, as they have bloomed early this year. Usually they bloom right around Mother’s Day. She’s pretty sure they will be gone when you come back in two weeks.”

“Unfortunately, I guess it’s time for me to head home. I really did have fun today. I like learning new things, especially when I can do it with you!”

“Periwinkle, I really hope our friends will get some giggles out of seeing our silly creations.”

“Oh, me too. Most of them are pretty funny.”

The tabbies spend several minutes whisker kissing and paw hugging before going back into the house to the teleportation tunnel. After a final paw hug, Periwinkle enters the tunnel, and with a wave and blown kiss, she is gone in a whoosh.

Stinky heads to the catio for a nap and dreams of Periwinkle.

The End

If you would like some instructions on how to create similar graphics using one of these apps, e-mail Stinky’s mom at: kittiesblue@thecatonmyhead.com.

Periwinkle & Stinky will be participating in the Happy Tuesday blog hop hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus. If you would like to join them there, click on the badge below.

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCLXXXIV

As always, Stinky is anxious for Periwinkle’s arrival. Seven days apart is such a long time for two tabbies in love. Stinky is delighted when he sees the teleportation tunnel begin to vibrate, and Periwinkle pops out right on time. He snags her in his paws before she can tumble away. Stinky gives her a quick whisker kiss and hands her a big shopping bag. After taking one for himself, he leads Periwinkle back into the tunnel, and they are both gone in a whoosh.

The Cottage

Periwinkle has no idea about their destination but is over-joyed when she finds they have arrived at their little cottage. She sees that Stinky has added a Happy Easter sign to the front garden, which is in full bloom and looks gorgeous.

Before they enter their cottage, Stinky tells Periwinkle to look inside her shopping bag. She does and gasps when she sees what is inside. Periwinkle pulls out the most beautiful Easter hat she has ever seen. She bounces on her back paws as she puts it on.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats (Periwinkle & Stinky) standing outside a cottage with a flower garden and an Easter sign.

 

Periwinkle gives Stinky a quick whisker kiss and rushes inside to look at herself in a mirror. “Stinky,” she gushes, “It is purrfect and I love it! Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, and you look stunning,” he replies.

“We haven’t been here in such a long time, I am so happy to be back. Did you notice the bunny in our front yard by the mail box? Did you invite him?”

“Yes and yes. He helped me earlier with a little project I will share with you later,” Stinky tells Periwinkle. 

“So, what do you have planned for us?” asks Periwinkle.

The Cottage Sunroom/Craft Room

“Well, I have been working on some more renovations, and I have completed our combo sunroom and craft room. I’m certain you will want to add some finishing touches, but today we are going to use it to make some Easter cards for our families.”

“That sounds like fun, and I an anxious to see the room,” says Periwinkle. Stinky tells Periwinkle to close her eyes. Then he takes her paw and leads her to the new room. He tells her to open her eyes and then steps away so she can enter. 

 

Two cartoon tabby cats (Periwinkle & Stinky) on a cat tree in a beautifully decorated sunroom.

 

“Holy cow, Stinky, this is terrific! I love all the light. We will have wonderful sunpuddles. And the cat tree is amazing.” Periwinkle sprints toward the tree, and her hat flies from her head. Stinky picks it up and puts it on the table. Periwinkle quickly climbs the tree so she can survey the entire room. Stinky, of course, joins her and goes to the highest point. But, Stinky does not stay on the cat tree very long. He jumps down and goes to gather the supplies for making Easter cards. While he does, Periwinkle continues to survey the room. 

Making Easter Cards & Sharing Traditions

 

Table in a sunroom covered with paper, stickers and colored pencils for making Easter cards.

 

The tabbies settle in to work on their cards. As they do so, Stinky shares some information about Easter traditions. He tells Periwinkle that in the 1990s, some department stores sold DIY Easter bonnet kits for children who would enter their completed hats into a contest.

“That would be great fun. Maybe we can do that next year,” says Periwinkle, as she picks out a cute bunny sticker for a card for her mom.

Stinky then shares with Periwinkle a little about the annual Easter Parade in New York City. “It began shortly after the Civil War as a ‘fashion promenade’ along Fifth Avenue for wealthy New Yorkers. It was an opportunity to show off the newest fashion trends. Adornments on the hats included faux flowers, ostrich feathers and taxidermy birds.”

“No way,” says Periwinkle with a distasteful look on her face. “I would never wear a dead bird on my head, even if it was stuffed.”

Stinky giggles as he imagines Periwinkle with a dead bird on her head. He then tells Periwinkle that the event is now called the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival, and hats are more extravagant than ever. “Hats today often include bunnies, large flower arrangements, jewels and both faux and real eggs,” Stinky explains.

“Yuck, real eggs, that’s worse than dead birds,” exclaims Periwinkle.

Completed Cards

Periwinkle has finished her card for her mom and shows Stinky. “Wow that is really great. She’s going to love it,” he says.

 

Easter card with a cartoon tabby cat (Periwinkle) in an Easter bonnet, a bunny, decorated eggs, flowers and candles.

 

Stinky finishes his card for his Mom and Dad while Periwinkle starts on one for Reesie and Noelle. He shows his card to Periwinkle.

 

Cartoon tabby cat (Stinky) wearing bunny ears and a bow tie on an Easter card with decorated eggs and an Easter basket with eggs and bunnies.

 

“That is really sweet, Stinky,” says Periwinkle.

“I am happy you like it, but I have a surprise for you, and we need to get to it.” Stinky takes Periwinkle’s paw again and tells her to close her eyes once again as well.

When Stinky has Periwinkle open her eyes, they are outside in their garden.

