Don't Sneeze!

I mentioned previously that Darwin meows every time I sneeze. He lives to hang out with me and due to allergies, I have those accursed sneezing spells. And Darwin will literally meow each time I sneeze.

Shadow on the other hand, will flee the area at the first sneeze! Perhaps he doesn't want me to sneeze on him or he doesn't like the sound, but he definitely gets in the wind.

By the way, I also discovered that Shadow is terrified of the sound of aluminum foil..... No matter how I try to sneak and pull a sheet off of the roll, the second he hears the crinkle, he's gone! 

Amazing, his Shadow thinks of himself as the leader of the pack and he is afraid of everything. Except food......

=^^=

Lookit That Puss

Good grief! What kind of expression is that? 

I caught Darwin sleeping and snoring away, but as soon as I readied the camera..... well you see what happened.

Dog Food?

I've had cats for over thirty years and I've never once made the mistake of feeding them the wrong food. Last week I did.

And the poor things didn't know any better. Both Shadow and Darwin are rescue cats taken from the mean streets of New York City so to them food is food.

They just done like the holistic style food I give them. They'd rather the commercial gar-bage that has tons of chemicals and ash in it......   which is not good for male cats who have been spayed. Causes what used to be called FUSS.....  urinary tract obstruction.  Which is a very serious condition because the cat cannot urinate and must be operated on.

I had that happen to one of cats in the past, since then I've been very careful of what I feed my babies.

I digress, I think someone in this store needs to learn the difference between cat and dog foods. In most of the stores I frequent. Dog and cat foods are in different sections so they don't get mixed up like this.....

I'm glad they didn't put the human tuna with the cat food tuna......

=^^=

Things I've Noticed

Like a mother, I've noticed certain things about my fur babies. I've had them for nearly a year and I'm still learning about their different traits.

Shadow still will not play nice when he eats. When I feed Darwin and Shadow, I still have to monitor them both. Shadow still tries to steal food from Darwin.

I've also noticed that Shadow growls when he eats. Yes, he growls like a dog. He went through that period when I'd first brought Darwin home. Poor Dar would panic and run, which was exactly what Shadow wanted.  Now, when Shadow growls Darwin looks at him like he's nuts and goes back to eating. Progress.

I've also started training Shadow not to growl. I use a fly swattered to tap them with when they are naughty. So, when Shadow growls I gently tap him on his head and tell him "no". He's slowly getting the message.

Note this only happens when I feed them canned food. Dry food I can leave and they will be civil.

I've also discovered that Darwin doesn't like tuna. What cat doesn't like tuna? Unfortunately  poor Darwin does. He will eat a bit of it and walk away. He like sardines and macrel tho.

He tends to eat a bit then does the litter box scratch on the floor to let me know It's yucky. But lately when I tell him eat a little more, he does.

I know, I sound like a momma with two kids. Well, I do have kids. Fur kids.....

=^^=

An Author's Cat

Shadow shows he is a true author's cat. Here he's not playing with a catnip toy, but my pens and my reading glasses.......

I Gotha!

Shadow reminds me of Biscuit.  He detested taking photos and would run if he had a chance to do so. Shadow is more of an eye closer or back turner. But, this time I got him!

A Very Cute Photo

Awww! Ain't that cute? For sone reason Darwin loves my feet....

Hair Dryer Harassment

Yesterday I had to handle the monstrous task if washing and twisting my dreadlocks. I usually allow my hair to air dry. That's because I'm usually home and don't mind lounging around with drying hair inside.

However since I had to attend a class then straight from there go to work I had to change my game plan. Enter the portable blow dryer.

I had totally forgotten about my feline companions were lounging on my bed. I plugged it up, turned it on and watched  Darwin and Shadow litterally FLY out out of my bedroom! When I went to look for them both were huddled in a corner with bushed up tails.

Poor babies.........

Mind you I'm not used to this because my angel cats Biscuit and Spiral were not afraid of the blow dryer.

At least I know now how to get rid of them if need be....

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

Who's Afraid of The Big Bad...... Combat Boots?

A few weeks ago I stopped at a shoe store and bought a pair of boots. I happen to be a fan of Doc Martens but can't afford a pair yet. So I bought the next best thing. Knock offs.

