birds

HERE BIRDY, BIRDY, BIRDY!

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week 13

Dad got a few new photos of me yesterday, which is quite unusual. I don’t hang around looking for attention like some of my pathetic housemates. I wait until bedtime and then I maul, nuzzle, cuddle, snuggle, sleep upon, head butt and monopolize the humans. That means a majority of my photos are taken while my eyes are closed. So yesterday’s haul of three photos was a bonanza. Mom is only letting me share one as she says they will probably need to last for quite a while.

Mom is also letting me do the Friendly Fill-Ins (hosted by Annie at McGuffy’s Reader and Ellen at 15 And Meowing) today. My sentence completions are in teal italics.

1. I am most proud of being THE Cat on My Head and being seen on the blog everyday as part of our logo.

2. I am embarrassed to admit I like to catch birdies. Please don’t chastise me or my mom. We both know it is wrong. I am in a 12-Step Program to help me get this addiction under control.

3. My super-power(s) might be stealthly sneaking up on birdies (even though my collar has a bell) as well as terrorizing Astrid. Mom says that I am a bully for picking on Astrid, but I just think it is fun hearing her squeal. She is such a little baby.

4. I really wish I could be an only cat. I don’t understand why MY humans think they need any of these other cats, including my brofur, Mauricio. In my opinion they are just total wastes of cat fur.

Don’t judge me if you don’t like my answers. I know that most of you would want to be only cats given the opportunity and probably aren’t always nice to your furblings.

Mom says that we’ll be back tomorrow to share some Caturday Art with you.

Purrs and paw-pats, Misty May

SUNDAY SELFINCH

Sunday Selfies: Week #66

We all put our paws down and refused to take selfies for this weekend. We convinced our guest host to do it after he stuffed himself and didn’t have the energy to fly off and avoid the inevitable.

We set up the remote and he caught himself with seed in his mouth. Most of us are conflicted as to whether we’d rather be eating him or watching him eat. Misty May knows he’d be cat food if she got her paws on him.

Now, it’s your turn to put your mug in front of the camera lens and snap a photo of yourself.

Fifty-six of you joined us last week. PepiSmartDog didn’t disappoint. They shared the Laughing Kookaburra with us. We watched the video, and this bird really does sound like he’s laughing. Pipo and Minko (WeBeesSiameezers) were so sweet to share a photo of their meowmy with her Aunt Arendina, who was celebrating her 96th birthday.

We didn’t get to check in with all of you last week for which we hope you’ll forgive us. We’ll do our best to visit with as many of you as possible this week.

If you decide to post the hop on your blog, please display our badge and/or link back to The Cat on My Head. And please invite your friends to join in the fun.

Stark Raving Cat Giveaway Reminder

This limited edition Santa’s Rocking Stocking Catnip Joints from Stark Raving Cat is designed for hanging on the Christmas tree or mantle. A red-and-white pair of catnip joints (topped with tiny Santa hats) peeks out from a traditional red stocking. From the ribbon on the front hangs a silver-tone cat-and-mouse charm. It’s perfect to add to your cat’s collar, a key chain or a necklace to wear as a pendant.

We all loved the nippy goodness emanating from the stocking and joints. You can read our review here and leave a comment for a chance to win a Santa’s Rocking Stocking Catnip Joints.

Purrs and Prayers

It is with great sadness that we send purrs and prayers to all of those effected by the terrorism attacks in Paris, France. It is heartbreaking that such evil exists in our world and so many innocent lives are lost. The people of Paris, especially the family and friends of those killed, will remain in our thoughts and prayers.

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

HERE BIRDY, BIRDY, BIRDY

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Fat Cat Art by Svetlana Petrova and Zarathustra Winners:

Sammy and Mom Pam – onespoiledcat

Stella, Chloe Jo, Grizelda, George, Maggie P. and Mom Annie – McGuffy’s Reader

Sue

September 23, 2015 by Janet Blue Bad Cat Wordless Wednesday 21

11TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR THE BABIES

Our first Christmas as Kitties Blue. That’s Mau bunny kicking the empty wrapping paper roll. Look at the size of those paws!

When we first joined The House of Blue Kitties we were dubbed, “The Babies.” At that time, Kitties Blue consisted of six cats, Steamer, Daphne, Louise, Lily Olivia, Madison and MacKenzie. Two months before we arrived, Thelma had passed away at age 12. The prior year, Chloe had passed away at about age 11. All the others, except Lily, also are now angels.

Since we were adopted, Fiona, Giulietta, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo were adopted. And we remain a family of eight.

Today we celebrate our 11th Birthday. We are no longer babies, but we are both healthy and look forward to many more years with our humans.

We did get a birthday present. Our parents went away for five days last Thursday through Monday. No, that wasn’t the gift; though, Chris spoiled us with treats and bonito flakes. (We’ll share more about the humans’ trip tomorrow.)

We received our gift before Mom and Dad left us so we could enjoy it. We are still allowed to use the catio when they are away. Chris opens our cat door when she comes to feed us in the morning and recloses it when we all come in the house to eat dinner.

That’s our present on the right. A new bird feeder. It is identical to one on the opposite end of the catio. That one is always filled to capacity with the birds waiting in line in the nearby tree. We had a much smaller feeder in this location. Now the birdies can eat us out of house and home twice as fast! MOL. The birds cleared off this feeder when Dad took the photo.

We’re hoping for some extra treats today, but that’s about it. We’ll be on the catio watching the birds (and squirrels) hoover up all those sunflower seeds.

Purrs and paw-pats, Misty May & Mauricio

p.s. Kitties Blue are giving away three copies of an excellent book, Fat Cat Art. To read our review and leave a comment for the opportunity to win a copy, click here.

September 17, 2015 by Janet Blue Birthday Kitty Written Blog 39

FRIDAY FEEDING FRENZY

Our Astrid was abandoned as a kitten. After being bottle fed for a couple of weeks, she was placed with Lisbeth’s mom, Tuxie, who graciously accepted Astrid has part of her litter. We all know about this type of surrogacy, and we’ve all read about cross-species mothering.

That birds will feed another’s offspring, however, was news to me. We have both a robin’s nest and a house finch’s nest in our carport. Not so long ago, baby birds appeared in each nest, and we have watched both the robins and the finches feed their broods. Until yesterday, that is, when mommy robin started feeding both sets of babies.

Robin feeding her three babies.

Robin feeds house finch baby birds.

We continue to see the finch parents at our feeder, but they seem to have abandoned their babies.

And in other birdy news: Yesterday Mauricio brought me the gift of a baby bird. After I retrieved it from the kitchen floor (expecting it to be dead), inspected it and determined that it had no injuries, Tom called the local wildlife rescue.

They told us to put the infant bird under a bush near the two nests as, at the time, we thought it was one of the baby finches. They explained that it’s mother was probably teaching it how to find food and that the baby would call to it’s mother to let her know where to find it. They said to leave it for about an hour to see if the mother bird came to retrieve it. Though all of our kitties were in the house or on their screened deck, we told the rescue organization that cats live in the neighborhood. We were advised to watch the bird, which I did while sitting on the front porch and writing comments on my favorite blogs. I don’t think it ever called out, and so there it sat an hour later.

At that point the plan was to take it to a nearby wild bird sanctuary. We noticed, however, lots of bird activity in our side yard. So instead of the sanctuary, Tom placed the itty-bitty birdy under a bush in that vicinity. An hour later, the bird was no longer there. We pray it was found by its mommy. We know none of our kitties found it!

May 10, 2013 by Janet Blue Backstory Barn Cat Buddies 15

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.