Hunting for Easter Eggs

 

Two cartoon tabby cats (Periwinkle & Stinky) in a garden with a large tree and flowers and many hidden Easter eggs.

 

“Wow, Stinky, look at all these decorated eggs. Is this what your bunny friend helped you with?”

“Yes, he helped me decorate and hide them, and all are filled with cat treats!”

“Oh boy, what a great idea. Let’s collect these and crack them open so we can have a snack!”

“That’s what I planned, and I’m ready,” replies Stinky.

The tabbies spend a couple of hours gathering the eggs and eat many of the treats along the way. By the time they have collected all the eggs, both are too full to even move and decide to lie down in the grass for a nap.

Time to Head Home

When Periwinkle and Stinky awaken, it is already getting dark. They pack up their cards, eggs, treats and Periwinkle’s hat in their shopping bags. Stinky checks that he has locked all the doors and windows, and the two head to the tunnel. With a whoosh they are gone. As it is super late, Stinky sets the tunnel coordinates for Periwinkle’s house. He drops her off, says “hi” to Mom Sharon, Noelle and Periwinkle and then gives Periwinkle several whisker kisses and paw hugs. He whispers in her ear, “I’m happy you had fun today. I love you.” Stinky renters the teleportation tunnel and with a final wave and blown kiss is gone in a whoosh.

The End

Periwinkle and Stinky will be participating in the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus. To do the same, click on the Happy badge.

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCLXXXII

Stinky Plays a Joke on Periwinkle

Stinky is excited, as he always is, to spend the day with Periwinkle, especially as he has something special to share with her. He is waiting by the teleportation tunnel when he sees it begin to vibrate. With a whoosh, Periwinkle pops out into his waiting paws. After several minutes spent whisker kissing and paw hugging, Periwinkle asks the inevitable question: “What have you planned for us to do today, Stinky?”

When Stinky replies, Periwinkle is shocked and disappointed. “Nothing … absolutely nothing!”

“Nothing! Really … nothing. I’ve said we do not need to do anything special, but nothing!”

Stinky begins to giggle and then shouts, “April Fools!”

Periwinkle punches Stinky on the arm but then she too begins to giggle. “Good one, Stinky, you really did fool me! So, are you saying you do have a plan?”

“Of course, even though Mom would probably prefer we stay home. I had four seizures last week: Two back to back on Monday and two a couple of hours apart on Friday. They were all in the middle of the night.”

“Stinky, I am so sorry. We can stay here if you think we should,” replies Periwinkle as she gives Stinky a hug.

“Nope, let’s go.” Stinky takes Periwinkle’s paw and leads her back into the teleportation tunnel. As their destination is nearby, they arrive moments later.

Blue Ridge Indie Market

They are at the Blue Ridge Indie Market in downtown Roanoke. Periwinkle wonders if they are going to go shopping until she sees another sign nearby. 

 

Two cartoon tabby cats in front of the Blue Ridge Indie Market and Kitty City Cat Cafe building.

 

Periwinkle begins bouncing from paw to paw and squeals, “Oh goody, another cat cafe.”

When the tabbies enter the building they realize they are in a huge gift shop filled with items from local artists and craftspeople. Periwinkle starts to get distracted, so Stinky takes her paw and leads her toward the cat room. On the way, they see a huge cat head on the wall created with barn wood by one of the local artists. “Stinky, that is so cool and clever, don’t you think,” says Periwinkle.

“Yep,” he replies.

 

Barn wood creation of a large cat head on the wall of Kitty City Cat Cafe.

 

Kitty City Cafe

When they enter the cat room, the first thing they see are painted cubes on the wall with a giant ginger astronaut beneath. Of course, Stinky has to climb on them. As that is the intended purpose, Periwinkle has no reason to be upset with Stinky. In fact she follows him. It gives them a great view of all the cats.

 

Two tabby cats in decorated and painted cat cubby holes on the wall of Kitty City Cat Cafe.

 

Then Periwinkle sees the cutest little kitten playing with a fishy wand toy. He looks like Stinky’s brofur, Raleigh. 

 

Four photos of a beige kitten at Kitty City Cat Cafe playing with a fish wand toy.

 

“Stinky, did you notice that tortoise shell cat trying to play with the kitten and fishy? She’s just like you. She doesn’t have a tail!”

“I sure hope that doesn’t keep her from getting adopted,” Stinky replies.

“I can’t imagine it will. She seems really friendly.”

Nearby is a beautiful tabby and white kitty in a cat tree cubby.

 

White and brown tabby cat at Kitty City Cat Cafe.

 

Periwinkle tries to entice her to come out and play, but she’s pretty shy.

“Stinky, are these kitties from the same organization as the ones at the other cat cafe we visited?” asks Periwinkle.

“No, these cats are from the Angels of Assisi animal shelter. That’s the shelter from where my mom and dad adopted Lisbeth and Kizmet. It’s just a few blocks from here,” explains Stinky.

Stinky has better luck convincing a white cat with a few calico markings, named Patches, to come out of her cubby to play.

 

Cartoon tabby cat and a white/calico cat at Kitty City Cat Cafe.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats and a white/calico cat in front of an orange and red cube and sitting on a flower-shaped cat scratcher toy at Kitty City Cat Cafe.

 

Then Periwinkle spies a very large ginger tabby cat. She grabs Stinky’s paw, telling him he must see the kitty that looks like his big brofur, Cooper Murphy.

 

Large ginger tabby cat at Kitty City Cat Cafe.

 

“Periwinkle, he does look like Cooper Murphy, but he also looks perturbed due to you bothering him,” Stinky replies. Periwinkle decides it is not worth the effort to tell Stinky the kitty looked grumpy before she ever walked up to him. The tabbies decide to leave the ginger cat alone and play with some of the other cats. While doing so, Periwinkle notices more cool artwork and fun signs.