So I'm clomping around the house one day (by the way they are very comfy) and noticed that Shadow was fleeing from me. I didn't think anything of it until one day I went into the kitchen while both Shadow and Darwin were eating. Shadow took one look at me and scorched out of the kitchen like a bolt of lightning.

It was hilarious because as rolly polly as Shadow is he literally took off like Usaine Bolt at a Olympic track event!  This is also paradoxical because Shadow is supposedly the tuff guy of the two. He used to bully Darwin terribly at feeding times. Now he runs when he sees my boots........

One never knows with cats.......

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

Who's The Nuttiest?

I've been trying to determine which of my cats have the nuttiest traits. Shadow gets cookified when comes to food. He sucks down all of his food in a minute then he goes after Darwin's. 

Poor Darwin used to run from Shadow because Shadow would growl and hiss like he's going to attack. Now I've noticed that Darwin has gained a some backbone. He no longer runs and he makes sure he eats everything before he leaves. Leaving not one crumb for Shadow to nosh on. 

However I noticed that Darwin likes to entertain himself. He loves to play with Shadow but he often plays too rough and Shadow winds up yowling and scurrying for cover. The big wuss.  So Darwin and I hang out.

Yesterday I noted that Darwin doesn't even need a toy to play with. Like a dog he was running round and round chasing his tail and lying on his back like an otter and playing patty cake with his hind and front paws.  I don't know about anyone else but I've never seen a cat behave like this. Perhaps its due to Darwin being a Chartreuse (which is a cat breed that has dog like traits).

What ever the reason he may looked nutty. But, Darwin was showing his human mommy that he could have fun all by himself.....

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

A New Bed

I have a tendency to grab things ahead of time when I see them. I had bought two of these petbeds at a discount store months ago. However, I was reluctant to give them to my furfaces because Darwin had a "deposit" problem.

Yesterday I broke down and put one out to see who'd claim it first. The winner was Shadow.  But last night when I got home look who I found maxing and relaxing in it?

Cute eh?

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

Sir Pigeon Speaker

After feeding my cats yesterday morning I got to watch Darwin in action. I found out an additional fun fact about him. He is a "Pigeon Speaker".

What in the world is that? You ask.

Well here in New York City we have two very common species of birds. One is the sparrow, which are very cute by the way, and the Rock Dove. They are pigeons or better known by their New York City street name as "Flying Rats". Why?  Because they are filthy, carry diseases, their scat is like cement and can strip paint from a battle ship. They are also the scourge of my dear city because if you feed one pigeon one day, it will come back the next day with hundreds more of it's compadres the next.

There have been various unsuccessful champaigns to lessen the New York City pigeon population, including placing a hawk family on a high rise building on Central Park either East or West. They were hoping the hawks would keep down the flying pestilence...... but you'd need much more than just one family to do the job....

This brief history on native New York City fauna was brought to you by.....

Where was I? Oh yes, Darwin.

I've noticed after Darwin eats he gets frisky. He wants to play fetch, wants to wrestle with Shadow (which lasts all of two minutes because he whips Shadow's backside every single time), and most recently,  pigeon hunting.

Someone has been feeding the filty beasts from thier windowsill in my building (from one of the upper floors). As mentioned earlier when you do that, like clockwork the hoards will show up for thier free meal. One unfortunate participant was perched on my livingroom window. Darwin was sitting on my kitchen window sill looking at it (through the glass) and making loud chirpping noises.

It was as if he was calling the pigeon, "Here pigeon, pigeon, pigeon...."

Of course the pigeon was like "Heck no!" and flew away.

After all it was a New York City pigeon, and they like their four footed vermin cousins (the rats) are not stupid......

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

P.S.  Yes cats do chirp. I learned this from a movie named "Duma" about an orphaned cheetah cub raised by a South African family and released into the wild. Chirping is a major form of communication between cheetahs as lions are their motal enemy.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duma_(film)

The Snack Attack

Apparently I can't even eat a snack in peace.  Especially if my snack just happens to be what Darwin and Shadow likes......  In this case it was diced, grilled chicken.

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

Sick As a Dog!

I'm currently sick as a dog with the flu or a close approximation.

I know that cats are highly susceptible to colds so I tossed them out of my bedroom. For their own health.

Well, they wasn't havin' it! They scratched at my bedroom door. When that didn't work they stuck their paws under the door and yeowled their heads off.