 

A painting of an orange and a grey tabby cat and a sign which reads, "Karma is a cat purring in my lap cause it loves me," at Kitty City Cat Cafe.

 

“Stinky, there sure is a lot of cool art here,” exclaims Periwinkle.

“It probably helps that artists and craftspeople sell their creations here, replies Stinky.

Adoptions

Periwinkle notices two walls covered with polaroid photos, sort of like mug shots, of kitties. She calls Stinky over to look.

 

Cartoon tabby cat standing in front of a wall with polaroid photos of cats at Kitty City Cat Cafe.

 

“Stinky, there are photos of 147 kitties. The nice lady who runs Kitty City said all these kitties have been adopted. Isn’t that great?”

“It is, Periwinkle. Cat cafes have really given kitties a better opportunity to get adopted.”

Periwinkle’s Surprise

“This has been really fun, Periwinkle, but I have a surprise waiting for you at my house. So, are you ready to head out?”

“Well, I am always ready for a surprise. Let’s go!”

Stinky leads Periwinkle back to the teleportation tunnel. Paw-in-paw they enter.

The tabbies arrive at Stinky’s house. Stinky tells Periwinkle to close her eyes, and he leads her outside.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats on a blue plant blanket having a picnic in a field of periwinkles.

 

“Oh my cat, Stinky …  a picnic among periwinkles. Are these the plants your mom and dad had planted last year? They are absolutely gorgeous. And, you know I love a picnic.”

“This is the periwinkle project, and the plants are doing great with so many flowers. Mom spent two days weeding here, so we can enjoy our picnic.”

“Wow, that was so nice of her,” exclaims Periwinkle. “I love you so much Stinky and your family. After we finish our picnic, I need to thank your mom and check on your dad to see how he’s doing after surgery.”

When the tabbies finish their picnic, Periwinkle thanks Stinky’s mom for making things nice for their picnic, and checks on Dad Tom, finding out that he’s making good progress.

Finally, it is time for Periwinkle to head home. The two tabbies spend several minutes paw hugging and whisker kissing. Then with final waves and blown kisses, Periwinkle is gone in a whoosh. Stinky joins his fursibs on the patio for a nap and dreams of Periwinkle.

 

 

Periwinkle and Stinky will be participating in the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus. To join them there, click on the badge below.

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCLXXX

Stinky is waiting for Periwinkle by the teleportation tunnel. A week between adventures always seems like such a long time, and he misses her tremendously. He’s delighted when the tunnel begins to vibrate, and Periwinkle pops out with the familiar whoosh. Stinky catches her and plants a huge whisker kiss on her, which makes Periwinkle giggle.

London

Stinky takes Periwinkle’s paw and leads her back into the tunnel before she can ask what his plan is for the day. When they emerge at their destination, Periwinkle looks confused. She doesn’t recognize anything around them.

“Are we in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day?”she asks Stinky.

“No. St. Patrick’s Day was yesterday. We are in London,” Stinky replies.

“Cool, are we going to meet the King?”

“No, but I do have a special surprise planned after we do just a tiny bit of sightseeing,” Stinky tells her. “There are so many cool things to see in London, it would take days, so I hope you won’t be disappointed that we only stop a few places,” Stinky adds.

Periwinkle claps her paws together. “Ooh, I love it when you plan something special! And anything we do beyond that is okay with me.”

While Periwinkle and Stinky are having their conversation, one of London’s famous red double-decker buses pulls to the curb and the tabbies hop on.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats on a red double decker bus in London.

Victoria Memorial

 

Two Cartoon tabby cats at the Victoria Memorial in London.

 

The tabbies first stop is the Victoria Memorial, which is located in front of Buckingham Palace. Dedicated to Queen Victoria, the monument was designed in 1901 and sculpted by Sir Thomas Brock. Though, unveiled on May 16, 1911; it was not completed until 1924.

Periwinkle cannot believe it when Stinky climbs part way up the monument and is discouraged she cannot break him of this dangerous habit. When he finally climbs down, she gives him the stink eye but doesn’t say anything.

Buckingham Palace

The next stop is Buckingham Palace.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats at Buckingham Palace in London.

 

Both tabbies are quite impressed with the size, of the palace and Periwinkle says, “I cannot imagine living is such a huge place. I know I would regularly get lost.”

Stinky agrees and replies, “I think we would need a whole lot of food and water bowls and litter boxes!” Periwinkle giggles!

The tabbies decide to get a closer look at the King’s Guards.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats with one of the King's Guards at Buckingham Palace in London.

 

When Periwinkle sees Stinky, she starts laughing so hard she almost wets herself. “Where in the world did you get one of those bearskin hats. And how are you able to keep from falling over?” she asks.

“I am leaning against the back of this guard shack, or I would be on my face,” Stinky replies.

The tabbies notice some of the guards marching in formation and decide to join them.

 

Parade with King's Guards in London and two cartoon tabby cats.

 

As they are marching, Stinky tells Periwinkle that the King’s Guard are soldiers from the Household Division’s Foot Guards and are responsible for guarding Buckingham Palace and St. James’s Palace. They also perform ceremonial duties at the Tower of London, St. James’s Palace and Windsor Castle. King’s Guards are professional infantry soldiers as well. They will see or have seen active service with the British Army.

Though Periwinkle is having a terrific time, she is wondering when she is going to get her surprise and asks Stinky about it. He promises her it will be very soon, but they have a couple more things to see first. “I think you will particularly like our next stop, as I have a mini surprise for you there.”

Horse Guards Building

The Horse Guards building dates to 1753 and is located in the City of Westminster in London. It previously served as military headquarters. Today, it is headquarters of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, which provides troops for The Queen’s Life Guard. This group is comprised of a Squadron of The Life Guards (red tunics and white plumed helmets) and a Squadron of The Blues and Royals (blue tunics and red plumed helmets). The Guard provides the Sovereign’s Escort on state occasions and for ceremonial duties. All soldiers in the Household Cavalry are required to take an active role in the Army’s military operations.

When they arrive, they are met by one of The Blues and Royals, who invites Periwinkle to join him on his horse. As she waits for someone to help her up, Periwinkle bounces from paw to paw in excitement.

 

 Tabby cat riding with one of the The Blues and Royals of the Horse Guard in London while another tabby cat looks on.

 

She rides with him into the street where he meets up with other members of the Squadron.

 

Members of the Horse Guard in London lined up in formation while two cartoon tabby cats look on.

 

The tabbies watch them perform a few drills before Stinky tells her they have one more stop prior to her surprise. Periwinkle exclaims, “I cannot believe there is another surprise besides joining that guard on his horse. I’ve never been on a real horse before.”

Stinky gives her a paw hug and tells her how happy he is that she is enjoying herself.

Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial

 

Two tabby cats at the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial in London.

 

This is the first official memorial to more than 50,000 Bomber Command airmen killed in World War II. The bronze sculpture was unveiled in 2012 by Queen Elizabeth II. In an attempt to capture the bravery and camaraderie of the airmen, the sculptor, Philip Jackson, featured seven aircrew returning from a mission.

After checking out the sculpture up close, Stinky takes Periwinkle’s paw and leads her back to one of the double-decker buses. They take a short ride to a nearby hotel.

When they arrive, Stinky goes up to the check-in desk and requests two shopping bags he has sent ahead. He takes one for himself and gives the other to Periwinkle.  He tells her to take her shopping bag to the ladies restroom and meet him back in the lobby in ten minutes. When she emerges, he takes her paw and leads Periwinkle into the hotel’s dining room and to an elaborately decorated table.

Tea for Two Tuesday

 

Two formally dressed tabby cats enjoying high tea in London on Tea for Two Tuesday.

 

“Stinky, this is incredible. You bought me a new dress and brought my engagement collar, and we are going to have tea! You are absolutely amazing. I am guessing this is my surprise.”

“It is. I know how much you love a tea party, and I could not think of a better place to have one. Today is Tea for Two Tuesday. It is a day to celebrate one of the world’s favorite drinks as well as the companionship of friends,” replies Stinky.

“It’s amazing how many unusual holidays exist, and I definitely like this one. Look at that huge bowl of clotted cream and all the yummy pastries,” exclaims Periwinkle. “I cannot wait to try everything.”

“I thought you might like it,” replies Stinky.

“Did you request those vases of periwinkles, Stinky?” Stinky smiles and nods.

“You truly are the best boyfriend ever. I absolutely love my surprise, as well as all the cool places we visited.”

The tabbies spend the afternoon enjoying each other’s company and all the delicious treats. When they have eaten absolutely every morsel of food, they return to the restrooms to change out of their fancy clothes. When they meet back in the lobby, Stinky tells Periwinkle they have one more quick stop before returning home.

Big Ben & The London Eye

 

Two cartoon tabby cats at Elizabeth Tower/Big Ben in London.

 

“Wow, Big Ben really is huge,” says Periwinkle. “You better not think about climbing up that,” she admonishes.

“Nope, I promise. Big Ben is the 15-ton bell that sits inside the clock tower, which is actually known as Elizabeth Tower,” Stinky tells Periwinkle.

“I didn’t know that, Stinky.”

“And behind us is the London Eye also known as the Millennium Wheel. It was the tallest ferris wheel in existence at 443 feet when it was completed in 2000. Now it is only the fifth tallest. Maybe we can ride it sometime in the future.”

Periwinkle looks skeptical, but doesn’t say, “no.”

The tabbies both agree they are exhausted and ready to return home. They catch the bus back to where they left their teleportation tunnel and are gone in a whoosh. Stinky sets the coordinates for Periwinkle’s house and drops her off there. After a few minutes of whisker kissing and paw hugging, Stinky resets the coordinates for his house.

When he arrives home, he heads straight for bed and dreams of the wonderful day he and Periwinkle spent together.

The End

Periwinkle and Stinky will be participating in the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus. To do the same, click on the badge below.

 

Note: If you are wondering why Periwinkle and Stinky did not visit some of the more conventional tourist attractions, such as Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, here’s why. Many, many years ago Dad Tom and I visited all those locations, but in 2012, he returned for the Olympic Games. As I like to use as many of his photographs as possible, I used ones he took during that visit. If you have been to London, maybe some of these are places you did not have the opportunity to see.

Thanks for sharing some of your time today with Periwinkle and Stinky.

 

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCLXXVIII

A Surprise Guest

Stinky is extra excited for today’s adventure, as he has a surprise for Periwinkle and for a special friend of theirs. He is waiting by the teleportation tunnel when he hears the familiar whoosh, and Periwinkle comes tumbling out into his waiting paws. He gives her a quick whisker kiss, grabs her paw and immediately leads her back into the tunnel.

They arrive at their destination in record time. When they emerge, Periwinkle looks confused. Waiting for them is their friend Teddy from Two Spoiled Cats. She runs up to him and gives him a big hug and then exclaims, “What a nice surprise. Are you joining us on our adventure today?”

“I am not exactly sure. Stinky sent me a note with coordinates for my tunnel and asked me to meet him here. He didn’t tell me anything else.”