Oh my goodness gracious me what ever should I do?  I let them in. And if they catch my cold I have plenty of cod liver oil to go around....

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

Kitty Detante

Shadow and Darwin sleeping together. Sleep now for when naptime is over we fight.......

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

No Touch Kitty

I may have mentioned it before but please bear with me.

My cats Shadow and Darwin have lived with me for nearly five months now. Shadow is a total attention hog. He loved to be petted,  scratched, held and of course FED.

Darwin on the other hand HATES being touched. Unless he us sleepy or eatting, I dear not chance petting him without being scratched or bitten. I bear several minor scars as evidence.  Thank God for coco and shea butter.

Other wise Darwin is a sweet puss. I just wonder how long it will take for him to get used to my touch?  I also wonder what happened to the poor thing in the past that has him adverse to human touch.

Well, thoses days are over Darwin. You're safe, as the umpire would say....

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

Lumps of Coal

No, it's not Christmas and no I haven't been a bad lady. But Darwin has been leaving me lumps of coal. Actually its not coal it's turds.

Yep, he's back to that nasty habit again. The one where he leaves a surprise poop on my living room floor. Before I made the excuse that he didn't know how to use the litter box.... yada, yada, yada.

I've been watching him very carefully and I found out Darwin has been leaving me gifts on purpose.  Why? Because he is cheesed off.

Ya see, Darwin LOVES to hang out with me in my bedroom and on my bed. When I get home from work he jets down the hallway to my bedroom door and patiently waits till I open the door. When I do, he leaps up on my bed and curls up. As snug as a bug in a rug.

Most of the time I find this endearing,  however there are times where I need a little alone time. Sometimes after they eat both cats get rambunctious and want to play, wrestle,  or chase each other on my bed while I'm tryong to sleep.....

When that happens I toss them out (cuz, you know when Darwin gets in Shadow is soon to follow). When I do that Darwin will cry at my door or stick his paws under the door and pull on it. It sounds like someone's trying to batter the door down. Most times I ignore him.

And when I do return from my catless seclusion, lo and behold what do I find? A visual manifestation of Darwin's displeasure. Turds on the livingroom floor. 

This means war!!

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

Don't Be Fooled!

Don't be fooled by this idealic scene. In no time at all Shadow will be on the outside looking in, courtesy of Darwin.

=^^=

Dawn Skyy

Hunger Strike

As I may have mentioned at nausium in the past, both Shadow and Darwin are greedy gut cats. Anything I put into their food bowls is fair game to be eaten untill both bowls are clean enough to put up without being washed!

However, yesterday I found out that there is something both won't eat. I was running low on dry food, so I stopped by the supermarket and grabbed two bags of "Cat Cafe" dry food. I usually serve both cats one handful of dry food every day. Though I knew both cats were starving, they did not touch one crumb of this stuff.  

Later, I thought nothing of it as I threw out the dry stuff and feed them canned food.  When fed their fave canned tuna, both Shadow and Darwin dived in so fast they nearly broke their necks!

I found that odd, so I tried an experiment this morning. Since I had bought two different flavors of "Cat Cafe", I opened another bag and fed them that.

Both Shadow and Darwin sat at their bowls and gazed up at me while refusing to touch a crumb. Reminiscent of law enforcement/military dogs, who are trained not to eat anything unless it's to them fed by their human partner.

Well, that was enough for me! I tossed the contents of both bowls into the trash, and added the bags of "Cat Cafe" right behind it!  I didnt even want to chance donating that stuff to anyone.

I just happened to have half a bag of another food they like and I gave them that.  Both dived in with all four paws!

I don't know what's in "Cat Cafe" but if both of my cats refuse to eat it, the product must contain something bad. I've always admonished people to listen to what you furbabies tell you. Today I took my own advise.

I could also speculate that both Shadow and Darwin are just being typical picky eaters. However, both cats were feral rescues from New York City streets. These cats tend not to be wary unless there is somthing wrong with the food.

I repeat, trust your cats instincts.

=^^=
Dawn Skyy

Sentry Cat

Darwin on post on the foot of my bed looking down the hallway. He's watching and waiting  for Shadow to make a try for coming into my bedroom. Obviously with Darwin lying there like that Shadow will not be getting in no time soon......