Stinky shouts, “Happy Birthday, Teddy! I thought it would be fun to surprise you on your birthday with a trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans to celebrate. Today is Fat Tuesday, and I couldn’t think of a better way to party.” 

Mardi Gras 2025 poster.

Masks, Beads & a Crown

Stinky tells Periwinkle that he hopes she doesn’t mind returning to Mardi Gras. She claps her paws together and says, “Of course, not. That trip was three years ago, and it was oodles of fun.”

Stinky gives her a hug and says, “Thanks.”

Stinky then gives Teddy a king’s crown and a mask to wear and gives Periwinkle a mask and beads. He also has a mask and beads for himself. “Stinky, these are new masks. Thank you. Hey, we can play with the peacock fevver that is on mine when we get home,” exclaims Periwinkle. Stinky giggles and agrees.

 

A ginger tabby cat and two grey cartoon tabby cats dressed in Mardi Gras masks.

 

As they are getting on their masks, Periwinkle notices something different about Stinky. “Stinky, did you get new sneakers? Those are really bright!”

“Oh, yes,” Stinky replies. “I got them for special occasions. Do you like them?”

Teddy says, “Well that yellow may be a little girlie, but I think they are pretty cool.” Periwinkle laughs at that and tells Stinky he looks great.

Just then Periwinkle spies a fence covered in beads and starts bouncing up and down and runs toward it. “Stinky, we need more beads!” she shouts. 

 

Grey cartoon tabby cat in a Mardi Gras mask next to a fence covered in Mardi Gras beads.

 

Stinky very politely tells her that someone has decorated their fence and that the beads are not for sale.

Periwinkle begins to pout but then sees something else that has her excited. “Stinky, do you remember how we took a memory photo with that giant mask when we were here before? Let’s take another one with Teddy.”

Stinky agrees with that plan, and the three tabbies run up the stairs to the balcony where the mask is located. 

 

A ginger tabby cat and two cartoon grey tabby cats in masks and beads posing with an oversized Mardi Gras mask.

 

Krewe of Excalibur

After they take their photo, Stinky explains that the parade today is presented by the Krewe of Excalibur. 

“Is there more than one parade, Stinky?” asks Periwinkle.

“Yep, I never realized that, but the parades have been going on for days and days already. There are more than 80 krewes, and many have their own parades. This is the last one for 2025.”

“Stinky, do you know anything about the Krewe of Excalibur?” asks Teddy.

Krewe Excalibur dragon eggs.“Well, it was founded in 2000 and has 250 members, both males and females. It was named for the sword of King Arthur. They have 20 floats, and the procession is lead by costumed knights on horseback. Instead of beads, they give out decorated dragon eggs and wooden shields. 

“Here’s a photo of their coat of arms.”

Krewe Excalibur coat of arms.

“That’s cool. Look at the dragons!” says Periwinkle. She adds, “We need one of those, Stinky.”

“We sort of already have one. That’s basically what the logo we put on our posts is.” Periwinkle thinks about that for a few minutes and agrees that will work. 

Parade Time

Teddy gets a place of honor on the first float.

 

Krewe Excalibur Mardi Gras float featuring an orange tabby cat in a king's crown.

 

Periwinkle and Stinky bounce up and down and wave and shout at Teddy as the float goes by, “Happy Birthday, Teddy. You are King for a day!”

All three tabbies have the opportunity to ride on a couple of other floats and hand out the decorated dragon eggs.

 

A ginger tabby cat in a Mardi Gras mask and king's crown and two grey cartoon tabby cats in Mardi Gras masks on an Excalibur float.

 

A ginger tabby cat in a Mardi Gras mask and king's crown on a Krewe Excalibur float.

 

A ginger tabby cat in a Mardi Gras mask and king's crown and two grey cartoon tabby cats in Mardi Gras masks on an Excalibur float.

 

As the parade is coming to an end, Periwinkle says that her tummy is beginning to rumble, and asks if they can get a snack. Stinky replies, “Oh, I have a better idea,” and he takes Periwinkle’s paw and tells Teddy to follow. Moments later they arrive at Cafe du Monde. Stinky tells Teddy and Periwinkle to get a table and he runs to talk to the counter person. He returns to the table. A few minutes later a waiter arrives with a huge cake.

Happy Birthday, Teddy!

Periwinkle and Stinky shout, “Happy Birthday, Teddy. We love you!”

Stinky explains that he didn’t order a traditional King Cake but asked to have Teddy’s cake decorated in the traditional colors. 

The tabbies all remove their masks so they can dig into the yummy cake.

 

A ginger tabby cat with a birthday cake in Mardi Gras colors with two grey cartoon tabby cats at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans.

 

Once the tabbies have gorged themselves on cake, they realize that sadly it is time to head home. But before they leave, Periwinkle & Stinky give Teddy a card they made for him.

 

Birthday card for a ginger tabby cat wearing a king's crown.

 

The tabbies spend several minutes paw hugging and saying their good-byes. Then Teddy enters his teleportation tunnel and Stinky and Periwinkle enter theirs. With simultaneous whooshes they are all off home.

Periwinkle stops at Stinky’s house to say, “hi,” to his parents, visit with his fursibs, and wish Dad Tom good luck on his knee replacement surgery the following day. Once she has done that, she and Stinky spend several minutes whisker kissing and paw hugging. Then with a final blown kiss and wave, Periwinkle enters the teleportation tunnel and is gone in a whoosh.

Stinky looks for a sunpuddle to nap and dream of Periwinkle.

The End

The Tabbies will be joining the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus. You can do the same by clicking on the Happy Tuesday badge.

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCLXXVI

Periwinkle’s Arrival

Stinky has an adventure planned that he is not sure he and Periwinkle can pull off, but he’s willing to try if she is. It is daring and probably dangerous, but definitely would give them bragging rights if they are successful. As Stinky paces by the teleportation tunnel, he sees it begin to vibrate. Then with the familiar whoosh, Periwinkle comes tumbling out into his waiting paws. After several minutes of whisker kissing and paw hugging, Periwinkle asks the inevitable question. “So what’s on the agenda for today, Stinky?”

A Disagreement on Destination

“If you are willing, we are going to visit a place not previously visited by any man or cat,” replies Stinky.

Periwinkle gives him a quizzical look and asks, “Is that even possible?”

“Honestly, I am not really certain! It all depends on the range of our teleportation tunnel. The place is pretty far away.”

“So, how far are you talking about?”

Stinky replies, “From 2.66 billion to 4.67 billion miles depending on where it and the Earth are in relationship to their orbits around the sun.”

“Orbits? Where the heck do you want to go and how long will it take?” asks Periwinkle.

Stinky ignores the first part of Periwinkle’s question in his answer and replies, “Well, in 2006, it took NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft nine years and five months.”

“Now, I know you are crazy. Do you have any idea how many seizures you could have in that amount of time, and we would be stuck with no help.”

“That’s just it, we would be using our teleportation tunnel, and I am certain it wouldn’t take that long.”

“And what if our tunnel breaks down … what then?” asks Periwinkle.

“It’s never broken down before,” Stinky replies.

“We have never tried to travel billions of miles in it. I still have no idea where it is you want to go, but no, nyet, nein, nada … ain’t going to happen … no way, no how. What gave you such a hare-brained idea?” Periwinkle asks.

“Well, if we went to Pluto, we could spend much more time together. An hour on Pluto is equal to 6.4 days here on Earth, in other words 153.3 hours long. Its year is equivalent to 248 years on Earth.”

“Pluto, as in the planet Pluto … you’re joking, right? Read my lips, NO. I am not going to Pluto. I like our time together here just fine, and we wouldn’t be together any longer, it would just seem longer.”

National Pluto Day

Stinky’s expression displays his total disappointment in Periwinkle’s reaction before he explains. “Today is National Pluto Day. Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930, at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, by American astronomer Clyde M. Tombaugh.”

“Well then, we should go to Arizona,” Periwinkle reasons.

“We could, but we missed the festival to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the discovery. It ended yesterday.”

“So, why didn’t we go when the festival was happening?”

“Because I didn’t know there was a festival!” Stinky shouts.

“Okay, chill out. So, we aren’t going to Pluto or Arizona. I am certain we can do something to celebrate. I would be happy to learn about Pluto and share that information with our readers.”

“Boring,” Stinky yells with a pout on his face.

“You need to calm down before you pop a blood vessel,” Periwinkle admonishes Stinky.

“I’m sorry, but I just wanted to do something that’s never been done before.”

“Suck it up. Buttercup. Let’s hit the internet and ask Mr. Google what he can tell us about Pluto, and we will make our own celebration.” replies Periwinkle.

Stinky continues to pout but fetches his mom’s iPad and sets it up on the kitchen counter.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats sitting at a kitchen counter with an iPad with a photo of Pluto on the screen.

 

Facts About Pluto

“And by the way, Periwinkle, you do know that Pluto was demoted and is no longer a planet?”

“Yes, I do! Mr. Google says that happened in 2006 when the International Astronomical Union downgraded it to a dwarf planet. They have three criteria that need to be met to get status as a planet: Pluto only met the first two: 1) It is in orbit around the Sun and 2) It has sufficient mass to assume a balance between pressure and gravity to maintain a nearly round shape,” replies Periwinkle.

“Do you understand the criterion it didn’t meet?” Stinky asks Periwinkle.

“Nope, but the following is basically what the Library of Congress says about it.”

The planet must be gravitationally dominant (which it is not), meaning there are no other bodies of a comparable size other than its own satellites (moons) or those otherwise under its gravitational influence, in its vicinity in space. Pluto is in the Kuiper Belt along with other icy bodies. Three of those are Eris, Haumea and Makemake.

“Wow, that last certainly has a funny name. What about moons, Stinky?”

“Pluto has five. They are Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra.”

“Stinky, this is really interesting. Pluto was named by an 11-year-old British school girl, Venetia Burney. She named it after the mythological god of the underworld. The Lowell Observatory received more than 1,000 suggestions for names, and Venetia’s was selected. And she got five pounds as a reward.”

“That is very cool,” remarks Stinky.

“And so is Pluto,“ Periwinkle tells him. “In fact, it is too cold to sustain life with an average temperature of -387°F (-232°C). See, going there was never an option!”

“Yikes … that is cold! I guess it is not surprising as its surface is dominated by nitrogen ice with traces of methane and carbon monoxide. Pluto has a heart-shaped region called Tombaugh Regio, with icy glaciers, polygonal block-like features and two mountains that may be ice volcanoes.”

“Stinky, I can see that heart in these photos of Pluto. I think it should have had a better name, as it has that heart and was discovered just four days after Valentine’s Day. It could have been Eros or Cupid or even heart or Valentine.”

Stinky makes no comment with reference to the names Periwinkle suggests, but says, “Periwinkle, my mom would like this: Pluto has about one-fifteenth the gravity of Earth. A person who weighs 100 pounds on Earth would weigh about 7 pounds on Pluto. That means I would only weigh 7/100ths of a pound!”

Periwinkle adds one last interesting fact about Pluto, “Pluto’s orbit around the sun is also different from the other planets. It forms an ellipse when most planets orbit the sun in a near-circle with the sun in the center.

Something Special for Pluto

“Stinky, I think we should do something nice for Pluto.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

Periwinkle replies, “Yes, I think I do. It will require a bit of work but I think we can do it if your dad will help us.” Periwinkle tells Stinky her plan, and he agrees it is a good idea.” Stinky runs off to find his dad.

After a couple of hours work, Periwinkle and Stinky are ready to reveal their creation.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats dressed for winter and standing next to a sign which reads, "We (heart) Pluto," and an image of Pluto in the sky.

 

Once their sign is erected, Dad Tom takes a photo of the tabbies for their scrapbook before they return to the house.

Snack Time

Though Stinky is still unhappy he and Periwinkle were not able to visit Pluto, he does tell Periwinkle that he enjoyed learning about the dwarf planet.

After removing their winter clothes, Periwinkle and Stinky head to the kitchen for a snack. When finished, Periwinkle visits with Stinky’s fursibs.

The time arrives for Periwinkle to head home. She and Stinky spend several minutes whisker kissing and paw hugging. And, Stinky apologizes to Periwinkle for being so stubborn. Of course, she forgives him. With a final blown kiss, Periwinkle enters the teleportation tunnel and is gone in a whoosh.

Stinky heads to the bedroom to nap and dream of Periwinkle and Pluto!

The End

The tabbies will be participating in the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus. If you would like to do the same, click on the badge below.

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCLXXII

Periwinkle’s Arrival

Stinky is feeling pretty bad as he waits for Periwinkle by the teleportation tunnel. It is bitterly cold, and he knows she is not a big fan. For that matter, neither is he. He is super happy that their trip in the teleportation tunnel will be a short and quick one. 

When he hears the familiar whoosh from the tunnel, he sprints to catch Periwinkle as she tumbles out. They spend time, as they always do, whisker kissing and paw hugging.  Then, before Periwinkle says anything, Stinky takes her paw and leads her back into the tunnel.

The tabbies arrive at their destination moments later. Before Periwinkle has time to get her bearings, Sawyer grabs her paw and rushes her over to a sign in front of a house. He is so quick, Periwinkle doesn’t even have the opportunity to read the sign.

The Toebean Cat Café

 

Two cartoon tabby cats dressed in winter clothes and standing in the snow in front of a sign: The Toebean Cat Cafe.

 

After a very quick photo, Stinky leads Periwinkle up the front steps and into the house. As she looks around, she sees a neon sign on a wall of faux grass. 

 

Two cartoon tabby cats in front of a faux grass wall with a neon sign: The Toebean Cat Cafe.

 

She squeals when she realizes where they are and asks Stinky, “Is this an actual cat cafe where we can meet other kitties?”

“Yep, my mom and her friend, Etna, came here before Christmas to meet the cats, and they thought we might enjoy it. It is one of three cat cafes that opened recently in our area. I hope we can visit the other two in the future as well.”

Local Cat Art

“Ooh, Stinky … me too! I sure love the name of this cafe. It is so cute and clever. And look at all the kitty art work.”

Stinky explains that some of the paintings are from local artists but most were done by local school children.

 

The top of a Christmas Tree and fireplace with cat art on the wall and the mantle.

 

“Look Stinky, they still have the Christmas Tree up, just like at your house,” exclaims Periwinkle.

Stinky blushes and does not reply to her comment. Instead, he says, “Periwinkle, did you notice the ginger cat over the fireplace is holding a huge hamburger?”

Periwinkle giggles when she notices it. “That cat looks a lot like your brofur, Cooper Murphy, as well as our friend, Teddy.” It is then Stinky’s turn to giggle.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats at a reception desk by a staircase with lots of cat pictures by children.

 

“Will you please get off the counter and quit eyeing the human treats. I want to see the kitties,” replies Periwinkle.

There is an upstairs and a downstairs cat room. The employee behind the counter tells them the majority of the felines are upstairs, and so Stinky and Periwinkle decide to go there. As they are heading up the stairs, they admire the art from the school children and are quite impressed.

When they get to the second floor, the tabbies first check out a sitting room for visitors with a wall painted with adorable feline faces.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats sitting on an antique sofa in front of a wall painted with yellow, blue and white cat heads.

 

After admiring the art work, they head across the hall to the cat room.  

Visiting With the Kitty Occupants

“Squee. Stinky, they are all so cute!”

 

Two cartoon tabby cats and three white and grey real cats.

 

“Of course, they are. They are cats! When I was sitting on the counter, the employee told me that the kitties in this room are from Barn Cat Buddies. That is one of the two local rescues my mom and dad support and also from where Astrid and Calista Jo were adopted. And I saw on Instagram that lots of the kitties who have been here have been adopted.”

“Stinky, that is so cool,” replies Periwinkle. Stinky explains that The Toebean Cat Café also brings in kitties from a couple of other local rescues as well.

Periwinkle and Stinky spend their visit playing with and getting to know the cats.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats with a real white and grey tabby cat.

Two cartoon tabby cats with a real dilute and white torbie cat sitting on a fuzzy pink rug.

 

“They sure have lots of nice things, Stinky: cat trees, shelves, tunnels and even a laser toy,” Periwinkle comments. Stinky tells Periwinkle that when his mom and Etna came to visit that they brought toys for the kitties and that his mom brought the laser toy. Lots of the items at the cafe have been donated by supporters and friends.

Before heading back downstairs Periwinkle and Stinky decide to take a photo with the Toebean sign painted on the wall.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats sitting on an antique sofa in front of a wall painted with "The Toebean Cat Cafe"

 

The tabbies go downstairs where they check out the smaller cat room from the provided window.

 

Two cartoon tabby cats sitting in front of a window that looks into a room with a wall painted with dozens of cat paws showing off their toebeans.

 

Stinky tells Periwinkle that the employee he spoke with earlier told him that right now the room, which is much smaller than the one upstairs, has only one adult kitty in residence.

“Stinky look at all those cat paws and toe beans. This cafe is decorated purrfectly! The kitties that get to come here to wait for adoption are so fortunate!”

Stinky smiles and agrees.

Café Information

Stinky tells Periwinkle that the two owners are Vet Techs from the Emergency Vet Hospital where both Lily Olivia and Sawyer have been treated. He also tells her what they said on their Facebook page: “We are Roanoke’s premier full-service cat cafe—a ‘home away from home’ for cats until their forever homes are found!”

The Toebean Cat Café is located in Roanoke, Virginia. Reservations are suggested. An half-an-hour visit costs $10 and a one-hour visit is $20. Sweet treats and drinks are available for an extra charge. They also sell cute gift items.

If you are interested in finding out more about The Toebean Cat Café, here are the links to their web-site and Instagram: https://www.thetoebeancatcafe.net and https://www.instagram.com/thetoebeancatcafe. They are also on Facebook.

It is finally time for the tabbies to head back to Stinky’s house. When they arrive, they have a snack and visit with Stinky’s fursibs.

Finally, it is time for Periwinkle to head back home. She and Stinky share lots of whisker kisses and paw hugs. Then Periwinkle is gone in a whoosh with a wave and blown kiss. Stinky goes in search of a sunpuddle for a nap and dreams of Periwinkle.

The End

Periwinkle and Stinky will be participating in the Happy Tuesday blog hop hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus. To do the same click on the badge below.

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCLXVIII

Christmas Eve at the Cottage

Stinky is waiting for Periwinkle and his and her fursibs at their cottage. Periwinkle asked at Thanksgiving if they could host Christmas at the cottage. Always wanting to make Periwinkle happy, Sawyer told her they could host a Christmas Eve dinner. He doesn’t have to wait long. First Periwinkle arrives with the usual whoosh. As the two are paw hugging and whisker kissing, the cats begin to arrive. Soon, all kitties are present and ready to celebrate.

 

Ten cats and two cartoon cats, Periwinkle and Stinky, celebrate Christmas in a decorated cottage living room.

 

The gang spend some time in the living room visiting. Periwinkle and Stinky let them know that a present for each of them is under the tree. This causes much excitement until Stinky says they will wait until after dinner to unwrap them.

Raleigh spends time telling the others about his recent two-and-a-half-day adventure outside in the yard. Sawyer chuckles to himself, thinking Raleigh is a bit of a wimp for never leaving the property. 

Thinking of going without food for two-and-a-half days makes everyone hungry, and the felines decide to head to the dining room for dinner.

 

Two cartoon cats, Periwinkle and Stinky, celebrate Christmas in a decorated cottage kitchen.

 

While everyone gets seated, Periwinkle and Stinky bring in the food from the kitchen.  Food is passed around the table and plates are filled. Once everyone begins eating, talking ceases.

 

Ten cats and two cartoon cats, Periwinkle and Stinky, celebrate Christmas in a decorated cottage dining room.

 

“Wow, Stinky, some of our fursibs dressed up for dinner. They look pretty snazzy, don’t you think?”

Stinky Gets Funny

Stinky is not eating, but he does not answer. He’s watching all the other kitties as they chew their food. When he is certain everyone has a mouth full of food, he says,“What’s the first thing elves learn in school?” 

Most look up and just shake their head indicating they don’t know and don’t care. Stinking then shouts, “The elf-a-bet.” He startles Astrid badly as she is sitting next to him, and she spits her mashed potatoes right in Cooper Murphy’s face. 

Periwinkle is appalled at Stinky’s behavior and rushes to help Cooper Murphy clean his furs. When she returns to her seat, she angrily whispers to Stinky. “You knew that would frighten Astrid and something like that would happen, didn’t you? 

Stinky giggles and shrugs his shoulders. Periwinkle gives him the stink eye before returning to her meal.

Stinky eats a little, before asking, “If athletes get athlete’s foot, what do elves get?” Everyone stops chewing and swallows before he can shout out the answer, “Mistle Toes!” Disappointed that no one gets food spit in their furs, Stinky decides not to tell anymore jokes. Periwinkle is relieved when he returns to eating.

The kitties are happy no humans are there to chastise them for eating too much, and every morsel of food is consumed. When they all realize nothing remains, the cats return to the living room.

After Dinner

After gorging on such great noms, they all decide naps are in order prior to opening their gifts from Periwinkle & Stinky. When everyone is once again awake, Periwinkle and Stinky pass out the presents. The felines begin clawing the wrapping from their packages. Each cat receives a different catnip-filled stuffie.

 

Ten cats (each with an animal stuffie) and two cartoon cats, Periwinkle and Stinky, celebrate Christmas in a decorated cottage living room.

 

All the cats begin playing with their gifts and are soon in catnip comas. While they snooze, Periwinkle and Stinky pick up the dining room and clean up the kitchen. When they finish and return to the living room, the other kitties are beginning to wake up. Each one thanks Periwinkle and Stinky for a fine dinner, fun time and the catnip stuffies. Lots of paw hugs are shared.

Finally, it is time for the guests to head home to wait for Santa and celebrate Christmas Day with their humans. After the last cat enters the teleportation tunnel, Periwinkle and Stinky retire to the bedroom. They will return to their homes in the morning.

 

Two cartoon cats, Periwinkle and Stinky, celebrate Christmas in a decorated bedroom.

 

The End

Periwinkle & Stinky wish all their friends a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. 

Periwinkle Stinky Christmas